Vaccines  Fleas Microchips   Freedom Fence  Dental Care Health Care Plan   Epilepsy  Unacceptable Behavior   House Training Adult Dogs Fitted Harness Hydrotherapy Fear of Thunder What Dogs See Deaf  Dogs  Dieting  Hypothyroid  Worms Lungworm Allergies  The Welping Bitch  Expecting a new Baby  Different Dog Breeds  Canine Herpes Infection  Juvenile Cellulitis  Caring for Older Dogs  Pet Portraits  Time to say Good bye
The Dog Page

Have you got or are you planning to get a new Puppy? Always visit the breeder to see the whole litter and find out a little bit about the parents. If it is a larger breed have both parents had their hips examined to see if there is a problem with hip dysplasia? Labradors and Collies should also have an eye certificate and breeders of Dalmatians should be aware of the difficulties with deafness in some family lines and might have information for you about hearing tests.

Find out when the pups were last wormed and get a diet sheet. Young dogs have little resistance to worms and need to be dosed at least every four weeks. When they grow older they are not so vulnerable as a partial immunity develops so dosing two or three times each year will normally be sufficient. It is always better to keep the pup on the food that he or she is familiar with at first. You can make changes if you wish after a week, but it is a big thing going to a new home so do not make things even more difficult by introducing new food.

There is always a great deal of excitement when your pup first comes into your house, but remember for the new arrival it can be a daunting experience especially if he has had to travel some distance. Some new owners find the Dog Appeasing Pheromone Spray of great benefit. This is a hormone spray that has a calming effect on dogs of all ages and helps with traveling and to get your new pup used to his new home. Take a blanket with you when you get your new arrival, get it damp with the spray and leave it in your car so that it can evaporate and help with the journey home. Use the same blanket in his bed and renew the spray from time to time to keep it working. Make sure you have a bed ready somewhere quiet which he can retreat to and recharge his batteries. Avoid a sleeping place in a strategic location so a bedroom, corridor , entrance hall or the top of stairs are not suitable places for your pup to sleep.You should never pull your new dog out of his bed. This is his special place where he needs to feel secure, let him decide when he wants to leave it.

All pups will be unsettled for the first two or three nights in their new home, this is quite normal. Get him to play in the early evening if you can before his last feed so that he will feel the need to sleep. It often helps to make his bed as cosy as possible at first. Put a hot water bottle under the bedding and a radio left on quietly may help if he stirs during the night. Try to establish a routine right from the start. If you should have to go to him at night see if you can comfort him with a few words. It is not wise to bring him upstairs, as he will never settle on his own if you start to do this.

We like to do health checks on new puppies, to ensure that there are no congenital conditions that may limit your new pup's life. We also need to make sure that they are settling into their new environment and free from any parasites. There is no charge for this initial examination at the Surgery.

It is quite normal for puppies to want to chew. Their gums get sore as their permanent teeth start to come through so it is better that you are prepared for this and have some chewable toys ready for him to use. If your pup has a strong urge to gnaw at things try the nylabone chews, as these are virtually indestructible and should survive his worst efforts. Older dogs will sometimes chew to relieve tension so it is better to have something available when he is left on his own rather than risk your shoes and furniture. You may need to take particular care if your dog likes to chew that he does not try electrical flexes and small objects from children's toys that he could swallow. That is why it is better that he is used to being left in one particular room where the floor is easy to clean and all of the hazards can be removed.

House training need not be that difficult if you establish a routine for your puppy right from the start. Dogs associate punishments with only what has gone on immediately before. It is no good coming back to find an accident and thinking that punishment will have any effect, it only causes confusion. Far better to have a positive approach rewarding your pup when he does things right and ignoring his mistakes. Try to organize things so that there are few opportunities for things to go wrong.

Dogs need a regular routine so that they know when they are likely to be fed and exercised. They need to know what you are likely to expect them to do at different times of the day. You cannot expect him to restrain himself in the house if he has no idea when he is next going to be let out. Let him go out after each meal and make a huge fuss of him when he performs in the right place, puppies are always eager to please, but they do need to know that they are doing the right thing.

Newspaper is useful to use by the door at night, it is better to do this than to get up if you hear whimpering. As he grows bigger the wetting at night will stop, but it might be much more difficult to get him out of the habit of waking you and having your full attention. Dogs live in a world of smells that is alien to us. When you do have accidents it is important to eliminate all traces of the smell or he will associate that place with somewhere to empty his bowels. Odour Eliminator is good in this situation, it is a biological product containing bacteria that breakdown the proteins that cause the smell leaving no trace. Clean the area first with detergent and water, but do not use any disinfectants, as the bacteria will not be able to work.

Right from the start your puppy should be taken out;

First thing in the morning

After he has been sleeping

After each meal

Last thing at night and

Whenever he circles, sniffs, seems distressed or whines.

Remember it does not help to rub his nose in the mess, this is very traumatic for a puppy and will make him afraid of you. Only scald him if you catch him having an accident, a firm word is all that is needed, do not make a lot of fuss. Do not give any punishments if your pup has diarrhoea, these things are beyond his control. Some puppies lack confidence and will urinate as an act of submission, do not punish him for this it will only make things worse.

People who study the behavior of dogs know that they pass through critical periods in their development when they learn how to interact with people and other animals. If these critical periods are missed you might have a lot of problems trying to change things when he is older. It is very important to find time to socialize your puppy properly. If the risk from disease is small take him for short walks, get him to meet people and watch traffic so that he will not be alarmed by it when he is older. It is quite all right for your puppy to meet other dogs that you know have been vaccinated. Be a little careful meeting strangers until the vaccination course has been completed.

Take him for short car journeys, preferably not soon after he has been fed use the DAP Spray each time until he is confident about traveling. Let him meet young children and take him to a busy shopping street so that he will have a chance to get used to crowds of people and lots of activity. Book him into a puppy training class so he can meet other puppies and get to learn the basics of good behavior. In the first few months spend as much time as possible with this new addition to your family. Try to find him at least one new and challenging thing to do each day and encourage him to do new and different things whenever you can.

To keep your dog at ease you will need to get him fixed into the hierarchy of your household. You should take on the dominant role yourself and let your dog enjoy a submissive position in your pack. The dominant animals are the ones that take charge of the smooth operation of the group setting the pace for the comings and goings of each member and the rituals of daily life. They are the ones who open the doors and decide what to do and when to eat. By exercising an everyday authority your dog will be reassured that he is doing the right thing.

Puppies have a lot to learn in the first few weeks when they come into your home. There will be many different situations and sounds that are completely new to them or there might be situations such as visits to young grandchildren that you might like to do some preparation to prepare your dog for a potentially stressful situation. There is now a CD and a help pack that can introduce new sounds in the secure surroundings of your living room.

The Sounds Sociable pack aims to help with all of these things. It contains a CD of noises, including normal domestic sounds, traffic, children, thunder, fireworks and a host of other things which can be used to acclimatize puppies to a wide range of noises before they encounter them for the first time. This makes your puppy much more confident when he or she goes out on the first walk and encounters traffic, or meets young children when they are playing. If the CD is played to puppies before they go to their new home this is even better, as the puppy will be used to these things so that they seem familiar. Any owner who has had a dog that was afraid of traffic, children, fireworks or the vacuum cleaner will know how important this kind of training can be to prevent problems developing. There is more information about this on the Sound Therapy Site.

Further tips on living with your new puppy can be found in Scampsdiary. You can get one of these from the surgery when you come for your first vaccinations. This includes registration for a puppy pack worth £10 so it is well worth looking into.

Alternatively there is more about the process of training a puppy on the Royvon training site.

There is a useful web site that gives advise about how to entertain your dog and they also sell leads and harnesses fitted for different breeds. Follow the following link to the dog games shop.

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Different Breeds

Most of the breeds have web sites that tell you more about different dogs. Here are a few of them.

Basset Hound  Beagle  Bearded Collie    Border Collie   Border Terrier   Bull Mastiff    Cairn Terrier  Cavalier King Charles Spaniel   Chihuahua   Dachshund   Dalmation     Doberman    English Setter   Fox Terrier   German Wirehaired Pointer     Greyhound    Irish Setter  Newfoundland    Pekinese  Poodle   Flat Coated Retriever  Golden Retriever  Rhodesian Ridgeback  Rottweiler   Schnauzer    Scottish Terrier    Cocker Spaniel   Springer Spaniel  St Bernard  Staffordshire Bull Terrier   Weimaraner  Welsh Corgi    Whippet 

Vaccines

The vaccine Vanguard 7 that dogs have covers them against Distemper, Viral Hepatitis, Parvovirus, two types of leptospirosis and two of the viral components of Kennel Cough. It is important to get the timing right as the vaccine will be neutralized by the immune system of the pup if the mother was properly inoculated and no protection will be given. The trick is to allow any immunity the young pup has acquired from his mother to fade away before the injections are given, this usually means waiting until ten weeks of age.

More recently a new vaccine has been developed that is able to work earlier in puppies from as young as six weeks of age. Called Duramune we use it for all of our puppy vaccinations now. The second dose is given at ten weeks of age so that young dogs can be socialized as soon they come into your home.

It is quite safe for your new pup to meet quiet dogs that you know have been vaccinated but not wise to walk where others have been until after the second part of the vaccine course.

It alarms us to come across dogs that are not vaccinated or individuals that have had their initial course but no annual boosters. The diseases we see and try to treat are Leptospirosis regularly, parvovirus from time to time and occasionally distemper. These are all distressing and almost always fatal conditions. Your dog does not need to go near others to go down with leptospirosis as rats carry this disease. Often the course of events is so rapid you may not even have time to get your pet to the surgery before it is too late. Please do not take risks with these diseases, the vaccines we use are safe and effective and they are the only way to protect your pet.

Young puppies have little or no immunity to the two types of round worms and because of the way the worms work within the animal are often present when the pups are born. Modern wormers have a pleasant taste and are easy to give, panacur is particularly good for puppies. Start at three weeks and continue every three weeks until twelve weeks of age. After that dose each month until your pet has reached six months of age. In adult dogs the majority of the sticky worm eggs that are ingested will be rejected by the defense mechanisms of the host so a dose two or three times a year will keep him worm free. If there are a lot of dogs that you regularly come into contact with or if your pet is on any drugs that suppresses his immune system more frequent dosing may be necessary.The main drug that we use to worm dogs is  Drontal Plus. This is a total wormer which covers all of the common internal parasites and is good if your companion has a sensitive digestive system or has been exposed to a tape worm infection.

Whilst it is true some dogs do get infectious bronchitis when in boarding kennels we also see cases in working dogs because they do not need to be in very close contact to pick up the disease. Kennel Cough can be serious, there are several organisms that are involved to start the coughing, but nearly always it is a bacterium that initiates the process. There will be some response to antibiotics but the coughing will continue for ten days or more and during that time your pet should be encouraged to rest. Some times Kennel Cough can progress to cause pneumonia and it is particularly problematical in older patients. If your dog is visiting boarding kennels, going to shows or goes anywhere where he will meet other dogs it is wise to have him vaccinated with the intranasal vaccine, Nobivac KC to protect him from this distressing condition.

There is more information about the diseases that the vaccines protect dogs against by clicking the links on the Intervet Site.

Fleas

There is no stigma attached to dogs and cats having fleas. These parasites like their home comforts and would like to move in with you and your family. It is the cat flea that is the most common on both dogs and cats. Most of their life cycle is spent in your house away from your animals and it is only the adult stage that makes the hazardous journey onto your pet; they need to suck blood to be able to lay their eggs. There are twenty fleas in the larval stage of their development for every adult flea that gets onto your dog. After a while your dog will develop a sensitivity to flea bites if you allow them to bite for some time untreated and he will get very itchy each time he is bitten.

Fortunately there are product now that are able to kill the fleas before they are able to bite. Frontline is easy to apply, the spot on form is a small amount of a liquid that goes onto the back of the animal's neck. Within twenty-four hours it gives one hundred percent protection against any fleas bites and it will stop ticks as well. The aim with fleas is to keep them out of your house, just one can lay over 2000 eggs and the full life cycle is complete within two weeks so a massive build up can occur very quickly. If things have got out of hand there are insecticidal and hormone sprays that can be used at home, but if you use frontline on all of your pets you should not need to use these very often.

The very worst thing you can do if there is a flea problem developing at home is to go on holiday! With no animals to feed on hundreds will hatch out while you are away waiting for you to turn the key in the door on your return. Fleas are able to sense movement and carbon dioxide from your breath so they will all jump at once when you first set foot inside the door. When you go away it is a good idea to treat your pets with frontline before they go to the kennels. If you have seen any fleas at home before your trip then spray the house first to prevent any surprises on your return.

Worms

Worms are internal parasites that commonly infect dogs, causing a myriad of problems. These parasites drain nutrients from your pet's blood, adversely affecting its general health. While dog worm infections are common and can be quite easily controlled and cured, some of these parasites can be dangerous and when certain types of these infections are left untreated, the results can be deadly. Therefore, it's good to have an idea of what to keep an eye out for so that you can ensure prompt treatment for your dog if he or she indeed does become a victim of parasitic worms.

As there are a number of different worms that will infect canines, the symptoms and warning signs of such an infection may not always be the same in every case. However, there are certain signs that are frequently exhibited by dogs that are plagued by worms. Some pets who are infected with worms suffer from malnutrition and anemia. Dogs with an especially large amount of worms in their system may take on an unhealthy, malnourished appearance. Also, dogs that become anemic as a result of such an infection often have a rapid heart rate. Sometimes these canines will also develop a swollen, potbelly. This last sign is particularly characteristic of puppies suffering from internal parasites. Puppies are also more prone to experiencing changes in their coats, with their fur becoming dry, coarse, and dull.

Weight loss is also symptomatic of a worm infestation. Lethargy and fatigue are also common. Canine worms can also cause abdominal pain and a discharge of mucus from the eyes. It's also important to watch out for diarrhea, vomiting, and unusually dark feces. A hot, dry nose, pale gums, and bad breath can also be signs that your pet is being troubled by internal parasites. Unusual, frequent changes in appetite and disturbed sleep are also warning signs to watch for. Since worm infections can be damaging to your dog's health and can cause a great deal of misery and discomfort, it's important to alert your veterinarian as soon as you notice your pet displaying any of the above signs and symptoms.

There are different types of worms the four most common types that affect dogs are roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and whipworms. Roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms are all classified as round-shaped worms, also known as nematodes. In appearance, these parasites look similar to common angle worms, except for their coloring which is much lighter. Posing a particularly common problem in puppies, nematodes infest a dog's small intestines. Here, the worms attach themselves to the walls of the intestines and feed upon the canine's blood, draining your dog of both blood and nutrients. Moreover, if these worms coil together in a mass, they can potentially cause a dangerous obstruction. Sometimes nematodes will stray away from the small intestine, either moving into the dog's stomach or passing through the bowels.

Cestodes, on the other hand, are flat-shaped worms and this is the category that tapeworms fall under. These worms will infest a dog's intestines as well, but they will also infect other organs such as the liver. Similar to nematodes, cestodes attach themselves to organ walls and use your pet's blood for food, absorbing it through their skin or integument. Again, this reduces the amount of nutrients that your dog is able to absorb. While these worms tend to not pose too much of a serious threat for dogs, their presence in the intestines can cause damage, as is the case with nematodes. While certain types of worms are more dangerous and troublesome than others, most will cause at least some level of discomfort and, therefore, prompt diagnosis and treatment will always be beneficial for your pet.

Causes

Unfortunately, it is very easy for dogs to contract worms, and this can happen in a variety of ways. Puppies are particularly prone to becoming infested with these parasites for a number of reasons. It is thought that puppies can even become infected before they're even born, as worms are passed through the mother to the puppy through the placenta. In addition, after the puppy is born, it will be exposed to the worms and eggs present on the mother's coat and body as well as in the surrounding environment.

When infected dogs defecate, millions of eggs are passed out of the body along with the feces. These will then be scattered around the soil, grass, bedding, or other areas. The fact that these eggs can survive in soil and other external environments for several years makes their spread even easier. Previously uninfected dogs will become exposed to these environments, by playing in the grass or by coming in contact with the coat of an infested dog. These parasites will then gain access to the previously unaffected canine, either through ingestion or absorption through the skin. Once inside the dog's body, the eggs will hatch and become fully grown in approximately ten days. As a result of how these parasites are typically spread, infestations are particularly common in unhygienic or communal environments. Such places include humane shelters, doggie day cares, and large kennels.

Treatment

If your dog is infected with worms, it is best to treat the condition promptly in order to relieve your pet's suffering and to avoid the contamination of your dog's environment, which can increase the chance of reinfection. Since most puppies either already have worms at birth or contract them soon after, it's important for them to be treated early. Also, in households with children or people with suppressed immune systems, prompt deworming is vital in order to prevent the possible transmission of the parasitic infection to humans.

We tend to use drugs called either Milbemax or Drontal to worm dogs. Both of these treat round worms and tape worms. Most puppies are treated every two weeks until eight weeks of age then monthly until their immune system matures at six months of age. Adult dogs should be wormed every three months to stop them shedding worm eggs and contaminating the places they regularly visit.

Canine Lungworm  

There is a serious disease that has occurred from time to time in dogs in southern England for the past thirty years that is starting to spread throughout the country. It is caused by a sophisticated worm called Angiostrongylus vasorum.

Although it lives in the heart, the worm can cause lung disease. This can be seen as a persistent cough and breathing difficulty. However, a wide range of signs is possible, making the disease difficult to identify. These include poor blood clotting, bruising, seizures, lameness, abdominal pain, lack of energy and stunting in growing dogs.

How can my dog become infected?
The parasite is transmitted from dog faeces to slugs and snails, where it develops to the infective stage (see diagram). Dogs are infected by eating or having close contact with infected slugs and snails.
There is a lot that we do not know about the infection process. It is not advisable to try to eliminate slugs and snails using slug pellets. This is unlikely to work and slug pellets are extremely toxic to dogs.

Can my dog catch it from an infected dog or fox?

No, the only route of infection is from eating an infected slug or snail.
How can my vet make a diagnosis of Lungworm?
There are several test that can help your vet to reach a diagnosis including taking a faecal sample to check for Larvae.

What should I do if my dog starts coughing?
Don't panic! Take it to your vet. There are many reasons why a dog may start coughing. However if your dog is known to eat snails then a veterinary examination is definitely a good idea. If your vet is uncertain of the cause of the cough they will probably recommend doing various tests to investigate the cause. This may include chest x-rays, blood tests, stool analysis and obtaining samples of mucus or fluid from the airways in the lungs. Obviously if you have seen your dog eating slugs or snails remember to mention this to your vet.

Can Lungworm infection be treated?
There are drugs available to treat Lungworm. However, in spite of treatment this disease can be fatal. It is therefore important to watch for clinical signs in your dog and consult your vet as soon as possible. Routine worming is not 100% successful at preventing Lungworm infection, and some wormers are more effective than others. There is more information about this parasite on the lungworm web site.

Vaccinations
 

Vanguard 7 contains live attenuated strains of the Canine Distemper Virus, Canine Adenovirus, Para influenza Virus and the Canine Parvovirus. It also contains inactivated cultures of Leptospira canicola and Leptosira icterohaemorrhagica. This is the weakest part of the vaccine that needs to be given twice with an interval of at least two weeks to establish full immunity.

DuramuneThis vaccine has only recently been introduce into the United Kingdom. As well as the components mentioned above it covers coronavirus infections and is able to protect puppies from a younger age. The vaccine is made in a different way using Outer Membrane Complex technology which is claimed to produce a more consistent product. Coronavirus has been shown to contribute to the fading puppy syndrome where puppies fail to thrive in the first two weeks of life. We are encouraging clients with breeding bitches to switch over to this vaccine to safeguard any future litters.

It is important to get the puppy injections right. They do not work if the vaccine is given too early sometimes as immunity that the pup has developed from the mother prevents the drug from working properly. The usual routine is to start the course at eight weeks with the second injection two weeks later. It is important to get puppies used to different things from and early age and there is no reason why he should not meet quiet dogs that you know have been vaccinated. Complete protection will not occur until five days after the second injection and it is only after this that it is completely safe for him to meet strangers.

It is very rare to get any side effects from the dog vaccines. After a time levels of protection decline so it is essential to repeat the injections each year. We have never had to treat any of the diseases in dogs that have been fully vaccinated. We do encounter difficulties in individuals where annual boosters have been missed. Pregnant bitches should not be vaccinated because the viral components could cause problems with the pups although we have never encountered this it is best avoided if you can.

Nobivac K C is a live bacterial vaccine that needs to come into contact with the lining of your dog's nose to protect him against Kennel Cough. This is a complicated disease, but most serious outbreaks of the infection are initiated by Bordatella brontiseptica, which is in the vaccine. The solution is instilled into the nose and stimulates the mucus membranes to combat the naturally occurring infection for twelve months.The vaccine also has components to protect against the para influenza virus so it gives comprehensive cover for the airborne diseases. Some dogs are a little concerned when things are done so close to their nose, I think this is because they cannot clearly see what is being done, but the actual administration of the vaccine is painless. The dose should be repeated annually for dogs that regularly visit Boarding Kennels and should not be given to animals that are on antibiotics for whatever reason as it stops the vaccine working to its full potential.

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Microchips

These are a small sterile device similar in size to a grain of rice that we can implant under the skin between the shoulder blades of your dog or cat so that they can be permanently identified. They are quite inert until activated by a special reader that will pick up their unique fifteen figure number. Microchips come in a sterile pack with a very sharp needle. Most patients do not seem to feel discomfort when they are inserted although the manufacturers advise that it is better not to touch the site for a week or so while the device is settling into position. 

Once we have determined that the microchip is working alright your pet will be registered on the Pet Log Database so that if ever you are separated you can easily be reunited. The telephone number for Pet Log is 0870 6066751 if you need it any time. It is surprising how many dogs loose their identity disc and it is always difficult to get cats to  keep a collar on. Many of the organisations that rescue cats and dogs have their animals microchipped now before they go to their new homes. All animals tested for the Pet Travel Scheme must be identified in this way.

When inserted correctly there have been very few reported problems with microchips. Over the past three years one survey revealed that of 973,869 microchips inserted only three had caused an infection and one had been lost from an animal. Four of the chips had failed to work when still in place. The microchips that we use are coated with a substance that encourages them to stick to the tissues when they are implanted. We have not had any problem with microchips migrating although the survey reports forty seven animals where the device had moved.

Microchips certainly work. Occasionally we have been able to identify lost dogs from our computer records before their owners realized that they were missing!

Also microchips work well on teddy bears. If you have a special friend who keeps getting lost on picnics we have just the thing to make sure that he will not get lost again.

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Dental Care                                                                                                       

Each side of your dog's upper jaw has 3 incisor teeth, 1 large canine tooth, 4 premolar and 2 molar teeth. The lower jaw has one extra molar tooth so there are 42 permanent teeth in total. The last premolar of the upper jaw and the first molar of the lower jaw are the largest teeth. Known as carnassials they are involved in slicing and tearing ingested food. Puppies are born with no teeth. By three weeks of age 28 deciduous teeth start to appear, by the time your pup is seven months old all of these will be replaced by the permanent ones. It is helpful to have a supply of chew toys available when the permanent teeth are emerging.

There are no dentures for dogs, Damaged teeth can be filled or capped by specialist Veterinary Dentists, often the implants will need to be replaced at some stage as they tend to wear. Dogs develop a deposit on their teeth called plaque, this is a mixture of calcium, food debris and bacteria that will soon harden to form tartar. If nothing is done to remove this deposit more plaque and tartar builds up and the mouth becomes infected. It is connective tissue at the gum margins that secures the teeth in place. Tartar will eventually lead to inflamed and infected gums. It is important to try to prevent this to stop pain and maintain the integrity of the teeth.

There are four ways that you can help with oral hygiene: Daily brushing is quite a commitment, it is useful if you have a show dog and need to keep the teeth bright and white. The idea is to brush away from the gums using a canine toothpaste and soft brush. We recommend Logic Oral Hygiene Gel as it is readily accepted by most patients. Note you cannot use human toothpaste or bicarbonate of soda in a dog's mouths as they will cause foaming and digestive upsets.

There are a whole host of chews and oral bars available to encourage your dog to work his teeth. Some of these like nylabone help to mechanically scour the surface of the teeth, others contain enzymes which are released to dissolve the deposits on the surface. It is not a good idea to offer bones, dogs do not need them if they are on a balanced diet. It is too easy for large pieces to be swallowed and cause trauma problems either in the mouth or as they pass through the gastro intestinal tract.

If you feed a diet such as Hills Canine t/d, which contains a special matrix with fibres aligned to mechanically clean the teeth as it is chewed. The diet contains high levels of anti oxidants and is made with different kibble sizes depending on how big your dog is. The Royal Canin Dental Diets work in a different way. They too have an abrasive texture that scrubs each tooth as it is eaten. Sodium tri polyphosphate binds to calcium from the saliva and carries it away from the teeth so it cannot contribute to the plaque. The product also contains zinc and Green tea polyphenols which help to maintain healthy gums.

The most recent product we have come across is called Vet Aquadent. This is a solution that you dilute and add to the water bowel each day. This is readily accepted as it contains chlorhexidine and xylitol to limit plaque and tartar formation. It will also freshen the breath. Vet Aquadent has been used in America for some years and has been shown to be effective for long term use.

If you are lucky you might have a dog like mine that always seems to have a clean mouth. She will use chews sometimes and is fed on dry food, but I do nothing else to keep her mouth healthy. I think this has got something to do with the amount of calcium that is formed in her saliva. Often we see dogs with significant deposits of tartar on their teeth and gum disease. Sometimes it is not possible to access the condition of the teeth and gums as they are shrouded by tartar and infection. In these circumstances we will need to administer a general anaesthetic and scale the teeth with an ultra sonic scaler then polish the teeth. Sometimes loose teeth are revealed and these will need to be extracted as they will never firm up again. It is usually necessary to start a course of antibiotics after dental work to clear the infection from the mouth. Once the mouth is clean again a change of diet or starting Oral Hygiene Gel or Vet Aquadent will help to stop a recurrence of the problem.

Freedom Fence                               

It is not always easy to fence a garden so that your pets can have free access to play and explore and be safe from straying if someone should come and leave a gate open. It can be expensive to construct a fence to keep a determined dog in and you may not want to change the character of your property to keep your pets secure.

There is now a better way to prevent dogs and cats straying. They can readily be trained to respect a radio fence. A wire is buried at the boundary of your garden that triggers a signal in a collar worn by your pet. This does not hurt the animal but they do not like the sensation and will not cross the invisible boundary that has triggered it.

Once your animals have been trained a radio fence will work well for both dogs and cats. Find out more by following the following link.

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Health Care Plan

At both Surgeries we run Health Care Plans to cover the vaccination, worming and flea control costs for your dog throughout the year. The plans cover all of the routine and preventative treatments for your companion with two health examinations each year. The Puppy Plan also covers the cost of the Microchip and Lifetime Registration. The idea is so that you will be able to budget for your medical costs and spread the fee over the whole year with a monthly Direct Debit. It is easy to organize a Health Plan for your pet. Ask at the Surgery for details.

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Unacceptable Behavior            

Sometimes you have an idea in your head as to how you expect your dog to behave. You have done all of the basic training and gone to puppy classes but somehow things are not progressing, as they should.

Perhaps your dog is challenging your authority or showing signs of aggression towards you or other members of your family. In these circumstances we can often help to modify your dog's behavior. Have a think about exactly what is going wrong and drop me a line so that we can try and get things back under control CliveNorrell@compuserve.com

Often we can get some clues as to what has happened to cause your dog's un acceptable behavior and we can help you to alter things for the better. It can take some time and careful planning to get things back under control and you will need to get everybody in your family to get involved.

There is a dog trainer local to our practice who can often sort things out if the problem is likely to be more time consuming, Debbie Gallimore runs puppy classes and an eight week Good Citizen training glass in conjunction with the Kennel Club. She is also able to investigate more difficult dog behavioral problems either at your own house or at the training area she has at her home in Pennerley. Take a looks at the Lilac House web site for further details.

If you want to do some research on the web try the Association of Pet Behavior Councilors at www.apbc.org.uk

The Behavior pages at the Dog Guide may also be of use to you, they can be found at www.canismajor./com/dog/

 

Expecting a new Baby

Very often dogs find the introduction of a new baby to the house to be stressful. They lose a lot of attention and the privileges they are used to, such as getting on the furniture. They may find the sound of the baby crying distressing, or they may worry about the way that we rush about when we hear crying. It is all confusing and it doesn’t have to be.

Sounds Soothing contains a CD and booklet of training tips that help to prepare your dog for the arrival of a new baby so that you can feel confident and your dog does not feel put out or stressed.
Simply play the CD to the dog daily until he or she is used to the noises of babies and children, and follow the training tips to prepare your dog for new routines such as when you are feeding or changing your baby. By following the advice you will also uncover any problems before your baby arrives, so that you can get extra help or do more training.

Sounds Soothing is the only product available that is designed to help dogs and children get on better, so that they can develop a good relationship. You can find out more about this on the Sound Therapy for Pets Site.

Epilepsy

You might not be aware that many dogs suffer from epilepsy. When a dog has a first fit it can be a distressing experience as they come on so quickly with little or no warning and there is little that you can do to shorten the fit or lessen its intensity. Many dogs seem to have their first fit in the summer during a spell of hot weather. Sometimes they are quite mild when your dog just seems to be a bit vacant for a few moments others are much more violent with all of the muscles working at once. Dogs do not have a tendency to swallow their tongues when they are fitting, the more they are stimulated the worst it becomes. If they happen inside it might help to darken the room by closing the curtains and to keep things calm and quiet.

It would seem that the treatments we use and the investigations that we do are similar the world over so I will direct you to a canine epilepsy site so that you can find out more information.

House Training Adult Dogs

For various reasons not all dogs are house trained. You might not know the full history of a dog that you have rescued or you might have a dog who used to be clean in the house and is now starting to become a nuisance. Some dogs may have been kept in a kennel from an early age and have never had any training others may be anxious about being left alone outside and may prefer to perform indoors where they feel more secure.

Before you start we will need to establish a new daily routine and we will need to get rid of the residual smells that prompt your dog to think that he is in his toilet. Thoroughly clean his favoured areas with a dilute solution of a biological washing powder or use the Odour Eliminator Spray that eats up the smells on carpets and flooring.

Every day first thing in the morning, last thing at night and every two hours in between take your dog out into the garden and let him walk about sniffing the smells in the chosen spot. Stay with him for at least five minutes, do not give him the impression that you are keen to get back inside the house. Give a word of encouragement when he starts to perform then always elaborate praise with possibly a food treat when he has finished.

If your dog starts to soil the house give a firm 'No' command and take him outside immediately. It is important that he associates going in the right place with a reward of knowing that he has pleased you. Punishment does not help with this problem. Your dog will just get confused if you try to chastise him when he has an accident in the house. It is better if you think of this as a mistake on your part for not supervising him closely enough.

You will need to go outside with him and supervise him closely for at least two weeks. After this be aware of the changes in behavior that he shows when he gets un comfortable and wants to go outside. If in doubt let him out and encourage him to go to that place in the garden.

Some dogs will not relieve themselves when people are around. this is because somebody has punished them in the past when they were young and still learning what is right and wrong when relieving themselves in the house. Pups that are put outside on their own after such incidents will get to be very worried as they do not like to be left alone at a young age and will have learnt that it is wrong to perform in front of people. These animals then have little choice but to sneak away to a quite room when they need to relieve themselves. In these circumstances you should give them a bit of privacy when you are outside in the garden and lots of praise when they are doing well

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Fear of Fireworks and Thunder

Many dogs are frightened by sudden loud noises that they cannot understand. It is not always easy to pin point exactly how this type of fear has developed. Often the problem occurs each time the animal is exposed to the sounds that they are frightened by. In the past we have used sedatives to help in this situation. These are relatively inexpensive and can be helpful if you know when the bangs and flashes are going to occur. This treatment does not suit all of our apprehensive dogs, sometimes we have to use more and more of the tablets to control the fear. Unfortunately it is not just one night that most people are disturbed by fireworks and you get much better results if the treatment is given before the disturbance starts so it is difficult to comply with the instructions that are given with the tablets.

There is now a better way of getting through the fireworks season. It has been found that the Dog Appeasing Pheromone does have a beneficial effect of animals that are frightened by fireworks. This is a scent that is produced by glands on the belly of bitches as they suckle their pups. It has a calming effect on dogs and has found to be effective in animals of all ages. When it is present dogs will be calm and are not so likely to react to sudden noises that they do not understand. The Pheromone can now be produced artificially and is available from a diffuser that you plug into a wall socket. Each refill lasts for at least one month although some owners have found that they work for six weeks or more.

To cope with fireworks it is recommended that you start using a Dog Appeasing Pheromone Diffuser in the room where the dog spends most of his time for at least two weeks before the expected problem. Sometimes it helps to feed a substantial meal late in the afternoon and have the dog in a room that has thick curtains so that there will not be any light getting in from outside. It is better if you can have some toys in the room to occupy your dog and for somebody to be there with your dog when things are going on outside.

Some behaviorist have found that it helps to have some music with continual drumbeat  playing in the background when there are fireworks going off outside. This is more to act as a distraction than to try and drown out the noises as they occur.

The way that you react when fireworks go off is the key to conquering this matter. It is better if you do not react to the bangs and do not fuss your dog when he is scared as he will see this as a way of you rewarding his behavior. Try to play with your dog if there are a lot of noises going on. It is more difficult for him to show signs of fear if he is enjoying a game with you.

There are now a number of Compact Discs available which you can use to get your dog used to different noises and situations that he finds frightening. There is more about this and about how to get over the fear of fireworks on the Sounds Scary Web Site.

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What do Dogs and Cats see?

It is wrong to speculate that our pets see the world in the same way as we do. Their eyes are constructed in a different way to ours and are designed to work differently. When standing we see things from a height of five to six feet and can look at distant objects. Cats and dogs see things from a height of a few inches to two feet or so. Things look very different from down there. Dogs are not so familiar with our faces, they see more of our legs and feet. We must seem very big to them.

In dogs the central area of the eye is mainly packed with rod photoreceptors. These are the ones that work at low light levels and do not distinguish different colours. It is thought that dogs and cats can detect light at a level six times lower than we can. They have good night vision and the back of their eye has a reflective surface that sends back 130 times as much light as our eyes do. They have a second chance to see things when light levels are low.

Most human eyes have receptors that can detect blue, yellow and red light and we can see a wide spectrum of colour. Dogs and cats cannot detect light in the wavelength that we see as red and they will not be able to seen green light very well. It is thought that if they are looking at a red rose bush on a lawn the lawn and the bush will be a whitish colour and flowers will be dark or black to them. Also remember that our pets have less than 10% of their retina that is able to cope with colour vision and not many nerve fibers to transmit the images to their visual cortex. At best it is likely that they have only weak colour vision.

The lens in the eye of a cat or a dog is quite different from ours. The human lens is elastic and able to focus up to 14 times whereas dogs use a different mechanism to focus light onto their retina and at best can only manage two to three times. They are not able to focus on things close to the end of their nose. This is one of the reasons some dogs are distressed by nasal vaccines, they cannot see what is happening that close to their face. It is also known that dogs are more sensitive to flickering light than we are. Our eyes are deceived by the flickering image on a television screen that is renewed sixty times every second, dogs would see mostly a flickering image.

Cats and dogs can readily detect small distant movements which our eyes with their greater height and distant vision can readily miss. This can be most useful for older patients that have difficulty in hearing. They will often still be able to notice you at a distance as long as you walk across their line of vision and not directly towards them.

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Living with a Deaf Dog

Many dogs are deaf or have impaired hearing. With a little bit of understanding and careful training there is no reason why a dog with impaired hearing cannot have a full and active life. It is known that of the 180 breeds registered with the Kennel club 60 are recognised as being susceptible to hereditary deafness. The condition occurs in cross bred animals as well. The breeds most commonly affected are Dalmatians, white Boxers, Bull Terriers, English Setters. Old English sheep Dogs and Border Collies. Genes that control the colour of the coat and eyes are also involved with the development of the inner ear. Dogs that have white in their coat or lack pigmentation in their eyes may also be deaf.

Often deaf puppies are not noticed until they have gone to there new homes. Where the problem is suspected tests with electrodes can be done to determine if the brain stem is picking up signals from the ear. This can be done on puppies as young as six weeks, before they go to their new homes.

Older animals often loose their hearing, some will only respond to very loud or high pitched sounds. When this happens it can be difficult to attract their attention when you are out on a walk. Sometimes a hearing impaired dog will look around if you use a dog whistle. A more up to date way of attracting attention is to use a pager. There is a small receiver that they wear on their collar that vibrates when it is activated. These are useful for dogs that are used to running free.

It takes time and care to train a deaf dog to hand signals, you will need to always be aware of what your hand are doing or your companion may get the wrong messages. Sometimes it is easier if you have another dog with normal hearing to help as well. Deaf dogs enjoy obedience and agility training and have been known to compete in national competitions.

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Dieting for Dogs

Being over weight is a common problem for dogs. All dogs are different and we tend not to notice slight increases as the weeks go by. Even if you are very careful about what your dog has to eat things can still go wrong if there are opportunities for him to steal food from other pets or if you have young children and he is able to get extra snacks from them. Some dogs have a tendency to put on weight once they have been neutered. You should plan for this and reduce their intake by fifteen percent after the operation if you can. It is always easier to get dogs to gain weight than to lose it. Sometimes we are not always able to give our dogs as much exercise as we should. Most of the diets are formulated for active animals and may be too high in energy for your animals needs.

Dogs that are overweight live shorter less healthy lives. Being over weight puts an extra burden on bones and joints and can make some animals irritable and uncomfortable. Fat deposits build up not only under the skin, but between the muscles and in the abdomen as well. Fat cells in the liver take the place of the normal tissue and reduce its capacity to function. Obese animals are reluctant to exercise and tend to lose some of their muscle mass because they are not being worked properly. The heart is stressed because it has to pump extra blood to the fatty tissues and will have to work under a higher pressure.

In older patients joints deteriorate faster than we would like, ligaments and tendons will stretch as the gait of the animal changes. Overweight dogs often need to have their nails cut as they take their weight further back on their heals and the nails do not wear so quickly. Obese animals are more prone to developing sugar diabetes and are more likely to suffer from infectious diseases as their immune system is compromised. Sometimes groups of fat cells can start to grow rapidly and form a tumour. These are called lipomas and although they are not life threatening they are best removed surgically as they alter the appearance of your animal and can sometimes get to such a size that the weight of them will be a problem for your pet.

We like to weigh dogs regularly and record their weight. This is the best way to get an idea of what is happening to your dog. Some animals become less active as they get older and suddenly put on weight because they are being fed the same amount of food as they were in the past. Sometimes if we realize something is happening at an early stage you may be able to reduce the amount of the food that is being given and bring things back under control. If we find that your pet is more than fifteen percent heavier that he should be it is usually better to use a diet specially formulated to combat obesity.

We tend to get most success with the Calorie Control diet. We will calculate the amount of food to use depending on what he should weigh, not what his weight is when you start. Most dogs seem to like this food, you will be using a reasonable volume to keep him content, but you will not be feeding too many calories. Like all new food it is better if you can introduce him to it gradually over five or six days and measure an exact quantity each time. In general once a day feeding is best, though it can be difficult to alter the feeding habits that he is used to so you may need to give a token extra meal to keep him content.

Regular exercise is an important part of the treatment even if it may take a few weeks to get your companion fit again. Start with two thirty minute walks each day. Sometimes it is difficult to work out how much exercise your dog gets each day and it might be useful to use a petometer so that you can gradually build on his exercise regime.At the end of the dieting period you will have a new dog so try to give him as much attention as you did when you first met.

Dieting is a gradual process, we will aim to reach your target weight in twelve to sixteen weeks but it can take longer if you have a long way to go. If you lose weight too quickly there is a tendency for the muscle mass as well as fat to be reduced. Small breeds can lose up to 0.5kg each month, for most dogs 1 kg is good progress although 2kg can be achieved in the larger breeds.

We have a weigh clinic on the first Wednesday of each month and we adjust the feeding depending on the progress you are making. Towards the end of the dieting period we will help you to get back onto a higher density feed, but sometimes it is better to choose one of the feeds that is reduced in calories so that you can keep your dog slim. We like to continue to monitor the weight every two or three months to keep a check on things.

There is no charge for the weight clinics. We often find that because of the volumes of food fed that it costs less to feed the low calorie feed than what you were using before.

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Hypothyroidism

The thyroid is a gland with no ducts, an endocrine gland, that is situated in the center of the neck. There are several endocrine glands that between them work together to regulate the health and metabolism of your dog. When the body is unable to produce enough of the thyroid hormone often one of the first signs that you will notice is that there will be hair loss and thinning of the coat over the hind quarters and flanks. The coat is often dry and scaly and the hairs will readily fracture. Lack of the hormone affects the metabolism of the animal, there will be a tendency to be reluctant to exercise and put on excessive weight.

It is not always clear exactly why the thyroid gland fails to produce enough of the hormone. Sometimes the gland is inflamed, but often there is no apparent abnormality or reason for it not to function properly. If we suspect that there may be a problem the condition is diagnosed from a blood test. It is relatively easy to support the gland with daily tablets and you should notice an improvement in your dog's energy levels within two to three weeks. Coat and weight changes may take longer to resolve. From time to time we will need to take further blood samples to check that we are using the right dose of the tablets. It is usually necessary to monitor your pet's weight as this is often an early indication that we have not got the levels right.

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Allergies

Like us animals can become allergic to things that they regularly come into contact with, things that they eat and insects that bite them. Household cleaners such as Flash and Shake and Vac can cause serious skin irritations in sensitive individuals. Other dogs may get very sore if they lay down on your lawn soon after it has been mown in the summer or develop watery eyes and sneezing during the pollen season. Dogs are exposed to a lot of grass pollen if they are exercised in fields where the grass is long as it falls onto their face as they run about.

As fleas bite they inject a small amount of saliva into their host to make the blood flow. Some animals can tolerate flea bites for a number of years before they become sensitive to them, others start to itch from an early age and for these animals it is important to use a product such as frontline that is able to kill the parasites before they have a chance to bite. 

Other allergies relating to what you dog is eating can be more difficult to sort out. Common signs are skin irritation with scratching, rubbing of the face and licking feet. Bouts of diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain can all be a response to a food sensitivity. Other patients become irritable and may show signs of aggression or hyperactivity that is difficult to control.

When we suspect that your dog has become sensitive to something he is eating we might try to get him to take a diet that has just one or two types of protein in it to see if things improve. It is important that he has just this one food with no opportunities to eat other things or all of your efforts will be wasted. Sometimes it will take a month or more before things start to change. Often it is useful to take a blood sample and find out what things in the diet or the environment your pet is reacting to. This can give us more information as to what things should be avoided and what we should be safe with. It can be difficult to avoid certain foods if you look after several pets or have young children that may drop food on the floor.

There is more information about these problems on the Pet Allergy Testing web site. This is a specialist laboratory that takes a real interest in sorting out these difficult problems.

Care for the Welping Bitch

If your Bitch is about to welp for the first time and you are not sure what to do or when to ask for help for her or the new puppies take a look at our care guide found at the end of the following link.

Also if you are a breeder and spend time with your pups to get them used to a home environment and encourage them to be handled by different people this goes a long way to enhance their confidence so that they will grow up as balanced individuals. One of the first things that we have problems with is travel sickness. For most pups the first time they travel is the first time they have been on their own as they go to their new home, this is often a long journey. It is not the best if they first see their new home after a difficult journey. Try to get your pups used to car journeys from an early age. They don't necessarily have to go very far and their journey can start and end at the same place, but it would be better if car journeys became a normal part of their lives right from the start.

Canine Herpes Infection

This is a viral infection that affects the respiratory tract of adult dogs and gives few indications as to its presence. It is quite common. It a bitch is pregnant when she first becomes infected it can lead to death of the puppies in the womb or soon after birth. Under three weeks it is unusual for any of the pups to survive. It is a disheartening disease often the strongest pups are the ones to go first, they die within a few hours of first showing signs of disease and often cry out in the terminal stages.

The only effective treatment against this disease is to vaccinate the bitch within a week of mating and again one to two weeks before welping. If a bitch has lost pups to this disease it is likely that she will build up a good immunity to the infection and it is unlikely that future litters would be affected. Maiden bitches are the most likely to be affected by this infection. It is possible to take a blood sample to discover if animals have been exposed to this virus, but it would be wrong to rely on natural immunity to protect an expected litter. Neonatal Herpes Infection can only be diagnosed after a post mortem investigation as there are other diseases that can cause losses in young puppies.

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Juvenile Cellulitis

This is a dramatic condition that occurs in young pups up to four months of age. It occurs suddenly, there is considerable swelling of the face and neck often with blisters and ulcers on the nose and chin. The lymph glands on the throat swell dramatically and some animals have difficulty swallowing. This problem is sometimes called puppy strangles. It seems to occur because the immune system of the pup has not developed fully so that they are not able to produce enough white blood cells to control the bacteria that grow on their face. Most pups that we have seen with cellulitis have responded well to antibiotics and their appetite and growth have not been affected. Some colleagues report that the swellings in the lymph glands have not reduced until cortico steroids are used.

Hydrotherapy

Most dogs like swimming and have an instinctive ability to move their legs when they are in water. We can use this instinct to help patients that have defects in the nerve supply to their legs either because thy have had a stroke or have a protrusion of one or more the inter vertebral discs in their back or neck. Animals that have muscle wastage after an accident or are struggling with arthritis can also benefit from hydro therapy. Hydrotherapy helps with general fitness and can be used to help show dogs or to get working or agility dogs fit for the coming season. Patients swim in warm water with bouyancy aids and always seem to enjoy the sessions so it is a good thing to do with your companion.

We are fortunate that we have two sites local to the practice who have experienced staff and new facility to offer this service for your pets. They are Tara's K9 Hydro Ltd at Dorrington and Myofit Hydrotherapy at Rectory Gardens Church Stretton.

Caring for older Dogs

The needs of your dog changes as he gets older. Large breeds age more rapidly than smaller ones. Large dogs are considered elderly when they are six years of age, medium sized dogs may not show any signs of ageing until they are nine. Smaller breeds can get to twelve before they have any problems with ageing.

As dogs age the functions of their internal organs start to decline. They are less able to resist infections and may develop other diseases. It is important that you are aware of these chances and react to keep your pet healthy and active for as long as possible.

Older animals have different dietary needs than when they were younger. Senior dogs may not be as active as they were and need fewer calories each day if they are to maintain their weight and not become obese. They may not be able to digest their food as efficiently as they have in the past so the diet needs to be of a high quality and contain reduced levels of protein and phosphorus to maintain kidney function.

Problems an older dog may encounter include arthritis, circulatory disorders, a decline in the efficiency of their hearing, sight and smelling, possible mouth and kidney problems. Some older animals have a tendency to become incontinent

We like do full health checks on older dogs. We often do this at the time of annual vaccinations and take particular attention to check for the problems mentioned above and ensure that there are no bumps and lumps present. At this examination we take a blood sample to check for liver and kidney function. We also ask for a urine sample so that we can screen it for any signs of abnormality. We find that many of our older patients we see are in need of worm treatments and this is part of the Geriatric Profile that we do at the Surgery.

There are some very good drugs available now to treat dogs that are suffering from arthritis. Watch out for the early signs, stiffness first thing in the morning a reluctance to run and jump gates. Dogs with arthritis tend to have more problems when it is cold and damp. They will struggle on long walks and may become short tempered because they are uncomfortable. Treated early we can often reverse these changes and keep the disease in check. We like to X ray dogs with arthritis to find out exactly what we are dealing with. It is wrong to stop the exercise altogether as it is important to keep your companion fit. This needs careful planning and a regular routine.

Dogs tend to suffer from different circulatory problems that we do. As the heart starts to work less efficiently fluid builds up in the lungs and it will enlarge and beat faster but less efficiently. Early signs are when a dog coughs in the mornings and lacks energy on his daily walks. When the heart enlarges it is more difficult for the valves to work properly. We can see all of these changes on an X-ray and determine the most effective treatment.

Modern drugs lower the blood pressure, relax constricted arteries and veins and encourage the excretion of sodium by the kidneys so that the heart is not working under so much pressure. Again we can maintain dogs with potentially serious heart problems and get them to have an active life, but we do need to start the treatments at an early stage of the disease process to get the best results. Dogs are a lot smaller than we are and it is important that animals with heart conditions have a diet low in salt. Crisps and bacon must be avoided as far as possible.

It is not always easy to tell how much your dog is hearing. I once had an older dog who was profoundly deaf. This developed over fourteen to eighteen months, at first she would not respond to commands when she was some way distant and it was difficult to attract her attention. Also she would wake suddenly when asleep because she did not realize anybody was about. Eventually she got into the habit of constantly looking around if she was walking ahead of me so that she did not loose contact, but it was sometimes difficult to attract her attention if she was really interested in something.

The most common reason for failing eyesight in older dogs is when the lens of the eye starts to age and goes cloudy. This is not very noticeable at first, the eye will have a bluish tinge and the pupil will be dilated in poor light so that the maximum amount of light can be let into the eye. Often cataracts in older patients develop only so far so that your dog will see the world through a mist all of the time. Rarely will cataracts progress to make you companion completely blind.

Dogs with impaired hearing and or vision are vulnerable to traffic and will not realize that cars are about. Take particular care of your older dog in traffic. Sometimes it is only once that they are run over so make sure they are under control when there are cars about'

Even in the worst cases most dogs with poor or no effective vision can manage to get about quite well. They quickly learn where obstacles are and unless you keep on moving the furniture can cope surprisingly well. Cataracts can be removed surgically if your dog is blind and unhappy. This is a job for a specialist and will inevitably mean regular follow up visits to have the pressures within the eye monitored. Dogs that have their lenses removed can no longer focus on things, but they should be able to do most of the things they could before their vision was affected.

Because there are no tests for it and it is difficult to determine not a lot is written about dogs that lose their sense of smell. Dogs live in a world of smells that we cannot be a part of. In many ways it is the most developed of their senses but you may not realize at first that something is wrong. You can tell a lot by the way he reacts when he is off the lead, whether he is interested in lampposts or not. Dogs with a deficient sense of smell may show a reluctance to eat and may have no interest when you change his food. Should you suspect that this has suddenly happened we need to investigate further to discover if there is a cause that may be treatable. It is a big thing for dogs to lose their sense of smell.   

The other problems with smells may come from the mouth. All dogs will have a coating of tartar on their teeth; this may be no more that a thin layer at the gum margins that has very little significance. If it develops further the deposit may grow to such an extent that your dog cannot physically close his mouth properly. Significant deposits of tartar become infected and cause gingivitis. This is very painful for your dog, the toxins produced by the bacteria have to be dealt with by the liver and this can be affected too if the infection is ignored.

It is the gum margins that support the teeth and once this has been damaged the gums will retract and some of the teeth may be lost or get infected roots. We can do a great deal to keep your dog's mouth healthy. Often with proper toothpaste and the use of chews from an early age it is possible to prevent most of the problems. Once there is a significant build up of tartar it has to be removed with the help of an ultra sonic scaler under a general anesthetic. Your dog's teeth will be polished after this procedure. Not all dogs will allow you to clean their teeth when conscious and some will not use chews so it might be necessary to repeat this procedure from time to time to keep his mouth healthy.

Dogs are not so prone to kidney problems as cats are and sometimes it is difficult to notice the early signs. Some animals with renal infections will appear to have back pain, they do not always drink a lot more, but there will be a dramatic weight loss. A urine sample and blood test are required to determine exactly what is going on if you suspect a kidney problem. Any infections are treated by an antibiotic that is concentrated and excreted in the urine. If the kidney function is declining we might need to us a diet low in phosphorus and protein to support the function of the organ. Low protein diets can be unpalatable so you might need to try several different sorts to maintain his appetite.

There can be several reasons why you dog has developed urinary incontinence. Bitches re more prone to the condition than dogs. The most common reason is a failure of the nerves that control the bladder. Medication is available to alleviate this problem although we do need to do a thorough examination first to be sure that there are no anatomical abnormalities or infections that are making the situation worse. Sometimes young bitches can be affected by this problem, but we can usually control things with the right drugs. There is more about this on the propalin web pages.

Often when presented with an older dog we will realize that several things are not quite right. Your pet may not be stiff enough to require medication, perhaps his circulation is starting to decline and he is getting forgetful at night. Under these circumstances there is a drug available that works well with some patients, perhaps as well as more specific treatments. Called Vivitonin it has several effects on the body. First of all it dilates the smaller blood vessels improving the circulation to the limbs, heart and brain. Vivitonin makes the blood less sticky so it is able to flow better and has some effects on the airways improving the oxygen carrying capacity of the circulation.

The tablets have to be given twice each day and work better on an empty stomach or with a minimal amount of food. Sometimes it takes several weeks for the effects to become apparent. Be patient and you will find that your dog is more energetic, has a better appetite and an improvement in the condition of his coat. Some dogs that have become senile show a remarkable improvement on this drug with fewer times when they seem confused and fewer problems with incontinence. Vivitonin opens up the circulation in the brain and can be a great help for patients with impaired senses. After a stroke it can be most useful to speed the rate of recovery and normal function.

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Pet Portraits

It is not easy for an artist to capture your dog on a portrait. Sally Logue has specialised in Animal Portraits since 1994 and can usually do a pastel drawing from a good photograph. She does prefer to work from photographs that she has taken herself if you can travel up to Penrith in Cumbria.  She will return any prints that you send if they are not suitable to work from. There are examples of her work on her web site at www.sallylogue.co.uk 

Still looking for a specific disease? 

There is now a great deal of  useful information about most of the conditions that dogs suffer from on the Vet 2 Pet website or contact me at CliveNorrell@compuserve.com if you need further advise.

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Time to say good bye

None of us like to think about it and none of our staff like to do it. Inevitably there will come a time when your dogs life has become so restricted that you are approaching the time when a decision has to be made about when to bring his days to an end. Sometimes it would be nice if you could come down one morning and find that he has quietly passed away in his sleep, but this does not happen very often.

We can only advise you about euthanasia and help you to come to the best decision for your pet. It is you who knows your dog better than any one and will know how well he is coping with his old age. Larger dogs are often more difficult to nurse than smaller ones. Some animals will lose all interest in life when they can no longer go for walks with you and you will realize that it is not right to continue any further.

There are very potent analgesics available that we use now to control pain. Sometimes with some joint conditions, especially if more than one leg is involved, it becomes more and more difficult to keep your dog comfortable. Other reasons for euthanasia are if your pet has an inoperable cancer or has developed secondary tumours after an initial course of treatment. Many animals with cancer do not seem to suffer much discomfort, and they do not have the mental trauma of knowing that their days are numbered. What tends to happen is that there are complications with the weight loss and that they can become so weak that it is difficult to maintain any quality in your companion's life.

Sadly with some other dogs a difficult decision has to be made because they have behavioral problems that are difficult to resolve. We usually approach these cases with the help of a specialist trainer. Drugs too will often help in this process to make your dog more amenable, but sometimes the problems are too great to resolve or the risk of children or other pets being bitten is too great a responsibility to cope with.

Once the decision has been made the actual process is quick. Most dogs would have had an anesthetic at some stage in their lives. The procedure is similar to start with, we clip some hair on the leg so that we can have access to a vein. The drug that is used is more concentrated than the anesthetic so your companion will drift into a deep sleep and everything will stop.

We are quite happy to come to your house when the time comes or if we think the procedure is better done at the surgery we will try to arrange it when things are a bit quieter than our normal surgery times. It is always sad having to say good bye to an old friend for the last time but sometimes it is the only thing that you can do. Afterwards we can make arrangements for him to be cremated and you will be able to have the ashes back if you wish. The people who help us with this are Animal Funeral Services from Kington in Hereford. They are a reputable company, this is the only thing that they do. There telephone number is 01544 340277 should you wish to contact them. Some owners prefer to arrange a burial at home and we are quite happy for you to do this should you wish to.

Grieving

Pets have relatively short lives and each of us has a different relationship with our animals. The death of a pet leaves few of us untouched and even when you understand the process of mourning it can sometimes be difficult to come to terms with your loss. Do ask if you are having problems coping after the loss of your pet. It is quite normal to have feeling of quilt and anger. Everybody will be sad at first and it can be difficult if things do not improve as the weeks go by.

Sometimes it is helpful to share your memories and thoughts. There are two sites that might help or lead you onto other things.

Try the Chat Room at the Rainbow Bridge which you can find at

http://www.cyberhideaway.com/RainbowBridge/index.html

For more information about Coping with the Loss of a Pet visit

http://www.homevet.com/bonding/loss.html

 

 

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