YOUR DOG’S HEALTH

On buying a puppy take it to your vet for a thorough M.O.T. Puppies up to the age of 13 weeks should not mix unless the dogs are fully immunised and in perfect health. Puppies also should not be taken to a place where other unknown dogs have been. Vaccine is given at 8 to 9 weeks of age and again at 12 weeks of age. At 13 weeks your puppy can socialise freely.

When feeding a puppy one must remember that all it has had is it’s mothers milk, a protein. Cows milk however, may cause an upset and should be avoided. Starches such as breakfast cereals or other grains in excess may be poorly digested and can cause stomach upsets. Puppy tins or dry foods are the safest. Certain other protein foods may be given on the advice of your vet. Food and water bowls should be thoroughly washed every day. Fresh drinking water must be provided and if you notice excess drinking and urination consult your vet.

Puppies do not need bathing as a routine. They do however need grooming. Ears should be checked for excess wax. Use an ear cleaner on your vet’s advice. Take care to gradually phase in ear cleaning as your puppy must grow to like this. Reward as an encouragement is a good thing. Ear diseases result from dirty ears and therefore they need periodic veterinary examination. If your dog enjoys having her ears examined this will be a simple matter. As it is not always practical to use cleaners the ears may have to be syringed whilst under sedation. Keeping ears in good health at all times prevents thickening of the inner lining of the ear.

Bathing your dog’s eyes with water is not always a good thing. If there is a continuous discharge the eyes will need to be treated by your vet.

Your dog’s bedding should be washed regularly and you must keep her free from chills. If she gets wet dry her as soon as possible with a towel and use a hair dryer. The latter may take some time to get used to. Slowly does it is the answer. Some breeds need to be bathed and groomed at regular intervals, others need daily brushing. When bathing your dog take care to use a shampoo that is not too harsh, and so avoid drying out the coat of natural oils.

Check that your dog’s nails do not grow too long. Care of the teeth in the adult dog is important. Toothbrushes and paste are marketed for dogs and cats and are used very successfully. Oral hygiene is very essential to your dog’s health as some diseases and premature renal failure are exacerbated by oral disease. Bones are regarded as dangerous and the decision to give your dog a BIG bone should be made in conjunction with your vet. Bones help to keep the teeth clean. When you take your dog in for her yearly jab your vet will evaluate her teeth and gums and may advise a tooth descaling and polishing to get in all the nooks and crannies at the back of her mouth.

Scent glands. All dogs are born with these little pea sized glands under the tail. These glands have small openings which can become blocked and cause irritation. It is advisable to have them regularly emptied. If this becomes a regular problem surgery may be necessary to remove them.

External parasites are a perennial problem. Most common is the flea. There are also mange parasites. Prevention of flea infestation is far better than your dog making you aware that it has fleas. By this stage many flea eggs have been laid and your house is a source of reinfection. Despite the best of remedies the flea persists for some weeks and your dog may develop a flea allergy. Seek advice and preventative treatment before the problem has manifested itself.

Dogs have three main types of worms - two roundworms and tapeworms. the roundworms do not leave your dog in the normal course of events and you may not be aware of their existence. They live a long time and slowly cause anaemia and disease. They may also be a human health hazard. these worms are easily picked up by walking your dog where other dogs have been. Consult your vet as to the frequency of deworming. Tapeworms are easy to spot as a segment of worm appears from time to time. The flea is the intermediate host of the tapeworm. Deworming and defleaing your dog at the same time is essential.

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