Ear Infections in Dogs

Ear problems are one of the most common problems encountered in dogs. Quite often, it starts with a mild discharge from one of the ears which quickly goes on to develop into a foul smelling thick discharge. It is often noticed by the owner while playing (and patting) with the dog. Many a times, the condition is discovered when the owner notices that the dog is moving with its head tilted on one side.

Let me briefly touch upon the salient aspects of the disease. 

Just like us, the ear of a dog also secrets ear wax. The ear wax is a complex secretion secreted in the ear canals of the mammals. It lubricates the skin in the ear canal besides acting as a barrier to the entry of microbes, dirt and water. As the ear wax is produced in the ear canal, it tends to push out the previously produced ear wax. However, since the ear of the dog is "L" shaped, quite often there is a problem in expelling out the ear wax. The problem gets compounded owing to poor grooming and soon there is a growth of a large number of unwanted microbes (bacteria, fungus etc). This is how the disease occurs.

Sometimes, ear mites, allergies are also responsible for causing the disease. 

crusted ear wax in a dog with ear infection

Regular attention to ears while grooming will ensure that the ears are clean. However, if one suspects an ear infection a visit to the vet is warranted. More often than not the vet will clean the ears with medication and prescribe some ear drops. However, if the disease has advanced it would entail a different approach towards it. 

It is also worth mentioning that occasionally one encounters cases where in the ear infection has a tendency to recur. It is an annoying and a frustrating experience and in certain cases desired results are achieved after months. However, the early the case is presented to the vet, better are the chances of the recovery.

Heart Worm - the silent killer

Heartworm is a fairly common and often fatal disease of dogs if not diagnosed and treated. Actually, it is a global disease of the dogs.  Unfortunately the average pet owner has little knowledge about the disease. Quite often, the disease sets in insidiously and eventually leads to the death of the dog.  Here are the salient aspects of the disease.

 Cluster of Heartworms in the pulmonary artery & right ventricle

What is heartworm ?

As the name suggests, it is a worm about 12 inches to 14 inches in length and about 2-3 mm in thickness. This worm gains entry in the dog’s body owing to a mosquito bite. Yes, you read it right ! This disease is indeed transmitted by a mosquito. This at least theoretically means  that the disease can occur at every place that has a mosquito population. More specifically at all places that are host to the mosquitoes responsible for transmitting the disease.

So what is the bad thing about the disease?

It’s serious and complex. The adult heartworm lodges itself in the pulmonary artery in the heart. It gets its nourishment from the blood that courses through the artery. The number of worms  can be from a few to about 100. The presence of the worms cause mechanical obstruction in the flow of the blood besides causing inflammation. Sometimes the blood may even clot. In general, higher the number of worms, severe is the disease.

What are the symptoms ?

Unfortunately, initially, there are no symptoms. However, as the number of the worms increase most dogs will develop a cough. They will get winded easily (exercise intolerance). In severe cases abnormal lungs sounds can be heard. Dogs with heavy heartworm load may collapse and die if they are subjected to strenuous exercise. Often the symptoms manifest six months after the mosquito bite.

What is the treatment ?

Generally, the treatment is planned after assessing the severity of the disease. Further, a diseased dog may have adult worms, only immature worms (microfilariae) or mixed population of adult and immature worms. Drugs (ivermectin and related drugs ) are available in the market that kill the immature worms. Now, killing the adult heart worms is a different ball game. Presently, there is only 01 drug (Milbemycin Oxime) that is supposed to kill the adult worms. Unfortunately, it is not available in India. Further, an adult heartworm that has been killed by the drug runs the risk of floating around the blood vessels. In certain cases after confirming the worm load by radiological aids the adult worms are also extracted out by surgical means.

What is the prevention ?

Monthly administration of ivermectin tablets / injections to dogs residing in endemic areas keeps the disease away.

Technical Stuff

Technically inclined visitors may watch the video "Davey's Gift from Dr Garner" at You tube where in 86 adult heartworms have been shown being extricated from the jugular vein of Davely a golden Lab. 

A visit to www.marvistavet.com and then reading the entire info on the disease is highly recommended. The info is actually fascinating. Professionals in the field and fellow vets must visit the same.

Tarry Coloured Stool - Is it serious ?

A few days back, I was vacationing with my family. During the vacation, I received a call from a friend who wanted advise regarding her 04 year old, male Labrador. The Labarador had reportedly vomitted a tarry coloured vomit and was passing stools that were again tarry coloured in appearance. Thanks to modern medicine and the dedication of the dog owner, the condition resolved in about 03 days. However, I felt that it was worthwhile to highlight the condition and its implications through a post. Hence this post. 

Tarry coloured vomitus or tarry coloured stool indicate haemorrhage (bleeding) in the digestive tract (stomach or the small intestine). The tarry colour is a fall out of complex chemical reactions occurring when the blood comes in contact of various digestive juices and enzyymes. This condition is not a disease as such but is indicative of some underlying condition as a result of which the bleeding occur(ed) in the digestive tract. 

The common causes that may lead to this condition ulcers in the stomach, ingestion of a foreign body, trauma, tumours, infections, pneumonia, kidney failure, inflammatory conditions of the digestive tract etc. Such a condition may also occur, if the dog is on iron tonics.

In general, such a condition requires proper investigations and expert veterinary cover and attention otherwise the condition may deteriorate very fast.   

Wise Sayings from A Vet

                         VETERINARY TRUISMS

1.  An estimate, in the mind of the client is an exactimate.

2. The person who feeds tablescraps or overfeeds the pet will not be the person currently in the exam room with you.

3. If a client has to ask their spouse, the pet's treatment will not happen.

4. You will be held accountable for what you say, what you don't say, how you say it, and what the client thinks you said.

5. The client who is late to their appointment will be in a hurry.

6. The additional pet brought to an exam who is "just along for the ride", isn't.

7. An owner who tells you they will be "waiting by the phone for your call", are "easily reached" at the given number, or "always have my cell phone with me", will not.

8. If you tell a client when test results will be ready, you will be wrong.

9. Always double how long someone tells you their pet has been ill.

10. Anyone who is late to their appointment or know you're near to closing will always be "only five minutes away". Corollary: When they say this, assume, at a minimum, they mean football minutes.

11. Clients can relate a problem to anything that was previously done at your clinic regardless of how much time has passed. Example: "(problem: ie tumor, coughing, limping, etc.) has been present ever since (spay, nail trim, boarding, etc.) back last (week, month, year, decade, etc.)."

12. People will always double what they say they spent at the vet's compared to what they actually did.

13. If you are told a pet "doesn't like men", you'll find the truth is it doesn't like anyone.

14. If you have to carry a pet to and/or from a person's car, they will have parked as far from the front door as possible.

15. If the owner is asking if it is ok to give "Substance A" to their pet, they've actually already given it.

16. If you have the most accessible, easy-to-hit, Alaskan pipeline-sized vein, the pet will be the most uncooperative and fractious patient. Conversely, the sweetest, most easily-handled, cooperative pet will have the tiniest, movable, hard-to-find vein to hit.

17. The client will tell you the most valuable piece of information in diagnosing their pet while you are using your stethescope.

18. You will always be told that the poor dog with the smelly, matted, oily, tangled mess of a coat is scheduled for grooming "tomorrow". This will be stated no matter when in the year or how often you see this dog. Also, all of the problems with the dog's coat is not what it will be in for.

19. The word "not" is the most widely client-misheard word in a veterinary setting. Consider the following examples:
What is said: "This problem will come back."
Client hears: "This problem will not come back."
What is said: "Do not allow Bongo to run after surgery."
Client hears: "Do allow Bongo to run after surgery."

20. Client definition of "expensive": It costs something.

21. Scheduling Paradox: It is not important for clients to be on time, only for you to be on time.

22.  There is an inverse relationship between how loudly a client proclaims how well they take care of their pet and how well they actually do.

Acknowledgement

This hilarious post is attributed to Dr Scott. He runs his popular and extremely funny site that is named that is aptly titled  www.funnyvet.com. Quite obviously! This post can be found published at the following link http://funnyvet.com/index.php/just-for-fun/veterinary-truisms hosted at his site.

Well, just in case the good doctor stumbles at my blog....Dr Scott..you rock!  

The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....  Author unknown...

The doggie knows who is driving

It seems that this dog knows pretty well about the driving skills of his master and the lady. :)

Just kidding !

Is My Dog Overweight ?

The battle of the bulge does not only affect us. It also affects our pets. Just like us, our pets also put on weight due to the following reasons –

·         when they eat more than what is actually required

·         when they lead a sedentary life style - no exercise, no walking, eating and sleeping

Arrgh! this sounds so familiar. Actually, we contribute to their being overweight by feeding them the left overs, by giving in to their silent begging with those soulful eyes even as we chomp away at a  biscuit while having tea!. The fact that the hustle and bustle of our life often does not allow us to take it for walks as much we would have liked also contributes to this weighty problem!

An overweight pet is predisposed to a number of ailments -

·         Digestive Diseases

·         Respiratory Diseases

·         Ailments of the heart

·         Diabetes

·         Musculoskeletal injuries

·         Cancer

The photograph shows silhouette of the pets in various body conditions. Identify, the one that is applicable for your pet and take the remedial action. 

Congratulations to all the owners whose dogs are in top shape. Well, chances are so would you be!  However, those who have dogs that are overweight – there is no reason to despair. The problem can be reversed by instituting a few measures –

·         Take it easy. Slow down. Take your dog for a walk. A long walk with your dog in the morning is  cathartic. It is good for your health as well as of your pooch. Besides it also develops a bonding.

·         Gradually, reduce the diet till it comes back to shape. Please note that an average sedentary dog weighing about 20 kg needs about 500 cal per day. 

·          Do not offer snacks, tid bits in between meals. No, I mean absolutely no snacking.

·         Play some games with it. How about – “fetch me the ball” or “can you catch the flying disc game”?

 Here is wishing you all the best! 

An interesting case - Ingrown nail of the Dewclaw

I was presented with an interesting case yesterday. A smart looking, 03 year old, male Beagle had ingrown nails in dewclaws. In the right hind the nail had become semi circular and had embedded itself in the pad. The pad had become infected due to repeated trauma over a period of time. The left hind had not deteriorated to that extent but in a few days the nail was going to penetrate the pad.  The condition was detected when the dog was observed to be continuously licking the area.

Some deft manouevering of the nail -clipper after identifying the "quick" ensured that there was no bleeding. Luckily, the embedded nail also came out easily though it left behind an open, infected wound. A course of antibiotics and the Beagle would back to normal.

Left Hind (Note the curve of the nail)

Right Hind (Note the curve of the nail) 

A little trimming and the wound becomes visible

After trimming the nail 

Nice to Know

A dewclaw is the un - necessary toe higher up in the leg. It is actually of no use to the dog and is a nuisance as its nail often gets caught in things and clothes thereby damaging the nail. A reputed breeder will normally get it removed when the pup is about 03 days old. It is easy and nearly painless to remove it at this age. Its removal is a complicated procedure (usually done under anaesthesia) when the dog becomes adult. 

However, if not removed, it will grow like the other nails and obviously will require trimming like the other nails. However, unlike the other nails which get worn out normally as the dog runs around chasing adventures, the nail of the dewclaw does not wear out as it does not come in contact with the floor. Hence, it is important to regularly trim it. 

The Joys Of Having a Dog

A few days back, I received a mail with some lovely snaps complete with pithy captions. Have a look !

A dog's prayer to his master

Treat me kindly, my beloved master, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hand between the blows, your patience and understanding  will more quickly teach me the things you would have me do.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world's sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.

When it is cold and wet, please take me inside... for I am now a domesticated animal, no longer used to bitter elements... and I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth... though had you no home, I would rather follow you through ice and snow than rest upon the softest pillow in the warmest home in all the land... for you are my god... and I am your devoted worshiper.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for although I should not reproach you were it dry, I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst. Feed me clean food, that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life, should your life be in danger.

*And, beloved master, should my pain or suffering ever become too great during my final hours, do not turn me away from you. Rather hold me gently in your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest... and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I drew, my fate was ever safest in your hands.

                                                                     

                                                                  Beth Norman Harris

* These line brought a lump in my throat. I am certain every dog owner will  be overwhelmed by the words. Come lets pledge to care for our dogs and take pride and joy in looking after them ourselves and not relegate the duty to the servants and the helpers.  

Mating Tips

Mating ones bitch is a delicate execise that calls for deliberation and taking stock of the resources at hand for raising a litter requires patience and perseverance in equal measure. One also has to be ready to rear the pups if there are no ready homes for the pups. Anyway, if one has made up his mind about going ahead with the mating here is wishing you all the best! A few salient points are enlisted below that will come in handy.

Age
The bitch should neither be too young or too old. Normally, a breeder will breed a bitch when it has attained about 02 yrs of age or has had at least 03 heat cycles.

Health
The male and female should be in good health with all the vaccinations up to date. Preferably the stud should be a proven one from a good breeder. Alternately, the stud should should be one which is known to the owner of the bitch.

Timing
Normally, the mating is carried out after the 8th day of the bleeding is over. Most breeders recommend breeding on the 10 th day after  the bleeding has commenced. A second mating is carried out on the 12 th day as well. Further, in any case mating after the 17th day of bleeding is a futile exercise as far as conception is concerned. In most cases, the bitch will not allow the male to mount.

Tie
Every mating should end with a "tie" - a condition in which the male and female remain stuck (and hence tied) with each other for about 10 min after the male has ejaculated.

Venue
It is advisable that the bitch is taken to the stud's house and not the other way around. Performance anxiety owing to unfamiliar surroundings is frequently noticed in male dogs.

Assistance and Supervision
Owners or persons having an intimate knowledge about the dogs need to be around to assist the dogs and to calm them should they become excited.


For more info on the topic check this out

Pododermatitis

Pododermatitis is an inflammation of the skin in between the toes and the foot pads. It is characterised by redness of the area, itchiness (as a result the dog would continuously keep on licking it), pain on palpation, loss of hair, occasionally eruption of an angry red blister like lesion, ulcers, nodules, draining tracts and in certain pronounced cases even lameness.

 Mild Pododermatitis 

The disease occurs due to prolonged contact with soil based microbes, a moist environment that supports the growth of microbes, contact with potential allergens (agents that cause allergies) and trauma of the skin in between the toes. This condition is more commonly seen during the rains owing to the fact that when a dog goes out in the rains for its business the paws become wet and often the wet earth adheres to the area there by bringing in disease causing germs to the area. 

The disease can occur in any breed at any age and in either of the sexes. Normally, the disease occurs in one of the paws and thereafter spreads to the other paws.

Tips to manage and prevent the occurrence of Pododermatitis

-  Take regular care of the feet. Examine them regularly when grooming.

-  Pay more attention to the feet during the rains.           

-  Keep the paws clean and dry especially after the dog comes back from a walk or from outside.

-  No sooner do you suspect something is wrong with the paws, rush your pooch to your vet. This will

   help in starting the treatment well in time.

A word of caution. The earlier the treatment commences, the better it is for the dog. The treatment

in advanced cases is often frustrating, time consuming, requires prolong antibiotic therapy and

frequently relapses.

Carriage of Pets by Air

I accessed the site of SpiceJet to book a ticket. While browsing their site, I stumbled upon their policy regarding carriage of Pets by Air. Here is the link to the same -carriage of Pets by Air . Happy flying!

Pitfalls of Feeding Bones to the Dog

Last week, I came across two cases - an adult stray and a young Great Dane - both suffering from loose motions mixed with blood (Haemorrhagic gastroenteritis). Owners of both the dogs shared the information that their dogs had been fed chicken bones along with the feed nearly 24 hrs prior to the episode. 

Feeding bones is a risky exercise. Normally bones are either fed raw or cooked. Raw bones are tougher and do not snap easily when chewed but they are good sources of a large number of bacteria that may cause illness in the pet. Cooking the bones takes care of the bacterial load but makes the bones fragile (particularly chicken bone) and as a result the bones tend to snap when the dogs chew them leaving sharp ended bones that may lodge themselves at an awkward location in the digestive tract causing trauma. It is a particularly tricky situation and may lead to grave prognosis particularly when the sharp bony piece has perforated the intestine or the stomach.

Ideally, the meat should be stripped of the bones and the bones should invariably be removed from the feed. This is a safe practice and it easily outweighs the advantages likely to accrue by feeding bones viz. providing a natural source of Calcium and Phosphorus.  

By the way, both my patients responded to the treatment and had an uneventful recovery. :)

Dog Training : How to beat the blues

The other day, I came across a client who was at his wits end owing to his truant dog. This blog post is born to throw some light on the topic of dog training. Mind you, there are tomes and tomes on the topic and so much information on the net that one can easily get deluged and confused. Here is my take on the issue. Believe me, it works.   

The house breaking of the pup should ideally begin around 8 weeks of its age or after it has been brought home. It is important to set the rules slowly yet firmly to inculcate desired traits and behaviour. If due care is not given to this aspect the pup will pick up bad habits and will become an ill tempered dog who is a nuisance.

The dog is a creature of habit. The first requirement in house training is to follow a set time schedule for feeding the pup. As the pup usually relieves itself soon after feeding, it should be taken to the designated area immediately after feeding to allow it to finish its business. Soon, it will associate that particular spot and the time for relieving itself.

It does not understand what is a good behaviour or what is a bad behaviour. However, it understands love and anger or reprimand very easily. It has an inborn desire to be loved and pampered by its master. This desire holds the key to its training.

A positive reinforcement like soothing vocalizations, gentle pats, a happy tone of the voice and tidbits are the agents used for positive reinforcements. For example, if a pup shows a desired behaviour like sitting when made to sit by the owner, the owner needs to immediately reward him with gentle pats, soothing vocalizations or even a tidbit. Slowly, the dog will make an association between the command “sit” and his desired behaviour of “sitting” leading to a “reward”.

Similarly, the dog understands anger - an admonishing tone of the master. Therefore, if it exhibits an undesired behaviour, a prompt reprimand in the form of a stern “no” or “bad boy/girl” enables him to make a similar association. Never ever hit the dog. A firm “no” or a spank with a rolled newspaper is enough to drive home the message. 

Dogs are one of the most intelligent of all the domestic animals and can be trained to obey simple words of command. The dog must be introduced to various words of command gradually. Make it a fun activity for the dog by keeping the lessons short and rewarding. Basic commands that must be taught to every dog at home are “Sit”, “Come”, “Heel”, “Stay”.  

Remember, the key to having a well trained dog is based on three “R” (Reward, Reprimand, Repetition) and three “P” (Patience, Patience and some more Patience)!

All the best!  

Heat Stroke in Dogs

It's summertime and the mercury is slowly and steadily rising every passing day. As the summer sets in one has to take preventive measures against heat stroke in dogs. Mother nature designed dogs to conserve heat and not to dissipate heat. Hence the dogs tend to get heated up rather quickly during summers especially if left in cars, excessive playing in the sun.  Normally, nature provides a delicate balance between gathering of  heat and dissipating heat in case of a dogs ( for that matter in all animals). The problem arises when the balance is disturbed. 

The dogs dissipate heat from their tongues by panting and sweat from their paws. (Yes, you read it right !) They have no other mechanism to cool off.  It is therefore extremely important to ensure that one accidentally  does not create situations that causes the dog to gather up heat quickly so much so that it overwhelms the mechanism by which it dissipates the heat. 

The signs of heat stroke are - increased temperature ( from the normal 101.5 F to 105 F), a panting that is so vigorous that you have perhaps never seen it before, thick viscid saliva, the dog lying down and not willing  / unable to get up, a disoriented and confused look, red gums, collapse etc.

If you suspect heat stroke and by the time you rush your pet to the vet or call him up one should initiate actions to reverse the situation. First of all, remove the dog from direct sunlight. Gently pour cool water in a mild trickle on the head. Dip a towel or two in cool water and wrap the dog for a few minutes and then remove them. Keeping them wrapped over the dog for far too long may actually be harmful as the towel may  trap the heat. Gently spray or dribble cool water on the body. Do not use ice or ice cooled water as it  constricts the blood vessels thus preventing the dissipation of heat. Use a fan, cooler or take the dog in an air conditioned room. Offer it a little water. Wipe its face with cool water. All the while keep talking to the dog in a gentle manner to reassure it. 

Nice to know

1. Never ever leave your dog alone in a car with or without the windows rolled down. Period. The dog can develop heat stroke on sunny as well as overcast days. By the way, it is a punishable offence in many states of the US. ( I agree we have to do a lot of catching up in India in this regard ). 

2. Avoid long runs or exercises during warm days.  See to it that the kids do not take the dog out and play fetch during warmer parts of the day. 

3. Some ailments including obesity compromise the heat dissipating mechanism of the dog. 

4. Pugs, Bull dogs are normally predisposed to heat stroke. 

5. Heat Stroke is preventable. Let's be smart and ensure it does not happen to our pet. 

Vaccinations Demystified

Every dog owner knows at least something about the vaccines. He is usually aware of the requirement of the periodic sojourn to be undertaken to the pet clinic for the vaccinations. However, vaccinations remain one of the most vexing areas of veterinary medicine. Here, let me demystify the issue :

What is vaccination ?
Vaccination is the process of administering a material to stimulate the individual's immune response (disease fighting ability) so that the individual becomes protected against a disease. The material that is administered is the vaccine. Some vaccines are administered orally (Pulse Polio) and some are injected (Hepatitis).

I have vaccinated my dog. Why should I get it vaccinated again the next year? 
Vaccination imparts immunity for a particular period of time and thereafter the immunity wanes. That is why they are to be repeated after a specified period of time.

Are dog vaccines given orally or injected ?
Almost all the dog vaccines are injected. However, a vaccine against Kennel Cough is given by intra -nasal route (through nose). This vaccine is not available in India.

What are the vaccines that I need to give to my dog ?
Normally an adult dog is given the following vaccinations :-
    (a) DHLPPi - It is a vaccine against diseases like Canine Distemper, Infectious Canine Hepatitis,
    Leptospirosis, Parvo virus and Parainfluenza

    (b) Anti Rabies Vaccine (ARV) - As the name suggests, this vaccine is given against Rabies.

What should be the frequency of these vaccinations?
Normally, DHLPPi is given once a year in case of adult dogs. However, it may have to be given twice a year in areas where certain diseases are endemic (prevalent). Your vet would advise you on this aspect. The same applies for Anti Rabies Vaccine as well. However, latest findings indicate that the immunity imparted by an Anti Rabies Vaccine last for around two years and hence it may be given every alternate year.

What happens if I get my dog vaccinated with Anti Rabies Vaccine every year?
It is fine if one gets his or her dog vaccinated against Rabies every year. However, studies indicate that it is probably not required to be given every year.

What is Corona Virus Vaccine ?
It is not a core vaccine which means that it is not a "must" vaccine. It is a vaccine often given to pups to prevent occurrence of diarrhoea. This vaccine is not required to be given to adult dogs.

What are the vaccines given to pups ?
The pups are also given DHLPPi and ARV like the adult dogs but the frequency varies. It may also happen that rather than giving DHLPPi , the vet hospital may give the vaccines separately.

At what frequency are the vaccines given to the pups ?
Pups receive immunity from their mothers that lasts till about 06 weeks of age. Therefore, vaccinations in case of pups normally commence after 06 weeks of age.Thereafter, depending upon the policy being followed by the vet hospital, the vaccines are repeated (booster vaccination) every 2-4 weeks until the pup reaches 16 weeks of age.  At least 2 shots each of DHLPPi  and ARV are needed in the first year.

My dog was due for vaccination last year. However, I missed out in taking it to the vet. What do I do now?
That is not a problem. Let bygones be bygones. Take your dog to the vet. He will probably vaccinate it now.

Will the vaccination hurt my pup /dog ?  
More often than not, your pup /dog will not evince any pain or discomfort after the vaccination. However, mild pain, or mild fever is not uncommon. In rare instances some sort of allergic reaction may also occur. The same needs to be apprised to the vet immediately as it may become potentially life threatening.




  

Are You Unknowingly Poisoning Your Dog ?

We love our pets unconditionally. However, owing to ignorance we often give our pets food items that are harmful to them.  Here is a list of the food items commonly found in Indian homes which are delicious for us but are deleterious to the health of our pets :

Grapes and Raisins  

Grapes and Raisins (kismis) are commonly found in almost every home but they are toxic to your dog. They are responsible for causing irreversible kidney damage if ingested by the dogs in large quantities. With severe damage to the kidneys the ability of the dog to produce Urine is compromised as a result of which the kidneys are unable to flush out the toxins from the body. This leads to accumulation of toxins and subsequently death. It is well documented that depending on the size of the dog, as little as 4 -5 grapes or raisins may cause severe illness in the dog. Signs include lack of appetite, vomiting, decreased Urine production, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, weakness and a drunken gait.

Onions

Onions - cooked or raw are known to cause serious illness in dogs as well as cats. Onions are known to contain a substance called thiosulphate which is toxic to dogs and cats. The ingestion of Onions  causes a condition called haemolytic anaemia. In this condition,  the tiny Red Blood Cells that circulate inside the blood start bursting thereby liberating haemoglobin. The symptoms of Onion poisoning appear 2-4 days after their ingestion or may even surface at a much later date if small quantities of onion is regularly being ingested by your pet for a period of time. Generally, it is believed that if a dog or cat consumes onions at the rate of 0.5 % of its body weight, it is a potential candidate for onion toxicity. Signs of onion toxicity are pale gums, rapid heart rate, weakness, diarrhea, lethargy, bloody urine etc.

Chocolates

Yes, chocolate causes toxicity in dogs and cats. Read the details in my post dated 10 Apr. 

Caffeinated Drinks

Caffeinated drinks viz. tea, coffee and in the summers Cold Coffee all contain Caffeine. Many popular soft drinks like Coca Cola, Mountain Dew etc - all have Caffeine! Like chocolates Caffeine too causes poisoning if ingested. The symptoms will get manifested depending upon the quantity in which it has been ingested by the dog. Caffeine poisoning is quite similar to Chocolate poisoning. 

Garlic

It causes a toxicity similar to Onion poisoning (Haemolytic anaemia)

Alcohol

All alcoholic beverages contain ethanol. Ethanol is a toxic compound that is known to depress the Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord) and the respiratory system. Even a small quantity of ethanol can cause poisoning. Signs include sedation, depression, lethargy, a drunken gait and lowered body temperature (Hypothermia).

Chewing gum and Candy

Many Chewing gums (including some mouth freshening gums) and Candy have a substance called Xylitol, It is a sweetening agent and causes serious health problems in the dogs if consumed. It causes liver damage and reduced blood glucose level. The symptoms  of poisoning develop within an hour of the ingestion. Signs include a drunken gait, seizures and collapse 

Chocolate Poisoning in Dogs

Yes, you read it right ! Chocolates- of all the things are serious causes of poisoning in dogs. Chocolates contain a substance called theobromine which is responsible for stimulating the heart (cardiac stimulant) and increase the Urine output (diuretic). It is also known to make the dog hyperactive. (I recall a case where in the owner described this state as “ the dog was going bonkers”).

The common symptoms of chocolate poisoning in dogs are vomiting, diarrhoea, irregular heart beat, restlessness, seizures, body tremors, frequent urination, drinking lots of water.

In general, the bitter and darker the chocolate, greater is the risk of poisoning. Cocoa powder and cooking chocolate are extremely toxic. Milk chocolates are much less poisonous. In between the two ends of the spectrum lie the other chocolates.

Further, the smaller the size of the dog, the more susceptible it would be to chocolate poisoning. The signs of sickness may not be noticed until quite a few hours have lapsed after the intake of chocolate and owners are often unable to make a link to the episode of sickness with the intake of chocolate. Let me quantify it for you. A dog weighing around 25 kg may become fatally sick by consuming about 30 g of cocoa powder / dark bitter chocolate.

Unfortunately, there is no antidote to chocolate poisoning and initial aggressive therapy, hospitalization is required to cure the dog.

Points to note

No cakes and chocolates for the dog. No cakes on its birthday. Teach the kids. They are more responsible than they are given credit for. Be more careful when hosting parties. Ensure safe disposal of left – overs. More so when your dog is in the habit of inspecting the bin regularly.

Let’s spread the word! Share this with fellow pet owners.

  

Why is it important to deworm your dog ?

Dogs need to dewormed periodically to keep themselves in the best of their health. They have a large variety of endoparasites (worms found inside the body). These worms not only rob your pooch of the vital nutrients that it gets from the food but they also cause a variety of ailments viz. diarrhoea, lethargy, rough hair coat, pale gums, scooting (rubbing the anal region on the floor) on their bums, weight loss, loss of vigour etc.

These worms are broadly classified as flat worms, round worms and tape worms. They  multiply inside their bodies (primarily inside the stomach and their intestines) and liberate eggs which are passed out through the stool and thus contaminate the immediate environment. Humans and especially the children are more prone to pick up these eggs from the contaminated surroundings.   

A ROUNDWORM

A TAPEWORM

 Normally, a pup needs to be dewormed for the first time when it is about a month old and thereafter every two weeks till it attains 03 months of age. Thereafter, it should be dewormed every 3 - 4 months for its entire life. It is a good idea to keep a record of the dates on which the deworming was carried out and the name of the medicine. This will greatly assist your vet in choosing the right drug for deworming.

How frequently should I give a bath to my dog ?

Bathing the dog is an issue that seldom gets the importance it deserves. However, the frequency of bathing the dog is indeed an important issue and needs to be addressed appropriately for the well being of the dog. Why else would a google search on the topic throw a humongous 195,000,000 links ?

Well, as the adage goes - "different strokes for different folks", there are no sacrosanct rules on this aspect applicable uniformly to all dogs but it is good to remember and recollect a few facts.  

Dogs are different from us. Actually all dogs that we see today are descendants of the wolves. The wolves are wild animals exposed to the vagaries of nature and nature has not designed them to take baths. At least not everyday the way we do. Period.

The skin of the dog is different from ours and nature has provided them with certain glands that secrete a kind of oil that keeps the skin supple. Frequent bathing washes away the oil and compromises the skin and leads to a dry, irritated skin with a dull, hair coat besides predisposing it to a wide variety of skin ailments. 

While the individual requirements of the dogs vary (they also have a dry /oily skin) which will dictate the frequency of bathing. In general, giving the dog a bath once a month or even once in a month and a half is a good idea. Of course, if your dog has long hair and stays outdoors most of the times, frequently picking up dirt or has become extremely dirty, (some friends almost spray painted my golden retriever this Holi) one will have to give it a bath much earlier. 

Instead of bathing ones dog (daily or weekly or fortnightly), it is a wise idea to groom it (combing, brushing etc) more frequently. This will remove away the dirt and dust and thus clean the coat.  Well, most professional organizations using dogs for security operations groom their dogs twice a day - each session lasting for 30 minutes. They carry out the grooming more rigorously after the dog has come back from an outdoor exercise / operation. 

Finally, if you feel, your pooch has started to smell a wee bit, go ahead take a wet towel, put a few drops of Dettol / Savlon and give it a nice rub down. You will have a clean, nice smelling dog in  minutes and what is more you would not have stripped your dog off the natural oils of its skin.   

PS.

American Society For Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) recommends bathing your dog at least once every 03 months. They also add that "your pet may require more frequent baths if she spends a lot of time outdoors". Here, check this link - http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/grooming-faq.aspx#bathemydog

I rest my case!

Which Breed to buy ?

Planning to keep a pet dog? Wondering which breed is ideal for you? Confused ? 

Here is some advise on the issue. Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Beagles, Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, Pugs etc have traditionally been popular breeds. Selection of the breed of dog one wants to acquire as a pet is a matter of individual liking and need.One can purchase pure bred pups that are registered with the Kennel Club of India (KCI) or go for an unregistered pup / stray.

KCI registered pup or an unregistered pup / stray

A Kennel Club of India registered pup will have a pedigree (a record of its parents, grandparents etc) and will exhibit an appearance and conformation which meets the specifications of that particular breed. Such a pup is usually more expensive than the unregistered pup. While purchasing registered pups one must ensure that the pups are micro-chipped and all the necessary documentation with the Kennel Club is completed.

However, if one is not particularly fixated with a pedigreed pup and just wants a pet dog,  then one can always purchase a pup of a particular breed which is unregistered  or a cross bred or even an indigenous dog / stray and still be the recipient of its love and affection in equal measures. 

Purpose and Role

It is important to take into account the purpose or the role which one has in mind for the dog viz. for companionship, for guarding etc. A Pug will not make a guard dog and is best suited for companionship and a Rottweiler may not be the best choice if one wants to keep a dog for the kids.   

Needs of the Dogs

In general, big sized dogs need regular exercise and an active life where as smaller breeds will be just fine with a little exercise. Dogs with long hair will require more grooming and may often lead to finding strands of dog hair at different places in the house. Analyse whether you have the time and resources to take care of their individual needs. 

The Last Word

Finally, when you have decided which is the breed for you devote some time to read about the breed and its characteristics, its health issues, temperament etc. This will go a long way in making you aware of its requirements.  

How To Trim Your Dog's Nails ?

 Trimming your dog's nails is a relatively simple exercise. It is normally carried out once or twice a month. Dogs that are regularly taken out for walks or runs will not require the trimming to be carried out at short intervals as the walks and the runs naturally wear out the nails. It is a good idea to examine the nails frequently and carry out trimmings, if required. While there are pet clinics that undertake this job, it is a job that can be easily undertaken in the comforts of once home without making the pet stressed due to unfamiliar surroundings of the clinic.

Believe me, it is no rocket science and in principle it is the same like trimming our own nails.
Points to note

1. Dogs do not like their nails trimmed. Starting it during its puppy hood helps as it makes the pet accustomed to the drill.

2. Be comfortable while carrying out the trimming. Preferably make your dog lie down on its side and restrain it.

3. Before clipping examine the nail. In light coloured nails, one can actually see a pinkish area. That is the area that has the blood vessels. This is known as the "quick". Obviously, cutting it will make it bleed.

4. There are two two types of nail cutters - scissors type and guillotine type. Both are effective. A guillotine type trimmer has a stationary ring through which the nail is placed and a cutting blade that moves to slice off the nail when the handles of the nail clippers are pressed. In case of a scissors type of nail clipper, the nail is lodged between the jaws of the clipper and the handles are pressed to cut it through.

5. Preferably trim softly, paring away the nail rather than taking a vigorous and bold swipe. (At least do so till you become more confident). Trim to 2-3 mm of the quick.

6. In case, if the quick is cut, the nail will bleed but don't worry, there is no chance of a permanent damage.

7.Watch the video to see how it is done.