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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Return to Top

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.

Return to Top

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.

Hypothyroidism

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.

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.

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.

Pet Portraits

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

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