“Why does my dog lick his paws till they are sore and how can I stop him?” Skin problems involving obsessive licking can be very frustrating to treat. In many cases such problems result from a disease but sometimes obsessive licking of a particular area is a response to pain. As skin disease does not normally cause lameness, it is possible that your dog’s problem relates to underlying pain; have you had this checked out? It might be worth considering an X-ray and possibly even ultrasound scanning. If the cause of the problem is a skin disease, it is important to rule out parasites or allergies which might require specific treatment. Otherwise licking can be prevented by bandaging, the use of a buster collar, or a chew deterrent spray (as long as the skin is not broken). I recommend you go back and discuss the matter further with your vet “Why does my dog eat his own faeces?” This condition, where your dog eats his own faeces is called Coprophagia. Although frequently encountered and disgusting to the owner, coprophagia is not harmful unless parasites are transmitted. It is quite natural for a nursing bitch to do this with her pups, and wild carnivores are known to eat the droppings of their herbivore prey to obtain nutrients therein. The main causes of coprophagia are: Behavioural problems- it can develop as a vice or habit due to boredom and is a manifestation of stereo-typical behaviour or anxiety. It may be aggravated due to confinement or lack of attention. Parasitic infestation- dogs with a high internal parasitic load commonly eat their faeces, and will have a ravenous appetite but will still lose weight. Mal-digestion and Mal-assimilation Syndromes-due to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, colitis, lymphangiectasia, intestinal bacterial overgrowth, - here the dog may eat their faeces due to the high fat content (steattorrhea) contained in it due to maldigestion of fat in the gut. These conditions lead to an energy deficit because nutrients are not broken down properly in the digestive system and thus the dog will eat its faeces. In these conditions the dog will lose weight in spite of a healthy appetite. The general treatment involves: 1.) Remove the faeces from the environment 2.) Provide more activity for the dog to reduce boredom, reduce the dog’s confinement and spend more time with him. If the problem began recently then it would be important to remember if you changed anything in his environment that may have created or intensified some anxiety that he may have being feeling which could be anything from a change of diet or bedding to new surroundings or people. 3.) Rule out parasitic disease due to toxocara canis or D caninum by regular worming, normally every 2-3 months or more often if required. It is also important to regularly treat him for ectoparasitic problems like fleas as these carry the intermediate stages of the tapeworm life cycle. 4.) Dietary management- a highly digestible diet balanced for your pets particular stage of life.
Eating grass seems to be a normal behaviour in some dogs even though we tend to think that their diet should consist of other things. Grass is pretty indigestible to cats or dogs as they do not have the enzymes to break it down. Apart from the fibre source that grass contains it also contains some minerals and vitamin A and D. The reason why a dog might eat grass are:
Mark & Chappell sell a suitable mineral/vitamin product called Megavit-UM Plus that may be of some benefit if a mineral/vitamin problem were suspected. It contains the essential minerals and vitamins that supports optimal health and is balanced for any particular stage of life.
Summer is a time for both you and your pet to enjoy the sunshine and outdoors, but along with the fun, the season offers up situations that can endanger your pet. Cats and dogs can get sunburn. Cats with white ears are especially prone to develop sunburn on the tips and edges of the ears. Collies and other dog breeds such as Shetland Sheepdogs, who have no pigment on their nose can develop a condition called “Collie Nose” or “Nasal solar dermatitis”. This is actually caused by a hypersensitivity to the sun. Some pets, whose hair is clipped over their bodies or for some reason have sparse hair, can also develop sunburn where their skin is exposed. Pets susceptible to sunburn should be kept out of direct summer sun, especially in the middle of the day when the sun is particularly strong. Sunscreens (SPF should be 15 or greater) including those developed specifically for pets should be used to prevent sunburn. For pets with skin exposed on their bodies, a t-shirt (children’s or adult) can be fitted over the body. As with humans, animals with skin that has sunburned are more likely to develop skin cancer, so protection from sunburn is extremely important. The following precautions will help keep your pet sunburn-free this summer: · Keep your pet out of the sun as much as possible between 10am and 4pm · Apply waterproof sunscreen on unprotected areas · If your pet must be outdoors during this time, provide plenty of shade · Avoid walking or running your pet on hot pavements or blacktop surfaces.
Planning your holiday is always fun and exciting, but when you have a pet to consider it’s never that straight forward. Should you or should you not take your pet? This decision is often made for you depending on your destination. If you do have to leave your pet behind, leave pet care to the professionals, such as a pet sitter or boarding kennels/cattery. What should you be looking for in a Kennels/Cattery: ♦ Clean & well-ventilated, ♦ Offer protection from the weather, ♦ Provide adequate space for the size of the dog, ♦ Guarantee medical care if your pet gets sick, ♦ 24-hour coverage with someone living on the kennel property. How do I find a good Kennel? Ask a friend, neighbour, veterinarian, animal shelter, or dog trainer for a recommendation. Once you have names, it’s important to do a background check and inspect the property. Ask for clients as references. Choosing a House-sitter ♦ Go through a reputable agency, where someone can take over from the house-sitter in the event of an emergency, ♦ Choose some-one who works full-time those who do it for their main income have a vested interest in doing the best job possible, ♦If you find someone who bonds with your dog, you may have to give advance notice if you want them again. They may get booked up quickly especially at busy times such as summer and Christmas.
But, if you are taking your pet with you, remember that many pets find travelling and visiting new places difficult and become stressed and anxious, often taking several days to calm down and settle in, by which time the journey home is upon them. Making holidays as relaxing for them as it is for us can only be a good thing for all concerned. Stress triggers many behaviour issues including digging, chewing, indoor toileting, spraying. These problems can be hard enough to deal with at home, but are amplified somehow when we are away.
Content-UM has been successfully used to combat tension and trauma in our pets for many years, in a very natural way. It works by working with the body to produce more of a mood stabilising substance called serotonin - reducing anxiety and fear. Many pets take their Content-UM tablets without difficulty, even sitting for them as they would a treat. For those who find tablets awkward or unpleasant Content-UM is available in a tasty droplet form. It is advised that you start your pet on either drops or tablets a few days prior to the planned journey or boarding kennel and maintain the course until the settling in period is completed. Again, this should be repeated for the return journey until you and your pet are back into your daily routine. Happy Holidaying
Depending on the size and breed of your pet you may have noticed it is a bit slower when chasing a ball, struggles a bit more getting up the first thing in the morning or loses its breath a bit quicker. The aging process wears down your pet in much the same way it does us, but on a much faster pace. While most human beings live to be 70+ a dog, depending on many factors, often lives for 10 years or less. HOW OLD IS ELDERLY? This depends on the breed - larger breeds tend to age more rapidly than smaller ones. In general, “elderly” means over eight years old for a medium sized dog, five years old for a larger dog and eight years old for a cat. Despite all those age brackets there is no one hard fast rule. The best way to judge is based on the individual animal and the changes in its behaviour and health. The best thing you can do for an older animal is to keep it healthy and not over or under weight. Also, keep your animal exercised but be careful not to overdo it. CARING FOR THE HEALTH OF ELDERLY PETS The needs of an older animal are often different so it is very important to maintain communication with your veterinarian concerning your pets and all the health problems/changes which are included in this advancing age process.
As your pet gets older, arthritis may develop in its joints. This may mean that your pet becomes less active and may need a diet containing fewer calories to prevent them from gaining weight. Teeth/gums: Check your pet and see what is normal for it as “normal” may be different from one dog to another. Changes in gum colour can indicate potential problems. Foul breath can be another warning sign, as well as loss of weight, pawing at the month, excessive salivation, swallowing difficulty or other signs of pain. Hearing, sight and smell can all become less acute with age, and you may need to make allowances for these changes. Lumps/bumps: Check your pet for these as you groom the animal. Masses are common and in most cases are benign but if you find a new one of these, consult your vet to have it checked as cancer is quite common in dogs. Changes in thirst and elimination: Changes such as increased thirst or having to “go” more often are indications of potential kidney or bladder disease. Check with your vet. Body/Coat Condition: Keeping your dog in shape cuts down on a lot of potential health problems—heart disease etc. Heart Disease: Changes in sleeping habits or coughing through the night can be indicators of canine heart disease. Frequent check-ups can often prevent these types of diseases. Consult your vet.
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