The freezing weather is here again and all pet owners need to know the dangers of antifreeze to our pets,accidental poisioning can happen from spills or leaks from our cars or containers.The toxin ethylene glycol is what makes antifreeze so lethal to out pets as it has a sweet taste.
Common signs are Uncoordinated movement ,Nausea and Vomiting ,Constant Urinating ,Diahorrea and Seizures.
If you think your pet has ingested any antifreeze please contact your vet immediately.
This is very Similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans,Canine Cognitive Dysfunction is caused by physical changes in the brain and in its chemicals.
The results of the changes is how your dog thinks and learns begins to deteriorate which then causes behavioral changes that can upset your dog.
Your dog may show theses signs:
Looking lost in familiar places around the home and garden
Having trouble finding and going through doors and stairs
Not responding to their name or any familiar commands they are used to
Becoming withdrawn and not wanting to play or go for walks or even wanting go outside
Not recognizing family members, toys, etc.
Regular trembling or shaking while standing or lying down
Frequent soiling in the house, regardless of the amount of times they are brought outside
Sleeping more in the daytime and less during the night
Staring at walls and into space and can be startled by lights and the tv etc.and wanting less fuss
If your older dog shows any of these signs seek the advice of your vet.
Brushing your dog might seem like a pain or something you’ll do later. But grooming your dog doesn’t need to be hard or a chore.You’re better off doing it more often but for a shorter time, maybe five or 10 minutes each day.Brief but frequent brushing and the odd bath keeps your dog clean and comfortable. Regular brushing helps your dog’s appearance as it distributes the natural oils throughout the coat. It also prevents the coat from knots and clumps.How much you need to brush and comb depends on your dog’s coat. Long-haired breeds will need longer and intense brushing almost daily where as Short-haired dogs aren’t that hard to brush, but regular sessions will still cut down on shedding. Use a steel-tooth comb to remove tangles and then a stiff bristle brush to get rid of the loose hair.
If your dog stays fairly clean with a regular brush you might get away with less baths.But generaly dogs should be bathed about every three months.If your dog gets dirty for example, by outdoor runs, consider bathing more often. Always use puppy or dog shampoos, never human shampoos. Human shampoos aren’t toxic, but they may contain fragrances and ingredients that can irritate pets’ skin.
And though regular brushing can do wonders for your dog, the same is not true of bathing. Don’t overdo it some people bathe their dog more often than they need to, sometimes weekly or every other week. Too many baths will strip the coat of natural oils that protect the skin — and your dog’s coat will lose some of its shine.
That time of year is approaching and we should all enjoy it and that includes our pets,christmas can be a great time but also a dangerous time for our pets.Here are a few tips to remember:-
*Real xmas trees are lovely but can be harmful for our pets they are very sharp and can get stuck in their feet and throats.
*Tree decorations are lovely but dont hang the chocolate ones on your tree they are highly toxic to your pets.Tinsel can be very harmful if chewed.
*Try to hide or cover any electric cords we always have twice as many at christmas with all the lovely lights,pets could easly chew them and get electrocuted.
*Try to keep the tree tied down to stop pets pulling it over.
* Holly,poinsettia,lily and mistletoe is poisonous to pets and must be kept out of reach.
*Loud noises can affect some pets remember that when you are pulling your christmas crackers,party poppers,opening corked bottles.
*Balloons are great but when burst can cause a fright or a danger if eaten.
*Our favourite turkey can cause problems to, especially if bones are eaten they can cause choking, constipation, as well as seriously damaging internal organs.
*Grapes and raisins can cause renal failure and can be fatal dont forget they are in the christmas cake.
MOST IMPORTANT IS TO CHECK YOUR VETS CHRISTMAS OPENING HOURS AND KEEP THE SURGERY TELEPHONE NUMBER BY THE PHONE.
Fleas love warmer areas. Places such as sheds, plants around the house, within your house, garage and on your pets are all places you will find fleas.
To properly win the fight against fleas you have got to target the source .
Flea control must involve all areas of infestation, your pets,and around your home and it must involve treatment of all phases of the flea lifecycle, adult, eggs, larva and pupa.
Flea Control on Your Pet
There are several products on the market to treat and control flea infestations on your dog. Collars and spot-ons are the most up to date for long-term control. If you should chance to use a spot-on it is advised that you not wash your dog the day of or one day after application of the spot-on treatment. As well as spot-on treatments, sprays and foams are available too.
You should include all cats you have in your flea control program regardless of whether they are showing any signs because cats can easily carry fleas from your garden into your place. Cats are a lot more attuned to flea control chemicals (some products for dogs can’t be used on felines ) so be certain to only use products that are totally safe to be used on cats.
Flea Control in Your House
Treatment of your house should be focused on areas where your pets spend most of their time. There are plenty of carpet sprays available and you need to also vacuum source points regularly and dump the bag, wash pet bedding in hot water and dry on extreme heat for about twenty minutes.
As all pet owners know, the secret to keeping your dog happy is to keep them healthy. Here are five easy steps to ensure that your dog remains, healthy, happy and full of life.
Exercise: All dogs need regular exercise. Depending on the type of dog this can be anything from a quick run around the block to two hour long walks.
Food: What you feed your dog and how much they need varies according to the breed of dog. Try to feed them a good quality, complete dog food; whether this is dry or canned or a mixture of the two is entirely down to personal preference. Ensure that whatever food you use, that your dog always has access to clean water.
Veterinary care: Find a vet you can trust and visit them regularly. Ensure your dog is micro chipped in case it gets lost and keep their boosters up to date.
Play: In the wild dogs play with each other to strengthen the social bond. A dog that isn’t bored is also less likely to chew furniture and be destructive. Any shop with a decent amount of pet supplies will stock chew toys, balls and tugging toys, get a few and see which your pet prefers as no two dogs are the same.
Clean and comfortable: A clean dog is a happy dog. If you have access to the sea or a river, encourage them to swim. Don’t be tempted to bath your dog too often as this will dry out their skin. A bath once every two months should be fine with a dog shampoo. Regular brushing is much more important and also helps bonding with your pet. At the end of the day make sure your dog has a clean, dry, adequately sized dog bed sleep in.
National Home Boarding Register – www.nhbr.co.uk
National Dog Walking Register – www.ndwr.co.uk
Fill My Bowl, pet store – www.fill-my-bowl.co.uk
Caring for your dogs ears is an essential part of your pets health. A dog’s ear canal is very different from the human ear.The ear canal is longer which leaves a dog prone to ear problems like infections.
Problems To Look Out For :-
Constant scratching of the ears
Constant shaking of the head
Bad smells coming from the ears
If your dog shows any of these signs you should definately take them to the vet for a check.
Yeast infections are the most commom ear problems making the ear red or inflamed and very smelly and can occur when dogs have been in water.
Ear mites are another common problem causing inflammation and a lot of discomfort.These can also be transfered from one dog to the other.
Prevention:-
Keeping your dogs ears clean is the best way to stop infections,ear wipes or cleansing pads are the easiest and also remove any hair growing inside the ear canal.
Even if your dog has had chocolate and escaped ill-effects before, we would encourage you not to risk it. Here’s to a happy and healthy Easter for all the family!
