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Wintertime Tips for your Dog

February 4, 2011 By 1 Comment

Wintertime Tips for your DogCold weather is tough on pets. The following recommendations can provide your pet with a better “quality of life” through the cold winter months months:

1)    Keep your pet’s vaccinations up to date.. Increased stress associated with cold weather reduces the resistance to disease. Your pet needs more than just a Rabies vaccination. Dogs need to have DHLPP (Distemper, Adenovirus/infectious canine hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza), and Bordetella boosters every year.

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2)    Heartworm preventive should be given year-round. The medication kills certain immature stages of the heartworm during its journey through the body before it actually reaches the heart. The medication needs to be given all year long to insure all immature heartworms are killed when they reach the stage of susceptibility to the medication.
3)    Internal Parasite Examinations insure your pet is “worm-free”. Internal parasites drain your pet’s blood, protein, and energy.
4)    Feed high quality diet to fulfill the increased nutritional demands throughout cold weather. You get what you pay for in pet foods. “High Protein” labels do not mean it’s “digestible protein”. Pets kept outside should be fed more food to meet their requirements through the winter. Fresh water should always be obtainable. Be certain to provide UNFROZEN water at least twice daily during zero weather. Porcelain bowls will stop tongues from sticking to it. Steer clear of metal bowls for this reason.There are also heated bowls available to keep the water thawed.
5)    Vitamin supplements, such as Nutrical®,may increase your pet’s resistance to the effects of cold weather and offer required nutritional elements that frequently deteriorate once a bag of food has been opened.
6)    Brush your pet every day to maintain its haircoat.Heat in your house may dry the skin. Moisturizers , such as Dermal Soothe Anti-Itch Spray for Dogs & Cats Wintertime Tips for your Dog, are available to maintain a healthy coat.
7)    Provide adequate shelter. Supplying adequate shelter from the elements is the key to a healthy outdoor pet. The pet that has a cozy refuge where he can seek shelter from the cold wind, driving rain, sleet, and snow will be much better able to tolerate the cold temperatures. Pet shelters ought to be tightly constructed and no larger than three times the size of the pet. The doorway ought to be just big sufficient for the pet to enter and positioned away from the prevailing wind direction. Building the shelter off the ground a couple of inches and adding insulation underneath will significantly add to the pet’s comfort. Be sure all insulation is sealed away from the pet. Position the shelter where it will get the most sunlight within the winter. Cedar shavings make the best bedding. No pet should be out in zero or sub-zero weather for much more than a couple of minutes with out adequate shelter. Winter is no time to Start keeping a pet outside. Acclimatization should begin in warm weather, permitting gradual increase in hair growth as temperatures become cooler.The best thing to do for your pet is to keep them indoors.DP

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8)    Other Suggestions:
a.    Antifreeze can be lethal. It’s sweet tasting to your pet. Always clean up any spills in the garage or driveway. Contact your veterinarian immediately in the event you suspect even a “few licks” by the pet.
b.    Cats prefer to sleep close to warm car engines. Know where your cat is and honk your horn prior to starting the car to make sure no neighborhood cats are taking a snooze under the hood.
c.    Chocolate may be fatal. Keep those giant chocolate kisses and other sweets out of reach from your pet.
d.    Salt can hurt paws. Clean the foot pads immediately when coming back inside.There are dog booties available for your pooch.
e. Heated pet beds may help with your pet’s arthritis and keep the chill off.
f. Sweaters and coats can also help dogs maintain their body temperature better.
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The Dog Owner’s Responsibility to Prevent Worms in Dogs

July 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The term ‘worms in dogs’ is used to describe many different internal parasites which can infect our pets. Owners can buy treatments for worms in dogs from pet shops and veterinary practices and should use them regularly. Responsible pet care and regular worming treatments go hand in hand.
There are two types of infections of worms in dogs which are common in the UK. These are roundworms and tapeworms. Unfortunately many puppies are born with a roundworm infection so they are very hard to avoid. This underlines the importance of worming our dogs regularly, especially during puppyhood.

As worms in dogs go, roundworms can have serious consequences, despite the fact that many dogs which are infested will show no outward symptoms. The adult roundworm lives in the intestines of the dog, feeding on the intestines’ contents. This effectively means that the roundworms eat your dog’s food! In severe cases, there can be several roundworms inside one dog. This explains why dogs with severe infestations are malnourished, have dull coats and lack energy.

Roundworms can remain dormant in cysts inside the muscles of adult dogs. They then awaken in times of stress. Very commonly, pregnancy awakens them and the larvae migrate around the body, infecting the unborn puppies. Treatment for worms in dogs administered to the pregnant bitch cannot rid the unborn puppies of their worms. This explains why treating worms in dogs is such a priority for puppy health care.

mature worms release eggs which are passed in the dog’s feces leading soil to become contaminated. Then the dogs pick up the eggs from the soil. The most common roundworm in the UK is the Toxocara Canis and it can infect humans, especially children who come into contact with the eggs playing in contaminated soil or sand. The larvae can migrate through the child’s body, potentially causing permanent eye damage if they end up behind the retina. It is therefore very important to regularly treat worms in dogs.

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Heat Stroke – Don’t Leave your Dog in your Car!

July 5, 2008 By 2 Comments

Summer is upon us and I have already had my first case of heat stroke. Rusty was left in his owner’s car by accident this morning. Dogs cannot sweat like people do. They can only regulate their body heat by panting. The temperature of a car can quickly reach 10 to 20 degrees hotter than the outside air temperature. This results in hyperthermia or heat stroke. Rusty was rushed to the clinic and his internal temperature was 107 degrees. Death and internal organ failure is imminent when the internal temperature reaches 109 degrees. We acted quickly with cool water baths and ice packs. An intravenous catheter was started to flush more fluids into Rusty. Rusty is feeling much better right now, but we will not know for a while if he has any permanent damage to his kidneys, or other organs.
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Here are some other warm weather tips you must follow to get your dog through summer safely:

  • Have adequate shade-dogs in direct sunlight can also get sunburned or develop hyperthermia leading to heat stroke.
  • Have adequate cool water available for your dog outside. Water directly in the sun can also heat up to hot for your dog to drink.
  • Do not leave your dog in the car, even if the windows are cracked.
  • Be careful when walking your dog on hot asphalt or concrete. Your dog can burn the bottom of his feet.Sometimes, even the seats of the car or a bed of a truck can get hot enough to burn the pads of your dog’s foot.
  • Limit walking your dog in the heat. Remember, they cannot sweat and even a little exertion can increase their body temperature to a dangerous level.
  • Do not apply insect repellent or sunscreen to your pet that is not labeled for use in animals. Pets may lick the products that can cause drooling, diarrhea or other toxic or neurological problems.
  • Give your dog heartworm preventative and de-worm regularly for internal parasites. Mosquitoes carry the heartworms and dogs can pick up hookworms through the pads of their feet.
  • Use flea control on a regular basis. The house is a perfect laboratory for incubating fleas in the summer. One flea can turn into thousands quickly and they can lay dormant in your carpet for years waiting for the perfect opportunity to hatch out and feed on the first warm-blooded creature that comes in their path. Lucky for us humans, they prefer the warmer body temperature of our pets than us.
  • In areas that have problems with all the above parasites, I recommend using the Advantage-Multi or Revolution on a monthly basis to control the parasites.

Stay alert for signs of overheating in pets, which include excessive panting, drooling, weakness, staggering or even seizures. The can even feel hot to the touch. The brachycephalic breeds (flat noses like Shi Tzus, Lhasa Apso, Pugs, Boxers, Boston Terriers and Bulldogs) are at a much greater risk for heat stroke. Also overweight dogs, or a dog with a thick or matted coat or more prone to developing hyperthermia.

If you suspect your dog has hyperthermia or heat stroke, contact your veterinarian immediately. Safe reduction of your pet’s temperature with cool water and ice packs will help to reduce his temperature. IV fluids are given to help with kidney function and to help with cooling of internal organs. Damage to the heart, kidney and other organs may not show up for weeks. Keep your pet safe this summer.

Debra Garrison, DVM

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