Dog health
Dogs
We dress them up in ridiculous clothes, make them beg for treats and have them fetch things for us in the park – and they still declare their undying love for us. It’s no wonder dogs are man’s best friend. And that’s why it’s horrible when your dog’s health starts to suffer. Luckily, experts believe that many dog health problems are preventable.
Read our experts’ top tips on the most common dog health problems.
DOG OBESITY
“My number one concern for a dog’s health is obesity. I see so many overweight dogs in my work. Not only does this have implications for their hearts, but as a remedial masseuse I am seeing many problems with their joints and muscles. This sets up a vicious circle where the dog is less able to move, so struggles to lose the weight.”
Lizzie Harrison, Canine Remedial Masseuse with the Institute for Contemporary Animal Therapies.
“My remedy for dog obesity? Buy premium dog food and give them plenty of regular exercise.”
Andy Waterhouse, dog trainer with Bark Busters
“There are simple things that owners can do to help with obesity problems, such as increasing the length of time that you walk with your dog. Start with 10 minutes and increase the walk by 10 minutes each week up to a maximum of an hour.”
Julian Peters, practicing vet, Arthur Lodge Veterinary Group
KENNEL COUGH
“If your dog starts to cough more than he normally does, see your vet. And go at a time when you’d be unlikely to meet other dogs at the practice to prevent it spreading.”
MORE TH>N vet, PetHealthCare.co.uk
“Dog-owners must not assume that, because of the name, their dog can only catch the infection in kennels. Kennel cough is out there – and this disease does not come in the standard vaccination package, either.”
Mike Hall, vet at Braid Vets Hospital, Edinburgh
“Dogs normally catch the infection where they congregate, such as boarding kennels, dog shows, dog-training classes, with dog sitters/walkers or just in the park.”
Chamois Rose-Wood, pet columnist for the Independent
DENTAL PROBLEMS
“Our dog's ancestors used to exercise their teeth by catching their prey and tearing at carcasses. Modern convenience pet foods do not give our pampered pets the same dental exercise so early gum disease is very common.”
MORE TH>N vet, PetHealthCare.co.uk
“It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks. If yours doesn’t like brushing, try feeding them one of the complete diets that are available. These are high in fibre, so that when they are chewed, they act like dental floss.”
MORE TH>N vet, PetHealthCare.co.uk
WORMS
“Many owners worry if their dog vomits after taking their worming tablet. If the tablet was ingested for three hours and the tablet was not visible in the vomit then it should have been absorbed by the body.”
MORE TH>N vet, PetHealthCare.co.uk
DOG HEALTH SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULD NEVER IGNORE
“Know your dog so that you notice anything out of the ordinary. General signs of dog illness include lethargy, panting, a deterioration of the condition of coat or skin, dull flat eyes, and anything that has a sudden onset - such as aggression.”
Stan Rawlinson, Dog Listener and founder chairman of the Professional Association of Applied Canine Trainers www.doglistener.co.uk
Here at MORE TH>N we understand how important your pet is to you. Why not visit PetHealthCare.co.uk – our pet health and care site. Search the Pet Guide and Frequently Asked Questions section - we have answers to over 1,400 questions and if you can't find the answer you're looking for you can ask one of our experts or try the forum.
