The Pros and Cons of Neutering
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Puppy Farms & Puppy Supermarkets
Check out our links page. Be aware it is upsetting...
Hyperactive Dogs
Hyperactive dogs can very often be as a result of food with too high a protein level or a food with a lot of additives. If a complete food is for 'active' dogs then it is for working dogs, i.e. police dogs, shepherd's dogs, gamekeeper's dogs etc that do a full days work. Add high protein levels/additives to little or no off-lead exercise and you have a dog with energy to burn which can be a nightmare to live with. There is a link to a food comparison website on our links page.
However, please do not over exercise puppies, especially the larger breeds that are prone to Hip Dysplasia. For the same reason, puppies should not be allowed to become overweight.
The Dangers of Sticks
When you are in the park throwing something for your dog to fetch please choose a safe toy, i.e. a ball on a rope, rather than a stick. We know of various accidents involving dogs catching sticks or running onto sticks that are stuck into the ground. Resulting in a Jack Russell losing an eye, a Border Collie with a ripped throat, another dog with the roof of his mouth punctured and Staffordshire Bull Terrier with an eight inch mouth/throat wound. One Border Collie chewed a stick and a splinter went through the side of her mouth. The splinter migrated and eventually caused an abscess on her shoulder which had to be operated on to remove it.
Bloat/Torsion
Bloat is when the stomach is distended with gas. This may be followed by torsion (twisting of the stomach.) The signs are distended stomach, frequent shallow breathing and a purplish discoloration of the tongue. Large, deep chested breeds are more prone to torsion.
It can be caused by a number of things including eating too much or eating too quickly and therefore swallowing air.
Feeding immediately before or after strenuous exercise can also be a cause. It is recommended that dogs should not be exercised for at least an hour after feeding and should be allowed half an hours rest after exercise before being fed.
Torsion is an emergency and requires the dog to be rushed to the vet.
Ticks & Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is on the increase. Please go to our links page to view a website explaining the cause and symptoms.
Toxic Foods
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Chocolate
Chocolate made for human consumption can cause death in dogs. Dogs are sensitive to a class of chemicals called methylxanthines. Caffeine and theobromine are members of that family. Dogs simply cannot metabolise and excrete methylxanthines as efficiently as humans. The half-life of those compounds in the human body is in the order of 2 to 3 hours, in the dog it is more like 18 hours.
In a dog the compounds are taken up by the liver and transmitted via the bile into the intestine. They are then converted back into the original methylxanthines for another circuit through the animal. This repeats itself a number of times and instead of getting rid of the substances the dog keeps re-poisoning itself. The darker the chocolate the more dangerous it is.
Symptoms include vomiting, hyperactivity, restlessness, hypersensitivity to touch ( a dog will jump when touched, very rapid heartbeat and rapid breathing rate. A loss of control of leg muscles, muscle tremor seizures, general weakness, coma and finally death follow.
So resist the temptation to share your chocolate with your dog. Chocolate in any amount can be toxic.
Also, please be aware of the dangers of cocoa shell garden mulch as sold by garden centres and DIY stores. The packaging usually has a small disclaimer that says 'may be harmful to animals.' Unfortunately, it can cause toxic shock and dogs have died from eating this mulch.
Check out our links page.
Puppy Farms & Puppy Supermarkets
Check out our links page. Be aware it is upsetting...
Hyperactive Dogs
Hyperactive dogs can very often be as a result of food with too high a protein level or a food with a lot of additives. If a complete food is for 'active' dogs then it is for working dogs, i.e. police dogs, shepherd's dogs, gamekeeper's dogs etc that do a full days work. Add high protein levels/additives to little or no off-lead exercise and you have a dog with energy to burn which can be a nightmare to live with. There is a link to a food comparison website on our links page.
However, please do not over exercise puppies, especially the larger breeds that are prone to Hip Dysplasia. For the same reason, puppies should not be allowed to become overweight.
The Dangers of Sticks
When you are in the park throwing something for your dog to fetch please choose a safe toy, i.e. a ball on a rope, rather than a stick. We know of various accidents involving dogs catching sticks or running onto sticks that are stuck into the ground. Resulting in a Jack Russell losing an eye, a Border Collie with a ripped throat, another dog with the roof of his mouth punctured and Staffordshire Bull Terrier with an eight inch mouth/throat wound. One Border Collie chewed a stick and a splinter went through the side of her mouth. The splinter migrated and eventually caused an abscess on her shoulder which had to be operated on to remove it.
Bloat/Torsion
Bloat is when the stomach is distended with gas. This may be followed by torsion (twisting of the stomach.) The signs are distended stomach, frequent shallow breathing and a purplish discoloration of the tongue. Large, deep chested breeds are more prone to torsion.
It can be caused by a number of things including eating too much or eating too quickly and therefore swallowing air.
Feeding immediately before or after strenuous exercise can also be a cause. It is recommended that dogs should not be exercised for at least an hour after feeding and should be allowed half an hours rest after exercise before being fed.
Torsion is an emergency and requires the dog to be rushed to the vet.
Ticks & Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is on the increase. Please go to our links page to view a website explaining the cause and symptoms.
Toxic Foods
Please see our Links page.
Chocolate
Chocolate made for human consumption can cause death in dogs. Dogs are sensitive to a class of chemicals called methylxanthines. Caffeine and theobromine are members of that family. Dogs simply cannot metabolise and excrete methylxanthines as efficiently as humans. The half-life of those compounds in the human body is in the order of 2 to 3 hours, in the dog it is more like 18 hours.
In a dog the compounds are taken up by the liver and transmitted via the bile into the intestine. They are then converted back into the original methylxanthines for another circuit through the animal. This repeats itself a number of times and instead of getting rid of the substances the dog keeps re-poisoning itself. The darker the chocolate the more dangerous it is.
Symptoms include vomiting, hyperactivity, restlessness, hypersensitivity to touch ( a dog will jump when touched, very rapid heartbeat and rapid breathing rate. A loss of control of leg muscles, muscle tremor seizures, general weakness, coma and finally death follow.
So resist the temptation to share your chocolate with your dog. Chocolate in any amount can be toxic.
Also, please be aware of the dangers of cocoa shell garden mulch as sold by garden centres and DIY stores. The packaging usually has a small disclaimer that says 'may be harmful to animals.' Unfortunately, it can cause toxic shock and dogs have died from eating this mulch.