Vets Somerset - What is Distemper?

Distemper is a very contagious disease that is spread by contact with an infected dog. It's also found in other animal species such as ferrets, skunks and even seals. Here are some common questions and answers on the subject of distemper that you may find useful.

How is distemper spread?

Distemper is a virus that can be transmitted from dog to dog via contact. For example, coughing can spread the disease and the mucus from the nose is also heavily infected.

What are the symptoms of distemper?

The main symptoms include:

•          Fever

•          Loss of appetite

•          Thick yellow discharge from the eyes and nose

•          Coughing

•          Seizures

Lots of other illnesses can cause these symptoms in dogs, but the symptoms are not usually present all at the same time, as they are with distemper. A blood test will help your vet to know for sure.

Vets Somerset - What can be done to treat it?

Unfortunately antibiotics don't work on viral infections, but they are often still needed because the virus can cause secondary bacterial infections to develop. Fluids might be given to your dog through a drip, as well as cough suppressants and drugs to treat seizures. Some new antivirals that are used on humans have recently been tried on dogs with some success. You might find that your dog also needs some intensive nursing during this time.

Can dogs make a complete recovery from distemper?

Usually they will make a full recovery, but some dogs are left with recurring seizures or nervous twitches afterwards.

How can I stop my dog from catching distemper?

Luckily there is a vaccine available, which is usually given to puppies as a series of injections. A dog should get follow up vaccinations about every three years and maybe more often in areas where the disease is more common. Because of these vaccines, the disease is now at very low levels in the UK. However, your dog might still be at risk of catching it from wild animals such as skunks, ferrets, foxes and seals. Stray dogs can also be carriers of the disease, so try to minimise contact with them.

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Vets Somerset - Genuine Guidance For Dealing With Problems Related To Canines

Do you want to change a dog's life? Whether you previously individual one or are intending to embrace a single, enough time is currently to learn to take great proper care of them. This post information a number of wonderful ideas, some you may never have looked at just before, in relation to canines, so keep reading.

The family pet demands shots, a lot likewise your newborn does. Some common shots that canines demand involve rabies, hepatitis and distemper. Each and every animal is distinct, and each and every can have some other immunization plan. Your veterinarian is a good resource in terms of which vaccinations are suitable for the age and type of your furry friend.

Family pet-resistant your property well before getting a dog in it, equally as you would for any creeping child. You must relocate anything at all poisonous into a greater shelf and think about the threat that plants may possibly create if nibbled by your dog. Keep in mind that contra--freeze is dangerous and this leaving behind things such as cents or crayons on flooring can present a choking hazard to wondering pups.

Prevent impersonating a healthcare professional in terms of your dog's wellness. In an effort to spend less, lots of people try and diagnose their pet's situations or use individual treatment options on numerous aspects and that could be very dangerous to the animal. When you can't afford to pay for whole veterinary clinic proper care, explain to that towards the doctor and request their assistance in any case or if perhaps they might prepare a repayment plan for yourself.

Vets Somerset - How to handle poor behaviors?

The instant you recognize your pet dog engaging in poor behaviors, immediately try to right them. The more time you overlook it, the greater challenging it will likely be to take care of it later, and also the consequences may be dire. Your dog might harm another person, or you, so do something to regulate him in early stages.

House-education your pet will likely be less difficult when you adopt a schedule. You ought to select strolls on a regular basis through the day are available residence on your lunch or dinner bust if possible. If your puppy needs to be residence on your own for very long several hours, tend not to abandon a container full of h2o unless of course it is extremely warm.

A number of dog breeds are susceptible to some health problems, so be sure you understand what is common to the type of pet you might have. Look at their traditions and then try to avoid troubles you know they're prone to. You may also talk to the veterinary about actions you can take to increase their life-time.

When you very own a dog, you usually comprehend the basic fees of ownership, such as foods, veterinary clinic appointments, and grooming. A normally ignored price is crisis situations. Though it may not come about regularly, you need to have a bit of cash reserve for just about any crisis which may develop. It's far better to be prepared on an emergency veterinary visit rather than speculate how you will pay for it.

Now have you been truly completely ready to look after your dog in the easiest way achievable? Provided that you seek to use what you discovered, you need to be! Acquire your new expertise and set it to use and you'll see alterations right before the eyes. Enjoy your dog and enjoy these to bits!

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Dental Problems

A dog must have a complete set of strong white teeth. After all these are the normal hunters and even our own front teeth we call the canines is taken from the dog family. It might, then, be easy to imagine that dogs’ teeth look after themselves, but unfortunately this isn’t the case, and dental disease is very common, especially in older dogs. In fact, over three-quarters of dogs over the age of three show signs of periodontal disease, a chronic infection of the gums which affects the teeth, and may even cause their loss.

As the saying goes prevention is the best medicine and the best way to do this is by having your dog’s teeth clean on a regular basis. It’s a good idea to train a dog to accept regular tooth brushing, which will be a major help in keeping its mouth healthy.Training a dog should start while it is still a puppy though there older dogs that can still learn to accept tooth brushing at their age.In cases when your dog can not get use to tooth brushing, you may want to try toys, treats and foods made to help your dog have clean teeth. It is better to ask guidance from a vet what is the best way to do it.

Dermatitis

Dogs like other species-humans-can likewise have a skin condition underneath that thick shiny coat of theirs; they are prone to all types of skin problems. A major cause of skin issues in dogs is what is known as atopic dermatitis. Most dogs have some itches and sometimes their paw would hit the area. But when you see that your dog does not stop scratching itself and there are noticeable signs on its skin then it may be suffering from an allergy-based problem that leads to atopic dermatitis.

Dogs, like people, can suffer from all sorts of allergies leading to skin problems, from a reaction to flea bites and particular infections, to sensitivities to pollen, dust mites or even certain types of food. In case allergies lead to acute itching then you will see redness, acne-like spots or its hair falling off. Above all, your dog won’t be very happy!

Tests will be run to eliminate the other reasons for bad skin conditions- most of it will be cure using clear-cut medications. If the reason for the bad skin condition is the allergies then if medications do not lessen the symptoms then there are other ways of treating the allergy. For people, there are steroids and antihistamines however these can have negative side effects. It may, however, be possible to tackle an allergy through allergen-specific immunotherapy, gradually exposing a dog to increasing amounts of the allergen responsible for its itchy reaction to the point where it builds up a tolerance.

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Wellpets: Canine Parvovirus is a Dog Flea that you should Watch Out

Of all the bugs that a dog can pick up out there in the big wide world, canine parvovirus (often known as CPV) is one of the most troubling. This harmful stomach louse was seen in Britain during the 70s, it is not lethal however it may injure the intestinal tract of a dog which may cause death. Young dogs are generally at the highest risk.

Parvovirus is a germ, a bug. It’s carried in the faeces of infected dogs, but unlike many other viruses and bacteria, it’s remarkably tough. Heat and detergents have little effect, and what’s more: the virus can survive in the environment for moths. A dog can catch it unavoidably at any place even if it did not have any contact with infected dogs.

Once a dog picks up the parvovirus infection it invades the intestinal wall, causing serious inflammation and damage. The manner and place where the dog got the bug is difficult to pinpoint but the signs of infection is usually seen some time a week after the infection.

One of the most unsettling characteristics of parvovirus is that its first indications are very common and can be brought about other diseases. 

Diarrhoea and throwing up are clear indications in the early stages of the illness. The initial indications are not the reasons for the death but rather the damage inside done by the virus. The disease destroys the important lining of the intestinal system which may bring about dehydration and instigates septicaemia an infection of the blood that can be lethal. 

The key to successful treatment of CPV is early diagnosis, but unfortunately it’s a tricky disease to definitively diagnose. To begin with, diarrhoea and puking are the usual signs of a lot of other illness. Generally a blood test will be performed by a vet and it the outcome display a low white blood cell count, more test will be done to find out if the cause is CPV. The main ways to confirm CPV is to detect the virus in faeces, or to find traces of the resultant antibodies in a dog’s blood. 

If the disease is caught early enough, before severe dehydration and before the onset of septicaemia, a dog can make a full recovery (though unfortunately young puppies, which are particularly susceptible, are often the hardest to treat, as are certain breeds including Rottweiler’s. The first step is to ward off dehydration with intravenous fluids. To restrain the virus, antivirus drugs are given and to manage the symptoms, other medicines will be provided. CPV is always a serious illness, but with a swift diagnosis and thorough care there’s a good chance that a dog will make a full recovery. 

Given the hardy resistance of the virus to just about everything - with the exception of chlorine bleach - it’s very hard to guard your dog against the risk of infection altogether. It is good the there is a vaccine available because vaccination is the most effective way to ward off disease which puppies should get as part of their vaccination course, the later on it will be booster for them. 

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Vets Somerset - One Serious Illness of your Pet Dog - Cancer

Cancer is such a scary illness that when we hear it we think that only people suffer from this. And just as with humans canine cancer comes in all manner of forms, due to all manner of causes, and with all manner of prognoses. Using simple words cancer is when the process of the original cell division goes astray. There is a damaged cell or atypical DNA that splits up and continues to do so, thereby making an unconstrained and growing occurrence outside the usual needs of the natural cell substitution that holds the body together. The purposeless lump that results is a tumor. The useless lump that is produced is called a tumor.

Similar to human beings there are innumerable sources for the splitting of this atypical cell. Chemical or environmental reasons may be the cause. Dogs, fortunately, don’t tend to smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol, but they are exposed to sunlight, and may well come in contact with carcinogenic chemicals in the course of their life. Canine cancer may also be down to an inherited genetic tendency. However the abrasion of the DNA through the years may also be the reason. Older people and older dogs usually suffer from cancers.

Vets Somerset Explains - What are the symptoms?

The most obvious symptom of cancer in a dog is some sort of lump. But then you may observe other signs like decrease in weight and less appetite, fatigue and listlessness. At this point it’s time for the veterinary professionals to step in and make a diagnosis. In case a lump is not seen by the naked eye an x-ray or scan may be required and when a lump is found a biopsy will be needed. Depending on the size and location of the tumor this might be done with a needle, or the whole thing might be removed in a simple operation. Oftentimes the tumor is not malignant. This means that although it will continue growing where it is, it has no tendency to spread elsewhere in the body. A dog will completely recover on the condition that no lasting impairment is done on the surrounding organs.

At times the tumor may be harmful with the possibility of its unusual cell to proliferate or increase in number in other parts of the body. Just as with humans these are the cases that can sadly prove fatal. The treatment for canine cancer has progressed and improved a lot for the past decades and most of what the doctors have acquired and learn have been pass on to the veterinary professionals. Sometimes therapies and other medications may be used on dogs to cure them although these can have unfavorable effects on them.

 

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Vets Somerset: All About Beagle Breeders

When you are looking for the right beagle, it is important for you to know its personal history and you ought to get your beagle from a respectable and trusted breeder. There are beagle breeders who have extensive show kennels that are well-known and there are those which are operated by small family who just really love the breed. The most important thing to consider is the reputation and standards of the breeders so be sure you do your investigation.

The best place to start when looking for beagle breeders is usually the national associations the Beagle Club and the Beagle Association in the UK. Any good, reputable beagle breeders will be members of these clubs, and bound by their codes These associations often recommend well-known breeders to future beagle owners.

The main reason why it is essential to purchase your beagle from respectable and honest breeders is simply because there are many fraudulent vendors out there who are in the industry for profit only and do not care about the beagles that they are breeding. Getting your beagle from these kinds of breeders will only encourage them to continue with their wicked and cruel way. You may likewise find yourself owning a puppy with poor health.

Vets Somerset Answers: Things To Consider When Buying a Beagle in a Breeder

Any good beagle breeder, large or small, should be able to show you your prospective puppy with its mother – there’s no legitimate excuse for them not to, so don’t accept one! They will also be more than happy to let you look around their kennels and to see their other beagles. Usually a beagle breeder is more than willing to let you go around their kennels and look at the other beagles. In cases wherein the beagle breeder prohibits you from looking around then that would be a sign that there is something fishy in the business.

Usually, a respectable breeder do not part with their puppies that are less than eight weeks old, so if a breeder gives you a puppy of that age to bring home then you should start thinking. When you visit the puppies watch how they behave around people and situations. They should already be well used to being held and handled. Reputable beagle breeders should also have all their puppies registered with the Kennel Club. You’ll get your registration documents when you come to take your beagle puppy home. The breeder must be able to provide you with all the details of the puppy, its ancestry for four generations, in case you will be getting the pedigree for the puppy.Reputable beagle breeders will also want to ask you some questions - if they are good at what they do and care about the beagles they breed they will want to be confident of sending them to a good home before they let them go. They want to be certain that you will be able to give what the puppy needs throughout its existence. Do not forget that nice and well-behaved beagles originate from breeders who are honest and of good reputation so that in the future you will turn out to be a trustworthy breeder too.

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Vets Somerset: Our Pet Dogs Dental Problems

A mighty mouthful of shiny white teeth is the ideal in any dog. These are, after all natural predators, and we even take the name of our own frontal fangs – the canines – from the scientific name for the dog family. It might, then, be easy to imagine that dogs’ teeth look after themselves, but unfortunately this isn't the case, and dental disease is very common, especially in older dogs. In fact, over three-quarters of dogs over the age of three show signs of periodontal disease, a chronic infection of the gums which affects the teeth, and may even cause their loss.

Prevention, as always, is the best cure, and the best prevention for this and other dental problems is regular cleaning.  It’s a good idea to train a dog to accept regular tooth brushing, which will be a major help in keeping its mouth healthy. The training is best done while the dog is still a puppy, but you can often train an older dog to accept – and even enjoy – having its teeth brushed. Fortunately there are also lots of toys, treats and foods specially designed to keep teeth clean, even if your dog won’t accept a toothbrush. It’s always worth asking a vet for advice on the best approach.

Vets North Somerset: Another Dog Problem is Dermatitis

Dogs can suffer from all sorts of skin problems – after all, under that lovely shiny coat they have skin just like us, and just like us it is susceptible to all sorts of problems. A major cause of skin issues in dogs is what is known as atopic dermatitis. All dogs get a few itches, and a well-placed paw usually hits the spot. But if your dog is forever scratching itself, and if you can see physical signs on the skin, then there may be an allergy-based problem, causing atopic dermatitis.

Dogs, like people, can suffer from all sorts of allergies leading to skin problems, from a reaction to flea bites and particular infections, to sensitivities to pollen, dust mites or even certain types of food. If such allergies are causing severe itching then you might notice redness, acne-like spots, or hair loss. Above all, your dog won’t be very happy!

A vet will often run tests to rule out other causes of skin problems – many of which can be treated with straightforward medication. If allergies are identified as the source of the problem then as well as medication to ease the symptoms, there are possible means of dealing with the allergy itself. As with humans, steroids and antihistamines can provide relief, but these can lead to side effects of their own. It may, however, be possible to tackle an allergy through allergen-specific immunotherapy, gradually exposing a dog to increasing amounts of the allergen responsible for its itchy reaction to the point where it builds up a tolerance.

Puppy - Socialising

What is socialization?

Socialization is the name given to the process whereby the puppy learns about itself, its own species and the other species with which it will live. During this process the puppy develops relationships with other living beings in its environment and learns how to interact appropriately.Another important term relating to the puppy’s development is 'habituation'. This concept is often lumped together with socialization, but it helps to differentiate the two terms.

What is habituation?
As all animals develop there are numerous stimuli (sounds, smells, sights and events) that they need to become accustomed to in their environment, the vacuum cleaner is a good example. If puppies do not encounter these stimuli and place them in their frame of reference of things that are not threatening, then the stimuli can induce fear and anxiety (including an aggressive reaction) when they are encountered later in life. Habituation is the process whereby dogs get used to a wide variety of stimuli, and stop reacting to them, provided that there are no unpleasant consequences during exposure. Extensive habituation as a puppy lays the foundation for general confidence and an ability to cope with novelty or the unusual later in life.

Why are these terms important?
The processes of socialization and habituation are essential for the normal development of the brain and in particular the stress management mechanisms that will enable your puppy to cope with any challenges that he faces as an adult. Failure for these mechanisms to develop appropriately puts your dog at risk of developing behavioral problems and also increases the risk of developing certain physical diseases which are exacerbated or triggered by chronic stress.

To reduce the possibility of fearful responses as a puppy grows and matures, it is essential to expose young puppies to many safe and appropriate stimuli (people, places and things) when they can most effectively socialist with and habituate to these stimuli. This means that exposure before the age when fear responses are well developed is going to be more beneficial than exposure once your puppy has a higher tendency to avoid novelty than to approach it. In practical terms this means that puppies should be exposed to appropriate social and physical situations in a safe and secure environment between the ages of 3 and 8 weeks of age. Clearly this time is likely to be spent at the breeders’ premises and therefore careful selection of the source of your puppy is crucial. Dogs that receive insufficient exposure to people, other animals and new environments during their early weeks of life may develop significant levels of fear which in turn can lead to issues of timidity or aggression.

What can I do to improve my chances of having a social, non-fearful dog?

Parentage
The genetics of the breed and of the parents in particular play an important role in how sociable, playful, fearful or excitable a puppy becomes. In order to maximize your chances of having a dog who is sociable, you should choose a breed and parents (both male and female) which have the type of behavior that you would like the puppy to have. Of course, there is a great deal of variability between individuals, so that breed and parental behavior will not always be indicative of what the puppy will be like, but sound temperament genetics is an important base from which to build.

Puppy assessment
Even the most sociable and playful of puppies may become fearful and aggressive as they develop out of puppy hood and to date no test exists that can accurately predict the personality a puppy will have as it matures. However, to maximize the chance of selecting a puppy likely to develop a friendly outgoing personality, avoid selecting a puppy that is shy, withdrawn or fearful. This does not ensure that the puppy will mature into a friendly, non-fearful adult as puppies under 3 months of age are still developing their social skills. Therefore, assessing the behavior of the parents, and understanding the behavior of a breed are far more critical than assessing an individual puppy.

Early handling
Puppies that are stimulated and handled appropriately from birth to five weeks of age are more confident, sociable, exploratory, faster maturing and better able to handle stress as they develop. Puppies obtained from a breeder or home where they have had frequent and appropriate contact and interaction with people are likely to be more sociable and less fearful as they develop.

Primary socialization
There is a sensitive period in the development of most species when they develop social attachments with their own and other species, independent of punishment and rewards. The events that occur during this socialization period shape the puppy’s preferred social partners, and therefore by recognizing the time frame in which canine socialization develops, you can help to ensure a healthy social attachment to people and other animals, including other dogs.

The main socialization period for dogs begins at approximately 3 weeks of age and is diminishing by 12-14 weeks. Peak sensitivity occurs at approximately 6-8 weeks and beyond 12-14 weeks there is a tendency to act fearfully towards new people, animals and situations. It is also important to remember that socialization is ongoing and that many young dogs will regress or become fearful again if they do not receive continued appropriate social interaction as they grow and develop. This is especially important during the first 6-8 months of life.

To help to keep a healthy social relationship with other dogs throughout life, dogs should maintain their social contacts with their mother and litter mates until 6-8 weeks of age. They should also continue to have regular positive social interaction and play sessions with other dogs after they are taken into a new home.

What is the best age to obtain my new puppy?
Since it is so important for the puppy to develop and maintain social attachments to their own species, puppies should ideally remain with their mother and litter mates until 6-8 weeks of age. Provided that the breeder has also started the process of socialization to people, the puppy can move to the new home at 7 weeks of age and then expand their social contacts to new people and species while still in their socialization period. You may find that breeders dictate the age of re homing to fit in with current legislation and in these situations the importance of the quality of the breeder environment in terms of socialization and habituation becomes even more important.

Where should I get my puppy from?
There are a variety of potential sources for your new puppy but in behavioral terms the most important thing is to select somewhere that offers adequate and appropriate socialization and habituation opportunities for the puppies. In order to reduce the emotional upheaval when your puppy moves from the breeder’s premises to your home it is useful to look for a breeding environment that has as many similarities as possible to the home environment that you intend to provide for your dog. For example, if you are intending to keep your dog as a house dog with a family of young children it would be sensible to look for a litter of puppies reared with exposure to a home environment, rather than one that has been reared entirely in outdoor kennels or an outbuilding or shed.

What can I do to assist my puppy in its social development?
Your puppy is most likely to become fearful of stimuli that are not found in his day-to-day routine so it is a good idea to make a conscious effort to identify those people and situations that your puppy is not regularly exposed to so that you can structure positive experiences with these. Your puppy needs to have the opportunity for positive interaction with a wide variety of people of all ages, races, appearances and both sexes during the formative months. For example, if there are no children in the home, you might arrange regular play sessions with children who understand dogs and will behave appropriately with your puppy. If you live in the country it can be helpful to make a few trips into the town/city, so that your puppy can be taken for walks on town streets. However, remember that early experiences need to be controlled so that they are entirely positive, so do not overwhelm your puppy with an environment that is too busy and noisy. Conversely, a puppy that grows up in the city might become fearful or excited if as an adult he meets farm animals that he was not exposed to during his early development. So try to arrange to take your city dweller into the country as early as possible.

Introduce your puppy appropriately to as many new people and situations as possible, beginning in his first three months of development. People in uniforms, babies, toddlers, the elderly and the disabled, are just a few examples of people that might not commonly be encountered and could lead to fear and anxiety, unless there is sufficient early exposure. Similarly, car rides, lifts, stairs, or the noises of cars, trains, aero planes, or hot air balloons are some examples of events and experiences to which a puppy might be usefully exposed. It is important that the puppy be given the opportunity to relax in these new situations and the way in which he is introduced is as important as what you introduce him to. The new experience or person needs to be as passive, positive and unchallenged as possible and it is important not to overwhelm a young puppy.

One way to facilitate the introduction of your puppy to new situations and people is to provide a reward such as a favourite toy or biscuit each time he is exposed to a new stimulus. However, it is important to ensure that the pleasure from the reward is greater than any apprehension about the person or situation. It can therefore be beneficial to divide the introduction into two stages. In the first stage it is more beneficial for the reward to be passively delivered, such as by dropping it to the floor, than for strangers to actively approach your puppy with a treat in their hand. Once your puppy has formed a positive expectation and is actively approaching the stranger in a relaxed manner you can move to the second stage and the stranger can then begin to offer a treat from their hand. Provided that the first stage of introduction has been successful this second stage can be useful in terms of reducing the risk of puppies being hand shy, since your puppy will learn to associate new friends and an outstretched hand with something positive. Once the puppy has learned to sit on command, each new friend should ask him to sit before giving the biscuit. This teaches an appropriate greeting and will make your puppy less likely to jump up at people.

There will of course, be times when your puppy is in a new situation and you do not have treats. Be sure then to use a happy tone of voice and encourage your puppy to relax.

If your puppy seems to panic, back off a little. Trying to continue the introduction may aggravate the fear and lead to negative associations with the stranger or situation. Do not draw attention to the problem and try to act as passively as possible. Once the puppy has relaxed you can try the introduction again.

Never reassure the fearful dog as this might serve to reward the fearful behaviour.

Is it healthy to take my puppy out in public at such a young age?
There is always a concern about the risks of taking a puppy out of his home before he is fully vaccinated. This is because he may be exposed to infection before the vaccines have had time to become protective. However, benefits gained from these new and early public appearances can be enormous and without them the risk of your puppy developing permanent fears or anxiety is a serious concern.

One solution is for people and healthy vaccinated animals to visit the puppy in its own home, until it is sufficiently vaccinated to be taken out. A compromise is to take your puppy out to meet people and other pets in low risk environments. Taking your puppy to the homes of other dogs that you know to be fully vaccinated is one option and carrying your puppy when you are out in public places can also be considered. It is important to avoid places that are frequented by other dogs that are unknown to you. You should certainly avoid neighborhood parks where farces and urine might accumulate.

Another valuable aid to successful socialization and habituation for your puppy is to enroll in a well run puppy socialization class. If these classes are held indoors in a room that can be cleaned and disinfected and all puppies are screened for vaccination and health prior to each class. Then these classes can provide varied and plentiful exposure to people and other dogs in a low risk environment.

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This client information sheet is based on material written by: Daniel Mills BVSc PhD CCAB DipECVBM-CA MRCVS, Sarah Heath BVSc DipECVBM-CA CCAB MRCVS and Helen Zulch BVSc MRCVS.