Friday 30 December 2016

HAPPY NEW YEARS 2017

HAPPY NEW YEARS
EVERYONE

                                                     FROM KNOW THY DOG

Monday 26 December 2016

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a common dog ailment at Christmas!

We over indulge at Christmas and want to share our bounty with our dogs. Unfortunately this isn't a good idea!

Pancreatitis is a common dog ailment at Christmas. Owners think they are being nice treating their dogs to Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. In reality these rich fatty foods can kill your dog. The pancreas produces digestive enzymes to break down the fatty foods in the intestine. These enzymes become over activated and release in the pancreas instead of the intestine. In short the digestive enzymes start to break down the pancreas.  Your dog will need veterinary care.

A bland diet and antibiotics are the usual treatment, but it will depend on how sick your dog is.
Pancreatitis is easier to avoid then treat. Be careful of what your dogs eat over the holidays.




Saturday 24 December 2016

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM KNOW THY DOG

          PEACE, JOY, LOVE, TO ALL 


           MERRY CHRISTMAS

            FROM KNOW THY DOG

                 


Friday 23 December 2016

Danger = Turkey Bones, to our dogs

Danger = Turkey Bones, to our dogs

Turkey Bones Cooked bones especially bird bones are very brittle and can easily splinter theses brittle bones are an enormous threat to your dog.

These bones can chip teeth, puncture the stomach or intestinal wall; they also can cause an obstruction in the digestive tract.

If your dog does get into bones you will have to watch for vomiting, diarrhea, blood in stool or straining to have a bowel movement.
Also a tender abdomen when palpated. If these symptoms occur take your dog to see the veterinarian.


Thursday 22 December 2016

CHRISTMAS TREES

Every Season has its Hazards but winter has so many more....
Animal visits to the Vet Clinic increase by 40% at Christmas time.
We as dog owners need to be more hands on and aware of our dog's environment especially in the winter.


CHRISTMAS TREE

Christmas trees should be decorated with your pets in mind.
Avoid any glass decorations, lights or candy canes hanging low on the tree; make them
inaccessible for your canine.
KEEP  light cords out of reach
Make sure wrapped gifts left under the tree are not Chocolates or candies.

Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS

Wednesday 21 December 2016

ARTHRITIS IS AGGRAVATED BY THE COLD


ARTHRITIS


Arthritis is a painful disease it is the inflammation of joints. This age related disease affects 70% of dogs. Other dogs touched by Arthritis are Sport or working dogs that are extremely active causing more wear and tear on their joints. Trauma to joints is another common factor related to this disease. Some large breeds are especially prone to joint problems (Hip or Elbow Dysplasia).


There are many things we can do to help our pets manage this disease.

The first major control is keeping your dog’s weight regulated. Any extra weight causes

stress on the dog’s joints. Arthritis is a joint disease where the spacing and synovial fluid between the joints has deteriorated. This means the joint’s bones can rub against each other causing inflammation and a lot of discomfort for the sufferer. The joints become stiff and painful to move. Dog becomes less mobile and again weight can be gained because of lack of exercise.  There are many ways to help your dog cope with arthritis, one way is massage, also Infra -red massage, using heat and light to help relief pain. Hydrotherapy pools are available where your dog can exercise in a warm salt water pool relaxing and help strengthen muscle around inflamed joints with no or low impact on the joint during exercise. Tread milling your dog you then have control of the speed and distance your dog walks. Also if it’s cold outside or slippery terrain you can keep your dog safe and warm. The cold aggravates arthritis so exercising inside in the extremely cold winter days will help.


Manufactures have developed heated dog beds or magnetic beds to help alleviate discomfort. Having lift aids to help your dog with stairs or getting up can also benefit your dog.

Drugs like Non–steroid anti-inflammatories seem to help but unfortunately have some side effects. Glucosamine combined with chrodroitin is also used to help support joint care. There are Dog Foods and treats that are geared to help with mobility. Traumeel is a holistic cream or pill which helps with inflammation.

Build muscle with ¼ teaspoon of coconut oil MCT per 10 pounds in your dog’s food. Also helps breakdown lipomas.

A new treatment that seems to be very affective is cold laser therapy. It helps heal cells increases blood flow. People are swearing by this newer method for managing arthritis.

So the best approach for helping your dog deal with Arthritis is weight control, exercise management, medications, and a warm, draft free bed. 

Sunday 18 December 2016

Hypothermia Prevention is much easier then treating


HYPOTHERMIA


Hypothermia Prevention is much easier then treating

Hypothermia occurs when your dog’s core temperature drops below normal. When your dog is losing body heat faster then, he can replace it.

Normal body temperature for a dog ranges from 100 to102.5 F or 37 to 39C

In cold weather your dog will constantly be trying to maintain his body temperature in its normal range. Dogs regulate their temperature either by conserving their body heat or by producing more body heat, this is similar to how we react to cold weather.

Shivering is one way your dog can produce body heat. Piloerection is the dog equivalent to our goose bumps- with piloerection your dog’s hair stand on end thereby trapping a layer of warmed air beneath them. This creates an additional layer of insulation between your dog’s body and the cold weather, and in doing so helps him to conserve body heat; this works much better on a properly groomed dog.


Vasoconstriction is another way your dog can conserve body heat, restricting blood flow to the extremities and keeping blood flowing to the more vial body parts, i.e. the Brain Heart and Lungs.

SYMPTOMS OF HYPOTHERMIA

·         Shivering;

·         Lethargic;

·         Muscle stiffness;

·         Lack of coordination;

·         Low heart rate and Breathing rate;

·         Fixed and dilated pupils;

·         Collapse;

·         Coma

TREATMENT

With mild hypothermia your dog will be shivering and appear lethargic, moving your dog inside and wrapping in a blanket will probably do the trick, Passive rewarming.

As your dog’s temperature drops more sever measures are needed.

Moderate hypothermia remove dog from cold. Warm blankets and use heating pads but not directly on the skin apply to the truck area of the dog.

Both severe and profound hypothermia need Veterinary care immediately. At the vet clinic they can administer warm water enemas and heated fluid intravenously.  Many dogs don’t survive this.

AGAIN PREVENTING IS MUCH EASIER THEN TREATING!


Saturday 17 December 2016

LET IT SNOW LET SNOW LET IT SNOW

REMEMBER, AS IT SNOWS OUR FENCES BECOME SHORTER SO MAY NOT BE AS SECURE AT KEEPING OUR DOGS IN OUR YARDS!