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  VACCINATION

  167.VACCINATION

  Vaccination in every species, including humans, is a hot topic of conversation. Over-vaccination is something we all need to be mindful of, but vaccines are essential in general. Vaccinations have saved millions of human and animal lives.

  168.TAKE HEED

  Don’t be fooled by those who say that some diseases are not an issue anymore. Believe your vet. Seeing unvaccinated dogs die from preventable diseases is something every vet dreads. Work with your vet to create a vaccine plan for your pet.

  169.GET A VET’S ADVICE

  Where you live will dictate what vaccines your dog needs, so talk to your vet about what is necessary. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) website has excellent information about the most up-to-date guidelines and safety, too —just go to the “Vaccinations, guidelines” section.

  170.ESSENTIAL

  Some vaccines are called core vaccines, and these are considered essential for all dogs, no matter where in the world you are. The three core vaccines for all dogs are for canine distemper, canine parvovirus, and infectious canine hepatitis. Many countries also require a rabies vaccination, as this is a deadly disease for humans as well as animals.

  171.RABIES

  Rabies is a huge cause of death, especially in developing countries. Rabies spreads when infected animals bite others. Dogs and bats most commonly spread the disease. Rabies attacks the brain and causes many signs of infection, including twitching, confusion, fear of water, and coma. It is almost always fatal.

  172.DISTEMPER

  Distemper is related to human measles and can be fatal. In puppies, it has a death rate of more than 50 percent. Signs of the disease can range from coughing, wheezing, twitching, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss to death. Many wild animals carry distemper, so protection by vaccination is very important.

  173.PARVOVIRUS

  Parvovirus is a horrible disease that readily kills pet dogs and wild dogs. Untreated, most animals will die in a couple of days, and death can still occur even with treatment. Parvovirus causes fever, severe vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. Vaccination is essential.

  174.HEPATITIS

  Infectious hepatitis is another potentially deadly disease that causes fever, depression, liver disease, and kidney disease. Dogs often get a blue sheen to their eyes because of an immune reaction. This has led some people to call the disease “blue eye.”

  175.LOCATION

  There are other important vaccines available, depending on your location. Just because the vaccines needed for your dog are not on the worldwide list doesn’t mean that in some countries or in your area they aren’t considered just as important. These vaccines fight illnesses such as leptospirosis, kennel cough, and borreliosis, or Lyme’s disease.

  176.TYPES

  In general, there are two types of vaccine; infectious and noninfectious. The infectious ones tend to last longer and cause a bigger immune reaction because they have active viruses or bacteria in them that have been changed in the lab. Some noninfectious vaccines must be given yearly, while some infectious ones last for a number of years.

  177.PUPPIES

  Bitches that have good immunity to vaccinations will pass on a maternal immunity to their pups. This can stop vaccines from working, a result that varies a lot among individual puppies. That’s why puppies receive two or more doses of vaccines to make sure all the puppies are protected against all the diseases.

  178.SCHEDULE

  Normally, puppies have their first vaccination at around eight to nine weeks of age, but this routine can start as young as six weeks, in some instances. They need to have a second vaccination two to four weeks later and need to be at least 16 weeks old to be sure their maternal immunity has worn off. They should then have a booster vaccination for all diseases six to twelve months later. After that, the boosters given will depend on the length of immunity.

  179.PROTECTION

  Vaccinating your pet not only protects your companion but also helps to protect sick or immunosuppressed animals and humans. Your vet will give vaccines only when needed, but in some cases, if you’re worried, you can have your dog tested to see if any immunity to any particular disease has run out yet.

  180.CHECK-UP

  Don’t forget that every time you go to get your dog a vaccination, your dog will have an examination from your vet. This is excellent for picking up subtle changes and early signs of disease that might go unnoticed. It’s also an ideal time to talk about concerns and to check your dog’s weight. It’s not just about the booster!

  WORMS AND OTHER PARASITES

  181.WORMS

  There are lots of different worms that can infect dogs and other animals. Some just cause a nuisance by eating your dog’s food inside the intestine, but many cause serious damage in different organs, and some even kill animals.

  182.LOCATION

  The types of worms your dog may get depend on where you live, so it’s important you know what is a problem in your area of the country. The most common worms are roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and whipworms.

  183.ROUNDWORMS

  The biggest problem for puppies and pregnant or nursing mothers is roundworms. These worms can cause intestinal problems and even blockages for the puppies. There can be poor weight gain.

  184.HUMANS

  Roundworms can also infect humans through contact with dog feces. Children are most at risk. The worm larvae migrate through the body and can damage organs and, though very rarely, cause blindness in children. This is why it’s so important to pick up your dog’s poop!

  185.PREGNANCY

  During pregnancy, worms from the bitch infect the puppies through the uterus and also, after birth, through the mother’s milk. The mother should be treated for worms before mating and every day from 40 days of pregnancy until two days after birth. Only certain drugs are safe in pregnancy, so make sure you check with your vet first.

  186.PUPPIES

  Even with worm treatment, some worms may get to the puppies, so they need to be treated, too. Normally, the puppies should be treated every two weeks from 2 weeks old to 12 weeks old. Then, they should be treated monthly until 6 months of age, after which treatment is the same as that for an adult dog.

  187.OTHER PARASITES

  Worms are the most important parasite to guard puppies from, but young dogs can also get fleas, lice, and mites, depending on where they are being raised. Don’t be afraid to have a good look through their fur and in their ears before you take them home.

  188.MITES

  Ear mites are not uncommon in puppies. If you notice your puppy shaking its head a lot, or scratching its ears, or if you see lots of wax, the problem could be mites. They are very uncomfortable for any dog, so see your vet for something safe to guard against mites, based on the age of the dog.

  189.TICKS

  Once your puppy starts going out, he or she could pick up ticks. These tend to be more common in woods, grassland, and areas where there is wildlife or livestock grazing.

  GETTING USED TO THE VET

  190.UNLOVED!

  Sadly for vets who love animals dearly, the feeling is not always mutual! Lots of animals can easily end up with negative associations about going to the vet. Being examined by a vet is also quite an odd experience for dogs. Getting puppies used to being handled can really help.

  191.HANDLING

  From when your puppy is as young as possible, try to do these things gently and calmly once a day: Lift your puppy’s lips up and look at the teeth, open the mouth a little way and look inside, touch the ears and peek inside, run your hands all over the pup’s body and legs, pick paws up and gently spread the toes, lift the tail, and look at the bottom. Then, give your pup a little fuss and a dog treat.

  192.RELAXED

  This routine will help your dog feel relaxed when a vet or a nurse has to do these things, and it will help you, too. If you think something is wrong and need to examine your dog, o
r even if you just need to dry muddy paws, it will make life easier for you and more relaxing for your dog.

  193.FREQUENT FLYERS

  If at all possible, take your dog to the vet frequently, even when the dog doesn’t need to go. Get the dog weighed or just pop in for a chat. Usually, your dog can have a treat from the office, and the animal will also learn that the vet is not a scary place to be.

  NUTRITION

  194.ESSENTIAL

  Good nutrition is essential for puppies. Puppies have specific needs that are different from those of adult dogs. Young dogs need to grow at the right rate. Large-breed puppies that will be over 55 pounds (25 kilograms) when they are adults need large-breed puppy food.

  195.GROWTH

  Puppy food should be fed from weaning until around a year of age. This is a general guideline, but sometimes your vet may change the diet if your puppy is too fat or if something else is wrong. Never change to a non-puppy food without advice. Foods that are not balanced for growth can be disastrous in some cases.

  196.JOINTS

  Good puppy food can reduce joint and bone problems, help the immune system, and, believe it or not, make your puppy easier to train.

  197.CALORIES

  Growing up is hard work, and young animals as well as young humans need more calories than adults. Puppies need to eat more frequently than adults and need food that is digestible and calorific.

  198.PROTEIN

  Puppies need the most protein around the time of weaning, and the need reduces as they grow. Mom’s milk is about 33 percent protein. Puppy foods should have 22 to 32 percent protein. Make sure you look at the levels on what’s called a dry matter basis. This helps to compare wet and dry food equally.

  199.FAT

  This provides calories, helps carry some vitamins, and also provides fatty acids. Too much fat can make puppies obese, and this can cause growth problems in some dogs. The ideal level is 10 to 25 percent.

  200.FATTY ACIDS

  These are very important for lots of body functions, but for puppies the fatty acids are even more important. One fatty acid called DHA is needed for brain, eye, and hearing development. This is the fatty acid that can make your dog easier to train.

  201.MINERALS

  Puppies need more calcium and phosphorus than adults to help their skeletons grow and for lots of other cells too. BUT too much can be bad, and in large-breed puppies growth defects can be caused by too much calcium.

  202.CALCIUM

  Some people used to give large breeds extra calcium because they thought the dogs needed more for their big skeletons, but now we know this is totally wrong. Calcium and phosphorus content is most critical for growing pups. This is one reason that balanced, complete puppy foods are so important.

  203.EXPERTS

  Your vet is the best person to ask about which diets are best for your puppy.

  BODY CONDITION SCORE AND OBESITY

  204.PERCEPTION

  Obesity is now a huge problem in dogs all over the world. Studies have shown that many people are now so used to seeing fat animals that they feel the larger sizes are normal. Slim dogs are sometimes mistaken for emaciated, when in fact they are the healthy ones!

  205.BODY CONDITION SCORE

  Body Condition Score (BCS) is a way that vets, nurses, and other professionals judge how fat or thin an animal is. Some use a scale of 1 to 5, and others, 1 to 9. Basically, the middle of the range of each (3 or 5) is just right. The lower the number, the thinner the animal is; and the higher the number, the more obese.

  206.HEALTHIER

  Knowing about BCS is excellent for owners, and being aware of your puppy’s body condition as he or she grows is really important. Slim animals are much healthier than overweight ones.

  207.BE AWARE

  When you first have your puppy examined, ask your vet or nurse to show you how to do a BCS. All animals are individuals and will have slightly different calorie needs. You need to monitor your dog’s weight to stay ahead of the game.

  208.GUIDELINES

  Most dog foods have a feeding guide on the bag or cans. This is usually a range of daily amounts for a certain weight of animal. Start in the middle of the range, and adjust the ration for your individual dog.

  209.IDEAL WEIGHT

  Always feed for the weight your animal SHOULD be. Ask your vet if you’re not sure.

  210.HUNGER

  Remember that some dogs would eat all day every day given the chance, so don’t get sucked in by those pleading eyes. Get into good habits right from the start. Preventing weight gain is so much easier than getting the extra weight off again.

  211.HABITS

  Don’t feed your dog from the table or every time you eat, as the dog will expect to be fed, and mealtimes soon will become a slobbery nightmare for all concerned! If you want to feed your dog three or four times a day all its life, that’s fine. It can help keep your dog satisfied. Make sure you split the ration, though. Don’t feed extra.

  212.FEELING FULLER

  If your dog always seems ravenous, try soaking the dog’s biscuits or try feeding canned food. The extra water helps fill a dog up and keeps hunger at bay.

  213.GUILT

  Lots of people lead busy lives these days, and finding time to exercise, play with, and interact with your dog can be difficult. Don’t alleviate your guilt by giving snacks and treats. You’ll simply create a vicious circle of obesity and lack of exercise. Make yourself go out with your dog, and you, your family, and the dog will all benefit!

  214.TIME TOGETHER

  Obesity causes disease in animals, as in humans. Extra weight puts strain on the heart, skeleton, and joints. It makes staying cool more difficult. It can lead to problems such as pancreatitis and can worsen diabetes. When dogs stay slim, their lives can lengthen, with the bonus of more time with their humans.

  RAW FOODS

  215.EXPERTS

  Feeding raw foods to dogs has become very popular in recent times, and some dogs do very well on such a diet, but there are several reasons that this is not ideal and why nutrition experts don’t recommend it. The main reasons are as follows:

  216.AVOID RAW FOOD REASON #1: PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS

  Some meat used for human food have certain levels of salmonella and campylobacter in them. This is tolerated because it is accepted that humans cook their food. Dogs fed raw meat can shed these bacteria into the environment. This is dangerous, especially for children, older people, and people who are immune-suppressed, such as cancer patients.

  217.AVOID RAW FOOD REASON #2: NOT WOLVES

  Dogs are not like wolves, and raw foods are not a natural source of food for dogs, much like uncooked meats are not a natural choice for modern humans, compared to when early people lived in caves. Lots of dogs fed raw meats endure vomiting and diarrhea.

  218.AVOID RAW FOOD REASON #3: BONES

  Feeding bones to dogs can break teeth, lacerate mouths, cause very hard and painful stools, and even perforate intestines. This can be fatal if not treated quickly. It’s best not to feed bones to dogs.

  219.AVOID RAW FOOD REASON #4: UNBALANCED DIETS

  Diets with high levels of meat are very unbalanced. Some raw foods have human vitamin and mineral tablets added to them, and the levels found in these foods can be very different from those needed by dogs, especially growing puppies. This can cause growth problems and vitamin deficiencies.

  220.AVOID RAW FOOD REASON #5: ENERGY

  Wolves cope with high-meat diets because they have much higher energy needs than dogs, and they eat much bigger volumes of food to keep their vitamin and mineral levels normal. If we fed dogs like this, they would all be morbidly obese!

  221.AVOID RAW FOOD REASON #6: EVOLUTION

  Some people think dogs shouldn’t have carbohydrates because dogs are related to wolves. In fact, dogs evolved beside humans and have eaten our scraps for thousands of years. Dogs have genes for digesting carbohydrates that wolves don’t have.

  222.AVOID RAW FOOD REAS
ON #7: COOKING

  If you really don’t want to feed dog food to your dog, at least cook the meat to reduce the risks. Think very carefully about home cooking for a puppy, and seek specialist advice because your dog’s nutrition is so important.

  INSURANCE

  223.ARE YOU A MILLIONAIRE?

  If not, then it’s very wise to get some good pet insurance. Specialist vets are akin to human medical specialists. They have state-of-the-art equipment, such as MRI scanners and digital X-rays, and all manner of tests and surgeries are available for your pet. These are not cheap.

  224.CHOICES

  It’s very sad to see clients faced with tough choices because of finances. By having some pet insurance, you can get help with the bigger bills and have peace of mind.

  225.POLICIES

  Knowing which company and policy to pick is a minefield. If money is tight, a basic package is better than nothing. Ideally, get a policy that covers each condition for life, not just your pet. This difference in wording can be very deceptive!

  226.START EARLY

  Take out the policy as early as you can because as soon as your dog gets ill, the related conditions may be excluded. Lots of vets and breeders offer a month of free insurance for puppies, so ask if that’s an option, and make sure you’re happy with the policy being offered.

  227.CANCELLATION

  Don’t cancel a policy without thinking long and hard. Every vet will know someone who’s canceled a policy because it was never used—and immediately something went wrong. The same applies to switching companies. If you’ve made a claim, the next company will exclude that condition, and you could regret it.