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Dogs

Tick season has arrived! Protect your furry friend!

Tick season has arrived, protect your furry friend
 These parasites have a pointed head and a barbed structure in their mouth that is used to attach themselves to the skin of their host where they will feed for several days.

It is very common for these nasty parasites to go unnoticed by owners, hidden in their pets’ fur, until engorged females become easier to see. During the feeding process females will engorge with blood and increase their size considerably. Their body has an amazing capacity for distension and they can measure around one centimetre in length (about the size of a small bean). Males are smaller, with a flattened body and therefore much harder to find.

Ticks usually prefer areas where the skin is thinner: ears, face, armpits, between the toes and on the stomach and tail areas but they can really be found anywhere on an animal’s body.

These blood sucking parasites cause great discomfort to our pets because their bite causes itchiness and they can lead to anaemia if there is a large number of ticks feeding on the same animal.

Ticks activity is seasonal and in the UK there are two typical peaks where tick infestation is more likely to occur: the first one is from March to June and the second from August to November.

It is recommended for owners to frequently check their pets for ticks and remove them as soon as they are found. Unfortunately ticks are vectors of diseases that can be transmitted to both companion animals and humans (ex. Lyme disease) and their quick removal will help reduce the risk of any disease being transmitted. When removing a tick please make sure all of it is removed. Any embedded mouth parts that are left being behind can lead to the appearance of small abscesses. An effective way to avoid this is to use a tick remover device.

Consult your vet regarding your pet’s external parasite control. It is very important to reduce to the minimal the number of ticks that can establish a hold on your pet. Keep in mind ticks can easily move from one pet to another. This means that all pets in a household should be protected, not just the ones where ticks are found.

When applying any parasite control product please make sure you carefully read the product’s label in order to use it correctly, since many tick control products destined for dogs can be very toxic to cats.

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Horses

Equine oral health – Why is it important?

Blog post - Equine oral health - Why is it important
Although equine dentistry is often neglected, good dental care is essential for a horse´s wellbeing.

During their lifetime horses have two sets of teeth, just like us. They have baby teeth (deciduous teeth) that start to grow as soon as they are born and these are eventually replaced by their permanent teeth. By carefully examining their teeth’s appearance, conformation and signs of tooth eruption it is possible to estimate a horse´s age.

Domestication brought significant changes to a horse’s diet. In the wild these animals spend most of their day grazing and therefore chewing grasses. Their teeth grow continuously throughout their lives (at a rate of 2 to 3mm per year) and the wear caused by their diet is balanced by this constant teeth eruption.

Changing their diet from grass to hay and concentrates causes them not to wear their teeth evenly as they would in the wild. Under these conditions it is a lot more likely for a horse to develop dental abnormalities such as over-crowding, teeth alignment problems and focal overgrowths (hooks, ramps or sharp enamel points). These abnormal growths can cause ulceration, pain and even restrict the free movement of the jaw causing difficulties eating and eventually weight loss. These sharp edges must be corrected as soon as possible to avoid pain, discomfort and to prevent any dental problems from progressing and getting worse.

Horses can show several signs that could indicate a dental problem: bad breath, dropping food from their mouth, difficultly when being ridden, presenting head tilt or head shaking, facial swellings, nasal discharges, excessive drooling, putting hay in their water bucket to soak it (making it easier to chew), loss of appetite and weight loss.

Horses should be feed an adequate diet and have their teeth checked at least once a year by a vet to detect any upcoming problems as early as possible. Please remember that these check-ups should happen regardless of any symptoms being shown as many horses may suffer in silence. Regular dental check-ups are essential to keep your horse free of pain, healthy and on top of his or hers performance.

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Dogs

Puppy socialisation – Prevent future behaviour problems

The Pet Professionals - Puppy socialisation
The Uk is considered to be a nation of pet lovers and dogs are at the top of the list of the most popular pets in our households. Recently, several studies have suggested that there are many health benefits associated with pet ownership including reduced stress and blood pressure.

Although owning a dog has many benefits sometimes dogs exhibit behaviours that can have an enormous impact in our homes, in our relationships and in our lives. As an example we can point out behaviours such as inappropriate elimination, aggression towards people and other animals and even lack in basic obedience cues. Unfortunately it is not uncommon for these issues to result in owners surrendering their dogs to shelters or even becoming the reason for their euthanasia.

Adequate puppy socialisation is essential to prevent some of these behaviours. Puppies poorly socialised may develop abnormal behavioural reactions such as aggression or fearful responses towards other dogs and towards people (adults and children).

In order for puppies to grow into well-behaved and friendly members of our society they need to be socialised with other dogs as well as people before they are 12 weeks of age. The socialisation period is thought to last from approximately three to 10-12 weeks of age and during this period it is very important for puppies to be handled regularly and exposed to numerous situations, objects and environments. It is currently recommended for puppies to go to their new home at approximately 8 weeks of age to allow proper socialisation with their new family. Before the 8 weeks of age it’s the breeder’s responsibility to socialise the puppy.

Puppy socialisation and training classes allow puppies to socialise with other dogs and with people other than the owners, as well as the opportunity to be exposed to a variety of experiences and situations in a low risk, non-threatening environment.

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Horses

Vaccination: the best way to protect your horse from Tetanus and Influenza

The Pet Professionals -Vaccination the best way to protect your horse from Tetanus and Influenza

Of all domestic animals the horse is the most sensitive to tetanus. This is a life-threatening condition caused by the toxins released by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which can be found in the soil. It can enter tissues through small puncture wounds or minor cuts such as a nail or a thorn prick. These may go unnoticed and provide an ideal site for infection. Vaccination is the most effective way to provide long term protection against this disease.

Equine Influenza (Flu)

Equine influenza is a virus of the respiratory tract that spreads very easily from horse to horse.  This is a debilitating virus that has a great impact in their health and performance. Affected horses are more susceptible to secondary infections such as bronchitis or bacterial pneumonia.

Vaccination against equine influenza is considered very effective. It is recommended to vaccinate all horses that regularly come in contact with unfamiliar horses. Unfortunately equine influenza outbreaks are still common in the UK.  Keeping vaccination schedules up to date is believed to be the main reason why the numbers of large epidemics have been reduced, as well as the incidence of this disease during an outbreak.

Influenza vaccination is currently mandatory for all horses using racecourse premises and it is required for horses competing or racing at their events.

Vaccination is a quick, practical and proven method of protection against these diseases. Consult your veterinary surgeon regarding vaccination schedules. Your vet will gladly advise you on the most suited vaccination plan for your horse based on your animal’s lifestyle and the manufacturer’s recommendations for the vaccines.

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Dogs

Vaccination: a routine procedure that saves lives!

The Pet Professionals - Vaccination a routine procedure that saves lives

Vaccines are usually separated into two different groups or categories: the core vaccines and the non-core vaccines. Core vaccines are recommended for all dogs in general and will allow them to develop immunity against canine distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus. Non-core vaccines are recommended only if your pet is at risk of being exposed to certain diseases, which means they will only be required depending on the dog’s local environment and lifestyle. Vaccines in this group provide protection against parainfluenza, leptospirosis, kennel cough and rabies.

A puppy should get his first vaccine at around eight weeks of age, the second vaccine at ten weeks of age and a booster one year after the first vaccine. Puppies will not be protected until approximately two weeks after the second vaccine and until then, owners should be extra careful with their pet. Puppies should not go for walks in public areas and should be keep at a good distance from other dogs that are not completely up to date with their jabs.

A dog must be in good health when vaccinated in order for a vaccine to be fully effective.  Regular boosts will be necessary to keep their immunity from fading and the frequency of these boosts will depend on the vaccine brand and disease agent.

Consult your veterinary surgeon regarding vaccination plans. Your vet will gladly recommend the best vaccination protocol for your pet, based on his or hers individual needs.

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Horses

Colic in horses

The Pet Professionals - Colic in horses
 Colic is still one of the most common causes of death in horses despite all advances in Veterinary Medicine. The term colic is not referred to a specific disease, it is used to describe a very generic symptom: abdominal pain (pain in the belly).

There are many different types of intestinal problems that can cause abdominal pain: overload of internal parasites; abnormal spasms of the intestinal wall that cause discomfort; impactions, when the intestine is blocked by a firm mass of food; bowl displacements, when a section of the bowel moves to an abnormal location within the abdomen; bowl strangulations, when a portion of the intestine becomes entrapped somewhere in the abdomen; torsions, when the bowl twists on itself and even when the gut wall is stretched by gas or feed material. Sometimes it is not possible to determine what is causing the symptom.

Clinical signs of colic can vary from mild to severe. In mild cases signs include: restlessness, pawing the ground repeatedly with a front foot, turning the head towards the flank, arching of the neck and curling the upper lip.

In moderate and severe cases horses will typically display kicking or biting at the abdomen, loss of appetite, depression, decreased bowel movements, lying down more than usual, getting up and lying down repeatedly, stretching out as if to urinate, straining to defecate, sitting down like a dog, sweating and rolling from side to side.

Intestinal problems can range from mild to life-threatening or fatal. For this reason it is very important to take these symptoms seriously and seek veterinary assistance. Early diagnose and early treatment is essential for a positive outcome. If you think your horse is showing signs of colic please contact your veterinary surgeon.

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Dogs

Benefits of microchipping your pet

The Pet Professionals - Benefits of microchipping your pet
The microchip is considered the best permanent method of pet identification by vets, animal organisations and general authorities. A pet should be identified with a microchip as well as with a collar and an identification tag but the microchip is a much more effective system since collars and tags can easily be removed and/or replaced.

A microchip is a tiny capsule (slightly bigger than a grain of rice) that is implanted behind your pet’s shoulder blades. This small capsule will hold a unique identification number that can be read by a scanner. After your pet is microchipped you must register your contact details with the microchip company and these will be associated with your pet’s unique microchip number.

This method of identification has many advantages. It greatly increases the chances of being reunited with your pet if he or she ever gets lost. Hundreds of pets are lost and stolen every year and sadly many of them never go back to their owners and to their families due to lack of identification. Whoever finds them has absolutely no idea where they come from or how to contact their owners.

Nowadays not only vets but also animal rescue organisations, dog wardens and even local authorities have microchip scanners. If a dog is microchipped and gets lost, once it has been found and scanned, your name and contact details will quickly be provided and your pet can promptly be returned to you. This is why it is so important to keep your details up to date on the microchip company database. Please remember to keep this information updated if you move home or change phone numbers.

Microchipping also promotes responsible pet ownership since it is an effective way to identify owners that allow their pets to roam free and cause trouble,  it allows to trace puppies back to their breeder and therefore deal with possible puppy mill situations, it allows to identify owners in suspected cases of animal cruelty and it would also improve canine health in a long term, since it would be easier to register hereditary health problems and gradually reduce its incidence through responsible breeding.
Recently the government has announced that microchipping will soon be compulsory for all dogs in England from April 2016 onwards. Hopefully this decision will help reunite more owners with their lost pets and relieve some of the burden on animal charities and local authorities.

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Horses

Laminitis – The most common cause of lameness in the UK

 

Laminitis - The most common cause of lameness in the UK

Laminitis is an inflammation of the laminae (the inner layer of the hoof wall) and it is one the most common causes of lameness in horses in the UK. Horses of any size, age and breed can suffer from this painful condition, although people usually associate it with overweight ponies.

There are several factors that contribute to this debilitating disease. Heavy breeds and obese horses tend to be more susceptible as well as horses that are fed diets containing high carbohydrate content (like grain). Since obesity is a growing problem, laminitis is becoming more and more common.

Laminitis can also occur following sudden changes in their diet like consuming excessive amounts of fresh grass (pasture induced laminitis), intense exercise on hard surfaces or following other diseases like metritis, colic, Cushing’s disease, Equine Metabolic Syndrome and severe infections. Horses that are supporting most of their weight on one leg due to injury to the other leg may develop this condition as well.

There are two forms of laminitis: acute laminitis and chronic laminitis. In the acute form of laminitis the animal is uncomfortable and shows the firsts signs of this disease. In the chronic form of laminitis (founder) there are already structural changes in the internal anatomy of the hoof: the pedal bone sinks and rotates.

Clinical signs include lameness, warm hoof walls, increased digital pulse, pain in their feet, abnormal gait (heel before toe), an altered stance (with their weight shifted to the hind limbs with the forelimbs stretched out in front (to ease the weight off their feet), reluctance to move and in severe cases, panting, sweating and trying to lie down (which can be confused with colic).

If you notice any of these signs please call your vet as soon as possible. Early treatment is critical to reduce the chances of chronic laminitis (founder) and it is very important to treat any other underlying disease that may contributing to the onset of this condition!

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Dogs

Unbelievable sniffers!

The Pet Professionals - Unbelievable sniffers
Dogs are known for their incredible sense of smell but most people are not fully aware of how powerful those noses really are. A dog’s sense of smell is somewhere between 1,000 to 10,000,000 times more sensitive than a human’s, depending on the breed.

Our canine friends can smell tiny scent particles and in an environment filled with many different odours they can distinguish those particles with amazing precision! A dog’s nose can detect things that are up to 40 feet underground and scents that can be several days old.

This ability allows them to know a lot about another dog or even a human. When a dog smells you he knows what you have touched, what you ate and because they can also smell pheromones they will know if you are male or female, if you have recently given birth, what mood are you in and even if you are sick!

For many years this incredible sense of smell has been used to our advantage and nowadays dogs are trained to detect several specific odours. Our canine friends are used to look for missing explosives, narcotics, contraband and missing people!

Recent studies have shown that dogs are capable of detecting different types of cancer with an accuracy that is just as good or even better than modern advanced scanning techniques. The latest item in the long record of canine sniffing achievements comes from diabetes alert dogs. These dogs are trained to warn diabetes patients whenever their blood sugar levels are below or above the normal range, making a great difference in these patients’ level of independence.

Dogs are definitely our best friends!

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Dogs, Horses, The Pet Professionals

Join our club and help support Blue Cross

Basic RGBThe Pet Professionals are proud to support the Blue Cross. 10% of your club membership fee will be donated to the Blue Cross an animal charity with animal hospitals and animal adoption services to find homes for unwanted dogs, horses, cats and small animals across the UK.

Join the Club and be part of the UK’s fastest-growing pet community with access to a wealth of professionally-produced online courses aimed at educating responsible pet owners who demand the best for their companions.

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