Category Archives: Dogs

Cats, Dogs, The Pet Professionals

Happy Easter!

We wish all our members and pets a very Happy Easter and we hope it is a very joyful time for you all!

But please don’t forget:

  • Chocolate is best out of reach of any pets as it contains theobromine which is toxic, particularly to dogs;

 

  • Sweets and cakes with raisins, sultanas, currants like hot cross buns or grapes can cause severe kidney damage in dogs if they are ingested;

 

  • Some beverages, sweets and even some brands of peanut butter have xylitol, a common sweetener that can be deadly to dogs;

 

With everyone having fun it is very easy to lose track of things that might be accidentally left at pet level. If you suspect your pet has eaten something that he or she shouldn’t have, or you realize something might be wrong, please don’t hesitate to take them to the vet!

Have a safe Easter!

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Dogs

Keep your dog’s flea and tick treatment up to date!

We know it’s still quite chilly out there at the moment, but that unfortunately does not stop all manner of bugs from gleefully jumping onto your dog!

It’s tempting to pay less attention to your pet’s external parasite treatment during the Winter months but they are still there, just waiting for a tasty host (and your pet or you might be on the list!)

Fleas and ticks are not only bothersome for dogs, causing itching and skin problems, but they also carry all manner of diseases that can sometimes pass onto other members of the household.

Fleas can be a big issue in sensitive dogs but they also carry a tapeworm called Dipylidium caninum which might even cause anaemia due to blood loss in large enough infestations, especially in young animals. This tapeworm causes anal discomfort and it can be infectious to children.

Ticks also carry the risk of causing anaemia if in large enough numbers but are host to bloodborne pathogens and cause Lyme disease, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis among others. While very different diseases, they mostly cause recurrent fever, weight loss, weakness, rashes and might even keep on causing problemns even after successful treatment. Take it from us, all of the above diseases are not something you or your dog want to contend with!

Fortunately, there are many easy ways to control external parasites in your dog and in your house. You can collect very effective treatments from your veterinary surgeon and if you have any questions or a particularly complicated case give your veterinarian a call or schedule an appointment.

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Dogs

Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

Some of us might be familiar with temporomandibular joint issues in humans, especially because they are particularly annoying and might even hinder our capacity to eat properly but did you know our dogs can also suffer from this problem?
Pretty much in the same way we can have pain, difficulty biting and closing or opening our mouth, our dogs can also have these same signs.

Depending on the cause, it can present in many different ways:
• Pain when eating;
• Difficulty opening or closing mouth;
• Excessive movement of the jaw, especially laterally;
• Crackling noises when yawning, eating or vocalizing.

Any dog regardless of age, sex or breed can have temporomandibular joint disorders, however specific causes of joint disorder are more frequent in certain groups of animals. One such form is called open-mouth mandibular locking, where a bone protrusion in the jaw locks in with the zygomatic arch, and we know this happens in more in Basset Hounds and Irish Setters.
Other risk factors that make animals more likely to suffer from this sort of joint disorders are young and free roaming animals because of injuries, animals that carry heavy objects in their mouth and animals that are at risk of an auto immune disease of the muscles responsible for chewing.
Think your pet might be suffering from issues in their Temporomandibular joint? Give your vet a call and they will be able to discuss your dog’s case as well as advise on the best treatment!

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Cats, Dogs

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! We hope this was a productive and amazing year and we hope 2018 is even better! Wishes of all of the best this season has to offer from all of us here at The Pet Professionals.

While the New Year brings a lot of fun for us humans, don’t forget the challenges many pets face during these days.

Fireworks are everything but fun for our pets. The loud bags and whizzes are often terrifying to them and many cats and dogs get so scared they often run off in panic. Don’t forget to microchip your pet and/or update your details with the microchip company.

Creating a comfortable den for your pets to hide and feel safe when they are scared, is an easy and effective way to help them cope. This area should be away from any doors or windows, and should be covered with a duvet or a blanket to muffle out the loud sounds.

Taking your dog out for walks during the day and keeping your cat indoors is also a good idea if fireworks are expected. Closing doors and windows as well as turning the TV or the radio on can help muffle the sounds.

Other options include anxiety-support supplements, products and behaviour modifying techniques that make a huge difference in reducing your pet’s stress levels.

Talk to your vet to know what would be the best approach for you and your pet.

Help us spread the word about these issues and hopefully more pets will enjoy a safe and happy Christmas.

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Cats, Dogs

Merry Christmas to all!

 

A very Merry Christmas from all of us here at The Pet Professionals! We hope this season is filled with joy and warmth! We also want toremind all owners to keep their pets safe during Christmas and New Years’ celebrations.

Delicious foods and beautiful decorations seem to be everywhere right now. It’s important to keep in mind that our four-legged friends should not have access to many of these foods and that it is really worth keeping a close eye on them during this time of the year.

Chocolates and sweets are a big part of Christmas and these can be poisonous to pets. Chocolate contains theobromine, a substance that is toxic for them and the darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is to a pet. Certain types of chocolate such as dry cocoa powder, dark chocolate and unsweetened (baking) chocolate should be kept out of their reach at all times.

Sweets not only have incredibly high levels of sugar but many often contain xylitol, an artificial sweetening agent that is also poisonous, even if ingested in very small amounts. Xylitol can be added to tea, to several other baked goods and it is even used in some brands of peanut butter.

Mince pies, Christmas cake, and Christmas puddings are not recommended since they are full of raisins and sultanas, which are also known to cause kidney problems in dogs.

Get some healthy treats ready for your furry companions and avoid feeding them with leftovers from Christmas meals. Although delicious, our Christmas feasts are high in fat which can lead to digestive issues and contribute to the onset of pancreatitis.

Pets usually love Christmas decorations, especially curious and playful cats. However, tinsel, string, ribbons and any other ornaments being chewed or swallowed are not only a choking hazard, but can also cause intestinal blockage. Cats and dogs nibbling on plants such as mistletoe, poinsettia and holly is also to be avoided as these are mildly toxic for them.

Help us spread the word about these issues and hopefully more pets will enjoy a safe and happy Christmas.

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Cats, Dogs

Have a great Guy Fawkes Day!

Firework season has officially started! Normally, this is not met with much joy from our pets and it’s not hard to understand why.

If you’ve done all the preparations prior to Bonfire night such as behaviour modification, introduced specific medication to help with anxiety, purchased a very fashionable thunder jacket and trained with your pet to minimise stress and fear there are still many things that can be done today to help ensure a calmer day.

We leave you with some helpful suggestions:

  • Build a nest! Grab a cage or a sturdy box and drape it with some thick blankets or other noise muffling materials and place it where your pet feels comfortable
  • Keep microchip information updated! Many pets run away in fear and get lost, and a current chip could be the difference between a happy reunion and being lost permanently
  • Let them have access indoors or to a comforting location! Don’t trap them outside with no way to hide and let them access whichever rooms they feel most comfortable in
  • Distract them! Put on the TV or some music that doesn’t stress them out and try to play with them or engage with them using fun toys

We hope you have a great Bonfire night and don’t forget! Check under your bonfires and make sure there are no friendly hedgehogs snuggling for warmth.

Cats, Dogs

Happy Halloween!

We wish you a merry, scary Halloween! We are sure it will be a night filled with delicious treats, spooky costumes and lots of fun!

Having said that, there are a couple of things that can sometimes be dangerous to our pets:

  • Sweets are toxic! Many contain chocolate or a sweetener called xylitol, so keep them well away from your pets
  • Pet costumes are great but take care to make sure they don’t hinder movements, are overly annoying or might hinder breathing or seeing
  • Sweet wrappers can obstruct the digestive system of any unwary pet so keep your hard-earned sweeties well away from your furry friends

With all of these things in mind, we are sure this tale of a spooky Halloween will go very smoothly for humans and pets alike!
Happy Halloween, everybody!

Dogs

Mushroom Menace!

Few things are as good as long walks through the dazzling Autumn colours of the great outdoors with our daring doggies.

In the spirit of keeping everyone healthy during the Autumn months, we just wanted to remind everyone that mushrooms are in season and that several of these species are highly toxic to our dogs.

Keep your dog away from any and all mushrooms you may find and this includes not just when you’re out for a nice walk but also the ones that may be growing in your garden. While the majority of mushrooms have no toxicity or at most cause mild problems, the ones that are indeed highly toxic can cause serious harm or even death to an unwary pet.

Distinguishing between them is something that should only be attempted by experts and even so, just to be on the safe side, don’t let your dog take a bite out of any of them (And don’t do it yourself unless you are confident you can identify them correctly!)

Many of the poisonous species produce toxins called amanitins and these are highly hepatotoxic, causing lethal damage to the liver and other organs. There are other types of toxins that produce digestive alterations and even mushrooms that produce hallucinogens. Hallucinogen ingestion will cause loss of balance, odd vocalisations, increased aggression and higher body temperature.

There are no specific antidotes! Animals require immediate, aggressive therapy to improve their chances of survival, so if you suspect your daring dog has eaten something they shouldn’t, take him or her to your vet without delay!

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Cats, Dogs

Atopic Dermatitis: an itchy bother of unknown cause

Atopic dermatitis is a skin disease of dogs and cats, but for our pooches, it’s one of the most common allergic skin diseases right alongside flea bite hypersensitivity.

I’s estimated to affect in about 3 to 15% of the canine population and it occurs due to an exaggerated response to environmental factors and substances that are usually no bother like pollens, moulds, mites and many other things.

In dogs, we believe that it’s an inherited predisposition and while it can show up anywhere in the world and in every dog, some breeds might be more predisposed to developing this condition than others. Because this allergy relates to environmental factors, different breeds might be affected differently.

In the UK, these breeds are:

  • Boxer;
  • German Shepherds;
  • Labrador and Golden Retrievers;
  • Many breeds of terrier but especially West Highland White Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers

Of course, having a pooch of any of these breeds won’t mean they will have atopic dermatitis but it is a risk factor.

What to expect from a dog that has this condition? A *lot* of itching!

There are a lot of different degrees of severity to it and may even be a seasonal issue but the chief complaint is intense itching, scratching and even injuries due to self-induced trauma. Recurrent otitis and conjunctivitis might also happen.

The areas that are the most likely to be affected are in between toes, muzzle, around the eyes, axilla, ears and groin. You can find your pet scratching or trying to get to these areas a lot and there might be little hair there, bumps on the skin or a reddened or thick skin.

Unfortunately, without adequate management, it is usually quite likely to get worse. Not only worse in terms of being itchier and maddening for your pet but secondary infections with bacteria and yeast can show up to make matters worse.

If you see your pet with very intense and recurrent itch, foul smelling ears, loss of hair and red skin take them to the vet! While it cannot be cured, there is therapy that can afford great quality of life to your furry friend.

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An important message to dog owners: Beware of Grass Seeds!

Grass seeds look fairly harmless don’t they? Unfortunately, some of these seeds are a potential hazard for dogs that can lead to expensive and unwanted visits to the vet!

These seeds can get caught in your dog’s fur very easily as they are shaped like small darts with thin bristly fibres. This particular shape causes them to keep progressing in one direction, which is usually towards the dog’s skin. It won’t stop there, as it can break the skin, and as time goes by it can burrow deeper and deeper. As you can imagine this will cause a lot of pain, tissue damage, and eventually it will drag a nasty infection with it.

In most cases grass seeds enter through the dog’s paws and ears, although they can get caught anywhere on a dog’s fur, and can even find their way up a dog’s nose. Dogs with grass seeds lodged on their paws tend to start licking the affected paw excessively, a red lump may appear between their toes, and it’s not uncommon for them to become lame.

When grass seeds get caught on our dogs’ ears they can progress through the ear canal and can even damage their ear drum. Affected dogs tend to suddenly start shaking their heads after a walk and frantically scratch their ears while looking quite painful and miserable.

The degree of damage caused depends on their location and on how quickly the problem is diagnosed and treated. In some cases the grass seed is very hard to detect and animals in pain need to be sedated in order to investigate the affected area properly.

An undetected grass seed can randomly migrate under the dog’s skin, often leaving nothing more than a small hole behind that resembles an insect bite. There have been cases where the seed kept migrating until it actually reached the dogs’ abdomen and lungs.

These seeds are commonly found during the summer months so now is really the time to be extra careful. The best way to avoid any grass seed issues is to carefully check your dog’s fur after walks, especially their ears and feet. Long haired dogs are more likely to get these seeds caught on their fur so keeping their hair short can help.

If you can, avoid walking your dog in fields with grass seeds and schedule an appointment with your vet as soon as you notice any suspicious signs such as head shaking, ear scratching or paw licking!

Would you like to know more about cats and dogs? Check our Feline and Canine Courses:

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