Please note that this is only general advice, for proper medical attention you should always consult your Vet.

Administering Medication to your Dog
Season or Heat Cycle
Hip Dysplacia
Parvovirus
Canine Mastitis
Gastric Torsion or Bloat
Disclaimer

Administering Medication to your Dog

If the medication you wish to give to your dog is a liquid the dosage will most probably be 5ml. Administering medication to a dog by the spoonful is not only awkward but can be extremely messy. By far the easiest way to do this is to acquire a syringe (minus the needle of course).

Measure out the required amount of medication into the syringe before asking your dog to sit in a corner of the room (retreat is then not an option). Take hold of him by placing your hand firmly under his jaw with his muzzle slightly elevated. Place the nozzle of the syringe approximately 2cm into the corner of your dog's mouth and slowly press the plunger allowing the medication to run into his throat and be swallowed comfortably.

If the medication is in tablet or capsule form, again, ask your dog to sit in a corner, place one hand under his jaw with thumb on one side and finger on the other just behind the corner of the lips and press gently ensuring that his muzzle is slightly elevated. This will encourage him to open his mouth. Place the tablet or capsule as far back on the dogs tongue as possible; because of the position of your thumb and finger it should discourage your dog from closing his mouth. Once this hold is released his muzzle should still be kept closed and either massage his throat or short sharp blowing on his nose will encourage him to swallow the tablet or capsule. Once you are convinced that he has swallowed slowly release you grip always keeping a close eye that the medication doesn’t reappear.

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Veterinary Information

Season or Heat Cycle

The length of a bitch's season and the interval between vary from bitch to bitch.

The average season for a bitch is approximately 3 weeks. However, it can be as short as 7 to 10 days or can last up to 4 weeks, or even more. Average periods between these seasons are 6 to 7 months. Some bitches will come into season every 4 months but others only once a year.

The season will usually start with a distinct swelling of the vulva and accompanied by bleeding. This should be classed as Day 1; this period is referred to as proestrus.

After approximately 10 days the swelling of the vulva will have reduced and the bleeding ceased. This period is referred to as estrus and is usually the time that the bitch is ovulating and will allow herself to be mated and usually lasts from 4 to 21 days.

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Hip Dysplacia

Hip dysplacia literally means an abnormality in the development of the hip joint and is characterized by a shallow cup in the hip joint (acetabulum) and changes in the shape of the the ball of the hip joint (femoral head). These changes may occur during excessive laxity in the hip joint. Hip dysplacia can exist with or without clinical signs.

When clinical signs are exhibited it is usually because the dog is lame on one or both limbs. Severe arthritis may develop due to this malformation of the hip joint and will result in pain as the disease progresses. If pain is exhibited in a young dog this is usually during or shortly after a growth period and before arthritic changes appear to be present. It is also not unusual for this pain to go into remission for many years and return when arthritic changes have become obvious.

Dogs with hip dysplacia can appear to have normal hips when they are born but the disease can develop later in life.

It is thought that this condition is inherited. However, not all dogs with this genetic tendency always display clinical signs and multiple genetic and environmental factors must be taken into consideration when determining the degree of hip dysplacia. Another contributing factor is the rapid growth and weight gain of the dog that appears to aggravate the laxity in the hip joint in such circumstances.

If clinical signs of hip dysplacia occur in a young dog, such as lameness, difficulty in walking after resting, decreased activity or a bunny hop gait, veterinary advice should be taken.

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Parvovirus

Vaccination against Parvovirus is a must as it is one of the most common and active viral diseases to affect dogs. Parvovirus is a serious viral disease in dogs which is prevalent in puppies much more frequently than in adult dogs. The virus attacks and kills the rapidly dividing cells of the intestinal lining causing diarrhoea often showing signs of blood, depression and the disease suppresses white blood cells. In very young and weak puppies heart muscles can become infected and can lead to sudden death.

Some adult dogs can be infected carriers and Parvovirus can be carried in dogs without them showing any clinical signs. The virus can be spread in diarrhoea and Parvovirus can survive in the environment for a long time needing a good hard frost to kill it. In kennel situations a strong speciality disinfectant will be needed. This disease is very serious and prompt veterinary advice should always be taken. Although there are no current statistics available it is thought that probably 80% of puppies treated promptly will survive. However, most, if not all, puppies not receiving treatment would die.

Due to the high casualties involved with Parvovirus it receives a great deal of public attention and many people make the assumption that any case of diarrhoea in a puppy or adult dog could be Parvovirus. This is not always the case as these symptoms can be present with a number of other disorders. If in doubt seek advice from your Veterinary Surgeon at once.

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Canine Mastitis

Canine Mastitis is an infection that attacks the mammary glands in lactating bitches and usually occurs a few weeks after whelping has taken place. The mammary canal becomes infected causing inflammation and blocking the flow of milk. This is a vicious circle as the milk needs to flow to flush out the infection but the inflammation prohibits this from happening and is aggravated when there are insufficient puppies feeding for the amount of milk being produced. It can also occur if puppies have been weaned to soon or removed from the bitch abruptly.

This infection can occur at anytime so it is important to check your bitch at very regular intervals making sure that all areas of her nipples or teats are soft and supple. Be aware of any red or hardening areas and any noticeable tenderness shown by your bitch. Upon the first sign of any of these symptoms contact your Veterinary Surgeon immediately. If left untreated this infection may develop and cause a rupture in the side of the infected area causing long-term problems for your bitch and possibly prevent her from producing milk in this area of her breast again.

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Gastric Torsion or Bloat

This is an acute condition caused by too much gas or fluid in the stomach. The gas extends the stomach causing gastric dilation which in turn rotates the stomach causing torsion. This condition is usually more common in larger deep chested breeds i.e. Dobermann, Great Dane, Weimaraner. It rarely occurs in the smaller breeds. Symptoms include restlessness, drooling, obvious stomach pains, trying to vomit and a distension of the stomach. At the first sign of any of these symptoms do not delay in taking your dog to the nearest Veterinary Surgeon; any delay can be the difference between life and death.

Although there is no proof as to why this condition occurs, it is suggested that the feeding and exercise regime of your dog is most important in helping to prevent this condition. For example, feed the dog with two smaller feeds per day instead of one large one, don’t allow exercise for at least one hour before and one hour after eating, limit the amount of water intake after eating, and exercise of small amounts at a time. These measures might help to prevent some cases of Gastric Torsion or Bloat but unfortunately will not prevent all.

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Veterinary Advice Disclaimer

If ever in doubt about any aspect of your dog's health and welfare we strongly recommend that you contact your Veterinary Surgeon. All information provided by Breedadog.com is intended as a guide only and in no way intends to substitute for any Veterinary advice.

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