6 Signs of Health

You love your dog just the way they are, so you probably won’t worry too much if they seem to put on just a few extra pounds. But from a health point of view, size really does matter! Although weighing your dog and monitoring their weight regularly is a good idea, this can be tricky as there is a lot of variation between breeds and it’s not always easy to know what is right for your pet. That’s where dog body condition scoring can make things easier. What is the dog body condition score? Dog body condition scoring allows you to assess the amount of fat your dog is carrying, it is easy to do at home without scales, and can identify problems in overweight dogs before the scales show a big change. What’s more, the scale applies to nearly every kind of dog, so you can easily check them between visits to the vet whether they’re big, small, wiry or extremely furry! Why is the dog body condition score important? Owning a dog means keeping a close eye on your dog’s body score and working to maintain an 'ideal' score of four or five throughout all stages of your dog's life. This can also decrease the risk of health problems associated with owning an overweight dog. These include arthritis, heart disease and even diabetes, which not only mean large vet bills but an unhappy, uncomfortable dog – more reason than ever to get them in shape! Like people, each one processes their food in a slightly different way, particularly depending on their age and activity level. If your dog gets more calories than they need, those excess calories may be stored as fat, which in the worst case can lead to obesity in dogs. "Learning how to perform a body condition score for your pet, and regularly assessing this in combination with appropriate nutrition and exercise, will ensure you're doing your best for your pet's health and wellbeing", says Zara Boland, Purina's vet.

If you find yourself working a lot or going on a trip where you can’t take your pup with you, you might be wondering about what dog sitting and daycare services are available. Maybe they can’t come on a short holiday with you, or perhaps your working arrangements mean you need regular dog or puppy daycare. Your dog is lucky (and probably very happy!) if you have the freedom to work from home, or if you’re allowed to take them into the workplace. However, it’s completely normal for people who work to need extra help to give their dogs a happy and sociable life. Most healthy, mentally active dogs will be able to amuse themselves for a short while on their own, and if you have two or more pets, they can usually keep each other occupied for longer. But pets need human interaction, and on the occasions when you need to leave your dog alone for longer than four hours at a time (unless they have access to a secure garden via a dog flap or outdoor kennelling to relieve themselves), you should look at puppy or dog sitting services and arrange for someone to take care of them. Some owners rely on the help of a family member or friend when it comes to dog sitting, but of course not everyone has this option! If you need extra help, there is a growing industry of professional carers, including dog and puppy daycare and sitting services. Keep reading to find out what is dog sitting and boarding exactly and the average boarding and dog sitting rates you can expect to pay. What is dog sitting? Dog sitting is where a professional dog carer will come to your home and look after your pet for you. This could either be in the form of drop in home visits or daycare where they’ll care for your dog and ensure all their needs or met or dog walking, where your canine carer will just come and take them for exercise.

Even if your dog is blind, nothing can dampen their adventurous, fun-loving spirit! Dogs cope well with the loss of their sight, and all it takes is certain changes to the way they are looked after to get them back on their paws. In fact, if allowances are made for the loss of their eyesight, your dog’s life should be every inch as good as it was before. What are the causes of blindness in dogs? Blindness in dogs can develop for many reasons; there’s no need to blame yourself or wonder what went wrong. Blindness may: • Be present from birth. • Be acquired later in life as the result of a traumatic injury or disease. Simply be related to the ageing of your dog’s senses. Some inherited causes of blindness can be tested for in the parents of your dog, or in young puppies before you take them home. Inherited causes tend to be seen in certain breeds – for example, blindness is more common in Collies due to a condition called ‘Collie eye anomaly’. When considering buying a purebred puppy, speak to your vet about the potential problems certain breeds can inherit. This way, you should know more about your chances of eventually caring for a blind dog, and decide if you are ready to take the risk. If you suspect your dog is losing their vision at any time, consult your vet. Some conditions causing such signs of blindness are very treatable – for example, cataracts can be removed. This is why it’s always good to check, even if your dog seems to be doing very well without their eyesight. Is my dog blind? If your dog is blind, there are a few things you might notice about your dog’s behaviour: • Most obviously, dogs that bump into things may be losing their sight. • If your dog is blind in one eye, they may be startled by sudden movements on their blind side – they won’t have seen you or something else coming. • Dogs that go suddenly blind may be disorientated and distressed. • You may notice an abnormality when looking at the eyes of your dog – perhaps something that doesn’t look like it used to. You know them best! • Your dog might not follow your hand or a treat when it’s moved, even though their energy and tail-wagging enthusiasm is just as high as it should be. If you are concerned about your dog's eyesight, arrange for an examination by your vet as some conditions can be effectively treated, preventing further vision loss. However, sudden blindness in dogs is a veterinary emergency, and may cause your pet to become disorientated or distressed – in these cases, you should act quickly.

Understanding when or when not to visit the vet can be difficult, especially when dealing with a dog’s dental health. Most people don’t want to see their vet every time they have a small question, but equally, not going at all could mean dental problems go unnoticed. Keep reading to find out some of the dog dental health warning signs you should be looking out for. Bleeding Gums In Dogs If you notice your dog’s gums bleeding we would advise you take them to visit your vet as soon as possible. If the gums are bleeding lightly over a wide area of a dog’s gums, it could be a sign of gum diseases such as gingivitis or periodontal disease. Both diseases can cause discomfort and lead to issues such as weight loss. If your dog’s gums are bleeding heavily it is probably a sign they have cut their gums rather than a sign of dental disease. Dogs can cut their gums on a number of different things, especially when on a walk. Items to watch out for when walking include: • Sharp or splintering sticks • Smashed or cracked glass • Waste plastic • Rocks and stones • Used plastic food cartons • And more If you do notice your dog’s gums bleeding heavily, we recommend you take them to your vet as soon as possible. Once there, your vet will be able to stop the bleeding and help them to recover from the cut. Tooth Loss In Dogs Tooth loss can be a very common issue for older dogs. This is because dental calculus builds over time, and eventually causes teeth to fall out. As this is an issue primarily for senior dogs it shouldn’t be as common in younger dogs. If you have a younger dog and notice their teeth are falling out it could be a sign of something different. If you notice your dog’s tooth has broken off rather than falling out, they could have eaten or chewed something hard like a stone. If this is the case the remaining part of the tooth could still be in your dog’s mouth. This can lead to more serious issues as the tooth could dig further into your dog’s gum; it could also cut other parts of your dog’s mouth. A broken tooth could also lead to a tooth root abscess. A tooth root abscess forms when bacteria is exposed to the root canal of a tooth, usually because of a broken or chipped tooth.