Health

Did you know that dental problems are the most commonly diagnosed health condition in all dogs over the age of three? Because your dog's teeth and gums are as vulnerable to disease as yours, make sure you give the same care and attention to your dog's dental health as you do to your own. Dental disease in dogs When your four-legged friend has healthy teeth and gums they can get the most out of their food, crunching every delicious kibble as they go, but if their teeth hurt they’ll soon go off their meals and their metabolism will suffer. Poor dental care doesn’t just affect their mouths; the bacteria generated by dental disease could eventually enter your dog’s bloodstream and potentially damage their heart, liver or kidneys. So, as a loving owner, what do you need to look out for to protect your pet’s pearly whites? Plaque Bacteria constantly form in your dog’s mouth and when they mix with with saliva and leftover morsels of food, your dog will get a sticky and colourless film (plaque) collecting on the outside of their teeth, especially their upper pre-molars and molars. It’s important to clean this plaque off dog’s teeth as if it’s left to build up, it can harden to form tartar. Periodontal Disease After 3-5 days of being left untouched, plaque forms another alliance, this time with the minerals in your dog’s saliva. This hardens the plaque and it turns it into tartar, also known as calculus. Tartar can irritate your dog’s gums causing gingivitis, a swelling and reddening of the gums, and can lead to bad breath - something you’re likely to notice quite quickly! Dry dog foods can help scrape away plaque and tartar but you’ll still need to supplement this with some dog dental care. What are the most common dog dental problems?

When your dog reaches the age of about seven – a little younger in large breeds (five to six) and older in small breeds (around nine) – they’re generally considered to be ‘senior’. When they reach this age, you’ll need to adjust their diet to support them better. Find out more about feeding older dogs in this guide. You might notice your dog wanting to take life a little easier, as we all do when we get a little older! There will also be some less visible changes as they approach their senior stage of life; their bodies and digestion start to change and their immune system may need some extra support. To get the best for your furry friend, it can be a good idea to gradually switch them to a complete, balanced “senior” dog food containing good quality protein, as these are specifically formulated to fit with your dog’s changing nutritional needs and eating habits. Managing your senior dog'sintake As senior dogs tend to be less active, and have a slower metabolism, you might notice your pet putting on a bit of weight as they get older. As they get on in years, changing to a lower calorie diet can be a good idea. As older dogs tend to be less active, particularly if they have mobility issues such as osteoarthritis, they can be more prone to obesity. While some health problems can lead to obesity, being overweight can cause health problems too, and put more strain on joints. Because of this, it’s very important to monitor your dog’s body condition regularly. If you think your dog is overweight, make an appointment to speak to your vet to discuss the best way forward. It may be a simple case that your dog is eating too much, or they may have an underlying medical problem that can be addressed. Either way, your vet may recommend a more calorie-restricted weight loss diet or a specialist diet dog food for older dogs.

Paralysed dogs often take a lot of special care to ensure they can continue living their lives happily and healthily. That’s why the experts at Purina have created this article to tell you everything you need to know about looking after them, as well as dog wheelchair advice for helping those with hind leg paralysis get back on their feet. Although sometimes the only option for your dog is an upsetting one, in other cases rehabilitation can take place. Dog paralysis is an inability to use one or more limbs, usually due to a spinal cord injury. This can of course be distressing for you, and you may have to make difficult decisions. Your dog’s treatment and prognosis will depend on the cause of their paralysis and the limbs affected, and your vet will advise you on the chances that your dog will regain use of their limbs again. Looking after a paralysed dog is a big commitment and can at times be difficult. If you work long hours or have a busy family life, you may not be able to provide enough care. Rehabilitation centres are available in some areas; here, your dog will be looked after until they are well enough to be cared for at home. Larger veterinary practises, too, might hospitalise dogs for longer periods. Caring for a paralysed dog Dog paralysis is often life-changing. You may need to empty your dog’s bladder for them, at least initially, by applying gentle pressure on their abdomen – your vet should show you how to do this, and watch you while you practise. In time, some dogs will regain urinary function.

Addison’s disease in dogs is a disorder which is caused by insufficient levels of hormones produced by the adrenal glands. It’s named after Thomas Addison, the British scientist who first discovered the disease. We’ve put together this guide to tell you all you need to know about Addison’s in dogs, including the symptoms and treatment options currently available – keep reading to find out more. What is Addison’s disease in dogs Addison’s disease is the common name for hypoadrenocorticism, a disease that occurs when there are insufficient levels of some of the hormones produced by two small glands, known as adrenal glands. These glands are located near the kidneys and are responsible for producing several important hormones. One of these groups of hormones is the glucocorticoids. These include cortisol which is often referred to as the ‘natural stress hormone’. Cortisol plays a variety of important functions within the body, particularly for metabolism and the immune system. These are produced in the zona fasiculata layer of the adrenal glands, which is one of the outer layers of the gland anatomy. Another group of hormones produced by the adrenals is the mineralocorticoids. These include aldosterone which plays a key role in maintaining a balance of electrolytes such as sodium and potassium. The mineralocorticoids are produced in the out-most layer of the adrenals, known as the zona glomerulosa. When insufficient levels of these hormones are produced by your dog’s body, it can have serious health consequences. Causes of Addison’s in dogs Addison’s disease in dogs occurs when some of the adrenal hormones are produced in insufficient quantities. Primary hypoadrenocorticism is the classic type of Addison’s, and means that production of both glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids is affected. The most likely cause is the body’s own immune system attacking the glands, referred to as an autoimmune process. Less commonly, this can be caused by cancer within the glands, infection, or lack of blood supply. Sometimes, dogs which are being treated for the opposite problem of over-producing these hormones can have an Addisonian crisis – meaning that the hormone levels are suppressed too far by drugs such as mitotane or trilostane, mimicking Addison’s disease.

Alabama rot is a rare disease that affects dogs of all sizes, ages, breeds and genders. It was first discovered in Greyhounds in Alabama, USA in the 1980s, but cases dwindled out quickly. Many years later in 2012, cases with very similar signs were identified in the UK, and this is thought to be the same disease. There have been more cases reported in recent years but it’s unclear how much of this is because the disease is on the up and how much is because owners and vets are better informed about recognising the signs. What is Alabama Rot? Alabama Rot, also known by its scientific name, Cutaneous and Renal Glomerular Vasculopathy (CRGV), is a disease that damages the blood vessels of a dog’s skin and kidneys. It causes small blood clots to form in the vessels, leading to skin ulcers and kidney damage. It’s still very rare but unfortunately it has a very high mortality rate. What causes Alabama Rot in dogs?

Cherry eye in dogs can appear very alarming, as a red, angry looking lump develops in the corner of your dog’s eye – many say that this looks a bit like a cherry. The condition usually requires surgery, but the good news is that it’s usually very treatable and with speedy veterinary help, your four-legged friend will be on the road to recovery in no time. Keep reading to find out what cherry eye is and the treatment options available. What is cherry eye in dogs? Dogs have a third eyelid – also known as the nictitating membrane – which is located inside the lower eyelid. The function of this third eyelid is to slide across the front of the eye when needed, providing an extra layer of protection. The third eyelid also contains a tear gland, and cherry eye occurs when this gland ‘pops out’ or prolapses. The prolapsed gland can appear red and swollen. Sometimes, it pops in and out of its own accord, meaning that you may only notice the cherry eye periodically. However, even if the signs are intermittent, it’s still important to get your dog checked out by your vet. What causes cherry eye? It is not fully understood why some dogs are more likely than others to develop cherry eye. However, as VCA Hospitals explain, it is thought that the fibrous tissue that attaches the gland of the third eyelid to the lower inner rim of the eye is relatively weak in some breeds. The breeds that most commonly develop cherry eye include: • Bullmastiffs • Shar Peis • Cocker Spaniels • Great Danes • Beagles • French Bulldogs • English Bulldogs Cherry eye is most likely to occur in dogs aged between six months and two years old. However, it can happen to any dog of any breed, at any life stage. Symptoms of cherry eye Luckily the symptoms of cherry eye in dogs are quite easy to spot – be on the lookout for the following signs:

Glaucoma in dogs is a painful condition which can lead to blindness. Early detection is key to ensuring the best outcome for your pet, which is why we’ve created this guide to tell you all about the signs to look out for and the treatment options currently available. What is glaucoma in dogs? Glaucoma is a condition in which pressure builds up inside the eye, causing pain and vision loss. Basically, the reason why this happens is that there’s too much fluid in the front part of the eye. In a healthy eye, this fluid is produced at the same rate that it’s drained away. In glaucoma, the drainage system gets obstructed in some way, meaning that pressure builds up. This excessive pressure damages the optic nerve – which is responsible for relaying visual information from the eye to the brain – as well as the retina. All of this means that glaucoma in dogs can lead to poor eyesight and pain. The condition is more common in older dogs. What causes glaucoma in dogs? There are two different types of glaucoma in dogs: primary and secondary. Primary glaucoma is generally inherited and is most common in certain breeds such as Basset Hounds, Cocker Spaniels, Shiba Inus, Huskies, Chow Chows and Shar Peis. With primary glaucoma, it’s important to understand that if one eye is affected, it’s highly likely the other one will be too.

Many owners often wonder how do you clean a dog's ears? We've put together this handy guide to tell you everything you need to know about cleaning your dog's ears at home. Many dog owners often wonder: should I be cleaning my dog’s ears? The short answer is, usually, yes. It’s often an overlooked part of your dog’s grooming regime, but for many dogs it is extremely important as it allows you to regularly check for problems or ear infections. Cleaning your dog’s ears is incredibly easy to do and can be done at home (provided you and your dog are comfortable with it). If you’ve never done it before you may be wondering where to start, which is why we’ve put together this handy guide to tell you how to clean a dog’s ears.

Dog constipation can affect many dogs. Make sure you know what the symptoms are and discover what you can do to help your dog get back to their normal self. Dog constipation is not exactly the kind of challenge you’re looking forward to when becoming a dog owner, but it is a problem you are likely to face at some point. This is why we recommend becoming familiar with the signs, the causes and the things you can do to help your pup through the discomfort. Here is a simple need-to-know guide to dog constipation.

Dogs can suffer from strokes, but the symptoms differ to what we see in people. Find out the possible symptoms and the current treatment options available with this guide. Dogs can suffer from strokes, but the symptoms differ to what we see in people. Find out the possible symptoms and the current treatment options available with this guide.

If you’re suspecting your dog is suffering from a case of conjunctivitis, here’s what you need to know. From causes to symptoms and treatment options, we’ve got you covered. Does your dog seem to have irritated, bloodshot or weepy eyes? Are they blinking a lot or rubbing their face on you or the ground? If the answer is yes, your pooch might be suffering from a case of dog conjunctivitis. Much like the human version, canine conjunctivitis can appear out of nowhere, is unpleasant and will require professional attention. Here’s what you need to know about this condition.

Cockapoos are one of the most adorable designer crossbreeds out there. The offspring of a Cocker Spanieland a Poodle (Toy or Miniature), this dog can take some of the best characteristics from each breed and has made the whole world fall in love with them in the process. So, expect an affectionate, but highly active, dog who’s so intelligent that it can make training a breeze – as long as they get the exercise and enrichment they need. But that’s not all the Cocker Spaniel and Poodle passed down to their Cockapoo puppies Health issues usually seen in the Cockapoo’s parents can also be part of that inheritance. So, if you’re wondering which Cockapoo health problems to look out for, here are the hereditary issues that can affect these dogs. Cockapoo health issues