Pedigree dog breeding in the UK: a major welfare concern? by Dr Nicola Rooney and Dr David Sargan was published in 2009. It makes for very interesting, if not sobering reading.
So, how are we doing in 2016 following the details of this report and the recommendations within it?
The emergence of Spring into Summer, with flowers, tree blossom, green shoots and singing birds will I’m sure uplift the spirit and bring joy to all. However, for some it also brings familiar symptoms of sneezes, itchy eyes and a runny nose. Do our dogs suffer with the same discomfort and what are the signs and symptoms?
Like us humans, hay fever (inhalant dermatitis) is common in dogs, and unfortunately there is little we can do to combat it. It occurs in about 10 percent of dogs and is present in both pedigrees and cross-breeds.
However, hay fever is even greater in pedigree dogs since allergies can be sometimes passed down as an inherited trait. Certain breeds like Irish Setters, Poodles, Schnauzers, Dalmatians and many breeds of Terrier are the more common breeds to suffer.
Like people, dogs are often allergic to pollen, dust and airborne moulds. However, the biggest difference is that humans will often get runny eyes and cough and sneeze, while a dog will suffer the same and become itchy all over. This is because the histamines released by the body in response to pollen in animals are mostly released in the skin rather than in the nose and eyes.
You may notice your dog itching and scratching more than usual. This is due to the irritable particles in the air. This itching is usually concentrated in the ears, feet, groin, and armpits, though it can be spread across the entire body. Your dog may then develop a rash or ‘hotspots’ in certain areas.
Other Symptoms
Dogs with hay fever may also experience a runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes – symptoms we are all too familiar with.
What Can We Do To Stop Hay Fever In Our Dogs?
Here are some top tips for reducing hay fever in your dog…
If your dog is still suffering with symptoms it will be advised to take them to the vet so that they can view the extent of the problems. The most common medications given by vets are anti-inflammatories, corticosteroids and antihistamines. Your vet can best determine what combination and dosage should be used.
You could also try medicated shampoos that are soothing and can provide temporary relief to inflamed skin.
Cancer in pets is more common than you think. It is the number one natural cause of death in geriatric cats and dogs and accounts for nearly 50 percent of pet deaths each year. Some breeds are especially susceptible to cancer.
Although the leading cause of death in older cats and dogs, cancer also is the most treatable disease when compared to life-limiting diseases such as congestive heart failure, renal failure and diabetes. An educated and dedicated veterinary health care team is essential to caring for cancer-stricken pets. (more…)
There is a significant difference between humans and dogs in their need for carbohydrates and in their ability to digest them. The digestive tract of a human is longer than that of a dog, and the formation of jaws and teeth is entirely different. A dog’s digestion starts in the stomach. Dogs’ teeth – all 42 of them – are built to tear flesh apart. Dogs gulp their food as fast as they can, which then reaches the stomach with no digestion having taken place.
Human digestion starts in the mouth. A human chews food with 32 teeth, which have flat surfaces for grinding and breaking down food. Enzymes contained in the saliva contribute to this breakdown of the food, which is being digested before it reaches the stomach.
photo credit: deovolenti
Carbohydrates come in two forms, simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates come from grains such as wheat, corn, rice, oats, soy and millet.
They break down into starches and sugar when properly cooked. Complex carbohydrates come in the form of various fibres such as brans, hulls and peanut shells from the outside of plants. A small amount is needed for proper digestion and stool formation. Nutrients are obtained from both sources, but most come from simple carbohydrates.
If carbohydrates are a major part of your dog’s diet, the time and energy needed for digestion increase, the dog performs less well, large amounts of stool are produced, and a protein deficiency disease may develop. Dogs have evolved as meat eaters and although they need some grains, their health and longevity will be better served on a diet containing more animal protein than protein from grains.
Think about the origin of the dog.
It is unrecorded in history that wolves lit fires and cooked grains picked in fields! But there were whole carcasses available that contained everything needed for wolves to survive, including predigested vegetable matter in the intestinal tracts of their prey.
The reason the majority of dry dog foods contain such large amounts of cereal grains is that grains are a cheap source of nutrients. According to the NRC guidelines, “Carbohydrates provide an economical source of energy in the diet of dogs.”
In some cases, some dogs don’t want to eat because of their environment. One of my dogs for example, eats less if he has to stoop for the bowl – a raised dog bowl solved his problem. In other cases, your dog might just know best and by refusing to eat he’s doing all he can to tell you this.
Allergic reactions to grains are common in dogs. The best diet for your dog matches that fed in the breed’s country of origin as the breed developed. Each dog is an individual, and if yours refuses to eat his food, check the grains listed on the package. It could be your dog is allergic to one of the grains in their food which is why they don’t want to eat.
Your dog’s body is made up of 70{d4f4ff813a06e2c77cbb9c6effe011ebffe2f8986e44983e90e08c54deb62f63} water. He can live even if he loses all the fat and half of the protein in his body. However, he will die if his body loses even just 1/10 of his water.
In order to survive, a full-grown dog requires at the very least, two millilitres (mls) of water for every pound he weighs every single day (keeping in mind that there are 30 millilitres of water per 1 ounce). The two millilitres are just enough for the dog to produce urine in his body. Without enough water necessary for urine production, your dog, any dog, will not be able to live.
When given an unlimited amount of water, your dog will drink much more than the required two millimetres. This is especially true when you always keep a fresh bowl of water. Giving your dog just the least amount of water every day may be enough for him to survive, but not for long. Deficiency in water harms the body and gradually terminates its functions. He will eventually turn weak, get sick, and die. This is a problem for older dogs or dogs in hot conditions, because some won’t consume enough water and will get heat stroke.
Hot conditions and your dog’s water intake
It’s important to know about the type of water your dog needs in hot conditions. For example, in hot weather give your dog cool, not cold water. Another issue is overdrinking, you need to have a balance with giving them enough without allowing them to drink too much and be at risk of health problems.
One way to prevent this is to invest in something like a raised dog bowl where your dog can eat from too. By placing the bowl off the ground you not only help your dog to stoop less and ease any neck issues that may arise in older age, but you change the dynamic for the dog of how they eat and drink, while being able to monitor how much water is available to get the balance right.
The importance of giving your dog more water than the least amount needed is used in several ways:
1. Water is used to help digest and absorb nutrients.
2. It is used to burn fuel, which is turned into energy.
3. Water is responsible for maintaining a normal body temperature.
4. Drinking enough water replaces the fluids that are lost in the body during secretions.
5. Water is also responsible for mixing different types of chemicals in the body as they dissolve and transform into different chemical reactions.
6. Water carries nutrients to the cells and also transfers toxic waste products from the cells to the organs for proper elimination. With the absence of water, these organs will not be able to get rid of toxins from the body.
7. Last but not least, water is needed to regulate the blood’s acid level.
As you can see, water is almost always required for every function that takes place in the dog’s body. And because of its versatility and the degree to which it is used, water is considered to be the most important nutrient that is required on all breeds of dogs.