General Practice Service

Willows Information Sheets

Looking after your adult dog

Looking after your adult dog

General health care

The life expectancy of dogs has increased dramatically over the last few decades, mainly due to

improved food quality, better disease control through vaccinations and improved health care. To

make sure that your dog can enjoy this extra life span to the full it is important to look after his

or her health from a young age. This obviously includes factors such as feeding good quality food,

regular vaccinations and good parasite control. However, there are other important aspects of

routine care which should help to keep your dog in good health for many years to come.

Dental care is advisable to keep teeth clean and to prevent cavities and infection in the mouth.

There are a number of ways to look after your dog’s teeth and it is worthwhile discussing these it

with us to make sure that the method you choose fits in with your time schedule and your dog’s

temperament (See Dental care for dogs and cats information sheet).

Regular weight checks are an important component of preventing your dog from becoming

overweight. This is an important issue and currently a high proportion of dogs in the UK are too

heavy. Being overweight can take up to several years of your dog’s life expectancy and greatly

increases the risks of heart disease, arthritis and other health problems.

Routine health checks carried out at the surgery are very important for your dog’s well-being. They

are performed annually at the time of vaccination, but in some cases it will be advisable to check

your dog more frequently than just once a year. After all, your dog is not able to tell you about some

aches and pains or other symptoms that would prompt us to see a doctor, thus making sure that

disease is diagnosed early. If you are in any doubt, please contact the surgery for advice.

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Exercise

Regular exercise is necessary for a dog – it also keeps the owner

healthy at the same time! The length and number of walks per day

depends very much on the size and age of the dog, and also on the

level of fitness of the owner. Whether you are training for a marathon

with your young fit dog or just wander around the block with your

elderly little companion, a regular routine is much appreciated by

most dogs. Even the most obedient dog should be kept on a lead

near traffic or around farm animals/livestock (you never know when

they may suddenly take fright or chase after a rabbit or a squirrel, for

example), but if you cannot rely completely on your dog’s obedience

then you should keep him/her on a lead as a general rule.

The main countryside rule is: never worry livestock, remember that

someone else’s livelihood depends on it. Also make sure that your

dog does not disturb wildlife, including birds that nest on the ground.

Even letting your dog walk in the same field as farm animals may be

considered as ‘worrying’, because even if you know that your dog will

not harm little lambs, the ewes may not be so certain. Remember that

farmers are entitled to kill your dog if he/she is worrying livestock!

Nutrition

Feeding a good quality food is vital for your dog’s well-being and

longevity. In the majority of cases a good quality complete dog food is

the most appropriate way to feed your dog. We recommend dry food,

which has the added benefit of keeping your dog’s teeth clean. In some

cases a ‘life-stage’, ‘lifestyle’ or even prescription food needs to be fed to

keep a dog in good health and we will discuss this with you as necessary.

While it is possible to feed your dog on home cooked food, it is not

easy to provide all the nutrients necessary for your dog’s well-being

and unfortunately we often see health problems due to giving an

incomplete diet when a home cooked diet is fed. Dogs need a lot

more than just meat and bones and, whilst we are happy to discuss

home cooked diet with you, we much prefer to recommend a

proprietary dog food (See Nutrition advice for dogs information sheet)

Grooming

Regular grooming should be part of the routine care for every dog. It

ensures that your dog is always clean and good looking, and it can also

be ‘quality time’ for both owner and dog. Additionally, many health

problems can be picked up early when the dog is groomed regularly.

Combing or brushing is advisable not only for long-haired, but also

in short-coated breeds, where a rubber groomer can be used to

remove old hair and provide a gentle massage at the same time.

Daily combing and brushing of longer haired dogs ensures that hairs

do not get tangled and cause knots which are painful to brush out.

Dogs should not experience pain during grooming, otherwise it will

put them off and make them wary of the brush.

Eyes and ears should be checked daily and any discharge or obvious

ear wax should be removed. Gentle cleaners can be used, but

medicinal ear or eye ointments should only be used when prescribed

as part of a medical treatment. The nose and mouth should be

checked and the teeth should be cleaned. Tooth cleaning can be

achieved by giving a variety of food/treats and also by actual tooth

brushing. This prevents the build-up of tartar and reduces the

chances of dental decay, which may otherwise necessitate dental

work to be carried out under general anaesthesia. (See Dental care

for dogs and cats information sheet)

All four paws should be checked for foreign bodies (such as grass seeds),

long or damaged claws and other changes.

Lastly the private parts need a check and occasionally a clean up, too.

Training

A well trained dog is a happy dog and not a nuisance to others. Never allow

your dog to be out of control, to injure someone – even unintentionally,

by e.g. jumping up at a person – or to frighten anyone into thinking

that they may be injured. It is actually an offence to let your dog

behave in this way.

The easiest and best way is to train your dog as a puppy. It is never too

late to train but an older dog, especially one with behavioural problems,

may need professional help from a dog training class or behaviourist.

However, all dogs will benefit from training classes, whether they

are pets or going to develop skills in different canine activities. Dog

training classes are great places to help to coach and socialise your

dog, as well as to meet other dog owners and share your experiences.

There are lots of schools of thought on dog training and it is

important that you find the right approach for you and your dog.

Basic first lessons include sitting or staying when told, coming back

to the owner when called, and walking beside the owner on and off

the lead. Once you and your dog have mastered the first steps it is

worth while thinking about joining dog activity groups. This ensures

that you and your dog ‘share a hobby’ and it will encourage the

development of a strong bond between you and your canine friend.

Most dogs are only too happy to join in different activities and enjoy

learning new skills. Very soon you will be proud of what the two

of you have achieved. Dog activities include both the sporting e.g.

agility or flyball, and more sedate options such as the Kennel Club

Good Citizen Dog Scheme or training to become a ‘pet therapy dog’

visiting hospitals etc.. Ask around for local possibilities or search the

internet - you will surely find something you both enjoy.

Neutering

The majority of dogs will be neutered at a young age and we

recommend neutering your dog (male or female) unless you intend

to breed (See Neutering in dogs information sheet). However, if you

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decide not to have your dog neutered, it is important for you to be

aware of several points.

If your bitch has not been spayed, she will come into season once or

twice yearly. To avoid unwanted pregnancies it is important to keep

her away from male dogs not only during the time she is bleeding,

but also particularly after the bleeding has stopped. Entire female

dogs can be prone to developing false pregnancies several weeks

after their season. They often seem depressed and build nests or

start mothering their toys. Some bitches even develop milk in their

mammary glands. Another more serious problem especially of older

un-spayed bitches is pyometra (infection of the womb). This can

present as an emergency with a variety of clinical signs and generally

requires major surgery.

If your male dog is not neutered it is important to ensure that he

cannot roam to find bitches in season. Apart from the problem of

causing unwanted pregnancies your dog may well be involved in

(road traffic) accidents if he escapes to find bitches. Older entire

males can suffer from several health problems including prostate

problems, hernias or tumours of their anal region.

If you are at all concerned, please contact the surgery and mention

that your dog has not been neutered.

Vaccination

Several life-threatening diseases can be avoided by having your

dog vaccinated. Vaccine protocols vary between countries, but in

the UK vaccination generally includes parvovirus disease, infectious

hepatitis, distemper and leptospirosis. Kennel cough can be added

on request depending upon circumstances. Vaccines for parvovirus

disease, hepatitis and distemper only need to be given every three

years, once the full first vaccine cycle is completed. The protection

given by Leptospirosis and kennel cough vaccines currently only lasts

for one year. Dogs therefore still need a yearly vaccine containing

leptospirosis (and if necessary kennel cough) whilst parvovirus,

hepatitis and distemper vaccines are added every three years.

Before a dog is vaccinated a full general health check is performed.

This is necessary to ensure the patient is able to mount a proper

immune response against the diseases, and it is also invaluable for

picking up any emerging health problems early, for discussing any

health related queries that you may have and generally for ensuring

that your dog stays in good health. (See Vaccine information sheet).

Worming

Several types of worms can affect dogs and it is usually impossible

for you to know whether your dog is infected with worms. Unless

a dog is severely infested or has tape worms, it is not possible to

notice worms in faeces – usually only microscopically small worm

eggs are passed with the faeces. Unfortunately some types of worms

can also infect humans, especially children or the elderly. Although

uncommon, severe health problems including blindness or brain

problems are possible in humans infected with certain dog worms.

Regular worming will not only protect the health of your dog, but also

the health of your family. (See Worming your dog information sheet)

External parasites (Ectoparasites)

Several types of external parasites can affect your dog. Most common

and well-known are fleas, but ticks, ear mites and several other types

of mites or mange are seen on a regular basis, too. Mites cause itchy

skin or ears in almost every case, alerting us to the fact that something

is wrong, and ticks are usually quite obvious to find. Fleas can also

cause dramatic clinical signs of skin irritation and hair loss, especially

if the dog is allergic to fleas, but we also see many cases where the

owner has been unaware that the dog carries fleas. This is not a sign of

poor hygiene on the owner’s part - it is almost impossible to completely

avoid flea infestation in a dog. However, having fleas is not only a cause

for skin irritation in the dog - it will usually also turn into a hygiene

issue, as fleas then start to breed in the environment, leading to an

ever increasing flea burden of the house and its inmates. Treatment

can be quite involved and prolonged when the flea burden is high,

so it is much better to prevent flea infestation rather than wait

and only treat fleas when they have already been found. Several

good spot-on preparations are available that will not only prevent

flea infestation, but also treat ticks and/or mites and may even be

combined with a wormer. Please contact us for advice on which

product is most suitable for your dog and how to use it. (See

Ectoparasites (fleas and other skin parasites) in dogs information sheet).

Identichipping

An identichip is a microchip about the size of a grain of rice. It contains a

unique bar code number which can be read using a small scanner.

This microchip is injected into the scruff of the neck and heals into

the tissue in that area. The microchip number together with the

details of the owner and dog (name of dog and owner, address and

telephone numbers) are then registered on a national database.

Should your dog become lost and is found, the chip number can

easily be read by using the scanner and your dog can be re-united

with you. Scanners are used by the police, by the RSPCA, vets and

most larger organisations dealing with lost and found dogs. As the

dog’s microchip number is registered together with your address and

telephone numbers, it is vital that you notify the database of any

changes in your home details. (See Microchip information sheet)

Insurance

Having your dog’s health insured with the right insurance policy gives you

the peace of mind that he or she can receive the best treatment

including specialist care without you having to worry about the expense.

Many different pet health insurances exist and it is very important

to choose one that suits you and your pet. Specialist care should

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definitely be covered as the costs of modern complex investigation

and treatment can mount up quickly. It is also important to ensure

that chronic illnesses as well as those of a shorter duration are

covered, especially as the policy moves into the following year

of cover. Should your dog ever need lifelong treatment, you may

otherwise have to pay yourself after the few months cover by the

insurance have run out or you have reached the limit of cover for

any one claim. Premiums will depend on the insurance plan you

chose, but also on age and sometimes breed of the dog and your

postcode.

The small print may appear boring, but it can make a huge difference

when it comes to making a claim or being able to afford to have

more expensive treatment performed at all. (See Pet insurance

information sheet).

Pet Passport

Travelling to Europe and several other countries has been made

easier by the introduction of the Pet Passport. With a valid passport

your dog can travel to and from those countries back to the UK

without having to go into quarantine. The basic requirements are a

microchip, rabies vaccination, a rabies antibody blood test and the

issue of a Pet Passport. The rabies vaccination has to be repeated

within a strict period of time to keep the passport up to date. Also,

before re-entering the UK, the dog has to be seen by a local vet

within a strict time period for parasite treatment.

If you are thinking about travelling with your dog, please plan well

in advance as the process takes some time and initially the dog is

only allowed to travel back to the UK six months after a successful

rabies antibody blood test. For the most up to date information

For the most up to date information we recommend that in the

first instance you contact the UK Government Pet Travel Scheme

Helpline on 0870 241 1710 or email: pettravel@ahvla.gsi.gov.uk or

visit their website at www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad and follow the

link to the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) in order to gain the information

you require.

While rabies is scary and travelling is strictly regulated because

of it, it is also a fairly rare disease. Your dog is much more likely

to encounter other diseases when travelling, some of which are

common in other countries, but unknown or rare in the UK. We

strongly advise that you find out about other possible diseases in the

area you are going to before travelling with your dog (See Diseases

Abroad information sheet).

Euthanasia (‘put to sleep’)

Sadly, there may come a time when your dog’s quality of life has

deteriorated so much that euthanasia is the kindest option available.

We appreciate that it is very difficult to make the decision and that

this is a very distressing time for you and your whole family. If you

wish, we will try to arrange a house visit for our registered clients

when the time has come to put your dog to sleep. We have several

options for cremation and will discuss this with you in detail at the

time (See Euthanasia information sheet).

Responsible dog ownership

Owning a dog brings great happiness to both owner and dog but

also brings responsibility for the lifetime of the pet. Dog owners have

an obligation to their dog and their community to ensure that their

pet is a happy, socialised and well-trained animal.

Dogs in public places must wear a collar with the name and address

(including postcode) of the owner engraved or written on a tag. A

telephone number is optional, but advisable. In the unfortunate

event that your dog goes missing, you should contact the dog

warden, the local branch of the RSPCA, the police, vets and rescue

centres in the neighbourhood to ensure that you are re-united with

your dog as quickly as possible. Identichipping is a great help in

these situations (see above). The local authority may kennel your

dog for a short time, but if he/she is not claimed within that period

the authority has a right to rehome or destroy him/her.

It is also important to remember that dog owners and other people

have to live side-by-side. While it is usually easy to get chatting to

people when walking a dog, be sympathetic to the feelings of others

(who may not be so dog-orientated!) and keep your dog under control

at all times. There are several good reasons why people may not

like your dog to come near them, including health reasons such as

severe allergies, being afraid of dogs or perhaps that they are on

their way to an important appointment and do not want to have

muddy paw prints and dog hairs all over their smart clothes at that

moment! It is therefore important to make sure that your dog does

not bother other people or to keep him/her on a lead if you are not

100% sure about this. In certain areas all dogs must be kept on a lead

at all times.

Dog mess/faeces is/are not just very unpleasant but can also cause

infections to other dogs, other animals and humans. Always clean up

after your dog and get rid of the mess responsibly. Also make sure

that your dog is wormed regularly to protect it, other dogs and most

importantly other people against worm infestation (see above).

If it is impossible or impractical to take your dog on holidays with

you, it is important to find a reliable boarding kennel or a home

carer and make sure that the person caring for your dog has all the

necessary records including emergency telephone numbers. Whether

you go on holiday or just pop to the shop, never leave a dog in the

car in warm weather, even with the window open. Temperatures can

increase very quickly in cars and dogs overheat very quickly. Heat

stroke or worse outcomes are commonly seen by us in the summer.

Since April 2006 the Animal Welfare Act has been in place. As a result

it is now not only against the law to be cruel to an animal, but the

owner must also ensure that all the welfare needs of an animal are

met. These needs include those for a suitable environment (a place

to live) and a suitable diet, to be able to show normal behaviour and

also to be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease. For dogs,

this implies that they need to have plenty of contact with humans

and/or other dogs and that they are not to be left alone for too long.

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General Practice Service

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