Health

All puppies go through a teething phase. Puppy teething is when they outgrow their puppy teeth, which are replaced by more permanent, adult teeth. This happens at a different age depending on their breed and size. But the effects of teething are the same: an irritable puppy and damage to your house! In this article, we explore why puppy teething can be a destructive phase and talk you through five steps that can make the whole process easier on both you and your pup. When do puppies start teething? All mammals have to go through a teething stage; this includes both you and your puppy. Unlike humans, puppies begin to start teething at around 16 weeks of age. This means their milk teeth will begin to fall out and new adult teeth will begin to poke through. Once the teething process begins do not be surprised if your dog is chewing everything is sight – this kind of behaviour is completely normal. We recommend you provide your dog with plenty of chew toys throughout this period and praise them for using them, to save your furniture. When do puppies lose their teeth? It usually takes around four months for puppies to go through the whole process of teething. By the age of 7-8 months your puppy should have grown all of their adult teeth, if they’re not all there yet try not to worry too much. However, if it gets to 9 months and there are still some adult teeth missing, we advise you contact your vet. They will be able to access your dog’s mouth and find out if their mouth needs any dental work. Why can puppy teething be so destructive? Puppy teething means discomfort (and sometimes pain) for your pup: their gums may become red and swollen as and their teeth are falling out while new ones erupt. Who wouldn’t be uncomfortable? Your pup handles puppy teething by chewing. Chewing helps ease some of the irritation on their gums (a bit like scratching an itch). Plus, for a puppy their mouth is a bit like your hand; it is what they use to explore and understand the world. Couple that with their natural curiosity and they may start to chew anything and everything in your house. But just because it is nature’s way, it doesn’t mean you have to survive with chewed-up furniture and missing shoes. Keep on reading to find out how to puppy-proof your home from puppy teething. Creating a puppy-proof home when your puppy is teething

Phantom pregnancies in dogs are very common, with symptoms from mothering behaviour and lactation, to lethargy and vomiting. Find out more about signs, causes and possible treatment. Has your dog started acting like they are pregnant, mothering their toys and creating a nesting space? Have you noticed mammary development and even milk from their nipples? Some female dogs may display signs equivalent to morning sickness; with lethargy and vomiting. If your dog has not been mated, this may leave you scratching your head as to why they appear pregnant. If they have been mated, before you get too excited about visions of cute puppies, you need to make sure it’s not a false or phantom pregnancy. Read on to discover what the signs are, how a false pregnancy gets diagnosed and when medical treatment is necessary. What is phantom pregnancy in dogs? Phantom pregnancy in dogs refers to a condition where a female dog exhibits symptoms of pregnancy, but is not actually pregnant. This is also known as false pregnancy or pseudo-pregnancy and can affect any type of female dog, regardless of age or breed. Symptoms of phantom pregnancy in dogs You can expect to see many of the same symptoms of an actual pregnancy to manifest in the case of a false pregnancy. Although the signs vary between individuals, these are the main physiological and behavioural changes to look out for: • Mammary development • Lactation • Enlarged belly • Loss of appetite • Lethargy • Vomiting • Nesting • Being protective of small inanimate objects • Restlessness or aggression How long does a phantom pregnancy last? The symptoms of a phantom pregnancy most commonly occur 6-8 weeks after your dog finishes her season, and should resolve within 2-3 weeks. Once your dog has had a false pregnancy after a season, it is very likely to recur at each subsequent season. What causes phantom pregnancy in dogs? The origins of phantom pregnancy are thought to be due to the pack behaviour of our domestic dog’s ancestors. All the females in the pack help to rear the family pups and feel motherly towards them, even when they are not their own offspring. This cooperative behaviour is driven by hormones. After a female dog has a season, she experiences a prolonged peak of the ‘pregnancy hormone’ progesterone lasting 8-9 weeks, whether she is pregnant or not (this does not occur in humans). As levels of progesterone decline levels of a second hormone, prolactin, increase. This is what triggers the physical and psychological symptoms of pregnancy. In some dogs this may be mild – not enough to notice – but in others the symptoms can be very convincing to both the dog and her owner. What to do when the phantom pregnancy symptoms appear Phantom pregnancy in dogs is very common and, if symptoms are behavioural and mild, you can try distracting your dog with increased play and walks. While they’re distracted you can remove any toys they have adopted as surrogate babies, being careful not to cause distress. You should make an appointment with your vet if the symptoms persist or are severe. Remember that non-specific signs such as vomiting and lethargy may also be due to other diseases and illnesses. It’s also important to rule out a true pregnancy as your dog may have had an illicit mating!

Pancreatitis in dogs can be acute or chronic and ranges in severity. Discover how to tell if your pet is suffering from this condition and what to do next. Pancreatitis is defined as inflammation of the pancreas. In this article, we explain what causes pancreatitis in dogs, how it manifests and what treatment is recommended. What is dog pancreatitis? The pancreas produces enzymes involved in the digestion of protein, carbohydrate and fat within the small intestine. It also produces the hormone insulin which helps to regulate blood sugar levels after a meal. In a healthy pancreas, the digestive enzymes remain inactive until they reach the small intestine. This prevents self-digestion of the pancreatic tissue. However, in cases of pancreatitis, the enzymes are activated too soon while they are still within the pancreas. The resulting auto-digestion of the organ leads to inflammation and pain. Pancreatitis is often categorised as acute or chronic – acute pancreatitis is when it develops suddenly, and chronic pancreatitis is when it continues over time. Individuals with chronic pancreatitis can also experience acute flare-ups. What are the symptoms of pancreatitis in dogs? In mild cases of pancreatitis in dogs the symptoms can be subtle and include lethargy or loss of appetite. There is overlap with many other gastrointestinal conditions, including surgical emergencies such as gut obstructions. However, during an acute episode of this condition you are likely to see some of the following symptoms:

Kidneys are very busy organs that have lots of responsibilities to keep your dog healthy, from removing toxins to maintaining their blood pressure and helping to create new red blood cells. With so many jobs to do, it can be a scary time if you think your dog’s kidneys are failing, find out the common symptoms and possible treatment options for kidney failure in dogs with this guide. Kidney disease in dogs can affect any breed at any stage in their life and sadly, there’s no way of predicting which will develop it and which won’t. Although there’s nothing you can do to actually prevent your four-legged friend from developing kidney failure in dogs, feeding them a good quality diet throughout their life, and providing them with a constant supply of fresh, clean water will help support their kidneys and, if they do develop kidney failure, it could help to slow down its progress. We’ve created this guide to tell you the most common causes of dog kidney disease and failure to give you all the information you need. Acute kidney failure in dogs If your dog has acute kidney failure it means that their kidneys have suddenly stopped working properly. This can be caused by something such as an illness or infection, or because they’ve eaten something they shouldn’t, like antifreeze. Acute kidney failure in dogs may be able to be treated and reversed but could also be permanent, depending on what has caused it. Chronic kidney failure in dogs Chronic kidney failure is more gradual and can take months or even years to develop. It can be caused by a number of things including infections and tumours and unfortunately, by the time it’s diagnosed, it’s sometimes too late to reverse. In the early stages of disease, the healthy areas of the kidney take on the extra work that the damaged areas can’t do, meaning that healthy parts work even harder than usual. As the disease progresses, and the unhealthy areas start to outnumber the healthy, the workload simply becomes too much and your dog will show signs of kidney failure. Chronic kidney failure in dogs is a progressive illness that your vet will need to keep an eye on, but it can usually be managed with a combination of medical treatments and a special diet. Signs of kidney failure in dogs There are a number of possible signs of kidney failure in dogs and each dog is different so there’s no guarantee that they’ll experience the illness in the same way, however, the most common symptoms are as follows: • Urinating more often – urine will usually be very diluted • Increased drinking to replace lost fluids • Nausea and vomiting due to build-up of toxins • Retching or going off their food • Tiredness and lethargy • Weight loss • Pale gums • Mouth ulcers • Fragile, weak bones Be careful about trying to diagnose kidney disease yourself, as the signs of kidney disease in dogs can also be a symptom of other illnesses. The sooner you see your vet for a proper diagnosis, the better. Although there’s no cure for kidney disease, early treatment will help to relieve the discomfort caused by the symptoms and support your pet’s kidneys. Diagnosing kidney disease in dogs When diagnosing kidney disease in dogs, your vet will start by testing a sample of pee to see if your dog’s urine is being concentrated, whether protein is being lost in their urine and if they have any other problems, like an underlying infection. They might also take a blood test to check for specific kidney function, to get an idea of your dog’s overall health and to see if the build-up of toxins has affected any of their other organs. Monitoring the condition Your vet may ask you to collect a sample of your dog’s urine as a part of monitoring their condition. The best time to collect your dog’s urine sample is first thing in the morning, ideally in mid-flow. How you physically collect their pee will depend on whether you have a male or female dog but plastic lunchboxes or soup ladles can come in handy! Your vet will probably provide you with a sterile container to store your sample in or you can use a container such as a clean jam jar (any residue can affect the results, so do make sure the container is very clean). The fresher the sample, the more accurate the tests will be, so try not to delay in getting the sample to your vet. Dog kidney failure treatment Depending on how severe the symptoms are, dog kidney failure treatment usually consists of a combination of medical and dietary interventions. Medication As kidney failure in dogs can impact so many different bodily functions and cause them to develop conditions such as high blood pressure or anaemia, your vet might recommend specific medications to help treat each symptom. Supplements may also be suggested to replace lost vitamins and help to improve some secondary effects caused by the disease. It’s important to remember to only give supplements and medications at the recommendation of your vet. Diets for dogs with kidney failure

Dry skin can be an extremely painful problem for puppies. As soon as skin begins to turn dry, it will also turn itchy. Young puppies won’t be able to resist this itch and will scratch it all day and all night. Scratching these itches can be very harmful and damaging. Scratching leads to cut skin and bleeding, which can then lead to even more severe skin issues. The good news is there are a number of steps you can take to minimise the risk of dry skin and keep your puppy’s coat at its best. Brushing Brushing the coat is one of the best ways to prevent dry skin in puppies. Each time you brush your puppy’s coat it wipes away any dry skin flakes resting on the surface. These skin flakes can cause irritation if left to build up, and this irritation will ultimately lead to your dog scratching.

Dog owners often believe that a healthy dog’s nose should be wet and cold. Here is why dogs usually have wet noses and what it actually means if your dog has a dry nose instead. Whether it’s when they sniff your face in the morning or your hand as you give them a treat, the sensation dog owners expect to feel on their skin when the dog’s nose makes contact is a very particular one: the nose should be cold and wet. But what does it mean when your dog’s nose is dry instead? Keep reading to find out what makes a dog’s nose wet in the first place and how should an owner react if they discover that their pet’s nose is warm and dry. Why do dogs have wet noses? A dog’s sense of smellis a trusted ally helping them find out more about their environment. So, dogs have naturally figured out a few tricks to make it work better. One of them is keeping their noses wet. Scent particles stick to damp surfaces better, giving a dog with a wet nose a superior ability to understand their surroundings. It is one of the reasons why some dogs keep their noses wet by constantly licking them.

Just like us, it’s not hard for dogs to put on a few extra pounds, especially as they get older and exercise less. As excess weight and rates of obesity in dogs increases, so do the risk of developing related health problems. A staggering 35%* of all dogs in the UK are overweight – and most owners don't even realise it until they take their pets to the vet for a related illness. Obese and overweight dogs are much more likely to develop health problems such as diabetes, respiratory conditions, arthritis and even behavioural problems, so it's easy to see why monitoring your dog's weight and body condition carefully is important. *Source: PDSA 2009 Is my dog overweight? Your vet will be able to tell you during their regular assessments if your dog is overweight, but it’s quite simple to weigh a small dog at home using bathroom scales. First weigh yourself, then pick up your dog and get back on the scales to measure the difference. This will be more difficult for larger dogs, so if you have a bigger breed of dog, you may wish to stick to your vet’s scales! For a more in-depth assessment, use our body conditioning tool. Checking your dog’s body condition is quick to do and allows you to spend even more quality, hands-on time with your pet. Helping your dog lose weight Talk to your vet before making any changes to your dog’s diet, as they’ll be able to advise you on the ideal weight for your dog and how it can be reached. The ideal Labrador weight, for example, will always be different from the ideal weight of a Toy breed, so you should know what weight you are aiming for. It’s important your dog is weighed and checked over for any underlying disease or health issues before you start fighting the flab, as their weight gain might not be caused by over-eating after all. Dog weight loss tips • To help your dog lose weight, increase the amount of energy they burn off (through exercise and play) and reduce the amount of energy they eat. • Table scraps and treats are often high in calories, so cut these out and make sure everyone else in the family does the same. Even when meant with affection, this still counts as cheating! If you have several dogs, feed your overweight dog separately to stop them from stealing any leftovers. • Try dividing their food into smaller portions and feed those more frequently to help reduce hunger and begging, and always keep track of what your dog is eating. • Your vet may suggest reducing the amount you are feeding, or a special lower-calorie diet. • Never ‘starve’ your dog or restrict their food without veterinary advice. Consult your vet If your dog fails to lose weight despite increased activity and reduced calories, speak to your vet again, who may want to investigate any underlying medical problems that can cause dog weight gain. Your vet’s practice might also offer a weight-reduction group for dogs, which will help you to monitor your dog’s weight as well as provide lots of tips and advice. Successful weight loss in dogs is a slow and steady process, and the secret to success is patience.

Just like us, dogs can also feel a little under the weather. The only difference is that your pet can’t tell you when they’re feeling poorly, so it’s important that you can recognise common dog illness symptoms so you can help your furry friend feel like themselves again. Pay attention to subtle signs, as dogs can be good at hiding any aches or pains. Check-ups with your vet are the best way to spot any signs of possible illness as soon as possible. This is particularly important for older dogs, who should have regular check-ups every three to six months. Here are some of the symptoms of problems in your dog to watch out for. Bear in mind that this list isn’t exhaustive, and you should always speak to your vet if you have any worries about your pet’s health. General lethargy, depression, listlessness and sleeping more If your dog isn't their normal, enthusiastic, active self, it's worth considering if it could be down to something more serious than sleepiness. Generally looking unwell or seeming a lot more lethargic than normal (without any specific complaints) is a common sign of canine illness and warrants a check-in with your vet. Reduction in appetite or complete refusal to eat There are many completely harmless reasons why your dog might not want to eat as much as usual – hot weather for example – but it can also indicate an underlying problem. It’s particularly important to consult your vet if your senior dog eats less than usual, or if their reduced appetite is accompanied by lethargy, vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss or any other signs of illness.

Hypothermia in dogs can occur during the winter months and is usually due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. Read our guide to find out about the possible symptoms and what you should do if you suspect your dog has hypothermia. Hypothermia in dogs can be fatal as it may cause problems with the heart and blood flow, breathing and the immune system and in more extreme cases, dogs may develop impaired consciousness that could result in a coma. We’ve created this useful guide to tell you everything you need to know about hypothermia in dogs – keep reading to find out more. What is dog hypothermia? Hypothermia in dogs is a medical condition that results in an abnormally low body temperature. The cases can range from mild, to severe and it could lead to many serious complications as normal body temperature can no longer be sustained. What is considered a low dog temperature? A dog’s normal temperature ranges between 38.3 and 39.2 degrees Celsius, whereas a human’s recommended body temperature is between 36.5 and 37.5 degrees Celsius. It’s important to bear in mind that this means your dog needs to keep their body temperature higher than humans do. Types of dog hypothermia There are three types of hypothermia in dogs: mild, moderate and severe. Mild hypothermia is when their temperature falls between 32 and 35 degrees Celsius and moderate is a temperature between 28 and 32 degrees. Anything below 28 degrees is categorised as severe. If your dog has a severe case, veterinary attention should be sought straight away as the complications could be fatal.

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 (providing 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. How often should I clean my dog’s ears? This often depends on your dog. Droopy-eared breeds such as Cocker Spaniels and Basset Hounds will require more regular ear cleaning as the can be more prone to ear infections. This is because longer droopy ears allow less air flow, and debris and moisture may easily become trapped in the ear canal, which can result in a yeast infection. Dogs that like to swim will also require regular ear cleaning as the extra moisture can predispose them to ear infections. Additionally, you should always be on the lookout for ear mites on your dog as they are also a potential cause of ear infections and can also be transmitted to other pets. In short, it’s important to clean your dog’s ears regularly enough to avoid infections, but not too often as this can damage the canal or cause irritation that can result in further problems. If you’re unsure, it’s best to ask your vet as they’ll be able to recommend a cleaning schedule that suits your dog’s unique needs. How to clean a dog’s ears When considering the best way to clean a dog’s ears, the most important thing is to ensure that your dog is comfortable with the entire process first.

Hernias can be quite common in dogs, especially in puppies. Our guide tells you the most common types of hernias and the likely treatments used to fix them. Hernias in dogs are relatively common, especially with puppies. Much like in people, a hernia is a condition where the contents of a dog’s abdomen pushes through a tear or hole in the muscle wall or fatty tissue. Over 90% of hernia cases are due to genetics, as puppies are most commonly born with them. However, hernias can also develop as a result of trauma, such as being hit by a car. The severity of hernia in dogs varies depending on where your dog has developed a hernia. This also determines if they are complicated or uncomplicated. Keep reading to find out what the most common types are, the possible symptoms and the methods of treating them.

Puppy diarrhoea can be unpleasant to deal with, especially when you’re already working on house-training your puppy. Aside from the difficulty for you, no owner wants to see their puppy suffer. It can also be tricky to recognise when puppy diarrhoea is a sign of something serious, and when it can be easily dealt with. This article gives you some information about puppy diarrhoea, plus practical advice on treating it. What gives a puppy diarrhoea? There are a number of different triggers for diarrhoea in puppies. The majority of these triggers are not serious and can be easily addressed in order to stop your puppy suffering.