Archive for December, 2009

People living with dogs in the house often notice and complain about the amount of hair the dog sheds. Shedding of hair is a normal process; dogs are covered in hair, and they have a lot more to shed than humans. If a dog is losing large amounts of hair but is replacing it so [...]

This is also known as the nictitating membrane. The third eyelid plays an important role in cleaning the surface of the eye (cornea). the Harderian gland, which is attached to the inside of the third eyelid, is part of the tear production system. For these reasons the third eyelid should only be removed as a [...]

A normal thermometer can be used to take the temperature of a dog. Make sure you shake down the mercury before using it. Insert the thermometer fot two-thirds of its length via the anus into the dog,s rectum so that the bowl of the thermometer rest against the rectal wall. Leave the thermometer in position [...]

Dogs, unlike cats, devote little or no time to grooming themselves and therefore need more attention from owners, especially the long haired breeds. The average owner can attend the day to day grooming needs for their dog. Dog hair, unlike human hair, does not continue to grow. In the dog, the follicle from which the [...]

A dog’s urine is normally clear, colorless to yellow and of a water-like consistency. If the dog is frequently straining to urinate and passes a little urine often or not at all, or if the urine is reddish brown or blood tinged, call your vet straight away. If you suspect there is something abnormal with [...]

Hi, I hope you all had a fantastic christmas. Coughing or rapid, shallow, heavy or noisy respiration is abnormal and requires the vets attention. The state of your dogs skin may be a telltale sign of illness especially if it is broken, red, dry, scabby, scaly, tight when pinched or there is evidence of raised [...]

Call your vet if; *a discharge from these areas (eyes, nose, mouth) is excessive in volume and/or yellow in color. *odour from the mouth is foul or offensive; *the mucous membrane lining the eyes, nose and mouth (normally glistening pink in color) is white, yellow, bluish or brick red.

A health problem may be indicated if there is a sign of discharge, redness, swelling, scratching, rubbing, shaking, a heavy build up of wax from the ear, if the dog is holding its head to one side, or if one ear flops down when both ears should be erect. I hope you have a very [...]

Some dogs are modest about their toilet habits and you may never see them in the act of defaecating (passing their droppings) or any evidence of their faeces (droppings). If you happen to notice your dog defaecating, observe it and inspect the faeces. If the faeces contain worms, mucus, blood, undigested food, or are small [...]

Demeanour in different breeds and in individual dogs varies tremendously. A sharp change in demeanour, such as from being quite to excited, alert to dull, placid to aggressive or relaxed to restless, is a sign that should alert you to the fact that your dog may have a health problem. Tomorrow I will write about [...]