A final farewell to 2013- a beautiful piece from Stella

 

> As we say goodbye to 2013

> I am often told that I will be blessed for the work

> I do. I have to say that and I am sure I speak for all rescuers this

> is not why I do rescue. This is a calling and a talent. Not everyone

> is able to let go of an animal that they have nurtured back to health

> rescued from awful circumstances. My take is if not me then who. If I

> did nothing and was able to help I would be failing myself

>

> The saying that I am not in this for the applause rings very strong

> for me. When my world is in disarray and I am rescuing a dog in the

> midst of the night- I am not posting to get attention. When I miss

> family functions cause there is a call out. When I am late for a

> meeting after chasing a lost dog. I am not asking for applause

>

> In my travels over the years I have met the true heros of rescue. People who I can only stand in their shadow. We each do our best.

 

> I would like to make my fellow rescuers smile at this point when I

> list the following

>

> - I can't visit the shelter as I will get too upset

> - I can't visit the shelter as I will want to take them all home

> - if only I had more space I would take them all

> - where do you get your dogs from

> - who pays for all of this

> - ah I love these dogs,but  truelly I am not a cat person....grr

> - oh I am not a duschund/ Labrador/poodle ect fan

> - i heard that ...... Are not great with children

> - is the dog house trained

> - can you give me a little more of the dogs history

> - how big do you think he will get

> - our pets sleep outside

> - they have a big yard at the back there is no need for us to walk

> them

> - we gave our last dog to our gardener.....he grew out of control and

> became agressive

> - should I bring my dog along to greet and meet

> - mm that dog is not talking to me , there is no connection

> - our dog ran away

>

>

>

> The surrender stories I will not be touching on as we have heard them all. Each one of us no matter how kind gentle sweet even tempered you can be , has us all infuriated and at our wits end - with our jaw hanging open ,pulling out our hair and being reduced to tears.

>

> The real point of this bidding fair well to 2013 is to salute you

> all...  who continue in spite of what comes our way. We wake at

> ridiculous hours and off we go into the battle field.

>

> Rescue  is not a competition between the various shelters. People get

> a bit bashful to tell us that they are off to (where ever)....... To see what they have got. I want emphasis that every homeless animal that gets a home is a victory for me. I get pleasure reading FB success happy tails. I love the out reaching to the communities and get thrilled at the work done in schools iro education.

No shelter is an island. Rescue is not a money making operation. It's not a race to the finish. It's not a 9 to 5. To fund this money pit we all do various means of fund raising. Albeit it golf days or SMS lines. It's really no fun... It's not for us - it's for the animals. And the lengths we have to go show our appreciation. When in fact it's mans obligation - it's a social responsibility. Giving must come from a space where the giver wants anoniminty and doesn't expect thanks. But no .. Please send a thanks to.... Grrr. I like to think of myself as well mannered and try always to remember my manners Yes we all want to rehome the desperate manged dog that has spent ages in an enclosure. Rescue is team effort.as cliched as this sounds.

> Together we can do this.

It's true to say we have different opinions and different tequniques. But in the final take its about the well being of the animal. The human element is something we all have to deal with.

>

My wish for everyone of you continue to be brave to face that force as

best as we can. Be kind to one another smile and let's stand as a

united force with integrity love

Thank you from me!!

Hi there:

I have been managing this blog for 10 months and what a journey it has been! As a representative of Woodrock Animals, I would like to use this platform to thank all our wonderful followers who have shown us true support, motivation and inspiration over 2013.

It is in this spirit that we urge you to perform Acta Non Verba acts this festive season. Share happiness and above all else show kindness. Its nice to be nice! May you all have a special holiday. 

Much love

Lola

Stella's favourite rescue story!

February 2005, Woodrock Animal Rescue received a call that would change the life of one very special canine. Father Fidgeon, Priest of a parish in Linden, Johannesburg was embarking on a journey to find a companion and thus it was most fitting for this kind soul to adopt a rescue dog. As soon as Woodrockanimalrescue received the call, he was invited to meet Emily an Alsation cross and the rest was history, it was love at first sight!.

 

8 years on and the Priest and his "shadow" (Emily) still go everywhere together. Naturally, Emily attends mass 4 times a day and her curious and soulful eyes hint that perhaps she is taking in more then just the sights,smells and sounds around her! Like clockwork, at the close of service, Emily proceeds down the aisle to receiver her regular pats and treats. Her devotion to Father Fidgeon has also seen Emily attending her share of weddings, christenings and funerals. She is a constant gentle creature in the house of the Almighty.

 

In their free time, Emily absolutely loves the car and revels in the excitement of being with her "dad". It was evident from the start that she was the perfect pet.Emily is gentle with children and social within the congregation. She illustrates only the best manners and behaviour and has never tried to venture out of the church gates.Father Fidgeon is equally devoted to Emily, last year the lass tore a ligament that was expertly repaired by Fanie Naude after an animal ambulance was called to her aid. Apart from this, the loved lady is fortunate to have general good health apart from an eye condition that is controlled with daily medicated drops. She is kept in superb condition with beautiful teeth as testament to this.

 

This pure love and commitment to man's best friend is a far cry from Emily's life 9 years ago. Discovered by Dee Tyler- a committed animal lover and activist, Emily was being held in an animal shelter. Due to constraints, this poor girl was earmarked by a laboratory for animal testing. Immediately Dee contacted  Woodrockanimalrescue  to enquire if Estelle and Nicholas would take her into the pro life shelter and give her an alternative fate and ultimately a second chance.

 

Woodrockanimalrescue would like to use this as an opportunity to pay tribute to the wonderful Father Fidgeon, a man who can only be described as completely devoted to any "under dog". He has also most appropriately been photographed by "HELLO" magazine, the layout depicting  his previous canine friend staring at the Father whilst he gives a sermon. An international wonderful soul. Fittingly, the Irish Priest will be celebrating Emily's 9th birthday on Saint Patrick's day! She most certainly got the luck of the Irish!

 

A little something to consider...

So at this time of year hurtling towards new year, I thought i would post a special something that is aimed at all those who have lost a pet.Please encourage adoption- far too many individuals are surrendering animals and no one is picking up the slack!

Help Woodrock help them

Sms "dog" to 38954.

The horrors of Rescue. Woodrock acts! *Not advised for sensitive readers.*

The wonderful, fulfilling world of animal rescue is often tainted by some soul destroying events. On Sunday, whilst I manned Woodrock head office, Stella, Nicholas, Fiona as well as numerous Woodrock staff members and volunteers joined forces with SARAC to attend an outreach. 15 hours later, I was met with two pale faced parents who were in a deeply sad state. I have asked Stella to recount her experience on the day and this is what she had to say. 

"Stepping out our comfort zone and reaching out to those less fortunate is our NPO's mission. 

On Sunday the 17 th Nov,we left home at 6am all kitted out with dip vacs deflee deworming and a team of 15 dedicated woodrockers. 

We drove for 2 hours through detours as the 94.7 cycle challenge race had blocked high ways and straight routes.

SARAc and Woodrock immediately attended to the task on hand. For the most part in retrospect we achieved our goals.

We were faced with challenges and our instincts kicked in. We were faced numerous awful events. A dog tied up with thin wire so tight that the poor animal's oesophagus has been severed and her collar bones broken.We immediately took her in and now Libby has been receiving medical care.

The puppies were brought out in drones for treatment. Jerry from SARAC felt it nessary to find the family with all these puppies and enquire as to why they had so many puppies and what they planned to do with them. He arrived and our team was instructed us to remove all females. We left the township feeling like we had played devils advocate as to who gets a life of possibilities and who will be left in the informal, impoverished settlements to survive. 

Some residents volunteered to surrender dogs. Suddenly realising the burden of caring for animals was harder than they thought. Especially under the conditions they live in facing the challenges of real living. 

Ali the dog that just stares into space is the child that haunts me most. She has been sexually abused and has no expectations of the human. When I approach her she simply looks ahead. This darling has 2 puppies. There was no hesitation as to us removing her. We made no excuses or apologies we were taking her and that was that..

On approaching the last settlement a lady walked straight up to us and handed us 3 starving babies. Their mom had been killed on the road the day before and they were so dehydrated. Ali took them in and her mother instincts kicked in. She is a testament to the animal world. Inspire of the horrors of her life she was able to save these starving screaming puppies. 

We saw dogs with broken bones ,kittens with sniffles and animals confined to dark locked up shacks with no water or food temping around in muck. 

This experience makes you cry it makes you lose all regard for man. Lack of education lack of money lack of facilities has created horrors unimaginable. 

Will I return to continue our plight. Hell yes... We simply have to try. To bury our heads and think rescue is limited to rehoming the damaged neglected dog and pretty puppies...There is a lot more out there including neglect and abuse on other domestic animals like chickens, goats and pigs."

Thanks Stella,

I will leave you with this final thought. People are inherently good and will do better when they know better thus Woodrock are set on educating the masses and fixing the problem early on. 

Don't hate- EdUCaTe!

To help us help them SMS " dog" to 38954

Banking details

Woodrock Dog Rescue

Standard Bank Rivonia

Account number: 425 369 161

Business Checque Account

Branch code: 001255

Swift code:SBZAZAJJ

Pigs 'n' Paws- lets get them some bacon!

As many of you know Animal Rescue is an industry that only works through the strength and support of a system. Each individual can make a far greater impact through unity. For a while now, through Stella and Nicholas I have been hearing about about a fellow charity does wonderful work called Pigs n Paws.

I am known at Woodrock Animals as the one who makes things pretty. I don't have the disposition or patience for the hands on work involved in rescue and rehabilitation ( nor the people- antisocial yes I am) so I help where I can ie this blog, Facebook, website etc.

I find my work incredibly rewarding and I think it is a huge aspect of everyone's moral fibre to do what they can with what they have! So I rolled on over to Pigs n Paws and well I was pleasantly surprised that there are such loving, caring people out there who essentially LovE "food".

Mel and Les are true examples of those who are in rescue for the right reasons. Not profit, reputation or applause but for the genuine love of an animal that is so brutally looked over! 

So it gives me great pleasure in show casing some of their beautiful pigs that I took pics of last week! I hope it assists you guys in spreading the good that your cause does and it is a pleasure and a privilege for Woodrock to be affiliated with your cause.

To help pigs n paws 

Pigs ‘n’ Paws is a registered NPC– we take in un-wanted, abused and abandoned pet pigs and give them sanctuary, allowing them to live as natural lives as possible. All our pigs are free roaming, constantly inter-acting with us and each other – though we do separate the Senior pigs from the younger stronger ones especially around meal times. We realised when we got our first pig as a pet in 2004 that there would be a need for a pig Sanctuary in SA – too many people were buying piglets from pet shops and breeders without realising all the consequences of owning a pig. Although they make wonderful pets, they are not easily manageable, are highly intelligent, manipulative and destructive if lonely or bored. And of course, people did not realise that ‘farm’ animals are not allowed within certain areas which gave their neighbours plenty to complain about. We have taken in Pot Bellies from Sandton, had a pig flown to us from George, taken in pigs from pet shops when they could not be sold, rescued pigs abandoned on properties when people moved and taken in 5 pigs from a lady whose husband threatened to send to the abattoir. We have also gone into Squatter Camps and educated people on how to keep their pigs and what to feed them – the conditions were horrendous – and needless to say, rescued a few dying piglets that we managed to breath life back into.

As for the Paws part on the NPC– we also foster rescue dogs, rehabilitate and re-home them using proper adoption procedures, applications, home checks etc. We use the ‘Pack’ method of rehabilitation allowing the dogs the freedom to live around us and in our home. This gives the lost and the traumatised the warmth of being in a home and the stability and companionship of being in a pack. All our dogs are sterilised, vaccinations are up to date and are de wormed regularly.

Any and all donations welcome.

Account details: Pigs ‘n’ Paws, Standard Bank South Africa, Northgate Branch code 001106, Current account no. 301 134 537.

Just take it all in...

Hello Woodrockers! It's now full swing into November and the impending Silly Season is almost upon us! I hope you learnt a few new interesting bits about canine healthcare over the past month!

Anyway, I thought it was time to lighten the mood and I recently came across this video that I think completely described the depth of spirit in each and every animal. 

I hope it re inspires those who need a push and to see that there is always a silver lining! 

Have a beautiful week

Just copy past the full address into your browser to view!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/chelseamarshall/video-of-chimps-breathing-fresh-air-for-the-first-time-will

October- ears, teeth,nails, skin and gland health series! Part 4!

Hello beautiful Woodrockers!

Well our 4 part healthcare series concludes this week. We delve into the sharp and blunt end of things this week with nail and anal healthcare being discussed!

Please note that we do not condone any medical procedures without professional assistance and opinion.

All content this week is courtesy of the following:

http://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/evr_dg_anal_sac_problems?page=show#.UnVZPbIayK0

http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/skin/c_multi_nail_nailbed_disorder?page=show#.UnVa7LIayK0

Few topics raise dog owners’ eyebrows (and lower dogs’ tails) faster than the subject of anal sacs! Even though anal sacs are often also called anal glands, they technically are not truly glandular in structure. These two small repositories of foul smelling material technically are small pouches lined with cells whose job it is to continually produce an oily semi-liquid substance that is stored within the sac. But why?

 

For a credible response I draw on my extensive knowledge of comparative anatomy, pathology, microbiology and biochemistry and respond, "I have no idea."

 

A typical examination of a patient with anal sac disease (usually an impaction or infection) goes like this:

 

"You think it’s his what?" asked the incredulous owner of the uncomfortable Basset Hound on the exam table. I restated my diagnosis, knowing the owner probably never heard the term anal sacs before.

 

"Barkley has an anal sac infection. See how swollen and inflamed it is next to his anus. In fact the abscess is nearly ready to break through to the surface of the skin. We’ll need to open this abscess and allow the infection to drain, and then we’ll flush it, check the other anal sac, and send him home on antibiotics. Warm compresses for a few days will speed up the healing, too."

 

What are Anal Sacs

 

Anal sacs are small paired pockets located between the internal and external anal sphincter muscles, one on each side of the anus at the 4 and 8 o’clock position. The sac empties through a short and narrow duct to the surface near the inside edge of the anus. Each sac is lined with abundant sebaceous (oil) glands and numerous apocrine (sweat) glands. The secreted substance is a semi-oily, brownish fluid that packs an odor strong enough to gag a maggot! 

 

For unknown reasons some dogs' anal sacs produce a rather thick, semi-solid material which is much more prone to impacting the sac due to the sacs' inability to pass this semi-solid material through the narrow duct to the outside. In many of these cases the sac will become infected, cause pain and inflammation and even break through to the skin surface. 

 

The abscessed anal sac may need surgery to provide drainage and curettage of the damaged and infected sac and surrounding tissue. Antibiotics are indicated in abscessed anal sac disease.

 

What Do Anal Sacs Do

 

One study indicated that anal sac disorders affects about 12 percent of dogs. There are a number of theories why dogs, cats, skunks, and other mammals have anal sacs and what possible use they may have. One theory states that anal sac contents, when excreted with the passing stool or by anal sphincter muscle contraction, act as a powerful territorial scent marker somewhat akin to humans posting a No Trespassing sign. Another theory states that the anal sac material lubricates hard stool, which makes passage easier. Humans do not have anal sacs. It’s bad enough that some humans get hemorrhoids, which are dilated, irritated blood vessels at the anus; luckily, dogs do not get hemorrhoids.

 

Causes of Anal Sac Problems

 

There are no predictable antecedents to painful anal sac disorders. Infections, obstruction and subsequent overfilling (called impaction), and rupture with drainage through the perianal skin are the most common clinical presentations. Anal sphincter muscle dysfunction, enlarged anal sacs that are not compressed properly by the anal sphincter muscle, hypersecretion from the anal sac lining, obstructed or constricted anal sac ducts all may be predisposing circumstances for anal sac problems.

 

 

Impacted Anal Sacs

 

Some dogs may be born with very narrow channels that lead from the sacs to the edge of the anus, thereby obstruction the flow of anal sac material. Acquired damage to the duct can occur when perianal infections, trauma, allergies and inflammation compress or obstruct the narrow channel leading from the sac to the surface. For unknown reasons some dogs produce a thick or dry material from the sac lining which makes passage of the material through the narrow ducts impossible.

 

Age/Breed Considerations

 

There is no age or sex predisposition to anal sac pathology. Uncommon in large breeds, infections and impactions are often experienced by small breeds such as Toy and Miniature Poodles, Chihuahuas, and Lhasa Apsos. Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, and Beagles rank high on the list of breeds affected by anal sac difficulties.

 

Diet

 

Some groomers and animal health care workers believe feeding a diet rich in fiber aids in emptying the sacs. The pressure of the firm stool against the colon wall near the anus may help to express the anal sac contents. Dogs that have an existing problem such as infection or obstructed ducts, though, probably won’t respond to dietary changes; modifying the diet with more or less fiber yields inconsistent benefits. As a practitioner for over 35 years I have seldom seen a change of diet have any beneficial impact on the frequency of anal sac problems.

 

Groomers

 

There is a difference of opinion regarding routine expressing of the anal sacs. For example, veterinarian Mark Thompson in his presentation about anal sacs in Current Veterinary Therapy XIII, suggests routine manual expressing of the anal sacs should not be done in a normal dog with no anal sac issues. Many groomers make it a matter of routine, though, to express the anal sacs of their dogs. 

 

Certified Master Groomer Sherri Glass, for example, has been grooming dogs for 14 years and has taught grooming for 5 years at Cornerstone Dog Grooming Academy in Clyde, OH. She relates, "teach students to empty anal glands on all small dogs, about 20 pounds or less in size.  We also do any size dog at owners request. If dog owners would meet their dogs nutritional needs with high quality food, keep them at proper weight, and provide plenty of good exercise, most dogs would not have to have the anal sacs expressed."

 

Mr. Jeffrey Reynolds, Director of the National Dog Groomers Association of America says "In states were it is legal for groomers to express anal sacs, many groomers express them externally only either as a part of the grooming procedure or at the owners request. When there is evidence that the sacs are impacted, then they are not expressed and the owner is advised to bring the dog to the vet."

 

How to Recognize a Problem

 

There is an 88 percent chance the thought of anal sacs will never even occur to you. However, if your dog is one of the 12 percent that scoots his rear bumper along the carpet, frequently turns to lick or bite at the base of his tail or anal region, or displays discomfort when passing stool, it would be advisable to make an appointment with the veterinarian.

 

If left untreated, anal sac impactions, infections and abscesses can be a reoccurring nuisance for your dog so be proactive about an evaluation if your dog displays any discomfort in the tail or anal region.

 

The Ultimate Solution

 

"Do-it-yourself-anal-sac-expressing" can be done at home once your veterinarian has instructed you. (Yuck … be careful about contact with anal sac secretions or you’ll be very unpopular with yourself and others!) Some cases respond to infusion of the sacs with antibiotics in addition to oral medication. In chronic cases, careful surgical removal of the anal sacs can be curative; the dog never has another annoying bout of anal sac disease. Be sure to discuss the pros and cons of surgery if chronic problems lead you in that direction. 

Nailcare:

 

Nail and nail bed disorders refer to any abnormality or disease that affects the claw or surrounding area, generally known as dystrophy. One type of nail disorders, paronychia, is an infection that causes inflammation around the nail or claw. Fungal infections, such as onychomycosis, can also occur in or around the nail bed.

 

Dogs may suffer from extremely brittle nails (onychorrhexis), or have nails that slough, peel, or chip away excessively (oychomadesis). Most nail or nail bed disorders have an excellent treatment prognosis and can usually be treated and remedied in a relatively short amount of time.

 

Symptoms and Types

 

Common signs of nail or nail bed disorders can include:

 

Licking at the paws

Lameness, difficulty walking

Pain in the feet

Swelling or redness of the tissues surrounding the nails

Nail plate deformity (the part of the nail that overlays the nail bed)

Abnormal nail color

 

Causes

 

Common causes for nail or nail bed disorders can include:

 

Infection

Bacteria or fungus

Tumor or cancer

Trauma

Immune system (immune-mediated) diseases

Excessive levels of growth hormone

Disorders present at birth (congenital)

Cutting the nails too close to the nail bed

Neoplasia

 

Diagnosis

 

In the event that there is a trauma to your dog's nail bed, check to see if only a single nail is being affected. If multiple nails are affected, a serious underlying medical condition is the more likely cause for the disorder. A skin scraping may also be taken to determine what type of a skin condition your dog has, as well as a bacterial or fungal culture for further analysis.

 

 

Treatment

 

Treatment will be dependent upon the particular underlying medical condition that is causing the nail or nail bed condition. If the nail area is inflamed, surgical removal of the nail plate (the hard part of the nail) may be necessary to encourage drainage of the underlying tissue. Antibiotic and antimicrobial soaks are also effective for preventing or reducing inflammation, and for encouraging the healing process. If the condition is related to a bacterial or a fungal infection, topical treatments and/or ointments are often administered to the affected area.

 

Living and Management

 

In most cases, application of the topical treatment or ointment will clear up any nail issue. While there are typically not many complications that can arise from these disorders, it is important to observe your dog's progress as it recovers, referring to your veterinarian if the healing does not appear to be progressing as it should.

 

Prevention

 

When clipping your dog's toenails it is important to avoid cutting too close to the nail bed (also called the quick). The vein in the nail bed may inadvertently be cut, which can cause excessive bleeding and lead to an infection, and nicks to the skin can open your dog to infection as it goes about its normal routine of going outside for walks. It is essential that you look closely at your dog's nails before cutting so that you know exactly where the free edge of the nail ends and the nail plate begins. Only the free edge of the nail should be cut.

 

The best way to protect your dog from a painful nail disorder is to research the proper methods for cutting the nails, pay close attention while cutting, and promptly cleanse and protect the area when an inadvertent injury does occur.

 

October- ears, teeth,nails, skin and gland health series! Part 3!

This week we are talking skin care! Hormonal teens are not the only ones who can suffer with bad patches! 

Check it out! I would love to hear what you have to say!

All content is courtesy of the following: 

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/skin-problems

Your dog’s skin is an indication of her overall health. When a skin problem occurs, your dog may respond with excessive scratching, chewing and/or licking. A wide range of causes—including external parasites, infections, allergies, metabolic problems and stress, or a combination of these—may be affecting your dog’s skin.

What Are Some Symptoms of Skin Problems in Dogs?

Scratching, licking or chewing at skin

Scabs

Redness or inflammation

Hot spots (one particular area where itching is intense)

Round, scaly patches on the face and paws

Dry, flaky or otherwise irritated skin

Hair loss, bald patches

Rashes

Lesions

Drainage of blood or pus

Swellings, lumps or skin discoloration

Rubbing face against furniture or carpeting

What Might Cause My Dog to Have Skin Problems?

One of the following may be causing an abnormality with your dog’s skin and should be investigated:

Fleas: Bites and droppings from these pesky insects can irritate your dog’s skin, and some pets can have an allergic response to the saliva following a bite. Some dogs may also be sensitive to flea-treatment products; certain flea collars, for example, may cause redness and irritation around the neck.

Ringworm: This highly contagious fungal infection can result in inflammation, scaly patches and hair loss. You’ll want to treat it immediately to avoid other pets and people in the household from becoming infected.

Parasites, such as ear mites and lice

Seasonal allergies: Your dog’s scratching may be due to her sensitivity to allergens from common substances like pollen, weeds, dust, mites, trees, mold or grasses.

Food allergies: Many dogs develop allergies to common ingredients in dog foods, such as beef, chicken, wheat, corn or soy. Even fillers and colorings can be seen as foreign by your dog’s immune system and lead to itching and rashes.

Skin infections: Dogs can develop irritating bacterial or yeast infections when the skin is damaged due to the presence of another skin disorder.

Sarcoptic mange: This skin disease caused by infection from the Sarcoptes scabei mite results in extreme itching and skin inflammation similar to an allergic response.

Grooming products: Certain shampoos and grooming products can irritate your dog’s skin. Be sure to only use grooming products that are meant for use on dogs.

Stress or boredom: A dog may lick her skin (especially her legs) excessively for many reasons. Some lick when not given adequate opportunity for activity or mental stimulation.

Metabolic or hormonal problems: Several common hormonal problems can cause change in skin color, coat consistency, thickness and distribution.

Seasonal changes: Many dogs, like people, get dry, flaky skin in the winter.

When Is it Time to See the Vet?

There are many causes of skin abnormalities in dogs, and identifying the underlying cause is not always simple. Therefore, you should visit your vet for an exam as soon as you notice any abnormality in your pet’s skin or hair, or if your pet begins to excessively scratch, lick and/or bite areas on his fur.

How Are Skin Problems Diagnosed?

After obtaining a history and performing a thorough physical exam, your vet may perform diagnostic tests in order to find the cause of your dog’s symptoms. These include:

Skin biopsy

Testing for ringworm

Microscopic examination of the hair and skin for presence of parasites or infection

Allergy testing, which may include a diet change

Blood tests to assess your dog’s overall health

Which Dogs Are Prone to Skin Problems?

Because of the wide ranges of causes, dogs of all ages and breeds are susceptible to issues involving skin. Dogs who are young, elderly, immunocompromised or living in crowded, stressful environments may be more susceptible to skin problems than others.

How Can Skin Problems Be Prevented?

Use natural, hypoallergenic soaps and shampoos recommended for use in dogs.

Brush your dog regularly to prevent matting of hair.

Feed your dog a healthy, balanced diet without fillers or artificial ingredients.

Implement a parasite-prevention or flea-treatment program as recommended by your veterinarian.

Regularly clean and vacuum your home (and remember to always throw away the bag).

Provide calm living conditions for your dog.

Your vet may prescribe certain shampoos or oral supplements to prevent skin problems.

How Can Skin Problems Be Treated?

Ask your vet about the following treatments:

Topical products including shampoos, dips or spot-on products to prevent and treat parasites

A balanced diet to help maintain healthy skin and coat

A dietary supplement containing essential fatty acids

Antibiotic, antifungal or anti-itching medications

Corticosteroids and antihistamines may be prescribed to control itching.

Hypoallergenic diet for food allergies

Injections to decrease dog’s reaction to allergens

October- ears, teeth,nails and gland health series! Part 2!

Hello wonderful Woodrockers- part 2 of our healthcare series covers teeth! So often in rescue, dogs come in miserable and emaciated and this is mainly due to the ill health of their teeth! This month, we are trying to spread awareness about what to lookout for in regards to mouth problems which are too often overlooked! 

So give your pooch a smooch and check out their pearly whites while you're at it!

All content is courtesy of http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/ten-steps-your-dogs-dental-health

Did you know that regularly brushing your dog's teeth and providing them with a healthy diet and plenty of chew toys can go a long way toward keeping their mouth healthy? Many pooches show signs of gum disease by the time they're four years old because they aren't provided with proper mouth care—and bad breath is often the first sign of a problem. Give your dog regular home checks and follow the tips below, and you'll have a very contented pooch with a dazzling smile.

1. The Breath Test

Sniff your dog's breath. Not a field of lilies? That's okay—normal doggie-breath isn't particularly fresh-smelling. However, if his breath is especially offensive and is accompanied by a loss of appetite, vomiting or excessive drinking or urinating, it's a good idea to take your pooch to the vet.

2. Lip Service

Once a week, with your dog facing you, lift his lips and examine his gums and teeth. The gums should be pink, not white or red, and should show no signs of swelling. His teeth should be clean, without any brownish tartar.

3. Signs of Oral Disease

The following are signs that your dog may have a problem in his mouth or gastrointestinal system and should be checked by a veterinarian:

Bad breath

Excessive drooling

Inflamed gums

Tumors in the gums

Cysts under the tongue

Loose teeth

4. The Lowdown on Tooth Decay

Bacteria and plaque-forming foods can cause build-up on a dog's teeth. This can harden into tartar, possibly causing gingivitis, receding gums and tooth loss. One solution? Regular teeth cleanings, of course.

5. Canine Tooth-Brushing Kit

Get yourself a toothbrush made especially for canines or a clean piece of soft gauze to wrap around your finger. Ask your vet for a toothpaste made especially for canines or make a paste out of baking soda and water. Never use fluoride with dogs under six months of age—it can interfere with their enamel formation. And please do not use human toothpaste, which can irritate a dog's stomach. Special mouthwash for dogs is also available—ask your vet.

6. Brightening the Pearly Whites

Taking these steps will make brushing a lot easier for the both of you:

First get your dog used to the idea of having her teeth brushed. Massage her lips with your finger in a circular motion for 30 to 60 seconds once or twice a day for a few weeks. Then move on to her teeth and gums.

When your pooch seems comfortable being touched this way, put a little bit of dog-formulated toothpaste or a paste of baking soda and water on her lips to get her used to the taste.

Next, introduce a toothbrush designed especially for dogs—it should be smaller than a human toothbrush and have softer bristles. Toothbrushes that you can wear over your finger (or a clean piece of gauze) are also available and allow you to give a nice massage to your dog's gums.

Finally, apply the toothpaste to her teeth for a gentle brushing, as in step 7.

A veterinary exam beforehand may be helpful to find out if your dog's gums are inflamed. If your dog has mild gingivitis, brushing too hard can hurt her gums.

7. Brushing Technique

Yes, there is actually a technique! Place the brush or your gauze-wrapped finger at a 45-degree angle to the teeth and clean in small, circular motions. Work on one area of your dog's mouth at a time, lifting her lip as necessary. The side of the tooth that touches the cheek usually has the most tartar, and giving a final downward stroke can help to remove it. If your dog resists having the inner surfaces of her teeth cleaned, don't fight it—only a small amount of tartar accumulates there. Once you get the technique down, go for a brushing two or three times a week.

8. Know Your Mouth Disorders

Getting familiar with the possible mouth problems your dog may encounter will help you determine when it's time to see a vet about treatment:

Periodontal disease is a painful infection between the tooth and the gum that can result in tooth loss and spread infection to the rest of the body. Signs are loose teeth, bad breath, tooth pain, sneezing and nasal discharge.

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums caused mainly by accumulation of plaque, tartar and disease-producing bacteria above and below the gum line. Signs include bleeding, red, swollen gums and bad breath. It is reversible with regular teeth cleanings.

Halitosis—or bad breath—can be the first sign of a mouth problem and is caused by bacteria growing from food particles caught between the teeth or by gum infection. Regular tooth-brushings are a great solution.

Swollen gums develop when tartar builds up and food gets stuck between the teeth. Regularly brushing your dog's teeth at home and getting annual cleanings at the vet can prevent tartar and gingivitis.

Proliferating gum disease occurs when the gum grows over the teeth and must be treated to avoid gum infection. An inherited condition common to boxers and bull terriers, it can be treated with antibiotics.

Mouth tumors appear as lumps in the gums. Some are malignant and must be surgically removed.

Salivary cysts look like large, fluid-filled blisters under the tongue, but can also develop near the corners of the jaw. They require drainage, and the damaged saliva gland must be removed.

Canine distemper teeth can occur if a dog had distemper as a puppy. Adult teeth can appear looking eroded and can often decay. As damage is permanent, decayed teeth should be removed by a vet.

9. Chew on This

chew toys can satisfy your dog's natural desire to chomp, while making his teeth strong. Gnawing on a chew toy can also help massage his gums and help keep his teeth clean by scraping away soft tartar. Ask your vet to recommend toxin-free rawhide, nylon and rubber chew toys.

P.S.: Gnawing also reduces your dog's overall stress level, prevents boredom and gives him an appropriate outlet for his natural need to chew.

10. Diet for Healthy Teeth

Ask your vet about a specially formulated dry food that can slow down the formation of plaque and tartar. Also, avoid feeding your dog table scraps, instead giving him treats that are specially formulated to keep canine teeth healthy.

Until next week

L

X x

October- ears, teeth,nails and gland health series! Part 1!

October is International Breast Cancer awareness month. a month where women and men are encouraged to check their breasts and inform themselves about cancer. Throughout the year this is generally an overlooked detail that is sometimes only dealt with when it is too late.

Woodrock has translated this idea of awareness for health ailments in dogs that are not usually considered due to cost, ignorance or what to look out for. This month- we are focussing on teeth, anal glands and ears. These three areas can be highly problematic for all dogs and through education we believe that prevention and treatment are accessible. 

In the rescue world, this lack of time and funding is seen more often and so in October we focus solely on using our sms donation line to treat animals who are in need of surgery for ear and teeth ailments. If you would like to help

Please ams "dog" to 38954. Each R10 will help animals in need of treatment.

So over the course of October, I will be providing some insight into these often overlooked areas starting with ears….

Mites are usually the main problem is animals ears and this is easily treated if diagnosed.

This week, our darling old girl Emma had to have surgery on her ear for the following problem. Please note that the article is from the following source

http://www.ehow.com/way_5263189_care-hematoma-dogs-ear.html

A hematoma occurs in a dog's ear when there is an accumulation of blood within the layers of the ear. The ear appears to be swollen and filled with fluid. While home care will be beneficial in recovery, it is important that your dog be seen by a veterinarian. If a hematoma is not treated correctly, the dog can have a permanent ear deformity that can cause additional medical issues. Often, treatment for a hematoma requires surgery.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/way_5263189_care-hematoma-dogs-ear.html#ixzz2h1NwSwSz

Causes

Hematomas are generally associated with conditions that cause the dog to shake his head or scratch his ears. This might include an ear infection, ear mites, skin allergy, sting or bite or a foreign object in the ear canal. Hematomas in the ears are most common in dogs with floppy ears, such as hounds, spaniels and setters. They are less common in breeds with ears that stand erect.

As the dog paws at the ear, small blood vessels within the ear swell and leak fluids. If the dog shakes her head violently, the small blood vessels may burst. This leads to the swelling of the ear and a hematoma forming.

Symptoms

A hematoma is a dog's ear often causes pain to the dog if you touch it. The dog will likely shake her head, and you will notice the pointed or floppy part of her ear is swollen, if she is developing a hematoma.

While the swelling may eventually go away on its own, it can leave the dog with "cauliflower ear" if it is not treated properly. "Cauliflower ear," which is a wrinkled deformity of the ear, can lead to more frequent ear infections and difficulty treating them.

Diagnosis

You veterinarian will examine the dog's ear and will determine if he has an ear infection or a foreign object in his ear. The doctor may do X-rays to determine if the dog has external or middle-ear disease. The veterinarian will also check to see if the ear has bacteria, yeast or mites inside it. And the doctor may also do some laboratory tests.

Treatment

The cause of the ear disease must be treated first, whether that is an ear infection, an infestation of ear mites or some other illness. The veterinarian will also do a needle aspiration of the hematoma to resolve the dog's discomfort temporarily.

Surgery

Most likely, surgery will be needed to stop the hematoma from recurring. The surgery, performed under general anesthesia, generally involves an S-shaped incision on the surface of the ear, over the area where the hematoma occurred. The blood and clots from within the hematoma are removed. While there will be sutures in your dog's ear following surgery, the incision will not be closed. It will gap some to allow the hematoma to drain. Some veterinarians place a rubber drain in the ear for about two weeks following surgery.

Home Care

Once you take your dog home, check her ears frequently for signs of irritation, inflammation, swelling or pain. If she begins shaking her head or scratching her ears again, make her an appointment to be seen by the veterinarian immediately.

Bon Voyage Benji "Bebe".

Every baby that comes across our paths at Woodrock Animals is treated as one of our own. They are loved and cared for as only we know how!

Although in rescue, the difficult task of letting one of our baby's go to their forever home is always bittersweet, we are elated that they are given the opportunity they deserve. Occasionally, this is harder said than done and the heart sometimes pulls the head into the stomach !

I have a particular fondness for Newton, an old boy who is anti social and aggressive with other dogs but he becomes like an absolute pup around people and marches proudly with a little smirk when he hears my voice coming towards him.He is fat, smelly, arthritic, greedy for food and has An immense amount of gas but I adore him! Whenever I stay at Woodrock Newton gets a little extra love and I am relieved to know he will live out his retirement in luxury because he is a "lifer". He also has the pleasure of his own picturesque courtyard which is affectionately known as Newtown's rest.

Fiona had the same relationship with Scoopy a blind dog and Lilly a very nervous shepherd both of which have found superb homes much to Fiona's delight!

Stella almost held onto Taylor a 14 year old terrier and Winnie a gorgeous charismatic pug. As diplomatic as you can be, sometimes you fall hook line and sinker and this does make the rehoming slightly harder and more tear filled.

This weekend, we have just experienced such a scenario. Our wonderful enigmatic, friendly and capable kennel handler Noel has had to say goodbye to Benji. Benji has been with Woodrock for 4 years and Noel and Benji adore each other, Benji is Noel's shadow and they positively beam when they play games with each other. This effortless love is clearly seen from their gesture toward one another from afar and I have had the absolute pleasure of capturing some beautiful moments between the two through my lens. Noel's love for Benji has even gone so far as to request a private photo sitting with the two of them to be blown up large and sent to his home so his family can see "his" Woodrock baby.

Yesterday, a lovely family adopted Benji. He will be living a charming spoilt life with lots of attention and a Jack Russel friend.Benji's time has come- so as a tribute to the love between Noel and "his bebe" Benji- here are a few snaps.

Bon Voyage Benji

Video to be posted to our Facebook page.

Let's talk Routine Woodrockers!

Saturday is always a hectic time in the Woodrock office! Although our permanent and skeleton staff and volunteers have a plan of action, routine and chores that are needed to be done, many a time our plans get thrown out of the window. This is either due to unannounced arrivals of humans and animals. Unexpected dog illness or feuds and many many unexpected calls!

 

Many people are astonished at the intense organization it takes to run an NPO like Woodrock Animals. The answer is made up of multiple parts but perhaps the largest component is the staff who maintain the operations and systems.

This week, I asked Fiona and Noel to give our blog readers a day to day breakdown in the running operations of Woodrock- it is evident from their attention to detail and care that they love their jobs and working with animals is their passion!

6 am :Wake up and doors to each kennel are opened.

Blankets are shaken, beds are made and water filled.

7 30 : 

Each dog is given a good morning cuddle and biscuit snack before breakfast.

8:00: First feed of the day is distributed. Pellets are accessible at all times.

9:00: Excercise and play time starts. Pups go into the Excercise runs with toys, peanut butter filled hooves and small plastic ponds filled with water.

Large dogs get their daily walk- they have access to plunge baths should they enjoy watersport while on their walk.

All kennels are scrubbed down and washed out while the dogs are playing.

16:00 Feeding time- a hot meal is served containing nutritious meat varieties. 

18:00 Lock down. Kennel interleading door is closed and the dogs sleep indoors.

Notes : The Winter schedule is slightly different as dogs get to sleep in later and have indoor heating. They are also given a bed time snack as their bed time is slightly earlier. 

Music is played at all times throughout the kennels.

2 permanent kennel staff sleep in quarters next to the dogs so they are never unattended.

In between jobs all dogs are dewormed on alternate months.

Nails are clipped weekly.

Brushing is done as necessary.

Ear cleaning is done once a month.

Stitches are removed in our medical room.

All dogs receive their vaccinations. 5 in 1 and Rabies on arrival.

Information boards outside each kennel are updated daily.

Property inspections are done by Nicholas, Estelle and Fiona.

All animals are supervised at all times.