Saturday 26 October 2013

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

Saturday 19 October 2013

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!



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

Sunday 13 October 2013

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.



Sunday 6 October 2013

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.