Dogs Feeding, Grooming, Reproduction and Common Diseases

Feeding Types of food –3 main commercial types Dry –23% protein,9% fat and 6% fiber Semimoist –25% protein, 9% fat and 4% fiber Canned –30% protein, 16% fat and 8% fiber

Feeding Most contain about the same amount of energy Dry foods have the advantage of being cheaper to purchase, convenient to use, will not spoil and help keep the dogs teeth clean.

Feeding Myths Raw eggs should be feed to improve a dogs hair coat –The fat is eggs will improve the dogs coat but in the raw form it blocks the absorption of biotin - a necessary vitamin. –Eggs should be hard boiled or cooked before feeding

Feed Myths Any bones may be feed to a dog –Large bones like the knuckle and large marrow bones are fine –Chicken, turkey and pork bones should not be fed to dogs These types splinter and the splinters can get lodged in the digestive tract. If you give a dog a large bone, you should boil it first to destroy harmful bacteria

Grooming The amount of time spent on grooming depends on the type of hair coat. Daily brushing is recommended to –Remove dead hair –Distribute the skin’s oils –Remove flakes of dead skin –Remove dandruff

Grooming Long Haired Dogs –Check for mats –Burrs from plants –Usually located behind the ears and under the legs –Usually teased out with a comb Short haired dogs –“pluck” their coats –Removes dead hair and trims live hair. –Take small sections and pull and twist using a stripping knife.

Grooming - Nails How often is dependent on what type of surface the dog is kept on. Outside dogs wear their nails down naturally, inside dogs need clipping. Clippers should be sharp so they don’t crush the nail bed. Use a styptic pen to stop all bleeding.

Common Diseases Early signs of disease –Constipation/diarrhea –Shivering/fever –Watery eyes, runny nose, coughing –Loss of appetite/loss of weight –Ravenous eating with no weight gain –Lameness, paralysis, pain, nervousness

Infectious Diseases Canine Distemper Canine hepatitis Leptospirosis Parvovirus Kennel cough Rabies Canine Brucellosis Pseudorabies salmonellosis

Canine Brucellosis Caused by bacteria Occurs worldwide and has been reported in every State. Is a reproductive disease, causes abortion, failure to whelp, swollen testicles and atrophy testes. Spread by sexual contact

Burcellosis No medicine is available for vaccinations. Can be transmitted to humans through blood to membrane contact.

Pseudorabies Caused by a DNA-virus and occurs in area where the disease is present in swine herds. Intense itching to the point of self mutilation. Next is convulsions, paralysis and death within hours No effective drug available

Salmonellosis Caused by a bacteria that is found in both wild and domestic animals Spread by ingestion of the organism in food contaminated by infected feces Symptoms:sever inactivity, fever, diarrhea, vomitting - usually confused with distemper and parvovirus.

Salmonellosis People may be susceptible to the infection or may transmit it to the animal due to people being an active carrier. No vaccination available Infected animals can be treated with antibiotics. Good hygiene helps to stop the spread

Canine Distemper Caused by inhalation of an airborne virus Most often occurs in dogs months of age Symptoms: vomiting and diarrhea are early and the dog seems fine but months later, symptoms that show nervous system damage appear Dog dies or has permanent nervous damage. Treatment: antibiotics, can be vaccinated against it.

Canine Hepatitis Highly contagious spread through urine. Commonly seen in dogs under 1. Symptoms: dull, apathetic, refuse to eat and have intense thirst. Body temp. rises, head and neck swells. Most dogs will either recover or die within 2 weeks. Many die within a few days without any warning. Vaccinations are available.

Leptospirosis Is caused by bacteria and animals can act as a reservoirs for human infections. Method of spread is through contact or ingestion of contaminated food and water. Occurs in humans and dogs after floods or swimming in or drinking water that is contaminated by urine of rodents or other animals.

Leptospirosis Early signs: high fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and depression may also occur. Reddening of the membranes of the eyes and mouth are common. Disease attacks the liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract causing pain. Death usually occurs.

Parvovirus Appeared in the U.S. in Caused by small DNA containing virus that requires rapidly dividing cells for growth to occur. This is why it is usually found in puppies Main source of infection is ingested of materials contaminated with feces from an infected dog.

Parvovirus 2 forms of the disease –Intestional –Heart –Intestional - virus grows in the intestines and destroys them. Early signs are vomiting, diarrhea, refusal to eat. Feces are streaked with blood. Most die within hours of symptoms.

Parvo - heart May be proceeded by the intestional form or may occur without any other signs. The virus rapidly attacks heart cells. Pups may act depressed, stop suckling, collapse gasping for breath and die. No specific treatment Can be vaccinated for Parvo.

Kennel Cough Infectious respiratory disease marked by coughing and fever. Caused by various viruses and bacteria alone or in combination. Occurs in all ages, usually under conditions where many dogs are in a small space (pet shops, shelters, kennels)

Kennel Cough Treatment –Left untreated: death –Antibiotics are usually effective –Vaccines are available

Rabies Viral disease of man and other animals. Attacks the central nervous system and if not treated causes death. Transmitted usually by a bite. Virus is found in saliva The virus is drawn to the nerves and follows the nerve fibers to the brain and salivary glands.

Rabies After the virus infects the brain it reproduces rapidly causing sever brain damage. The brain lesions lead to altered behavior, aggressiveness, progressive paralysis and usually death. Prevent by vaccination.

Noninfectious diseases Heart disease PRA Tetanus Hip dysplasia Anal sacs Cataracts

Heart disease Occurs in both cats and dog 2 types –Congential defects Present at birth Acquired heart disease

Heart disease Most common signs are: –Coughing at night –Blue gums during exercise –Open mouth breathing while resting –Inability to breath when lying down –Inability to exercise

Acquired Heart Disease Causes begin slowly and increase with time –Degeneration of heart valves –Bacterial infection of heart valves –Cancerous tumors –Heart worms –Degeneration of heart muscle

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) A genetic disease in which the cells of the retina gradually degenerate leading to the loss of sight. Onset varies with breed First sign is the loss of night vision No treatment

Tetanus Caused by a bacteria whose spores are present in the soil and feces Most cases result from contamination of small puncture wounds and lacerations. Produced toxins that cause the nervous system of the the dog to be overstimulated

Tetanus Infected dogs usually experience spasms of the facial muscles, lockjaw, inability to stand and spastic paralysis. Death usually occurs due to the affect of the respiratory muscles and other complications.

Cataracts Cause a cloudy, white opacity of the lens of the eye. May be hereditary and will usually cause blindness when fully developed. Removal of cataract with surgery is the only treatment.

Hip Dysplasia Common in larger breeds Genetically transmitted disease that affects the hip joint. Causes hind leg lameness and a result of pain in the malformed ball and socket joint Treatment is pain relief

Anal Sacs Located at the 4 and 8 o’clock position on either side of the dog’s anus. Contain a substance that allows a dog to mark its territory They become blocked and need to be emptied. They become swollen and painful

Anal Sacs Symptoms - licking and dragging its butt on the ground Vet should empty the first time then the owner may attempt.

Fungus Disease Ringworm –Most common –Caused by 3 fungal organisms Microsporum canis Microsporum gypseum Trichophyton mentagrophytes

Ringworm Microsporm canis Most commonly found on cats but can infect dogs and humans Infection is from direct contact with infected animal

Ringworm Microsporum gypseum Normally grows in soil Animals become infected by digging in or making contact with infected soil

Ringworm Trichophyton mentagrophytes Usually found on wild rodents Dogs become infected when they dig in the burrows of infected rodents

Ringworm Symptoms begin as broken hairs around the face, scaling and crusting accumulate and the skin become thickened and itchy, lesions Treatment: baths, dips, creams and lotions that are antifungal. Oral medications should be used for at least 6 weeks.

Reproduction Gestation lasts on average 63 days with a variation from days. Many may not show pregnancy signs until day 28

Whelping Body temperature will be below normal and then 24 hours before will drop more to 96.8 Most will refuse eating 24 hrs before. A green mucous discharge will occur a couple of hours before which signifies the separation of the placenta

Whelping Each puppy will be contained in its own placental membrane which must be removed before the puppy can breathe. The mother will do this by eating the membrane and severing the umbilical cord A placenta will follow each puppy

The first milk produced is called colostrum. The puppy must get this because it contain immunoglobulins that will help protect the puppy from infectious diseases.