Dog Practical

Dog Practical

Canine Ladder of Communication

Behaviour

Dog behaviour can be incredibly subtle and is often misunderstood, especially when it comes to stress. As animal care professionals we have a duty of care to advocate for the dog as they can't!

Context is very important when it comes understanding dog behaviour as it is very specific to the combination of behaviours and the environment these are happening in. Veterinary practices can be stressul for pets, and we understand it can't be prevented but it is useful to be aware of so we can help to reduce stress levels if possible

Dog behaviours can be conflicted as well, which makes it difficult to identify. For example appeasement (communicating that they aren't a threat and have no desire for confrontation) can be combined with seeking an interaction too making it difficult to navigate.

Fleas

Fleas are ecto-parasites that can live and feed on yours pets, causing irritation, redness, and in severe cases anaemia. A dog with fleas may be scratching more than usual, flea dirt can be seen on their fur and skin, rashes and bites can also be seen on their skin, and they may be enjoying tickles more than usual. Preventing/treatment is easy using a licensed veterinary flea product reguarly but can depend on animal, practice, product, and professional.

Be aware as some dog flea treatments are highly toxic to cats.

Worms

Worms are a common problem for dogs, and can make puppies unwell. However, they are not normally serious in adults.

An increasingly common worm that can cause severe damage is lungworm. Symptoms include scooting, weight loss, diarrhoea, vomiting, and bloating.

Preventative wormers are the most common treatment, however their provision differs between different products, diifferent practices, and different professionals. Despite this, puppies are usually wormed at 3 weeks, then every two weeks until 16. Then routine worming every 3 months.

Obesity & BCS

Obesity is an incredibly common issue in dogs in the UK, with vets estimating that nearly half of the UK's population of dogs are overweight. This puts dogs at an increased risk of health problems, and is likely to reduce how long they live. It is important to recognise a dog's ideal shape to be able to recommend potential diet and exercise changes.

Shape can be checked by carrying out a body condition score, which involves running your hands and eyes over their body and comparing it to the relevant 9-point scale.

Using shape as well as the scales is the most comprehensive way to check if a dog is fit and healthy from a weight point of view.

Dental Disease

A painful problem that can precede dangerous conditions such as kidney and heart disease. Poor dental hygeine is the most common cause, but can also be impacted by age, breed (commonly sight hounds and bracys), diet, and retained baby teeth. Plaque is likely to increase if the dog is fed only wet food

Excessive plaque build up can lead to gingervitis which is characterised by red and inflamed gums, excessive drooling, and pawing at the mouth.