Why does my dog urinate everywhere ?

Okay,so you've taught your puppy where to go potty.Your pooch now understands clearly that he needs to go outside to urinate and defaecate. But what happens when your pet occasionally decides to "go" inside the house.For example, on the carpet, in front of the door, and other inappropriate places. If your furry friend does this ,then we need to address the issue. It's very common for house trained dogs to bark at the door when they need to go potty.

 Most of them wait at the door for a very long time, barking and wishing that someone will let them out . Eventually, their human friend may notice this on time and open the door. However, If they aren't so lucky, they are left with no choice but to do their "business" in the closest place available, which

often happens to be right there in front of the door.

Maybe this describes your every day life with your pooch. There is no need to be frustrated. We are here to learn how to address the issue.


VISIT THE VET
 The first thing you need to do is to pay a visit to your local veterinarian i.e a licensed veterinarian closest to you or your dog's personal veterinarian. Your furry friend will have to be examined and certified healthy and free of any disease that may lead to urinary incontinence ( a condition where urine drops or is completely voided from the bladder, due to inability to hold urine for a period of time). To find out the diseases your vet may be looking for, read on.

 Medical causes

 Before you determine if your dog has been adequately house trained, be sure to rule out other causes of inappropriate urination such as, medical problems. The common medical causes of urination and defecation include,

UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)

 a weak sphincter,

 gastrointestinal problem,

 hormone imbalance after a spay surgery

 kidney disease,

 Cushing’s disease,

 neurological problems,
 and so on.

If your pooch is certified medically fit and free from any disease, we move to the next step.

ADDRESS HOUSE TRAINING INADEQUACIES Ask yourself honestly if your dog is adequately house trained. Insufficient house training usually occurs when we rush the training process instead of making it gradual and consistent. If your dog soils in different places within the house, then it may be that your dog hasn't fully understood the concept of " house breaking". Frequent accidents inside the house indicates that your pooch simply doesn't quite understand where he should and shouldn't go potty. Thus , it is important for you to revisit the entire housebreaking process having it in mind that the learning process takes time, effort and a lot of patience.

IT COULD BE TERRITORIAL MARKING
Male and female dogs mark to show ownership i. e indicate their territory. They often do this by urinating on vertical surfaces while lifting one leg up. In urine marking or spraying the quantity of urine is often very small compared to the actual urination. Spaying and neutering is an effective means of reducing drastically the incidence of urine marking. Research has shown that spayed dogs are less likely to mark their territory .

Dogs may also urine mark as a result of anxiety or exciting events e.g the presence of a female dog on heat, or the presence of another dog's urine in his or her environment.

This anxiety may also result when a new person or pet comes into the house and your furry best friend feels that his territory is being invaded. The best way to tackle this issue is to give a proper introduction of the new individual to Fluffy so that they get to spend time together and is reassured that his place will always be in your home and in your heart.

Dogs will always be dogs. Hence , you must prove that you are the leader and your dog is a follower in your pack. Ensure discipline, yet be gentle. Properly train your dog to be well -mannered by setting rules and boundaries that must be followed. And don't forget to take him out daily for walks and ensure that he gets lots of exercise. Have fun with the furry buddy.

And Remember .It's all about our pets. Let's fall in love with them all over again.

5 New Year's Resolutions You Have To Make this Year.

Hi everybody ! It's good to be back . I'm sure you had a wonderful holiday. This year promises to be a prosperous and interesting one. A lot of you may have written down your New Year Resolutions , and that's great. I pray you all get to keep to them . However , these few resolutions are those that affect your fluffy friend and will ultimately affect you too.

Thumbs up for the great job you did last year by taking good care of our little paw friends . Yet , there are some of us who would like a little push.

Here are 5 New Year's Resolutions for you and your paw friends.

Resolution Number 1

I will take my pet for regular check up.

This year , make a promise to visit the vet clinic for routine check up. Diseases and conditions are often noticed during examination of a pet. It's also a very good opportunity to ask your vet all the questions about little Lassie. If you have aging pets you will receive advice on how best to take care of them and manage conditions like diabetes and arthritis since they are prone to it.

Resolution Number 2
I will call on the vet's attention immediately I notice any abnormal behaviour change or disease symptom .

Our adorable fluffy babies are very delicate and are also masters at disguising pain. Closely observe your pet for any abnormality , sudden change in behaviour or reaction to pain when a part of the body is touched.
Delaying a visit to the vet after noticing a behavioural change could be very dangerous. If you are too busy, schedule a house call with your vet.

Resolution Number 3
My cute ball of fur will be vaccinated at the right time.

Vaccination in pets must be done when due as it is a lot more cost - effective and less stressful than treatment. Most clinics call their clients to remind them when their pets vaccination is almost due. The popular zoonotic disease , Rabies can become eradicated if all pet owners will ensure that   vaccinations   are done at the right time.

Resolution Number 4
I promise to spend quality time bonding with my pet .

There are 5 basic needs of a pet . They include , food , water , shelter , medical services , tender love and care .

Companion animals need a lot of care and affection. You can start by playing a game of fetch or catch , " which hand " , or just taking a walk with your little woof.
Provide scratch posts , cat tree houses or toys such as pom poms , catnip toys , or something as simple as an empty box for your cats to relieve boredom and also get a lot of exercise.

Resolution Number 5

I will keep my pets free from ectoparasites.

Ectoparasites such as ticks , fleas and mites can be prevented by using sprays , dips , pour on , etc. Adequate measures should be taken to curb any case of parasite infestation and treatment should begin no matter how mild the case may be.

There you have it ! 5 New Year's Resolutions for you and your pet .

It's all about our pets . Let's fall in love with them all over again .

Tick prevention and control

What are ticks ?
Ticks are blood-sucking parasites that attach to the skin causing discomfort to your pets. There are many species of ticks which include the popular, Brown Dog Tick called Rhipicephalus sanguineus , Dermacentor viriabilis which is the American Dog Tick, and Ixodes species, the Deer Tick .

Ticks serve as vectors of diseases such as Ehrlichiosis, Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesiosis, Lyme Disease. They can also cause a condition called Tick Paralysis. Tick paralysis or tick-bite paralysis is a condition that occurs during a tick infestation whereby toxins are released into the blood of an infested animal through the saliva of a feeding tick. These toxins leads to a loss of voluntary movement.

How can we prevent and control tick infestation

Ticks can be prevented and controlled using the methods below.

TOPICAL REPELLANTS such as Frontline can be applied to the skin of the dog. These provide an effective measure against ticks, killing and repelling them. They are also safe for use on pets.

DIPS refered to by most Nigerians as "Tick chemicals", are Acaracides that provide an effective tick control method. They are often concentrated chemicals that are mixed with water and then sponged onto your dog. Make sure your dog's face is protected and prevent him from licking his body until the chemical dries off.This is to prevent organophosphate poisoning, as a result of using cheap dips.

Click here to learn more about organophosphate poisoning. You should dip at least every two weeks so that your dogs remain tick free all the time. Do not rinse off the dip.

TICK SPRAYS also work effectively against ticks.They provide residual protection and also prevent tick eggs from hatching. Sprays can be used inbetween dipping sessions. Common tick sprays in Nigeria include Frontline spray and Canovel spray.

TICK SHAMPOOS are also effective against adult ticks, and assist in cleaning eggs and dirt from the coat.They however do not provide residual activity or effectiveness against tick eggs. In order to achieve best results, tick shampoos must be used along with dips or topical repellants. TICK COLLARS, also serve to repel ticks and kill ticks present on your dog's body. They should however be used as a combination with other tick control regimens. Other tick control measures include the use of TICK POWDERS, SPOT ON, POUR ON, etc. All these drugs are applied topically and help to keep your pet tick free. Make sure you always read the label before using any product.Also conduct your vet to make sure a product is safe, before you use it.

USE OF TICK SPRAYS for the yard and compound, is a compulsory control method especially in cases of severe tick infestation.Imagine getting rid of ticks and then forgetting to rid the dog house, and fences of ticks. That will almost be equated to taking a clean bath and then going to sit in a big waste truck. This means, if you have a severe tick infestation, then you will have to spray your compound with acaracides. Consult your local veterinarian and request for a fumigation exercise. Your vet may then link you up with a hired professional exterminator .The exercise will be repeated after 2 weeks to kill the imature stages of the ticks that would have hatched by then. Make sure you keep your dogs away from freshly sprayed areas until they are dry, to prevent organophosphate poisoning. Organophosphate poisoning is very deadly and you should immediately take your dog to the Veterinarian if you suspect that he may have ingested any poisonous material.

NOTE : Always make sure you check your dog for the presence of ticks ,especially after a walk in a woody or bushy area. Let your vet also examine your pet for ticks during each vet visit.
When controlling ticks, ensure all the pets in your household are treated for tick infestation, otherwise they will serve as reservoir to infest the pets that have already been treated.

What is Canine Distemper ?

Canine Distemper a.k.a Distemper is a highly contagious viral disease. The disease has no known cure and can only be managed symptomatically. Treatment is often directed at preventing secondary bacterial infection from occurring. Distemper can be prevented by vaccinating puppies from 6 weeks to 16 weeks of age. To learn more about your puppies vaccination regimen in Nigeria, read our previous posts on puppy vaccination(previous post  )

 Canine Distemper is a very deadly disease and is one of the most common causes of death in dogs all over the world. It occurs mostly in unvaccinated puppies from 6 to 12 weeks of age.The virus is shed in all the secretions of a Canine Distemper patient.

 Transmission is mainly due to the following.
1. Contact with an infected animal or any material that may have come in contact with the infected animal's secretions.

2. Inhaling any of the Canine Distemper patient's secretions.

 Clinical Signs include

Fever
Loss of appetite
Watery eye discharge that may later thicken
Dry cough
Vomiting
Dehydration
Slobbering
Head shaking
Running in circles
Seizures
Blindness
Walking about aimlessly
Thickening of the foot pad and nose

Note that all these symptoms do not occur in every case of Canine Distemper.So please do not wait until your pet shows all the signs of the disease, before going to the veterinarian.

The Canine Distemper virus affects the brain, the skin, the eyes, the respiratory system and even the stomach and intestines. The disease also spreads easily (highly contagious ) and is very deadly. It is therefore important that you vaccinate your puppies and adult dogs when due.
Once you notice any clinical sign , please take your puppy to the vet. The vet will treat your puppy based on the symptoms (symptomatically) and also administer antibiotics to avoid secondary bacterial infection.

 On no occasion should you attempt to manage the case by yourself .The disease must be managed by a qualified veterinarian. Do not waste any time before taking your pet to the vet.The earlier the treatment starts, the greater the chances of your pet surviving the disease.

Prevention
 Prevention of Canine Distemper is by vaccinating puppies with the DHLPP vaccine. All 3 doses must be received by your puppy between 6 to 16 weeks of age. Puppies must be prevented from coming in contact with other dogs until their vaccination regimen has been completed.

Have a wonderful time with your pet. And remember its all about pets. Let's fall in love with them all over again.

Image source : vet2tu / Instagram

Ear mites infection in dogs.

Parasites found outside a living orgainism are called ectoparasites.Ectoparasites that affect dogs include ticks, fleas and of course mites. Different species of mites can affect dogs, but the most common one is known as Otodectes cynotis. These mites can also be seen in cats but do not affect humans.

Ear mites infection can be passed from one infected pet to another.They are very tiny and can not be seen with the naked eye. Mites feed on the wax and oils present in a dog’s ear canal,causing irritation and inflammation. Infection with Otodectes cynotis usually produces a characteristic dark discharge, which may later obstruct the ear canal.

Symptoms of Dog ear mite infection are :  Shaking of the head
Presence of coffee ground-like secretions in the ear canal
Scratching and rubbing of ears
Brownish waxy secretion
Inflammation


 

Due to the excessive scratching and itching in an ear mite infection, blood vessels in the ear flap may rupture, leading to a haematoma.An aural (ear flap) haematoma is an accumulation of blood or serum in the pinna or ear flap.Treatment of an aural haematoma require surgery.

 If you suspect that your dog may have ear mites, consult your veterinarian immediately. Do not attempt to treat your pet yourself.
A thorough physical examination will have to be conducted by a qualified veterinary professional before a diagnosis can be reached. Clean your pet's bedding after treatment to avoid another occurrence of the infection.

Photo source : Instagram / @vet2tu

How to prevent hyperthermia in dogs.

As I stepped outside yesterday afternoon,it was so very hot. I couldn't ignore the blazing sun and the heat upon my skin.I looked at the car beside me and I noticed a little dog in the car panting.
Oh my, you have to turn on the Air Conditioner.Poor little poochie.
Here's what you need to know.
Dogs do not tolerate heat as much as we do. They do not sweat like humans.Their sweat glands are found under their foot pads.Also,their body is covered with fur. (imagine walking on the street in the afternoon wearing a blanket)
So, how do they cool off ? On hot days like these, dogs keep their body cool by panting.
 But sometimes, panting alone may not be enough to keep them cooI. This may lead to a condition known as hyperthermia (heat stroke).
To prevent hyperthermia, here are the things you have to do.
1.Turn on the A.C.
2.Always provide water.
3.Don't leave a dog in the car.
4.Do not ignore signs such as panting, limping while working on a hot pavement, dry muzzle,vomiting, tongue colour changes to red or blue.
5.Pour cool water or a use a wet cloth to pat the abdomen. Do not use cold water because that would cause a drastic change in temperature. Temperature regulation should be gradual.
6. If you notice any of the above signs please take your pet to the veterinarian.
Click here to learn more important tips on how to prevent hyperthermia.

The first 30 days of a bunny's life

Photographer Ashraful Arefin shares pictures of his adorable rabbits.

Tooni and Nottu , his pet bunnies gave birth to four adorably cute bunnies,and Ashraful decided to take pictures of them every day for the first 30 days of their lives.

Looking through the pictures , from when the babies were barely the length of his finger, it's simply amazing that these bunnies have already perfected the art of modelling from a tender age. It's no wonder why the pictures have already gone viral. 

As he captures each beautiful moment, he gets to relive it anytime he wants. Thanks to him,we also get to enjoy the adorable moments and share it with you all.

Click here to see the adorable pictures.

Happy Fathers day.