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.

How to choose the best breed for your lifestyle.Part 2

Size

What class of breed will your puppy belong to? Will it be a toy breed, medium breed or a large breed?  Ask how big your puppy is going to get once he is all grown up. You need to ask these questions in order to know if your house will be comfortable enough for your new BFF.

Some dogs such as toy breeds can do well in small apartments.But if you have a big house , then its a problem solved. A lot of Nigerians prefer large breeds and its always a surprise to them when they see an adult toy breed looking small. You keep hearing questions like "Is this really an adult breed or is it still a puppy? Will it grow bigger than this ? "

So, conduct your research properly and decide the size of dog you prefer. I believe that every dog is adorable, no matter the breed or size.

The energy level

 Can you cope with a high energy breed ? Are you a person that loves to sit down on the couch and watch TV ? Are you an active person who loves to work out and go for jogs in the morning ?

If you are the "indoorsy " type, then a low energy or laid - back breed may be more suitable for you. Check out this link to see a list of breeds that require little exercise.

These breeds require little exercise and are okay just sitting on your lap and watching TV with you.
But if you are an energetic person with a lot of time on your hands , then a high energy level breed may be ideal for you . It will be a great time bonding while going for long walks with your pet and doing lots of fun exercises together.
Note that high energy level breeds get bored easily and may become aggressive if left idle for too long.

Shedding level

Heavy shedder or not ? Seasonal shedder or not ? Truth is every breed sheds but some shed more than others. This shouldn't make you upset though. You can set up measures to tackle this and minimise the amount  of hair that is shed.

Suitability to your climatic location

Do you live in the tropics? Is your country as hot as Nigeria ?
Or is it cold like Siberia ?

Breeds like the Alaskan Malamute will do well in cold regions.
This is because they originated from the temperate regions.
So also, brachycephalic  (short - faced breeds) such as the English Bull dog , the pug etc. will be very comfortable in the cold regions.

The presence of a thick coat of fur and long hairs coupled with short faces in the Yorkshire Terrier , the Lhasa Apso, the shi tzu , make living in the tropics a bit stressful for these breeds.

Breeds that do well in the tropics include short-haired breeds like the German Shepherd Dog (GSD) , the Rottweiler, the chihuahua and others.  Click here to read more about the best hot weather breeds.

Temperament

Busy, stubborn, intelligent, mellow, friendly, gentle, people - pleasing, attention - seeking, docile , happy , playful , snobbish , stubborn , goofy , etc.
Find out the temperament of your soon- to - be BFF, from experienced breeders or people who own your preferred breed.

Health related conditions

Some breeds are more susceptible to particular diseases. It is better to know early, so you can prevent it or minimize its occurrence.

For example, large dog breeds and the Dachshund breed are prone to hip dysplasia. The chances of occurrence can be reduced by regulating the weight of your pet, monitoring your pet's diet and feeding low calorie diets.

In conclusion
Note that none of these points highlighted above is given to scare or discourage you.
Don't be decieved by anyone that there is a "perfect" breed . Nothing like that exists.

Providing the right environment together with love , tenderness,  care and proper training will eventually turn your puppy into the perfect dog, irrespective of the breed.

So, its up to you to make out time or money for training sessions, so that your puppy gets the right training that he /she needs.

Once you find out any "not-so-pleasing" information about your preferred breed , you may be tempted to give up and choose another breed.

The truth is the next breed will definitely have its own .

What you need to do is,  relax and find a way to solve or reduce the problem.

For example, if your breed is a cold - weather breed, then get an A.C. installed in the house. If they are high energy ,then get a dog walker.If they are stubborn and difficult to train, then get a professional dog trainer.
There are a lot of Nigerians who have breeds that can't stand our hot climate like the Lhasa Apso , Samoyed, the English Bull dog , the Terrier etc., yet they make them comfortable by installing air conditioners in the house.

The good thing is you found out early which gives you more than enough time to fully prepare for the arrival of your new puppy.

Have a wonderful time with your lovely pet. Remember , let's fall in  love with them all over again.

A beautiful pet sits on the bus quietly and obediently.

These pics were sent to me by Dr Adah from Glasgow. Such a well -trained and obedient dog.

"I travelled with this dog for an hour.He was with the owner seated opposite him. He sat on this chair like this and maintained his cool. Looking out of the window and at people passing by the length of time .I left the dog in the bus.Not a sound except small sounds of acknowledgment when the owner talked to him. He sat there like a passenger all day long. I left the dog in the bus. I couldn't believe such self restraint. It was awesome."

Yes indeed. I can just imagine that feeling. Its amazing seeing how intelligent dogs can be.

"It's all about pets. Let's fall in love with them all over again."- Vet2tu