Poisoning

There are many household items which are deadly for your dog. Human tablets and medicines, bleach and detergent, garden chemicals. These are all especially dangerous for a puppy, who will try anything. You should always ensure that anything potentially hazardous to your dog is not in a place that they can get at.

Accidents can happen. If you think your dog has eaten or drunk something poisonous, there are two things you can do immediately. Firstly, make your dog sick before the poisonous substance can be absorbed in the stomach. This is so important that you must do it before contacting your vet. However, if your vet is immediately available on the phone, and you know what your dog has swallowed, you can speak to them before making your dog vomit.

The most effective way of making your dog sick is hydrogen peroxide, something you should always have at home. One teaspoon for every two and a half kilos of your dog’s bodyweight. Vomiting will take place very quickly, so be sure to have old newspapers or towels you can use to clean the mess.

The second thing to do is contact your vet and email a photo of the poisonous substance. There may be no ill effect or further treatment necessary. That of course would be the most perfect outcome.

Bleeding

How serious is the situation? Is your dog bleeding heavily? Many skin wounds may only need cleaning and a little antiseptic cream. Most wounds stop bleeding by themselves after a short time.

However, as you can imagine, if the wound is bleeding profusely, you must immediately visit your vet. In the meantime, you should take steps to stem the blood flow, like putting pressure on the wound with a clean towel. Or, better still, with a pressure bandage from your first aid kit. These measures can be lifesaving on the way to the vet’s surgery. You can make a pressure bandage with cotton wool and bandages: place a large wad of cotton wool directly over the wound, then bandage it firmly. If the wound is on the leg, apply bandage to the whole leg. Then take the dog to surgery.

A dog bite is worse than its bark

Some problems you can deal with yourself and some you need to consult your vet.

If your dog is bitten by another dog, the wound can often become infected. Especially if it breaks the skin. It’s not necessarily an immediate emergency, unless your dog has multiple serious looking injuries. However, your dog will need to visit the vet within 24 hours, to assess whether antibiotics are necessary. Prior to your visit, it’s advisable to clean the wound with antiseptic lotion.

What to do with cuts and scratches

Treating cuts and scratches depends on how large and deep the wound is. It’s actually quite difficult to tell, because your dog’s fur covers the wound and because dogs don’t bleed profusely. It’s best to always check your dog for signs of blood or injury. If you locate an injury, carefully clip away the hair around the wound. If the cut is longer than a centimetre, the best thing is to immediately contact your vet. It’s not necessarily very serious, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry and let the vet put in a couple of stitches.

When you decide to take your dog to the vet, it’s advisable to do nothing with the wound, leave that to the experts. However, if the wound is bleeding profusely, then you should apply pressure to the wound with a clean towel, this should stop the bleeding in a matter of minutes.

If, as in most cases, it’s a minor scratch or wound, it won’t need too much treatment, just a soothing cream should suffice. Though be careful, sometimes that can prolong the problem, because it brings your dog’s attention to the wound. It’s generally a good idea to cut the hair away and use a very mild antiseptic solution and keep an eye open for any swelling. This may indicate that an infection has set in.

For very mild injuries you can also consider applying an ice pack or even something else frozen that is readily at hand in the freezer. Applying this for a few minutes will bring relief and comfort to your pal. A snack or your dog’s favourite food is also a good way to distract them from the situation.

Choking

Some dogs just can’t help themselves; they just have to pick up sticks or even stones. Other can endlessly chase after balls. However, all carry a certain risk of an object getting stuck in the mouth or throat. A half-swallowed ball can lead to a very serious situation where your dog’s air passage is blocked. This requires immediate action; first aid is in this case a two-person job and you may even get bitten.

When your dog is choking you need to open and look into their mouth with care. Find a small block of wood to keep your dog’s mouth open while you take a good look inside, while the other person holds the head still. If a ball is stuck in your dog’s throat, don’t try to take it out with your hands, it’s much better to lever it out with a fine rod.

A frequent occurrence is a piece of wood getting wedged across or between the back teeth. Again, use extreme caution, avoid putting your hand in your dog’s mouth. An injury to both of you doesn’t benefit anyone. This is also best removed by levering with a fine rod. In these situations, it’s often the case that you will need to visit the vet and have sedation to remove the object.

Can a dog be healthy and a vegetarian?

Most people think that a dog is a carnivore, but actually they are omnivores. Which means their body can get everything it needs without eating meat. A dog on a vegetarian diet can thrive. Did you know that eggs have the highest biological value of all the protein sources commonly used in dog foods? Of course, eggs aren’t appropriate if you want a strict vegan diet for your dog. That’s still possible, but a little more tricky. Talk to your vet if you would like to find out more.

You walk the dog, and the dog walks you.

Walking the dog isn’t just something for your dog’s benefit. While you’re giving them the exercise they need, you’re getting the exercise you need. So, what’s the ideal way to go about this? If it’s new for you, it’s important that you take it nice and easy. If a daily session of 30 minutes feels like too much, start with 10 minute walks in the first week. Then 15-20 minutes the week after, until you feel comfortable exercising longer.

Every week try to go 25% further. So, for example, when you’re walking 4,000 steps a day, try 5,000 the next week and 6,250 the next. The goal is 10,000 steps a day, which is recognised as the ideal distance to keep you fit, healthy and lose weight. And just think how happy your dog will be with all this walking!

Photo: courtesy of Humphrey Muleba

Your ideal running buddy: your dog.

Running is an excellent way to keep in condition, and it’s always more fun with two. Who better as your running partner than your dog? Your bestest pal will be delighted with the extra exercise and spending time with you. However, before your enthusiasm runs away with you, there are some things to consider. Firstly, check with your vet, if it’s a good idea for your dog. Obviously, small breed dogs with short legs won’t thank you for running. Less obviously, breeds with short noses may have trouble breathing, when exercised too vigorously. It’s also worth knowing that all puppies and large breeds of any age shouldn’t be overexerted. It’s too rough and tough on their joints.

Your dog is eager to please, but it’s best to take it slow in the beginning. Run at your dog’s pace, take catch a breath time, by combining with intervals of walking. Too much too soon can increase the risk of injury, just like for us humans. Start with a warm-up, it’s good for your muscles and your dog’s. Ideally, run off-road, asphalt is not good for a dog’s paws and joints. And of course, your dog will enjoy the natural sights, smells and sounds when you’re in a park, or the woods. Don’t forget to bring water, it’s important that you hydrate your body too.

When you’re finished, always check their paws, to make sure they haven’t suffered any cuts or injuries. The last thing we must mention: have fun! This exercise will make you both healthier and happier and increase the magical bond between you.

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠. 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭.

Of course, we all know that a big dog has different dietary needs than a small dog. And many different breeds have special nutritional requirements. However, it’s much more complicated than that. You can have exactly the same breed, exactly the same size, but not exactly the same food. In fact, not even close to exactly. Your dog will have its own particular tastes and needs, just like humans!

How do I know if my dog is unwell?

It’s not always easy to spot if your dog has health issues. A dog’s health changes with age and unfortunately they age far faster than we do. Some signals to look out for include not eating during a 24 hour period, excessive thirst, diarrhoea, repeated sneezing or coughing and difficulty urinating. It can also be a feeling you have. You know your dog best, when in doubt, always contact your vet immediately.