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General Practice Service
Willows Information Sheets
Looking after your adult dog
Looking after your adult dog
General health care
The life expectancy of dogs has increased dramatically over the last few decades, mainly due to
improved food quality, better disease control through vaccinations and improved health care. To
make sure that your dog can enjoy this extra life span to the full it is important to look after his
or her health from a young age. This obviously includes factors such as feeding good quality food,
regular vaccinations and good parasite control. However, there are other important aspects of
routine care which should help to keep your dog in good health for many years to come.
Dental care is advisable to keep teeth clean and to prevent cavities and infection in the mouth.
There are a number of ways to look after your dog’s teeth and it is worthwhile discussing these it
with us to make sure that the method you choose fits in with your time schedule and your dog’s
temperament (See Dental care for dogs and cats information sheet).
Regular weight checks are an important component of preventing your dog from becoming
overweight. This is an important issue and currently a high proportion of dogs in the UK are too
heavy. Being overweight can take up to several years of your dog’s life expectancy and greatly
increases the risks of heart disease, arthritis and other health problems.
Routine health checks carried out at the surgery are very important for your dog’s well-being. They
are performed annually at the time of vaccination, but in some cases it will be advisable to check
your dog more frequently than just once a year. After all, your dog is not able to tell you about some
aches and pains or other symptoms that would prompt us to see a doctor, thus making sure that
disease is diagnosed early. If you are in any doubt, please contact the surgery for advice.
© WILLOWS VETERINARY CENTRE AND REFERRAL SERVICE
Willows Information Sheets www.willows.uk.netT: 0121 712 7070
Exercise
Regular exercise is necessary for a dog – it also keeps the owner
healthy at the same time! The length and number of walks per day
depends very much on the size and age of the dog, and also on the
level of fitness of the owner. Whether you are training for a marathon
with your young fit dog or just wander around the block with your
elderly little companion, a regular routine is much appreciated by
most dogs. Even the most obedient dog should be kept on a lead
near traffic or around farm animals/livestock (you never know when
they may suddenly take fright or chase after a rabbit or a squirrel, for
example), but if you cannot rely completely on your dog’s obedience
then you should keep him/her on a lead as a general rule.
The main countryside rule is: never worry livestock, remember that
someone else’s livelihood depends on it. Also make sure that your
dog does not disturb wildlife, including birds that nest on the ground.
Even letting your dog walk in the same field as farm animals may be
considered as ‘worrying’, because even if you know that your dog will
not harm little lambs, the ewes may not be so certain. Remember that
farmers are entitled to kill your dog if he/she is worrying livestock!
Nutrition
Feeding a good quality food is vital for your dog’s well-being and
longevity. In the majority of cases a good quality complete dog food is
the most appropriate way to feed your dog. We recommend dry food,
which has the added benefit of keeping your dog’s teeth clean. In some
cases a ‘life-stage’, ‘lifestyle’ or even prescription food needs to be fed to
keep a dog in good health and we will discuss this with you as necessary.
While it is possible to feed your dog on home cooked food, it is not
easy to provide all the nutrients necessary for your dog’s well-being
and unfortunately we often see health problems due to giving an
incomplete diet when a home cooked diet is fed. Dogs need a lot
more than just meat and bones and, whilst we are happy to discuss
home cooked diet with you, we much prefer to recommend a
proprietary dog food (See Nutrition advice for dogs information sheet)
Grooming
Regular grooming should be part of the routine care for every dog. It
ensures that your dog is always clean and good looking, and it can also
be ‘quality time’ for both owner and dog. Additionally, many health
problems can be picked up early when the dog is groomed regularly.
Combing or brushing is advisable not only for long-haired, but also
in short-coated breeds, where a rubber groomer can be used to
remove old hair and provide a gentle massage at the same time.
Daily combing and brushing of longer haired dogs ensures that hairs
do not get tangled and cause knots which are painful to brush out.
Dogs should not experience pain during grooming, otherwise it will
put them off and make them wary of the brush.
Eyes and ears should be checked daily and any discharge or obvious
ear wax should be removed. Gentle cleaners can be used, but
medicinal ear or eye ointments should only be used when prescribed
as part of a medical treatment. The nose and mouth should be
checked and the teeth should be cleaned. Tooth cleaning can be
achieved by giving a variety of food/treats and also by actual tooth
brushing. This prevents the build-up of tartar and reduces the
chances of dental decay, which may otherwise necessitate dental
work to be carried out under general anaesthesia. (See Dental care
for dogs and cats information sheet)
All four paws should be checked for foreign bodies (such as grass seeds),
long or damaged claws and other changes.
Lastly the private parts need a check and occasionally a clean up, too.
Training
A well trained dog is a happy dog and not a nuisance to others. Never allow
your dog to be out of control, to injure someone – even unintentionally,
by e.g. jumping up at a person – or to frighten anyone into thinking
that they may be injured. It is actually an offence to let your dog
behave in this way.
The easiest and best way is to train your dog as a puppy. It is never too
late to train but an older dog, especially one with behavioural problems,
may need professional help from a dog training class or behaviourist.
However, all dogs will benefit from training classes, whether they
are pets or going to develop skills in different canine activities. Dog
training classes are great places to help to coach and socialise your
dog, as well as to meet other dog owners and share your experiences.
There are lots of schools of thought on dog training and it is
important that you find the right approach for you and your dog.
Basic first lessons include sitting or staying when told, coming back
to the owner when called, and walking beside the owner on and off
the lead. Once you and your dog have mastered the first steps it is
worth while thinking about joining dog activity groups. This ensures
that you and your dog ‘share a hobby’ and it will encourage the
development of a strong bond between you and your canine friend.
Most dogs are only too happy to join in different activities and enjoy
learning new skills. Very soon you will be proud of what the two
of you have achieved. Dog activities include both the sporting e.g.
agility or flyball, and more sedate options such as the Kennel Club
Good Citizen Dog Scheme or training to become a ‘pet therapy dog’
visiting hospitals etc.. Ask around for local possibilities or search the
internet - you will surely find something you both enjoy.
Neutering
The majority of dogs will be neutered at a young age and we
recommend neutering your dog (male or female) unless you intend
to breed (See Neutering in dogs information sheet). However, if you
© WILLOWS VETERINARY CENTRE AND REFERRAL SERVICE
Willows Information Sheets www.willows.uk.netT: 0121 712 7070
decide not to have your dog neutered, it is important for you to be
aware of several points.
If your bitch has not been spayed, she will come into season once or
twice yearly. To avoid unwanted pregnancies it is important to keep
her away from male dogs not only during the time she is bleeding,
but also particularly after the bleeding has stopped. Entire female
dogs can be prone to developing false pregnancies several weeks
after their season. They often seem depressed and build nests or
start mothering their toys. Some bitches even develop milk in their
mammary glands. Another more serious problem especially of older
un-spayed bitches is pyometra (infection of the womb). This can
present as an emergency with a variety of clinical signs and generally
requires major surgery.
If your male dog is not neutered it is important to ensure that he
cannot roam to find bitches in season. Apart from the problem of
causing unwanted pregnancies your dog may well be involved in
(road traffic) accidents if he escapes to find bitches. Older entire
males can suffer from several health problems including prostate
problems, hernias or tumours of their anal region.
If you are at all concerned, please contact the surgery and mention
that your dog has not been neutered.
Vaccination
Several life-threatening diseases can be avoided by having your
dog vaccinated. Vaccine protocols vary between countries, but in
the UK vaccination generally includes parvovirus disease, infectious
hepatitis, distemper and leptospirosis. Kennel cough can be added
on request depending upon circumstances. Vaccines for parvovirus
disease, hepatitis and distemper only need to be given every three
years, once the full first vaccine cycle is completed. The protection
given by Leptospirosis and kennel cough vaccines currently only lasts
for one year. Dogs therefore still need a yearly vaccine containing
leptospirosis (and if necessary kennel cough) whilst parvovirus,
hepatitis and distemper vaccines are added every three years.
Before a dog is vaccinated a full general health check is performed.
This is necessary to ensure the patient is able to mount a proper
immune response against the diseases, and it is also invaluable for
picking up any emerging health problems early, for discussing any
health related queries that you may have and generally for ensuring
that your dog stays in good health. (See Vaccine information sheet).
Worming
Several types of worms can affect dogs and it is usually impossible
for you to know whether your dog is infected with worms. Unless
a dog is severely infested or has tape worms, it is not possible to
notice worms in faeces – usually only microscopically small worm
eggs are passed with the faeces. Unfortunately some types of worms
can also infect humans, especially children or the elderly. Although
uncommon, severe health problems including blindness or brain
problems are possible in humans infected with certain dog worms.
Regular worming will not only protect the health of your dog, but also
the health of your family. (See Worming your dog information sheet)
External parasites (Ectoparasites)
Several types of external parasites can affect your dog. Most common
and well-known are fleas, but ticks, ear mites and several other types
of mites or mange are seen on a regular basis, too. Mites cause itchy
skin or ears in almost every case, alerting us to the fact that something
is wrong, and ticks are usually quite obvious to find. Fleas can also
cause dramatic clinical signs of skin irritation and hair loss, especially
if the dog is allergic to fleas, but we also see many cases where the
owner has been unaware that the dog carries fleas. This is not a sign of
poor hygiene on the owner’s part - it is almost impossible to completely
avoid flea infestation in a dog. However, having fleas is not only a cause
for skin irritation in the dog - it will usually also turn into a hygiene
issue, as fleas then start to breed in the environment, leading to an
ever increasing flea burden of the house and its inmates. Treatment
can be quite involved and prolonged when the flea burden is high,
so it is much better to prevent flea infestation rather than wait
and only treat fleas when they have already been found. Several
good spot-on preparations are available that will not only prevent
flea infestation, but also treat ticks and/or mites and may even be
combined with a wormer. Please contact us for advice on which
product is most suitable for your dog and how to use it. (See
Ectoparasites (fleas and other skin parasites) in dogs information sheet).
Identichipping
An identichip is a microchip about the size of a grain of rice. It contains a
unique bar code number which can be read using a small scanner.
This microchip is injected into the scruff of the neck and heals into
the tissue in that area. The microchip number together with the
details of the owner and dog (name of dog and owner, address and
telephone numbers) are then registered on a national database.
Should your dog become lost and is found, the chip number can
easily be read by using the scanner and your dog can be re-united
with you. Scanners are used by the police, by the RSPCA, vets and
most larger organisations dealing with lost and found dogs. As the
dog’s microchip number is registered together with your address and
telephone numbers, it is vital that you notify the database of any
changes in your home details. (See Microchip information sheet)
Insurance
Having your dog’s health insured with the right insurance policy gives you
the peace of mind that he or she can receive the best treatment
including specialist care without you having to worry about the expense.
Many different pet health insurances exist and it is very important
to choose one that suits you and your pet. Specialist care should
© WILLOWS VETERINARY CENTRE AND REFERRAL SERVICE
Willows Information Sheets www.willows.uk.netT: 0121 712 7070
definitely be covered as the costs of modern complex investigation
and treatment can mount up quickly. It is also important to ensure
that chronic illnesses as well as those of a shorter duration are
covered, especially as the policy moves into the following year
of cover. Should your dog ever need lifelong treatment, you may
otherwise have to pay yourself after the few months cover by the
insurance have run out or you have reached the limit of cover for
any one claim. Premiums will depend on the insurance plan you
chose, but also on age and sometimes breed of the dog and your
postcode.
The small print may appear boring, but it can make a huge difference
when it comes to making a claim or being able to afford to have
more expensive treatment performed at all. (See Pet insurance
information sheet).
Pet Passport
Travelling to Europe and several other countries has been made
easier by the introduction of the Pet Passport. With a valid passport
your dog can travel to and from those countries back to the UK
without having to go into quarantine. The basic requirements are a
microchip, rabies vaccination, a rabies antibody blood test and the
issue of a Pet Passport. The rabies vaccination has to be repeated
within a strict period of time to keep the passport up to date. Also,
before re-entering the UK, the dog has to be seen by a local vet
within a strict time period for parasite treatment.
If you are thinking about travelling with your dog, please plan well
in advance as the process takes some time and initially the dog is
only allowed to travel back to the UK six months after a successful
rabies antibody blood test. For the most up to date information
For the most up to date information we recommend that in the
first instance you contact the UK Government Pet Travel Scheme
Helpline on 0870 241 1710 or email: pettravel@ahvla.gsi.gov.uk or
visit their website at www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad and follow the
link to the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) in order to gain the information
you require.
While rabies is scary and travelling is strictly regulated because
of it, it is also a fairly rare disease. Your dog is much more likely
to encounter other diseases when travelling, some of which are
common in other countries, but unknown or rare in the UK. We
strongly advise that you find out about other possible diseases in the
area you are going to before travelling with your dog (See Diseases
Abroad information sheet).
Euthanasia (‘put to sleep’)
Sadly, there may come a time when your dog’s quality of life has
deteriorated so much that euthanasia is the kindest option available.
We appreciate that it is very difficult to make the decision and that
this is a very distressing time for you and your whole family. If you
wish, we will try to arrange a house visit for our registered clients
when the time has come to put your dog to sleep. We have several
options for cremation and will discuss this with you in detail at the
time (See Euthanasia information sheet).
Responsible dog ownership
Owning a dog brings great happiness to both owner and dog but
also brings responsibility for the lifetime of the pet. Dog owners have
an obligation to their dog and their community to ensure that their
pet is a happy, socialised and well-trained animal.
Dogs in public places must wear a collar with the name and address
(including postcode) of the owner engraved or written on a tag. A
telephone number is optional, but advisable. In the unfortunate
event that your dog goes missing, you should contact the dog
warden, the local branch of the RSPCA, the police, vets and rescue
centres in the neighbourhood to ensure that you are re-united with
your dog as quickly as possible. Identichipping is a great help in
these situations (see above). The local authority may kennel your
dog for a short time, but if he/she is not claimed within that period
the authority has a right to rehome or destroy him/her.
It is also important to remember that dog owners and other people
have to live side-by-side. While it is usually easy to get chatting to
people when walking a dog, be sympathetic to the feelings of others
(who may not be so dog-orientated!) and keep your dog under control
at all times. There are several good reasons why people may not
like your dog to come near them, including health reasons such as
severe allergies, being afraid of dogs or perhaps that they are on
their way to an important appointment and do not want to have
muddy paw prints and dog hairs all over their smart clothes at that
moment! It is therefore important to make sure that your dog does
not bother other people or to keep him/her on a lead if you are not
100% sure about this. In certain areas all dogs must be kept on a lead
at all times.
Dog mess/faeces is/are not just very unpleasant but can also cause
infections to other dogs, other animals and humans. Always clean up
after your dog and get rid of the mess responsibly. Also make sure
that your dog is wormed regularly to protect it, other dogs and most
importantly other people against worm infestation (see above).
If it is impossible or impractical to take your dog on holidays with
you, it is important to find a reliable boarding kennel or a home
carer and make sure that the person caring for your dog has all the
necessary records including emergency telephone numbers. Whether
you go on holiday or just pop to the shop, never leave a dog in the
car in warm weather, even with the window open. Temperatures can
increase very quickly in cars and dogs overheat very quickly. Heat
stroke or worse outcomes are commonly seen by us in the summer.
Since April 2006 the Animal Welfare Act has been in place. As a result
it is now not only against the law to be cruel to an animal, but the
owner must also ensure that all the welfare needs of an animal are
met. These needs include those for a suitable environment (a place
to live) and a suitable diet, to be able to show normal behaviour and
also to be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease. For dogs,
this implies that they need to have plenty of contact with humans
and/or other dogs and that they are not to be left alone for too long.
© WILLOWS VETERINARY CENTRE AND REFERRAL SERVICE
Willows Information Sheets www.willows.uk.netT: 0121 712 7070
General Practice Service
www.willows.uk.net
The information contained is proprietary to Willows Veterinary Centre
& Referral Service and may not be modified, reproduced, distributed
or utilised in any manner in whole or in part, without the express prior
written permission of Willows Veterinary Centre & Referral Service.
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