Health

Cherry eye in dogs can appear very alarming, as a red, angry looking lump develops in the corner of your dog’s eye – many say that this looks a bit like a cherry. The condition usually requires surgery, but the good news is that it’s usually very treatable and with speedy veterinary help, your four-legged friend will be on the road to recovery in no time. Keep reading to find out what cherry eye is and the treatment options available.

Paralysed dogs often take a lot of special care to ensure they can continue living their lives happily and healthily. That’s why the experts at Purina have created this article to tell you everything you need to know about looking after them, as well as dog wheelchair advice for helping those with hind leg paralysis get back on their feet. Although sometimes the only option for your dog is an upsetting one, in other cases rehabilitation can take place. Dog paralysis is an inability to use one or more limbs, usually due to a spinal cord injury. This can of course be distressing for you, and you may have to make difficult decisions. Your dog’s treatment and prognosis will depend on the cause of their paralysis and the limbs affected, and your vet will advise you on the chances that your dog will regain use of their limbs again. Looking after a paralysed dog is a big commitment and can at times be difficult. If you work long hours or have a busy family life, you may not be able to provide enough care. Rehabilitation centres are available in some areas; here, your dog will be looked after until they are well enough to be cared for at home. Larger veterinary practises, too, might hospitalise dogs for longer periods.  

Dog dental care can be tricky, especially when they’re picking up different items with their mouth that may not be good for them. Knowing exactly what’s okay to pick up and what isn’t is also difficult. Carry on reading to find out what dogs can chew and what’s not safe. What isn’t safe for my dog to chew? Can dogs chew sticks? Throwing sticks in the park has been a staple of any dog walk for many years, but did you know that vets have advised that it may not be a good idea? This is because dogs may receive a splinter from carrying the stick. If your dog does begin to pick up and carry sticks fear not, most of the time they won’t receive a splinter. It may be worthwhile to always check your dog’s mouth after carrying a stick and if possible, encourage them to carry something else. Toys and balls are always a good alternative for dogs that like to carry items whilst they walk. Think of it as a great opportunity to choose some new toys for your dog! Can dogs chew stones? Many dogs enjoy playing with small stones that they find whilst out on walks and in the garden. This is because they usually have a specific scent from being outside and are the perfect size to fit in a dog’s mouth. However, if your dog chews on them frequently, it will wear down the enamel on their teeth. Enamel is the protective layer of the teeth and if it’s worn down too much, your dog may experience discomfort when eating. That’s why it is important to encourage your dog to chew safer items such as dog toys, instead of small stones from the garden. Should dogs chew plastic? Although the majority of plastic can look soft, if it splits it may become sharp. This means if your dog tends to chew toys such as Frisbees or plastic objects found around the house, they could inadvertently hurt themselves. We recommend keeping plastic out of a dog’s reach if possible, along with checking toys such as Frisbees regularly for splits and cracks. If a plastic toy is beginning to crack, it may be time to throw it away and get a new one. Can dogs have bones? Many dog owners like to treat their pooch to a real bone to chew on every now and again. Whilst these bones do make for a tasty treat, they can sometimes become harmful. This is because the bones can split and fragment, hurting your dog, and small parts may be swallowed which can cause intestinal discomfort. We recommend you watch your dog when chewing on a bone to make sure this doesn’t happen. It may also be worth limiting the amount of time they have with the bone. Better yet, if possible, you could purchase a synthetic bone made for dogs to chew. These bones are much safer and are designed for pets to use, making them a safe and tasty treat for your dog to enjoy. Can dogs chew corn on the cob? If someone asked you to name items you shouldn’t let your dog chew on, you probably wouldn’t say corn on the cob. However, corn on the cobs are best kept out of the way as they can be chewed into small pieces and swallowed. As well as potentially scratching your dog’s mouth, pieces of corn on the cob can be too big to fit through the intestines of smaller breeds. If your dog likes scavenging food (and many dogs do!) then make sure they can’t grab a corn on the cob from the dinner table, kitchen or bin.

Playing with your dog is an invaluable part of your relationship with them and will help deepen the bond you have together, and what’s more, playing together on a daily basis helps both of you stay healthy and happy – what more excuse do you need? Your dog will love nothing more than interacting with you, and the fun they have when playing is a reward in itself! Keep reading to find out about playing with your dog as Purina’s Behaviourist explains what games our pets love to get up to.

Has your dog been diagnosed with hip dysplasia? Don’t worry as we have put together a quick guide that explains in plain English what the condition is, what is causing it and what you can do to help your dog.

Pancreatitis in dogs can be acute or chronic and ranges in severity. Discover how to tell if your pet is suffering from this condition and what to do next. Pancreatitis is defined as inflammation of the pancreas. In this article we explain what causes pancreatitis in dogs, how it manifests and what treatment is recommended.

Hypothermia in dogs can occur during the winter months and is usually due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. Read our guide to find out about the possible symptoms and what you should do if you suspect your dog has hypothermia. Hypothermia in dogs can be fatal as it may cause problems with the heart and blood flow, breathing and the immune system and in more extreme cases, dogs may develop impaired consciousness that could result in a coma. We’ve created this useful guide to tell you everything you need to know about hypothermia in dogs – keep reading to find out more.

Arthritis in dogs is the biggest cause of chronic pain, particularly in older pets. With early diagnosis and appropriate management, your pet can continue to lead a happy life. Arthritis in dogs is an extremely common condition and the main cause of chronic pain in dogs. According to Canine Arthritis Management, Osteoarthritis affects an estimated four out of five older dogs, and sadly it’s progressive – meaning that it cannot be cured and gradually worsens. However, there are plenty of management options available to help slow the disease progression and alleviate the symptoms. Many dogs continue to live a happy and otherwise healthy life after diagnosis. If you suspect yoursenior doghas arthritis, you’ll probably be wondering about the symptoms and the current dog arthritis treatment and management options available. To help, we’ve created this guide to tell you everything you need to know about arthritis in dogs.

If your dog keeps eating grass or dirt, there’s no need to worry - this isn’t uncommon behaviour by any means, even though it might seem quite strange. If you have a four-legged friend in your life, chances are that you’ve caught them grazing once or twice on their daily constitutional. For pups that do this, owners often wonder, why do dogs eat grass exactly? Over the years there’s been numerous old wife’s tales about the behaviour, with many believing it’s for the purpose of self-medicating – but is this true? Why do dogs eat grass? Dogs eating grass is very common, but there’s actually little evidence to tell us why they do it. Behaviourists and veterinarians have been perplexed by the behaviour for years, but some of their theories include: 1. Self-medicating It’s likely that you’ve heard this one for an answer to why dogs eat grass. It’s widely believed by dog owners that if a dog feels nauseous, they’ll eat grass to make themselves vomit and then feel better. However, this still remains a theory. In fact, dogs vomiting after ingesting grass is quite rare, with less than 25 percent doing this and only a further 10 percent displaying signs of illness beforehand. 2. They like the taste of it Another reasoning could be because they simply like the taste of it. Dogs are descended from wolves and as such, they’re natural scavengers – meaning that they might be grazing in your back garden as an opportunity to forage. Additionally, some veterinarians have suggested that dogs might eat grass to make up for nutritional deficiencies in their diet. This is supported by a study outlined by Fetch by Web MD, with a dog who ate grass every single day for seven years, then the moment it was switched to a high-fibre diet, it stopped. However, there’s currently not been enough studies on the topic to satiate if this is the reason behind why do dogs eat grass or not. 3. Eating grass due to boredom If you’re just letting your dog out into the garden to play by themselves and not offering enough mental and physical stimulation, then your dog eating grass may be because of boredom. To try and reduce the behaviour, make sure you’re giving your pup enough opportunities to exercise, and get some toys for them to play with in the garden too. Puzzle games are excellent for mental stimulation, chew toys are great for boredom-busting and your dog is bound to love a ball game too! 4. Dogs might need grass in their diet Another explanation for why do dogs eat grass could be down to the way they’ve evolved. This theory relates to the fact that wild canids eat all of an animal when they catch it. The animals that wild canids – your dog’s ancestors – would catch and eat were usually herbivores. This means that when the wild canids ate these animals, they might also have ended up eating a lot of grass and plants that were in the intestines of their prey. Wild canids such as foxes have also been known to eat certain berries and other plant material, supporting the idea that dogs eat grass because it’s a part of their normal diet.

Has the time arrived for weaning your puppy? Here is how to help them make an easy transition from their mother’s milk to puppy food. Weaning is an important part of your puppy’s development. When your puppy weans, it means they move from relying on their mother’s milk for all their nourishment, to enjoying solid foods. During the period of time from birth to puppy weaning, the mother’s natural instincts will often kick in. She should help the puppies to suckle when they are young, and gradually encourage them to look elsewhere for food, trying the puppy diet that is offered. However, if your female is struggling to feed her puppies you should speak to a vet for advice as this can indicate an underlying health problem such as mastitis. Read on to find out when to wean puppies, how you can them to develop good eating habits and much more. Life before puppy weaning A puppy should stay with their mother and siblings for at least the first 8 weeks of their life. For the first few weeks they will only need their mother’s milk, or a suitable puppy milk formula. Initially, your puppy’s sense of smell will help them find their way to their mother’s teats, where suckling should be instinctive. During this early period, the mother keeps her puppies warm with her own body heat. When the mother temporarily moves away from them, they group together to make up for the loss of heat that her fur provides. She will also lick the puppies to keep them clean and help to stimulate them to urinate and defecate. Human contact is also important during this early period, although you should try to get a balance that does not cause distress to the mother.

You love your dog just the way they are, so you probably won’t worry too much if they seem to put on just a few extra pounds. But from a health point of view, size really does matter! Although weighing your dog and monitoring their weight regularly is a good idea, this can be tricky as there is a lot of variation between breeds and it’s not always easy to know what is right for your pet. That’s where dog body condition scoring can make things easier. What is the dog body condition score? Dog body condition scoring allows you to assess the amount of fat your dog is carrying, it is easy to do at home without scales, and can identify problems in overweight dogs before the scales show a big change. What’s more, the scale applies to nearly every kind of dog, so you can easily check them between visits to the vet whether they’re big, small, wiry or extremely furry! Why is the dog body condition score important? Owning a dog means keeping a close eye on your dog’s body score and working to maintain an 'ideal' score of four or five throughout all stages of your dog's life. This can also decrease the risk of health problems associated with owning an overweight dog. These include arthritis, heart disease and even diabetes, which not only mean large vet bills but an unhappy, uncomfortable dog – more reason than ever to get them in shape! Like people, each one processes their food in a slightly different way, particularly depending on their age and activity level. If your dog gets more calories than they need, those excess calories may be stored as fat, which in the worst case can lead to obesity in dogs.

Grooming your dog can be quite a challenge at times, but it doesn’t have to be. It is a good opportunity, not only to make your pet squeaky clean, but also to bond and give them a quick health check to make sure everything is alright. Here are tips for how to groom your dog. When it comes to our canine friends, grooming is often seen as a luxury, especially if you have to rely on regular visits to a professional pet groomer. But in most cases, grooming your dog doesn’t require any special skills and can be done at home with basic “equipment”. We’re not talking hair makeovers or artistic pedicures. Just a few simple tasks that can become part of a grooming routine and will soon turn into a relaxing bonding experience for both of you.