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VACCINATIONS AND TITRE TESTING

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  Dogs may be at risk of leptospirosis if they have contact with infected water Titre Testing Titre testing (serological testing for antibodies present in the blood) can give an idea of how well protected your dog is from previous vaccinations.   However, it is not available for every disease and may not be 100% relied on to make sure your dog is protected. Just for your information, the Oxford English dictionary notes that ‘titre’ can be pronounced ‘tighter’ or ‘teeter’ – just so you know when you speak to your vet. Your vet might recommend a titre test if: ·       You are unsure whether to vaccinate your dog (because previous vaccinations may still be sufficient to give cover and you do not want to vaccinate unnecessarily) ·       You are avoiding vaccination because of a specific worry (eg, if your dog previously had an allergic reaction to their booster or if their immune system is not functioning properly).   In these cases, titre tests can give an idea of whether your
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ALABAMA ROT (CRGV) IN WEST SUSSEX

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  Alabama Rot is not a common health issue but it does exist, and can be fatal.  Please see the link below to view areas in West Sussex where this has been reported.  Live Map of Cases |Check Your Location | CRGV | Alabama Rot Therefore, it is useful for owners to be aware of the causes and symptoms of   this potentially fatal disease so that treatment can be sought immediately.   If not treated promptly, acute and fatal kidney failure may occur. Causes The disease is thought to be contracted by dogs whilst walking in muddy woodlands and was first recorded in the US in the 1980s and believed to be caused by the E Coli bacteria, which may be living in rotting vegetation in woodland grounds, streams and puddles.    Symptoms If you have walked your dog in muddy woodlands, particularly in winter and spring, you will need to check them carefully for: Skin sores (lesions) on paws and legs are a common sign, but legs are not the only place to check. Some dogs affected by CRGV h
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DOGS AND FIREWORKS

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It will soon be the height of the firework season and if you've not yet had time to accustom your dog to the sights and sounds of fireworks then you will need to manage the situation.  If your dog is particularly upset by fireworks and you know there is an event planned close to your home then it may be worth speaking to your vet about medication for that occasion.   Talking of medication for pets, you may be interested to know that you can view all patented medication for your pets via the Veterinary Medicines Directorate:   http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/ProductInformationDatabase/Default.aspx However, vets often suggest Zylkene or Calmex and these are ‘neutraceuticals’ which means they are derived from food sources which are claimed to have extra health benefits in addition to the basic nutritional value found in foods.   Whilst popular and reported to be effective in many cases, these are not a recognized medication and so are not listed on the VMD site. Please always check with
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PUPPY PLAY BITING

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One common issue I am asked to help with is puppies and adolescent dogs which are play biting and chewing. Why do puppies and dogs play bite and chew There are several reasons: ·                 Teething (around 4 – 7 months) ·                 Adult teeth settling in (around 7 months to 10 months) ·                 Some breeds are more prone to chew, such as some gundog breeds ·                 Boredom – puppies and young dogs need mental ‘entertainment’ as well as physical exercise ·                 A lack of reliable training commands (such as ‘Leave’ and teaching a good ‘Down-Stay’) ·               A lack of supervision with children (and some adults!) to ensure the puppy does not get into bad habits of chasing, hanging off trouser legs, etc ·               People playing too roughly or excitedly with the puppy/dog and the dog believes that biting a person or their clothing is an acceptable way to behave. Please remember that a puppy’s or dog’s natural behaviou
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DOG TOYS AND CHEWS

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      A variety of toys and chews help keep your puppy and older dog mentally happy and out of too much mischief... However , when giving your dog any new item, please supervise to check he/she is safe to be left with it.   Some dogs eat anything! The above items are described in the order from top left going clockwise. As above, please remember that when you give your puppy (or any age of dog) a new toy or chew you must always supervise to ensure he or she is not going to: (a   -      Destroy any new toy. (b-   Eat something unsuitable which may injure your dog. Also, of course, decide if your pup’s health is good enough to deal with any new food items.   Always err on the side of caution and introduce any new food items in small amounts and supervise to ensure your dog does not choke on any new chews. Items in the above photo Rice bone :   These are good for pups to chew and eat.   I cut them in half so you don’t have to over-feed.   You can also put them in the f
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