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“What if my dog swallowed a foreign body?”

by Pete the Vet



‘I think that my dog has swallowed a U.F.O.’, the man told me, in obvious distress. There are many abbreviations in the veterinary world, but U.F.O. is not associated with any disease condition. As far as I was aware, U.F.O’s were Unidentified Flying Objects, commonly known as space ships or flying saucers. The man with the dog seemed to be very serious about his problem, so I questioned him further. It turned out that his dog had been vomiting for two days. He was concerned that his dog might have swallowed a child’s toy, and that this might now have become lodged in the intestines.

‘You mean you feel your dog may have swallowed a Foreign Body?’, I asked him. ‘Yes, that’s right – a U.F.O. My last dog had the same problem after swallowing a stone’, he replied.

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They also enjoy chewing, and they may accidentally swallow smaller pieces which break off a larger object. The gullet of a dog is very distensible, and it is possible for dogs to swallow remarkably large objects. Domestic dogs have descended from wild dogs which survived by eating carrion. In the past, it was very important that they were able to gulp down large amounts of meat, skin and bones very rapidly. Modern dogs retain this ability, but it does cause periodic problems. I once saw an X-ray of a Yorkshire Terrier which had swallowed a bone which was about six inches long. The bone was almost half the length of the dog.



Any object from golf ball diameter upwards can cause problems in an average collie-sized dog. Smaller objects can cause obstructions in smaller dogs. Certain objects seem to cause more problems than others. Fruit pips (e.g. peach stones), Corn-on-the-Cob cores, rubber balls, stones and pieces of bone commonly cause obstructions. Baby soothers are a common cause of intestinal obstruction in puppies, who seem to enjoy chewing them. There is a very long list of ‘sporadic foreign bodies’, including engagement rings, false teeth and bath plugs!

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Ten Tips for Taking Care of Your Dog

Posted by Diane Johnson in Dog Care Information

Provide a protected and clean living environment for your dog. Shelter from the elements and hazards, as well as good hygiene, are basic to a quality life.
       
Always keep fresh water available.  Maintaining optimal hydration is important for health and energy.

Feed a quality diet and prevent obesity.  Overweight humans and animals can adversely affect health in many ways.  Follow the dietary recommendations that your veterinarian will make according to the nutritional needs of your dog, based on size, age, level of activity and breed.  Remember to provide healthy treats rather than table scraps, as rewards.

Have your pet examined by a veterinarian on a regular basis.  Your veterinarian will provide you with the information on vaccination schedules, deworming and external parasite control.  Keep a copy of your pet’s vaccination records in your home or with you when you travel.  Contact your veterinarian if you believe that your pet may be ill, injured, or if something just doesn’t seem right.  Your veterinarian is the expert on keeping your dog healthy.  Work as a team with him or her.

Provide ample opportunities to exercise.  Make sure your dog gets the regular exercise needed to enable it to be fit.  By being in shape, your dog will be more capable of participating in the activities that it enjoys.

Communicate with your dog and develop a relationship.  Dogs are social creatures and they need to interact with their owner.  Quality time will help you get to know your dog and understand  particular needs that it might have, as well enhance your ability to recognize early signs of an illness that could be developing.  In addition, time spent in developing a relationship will help prevent many undesirable behavioral patterns.

Train your dog to follow the simple commands. Puppy and dog training classes can be very helpful.  The better your dog is at following basic and necessary commands, the greater the chances are that your dog will live a safe and long life.

Practice reproductive control.  If you do not intend to create puppies, spaying or neutering is a certain option.  If you plan to breed your dog or are opposed to spaying and neutering for other reasons, take appropriate measures to prevent mismatings.  Consult with your veterinarian in regard to other options that are available.

Dental care is very important.  Many breeds are prone to gum disease, which can have serious implications.  Infection resulting from this condition leads to premature tooth loss, and can commonly cause infections in major organs, including the heart valves.
   
Don't overlook grooming and nail trimming.  Long coated dogs are prone to developing matts and ice balls in their hair.  Overgrown nails are common in elderly dogs and can make it more difficult for them to walk.  In addition, such nails are much more prone to breaking, which can be quite painful.     

In conclusion, knowledge is power. Read up and learn as much as possible about your dog's breed specifically, and about raising, training and living with dogs in general. The more you know, the more confident you'll be in providing a safe and enjoyable home for your dog.

Dr. Stuart Nelson, Jr., DVM
Chief Veterinarian, Iditarod

http://iditarod.com/



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5 Subtle Signs That Your Cat Is Secretly In Pain

by Karen Harrison
October 12, 2017

Cat owners know that their kitties are masters at hiding discomfort. So, how do we know when something is amiss and a trip to the vet is needed?

In order to get more insight, we spoke with Dr. Michel Selmer, DVM, CTCVMP. Also known as “The Caring Vet,” he offers traditional, holistic, integrative medical, surgical, and wellness care to his patients.



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5 Crucial Reasons To Stop Scolding Your Dog

by Jennifer Nelsonon

It can happen to the best of us. You come home from work and find that your dog made a mess. They wake you up in the middle of the night to bark at a squirrel. They jump on your friends every time they come to visit. Sometimes it happens before you even have a chance to think about it: you yell at your dog to discourage the behavior.

The problem is that you aren’t actually teaching your dog anything, and you might even cause long-term behavioral problems. There are much better ways to train your dog than hollering at them. Here are 5 crucial reasons to stop scolding your dog.

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#2 – They can become afraid of you



Maybe in the past it was considered a good idea for your dog to be afraid of you, but current training practices show that positive reinforcement is a much more effective training method. While some dogs might tolerate rough handling, many dogs will actually develop more problems such as submissive urination. Some dogs will become helpless and will stop offering any behavior for fear of bringing on more yelling. They become paralyzed with fear and don’t learn the desirable behavior you want them to perform in place of the negative one you scolded them for.

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#4 – They’ll be confused


IMAGE SOURCE: BETSY WEBER VIA FLICKR
 
Since your dog doesn’t understand the words coming out of your mouth, yelling at them for something they may have done hours ago doesn’t do any good. They won’t understand what behavior led you to yell at them. If you can’t catch your dog in the act, yelling at them after the fact is pointless. Even if they act ashamed, this behavior is to appease your current anger and is not an admission of guilt for a previous “crime” that they don’t understand they’ve committed.

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Five Life-Lengthening Health Tips for Your Pet


 
How to Add Years to Your Pet's Life
 
By Lorie Huston, DVM

 

Anyone who has ever had a dog or cat wishes just one thing — that he or she has a healthy and long life. Here are five tips that can help your pet do just that.

1. FEED A HIGH QUALITY DIET.

Pets fed a high quality diet have a shiny hair coat, healthy skin, and bright eyes. A good diet can help strengthen your pet’s immune system, help maintain his or her intestinal health, help increase his or her mental acuity, help keep joints and muscles healthy, and much more.

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3. TAKE YOUR PET TO THE VETERINARIAN REGULARLY.

All pets, including both dogs and cats, require regular veterinary care. However, veterinary care goes far beyond routine vaccinations, even though those are important. A routine examination by your veterinarian can uncover health issues of which you are unaware. In many cases, an early diagnosis improves the chances of successful treatment. Early diagnosis is also likely to be less costly for you than waiting until your pet’s illness has become advanced and serious before attempting treatment.

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5. DO NOT ALLOW YOUR PET TO ROAM UNSUPERVISED.

Allowing your dog or cat to roam free may seem like you’re doing your pet a favor. However, pets that roam are susceptible to a number of dangers, including automobile accidents, predation, exposure to contagious diseases, exposure to poisons, and more. Additionally, allowing your pet to roam unsupervised may alienate your neighbors should your pet ever "relieve" him- or herself in their lawn or dig up their garden.

Following these tips can go a long ways towards providing a long, healthy and happy life for your pet.

https://www.petmd.com/

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