EXAMINATION OF DOGS

As a responsible dog owner or breeder. It's important you  examine your dog's body everyday. Just the way you examine yourself or your child, to know the health status and condition of the body.

The Following parts are important to be examined in dogs.

1. Eyes
2. Ears
3. Skin Coat
4. Nail and Dew Claw
5. Teeths
6. Head 
7. Anal Sac.

              EXAMINATION OF EYES

It is important you examine the eyes of your dog everyday against occurrence of occular discharge (Colour & density), foreign object or infection.
     Eyes are important body organ of all living creature. Various factors such as injury, infections or deficiency may affect the eyes of dogs leading to conjunctivitis, glaucoma and other aliments including blindness. The eye should not show tinge of yellow discolouration nor redness.
     In puppies, eyes are opened on the 9th to 10th day after they are born but if the pup does not open their eyes on the 12th day and if there is discharge along the edges of the lids, then it require a quick medical attention  of the Vet against infection or causes of thr discharge.
    The eyes of the dog should be washed regularly with clean fresh water and should be examined for the presence of any disorder or abnormal discharge.
    In some long haired dogs, eyes lashes may drop over  the eyes causing great irritation. In such cases trouble lashes should be plucked out to avoid the impending damage of the eyes. Sore eyes in dogs can be as a result of a diet low in Vitamin A. Puppies tend to get sore eyes if the diet of the mother is not adequate in Vitamin A during lactation period.
    Sometimes dogs suffer with blindness can be diagnosed on the basis of a Cloudiness of the eye.

      PREDOMINANT EYE DISEASE IN DOGS.

Dogs                          Disease
Afghan hound  ---   Cataract
Beagle -----       Cataract, Glaucoma
Boston terrier - Cataract, Entropion
Mastiff ----- Entropion
Chow chow -- Entropion.
Cocker Spaniel   Glaucoma.
Daschaund -- Retinal atrophy.
Fox terrier --- Disrinchiasis.
German Shepherd -- Cataract.
Golden retriever -- Cataract.
Great Dane --- Ectropion, Entropion

DOG GROOMING

Dog of any breed should be groomed daily with a suitable grooming equipment to have a good coat on the body of the dog. A shinning body coat is the beauty of a dog.
   Large breeds require more grooming attention than soft-coated small breeds and Care must be taken when grooming long haired dogs.
  
   Grooming is a must for dogs because it helps in the following areas or ascept;
1.  It helps in removing old dead hairs and prevent formation of matting or dreadlocks in long-coated dogs.
 2. It helps in keeping away ectoparasites (ticks, lice, fleas. e.t.c).
3. It helps in cleanliness and prevention of various skin problems.
4. It stimulates blood supply to the skin and improve the coat condition.

A grooming kit should include the brush, comb, rake, thinning shear, electric clipper, stripping comb and a piece of velvet.
There are different varieties of brushes and combs. The best ones are fairly robust and substantial. Do not use brushes with sharp points or anything that can damage skin and hair. Combs need to be strong, it would help to remove dead hairs and prevent matting or locking of hairs.
Dogs of large breeds with coarse coats are best groomed with strong bristle or nylon brushes while a nylon baby brush is effective in grooming small breeds.

      GROOMING PROCEDURE

Have the dog stand in a comfortable position and relaxed, then start brushing from one of the hind legs, use the brush to go through all the under-coat of the thigh and down the lower leg, then groom the top coat. Repeat this procedure for the other hind leg, then thoroughly groom the back down to the entire length of the tail.
Brush out the front legs and the body hair from the shoulder, back over the ribs to the hips, neck and chest.

After grooming, clean the dog's ear by using dry cotton bud to wipe accumulated dust and wax from the folds inside the ear flap.
Note: Never use these bud to clean the ear canal.

BATHING OF DOGS

All Dogs should be bathed to keep the skin coat clean, to remove odours and avoid skin problems. However, fewer skin and coat problems are seen in clean dogs.
Dog should be bathed once or twice in a week.
    BATHING PROCEDURE
1. The dog should be placed in a bowel or bath.
2. Both ears should be plugged with cotton wool (Do this with care)
3. Water should be poured on the body until the coat is wet.
4. Good quality shampoo should be used, the shampoo should be applied and rubbed over the coat until it lather all over it body.
5. The dog should then be thoroughly rinsed with clean water then washed perfectly with water.
6. Finally, the dog should be dried with towel or clothes and kept in warm place to make it body dry.

Note: Dog should not be bathed everyday, it may result in removal of natural oils and thus make the skin coat dull.

Pups should not be bathed until they attain the age of 8-12 weeks. Any dirty part of the body of young pups can be mob with clean towel.

Bitches should not be given bath after four weeks of pregnancy.

A nervous dog may fright at the sight of the preparation for a bath, therefore, everything should be ready before he is brought to bowel or tub.

Some dogs may bite out fear while being bathed.

            MEDICATED BATH

When parasite such as fleas, lice, ticks are present, a special medicated bath is required the use of ectoparasiticidal which has to be used under the supervision of a specialist or veterinarian.

Don't bath Pregnant bitch with ectoparasiticidal.

Don't try it yourself when you don't have the skills. A small or little trial at the wrong dosage of the ectoparasiticial can send your dogs to their early grave.

When the whole kennel is infested with ticks, call a specialist to fumigate the entire kennel(s) and it surroundings. Ensure all dogs are kept away from the kennel and area during fumigation and hours after fumigation.

DOG KENNEL (HOUSE)

For the convenience of the owner and the satisfaction of the dog, the dog should be provided it kennel.

THINGS YOU NEED TO NOTE WHEN CONSTRUCTING A DOG'S KENNEL.

1. Dog kennel should  be well built, ventilated and warm in winter and cool in summer.
2.The kennel must get adequate sun rays, it must have windows to facilitate the entry of sun rays.
3. Kennel door should open inward for safety.
4. The size of the kennel depends on thr size of the breed.
5. Each dog should have it own kennel. Dogs housed in the same kennel are likely to fight when it comes to feeding, who to be Master of kennel or high excitement.
6. The kennel must be constructed in a provision to allow the dog to jump, turn-around and change positions without any form of discomfort.
7. The kennel should be preferably be located near the residence of the owner.
8. The floor should be made of concrete in such a way so that cleaning ia easily done. It should dry quickly.

       KENNEL DIMENSION/BREED.

Small Breed: length 100 cm, width 75 cm, height 70 cm.

Medium Breed: Length 150 cm, width 100 cm, height 100 cm.

Large Breed: Length 250cm, width 200 cm, height 150cm.

          KENNEL MANAGEMENT

1. The floor of the kennel should be kept clean, neat, dry, and tidy.

2. It should be washed frequently with detergent. Sanitizer like Lysol  dettol can be used.

3. The kennel should be kept free from ticks, lice, flea e.t.c, through periodical use of insecticide and fly repellant spray. (Use under Vet. Or Specialist inspection). Note: overdose of the insecticide can lead to an instant death of your dog. Therefore, during such operation  the dog should be removed to some other places, so that it does not inhale or lick the insecticide.

4. Air fresher can be used to prevent doggy smell of the house.

FEEDING AT VARIOUS STAGES OF DOGS LIFE

Dogs consumes many time of it own weight in food during a year. When dogs are sick and especially when there is a rise of body temperature, appetite may fall partially or completely.
Food is required to maintain a mature, resting dog at a definite weight. Food should not be provided in excess so that the dog does not become obese.

Weight of Dog (kg)
Daily Requirement of Foods (g)

2.5
250

5.0
450

10
650

15
900

20
1.1kg

30 above
1.5kg

FEEDING AT PREGNANCY STAGE

Nourished feeding is very important during pregnancy stage. Malnourished bitch may produce underdeveloped, diseased or dead pup. The cause of premature death of pups may be directly linked up to the health of the bitch.
Pregnant bitch should be fed with food containing a balance diet. Abnormal foetus may be born due to improper and inadequate nutrition. From two (2) weeks onward the food of pregnant bitch should be gradually increased in protein such as meat should be the major component of the diet but not in excess.
The food should be appetizing, nutritious, none bulking and easily digestible. A bitch may be off fed in the last few days of pregnancy. In such case, liquid food and water should be made available.
Iron and Calcium (not in excess) are to be supplemented along with Vitamin B to minimize the stress of gestation.

FEEDING AT LACTATION STAGE

The bitch may remain off fed for sometime after whelping. During this period frequent small meals and liquid diets are to be provided, few bitches may consume little food during the first 24 to 48 hours after whelping, and in about 3weeks after whelping their appetite to all nutrients increase sharply.
The bitch should be provided with at least three times it maintenance ration while the sucking pup attains 3 weeks of age. During this entire period adequate Calcium, Phosphorus and Vitamin D must be fed. It is a good practice to offer evaporated milk or meat daily during the period of lactation.
When pups have a normal locomotion at 3-4weeks, they should be encouraged to eat food other than the bitch’s milk.
As weaning progress starting limiting the food intake of the bitch so to less problem that might develops at the time of complete weaning.
Any sudden decrease in appetite during early lactation may be due to certain metabolic or infection disease. Hypocalcaemia, eclampsia and mastitis and she should be taken to a Vet for as quick medical attention.

FEEDING PUPS

Immediately after opening their eyes at 12-14days of life pups crawls towards their mother’s food.
At 3 weeks, pups start to lick their mother’s solid food, in this period of life, pup derive their nutrition from the milk of their mother. By 6th week, they are weaned by their mother and the tendency to eat solid foods develops gradually.
Young pups grow firstly by increasing the size of the bones and secondly by development of the organs and muscles at age of 10-12 weeks. The first food offered to pups should be finely minced and should contain good sources of calcium and phosphorus together with Vitamin D.
The following foods are useful; Milk, Cheese, cooked meat or fish. Cod liver oil should also be given; boiled egg shell along with egg can be fed as this supplies additional calcium.
Warm foods are delicious in taste and this helps in the release of aroma of food which increases it palatability.
5(five) daily feeds may be given to the pups of as much as can be cleared up in about 5 minutes, uneaten food should be removed each time. The first 8 weeks of such feeding are very important and should see substantial growth of the puppies by observing the height of the dog at the shoulder, as well as regular weighing.

FEEDING OF ORPHAN PUPS

Dog breeders or Dog owners frequently face the problem of hand rearing of orphan or premature/weak puppies from litter in which bitch’s milk is insufficient for adequate growth. Motherless pups’ needs careful nursing and feeding without there may be colossal death rate. The pups should be kept in cage from draft and as conform table as possible. The difficulties of rearing orphas pups depend upon the age at which the dam has been loss. The pups should be placed on a warm clothes absorbent cotton or on Turkish towel. Daily feeds of milk substitute, using evaporated cow’s milk or goat’s milk, modified  by the addition of lime water, dibasic calcium phosphate, egg yolk. e.t.c  or the following ingredients may be made available to pups.
MILK SUBSTITUTE -Cow Milk 800ml
Cream200ml
Egg yolk 1
Steammed Bonemeal 6g
Vitamin A2000 I.U
Vitamin D500 units
Citric Acid4g
The above food should be made warm to the level of body temperature. For Pups, up to 3 weeks of age should be fed 6 times a day then up to 5 times a day until the pups start eating solids.
This should be given from a clean eye dropper or small feeding bottle at 2-3, or 4 hours interval.

FEEDING OF BREEDING STOCK

Stud dogs need better food and care, foods such as liver which are useful source of iron, copper and the Vitamin B complex as well as protein should be given regularly, this also applies to the bitch.
It should never be fed to attain maximal weight for its age but rather for ideal size for its age, for the particular breeding. When first signs of heat noted, the bitch’s total daily feed intake should be increased to 5-10% above maintenance level.
Ref: Dogs Their Care and Treatment (Chakrabarti, Amalendu)
Ref: All about Dogs (Dr. Y.G Yaba)

DOGS NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Dog’s nutritional requirements are similar to that of man except the need of vitamin C. For dogs make their own vitamin within their own body.
Meat is the most important component of dog’s diet. Red meat containing muscle should not be considered as a complete food as it fails to provide enough of calcium resulting to bone diseases in young dogs. Muscle meat is an excellent source of good quality protein and appreciable quality of fat, and Vitamin B but deficient in Vitamin A and Calcium.
Raw meat is mostly unsafe because it contains parasitic worms, cyst, toxin or harmful micro-organism. Cooked meat is safe and less likely to cause digestive upset.

REQUIREMENT OF CARBOHYDRATE

Dogs can make use of the same carbohydrate as man, and there is no evidence that they develop any specific disease as a result of eating them. It is belief that starch/sugar leads to skin diseases when dogs are kept totally on carbohydrate diet, because such a diet lack most common vitamins and calcium.
Excess carbohydrate is store in liver and muscles as glycogen, carbohydrate provide glucose for about six (6) hours after each meal. Most common carbohydrates are rice, wheat, corn, oat and other cereals. Dogs can digest some raw starch, but they usually develop diarrhea and gas if they eat too much of it, due to fermentation of undigested starch in the large intestine.
Diarrhoea is often caused if a dog is fed a dry feed containing 5 per cent skim milk.

REQUIREMENT OF PROTEIN

Meat is the principal source of protein in the diet of dogs. They also get their supply of protein from eating plant foods, animal proteins are more complete than plant protein. However, dog may maintain prefect health on plant protein e.g. soy bean.
Dogs can digest and absorb only about 4/5 of the protein in the usual feed and 1/5 of the protein is excreted in the faece of dogs. Egg protein has the highest biological value and the value being scored as 100. Meat, liver, kidney, and Milk have proteins of high biological values whereas plant proteins have low biological values.
It has been seen that feeding of raw eggs is often followed by vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, when raw egg is fed to dogs it is often found in the stools and at the same time the dog suffer from diarrhea. Single egg in dog weighing 5 to 7kg produces no ill effect but two (2) given at a time will result in soften faece and 4 to 5 eggs will result to diarrhea.
The effect of raw egg is usually noticed 8 to 20 hours and 30 to 50 per cent of the raw egg can be seen from the faece. Boiled egg remains in the stomach for 2 to 3 hours until it digested.
Excess Fish Meal create bad odour in the faece of dogs and large amount of beans, even soya bean will result to the formation of gas and bad odours.
The recommended amount for an adult dog is 4.8mg/kg body weight/day. The requirement for growing puppy or lactating bitch will be twice the amount because the demand for food in this stage is two times greater. Puppies grow well on 20 per cent protein.
NOTE: Protein in excess should not be fed to dog, excessive protein may not be harmful in dog having normal renal function but in renal inefficiency it will be dangerous and if kidney is damage, urea would be accumulated resulting to accumulation of nitrogenous waste.
COMPOSITIONS OF MEAT OF VARIOUS ANIMALS
Animal
Protein/100grams
Fat/100grams
Minerals /100grams

Chicken
20.6
4.3
0.27

Beef
22.6
2.8
1.0

Pork
18.7
4.4
1.0

Source: Wealth of India, 1970

COMPOSITION OF MILK OF VARIOUS ANIMALS
Animal
Water
Protein
Fat
Sugar
Ash

Cow
97.4
3.4
3.8
4.8
0.8

Goat
84.1
4.0
6.0
5.0
0.8

Bitch
78.8
6.8
8.5
4.1
0.5

Source: Black Veterinary Dictionary

REQUIREMENT OF FAT
Fat is the essential source of energy and also act as insulation in the body of dog, but overfeeding of dog with feed containing excess fat will shortening it lifespan.
If a dog is too fat, fat should be restricted to small amount in the diet, but if the dog is thin , about 10%  of fat should be added to it diet. Dry feed are usually kept low in fat because they tend to become Rancid. Fatty food becomes rancid when it is exposed under oxidation. Rancid food should not be fed to dogs as it may destroy Vitamin A and E, and other nutrients. Continuous feeding of rancid fat may produce skin lesions, impair reproductive efficiency or may lead to muscular dystrophy, rashes soon spread over the body and ulcer formation and accompanied by loss of appetite. After period of constipation there severe diarrhea and the dog die.
The source of essential fatty acids e.g. corn oil or lin seed oil, palm oil, vegetable oil.

REQUIREMENT OF MINERAL

Minerals are required to preserve structural, functional metabolic and osmotic equilibrium in various activities during growth and reproduction. The skeleton of a dog contains more than 99% of all calcium found in its body.
Most of the skeleton is formed during the first nine (9) months of it life. Old dogs need more calcium in their diet than young ones since the maintenance of the skeleton is one of the major problems for dogs.
Dogs need various inorganic elements to build it body. These are Calcium, Sodium (salt), Potassium, Iron, Copper, Magnesium, Cobalt, Iodine, and Zinc.

MINERAL REQUIREMENT OF DOGS
FOR
GROWTH AND ADULT MAINTENANCE
Minerals
Growth
Adult

Calcium
320mg
119mg

Phosphorus
240mg
89mg

Potassium
240mg
89mg

Sodium
30mg
11mg

Iron
1.74mg
0.65mg

Source: Ref: Dogs Their Care and Treatment (Chakrabarti, Amalendu)

SOURCES OF MINERALS
Minerals
Source

Calcium
Bone, Milk, Corn, Soya, Cheese

Phosphorus
Bone, Milk, Corn, Meat. Wheat

Sodium Chloride
Salt, Fruits, Cereal

Magnesium
Cereals, Bone, Green vegetable

Iron
Soya, Wheat, Cereals, Meat, Eggs.

Copper
Soya , bean, Meat

Manganese
Food

Zinc
Foods, Cereal, Meat

Iodine
Soya, Dairy product

Selenium
Cereals, Soya, Fish, Meat

Ref: Dogs Their Care and Treatment (Chakrabarti, Amalendu)

VITAMINS

Vitamins are needed to run the vital functions of the body. Dogs need most of the vitamins, with the exception of Vitamin C which is synthesized within their bodies.
Vitamin A
Liver, kidney, Milk, Egg yolk, Fish oil are good sources of vitamin A.
Vitamin A is essential for the production of visual purples in the retina which are necessary for vision in dim light. A deficient diet causes poor growth, lacrymation, eye lesion, skin lesion and bone abnormalities.
Marginal deficiency may lead to retarded growth, diarrhea, nasal discharges, bitches may fail to come into heat and sterility in males (dogs).
Excessive feeding of Vitamin A (hypervitaminosis) may cause weight loss, abnormal bone formation (bowy legs) due to decalcification of bone and enlarged joints.
The dietary needs of vitamin A is 500 U.I/ 100grams of diet. For growing pups it may be 200 U.I/kg body weight. Cod liver oil contains about 600 U.I of Vitamin A per gram. The dog may be fed 0.5 to 10ml of cod liver oil.

Vitamin E
Egg yolk, Milk, Corn, Cereals and Vegetables are good sources of Vitamin E.
Vitamin E prevents rancidity of fat and stabilizes vitamin A in food.
Deficiency of Vitamin E in dog causes reproductive failure and muscular dystrophy. The requirement of Vitamin E for a dog is 5 U.I/ 100gram of diet /day.

Vitamin K
In healthy dog dietary supplementation of vitamin K is not required. Vitamin K may be required after prolonged antibacterial therapy or in chronic intestinal dysfunction.
Sources of Vitamin K are liver, fish meal soya bean and yeast. Deficiency of Vitamin K will impair prothrombin formation, prolonged clotting time and haemorrhage.

Vitamin D
Dietary source of Vitamin D are fish liver oil, egg yolk, milk. Sunlight is essential for the synthesis of vitamin D.
Vitamin D helps in the absorption and metabolism of calcium and phosphorus. Deficiency signs in pups are ricket and stunted growth.

Vitamin B
Cereals, Whole grains, yeats, liver and meat. Deficiency of thiamine may lead to loss of appetite, muscular weakness, and nerve degeneration. There may be stunted growth, heart failure and death.

Vitamin C
Dogs in normal health do not require any dietary source of Vitamin C. Deficiency of Vitamin C, dogs develop oral lesion, and retarded wound healing.

REQUIREMENT OF WATER

Requirement of water in dogs depends on the types of food, environmental temperature, amount of exercise and the physiological state.
Dog should have access to water supply at all times. The water requirement per kg of body weight for a dog is about 70ml provided the food offered is dry.

WATER REQUIREMENT OF DOG AS PER BODY WEIGHT
Weight of Dog
Water required per dog

15kg
355ml

25kg
709ml

35kg
1093ml

45kg
1448ml

Ref: Dogs Their Care and Treatment (Chakrabarti, Amalendu)
Ref: All About Dogs (Dr. Y.P.S Dabas)

GUIDANCE NOTES ON RABIES

Rabies is highly fatal infectious viral disease of dogs, cat, sheep, wild carnivores e.g Foxed, Wolves coyotes, Jackals, while bats act as reservoirs, and may be contacted by man and warm-blooded animals through the bite of an infected animal.
   When a rabid dog or other rabid animsl bited a person or other animal, thr virus usually present in the saliva of a rabid animal will produce symptoms of rabies in the bitten animal or person within 2-3 days. If adequate treatment are not taken.


IDENTIFICATION OF RABID ANIMAL

In the furious form; the animal will be very furious charging and biting every object that come it way. E.g humans, tree and other animals.
Roaming aimlessly about with protuding tougue accompained with drooling saliva.
Staggering gait due to paralysis of the leg.
The animal remains quiet and may not respond to calls
Affected animal usually refuse to eat and drink water.


DEALING WITH A SUSPECTED CASEa


INITAL ACTION: The decision as to whether or not suspicion of rabies exist is one which the Vet. Surgeon must make, having taken into account the case history and the clinical signs seen.

   Suspicion case of rabies should be reported to either Veterinary officer or Local Authority (i.e Diseases of Animals Inspector). It is therefore advisable to have the telephone numbers of Divisional Veterinary Officer of the State Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food or Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources.
     The owner or person in charge of the suspected animal should be advised by the Vet. That rabies is suspected, and steps must be taken to detain and isolate the animal and that it will be necessary for an official enquiry ( by a Ministry Veterinary Officer) to be carried out. In advising the owner of the suspicion of rabies, a vet. Should use his/her discretion regarding the amount of information to be given, bearing in mind the need to avoid creating over-reaction. Arrangements must be made to detain and isolate the suspected animal in some escape-proof accommodation in order to prevent any further contact with other animals or humans. On no account must a suspected animal be moved away from the house or practice premises on which it has been examined until such a time as the Ministry Veterinary Officer has completed his/her enquiry.
   Where the suspected animal is encountered in the consulting room, it should, ideally be confined in a suitable kennel or crate inside a locked room; at least it should be secured by a strong chain and dept separate from all other animals.
   Where the suspected animal is encountered at a house call, detention and isolation may be move difficult to achieve but the same principle applies in that the animal must be detained in some escape - proof accommodation. Each vet. Should have an efficient " dog-catcher" and kept at the practice premises and readily available at all times.
   Having satisfactorily detained and isolated the suspect animal, the Vet. And any other person having handle it should carry out a through personal disinfection. Hands should be well washed with soap and hot water, or a detergnet and hot water.
  Additionally, if clothing or overalls have become contaminated with discharges from the suspected animal, these should be changed before proceeding to exmaine any other animal; all such clothing should be thoroughly sterilised before use, as should all equipment which has been used on the animal.


BITING OR SCRATCHING INCIDENTSb

If anyone is bitten or scratched by the suspected animal immediate local treatment is of paramount importance. Washing and flushing of the wound with soap or detergent and water, then by flushing with water alone is imperative, followed by the application of either 40-70% alcohol, tincture of aqueous solutions of iodine or 0.1% quarternanium ammonium compounds.

 Cetrimide BP is the best known quarternary compound in general use and is available under the trade names of Savlon and Cetavlon.

CONTACT ANIMALS: The names and addresses of clients along with descriptions of their animals which may have come into direct contact with the suspect animal ( in the waiting room) should be carefully recorded before they are allowed to leave the practice premises. Where an animal has been bitten or scratched by the suspected or has come into contact with its saliva then this animal should, whatever possible, be detained at the practice premises to await the outcome of the Ministry's Veterinary Staff will asses the need for future action in respect of exposed animals according to the nature and degree of contact and will refer all human contact to the Medical Officer of Environmental Health should the suspected animal die from rabies, then all close contact, including those animal which might have been bitten by the dead animal prior to death, will be liable to be destroyed. Other animals which have been in remote contact would be subjected to restriction for a period of six months.

Prevention and Control of Rabies

Vaccinate your dog(s) annually.
Report promptly any case of a dog or other animal bite to a Vet. Or Medical doctor.
All Vet. And Animal handlers should unfailing receive pre-exposure shot anti -rabies vaccination regularly.
Stay away from bats.

Ref: a,b-The Henston Veterinary Vade Mecum.