Charlie had been badly neglected. Once a coat becomes as neglected as this there
may be no alternative to cutting away the matted coat.
An engorged tick, actual size. |
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Grooming and
parasites
As well as keeping them healthy and clean, regular grooming helps to build an
important bond with our animals and at least a small amount needs to be done every
day. After a run your dog needs to be checked all over especially feet, ears and
eyes. Check too for grass-seeds in the ears which can lead to serious injury.
Many dogs are susceptible to ear infections and a healthy ear should be clean
without redness and sweet-smelling.
As well as keeping the coat free of tangles pay attention to claws, particularly
'dew' claws, and remove excessive fur from beneath the feet which can otherwise
lead to lameness.
All dogs pick up parasites from time to time and fleas find our warm, centrally-heated
homes extremely comfortable. The secret to controlling fleas is regular inspection
and early treatment. Flea droppings, tiny black specks often found around the
neck that turn red when dropped onto wet tissue, are a sure sign of fleas.
Flea-sprays are available from vets and pet-shops but all should be used with
great care according to the instructions. If the infestation is severe you will
need another more powerful insecticide for carpets and bedding but this shouldn't
be sprayed directly onto your dog. If your dog is hugged by small children then
'Program', which is given by mouth, or 'Frontline', a spray, are thought to be
the safest but in the UK are still only available from vets.
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An engorged tick, enlarged.
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Any dog that comes in contact with wildlife,
sheep or deer is likely to pick up ticks from time to time. Before attaching themselves,
ticks look rather like tiny spiders but once engorged with blood are a pinkish-grey
colour with bodies the size of a small pea. Although harmless in themselves, ticks
in some parts of the UK now carry the very serious Lyme Disease and should be
removed as quickly as possible. Due to the risk of this disease the old advice
of allowing ticks to drop off by themselves no longer applies. If you inspect
your dog carefully after walks you may spot ticks in the coat before they attach
themselves.
Removal can be easier once they are dead. Cover them with any vegetable oil or
methylated spirit (they breathe through their skins) or spray with flea insecticide.
A possible disadvantage of killing the tick first is the risk that fluids may
be released into the dog's body. Be careful not to squeeze the body of the tick.
To pull them off, grip them as close to your dog's skin as possible with fingernails,
tweezers or special tick-removers sold by petshops; then pull. Try to ensure the
head of the tick is removed as well as the body. Dab with a mild antiseptic and
wash hands afterwards.
'Fox mange' is a serious condition caused by the sarcoptic mange mite. The mite
burrows under the skin and so is extremely difficult to eradicate except with
the powerful insecticides available from vets. If your dog develops reddened or
flaking skin you should consult your vet as quickly as possible.
Every dog needs regular treatment for roundworm, toxocara canis. Tablets
that control both roundworm and tapeworm are available from vets, pet-shops and
chemists. If you have young children the recommendation is to worm your dog every
three months. As a further precaution, all mess should be removed immediately
from the garden or anywhere that children play.
Keeping our dogs healthy makes them safe for everyone that handles them.
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