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Dental Disease

Dermatitis

Diabetes Mellitus

 

Dental Disease

You should brush your dog's teeth as a responsible pet owner, but only if you have started brushing when they are very young and only if they co-operate. There are small fingerbrushes or pet toothbrushes that you can buy as well as 'toothpaste' especially for your pet. Never use human toothpaste as the foaming can panic some dogs, even if they like the minty taste and it may also irritate their stomach if swallowed. The pet form of toothpaste is in the form of a gel ie Logic that contains an enzyme to help break down plaque and control the bacteria responsible for plaque in dogs' mouths. There are others and they are available in all sorts of doggy flavours such as chicken or liver to make it as pleasant as possible for your dog. Most of the brands do not even require brushing - you just add some to their food.

Smaller dogs and especially those with flatter noses suffer more with teeth problems as their teeth tend to be malaligned due to the shape of their faces, they tend to be on soft food diets, they may have sugary snacks as treats and they live longer. The plaque build up can be so bad that it leads to a gum inflammation or gingivitis which is very painful. They will need a full anaesthetic and a dental.

If they are very old, a pre-anaesthetic blood test is usually performed to make sure that there is no liver or kidney damage that could affect their recovery from the anaesthetic. They may return home minus a few teeth as once the plaque is removed, a very fragile tooth usually remains which is better out than left in for more plaque to build up on it. Some small dogs can end up with their tongues hanging out if all their little front incisors were so loose that they needed to be removed. Common in old Yorkshire Terriers.

The plaque also houses all the bacteria. This bacteria can enter the bloodstream and become particularly lethal. It can cause heart, liver or kidney infections. We don't advise dentals on your pet simply because they have halitosis; we advise it as dental disease can be fatal and it will prolong your pet's life to have healthy teeth.

Try to prevent dental complications as far as you can by feeding a good quality dry food with no sugary snacks and get your dog used to having its teeth brushed from an early age.

There are some effective chews available that help mechanically to break down plaque. Remember though that chews can have quite a high calorie content - yes, even those bland looking rawhide chews, so take this into consideration when your dog is on diet too.

Other problems such as growths or abscesses in the mouth as well as renal failure can also result in a reluctance to eat and a smelly breath so have your pet's mouth checked by us and you will have a more amenable dog around for longer.

Arielle Griffiths BVSc MRCVS

 

Dermatitis

The term dermatitis is used to refer to any inflammatory condition of the skin. As such it is not a single disease, but can be part of many disease processes.

What are the signs of dermatitis?

The most consistent signs of dermatitis are scratching and reddening of the skin. Apart from this the signs will depend somewhat on the severity and cause. There may be scabs, sores, crusting, pustules, flaking, oily discharge, discharge, thickening, colour changes (usually darker or redder), hair loss and in extreme cases bleeding.

Causes of dermatitis

There are a great number of causes of dermatitis in dogs. The general groups of causes and some specific causes are listed below.

• Parasites - Mainly fleas – either by number of bites in bad infestations. Mange mites – Sarcoptic Mange (also known as fox mange) is very itchy.
• Flea Allergy – if an animal is allergic to fleas, it only requires very small number to cause a bad reaction as your dog is allergic to the saliva of the flea·
• Food Allergy – also causes itching of the skin ·
• Seasonal Allergies – the dog is sensitive to something that is only around at certain times of year – usually the summer months. Pollens are often responsible.
• Infections - Pyoderma – bacterial infection of the skin. This is often a secondary part of skin disease rather than a primary cause. Scratching damages the barriers that normally prevent bacteria from invading the skin.
• Juvenile Facial Pyoderma – a bacterial infection of the follicles of the face and chin in young dogs of certain breed – particularly Boxers, Bulldogs and Staffordshire Bull Terriers.
• Malassezia – a yeast-like fungus that can infect warm, moist areas of skin.
• Seborrhoea – an abnormal condition of the production of oils on the skin that can be very greasy or cause lots of dry flakiness. Either form can cause irritation and a tendency to skin infections. Common in Yorkshire Terriers.

Treatment

Treatment of dermatitis is a very large area and will vary greatly dependent on the cause of the problem. Typical treatments will include antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drugs in tablets and/or creams and dietary management, accompanied by skin washes and shampoos. Anti-parasitic treatments are used where parasites are involved.

Arielle Griffiths BVSc MRCVS

 

Diabetes Mellitus

So many dogs (and people) are diagnosed with sugar diabetes or Diabetes Mellitus everyday. It always comes as a shock to owners, but it is manageable.

Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which your dog’s pancreas can no longer produce enough of the hormone insulin. Insulin acts like a key in the body that allows glucose (from the food you feed your dog) to enter the cells where it can be used for energy and growth. A lack of insulin results in an abnormally high level of glucose in the blood which is why we take blood samples to measure these levels. Your dog then relies on fat breakdown for its energy which may have toxic by-products that make your dog ill and lethargic.

The first sign you will notice is an increased thirst where your dog will almost finish the entire water bowl and look for more. This is because the glucose in the blood is excreted in the urine. This excess glucose can also result in cataracts or glassiness seen in both eyes.

Your dog will also be constantly hungry as he cannot get the energy he needs from the food, but will lose weight and appear lethargic. Any of these signs must be checked for diabetes. Bring in a fresh urine sample if you make an appointment and are worried about diabetes (collected in a clean saucer and poured into a dry container – only a little is needed), and your dog will need a blood test.

If diabetes is diagnosed, it is controlled by giving artificial insulin by injection. This is the biggest concern that most owners have, but the needles are so tiny that some dogs do not even notice when you are giving it.

It is necessary to spay an entire female as female hormones affect the action of insulin. As so much glucose initially passes into the urine, you are able to measure the glucose in the urine yourself with dipsticks. An easy procedure that would be shown to you. Bacteria thrive in a glucose-rich environment and very often there is a bladder infection to treat with the diabetes.

Once stable, you will need to give the injections in the recommended amounts daily at the same time each day. A good time to give it is when your dog is engrossed in her meal. You will have to feed a recommended amount of low fat, high fibre food and sometimes in 2 meals, but always at a specific time. Fresh water must always be available. Be consistent with the amount of exercise she gets too and make sure there are no stresses in her daily routine. No treats or titbits can be fed.

Should you forget to give the injection by less than 3 hours, it can still be given then. Give the next injection at the usual time. Careful in long-haired dogs to get the needle in the skin, not just in the fur. It may be better to kneel next to your dog than approach from above with your needle – some dogs feel less threatened by this. Only use each needle once as they become blunt.

Dogs that are very overweight can suffer from secondary diabetes. They sometimes do not need treatment with insulin, just a change of diet and a good low-fat diet with no titbits.

Arielle Griffiths BVSc MRCVS