Lancashire Rescue Bears Canine Health Seminar

Sunday 11th October 2009

Led by Hayley Lane RVN and Mahala Welbourne BVSc MRCVS

Of Vets 4 Pets in Wigan

This is a summary of the salient points which were explained at length during the seminar. We all hope that we will never need to apply this information to our own dogs; but it is always useful to have a little knowledge of these matters with the emphasis always being to take your dog to your vet if you have concerns about him/her - remember that time can be of the essence for some conditions.

Breathing: The normal rate of breathing is 10 – 30 breaths/min dependent upon the level of activity

Temperature:

  • The normal temperature for a dog is 38.3 – 38.7C
  • To take your dog’s temperature – lightly lubricate the thermometer with a gel before tilting it slightly to one side and then insert it into the anus.
  • Insert a small distance only (approximately 1.5cms) for a period of about 1 minute.

Mucous membranes:
  • Check inside the mouth that these are a pinkish colour.
  • If they are white, grey or very red it could be an indication of a problem – your vet can check for this.
  • Be familiar with the ‘normal’ colour for your dog – remember that some Newfoundlands have grey/black markings in the mouth.
  • If the membrane is pressed and then released the capillaries should fill up again in less than 1 second, changing from white to pink – slower than this could indicate a circulation problem.
Poisons:
  • Prevention is better than cure, so try to keep all potential hazards secured away from your dog.
  • Dogs do not know the difference between treats and harmful substances, and their own tablets can have an appealing taste which can lead to ‘overdosing’ if the dog can access them.
  • However some ‘poisons’ cannot be secured e.g. a sting.
  • A wasp/bee sting can cause breathing problems if swelling occurs – apply bicarbonate of soda to a bee sting after removing the sting with tweezers and apply vinegar to a wasp sting.
  • Never use any human medication.
  • Do not induce vomiting if the poison is corrosive.
  • Washing soda crystals or mustard can be used to make the dog sick (dilute 2 tablespoons in water).
  • If in any doubt take the dog to the vet where medication can be administered
  • Telephone the vet prior to leaving home with details of the poison ingested so that in an emergency the vet will be prepared for your arrival, and take a sample of the poison with you e.g. tablets eaten. There is a register of poisons which the vet can access for any unusual poisons, so try to be informative.
Bleeding:
  • Internal bleeding is not always easily diagnosed, but an increased heart rate can indicate an internal bleed; vomiting blood or passing blood in stools are also indicators – if in any doubt contact your vet.
  • External bleeding - venous blood will be a dark red colour which oozes and arterial blood is a bright red colour and ‘spurts’.
  • If bleeding in the stomach the dog could vomit what looks like coffee granules.
First aid treatment:
  • Apply gauze swabs directly to the wound(unless there is a foreign object in the wound)
  • Place cotton wool padding over this
  • Do not remove gauze swabs in heavy bleeds as this will stop the clotting but instead replace the cotton wool.
  • To bandage a wound use Melolin (shiny side next to wound); apply padding; bandage
  • On legs go across a joint to aid anchorage
  • For end of an ear, fold the ear back on itself before bandaging)
Burns & Scalds: dry heat and moist heat:-
  • Cool burn in shower with cold water
  • Keep dog warm
  • Do not apply any thing directly on to the burn or scald (no creams etc)
  • Wrap in towel or blanket
  • Do not dress or clean the wounds except for oil or fat, which should be removed with wet cotton wool
  • If the dog has chewed a battery or equivalent, flush out with water and go to vet ASAP
Heat stroke:
  • Cool dog immediately
  • Water must reach the skin surface
  • Set up a fan
  • Check internal temperature of dog
  • Maintain an airway
  • Stand dog in cold water whilst showering him with cold water (because dogs loose heat through their paws)
  • Ice cubes can be put in mouth
  • Saliva thickens in heat stroke so remove it with cotton wool
Ticks:
  • Ensure your dog is up to date with flea treatment
  • Ticks drop off when full after sucking blood
  • Ticks should be removed with a tick remover tool, ensuring all parts are removed
Vomiting:
  • Foreign bodies can pass through the dog or may get stuck – in which case see your vet
  • If dog vomits but does not pass stools, go to your vet even if the dog seems okay
  • Starve the dog for at least 24hours, but do not allow to become dehydrated – could syringe water into mouth if necessary.
  • Limit access to water – approximately every half hour
Diarrhoea:
  • Ingredients in the same dog foods can vary and this can cause diarrhoea
  • If changing to a different dog food introduce the change gradually
  • Pale stools or blood or mucus in the stools can indicate colitis – go to vet
  • After 24 hours starvation go to a low fat highly digestible and palatable diet e.g. rice & chicken
  • Do not let dog have gastro-intestinal signs for longer than 48 hours – go to vet
Seizures and fits:
  • These can be due to a number of causes – epilepsy, nervousness or excitability, trauma, brain damage, poisoning etc
  • Keep the dog in dark room, no sounds (TV etc) and turn lights off because stimulus can cause more fits
  • Do not touch the dog, but remain calm (very important that dog is kept in calm atmosphere)
  • You can do nothing during a fit
  • Make notes of approximate time and duration of any seizures
  • The dog may be disorientated after a fit and may want food and may follow you around
Eyeball injury:
  • Keep eye protected and moist using a gauze swab in cooled boiled water and make a pad to cover gauze
Ear injuries:
  • Usually it is the ear tip e.g. caught on barbed wire etc
  • Ear flaps bleed profusely – do not be over alarmed by the blood
  • Head bandage is very effective (see earlier notes)
  • Buster collars useful to stop dog scratching dressing,
CPR:
  • Lay dog on right side
  • Neck extended forward and tongue pulled out
  • Clear the airway
Cardiac massage:
  • Use both hands flat, one on top of the other
  • Apply generous pressure to chest wall at 1 second compressions at 10 compression intervals
Mouth to nose resuscitation:
  • Pull tongue forward
  • Grasp muzzle with both hands in order to seal lips
  • Blow air away from your mouth in gentle puffs up the nose with sufficient force to make the rib cage lift

This first aid seminar was delivered by Hayley and was most informative, including ‘hands on’ bandaging session. Thanks to Hayley for this excellent presentation

BLOAT
(also known as GDV (Gastric dilation and volvulus syndrome) or Torsion

The afternoon seminar was delivered by Mahala and included an introduction to the topic by looking at the anatomy of the dog’s stomach. This is a very important topic and the condition can be fatal in dogs, so speed is of the utmost importance – statistics show that 30% of dogs with this condition die.

What is bloat?

It is when the food becomes blocked in the stomach for some reason and the stomach enlarges and twists. The stomach can twist in a number of different positions and because the spleen is alongside the stomach it can also move to the opposite side to its normal position. This can only be determined when the vet operates.

Symptoms of bloat:
These may be seen within an hour of eating
  • Restlessness
  • Arched back indicating abdominal pain
  • Progressively distending abdomen with tympani (a drum like sound when the stomach is flicked with the finger)
  • Non-productive vomiting – possibly with white froth
  • Excess salivation with extreme drooling
  • Raised heart rate - >80 beats /min
  • Lying down and depressed
  • Unusually dark red or pale gums
Causes:
  • More common in large chested dogs - Newfoundland are 9th in list of large chested dogs prone to bloat
  • Could be more common in aged or old dogs; or underweight dogs
  • A relative with GDV
  • Being nervous or stressed
  • Underlying digestive problem
  • Diets/ feeding habits
  • Large intakes of water
  • Gender does not seem to be an issue
  • Often happens after 11pm – but can be at other times
Treatment:
  • GET YOUR DOG TO A VET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
  • Time is of the essence and can be the difference in survival rate.
  • Do not try to make your dog sick or any other ‘treatment’
  • The vet will operate to put the stomach, and the spleen if necessary, back to its normal position. This can be a difficult procedure because of the different ways the organs can move and twist and may take time.
  • The vet will then usually staple the stomach wall to the abdomen to prevent the same problem occurring in the future (a gastropexy)
Prevention:
  • Gastropexy will prevent further occurrences
  • Feed your dog several small meals a day – at least two
  • If your dog eats quickly, reduce the speed of eating by placing something such as a clean large stone or other large object in the bowl
  • Do not use an elevated feeding bowl (this can promote intake of extra air whilst eating) – in the wild, dogs lie down to eat
  • Do not use an elevated bowl for water
  • Restrict exercise before and after eating to gentle exercise
  • Wait for 1 - 2 hours after eating before exercise

Note: Do not breed from dogs with a personal or family history of GDV

Mahala introduced the topic as a “depressing subject”, but her delivery of this difficult topic was superb. Not only were we given all the background information to help us to understand this topic, but also practical advice and guidance to apply with our own dogs.

We hope that by sharing this information with you on our website, it will be useful to you in your life with your own dog. We all hope we will never need to put any of this treatment into action, but at least we now have the elementary knowledge should we need to do so and we have sound advice on how to hopefully prevent the awful condition of GDV.

Dorothy and David Leeah
On behalf of Lancashire Rescue Bears