Holly is a 2 and a half year old cavachon.

At around 6 months old Holly started scratching excessively. So much so that she regularly caused her skin to bleed and become infected.
A change of food for a few weeks made no difference so blood samples were taken for skin allergy testing.

Results confirmed that Holly is extemely sensitive as to what she eats – she is allergic to beef,chicken, lamb, turkey and amazingly not to pork. The indoor allergy tests confirmed her intolernce to house dust mites.
Treatment has vastly improved Hollys itchiness but has not cured it.
This is what we regularly find at The Animal Hosptal, Tallght – we can manage but not cure skin allergies.

The main treatment that Holly is getting – on an ongoing basis – is a special low allergy food. Her owner has also purchased a high powered Dyson Pet hoover to keep dust mites to a minimum.

TIP – if your dog is scratching excessively from a young age – initially try a food change to see if that helps.

Does your pet have bad breath?

This isn’t just unpleasant for you – it can be unhealthy for them. Up to 80% of dogs and 70% of cats that do not receive proper dental care, may show signs of dental disease by the age of 3.

Signs include

• Bad breath
• Red gums
• Problems eating/ picking up toys
• Excess salivation
• tooth decay/ tooth loss
• Pawing at the month

To avoid your pet having to have a dental at the vets, which involves a full general anesthetic please read out tips

• Take advantage of food, treats and toys – look for specially formulated foods and treats for dental care. Chewing is a national way to remove tartar from the teeth. 
• Check your pets mouth weekly for any of the signs of dental disease.
• Brush your pets teeth – at least once or twice weekly. This should be park of your dogs routine. Only use specific animal toothpaste and never human paste.
• Ideally start young, get your pet used to it before they are 6 months old.

A) From September 1st 2015, all pups MUST be microchipped, registered and certified. This must be done either by the time they are 12 weeks old or before they leave the property on which they were born. In fact, it is illegal to sell, supply, buy or take ownership of a pup that does NOT have a certificate of microchip.

B) All of the above applies to ALL dogs from March 31st 2016.

As an owner you must ensure that all the details on the database are always correct and up to date. If changes occur, the database must be informed of these, eg address, contact number etc. These changes are then recorded on your new certificate.

Many of you will have dogs that were microchipped before the start of these regulations and may be asking yourselves what happens now? For a start, they do not need to be microchipped again, but you must assure:

• that your dogs details are stored on an approved database.
• the details are correct
• a new certificate is issued by the database.

The main reasons for these changes are to reduce Ireland’s stray dog population and to try to eliminate puppy farming.

Foe more information, or to answer any of your questions, please contact one of the team at The Animal Hospital on 01-4515930 or email us at vet@animalhospital.ie

Please note these regulations do not apply to cats.

Pets become overweight when they eat more calories than they are using up. If your animal companion is plump, think food intake being the problem rather than lack of exercise.

Food type and quality is so important. A lap dog with little exercise does not need a high energy content active food. Feed only as per food guidelines and do not allow ad lib feeding.

Humans are one of the main cause of obesity in pets, in my opinion. Rarely is it a disease process (like cushings disease or hypothyroidism). Treats from the owner are a major contributing factor. They should be reduced to a minimum or cut then out completely if you want your pet to lose weight.

Breed disposition – This is definitely a factor. Labradors and golden retrievers, in my experience, are more prone to becoming overweight.

Spaying and neutering – Male and female hormones drops after pets are spayed or neutered. As a result, energy needs decrease, so do not feed the same amount as intact dogs.

Problems caused by obesity – In the Animal Hospital, we find that obese animals are more prone to ;

• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Damage to joints, bones and ligaments
• Heart disease and increased blood pressure
• Various health disorders and breathing problems
• And most importantly a decreased quality and length of life.

The Animal Hospital would like to nominate Bruno as our Slimmer role model for July 2015 . Slimmer of the month Bruno, is a 7 year old male Boxer. He was diagnosed with arthritis of the spine last year. At that point he was 48kg. He was placed on a weight reduction program and with the help of his dedicated owner, he weighed in this week at just over 40kg. He achieved this by cutting out treats and reducing his calorie intake. Impressive! Bruno is now more fit and active  and his quality of life has greatly improved and he no longer needs pain meds…….

Before weight loss at 47kg

After weight loss at 40kg

Well done Bruno!!! July Slimmer of the month! 

1. 1.       Be sharp-eyed. Now is the time to keep an eye on what your pet is eating. Sneaky feeds from the kids can help your pet pile on the pounds without realising it. Not to mention not knowing what human foods can be dangerous. Letting your children know why overfeeding can become a problem for your pet; will help them watch the amount they give during the course of the day.

1. 2.       Get them on the move. The festive season was all about staying in and enjoying family time. The New Year is all about getting out with the family, which includes your pet. Don’t let the cold scare you back inside, having longer walks, or playing in the park for a couple more minutes helps you both burn off a few extra calories!

1. 3.       Keeping count. It isn’t as tedious as it sounds. If your furry friend is eating a full daily calorie allowance in kibbles, plus getting another round of calories in treats, snacks and goodies, it ends up being too much food. By simply adjusting amounts as needed, can be one of the simple fixes you use to help manage your pet’s weight loss.

1. 4.       Portion control. When it comes to food, try to measure the correct amount of daily kibbles according to the package instructions, size, age and lifestyle. If they are a bit on the chubby side, just measure out slightly less. Instead of feeding it all at once, break it up into breakfast, dinner and post play treats or treats here and there. They won’t even notice your managing their food portion.

1. 5.       Attention doesn’t mean feed them. Just because they look like they’re begging for your food, doesn’t mean they want it. Most of the time, your pet just really wants your tender loving care and attention. So instead of giving your pet some of your dinner- especially if they have just been fed- try a pat on the belly, or scratch behind the ear. Even a little indoor play time wouldn’t hurt.

If you have any concerns about your pet’s health or are worried that they are severely overweight, always seek veterinary advice before starting a weight loss programme.

For more about Hill’s Pet Nutrition and how they can help you manage your pet’s weight through their food range speak to your vet, or you can also visit www.hillspet.ie.