A puppy has to have a set number of vaccinations over a period of several weeks in order to help his immune system recognise and ward off infections that could cause him to have a serious illness. A new puppy is not allowed out in a park, or anywhere outside their new home, until he has had his full set of injections.

Many of the infections that a puppy or an adult dog can contract are run of the mill and are easily treatable. However, a pet who has received all his vaccines stands a much better chance of fighting off these diseases.

When a puppy is six weeks old, vaccine is administered, and then repeated two weeks later. A booster vaccine is required once a year to keep a dog’s immune system in good order.

Some of the worst diseases that can be contracted by a dog are (more…)

It can be difficult to pinpoint the original cause of diarrhoea in a dog, which is brought on by an upset digestive system. One well known cause of diarrhoea in a dog is a change of pet food; it is not advisable to suddenly give your dog new pet food.

Easing him into his new pet diet over a couple of days will help his digestive system to accept new ingredients in the food. You should do this by mixing his new food with his old food, gradually increasing the mix so that the levels of new food increase.

Sometimes a dog that is out in the park or running through woodland will stop and chew on a twig or pick up a stone, thinking it is food. If he swallows it (as dogs often do) this can cause him to have a problem until it passes through his system.

A serious condition, and cause of diarrhoea, is your pet having a parasite, a roundworm or maybe a whip worm, if this is the case your vet will be able to assist.

Also if you allow a dog to play with an empty container that has held certain chemicals, he may have an allergic reaction.

More often than not, a dog that has diarrhoea will still play with his toys and eat and drink, if he is listless then you should take him to a vet. The main symptom of diarrhoea is a soft watery stool, although this should clear up within 24 hours. If your dog continues to have this problem, along with a rumbling stomach and ‘gas’, it is important you take him to his local vet straight away.

Doggie tip: boil some chicken or rice, feed him some of the meat with a little of the boiled water and reduce the size of his portions of biscuits to half for a couple of days, this action will calm his digestive system.

Sometimes a new owner of a puppy will ask why their pet has to have a set of vaccinations when the dog is obviously fit and healthy.

The answer to this question is that although he may look fit and healthy at the moment, bacteria and other diseases can attack his vulnerable immune system causing illness, which in some cases could lead to death. A puppy that has had his vaccines has an immune system that is better prepared for any infections, in some cases preventing and blocking them altogether.

Also, a puppy’s health can break down. However a puppy that has had his vaccinations will have had a good start after being fed on its mother’s milk.

The schedule of puppy vaccinations should start within a couple of days of bringing your puppy home. He should not be allowed out until after he has had (more…)

If you are a dog owner and you’ve noticed that his nails are catching on the carpet in the living room and you are worried about trimming them, here is some helpful information on taking care of him and cutting his nails.

When looking to cut your dog’s nails, the length of nails can vary according to his lifestyle. For instance, a dog that has plenty of exercise walking on a hard surface (such as a road or pavement) may not need his nails cutting very often as they will be worn down naturally by stone or cemented pathways.

If you take your dog to the beach, walk them on grass, in a park or nearby waste land then it becomes important to have a dog groomer or a vet clip his nails as they can start to curl, causing him much discomfort.

Why not ask your vet to show you the procedure of (more…)