Know the teething phase of your puppy
12 Aug 2017 1:36 PM GMT
My puppy just got a vaccine and has been increasingly moody for the last few days. He also has persistent nasal discharge. Is this normal behavior?
Common side effects of vaccination include:
-Sleepy, depressed puppies
-Moodiness
-Non-painful lump at the site of injection
-Nasal or ocular discharge
These symptoms usually clear up themselves however if the nasal discharge thickens or becomes greenish or yellowish, it may be a sign of a bacterial infection. This may require antibiotic medication. However, you need to be careful about an anaphylactic attack. In case of an attack, your dog must be immediately taken to a vet. Often the reaction occurs in the vet clinic (sometimes within seconds of vaccination) or soon after the animal has left the clinic, although it can take up to 24 hours to manifest (so you should keep a close eye on the animal at home). The vet will usually rush the dog straight out to a treatment room, where it will receive oxygen, IV fluids, anti-histamines, adrenaline, anti-inflammatories and sometimes other drugs to aid in the treating of low blood pressure. Never give more than one vaccine at a time. I know of dogs that have died after getting more than one.
What is Milk fever in dogs?
Eclampsia is the correct term even though this aberration in blood calcium levels is often called milk fever. These patients often have a high temperature (104 or higher) from fighting an infection. There will also be continuous muscle tremors and spasms, excitement and panting. This is a very serious problem and has to be considered an emergency so take the dog to a vet at once no matter what the time is.
Most commonly seen in small to mid-sized bitches a few weeks after whelping, this condition should be watched for closely.The most common signs are muscle tremors, restlessness, panting, incoordination, body temperature as high as 106 and seizures.
The causes are: 1. Imbalanced Nutrition
2. Low blood levels of albumen - Dietary protein deficiency or excessive loss from the body of albumen (which happens in some kidney diseases) will cause low levels of calcium in the circulation.
3. Excessive milk production - When pups require large amounts of milk (10 to 30 days post whelping) the bitch's ability to maintain proper amounts of calcium in her blood stream becomes stressed. Milk production has priority over the blood stream for calcium.
When do puppies lose their baby teeth?
Puppy teeth are sharper than adult dog teeth. Unlike humans, dogs usually don't notice or feel the difference when they lose a tooth. Hence the phenomenon often goes unnoticed. The sharper baby teeth make up for a lack of jaw strength while the stronger permanent teeth allow for better positioning and greater durability. Most dogs lose their baby teeth around 3 to 6 months. The teething period can be frustrating; the puppy clamps his mouth on everything he can reach, from body parts to sneakers, in an attempt to relieve the discomfort. Teething can be accompanied by drooling, irritability, and fluctuations in appetite.
In my city, I have seen a person walking 9 dogs at a time, early in the morning and again in the evening. Could they all belong to him?
This is probably a professional dog walker. It is an excellent way to earn extra pocket money. A number of people keep dogs but have no time or energy to walk them. If you offer this service, you could earn money as well save the dogs' lives. Just remember to walk dogs who get on well with each other and not to walk them in the heat. Make sure you have fresh water with you. Also keep a poop bag so that you can pick up their feces and not litter your neighborhood. Many young people all over the world do this.
(Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, MP & Union Cabinet Minister, also an eminent animal rights activist and environmentalist answers Millennium Post readers queries related to animal welfare issues.Views expressed and information provided are personal; Send your questions to manekaanimallove@gmail.com)
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