DOG CARE-----COMPILED BY VIVEK JHA

VACCINATION:

Basic Vaccination Scheme following the INTERNATIONAL OFFICE OF EPIZOOTICS based on principles laid down by expert committee of WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

Imp note:

1) Do not take the pup out of the house if not vaccinated2) Pups should be dewormed atleast a week before vaccination3) Pups with ecto or endoparasites should not be vaccinated4) Sick animals having fever or any other ailment should not be vaccinated till fully cured

Lethal diseases for which dogs should be vaccinated :

1) Canine DISTEMPER :Early symptoms are cough and cold but later develop severe complications like brain damage and nervous fits

2) Canine HEPATITIS : Causes liver damage3) Canine LEPTOSPIROSIS : Two forms 1: Leptospira Canicola –rare but lethal 2:Leptospira

Icterohaemorrhagiae-picked from Rats causes Weil’s disease in humans4) Canine PARVOVIRUS: Lethal ,causes heart damage and severe Gastroentritis

Vaccination Scheme:

a) RABIES i) 1st Shot should be given at age of 3 months ii) Revaccination every year

Recommended brands (If available) : NOBIVAC-R of US Company INTERVET

RABISIN-R of French Company RHONE MEREIUX

**b)DISTEMPER,HEPATITIS,LEPTOSPIROSIS AND CORONA (I) 1ST Vaccination at the age of 7-9weeks

(ii) 2nd Vaccination at 12-14 weeeks

**c)PARVO,PARAINFLUENZA AND ADENO VIRUS (i) One Vaccine after 7weeks

**If recommended mixture of VANDGUARD 5 +LEPTOFERM C1 (company SmithKline Beecham) is available then only one Shot at age 10-12 weeks will suffice for b) and c)

Some Useful Handy Tips:

1) Do not keep the pup on floor till 5 weeks old2) At 5-6 weeks age pup requires 4-5 feeds a day with semi solid mashed food e.g. Cerelac3) At 3-6months more solid food should be given 3times (Morning,Midday and Evening)4) Minced meat/properly cooked Entrails from the butcher(optional) can be introduced in 3rd mth5) 6months onwards only Two feeds (Morning,Evening) is sufficient6) Deworming treatment should be carried out as early as 6-7weeks and repeated after every

15days to a month : Recommended brand –Expent (8ml) or Praziplus 1tab or Albomar 1 full course .DEWORMIS USED FOR HUMANS SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN AS IT MAY REACT

7) Too much bathing of dog is not recommended.Bathe every 10days in Summer and 15-20days in Winter,always use luke warm water and soft soap (NO DETERGENT BASED SOAP TO BE USED) . Recommended : SKEEN,PETMOSOL,DETTOL .BUT best result is obtained from CANIFUR dog shampoo

8) Ticks and Fleas are real problem esp. during summers to rains .Use some good antitick powder .Recommended : NOTIX (Petcare)

9) Chaining of Dogs makes them uncontrollable or angry or both.Such dogs do not react well to any training.So they should be chained less frequently.To train them to be good guard put them inside a room whenever any strangers come,do this for atleast 4-5mths starting from 3-4months of age and you will have a good controlled guard dog.Use females are better guard dogs

10) Generally dogs are not given any sweet or salty or oily food which can cause serious skin damage.But remember to add a pinch of salt in the drinking water to compensate the loss of body salt by Panting which is natural way of body heat regulation in dogs.

11) Training should start as early as 3-4months and advanced training like sniffing ,trailing etc after 1yr of age..first of all a confidence should be built up between the dog and owner.The punishment should be given immediately after mischief and not long time after the deed.The punishment differs from dog to dog .To some a stern and loud ‘NO’ or any other monosyllabic word is sufficient.To some a tap on the noseby a “Newspaper Roll” conveys the anger and to some nothing less than a hard wack is effective.For training usually small words like “SIT”,”GO”,”NO”,”STAY” is used as these tones are easy for the dogs to distinguish.

12) To train to “SIT” …gently pat on the back and say SIT and immediately give a reward e.g NUTRIBIX or MARIE after successful execution of command.

13) Furry dogs shed hair periodically,so daily brushing for atleast 5minutes with a DOG BRUSH keeps their hair shining,helps remove entanglement and also removes dead hairs and skin.Brushing also improves digestion.

14) All dogs need regular walks,proper living conditions and above all little love and care.

Handling Diseases :

First sign of sickness needs immediate consultation of Vet

Following preliminary exam will be helpful before going to vet

a)Age b) Place where acquired c) Vaccination (brands used) d) Illness/Symptom when first noticed e) any thinkable contributing factor f)diet g) Any increase or decrease in thirst h)any human illness in the family i) consistency of urine and faeces

MINOR AILMENTS AND FIRST AID TREATMENT: The owner should not give any internal medicine without consultation from a qualified vet

1) WOUND : Cut the surrounding hair and apply FURACIN VET(Nitrofurazone)2) ACCIDENT/INJURY: Cover the wound with clean cloth,sips of glucose should be given till vet

arrives.If the patient has to be moved do it on a stretcher(a good and strong blanket makes a good stretcher),bleeding maybe arrested using direct pressure.

3) TORN NAILS OR CUT PADS:Should be cleaned with TCP(Dettol) and then any antiseptic cream applied and bandaged .The bandage should be covered with elastoplasts to prevent the dog from tearing the bandage.

4) INTERDIGITAL CYST:Small abcess between fingers .Mild cases may be cured by standing the foot in dil. TCP or WOKADINE ,if swelling not reduced in 24hrs consult vet

5) FITS : may occur due to complication in disease,medicine contradication.May vary from mild head shaking and tremor to classic fit with racing limbs and unconsciousness.Get the dog in peaceful dark place,give a soothing tablet and call the vet

6) JAUNDICE : Yellow tinge to eye and other unpigmented areas.Consult vet.7) HERNIA: Some pups are born with umbilical hernia This is of no consequence if it does not grow.8) NEPHRITITIS:Copious amount of pale urine,inc in thirst vomiting and weight loss.Consult vet9) MANGE:Intense scratching ,bald red patches.Bathe in ECTODEX10) FUNGAL/ECTOBACTERIAL INFECTION:Bald reddish or whitish patches.The dog may frequently

bite that patch.Apply WOKADINE and administer a full dose a CEPHALEXIN.11) POISONING:Vomitting ,Convulsions,Uncontrolled action: Try to induce vomiting by PALM

INJECTION or a tablespoon of salt or nut size washing soda.call vet12) SNAKE BITE:Arrest progress of poision by applying a tourniquet(elastic band).Call Vet13) STINGS/WASP BITE:Considerable swelling.Call vet if the sting cannot be removed by you14) TEETH: Deposit of tartar,use the babytooth brush to remove.ask vets help15) DIARRHOEA+VOMIT: REGLAR or PERINORM 1X2,COMSAT 1/2X2,First consult .16) BAD COAT: Use NUTRICOAT or VISORBEN or VIMERAL or any other supplement17) STREET DOG BITE: A full course of RAKHSHA RABIES 1ST DAY,3RD DAY,1ST WEEK,,2ND WEEK,3RD

WEEK,4TH WEEK

18) DOG CHOLERA:Yellow,clear vomit might be frothy,continuous diarrhea ,uneasiness,loss of appetite,weakness,fever. LOMOFEN 1X3,PERINORM 1X3.First consult vet

19) HEART FAILURE: Feel for Heartbeat or pulse ,squeeze the gums and see if the area refills,if it does means heart is still pumping.Call vet immediately.

Dogs live healthy for about 7 to 8 years though well cared for dogs live above this age.Here is a table for you to compare dog’s age to human age

Dog’s Age Multiplier Human Age

2months 7 14months

6 “ 10 5 years

8 “ 12.5 9 “

12 “ 14 14 “

18 “ 13.3 20 “

2yrs 12 24 “

3 “ 10 30”

4 “ 9 36 “

5 “ 8 40 “

6 “ 7 42 “

7 “ 7 49 “

8 “ 7 56 “

9 “ 7 63 “

10” 6.5 65 “

11” 6.5 71 “

12 “ 6.3 75 “

13 “ 6.2 80 “

14 “ 6 84 “

15 “ 5.8 87 “

16” 5.6 89 “

May your best companion live a healthy life…………………………..