Norwich Terrier puppies and dogs are like children, in that they can find things to get hurt on. "Puppy Proof" your home, and watch for potential hazards continually. Here's a partial list of things which are potentially dangerous to your pet:
Aluminum Foil
When ingested, aluminum foil can cut a dog's intestines, causing internal bleeding, and in some cases, even death.
Plastic Food Wrap
Plastic food wrap can cause choking or intestinal obstruction. Some dogs will eat the plastic wrapping when there are food remnants left coating its surface.
Anti-Freeze
If ingested, anti-freeze (ethylene glycol) is often lethal -- even in very small quantities. Because many dogs and cats like its sweet taste, there are an enormous number of animal fatalities each year from animals drinking anti-freeze. Poisoning from anti-freeze is considered a serious medical emergency which must be treated by a qualified veterinarian IMMEDIATELY.
Poisonous Plants
Dogs (and cats) can become extremely ill or even die from eating poisonous plants. Keep all unknown types of plants and any plants suspected of being poisonous out of reach of your pet, and/or spray with Bitter Apple (for plants).
Christmas Tree Ornaments
When ingested by a dog (or cat), tinsel may cause obstruction of the intestines, and the tinsel's sharp edges can even cut the intestines. Symptoms may include: decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, listlessness and weight loss. Treatment usually requires surgery.
Bones
Bones from steak, veal, pork, turkey or chicken, as well as ribs, can be hazardous to your dog and are not recommended.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains Theobromine which is toxic to dogs. Even an ounce or two of chocolate can be lethal to a small dog (10 lbs. or less). Larger quantities of chocolate can poison or even kill a medium or large dog. Dark and unsweetened baking chocolates are especially dangerous. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include: vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, hyperactivity and seizures. During the holidays chocolate is often accessible to curious dogs, and in some cases, people unknowingly poison their dogs by offering them chocolate as a treat.
Corn Cobs
Many dogs have suffered and, in some cases, died after eating corn-on-the-cob, when the corn cob caused partial or complete intestinal obstruction. Never allow your dog access to corn cobs.
Bloat
Bloat (gastric torsion & stomach distension) is a serious life-threatening emergency which must be treated by a qualified veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. Bloat is relatively common among large and deep-chested breeds, such as Basset Hounds, Dobermans, German Shepherds and Great Danes. Many experts believe that a feeding a large meal within 2 hours of exercise or severe stress may trigger this emergency. Eating quickly, changes in diet, and gas-producing foods may also contribute to this serious condition. Symptoms of Bloat include: unsuccessful retching, pacing, panting, drooling, an enlarged stomach/torso, and/or signs of distress.
Electrocution
Electrical cords can be fatal if chewed on by a dog (or cat). Whenever possible, keep electrical cords out of reach.
Candles
Nothing makes a room nicer than a great scented candle. But beware of wagging tails, or pets which may knock a burning candle over. Not only can they be burned and injured, but could cause a devastating fire.
Hypothermia
When a dog's internal temperature drops below 96 degrees F (by being exposed to cold weather for long periods, or getting both wet and cold), there is a serious risk to the dog's safety. Small and short-haired dogs should wear sweaters or coats when taken for walks during cold winter weather. Any sign that a dog is very cold -- such as shivering -- should signal the owner to bring the dog indoors immediately.
Ice-Melting Chemicals and Salt
Ice-melting chemicals and salt placed across sidewalks and roads can cause severe burning to your dog's footpads. Whenever possible, avoid walking your dog through these substances, and wash off his footpads when you return home.
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Friday, September 19, 2008
Risk for Contagious Disease
Norwich Terrier puppies receive passive immunity from their mother's milk. The antibodies present in the mother's milk help protect puppies from disease and infections for the first few weeks of life. We administer their first vaccination at 5 1/2 wks, so that we may give a 2nd at 8 1/2 wks, before going home. Since the first vaccination is not as effective in contributing to the puppy's primary immunity due to maternal antibodies, the 2nd vaccination is much more effective in building the puppy's primary immune response. The primary immunity is the puppy's own "real" immunity. It is imperative upon taking puppies home after 8-9 wks, that you avoid exposure to strange dogs or areas where dogs frequent such as rest areas, gas stations, dog parks, etc. Puppies should be vaccinated every 3-4 wks until 15-16 weeks of age, and then should receive the rabies vaccine after 12 weeks of age. We recommend waiting until after the 3rd vaccination at 11-12 wks to start puppy obedience classes. Our policy has come about due to sending a puppy home at 8wks with only 1 vaccination, the puppy contracted Parvo after going home, and died within a week. Puppies are much better protected after 2 vaccinations and this is why we now ship puppies after they are 9wks of age, to allow for an immune response from their 2nd vaccine. We use Fort Dodge vaccines against parvo, distemper, adenovirus type II, and parainfluenza. All vets do things differently, but this is my policy formed along with my veterinarian for my dogs and geographic location. Ask your veterinarian about their recommendations based on your geographic location. Some diseases are more prevalent in areas of the country, and your puppy may require additional protection. For example our adults are vaccinated against leptospirosis since it is prevalent in our area.
The Norwich Terrier is prone to vaccine reactions, so it's imperative to ensure your veterinarian is aware of Rabies Vaccine Induced Ischemic Dermatopathy (RVI-ID). Some Norwich have a reaction to the adjuvant ingredient which triggers an auto-immune response. Symptoms may be sores or lesions in the ear, darkening of the ear pigmentation, sores on the tail or feet, dark lumps on the skin, or a lump at the injection site. Symptoms may appear immediately after the rabies vaccination, or may take days or months to be noticable. Allergic reactions to vaccine adjuvants may appear as itching, swelling, difficulty breathing, and need to be treated immediately. It may be helpful to administer Benadryl before vaccinating your Norwich Terrier. Here's an excellent article: http://www.norwichtales.com/coda/rvi_id.html
The Norwich Terrier is prone to vaccine reactions, so it's imperative to ensure your veterinarian is aware of Rabies Vaccine Induced Ischemic Dermatopathy (RVI-ID). Some Norwich have a reaction to the adjuvant ingredient which triggers an auto-immune response. Symptoms may be sores or lesions in the ear, darkening of the ear pigmentation, sores on the tail or feet, dark lumps on the skin, or a lump at the injection site. Symptoms may appear immediately after the rabies vaccination, or may take days or months to be noticable. Allergic reactions to vaccine adjuvants may appear as itching, swelling, difficulty breathing, and need to be treated immediately. It may be helpful to administer Benadryl before vaccinating your Norwich Terrier. Here's an excellent article: http://www.norwichtales.com/coda/rvi_id.html
Norwich Terrier Nutrition
I’ve read about dog nutrition and what brands to recommend to my Norwich Terrier puppy customers. I’ve spoke to my veterinarian, read and researched various diets, including RAW diets, and nothing seemed to make more sense than what I already recommended. It wasn’t until recently when I read 2 articles that were congruent, both scoring beneficial brands of dog foods, and I began searching for a more holistic dog food with quality ingredients.
I knew from previous research that a dog’s diet should contain mainly protein and carbohydrates, with added vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. In looking at a dog food, read the first 3 ingredients, which should contain quality proteins. Corn, wheat, gluten, and soy are generally inferior sources of protein. They are often difficult to digest and to use by the body. They can also cause GI problems. Meat and bone meal can contain an unknown quantity of bone, which is an inferior protein, as well as by-products. Preservatives can be harmful, as well as artificial dyes. Look for powerful health promoting ingredients such as probiotics, antioxidants, chelated minerals, and vegetables.
With this information I found that several foods had been scored by starting with 10 points and deducting 1 point for each unfavorable ingredient or lack of health- promoting ingredients. The scoring for brands that I recommended was as follows: Science Diet: 4, Iams: 5, and Eukanuba: 4. This shocked me as I recommend these premium foods and yet they only scored 4-5 out of 10! The article was published by a holistic food company, so I thought they had published results in their favor to boost their own sales. I continued searching.
Another article scored multiple brands of foods on a scale of 100.
How to grade your dog's food: Start with a grade of 100: 1) For every listing of 'by-product', subtract 10 points 2) For every non-specific animal source ('meat' or 'poultry', meat, meal or fat) reference, subtract 10 points 3) If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points 4) For every grain 'mill run' or non-specific grain source, subtract 5 points 5) If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients (i.e. 'ground brown rice', 'brewers rice', 'rice flour' are all the same grain), subtract 5 points 6) If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points 7) If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points 8 ) If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points 9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points 10) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract 2 points 11) If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources), subtract 2 points 12) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points 13) If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isnt allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points 14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isnt allergic to beef), subtract 1 point 15) If it contains salt, subtract 1 point Extra Credit: 1) If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points 2) If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist, add 5 points 3) If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points 4) If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points 5) If the food contains fruit, add 3 points 6) If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points 7) If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2 points 8 ) If the food contains barley, add 2 points 9) If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2 points 10) If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point 11) If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point 12) For every different specific animal protein source (other than the first one; count 'chicken' and 'chicken meal' as only one protein source, but 'chicken' and '' as 2 different sources), add 1 point 13) If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point 14) If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide-free, add 1 point
94-100 = A 86-93 = B 78-85 = C 70-77 = D
Alpo Prime Cuts / Score 81 C Canidae / Score 112 A Chicken Soup Senior / Score 115 A Diamond Maintenance / Score 64 F Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 92 B Diamond Large Breed 60 Formula / Score 99 A Diamond Performance / Score 85 C Eukanuba Adult / Score 81 C Eukanuba Puppy / Score 79 C Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D Innova Dog / Score 114 A Innova Evo / Score 114 A Innova Large Breed Puppy / Score 122 A Nature’s Recipe / Score 100 A Nature’s Recipe Healthy Skin Venison and Rice / Score 116 A Nature’s Variety Raw Instinct / Score 122 A Nutra Nuggets Super Premium Lamb Meal and Rice / Score 81 C Nutrience Junior Medium Breed Puppy / Score 101 A Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B Nutro Max Adult / Score 93 B Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice / Score 98 A Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Wheat Free / Score 86 B Nutro Natural Choice Senior / Score 95 A Nutro Ultra Adult / Score 104 A Purina Benful / Score 17 F Purina Dog / Score 62 F Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F Purina One Large Breed Puppy / Score 62 F Royal Canin Boxer / Score 103 A Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7 / Score 63 F Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F
(partial list, less common brands ommitted)
I’ve been the most impressed with Canidae dog food which scores A 112. The Life Stages formula is appropriate for Norwich puppies, adults, working, and seniors. Its ingredients are human grade with essential vitamins and minerals and mixed tocopherols as natural preservatives. Its holistic and herbal formula has 4 meat meals in the first 7 ingredients: chicken, turkey, lamb, and fish. The other 2 ingredients in the first 7 are brown rice and white rice. If your dog is sensitive to different meats they also offer single meat formulas. What I like in the life stages formula is that it contains 10 skin and coat conditioners, balanced Omega 6 and 3 Fatty Acids and is also contains guaranteed digestive enzymes.
The next recommendation that I make is whatever you feed your Norwich Terrier, make it convenient. I’ve searched to find that Canidae is only offered through boutiques and select stores. Visit the Canidae website for a store locator.
I knew from previous research that a dog’s diet should contain mainly protein and carbohydrates, with added vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. In looking at a dog food, read the first 3 ingredients, which should contain quality proteins. Corn, wheat, gluten, and soy are generally inferior sources of protein. They are often difficult to digest and to use by the body. They can also cause GI problems. Meat and bone meal can contain an unknown quantity of bone, which is an inferior protein, as well as by-products. Preservatives can be harmful, as well as artificial dyes. Look for powerful health promoting ingredients such as probiotics, antioxidants, chelated minerals, and vegetables.
With this information I found that several foods had been scored by starting with 10 points and deducting 1 point for each unfavorable ingredient or lack of health- promoting ingredients. The scoring for brands that I recommended was as follows: Science Diet: 4, Iams: 5, and Eukanuba: 4. This shocked me as I recommend these premium foods and yet they only scored 4-5 out of 10! The article was published by a holistic food company, so I thought they had published results in their favor to boost their own sales. I continued searching.
Another article scored multiple brands of foods on a scale of 100.
How to grade your dog's food: Start with a grade of 100: 1) For every listing of 'by-product', subtract 10 points 2) For every non-specific animal source ('meat' or 'poultry', meat, meal or fat) reference, subtract 10 points 3) If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points 4) For every grain 'mill run' or non-specific grain source, subtract 5 points 5) If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients (i.e. 'ground brown rice', 'brewers rice', 'rice flour' are all the same grain), subtract 5 points 6) If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points 7) If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points 8 ) If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points 9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points 10) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract 2 points 11) If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources), subtract 2 points 12) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points 13) If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isnt allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points 14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isnt allergic to beef), subtract 1 point 15) If it contains salt, subtract 1 point Extra Credit: 1) If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points 2) If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist, add 5 points 3) If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points 4) If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points 5) If the food contains fruit, add 3 points 6) If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points 7) If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2 points 8 ) If the food contains barley, add 2 points 9) If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2 points 10) If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point 11) If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point 12) For every different specific animal protein source (other than the first one; count 'chicken' and 'chicken meal' as only one protein source, but 'chicken' and '' as 2 different sources), add 1 point 13) If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point 14) If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide-free, add 1 point
94-100 = A 86-93 = B 78-85 = C 70-77 = D
Alpo Prime Cuts / Score 81 C Canidae / Score 112 A Chicken Soup Senior / Score 115 A Diamond Maintenance / Score 64 F Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 92 B Diamond Large Breed 60 Formula / Score 99 A Diamond Performance / Score 85 C Eukanuba Adult / Score 81 C Eukanuba Puppy / Score 79 C Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D Innova Dog / Score 114 A Innova Evo / Score 114 A Innova Large Breed Puppy / Score 122 A Nature’s Recipe / Score 100 A Nature’s Recipe Healthy Skin Venison and Rice / Score 116 A Nature’s Variety Raw Instinct / Score 122 A Nutra Nuggets Super Premium Lamb Meal and Rice / Score 81 C Nutrience Junior Medium Breed Puppy / Score 101 A Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B Nutro Max Adult / Score 93 B Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice / Score 98 A Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Wheat Free / Score 86 B Nutro Natural Choice Senior / Score 95 A Nutro Ultra Adult / Score 104 A Purina Benful / Score 17 F Purina Dog / Score 62 F Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F Purina One Large Breed Puppy / Score 62 F Royal Canin Boxer / Score 103 A Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7 / Score 63 F Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F
(partial list, less common brands ommitted)
I’ve been the most impressed with Canidae dog food which scores A 112. The Life Stages formula is appropriate for Norwich puppies, adults, working, and seniors. Its ingredients are human grade with essential vitamins and minerals and mixed tocopherols as natural preservatives. Its holistic and herbal formula has 4 meat meals in the first 7 ingredients: chicken, turkey, lamb, and fish. The other 2 ingredients in the first 7 are brown rice and white rice. If your dog is sensitive to different meats they also offer single meat formulas. What I like in the life stages formula is that it contains 10 skin and coat conditioners, balanced Omega 6 and 3 Fatty Acids and is also contains guaranteed digestive enzymes.
The next recommendation that I make is whatever you feed your Norwich Terrier, make it convenient. I’ve searched to find that Canidae is only offered through boutiques and select stores. Visit the Canidae website for a store locator.
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