Darcey – The Canine Shredder
My dear Brown Roan pup (4 months of age when it started) decided one night that she wanted to give me a warm welcome when I got up the next morning. I heard no noise from her during the night, but came down in the morning to make breakfast for her and the other furry family members to be greeted with a scene – something like St Patrick’s Day in New York (Ticker tape scene).
Our spinone Lily 2 year old bitch has a wonderful way of greeting us in the morning or when weve been out. she picks up nearset article maybe her toy or underpants or what ever is lying about and shows its to us with a real deep throat growl (gargle) sound she has done this from a pup. Does any other owner have this greeting. Her tail is firing on all cylinders so we know its happy.
Osteochondritis (OCD), based on the veterinary information we have been given, is a condition that affects the smooth cartilage surface within the joints and most commonly the shoulder.We have a Spinone bitch who was diagnosed with this condition at the age of 4 months.We were sent by our vets, who had x-rayed both her shoulders, to an orthopaedic referral unit that operated initially on her left shoulder, suggesting the other would need surgery at a later date if it presented the same symptoms.There are some questions as to the cause of OCD, with no definitive answers reached, it seems, even within the veterinary world, and there are many opinions as to the best way to effect a cure.The following gives the history of Lottie, her symptoms and recovery, as well as some observations made along the way. If you have had a similar experience we would be interested to hear from you.
When there is an accumulation of gas in the stomach this is referred to as BLOAT, unfortunately the dilated stomach can then sometimes twist upon itself which prevents the escape of gas and this is TORSION.
Even though there are many theories about the reason this condition occurs there is at the moment no definite cause known.
Vet’s Corner – Beware the deadly raisin!
Information has come to light recently regarding the toxic effects of raisins, sultanas and grapes on dogs. The Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS), the agency who provides information and advice to Veterinary Surgeons in cases of toxicity, has provided the following information. The agency first became aware of this problem a few years ago after a spate of cases in close succession. A check through their database revealed many serious cases in the past.
I feel I must write to warn people, it can happen to you or should I say your dogs. I was walking as I do most days in our local forestry (not worked) near the Denbeigh moors, with my dogs – 4 hounds, 1 Bouvier, 1 Spinone, my friend and her Airedale,when I noticed the Spinone looked a bit odd! It was a very warm day and fortunately we were nearing the end of our walk.
I stopped to examine Mia and realised there was something wrong. Her eyes were closing and she was having difficulty breathing. Panic!
The Italian Spinone is a large breed and has a pre-disposition to Hip Dysplasia. By checking both parents hip scores you will have a fairly good idea whether your puppy may be high risk or not, that is not to say that just because the parents have low hip scores your puppy will not develop the disease.
Dogs are prone to internal and external parasites. Routine treatment is recommended for fleas and worms. It is best to discuss treatment with your vet as there is such a wide selection of preparations on the market it would be impossible to recommend one.
The mouth should be kept clean at all times otherwise a purulent smell can occur, this may be due to rotten food trapped between teeth and in the folds of the mouth. This can then lead to decaying teeth and fungal infections in the hair just under the lip. To prevent the above, give large marrow bones or clean the teeth with a veterinary dog tooth paste.
Following a meal wash the beard to ensure all food particles have been removed.
Spinone have webbed feet so between the pads should always be kept free from dirt, stones, grass seeds etc. This can be done by gently separating the pads while placing each foot into warm water, gently dry in between the webs.