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Health Issues Please send in your ideas and suggestions for various health matters, other link, etc, concerning Weimaraners. Please notify of any link not working. HEARTWORMS This is a serious problem in our area due to the mosquitos that spread it being so numerous. It is a very sad disease to watch in progression so very important to check your dog regularly and to be absolutely sure that your precious pet is on preventative. It is a very tedious process of treatment if a dog is infected, involving over a month of inactivity and monitoring. Heartworms infections are more common than you realize, especially in our climate here in Texas. Once a dog is put on the preventative, however, you can feel more confident that no new eggs will hatch. Then, eventually, the live parasites die off and the dog can test negative. If a dog has been infested with them a long period of time, it can be much harder to cure. The treatment can be very expensive and hard on the dog. More info ... VACCINATIONS There is a movement nationwide to start giving shots further apart. That is to say, they will not be given boosters every year as we've been accustomed to since numerous shots at one time and annually have been making some pets ill. Studies are now showing that healthy dogs most vaccines protect the animal for several years. It will, then, logically, be necessary to keep paperwork up to date and handy for that amount of time. More info at this link... http://tedeboy.tripod.com/drmichaelwfox/id27.html FLEAS/TICKS We live in a very humid area. When weather is warm, the pests come out. Fortunately our dogs are short-haired so we can see them easily. Still, they spend a lot of time inside with us and we have to keep them pest free. One of two products seem to work well here in this area. One is Adam's Mist. It smells very good and works well. If we bathe our dogs now and then, this works well as it is reapplied easily. It repels both fleas and ticks. It's easy to reapply after the dog has gotten muddy or dirty and gets rinsed with water before a return trip home. Here in Houston you can get in for less cost at local feed stores. It's also easy to spray in the area of your dog's webbed toes, between and under. (See below.) The other products are the oils that the vets sell which are applied on the dogs backs such as K9 Advantix. These are applied once a month. But if you bathe the dog often you may not want to use this. It works very well, however both on cats and dogs. By the way, when coming in from a walk in a wooded area, don't forget to check your Weim's "webbed" feet. Yes, "webbed". Take a look. Helps them swim. Ticks like to get on that flesh between the toes. EAR MITES SLIPPING OUT OF COLLARS This can be dangerous in at least two types of circumstances. 1. When you leave a dog on a leash unattended for a time, a Weim will easily slip out of the collar and be on its way. 2. If this happens while you are walking along the trail alongside Memorial Drive in Memorial Park, the dog can take three steps and be hit by a car. SWALLOWING THINGS This is a problem very common with young Weims, especially puppies. They will put almost ANYTHING in their mouths. They'll go for the cat feces, too. But inside they can swallow almost anything that belongs to you. They will love anything that has your smell on it and try to chew it, eat it or tear at it. Watch out for your socks or shoes and electrical cords laying out in the open. And never leave a pot of cooking meat or boiling soup with chicken in it unattended with a new Weim around. They'll try to pull out a boiling chicken leg in a heartbeat as soon as they think you aren't looking and can knock the whole pot over. Supervision is recommended for all mischievious puppies. NOTE: When taking your pills from prescriptions, be especially careful to not drop a pill on the floor in front of your dog or leave one within reach on a table. This could be deadly and heartbreaking, especially if you don't see the dog swallow it. BLOAT - a real danger DENTAL ISSUES SCOOTING - odor, leakage of anal sac Problem with your dog "scooting" or smell a very strong odor suddenly when playing. Could be the anal sacs. You may have the periodic unpleasant duty of "expressing" them. After you've done it once or twice, it becomes easier to "handle" but you'll be glad you did it to avoid a "leakage" inside the house. If you dog has this problem (more common than you realize) then you'll be glad you found out how to do it. Check here for info: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1571&articleid=510 OBESITY Vets say that over 40% of our pets over 4 years old are overweight. Think about the complications of this: joint problems, heart issues and diabetes, to name a few. Keep your dog trim and fit. It is not cruel to deny them food they don't need as long as they have a nice balanced diet with sufficient calories for their lifestyle. They will plead, beg and whine. Don't give in. Weims are really good at this. (Mine bring their bowls to the table.) Make the snacks small and healthy. FOOT PROBLEM QUESTION: My weim's paws smell funky and have very rough texture. I think he might have 'athletes foot' or some similiar fungus going on. He doesn't seem to be bothered by it - not chewing or licking them particularly but as an oversized lapdog it can be noticeable to me. Is this something I should take him to the vet about? I don't want to take him in and have the vet thinking we're any more obsessed than the usual weim owner. ANSWER: Vets get paid to solve problems, so take the dog in for a quick look.
Here is a guess. Your dog could have some sort of fungus as you suggest, in which he needs to see a vet. It could also be an abscess of some sort that may be caused by a thorn... he needs to see a vet. It could be a simple irritation that he licks and what you are smelling is his breath and slobber on his foot?
Take him to the vet. If it is a fungus, you don't want it spreading to other parts or to you! There is a veteranarian who writes in the local papers that suggests that homemade dog food supplement is better for them because of its ingredients (or lack of some). He even claims it makes for a nicer breath. Here is his link: BATHING If you tend to bathe your dog often due to playing out in muddy areas or where there are a lot of pests, remember that you may be removing some of the dog's natural oils which prevent its skin from drying out. Take care in the selection of a shampoo. Some use horse main shampoo which is sold at feed stores and (surprise) sometimes even at drug stores since some women like to use it. SLEEP How much do dogs sleep? FOODS POISONOUS TO DOGS: Chocolate, food containing caffeine, grapes/raisins, macadamia nuts, mushrooms, onion, garlic Read more.... First let's clear up some rumors. Yes, sugarless candies, raw salmon, grapes, raisins, alcoholic drinks, onions, some wild mushrooms, chocolate and antifreeze ARE HARMFUL to dogs. Broccoli is NOT toxic. A couple of grapes or a small bit of milk chocolate shouldn't cause immediate problems, but both are not heathful, but long-term, harmful. Broth from food cooked in onions is not good either. Get more info at..... I HAVE AN EMERGENCY. WHERE CAN I TAKE MY DOG IMMEDIATELY? Here is a list of Houston's emergency animal clinics. Please advise us of any additions or corrections. Call first if you have a real emergency as they may be able to give you help with the situation before you leave the house and you can be sure they can receive you when you arrive. Animal Emergency Care Clinic
8921 Katy Freeway
Houston
713-932-9589
Weekdays: 6PM-7:30AM
24hours: Weekends and Holidays
Animal Emergency Clinic
1111 West Loop South
Houston
713-693-1100
Weekdays: 6PM-7:30AM
24hours: Weekends and Holidays
Animal Emergency Clinic Northwest
9617 Old 1960 Rd-Humble Westfield Rd
Humble
281-446-4900
Weekdays: 6PM-8:00AM
24hours: Weekends and Holidays
Animal Emergency Clinic
18707 Tomball Pkwy
Houston
281-890-8875
Weekdays: 6PM-7:30AM
24hours: Weekends and Holidays
Animal Emergency Clinic Southeast
10331 Gulf Freeway
Houston
713-941-8460
Weekdays: 6PM-8:00AM
24hours: Weekends and Holidays
Animal Emergency Clinic
920 West Dallas St
Conroe
936-539-3800
Weekdays: 6PM-7:30AM
24hours: Weekends and Holidays
Animal Emergency Clinic Northwest
1100 Gulf Freeway #104
League City
281-332-1678
Weekdays: 6PM-7:30AM
24hours: Weekends and Holidays
The Animal Emergency Center of West Houston
Dr. Cindy McCauley
4823 Highway 6 North
Houston 77084
832-593-VETS (8387)
Fax: 832-593-8388
Weekdays: 6pm-7:30am
24hours: Weekends and Holidays
www.aecwh.com
Animal Emergency Clinic 59 Southwest
9920 Highway 90A, Suite 100C
Sugar Land
281-340-8387
Weekdays: 6PM-8:00AM
24hours: Weekends and Holidays
Animal Emergency & Urgent Care Center of The Woodlands
27870 I-45 North
The Woodlands, TX 77385
281-367-5444
Fax: 281-367-5404
Weekdays: 6pm-8:00am
24hours: Weekends and Holidays
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