Hello From House Of Paws
With the New Year in full swing lets kick off our 1st blog!!
Lets talk -Regular Health Checks for Disabled Dogs at Home
One the many things we learnt when we attended the dog first aid course provided by Allwinds Dog First Aid Ltd, was how important it was to perform a regular health/wellness check on our dogs at home. This is additional to any health checks with your vet. This is equally as important for our disabled dogs for many reasons.
These include:
- To catch and address any emerging issues early, stop something minor becoming major
- You learn what is ‘normal’ for your dog so hopefully you can spot when something isn’t quite right sooner rather than later
- Your dog will get a chance to become used to being handled – this in turn could make a visit to the vet less stressful. Disabled dogs are more susceptible to certain health issues that can be caught and addressed early with regular checks.
- Preventing pressure sores: Dogs with limited mobility who spend more time lying down are at a higher risk for developing pressure sores, also known as bed sores. Regular checks, along with repositioning them (if they can’t do so themselves) every few hours and ensuring they have thick, padded bedding, are essential for prevention.
- Addressing skin issues: Immobility can lead to skin irritation, infections, and matted fur, especially around the groin and other areas that may become soiled. Regular inspection and cleaning can prevent these issues.
- Managing incontinence: Many paralysed dogs have little or no control over their bladder and bowels. Regular checks are necessary to keep your dog clean and dry to prevent urine scald and skin infections. For dogs that cannot fully empty their bladder, manual expression may be needed, which you can learn from your vet.
- Identifying injuries: Because disabled dogs may be less aware of their limbs or drag their paws, they can sustain cuts, scrapes, and bruises without you noticing. Routine checks help you find and treat these minor injuries early.
For mobility and comfort
Regularly assessing your dog's movement helps ensure their continued comfort and quality of life.
- Checking joints: Disabled dogs, particularly those with limb deformities or paralysis, often place extra strain on their other joints, increasing the risk of arthritis. Gently checking your dog's limbs and joints for stiffness, pain, or swelling helps manage their comfort.
- Examining paws: Paws can be injured by dragging on rough surfaces or by foreign objects like grass seeds getting lodged between the pads. Regular checks, including keeping nails trimmed, improve your dog's comfort and footing.
- Monitoring mobility aids: If your dog uses a wheelchair or harness, routine checks allow you to ensure the equipment still fits correctly and is not causing pressure sores or discomfort.
- Monitoring weight: Significant weight gain can put further strain on a disabled dog's joints, while unexplained weight loss can signal a serious underlying health condition. Regularly monitoring their body weight helps keep them in optimal condition.
- Watching for behaviour changes: Changes in behaviour, such as increased irritability, anxiety, or confusion, can be a sign of pain or a neurological issue. By regularly interacting with your dog during a check, you can more easily notice subtle shifts in their mood.
Enhancing the bond:
Turning health checks into a positive, routine experience with treats and praise can help your dog feel more comfortable with handling. If this is something you and your dog are not used to doing, start slow. Choose a time when there are no distractions either for you or your dog. Your dog should be happy and relaxed – and you too!
If at any point your dogs is indicating they are unhappy, stop and try again another day.
Make sure you apply gentle pressure with either your fingers tips or the palm of your hands slowly working your way from ‘tip to tail’ the head end to the tail.
Remember, home health checks are a supplement to, not a replacement for, professional
veterinary care. If you notice anything that concerns you, contact your vet immediately.