5 tips for common dog problems

Dr. Albert Lee. DVM

1. 'Kennel cough'

   Kennel cough is a common term for any infectious cough in dogs, and can be caused by a variety of different viruses and bacteria. We vaccinate for Bordatella Bronchiseptica and canine parainfluenza, which are common causes of kennel cough and the vaccines are quite effective against them, but it doesn't stop them from contracting other infections that we do not have vaccines for. Hence why dogs that have been vaccinated can still get 'kennel cough'. For most animals, kennel cough is self limiting - they cough for a few days (often about a week or so) and then recover without any interventions. If there becomes any increased respiratory effort, fever, lethargy or abnormal lung sounds, this may warrant radiographs to check for pneumonia and/or antibiotic therapy, but in the majority of cases the tincture of time is sufficient. Cough suppressant medications can also help symptomatically to allow for better sleep and rest.

   *TIP* a little honey can be soothing symptomatically for the throat and is safe. Same as people however, do not give to puppies as they are more susceptible to the risk of botulism.

2. Diarrhea

   Acute onset diarrhea is probably one of the most common reasons we see dogs. There are many causes of diarrhea ranging from dietary indiscretion (eating something that doesn't sit right) all the way to infection (parasitic, viral, bacterial) and more sinister things like cancers. A common home remedy that is reportedly tried is chicken and rice. While this is fine to try as a bland low fat diet, there are potentially some more effective alternatives that could be considered.

   To help with loose stools, we need to allow for some gut rest, improve the gut bacterial load, and increase bulk. Two things that can help with this are a low fat diet, but also a high fiber diet. While not all fiber is created equal, prebiotics can help to improve stool quality faster than a low fat diet alone.

   *TIP*: if your dog is doing well otherwise, I find the Hill's GI Biome diet to be highly effective in many of these cases. I try not to be brand specific, but it does work very well assuming your pet is not allergic to chicken and I'll frequently try this first. Alternatively if you are looking to try other bland diets, try adding a bit of plain Metamucil for some fiber. Most diarrhea cases that are due to eating something they shouldn't have will resolve in 2-3 days, sometimes a little longer. If it's persisting, very bloody, worsening, or has other symptoms like vomiting, inappetnece and lethargy, it may be worth having them seen sooner for evaluation and further testing.

3. Ear infections

   Ear infections are extremely common, and can be the result of several things. Yeast and bacteria, or a combination of both can cause ear infections. Mostly they are limited to the outer part of the ear, but more serious ones can extend deeper than the ear drum. If there is damage to the ear drum, many of the ear drops that we use can be toxic to the inner ear and cause further issues, and this is one of the big reasons that we like to look at the ear canal and ear drum prior to sending home ear medications.

   *TIP* Frequently recurring ear issues almost always have some underlying condition associated with them. This can include allergies (food or environmental), conformational ear problems, excessive hair growth, and ear masses. Allergy medications, maintenance medicated ear rinses, and treatments like photobiomodulation can all help to reduce the frequency of ear issues.

4. Skin fold dermatitis

   For those of us who have pups with notable skin folds (especially around the face of tail base), skin fold dermatitis is likely not a new thing. Occasionally infections will occur and requires medication, but regular cleaning can help as well. Routine cleaning with a baby wipe, or for recurring yeasty and bacterial issues, Malacetic or chlorhexidine wipes are great options for maintenance.

   *TIP* you can use diaper rash cream like Penaten in skin folds and that will also help in most cases.

5. Weight control

   For our overweight pets, weight control is 90% dietary. Exercise can help with weight loss and is important for many other reasons including muscle conditioning and keeping joints moving to reduce pain, but weight loss itself is primarily responsive to feeding. A straight calorie deficit will result in loss of fat and muscle. We want to pair a calorie deficit with regular exercise in order to maintain lean muscle mass while burning fat. Weight loss diets can help for cases where pets are feeling very hungry with reduced portion size, as 1 cup of food can be drastically different between 1 type of food to the next. We also want to choose a diet with a higher protein and lower fat percentage.

   *TIP* ensure ALL food is being accounted for in the calorie calculations including treats and table food etc. Weighing food instead of a measuring cup has also been shown to be more accurate as most of us scoop more than we mean to unintentionally.