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"QUICK BITE"
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Separation Anxiety is a common problem amongst Pooch Lovers! It is primarily caused by the owner smothering the dog with too much love and attention. Don't let it on your bed, furniture, or take it with you everywhere. Rotate toys by giving one in the morning and one at dinner time, while making it seem to be a big reward. This focuses what the dog should chew on and makes it feel special. We don't want your dog to fear you've abandoned them. Give them healthy space, and don't give attention unless it is calm and sitting on the floor. Be consistent, diligent and your pooch will settle down and feel much better.
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Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is defined as abnormal development of the hip joint characterized by instability of the joint and degenerative changes to the bone and soft tissue. It can be either congenital (present at birth) or acquired as
animals become older. There are also predisposing factors that are genetic (influenced by family history). Many purebred dogs, such as retreivers and
shepards, may be more seriously and commonly affected by hip dysplasia. I have seen purebred dogs as young as 3 months suffer from this condition.
The congenital form of hip dysplasia is characterized by abnormal formation of the hip joint, which is thought of as a ball and socket joint. If the components of this joint are not smoothly alligned, the result is often painful friction between the sensitive tissues inside the joint. Surgery may be necessary to correct the problem in certain cases. Sometimes joint supplementation with glucosamine and chondroitin can help improve the health of diseased joints.
 The acquired form of hip dysplasia is characterized by degenerative changes to the hip joint that occur over time. These changes occur more frequently in active large breed dogs due to trauma to the joint which may occur with aggressive forms of exercise such as hard running and jumping. Board cerified veterinarians are now performing total hip replacements for older dogs with severe hip dysplasia. In less severe cases, your veterinarian may decide
to prescribe anti-inflammatory medication to reduce discomfort. It may also necessary to perform periodic evaluations of your pet's blood to ensure that the medication is not causing any harmful side effects.
In my opinion, taking a few simple steps with your pet for the prevention of hip dysplasia is very important. The first is prevention of obesity. The joints of obese animals end up having to support an unnatural amount of weight and degenerative changes of the hip progress rapidly. The second is regular exercise. It is important to make a commitment to provide your animal with consistent excercise (even in the hot summer months!) so that they can develop adequate muscle mass to deflect some of their weight from the joints. As always, ensure that your pet is fed a high quality diet and regularly visits your veterinarian. Hip dysplasia is common enough that every veterinarian should have extensive experience with the diagnosis and treatment of this serious condition. If you believe that your animal is affected, please see you veterinarian to see what options may be available.
Jason Palm, DVM
Hiawassee Veterinary Clinic
6525 Old Winter Garden Road
Orlando, FL 32835
(407) 299-3969 |
