News and Tips from Shih Tzu Palace Puppies

News and Tips

from

Shih Tzu Palace Puppies

IN THIS ISSUE

Taking Care of Your Dog's Ears and Eyes

Aural Haematoma In Dogs

Ear Problems in Dogs

Eye Disease in Pets - A Thing To Watch

Healthy Dog Treat Tips

From Our Kitchen

Greetings!
Zhou Chin has a home!! He is going to Michigan. Only Ling Ling is left. I am sure we will find a home for him soon.

Si-Si had a cold this week so I thought I would send you some articles on dog's eye and ear health. I hope this is something you never need to use, but it may come in handy

Enjoy!

Taking Care of Your Dog's Ears and Eyes

Checking your dog's ears, preferably once a week, is an important part of the grooming routine to prevent ear infections. Eye care is also important.

Signs of ear problems

When checking your dog's ears, look for any reddening inside the ear, swellings on the ear flap or any discharges and unpleasant odors in the ear. A foul smell may simply indicate your dog's ears need a good clean or there could be an ear infection, which needs to be ruled out by your vet.

Any ear problem will cause affected dogs to shake their heads and hang them to the side of the affected ear. If you suspect your dog has an ear problem seek veterinary help as soon as possible - there may be a foreign body present and ears can quickly become inflamed and painful. The eardrum may be damaged so don't use any ear drops until your vet has looked down the ear with a special instrument (an otoscope).

Cleaning your dog's ears
Ears can be simply cleaned by using an ear cleaning solution provided by your vet. Ear cleaners remove excess moisture, wax and debris from the outer ear canal. Only use products specifically for dogs and avoid medicated products unless advised by your vet. Hold up the earflap and dribble a few drops of ear cleaner into the ear canal. Massage gently at the base of the ear (you will hear a squelching sound as you do so) to work in the solution. Stop if this appears to be painful to your pet and consult your vet. Repeat with the other ear. Use cotton wool to wipe away any excess solution, and to clean out any wax or debris. Use your forefinger and only clean as far as it will naturally reach to avoid hurting the eardrum. Never use cotton buds or poke anything in to the ear as they can damage the sensitive lining of the ear canal or perforate the eardrum.

Ear mites
Ear mites can cause intense itchiness and head shaking. Using an otoscope, your vet will see tiny white moving creatures on the typical dark brown discharge that builds up inside the ear. If so, insecticidal ear drops will need to be prescribed and, as ear mites are highly contagious, all pets in the household will need to be treated. Massage gently at the base of the ear to distribute the drops throughout the ear canal and wipe away any excess with cotton wool.

Fly bites
Dogs with upright ears, such as German Shepherds, are particularly susceptible to fly bites on the tips of their ears. Fly repellent creams applied twice a day are helpful.

Ear infections
Dogs such as spaniels, hounds and bassets are prone to bacterial infections of the outer ear because their floppy ears prevent air circulation and drainage of any moisture in the ear canal. A vet will need to see your dog to ensure the correct medication is used and advise you on the steps you need to take at home to keep the problem under control. Your vet will show you how to pluck any excess hair growing at the opening of the ear canal to improve ventilation, clean out any dirt and keep the ears dry.

Eye care
Wipe away any discharges that accumulate at the corner of your dog's eyes with a damp cotton ball and you can carefully clip any excess long hair around the eyes. Products are available to help reduce discoloration under and around the eyes, especially in white-coated dogs.

If the eyes are weeping excessively you should contact your vet - this could be due to conjunctivitis, a serious ulcer, or abnormalities of the tear duct. If a foreign body such as a grass seed is present your dog may blink excessively and the lids will swell. Symptoms like these or any inflamed eye should be treated as an emergency to avoid serious complications and, at worst, loss of the eye.

Aural Haematoma In Dogs

Does your dog have a swollen earflap or 'fat ear'? It is likely that he or she has an aural haematoma. Does your dog have a swollen earflap or 'fat ear'? It is likely that he or she has an aural haematoma, or a blood clot in the ear. This can occur if the dog scratches the ear excessively or shakes the head.

How does an aural haematoma occur?

The blood that collects between the cartilage and skin of the earflap is due to a burst blood vessel. This can occur if the dog scratches the ear excessively or shakes the head, often as a response to an ear infection, such as ear mites. It can also occur as a result of trauma to the ear.

The haematoma itself won't burst as the pressure of the fluid buildup prevents further bleeding and the blood in the haematoma becomes clotted.

What is the treatment for an aural haematoma?
Most aural haematomas require surgical treatment. Surgery aims to remove the haematoma, prevent recurrence, and retain the natural appearance of the ear. A long incision is made over the haematoma and the area flushed. Placing a series of sutures obliterates the space where the blood accumulated. These sutures may incorporate a haematoma pad, lengths of tubing, or even buttons to help distribute the pressure over a larger area. A general anaesthetic is required for this procedure.

Often the ear is bandaged, but if the dog does not tolerate the bandage well, an Elizabethan collar may be required to prevent the dog removing the bandage and further traumatizing the ear.

It may be possible to use non-surgical treatment for some small haematomas, especially if the risk of an operation is a concern. The dog is usually sedated and the blood aspirated through a needle. Then a corticosteroid is injected into the space left by the haematoma, and the ear may be bandaged. Repeat injections are sometimes necessary and surgery may still be required if treatment is unsuccessful, so it is preferable to drain the haematoma surgically where possible.

Any underlying ear disease must be treated, as an aural haematoma is usually a sign of ear disease such as infection or a foreign body (for example, a grass seed). Grass seeds are a particular problem so check your dog's ears regularly and seek veterinary attention quickly if your dog starts pawing at the ear, rubbing it along the ground, shaking its head or holding it to one side. Don't wait!

Ear mites and bacterial and/or yeast infections are other causes of ear problems that can lead to aural haematomas. Dogs with hairy ear canals or ones with pendulous ears preventing adequate ventilation are more prone to infections.

What happens if a haematoma is not treated?
Left untreated, an aural haematoma may eventually resolve by itself, but the ear becomes misshapen (just like the 'cauliflower ear' of boxers), and the underlying reason for the haematoma is not addressed, leading to further trauma and damage to the ear, as well as considerable pain for the dog.

Ear Problems in Dogs

Dogs' ears come in a variety of styles. Some stick up, some flop down, some are hairy and some are not. Nevertheless, they are all prone to ear infections.

How do you know if your dog has an ear infection? What can you do at home to treat it and when should you visit your vet?

How will I know if my pet has an ear infection?

When an infection starts, a pet will shake its head occasionally and will scratch its ear. This will often progress to the stage where the pet is obviously distressed. It may moan as it tries to scratch its ear. It will rub its head along the ground and may walk with its head at an angle.

If you examine the ear, you will notice that the ears have a pungent smell. You may also see some discharge in the ear, especially in the ear canal. This discharge may be brown in color, it may be yellow and look like pus, or it may contain blood - not something to ignore.

An insect called an ear mite sometimes causes ear infections. These small creepy-crawlies move around inside the ear canal and cause great discomfort. The ears of the dog or cat react to this irritation by pumping out a waxy discharge. This gunk is an ideal soup for bacteria, yeasts and fungi to grow in, further worsening the problem.

What can I do at home?
If the problem is caught early enough, then home treatment may be useful, especially if ear mites are the cause. Ask your vet for a good ear cleaning solution that also contains a compound to kill the mites. These preparations contain compounds to dissolve the wax, to reduce bacterial infection and to kill the mites that are present. Put the medication into each ear twice daily or as indicated.

Be careful when cleaning your pet's ears. The old rule of 'putting nothing smaller than your elbow' in your pet's ear is still a wise one. Many owners will attempt to clean their pets' ears by using cotton buds. Buds will often ramrod the wax down onto the eardrum. This makes it much more difficult to eliminate the infection, and may lead to a rupture of the eardrum.

To clean the outer part of the ear, a cotton ball, not a bud, moistened with an ear cleaning solution will do well. Only clean the area of the ears that you can see.

For Shih Tzu and other animals with hairy ear canals, plucking of the hairs from the ear canals may be necessary to allow proper ventilation. Animals with long, heavy, droopy ears, need their ears examined regularly. The weight of their ears prevents natural airing and drying of the ear canals.

When should I see the vet?
Typically, letting your veterinarian professionally examine and clean your pet's ears is easier and safer. Your vet will look into your pet's ears with an otoscope to find out what is causing the problem. If mites are present, they will be visible but, in many cases, bacteria or yeasts without ear mites cause the infection. There may also be foreign bodies present, such as grass seeds, which need immediate attention by a veterinarian.

In many cases your pet will need antibiotics or other prescription medications to solve the problem. Ear medications like this are not available over the counter.

It may be necessary for your pet to be anaesthetized for the vet to examine its ears correctly. This will also allow proper cleaning and inspection. A sample of the discharge is often taken and this will be examined under the microscope to find out what bugs are present. A swab may also be sent off to a laboratory for a 'culture and sensitivity' test. This is done to detect what bugs are present and what medications are best suited to kill them. As you will know, some bacteria are resistant to certain antibiotics.

Be sure to complete the full course of any ointment that your vet prescribes.

Will my pet need an operation?
Sometimes, ear infections recur. This can be for a variety of reasons, including the fact that the dog or cat may have a deformed or narrow ear canal or that it may have tumors or growths in the ear. In addition, recurring ear infections often result when the animal has a generalized skin infection. Solving the skin infection will usually eliminate the ear problem.

In cases where a narrowing of the ear canal is present, from a tumor, a long-term infection or a natural deformity, the ear canal remains moist and infections are almost impossible to eliminate. Your pet may need an operation to solve this problem.

In one operation, your vet removes the skin overlying the outer portion of the ear canal so that the ear canal is open to the air. This results in drying of the canal and elimination of the infection.

In another operation, called an ear ablation, your vet will remove the entire cartilage of the ear canal and the hole going down to the eardrum. While this usually solves the problem, sadly, the animal will be deaf in that ear.

If you feel you pet's ears are causing it problems, don't delay. Ear infections left untreated can be a very difficult problem.

Eye Disease in Pets - A Thing To Watch

In pets, conditions affecting the eyes are quite common and potentially serious. They can range from simple eye irritations to serious and life threatening diseases.

What are the signs of eye disease?

The commonest sign of eye disease is the production of tears or a discharge from the affected eye or eyes but other signs can include the dog or cat squinting or blinking excessively. Also, if the eye appears either larger or smaller than normal, has a cloudy or blue appearance then serious problems are likely. The same applies if the surface of the eye loses its smooth clarity and develops roughness or marks or ulcers. Sometimes, pets will paw their eye or rub it along the carpet if pain is present.

The appearance of the discharge produced by the eyes often tells a tale. Is the discharge produced by one or both eyes? If from one eye, generally the problem is only with that eye. If from both eyes either there is a malady with both, or alternatively and importantly, disease elsewhere within the animal's body, that is partly manifest by eye disease, may be present

Most eye diseases will need veterinary assessment because many are quite serious and painful and could lead to reduced eyesight or blindness.

If the animal is producing a watery eye discharge regularly and its eyes need cleaning, then warm, salty water is ideal. Some animals have tear overflow caused by blocked tear ducts or mild allergies or sensitivities. Cleaning the eyes twice daily with warm, salty water is quite useful for these conditions.

If the discharge is thick and yellow then infection is present and veterinary assistance should be sought immediately. Be careful. Don't be tempted to treat an eye condition at home for too long. If the condition persists, see your veterinarian.

Eyelid problems
Abnormalities of the eyelids are a common cause of eye disease in dogs. The eyelids may roll inwards so that the hairs of the face rub against the eyeball. As you well know, having a hair in your eye is a painful condition. Imagine what it is like to have several hairs constantly rubbing against your eye! This condition is called Entropion and is corrected by careful surgery. It is a condition that is common in Chows, Bull Dogs, Irish Setters, Labrador, and other breeds.

A different condition, called Ectropion, also exists, where the eyelids roll outwards. In some respects, this condition is considered normal in breeds such as Bloodhounds, Saint Bernard's and Basset Hounds (it gives them their sad, dopey look!) Nevertheless, it can be a problem in others. Irritation of the eyeballs often results from this condition, but it is not such a dangerous condition as Entropion. It can be corrected by surgery if necessary.

While we are talking about problems with the eyelids, a painful and dangerous condition exists when eyelashes grow inwards from the lids towards the eye. These lashes constantly rub against the eyeball like a rubber-less windscreen wiper blade scraping against a windscreen. The condition is called Distichiasis and deep ulcers on the cornea can be a result. This is indeed a painful condition for pets to endure. Some breeds, especially the Pekingese, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso and the Poodle suffer from a similar condition called Trichiasis. In this condition, normal hairs on the outer margin of the eyelid (not eyelashes) grow in an inward arc rather than arcing outwards so that the hairs again rub against cornea. Surgery is again needed to correct such conditions.

Dry eyes
Some dogs will develop eye disease when normal tear film production is reduced. The lack of tears causes the cornea of the eye to become dry and damage to the cornea then occurs. This condition is commonly called Dry Eye. Dogs with this condition will show obvious irritation of the eyes, with thick yellow discharge being produced. Ulceration of the cornea is common, the cornea looks dry and loses its normal shiny appearance. The nostril on the affected side is usually dry too because normally, tears flow from the eyes, through the tear duct, to the nostrils (that's why your nose runs when you cry).

The disease is caused by a variety of conditions but most are caused by either degeneration of the tear-producing cells with age, or due to damage caused to the tear-producing cells by autoimmune disease. In the latter case, disease elsewhere in the body is usually present too. Sometimes the condition is reversible; often it is not.

Dry Eye is treated with special and specific eye ointments or drops that must be given regularly, often four times daily, to provide sufficient lubrication to the eye. For many owners this is difficult, especially if they work during the day.

The condition is also treated with a novel surgical approach. The surgery involves surgically rerouting one of the salivary ducts from its normal position where it enters the mouth near one of the molar teeth, to the eye on the same side. In this manner, the dog's eye is lubricated with saliva. While the surgery is complicated, it does provide a good cure.

Glaucoma - an ocular emergency
Glaucoma is one of the more serious of eye conditions that can affect dogs and, less commonly, cats. It is caused by an increase in fluid pressure inside the eyeball. Fluid is produced inside the eye continually and, in normal animals, drains from the eye at the same rate that it is produced. The 'drain hole' for the fluid is in front of the iris (the area surrounding the pupil) and the accumulation of fluid is analogous to the accumulation of water in a sink when the drain is blocked.

The increase in fluid pressure inside the eye causes a variety of effects, the most immediate effect being considerable pain and the most serious being blindness that is often irreversible. Glaucoma often starts in one eye and progresses to the other. Therefore, owners often do not realize that their dog or cat is becoming blind because the other eye compensates for the reduced sight. The effected eye often appears swollen and seems to protrude from the eye socket partly. The eye usually has a 'blue' or cloudy appearance, a cataract is often evident and sometimes, the owners can see that the lens of the eye has moved position. Usually the pupil does not respond to light and remains dilated.

Because of the pain involved, a pet with Glaucoma usually shows a change in behavior. It will often paw at or rub its eye and will show obvious discomfort. Due to the pain and the likelihood of blindness, Glaucoma should be regarded as an emergency.

Many conditions can affect an animal's eyes. Those mentioned above are some of the more common or more serious. For complete advice please consult your veterinarian, but don't delay - eye conditions in pets can be serious.

a cool nap Healthy Dog Treat Tips

Canine obesity can lead to very serious health problems. Diabetes, pancreatitis, arthritis and heart disease are just a few of the problems that can be caused by or worsened if your dog is overweight. While many pets are fortunate to stay naturally slim, there are those who seem to get fat with little effort.

And then there are those accomplished actors who have refined the business of asking for a morsel to an art form. Here are a few suggestions for offering your pet some healthy alternatives when you want to give them a treat.

If your pet has any type of weight problem (underweight as well as overweight) please check with your veterinarian to rule out possible causes. If your pet has dietary restrictions, discuss giving any new food with your vet.

At the same time, dogs love treats! Here are some suggestions for healthy treats or snacks:

Vegetables

Anyone who's ever seen a dog eat grass or greens knows there's a vegetarian side to your pet. Before domestication, when dogs hunted for their living, they ate the entrails of their prey, which contained a considerable amount of digested vegetable matter. Most animals still want some of this vegetation, but can't digest the tough fibrous components on their own. Try offering your dog some cooked green beans, carrots or peas. Many pets love them, and you can even mix them into their regular diet. Some cooked green beans, carrots or peas. Many pets love them, and you can even mix them into their regular diet.

Rice, Popcorn and Pasta

Another favorite for many pets are rice, popcorn and pasta. A bit of a rice cake or some air popped popcorn is a great substitute for a high fat treat. Cooked rice can be added for bulk to a weight control diet. It's a way of giving your pet more food without adding a lot of fat calories. Cooked pasta is also great. Many pets relish a few elbow macaroni or other plain pasta.

A bit of a rice cake or some air popped popcorn is a great substitute for a high fat treat. Cooked pasta is also great. Many pets relish a few elbow macaroni or other plain pasta.

Egg Whites, Cottage Cheese and Yogurt
A cooked egg white is a great protein treat, hard boil a few and keep them on hand. (The yolk has all the fat!) A little dab of cottage cheese or plain yogurt substitutes for licking that ice cream bowl!

Prescription Diets

If your pet has a health problem that is being controlled on a prescription diet from your veterinarian, sometimes treats have to be eliminated. Ask your veterinarian if a canned formulation of the diet is available. Most companies do make both canned and dried versions. Remove the food from the can in one large piece. Use a cheese slicer or knife to cut 1/4-inch slices and put them on a cookie sheet. Bake them at 300 degrees Fahrenheit until they are crispy, like a cracker. This gives your pet a crunchy treat that stays within the diet plan.

Food Sensitivities

Many pets have allergies or food sensitivities. Common culprits are dyes, flavorings, preservatives, carbohydrates and protein sources. If your pet is sensitive to any of these components, look for treats that are hypoallergenic, and have minimal or no dyes or preservatives. There are a number available in your local pet store.

The Last Word
If you can't resist feeding your pet little extras from the table or sharing every meal you have with him, consider carefully what you may be doing. A small dog that would normally weigh 10 to 12 pounds can gain a considerable amount of weight being given an overabundance of treats. A weight gain of one pound may not seem like much but to a small pet, one pound can be 10 percent of his body weight. That's like 15 pounds for a person! Use some healthy alternatives to help keep your pet in his best shape.

I hope these suggestions are helpful!

From Our Kitchen