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Secrets of cocker's health

Proper care and feeding are the basic points for the dog's health. To make the cocker feel good, the human should never forget about the special breed care. Thus, long ears represent a real problem for their owner. Though they prevent foreign bodies get into ear canals, they also prevent fresh air coming inside. This may entail inflammation in the duct. To avoid the trouble you must clean the cocker's ears weekly, since inflammation results from accumulation and decay of ear wax, penetration of parasites or cold water that gets inside the ear. The sings are telltale: the dog shakes his head, rubs the ears with his leg, when you squeeze the ear you hear gurgling and feel a foul smell. Start the treatment with removal of buildup by means of cotton balls. Repeat the procedure until the ball is clean. In case of inflammation the treatment is usually long and should be conducted under the control of a veterinarian.

Cocker's eyes should all the time be in the focus of your attention too. When the dog awakes you may see the discharge of mucus in the corners of his eyes. Remove them with a gauze tampon or a linen pad. Cotton wool and paper irritate the mucus membrane. Draughts, dust, bright sunshine and inner diseases may cause blepharitis or conjunctivitis. They are displayed in the form of reddish edges of eyelids, presence of scales and scabs, eyelash shedding, plentiful tears, excretion of pus, swelled conjunctiva. To smooth eyelids rub synthomycin liniment (international name - Chloramphenicol) and apply eye drops into conjunctival sacs. Of cause, all this should be done on the vet's recommendation. Or you may irrigate the eyes with a strong tea.

As a part of teeth care you may offer the cocker some biscuits and stiff vegetables. But if the teeth nonetheless grow yellow, clean them with a chalk and a pad. To prevent tartar once or twice a week wipe the teeth with hydrogen peroxide or tomato paste sprayed on a cotton pad. Tooth tartar is a solid sticky deposit consisting of salts and remains of food. Most apparently it can be seen in old dogs. Tartar causes inflammation entailing foul odor and may lead to festering of tooth roots resulting in teeth loss.

If a cocker runs a lot on the solid ground, he needs not nail clipping. But if nails don't grind off in a natural way, you should cut off the tips leaving the sensitive base, which is usually dark-colored. In winter after you returned from outside, wash the remains of salt, which is sprinkled on a street, from the dog's feet, since it may cause severe inflammation. From time to time powder the pads and toes. If they are dry, rub some greasy cream.

If the dog limps, observe her feet thoroughly. Clip off matted hair between pads, since it bothers like a stone in your own shoe. If the dog's leg is injured, remove the object (a piece of glass or a prickle) with the tweezers, disinfect the wound and bandage the injured leg. In serious cases take the dog to a veterinarian.

Perhaps there is no such owner who never worried about his pet's health. Sometimes the disease is sudden and acute. But sometimes its primary sings are clouded or quick recovery follows deterioration. The owner doesn't bother but the disease is still inside the animal's organism. It just transferred in its latent form. When it shows itself, it is clear the time was lost.

Before talking about signs of diseases we want to remind how a healthy dog looks like.

First, after awakening she shakes with all her body, stretches and approaches to you with an enthusiasm. Her coat tightly fits to the skin, thick and shiny. Usually a dog molts twice a year, a sick dog may lose fur constantly. Though this rule doesn't refer to cocker, since even being in the perfect order he sheds all the year round. Non-pronounced molting season may arouse displeasure in those who above all puts tidy house. Therefore if you belong to this cast of people and fur on a carpet may upset you, we would not recommend you a cocker to save him from an unjustified reproach.

A healthy dog has bright eyes, with no pus or reddishness. Nose is wet and cold, though right after awake it may be warm and dry. Breathe is regular, unconstrained, without coughs and wheezes. Stomach works well.

If you notice something amiss, the dog vomits or has diarrhea, take her temperature. The normal state is 38 to 39.5 C. If the temperature is high, don't linger, since it won't get to the norm itself. It may sign for a serious infection.

We doubt whether the sings of different diseases should be listed here but we see it important to dwell on the disorder that affects most puppies - diarrhea. Sometimes it may result from a sudden change in a diet. Therefore the new food must be introduced gradually - one type a day. Thus you may determine what your puppy is intolerant to.

Diarrhea may also be caused by catching cold, worms, teething or infection. So it is very important to determine the reason to immediately administer the treatment.

For noninfectious diarrhea there are common remedies like activated charcoal, linseed decoction or rice broth. But often the reason for strong indigestion is infection. If the feces have foul odor or they are mucous and have traces of blood, call a veterinarian immediately.

The vet will surely recommend a proper treatment. But till he comes don't give any food to your pup. Give much water to prevent dehydration.

Never try to leave the disease under yourself control. Anyway, if the dog is ill, you must show her to a vet. You may also consult the Riga Cocker Club workers. Mutual assistance and interchange of drugs have saved lives of many dogs.

ENGLISH COCKER SPANIEL by T. Blesskina, R. Kadikue, V. Novitsky
Translated by Tatiana Karpova (Moscow)
(MSU, Biology faculture, Dep. zoology and ecology).