We advise all dogs are protected by vaccination against the following major contagious diseases:

• Distemper
• Parvovirus
• Leptospirosis
• Infectious Canine Hepatitis

The primary course of vaccination involves two or three injections. They can be started from six weeks of age, with the final injection of the course being given at a minimum age of ten weeks and four weeks after the first.

Your dog should be fully protected three weeks after the last injection. It is important to keep your puppy in your house or garden until protected but we will advise on a managed socialisation program for your puppy.

It is essential a booster vaccination is given every 12 months to maintain your dog’s immunity to these diseases.

ADDITIONAL VACCINATION

This is available against:

Kennel Cough – Vaccination is of great help in reducing the incidence of this disease and is given by nasal drops. It is best given a few weeks prior to periods of high risk. e.g. boarding or every spring. The vaccine lasts for 12 months.

There are many reasons why it is advisable to have your bitch speyed.

• To prevent the birth of unwanted puppies.
• To prevent the nuisance of a bitch of heat attracting male dogs.
• It stops the problem of a discharge every time she comes on heat.
• Prevents womb infections (pyometra) – which is common in older unspeyed bitches.
• If speyed before 18 months old, this greatly reduces the chance of developing mammary tumours (breast cancer) in later life. These are also very common in older animals.
• Prevents false pregnancies with the associated problems of milk production, mothering toys and nest making.

Are there any disadvantages of the operation?  There are several points to be considered.

1. As with all general anaesthetics there is always a slight risk but this is minimal in young healthy bitches.
2. There is a slightly greater risk incidence of urinary incontinence in speyed bitches, but this can usually be controlled by treatment.

Won’t she put on weight? NO – so long as you are aware that speying reduces their need for food. You must cut down their food intake by as much as ONE THIRD, soon after the operation.

Should she have a litter before being speyed? No – this is not necessary. It will not alter he temperament if she does or does not have pups.

So when should she be speyed? We can spey her before she has ever come into season at 6 months old. Alternatively, she can be dressed three months after finishing her season.

Will she take a long time to recover after the operation? Not normally. She will usually be sent home on the day of the operation. You can expect her to be subdued for the first few days after the operation. The stitches will be removed 10-12 days later. Restricted exercise during this time is essential.

What are anal glands?

Anal glands are two sacs about 5mm long situated either side of the anus at the 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock positions. The lining of the sac is made up of secretory cells. Each sac has a small duct which leads to a tiny opening just inside the anus.

What is their function?

A pungent secretion normally accumulates in the anal sacs. This secretion is used as a marker and in the wild is used to mark territory. In the domestic cat or dog they have little or no use, although the sacs are often emptied when the animal is frightened. Emptying usually occurs during defecation as this process has a squeezing effect on the sacs.

Problems

The two major problems encountered commonly in practice are impaction (blockage) and infection. Neoplasia (cancer) of the sacs is also possible but is quite rare. Impacted or infected sacs are often painful and the irritation causes the animal to “scoot” its bottom along the ground and to lick or chew in the area.

Impaction

Blockage or overfull sacs occurs if the normal emptying process fails. This can be due to diarrhoea (reduced squeezing effect as mentioned above), poor anatomy such that the sacs have difficulty emptying normally and diet may play a part especially if the stool is not properly formed.

Uncomplicated impaction can be treated by manual emptying of the sacs by your vet. This may mean squeezing the sacs by pressing from the outside or by using finger pressure from within the rectum. In either case the sac contents empty via the ducts into the anus and material is wiped away. Be careful that none of the secretion gets on you – it smells! In a small number of animals this treatment may be required on a regular basis. Bulking out the stool might help in the recurrent cases e.g. by using bran or changing the diet. Ask your vet what he or she recommends.

Infection

A bacterial infection often presents in much the same way as impaction but the condition may progress to a situation where an abscess forms in the sac and the whole area becomes inflamed and very painful. This can be quite sudden in the onset and can lead to a lot of worry both to the dog and the owner. Washing the area with warm water may encourage the abscess to burst but emptying as described above is often necessary. Antibiotics are usually prescribed and these may be infused into the affected sac via the duct and/or given by pills and injections.

Surgical Removal

Recurrent and problem cases of anal sac disease may warrant surgical removal. This requires general anaesthesia and the sacs are removed via two small incisions either side of the anus. The skin is stitched and although the patient may be uncomfortable for a few days the surgery provides relief from the problem quickly. Complications are unusual and surgery is of great benefit in recurrent cases.