Dog’s World 2012 For dog people
RABIES:
Scourge of Africa
Doctor, I killed my dog! Is your dog Itching?
In this issue: Gallery of Dog Breeds
The DO’s and DON’Ts of treatment
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Zakki Adzee
Free Poster Insights Into Training
FREE
“I like dogs”
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Housebreaking 101
Successfully housebreak your pet
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MAG
Proper Dog Care By Ahmed Mohammed
Dog’s World 1
2 Dog’s World
Editorial
We are pleased to be able to finally present you with the long awaited Issue 12 of Dogs World Magazine. As you might well understand finances are always a problem in ventures of this type which is why we have not been able to go to print for so long. With so much to do and few funds to do them, we have decided to publish slightly larger magazine once a year only, making it a place for dog people can connect.
Our major concern in this issue is the need for us to vaccinate our dogs. It is surprising how many of us do not bother to ensure that our dogs are regularly immunized against the major killer diseases, especially rabies. We must wake up to the danger we expose our dogs, children and community to when we keep dogs which are not regularly vaccinated.
We would like to thank all those of you who have offered your support and encouragement. In particular we would like to express our gratitude to the following without whom, we would not be able to offer your this issue free of charge. First, thank you to Dolores Probousta of Tulsa Pets Magazine for the generous contribution of her article on Rabies; Dapo Ojora for his undying support; Dogspire.com for giving us permission to reproduce their articles and Access Bank for their kind support.
But a special thank you must go to all of you who have written to us, giving your opinions and criticizing the magazine. Without this input we would not have been able to put this issue together. I hope that you will find that your concerns have been taken into consideration. Please continue to give us your feedback.
Editor-In-Chief: B. Rosiji | Staff Writer: Muffy | Regular Contributor: Dapo Ojora | Photo Editing: Ayor Graphics | Distribution: T. Ailoje | Page Layout: Sential Design | Sponsored by: JO-JO Dog Food Dog’s World is published by Rosiji Foundation, Suite E177 Ikota Shopping Complex, Victoria Garden City, Ajah, Lagos. Tel: 234 (01) 4818128, (01) 4611856, Fax: (01) 4611857. Email: caninewelfare@aol.com Http://www. dogsworldmagazine.com. For information on adverts contact adverts@dogsworldmagazine.com. Contributions are welcome, but cannot be returned. Contributors are therefore advised to keep copies of their work. The editor reserves the right to edit contributions for reasons of clarity and brevity. The publisher and editor do not take responsibility for the contents of advertisement and contributions. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written consent is strictly prohibited. ©2012 Rosiji Foundation
Dog’s World 3
Contents FEATURES The Basenji Puppy
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Koos Hassing: Insights intp Training
14
Zakki Adzee:Spotlight on Dogs
16
Proper Dog Care by Ahmed Mohamed
18
Goodbye to theft: Protect Yourself
24
Doctor, I killed my dog! Dr. Adetola Ajadi
67
TRAINING House breaking 101 by Marc Goldberg
30
Instructions for Parent by A.A. Ojora
32
Persistent Housetraining Accidents - Doesn’t My Dog Know Better? By Veronica Sanchez
34
NUTRITION How to Choose the Right Dog Food by Linda Betarno
38
Why Should I Feed Dry Dog Food? by Nick Travis
39
How Much Food Should I Give My Dog? by Brigitte Synesael
40
HEALTH Is your dog suffering from itchy skin? by Danni Sheppet-Hamilton
44
4 Steps to Win The War Against Fleas by Joseph Wharton
48
Keep Ticks Off Your Dog by Jonathan Gonzales
49
Tick: Know Your Enemy by C.S. Swarens
53
Basic Dog Diseases by Dogspired
66
Not Curable, Preventable RABIES: Trading Fear for Facts by Dolores Proubasta
68
BREEDING
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Dog Shampoo FAQ
71
Puppy Bath FAQ
78
Puppies for Sale
83
Glossary of Dog Breeds
88
Dog’s World 5
You And
Your Dogs
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Dog’s World 7
Nigeria Prisons, Kirikiri Graduation Ceremony Dog Trainers
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Basenji Puppy And Dog Information By: Send to Your Friends :
The Basenji is an ancient African pack hunting dog. She is fairly small in stature and cat like. She will tolerate older children if properly socialized at an early age. Remember to never leave any young child unsupervised with a puppy or dog for any length of time. She keeps herself so clean that she barely sheds. She is basically a quiet dog, rarely barking, although she can make a racket if she wants to. The Basenji is probably unsuited for apartment life because she prefers to live in a pack. She also loves to chew, everything. If you try to fence her in, she will probably climb the fence to escape, as she is a climber and an escape artist. She needs plenty of exercise.
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*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the male Basenji is approximately 17 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and about 24 pounds. The female should run about 17 inches to the withers and about 22 pounds.
(sluggish thyroid gland which can result in weight gain), certain eye anomalies, canine hip dysplasia (genetic based looseness in the hip joint), Hemolytic Anemia (serious to deadly blood problem), small intestine problems and PRA or Progressive Retinal Atrophy (inherited disease of the retina that can cause vision loss and blindness).
*Special Health Considerations.
*Grooming.
All dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed. The Basenji has the following potential problems. Umbilical and Inguinal Hernias, PPM or Persistent Pupillary Membrane (related to the eye and generally does not cause symptoms), hypothyroidism
The Basenji has a fine short coat with very pliant skin. She will clean herself like a cat and sheds very little so almost no coat brushing is necessary. Her teeth should be brushed. at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation
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of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.
*Life Span. The Basenji can live between 10 and 12 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.
Category: Hound, Sight hound, Hunting dog.
Terms To Describe The Breed: Alert, affectionate, intelligent, independent, swift, elegant, graceful,
*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS • Rarely barks.
*History.
• She keeps herself very clean.
The Basenji has an amazing, ancient history. Likenesses of them are carved on Egyptian pharaohs tombs. The breed disappeared and was re-discovered in the Congo in 1895. They are used singly and in packs to help hunt game. They were imported to England and America in the 1930 . The AKC, American Kennel Association accepted them as a breed in 1943.
• Highly intelligent. • They form a strong bond with their human family. • Sheds very little. • Almost no doggy odour.
*SPECIAL BAD POINTS • Does not like water or getting wet. • May test her limits just for fun. • Can become very destructive if left alone too long. • Territorial, can be hostile to other dogs and animals. • They are fence climbers. • Will chew almost everything. • Rarely barks but can make plenty of noise. • Not a scary looking watch dog.
*Other Names Known By: Barkless Dog, Zaire Terrier, Congo Terrier
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Insights into Training
“Drive starts with breeding” In a discussion with Koos Hassing, professional trainer and breeder of German Shepherd dogs from the van Tiekerhook Kennels, Dog’s World explores and tries to understand some training stumbling blocks encountered by dog trainer in Nigeria
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DW: Mr Hassing, like other trainers we here you talk a lot about drive. What do you mean by drive? How do you recognize it? At what stage of a puppy’s life would you test for it? Drive starts with breeding. So I tell people in training that if you have a dog with no drive there is no point. It is genetics; it is from breeding. Some people thing that if you have an aggressive dog that that is drive. It is not drive. Not only must the mother show it, it must be in the breed line of the mother. I test my pups at seven weeks. And when I test. What I do is I put a sock or something on a leash, put it on the ground and move it. I want to see how fast the dog catches it. If the pup only holds on to it, it is not good enough. It must be a proper bite. Sometimes the first time he will only hold; then ten seconds late he will bite. That is the basis in drive you must see it. Also I show people how to build up drive. If you have a pup at nine
or ten weeks, (depending on what you want to achieve as a handler) you must build up this drive. This is very important first, building up the drive because you will need it in protection or in tracking. If the dog has no drive you can forget it. So you need dogs with ingrained drive. If the dog does not have drive you can train till you are 80 years old but you will not be successful. Then you have to build it up every day. By building up the drive, you improve your bond with the dog. Today I saw some dogs who the handler called yet the dog did not come. There was no bonding. DW: How do you go about starting a dog training programme? The first thing is that you must make a plan. This is the biggest issue and the biggest problem we encounter with trainers around the world. I am not a guy for nice video tapes talking etc. Just come on the field and show me what
your problem is. Later on we can talk about your problem and I will give you advice on how to do things better. DW: At Dog’s World we are quite concerned about the cruel manner in which trainers use the pin collar or the electronic collar. Should they not be banned? In the US people go to their car, bring out the dog and just start with the electronic collar. They think that the e-collar is a magic tool, The e-collar can be good but you must know how to use it. It must be used only at the last moment to correct the dog. If you think you can use it to learn. Forget it. All these American guys have the e-collars. It depend on who is using it. Sometimes, even a pin collars is not bad but you should know in which situations to use them,
There are dogs who would panic if you used a pin collar on them, but if you are a good handler you would know this in advance. Especially those dogs who have no drive. I know handlers who are so clever, and have become world champions using only electric devices and the dogs take it very well. These dogs score high points in obedience, the dog is so scared of the handler that he performs. They score good points. Many judges cannot see that it is fake. Their dogs become world champions, they get a lot of stud work, make a lot of money -- then they ruin the breed. Some of these gadget training people are beginners For instance, if you have just passed your driving license, I would not give you a Ferrari to drive. You would kill yourself. You should start with a Toyota. This is how they ruin the breed.
had a number of dog attacks in Nigeria recently. How can one prevent this? The GSD is my dog of choice. They will come into a room play with you no problem. Dogs MUST be socialized at an early age to build their confidence. People think that if you have a social dog, it cannot be a police dog. That is rubbish! Some say that they want a police dog but they don’t want anyone to touch their dog. All the things I see here in Nigeria, were the same in the Netherlands and in Germany and other counties. But now in our countries they say we want a dog that is confident. In the past Malinois went around biting everything and everybody. The reason was that they were highly strung. You couldn’t come close to the dog, he would bite you. If a dog lacks confidence, with certain types of training it will bite.
DW: With so many large and fierce dogs being badly trained, we have
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Spotlight on Dogs When Zakki Adzee, the torchlight bearer, owner of four dogs (Black, Power, Tiger and Bingo), hit the Nigerian music scene with his traditional Hip Pop and Gida music, those who thought that Hip-Pop was a southern phenomenon were all in for a rude awakening. Zakki was able to infuse the Nigerian music scene with a series of Hausa Hip-Pop styles and lyrics, followed by creative music videos that left no-one in doubt as to the extent of his musical genius. “I like dogs but I don’t like cats” he said. “ A lot of people like cats but I just don’t. I prefer dogs. Dogs are very friendly animals and intelligent as well. They can be lively. Although some of them are very dull, I do not like those ones, just as some human beings are dull so you find that some dogs are dull tool. I like bright and intelligent dogs. They can also be so useful. Whether it is just for companionship or for security, they can be so faithful and would do anything to protect their owner’’ . Zakki continues to propagate the gospel of Hip-Pop music according to different Northern innuendoes that have brought him fame and much success.
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Books
Dog’s World 17
Proper Dog Care by Almed Mohamed
I
I was horrified when I saw people bringing in poor quality imported dogs. People are going to shelters, backyard breeders and puppy mills; they just pick up a puppy and bring to Nigeria saying it is an imported dog and sell it off at a very high price. Foreigners also have all the same sharp practices that you see here in this country. So it was because of this that I thought, “Let’s see if an individual here in Nigeria cannot breed world class dogs as well. So it was based on this that I started
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breeding. The people that buy my puppies are people that love dogs and appreciate the value of quality. Even though locally bred my dogs are not cheap to buy. They don’t cost any less than an imported dog, with the exception of the cost of the transport. The cost of importation can be quite high. You buy a dog of 1,000 euro and it costs about 700 to 800 euro more to transport it to Nigeria. So we have now become a point of reference and when people are looking for a good quality GSD usually you will be referred to my kennel. There are also other breeders here that I respect a lot and
appreciate the quality of dogs they have. When they get here, the German Shepherds in the south fair better because of the humidity here that those in the north of the country. However in the north the GSD lose their coat during harmattan. But after harsh harmattan they regenerate their coat and they look fantastic. These are some of the very marginal issues of climatic conditions. The main problem we have in Nigeria is not event the climate; it is the feeding. People import these dogs and they start feeding them poor quality feed. They
Photo: Grandiose Kennels
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cook Indomie, put fish and just make a lot of locally compounded feed. When you give them these locally compounded feeds, there is a lot of nutritional imbalance. So these are some of the challenges people have. There is a lack of proper education on how to raise young dogs. A lot of people do not understand the nutritional requirements of growing dogs. You have imported these dogs, yet the dog is not growing well; or you are breeding dogs and they are not doing well. So anybody that is buying a puppy from me, I sit down and give them a thrashing programme on how to appropriately raise growing dogs; especially their nutritional requirements. After this you find that these dogs grow well. Now care of the puppies starts before they are born with their mother. Right from the word go, bitches have special nutritional requirements. These nutritional requirements ensure a healthy puppy weight at delivery. And the puppies come out with a lot of vigor. This reduces the risk of puppy mortality. Once a puppy is big and vigorous it can withstand the onslaught of disease. It helps do away with
Photo: Grandiose Kennels
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what they call fading syndrome. This is when you have a litter of puppies and some of the puppies fade. They die off without any medical reason. These are some of the challenges we are encountering. Another challenge that causes high puppy mortality is early separation from their mother. In our kennels we do not release our puppies until their ninth week. A lot of breeders try to get rid of their puppies early because they don’t want the trouble of feeding and caring for them. I have seen people picking puppies at five or six weeks. I tell them, “for God’s sake, what is wrong with you? How can you sell a puppy at six weeks?” That is why all these puppies are dying off. The first thing I advise people is to take their puppy at the right age. Certainly not before eight weeks of age.
Owner of Grandiose Kennels in Kaduna on a 7 he Cane Corsos, Rottweilers and Tibetan Mastiffs, Ah that our puppies grow into healthy, happy, shiny a
By this time there are two things that would have happened. Firstly, the puppy is less likely to suffer from separation anxiety from the shock of being snatched from his mother. The responsible breeder will try to strengthen these puppies so that they get used to being on their own and are ready to go to their new homes. Many people have had the experience of puppies crying all night until the morning. And that is only the beginning. Stress comes in and then they are more vulnerable to all kinds of infection because of that stress. Also if you don’t socialize your puppy at the right age, you will find problems with your puppy later in life. All puppies from my kennel are well socialized before they leave.
7 hectar ranch and breeder of German Shepherds, s, Ahmed Mohamed offers advice on how to ensure iny adult dogs.
Secondly, the puppies would have finished weaning between six and seven weeks of age. So by the time you are picking that puppy he knows how to eat properly. A good breeder takes the time to feed his puppy at least four times a day. Now some people don’t understand this method of feeding. They carry a big chunk of food and put it in front of the puppy. The puppy takes what he needs and the rest of the food goes stale, so it loses its attraction and goes to waste. You are supposed to feed small quantities of fresh food frequently and according to the breed requirements of that dog. After he has finished his meal, you feed again after four of five hours. So what should you feed the dog? For palatability, I always mix canned with dry food for the puppies, so that it encourages them to eat more. An important aspect of feeding we often forget is water. All dogs, whether puppies or adults, must have water at their disposal at ALL TIMES. Especially if they are eating dry food. Because without water, their digestion will not be complete. Water is critical.
Dog’s World 21
come and vaccinate anyhow, collect their money and go. We have all types of sharp practices going on. They don’t consider the dangers of sometimes vaccinating too early. A client cannot tell you your work just because he has money. The doctor should refuse and impose his professional knowledge.
the kennel should be well ventilated with a high enough roof. If the sun hits the high roof, the heat is easily dissipated at the top of the kennel rather than coming down to where the dog is. The roof should therefore not be lower than six foot high. Another issue that leads to a high mortality rate is cleanliness. Faeces and urine should be properly evacuated and the kennels kept clean with a good quality disinfectant. Lastly, the dog must be properly vaccinated. Not too late and not too early. Unfortunately some of our vet doctors do not understand the implication of not vaccinating dogs at the appropriate time. Just because his client told him to come and vaccinate, some vet doctors will just
Dog’s World 23
address this issue of housing for their dogs. Even if you are going to use a kennel of 6 feet by 4 feet, you must have a run where the dog can come out and move around. Even if the run is only four feet wide, as long as it is at least ten foot long it is okay. Then the dog can take fresh air, it can receive some sunlight, and of course
Then there is housing. A dog must be properly accommodated. Their housing must be comfortable and it is vital that they has enough space in his kennel. Have you seen all these tiny boxes that people are using as housing for dogs? There is hardly enough space for the dog to move around, virtually no access to sunshine, there is no run for exercise and worst of all, there is no ventilation. The sun is hitting directly on the roof which is always too low, so these dogs are perpetually hot. No space, no lighting, no sun,
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no ventilation and often no water. Many of these boxes are as small as four feet square. I wish that people would urgently
Goodbye To Theft
Protect Yourself Anyone used to watching Crime & Investigation Channel on television will tell you how much at risk we all are to criminals in general and thieves in particular. They can be lurking anywhere waiting for their opportunity. Not only are we now at risk to the common thief, but we are increasingly at risk to armed robbers, kidnappers and malicious characters. Burglaries and armed robbers have always been of concern to home owners and can happen anywhere and anytime, no matter what we do but there are measures we should all take to reduce the risk of attack and protect our homes and families.
The most common risk is of course theft and it is a simple fact that the less you have to steal, the less likely you will be visited by a thief. So adopt the simple life and
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avoid ostentatious behavior that will attract your worst enemy.
Keeping a dog is of course a deterrent since the dog acts as an early warning system. Most people think of a big black dog when considering the choice of dog for protection, but many small breeds of dog are an excellent early-warning system and will make a lot of noise and will warn you of any unusual movement long before the intruder enters your house..
Avoid allowing too many strangers into the intimate parts of your home. 80% of thefts are carried out by people you know that you have allowed into your home. Keep the private areas of your home private and leave as few valuable as possible on
display in the public areas. The word “thief � can be very subjective. Many people take things without permission and still do not consider themselves to be thieves. In your bathroom things like your toilet roll, perfume etc will easily be snitched by your guests. In your kitchen: cutlery, dishes or food. Others will help themselves to your recharge cards or anything you leave lying around and even the contents of your handbag. There is very little you can do about this kind of theft. Afterall these individuals were invited into your home by you. The major concern however is the risk of uninvited guests who are usually also violent in nature. Check out the following tips.
1. Use good quality security access doors at the entrances to your home (front and back doors) and at the entrance to your private areas (usually staircase door). 2. Once they have been properly socialized, do not allow your dog to get used to meeting or playing with strangers 3. Ensure that your family members can all handle your dog. 4. Ensure that your family members have properly bonded with him. Dogs are pack animals and will naturally protect members of their pack. They must feel that your family is part of their pack. Without this bonding it will be difficult for the dog to naturally protect them. 5. Only allow a well trusted domestic staff to handle your dog. The majority of home intrusions are done by or in collaboration with domestic staff, so the fewer that control your dog the better. 6. Avoid locking up your dog all day. It is difficult for a dog to protect your home if he is locked up in his kennel or tied down in a corner. 7.
8.
Protect your dog from abuse. Because they are afraid of the dog, many guests will beat or stone it when passing by because they don’t want it to bite them. Make sure your dog is not a sitting target. A dog that is subjected to mistreatment of this type very rarely has the courage or presence of mind to protect his home. If you want him to protect you, then you must first protect him from mistreatment.
Place a “Beware of Dog” sign on your gate. Most thieves would rather go to a house without a dog.
9.
If you have expensive cars, park them in the garage with a closed door. No point in advertising your wealth.
10. Use motion-sensor lights at night. These bright lights will suddenly come on when they sense movement.
11. Use other technology such as CCTV to monitor activities in your home. This gives you a pre-warning when something is being planned.
12. If you can afford the heavy feeding bills go for a big dog that will not only serve as an early warning system, but that will frighten any potential intruder. Unless you know what you are doing (and very few of us do), it is not a good idea to keep an attack dog. These dogs are potential killers and should not be kept in civilian homes with children and guests coming in and out. These dogs should be properly trained and handled by a trained handler.
So home protection should be a priority for us all, and prevention is always better than cure. The less you have to steal, the less likely you will be attacked, the stronger your security the less likely the thief will bother to breach that security. Thieves will always target the weakest spot with the highest potential. Afterall, they are businessmen aiming for maximum returns on their efforts.
Your Ideal Watchdog A watchdog is a dog that is highly alert and will raise the alarm by barking loudly if someone enters or even comes near your house. Different from a guard dog, whose duty is to stop the introducer from coming in, the job of a watchdog is to raise the alarm. They will alert you of imminent danger. It is almost as if they never sleep and these dogs will bark incessantly and loudly when a stranger approaches your home. These breeds are all excellent watchdogs. Boston Terrier
13. Most people are scared of big black dogs. So opt for the black dog if possible. Recently, strangers were scared of my black lhasa apso. They were especially scared because his eyes were hidden behind his locks of hair. As far as they were concerned, he had no eyes. So he had a reputation for being a black devil. So for better effect, go for a black dog like a Rottweiler, Doberman or even a black local dog.
Cairn Terrier Chihuahua Daschund German Shpehrd Poodle Miniature Schnauzer Rottweiler Scottish Terrier Shih Tzu West Highlander White Terrier Yorkshire Terrier
14. Talk to your family about security and make sure they understand the house rules concerning security.
Lhasa Apso Chow Chow Jack Russel Samoyed
15. Remember that not all dogs are created equal. Choose your dog according to your lifestyle and your pocket. Often it is good to have a small dog that alerts well and a big powerful dog as a deterrent. They will work as a team.
Papillon Airedale Fox Terrier Silky Terrier
Dog’s World 25
Pet Shops Is
?
Satisfaction Guaranteed
With renewed economic hardships, causing widespread penny counting and pocket pinching, we pet owners are suffering as much from the economic meltdown as anyone else in the country and like they, we too are seeking ways and means of saving our hard earned cash. Yet, generally speaking we like to think we are somewhat more enlightened than the general populace, and although we can be frugal, we still want good quality for our money. So it is high time our pet shops offered us comfortable, choice and affordability. “Do I hear pet shop owners asking, “So what is it that you want?” Most sales people I have met would say that customers generally want the perfect product, they want it cheap and they want it now. But reading Mrs Biobaku’s comments in this issue of Dog’s World magazine, I am not sure that this is altogether true.. From what she says, we can see that, in fact often all we want is someone to talk to. We want someone to show us some respect and we want someone to help us with a problem. What we want is SATISFACTION guaranteed. When you buy a shovel, you do not buy the shovel because you want a shovel. You buy It because you want a hole. So when we come to your pet shop we are not really interested in the variety of products you have on display, but in attending to a problem with Bingo at home. We have a problem and we want our pet shop to help us solve that problem. And often we don’t even know what the problem is. According to the late Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, “It is not the customer’s job to know what they want.” So it is the job of the pet shop to know what we want and to be in a position to help satisfy that need. Many of us still only shop for our pets while we are abroad and if Nigerian petshops want us to start patronizing their services here are a few things they must consider: Knowledgeable staff: Dog owners need and respect accurate information and sound advice. We want
26 Dog’s World
to be serviced by salespeople who are animal lovers like ourselves and who know dogs and understand the products they are selling and how these products can help make our lives easier. Friendly staff: It’s not enough that sales people know their products, but they should also be friendly and polite. Affortable prices: Although price is important, pet owners are more concerned about value. That is to say the relationship between the price and the quality (whether real or perceived). This includes not only the quality of the product itself, but also the quality of the service, the quality of the environment, the comfort level (light, space, air conditioning etc), after sales service and the total experience. Convenience: We know we can be lazy, so the shopping experience should be easy and effortless. Products and displays should be clear and straight forward, and things easy to find. Retail shopping in Nigeria has changed dramatically over the past few years.The Nigerian buyer will no longer tolerate having to shop in dark, dusty, smelly, shops when we can obtain the same products at the same price in bright, spacious, air conditioned spaces, with soft music to calm our senses and attentive staff to sort out our problems. Today, shopping is as much about the environment as it is the products on the shelves. It is about providing an atmosphere and a entire lifestyle experience for pet owners. What we finicky, price-conscious bargain hunting dog owners are asking for is to enter a world of pets which offers us a multi sensory experience. Pet shop owners must start to apply the fundamentals of spatial and lighting design, branding, store layout, furniture and fixtures, packaging, visual effects, and more to complete our retail experience’.
Dog’s World 27
Am I A Bad Dog Owner? By Dr Mark Ofua
W
hen I get a new client, I ask them a few questions so that I know where to place them. I recently had a client who said he was changing vet because his last vet killed his dog. So I asked him, “Was your dog not sick when you called the doctor?” So why should they blame the doctor? Even when the owner’s car runs over the dog, they still say, the vet killed their dog. Most clients are not willing to spend any money to care for their pets. They wait until the dog is on the road to heaven, then they call the doctor. Even after successful treatment clients are not willing to pay. Then when things go wrong, the vet is the bad guy. When you give them their bill, they say, “What! How much did I buy the dog in the first place? So why should I spend so much on treatment. Doctor, If it is like that, I beg keep the dog.” They just abandon their dogs in the clinic. I have a lot of abandoned dogs in my place. Many clients have told me to just put the dog down so that they don’t have to incur the cost of treatment. But I don’t have the heart to do it. Any time you present them with a bill that is above ten thousand, they say, “Doctor, I dash you!” In Africa, we have a very poor attitude towards animals. A client called me because her puppy was thin. When I went there I discovered that she had never fed the dog. This was an clean elite gated compound in the estate. If the dog had been in Ajegunle where he can find dustbins to rummage through it would have been better. I was shocked that the dog was still alive. It is not that she was being wicked, but she just did not know that you are supposed to feed a dog. There are also those dog owners who regularly use quacks, knowing full well they are quacks. But they are cheaper. How many dog owners have ever ask if you are a qualified vet doctor. They don’t care. So how does a vet then break even? However, people are beginning to wake up to the reality of owning a dog. Not just keeping a dog for security or for status. Those who own dogs for status are the worst set of owners. Some of them cannot even handle their own dog. They wait for the vet to come to help them release the dog. They cannot release their own dog. They can’t even touch the dog. But in spite of it all, I know that things are changing and we have many clients who are so emotionally attached to their dogs.
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Dog’s World 29
House breaking 101 Marc Goldberg Remember that dog who just knew you didn’t want her piddling in the house? Some dogs just need a slight sense of disapproval from you, and they virtually housebreak themselves.
reduce the accessible area. Fido should be in her crate unless you can observe her 100%. This means that when the dog is loose, she has your undivided attention. Consider attaching a 6 foot light cord to the collar so you can more But you don’t have one of those dogs…or easily locate the dog, and prevent her from you wouldn’t be reading this! leaving the room without you. Simply step on the cord to stop her. So how do we house train the dog who just doesn’t seem to get it? Believe it or not, it’s At the first sign your dog needs to go, simple. whisk her outside. Those signs include circling, sniffing, anxiousness, whining I have two key words for you among other symptoms. Confine and Observe. While there is a great deal to know about food and water scheduling, timing can vary from dog to dog. So we’ll just concentrate here on the main concept which is to confine your dog to an appropriately sized crate when you cannot observe her. A properly sized crate is large enough for your dog to stand up and turn around, but hardly bigger than that. If you have a puppy in a large crate, she’ll think she’s got a bedroom with a bathroom built in. She’ll wee in one corner and sleep in the other. T h e c o r r e c t ly sized crate consists of bedroom only with no “bathroom.” So if your crate is too large, go to the pet store and purchase a crate divider so you can temporarily
When you’re not observing your dog with full attention, you confine her to the crate. That being said, you do need to ensure your dog has liberty periodically so she’s not all day in the crate. By being diligent now, you’ll be able to give Fido years of liberty with no worries. So it’s well worth the investment in time at this stage. Be sure you spend time playing with your dog, and also let her wander outside the crate. Avoid tossing her in the crate as punishment. Alleviate
your guilt feelings by placing bones smeared with peanut butter in with her. This method makes it impossible for your dog to have an accident. You’re either right there to take her out, or she’s in the crate where she won’t want to go. When you’ve had a month with no accidents, you can begin to let the dog earn a little more liberty, five or ten minutes at a time. That means she can be out of your sight for a few moments at a time. But only a few. You want to build slowly on a record of success until your dog literally forgets that the house ever contained a bathroom. For each week with no accident, you can give Fido a few more moments of liberty at a time. However, if there is an accident, go back a step, and reduce that liberty. One accident in the house erases progress made for the several previous days. Confine and Observe your way to house breaking success. In the course of just two or three months, you’ll have a dog you can trust in the home. It’s going to be worth the effort!
So how do we house train the dog who just doesn’t seem to get it? Believe it or not, it’s simple.
About The Author Marc Goldberg is a dog trainer specializing in the rehabilitation of difficult dogs and improving relationships. He is Vice President of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and Editor of SafeHands Journal. 30 Dog’s World
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARENTS By: ADEDAPO A. OJORA
It is very important to teach children how to meet and interact with dogs they are not familiar with but are attracted in. I cannot over-emphasise the importance of the meeting to both humans and dogs. Childish exuberance and excitement can be interpreted by inexperienced dogs as a threat. You will find that incidents can even occur to Good kids and Good dogs so if a few basic rules are followed the chances of anything going wrong are greatly reduced. By teaching children and dogs how to interact with one another we lay the groundwork for ensuring a happy,healthy relationship between the two going forward. It may help if you take time out to help your child meet a variety of dogs as practice. I know that I ensure my dogs are good with children in very much the same way that I ensure my kids are good with dogs.Most people who have seen my dogs in public will not the balance in their behaviour to strangers and in particular their tolerance of children. Here are some helpful steps: STEP 1. ALWAYS ASK THE OWNER. Teach your kids never to rush up to dogs. They should always stop a few feet away outside the “critical zone” and ask the owner “May I pet/stroke your dog?”. In theory the same applies to adults.They must accept that sometimes the answer may be NO. This process may well have averted an incident. Whilst I believe and unsociable dog must never be taken into a public place as a social responsibility,you must accept the owners decision. Many dogs don’t live with kids and are therefore not comfortable with them. If the answer is NO then remind your kids that there are lots of other dogs who would love to
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be petted by them. Its not such a big deal. If the answer is YES then the next step is to ASK THE DOG. I know this sounds slightly humorous but its actually very important. STEP 2. ASK THE DOGS. This is very important and must never be skipped. They way a child does this is not with words but instead with body language and posture. Ordinarily in a kind of pantomime,kids use a variety of body postures to mimic fear,anger excitement and so on. Teach kids to make a fist pointing downwards and show the dog the back of the hand. The natural reaction of a dog is to sniff the extended arm without the feeling of intimidation.This action also minimises the risk of them having their fingers nipped. Point to note is that you must always watch and assess the dogs body language when this is taking place. If any adverse reaction is noted cease the process quickly but with alarm to either. Many times sudden moves can trigger incidents. * If the dog comes forward with loose waggly body motions you have a YES. * If the dog leans forward to come for a sniff and seems comfortable with it then you have a YES. * If the dog turns its face away form the child’s hand and backs away,or growls or barks,or moves towards its owner for refuge or if it looks anxious or unsettled the cease the meeting immediately. These are definite NO’S. The dog is telling you it does not want this meeting and you MUST stop.
Unfor tunately,some owners don’t understand or respect their dog’s decision and will drag the dog forward saying “Oh he’s fine. He loves kids...its ok to pet him” IT IS NOT,DON’T,YOU MUST NOT. DON’T EVER ALLOW YOUR CHILDREN TO PET A DOG THAT DOES NOT APPROACH THEM WILLINGLY. STEP 3. PET THE DOG. Once it is established that both owner and dog have said yes then you may proceed to pet the dog. The fact that both parties seem comfortable is usually a good sign but teach the kids initially to avoid the sensitive areas like the eyes and ears. It is true that many dogs don’t like to be petted on top of their heads but interestingly this is how most people meet and greet dogs. This is an entrenched human behaviour. The natural reaction of a dog who sees a hand coming towards its head is to tilt its head upwards and look to see where the hand is going and coming from. Due to this inclination from the dog, the child’s hand passes over the dog’s teeth. This is a potential flashpoint and not the best place for a hand to be. Instead suggest the dog be stroked on the side of its neck or rubbed under his chin is a slow but deliberate manner. Dogs prefer this to rapid patting which can irritate them. With more tolerant dogs you can stroke their chests and along their backs but I do not advocate this for initial meetings. REMEMBER. ALWAYS SUPERVISE MEETINGS BETWEEN CHILDREN AND DOGS.
Persistent Housetraining Accidents — Doesn’t My Dog Know Better? Veronica Sanchez M.Ed. CABC
“My dog is doing this on purpose!” is a complaint dog trainers often hear. House soiling is a common, frustrating dog behaviour problem. However, it is important to understand that dogs do not eliminate indoors out of “spite,” “anger,” or otherwise “on purpose.” Consider that dogs will urinate to mark territory and investigate animal waste. They clearly do not find the odour offensive the way we do! Owners often misinterpret the dog to be showing “guilty” body language when in actuality the dog is simply reacting with fearful body language towards the owner’s anger. There are many reasons dog owners may have difficulty house training their dogs and puppies. Many of them are listed below. M e d i c a l C o n d i t i o n s : Various medical conditions may make house training difficult, if not impossible. It is important to work with your veterinarian to make sure your dog is healthy before assuming that the dog’s accidents are due to a behavior problem. I n s u f f i c i e n t S u p e r v i s i o n : Insufficient or inadequate supervision can result in behavior problems. Dogs that are not completely house trained need to be in the owner’s line of sight at all times when not crated or confined to a dog-proofed location. I n a d e q u a t e C l e a n U p : Inadequate clean up is another culprit. Dogs will continue to soil areas that have been previously s o i l e d . Yo u n e e d t o c l e a n t h e s o i l e d a r e a t h o r o u g h l y w i t h a p r o d u c t s p e c i f i c a l l y m a d e f o r p e t u r i n e . U n r e a l i s t i c E x p e c t a t i o n s : Don’t harbour unrealistic expectations. Young puppies need to be let out frequently. Some toy breed dogs may take longer to house train than other breeds. Adopted adult or adolescent dogs might never have been house trained and need to be treated as though they were young puppies in terms of supervision and crating. P r e v i o u s B a d E x p e r i e n c e s : A “bad start” can create long-lasting challenges. Dogs and puppies that were caged in situations where there was inadequate clean up may lose their tendency not to soil in a crate. These dogs can be particularly challenging to house train. A n x i e t y o r F e a r : Anxiety or fear related behaviour problems also contribute to house-training accidents. Dogs that are extremely stressed may lose control of their bowels or bladder. Some dogs will urinate when they are extremely excited. A qualified dog behaviour consultant can be helpful in addressing these more serious issues. Solving a house training problem may involve revisiting basic puppy house training techniques or it may require in depth behaviour changes and sometimes even medical intervention. Neutering may reduce marking behaviour in some intact male dogs. Under no circumstance should you yell at or punish your dog for house soiling. The only thing your dog will learn is to be afraid of you. Make sure you reward your dog with praise and a treat when your dog eliminates in a location that is acceptable to you. And most of all, be patient and do not hesitate to hire a professional dog trainer About The Author quickly. Dog training and behavior problems take longer to change if they are allowed to continue Veronica Sanchez, M.Ed., CABC specializes in Dog Behavior Training for a long period of time.
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TOP10
Dr. Aziz Nedum ZOBA VET, Lekki, Lagos
Our Family Dog Dr. Aziz Nedum (ZOBA VETERINARY CLINIC) How many dogs do you have? We have four dogs: Two Rotts, One Rhodesian Ridgeback and a Jack Russell that lives indoors. Did you get them all in Nigeria? The ridgeback is the offspring of a dog I got in South Africa who is now late. One of the rotts I inherited from a client. The Jack Russell I imported from South Africa and the other Rottweiler was a gift. Why did you choose a Jack Russell? The JR was in fact an accident. We imported it for a client who, because of his situation at the time did not want the dog anymore. He asked me to keep the dog for him until he came back from the UK. I did not want to keep the dog in the clinic and fortunately or unfortunately my kids fell in love with the dog and never released it. We ended up importing another Jack Russell as a replacement. Your kids decided this? Yes they decided. Kids love them and they are fantastic guard dogs. They are very alert. Why did you become a vet? In my own case, my grandfather was a farmer in Kaduna, he had cattle and dogs. They were local dogs and they were used to shepherding. It was through this experience that I was introduced to veterinary medicine quite early in life. Veterinary medicine became more and more interesting with time. The course was not easy. There were a couple of times when we seriously considered abamdpmomg the course. However, one thing led to another and I became a vet and I enjoy it. What dog would you recommend to a family? First of all you need to know the temperament of the dog. Accidents happen and I would not generally advice people who are not used to dogs to go for aggressive dogs or the supposedly aggressive dogs like Rotts, Dobermans and Boerbels. I would not advice first time dog owners to go for these breeds. In my case, I have a daughter who is seven and another who is nine years. And they are very used to my rottweilers, but these rotts came in as puppies. The dogs grew up with the kids and I can tell you that my daughter who is seven years old can actually command the rottweilers. I always advise people that want to own a dog to start with a puppy and be ensure some form of training and control. If you leave them to their own devices they will embarrass you. I recommend that people keep dogs, if only for security, especially since is fosters a sense of responsibility in children. You hear then say things like: “Oh, the dog has a tick, maybe we should see the vet.” It is a form of responsibility for children. Sometimes when you are at home with your wife and you have no kids dogs help elleviate the tensions of everyday life. That is another way I look at it. I have a loving wife that loves dogs and it would have been a little more difficult if she did not like dogs.
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guidelines to teach your kids about dogs 1) Teach your children to always ask permission from the dog owner before petting any dog. 2) Never go near a dog who is chained, in a car or in a cage. 3) Never tease any dog by shouting at them, poking it with an object or yout finger. 4) If a dog is chasing you, don’t run away from it. It will only make it even more excited and determined. The best thing to do is to stop, calm yourself and be quiet. Then when cooled, face the dog and start walking away slowly. 5) Do not shout, scream or get over excited around a dog. 6) If you come across a stray dog, move away. Don’t forget that rabies is an incurable disease. 7) If a dog is injured, the best thing you can do to help is to get an adult. 8) If you see a dog around a child, especially a toddler and there is nobody watching the baby or child then alert all adults near you. Under no circumstance should a dog be left alone with a child. 9) Do not torment a dog by showing it food, making it sniff it and then eating the food. Do not torment a dog by pulling its tail, its leg or any other body parts. They might just express their frustration. 10) If you have dogs and you have visitors or kids your age around chain or lock away the dogs before they enter the compound. If your parents tell you to lock away your dog, do it. It is to protect your dog from any surprises and it is to protect your friends. Parents, always double check that the dog is in a safe place.
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A
trip to the supermarket can turn into pure confusion when you see the dog food aisle with its countless options. There are dry foods, canned foods, and packaged foods. It’s hard to know where to start. To begin your search for the proper dog food you should concentrate on dry food first. Dry food makes up the bulk of what your canine will eat. Some dogs may never even need to eat canned foods. If you choose to feed your canine canned food, mix it with dry food or provide it simply as an occasional treat. Canned foods can be high in fat. The first factor of dog food is age. Puppies need special foods that are for puppies only. These foods tend to have a higher fat content to provide energy as well as smaller bits that are easier for puppies to chew. Older dogs may need a food that is geared toward their aging needs. These foods may introduce special oils and minerals that older dogs need to maintain healthy bones and muscles and avoid injury. Protein, fat and by-products are also important factors when choosing the right dog food for you and your dog. Always read the back of the dog food bag before you buy and serve it. You should look to see what proteins are used. Great foods will state the actual protein source such as chicken or beef. You should also avoid foods that derive protein from plants. These foods may be cheaper, but your dog needs the best protein sources available. Each day, your dog should receive twenty percent of fat from their food. Dogs use fat to provide them with energy. As long as your dog is getting plenty of exercise, they will burn off this high fat content and convert it to lean muscle. If your dog is overweight
or older you may opt for a special diet food that provides a lower fat content. When your dog is overweight it puts strain on his or her bones, joints and heart. When your dog is healthy you should be able to feel but not see his or her ribs. If you can see your dog’s ribs, increase their food intake or provide a food with a higher fat content. If you cannot feel your dog’s ribs, add more exercise and then consider moving to a lower fat diet. Filler or byproducts are also a chief aspect in your dog food selection. Not all by-products are bad as long as they name the source, such as beef or chicken by-products. When you purchase dog food, remember that cheaper is usually not better. The less you spend on dog food may mean higher vet bills because improper nutrition may cause health issues. If you are still unsure how to make the right choice, your veterinarian is a great source of information for food recommendations. You can also ask your vet to recommended types of wet or canned food for treats or to add to your dog’s dry food. If your dog is overweight, your vet may even suggest that you avoid these fattier canned foods for a leaner dry food that will help your dog reach and maintain a proper weight. Your vet can also advise you on what human foods to avoid giving your dog. Make sure you learn what foods are poisonous to your dog. A proper dog diet along with plenty of exercise will help your canine to live a happy and full life.
How to Choose the Right Dog Food for Your Canine by: Linda Betarno
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Why
Should I Feed Dry Dog Food? by: Nick Travis All veterinarians will tell pet owners to avoid feeding their dogs from the table. Many people look on their pets as family members and believe human food is healthy for their pets. Dogs and cats have very different dietary requirements from humans and a diet of table scraps
Dogs inherit the carnivorous food requirements of their wild ancestors and healthy food is centered on animal protein that meets the animals’ needs. In order to expand the volume of the kibble and to help the animals feel sated. Fillers are added to the animal protein. The type and
consumption there are many animal parts that are considered by-products. These not-for-human-consumption by-products are a major source of animal protein in pet food. Chicken, beef, pork and fish packing processes produce by-products in large quantities. Some small specialty slaughterhouses provide meat specifically for dog or cat food. The animal by-products are processed into a form of protein better suited for blending with the fillers in the product. The source of the protein is not recognizable but it is generally a healthy component of the final product. There are various binders, flavours and additives that make the food more palatable. The quality of the fillers and additives as well as the control of the processes will determine the differences price. Producers targeting the low-price end of the market often use lower quality ingredients and exercise less control over the production processes. Educated consumers understand the this when selecting their dog’s food.
is not healthy. Dogs are healthier when fed dry dog food in appropriate amounts. Dry pet food has several benef its including improved oral health; reduced expense for the owner; and self-feeding without fear of spoilage. The texture of dry food satisfies the dogs need for chewing. Canned food has the same basic content as dry food with added moisture being the primary difference. There is no nutritional benefit in feeding canned food over dry.
amount of fillers in a commercial pet food affects both the price and nutritional value of the product. The cheaper dog foods can include fillers such as: corncobs, straw, peanut hulls or cotton hulls. These have no nutritional value and can cause allergic reactions in some dogs. High-end products use only quality wheat or rice-based fillers. The protein component in pet food is almost always derived from animal sources, although there are some vegetarian brands available. In meat production for human
All pet care experts will recommend staying with one brand and type of dry dog food as much as possible. Frequent changes in diet will cause digestion issues. If a pet is healthy and happy with the food, there is no reason to change. The same principle applies to the treats given to the animal.
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“You need to consider all the nutritional requirements of your pets. Just like with human beings, you have to consider adequate intake of nutrients, protein, carbohydrates, fats and oils, minerals and vitamins and then water. You need to be aware that all these nutrients are required in different proportions.” Dr. Oby Asadu
How Much Food Should I Give My Dog? by Brigitte Synesael
You would think that feeding your dog would be the easiest part of your responsibilities as a dog owner. Wrong again! You’ll need to make some decisions and that means you may have to do some homework. First of all are we talking about a puppy or an adult dog? That will make a difference as to the amount of dog food required. When thinking in terms of food, puppies are typically considered adults at the age of 1 year at which time you would switch to adult food. If there’s any doubt or concern about this, or if you just want to be safe, consult your Vet. Your Vet is a fabulous resource for
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any questions you may have and it’s always a great idea to consult with him/her on anything concerning your precious pet. For obvious reasons, the proper feeding of your dog is extremely important. Over feed and you put your pet at risk of obesity and serious health issues. Under feed and you end up causing a problem dog that chews on toys, books, etc. and steals food off the counter or table and is constantly into the garbage. How often should you feed your dog? Next decision... regular scheduled feeding or free feeding. Free feeding
means that you keep food in the puppies bowl all the time and he/she eats whenever they are hungry. There are different schools of thought regarding free feeding. Some Veterinarians feel this is the best option for your puppy because they’re growing quickly and may require more food one day than another. Others suggest feeding your puppy about 4 times each day. My personal vote goes with the later. Here’s why... Free feeding your dog can be difficult if you have other pets (trying to keep the other pets away from it). Then, when your puppy becomes an adult, one short year later, you’ll need to retrain your
dog to eat only once or twice each day. If you continue to free feed your dog throughout adulthood, you are setting the stage for an overweight dog and likely serious health issues. Having said all of this, my recommendation would be to feed your puppy 4-6 times each day. They’re little and have lots of energy. They need to eat often to fuel their little bodies and mature properly. Maintain a regular time schedule for feeding, and leave the food available for 15-20 minutes. Then take it away. If your puppy is hungry he’ll eat, if not he’ll have another opportunity in a few hours. Upon adulthood reduce the feedings to 1-2 times each day. You’ll notice that there are no absolute answers to the number of times each day to feed your dog. That’s because there are so many variables involved in determining the answer; age, size, breed, how much exercise does your dog get, is your dog underweight now or overweight, how many treats does he/she get each day. Each of these points need to be considered before deciding how often to feed your pet. I absolutely recommend that you consult with... guess who? Say it with me... your
to your dog. This kind of fat overload can give your dog pancreatitis which causes chronic abdominal pains. Ham & bacon are too salty and contain too much fat. This can cause your pet to have pancreatitis and, in some breeds, could ultimately result in bloat. Bloat is a potentially life-threatening condition arising from your dog drinking too much water from the salty food. Any dairy products like butter, cheese, and milk are harmful to your dog. They weren’t designed to eat these types of food so their bodies can’t digest them properly. The consumption of these products could cause bloating and diarrhea in your pet. Bones, particularly small bones from chicken and fish can get lodged in your pets’ throat which can cause choking. Bones can also cause splinter and tear a dog’s internal organs. Cat food is much higher in fats and protein than dog food. Just like baby food, dog and cat food is designed with the specific needs of each animal in mind. The extra fat is not healthy for your dog and eating cat food instead of dog food means that your pet is missing essential nutrients for his/
“Leftover party food often consists of moyin moyin, jollof rice, onions and Maggi cubes. By the time you get the food, put it in your car, drive through traffic and get home the heat will cause the food to ferment. This becomes an even greater hygiene risk when the food is left in the dog’s bowl until the next day.” Dr. Paul A. Agbaso Veterinarian! He/she can help you set up the perfect schedule for your pet.
her health. That’s why it’s called Dog Food and Cat Food, not Pet Food.
What about that People food thing? Okay? Or not so okay? The answer is... not so okay. Truth be told, in moderation, some people food is harmless. However there are some foods that can be very harmful to your pet. For instance it isn’t a good idea to trim the fat off your meat and feed it
Chocolate and caffeine are toxic to dogs and negatively affects their heart and nervous system. Chocolate can cause seizures, coma and ultimately death. One ounce of baking chocolate can poison a 10-pound dog. There are different kinds of chocolate some not as toxic as others. But
Some human foods you must not give you dog Salt Dairy products (cow milk & cheese) Bones Cat food Chocolate Caffeine Raw whole egg Instant noodles Table scraps Onions and garlic Stock cubes Soy beans Alcoholic drinks let’s face it... does it matter? None of them are good for your pooch, so a BIG no on this treat. Of course there’s the obvious... drugs and alcohol are absolute no no’s. You might find it comical to watch a tipsy dog, but I’m sure that you will not see the humour in knowing that the alcohol you gave him put your precious pet into a coma and possibly resulted in his death. There are many other people foods that can cause serious health issues for your dog. There is enough evidence that many foods are harmful for your pooch that the simplest solution is to just NOT feed your dog people food at all. Another bonus to this solution is that you will not have a dog that begs for food while you eat at the table. There are so many treats that have been designed especially for your pet that it really just makes sense to stick to those. What should you feed your dog? Which is the best for your dog, dry food or canned food? That’s the great debate. There are pros and cons to both, so... let’s make a list: Dry Dog Food Pros • Helps keep dogs teeth clean from tartar • More nutritious • Dogs have better breath
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• Easier to store
and switch to dry food for adult dogs. The obstacle with this is that it’s difficult to make the switch.
• Easier to handle • More cost effective • Less likely to spoil • Wet Dog Food Pros • More proteins included • Contains fewer preservatives • Contains less grain and more moisture keeps a dog hydrated and benefits the urinary tract Is very flavourful, often the preferred taste for dogs • May be better if your dog has certain health issues Dry Dog Food Cons • Not all dry foods are quality foods • Usually has more preservatives Wet Dog Food Cons • Sticks on dogs teeth causing tooth problems • R e q u i r e s treatments
more
Above all else, remember to hug your pet today.
dental
• Gives dogs bad breath • More expensive • L e s s h e a l t h y b e c a u s e i t contains a higher fat content and more water • Once opened canned food can spoil quickly Now that we’ve gone over the list of pros and cons, let me say that absolutely nothing is carved in stone. Your dog may have a health issue that requires him to eat canned instead of dry. For example, dogs that have lost their chewing teeth or have dental disease may not be able to chew dry dog food, and may only be able to eat canned food. I fostered a dog once that would only eat her dry dog food with 2 tablespoons of canned food mixed in. You will find that some experts promote canned food for puppies
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You may have a dog that is a really picky eater or one that gulps his food with the speed of light and then throws up. These dogs need your help. Work out a plan with your Vet. This article was not meant to have all the answers. It was intended to give you some things to think about. It’s not as simple as “grab a bag of dog food from the store” and we’re good to go. As a responsible pet parent, you’ve got some things to think about. Now, talk to your Vet, ask your questions (be sure to ask for the rationale behind the thought), and together build your strategy.
“You never know what table scraps contain. Some scraps contain fish bones, many contain broken bones which can cause problems for the dogs . . . and restaurant scraps can lead to choking. For example a fish bone can get stuck in the throat. If it passes down the throat it can also puncture the stomach walls. You cannot even be sure about how the restaurant packages the food. Sometimes you find bottle caps in the food; you might even get some broken bottles”. In short, “there is no guarantee that what you are getting is hygienic or not safe to give to your dog”. Dr. Dotun Ransome Kuti
“Just give commercial dog food because it is formulated according to the requirements and standard of the dog. For puppies, I recommend they eat 5 times a day, then as they get older, 3 times a day and as an adult once a day”. Dr Eddy. Effiong
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Is your dog suffering from itchy skin? Learn the DO’s and DON’Ts of treatment– and easy Prevention by: Danni Sheppet-Hamilton (Qualified Vet Nurse) To find a solution to our dog’s itching, we must first understand why our dogs get skin allergies and the different variations of what could be causing your dog to keep scratching & chewing. We also must understand why treating the cause doesn’t necessarily treat the problem. Causes of doggy skin problems– what you should–and shouldn’t do to treat them:
Our most common problem is fleas. When your dog is itching, looking for fleas is probably the place to start. Even if you can’t obviously see a flea on your dog, it doesn’t mean there isn’t an infestation about to hatch. Fleas have 4 stages involved in their life/breeding cycle. The adult fleas you can see are only 5% of the problem. Prevention: This is why prevention is so important. Most owners try and use ‘top spot’ products expecting them to have an instant ‘fix it’ affect on their dog that may have a huge flea problem. Remember, although these products do kill the adult flea, their main job is to PREVENT the flea cycle from getting out of control. That’s why it is important to use these products all year thru, as once the wet season hits, if your dogs haven’t had flea prevention used over this time, the eggs that have been lying dormant over the cooler period will hatch–and that has the potential
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to become a big problem.
Unfortunately, flea powders and collars are ‘yesterdays’ remedy. I say they only make the flea ‘sneeze’, not drop off the dog–or better drop dead and off the dog! New solutions: Fortunately technology has come a long way and your dog simply doesn’t have to endure the itch and discomfort of fleas any longer. Consult your Vet for the appropriate product that suits your lifestyle.
EVEN ONE FLEA IS TOO MANY. It is also important to keep in mind that even if your dog is not madly scratching, it doesn’t mean he/she doesn’t have fleas–it could mean his/her sensitivity isn’t as great. Also remember the importance of treating the entire doggy environment–carpet, dog bedding, etc.
Atopy: A fancy name for what is best described as hay fever for dogs. Although our dogs don’t sneeze, cough, and walk around with puffy eyes & runny noses, it is the way that this condition is transferred that is similar. Atopy is an allergy against inhaled allergens. This might include dust mites, pollens, mold spores, and any other inhalants that may be affected by a seasonal change. The way we can determine if our dog has an Atopic allergy is by asking: •
Does my dog itch all over and in no particular place?
•
Does my dog get regular ear infections?
•
Does my dog lick and chew it’s feet?
This condition has varied treatments and it is important you take your dog to the Vet as soon as you suspect this condition–once it has gone too long it can create severe skin infections and
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ear problems. Definitely do not try to fix this problem on your own. Contact allergies: Basically just like it sounds–an allergy from coming into contact with grasses, trees, plants,etc. These are the more common causes, but some dogs may also be allergic to wool (eg. carpet) and other allergic matter that has contact to their skin. This usually presents on the underside of the dog as though the dog may have a ‘water line’ along it’s side, where the dog comes in contact with the allergen when it lies down. It may also lick & chew it’s feet. Again, go straight to the Vet–another problem you shouldn’t try to resolve yourself. Before you race to the Vet, have a good look around your garden and take note of what is there. Your Vet will know what may be a likely cause of the problem. Food allergies: If this is the cause, your Vet can explain how this works, but food allergies are less common than the other problems we have discussed so far. Sarcoptic mange: Don’t forget about good old mange mites. Sarcoptic mange is transferable to humans, so be careful. Ask yourself: •
Where has my dog been lately?
•
Has my dog come into contact with any wildlife?
Demodectic mange is different, but with both problems the solution is to go straight to your Vet–medication is required. As our dogs become irritated by any of the problems mentioned above, they start to itch, scratch, and chew at themselves attempting to provide themselves some relief. Commensals: On a dogs skin is what we call ‘commensals’–organisms that live naturally on the skin to keep the skin healthy and prevent worse pathogens or ‘nasties’ from entering the skin layer. These commensals are Staph (bacteria) and Malassezia (yeast). When our dog breaks the
46 Dog’s World
skin layer by chewing & scratching, combining that with saliva and a warm, moist environment, these commensals get very excited. They start to help each other grow and before we know it, not only does our dog have the original reason for itching, but they also have a raging skin infection to go with it! Treat the cause early: Hence the importance of treating the underlying cause quickly so it doesn’t get to the next stage. If you leave it too long, it is harder to resolve and your dog will go through the grief of excessive itchiness until mum or dad takes him/ her to be treated. The yeast growth that will occur is actually very itchy all on it’s own so that the more it grows, the itchier your dog becomes. Some dogs are particularly sensitive to this, so even the slightest Malassezia growth will send a dog scratching madly.
Remember–Human products may irritate your dog Please don’t use ‘made for human products’ on your dog’s coat. Dogs have a thinner skin layer than humans and also a different PH. This is why we shouldn’t use human shampoos– even baby shampoos–on our dogs. Also taboo: Wool wash, fabric softener, sunlight soap and any other variation of ridiculous methods people say are great to make your dog softer, whiter, blacker, and/or pink polka dots–all bad, forbidden, taboo for your dog if you want her/him to enjoy a healthy coat & skin. Save time, money & frustration: Just stick to a good quality, soap free dog shampoo that is recommended by your Vet. You will save your dog hours of misery and yourself time and money sorting out problems that could have been easily prevented.
Have you caught your dog licking, biting or scratching himself? It might very well be an allergy, but more likely, it is that dreaded flea, and when you see one adult, there are probably a hundreds more fleas (in the form of eggs, lavae and adults) that your eye has not seen. By the time you have seen ONE flea, you probably already have an infestation problem. So planning your flea eradication programme, consider the following: • Each female flea will produce 60 eggs every 24 hours. • For each adult you see, there are 30 more in your environment. • Although the flea’s lifespan is 90 days, a hibernating cocoon can survive for a year without feeding • It is very likely that the remedy you are currently using does not kill the eggs. Most remedies will only kill the adult flea (which represents less than 5% of the fleas in your home). So choose a treatment that continues to kill the fleas as the eggs hatch, thereby breaking the life cycle. • Extend your flea control programme to the full 90 days. Dog owners are sometime surprised that after a full month’s treatment, when they think they have solved the problem, the fleas are suddenly back. This is because eggs
That Dreaded Flea are still hatching and re-infesting the home. • In the past, we used to use powders and tick collars (I’m sure many of you remember those). Technology has advanced considerably since those days and there is now really no excuse for having fleas and ticks on your dog. With the new technology in residual flea and tick control, the product no longer enters the dog’s blood stream. This is a major advancement in protecting the animal from the hazardous effects of the common pesticides we use (primarily fipronil or pyrethrins). With the new technology, the protection is focused on the hair follicles instead of entering the dog’s blood stream. These products will kill the fleas and ticks on your dog within
a few hours and will continue killing any fleas that jump on the dog over the following 30 days. Because thousands of dogs have died from topical flea control, it is probably advisable to discontinue the use of chemical sprays after the 90 days, when hopefully the problem will have been solved. Ideally you should go for a herbal or natural flea and tick product. These are 100% natural herbal products which have no fipronil or pyrethrins. You can literally continue spraying the dog year round without fear of poisoning your dog. As always, prevention is better than cure, so even if you do not yet have a flea problem, it is advisable to use a flea shampoo regularly and to spray your dog monthly.
Dog’s World 47
4
Steps To Win The War Against Fleas
by: Joseph Wharton Step One: Know your enemy Fleas are the most common external parasite found on dogs and cats. A single flea can bite your pet over 400 times a day, leading to itching and painful scratching, which can in turn lead to reddening, irritated skin and hair loss in the area, or cause more serious (and costly) skin conditions like dermatitis (rashes or tiny crusts) caused by an allergic reaction to the flea´s saliva. They can also transmit the serious tapeworm parasite if your pet swallows an infested flea while selfgrooming. In a single day, a flea can consume more than it´s body weight worth of blood, which can provoke serious aenemia to your dog or cat. In some cases such as extreme infestations or in the case of young, ill or old pets, this can lead to death. Step Two: Find the Flea It is important to detect the presence of fleas on your pet before they can reach the harmful levels described above, where your pets suffering becomes evident. When the fleas first make their appearance on your pet, you might be deceived into thinking that their scratching, nibbling or licking their hair coat and skin is part of their normal grooming routine. Therefore you must check your pet periodically. Carefully look for fleas around the head, neck and ears of your pet, and inspect the armpits. You might see small dark fleas moving around, but don´t be misled if you don´t see them as they are very good at hiding
48 Dog’s World
between skin folds and fur. The best way to determine the presence of fleas is to search their coat for flea faeces. To do this, rub or comb (you can use a special flea comb) your pet´s coat and dump the collected hair or litter into a damp white paper towel. If your pet has fleas, black flecks will fall onto the paper and turn red or rust colour when wet. The reddish colour comes from the blood sucked by the flea and transferred to the faeces. If the black flecks don’t become red then it´s just regular dirt. You can also test your pets resting place with this method. Remember that the faeces are food for the larvae, so it keeps the flea´s life cycle rolling on. (Nasty! I guess we all do it in a sense, but fleas literally grow/come from their parents crap! Remember to repeat this procedure periodically, especially if your pet has been enjoying the sunny outdoors. If you do find fleas, you must act fast against them, as they can rapidly invade your home. Fortunately, fleas are getting easier to control as there is a wide range of safe and effective products available in the market to fight them. Step three: Attack and Destroy the Flea Most flea problems can be eliminated by treating the fleas directly on your pet. You can take your pet to a vet so he can determine if a prescription medication is necessary, or you can use over the counter products, such as
sprays and shampoo. Some products kill only adult fleas, while others also prevent the eggs from developing. If your pet is seriously infested, you will need to treat their resting spot and possibly your home. Frequent vacuuming of the areas your pet frequents will help get rid of fleas at their different life stages (eggs, larvae or adult). Authorized pest control services may also treat your pet´s outdoor environment in severe cases where this is required. It is also very important that you treat any other pets in your home, as fleas can jump from one to another. Step 4: Prevention (This should be step one, but if you are reading this it’s probably because you already have fleas!) Due to the flea´s rapid expansion rate, they can be hard to eliminate completely, therefore prevention is essential. So whether you find fleas on your pet or not, many veterinarians recommend treating pets monthly as part of their health care routine. Vacuuming your pet´s favourite spots frequently will also prevent the fleas from reproducing and invading your house. Taking these simple steps, you and your pet can enjoy a flea free environment year round.
Keep Ticks Off Your Dog by: Jonathan Gonzales
Dog ticks, these creepy blood suckers get under everyone’s skin, sucking up anyone they can while causing irritation and illness in their victim. Ticks spend most of their lives with their mouths buried inside a mammal’s flesh, feeding on their blood. Although ticks are very small, they expand to about 50 times their normal size after they have finished feeding. Dog ticks are also responsible for spreading disease. Fortunately, there are several ways to keep ticks from feeding on your pet. Below are seven helpful suggestions to keep ticks at bay:
1
Before they get into their victims, ticks like to stay several feet off the ground on top of vegetation along roadsides and paths. They patiently remain there waiting for your dog to come along. In order to give the ticks fewer chances to hop and attach themselves to your dog, always keep your grass and weeds trimmed to below ankle height.
2
Generally, mature ticks look for large victims, such as your dog. On the other hand, younger ticks usually feed on mice and other rodents until they are old enough to go after bigger prey. To help eliminate both old ticks as well as young ticks, make sure your yard is uninviting to rodents.
3 4 5
When hiking with your pet, stay on the trails and make sure that your pet remains with you. Avoid wooded areas and long grasses where ticks are waiting.
Before taking your dog out for a walk, protect your pet’s coat by spraying it with insecticides that can kill ticks on contact.
If you happen to see ticks, lightly spray your dog with a tick insecticide and then comb his coat using a fine-toothed comb. There are some pet stores that sell combs which are used specifically for ticks. They
are also great for catching fleas.
6
Sometimes you can actually see the tick while it’s feeding on your dog. In this case, quickly remove the tick. The longer for the tick to feed on your dog, the more likely it will transmit disease.
7
When removing the tick, never use a match or anything that can burn your dog. The most effective way of removing a tick is by using a pair of tweezers and aiming for the tick’s head, while gently pulling it out. This way, the tick comes out in one piece and leaves no mess on your pet. For additional protection after removing the tick, rub the infected area with an antibiotic ointment or topical antiseptic. Give your dog a well-balanced diet, proper exercise, training, play-time, a whole lot of love and attention, and you’ll have a dog that will live a long and healthy life! One that is free of diseases and dog parasites. In addition, you can prevent him from catching different types of serious illnesses, disease, and dog parasites by taking basic, preventive measures. It is very important that he gets his regular vaccinations early on to lessen his vulnerabilities to diseases. You also need to keep a close eye on him, both physically, as well as his actions and behaviour. Check your dog for signs and symptoms of dog parasites every time you groom him.
Dog’s World 49
Keeping Fleas Away
For Good
by: Anne Ming
Dog fleas are a bane to pet owners. But the sad truth is that sooner or later, you will have to deal with the problem. Knowing how to get rid of these parasites is very important because this problem does not go away without intervention. One thing you need to remember is that it is important to address the problem before it becomes full blown so as not to make it difficult to get rid of. More importantly, it will save your dog from having to endure the discomfort brought upon by a flea infestation.
2
As soon as treatment has been given to your dog, the next thing you need to do is to get rid of fleas in the house. If a pet has fleas, then most definitely, there are fleas scattered all over the house, particularly in areas where your dog frequents. Don’t miss out on cleaning the carpet and furniture as well. If you fail to completely eliminate fleas in the house, your dog might be re-infested with fleas later on.
Below are the steps you need to undertake to get rid of dog fleas completely:
1
Consult with your veterinarian. He is the best person to provide treatment to the problem. He may prescribe an ointment, sprays, or other nontoxic products that are to be applied topically on the neck area. Effects should become evident in a few days.
3
If there is a serious flea problem, you might want to bring items to the cleaners to make sure every trace of infestation including larvae and eggs are also eliminated. You may also opt to hire a professional cleaner to do the job for you at home.
If you want to get rid of the flea problem, diligence is the key. You need to make sure that all items and areas in the house are free from fleas otherwise it will just become a vicious cycle that will never stop. You should vacuum sheets, linen, pillows, walls, racks, and practically every nook and corner that could possibly contain fleas. And do not forget to seal and dispose of the vacuum bag properly.
4
As soon as your house is cleared of fleas, your next step is to make use of flea prevention techniques. You can find information about this from your vet or you can also do your own research.
As a responsible dog owner, it is your job to make sure your dog does not have to suffer a flea infestation problem, and once that is rid of, it is also your responsibility to make sure it does not come back.
52 Dog’s World
Tick: Know Your Enemy
• Nymph • Adult It only takes a tick two months to complete all four of these stages.
By CS Swarens
Everyone knows that ticks are pesky and can make a pet’s life miserable. But, how much do you really know about ticks? In order to know how to prevent a tick infestation and to keep your pet healthy and free from these parasites, it is a good idea to learn more about the life cycle of ticks as well as how the parasites transmit disease.
The Tick Life Cycle Ticks go through four different stages during their life cycle. These include: • Egg • Larva
During the larvae, nymph and adult stages, ticks feed on the blood of its host. In order to find a host, the tick uses heat sensors. When a warm object moves past the tick, it attaches to the object by clinging to its fur or clothing. Or, the tick may fall from trees onto the host object. After choosing its host, the tick moves to an area on its body that does not have a great deal of hair. This way, the hair does not get in the way of the feeding process. This is why you will most commonly find ticks on the eyes and lips of your pet. After the tick finishes feeding, it falls from its host. Ticks do not lay eggs on their host but rather in a woodland environment. Female ticks can lay up to 22,000 eggs in a single egg-laying event.
When a tick feeds, it inserts its pincherlike mouthparts into the animal’s skin. These mouthparts are able to lock into place and only come loose when the tick is done feeding. This is why ticks can be so difficult to remove once they have attached to your pet. Unfortunately, ticks are excellent transmitters of a variety of diseases and although the majority of tick bites might not involve the transmission a killer disease, it is still important to check your pet on a regular basis and to remove any ticks that you may find. The sooner you remove the tick, the less likely it will transmit disease to your pet. It is particularly important to check your pets if they have recently spent time in an area that could be infested with ticks, such as after taking a walk. You should also discuss prevention methods with your veterinarian in order to make certain the techniques you use are appropriate for your pet.
Dog’s World 53
Fleas in your home? by: David Gascoyne One of the greatest problems with animals is the fleas they bring with them. Fleas are parasites that feed on humans and animals, meaning YOU and your pets. As fleas jump, they bite and give a raised and itchy spot which might bleed at times. So if you have fleas in your home, you must a flea and tick programme which will effectively control fleas and ticks in your home. Then, clean all the pets’ bedding thoroughly by soaking the bedding in hot soapy water till the fleas and their eggs are killed. The longer you keep the bedding in the hot water, the more fleas die. A minimum of 20 minutes is required for detergent to reach through the wax coating of the flea to dehydrate and kill the flea. Then dry the bedding under the hot sun or on the hottest setting of your clothes dryer. Herbal oils are also effective in getting rid of fleas Make it a point to keep your pet’s area clean by washing regularly. Essential herbal oils can be formulated to
54 Dog’s World
repel ticks and fleas without using dangerous insecticides. Before going for walk, mist your pet’s legs, and your own, with an anti-flea solution. There are also residual solutions that rid your pet of fleas, and to prevent them for returning to your pets for a few weeks. Look out for tell-tale signs of flea trouble Look out for signs of flea trouble in your pets, such as an increase in scratching and biting, especially in the tail and lower back region. Even the presence of raw patches where the pet had bit and scratched itself is a sign of fleas. Flea debris consisting of black and granular dried blood and of course fleas on the pet, are all signs of flea infestation. Fleas not only stay on your pets, but can also spread to your home. So vacuum you home using the nozzle attachment, while paying attention to corners, crevices, rugs, around skirting boards and under furniture. Sometimes, vacuum vibrations make the fleas emerge from their cocoons, and thus exposed to insecticide.
Seek the help of professionals It would be better to have your carpets professionally steam cleaned by professionals for complete eradication. However it is important that you inform these professionals about your fleas problem so that they can use the right measures to eradicate the fleas. If not, they will think that you have called them for a routine carpet cleaning. Shampooing the carpet using insecticidal carpet shampoo or having infrared heat treatment on the carpet are also great methods of killing all stages of fleas. All this has to be repeated a few times to ensure that all the fleas in your home are killed as one treatment is not sufficient to kill fleas and their cocoons. This done, fleas and animals will be something from the past in your home.
Books
Dog’s World 55
Dr. Oby Asadu Christovet, Apapa, Lagos In memory of her father Christopher
Dr. Olusola Ogunsuyi, Makog Animal Hospital Lagos
Prevention . . .
Makog the 24 hour Animal Hospital
Dr. Oby Asadu (CHRISTOVET)
Dr. Olusola Ogunsuyi (MAKOG ANIMAL HOSPITAL)
the magic word.
At Christovet Clinic, we have a good relationship with my clients, I am always pleased to teach them the right things to do and we have fewer cases of people coming when their dogs are sick. Most people come in when their dogs are fine to take routine treatment. Occasionally people bring in their dogs which are sick but most of my clients hardly do this because they know what to do. Even for pest control, most of them don’t wait for the pest to start attacking their pets. They will have been doing routine treatment of their compounds and of their dogs by treating the dogs and the compound with antiectoparasites to guarantee that they don’t get infested. That said, however, the canals and the water logged areas makes fleas more of a problem here in Apapa. When building their kennels, people have to take measures to keep flooding under control. For example, you don’t build your kennel in a place that would get waterlogged. If you need to you will raise the ground above the water level such that even when it gets flooded it does not affect your kennel. Meanwhile, Skin diseases are not actually a problem among my patients, you might find it difficult to believe. However this is the result of what I explained earlier on about enlightening dog owners. That notwithstanding, people from outside the Apapa environment bring their dogs in and what we often noticed is a problem with mange and dermatitis.
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Makog Animal Hospital, is an umbrella company with several branches. In Makog we have Makog human hospital and we also have Makog Animal Hospital. We offer a retainership service and we supply services to our clients at an annual prefixed rate payable in advance. In other words they don’t need to go through traffic to bring their dogs here. It is our duty to provide an ambulance. It is like insurance and we don’t ask for a dime if the services rendered cost more than expected. Our clinical department runs a 24 hour service. We have a lot of recurring ailments. Tick fever is the greatest menace in our region. We often see diseases that we can normally vaccinate against. Canine distemper and parvo viral infection are particularly common. These are the things we encourage people to normally vaccinate against. Leptospirosis is also prevalent. Once the dog comes down with most of these diseases that we vaccinate against, they will not respond to treatment because these diseases don’t have specific treatment. We can only give supportive therapy. These diseases are just like HIV which doesn’t have a specific treatment. That is why it is important to vaccinate. We also have a lot of automobile accident cases that lead us to different surgeries and emergency intervention and a lot of cases of snake bites especially when the season is transiting from dry to rainy.
Books
Dog’s World 57
Mr. Richard (aka Mr. JO-JO)
Brainwealth Petshop
Bisi Biobaku
Dapsum Ventures Ltd Bisi Biobaku
Mr. Richard (aka Mr. Jo-JO)
BraInwealth specializes in all dog products and dog accessories. I use to work with Bowclose Ltd (importers of JO-JO Dog Food) and after I left Bowclose Ltd, I opened my own shop and first started by selling dog food. Today we have a resident doctor, Dr. Fred, and when the customers come they ask for drugs for de-worming, they ask for food and all kinds of things depending on what the doctor has p,rescribed. I became a dog lover when I was employed at Bowclose Ltd. While there I used to hear a lot about dogs. When I first started working in the company, I found out that my MD, had over 10 dogs in the house. Along the line, I found out that dogs are very obedient to their owner. Today I tell Lagosians to own a dog especially for security. I find Dog’s World magazine very handy because it has pictures of various breeds of dogs. When anyone wants to buy a dog, I open up the magazine and I counsel them on the pet they want to buy. That is what I normally do. It is a very able guide for me and my customers. I also sell dog supplements and I try to choose the ones that are very affordable to my customers. We also have something special for pregnant dogs and dogs suffering from infertility. I am proud to have been the pioneer marketer for JO-JO dog food and I know what JO-JO dog food can do for a dog. I have tested it. Today, the company has introduced other products. A lot of people come here and ask for JOJO dog food.
58 Dog’s World
I used to live in England, always had dogs and when I came home almost 2 years ago, I decided I was going to breed dogs. Trying to get stuff for the dogs was a bit of a pain so I decided I’d open up a pet shop as well as boarding kennels and breeding kennels. That way I’d have all the stuff that I needed. I have really colourful people coming to the petshop. Mostly people who live in the area from Ajah to Badore. They come for dog food, vitamins, flea and tick collars, stain removers and animal repellent products. For pest control we bring products like anti-bacterial agents and disinfectants for dogs. Myself, I have five dogs and breeding is what I do. I concentrate on German Shepherds. My breeding stock are pure bred brought from England. When visitors come into the shop, to be honest I do more asking than them, because when they come in, I want to know what kind of dog they have, what are they are interested in etc. Then they start talking about their dog. It might even be that they need a vet and have not come to buy anything. Then they get chatty themselves.
Books
A
dog who’s actually under the weather works hard to convince you she’s just fine. That comes from thousands of years of instinct. In the wild, an obviously sick or weak animal (even a predator) is as good as dead. Even though she doesn’t have to worry about that too much anymore, your dog’s instincts still tell her to hide any signs of illness. You’ll need a sharp eye and good observation skills to catch some of the more subtle clues. Of course, the better you know your dog, the easier it will be.
Dog Illness
Warning Signs by Dogspired
Some of the things to look for are basic: the way your dog looks, acts, eats, and drinks. For instance, she might look like she’s gained weight, even though her appetite hasn’t changed much, or like she’s losing weight, even though she’s eating more. A ten percent change in weight (which could be as little as a pound in a small dog) is something to bring to your vet’s attention. Usually, we know our dog is feeling good when she chows down on her food. It’s not unheard of, though, for her to skip a meal or two, especially if it’s hot outside. Any more than that is something to be concerned about. If your dog turns up her nose at food for more than two days, call your vet right away. Some diseases and medications cause dogs to develop eating habits that are downright out of the ordinary for them. A dog who has never been a food thief and suddenly starts raiding the garbage can or stealing food off the dinner table is telling you she needs a checkup or an adjustment of her medication. A dog who starts drinking water like a fish could be developing diabetes or kidney disease. You may not be able to notice the dog’s extra water consumption easily, but you should be able to pick up her increased intake by paying careful attention to what comes out the other end. She’ll be producing much larger amounts of urine and have to go outside more often. She may also start having accidents in the house. A healthy dog has a thick, shiny coat. A dull coat or one with rough, dry, or bald patches is a sign that something’s not right.
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The problem could be the type of food your dog is eating, a flea allergy, or another skin problem. Whatever the case, your vet’s advice will help put your pooch back on the right track. A more subtle sign of illness is what veterinary texts call “lethargy.” (In simple terms, it means laziness or sluggishness.) A dog who is lethargic might show no interest in going for a walk, even though that’s usually the highlight of her day. She doesn’t want to play, not even her favourite game of fetch the tennis ball. Now, sometimes lethargy can be chalked up to a hot day, being sore after an extra long walk, or just feeling out of sorts. If it continues for more than two days, though, talk to your vet. A familiar and not-so-subtle sign of illness is vomiting. Vomiting is not as dramatic a thing in the dog world as it is for us, and dogs may even vomit deliberately to get rid of something that doesn’t agree with them (yesterday’s garbage, for instance).
Occasional mild vomiting usually isn’t anything to worry about. But if your dog vomits frequently or several times in a row, has a fever, seems to be depressed or in pain, or has bloody or forceful vomit, you should call the vet immediately. Finally, go on poop patrol. As unpleasant at it may sound, your dog’s stool is a clue to her health. A healthy dog’s stools are small, firm, and moist. Dry, hard stools that cause your dog to strain on elimination may be a sign your dog isn’t getting enough water, or it may be a hint of another dietary or health problem. Squiggly, rice-shaped segments in the feces indicate worms. It’s not unusual for an occasional stool to be loose or liquid or to contain mucous or even a tinge of blood. But diarrhea, straining, or mucousor blood-tinged stool lasting more than two days should prompt a visit to the vet. If the elimination problem is accompanied by other signs — fever, vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, bloody diarrhea — call the vet immediately.
Dog’s World 61
Ear Infections American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals How Do Dogs Get Ear Infections? Canine ear infections are most often due to bacteria or yeast. Ear mites, growing hair, trapped water, a tumor or foreign body in the ear canal can lead to an overgrowth of bacteria or yeast. Infections may also develop when allergies, hypothyroidism or an excessive amount of ear wax are present. How Can I Tell if My Dog Has an Ear Infection? The following symptoms may indicate that your dog needs to have his ears checked by a veterinarian: · Ear scratching · Brown, yellow or bloody discharge · Odor in the ear · Redness · Swelling · Crusted or scabby skin on the near ear flap · Hair loss around the ear · Wiping the ear area on the floor or furniture · Head shaking or head tilt · Loss of balance · Unusual eye movements · Walking in circles · Hearing loss
How Can Ear Infections Be Prevented? · Check your dog’s ears regularly for discharge, odor, swelling and other symptoms of infection. · If his ear canal appears dirty, clean with a cotton ball dampened with a solution suggested by your vet—but don’t clean so often or deeply that you cause irritation. · After baths and swimming, be sure to dry your dog’s ears as thoroughly and carefully as you can. · If your dog is prone to infections, ask your vet if canine eardrying solution would be beneficial. · If your dog grows hair in or around the opening of his ear canals, periodically tweeze it away (if your dog tolerates it) or request that your groomer do so. · Inner-ear skin is delicate, so ask your vet to demonstrate the proper method for maintaining your dog’s ear health. When Is It Time to See the Vet? If your dog is showing any of the symptoms described above, see the vet as soon as possible. Please also bear in mind that even though dogs in pain don’t always show it with outward signs, a sudden increase in aggression can be an indicator of physical pain. Such behavioural changes should also prompt a veterinary exam.
“One of the factors that favour the multiplication of ear infection-causing bacteria is humidity in the air. Otitis or ear infection is common in droopy or flappy eared dogs because low air circulation. At Skypoint Veterinary Clinic, we advise dog owners to clean the ears once every two to three weeks”. -Dr Patrick
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Dog’s World 63
Vet Warns of Dangers of
Viral
Diseases “I just imported my adult dog from South Africa and within just a couple of weeks, the dog fell sick. The vet told me she had a deadly viral disease called parvovirus, and that the disease was too far gone for any treatment. She died a few days later.”
Parvo is more prevalent than some common diseases and affects the intestines. It is especially harmful to young puppies. You must vaccinate your dog against it. Dr. Albert Okafor, Crest Vet, Lagos.
Canine Parvovirus is a highly contagious febrile viral disease of dogs, that is caused by a strain (species Canine parvovirus) of the Parvovirus and is marked by loss of appetite, lethargy, often bloody diarrhoea and vomiting, and sometimes death”. Merriam-Webster
Nigerian dog owners are being warned to ensure their dogs are vaccinated regularly. Following the results of recent studies, Dr Mark Ofua (veterinary practitioner with Makog Veterinary Hospital and owner Mr. Spencer) informed Dog’s World that,” Lepto and parvo are quite endemic in Nigeria. From my project work which showed a 100% prevalence, it behoves dog owners not to turn a blind eye to it. Firstly, hygiene is very important. Taking care to wash kennels with appropriate disinfectants and keeping vermin away from the dog’s surroundings, while maintaining an effective sewage and refuse disposal system. Contact with other dogs in hospitals, dog shows, walks etc should be minimized. There are vaccines to protect from both of these diseases and the treatment regime should be strictly adhered to and administered by a qualified veterinary doctor. This is especially important with lepto since it is zoonotic (transmissable from animals to humans).
Ed Button, vet at the Mount Veterinary Practice in Malton, said they had dealt with two fatal cases in the past few weeks. “The virus is spread dog to dog but it can also be spread by humans through their clothes or on their feet and although it isn’t harmful to people it is usually fatal in dogs,” he said. “It is possible to vaccinate against the virus and dog owners should ensure their pets are vaccinated and if they have been vaccinated check that those vaccines are up-to-date.” Mr Button said anyone with concerns should contact their vet. “The symptoms are vomiting and bloody diarrhoea as well as being generally off colour and not eating,” he said.
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Dog’s World 65
Basic Dog Diseases by Dogspired
T
oday we have vaccines to help prevent many of the killer dog diseases — and antibiotics to treat some diseases when they do strike. With the proper series of preventative vaccinations, your dog will most likely never suffer any of the diseases listed in this section, but we’ve described them just in case. There are potentially fatal canine diseases you should protect your dog against with regular vaccinations. These are:
Canine cough This is a respiratory infection common to any situation where many dogs are kept together, such as kennels, animal shelters, and pet stores. The infection causes the trachea, larynx (voice box), and bronchi (the little branching tubes in the lungs) to become inflamed. Succumbing to the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica, an infected dog will develop a mild to severe cough, sometimes with a runny nose, five to ten days after exposure. If you plan to board your dog or will be exposing her to many other dogs, be sure she’s protected against Bordetella.
Coronavirus A usually mild disease, coronavirus is spread when a dog comes in contact with the stool or other excretions of infected dogs. Although it rarely kills dogs, coronavirus can be especially hard on puppies or dogs who are stressed or not in the best of health. Suspect coronavirus if your dog is depressed, doesn’t want to eat, vomits — especially if it’s bloody — and has a bad case of diarrhea. Exceptionally strongsmelling stools, particularly if bloody or with a strange yelloworange color, are also signs.
Leptospirosis This bacterial disease is caused by a spirochete. The leptospirosis spirochete is passed in the urine of infected animals and enters a dog’s body through an open wound in the skin or when she eats or drinks something contaminated by infectious urine. The signs of leptospirosis are not pretty. Early symptoms include fever, depression, lethargy, and loss of appetite. Usually, leptospirosis attacks the kidneys, so an infected dog may walk all hunched up because her kidneys hurt. As the infection advances, ulcers appear in her mouth and on her tongue, and her tongue has a thick brown coating. It hurts to eat because her mouth is full of sores and might even be bleeding. Her stools have blood in them, and she’s very thirsty, so she drinks a lot. To top it all off, she’s probably vomiting and has diarrhea. Dogs with leptospirosis must be handled carefully to prevent infection. Even when your dog recovers, she can still be a carrier for up to a year. Your veterinarian can advise you on how to prevent infection after she’s well.
Parvovirus A highly contagious disease, parvovirus can be spread on an infected dog’s paws, fur, saliva, and stool. It can also be carried
Dr Mark Ofua
Makog Animal Hospital
on people’s shoes and in crates or bedding used by infected dogs. Puppies younger than five months are hit especially hard by parvovirus and are most likely to die. Doberman Pinchers, Rottweilers, and Pitbulls are especially susceptible to parvovirus. Parvovirus is hard to kill. The virus can last weeks to months in the environment. If your dog has had Parvo, thoroughly disinfect everything she was in contact with, using one part chlorine bleach mixed with 30 parts water. “Like parvo virus, the corona virus attacks the epithelial linings. While a corona virus infections might not be grave, a mixed infection with the parvo virus becomes much more severe than a single infection with either virus, so immunization should be updated. Kennel cough is very common in Nigeria and the cause is multifactoral. It is transmitted from dog to dog via close contact and is quite common in boarding and clinic kennels - hence the name. Lepto and parvo are quite endemic in Nigeria. Our recent studies have revealed a shocking level of infection and dog owners should take heed and not turn a blind eye. Hygiene is the key word here. We should take care to wash kennels with appropriate disinfectants and keep vermin away from the dog’s surroundings, while maintaining effective sewage and refuse disposal system. Contact with other dogs in hospitals, show, walks etc should be minimized. Both diseases can be vaccinated against and the proper regime should be strictly adhered to and administered by a qualified veterinarian. This is all the more important since leptospirosis has zoonotic consequences (transmissible from animals to humans).
Dogspired is dedicated to dogs and the people who love them. They strive to inform and educate people about the importance of giving all dogs a chance at a loving, forever home. You can visit their site at www.dogspired.com
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Doctor,
I killed my dog!
In an interview with Dr. Adetola Ajadi, College of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, Ogun State DW: What are the common types of surgery that you perform on dogs? I work on all systems. The common types of surgery are on tumors, cancer and fractures. But generally, the most common problems dogs suffer from are tick fever which manifests as high fever and inappetance. That is what most dogs suffer from in Nigeria. Other cases are usually diarrhoea or vomition which could be medically crippling; in some cases surgery is necessary. Surgical cases of gastroenteritis problems such as pyloric obstruction are also common. We also see cases of reproductive issues such as problems with discharges from the vulva like cases of pyometra which can be handled medically or handled surgically depending on the age and extent of the problem. DW: Tell us about fractures Fractures are very common. Most of the time the fractures are caused by automobile accidents or a fall on a slippery floor. But the majority of fractures are due to personal automobiles. The types of fractures we are seeing here are fractures in the limbs either the fore limbs or the hind limbs and occasionally we see fractures of the head. Most fractures of the head are a result of automobile accidents. DW: What should dog owners do in the event of a car accident? Basically what you want to do is as soon
as your dog is involved in a car accident, first thing you want to do is one, you check if the animal is bleeding especially from the orifices. If it is bleeding from the orifices, you check if you can control it. If you cannot control it then rush it quickly to the hospital. Make sure you check the hearing, check if the hearing is affected. For example some animals may bleed from the ear. If the ear is bleeding you want to make sure as much as possible that you clear the ear. Once you have done that you want to put the animal into a comfortable position and then see your vet as soon as possible. DW: W hat are the most fre quent cases of car accidents involving dogs? Most of the dogs that come in for such accidents are owner inflicted accidents. Maybe the dog is lying under the car of the owner and the owner did not know. And then he wants to start the vehicle and then the animal hearing the noise wants
to get out and then he gets trapped. That is what happens most of the time. On a few occasions the accident is outside the compound, but those are very rare. I just discharged a dog that had multiple fractures of the head. It suffered from a fracture of the nasal base and frontal base because it was run over by a car. It was bleeding from the nose. DW: What would you suggest we should do to prevent this? When you know that you have a dog in the compound and you want to enter the car, the first thing you do is to check underneath of the car and be sure that your loving pet is not there. Also make sure that before you enter the compound that your lovely pet is actually locked up in the cage. Once you do that the probability of such an accident occurring is reduced.
Dog’s World 67
Not Curable, Preventable!
RABIES: Trading Fear for Facts By Dolores Proubasta Rabies still remains a fatal disease long after the laws of Eshnunna, an archaeological f ind near Baghdad, decreed that the owner of a rabid dog owed compensation to the victim’s family. Then, 4,000 years ago, as today rabies is in a category of its own. We regard the probability of contracting cancer in our lifetimes with cooler detachment than the improbability of being ever nipped by a rabid animal. While it is true that rabies has the highest case mortality rate of any infectious disease and that there is no cure after onset of clinical symptoms, the overall facts are not so gloomy. Rabies (1) is easily preventable, (2) the period between exposure and onset of the disease allows time to stop the advancing virus, and (3) the vaccines used, when timely and correctly administered, are uniformly effective. What exactly is rabies? Rabies is a viral disease that affects mammals. It is zoonotic, spreading from animals to people – and vice versa, if an infected human were to bite a dog. The virus is generally transmitted through the saliva as a result of a bite. Non-bite exposures are those in which contaminated saliva or neuronal tissue make contact with an open wound, scratch, mucous membrane, or the eye. Not all contact with an infected animal constitutes a rabies “exposure.” Petting or handling, and contact with blood, urine, or faeces do not pose risk of infection. Nor does contact with saliva, provided the skin is
68 Dog’s World
intact! It is also important to note that the rabies virus is present in the saliva only during the final stages of infection, about the time symptoms appear. Once introduced into the bloodstream of the new host, the virus is replicated in the muscle cells (not in the bloodstream), passing via the peripheral nervous system toward the central nervous system. At this stage it is disseminated to the all-important salivary glands that make transmission possible. The virus finally invades the
spinal cord and the brain causing acute inflammation and with it the characteristic clinical symptoms. After exposure, the incubation period in humans is usually several weeks to months, but ranges from days (in severe bites to head or neck) to, in rare cases, a year or more if the wound was superficial. The advance of the rabies virus can be arrested while it remains in skin and muscle cells, but once it spreads to a
neuron it becomes insulated from the immune system and vaccines can’t reach it.
fear of water) or saliva, causing drooling or frothing of the mouth (the signature symptom, which per se is not symptomatic).
The final stages of infection are: 1. Prodromal stage, 1 - 3 days characterized by departure from normal habits (e.g., a friendly pet avoiding his people, a wild animal behaving as if tame, a nocturnal animal active in daytime, etc.); also confusion and misbehaviour. 2. “Furious” or excitative, 3 - 4 days of hyperactivity to external stimuli like noise, wind, running water; aggression. This is when dogs tend to rove and bite. As the victim enters the final stage, facial and throat muscles undergo painful spasms, making it impossible to swallow either water (thus the term “hydrophobia,”
3. Paralytic stage, with loss of coordination. The victim finds an isolated place to suffer convulsions, lapse into a coma, and die, generally from respiratory arrest. “Dumb” or paralytic rabies differs in that there is no furious stage. Paralysis, usually of the lower jaw, is the first indication, spreading quickly to the limbs and vital organs resulting in death. The signs of dumb rabies may look like choking. An emphatic word of caution: Rabies symptoms vary from one individual to another and also from one species to another, resembling in all cases those of other diseases or conditions. Impossible
Worldwide more people die of rabies every year. 24,000 in Africa alone. though it is to diagnose rabies at a glance, millions of healthy animals have been executed for no more than drooling or biting in self-defense. Conversely, in situations where rabies is a not-so-remote possibility, it is sad but prudent to leave the animal to his suffering and alert the authorities. Dogs, cats, or ferrets rarely live beyond 10 days after the onset of signs, which is why they must be quarantined and observed after a bite incident. If the quarantined animal survives for 10 days, rabies is unlikely and almost certainly the virus was not in the saliva at the time of the bite. Everyone can breathe easy and resume normal lives. However, if signs of illness develop during observation, the animal must be euthanized and the head sent for fluorescent antibody testing of brain tissue. Rabies kills, but the number of casualties would be lower if only ignorance and apathy were as easy to neutralize as the virus.
Rabies is emerging as a serious public health issue. 40% of people who are bitten by suspect rabid animals are children under 15 years of age. Dog’s World 69
RABIES World Health Organization Factsheet No 99 September 2011 Dog rabies potentially threatens over 3.3 billion people in Asia and Africa. People most at risk live in rural areas where human vaccines and immunoglobulin are not readily available or accessible. Poor people are at a higher risk, as the average cost of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis after contact with a suspected rabid animal is US$ 40 in Africa and US$ 49 in Asia, where the average daily income is about US$ 1 – 2 per person. In India, 20,000 rabies deaths (that is, about 2/100 000 population at risk) are estimated to occur annually; in Africa, the corresponding figure is 24,000 (about 4/100 000 population at risk). Although all age groups are susceptible, rabies is most common in children under 15 years of age; on average 40 % of post-exposure prophylaxis regimens are given to children aged 5 – 14 years, and the majority are male.
Prevention Eliminating rabies in dogs Rabies is a vaccine-preventable disease. The most cost-effective strategy for preventing rabies in people is by eliminating rabies in dogs through vaccination. Vaccination of animals (mostly dogs) has reduced the number of human (and animal) rabies cases in several countries, particularly in Latin America. However, recent increases in human rabies deaths in parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America suggest that rabies is re-emerging as a serious public health issue. Preventing human rabies through control of domestic dog rabies is a realistic goal for large parts of Africa and Asia, and is justified financially by the future savings of discontinuing post-exposure prophylaxis for people.
Treatment after exposure Effective treatment soon (within a few days, but as soon as possible) after exposure to rabies can prevent the onset of symptoms and death. Post-exposure prevention consists of local treatment of the wound, administration of rabies immunoglobulin (if indicated), and immediate vaccination.
First Aid Removing the rabies virus at the site of the infection by chemical or physical means is an effective means of protection. Therefore, prompt local treatment of all bite wounds and scratches that may be contaminated with rabies virus is important. Recommended first-aid procedures include immediate and thorough flushing and washing of the wound for a minimum of 15 minutes with soap and water, detergent, povidone iodine or other substances that kill the rabies virus.
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Dog Shampoo FAQ The first thing to know about selecting a shampoo for your dog is to select a shampoo formulated specially for a dog. The pH level of a dog’s skin differs from that of humans and human shampoos are much too harsh to be used on a dog. We often wonder why our dog has a dull, limp coat and itchy skin without giving much thought to the strong solutions we splash on their skin. These few frequently asked questions should help us take control and adopt a more enlightened approach to caring for our dog’s skin and coat. My dog has dandruff. What can I use? Unfortunately there is no such thing as anti dandruff dog shampoo as we have with human dandruff shampoos. The best solution would be a good quality deep cleansing medicated shampoo. What should I use to bathe my puppy A puppy’s skin is extremely sensitive and you should always use a specialized extra gentle puppy shampoo that will not sting his eyes. My dog’s skin is very dry. Which shampoo should I use? It is possible that the dryness of your dog’s skin is due to harsh chemicals in chemical based shampoos.
Use a natural shampoo that will not strip his coat of its natural oils. If the dog is also itching, an oatmealbased anti-itch shampoo will reduce skin irritation. Why is there so much hype about herbal or natural shampoos when an ordinary shampoo can clean just as well? There is growing public awareness of the dangers of chemicals in and around our homes. Because we live so intimately with our animals, toxic chemicals commonly used in agriculture were able to invade our homes, presenting a risk to our children and the very pets they were supposed to protect. Over the past few years, many of these dangers have been exposed and it is therefore understandable why so many people have switched to natural products. Made from genuine natural essential oils, a good quality herbal shampoo will not be toxic in any way. It will be biodegradable, will not irritate your dog’s skin or damage the hair. Because they are natural, these products can be used more frequently than normal, without having adverse effects on our dog’s health, on our children or on the environment.
“The one thing I have to keep reminding my customers to do is to give their dog a bath. At least every 2 weeks or once a month. It has to be done regularly and most dog owners do not bother. I would say that 70% use their dogs for security reasons and don’t bother to wash them. “Most people tend to think dogs as supposed to smell anyway and a smelly dog is seen as normal. But then this exposes the dog to all kinds of skin problems like mange or dermatitis, things like that. I always maintain that the best person to look after your dog is you. So if you are in a position to wash your dog, then I would say that is fantastic. Because, while you are washing, there is also a kind of bonding going on between you and your pet. But then if you are too busy, the dog is too hyperactive, and the dog will not like water. Of course you can call a vet and the vet can do the washing for you. Most vets offer regular baths or chemical baths depending on what you desire” Dr Dotun Ransome-Kuti Dog’s World 71
Vets Have Your Say
“There are some dogs that the owners do not get involved in the upbrining.” Dr. Edem Offiong EDIVET, Uyo Akwa Ibom EDIVET, Apapa, Lagos
Birth Control Dr. Edem Offlong
Age is important when you want to consider breeder you dog. If female is bred too early she could suffer from ectopia and dystocia – difficulty giving birth. If this happens, we it might mean that we will need to operate to avoid further complications. Also, mothering ability improves with age. If she breeds too young she might harm her puppies. It is safer to wait until her second year before crossing her. The best time for a male to start reproducing is one and a half years. After the physical lock between the male and female, if the male is not be large or strong enough, he could be dragged by the female. This can injure him and it might never be able to mate again. You then lose any potential litters with that male. Dog owners sometimes request castration when their mature dog starts straying in pursuit of females in heat. Sometimes, when a dog owner has many male dogs in the compound, they tend to fight a lot. The dog owner brings the dogs in sfor castration. They leave the ones that they prefer and castrate the rest. Others bring up their animals like pigs for sale, when they castrate them at two months they fatten them to grow very fast for sale. Those are some of the reasons for castration. Although I try not to do it too often castration is quite common. When someone brings their dog for castration, I have to educate that person about the pros and cons of castration. I once had an experience in Ikoyi, Lagos at the government veterinary clinic. A girl brought her pet dog to
72 Dog’s World
the clinic to be castrated, she just said ‘please remove the blokos’ so we went ahead and castrated it. We castrated the dog, when she came inside and saw the blood, she said that we should put it back, she didn’t want us to do it anymore. She thought that it was like circumcision in humans where you remove the foreskin of a baby. She rolled on the floor and cried and cried when she heard we could not reverse it. Now, when people come in and they ask questions like, “after castration, can he still mate with other dogs?” We tell them,: ‘Please Sir, it can’t ever mate again.” and invariably they say ‘Please don’t do it’. We want them to understand that castration is permanent and irreversaible. Sometimes dog owners bring a dog that is too young for castration. If the dog is not up to five months I don’t castrate because if you castrate too early it affects maturation and they might not be able to bark lilke an adult dog. Testicles affect the hormones that control maturation, I found that many dog owners were not aware of the consequences of castration. If it is a local dog, I castrate from the age of four to five months, if it is an Alsatian, I castrate from the ages of five to six months. For female dogs, spaying can be done at six to seven months. Spaying is the removal of the uterus and the ovaries. However, spaying is not as common as castration. Reasons for spaying could be because the dog owner does not want the dog to have puppies. A nd of course there is the menstrual cycle, they do not want to see blood. So we remove the ovaries which control that.
Dog’s World 73
Breeding & Whelping Terms and Definitions What is Breeding? In general, the term “breeding” refers to the activity of producing animal offspring. Terms of interest to dog breeders are “purebred breeding”, “backyard breeding,” and “commercial breeding.” It is the goal of purebred breeding to develop, improve, and maintain a breed which reflects superior qualities according to a defined standard. Backyard breeding is a derisive term sometimes used to describe those that breed without a good understanding of breed-specific issues, or those that breed without careful planning. Commercial breeders may also draw criticism from purebred breeders due to their propensity to emphasize aesthetics at the expense of good function and temperance. They may be referred to as “puppy mills” or “puppy farms.” What is Whelping? The process of whelping is to give birth to whelps or a whelp. A whelp is a young offspring of a mammal. Whelping is the actual birthing activity of the breeding process. Absorption (of Whelps) Although a bitch may prematurely abort her puppies, “absorption” is more common. In such cases, the bitch, in early pregnancy, absorbs her puppies back into her system. Alternatively, in failed deliveries “mummified” puppies or “jelly babies” may be passed at the time of whelping.
Colostrum Bitches milk produced in the few days before and after birth. Colostrum is rich in immune factors which protect the puppies from infection. Dam See Bitch. Dystocia The failure of labor to progress caused by one or more puppies blocking the birth canal. The obstructing puppies may be oversized or malpositioned. Dog A male of canines. But the term is often used to generally refer to both males and females. Dysplasia An abnormality of development, especially of the hip. Dysplasia commonly results in lameness and faulty movement. Eclampsia A condition of the bitch which may occur before or after whelping but often several weeks after the puppies are born. It is caused by a shortage of calcium in the bloodstream. Signs are restlessness and anxiety, stiff-legged gait, and other symptoms pertaining to muscle weakness or rigidity. Sometimes called “milk fever” although the body temperature is usually subnormal.
Bitch A female of canines.
Edema The abnormal increase of fluid in any organ. Puppies in some breeds experience this condition at the time of birth rendering them much larger than a normal whelp.
Brachycephalic Breed A canine breed that is Brachycephalic has skulls that are large and broad with very short muzzles. These breeds (e.g. bulldogs, Boston terriers, etc.) routinely require Cesarean sections for delivery.
Fading Puppy Syndrome A condition in which apparently healthy puppies fail to thrive. These puppies quit nursing, lose weight and can quickly die. Fading puppy syndrome occurs from birth to 9 weeks of age.
Breech Birth A birth in which the puppy is born hind legs (rear end) first.
Flagging The dam may “flag” when she enters estrus and is ready to mate. She will position her rump toward the dog and lift her tail up and to the side.
Brood Bitch See Bitch. Brucellosis A highly contagious canine venereal disease which can also be transmitted non-sexually. Both male and female should be checked for this incurable disease before breeding. Cesarean Section Surgical delivery of a fetus through the abdominal wall and uterus.
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Feathering To assist the bitch in delivery, a helper will feather her. This stimulates stronger contractions to encourage labor. Feathering is done by wearing a latex glove with lubricant (e.g. K-Y jelly) on one finger, gently inserting the finger into her vulva and tickling or “feathering” the top of her vagina. Forceps Surgical tool used for grasping and manipulating. Can be used in whelping to remove
Breeding & Whelping Terms and Definitions retained afterbirth and to clamp an umbilical cord that persists in bleeding.
Placenta The sac that envelopes the fetus and attaches it to the uterus during pregnancy.
Gestation Period The period of time in fetal development from conception until birth - 63 days for canine pregnancy.
PRA See Progressive Retinal Atrophy.
Heat Lamp A lamp, often infrared, used to maintain proper temperature for newborn puppies. Hemorrhage, Postpartum Bleeding in the bitch after whelping. This may be caused by lacerations during delivery, uterine rupture, or surgical problems. The bitch may pass a heavy, persistent flow of blood from the vulvar area. Hypocalcemia See Eclampsia. Inbreeding The mating of two closely related dogs (e.g. mother/son, father/daughter, sibling/sibling). Compare to linebreeding. Linebreeding The mating of two dogs of the same bloodline which are not closely related. Similar to inbreeding but different in degree. Mastitis An inflammation of the mammary glands usually due to infection. Canine mastitis which usually occurs a few weeks after whelping can be very painful for the brood bitch. Symptoms are red, dark breast, hot or painful when touched. Mummified Puppy A whelp whose development stopped during pregnancy. The dead puppy is passed as a brownish lump and may sometimes block the birth canal during delivery (requiring C-section).
Progressive Retinal Atrophy In canines, a hereditary blinding disorder which affects nearly every breed. PRA is difficult to control through breeding because clinical signs of PRA don’t usually emerge until later in life. Testing is continually being improved to identify carriers. Sire The male. Spay To surgically remove the ovaries of the bitch. Stud Dog A male dog used for breeding. Tie The phenomenon in dog breeding when the male’s penis swells inside the bitch’s vagina. This “lock” may last from a few minutes to 30 minutes. Toxic Milk A condition in which puppies do not take to the bitch’s milk. Tube Feeding The process of feeding puppies through a tube. The tube is inserted into the stomach through the mouth and formula is inserted into the tube with a syringe. Uterine Inertia A condition in which contractions become less frequent in occurrence or stop altogether but there are more puppies to be delivered. Oxytocin may be administered or C-section may be required. This may be caused due to whelp obstruction or a bitch resisting delivery. Vulva External parts of the female genitalia.
Normal Presentation Head first birth. Compare to breech birth.
Water Puppies See Edema.
Outcrossing The breeding of same-breed mates that are not related. Compare to inbreeding.
Kind permission of EZwhelp, Fanning Springs, FLORIDA
Oxytocin A hormone produced in the bitch naturally that induces uterine contractions. As a drug it may be administered to the bitch as a treatment to help with whelping. Its use may be ineffective or harmful in some complicated cases. Pelvic Canal Obstruction See Dystocia.
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63 Day Perpetual Whelping Chart
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Dog’s World 77
Puppy Bath FAQ Puppies love to play and will get themselves filthy in no time. Here are a few questions readers have asked us about bathing their puppy. When can I start bathing my new puppy? Your puppy will get dirty and even smelly. But be patient and wait until he is 12 weeks to start bathing him. While he is breast feeding, his mother will take care of his cleaning, but once he starts eating food and taking his independence, she will stop these bathing chores. This means that from about 3 weeks to twelve weeks he will not be getting a bath of any kind. Not to worry, he really does not need it. His coat will not need washing. If he has rolled in clumps of faeces or something, then you can use a wet cloth to wipe him down. Once he is 12 weeks old then you can start washing him. Your puppy’s skin is very sensitive so make sure you use a good quality puppy shampoo that will not damage his coat and skin. How do I bath my puppy? Before getting him wet, fist brush him down vigorously to remove e x c e s s dirt. This is particularly important with long haired dogs, as wetting the hair makes it tangle easily. A good brush beforehand will remove any knots. When is the best time to wash my puppy? Choose a warm sunny afternoon to wash your dog. Early mornings, and evenings will be too chilly for him. Use warm water, not hot water. Where can I wash my puppy? Place the puppy on a firm non-slip surface. A small plastic tub, a rough cement surface, on the grass etc are all good surfaces on which he will feel safe and confident. If you are placing him on tiles or in a slippery bath make sure
78 Dog’s World
you place a rubber mat for him to stand on. Why can’t I use the same shampoo I use for myself or my baby? Surely if it is good enough for me it is good enough for my dog. The alkali level in human shampoo is much too high for a dog and will damage his skin. Repeated use might make irreparable damage. A puppy’s skin and hair is even more delicate than that of an adult dog. Take care to select a good quality puppy shampoo. Human shampoo (even baby shampoo), human soap, Morning Fresh, Omo, etc are not suitable and will damage his skin. How often should I wash my puppy? You only need bathe your puppy once a fortnight, until he is mature enough to take weekly baths. Regular brushing goes a long way to keeping the skin and fur clean and shiny and r e d u c e s the number of washes required. W h e n grooming, make sure you clean the ears, eyes and between the toes. Do not bathe too often as it will dry out the skin and strip it of its natural oils. Just by looking at him, you will know when your dog needs a bath. What if my puppy has fleas? If you are a breeder, it is imperative that you eradicate your flea and tick problem BEFORE your bitch gets pregnant. Discuss this with your vet doctor. Do not use any flea or tick product on a puppy that is younger than 12 weeks old. Avoid getting shampoo in the puppy’s eyes, mouth and nose.
Dog’s World 79
Making of the 2012 Anti-Rabies Calendar We are very grateful to our Area Fada, Charly Boy for his sense of fun, and wholehearted support for our Anti Rabies champagne this year. Below are some of the behind-the-scenes activities during the photo-shoot on location at No1 Charly Boy Street, Abuja. Thanks also go to Dr P. Ayuba, the two dog handlers, Philip and West and their dogs for taking the day off for this important project.
80 Dog’s World
Final words to dog owners... If anybody is going to own a dog, no matter your status, you should first of all decide that you will make the time to take care of basics. It is like having a child. It is your responsibility to inform the vet what is wrong when your dog is sick. The vet cannot just know, especially when he comes once in a fortnight. There is a need for dog owners to be more responsible for the welfare of their dogs and not necessarily to believe that everything can be hired out. Like I said you don’t really need a megard or a security man. Many people don’t even take their dogs out for a walk. The house help does everything. When it comes to security, your security is heavily compromised if you have a dishonest guard. He might be the one who has collaborated with people from the intruders. For your own good, you should be familiar with your dog. Dr. Alfred Onoja (Anchor Veterinary Clinic)
Pet owners should take care of their pets and vaccinate them against rabies. This is an incurable disease and it affects many other animals such as racoons. Rabies is endemic in Nigeria. There is NO CURE! But also it is important to enjoy the dog, give it proper care and ensure good hygiene. Dr E. Offiong (EDIVET)
Looking after a pet is as important as looking after a human being. Like kids, dogs also need to be vaccinated. Please ensure maximum care for your dog and seek help from a vet. As for the security dog, you cannot just feed him anything. A dog needs a balanced diet and he’ll be able to carry out his duties. Always ensure that you give your dog well balanced meal daily, proper care and a sound environment. DR. Ibrahim, (POULTRY SUPPORT)
I want pet owners is to love their dogs. Many dog owners are not close to their dogs, especially the security dogs. They do not play with them, or run their hands over their bodies. If they did they would discover immediately that the dog has ectoparasites. How can you expect the dogs to be there for security if you do not pay attention to them. As for dog attacks, preventive behaviour is to be encouraged. In most cases, the culprits tend to be the dogs used for security and are not pets. When receiving guests, dog owners should keep dogs well chained. Dr. Azy (OSBEN VET)
Dog owners should be careful about leaving toxic substances lying around. Unfortunately the cases that I have seen have all been pretty fatal. If you have a big generator with batteries, well, often the dogs lick the batteries and sometimes they lick the acid. That’s how it becomes fatal. When we carry out the postmortem we get to see the damage that the acid caused. Also when people paint their houses the dog sometimes lick the fresh paint. This could result in lead poisoning. We advise dog owners to give the paint time to dry and let the fumes and smell dissipate a little before releasing the dog. Dr. A. Ejovwoke (SOTERRA VET CLINIC)
Puppies are very much like children. There is a certain kind of caution you will take when you have a child around; it is the same caution you should take when you have a puppy. You don’t leave exposed electricity wires lying around because there is a probability that the puppy is going to chew on things. You make sure the environment is puppy friendly because puppies tend to eat anything and everything. You must keep at the back of your mind that it is like a child, so you don’t leave raw fish or things like that around knowing that the puppy can get to it and eat it. So you must be cautious like that. You have to think that way if you are a good dog owner or dog lover. But most important, make sure you vaccinate. Especially against rabies. Keep Nigeria rabies free. Dr. Ransome Kuti (RANSOME KUTI VET CLINIC)
Dog’s World 81
82 Dog’s World
Puppies for Sale Bull Dog
Chow-Chow
Canine Consult Nigeria.............................01-7612834 ................... canineconsultnigerialimited@yahoo.com
Canine Consult Nigeria.............................01-7612834 ................... canineconsultnigerialimited@yahoo.com
Bullmastiff
Dalmatians
Global Kennel.................................... 2348073513257 ................................................efizy1969@yahoo.com Adekunle M. Muritala........................ 2348189028927 ....................................................kuncxo@yahoo.com Adekunle Okulaja.............................. 2348023298256 ....................................................kkulaja@yahoo.com Loyal Dogs Breeding Company......... 2347039301071 .................................................. rain4ller@yahoo.com Kunle.................................................. 2348133500105 ....................................................dlkunle@yahoo.com Tola.................................................... 2348138113027 .................................................tdog0154@yahoo.com Oladeji Tunde..................................... 2347052379090 Dreamsnest Kennels............. dreamsnest@gmail.com Oye Ijiwoye........................... kunlewoye@yahoo.com
Bethel Dogs........................................ 2347066132611 .....................................reconstruction98@yahoo.com Loyal Dogs Breeding Company......... 2348037879722 .................................................. rain4ller@yahoo.com
Cane Corso Ayo-Vaughn, M.................................. 2348051311157 ............................................ mayorex227@yahoo.com
Caucasian Shepherd Dog Adeosun A.............................................. 23498134554 Afam A............................................... 2348028394448 ...............................................nwasoweto@gmail.com Awofisibe S........................................ 2348067634824 ...................................... sholaawofisibe@yahoo.co.uk Bethel Dogs........................................ 2347066132611 .....................................reconstruction98@yahoo.com Bukky O............................................. 2348032019141 Daramola O.............................................. 8033037976 ........................................... phemydaramola@me.com Efosa O............................................... 2347064662744 ..........................................gundyroland@yahoo.co.uk Kunle.................................................. 2348133500105 ....................................................dlkunle@yahoo.com Morrison D......................................... 2348033365155 ............................................... belxtymor@yahoo.com Tunji Favoured Scale......................... 2348035575750 ................................................... tjscale1@yahoo.com Wisest Terrier Dog............................. 2347065998337 ............................................... cakamonu@yahoo.com
Fila Brasileiro Pius A................................................. 2348062706615 ...........................................piusadolphus@yahoo.com
German Shepherd Adedoyin A .................... doyinakinwale@yahoo.com Adekunle A....................................... 2347030831228 ............................ asubiojoadekunle@rocketmail.com Adekunle M....................................... 2348189028927 ....................................................kuncxo@yahoo.com Adekunle O........................................ 2348023298256 ....................................................kkulaja@yahoo.com Afam A............................................... 2348028394448 ...............................................nwasoweto@gmail.com Ahmed M........................................... 2348033033088 ....................................... amohammed32@yahoo.com Ajayi J-dog ........................................ 2348020598525 ................................................ jide_ajayi@yahoo.com Arojo A.............................................. 2348037879722 .................................................. rain4ller@yahoo.com Bethel Dogs........................................ 2347066132611 .....................................reconstruction98@yahoo.com Bukky O............................................. 2348032019141 Chuchu N........................................... 2348034427292 .................................................chupeller@yahoo.com Doglord Kennels................................ 2348056161589 ..................................... queries@doglordkennels.com Dotun G.............................................. 2348023065070 ................................................doggpowr@yahoo.com Adedayo A.......................................... 2348023199415 ................................ adedayoleeds2002@yahoo.co.uk Chikaodi A......................................... 2347025401413 ................................................ chikaodia@yahoo.com Godfrey U.......................................... 2348067836313 .............................................. emeraldvet@yahoo.com Dog’s World 83
Soremekun G..................................... 2348166104865 ...................................soremekungbenga@yahoo,com Ehis O................................................. 2348023018511 Full Pet Business................................ 2348033291563 ...........................................chuksalagwu@yahoo.com Gideon Las-Gidi................................. 2347060879641 .........................................talk2gidoolive@yahoo.com Hakeem I..................... hakeem_bisiriyu@yahoo.com Kunle.................................................. 2348133500105 ....................................................dlkunle@yahoo.com Ayo-Vaughn, M.................................. 2348051311157 ............................................ mayorex227@yahoo.com Morrison D......................................... 2348033365155 ............................................... belxtymor@yahoo.com Kayode O........................................... 2348023848539 ....................................... lordkaycee4life@yahoo.com Olakunle O......................................... 2348077344928 ............................................... kunlebella@yahoo.com Patrick O............................................ 2348036048186 ........................................okeyudeagbala@yahoo.com Savage A............................................. 2348067024240 Okonti K............................................. 2348023180660 ................................................. arlpasino@yahoo.com Oladeji T............................................ 2347052379090 Olagbaiye O.......................... pacaz2005@yahoo.com Olagbaye A......................................... 2348134084039 Olajide O............................................ 2348065277343 Olayemi T..................................................................... Ole Dog House................................... 2348037553667 ............................................. oledohouse@yahoo.com Olusegun M............................... pelujide@yahoo.com Cole T................................................. 2348023398750 .............................................. tacole1234@yahoo.com NaijaBigDogs..................................... 2348098086969 Owolabi............................................. 2348073308462 .........................................owolabi1310@hotmail.com Pius A................................................. 2348062706615 ...........................................piusadolphus@yahoo.com General . ............................................ 2348033033088 Wisest Terrier Dog............................. 2347065998337 ............................................... cakamonu@yahoo.com Nigeria Police Dog Kennels............... 2348037239814 Dreamsnest Kennels............. dreamsnest@gmail.com Ife A................................................... 2348034022983 ................................................. padebajo@yahoo.com
Labrador Tunji Favoured Scale.......................... 2348035575750 ................................................... tjscale1@yahoo.com Musibau Rufai.................................... 2348037144989 ............................................ rufaiscorner@yahoo.com Skywaters Kennels............................. 2347022173222 .................................heather@skywaterlabradors.com
Lhasa Apso Adeoye O........................................... 2348064551013 ................................................duntale56@yahoo.com Adeyinka O........................................ 2347062670571 Babajide A.......................................... 2347034835010 ........................................... babajide.alao@gmail.com Akin A................................................ 2348023688442 ..........................................akinregualar@yahoo.co.uk Doglord Kennels................................ 2348056161589 ..................................... queries@doglordkennels.com Canine Consult Nigeria.............................01-7612834 ................... canineconsultnigerialimited@yahoo.com Dotun G.............................................. 2348139032322 ................................................doggpowr@yahoo.com Woofline Kennels............................... 2348033660762 ..........................................lanre_thassan@yahoo.com Bashorun B........................................ 2348188360608 .............................................. hollawhale@yahoo.com Kayode O........................................... 2348023848539 ....................................... lordkaycee4life@yahoo.com Sosanya T........................................... 2348073160771 Sunmonu L......................................... 2348034245747 ............................................ slimmbone@yahoo.co.uk Woodfields Farm................................ 2348033059703
Neapolitan Mastiff Babajide A.......................................... 2347034835010 ........................................... babajide.alao@gmail.com Barbergythey H.................................. 2347034835010 Kunle.................................................. 2348133500105 ....................................................dlkunle@yahoo.com Pius A................................................. 2348062706615 ...........................................piusadolphus@yahoo.com Tola.................................................... 2348138113027 .................................................tdog0154@yahoo.com Yomi A............................................... 2348032407330 ............................................. yomiadigun@gmail.com Kolawole O..................... kola_osunsami@yahoo.com
Great Dane Babatayo O......................................... 2348055269628 .....................................george_babatayo@yahoo.com 84 Dog’s World
Pit-Bull Global Kennel.................................... 2348073513257 ................................................efizy1969@yahoo.com
Bethel Dogs........................................ 2347066132611 .....................................reconstruction98@yahoo.com Loyal Dogs Breeding Company......... 2348037879722 .................................................. rain4ller@yahoo.com Babatayo O......................................... 2348055269628 .....................................george_babatayo@yahoo.com Oluyomi S.......................................... 2347038489797 ..........................................yomailoscope@yahoo.com Sunmonu L......................................... 2348127112494 ............................................ slimmbone@yahoo.co.uk Tola.................................................... 2348138113027 .................................................tdog0154@yahoo.com Oladeji T............................................ 2347052379090
Pomeranian Canine Consult Nigeria.............................01-7612834 ................... canineconsultnigerialimited@yahoo.com Dotun Gbemisola............................... 2348023065070 ................................................doggpowr@yahoo.com Jumoke A........................................... 2348034105959 ........................................jumokeashafa@yahoo.co.uk
Rhodesian Ridgeback Bethel Dogs........................................ 2347066132611 .....................................reconstruction98@yahoo.com
Rottweiler Abby O......................................................................... Abiola L............................................. 2348033480705 ............................................. biolalawson@gmail.com Global Kennel.................................... 2348073513257 ................................................efizy1969@yahoo.com Adekunle M....................................... 2348189028927 ....................................................kuncxo@yahoo.com Adekunle O........................................ 2348023298256 ....................................................kkulaja@yahoo.com Ajartodar............................................ 2348023178878 ............................................... olufunso@ajartodar.net Ajayi J-Dog........................................ 2348020598525 ................................................ jide_ajayi@yahoo.com Akinbo J............................................. 2347060509911 ......................................talktojulius2003@yahoo.com Akin A................................................ 2348023688442 ..........................................akinregualar@yahoo.co.uk Loyal Dogs Breeding Company......... 2348037879722 .................................................. rain4ller@yahoo.com Awofisibe S........................................ 2348067634824 ...................................... sholaawofisibe@yahoo.co.uk Babajide A.......................................... 2347034835010 ........................................... babajide.alao@gmail.com
Azor I................................................. 2347030081691 .....................................ramseylove4real@yahoo.co.in Babatayo O......................................... 2348055269628 .....................................george_babatayo@yahoo.com Barbergythey H.................................. 2347034835010 Bethel Dogs . ..................................... 2347066132611 .....................................reconstruction98@yahoo.com Canine Consult Nigeria . ..........................01-7612834 ................... canineconsultnigerialimited@yahoo.com Doglord Kennels................................ 2348056161589 ..................................... queries@doglordkennels.com Chuchu N........................................... 2348034427292 .................................................chupeller@yahoo.com Dotun Gbemisola............................... 2348023065070 ................................................doggpowr@yahoo.com BoxHead Rottweiler........................... 2348052900683 ................................................ fola4real@yahoo.com, Full Pet Business and ConsultsULL .2348033291563 ...........................................chuksalagwu@yahoo.com Gideon Las-Gidi................................. 2347060879641 .........................................talk2gidoolive@yahoo.com Francis S..................... francis_suleiman@yahoo.com LahriVet Kennels............................... 2348033074103 ..................................................lahrivet@yahoo.co.uk Woofline Kennels............................... 2348033660762 ..........................................lanre_thassan@yahoo.com Ayo-Vaughn, M.................................. 2348051311157 ............................................ mayorex227@yahoo.com McCarthy E........................................ 2348135138561 ......................................... ennymccarthy@yahoo.com Morrison D......................................... 2348033365155 ............................................... belxtymor@yahoo.com Titi A.................................................. 2348023280436 ................................................hiskennels@gmail.com Bashorun B........................................ 2348188360608 .............................................. hollawhale@yahoo.com Kayode O........................................... 2348023848539 ....................................... lordkaycee4life@yahoo.com Oluyomi S.......................................... 2347038489797 ..........................................yomailoscope@yahoo.com Osaze K.............................................. 2348023524934 ................................................. osazek9f@yahoo.com Owolabi............................................ 23407033209175 .........................................owolabi1310@hotmail.com NaijaBigDogs..................................... 2348098086969 Cole T................................................. 2348023398750 .............................................. tacole1234@yahoo.com Solape’s Rottweiler............................. 2348033612217 Seye.................................................... 2348030657362 Pius A ............................................... 2348062706615 ...........................................piusadolphus@yahoo.com Dog’s World 85
Titi A.................................................. 2348023280436 ................................................hiskennels@gmail.com Tola.................................................... 2348138113027 .................................................tdog0154@yahoo.com Tunji Favoured Scale.......................... 2348035575750 ................................................... tjscale1@yahoo.com Ty F.................................................... 2348083965025 .....................................................tyfalad@yahoo.com Yemi O............................................... 2348028279914 ...................................................yemibiy@yahoo.com Ariyo A............................................... 2348033054002 Dafe E.................................... dafman25@yahoo.com Oye I...................................... kunlewoye@yahoo.com Soremekun G..................................... 2348166104865 ...................................soremekungbenga@yahoo,com Niyi Nails.............................. sodiq_niyi@yahoo.com
Samoyed Adeyinka O........................................ 2347062670571 Akin A................................................ 2348023688442 ..........................................akinregualar@yahoo.co.uk Doglord Kennels................................ 2348056161589 ..................................... queries@doglordkennels.com Bashorun B........................................ 2348188360608 .............................................. hollawhale@yahoo.com Lanre S............................................... 2348023153238 .......................................... larrie_savage@yahoo.com McCarthy E........................................ 2348135138561 ......................................... ennymccarthy@yahoo.com Sosanya T........................................... 2348073160771
South African Boerboel Global Kennel.................................... 2348073513257 ................................................efizy1969@yahoo.com Adedoyin A.................... doyinakinwale@yahoo.com Ajayi J-Dog........................................ 2348020598525 ................................................ jide_ajayi@yahoo.com Asiwaju Boarboels....................................................... Benny U............................................. 2348033445224 ...........................................stillbenny121@gmail.com Ajartodar............................................ 2348023178878 ............................................... olufunso@ajartodar.net Awofisibe S........................................ 2348067634824 ...................................... sholaawofisibe@yahoo.co.uk Ayo-Vaughan m.................................. 2348051311157 ............................................ mayorex227@yahoo.com Azor I................................................. 2347030081691 .....................................ramseylove4real@yahoo.co.in Akinbo J............................................. 2347060509911 ......................................talktojulius2003@yahoo.com 86 Dog’s World
Ariz A................................................. 2348024962152 ................................................ delweryplus@live.com Adeyinka O........................................ 2347062670571 Babajide A.......................................... 2347034835010 ........................................... babajide.alao@gmail.com Babatayo O......................................... 2348055269628 .....................................george_babatayo@yahoo.com Barbergythey H.................................. 2347034835010 Bode O............................................... 2348023070392 .......................................... bodeojosipe@yahoo.co.uk Doglord Kennels................................ 2348056161589 ..................................... queries@doglordkennels.com Chuchu N........................................... 2348034427292 .................................................chupeller@yahoo.com Godfrey U.......................................... 2348067836313 .............................................. emeraldvet@yahoo.com Ilusemiti O......................................... 2347057330873 Edge Kennels..................................... 2348032348853 ............................................... sola@edgekennels.com Enigmatic Boerboel........................... 2348081999606 ................................ enigmatic.boerboels@gmail.com LahriVet Kennels............................... 2348033074103 ..................................................lahrivet@yahoo.co.uk Lawal T............................................... 2348057784615 Ayo-Vaughn, M.................................. 2348051311157 ............................................ mayorex227@yahoo.com McCarthy E........................................ 2348135138561 ......................................... ennymccarthy@yahoo.com Sunmonu L......................................... 2348034245747 ............................................ slimmbone@yahoo.co.uk Tee Dogs Kennels............................... 2348076695377 Temi Boerboel.................................... 2348066548531 Thompson O....................................... 2348034621956 .............................. olanrewajuthompson@yahoo.com Tola.................................................... 2348138113027 .................................................tdog0154@yahoo.com Akinrodoye B..................................... 2348025628554 ..........................................oluyom2002@yahoo.co.uk Bashorun B........................................ 2348188360608 .............................................. hollawhale@yahoo.com David O.............................................. 2348131517150 ................................... david_akinwunmi@yahoo.com Soremekun G..................................... 2348166104865 ...................................soremekungbenga@yahoo,com Mr. Femi O......................................... 2348026995350 .........................................phemonaat_sh@yahoo.com Kadiri S. ............................................ 2348055071688 ...................................................remidiri@yahoo.com Cole T................................................. 2348023398750 ...............................akinyeleaboyadecole@yahoo.com Savage A............................................. 2348067024240
Omozua K.......................................... 2347082298466 ..................................kelvinomozua@rocketmail.com Pius A................................................. 2348062706615 ...........................................piusadolphus@yahoo.com Lekan L.............................................. 2348033601209 Matthew A.......................................... 2348098739581 ......................................... maniaconcept@yahoo.com Sunmonu L......................................... 2348034245747 ............................................ slimmbone@yahoo.co.uk Tee Dogs Kennels............................... 2348076695377 Temi Boerboel.................................... 2348066548531 Thompson O....................................... 2348034621956 .............................. olanrewajuthompson@yahoo.com Yomi A............................................... 2348032407330 ............................................. yomiadigun@gmail.com Tola.................................................... 2348138113027 .................................................tdog0154@yahoo.com Olushola S.......................................... 2348032348853 Ty F.................................................... 2348083965025 .....................................................tyfalad@yahoo.com Zenith Boerboel........................................................... Habib M............................................. 2348033435919 .......................................maimunahhabib@gmail.com Oye I...................................... kunlewoye@yahoo.com Kadiri S. ............................................ 2348055071688 ...................................................remidiri@yahoo.com Cole T................................................. 2348023398750 ...............................akinyeleaboyadecole@yahoo.com Savage A............................................. 2348067024240 Omozua K.......................................... 2347082298466 ..................................kelvinomozua@rocketmail.com Pius A................................................. 2348062706615 ...........................................piusadolphus@yahoo.com Lekan L.............................................. 2348033601209 Matthew A.......................................... 2348098739581 ......................................... maniaconcept@yahoo.com Sunmonu L......................................... 2348034245747 ............................................ slimmbone@yahoo.co.uk Tee Dogs Kennels............................... 2348076695377 Temi Boerboel.................................... 2348066548531 Thompson O....................................... 2348034621956 .............................. olanrewajuthompson@yahoo.com Yomi A............................................... 2348032407330 ............................................. yomiadigun@gmail.com Tola.................................................... 2348138113027 .................................................tdog0154@yahoo.com Olushola S.......................................... 2348032348853 Ty F.................................................... 2348083965025 .....................................................tyfalad@yahoo.com Zenith Boerboel...........................................................
Habib M............................................. 2348033435919 .......................................maimunahhabib@gmail.com Oye I...................................... kunlewoye@yahoo.com
St. Bernard Pius A................................................. 2348062706615 ...........................................piusadolphus@yahoo.com
Welsh Corgi Ayo-Vaughn, M.................................. 2348051311157 ............................................ mayorex227@yahoo.com
Dog’s World 87
Gallery of Dog Breeds Heights are measured from the shoulder to the ground
AFGHAN HOUND Strength and dignity, combining speed and power COAT: Long. All Colours SIZE: Approx. 70 cm
AZAWAKH African dog High in the leg and elegant. COAT: Fawn, from light sable to dark fawn. SIZE: Approx. 60-74 cm
AIREDALE TERRIER Muscular and active, outgoing and confident, friendly, courageous and intelligent. Alert at all times. COAT: top of the neck, top surface of tail: saddle black or grizzle. The rest tan. SIZE: Approx. 56-61cm
BASENJI African dog COAT: Short, sleek and close, very fine. Skin very pliant. Pure black and white; red and white; black, tan and white. White on the feet, chest and tail tips. SIZE: Approx. 41 cm
AKITA Composed, faithful, docile and receptive. COAT: Red fawn, sesame, brindle and white. Whitish coat on the sides of the muzzle, on the cheeks, on the underside of jaw, neck, chest, body and tail and on the inside of the leg. SIZE: Approx. 61-67 cm
BASSET HOUND Short-legged hound of considerable substance, well balanced. COAT: Smooth, short and close without being too fine. Generally black, white and tan (tricolour). SIZE: Approx. 33-38 cm
ALASKAN MALAMUTE Affectionate and friendly. COAT: Thick coat ranging from light grey to black, sable, and shadings of sable to red. SIZE: Approx. 58-66 cm
BEAGLE Amiable and alert, showing no aggression or timidity. COAT: Short, dense and weatherproof. Any recognised hound colour other than liver. SIZE: Approx. 33-40 cm
AMERICAN SPANIEL Easygoing with no suggestion of timidity. COAT: Silky, flat or slightly wavy. Any solid colour ranging from lightest cream to black. SIZE: Approx. 36 cm
BEARDED COLLIES Steady, intelligent working dog with no signs of nervousness or aggression. COAT: Slate grey, reddish fawn, black, blue, all shades of grey, brown and sandy. SIZE: Approx. 51-56 cm
AMERICAN STAFFORD TERRIER Extremely courageous and obedient, affectionate with a sense of humour. COAT: Short, close and glossy. Any colour SIZE: Approx. 43-48 cm
Dog’s World 89
Gallery of Dog Breeds Heights are measured from the shoulder to the ground
BELGIAN SHEEP (Tervuren) Warm and not aggressive. COAT: Long and abundant, ruff-like around neck, particularly in males. Black or black with limited white. Frosting (white or grey) on muzzle. SIZE: Approx. 56-66 cm
BORDER COLLIE Well proportioned, tenacious hardworking sheepdog. Keen and alert COAT: moderately long or Smooth, Variety of colours SIZE: Approx. 53 cm
BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG Working dog COAT: Long, smooth or slightly wavy. Jet black with rich tan markings and white markings. SIZE: Approx. 58-70 cm
BORZOI Courageous, powerful, swift and aloof. COAT: Sillky, flat, wavy or rather curly. Any colour SIZE: Approx. 68 -77 cm
BICHON FRISE Friendly and outgoing. COAT: White fine, silky with soft corkscrew curls. SIZE: Approx. 23-28 cm
BOXER Lively, strong and loyal to owner and family. COAT: Short glossy, smooth and tight to body. Fawn or brindle in colour. SIZE: Approx. 57-63 cm
BLOODHOUND Very powerful, affectionate, Somewhat reserved and sensitive. COAT: Smooth, short and weatherproof. Black and tan, liver, tan and red. SIZE: Approx. 61-66 cm
BULL TERRIER Strongly built, muscular, well balanced and active. COAT: For white: pure white coat. For coloured: brindle black, brindle red, fawn and tricolour. SIZE: Approx. 52-61 cm
BOERBOEL African dog Powerful dog. COAT: Short and smooth. Any colour. SIZE: Approx. 55-70 cm
BEDLINGTON TERRIER A graceful and full ofconfidence. COAT: Blue, liver or sandy, with or without tan. SIZE: Approx. 41 cm
BOUVIER DES FLANDRES Calm, thoughtful and fearless dog. COLOUR: Usually grey, brindle or overlaid with black. SIZE: Approx. 59-65 cm
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Gallery of Dog Breeds Heights are measured from the shoulder to the ground
BULLDOG Thick set, low in stature, broad, powerful and compact. Fierce in appearance but affectionate. COAT: Smooth-coated, whole or smut, (i.e. whole colour with black mask or muzzle). SIZE: Approx. 61-69 cm
CHOWCHOW Active, compact, quiet dog, a good guard dog with a bluish-black tongue. COAT: Either rough or smooth. Whole coloured black, red, blue, fawn, cream or white, frequently shaded. SIZE: Approx. 46-56 cm
BULL MASTIFF Powerful build, enduring, active and reliable. Highspirited and faithful. COAT: Short and hard, weather-resistant. Any shade of brindle, fawn or red. SIZE: Approx. 61-69 cm
COCKER SPANIEL Merry, well balanced and compact. Gentle and affectionate. SIZE: Approx. 38-41cm
CANE CORSO Guard dog, Protection, Police and Tracking Dog. Guardian of property, family and livestock: extremely agile and responsive. COAT: Black, grey, fawn brindle SIZE: Approx. 62-68 cm
COLLIE (Rough) Friendly disposition, with no trace of aggressiveness. COAT: Very dense, sable and white, tricolour and blue merle. SIZE: Approx. 51-66 cm
CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL Gay and friendly. COAT: Long and silky. Black & tan, ruby, blenheim or tricolour. SIZE: Approx. 25-34 cm
CORGI (Pembroke) Strong, alert and active, friendly and outgoing. COAT: Medium length, straight with dense undercoat, never soft, wavy or wiry. Red, sable, fawn, black and tan, with or without white markings on legs, brisket and neck. SIZE: Approx. 22-30 cm
CHIHUAHUA Small, dainty, compact dog; swift-moving and gay spirited. COAT: Long or smooth coat. Any colour or mixture of colours. SIZE: Approx. 16-20 cm
COTON DE TULEAR African Dog Madagascan dog with a happy temperament. COAT: White with slight shadings of light grey colour on the ears. SIZE: Approx. 24-28 cm
CHINESE CRESTED Happy and never vicious. COAT: Hairless. Any colour or combination of colours. SIZE: Approx. 23-33 cm
DALMATIAN Strong, muscular and active. Capable of great endurance. Outgoing and friendly, not shy. COAT: Short glossy. Ground colour pure white, black spotted, dense black spots. SIZE:Approx. 54-61 cm
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Gallery of Dog Breeds Heights are measured from the shoulder to the ground
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DASCHUND Intelligent, lively, courageous. COAT: All colours. Smoothhaired, long-haired or wirehaired. SIZE: Approx. 13-18 cm
GIANT SCHNAUZER Large, powerful, stocky. An imperturbable dog prepared for defense COAT: Pure black with black undercoat, pepper and salt. SIZE: Approx. 60-70 cm
DOBERMANN A medium size, strong and muscularly dog. Friendly and calm; very devoted to the family. Loves children. COAT: Short, with tan, brown, yellow to pale grey markings. Solid black or solid grey. SIZE: Approx. 63-72 cm
GERMAN SHEPHERD A medium-size, slightly elongated, strong and muscular. Even tempered, self assured and easily trained. COAT: Black with tan, brown, yellow to pale grey markings. Solid black or solid grey. SIZE: Approx. 55-65 cm
DOGO ARGENTINO Cheerful, frank, humble, friendly and not a barker. COAT: Completely white. SIZE: Approx. 60-68 cm
GOLDEN RETRIEVER Kindly, friendly and confident. COAT: Flat or wavy with good feathering. Any shade of gold or cream. SIZE: Approx. 51-61 cm
FILA BRASILEIRO Aloof towards strangers SIZE: Approx. 60-75 cm
GORDON SETTER Stylish dog, intelligent, able & dignified. COAT: Deep, shining coal black. SIZE: Approx. 62-66 cm
FOX TERRIER (wired) Friendly, forthcoming and fearless. COAT: Dense, very wiry texture. White predominates with black, black and tan or tan markings. SIZE: Approx. 33-39 cm
GREYHOUND Strongly built, muscular with a long head and neck. Intelligent, gentle, affectionate and even-tempered. COAT: Black, white, red, blue, fawn, fallow, brindle or any of these colours broken with white. SIZE: Approx. 70-76 cm
GREAT DANE Muscular, strongly though elegantly built. Friendly and outgoing COAT: Brindle, fawn, blue, black or harlequin. SIZE: Approx. 72-80 cm
HUNGARIAN KUVASZ Radiates nobility and strength, very good with children. COAT: White, ivory colour. SIZE: Approx. 66-76 cm
Gallery of Dog Breeds Heights are measured from the shoulder to the ground
IRISH SETTER (Irish Red Setter) Handsome and refined, a fantastic family pet. COAT: Rich chestnut, often has patches of white on face and chest. SIZE: Approx. 57-66 cm
LEONBERGER Strong and muscular, faithful, intelligent, amenable, good watch dog. COAT: Light yellow, golden to red-brown. SIZE: Approx. 65-80 cm
IRISH WOLFHOUND A massive dog COAT: Rough and hard grey, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn. SIZE: Approx. 76-81 cm
LHASA APSO Gay and assertive, alert, steady but somewhat aloof with strangers. COAT: Top coat long, heavy, straight. golden, sandy, honeydark grizzle, slate, smoke, particolour, black, white or brown. SIZE: Approx. 25-28 cm
JACK RUSSEL Bold and fearless, friendly but quietly confident. COAT: May be smooth, broken or rough. Predominantly white with black, tan or brown markings. SIZE: Approx. 25-30 cm
MALTESE Smart, white-coated, lively, intelligent, alert dog. COAT: Good length, straight, silky texture, pure white SIZE: Approx. 20-25 cm
KING CHARLES SPANIEL Intelligent, reserved and gentle COAT: Long, silky and straight. Black and tan, tricolour, Blenheim or Ruby SIZE: Approx. 25-30 cm
NEAPOLITAN MASTIFF Well boned, large, strongly built, vigorous, alert and muscular. A devoted and loyal guard dog. COAT: Black, blue, all shades of grey brown. SIZE: Approx. 61-79 cm
KOMONDOR Very courageous herding dog. COAT: Long and shaggy, tangling white hair. SIZE: Approx. 65-70 cm
NEWFOUNDLAND Strong, impressive and exceptionally gentle. Loves to swim. COAT: Dense, coarse and oily, water resistant. Black, brown or landseer: White with black markings. SIZE: Approx. 66-71 cm
LABRADOR RETRIEVER Strongly built, very active. Good tempered, very agile. Excellent nose. COAT: Wholy black, yellow or liver/chocolate. SIZE: Approx. 56-63 cm
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Gallery of Dog Breeds Heights are measured from the shoulder to the ground
OLD ENGLISH sheepdog Bold, faithful and trustworthy. COAT: Profuse shaggy hair. SIZE: Approx. 56-60 cm
PEKINGESE Small, fearless, loyal, aloof but not timid or aggressive. COAT: Long, straight with profuse mane. All colours and markings are permissible and of equal merit. SIZE: Approx. 25 cm
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PUG Great charm, dignity and intelligence. Even tempered, happy and lively. COAT: Silver, apricot, fawn or black SIZE Approx. 30 cm
RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK African dog Dignified, intelligent, aloof with strangers but shows no aggression or shyness. COAT: Short and dense, sleek and glossy in appearance. Light wheaten to red wheaten. SIZE: Approx. 61- 68 cm
PIT BULL TERRIER Loyal, intelligent. Aggressive towards other dogs. Thrives on human companionship. COAT: Thick, short, shiny hair. SIZE: Approx. 41-56 cm
ROTTWEILER Good natured and fond of children. Devoted, obedient, and eager to work. COAT: Black with clear markings of a rich tan on the cheeks, muzzle, throat, chest, legs, over both eyes and under the base of the tail. SIZE: Approx. 53-68 cm
POINTER Alert, kind, even disposition COAT: Fine, short hard, and evenly distributed. Usual colours are lemon and white orange and white liver and white, and black and white. SIZE: Approx. 60-70 cm
RUSSIAN SHEPHERD (Ovcharka) Fierce and distrustful of strangers. COAT: Long, coarse, dense coat. White or cream. SIZE: Approx. 62–72 cm
POMERANIAN Compact, extrovert, lively and intelligent. COAT: All colours SIZE: Approx. 13-28 cm
St. BERNARD Must be well socialized with people and dogs to prevent fearfulness and agression. COAT: smooth or rough. Red with white or mohogany brindle with white. Black shading on face and ears. Eyes are brown or icy blue. SIZE: Approx. 70–90 cm
POODLE Gay-spirited and good tempered. COAT: Very profuse and dense; all solid colours APPROX. SIZES: Standard: 38-60 cm Dwarf: 28-35 cm Toy : under 28 cm
SALUKI African dog Reserved with strangers. Dignified, intelligent and independent. COAT: Smooth and silky. Any colour. SIZE: Approx. 57-71 cm
Gallery of Dog Breeds Heights are measured from the shoulder to the ground
SCOTTISH TERRIER Agile and active in spite of short legs. Dignified, independent and reserved. COAT: Close lying, double coat; undercoat short, dense and soft; out coat harsh, dense and wiry. Black, wheaton or brindle of any shade. SIZE: Approx. 25-28 cm
TIBETAN TERRIER Sturdy, lively, good-natured loyal companion. Outgoing, alert. COAT: White, golden, cream, grey or smoke, black, particolour and tricolour: any colour except chocolate or liver permissible. SIZE: Approx. 36-41 cm
SHAR PEI Calm, independent, loyal, affectionate to his family. COAT: Short, harsh and wrinkled. All solid colours except white. SIZE: Approx. 44-51 cm
TOSA A patient, courageous Japanese mastiff COAT: Short hard & dense. red, fawn, apricot, black, brindle. SIZE: Approx. 55-60 cm
SHIH TZU Intelligent, active and alert. Friendly and independent. COAT: Long, dense. All colours. SIZE: Approx. 25 cm
WEIMARANER Medium sized, grey with light eyes. Fearless, friendly, protective, obedient and alert. COAT: Short, smooth and sleek, preferably silver grey SIZE: 56-69 cm
SIBERIAN HUSKY A medium-sized working dog, quick and light on his feet and free and graceful in action. COAT: The coat of the Siberian Husky is double and medium in length, coming in colours from black to pure white. SIZE: Approx. 51-60 cm
WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER Small, active, alert, gay, courageous COAT: White SIZE: Approx. 27 cm
STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER Highly intelligent and affectionate with children. COAT: Red, fawn, white, black or blue. SIZE: Approx. 36-41 cm.
YORKSHIRE TERRIER Long-coated, alert, intelligent toy terrier. COLOUR: Dark steel blue SIZE: Approx. 20-24 cm
BETAN MASTIFF Independent minded, aloof and protective. Calm and patient, wary of strangers. COAT: Dense and fairly long. Rich black; slate grey or rich golden. SIZE: Approx. 65 cm
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