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YOUR DOG QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Why do some breeds love swimming and others don't?

Some dogs are just born loving water, and while whether or not your dog likes water is largely due to his personality, some of the preference is tied to his genetic make-up.

Some breeds of dogs love water because they were originally bred to be used for water activities. Some of these breeds have even developed physical characteristics that serve them well in the water. For example, Labrador Retrievers have more webbing between their toes to help them to swim.

Some of the top water-loving dog breeds include the Labrador Retriever, the Golden Retriever, the Standard Poodle, the Newfoundland and the German Shorthaired Pointer. Dog breeds that are less likely to love water include the brachycephalic breeds, as their flat faces make it more difficult to breathe when swimming, or dogs whose body types make staying afloat more difficult.

Having said this, each dog is different and whether or not your pooch likes to swim ultimately depends on his unique personality!

What is an environmental allergy in a dog?

Itching and scratching excessively is not normal dog behaviour and indicates an abnormal response in your dog's body to certain allergens. Most commonly, these allergens are in the environment, but sometimes they can occur due to specific foods.

The scratching, due to the itch, can lead to dry skin on dogs and other irritations, making their skin look red or flaky. Regardless of how skin allergies present, it is usually a very uncomfortable condition for your dog that may keep them up through the night.

Fortunately, with the right combination of dog food and medication, you can get your dog back on the right path to less itching and healthy skin.

IDENTIFYING THE ALLERGEN

One of the most challenging aspects is identifying the environmental allergen that is causing their reaction. Common causes of skin allergies in dogs include grass, pollen, dust mites and fleas. Unfortunately, all of these allergens are difficult to avoid. Still, the issue can be addressed with multimodal treatment consisting of medication to help reduce the immediate symptoms and nutrition for effective long-term care.

SPOTTING THE SYMPTOMS

Dry, itchy skin is just one symptom that indicates your dog is reacting to an environmental allergen. Other symptoms include red patches, spots, pimples, flaky or scaly patches, hair loss, scabs, crusts, thickened skin, itching, scratching, licking, rubbing, bad skin odour, digestive issues, watery eyes or a runny nose.

MANAGING ALLERGIES

Understanding how to help dogs with dry skin and other allergic issues can feel frustrating, and treatment can vary case-by-case depending on your dog's diagnosis. However, in general, a combination of therapeutic nutrition and veterinarian-prescribed medication can help prevent future flare-ups of allergies.

NOTE: Whilst it is common to feel a little frantic when your pet is itching uncontrollably, it is best to call your vet rather than reach for endless home remedies and shampoos. Your vet will be able to prescribe certain medications that will give fast relief. Topical remedies can be beneficial, but tend to act much slower and provide shorter-term relief, and there is always a risk that the topical remedy makes the situation worse.

DID YOU KNOW?

Mother dogs will sometimes eat their puppies' faeces. This is probably a residual wild instinct, as eating the faeces in the wild would help a dog to hide her puppies' existence from predators.

Why does my dog eat poo?

Coprophagia (the technical term for the consumption of faeces) is unpleasant but not uncommon behaviour among dogs. The good news is that eating faeces generally isn't harmful to your dog but is, of course, pretty gross and gives your dog particularly heinous breath. There is also a risk of acquiring parasites if your dog eats faeces from other animals.

Nobody is entirely sure why dogs eat faeces, but there are a couple of possible theories. Firstly, it may simply be that some dogs enjoy it. Dogs interact with the world through their mouths, and it is possible that dogs like examining faeces with their mouths. Dogs also enjoy things that have strong smells, and faeces certainly fit the bill here.

Secondly, puppies are known to sometimes eat their own poo when they are young. This usually occurs during toilet training because they are still uncertain about where they are supposed to defecate and where they are not supposed to defecate. Afraid they may have done something wrong, they 'hide the evidence' by eating their faeces. This kind of 'cleaning up' behaviour can also happen with adult dogs inside the house.

Another common reason given for coprophagia is dietary deficiencies. For instance, eating the faeces of herbivores such as horses may provide vitamins that aren't part of your dog's regular diet. Similarly, cat food is high in protein, so cat litter may prove appealing. However, it is important to curb this behaviour immediately, as cat litter can be toxic to dogs.

The easiest way to deal with the issue is simply to pick up your dog's faeces as soon as they are produced. If the habit concerns you or is new, it is worth chatting with your vet to see if they can offer any suggestions or identify any particular deficiencies in your dog's diet.

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