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| Sunday, 12 March 2006 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Helping your pet to recover This week, we continue our series on preventing communicable diseases in pets. Read on and see what Dr. D. A. U. Samankumara of the Kirindiwela Animal Clinic has to say about some of the illnesses your pets may be afflicted with, that could be of concern to you. Constipation Constipation in pets is caused by improper feeding, lack of exercise or the animal swallowing fragments of inedible things. According to the cause, give Epsom salts, liquid paraffin, laxatives, soap water or enema and exercise. Withhold bone and hard biscuits until the bowels are working freely. Distemper Sometimes, an outbreak of this disease could occur. Though all dogs can be infected, pups and young adults are the main victims of this fatal virus.
This is highly infectious, producing a catarrhal inflammation of the respiratory tract, nervous symptoms, fever and continuous diarrhoea. There may or may not be pustulation (blisters) on the skin of the abdomen. If the illness continues, take the animal to your vet immediately. Remember, the best method of prevention is vaccination. Do not forget to isolate the sick animal from all other pets. Accidents After being in an accident, the dog may lose consciousness, suffer from severe shock, its breathing may be laboured and the temperature could fall below normal. If on a road, remove the victim to the side of the road, lifting it very carefully and gently. Lie the dog on its right side, and cover to keep it warm. If the dog is bleeding, measures should be taken to stop it. Pressing ice on the wound, tying a tourniquet (cloth used as a bandage) or applying pressure on the blood vessel could stop the bleeding. But this should be done carefully according to where the bleeding is taking place. Example, if the wounds are small, pressing ice would help. If the dog is bleeding in its neck, a tourniquet will not be practical. When the dog regains consciousness, give it a drink of warm milk or water and glucose. Take the dog to the vet immediately, handling it gently. -CNK |
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