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We asked our customers what were the most prevalent health issues their dogs suffered from before they decided to try Skipper's. The three most common problems customers faced by far were Dental Care, Joint Care and Skin & Coat issues, followed by eye problems, heart health, hyperactivity and other issues.
So here is our guide to tackling Dental Care, Joint Health, Skin & Coat condition and an often overlooked issue, our dogs Mental Health.
Brushing our teeth is a daily activity we do to keep our teeth clean and healthy. It's a routine that's almost subconscious to us and the same activity should apply to our four-legged friends to keep their dental hygiene in check too! But did you know that only 65% of dog owner’s check their dog’s teeth?[1]
Eating, playing, tasting their surroundings and exploring. Your dog’s mouth goes through quite a lot in a day. Their mouths are their hands in many ways and that’s why it’s even more important to keep their teeth in tip-top condition.
Vets treat an average of 11 cases of tooth and gum disease in dogs every week![3] Over 85% of dogs in the UK over the age of 3 will be affected by dental disease.[2] This makes dental disease a very common problem in dogs.
Only a third of British dog owners brush their dog’s teeth![3] Like most things in life, prevention is better than cure, that’s what makes these facts quite shocking because dental disease can be easily prevented if action is taken early.
23% of tooth and gum diseases in dogs are due to the owner’s not brushing their dog’s teeth often enough or correctly, a shocking 42% of cases are due to a poor diet. These are percentages gathered from vets across the UK.[3]
Dental disease can be hard to spot in dogs at first as there aren’t any outward signs or symptoms, additionally, dogs will continue to eat despite any pain or discomfort they may be experiencing. It is important to do a physical check inside their mouth due to early signs being hard to spot.
Brushing your dog’s teeth daily with a special dog toothbrush and toothpaste helps to reduce plaque and keeps teeth clean. Don’t use human toothpaste as it can be toxic to dogs due to the chemicals found in the ingredients. The main chemical that is toxic to dogs is Xylitol, it is an artificial sweetener that is in the majority of human toothpastes. The toxicity in fact can have a rapid effect on your dog.Xylitol can have an effect within 10 to 15 minutes of ingestion, worst case, the chemical can cause life-threatening low blood sugar.
A couple of weeks following these steps, brushing your dog’s teeth should be fuss free! Remember to try to focus on brushing their teeth where it meets the gum.
Unfortunately, there are cases where dogs simply refuse to have their teeth cleaned with a toothbrush. If your dog is one of those few, don’t worry, there are other ways of reducing plaque and preventing teeth and gum disease.
It was surveyed that 63% of dog owners gave their dog dental chews regularly [1] making them one of the most common doggy dental-care methods. Dental chews can be effective at reducing plaque and tartar build up, but a good brushing routine will give the best results.
There are numerous varieties of dental chews out there, most rely on the shape of the chew to scrub at plaque and tartar while your dog chews, and some have natural or chemical active ingredients to help. By far the most common dental chews are Pedigree Dentastix.
The ingredient that carries out the teeth cleaning action in Pedigree Dentastix and other similar chews is Sodium Tripolyphosphate (STTP) or E451. Sodium tripolyphosphate is a salt of triphosphoric acid. It is manufactured in chemical laboratories and has a variety of uses. STTP is mainly used as a powerful cleaning agent and can be found in detergents, this is because it can deeply penetrate the fibers of clothes. In small doses, Sodium tripolyphosphate is found as a preservative in meat and seafood, it slows down the spoilage process. STTP maintains the natural colour and improves the texture of meat and seafood. Sodium tripolyphosphate has other uses such as; tanning agent for leather, petroleum refining, metallurgy, water treatment and mine applications. Pedigree states there are clinical studies that show STTP can prevent tartar build-up by up to 80%.
There are a whole host of concerns regarding the ingredients products like Dentastix use, like Salt, unnamed animal proteins, Potassium Sorbate, Smoke flavourings and other chemical or unnatural additives.
Fortunately there are healthier alternatives than typical dental chews. We recommend looking for dental chews with simple, natural ingredients. Chews that are tough and abrasive are the best for cleaning teeth as your dog will have to really work hard to eat them. In that chewing process, the chew will naturally scrape off plaque.
Our treats here at Skipper’s are one of the reasons so many customers who's dogs suffer with dental problems use our products. Treats from our Fish Skin Jerky range are fantastic natural choices for tackling plaque and tartar in dogs. They have naturally abrasive textures, they're single ingredient, just Fish, and so don't have any of the unwanted ingredients or artificial additives common in other treats. They're also low in fat, with our cod varieties are only 2.5% fat. And finally they're packed with Omega Oils and all of the benefits they offer, which we'll read about in the next two sections, Joint Care and Skin & Coat Condition. Click here to shop our Jerky Range.
If you notice that your dog is showing signs of dental disease, it is recommended to visit your vet asap to get your dog’s teeth and gums checked out. It’s better to tackle any issues at the early stages.
Running for the ball, zoomies, jumping for the frisbee, you can agree dogs’ joints get put through a lot. The more their joints are used, the more potential injuries your dog can have, this increases the risk of joint-related problems. Just like humans, cartilage protects your dog’s bones and joints from daily movement. Healthy cartilage is important as it is essential to allow your dog movement and proper joint function. The function of your dog’s joints can have a dramatic effect on their quality of life.
Developmental - Developmental joint problems occur when a joint or ligament doesn’t develop correctly, this can happen in a variety of different ways. This issue can then cause the joint to not function as intended. Examples of developmental joint problems are hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia.
Degenerative - Degenerative joint disease (DJD) occurs due to the cartilage being unable to remain in its healthy state. The signs can be subtle at first however, it eventually progresses and causes overt stiffness or lameness. DJD refers to arthritis or osteoarthritis. Arthritis is inflammation in the joints, the term arthritis is mainly avoided because it’s not always an accurate term to explain what’s happening to a dog’s joint(s). Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis, dogs tend to get this form of arthritis due to a specific underlying cause, therefore is usually seen at an earlier stage of a dog’s life.
Weight - Many dogs that have DJD are in fact overweight. Overweight dogs have a higher risk of having joint problems due to the excess weight putting pressure on their joints. Obese dogs are more likely to develop degenerative join disease. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight (for their breed) is recommended to prevent more damage on joints.
According to a study, vet and vet nurses estimated that 46% of the dogs they see each week are overweight/obese. Additionally, almost half of the vets and vet nurses also stated they felt the number of overweight/obese dogs they see has increased in the last two years.[1]
Exercise - It is important that your dog gets regular exercise, this is to help prevent stiffness and muscle wastage. Little, but frequent walks are recommended as that long walks may be too much for your dog.
Diet - Quality dog food for your dog’s diet can help in more ways than you think, getting the correct nutrients and ingredients can really help to slow down the deterioration of your dog’s joints. If you’re unsure, consult your vet to help make a choice on the food best suited for your dog. If your dog struggles to bend down for their bowls, it’s highly recommended to raise the bowls up for more comfortable eating and drinking times
Nutrients - Similarly to the last point, certain nutrients can really help slow down the process of the deterioration of their joints. In order to maintain your dog’s joints, the look out for nutrients like Chondroitin, Glucosamine HCL and Omega fatty acids. Not only do these help maintain joints, they also help maintain ligaments, tendons, cartilage and synovial fluid. Fish based products in particular are naturally high in Omega Oils.
Comfort - Try to limit stair climbing and any sort of jumping as this can cause more damage. Keeping your dog warm is also important due to the cold aggravating joint pain.
Vet visits - Monitoring your dog’s condition with regular vet visits really helps with maintaining your dog’s joints, this is because the vet is able to advise on any sort of treatments best suited for your dog.
Therapies - Despite other joint care advice, sometimes alternative therapies can really help to improve your dog’s mobility and increase their circulation. Alternative therapies such as hydrotherapy and physiotherapy are great for this
Medication - If inflammation occurs, your vet may prescribe medication in order to reduce the inflammation and help reduce any pain your dog may be experiencing.
There are also some supplements you can add to your dog’s diet in order to maintain the condition of their joints. Supplements can promote cartilage repair, stimulate the increase of production of joint lubricating fluid, slow down the deterioration of your dog’s joints, and aid in other aspects of joint care.
A supplement you can add to your dog’s diet are Fish Oils because they're high in Omega fatty acids (Omega 3 & 6). These nutrients are powerful antioxidants that help with relieving inflammation in affected joints.
Skipper's Pet Product's offer supplemental Salmon Oil that can be found here.
Unfortunately arthritis is a very common condition amongst dogs. It is a condition that affects your dog’s joints which causes them to become swollen and often painful
The cause of arthritis is mainly normal wear and tear, it generally occurs in the later years of a dog’s life. There’s a high chance of arthritis occurring due to developmental issues. In addition, bad injuries can be the cause of arthritis for a dog, later in their life.
Sometimes arthritis doesn’t occur from external activities. Genetics play a role in the reasoning for a dog having arthritis. This is because some breeds have a higher risk of developing arthritis compared to other breeds.
If your dog is diagnosed with arthritis, you will need to control the amount of exercise your dog gets to maintain their muscle tone. It’s important to remember that rest is vital as that too much exercise can cause more damage to your dog’s joints, therefore, do gentle exercises with your dog. Exercises to avoid are running and jumping activities. An activity to try is swimming, you can visit a hydrotherapy spa to achieve this exercise.
Your dog’s skin is essential for their protection and to keep warm. Any problems can have a big impact on your dog’s life. The signs of your dog having any sort of skin or coat problem are generally noticeable. Hearing them constantly scratching or licking can be a little irritating but also very concerning. The problems range from mild to severe however, it is always best to get an appointment with the vet booked if you notice any signs.
The common causes of skin issues in dogs are environmental allergies, parasites, flea allergies, various infections and food allergies. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of skin issues are not caused by food allergies. According to the 2018 State of Pet Health Report, food allergies only affect 0.2% of dogs.[4]
Dog owner’s assume the cause of itchy skin is due to a food allergy when in fact, food allergy is only responsible for 1% of all skin issues in dogs.[5] Additionally, food allergy is the third most common skin allergy. Over the past 10 years flea allergy has been on a rise by a 12.5% increase. Similarly, environmental allergies have been on a rise with a 30.7% increase.[4]
When it comes to skin diseases in dogs treatment is usually applied directly to the surface of the skin. This treatment can be beneficial in addition to systemic treatment.
Shampoo therapy is the main topical treatment for specific skin conditions. Before applying medical shampoo, it is important to wash your dog with a cleansing shampoo and then thoroughly rinse it off. Washing your dog before applying the medical shampoo allows the shampoo to be more effective as some medical shampoos only work on a clean coat. In order for the treatment to be successful, most medical shampoos have to be applied regularly, ask your vet how often you must apply the medical shampoo.
Benzoyl Peroxide Shampoo is an example of a medical shampoo used to treat one of the skin conditions found in dogs. The shampoo specifically helps treat dermatitis, dog acne, seborrhea and demodectic mange.It does this by flushing out the hair follicles, degreasing the coat and reducing the bacterial contamination, all while moisturising the skin. There are other medical shampoos such as; an allergy relief shampoo used to treat contact allergies and hypoallergenic shampoo used to treat hives.
Adding supplements into your dogs diet may be a good idea because your dog may be lacking certain nutrients, vitamins, etc. If your dog has skin allergies, the reason may be because they’re not fully nourished therefore, adding protein, zinc, fatty acids and vitamins would be necessary to maintain healthy skin. Similarly, if your dog has dry skin, adding omega 3 fatty acids, digestive enzymes, garlic or flaxseed oil into their diet is important to avoid hair loss and irritation.
Your dog requires higher levels of certain nutrients during growth than during their adulthood. Due to the limiting ways your dog has of fighting diseases, it’s important to make sure your dog is getting enough nutrients in their diet. Nutritional deficiency can have a huge effect on a dog’s skin and haircoat. One of the nutrients to add to your dog’s diet is Omega 3 fatty acids, including this into your dog’s meals can have a dramatic difference to the appearance and condition of your dog’s skin and coat.
Other ways of treating skin conditions are topical therapy, antibiotics and antiparasitics. Remember to contact your vet if your dog’s skin condition has not improved for more than 3 days.
Dogs get bored just like we do. Are they getting enough physical exercise, mental exercise and are they lonely? They have all that extra energy, it needs to be released somewhere. Boredom can cause bad behaviour in your dog, that’s why it’s important to find ways for them to release all their extra energy without any of your personal items being destroyed in the process.
Is this a nation of lonely dogs? In a 2017 report, the figures came out that 2.1 million dogs are left alone for 5 or more hours on a typical weekday. Data has then shown that the figure had risen for 2018, 24% of dogs were being left alone for 5 hours or more on a typical weekday, a 1% increase from 2011 figures.[1]
Due to dogs spending so much time alone, the chances of them being bored and under-stimulated increases. It’s like a domino effect. When your dog is unable to release their extra energy and they’re left alone and bored, it can have a big impact on their well being. The effects on their overall behaviour can be negative. It was reported that 623,000 (7%) of dogs were reportedly showing signs of distress from the effects of being left alone.[1]
There are many ways to enable your dog to release extra energy or to reduce the chances of them getting bored and lonely. If you don’t already, taking them on a walk at least once a day can be very beneficial, playing fetch, teaching them new tricks is not only a form of physical activity, but also a mental exercise too. Interactive toys are also a great way to keep your dog occupied if you’re not there to play with them.
Although chewing is a natural behaviour in dogs, excessive chewing in the wrong areas can be a sign that your dog is bored. The majority of owners expect to see the excessive chewing occur on furniture or shoes however, some dogs chew on their own bodies, therefore, it’s important to keep watch of that as that you don’t want your dog hurting themselves. Chewing for younger dogs can be a way of relieving pain from incoming teeth, for old dogs, it can be a way for them to clean their teeth. Overall, chewing for dogs combats boredom and can relieve mild anxiety and frustration.
Long lasting, healthy dog chews like Skipper's, or durable dog toys are great for dogs that like to chew when they're bored.
Physical activity
Mental stimulation
Hopefully this information has been useful to you and if your dog suffers from one of these conditions you have some great ideas for how to manage their conditions from now on.
We have a host of products that are great for each one of these issues so whilst your here on the site, why not have a look around and see if there's anything that would suit your dog today.
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