๐ซฃ Cleaning wounds infected with maggots is one of the most disturbing and dirty of jobs.๐คข
๐ธ Being a vet isnโt all puppy kisses. If Iโm being honest, it involves a huge amount of work that is difficult, dirty, and sometimes just plain disgusting. Nearly every job in a veterinary practice is tough and some jobs are dirtier than others.๐ซจ
๐น Team Alpha has picked many owners and help off the floor when they got a surprise dose of โgross.โ which we deal everyday in our field work.๐คฎ
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. Despite what you might think, injuries arenโt the worst of it. As you can see above, lacerations and traumatic wounds didnโt even make the list of our dirtiest jobs. Most of what youโll see have to do with foul-smelling bodily fluids, maggotsโฆand worse, like in this Mastiff here suffering from multiple maggot wounds and otitis media i.e. infection of ear & is being dealt by our Canine Experts.๐จโโ๏ธ
๐ โA little kindness goes a long wayโ ๐
๐ธ Itโs a bit like the ripple effect of a pebble in water, a gentle wave spreading across humanity, just like this stray cat found suffering after being attacked by a stray dog, unable to walk, let alone survive in the wild.๐
๐น Besides having sepsis and skin falling apart, our Surgeons decided to take the long road and save this cats limb and we bow down to for being patient with this wide open wound & supporting this voiceless being by giving him a new life full of love and compassion.๐โโ๏ธ
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. God helps those who help others, and if you help a stray animal in need, God will love you for your qualities.๐ฅฐ
๐ธ Itโs not just larger dogs and so-called โdangerous breedsโ that are prone to aggression; any breed is capable of becoming aggressive under the right circumstances.๐ณ
๐น Although aggression canโt be cured overnight, there are steps you can take to curb aggressive behavior and help your dog remain calm & our Canine Experts have proved countless times that we can work with the most aggressive dogs of Pakistan including this Presa Canario, who had severe maggot wounds right between his both eyes and had to be anesthetized for surgical debridement.๐
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. If you want the best care for your four legged companion, join Team Alpha & rest assured.๐
๐ธ Have you ever noticed your dog losing hair? And weโre not talking about typical shedding โ we mean dog hair loss that results in patchy or bald areas of skin. It may be startling if it happens suddenly.๐จ
๐น Alopecia in dogs is the medical term for hair loss. Alopecia is different from shedding because it results in baldness, whereas shedding does not. Shedding is often considered a normal process in dogs, and is caused by seasonal changes or stress.๐
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. A dog losing hair for reasons besides shedding is not normal. Gabbar the Chow here lost his hair as a result of post bite alopecia after being in a brawl, his treatment is underway with our Canine Experts.๐
๐ธ Whelping is the process of a dog giving birth to puppies. Most dogs are capable of whelping on their own without difficulties. But you should keep a close eye on your dog throughout her late pregnancy and labour. Having a good idea of whatโs normal for a dog in labour will allow you to spot signs of trouble early, to learn more talk to our Canine Experts.๐
๐น Following is the Whelping Supply Checklist for first time breeders:
โช๏ธ Lots of newspaper to line the whelping box during delivery for easy cleanup and garbage bags
โช๏ธ Non-skid bath mats for bedding after whelping is done
โช๏ธ Dry, clean towels to clean the puppies
โช๏ธ Paper towels to help with clean up
โช๏ธ Thermometer to check your dogโs temperature before whelping
โช๏ธ Clean, sterilized scissors to cut the umbilical cords
โช๏ธ Thread or dental floss to tie off the umbilical cords
โช๏ธ Pyodine to clean the puppiesโ abdomens after the cord is cut and dab on the end of the cut umbilical cord
โช๏ธ Heat lamp set high above the box on one corner only to allow the puppies to crawl to a cooler spot in a box or hot water bottle to keep the puppies warm (be careful it isnโt too hot).
โช๏ธ Team Alphaโs emergency phone number
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. This Cane Corso whelped 3 healthy pups under supervision of our Canine Experts in her first whelping and they are up for pre-booking, DM us for details.๐ถ
๐ธ Dog Myiasis happens as flies deposit their eggs inside an open lesion or wound. The eggs hatch and become maggots which then consume the dogโs dying or dead skin tissue, occasionally moving on to healthy tissue, too. The maggots stay in the wound, preventing it from healing, and may spread throughout the dogโs skin.๐ชฐ
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. Treatment consists of shaving the hair and removing in maggots, topical wound treatment and usually several weeks of oral antibiotic therapy. Some types of myiasis, requires surgical removal of maggots like was done for Sheru here by our Veterinary Surgeon, here he is trusting our compassionate team knowing heโs in safe hands.๐ค
๐ธ Vaccines help prevent many illnesses that affect pets. Vaccinating your pet has long been considered one of the easiest ways to help him live a long, healthy life. Not only are there different vaccines for different diseases, there are different types and combinations of vaccines.๐ฉบ
๐น A vaccine activates our pets immune system without making them sick. Many dangerous infectious diseases can be prevented in this simple and effective way. A vaccine activates their immune system without making them sick.๐ถ
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. Veterinarianโs at Alpha Vets can determine a vaccination regime that will provide the safest and best protection for your individual animal, like Bimbo the Doberman pup here, getting his first jab, after he landed in Pakistan.๐
๐ธ Just like senior citizens need more sleep, an older dog sleeps a lot when compared to their younger counterparts. On the higher end of the scale, a senior dog can sleep up to 18-20 hours a day.๐
๐น A 13- to 15-year-old dog, depending on her size and health, is roughly equivalent to a 70- to 115-year-old person. In their elder years, it is harder for your dog to learn new things. In fact, they likely will be resistant to changes in their surroundings and routine.๐ฆฎ
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. Like elderly humans, your dog is moving more slowly and sleeping more than he did in his spryer years. He may be showing signs of cognitive deterioration as well. Check your senior dog regularly at home & summon us for more frequent regular visits, because they need care more than ever, or else a tiny bruise can develop into something alarming like in this Lab here.๐จ
๐ธ Annual vaccines mean annual examination by a veterinarian; veterinarians frequently detect infections of the teeth or ears, and sub-clinical diseases (diseases that are not presenting definite or observable symptoms) such as underlying heart conditions, metabolic problems or organ dysfunction during these visits. Early diagnosis allows more effective and successful treatment and may improve the quality of your dogโs life.๐พ
๐น If you want to ensure that your dog receives the highest standard of care and protection, he or she should be seen by Team Alpha for a wellness examination on a regular basis, like Coco here during his annual jab administration.๐
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. Since dogs age at a more rapid rate than humans do, it is important to ensure that they receive a complete physical examination on a regular basis, and more frequently as they approach their senior years.๐ฉบ
๐น If itโs been more than two days since your pet have had a bowel movement, summon Alpha Vets immediately. Remember these symptoms may be similar to those that may point to a urinary tract issue, so itโs important for Our Vet to perform a full physical exam to diagnose the cause.๐ฉบ
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. Once Team Alpha Vets confirms their diagnosis, we might suggest laxatives to help the stools pass. We may also recommend an enema like in Hunter the Doberman here. Our Canine Experts will discuss focusing on your dogโs diet, water intake, and exercise regimen.๐
๐ธ Many of us animal lovers want to do something to help homeless pets. Here are a few ways you can help brighten the lives of the pets still waiting for their fur-ever families.๐ถ
๐น Shelters and rescue groups are always in need of people who are willing to become a foster parent to a needy pet. Fostering helps to free up space at the shelter so that other animals can be helped; plus it directly helps the pets who go into foster care.๐
๐ธ Foster care is important for many pets who need a bit of extra love and care, including:
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. Pets who are injured or ill and need time to recover. A home environment can give pets a quiet, safe place to get better and get the medication and extra care they might need, like Tara, Biscuit & Zoe here in a single frame, all are being fostered by one of the most loving family, until theyโll get adopted.๐ฅฐ
๐ธ A bird with a broken wing (or other injury) should not be moved except when absolutely necessary, even if it is your pet bird. This will help prevent further injury for the bird. Pick the bird up with a towel, wrap it in a towel, and place it in a shoebox. Then donโt move the bird again unless absolutely necessary.๐๏ธ
๐น All fractures of wings that donโt kill the nerves and tissue (or sever a joint) can be reset and fixed and most birds with the exception of large Eagles can gain a functional flight even if the joints are weak and the bone is slightly off.๐ชถ
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. Depending on the type of break, the actual bone involved, the species of bird, and the quality of treatment they receive, it is sometimes possible to fix a broken wing well enough for the bird to be released into the wild, like this pigeon presented to our Avian Vets for examination after it was attacked by a cat.๐ฆ
๐ธ Veterinary medicine is extremely hard work. This is true not only in the sense of the academics required to attain admission to school or the brains required to keep you there, but also in the physical demands of the job.๐
โโ๏ธ
๐น Long days spent on your feet, hours spent performing complicated surgeries, wrestling fractious patients, performing exams on floors, enduring bites and scratches โ each of these contribute to stress and strain beyond those related to emotion.๐โโ๏ธ
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. This is not a 9-5 profession and you wonโt see us spending a lot of time at our desk. Team Alpha is physically challenged each day and the toll can be exhausting. We see animals in pain and suffering from every ailment, and will likely perform procedures on them despite how gut wrenching it may seem, like in Brandy the Mastiff here having her maggots removed from her shoulder under general anesthesia.๐ตโ๐ซ
๐น Work ๐ฉบ is important but Cricket is importanter ๐
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. Gypsy during her Wound Management sitting on her throne as Team Alpha is cheering ๐ต๐ฐ
๐ธ Case Of Extreme Animal Cruelty That You Should Absolutely Not Read If You Love Animals ๐ธ
๐น The shocking number of animal cruelty cases reported every day is just the tip of the icebergโmost cases are never reported. Unlike violent crimes against people, cases of animal abuse are not compiled by state, making it difficult to calculate just how common they are.๐ซ
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. Serious animal neglect is often an indicator of people in need of social or mental health services. Data on domestic violence and child abuse cases reveal that a staggering number of animals are targeted by those who abuse their children or spouses.โ๏ธ
๐ธ Zoe here was adopted by a so called pet lover and turned into one of the worst cases of intentional abuse and neglect, after she was abandoned and was just unrecognisable as one big hair matt, eyes crusted shut, being drained alive by hundreds of ticks.๐ฃ
๐น It was one of the most heartbreaking things we at Alpha Vets have had to deal with as a Veterinarian. When we first had her presented she didnโt even look like a dog.๐จ
๐ธ Conjunctivitis, the most common of all feline eye disorders, is an inflammation of the thin mucous membrane (conjunctiva) that lines the inner surface of a cat's eyelids and coats the outer surface of the eyeball. Many cats will experience at least a mild episode of the condition at some point in their lives.๐
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. Pain โ evidenced by pawing at the eye, squinting, sensitivity to light. Swelling of the eyelids accompanied by redness and or discharge, especially yellow or green in color. The sclera (whites of the eyes) are extremely red, accompanied by symptoms of pain noted above like in Chuck here.๐๏ธ
๐ธ Skin allergies from environmental factors are the most common type of allergic reactions in dogs. These allergies are usually seasonal, and are caused by allergens such as dust, pollen, weeds, grasses and mold. As a result, you may only notice your dog itching at certain times of the year, like was seen in Boston here.
๐น Dogs will exhibit some of these common signs:
โช๏ธ Frequent itching and scratching
โช๏ธ Excessive licking, especially at their paws
โช๏ธ Biting and gnawing of the skin
โช๏ธ Red, inflamed skin or rashes
โช๏ธ Dry or oily skin
โช๏ธ Hives and other bumps
โช๏ธ Loss of fur
โช๏ธ Frequent shaking of the head due to itchy ears
โช๏ธ Swollen face and paws
โช๏ธ Regular rubbing against surfaces
โช๏ธ Open wounds
โช๏ธ Watery eyes
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. Treatment involves frequent bathing with a hypoallergenic shampoo, which may or may not contain anti-inflammatory ingredients. This not only soothes itchy and inflamed skin, but rinses off allergens that are present on the coat or on the skin.
๐ธ Pododermatitis is painful and may become debilitating to your pet. It is the inflammation of the interdigital skin; the area of skin in between the toes and footpads.๐พ
๐น Foreign bodies like grass seeds are a very common cause of pododermatitis in dogs. Foreign bodies tend to penetrate the skin of the feet when dogs are out walking/running and then trigger inflammation when they become trapped within the feet. Pedal disease may often become chronic and unresponsive to therapy if not adequately treated initially.๐ฉบ
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. Some dogs may need ongoing, lifelong topical or systemic therapy as well as management of the primary underlying disease in order to prevent further recurrence of pododermatitis episodes, like Kiki the Mastiff here, she is recovering after being diagnosed by Team Alpha's Canine Experts.๐
๐ธ Though Team Alpha mostly provides regular management for Exotic Dogs, but a few spoilt cats are also on our list including Tabby the Puss, our Feline Experts will make recommendations based on your cat's breed, age and health.๐ฑ
๐น 11 basic needs of a cat are enlisted below by our experts,
โช๏ธ Alpha Membership ๐ฉบ
โช๏ธ Premium-brand cat food ๐
โช๏ธ Food dish ๐
โช๏ธ Water bowl ๐ฅฃ
โช๏ธ Interactive toys ๐
โช๏ธ Brush ๐ช
โช๏ธ Comb โ๏ธ
โช๏ธ Safety cat collar & microchip ๐
โช๏ธ Scratching post or scratching pad ๐พ
โช๏ธ Litter box and litter ๐ฉ
โช๏ธ Cat carrier ๐
โช๏ธ Cat bed or box with warm blanket or towel ๐งบ
๐ธ Here is a snap of a badly infected ear (an aggressive Alabai dog - Arya). This is after a thorough cleaning - it was all pus and yuk in there. It took quite a bit of fussing to fix this one under general anesthesia. She got it started by scuffing her ear with her back nails and causing scrapes.๐คฆโโ๏ธ
๐น Treatment involves cleaning the ear and applying medication. The hard part is getting the medication in there! We did trust exercises such as holding the bottle, giving a treat, then put it near head, give a treat, wait. Tried again in a few hours. She does not like her ears messed with like any other dog with infected ears, but we got there.๐ถ
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. To start, you have to be open to the idea that otitis is painful-and that pain is stressful. Because of this, chronic pain is especially stressful. Team Alpha effectively encourage regular exams, it's our job to show you how to do the cleaning yourself, but obviously it takes practice.๐
๐ธ Should you trim the fur on dogs paws?๐ค
๐น Yes, you should trim the hair between a dog's pads if they are long enough. Most breeds with short coats don't have short hair between their toes. If you have one at home, it might not be necessary to trim the hair. However, if the hair grows well past the pads, you will definitely need to trim them.๐พ
๐ธ When you trim the hair between her pads, you reduce the risk of mats building up between them and making it painful for her to walk. No matter what time of year, there is always something that can get caught up in your pup's paws and pads if you don't keep them well groomed.๐
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. Additionally, long hair can slip under the paw pads and cause your dog to slip or lose their footing, increasing their risk for injuries. To avoid these problems, the excess hair between and around your dog's paws should be trimmed back and combed, this is done fortnightly with our Alpha Chows.๐ป
๐ธ Myiasis is the medical term for an infestation of fly larvae, on the skin of a living animal, in this case, a German Shepherd Dog named Gypsy.๐พ
๐น This is a serious condition and the removal of the maggots or grubs should be handled by a veterinary professional in order to avoid the release of dangerous enzymes and toxins into the dogโs bloodstream.๐ถ
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. This type of infestation is caused by an infestation of maggots, which is the larval stage of the growth of many flies. Pre-existing wounds and skin damage are susceptible to this type of infestation, and many maggots will be present with this type of infestation and it can lead to necrosis and additional infections.๐จ
๐ธ A puncture wound on a dogโs skin, especially a place he canโt lick, can easily turn into a maggot wound. The most common places are the head or the back of the head, the paws, the tail or base of the tail, etc. Puncture wounds could happen because of injury or even because of excessive scratching. Dogs will lick any puncture wound but if they canโt and if a fly can sit on it, it will lay eggs and the larvae become the maggots we see. The problem is that eggs hatch in thousands and they have a voracious appetite. Essentially the larvae are eating the dog alive and they can do it quickly.๐
๐น Myiasis is caused by a female fly, usually a housefly, laying eggs in a festering wound, on areas of the skin that are consistently damp, or on areas of skin that are soiled by urine or feces. This is more likely to occur during the warmer months and in hot, moist environments.๐ชฐ
๐โโ๏ธ Treatment of Brandy the Mastiff consisted of anesthesia and removal of maggots, topical wound treatment and antibiotic therapy, along with care to remove any chances of reoccurrence.๐ฉบ
๐ธ Because each dog breed is a combination of the many dogs that make up its ancestry, including certain predominant skin and coat characteristics, breed specific grooming should be taken into consideration.๐
๐น For an Alaskan Malamute like Tyson here, regular brushing, especially during spring and summer, helps remove the dense undercoat and prevents matting. Long hair around the ears and between the paw pads can also be clipped to avoid issues with tangling.๐ซ
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. Due to the dense hair on this breed, it must be thoroughly blow dried with a professional cyclone dryer to prevent matting and โhot spotsโ from developing.๐ช
๐ธ And they say that size doesn't matter, a phrase that does no good for Sheru the Biggest Dog treated by Team Alpha, standing tall and proud at 7 feet.๐ณ
๐น This Daneโs size attracts attention and offers instant protection, no one will guess what a sweetheart he is on the inside.๐
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. The Great Daneโs height and weight place him among the largest breeds, with floppy ears. Regular Great Dane ear cleaning prevents infections, weekly ear cleaning is critical for Great Dane health. Do so by wiping away any gunk with a cotton ball or gauze.๐ถ
๐ธ Black cats appear in the folklore of many more cultures as both good and bad omens. In some European folklore, black cats are considered common companions of witches and bringers of misfortune if they happened to cross your path.๐งโโ๏ธ
๐น Unfortunately, black cats are often considered a superstition and are often less likely to be adopted from shelters. In reality, many cultures have different beliefs about black cats. In fact, seeing a black cat has been associated with luckโboth good and badโfor thousands of years.๐ฐ
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. Black Cat Appreciation Day in August, Team Alpha aims to dispel all myths surrounding black cats. So, let a black cat cross your path. They arenโt witches. More than likely, adopting a black cat will help keep the mouse population down around the place. Expect the number of cuddles in your life to increase, too!๐โโฌ
๐ธ Brachy means shortened and cephalic means head. Therefore, brachycephalic dogs have skull bones that are shortened in length, giving the face and nose a pushed-in appearance. Due to the shorter bones of the face and nose, the anatomy and relationship with the other soft tissue structures are altered; some of these changes can cause physical problems for the affected dog.๐ปโโ๏ธ
๐น Mildly affected dogs will have noisy breathing, especially with exercise, and most will snort when excited and snore when relaxed or asleep. Severely affected dogs have more pronounced airway noise, appear to tire easily with exercise, and may collapse or faint after exercise.๐จ
๐ธ Brachycephalic breeds include Chow Chow's, Bulldogs, Boxer Dogs, Boston Terriers, Pekingese, Pugs, Shih Tzus, and Bull Mastiffs.๐พ
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. Team Alpha recommends that dogs with brachycephalic airway syndrome should be fitted with a harness that does not tug at the neck area. It is not advisable to use a regular neck collar for these dogs since a collar can put undue pressure on the neck. Dogs with pronounced breathing difficulty or that require surgery to correct airway obstruction should not be used for breeding.โ
๐ธ If there are two things that all Chow's certainly have in common they are: enjoying luxury and doing theirโฆ โbusinessโ. So why not combine the two and make their daily defecation that little bit more enjoyable? Letโs not beat around the bush, here are our favourite places where your Chow can poo with a view.๐ป
๐น There will be no squatting behind a tree trunk or attempting to avoid the prying eyes of others. Just sit down, relax and take a load off, all while enjoying fabulous views of pool side. Itโs the way nature intended it, after all.๐
๐โโ๏ธ P.S. Jokes apart, Chow Chows are fit for apartment life because they are lazy and their sensitivity to heat means they prefer to stay indoors where it's cooler anyways. Here Baby Bear is being trained to poo outdoors and enjoy the fresh air with his apartment living.๐ฉ
