It's that time of year...kennel cough is doing the rounds again

Once more kennel cough is doing the rounds of North London parks causing suffering to both dogs and their owners. But how serious is it and how best to treat it? 


Well the good news is that kennel cough is rarely serious and never fatal. Usually it is what vets call 'self limiting'  - this means that it goes away all by itself without the need for any veterinary treatment. In this way kennel cough (KC) is much like a human cold, and like human colds no two strains are the same. KC tends to be caused by a combination of a virus and bacteria and while there are strains which are more common these change all the time.


For most owners the first sign that their dog is unwell is the classic cough. Typically this sounds like your dog has something stuck in his throat and is often accompanied by retching and the dog bringing up a little phlegm. Depending upon the severity of the strain your dog may appear completely well except for the cough or he may seem a little listless. Unless your dog is very young, old or suffering from other health problems a trip to the vet is probably not necessary. Instead if you want to ease the symptoms you can offer your dog a small amount of cough linctus with glycerol/honey a few times a day. This will help soothe his throat and hopefully minimise coughing. Beyond this you should keep your dog warm and quiet at home until the symptoms disappear. 


Kennel cough is very contagious so it is a good idea not to exercise your dog in public until his symptoms have gone. Bear in mind however that by the time your dog exhibits symptoms he will have been carrying the bug for a few days and so could have inadvertently infected his friends.


While this may sound worrying there is little that can be done after the fact except warning your friends to keep an eye on their dog's health. Again, much like the human cold KC can spread rapidly and, while irritating, it is not usually a cause for concern.


Some vets offer a nasal spray which helps protect against KC. Much like the flu jab in humans this can be beneficial for the young, old and infirm but will not protect against every bout of KC doing the rounds. Instead it aims to reduce your dog's susceptibility to picking up KC when your dog is exposed to it and ultimately limit the severity of the episode should your dog still catch kennel cough.


Usually your dog should shake off KC within about 10 days. However if it lasts much longer a trip to the vets is recommended.

Panorama - UK chain of vets exposed

It Shouldn't Happen at a Vets


Back in July Panorama aired a programme exposing the rather dubious practices carried out by one of the UK's largest veterinary chains. Panorama showed secret footage of rough, inconsiderate handling of pets, procedures being carried out by untrained staff, inflated prices and overcharging amongst other things. This programme is well worth watching and raises questions about who we allow to care for our pets in their hour of need.




Click HERE to watch this documentary

Hampstead Heath toy and small dog play group

We have recently set up a playgroup for toy and small dogs in North London. The meetup group is called Hampstead Heath toy and small dog play group. The idea is to hold regular meetings on Hampstead Heath for toy dogs and their owners. Hampstead Heath provides the ideal location for dogs to run around and have lots of fun, something even small dogs like to do! 

Our first meeting is scheduled for Saturday September 11th, time and exact location tbc.

Click HERE for more info

Cross country running with your dog!

Canine Cross Country Running in London (CaniX Event)

More familiar with the sound of traps springing open and greyhounds pounding the tracks, this September East London is hosting a whole new kind of dog race.  Hackney Marshes sees the London debut of CaniX, canine cross-country racing, on Sept 11th as part of the Two2Go Family sport festival.

CaniX is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK and sees owners and their four legged friends taking part in distance races together.  Whether it is simply with a collar and lead or with the more dedicated running harness, dogs run alongside their owners (or occasionally pulling them along!) creating a unique and exciting experience for the runners, the dogs and the spectators!  A wonderful way to get fit whist exercising your dog, CaniX is a unique discipline with competitive races taking place all over the UK and Europe.

Up until now, CaniX races have been mostly restricted to the countryside and large open spaces, but for the first time the dogs are going urban and are coming to London. Two2Go expect to see well over a hundred participants with dogs of all sizes and breeds race 5k around the famous Hackney Marshes.  Anyone can take part and everyone is welcome with no special equipment, fitness level or training required – just a dog, a lead and a sturdy pair of trainers.  

So come and join in with this brand new sport for London: CaniX – where your dog takes YOU for a walk!

Due to it’s original and innovative nature, Two2Go have been granted Olympic Inspire status for this event.

Two2Go family sport festival is taking place on Hackney Marshes, Homerton Road, E9 5PF on Saturday 11th Sept from 10am – 6pm.  Other events include a trail marathon, 10k, 5k, guided historical walk, free drop in sport & exercise workshops, face painting, live music, art workshops and food & drink.  Come and join in the count down to London 2012.

For information about entering the CaniX 5k race and registration, go to:https://www.canix.co.uk/shop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=479

Cushings in dogs

Cushings Syndrome V Cushings Disease 

Cushings is something that you only really find out about once you look after a dog who suffers from it. But what exactly is Cushings?

A common misconception is that cushings disease in dogs is the same as cushings syndrome in dogs. The reality is, they're not one and the same.

Cushings syndrome and cushings disease are similar, but they're actually two different things. They both involve high amounts of cortisol in the dog's body. The difference is, though, that cushings disease is the name for the problem when it originates in the dog's pituitary gland. Cushings syndrome, on the other hand, is the name that is given to any increased cortisol problem in a dog, no matter how it occurs.

Cushings disease as well as other forms of cushings can occur in a dog of any age. It's much better to catch it early or take measures to prevent it, though, since it can be harder to treat any form of cushings when it's complicated by other medical conditions.

Common Causes of Cushings Syndrome in Dogs:

Some of the common causes of cushings syndrome are adrenal hyperplasia and adrenal tumors, as well as pituitary tumors. Since the pituitary gland controls the dog's adrenal glands, both gland types can be affected, not to mention other systems in your dog's body. For example, cushings can cause heart and liver problems for your dog, if it is left untreated.

Another common cause is drugs (iatrogenic causes). Essentially, if your dog is taking any steroid medications for unrelated medical problems, it can cause the hormonal balance in their body to be thrown off, creating a case of cushings. So, if your dog is showing signs of cushings, you may want to examine any medications that they are on, such as prednisone.

Homeopathic Treatment:

You may want to consider homeopathic treatment for cushings disease in dogs as an option for your pet. After all, a lot of traditional medications for cushings have harsh side-effects. Herbal remedies and supplements do not.

The practice of homeopathy is over two-hundred years old. One of the interesting things about it is that it often uses a diluted version of a substance to create a cure for that substance. Also, homeopathic remedies are always all natural. That means they're made of things that are commonly found in nature, like herbs, minerals and plants.

The thing that you need to remember about your dog is that, originally, dogs roamed wild and free. They fended for themselves and they ate whatever they found out in the wild. Now that they've been domesticated, though, they are often exposed to environmental toxins, processed foods and other things that are just not good for them at all.

As an owner, it's your responsibility to pick up the slack and compensate for the domestication of your dog. He or she can't fend for themselves like their wild ancestors. So, talk to your dog's vet about the best all natural ways to prevent or cure cushings disease in dogs, as well as other diseases and disorders that your dog may be prone to.

Article courtesy of Janet Markowitz. 

Gardening with dogs, some safety tips from the Dogs Trust

• Make sure that your fence and gate is high enough and secure enough. Most dogs will not be able to scale a 6 ft fence, but this can depend on breed and how determined your dog is to escape.
• Make sure there are no broken/unsafe parts to your fence/other garden furniture, such as no protruding sharp edges and no nails sticking out.
• Store chemicals and sharp tools safely, out of reach or locked in the shed, garage or outbuilding. Garden chemicals such as pesticides and fertilisers will make him very ill if eaten. Oils, paints and antifreeze are also very harmful. Pets are very attracted to antifreeze in particular and will lick it up if you forget to mop up any spills.
• Most slug pellets are poisonous to pets and could kill. Use pet friendly alternatives such as beer traps or try to encourage frogs into your garden to eat them. Ant killer gels and powders and rat poisons should only be used where your dog cannot get to them.
• Cocoa husks or mulch used in borders and around plants to discourage weeds is very attractive to dogs, who will eat it in large quantities. However, this contains theobromine (the same dangerous chemical found in chocolate), is very poisonous and can be fatal. Use an alternative such as bark chippings or gravel.
• Keep all rubbish/recycling bins securely closed.
• Make sure that ponds or pools are covered so that a young dog or puppy cannot fall in and drown.
• Be careful not to leave gates open.
• There are several poisonous plants that could affect your dog if he is partial to eating greenery. Here is just a selection of those to be wary about. Remove them if possible or restrict access to them: Azalea, Buttercup, Castor bean, Daffodil bulbs, dumb cane, false hellebore, foxglove, holly berries, Laburnum, Lily of the valley, Lobelia, Mistletoe berries, Moonseed, Narcissus, Oleander, Philodendron, Rhododendron, Rhubarb leaves, wild cherry tree, Wisteria, Yew.
• To download a more extensive list of poisonous plants and substances found in the home please click HERE

The bottom line part 3 - signs to watch for

Characteristics of Diarrhea

Color	Likely Cause	Likely Location
Yellowish or greenish	Rapid transit	Small bowel
Black, tarry	Upper GI bleeding	Stomach or small bowel
Red blood or clots	Lower GI bleeding	Colon clots
Pasty, light	Lack of bile	Liver
Large, gray, rancid	Inadequate digestion	Small bowel or absorption

Consistency	Likely Cause	Likely Location
Watery	Rapid transit	Small bowel
Foamy	Bacterial infection	Small bowel
Greasy, often with oily hair around the anus	Malabsorption	Small bowel, pancreas
Glistening or jellylike	Constains mucus	Colon

Odor	Likely Cause	Likely Location
Foodlike, or smelling like sour milk	Rapid transit and inadequate digestion or absorption (suggests overfeeding, especially in puppies)	Small bowel
Rancid or foul	Inadequate digestion with fermentation	Small bowel, pancreas

Frequency	Likely Cause	Likely Location
Several small stools in an hour, with straining	Colitis	Colon
Three or four large stools in a day	Inadequate digestion or absorption	Small bowel, pancreas

Condition of the Dog	Likely Cause	Likely Location
Weight loss	Inadequate digestion or absorption	Small bowel, pancreas
No weight loss, normal appetite	Large bowel disorder	Colon
Vomiting	Enteritis	Small bowel, rarely colon