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Pet Services in the Grand Lake
St. Marys Region
Boarding, Grooming, Kennels, Veterinary Services
Minster Veterinary
Service
(419) 628-3532
29 S Main St
Minster, OH 45865
Pet Diabetes Awareness
Minster Veterinary Services
Symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst, urinary
frequency, increased appetite, lethargy, weight loss and
more.
MINSTER, OH--- "Pet diabetes is something people
don't seem to be aware of, yet the symptoms and
complications are similar to those experienced by
people. Left unchecked this disease can shorten the
lifespan and cause undue discomfort, weakness, blindness
and even kidney failure and death." says Dr. Paul J.
Hunter, owner of Minster Veterinary Services in Minster,
Ohio, located at 29 S. Main St. Additional
directions and information is available online at
www.minstervet.org or call 419-628-3532. The office is
open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and
on Saturdays from 8:00 am to 2:00pm.
If you didn’t know
your dog or cat could develop diabetes, you’re
not alone. Many owners don’t
realize diabetes can affect pets too, so learning that
your dog or cat has the disease can leave you with many
questions. While there’s
no cure for diabetes, proper care can help your pet live
a happy, healthy, active life. The more you know about
diabetes, the better you’ll
be able to work with your veterinarian to successfully
manage your pet’s
health.
Your veterinarian is an essential partner in your pet’s
diabetes care. Only your veterinarian can diagnose
diabetes and provide appropriate preventive and
management programs.
Pet Diabetes: Knowing the signs of diabetes is
the first step in protecting your cat’s health. If any
of these statements describes your pet, speak with your
veterinarian about the possibility of diabetes:
Drinks more water than usual (polydipsia)
Urinates more frequently, produces more urine
per day or has “accidents” outside the litter
box (polyuria)
Always acts hungry (polyphagia), but
maintains or loses weight
Is less active or sleeps more (lethargic)
Has thinning, dry and dull hair
A happy, healthy, active diabetic pet is the result of a
strong partnership between you and your veterinarian. If
you don’t understand your veterinarian’s instructions or
you aren’t clear about the current condition of your cat
or dog, for the sake of your pet, don’t be afraid to ask
questions. Knowing everything you can about diabetes and
how to keep it under control will ensure you can
confidently care for your diabetic pet. With effective
treatment and plenty of love, you can restore your pet’s
quality of life and look forward to many happy years
together
Minster Veterinary Services serves clients from
Shelby, Darke, Auglaize and Mercer counties. All breeds
of canines and felines are welcome to take advantage of
this special offer. To set up an appointment please call
Minster Veterinary Service at 419-628-3532.
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Bathing Your Dog by Sheri Huttner
A short-haired dog is fairly easy to bathe, especially
if he's small. You can bathe him right in the kitchen or
bathroom sink, or in your bathtub, if your back can
stand a lot of bending. A hose attachment or a hose type
shower massage can be a big help when using the tub.
A larger or long-haired dog can present more of a
problem and sometimes requires two people to tackle the
job. It's best to bathe a large dog in the bathtub (be
prepared for a bath yourself!) or in the yard when the
weather permits.
Just about any gentle, tearless dog shampoo will do
unless your dog has fleas or a skin condition. If your
dog has either, use a shampoo made for the specific
problem, or one recommended by your vet. When using a
regular dog shampoo, it's usually best to dilute it.
(Don't dilute flea shampoo or medicated shampoo because
you'd also be diluting the active ingredients!) Most dog
shampoos are way too thick which makes it difficult to
work up a good lather. I usually dilute it with 25% to
50% water. You can pour some shampoo into an empty
bottle and add small amounts of water until it reaches
the right consistency.
Some people use 'people' shampoo, and I've even heard
of some who use dish washing liquid. Both are much too
harsh for your dog's skin and can cause skin and coat
problems in the future. In the long-run, it's cheaper to
buy a good dog shampoo and dilute it as described above.
Before the dog even gets NEAR the water, brush him
well. This can't be stressed enough. All of the dead,
shedding fur has to be removed from the coat and
undercoat. If the dog has knots, tangles, or mats, they
must all be removed before you bathe him. Don't expect a
conditioner to remove the mats, because it won't. In
fact, if you bathe your dog without first brushing him
thoroughly, the dirt and shampoo will remain in the
mats, creating more of a problem by making the mats
tighter. This can also cause skin problems or make
matters worse if problems already exist.
Bathing alone won't remove all the shedding hair from
a short coat, either. Brushing is necessary before and
after the bath. A really great grooming tool for use on
short-haired dogs that shed is a Shed'n Blade, available
at most pet stores. It's simple to use and does a great
job of removing all that loose fur. I recommend using it
outdoors since the fur flies all over!
Ready? Wet the dog well from the neck to the tail,
saving the head, face, and ears for later. Begin by
shampooing the hind legs. Then do the tail and the rear
end. (Pay a little extra attention to that area!) Next,
shampoo the body, chest, and front legs. Now, carefully
wet the head, face, and ears. Lather those areas, being
careful not to get suds in the dog's eyes, even if
you're using a 'tearless' shampoo. Now it's time to
rinse. And rinse, and rinse, and rinse. Did I say RINSE?
I can't say it enough! First rinse the shampoo from the
head, face, and ears, and then the body and legs. Don't
forget the underside of the dog. To reach that area,
have him stand on his hind legs by lifting his front
paws. Keep rinsing until you no longer feel shampoo
anywhere on the dog and the water runs clear. Any
residue of shampoo remaining on the dog can cause
itching, flaking, and skin problems.
When finished, wrap the dog in a towel to absorb
excess water and to prevent him from shaking it
everywhere. Then systematically towel dry each part of
the dog -- face, head, ears, body, legs, and tail. A
good towel drying can save lots of time. Finish up by
drying him with a hair blower, which is usually easier
if you have someone to hold him while you do this. Make
sure the dryer is set at a comfortable temperature, and
don't hold it too close to the dog's skin.
Tips:
Have towels (and everything else you need)
handy before you begin.
Have the dog stand on a rubber mat in the tub
or sink so he'll feel secure.
I don't recommend putting cotton in the ears.
The cotton acts like a wick and draws water into
the ears. Just be careful and try not to get
water in the ears.
Wear old clothes or your birthday suit.
Be careful not to let fur go down your drain.
Even if the bottle of shampoo says to shampoo
twice, a dog rarely needs it unless he hasn't
been bathed in a very long time or is
exceptionally dirty.
Remember to brush out all mats from the coat
BEFORE bathing. If the dog is very matted, it's
time to visit a professional groomer.
Most dogs don't need a bath more than once a
month. Bathing too frequently can dry out the
skin and coat.
Get your dog used to being brushed and bathed
at an early age.
© Sheri Huttner Reprinted
with permission. Sheri Huttner is the owner/operator
of a successful dog grooming shop, and provides
personalized home boarding for her clients. She
operates the website,
www.dogparlor.com,
Pet Links
American Veterinary Medical Association
Click on the "Public" link for
downloadable brochures and information about pet health
and emergency preparedness for pets, as well as
information on becoming a veterinary technician.
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