Kennel Cough - Is it serious?

KENNEL COUGH

Q : Kennel cough? What is that? Any symptoms or signs?
A: So, what is kennel cough? Well... Kennel cough is an extremely contagious upper respiratory disease in dogs, but seldom affect the lungs. Your dog if infected, will show signs of dry cough followed by gagging and coughing out mucus, sometimes even making a very loud 'honking' sound. You can spot nasal discharge coming out of their nose as well. Also, dog may seem tired all the time, might have loss in appetite and have very low energy. All this depending on severity.

Q: How to know if it is mild or severe case?
A : As I said previously, it depends on severity. If your dog have a mild case, nothing much will change from his usual self, only thing is he might gag a bit.

LATEST UPDATE OF OUR POODLE PUPS!

First in the litter and it's a boy! This boy is the smallest in the litter compared to his siblings. Pup will be selling at SGD$2900.
Second in the litter is this female. Her colour is the richest compared to her siblings. I might keep her for myself though. Selling her at SGD$3000.
Third in the litter is this suave looking boy. Always ready to take his handsomest photos! Selling him at SGD$2800.

The last in the litter. This little girl is the most gentle of all and loves to be cuddled. Selling her at SGD$2800.

Note: Please take note that prices are SLIGHTLY negotiable. I am confident my pups are of good quality, and will NOT entertain any unreasonable offers! If you are looking for a cheap deal, please exit this blog now.

Stud Service AVAILABLE!

STUD SERVICE AVAILABLE!!

WHITE Toy Poodle!!

We currently have a nice white Toy Poodle for stud service. He has a line of champions in his family tree.

STUD FEE: $800

Update of our Fabulous Four

Here'a an update of our 4 little princes and princesses. They are drinking well, and are growing fast. Only 2 males and 1 female are for sale. I will be keeping one of the females for myself.

What is Parvovirus and how can i treat it?

I have come across Parvo in my dogs before and have lost puppies from this deadly virus. After experiencing this, I researched online and books, to find ways to treat Parvo and wanted to share with you guys.

Parvovirus is a viral infection that affects the dogs' digestive system, and to severe cases, it attacks the heart as well. Parvo is a very serious condition, especially to puppies, if left untreated. Parvo has no cure, however, there are treatments to support the dog's body systems and to keep the dog hydrated. Puppies aged 2-6 months are more prone to Parvo. Reason being their natural immunity which they get from ntheir mother's milk begins to diminish at around 2 months of age. Symptoms of Parvo include bloody mucus like diarrhea, vomitting, and thus rapid dehydration if left untreated. Dogs can be rehydrated using IV drips. If the dog is well enough to drink on it's own, it can be given water, electrolytes or salt.

Medications are given to dogs contracted with Parvo. These medications do NOT kill the virus, but it can help treat the symptoms it causes. Medications are given to stop diarrhea and vomitting, the 2 symptoms that cause the dog to be dehydrated. Antibiotics are also given to the dog to kill any bacteria that may arise due to the dog's weakened immune system.

If a Parvo case becomes too severe, a blood transfusion is needed. This is to bring up the protein levels and treat anemia as the dogs' protein level will have a drastic drop in these cases.

A dog that has had Parvo once, does not mean it will be immune from it and can get the virus again.

Points to note:

• An infected dog should be isolated from other dogs as the virus is HIGHLY contagiou
  


• Any items that has come into contact with the infected dog, or it's faeces, should be disinfected IMMEDIATELY. Usually I will use Chlorine.
  


• Disinfect yourself if you handle an infected dog, before handling another uninfected dog

Difference between Puppy Mills and Good breeders

Puppy mills care nothing about the dogs they raise. The produce puppies in a mass scale only for the profit aspects of these dogs. There is little to no socialization done with these puppies, and are often shy, frightened, neglected, abused or in poor health. Puppy mills are filthy set ups, with a huge number of dogs of all different kinds of breeds all crammed up together in small crates and runs. There is no care given to the individual dogs or even whom breeds to whom. Puppy mills often sell their puppies to pet shops or unknowing pet owners for big bucks, and most they do not care where their puppies are going. I am sure most of you out there has read about news about these sort of puppy mills.

A reputable breeder has vast knowledge on their chosen breed, and will go out of their way to learn everything they can on the breed. They dedicate most of their time to care, play, train and teach their dogs. They will thoroughly screen their new puppy owners, just to make sure that their puppies are going to the right homes. A breeder works very hard in raising the best puppies they can and care deeply about each and every individual puppy. They will teach EVERY new puppy owner everything about the breed that they can. A good breeder is always there to help out the owners whenever they need him.Good breeders back up their puppies with at least a 1 year health guarantee against genetic defects. These are the people who really care about the breed and will sacrifice almost anything to improve it.

A good breeder has nothing to hide. They will show you where their puppies are kept and the adults are proud to show them off. A good breeder will be upfront with you when asking about the size of the parents and the puppies not just trying to shove a puppy on you to make the money. A good breeder should know their dogs and what they will produce.

A good breeder is not just in it for the money. It is for the passion and love of the breed. Good breeders do not make a whole lot of money on their puppies. Most of the money made is put back into their dogs. There are vet bills, grooming costs, feeding costs, upkeep, advertising and purchasing of new breeding stock to take into consideration. It is NOT a cheap venture or a quick money making scheme.

So next time, if you decide to buy a puppy, make sure you get one from a reputable breeder.

What dog best suits you?

I have personally come across people who buy dogs, and then later regret about it. Either they put it up for adoption, or they just abandon them. Most people i realise, based on local context, buy dogs out of impulse. Most people do not know what kind of breed they want, and even if they knew what breed they want to get, they do not make effort to read up more on the breed to see if that certain breed suits his/her lifestyle.

I can confidently say, out of 10, at least 7 people when they enter pet farms/shops, they will buy those cute puppies behind the glass display out of impulse. Reason being, because the pup is cute. I mean, ALL pups look cute when they are young don't they? In short, people here buy dogs because they are cute.

I would like to highlight that owning a dog is a lifelong commitment, and it is not a toy you are getting where you can keep and throw them away as and when you want to. Before purchasing or adopting a dog, make sure that the decision to get one is a green light from everyone in the family. Also, take into consideration your lifestyle. Would you like a dog that is laid back? Or would you want a dog that can join you in your afternoon fun by the beach? When you have decided what type of dog you are looking for, you can start to do your research on the different types of breeds. Pick one that interest you, and suit your needs. But then again, another point to note is that some dogs do shed alot. Are you OK with all the shedding? Grooming is also a very important key point to note when you want to own a dog. There is minimal grooming in short coated dogs, but long coated dogs tend to be a hassle when it comes to grooming.

As for myself, I love active working breeds. I love the outdoors, and i want a dog that can join me in my outdoor activities. I have a Jack Russell named Skipper, he's 10yrs now, and he's still going strong. He joins me in swimming by the beach, continues his bite work(although not as strong as before), and is still as alert as ever. I have this thing for dogs being able to guard and bite. I personally also own Rotties. They are curious dogs and also loves to be involved in everything you do. These are the kind of dogs I personally go for.

So, after reading this article, what breed of dog do you think best suits you?

COOKIE! This darling mongrel came to us due to another complain issue from the owner's neighbours. He is a newcomer to The Paw Pals. I still quite fear him as he tried snapping at me a few times. But soon enough I know i can handle him like he's my own dog.

Cookie is very protective of his owner. When he was home, he would not let anyone touch anything in the owner's room. He also makes an excellent watchdog.

Baybe, a handsome mongrel boarding with us

This is Baybe. His owners put him with us due to another complain issue from the owner's neighbours. Baybe is very "manja", and loves belly rubs.

Baybe makes an excellent guard dog at our kennel. He's protective, loyal, and a good playmate.

Susu, the senior citizen boarding with us

Susu. One of the old tenants here. She was boarded with us because her owner is getting old and just finished an operation. Therefore her son decided to board her with us for the rest of her life.

Susu is partially blind and has a hearing impairment. She is calm, and loves showers and suntanning. When she's out, you will see her lying under the sun and near palm trees. She also enjoys nature to a certain extent.