Keeping your Springer healthy by Zippy Cooper

    Everyone loves a dog with a beautiful, glossy coat and a spring in his step. Whether your dog is a show dog, hunter, performance dog or couch potato, good health is reflected in his coat and energy. A few simple steps can help maintain that healthy glow.

    Basic good health begins with good nutrition. There are many excellent foods on the market in all price ranges. If your dog is a show, hunting or performance dog you may chose a food with more protein for energy. But any premium dog food that is balanced for total nutrition will work. Do not add supplements unless there is a specific reason to do it. Additional vitamins can throw the balance off and actually be detrimental to a diet.
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    Dogs, like people, are what they eat. Cheaper brands of dog food have fillers and you will get more stool, as the dog does not process as much of it. There are some foods that will make a dog smell really "doggy" very quickly after a bath. But these are all esthetic side effects. Any balanced food that says "total nutrition" will meet your dog’s nutritional requirements. What goes in, will come out, so pay attention to your dogs stool. A loose stool could be the first indication of a serious problem. A yellow stool may indicate infection and a black stool may indicate blood in the stool. If the stool is loose more than once, call your vet.
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    Bathe your dog regularly. I suggest you bathe your springer at least every other week. Not only will he smell better; it gives you the perfect opportunity to examine him on a regular basis. If you do find a problem, you can get it taken care of before it becomes a major problem.
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    Before you put your dog in the tub brush him thoroughly. Remove any matts or tangles. Brushing removes dead, dull, loose hair and stimulates the skin. Use a mild dog shampoo and use a crème rinse to make combing out easier. I use Suave as a crème rinse and it makes the coat shine.
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    While your springer is in the tub and you are lathering him up, pay attention to his skin. Are there any sores or scabs or lumps or bumps or ticks or fleas or any other thing that shouldn’t be there? If there are ticks or fleas they should be taken care of right away. Frontline Plus is the best product I have found to eliminate fleas and ticks. If there are lumps or bumps keep an eye on them. If they get larger, take your dog to the vet.
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    Also, look at the dogs eyes, penis, vulva and rectum. Do they look normal? Is there any discharge? A discharge could indicate an infection especially if it is greenish.
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    Bath time is the best time to empty anal glands. If you don’t know how to do this, have your vet show you at your next visit. Keeping the anal glands empty may prevent a painful impaction. Feeding a high fiber diet will help the dog empty the glands on his own. (Add Grape-Nuts to his diet to add fiber.)
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    Springers, because of their pendulous ears, are subject to ear infections. Keep your springer’s ears clean and keep the hair clipped short around the ear openings. Take your springer to the vet at the first sign of ear problems. If the ears smell really bad and/or the dog is scratching his ears, that is a good indication of a problem.
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    Clippering your dog's coat will make your dog look and feel better. It will also make your dog easier to bathe and comb. It will remove much of the dead hair and make your dog shinier.
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    Toenails are an important part of good health. Keep your dog’s nails short. Long toenails make it difficult for a dog to walk properly. Long nails are more likely to get caught in a fence and be broken off or split, causing your dog discomfort. Bath time is a good time to clip the nails. The warm water makes the nails softer and easier to clip.
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    Examine your dog's teeth. Make sure nothing is stuck between the teeth. Poor dental health can create problems with the entire body. Regular brushing and cleaning will help keep his teeth and gums in good health. If the gums appear red and inflamed and the teeth have a lot of plaque, have his teeth cleaned by the vet. Some foods have a substance in the food to help keep the teeth clean. Bad breath can be an indication of dental problems.
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    Spay or neuter your dog. This is good for society and good for your dog. It will prevent many diseases associated with reproductive organs.
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    Lastly, make sure your dog is free of parasites and protected from disease. Annual vaccinations and monthly heartworm preventative is mandatory. Schedule an annual appointment with your vet for a regular checkup.

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