Ask Beck the Vet: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How often should I worm my 8 week old puppy?

A: Your local vet can advise you on a suitable worming plan for your puppy but generally puppies should be wormed every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age, then monthly until 6months and adult dogs every 3 months. It is best to check with the breeder when and with what your puppy was wormed and then your vet can advise on a plan which integrates with that. If children are likely to come into contact with your dog this is even more important as dogs can carry Toxocara spp of worms which can cause blindness and fitting in a very small number of children. It is important to use a product supplied by your vet which is known to target this species.

Q: When is the best time to have my bitch speyed and is this necessary?

A: For the majority of bitches speying is the best option. It prevents womb infections (pyometra) which is where there is a build up of fluid and pus in the womb. This is a relatively common problem in entire bitches and can be fatal as the womb can burst. Speying also reduces the risk of mammary cancer and obviously unwanted pregnancy. Your vet will recommend the best time for her to have the op.

Q: I have heard that if I let my bitch have a litter it will make her calm down? Is this true??

A: This is an old wives tale I’m afraid. Breeding your bitch is not necessary though it can be fun!

Q: Can I brush my dogs teeth and if so how??

A: Yes you can and it’s a good idea to start when your dog is young but a lot of older dogs will enjoy it too. First I would recommend a consultation with your local vet to check if your dog has any problems- gum disease, sore teeth etc which you could inadvertently make worse by brushing. Then ask your vet or veterinary nurse to show you how

Q: Ive heard it’s OK to use baby shampoo on my dog- is this right?

A: Baby shampoo will not do your dog any harm however it if designed for fine hairless and normally cleanish babies- not dirty dogs so it doesn’t clean as well as dog shampoo.

Q: My dog is rubbing its bottom on the carpet. I have wormed him as I thought it might be worms but there is no improvement?

A: Dogs can have itchy bottoms for a number of reasons. It is possible that your dog has blocked anal glands. It is best to take your dog for a consultation with your local vet to get these checked and look for other possible reasons as to your dogs behaviour and itchy bottom.