Addison’s Disease

A disorder caused by a deficiency in adrenocortical hormones. It occurs in all three poodle sizes but is most commonly seen in Standard females, 4 to 7 years of age. Symptoms include lethargy, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, eating poorly, anorexia and general physical deterioration. Symptoms will worsen under stress.

Left untreated, Addison’s Disease is deadly. But once diagnosed the dog can be treated with daily or monthly medication to replace the hormones that the adrenal glands can’t produce. A poodle that continues to take these hormones can live a long life, though he’ll always be extra sensitive to stress.

Auto immune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA)

A blood disease in which the body’s own immune system destroys red blood cells. This destruction happens when antibodies stick to the red blood cells and the immune system attacks those antibodies.

AIHA is a life-threatening disease, because without red blood cells, tissues aren’t able to receive necessary oxygen. It may be triggered by toxins, cancers, drugs, a blood parasite, virus or even vaccinations, but exactly why it happens is not understood.

Symptoms of AIHA include weakness, lethargy, pale gums, unusually dark urine, and yellow-tinged whites of the eye.

Cushing’s Disease

Cushing’s Disease (canine hyperadrenocorticism) is a syndrome in which the body is producing too much cortisone. The cause is most often a small tumor in the pituitary gland, located in the brain. The symptoms of Cushing’s Disease include: excessive consumption of water, increases frequency of urination, a ravenous appetite, hair loss, haircoat changes, and lethargy. Cushing’s Disease typically affects middle-age to older dogs. There are several treatment options available.

Hip Dysplasia

A condition in which the head of the femur fits improperly into the hip joint socket, causing pain and lameness. Pain killers and/or surgery are the usual treatments. Being a large dog, the Standard Poodle is more likely to suffer from Hip Dysplasia, though it can affect Miniatures and Toys.

Symptoms include decreased activity, stiffness, lameness, a swaggering gait, muscle wasting in thighs, unwillingness to jump or stand on the hind legs and soreness after lying down. It is important to keep your poodles weight to a healthy low level to help alleviate pressure on the hips.

Hypothyroidism

Low thyroid function is the most common endocrine problem in dogs. Auto immune thyroiditis, in which the thyroid is destroyed by the body’s immune system, is genetic and is seen in all three varieties of poodles.

It can lead to weight gain (without an increase in eating), a coarse, brittle coat that falls out, thickening and discoloration of the skin, lethargy, obesity, mental slowness and irregular heart rhythm.

Hypothyroidism is fairly easily treated with medication that supplies the hormone that the body cannot make. The medication is given twice daily for the rest of the dogs life.

Idiopathic Epilepsy

A neurological disorder marked by recurring seizures, abnormal discharges of electrical impulses by nerve cells in the brain. As in humans, it is controlled with drugs. Since these drugs can have long-term side affects, your veterinarian may first monitor your poodle to make sure the seizures are regular and severe enough to warrant treatment.

If your poodle has a seizure that lasts longer than 5 to 10 minutes, or has 3 or more seizures in a single day, seek veterinary help immediately.

Juvenile Renal Disease (JRD)

Chronic kidney failure is typically a disease of older dogs – their kidneys simply wear out. But dogs with JRD lose kidney function very early, often when they are less than a year old. JRD is an inherited condition seen in Standard Poodles.

Signs of Juvenile Renal Disease include increased thirst, urination, leaking urine and weight loss. Because of increased urination, puppies with JRD are hard to house train.

There is no cure – the kidneys will inevitably fail. But the earlier is caught, the more there is that can be done to slow the decline.

Legg-Calve-Perthes (LCP)

A painful hip disease in which the cap of the femur bone in the hip suffers a loss of blood supply. This leads to deterioration of the femoral head and eventually it no longer fits properly in the socket. This is painful and the dog becomes lame on that leg.

Dogs start showing early symptoms of LCP – limping, favoring one leg, or walking with a strange gait – when they are under a year old. Anti-inflammatory drugs and/or surgery are the usual treatments.

Patella Sub-luxation

Slipped kneecap, a condition in which the patella (located at the joint of the hind leg) slides in and out of the groove where it is normally held in place by ligaments. It can occur in one or both knees and can show up in Toy and Miniature puppies as young as 8 weeks, though the problem can occur later in life.

A poodle with luxating patella will stand funny appearing bow-legged. He may cry out because of the pain and straighten his leg in an effort to put it back in place or he may hold it up. He may walk with a hitch in his gait. Depending on the severity of the luxation and the age of the dog, surgery may be required.

Sebaceous Adenitis (SA)

A chronic skin disorder that affects all three sizes of Poodles-most common in the Standard Poodle, resulting in abnormal, inflamed, or absence of, sebaceous glands. Symptoms may include excessive dandruff, scaling, darkened skin, thickened skin, a silvery scaling of the skin, a musty, unpleasant odor, and hair loss.

SA can show up when the poodle as young as 18 months or as old as 9 years. Diagnosing SA is done with a skin biopsy. Statistic show that as many as 50 percent of all Standard Poodles are carriers or affected. There is no cure. Therapeutic baths and antibiotics for secondary skin infections are the recommended treatments.

Von Willebrand’s Disease (vWD)

A disorder that involves a tendency to bleed easily, is caused by a deficiency in the von Willebrand factor, a protein found in the blood plasma. You should suspect vWD if your dog has excessive and prolonged bleeding after injury or surgery, has visible blood in his urine or is bleeding from the nose or gums.

Often a poodle with vWD has only mild symptoms and can lead very normal lives. You’ll have to be especially careful your poodle doesn’t get injured. Take care when trimming your poodles toenails and inform your groomer about the condition. Poodle-proofing your house by padding any sharp corners and any other hazards can help prevent injury.

See also: Genetic Eye Diseases of the Poodle

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• Genetic Eye Diseases
• Indoor Confinement Area
• Set Rules for your Poodle
• Crate Training Your Poodle

Because your long-term confinement area is sparsely furnished by necessity, it may be boring to your poodle. Provide him with at least one treat stuffed Kong toy and plenty of other safe chew toys so when he is awake he has something to do. Rotate the toys to keep things interesting.

Create An Indoor Potty Spot

For a Toy Poodle, you can consider using a litter box designed for dogs, or special pee pads. Some dog experts recommend that the indoor potty area should mimic what you want him to use outside. If he will be going on grass outside use a patch of sod.

When you return home, take your poodle outside and reward him when he goes. If your puppy has used his indoor potty area, clean it up, but don’t worry about trying to eliminate the urine odor. You want him to be attracted to that area.

Try to monitor how much he eliminates while you’re gone. You should find less and less mess as your poodle gets bigger and begins to understand that eliminating outside earns him rewards.

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No matter what the behavior problem is; the basis of problem solving are the same.

1. Determine the underlying cause or motivation for the behavior.
2. Take away the rewarding aspect of the behavior.
3. Replace the bad behavior with a desirable behavior you can reward.

REMEMBER: while many behavior problems and the basis for solving those problems may be the same…Every dog – every situation – every solution is NOT the same.

A well-thought-out plan is key to long-term success in solving a behavior issue.

Set Rules For Your Poodle

The rules you set for your poodle are entirely up to you and should be based on your lifestyle, personality, personal preferences, and your dog. It doesn’t matter what kind of structure there is to the family rules, as long as there is a definite structure that the dog can recognize and understand.

Enforce The Rules

The moment you catch your poodle in the act of breaking a rule interrupt the bad behavior. Most poodles respond well to "No" or "Stop" in a deeper (not louder) than normal tone of voice. Dogs are verbal animals and are very aware of different voice tones, it is not necessary to yell.

Poodles tend to be so sensitive that yelling at them or any type of physical punishment might make them fearful and lead to more behavior problems.

Redirect Improper Behavior

Dogs repeat activities that are rewarding to them. By recognizing what your poodle sees as a reward, and removing the opportunity for him to be rewarded for problem behavior, you’ll be on your way to ending those behaviors.

Instead of punishing your poodle for breaking a rule, redirect him to a desirable behavior, and then reinforce that behavior with a treat, he’s apt to repeat the good behavior. This is much more effective than punishment.

Reward Good Behavior

Dogs and people alike, learn more from our successes than we do from our mistakes, and we are more likely to repeat our successes. Every interaction with your poodle -taking her out to potty, grooming or playing a game- is an opportunity for her to learn and be rewarded for good behavior.

Anything your poodle likes can be used to emphasize good behavior: treats, toys, verbal praise and petting.

Prevent Problem Behavior

Sometimes the best solution is to prevent the problem from happening. If you eliminate opportunities for misbehavior, you set your poodle up for success. If you don’t want a puppy to chew up your shoes, keep your shoes out of reach and him give something appropriate to chew on.

Be Consistent

Don’t allow your poodle puppy to do anything now that you don’t want him to as an adult. Often, we allow our dogs to get away with behaviors that at first seem cute, then a minor irritation, and later, a PROBLEM.

A dog that is allowed to get away with bad behavior one time and at other times is yelled at for the same behaviors, lives in an uncertain world. This leads to insecurity and the dog may stop trying to communicate with the owner because he can’t make sense out of the owners unpredictable behavior.

Symptom Of A More Serious Problem

Sometimes a behavior problem is a symptom of a more complex problem like separation anxiety. Dogs with separation anxiety have a dramatic stress response and exhibit behavior problems when they are left alone.

When In Doubt, Seek Help

If you are experiencing serious problems with your poodle or are a first time dog owner and are not sure you can handle the problem you may need to seek help from an expert. Your veterinarian may be able to help or recommend someone who can.

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Providing your poodle with an indoor crate can satisfy a dog’s need for a den-like enclosure. Dogs like a place they can curl up in and feel secure. Most dogs who have been introduced to a crate while they are young, grow up to prefer their crate for sleeping or relaxing in.

Crates can help reduce separation anxiety, prevent destructive behavior, such as chewing, and keep your puppy away from dangerous household items like electrical wires. You can leave your puppy home alone with peace of mind. He is comfortable and not forming bad habits.

Getting Your Poodle Used To The Crate

• From the first day home your poodles new life with you should include her crate. But if your poodle isn’t thrilled with the crate you can take some steps to make her more comfortable with it.
• Leave the crate door open when she isn’t in it. Every so often toss a treat inside, so that when she walks by she’ll smell the treat, go in and get rewarded. If that’s not enough to make her feel better about the crate, feed her in the crate to change her associations with it.
• Provide safe toys and occasional treats while your puppy is confined in the crate. Your puppy should have a wide variety of toys for chewing, distraction, and comfort.
• Put the crate in a place where you spend most of your time. This will encourage your puppy to go inside the crate without feeling lonely.

If your poodle whines and cries in the crate, ignore her objections. Don’t yell at her or whack the top of the crate! You should not let her out of the crate while she’s complaining. any of these reactions will promote future complaining. Only let your poodle out of the crate when she’s being quiet.

Using The Crate

When you are gone, or when you are busy and cannot watch your puppy, you should keep him confined to his crate. Be sure your puppy has eliminated before placing him in his crate, and take him to his designated area as soon as you take him out of his crate.

Be sure to give him something to do when he’s in the crate. Give your pup a kong toy stuffed with his food or peanut butter, he’ll spend a happy hour or so cleaning it out and then will settle in for a nap. If your poodle has a favorite toy he likes to sleep with, put it in there with him.

Bedtime Crating

Until your poodle is house trained, keep him in his crate in your bedroom, while you sleep. Ignore any protestations on his part. Be sure to take him out to potty right before bed and take him out again the instant you get up in the morning.

If your puppy cries at night and you think he needs to go out, respond quickly. Carry him outside to potty, praise him after he goes and bring him right back to his crate.

Nighttime breaks should be about going to the bathroom and nothing else. If he cries after you’ve just taken him out and you’re sure that’s not the reason for his crying, ignore him. He will settle back down.

How Long Is Too Long?

Don’t crate a very young puppy for more than a couple of hours. A rule of thumb is that a dog can be crated for one hour per month of age.

Between 7 and 16 weeks of age is when a puppy learns to eliminate outside his sleeping area. It’s imperative not to leave your pup in the crate so long, she’s forced to soil it. Being confined with their waste products retards the housebreaking process. That’s why puppies who have been purchased from a pet store, or were kept solely in small cages may be harder to crate train. In some cases, this problem will continue throughout the dog’s life.

If your puppy does have an accident in his crate, do not punish him. Wash it out with a pet odor neutralizer.

If you must leave your poodle for more than a few hours, you’ll need to put him in a long-term confinement area, rather than a crate.

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If you missed the previous post, you may want to read about the causes and symptoms of canine separation anxiety before continuing.

Here are some general tips for helping a dog with Canine Separation Anxiety:

Adopt a low-key approach to leaving the house

Emotional good-byes will only cause your dog to be more anxious when you leave. Ignore your dog for a few minutes before you leave and a few minutes on your return.

If there is a whirlwind of activity that takes place prior to everyone leaving the house all at the same time, put the dog away in it’s own special place half an hour or so before everyone leaves, otherwise the dog is left in a state of high tension when everyone is gone and he is alone.

Never Punish Your Dog Or Shout At It When You Return Home

No matter what damage you may find. Always remember punishing a dog with separation anxiety can make the problem escalate. All separation anxiety problems are stress reactions. If the dog is torn between his desperate desire to see you and the knowledge that you will scream and possibly hit him on your return, his stress will only be that much worse.

Prevent destructive behavior

Prevent destructive behavior by keeping your dog confined in a crate or other small area when you are gone. Provide stimulating toys, like nyla-bones or toys you can fill with treats.

Try playing the radio

or leaving the television on when you are gone. Experiment whether your dog reacts better to a tuned station or to “white noise”, the rushing sound in between stations. Some dogs find this soothing.

Aromatherapy

A calming scent like lavender helps some dogs. The Comfort Zone DAP for Dogs Diffuser is said to reduce or completely stop stress-related behavior including: barking, whimpering and whining, chewing, urination and defecation. Also reduces or eliminates separation anxiety.

Do not reward bad behavior

Do not reward barking, whining, jumping, pawing, or frantic behavior with any affection or attention, not even eye contact. Reward calm, quiet, and non-dependent behavior with calm praise and attention. Save your affection for when the dog is behaving.

No Pampering

Don’t spend all day pampering and petting your dog. Practice having the dog spend short periods of time alone on a consistent basis. Shut room doors behind you when you are moving around the house. Leave the dog in one room while you are in another for a few minutes.

For over attachment problems in particular

It is important not to let your dog sleep with you. You can keep the dog in the bedroom with you, but confine it to a crate or it’s own bed.

Other Helpful Tips

Spend quality, one-on-one time every day with your dog. Five to twenty minutes a day can help your dog feel more secure. This quality time should consist of fun interactive play and exercise. Poodles need plenty of exercise and stimulation.

A dog who is able to look out the window when you are gone may become more stressed by seeing other dogs and people, and is likely to look for you the whole time. It is much better for his long term health to relax and go to sleep in a quiet room.

If you are gone every day for long periods of time, consider hiring a dog sitter. You can try to find someone who loves dogs that will give your dog some company for a couple hours a day.

An other alternative, is to hire a dog walker who can come and take your dog out for a little while during the day.

Contact your veterinarian to help determine if your dog has separation anxiety and what treatments are available. There are many books such as; The Canine Separation Anxiety Workbook that can help you deal with, and understand your dogs Separation Anxiety.

Don’t Give Up! Remember dogs are the most loyal companions and they seem to live their lives trying to make us happy.

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Depending on the age and size of the puppy, you’ll probably feed him three times a day, or perhaps four if he’s very young. After 5 months of age, two meals a day are usually appropriate.

Offer your puppy water three to five times a day. Puppies need about one cup if water for every eight pounds of body weight per day. If the weather is hot, allow him free access to water and take him out accordingly.

• At feeding time; leave food and water down for 20 minutes. Your pup will soon learn to eat when fed. The exception to this is if the puppy is tiny and under 5 pounds. Very small puppies may need food available to them at all times. Ask your veterinarian what he or she recommends.
• Do not add yummy extras to the food, if the puppy doesn’t eat. This is the road to picky eating and may upset his stomach. The occasional skipped meal, as long as the puppy is energetic, drinking normally and has normal stools, is usually nothing to worry about.
• Changing foods suddenly can upset his stomach and cause diarrhea. Find one food, preferably dry and stick to it. If you must change foods, do so over the period of a few days, adding in a bit of the new food every day.
• Some puppies always eat well, some never do, and some eat ravenously every few days, picking at their food in between. Unless your pup is losing weight and vet is concerned, don’t worry about it. All these patterns are normal.
• If your puppy is defecating five or more times a day and/or has soft stools, take a stool sample to your vet to be checked for worms.
• If your puppy consistently drinks large amounts of water or is urinating frequently (more than 10 or more times a day) or urinating tiny amounts all over the place, talk to your vet.

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General Housebreaking Rules

You will have to monitor your puppy at all times. Generally a new puppy will have to go to the bathroom every one to two hours. The younger the puppy is and the smaller the breed, the more often they will have to go. So be sure to give your poodle the chance to eliminate outdoors at least this frequency, no matter how inconvenient. Never rub his nose in it, yell, spank or swat him. He is a baby.

Prevention and Routine

The are certain times when your puppy will usually always have to go; when he first wakes up, a half hour after eating and drinking, after a play session and before bedtime. These potty preferences are individual. You will need to observe your poodle and figure out his unique schedule.

Monitor Your Puppy At All Times

Out of site is into trouble. If your pup likes to run out of site, keep a lead on him in the house. If your poodle makes a mistake in the house it’s really your mistake. You shouldn’t give your pup an opportunity to go in the house. Always watch him carefully so if he does start to go, you can scoop him up and take him to the spot where you want him to eliminate.

Give Your Pup A Safe Area

Your puppy will need a safe area he can rest and relax in when you are not home or cannot watch him. A crate, x-pen or other small confined area. Be sure to leave some toys so he doesn’t get bored when he’s alone and isn’t tired.

Feeding & Watering Schedule

What goes in on a schedule will come out on a schedule. Feed your puppy a healthy diet – in the same place and at the same times each day. During the training period, do not let your puppy have access to water at all times. Put out water when you feed him and offer him some several times a day before you take him to his potty area. Also, limit treats during the training period.

Designate A Potty Spot

Take your puppy to the same spot each time. This will stimulate him to go more quickly and will help him learn exactly why he’s there. Never send your puppy outside unsupervised to go potty. Stay with him and make sure he goes.

Use A Potty Command

Train your puppy to go to the bathroom on command by using on special phrase such as Go Potty! This way your puppy will learn it must stop fooling around and do it’s business. In the future, particularly when you are in a hurry or traveling, you’ll be glad to have a cue so that your poodle understands when it’s an appropriate time and place to go.

Praise Your Puppy

Just as your puppy finishes eliminating, in a quiet voice tell him what a good doggie he is. Dogs repeat activities that are rewarding to them, so let your puppy know when he has pleased you.

When Accidents Happen

Don’t get upset and don’t punish the puppy, it can set back the housebreaking process drastically, especially if your puppy is shy or nervous. It is important for the puppy to learn that the act of relieving itself is not wrong, it is the act of relieving itself in the house that is wrong. Make sure to clean the area with a pet odor neutralizer. NEVER use a product with ammonia in it. Ammonia is in urine and the smell will be an invitation to go there again.

Caught in the Act

If you catch your poodle making a mistake, make a startling sound by clapping your hands. This will often stop him mid pee. The scoop him up and take him to the right spot. When he finishes what he started, praise him.

Don’t Expect Too Much Too Soon

Please, don’t expect your puppy to be completely housebroken until six months of age. Even at 4 months old, puppies have little bladder or bowel control.

Housebreaking An Older Dog

The same methods for housebreaking a puppy can be used for an older dog as well. Establish your dog’s sleeping, eating, and elimination area. Spend as much time with your dog as possible and be patient. Give yourself and your new adult dog time to get to know each other.

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As a potential poodle owner, you must consider two very important facts about owning a poodle before bringing one into your home.

1. Human Companionship is Required
   Your poodle wants to be with you – included in all family activities and treated with the same kindness and respect as any other family member. Treat your poodle right and you’ll have an adoring, intelligent and stable companion for many years to come.
2. Frequent Grooming is Essential
   Most allergy sufferers can live with a poodle because of their virtually non-shedding coat. This comes with a price – a constant cycle of brushing, combing, clipping and trimming. The poodle is one of the most expensive breeds to maintain. Good grooming will not only keep your poodle looking good, she will be healthier.

Before getting a poodle, ask yourself some important questions:

• Are you willing to make your poodle a member of the family and take her needs and desires into consideration when making family decisions?
• Are you able to devote the time necessary to raise your poodle puppy and meet your adult dog’s exercise and grooming needs?
• Can you keep a fairly consistent schedule so your poodle knows when to expect her walks, meals and playtime?
• Can you afford the professional grooming -or- Will you learn how to groom your poodle? Even if you take your dog to a professional groomer, are you able to spend 2 to 5 hours home grooming each week?
• Are you able to provide the veterinary care your poodle requires?
• Are you committed to caring for a poodle her entire life which could be 15 years or more?

If you are hesitant about making any of these commitments, you shouldn’t get a poodle. You don’t want to end up in a situation where neither you or the dog is happy.

Where To Look For Your Poodle

You’re ready to make the commitment and start looking for your poodle. You’ll need to decide on size, color, gender, and whether you want an adult or a puppy.

To locate a RESCUE or BREEDER REFERRAL person in your area, visit The Poodle Club of America website. Click on your state on the map at the bottom to the page. A list of affiliate clubs with names and phone numbers of their RESCUE and BREEDER REFERRAL persons will appear.

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Puppies and some dogs experience a high level of stress when left alone. For a dog, it is not the natural order of things to be split up from his family. His natural instincts do not prepare him for such a situation. Most puppies learn you will return and that nothing bad happens when they are left alone. They learn to entertain themselves and gain confidence in their ability to be alone.

Some dogs do not gain confidence in their selves for various reasons.

Factors at the root of this disorder include species specific predispositions, genetics, early learning and owner behavior. Second hand dogs, dogs adopted from animal shelters, and rescued strays are prone to develop separation anxiety. Dogs that are intelligent and have a high energy level can also develop separation anxiety.

You can see why some poodles are bound to suffer from Canine Separation Anxiety.

1. Poodles require human companionship, they do not do well left alone for long periods of time everyday.
2. There are very intelligent and need to be mentally stimulated.
3. High energy, the bigger the poodle the more exercise is required.

Common Causes Of Separation Anxiety

• Fear of abandonment caused by prior re-homing.
• Some dogs have been left alone too long when they were a puppy and are traumatized by it.
• Some dogs are neglected or abused and develop low self esteem. These dogs are usually bounced from home to home and then end up in animal shelters.
• A dog with a strong guarding instinct toward their owner can get very stressed because if they are left behind, how can they protect their owner.
• Dogs who are overly attached to their owner and who are rarely left alone can literally go to pieces when the person who is the center of their universe leaves them behind.
• Changes in ones daily routine or work schedule, from where the dog spends most of the day with it’s owner to where the dog spends most of the day alone.
• Moving to a new home or other major change in the dogs environment.
• Some dogs can be traumatized by an event unknown to their owner.

Symptoms Of Separation Anxiety

• Barking, whining, screeching, or howling – this is a way of calling for the dogs owner to return or so the sound of their own voice fill the silence that surrounds them.
• Destructive chewing of household items relieving the loneliness or boredom.
• Digging at and scratching doors, rugs, or furniture – the dog is frantically trying to escape and find it’s owner.
• Acute alertness to owner’s every move and obsessively following owner from room to room, typical behavior of over attachment.
• Trembling, panting or drooling when left alone is a reaction to fear.
• Self-mutilation, caused by excessive chewing or licking – this behavior is usually from over attachment to the owner. Use a surgical collar or medication from your veterinarian to stop the dog from doing damage to itself.
• Urinating and defecating in the house, diarrhea
• Any other obvious signs if distress when left alone

Next post: Treating Separation Anxiety

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• In hives, small bumps occur within the skin. The hair will often stand up over these swellings. Sometimes, they itch.
• In angioedema, you will see swelling of the face, especially the muzzle and around the eyes. Sometimes, the swelling is so severe, the dog cannot open his eyes.

Most often, these types of allergic reactions are not life-threatening and will go away by themselves. Rarely, the swelling in angioedema can affect the throat and make breathing difficult. Antihistamines are generally the best treatment for angioedema and hives. If severe, steroids are sometimes given.

If your dog has hives or a swollen face, contact your veterinarian right away. A more severe allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, is life-threatening, and requires immediate veterinary attention.

Allergic Reaction to a Vaccine

If your poodle has ever had a reaction to a vaccine your veterinarian will probably administer an antihistamine prior to future vaccinations and have your dog remain in the office after the vaccination, in cause your pet has a reaction. In some cases, certain vaccines may be excluded from your dog’s vaccination regimen, or a different type of vaccine will be used.

If a dog has already had an allergic reaction to a vaccine or medication, be sure your current veterinarian knows and the information is placed in your dog’s medical record.

Allergic Reaction to a Insect Bite

If your dog has developed hives or a swollen face from an insect bite, you may want to discuss various options with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may give you a prescription for an ‘epi-pen.’ An ‘epi-pen’ is a special syringe and needle filled with a single dose of epinephrine.

If your pet has an anaphylactic reaction or severe angioedema, inject the epinephrine using the ‘epi-pen’ and seek emergency veterinary assistance immediately. Be sure to take the ‘epi-pen’ with you on any trips or hikes.

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