What kind of exercise is best? 

Free play is the best play for your puppy. Exploring the garden, and pottering around, until tired and flops down. Listen to him at this point, he will tell you when he is tired, and always be there to supervise him.

• Do allow your puppy free exercise in a secure area preferably on grass every day. Although giant breed puppies have fragile bones and joints they do require some exercise to build up muscle tone and stamina.  A supervised run around on the lawn with you keeping an eye on them is important.

• Do take your puppy out to meet people and other dogs once  fully vaccinated. Socialising your puppy is very important and any dog needs to get used to new places and experiences such as going in the car to visit friends and family or going to the park to meet other dogs, and puppy class.

If lameness occurs you will need to assess it. Firstly check paws and nails, and if the limp is weight bearing with no obvious injury, exposed bone or bleeding, apply heat or cold accordingly and "Box Rest."  If no improvement after 12 to 24hrs, or sooner if your hound is in obvious pain or discomfort, seek veterinary help immediately.  If you are in any doubt then I suggest you seek veterinary help.

If your dog is unable to get up or walk, and or appears in great discomfort or cannot bear any weight at all on the limb, then your hound requires emergency attention.

“Box Rest”, is my mantra, and it is what I will always say to you when you tell me your puppy or adult hound is limping. 

If you are a horsey person you will know what is meant by this term. The minute a horse is lame, they are stabled on "Box Rest" until sound (not limping), with controlled movement, and gentle short walks if possible. Box rest can be anything from a few days, to weeks and sometimes months, depending on the cause and condition. 

This same approach must be adopted immediately your Wolfhound starts to limp. Box rest, becomes crate rest, or a space where movement is limited, but hound is comfortable.  No jumping on and off sofas, or into cars (apart from a trip to the vets), no jumping up, no running around the garden or going on walks. 

Box rest, meaning that you never exercise a limping dog.  Lame dogs must be allowed to rest completely for a few days to several weeks. When the lameness subsides, continue rest and restrict for another 24-48 hours.   Reintroduce moderate exercise such as controlled walks.
 If your vet prescribes an anti-inflamatory, firstly use the exact dose you have been instructed to and secondly your hound remains on Box Rest!  Exercising when taking an anti-inflamatory or pain killer, can worsen the condition when the medication wears off. 
 
If your hound for whatever reason is prescribed an anti-flamatory  (Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) ie Rimadyl, Metacam, Deramaxx  or Previcox), on a long term basis, speak with your vet about using it in conjunction with a gastro-protector, such as Omeprazole (Prilosec®, Gastrogard®). 

In the last few years we have heard of several hounds dying from peritonitis following the development of a duodenal ulcer and perforation.

Sadly this was confirmed by Notts Uni., and they were sure that NSAID's were the cause. This condition is very difficult to pick up on even for the most experienced. 

Use NSAID's, as per instructions, use with care, and give with food, and a gastro-protector if you are looking at long term use.  This is another very good reason to "Box Rest" to avoid over use of the anti-inflamatory medication, to promote healing by resting. 

An umbilical  hernia is when the muscle wall of abdomen doesn't close, and a small bubble like protrusion under the skin can be can be seen and felt,  as a soft lump on the tummy.  Some may extend into the diaphragm.  

Some soft hernias will just seal off as puppy grows, and again we take all hernias under advisement from our vet, and a record is made on the vaccination card.  If the vet perceives that no further attention is required then we leave the hernia, however if our vet says an operation will be required, our vet  undertakes this procedure before a puppy leaves for their new home, and the all clear is given by our vet.   

Most umbilical hernias in dogs are inherited, although trauma at birth can also be the cause.  I always know if I'm going to end up with a hernia pup through trauma, and despite being mindful of this when whelping, other issues can take priority at the time.  Hernias which extend into the diaphragm are more serious and without doubt inherited.  

However I am also of the opinion that Irish Wolfhounds have  more detrimental inherited health issues to be concerned about than umbilical hernias, but if we ever had a very high percentage of hernias from a litter, I would take precautionary steps not to repeat it. 

We have a very strict worming protocol and only use Panacur 10%. It is one the most effective wormers for a variety of worms including Giardia. Your puppy will have been wormed with Panacur 10% from being ten to 14 days old, and will have been wormed at least three times before they leave for their new homes. 

Panacur 10% is a liquid, so we draw up the recommended dose for the size on the dog in a syringe (no needle attached),  holding the hounds mouth slightly open we gently syringe the liquid as far to the back of the mouth as we can, then hold the mouth closed.  Alternatively you can add the dose to food and stir in.  If you are administering pills, we first coat ours in coconut oil, and with one hand hold mouth open, drop coated pill into the  mouth,  as far back as you can,  push down with fingers,  at the back of the tongue,  tilt head back and hold mouth closed - rub throat - also rubbing the nose can help if they are breathing  excessively through their nose so as not to swallow.  Always keep an eye out for pill being spat out!   

 We would suggest you worm every 3 months.   

There are four different types of worms: tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, lungworms. Your dog will display different symptoms depending on what type of worm infection he has, so it’s important to recognise the signs. 

Tapeworms

Tapeworms look like flat ribbons and are made up of small segments. These segments can break off and be passed in your pet’s faeces. If you suspect your dog may be suffering from tapeworm, look closely at his faeces as these small segments can be visible (they could look like grains of white rice).

Signs your dog may have tapeworms include:

• Gradual weight loss
• Itchy bottom
• Diarrhoea
• Dull coat
• Extra licking of anal area 

Roundworms

Roundworms are more worm-like in appearance than some of the other types of worms which can infect your dog. They may look like a piece of cooked spaghetti and can grow up to several inches long. Roundworms can be passed between dogs. It is quite common for dogs to be born with worms as they contract them from their mothers.

Signs your dog may have roundworms include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• A ‘pot belly’
• Loss of appetite
• Tiredness 

Hookworms

Hookworms are similar in appearance to roundworms, but have teeth at one end. This allows them to ‘hook’ onto your dog’s intestine. Hookworms are parasites which survive by sucking blood from your pet, which could put your dog at risk of anaemia.

Signs your dog may have hookworms include:

• Constipation
• Dry cough
• Dull coat
• Weight loss
• Stomach ache 

Lungworms

Although not as widespread, lungworms can also affect dogs and are emerging as a more common problem in many dogs, particularly in the UK. If you suspect your dog is suffering any type of worm infection it is important to treat him immediately. Dogs should ideally be wormed every three months.

When using Panacur 10%:- 

Increased dosing for specific infections:
For the treatment of clinical worm infestations in adult dogs and cats or Giardia spp. infections in dogs, administer 1ml per 2kg bodyweight daily for 3 consecutive days.

(= 50mg fenbendazole/kg bodyweight daily for 3 days).

For the control of lungworm Oslerus (Filaroides) osleri in dogs administer 1ml per 2kg bodyweight daily for 7 consecutive days.

(= 50mg fenbendazole/kg bodyweight daily for 7 days).

A repeat course of treatment may be required in some cases.

Worms are also found in tissues and muscles and are notoriously  difficult to shift, hence when a bitch undergoes the lactogentic transmission stage, the eggs can migrate into the milk, and hence if not treated, you will have a very poorly and wormy puppy. 

We recommend delaying spaying or neutering your dog/bitch until sexual maturity, around 18-24 months. or until the growth plates have closed.

A male Wolfhound can be, shall we say, a bit more challenging when his testosterone kicks in, and this is one of the reasons we recommend individual families and first-time Wolfhound owners have a girl.

The worry, as always with the Wolfhounds, is the anaesthetic. Many vets and breeders alike still believe that early sterilisation affects growth. Some vets, however, will still perform the procedure very young.

.Suprelorin is a chemical castration for male dogs rendering them temporarily infertile. The implant lowers testosterone levels, reduces the size of the testes, decreases libido and decreases the sperm count. The implant takes about a year to wear off. It's steroid based - so your dog may urinate more at first, but this normalises after a few days. Suprelorin will work reasonably quickly, and like castration, it may change the energy/personality of your hound and may lead to weight gain.

With a male hound, you must focus on obedience training them right from the word go. Early training is advantageous. When puberty starts, your hound may appear to change with the increased testosterone levels, and obedience training at this stage will be very useful.

We use and recommend the implant instead of castration, but please don't go down this route of either form of castration until your hound has fully grown. We suggest at least over two; it will vary but never please younger than this.

Please discuss with your vet about Suprelorin as an alternative to surgical castration. It avoids the need for an anaesthetic.

As with the males, I prefer to leave the girls. Although there are female implants, I have never used them, but I know that other owners are pleased with the results, especially if a bitch is not healthy enough to have surgery. Spaying is sometimes necessary and is best carried out laparoscopically if possible, and this will benefit recovery.

The testicles start off in the abdomen just behind the kidneys, and during gestation and with the help of male hormones, they enter the inguinal (groin) region shortly after birth.   Normally the testicles drop into the scrotum anywhere between 10 and 40 days.  However, it is difficult to confirm this has happened as they are very small and soft.  Our Vet, at the 8-week health examination, checks if the testes are in place as a matter of course.   If they are not in place, our Vet makes a note of this on the vaccination card. This reminds us to keep checking and keeps our owners informed. It also acts as a reminder for your Vet to re-check. 

There is always a chance that between 2 and 6 months, the already descended testes may retract. This can be in response to a muscle ( cremaster muscle) contracting in response to cold, stress or fear.  

Between the abdomen and the scrotum, there is an area which closes off at around 6 months,  and when this happens, the testes will be blocked from dropping down.  In large breeds, it can take longer to close, and an undescended testicle may drop up to 12 months later.  

When one or both testes do not descend by 12 months, this is called an ectopic testis or cryptorchidism (meaning a hidden testicle).  It is more common for one testicle to be undescended than both.  This could be a genetic disorder, and performing this mating again isn't advisable. Please discuss the outcome with your vet, as it may or may not have health implications depending on the research of the day.

Pica is a term used for having an appetite for things that have no nutritional value, for example paper, stones, wood, clothes, pebbles, cables etc. Some of these items can be harmful, toxic and or cause obstructions, constipation or damage to the intestines. 

Certain breeds are more prone than others, but puppies of all breeds tend to experience  pica. There could be medical reasons and deficiencies in diet for pica, but generally it is a behavioural issue.

If you experience this with your puppy or dog the first route is to distract them. Lack of exercise, boredom, stress or anxiety may be contributing reasons. Please check with your vet to ensure there isn't a medical reason, but a bored Wolfhound who feels they aren't getting enough attention, enough toys or fun things to do, will devise a million and one ways of ensuring they do and pica is one of them. 

PS.  Dogs do eat grass and it is not necessarily a sign  that they are poorly, and they won't always sick it up, the undigested grass does pass through and can be seen in the poo!