Ask Your Veterinarian

What Dog Breed Matches Your Personality

Once you’ve finally decided to own a dog, picking the breed comes next. Just like humans, dogs have unique features, personalities and quirks, too. Wouldn’t it be great if you share the same soul with your fur baby? Establishing a relationship is not easy, which makes choosing what dog partner suits you best all the more important.

Below are various types of dog breeds and their characteristics.

Pekingese

These are the dogs you can count on. They might be aloof and self-possessed at first, but once you gain their respect, you’ll find that they are well-mannered and dependable. Strangers might say they are unsociable but this breed is devoted to a family. They are also capable and alert watchdogs, barking surprisingly loud for their size.

German Shepherd

They are fully devoted to their guardians, and they are also known for their fierce loyalty, obedience, vigilance and intelligence. Their instinct tells them to keep their family safe, thus they are overprotective and tend to be suspicious of strangers.

Australian Shepherd

This breed is highly intelligent and easy to train. These dogs are very helpful and are typically bred to herd sheep. They are energetic, loyal and friendly, especially with children. Australian Shepherd dogs may be protective of their families, but they are not aggressive to strangers.

Jack Russell Terrier

They are agile and curious, having an innate love for exploration and physical activities. Jack Russell Terriers can be domesticated, but they will always nourish their instinct for hunting.

Rhodesian Ridgeback

This breed has similar characteristics with hounds. Despite their active personality and adventurous soul, these dogs possess a gentle temperament, and bark rarely.

Shiba Inu

This fox-looking, Japanese dog breed is watchful and friendly. These dogs are also characterised as independent and easy to groom. They are a great companion, but sometimes they create a world of their own.

Tibetan Terrier

This breed may not be friendly to outsiders, but these dogs are very affectionate to their guardians. They are specifically bred to be a companion and friend, which is why they are adaptable to home lifestyle and will follow you around like a shadow.

Chow Chow

They are not usually sociable dogs, with their personalities being more closely associated with that of cats. They treat strangers with aloofness but they are intelligent and devoted to their pet parents. Training them needs tolerance and creativity. A veterinarian specialising in animal behaviour can help you treat them if they show unusual actions.

Beagle

Affection and attention are what beagles love the most, which is why they tend to go crazy when left alone. These cheerful and playful dogs surely cherish the company of people and are great with children.

Corgi

These short-legged dogs are described as the life of the party because of their camera-ready smiles. They are playful and outgoing, but they are also courageous, never fearing other animals.

Labrador Retriever

This breed is often characterized as adventurous and sporty. They love their playtime and will always be ready for your games and activities. Labrador retrievers are very energetic, which makes sense since they also love exercising and training.

French Bulldog

This is a small-sized dog that demands attention. Such breeds are ideal in a single-person household because they tend to compete with other people who get too close to their owners. They are also friendly, lovable and do not bark unless excited. Healthwise, French Bulldogs are more sensitive, which is why routine visits to the best vet SG is a must for them.

Siberian Husky

This breed is quite intelligent and possesses a love for the outdoors. Siberian Huskies can be domineering and stubborn, but they are very friendly toward people and other dogs.

Bichon Frise

A small dog with lots of love to give. These dogs are peaceful and gentle to everyone, and love to make people happy. They are also alert watchdogs, but they are not meant for fights.

Golden Retriever

A very versatile breed, Golden Retrievers can play along with children, strangers, and other people’s pets. They present intelligence, obedience and affection, making them one of the most in demand among all dog breeds.

Building a relationship with dogs takes time and effort. It will take creativity and patience to gain their trust and affection, but at the end of the day, a harmonious relationship with your dog is worth it. Regular visits with the best Vet in Singapore will also ensure that your pet stays happy and healthy for a long time.

7 Warning Signs That Your Dog Is in Pain

Dogs have a natural instinct to hide their pain, making it tricky for owners to find out if they are suffering. While our dogs can’t speak, there are signs that your pet might be feeling pain, unease or other symptoms that may require the immediate attention of only the best vet in SG. Here are 7 signs you should be wary of:

1. LIMPING
One of the most obvious signs that your dog is in pain is limping. This indicates that your pet might be suffering from an underlying illness, injury or trauma that calls for medical attention. The most common reasons for this mobility issue include sore or swollen paws, muscle sprain and joint disease (osteoarthritis).

2. Vocalization
As a pet owner, it’s important that you are familiar with your dog’s behavior, even its vocalization. The way your dog produces sound tells something about how it feels. Excessive barking, growling, whining and whimpering are warning signs that your pet may be crying out for help. Prolonged and abrupt silence may indicate pain as well.

3. Loss of appetite
Dogs are naturally food lovers. A noticeable decrease in eating habit indicates that your dog is physically unwell. A loss of appetite may be a symptom of a stomach disorder or an oral problem. If your dog experiences abdominal aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling or constipation, this can be a sign of a stomach problem.

4. Aggression
An abrupt change in the temperament of your dog is an indication that your dog is in pain, especially if your pet is normally friendly and easygoing. Internal pains can give dogs too much discomfort that they become sensitive and irritable when touched. This irritability, in turn, causes them to display violent behaviour.

5. Heavy panting
Panting is a dog’s reflex action after an exhausting activity or when it’s hot. However, excessive panting even in a relaxed state and within normal temperature is different. Possible implications can be overheating, major trauma or stress, or a chronic disease.

6. Shaking or trembling
Dogs shake and tremble due to a number of reasons, including old age, excitement, and even pain. Health-wise, shaking or trembling may be a manifestation of a serious ailment such as an injury, poisoning and kidney disease. Given that pain can be hard to recognize through these symptoms, it’s a good idea to see only an SG best vet to properly determine their cause.

7. Excessive grooming
Dogs licking themselves is normal, but if you notice that they are grooming and licking themselves too much, an underlying medical issue may the reason. This may include an infection, allergy and pain.

Pain relief for dogs depends on the cause of the pain. Generally, over-the-counter medicines are not safe for dogs, as they can cause side effects and complications if not used properly or not prescribed by the vet. A trip to the experts is ideal, as they are qualified to administer treatments such as laser therapy, acupuncture, massage and chiropractic, and surgery.

As a pet owner, the best course of action for you to take is to immediately have your dog seen by a vet immediately at the onset of worrying symptoms such as the ones mentioned above. As much as possible, avoid shrugging off these symptoms and taking matters into your own hands. Refrain from diagnosing or medicating your dog on your own, as this can lead to worse-case scenarios. Leave this to the professionals.

With the best Singapore vet on your side, you can be sure that your pet’s needs are quickly and effectively attended to especially if something bad happens to them.

Tips to Keep Your Pets Safe During the Summer Season

If you think you’re the only one who’ll be breaking a sweat this coming summer, think again. Like you, your pets are not immune to the dangers of summer heat. In fact, because your cats and dogs sweat in very few places, they are more at risk of heatstroke.

Heatstroke is a heat-related condition that occurs when your pet becomes overheated (above 40°C) and is unable to lower or regulate its body temperature. It is life-threatening, and can cause systemic inflammation and multiple organ failure. Depending on the severity of heatstroke, symptoms may include:

Elevated body temperature of more than 40°C or 104°F
Panting
Loud or labored breathing
Excessive drooling
Bright red tongue and gums
Anxiety, distress and restlessness
Delirium or disorientation
Excessive grooming in cats

In the most extreme of cases, heatstroke can cause seizures, coma and death.

While you cannot keep away the summer heat, there are some measures below that you can take to keep your pets safe from heat-related illnesses like dehydration and heatstroke.

Keep your pet out of the sun and in the shade as much as possible while outdoors.

Make sure that your pet has access to fresh water 24/7, whether indoors or outdoors, to avoid dehydration.

Apply sunscreen to your pets whenever you go out. Not may people are aware, but cats and dogs—especially those with short and thin hair—are vulnerable to sunburn and cancer. Consulting only the best vet in Singapore can help you find the right sunscreen for your pet.

Never ever leave your pet inside a hot car even for just a few minutes. This is because during sunny days, a car can heat up to over 100°F in under 10 minutes. In some countries, leaving your pet in a car unattended and under dangerous circumstances is considered a crime.

Keep you pet’s paw clean and clear of fur. For both cats and dogs, their paws serve as an outlet where they can sweat and cool down. Making sure that the paws are not obstructed prevents dehydration. If hot surfaces and asphalts are a problem, consider having your pets wear shoes.

Don’t shave your pet’s fur, which is designed to keep you pet cool during hot seasons and warm during cold ones. Trimming is alright, but if possible, you should leave the trimming to the professional groomers.

Heatstroke in pets is always a medical emergency that requires the immediate attention of a veterinarian. Simple first-aid remedies to normalize your pet’s body temperature also help to prevent the condition from getting worse. In the absence of a vet, or while en route to the clinic, you can do the following:

Immediately transfer your pet to a cooler area.
Spray cool or tepid water on your pet’s skin and fur, then fan the area to lower down body temperature. Don’t use ice or ice-cold water, though, as doing so can constrict blood flow and further trap heat inside the body.
Let your pet drink as much water as possible without forcing it to drink.

Once at the care of the vet, your vet can proceed to assess the severity of the heatstroke and administer the appropriate treatment. This may include putting your pet on an IV drip for hydration, applying supplemental oxygen, and prescribing medicines and other cooling treatments.

Appropriate and immediate medical treatment is crucial to preserve the health and life of your pet during a heatstroke, which is why you should only consult the best vet in SG. Advanced VetCare Veterinary Centre offers 24-hour critical care services 7 days a week for medical emergencies such as a heatstroke. For more information, you may reach the clinic at 6636-1788.