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Getting Settled at HomeThe first thing you will want to do is find a veterinarian in your area. Doing this research before you need care for your dog will help you to be prepared for routine wellness care as well as illnesses as they arise. I recommend that you connect with other graduates in your area and see who they use as it can be beneficial to have a veterinarian who is familiar with working dogs. If there are no other guide dog users in your community that you know of, you may want to consult the graduate list serve or talk to friends or neighbors for recommendations. It is important to find a compassionate veterinarian who is attentive, has an upstanding reputation for practicing progressive medicine and has a good rapport with you and your dog. Sometimes issues occur outside of your vet’s regular practice hours, so it will be important to locate the closest 24-hour emergency vet hospital and have their information on hand. Should an emergent situation arise, you will want to have easy access to their phone number and a plan for transportation sorted out ahead of time. It is appropriate to ask both your regular and emergency veterinarians if they offer discounts for working guide dogs. Discounts can vary greatly, but it is certainly worth the inquiry. I encourage you to spend the next few months becoming acquainted with and learning what is normal for your dog. This will help you to readily recognize anything abnormal if your dog shows signs of illness or injury. For example, we recommend that you regularly groom and massage your dog to feel for any lumps or bumps. You can place your hands on your dog’s chest and get a general idea of your dog’s normal rate of breathing and approximate heart rate at rest. This regular massage and interaction can also help you to detect changes in weight and adjust their feeding amount before it becomes problematic. Routine MaintenanceYour dog received an oral exam and potentially a dental cleaning if needed before you were paired with them. Moving forward, your regular veterinarian will assess your dog’s teeth during routine exams and may recommend an anesthetic dental cleaning based on the amount of dental disease observed. Dental disease is uncomfortable for dogs and procedures can be costly. To avoid this, we encourage you to brush your dog’s teeth every day with a toothpaste formulated for dogs. This simple activity will keep your dog’s teeth clean, minimize dental disease and helps to strengthen your bond with your dog. If you need tips on brushing beyond your instruction in class, please reach out to your instructors or the veterinary staff.Check your dog’s ears often to ensure they are properly maintained. Use a tissue to check for waxy debris by gently wiping the outer ear flap and canal. It is also important to make note of any odor. You may not need to routinely clean your dog’s ears if there is no buildup or offensive odor. If ear cleaning is indicated, please put a small amount of canine ear cleaner into the canal, massage the canal and then wipe out any excess. After swimming and bathing, it is helpful to use a cleaner with a drying agent as a moist ear canal can predispose your dog to infection. Please note that if your dog is scratching or shaking their head excessively you should see your veterinarian as an ear infection is likely and regular ear cleaning will not be enough to combat it. Your dog guide has a microchip roughly the size of a grain of rice under the skin between their shoulders. All dogs born after January of 2017 have a Home Again microchip that is readable internationally. Veterinary hospitals, shelters, and police departments are equipped with microchip scanners that read the unique number associated with each chip. Your dog’s microchip is registered in the Home Again database making this a permanent way to identify and link them back to you should you ever become separated. Guiding Eyes will be notified immediately if this occurs, and we will then reach out to you to reunite you with your dog. Because of this, it is vital that you always keep your contact information up to date in our system. You are welcome to use the paperwork in your to-go-home packet to add yourself as a secondary contact as well if you prefer.When choosing a dog food, stick with major brands such as Hill’s, Iams, Purina, Eukanuba, or Royal Canin. Most dogs have been eating Hill’s Science Diet dry food unless circumstance required an exception. If you choose to switch foods, it is important that you do so slowly over a few days as a quick change in diet can sometimes trigger GI upset. Use the small bag you are being sent home with and slowly mix the new food in. Each day you will add ? cup of the new food in and subtract out ? cup of the old food until the transition is complete. Some foods have a higher fat or calorie content, and a diet change can affect weight; Therefore, it will be important for you to weigh your dog after a month on the new food and adjust the amount you are feeding accordingly. If your dog has gained more than 2 lbs., decrease the amount fed by ? cup per day. On that topic, it is vital to understand that obesity is the #1 reason for early retirement and health problems for Guiding Eye’s dogs in the field. Your dog is finished growing and should stay within 3 pounds of the target weight that we have set for them. Please give no treats except for training purposes. You can take a small handful of your dog’s kibble out of the bowl in the morning before feeding and fill your treat pouch. Studies have shown that even being moderately overweight can decrease lifespan. Obese dogs also have an increased risk of developing cancer, diabetes, heart disease, early arthritis and degeneration of affected joints, anesthetic complications, and decreased heat and exercise tolerance.If you are struggling with your dog’s weight, please contact us for assistance. We may need to modify their diet and increase exercise. If there has been excessive weight gain over 8 lbs. a prescription weight reduction diet may be indicated. These diets are costly, so it is always better to avoid weight gain in the first place.While in class, you have been offering your dog 2 cups of water four times a day. At home, most dogs will do fine if you leave a full fresh bowl of water down for them for the day. Some dogs, however, are not able to self-regulate their water intake and may require the more structured schedule of drinking and eliminating remain in place. You may want to limit their water intake if you know you will be traveling to a small amount until you reach your destination. It is also important to remember that your dog will need to drink more in hot weather or after strenuous exercise. Examples of acceptable chew toys for your dog are synthetic Nylabones and hard rubber toys like Kongs. Do not give your dog rawhides, pig ears, cow hooves, stuffed toys, or bones from the butcher or the table. These can get stuck in their throats or stomachs and cause complications, the least of which are vomiting and diarrhea. There is also a risk of splintering and intestinal perforation. For dogs who play with rope toys and stuffed toys, we ask that you offer them only with supervision so that they are not ingested putting the dog at risk for intestinal mon Toxins in Your HomeOver the counter or prescription medicationsXylitol candies and gum Batteries?can be toxic to both dogs and cats, leading to ulcers in the mouth, esophagus and stomach.?Chocolate?can cause?seizures and death in dogs and cats. Darker chocolate, such as unsweetened baker’s chocolate, is more toxic than milk or white chocolate. Even cocoa bean mulch, when eaten in large quantities, can be a problem.?Rat/mouse poison Ethylene glycol?is found in?antifreeze, windshield de-icing agents and motor oils. Dogs and cats are attracted to its sweet taste, but as little as a tablespoon in dogs can cause kidney failure. Grapes,?raisins?and currants, even in small amounts, can cause kidney failure in dogs.?OnionsHousehold cleaners, such as bleach, drain cleaners, ammonia and toilet bowl cleaners, can cause gastrointestinal ulcers and other problems in dogs Visits to Your VetWellnessIt is very important that your dog have a timely annual exam with a veterinarian. This is a thorough exam where your vet will be able to evaluate your dog from nose to tail. You can ask them questions, and they should be able to discuss with you topics like diet and weight and if any changes are needed to maintain your dog’s health. They will also review vaccines, heartworm testing, and preventatives for your dog. I’ll be going into each of these in a little more detail now.Dogs graduating from Guiding Eyes are current on all their vaccines and will leave with a certificate that shows their vaccine history and when the next vaccines are due. We recommend vaccinating every three years for Rabies (unless local low dictates otherwise), and every three years for DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo, Parainfluenza). Vaccines that need to be given yearly to be effective include Lyme (spread by ticks), Leptospirosis (spread by consumption of affected water), and Bordetella (kennel cough). Depending on your lifestyle and the region you live in you may be offered other vaccines (such as canine influenza). It is fine to consider additional vaccines with your veterinarian based on your lifestyle. If you have any questions about vaccines, you can always reach out to us at the GEB veterinary hospital. The American Heartworm Society recommends testing for heartworm each year, and this blood test should be performed at your dog’s annual exam. Some vets may combine it with testing for tick borne diseases. Heartworm disease is spread by mosquitoes and can be fatal, but it is easily prevented by faithful administration of heartworm preventation given monthly, year-round. One of the reasons for this is that heartworm preventatives also protect against intestinal parasites such as whipworms, hookworms and roundworms which are also zoonotic (transmissible to people). The other concern is that mosquitoes can be seen year-round even in colder climates if there is just a warm day or two. It is essential that your dog be free of intestinal parasites for your dog’s health, your own health and for the protection of others as your dog works through public places.We are currently using a product called Sentinel for heartworm prevention, which also contains a component that protects against flea infestations. There are many different options for heartworm and intestinal parasite prevention at various price points. We ask that you discuss your needs with your veterinarian and decide which product will work best for you in the long term. The next thing I want to talk to you about is protection from fleas and ticks. Fleas and ticks are parasites that can infest your dog and spread disease to both them and your household if not properly managed. We recommend year-long administration of flea and tick products regardless of where you live due to fluctuations in temperature, possible exposure to other animals with fleas and potential travel to warmer climates. There are many options for flea and tick control, and again, you should decide what is best for you and your dog based on your particular circumstance. Vectra 3D is a monthly topical liquid that comes in an easy to open package with a unique rubber applicator tip that makes it easier for guide dog users to apply. If you are in a household with cats, it is important to keep your cat from grooming the dog and ingesting the liquid. We recommend applying the product at night and keeping the cats separate until the next morning when the Vectra has completely dried. Vectra repel fleas and ticks, so it may be a good option for you if you live in an area where ticks are of concern. We also carry Simparica which is an orally administered flea and tick preventative. It comes in a flavored tablet and is given once a month. It can be given at the same time as Sentinel. It kills fleas and ticks but does not repel them. This means you may find dead ticks on your dog, but they will not have been affixed to them long enough to spread disease.You will have the opportunity to order vet supplies in class at the time of your vet physical. We do not offer vet supplies through the mail. You will receive a complimentary 6-month supply of Sentinel before going home.IllnessIf your dog develops diarrhea, an attempt can be made to treat your dog at home if they are otherwise ok. If other symptoms such as fever or lethargy accompany the diarrhea, please seek out treatment from your vet. The first step to treating diarrhea at home is to skip your dog’s next meal. Next, feed small amounts (1/2 cup at a time) of a bland diet 4 to 5 times a day until the diarrhea resolves. Once your dog has had normal stool for 48 hours, their regular diet can be gradually mixed back in with the bland diet until a full transition back has been made. For a bland diet, you can purchase a small bag of prescription food from your vet or you can make a bland diet at home. To make a bland diet, cook white rice and boil boneless chicken breasts without the skin. Once cooked, drain all the water and fat away. Begin with small amounts of rice as tolerated, and then you can begin to add in the chicken. Beef is an acceptable alternative to chicken if your dog has a sensitivity. Please do not add anything else to this diet! Water can be given without restriction. If your dog’s diarrhea worsens or doesn’t improve within 2 days, see your local vet as there are causes of diarrhea that may require medication for resolution. A similar protocol should be followed for vomiting of short duration in an otherwise normal dog. In this case, water should not be freely offered right away. After the vomiting has ceased for at least three hours, begin by offering small amounts of water (1/2 cup at a time) every two hours. If there is no additional vomiting after 6 hours, you may begin with the bland diet as discussed above. Cause for concern would be vomiting or having diarrhea repeatedly, the presence of significant blood in the vomit or stool, lethargy and/or fever as well as non-response to the bland diet by the second day of treatment. Under these circumstances you should contact your local vet.Other common issues that warrant scheduling a veterinary evaluation include:Ear infections- often present with head shaking, scratching or smelly debris when wiping out earsFrequent or inappropriate urinationLimpingScootingOpen woundsIf treatment is prescribed, it is important to discuss with your veterinarian whether medications used have potential side effects that may affect the ability to work safely. Occasionally you may need to utilize your emergency vet if your regular vet is closed and anything like the following occurs (these issues are serious and should not wait): Trauma from an accidentSwelling of the eyes/face or difficulty breathingUnconsciousness or collapseViolent intractable diarrhea or vomiting putting your dog at risk of dehydrationNon-weight bearing lameness/pain on walkingSuspected poison or toxin ingestion some of the most common being: Veterinary Funds Available Through GEBGuiding Eyes has a fund which is designed to help you pay for veterinary care for your dog each year. The fund is called the Graduate Assistance Fund and provides each graduate with $500 every calendar year. This amount is subject to fluctuate annually and changes are announced in the end of the year holiday greeting newsletter. A form in your going home packet explains the fund to your vet and asks them to bill us directly for up to the eligible amount each year. You should provide your vet with this form. If your vet requires payment at the time of service, we will reimburse you directly if you send us a copy of the invoices marked “paid”. You are responsible for keeping track of the balance in your graduate assistance fund. If you need to check the balance at any time you can contact Becky in Student Services or call the vet hospital. Another fund that is available to you for your working guide dog is called the Hockmeyer Fund. If your dog ever requires a referral to a veterinary specialist for diagnosis and treatment of a condition, this fund can help pay for the visit or visits. In order to qualify, you must be referred to a specialist by us or by your regular vet. If your regular vet refers you, you MUST contact one of the Guiding Eyes veterinarians to discuss the referral BEFORE visiting the specialist and get approval. This fund can only be approved for dogs expected to return to full working function after their diagnostics, treatments, or procedures. There is also a fund currently capped at $1500 that each dog can use once in their working life. In order to use this fund, please contact the GEB veterinary hospital for pre-approval. As with the Hockmeyer fund, your dog must be expected to return to be back to working function after whatever is needed is complete. I want to wish you a long and happy working life with your dog. If you need anything, please call the main number and ask to speak with any of the veterinarians. We are happy to hear from you and to help you address any health concerns that arise throughout your journey. We ask that you use your primary vet as your main point of contact for routine care and illness, but if at any point you want further information regarding your dog’s history, or you need direction please feel free to reach out to us. On a yearly basis, you will receive a health survey. We ask that you fill this out to help us track any health concerns. This helps us update our medical records and share the information with our genetics team. Reporting any significant conditions diagnosed is a great help to us - this information helps us to shape our breeding program and to eliminate heritable conditions. We would love to hear from you any time, so please keep in touch! In good health,Dr. Brenninkmeyer and the veterinary department. ................
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