Hunting Dogs

Although there is nothing a gun dog loves more, hunting season can be quite hard on our four-legged companions. Fortunately, there are many things owners can do to maintain their gun dog’s health, ensuring safer, more productive seasons, year-after-year.

Preventative Medicine: For optimal health, all pets should receive regular check-ups, but nowhere is this more essential than with performance dogs. It is very important that your hunting dog has a thorough annual exam, complete with recommended screening tests. This will help identify problems in their early stages, when they are easier to deal with and treat. Be watchful, and speak openly with us about any early signs of arthritis or other signs of physical problems.

Lyme Screening: Lyme Disease is a tick-borne bacterial disease that can cause painful joints, lameness and kidney disease. After an initial Lyme screening, and administration of 2 doses of vaccination, your dog has protection against Lyme.

Diet: Studies have shown that the quality of food your dog receives is directly related to how well he or she performs. Speak with our veterinarians during your visit for specific recommendations for your dog.

Conditioning and Training: Just like with human athletes, champions stay conditioned year-round. Running and Swimming are two of the best activities to keep your gun dog in top form.

Nutritional Supplements: Studies have shown that a daily dose of glucosamine and chondroitin helps lubricate a dogs joints. We offer a range of supplements designed to maintain and repair joints, promoting your dog’s health and overall performance.

Foot and Pad Care: Damaged paws are prone to infection which, if left untreated, can become detrimental to a dogs health and performance. Dogs paws are designed to withstand a lot of wear and tear because of the keratin epithelium that covers the pads. This thick layer of skin provides protection for the foot’s tendons and ligaments, acting as a shock absorber and providing traction. As trainers and breeders of sporting dogs know, however, the pads aren’t impenetrable. For athletic and sporting dogs, it is important to be sure their paws are healthy and without any injury. The four most frequent types of injury to a dogs pads are abrasions, bruises, cuts, and puncture wounds. If injuries to the paw are not taken care of immediately, they may result in the need for prolonged therapy.