Ask the Vet: Puppy chipping was distressing (From Oxford Mail)

Ask the Vet: Puppy chipping was distressing

10:00am Tuesday 27th July 2010 in

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Q WE have a 16 week old boxer dog who has just had an ID chip inserted.

The vet had to do it twice as it was unsuccessful the first time. Our puppy was very distressed by the ordeal and has been affected in the following ways: 1) He is wary of my daughter who took him to the vets; 2) His appetite is reduced; 3) He sleeps much more; 4) He has diarrhoea for several days Could the chip have caused this?

Annie, Woodstock A The chip insertion is unlikely to have caused the symptoms you describe. A reaction to the implant would be local with perhaps some pain and swelling at the injection site, and this could happen if the chip was inserted too deep and penetrated the muscles of the neck or if infection had been introduced.

It is more likely your puppy is poorly because of the diarrhoea; the fluid loss and lack of appetite will make him lethargic and sleepy.

It is possible the trip to the vet caused stress, triggering the tummy upset, however, if the diarrhoea does not clear up soon, you need to make a return vet visit.

And don’t worry about your puppy being upset that you (or your daughter) took him there; he will soon get over this.

Q MY husband as just bought me a young rabbit. I do not have much information about it and would appreciate some information on health care such as neutering and vaccines. My rabbit is approx six months old.

Mrs Reynolds, Wootton A There are two essential rabbit vaccinations; myxomatosis and VHD (viral haemorrhagic disease ).

Myxomatosis is given every six months in high risk areas and VHD is given annually.

Your rabbit will have a health check at the time of vaccination.

Neutering can help with behavioural problems in male rabbits like aggression and squirting pee at you!

Neutering females helps to prevent womb cancer which is very common in older rabbits.

Feeding is an important area.Your rabbit needs lots of fibre in the form of good quality hay and a high fibre nugget, fresh greens and fresh water.

Q I have a two year old golden retriever who we think has a snake bite. One leg is swollen but we cannot find a puncture wound, what should I do ?

S Simmons, Oxford A Occasionally adder bites do cause problems in our pets. The reaction is usually associated with pain and a bit of swelling at the bite site.

Rarely is there a nasty allergic type reaction where the animal collapses in shock and this type of reaction can be fatal.

This sounds like a local reaction which may just be a mild inflammation with fluid leakage into the tissues (oedema). However, these can become infected and much more dangerous. Infection in the tissues (cellulitis) will need antibiotic and anti inflammatory treatment as a matter of urgency regardless of the initial cause of the swelling.