Dementia: problem, risks, effects, and management

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I had met my classmate around 4 months back and informed her also about my mom's death. But in a recent email, she wrote to me that I had met her a couple of years back. She also enquired about my mom. Seeing her email, the first thought that came to my mind was: is she suffering from early dementia. I hope not. Maybe, she just forgot about the time that I had met her a few months back. Maybe because it was a hurried and surprise visit.  Nonetheless, dementia is on the rise. It affects people after 60 years of age. The increased life expectancy means that one will see more of such cases in the near future.  India has around 10 million dementia cases out of the world total of 57 million. This is a huge percentage. It affects not only an individual but the whole family. There is this individual who is physically okay but mentally absent. The person needs custodial care and it could turn out to be expensive. It is also emotionally disturbing to see your loved one in that state of...

Small wounds on your dog-causes, symptoms and treatment explained!

Most of the dogs that are kept as pets are extremely active and move in and out of the house. Only celebrity dogs or those whose owners are extremely wealthy lead a lavish life. The others due to their outdoor or sometimes even indoor activities might suffer some minor wounds. These should not be left unattended and need to be addressed immediately. These can be in the form of small cuts, scratches, or even bites. So how to take care of these small wounds on your dog pets? 

Dogs and the causes of wounds

Many times, your pet dogs might suffer some small wounds, cuts, and scratches. Dogs like children and play around with them. In the process, they might hurt themselves which is natural. This may be in the garden or lawns or while running around the trees or even while jumping. 

Dogs and wounds [Source: Pinterest]

The dog may also be playing around with another canine or cat in the house or outside and ends up getting a bite from them. At times, a dog walk through rough terrain may end up giving the dog some small wound. 

Luckily these small cuts heal naturally. The dog's body defenses come into play and heal the skin abrasion well. One just needs to monitor the wound and see to it that it is not getting worse. If it gets worse, seek vet advice immediately. 

Symptoms of wounds

Many times, these small wounds may go unnoticed. But it is best while giving bath to your dog to check whether it has any injury marks anywhere. There might be some bleeding spots. Check for them. Also, check for any local swelling in the dog or a change in gait. The dog will not complain of pain even if it has one. But if you notice any change in behavior of the dog or if he or she whimpers too much, it would be good to have a look at his or her legs and abdominal area for cuts, injury marks and the like. 

Dog wound and care [Source: Pinterest]

There may be some redness or inflammation noticed around the cut area. There may be just a bruising if the injury was a blunt one and the dog may show some pain and withdraw the limb or wince if the site is touched. 

Also, read on walking and the benefits for body, mind, and soul! 

Treatment of small wound

If you suspect that your pet dog has a wound on the limb, immediately inspect the area. Assess the severity of the wound and see if there is any foreign body lodged in the wound. If there is blood at the point, clean the area with a clean white medicated gauze piece. Wipe off the blood gently and this will help a closer look at the wound. If the bleeding continues, apply gentle pressure to stop the bleeding. 

Dog wound care and bandage [Source: Pet Health Network]

Use a good anti-bacterial solution to clean the wound area. It should be marked safe for dogs. Seek advice from your vet on it if need be. Repeat the procedure at prescribed intervals. If the wound is too big, better to apply a protective dressing on it until it heals. The dressing may need to be changed daily or every other day. Avoid the affected part from getting wet in water. 

Monitor the wound for signs of infection. If there is an impacted foreign body or infection, seek vet consultation. Take pictures of the wound at periodic intervals. 

A dog is like another child and parental care is required in its upbringing! 

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