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Posts Tagged ‘dog health’

From: Dog Food Recipe

several people wrongly believe that owning a dog or cat will be easy. While this may be kind of true, it can be unsettling when your pet develops problems that may leave you confused. When you choose a new dog or puppy, you’ll need to find out everything that is possible concerning dog health and what to look for if you want to know when to seek your Vets help for your puppy. There are some common warning signs indicate trouble, and having a good understanding of these means faster and more effective treatment for your furry friend. nevertheless, what is normally a quick fix for most pet owners, might be very startling for those who aren’t as familiar with dog health.

Dog Health – Skin and Fur Problems

Probably the most obiouvs indications that dog health is not what it should be might be missing or bald patches in your dogs fur. despite the fact that many dogs lose some fur or experience some thinning as they get older, this should not happen to a young dog. When this occours, you may well see blemishes where no fur is there at all, or that the skin beneath the fur is becoming noticeable all the way through the fur when it may not have been that way before. These can indicate mange or some other type of skin condition that could do with treatment. If you spot this, it would be best for your dog to take her in for examation.

Dog Health – Me Drool?

additional noticeable signs that dog health is not what it should be possibly fluids emerging from parts where it shouldn’t. Some dogs drool, which is something that you will discover during the early days of owning your puppy. still, quite a few dogs do not drool that much, and if they begin to do so out of the blue, there may be issues regarding your dogs health. This also relates to any unexplained discharge that seeps from your pets nose or eyes. These conditions require attention if they go on for more than a day or two.

Dog Health – It’s up to You!

It’s imperative that you take dog health seriously. You can search the Net for additional information, and you can come across some excellent recommendations, but you do have to look at it as a guideline. It’s probable that some of the opinions you find on some websites is not accurate , and therefore your final recommendation should be from your vet. exercise what you find on the Net as a guide only, as you may discover a lot from some resources, but your dogs health is much too precious to based you decisions on opinions.

Dogs are very curious animals and as omnivores and natural scavengers, can get into and eat just about anything.   However, there are many toxic substances found in your home that could potentially kill your dog. The following is a list of 4 common household substances that you should make sure to keep out of your dog’s reach. Just by following these simple steps you can make sure your dog health care routine is boosted.

1) Antifreeze: Many people do not realize it, but common antifreeze kills many pets each year. It smells and tastes very sweet to your dog and is very appealing to him. The core ingredient of antifreeze is ethylene glycol and this is very dangerous. Symptoms of toxicity include seizures, vomiting, stumbling and lethargy leading to kidney failure. You can prevent this painful death by just making sure the product is kept far out of reach. If your dog does end up ingesting some antifreeze, call the vet immediately.

2) Chocolate: Dark chocolate is a prime example of something very dangerous to dogs. It does usually take a large amount of chocolate to kill a dog, but even small amounts can be fatal. The symptoms you need to be aware of with chocolate poisoning are diarrhoea and vomiting. After this, you can even find the dog suffers seizures. Even the slightest suspicion that your dog might have even chocolate means you have to visit the vet to get checked out. Chocolate ingestion is very dangerous for your dog’s health.

3) Bleach: Something like bleach is highly toxic to your dog. Anything containing bleach should be out of sight and out of mind. If your dog does drink bleach, the symptoms are nasty, including abdominal pain.   Do NOT induce vomiting if you suspect your dog has ingested bleach and contact your vet immediately. Remember that by doing these simple things, your dog health care routine stays in check.

4) Mouthwash: Mouthwash can contain boric acid which is highly toxic to dogs. Mouthwash poisoning can even send your dog into a coma, which is a heartbreaking thought. You should take your dog to the veterinarian immediately if you suspect poisoning by mouthwash or other household item containing boric acid like contact lens solution or denture cleaner.

If you own a pet then you have to take responsibility for it and this means looking after its health and keeping toxic products out of reach. Making sure your dog has a lovely conditioned coat is important, as is showering it with love, but this isn’t a good dog health care routine if your pet ends up dying from ingesting a toxic substance. Just remember that if you suspect anything bad has happened, then it is time you made a swift visit to the vet.

Keeping puppies clean is one hard task, and if you have ever tried it, you’ll know what I mean. But don’t give up on this important bath ritual, as it is an essential part of any dog health care routine. Remember that the way you bathe your puppy teaches your dog a lot about how he has to be kept clean. So, in order to have a clean, happy dog at the end, the way you go about your pet health practices is important and you should take the following advice:

Before turning the bathwater on, make sure you have everything you need conveniently positioned next to you. A brush and a dog conditioner are just some of the essentials you need. Plus, you’ll need a large towel for your dog. Then you need to make sure you’re wearing clothes that you don’t mind about getting wet. The entire affair will work better if your puppy is hungry; so do not feed him 6 hours before the bath. If you call your puppy over and give him some treats he will be well behaved in the bath. Remember, you want this to be fun. Next up is the comb – brush the puppy’s fur for a while. Remember that tangled fur is hard to remove when wet, so always brush before the water gets turned on. Spray long coats with conditioner and brush thoroughly, then comb through, making sure you get all the way down to the skin.

Something important to remember is that the dog’s ears need cleaning at the back. Remember to praise throughout this process and stay happy, keeping the treats flowing. Show him his toy and let him play with it a little in the tub before you turn on the water. Bear in mind that a puppy with skin sensitivities should have a baby shampoo used on its head. Don’t let the water touch the dog until you are sure it is the right temperature. Then the fun part! Gently spray mild warm water onto its fur. The trick with shampoo is massaging it, and this should be done in short circles. It is also useful to use a scrub brush to massage the shampoo in. After completing this once, make sure you do it again to make sure your puppy is extra clean. You’ll always find that there’s more soap to get out! Finish with a conditioner for dogs and wrap your puppy in a large towel.

According to surveys made by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the third most common problem that veterinarians treat among dogs that are brought to them is canine diarrhea. If this has ever hit your dog, you know how much this can disrupt your daily life. Stomach problems in dogs can come from too much bacteria in their intestinal system tract, or just from you giving them too much food or snacks. The more serious cases can include bloating or even stomach cancer.

If your dog’s problems are mild and he is not vomiting or showing lack of appetite, you might be able to handle everything yourself. We’ve got some tips you might find helpful if your dog has loose bowel movements. But if your dog has diarrhea and is showing signs of blood in his stool or even vomiting, you need to be sure to bring your dog right away to the vet.

Stomach problems and loose bowel movements in dogs may just be a side effect of simple causes like a change in dog food, an allergy to a certain food, indiscriminate gobbling of table scraps, and uncontrolled raiding of the trash bin where your always hungry friend might eat something that is not acceptable to his stomach. Other reasons for this might involve worms that can make bacteria grow in your dog’s intestinal tract.

If worms are present in your dog’s tool (its gross to think about, but you have to look for these) like spaghetti-like roundworms or rice-like tapeworms, an over-the-counter dewormer can be purchased and these meds usually would be enough to do the trick. But, some parasites like Giardia are not easily treated by pet owners. This will result in continuous stomach problems and further loose bowel movements. In cases like these, you must bring samples of your dog’s excrement to the vet’s office so he or she can run the right tests.

You can probably handle mild stomach problems yourself simply by letting your dog fast without anything to eat just for one whole day. This with the assumption that all else is normal with your dog’s health, with the exception of the loose stool.

After the 24-hour fast, feed your dog with a prepared meal of boiled chicken or hamburger with all the fat drained off in a preparation mixed with boiled white rice. Feed your dog 5 or 6 small portions a day until the bowel movements normalize and the stool turns back to normal consistency. Sometimes, the bet might recommend that your doggy eat some yogurt so helpful bacteria will grow in his stomach and intestines.

What Your Dog Says With His Eyes

Your dog has emotions and feelings just like you. At any given time, he’ll try to communicate them with his body language and expressions. Most owners never learn to identify these signs; the fact that their pooch is sad, anxious, mad, or happy completely escapes them. As a result, they often fail to give the attention their pets need or crave.

The good news is that you can easily recognize the emotions your canine is feeling by watching his eyes. If you know what to look for, not only will you be able to recognize signals, but you’ll also be able to interpret them accurately. In this article, we’ll give you a crash course on how to read and decipher what your pooch is trying to tell you with his looks.

Looking For Signals

Most of us are accustomed to inferring intention and meaning from watching the faces of our friends and family. Slight changes or nuances alert us to specific feelings. For the most part, this is a learned trait. You can learn to do the same by identifying the nonverbal signals your pooch uses to express his feelings.

In the same way people can open their eyes wide and shut them, so too, can your canine. Remember that shape varies according to breed. If your dog opens his eyes wide, it is usually a sign that he feels vulnerable. That can include feeling stressed or scared regarding something he finds threatening. He might express these same emotions by squinting a bit, though this might also suggest that he is being submissive to you.

The manner in which he is looking at – or away – from you will also suggest emotions and intent. If a canine stares at you with an anxious, intense look, it usually means he considers you a threat. This should not be mistaken for a friendly dog that is looking at his owner and craves his attention. If a canine looks away from you, that usually signals he wants to be submissive.

If he is looking at you from the corners of his eyes and you notice a large amount of white, be wary. He quite possibly could be agitated, or even worse, see you as a threat. In both cases, he might respond aggressively. It’s common for dogs to do this when you approach them while they’re eating or playing with their favorite toy. This is another signal that is often misinterpreted. If your canine is looking up at you or from the side, seeing the sclera (the white area) of his eyes may not connote aggression. It is easy to tell the difference – his body will not be tense.

Owners who take the time to learn how to read their dogs’ eyes will benefit from understanding their feelings. Remember, the only way your pooch can communicate with you is through nonverbal means. Learning how to identify them will strengthen the friendship you share. Remember to give your dog health dog treats and dog chews

If you’re a first time puppy owner, you’re probably starting to wonder about your new responsibilities. Now that you’re responsible for another life, it’s important that you understand what these responsibilities entail.

Your puppy’s diet is first on our list. Puppies are on their mother’s milk until they are about six to eight weeks old. This weaning age is usually when breeders allow the puppies to be taken home by their new owner. Ask your breeder what the pup is currently eating and continue to feed him that. Usually they will be eating a soft canned food mixed with puppy milk replacer. Use less and less milk until your puppy is on pure canned food. You can do the same when switching to dry food by mixing in a little soft food and then cutting back a little each day until the puppy is on dry food only. Dry food is recommended as the best type of food for dogs as it has less fat content and keeps your dog’s teeth strong and free of plaque build up. This should happen gradually over the course of about 7 – 10 days. You should never feed your dog human food (ie: table scraps) at any time during his life. A dog’s diet requires a specific balance of certain nutrients and feeding your dog table scraps will upset this balance. Also remember to keep a water bowl filled for your pup at all times.

Your next concern should be to see that your dog gets all of the required vaccinations. Some breeders may start the vaccination process, so check with your dog’s breeder to find out if any vaccinations have been given to your pup. There are three shots given three weeks apart. These shots are referred to as the “core” injections. They help to prevent your pup from contracting distemper, parvovirus, and hepatitis. You can have the first shot administered when your puppy is 6 weeks old. Your veterinarian may suggest vaccinations to prevent illnesses that are a concern for certain breeds or demographic regions. These are called non-core vaccinations as they are not a requirement for all dogs. To be on the safe side, we recommend you keep your dog away from other dogs (that are not in your home) until your puppy has completed his round of core vaccines. They will become effective about 10 days after the last vaccination.

Grooming is another important aspect of owning a puppy. Some dogs have stricter grooming requirements than others, particularly ones with long or curly fur. Certain breeds of dog are particularly susceptible to ear infections and require that their ears be cleaned frequently. All dogs should have their nails clipped periodically (usually when you hear their paws click on the floor you know it’s time for a trim!). It’s very important that this is done in the correct fashion using proper canine nail clippers, as cutting to deeply in your dog’s claws can result in severe pain and bleeding.

Last but not least is exercise. Puppies are energetic by nature and need an outlet. Take extra care to spend time playing with your pup and make sure he gets plenty of time outdoors (other than trips to relieve himself!). Boredom can often result in excessive chewing as well as destructive behaviour, so the more time you dedicate to wearing out your spirited companion, the happier he will be! A great exercise trick is to buy dog steps and teach your dog fun games that incorporate running up and down the stairs. Pet stairs are also handy to have around if you allow your dog on the couch or bed so he doesn’t have to jump to and from the furniture.

For more tips on raising a healthy pup, visit HelpYourPets.com.

Have you begun to notice that your dog is looking a little overweight, or simply less lean than he should be? It might be time to start considering what your options are to help him get into shape. We’re going to talk about a few ways you can discover where your pet’s health is suffering and how to get it back up.

As sad as it is to admit, our dogs do not have free reign over their lifestyle as we humans do. Because dogs are dependent upon their owner for everything from food to trips outdoors, they have to adjust their daily life to accommodate ours. This is where canine obesity can come in. If a dog’s owner is a veritable couch potato and rarely gets out for exercise, the dog is also going to have to adapt to a lifestyle of laziness. It’s natural for dog’s to crave a little activity—heck, it’s natural for humans, too! All creatures need to perform some regular activity to remain in good health, so the first thing you can do to determine how your dog is keeping on those extra pounds is to map out a chart of his day-to-day activities. Does he go outside for an hour in the morning and again in the afternoon? What does he spend the majority of his day doing? Does he sleep more often than he’s awake? All of these questions are things you need to ask yourself when assessing your dog’s level of activity.

That brings us to our next topic: the great outdoors. Have you ever stepped outside on a nice crisp morning, taken a deep breath of cool air and revelled in how good it feels to connect with nature? Maybe you don’t do this all the time, but for a dog, this is a common comparison of how natural it is for them to crave the outdoors—because dogs are natively the “outdoorsy type.” Being outdoors can cause inspiration, not just ideas, but for activity—and this is what your dog needs. If your dog doesn’t get to go outside often enough, this could be an answer for why his spirit for activity has shrunk. Try taking him outside at least twice a day, and not just for a bathroom break. Encourage him to run about and play with toys. It might help to remember that your dog is more likely to want to play if he has someone to play with. If you don’t have a private yard, try taking him on pet-friendly walking trails or to do a dog park where he can socialize and spend some alone time with you. Walking is a great way to improve your owner-dog bond as well as lose weight. Going outside isn’t the only activity you can do. Dog steps are a great tool to use to give your dog a bit of exercise while staying in the comfort of your home (especially on rainy or snowy days!). Make a game of running him up and down the steps, such as pushing the stairs against your bed and hiding treats in your covers. This is a favourite of mine as I love watching my dog go crazy as he paws through the covers!

If your dog seems to be getting enough exercise but still seems to be overweight, it may be time to reconsider what you’re feeding him. Does he get a lot of table scraps? Most of the food humans eat simply doesn’t offer any health benefits to dogs. The canine diet is supposed to consist primarily of lean meat, supplemented with raw vegetables and specific types of grain. Feeding your dog leftover pizza crusts or the leftover casserole that no one else would eat is a sure-fire way to cause health decline. So cut out the human food! You can also try putting your pooch on a name brand diet kibble for a month or two to see if that helps.

If you have any worries that your dog’s health might be in jeopardy, it’s best to consult with a veterinarian. There could be underlying health issues causing a shift in your dog’s weight, or numerous other possibilities.

For more great information about caring properly for a dog, or to buy a durable set of dog stairs, please visit Help Your Pets.

Dog and puppy owners need to be sure they understand a few dog health problems basics so they can help their pets if by chance they contract one of the common dog health problems. An oldtime belief, still held onto by many people, is that if their dog has a cold and wet nose, the dog is healthy. There are no scientific basis for this belief as no one can tell from how wet or how cold a dog’s is has anything to do with hereditary heart problems, parasites, intestinal worms, blindness, deafness and every other health problems that dogs can contract.

Responsible owners should disregard such beliefs without scientific basis and focus on looking at the overall condition of the dog including regular physical checks of the eyes, teeth, ears, mouth and skin for any abnormalities that could be signs and symptoms of a particular disease. On top of that, the dog owner should be responsible enough to provide all the care and attention that their dogs need including proper nutrition, preventative medicine and good grooming to ensure that their pets will be in good and healthy condition for years to come.   

Signs Of Common Dog Health Problems

There are a number of signs and signals that might be telling you that your dog has specific dog health symptoms or problems or diseases. Dog owners need to make sure they are familiar with symptoms of potential dog health problems so they can take quick action and avoid bigger problems later on.

* Overall, a healthy dog’s coat is shiny, soft to the touch and full. With wiry coated dogs, like Australian terriers, you need to be sure that the coat is springy and has thick strands of fur. Breeds with double coats should have no indication of thinning on the undercoats.

* Redness, sores, scabs, scales, flakes, lumps and growths on the dog’s skin can be signs of health problems. The skin and coat should be free from parasites including fleas, ticks and mites. An overabundance of scartching or biting of their own skin could mean your dog is infested with parasites like mange mites.

* Just like people, if your dog’s eyes are bright and shiny, this is a good healthy sign. Around their eyeballs, dogs have an area that needs to be pink to show that they are healthy. This region is called the conjunvtiva and if its pale in color, this could mean some hidden health challenges. Make sure there are no out of the ordinary discharges seeping from your dog’s eyes, particularly nothing green or yellow.

* Bad odors and/or bloody discharge from the ears is good symptom that something is wrong. The ears should be clean with no signs of parasitic activities.

* Gum regions that have that healful pink glow to them but that may have some black coloring mixed in is a healthy sign. Pale gums might mean your dog has a problem with anemia. Reddish gums that leak droplets of blood can often be signals that there is something amiss peridontally and this combined with a rank breath odor can spell trouble with a hidden health problem.

* Going back to the age-old belief on the dog’s nose, a healthy dog normally has a cold and wet nose but this should be caused only by clear and watery discharges that are common in dogs. If a foul and colored discharge from the nose emanates, this is a sign of an abnormal condition and should be looked at. These kinds of discharges in young puppies could indicate canine distemper and may turn out to be fatal.

A few other things that indicate a healthy dog are the weight – normal for the breed, body temperature – dogs get fevers just like children, and how the urine and feces look and smell. The most important thing is to understand these symptoms of dog health problems so that the minute you spot something out of the ordinary, you can take action right away.

If you were to ask pet owners to guess the number one reason canines end up in the emergency room, most would guess incorrectly. Some would say bites from other animals. Others would confidently claim that getting hit by vehicles tops the list. Still others would speculate about a number of health issues. The most common reason owners take their pooches to the ER is vomiting. Many things can cause it and sometimes it's hard to tell whether the problem is minor or the sign of a more serious condition.

In this article, we'll describe a few factors that can cause your pooch to vomit. We'll also explain how veterinarians treat the condition. The topic might not be pleasant, but it is worth discussing so that you can be prepared in the event your dog gets sick.

What Causes Vomiting In Canines?

Vomiting occurs when something triggers the expulsion of your dog's stomach contents through his mouth. Many stimuli can cause this. A gastrointestinal virus can trigger a vomit reflex. Vomiting can also be triggered if your pooch eats foods that don’t agree with his stomach, or if he eats too quickly and exercises too vigorously immediately afterward.

You might be able to identify whether the problem is serious or minor simply by observing your dog’s behavior after he vomits. If he does it once, seems active afterward, and has a routine bowel movement, you can be reasonably confident that the problem is minor. But, if your dog has recurring bouts, seems listless, or loses his appetite, make sure to call your veterinarian. The vomiting could be a sign of a more serious health issue.

Forms Of Treatment

If a veterinarian determines the condition is minor, he or she will often administer subcutaneous fluids (for example, Plasmalyte and 0.9% saline) and medications to reduce any nausea. The vet will also suggest that you review your canine’s diet and eating patterns, including any plants and foreign substances he may be consuming.

If your dog is apathetic or has diarrhea, your vet might choose a different tretment path. He or she may decide to administer intravenous fluids as well as one or more forms of drug therapy.

You can help your pooch avoid suffering bouts of vomiting by restricting the items he eats. Remember that dogs instinctively chew foreign objects. That can include plants, trash, and even feces. The more exposure he has to such things, the greater the likelihood he’ll eat something that causes him to vomit. Limit his exposure to these items. Avoid feeding table scraps to him; keep trash cans securely closed; watch him closely to discourage his eating plants and other items. In doing so, you’ll dramatically reduce his susceptibility to vomiting.

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Here are the answers to just a few of the questions most commonly posed by dog owners.

1. What should I have ready in my home before I bring my puppy home?

Always remember to take a travel crate with you when picking up your puppy. You’ll also need to buy some high quality puppy food and bowls for food and water. It might be worth asking your vet or breeder about the best food for your new puppy. Other items you’ll need to get in advance of the new puppy’s arrival are: an adjustable collar, a lead, toys and bedding. Make your first appointment with the vet to get your puppy checked over.

2. How do microchips work?

When looking at dog health care tips, it is always a good idea to look at microchipping. A microchip is a very tiny device that is injected underneath the dog’s skin, usually at the neck. This is a good idea to do just in case your dog ever gets lost and gets picked up by a vet or a shelter, because they can use a scanner to read the microchip and then return it home to its owner. Do you need to microchip your dog? If you are always with your dog, then a microchip might not be necessary. Please remember though that microchipping is harmless and safe, so it is definitely worth considering. Even those dogs that spend most of their time with you can slip their collar and run off.

4. I think my dog has worms – how do I know for certain?

Every owner that is trying to look after their dog with dog health care advice should consider the potential for worms. There are some common types of worms that you should be aware of and these include hookworms, tapeworms and whipworms. All can cause internal irritation and damage to your dog, but heartworms can be fatal. So, it is very important that your veterinarian routinely test your dog for these.

5. Is there a good enough reason why I should get my dog fixed?

Unless you plan to professionally breed your dog, you should get him or her neutered or spayed (fixed). Just think of all the millions of stray animals and those that get kicked out of homes – don’t add to this problem, which is why getting your pet ‘fixed’ is the best solution. If there are no complications, your dog can usually come home on the same day.

As well as controlling the over-population of animals, getting your pet ‘fixed’ can also benefit their health. Getting your dog spayed or neutered before the age of 6months means you reduce the risk of your pet developing cancers and infections.