Archive for Dog Health
What A Dog Really Needs
Posted by: | CommentsDevoted, friendly, protecting, loving, fun. Those qualities have earned dogs a special place in the lives and hearts of humans. Most dogs now are owned as pets generally because they’re the best pets. A dog will always try and keep you pleased and smiling. It’ll never hold grudges against you, and will never judge you for your looks or mistakes. It is not called the best friend of man for nothing.
Dogs have a basic need for shelter, good nourishment, exercise and friendship. A dog will depend on its owner for all these wants as well as coaching and protection. These are all basic wants but truly, what a dog requires the most is animal care. If someone has a dog for a pet, it is a great idea to guarantee that it is seen by a vet continually. Dogs are subject to a wide selection of illnesses and illnesses and it’s best that he gets immunized against these sicknesses. Some of the most deadly illnesses a dog should be administered with a vaccine against are mentioned below. One. Dog Adenovirus – or Infectious Dog Hepatitis ( ICH ). ICH is a very transmissive illness that only dogs may be broadcast with and other canine-type animals. This illness is broadcast in pee and eye or nasal secretions of animals with this illness and is affecting the liver, kidneys and liner of the arteries. Dogs of every age are susceptible to procure this illness, though puppies and younger dogs are at a higher risk. Two. Dog Distemper Pathogen ( CDV ) – It is broadcast thru contact with infected dogs and has effects on the gastrointestinal, breathing and central twitchy systems. This illness is frequently lethal to puppies and adult dogs.
Para Flu – AKA tracheobronchitis, it’s a communicable infection of dogs seriously inspiring young puppies’ higher breathing. Its symptoms are gagging and coughing. Dogs in nerve wracking and crowded conditions are at the highest risk for this illness. Four. Parvovirus – This is an highly transferable viral illness that has effects on white blood cells, the intestinal duct, and heart.
It is indicated by barfing, grim the runs and fever. It is typically lethal in puppies. At the highest risk for this illness are dogs in crowded places like dog shows and kennels. Five. Rabies – Rabies can affect all warm-blooded animals that are unvaccinated against the illness, including humans. It has effects on the brain and is always dangerous. Pets get exposed to rabies from the bites of wild animals which include bats, raccoons, foxes and skunks.
The final analysis is to keep a dog disease-free. Have it immunized.
Dog Toys for the Brain, Teeth And Feet
Posted by: | CommentsThinking of the finest toys that suit your dog? Flick through the dog toys below and see what fits your pet and your financial position.
For dogs who like to chew : one. Kong Jump’n Jack Costs : $5.60 ( little ) $7.50 ( medium ) $8.80 ( massive ) Kong Jump’n Jack is a dog toy and a teeth cleaner and gum exerciser at the same time. It has got an extraordinarily unpredictable bounce that makes it more fun for the dog to play with. It has got a lot more surfaces that clean dog’s teeth.
Kong Jump’n Jack also has slits that are helpful for the gums to be exercised. Two. Squirrel Dude ( Busy Pal ) Costs : $5.99 ( tiny ) $8.99 ( medium ) $11.99 ( huge ) This is a completely unique and leading edge rubber toy. It has 4 rubber spikes that cover the hole a bit which challenges the dog to give more effort to sample the food treats within. The Squirrel Dude is sturdy and extremely chewable. Three.
Biscuit Block ( Animal Planet ) $4.50 ( little ) $9.90 ( medium ) This gnaw toy has 4 grabbing chambers distributed across the toy. Types of dog treats can be inserted within to keep pets chuffed and busy. It has a funny bounce caused by its square shape with cut corners. 4. Ball Stomp’r ( Launch and Throw Ball Toys ) Price : $10.99 ( regular, red ) $8.99 ( mini, green ) This dog toy enables both young and old to have a great time playing with their dogs. The Ball Stomp’r is the 1st ball launcher of its kind. The ball must be loaded, then stomped on and it’ll eject to a height reaching a hundred feet with the regular ball. The mini Ball Stom’r can reach up to a height of 60 feet. This toy has its own ball but tennis balls are a good substitute. This toy is troublesome, water proof and really dog friendly. This isn’t chew-proof though so it should be kept after using. The dimension of a regular-sized Ball Stomp’r is twelve inches in length that uses a tennis ball sized ball. The smaller type is nine inches long and uses a ball with the dimensions of two inches. Four.
Dinosaur Egg Baby ( Plush Puppies ) Intelligence Building Toy ( $6.90 ) The Dinosaur Egg Baby has 3 eggs within that give out a squeaking sound. It’s got a secret opening beneath to check dog’s instinct in getting concealed rewards. It is six inches tall, five inches wide and twelve inches long. Toys that exercise dogs, clean their teeth, rejuvenate their jumping capability and test their intelligence. A total set of these toys would certainly make owners be much more loved by their pets.
Dog Worms: Understand Dog Worms Symptoms and Infestation
Posted by: | CommentsUntil a very recent period, dog worms were thought to be of a spontaneous origin, brought about by the influence of heat upon decaying vegetable matter, and it was and still is freely asserted that puppies are born with dog worms inherited from the mother in some mysterious manner while still in uterus. This has been conclusively proven an error and in the minds of all scientists there is no question about dog worms springing from individual eggs and having a complete life history of their own.
The principal worm species with which dog owners have to contend are round worms and tape worms. The first named commonly infest puppies and consequently are most dreaded by breeders. In shape and size these worms resemble common angle worms, but in color are lighter, being almost white or only a pale pink.
In adult dogs these worms, when full grown, are from three to seven inches long. In puppies they are about half that length, and as thick as common white string. Round worms live in the small intestines, sometimes coiled in such masses as to obstruct the passage, and occasionally they wander into the stomach or are passed by the bowels.
It is easy to understand that when one dog in a kennel is infected with worms, millions of eggs will be passed with the feces. These are scattered all over the floors, bedding, feeding and drinking pans. They get on the dog’s coat, are licked off and swallowed and in numbers of ways gain entrance to the digestive tracts of other dogs, where they soon hatch out and in ten days are fully developed.
This rapid development account for the popular belief that puppies are born with worms, for breeders who have held post-mortems on puppies scarcely ten days old and have found in their stomachs fully developed round worms could account for their presence in no other way. They overlooked the fact that the prospective mother, confined in a kennel infested with worms, would get these eggs attached to her coat, belly and breasts, and the young, as soon as born, would take these eggs into their stomachs with the first mouthfuls of milk.
Symptoms Of Dog Worms Attack
Dog worms are responsible for so much sickness and so many symptoms that it is practically impossible to mention all of them, but their presence can safely be suspected in all dogs which have not been recently treated for them, as well as in cases where the patient is run down, unthrifty and out of sorts.
Other symptoms are a hot, dry nose, weak, watery eyes, pale lips and gums, foul breath, mean hacking cough and a red, scurfy, pimply or irritated condition of the skin and harsh, dry, staring coat that is constantly being shed.
Wormy dogs sometimes have a depraved appetite and will eat dirt and rubbish. Some days they are ravenously hungry, the next day they will not eat at all; their sleep is disturbed by dreams and intestinal rumbling, the urine is high colored and frequently passed, bowels irregular, stomach easily unsettled, watery mucus is frequently vomited and the mouth is hot, sticky and full of ropy saliva.
Puppies which are full of worms bloat easily and are pot-bellied. After feeding their stomachs distend disproportionately to the amount of food consumed. Their bodies are also subject to scaly eruptions and their bowels to colicky pains; they do not grow as rapidly as healthy puppies should and instead of playing with each other they curl up and sleep hour after hour; they get thinner, weaker and more lifeless from day to day and if they do not waste away or die in fits and convulsions with frothing at the mouth and champing of the jaws, grow up coarse-jointed, rickety and misshapen. Puppies with worms are also liable to paralysis of their rear limbs and on removal of the worms the puppies regain control of the affected parts.
A wormy dog is usually an unhealthy and unhappy dog who leads a miserable life. It could even be deadly, especially so for young puppies. Bring your dog to a veterinarian if you are unsure. Your dog will certainly thank you for that.
Dog Fleas & Ticks
Posted by: | CommentsFleas.
Dog fleas are different to those which infest humans and cats. When a flea bites, it injects saliva to stop the blood clotting whilst it sucks it up. The saliva contains chemicals which often cause an allergic reaction in the dog.
The signs are :-
Bites which look like small red pimples. Black, gritty material in the coat, and areas of inflammation on the animals back. Scratching.
What is the treatment ?
Spring-clean the house and treat the dog’s favorite places with a suitable insecticidal spray. Flea tablets or collars are a good extra precaution, and spray badly affected animals frequently with insecticide during the summer months. (the flea season) Ticks The common tick seen on dogs is the sheep tick. this has a large abdomen that stretches as it fills with blood. It hangs on to the dog’s hair and sticks it’s mouth parts through the skin to suck blood.Ticks are usually found on the underside of the dog, under the forelegs and on the head.
Try to remove every tick when you see it. It is important to extract the head, otherwise an abscess may form. If the head is left in, warm compresses help draw out the infection, combined with antibacterial washes and creams.
Removing a tick.
A good method is to get the tick’s head to relax or die by dabbing it with alcohol. Wait a couple of minutes, then use fine-pointed tweezers to extract the tick. Grasp it near the mouth parts, and give it a sharp jerk. This should dislodge it.
Alternatively, flea sprays can be used locally on ticks. The tick will then die and can be removed the following day. Regular use of a flea spray in tick areas often keeps them away.
When my own dogs have suffered with ticks or fleas in the past, I’ve always managed to deal with them myself, but if you’ve any concerns at all with your own dog, then consult your vet as a precaution.
Author John Moore
Canine Diabetes; is Your Dog at Risk?
Posted by: | CommentsThe classic early warning signs of diabetes were all present when I brought my canine companion of twelve years into the Veterinarian’s clinic. Muffy was lethargic, unsteady on her feet, drinking large amounts of water, and experiencing incontinence for the first time in her life. I knew something was seriously wrong.
After blood work and a physical examination, the veterinarian said that Muffy had developed type-two canine diabetes. After a brief discussion, we decided to try and regulate her blood sugar level with diet modification and insulin twice daily.
At first, it was rough going. Weekly checkups revealed Muffy’s sugar levels continued to bounce from one extreme to the other. Determined not give up, I monitored her urine samples at home for sugar content and adjusted insulin injections as necessary. Gradually, we began to see improvement.
After just a few months Muffy was once again her frisky self. You would never know by watching her race about that she had a serious health problem. A special diet, proper amounts of insulin and regular exercise have worked together with Muffy’s routine veterinary care to turn the tide. As a result, I can look forward to many more happy years with my little dog.
Wyoming veterinarian Mary Flitner, who recently moved her practice to New Mexico, received her D.V.M. degree at Colorado State University and an award for excellence in large animal surgery in 1997. Flitner states that diabetes in dogs and cats is more common than most people realize. According to Flitner, a pet’s chance of developing diabetes will increase with age.
“This is especially true in overweight, less active dogs.”
Besides weight and age, diet is another significant factor. Dogs given table scraps without discrimination are particularly at risk. The importance of diet cannot be over emphasized, warns Flitner.
“A high fiber diet, low in fat and sugar, is vital. And an annual checkup by a qualified professional is also an important part of proper pet care, as early detection of health complications increase successful management of the problem and helps prolong the quality of life for that pet.”
Flitner notes many pet owners mistakenly feel caring for a diabetic pet would be too difficult for them, an assumption that complicates the decision making process at a critical time.
“A diagnosis of diabetes in a family pet is hard enough to handle without misconceptions compounding the problem,” said Flitner thoughtfully.
For instance, a pet owner might opt to euthanize a pet diagnosed with diabetes because they feel incapable of managing the problem. However, with proper instruction and guidance, that same pet owner could gain the confidence necessary to properly follow the care plan developed by the veterinarian, and enjoy many more quality years together with their pet.
“People need to know by regulating their pet’s diabetes, that pet can still live to their full potential,” said Flitner, acknowledging most care givers consider their pet an important part the family and struggle to make right health care decisions for them.
Flitner notes grocery store quality pet foods are not good choices for diabetic pets because of added fillers and sugars used to improve the taste.
“Some grocery store brands of cat food actually have trace elements of antifreeze in them, because cats are attracted to it. These type foods often have a high content of sodium, which is also unhealthy for the pet.
“A healthy well-balanced diet is important for any pet, but especially for those diagnosed with diabetes.”
Early warning signs that might indicate diabetes in your pet include: an unusually high consumption of water, increase in appetite, incontinence, lethargy, extreme changes in eyes (i.e. cataracts), lack of coordination, and vomiting. Care givers who note such changes in their dog should promptly call a qualified professional, because examination by a veterinarian is important and necessary for proper diagnosis.
Flitner also acknowledges the temptation to remove the water bowl from the pet’s reach if incontinence is a problem.
“But, this is not the correct thing to do,” instructs Flitner.
In the case of diabetic canines, drinking large amounts of water is the dog’s attempt to flush glucose out of the kidneys which has spilled over from the blood. If the glucose doesn’t get flushed out, serious damage to the kidneys and other organs can develop.
The best preventative measures against serious health problems in the family pet remain simple and practical: regular veterinary check ups, and a healthy diet. Exercise is also very important. Among other benefits, exercise helps increase the body’s effective use of insulin.
For more canine health information, information on a special dog food formulated specifically for diabetic dogs, or other dog products, visit the Savvy Dog Lover web site .
