Dog Health Care FAQ

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

1. I’m getting my puppy today – what supplies should I have ready at home?

The first thing you’ll need is a travel crate for your dog’s trip home. Be sure to have some good puppy food at home and small bowls for food and water, as these are your puppy’s essentials. Your vet, breeder or shelter personnel can tell you which brands of food are the best. The vet will also recommend some other things that you need to have ready at home, such as a lead, collar and suitable bedding. Don’t forget to make an appointment with your veterinarian for your puppy’s first check-up!

2. I’ve heard about microchipping – what is this?

If you’re trying to be good and look at a wide variety of dog health care tips, one important tip is to get your dog microchipped. A microchip is a very tiny device that is injected underneath the dog’s skin, usually at the neck. Then, should your dog ever run off and get picked up by a shelter, they can read the microchip and place it back in your safe hands. 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. How can I tell if my dog has worms?

If you need to know more about dog health care, you should take into consideration troublesome worms. Some of the most common worms that a dog can potentially have are: heartworms, hookworms, tapeworms, roundworms and whipworms. Worms are internal irritants and one such as heartworms can be fatal. So, it is very important that your veterinarian routinely test your dog for these.

5. Neutering – is it worth it?

Many ask this question, and if your dog is purely for pet purposes, you should get the dog spayed or neutered as soon as possible. There are just not enough homes for all of the puppies and kittens born each year; and, as a result, over 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized annually. If there are no complications, your dog can usually come home on the same day.

In addition to its being an effective pet population control measure, spaying and neutering can also benefit your dog’s health. You can reduce the risk of cancer and infection by getting your dog spayed or neutered before the age of 6months.

Resources: Methods Of Dog Health Care Online

Resources: Dog Health Care Online

There are many different resources available online to find dog health care information.  Although there are some sources that are not reliable, there are others that are posted by individuals in the veterinary field so that the information on the dog health care site online is accurate and up to date.  This dog health care information online is even available for certain breeds of dogs so that specific information can be obtained on how to best care for that particular breed, such as boxer dog care.

Food, Fun And Dog health care online

The most common dog health care information online is the proper food and fun for dogs.  Often, pet owners neglect these areas and end up with overweight dogs that are bored and destructive.  These problems can lead to the owner abandoning the dog or turning it over to shelters or rescue missions since they can no longer handle the pet.One can have a happier pet by following the dog health care online information to deal with these issues,.

Dog health careinformation online promotes the careful choosing of pet food so that fillers are not the main ingredients.  If the dog food has ‘by-products’ after any of the main ingredients it should usually be avoided.  ‘By-products’ means that whatever is left of the product after it is produced for human consumption is then put into the dog food.  That means for meat products that by products are things such as hooves, beaks, bones and feathers which do not provide nutritional value to the dog.  Another word to be careful of is ‘meal’ because it does not mean that the meat or grain product is pure and whole, providing the proper nutrition for the dog.  The best dog foods, according to the dog health care information online, are those that have whole grains and pure meats as the first main ingredients listed on the package.  These dog foods are usually more expensive than the lesser brands, but the dog food usually lasts longer since it is providing the dog with the nutrition it needs.

Exercising the dogs at least three times per day for fifteen minutes each time is suggested by dog health care information online.  Dogs need the physical and psychological activity that these play times afford them and the result of the play time is a happier and well conditioned pet that the owner can enjoy for years.  An additional benefit is that the owner stays in better physical condition since he is forced to exercise with the dog.

Getting Answers To Dog Health Care Questions

Finding Answers To Dog Health Care Questions

There are many resources online for dog health care, however, these sources need to be examined to make sure that they are reliable before taking the advice offered.  The most reliable sources are those that are produced by veterinary offices or associations, since the articles that are posted are produced by learned professionals.The pet owners who ignore to get answers to dog health care questions from a veterinary office can get from these resources.  These dog health care questions are often the common questions that many dog owners will ask, so they are commonly answered on these online sources.

Common Dog Health Care Questions

Some common questions in dog health care relate to food.  Pet owners often find it hard to resist giving their pets treats from the table.This habit is not suggested by many veterinary sites because of several reasons.  First, the habit can lead to an overweight dog, since the dog food is portioned out and formulated to match the needs of a dog, whereas table scraps are an addition to those feedings.  Second, the table scraps may not be healthy for a dog to consume and can lead to other health issues.  Finally, this habit is helpful in training the dog to beg at the table, causing problems when there are visitors, in addition to stealing food when there is not someone around to guard the plates and dishes.

Another common question in dog health care relates to tooth care.  According to the dog care information, the dogs should be given toys and treats that promote the natural cleaning of the dog’s teeth.  These toys feel good to the dog to chew, provide entertainment, and keep the plaque on the dog’s teeth to a minimum.  When these toys are paired with brushing the dog’s teeth three times per week, the dog’s teeth can usually be kept in great condition.

A third question in dog health care is often about cleaning the ears or skin related issues.  There are ear cleaning solutions that can be massaged into the ears of the dogs and then drained out by the dog shaking its head after the massaging is over. This usually has to be done in a place where the contents of the ear can spray out without causing a mess.  After that, the ear can be gently wiped with a Kleenex or cloth to remove the extra liquid, dirt and ear wax that remains.Skin problems can be dealt by giving the proper diet and selecting the accurate shampoos for the dog.

Looking For A Dog Day Care Boarding Facility

What To Look For In A Dog Day Care Boarding Facility

Whenever dog owners plan on going on a vacation and cannot take their pets along with them or even if they can take their pets along with them they will still need to look for dog day care boarding facilities. Of course, the alternative to dog day care boarding is that you can also hire reliable people to visit your home a few times in the day to look after your dog and take care of feeding him, providing him with water as well as exercise and spend some time with your dog.

Kennels: Are They Good Dog Day Care Boarding Facility?

One cannot get a reliable person easily so dog day care boarding is a better option. There are numerous kennels that handle dog day care boarding and these are good places to look for in case you need to send your dog somewhere safe for their overnight stay. Depending on the facilities given by the kennels the cost of dog day care boarding can be different.

Before selecting a place for your dog day care boarding you need to address a few issues including meeting the staff and assessing how well you hit it off with them and in addition you also need to see the condition of dogs that are already there. You need to also ensure that the place that you plan on sending your dog for dog day care boarding is clean – both on the inside and outside and it should also be a place that is safe to leave your dogs for overnight stay.

There should therefore not be any foul odors and you really should only choose a dog day care boarding facility where there is absolutely no smell of the doggy-do and in addition the temperature should be neither too cold nor too hot and ventilation should be of good standards. It would be foolish to leave your dog where the air stagnates and the pens that hold your pets need to also be very spacious and large enough to accommodate him.

Other aspects of dog day care boarding include ensuring that there are plenty of clean running areas and there should also be certain amount of shade and the place should also be properly lit. It is good to handle your pet’s bed,blanket and also his favorite toys. Last but not least, ensure that you do not allow you to be too stressed when you drop your dog off at his dog day care boarding facility because the dog will sense it and become fretful.

Dog health care is the most important consideration that every dog owner must address with great seriousness. You need to ensure doing simple things that will ensure your dog’s health including using the right grooming techniques and learning how to prevent your dog from falling prey to worms.

Your Dog’s Eyes (Part 3)

Many eye diseases in dogs can be successfully cured surgically if non-surgical treatments do not help. In the condition in which the tear glands and ducks are not producing tears, for example, a medication is put into the dog’s food in the form of drops.

If there is any function at all left, the medication will stimulate the glands to again produce tears normally. If the medication does not work, an unusual and creative operation is sometimes performed, whereby a duct of one of the dog’s salivary glands is moved so that it empties out of the eye instead of the mouth.

The saliva moistens and protects the eye just as the tears are supposed to. Logically enough, Pavlov’s theory works with slight alteration – a dog who has had such an operation cries when his appetite is stimulated!

If an ulcer has resulted from the dryness and inflammation of the eyes, or from some other irritation or trauma, medication is again tried initially. Especially if the ulcer is a superficial one, antibiotics usually heal it.

If the ulcer is a deep one or has punctured through the cornea into the eye itself, another innovative type of surgery is performed. The ulcer is covered with a truly organic “bandage” – the dog’s own third eyelid, or a flap from the white part of his eye. The bandage is left on for several weeks while antibiotics are used to heal the ulcer. It can then be removed with a snip or two of the stitches holding the bandage in place.

Cataracts
Owners of old dogs often notice a condition commonly referred to as cataracts – a bluish white film over the eyes. Actually, the condition is a thickening of the lenses, which is a function of age. It usually begins to be noticeable in dogs about 10 years of age, and progresses slowly. It does not usually affect the dog’s vision until the dog becomes quite old.

True cataracts are a total thickening of the lenses, so that light cannot come through the pupil and sight is lost. Certain injuries and infections can cause cataracts, and the condition is sometimes a sign of diabetes.

There is a disease, juvenile cataracts, in which cataracts appear at a very young age (as early as 1 year old), first in one eye and then in the other.

This is an inherited disease, seen most commonly in Irish Setters, Afghans and Old English Sheepdogs. The only way to prevent blindness is to surgically remove the lenses. Dogs are nearsighted anyway – they can’t adapt their vision to distances – so the removal of the lens is something they can live with quite comfortably without much noticeable difference in eyesight.

Your Dog’s Eyes (Part 2)

Most dog owners, if not all of them, never consider looking into their pet’s eyes for signs of illness, especially dogs with hair over their eyes.

There is a myth that cutting the hair away from a dog’s eyes will cause blindness, but, in fact, a dog’s eyes are much less likely to become diseased if the area is free of air. Dogs with hair growing over their eyes should either have it trimmed or pinned back.

Glaucoma
The most serious problem that can result from an inflamed eye is a condition called glaucoma. Glaucoma occurs when the fluid pressure within the eye gets too high. It is caused when the passage which drains the fluid out of the pupil becomes too narrow to allow fluid to pass. Glaucoma can and does cause blindness if not treated immediately. Inflammation of the eye is one thing which can cause the drainage passage to become swollen shut.

Glaucoma can also be caused by a tumor in the eye, or by an inherited condition peculiar to certain breeds, in which the angle of fluid drainage in the eye is too narrow at birth. Wire-haired Terriers, Basset Hounds, Cocker Spaniels, and Malamutes are more apt to be born with this abnormally narrow angle of drainage than most dogs.

If glaucoma is not treated immediately by alleviating the extremely high pressure of the eye fluid, a great deal of pain and eventual blindness will result. Owners, especially of the breeds mentioned, should watch for redness in the white part of their dog’s eyes, dilated or large pupils, and rubbing of the eyes by the dog. If the symptoms are treated early, blindness can be prevented.

Check The Eyelids
Many eye problems require medical tensions caused by eyelid abnormalities. These are problems the dog is born with, and again, certain breeds are especially prone to certain abnormalities. The two most common types of eyelid abnormalities are ectropian, in which the eyelid turns out, and entropian, in which the lid turns inward toward the eye.

Bloodhounds, Basset Hounds, Cocker and Springer Spaniels, St. Bernards and Akitas are some of the breeds most likely to suffer from ectropian. Entropian is often seen in Chows, Bulldogs, Doberman Pinschers, Setters, Golden Retrievers, Poodles, and St. Bernards.

Both conditions can cause infection and inflammation of the eye. They are most commonly corrected surgically. The surgery is a cosmetic one, for the purpose of correcting the confirmation of the dog’s eyelid. The part of the eyelid which droops or turns inward is removed, making the eye normal. It is not a complicated procedure, and one which in nearly every case solves the dog’s eye problems.

3 Ways To Keep Your Dog From Getting Diabetes

There are essentially three ways that you can help prevent your dog from getting diabetes. This disease is one that you want your dog to avoid so that he lives as long and healthy as possible. And although it’s rare, there are many dogs whose diabetes go into remission just by having their diet, supplementation, and exercise all in good order.

1. Lower the carbohydrates. Most dog foods sold in pet stores contain ingredients that are as high as 98% carbohydrates. By reducing the amount of carbs in your dog’s daily meals, this moderate carbohydrate level can go a long way towards diabetes prevention.

Diet is especially important for dogs that are genetically at risk for diabetes. It is critical that you study up on your dog breed and make sure that he is getting the right nutrients so that the gene which can store diabetes will not be triggered off.

Golden retrievers are among the most popular pets that dog owners have in the United States. Unfortunately, many of these retrievers get diabetes because their owners did not do enough research for their breed type in order to get their diet correct from puppy hood.

2. Seek out the nearest holistic veterinarian in your area. Ask the vet about natural supplementation for the immune system. Many dog owners miss this very important diabetes prevention step. Supplementing with organic products such as antioxidants and herbs for the immune system can make a huge impact on preventing diabetes, especially for the dog breed types which are genetically at risk for this disease.

Along the same lines as natural prevention, it is important to avoid your dog from being over-vaccinated. This can cause toxins to build up in the animal’s system which can trigger diabetes.

Flea medications and tick insecticides can also trigger diabetes from the toxic state produced in the body. By keeping your dog clean of these chemicals and toxins you are helping his immune system stay healthy.

3. Exercise! It is sad to see so many dogs out there who develop diabetes that should never have in the first place had they been active and not become overweight. This of course is the direct responsibility of you, the dog owner. If your dog is inactive and gains weight, he can develop diabetes even if he is not a breed that is genetically at risk.

It doesn’t take much. 20 minutes of brisk walking two to three times per day is all your dog needs for optimum health and to keep him in good shape. If you can go jogging with your dog then that is even better. Having your dog swim is also a great option for exercise.

Skin Conditions – Flea Allergy Dermatitis, Hot Spots, & Ringworm

The most common allergic skin disease in the dog develops when certain dogs become hypersensitive to flea bites. The allergic agent is contained in the saliva or mouth parts of the flea and is injected into the dog when the flea feeds. The disease usually occurs during the warm months and is commonly called “summer eczema”.

The disease begins near the tail-head of the rump of the dog. The animal will scratch or rub this area intensely, causing the hair to fall out and often ulcerating the skin. In severe cases the hair loss can become more generalized and involve large areas of the body.

Although the disease occurs more commonly in the summer months, many dogs will show signs constantly throughout the year. The flea can complete its life cycle in the home environment and thus can cause constant irritation to hypersensitive dogs.

Therapy is aimed at flea control on the dog, on other pets, and in the dog’s environment. In addition, specific therapy can be instituted to control the signs and affected dogs. Cortisone-type drugs will relieve the symptoms of the allergic reaction. Injections of flea allergy extracts have also been useful in helping certain dogs with their flea allergy.

Hot Spots
Hot spots, known medically as “Acute Moist Dermatitis”, is a troublesome skin condition in certain longhair breeds of dogs including Saint Bernards, Newfoundlands, Malamutes, Collies, and German Shepherds. Many types of skin irritation can cause the dog to inflict self trauma to the skin. A cycle of itch/scratch, itch/scratch, itch/scratch develops.

Round, moist ulcerated areas are created in the skin by the dog’s licking, chewing, or scratching. Flea bites, flea allergy, and burs in the coat are common causes of hot spots. In certain cases, the underlying cause can never be found.

Therapy is directed at removing the underlying cause, breaking the itch/scratch, itch/scratch cycle, and effectively drying up the ulcerated area. Small hots pots may be treated at home with preparations that are drying and soothing to the skin. Products which contain camphor or menthol have these effects. Vinegar is a mild astringent which also will dry the affected areas. Large areas, however, are best to be treated by your veterinarian.

Ringworm
Ringworm, medically referred to as “Dermatomycosis”, is a fungus infection of the skin, most commonly found in young animals. Circular or irregular areas of hair loss occur on the face, body, and legs. The skin in affected areas is usually dry and scaly. This disease can be transmitted from animal to animal, from soil to animal, and from animal to man.

Definitive diagnosis is best achieved through culture and identification of the fungal agent. Many chronic diseases that do not readily respond to treatment are mistakenly diagnosed as fungal infections. These mistakes can be avoided by the use of fungal cultures. Therapy is specific and will result in complete remission of the disease. Topical and systemic drugs are used.

6 Steps To Grooming a Wavy or Curly-Coated Sporting Breed

Grooming a dog with a curly or a wavy coat is not as simple as grooming one that has a short and smooth coat. For example, take the “water breeds”. They are sporting dogs with extremely harsh curly coats. Because these dogs typically spend a lot of time out in the field, retrieving items from water, flushing upland game, and serving as all-purpose hunting companions, their coats should be kept short and neat. If not then their long and straggly curls will latch onto every stray; twigs, burr, pieces of debris, etc.

If your wavy or curly-coated dog is to be shown then their coats should be scissored into a neat shape, and this precise method of scissoring the curly coat takes a lot of time and work. Owners who keep curly-coated sporting breeds for hunting and as pets are much more likely to clip them down with an electric clipper to a length of about 2 inches (with the exception of the Curly-coated Retriever, whose coat is short enough that it doesn’t require clipping).

The following are six steps to groom your wavy or curly-coated sporting breed:

1. Before bathing your dog, brush out the entire coat with a pin brush and/or a slicker brush to remove as much dead coat as possible. This will also help eliminate tangle. Remove mats with a mat comb or coat rake, or cut through them with scissors.

2. Next, run a comb through the entire coat to make sure you have removed every tangle. This step may take some time because you do not want to comb too fast and yank out any hair from the skin.

3. Scissor the leg hair evenly, removing excess hair.

4. Cut hair from under the foot and between the foot pads. The foot should look rounded and should blend in with the leg hair, appearing like a powder puff over the foot.

5. Clip down torso to 2 inches, or scissor off fuzz and shape by scissoring the sides to tidy up. Shape the sides and rear to best match the shape of the breed. An imperfect form can be slightly adjusted by the shape in which you trim the curly coat. Make sure to take off just a little at a time, periodically standing back to check the shape of the dog. It is also good to have a picture of a well-groomed specimen of your breeds in order to have a better idea of the proper way of trimming.

6. After the bath, do not blow-dry or brush the body coat. Let the curls or waves air-dry naturally in order for them to stay intact.

Tip: Check Out Dani’s Dog Grooming Book And Discover The Secrets Of Master Dog Groomers And Save Hundreds Of Dollars On Your Dog Grooming Bills Without Even Leaving Your Home!

Are Vaccinations for Pets Really Necessary?

If you have been following the standard guidelines for pet vaccinations you have probably been submitting your cat or dog to a painful shot as well as the anxiety of a visit to the vet every year in an effort to provide them the best health possible.

Vaccinations are a big business. Owners will spend what they are told in order to protect their pets and possibly themselves from contacting scary and deadly diseases such as rabies or distemper.

However, some veterinarians and pet owners are starting to question the wisdom and necessity of annual vaccinations.

Dr. Margie Scherk who runs a veterinary clinic in Vancouver was quoted in a CBC news story as stating that “We have no reason to think a cat’s immune system is different than a human’s immune system. And we don’t get vaccinated every year.”

If this is true, why do vets keep warning us to have our dogs and cats vaccinated annually?

Possibly some encourage the visits for the monetary benefits, but it is also a subject that is still fraught with controversy.

Pet owners in general are not anxious to take risks with such deadly diseases and so until conclusive studies are embraced by the medical field they will continue with annual vaccinations.

On the other hand, some studies have shown that certain vaccines, such as the rabies vaccine, may be linked to an increase in tumors in cats.

Other pet owners have had personal experiences which led them to believe that vaccines in puppies may have been responsible for a higher mortality in a healthy litter.

Until these concerns have been researched further, veterinarians take their own stand on vaccinations. Dr. Kruth, who was also interviewed by CBC, believes that owners should make decisions based on the lifestyle of their pet. He explains that hunting dogs are clearly more at risk for picking up some of these diseases than a pet kept indoors in the city.

How can pet owners make an educated decision? There is a lot of information available online, as well as recommendations from Associations and veterinary schools which may reflect the more recent research. However, most individuals will likely require the experience and recommendation of their family pet’s doctor or shop around to find one who seems to be implementing newer recommendations. In this case most will suggest a three year gap between most vaccinations. There are still some diseases that may require annual shots or even six month shots such as feline leukemia and kennel cough.

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