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.

Fish Oil For Dogs

One of my partners called me yesterday, and he wanted to tell me about what one of the participants in our test group had told him. Our test group had tested my ultra pure pharmaceutical grade fish oil for a few months, before it was released, and the female participant that had spoken to my partner was one of our guinea pigs.

The woman is a nurse at a dialysis clinic, is around 50 years of age, widowed, and has two dogs, (and I’m talking real dogs…not those miniature rats that are so popular today), and the dogs are somewhere between 9 and 10 years old – in human years.

She took my pharmaceutical grade fish oil, because the stuff she was taking gave her “fish burps,” which she didn’t like, and she liked the the higher levels of EPA/DHA contained in my formula, which she couldn’t get in the stuff she picked up at the drugstore.

Her primary reason for using fish oil was to reduce arthritic discomfort. At fifty, and being a nurse, she is on her feet for hours at a stretch, and it’s taken its toll on her.

She had been taking my special fish oil formula for a month, when she told us that she had felt a substantial decrease in her pain level. She said it was like having new legs!

Here’s where the story goes to fish oil for dogs.

Her dogs, named Shaggy and Shea, were getting up in age and therefore were not as energetic as they were in their earlier years, and Shea had a bit of limp. After being on the fish oil formula for a month and feeling great, she decided to give the dogs one soft gel each day at the same time time as they got their doggy treats. In only two weeks, the dogs’ energy levels were significantly increased and Shea was walking just fine.

Now I know this isn’t exactly scientific, and I’m certainly not a veterinarian. I’m not really sure what to say, other than it’s a good story. However if it works…I’m not going to stand in the way of her giving fish oil for dogs.

Shea and Shaggy’s mother is not the only person who has discovered that fish oil is a great method for reducing pain associated with common arthritis. Taking pharmaceutical-grade fish oil is a tremendous help for those who are battling all sorts of joint troubles.

I saw a study from Columbia University Medical Center that said omega 3 fatty acids may help reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 19 to 24%. Pharmaceutical grade fish oil can also help with joint, heart, and brain function.

Alzheimer’s is the number one health fear of my generation.

Frequent Diseases in Dachshunds

In reality, there is no disease truly common in Dachshunds The overwhelming majority are born healthy and live long, mostly disease-free lives.Some minor health issues arise for nearly every dog at some point, even those who receive early vaccinations and excellent life-long care.

Nevertheless, some conditions do occur more often in Dachshund than in other breeds.

Problems with the Adrenal Gland

One common disease of the adrenal gland is Cushing’s Disease, or hyperadrenocorticism. In Cushing’s Disease, too much of the hormone cortisol is produced, either by a primary tumor or the adrenal gland, or a malfunction of the pituitary gland, which is the master gland that tells the adrenal gland how much cortisol to produce. The elevated cortisol level results in excessive drinking and urination, a pot-bellied appearance, skin conditions, hair loss and occasionally diabetes. Lab tests are performed to measure the cortisol levels and the ability of the adrenal gland to produce cortisol. Several different drugs can be used to decrease the level of cortisol. On occasion, surgical removal of the adrenal gland may be needed. Cushing’s disease can occur in all breeds of dogs, also.

The opposite condition is called Addison’s disease or low cortisol (hypoadrenocorticism). Whereas, Cushing’s takes some time to present itself, Addison’s disease is a sudden episode of collapse due to an imbalance of the electrolytes and too low of blood sugar (glucose). The sudden illness results in an emergency visit to the veterinarian to correct the imbalances with cortisone injections and fluid therapy. Addison’s  is the most difficult disease to diagnose because the sudden collapse resembles many disorders. Specialized blood tests are necessary to identify both Addison’s and Cushing’s Disease. Treatment of Addison’s disease is life-long treatment with prednisone (cortisone) and electrolytes.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

Several eye diseases can affect Dachshunds, such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy. PRA is a gradual degeneration of the retina, the lining of the back of the eye. The degeneration results with gradual vision loss and blindness. PRA is a genetic trait, and since it is a slow, progressive disease,  these dogs are sometimes bred before the disease is diagnosed, thus perpetuating the disease. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure or treatment for PRA. Other eye diseases that can affect Doxies are cataracts, glaucoma, optic nerve hypoplasia, distichiasis (abnormal eyelashes) as well as other conditions. Regular eye exams can help identify these eye-disorders early.

Intervertebral Disc Disease

By far the most common disease of Dachshunds is related to the discs between the vertebrae (the bones of the spine). The disc is normally gelatinous and provides a cushion between the bones of the back (spine). In Dachshunds, this material sometimes hardens, or calcifies, and sometimes ruptures. The herniated disc causes inflammation and swelling around the spinal cord and nerves. Early signs of a herniated disc are pain, a reluctance to jump up, partial paralysis and sometimes total paralysis or the rear legs,. The majority of them with disc disease can be managed medically with pain medication and anti-inflammatory medications. Holistic medicine, such as chiropractic manipulation and acupuncture, is sometimes used to relieve the pain. Immediate surgery to relieve the pressure on the spinal cord may help restore full function in the legs when there is a complete rupture resulting in total paralysis. The faster the surgery is performed, the greater the chances of full recovery.

Experimental treatments are being tested using laser needles to fuse the disc material to try and prevent the herniation. Being as this is such a common problem in them, I do recommend purchasing health insurance for your pet. Spinal surgery for herniated discs is very expensive and I have had the uneasy task of performing euthanasia on several Dachshunds because the owner’s were unable to pay for the surgery. A few of my patients that were partially paralyzed did recover some function of their legs over time. Some dogs may recover without surgery, but it is impossible to predict.

Vaccination Reactions

Allergic reactions to vaccinations does seem to occur in the Dachshund more often than any other breed. The reaction is usually minor, resulting in swelling of the face and muzzle and sometimes hives. Occasional vaccine reactions can occur with any dog so it is always a good idea to observe your pet for a few hours after their shots. Vaccines have improved over the past few years so reactions are fewer and the benefits of protecting your pet against the diseases outweighs the risks.

With good health care, Dachshunds can lead a long and healthy life. Good dental care, proper diets, preventive health checks, vaccinations, and heartworm/parasite prevention can help your Doxie live longer.  You can find more information concerning your dogs health at LuvUrDog.com as well Dachshund breed gifts.

 

Pet Food Supplement Information

Plain fact;animals need basic nutrition to keep their systems running smoothly.They need nourishment from all-natural sources that can help fill in the nutrient gaps when diet alone isnt enough. For general well-being, there are probiotics to supply friendly bacteria that are essential to the health and balance of the gastro intestinal track.Organic wildcrafted food sources are simply the best sources of antioxidants,which are a major defense against free radicals that can cause oxidative damage to cells responsible for negative changes associated with aging and various health problems.Look for product formulated to give your pet a superior combination to balance their bodys internal ecosystem naturally.

Since they age so much faster then we do , anti-oxidents are of the prime importance as are gastro health to absorb the nutrients. Many claim to be all natural however that has become simply a standard applied marketing term made famous in tha 1970′s health and fitness boom. To get real organic quality pet supplements on has to look fro a food source like Super Blue Green Algae. It is a food source that grows wild and is simply harvested .Therefore having non of the toxic fertilizer stuff found in food sources grown by big corporaete farming operations. It’s processing is freeze dried preserving it in all it’s nutritive integrity.

One starts them slowly at first, so as to introduce their system to the nutrition that will become their life enhancing source. Begin with a small fraction of a teaspoon per day( i.e. puppy-10lbs 1/4tsp, 50-80lbs 3/4-1 tsp ) .They love and enjoy the taste and pet owners everywhere are quick to notice a change in all aspects of their health, mood, coat shine, immune system and overall disposition.

One starts them slowly at first, so as to introduce their system to the nutrition that will become their life enhancing source. Begin with a small fraction of a teaspoon per day( i.e. puppy-10lbs 1/4tsp, 50-80lbs 3/4-1 tsp ) .They love and enjoy the taste and pet owners everywhere are quick to notice a change in all aspects of their health, mood, coat shine, immune system and overall disposition.

Super Blue Green Algae is an excellent source of Beta Carotene,Chlorophyll,amino acids,essential fatty acid,mineral and trace minerals,vitamins,enzyme,as well as the important probiotics for digestion. All contributing towards reducing the aging and degenerative breakdown processes of your pets.Makes for a serious nutritious treat as well as a constant form of pet health insurance. For pedigree breeder types it will soon be your secret feed tip weapon that gives the serious competitive edge.