Dog Obedience Training Blog
Category : Dog Health
Your Dog’s Ears
Grooming is a very important part of caring for your dog’s health, and keeping your dog’s ears clean and free from infection is probably the most important part of a good grooming routine.
Basic Ear Care for Dogs
February 18, 2010, basicearcarefordogs.blogspot.com
Your dog’s ears can be prone to infections and ear mites because of the natural way their ears are constructed. The curves and twists can hide mites, ear wax and irritation. Careful cleaning and maintenance can help to ensure that your best friend has healthy ears. The ASPCA gives easy tips that any pet owner can use safely.
Seborrhea in Dogs and Vitamins
Learn more about this skin disease, and what to do about it.
Seborrhea in Dogs and Vitamins
liquid-vitamins-minerals-humans-pets.com
Seborrhea in dogs is a skin disease that can cause your pets skin to be very dry and flaky, or it can be just the opposite, very greasy. It is believed to be an inherited disease as it generally has a family history.
It usually starts to form when a puppy is between the ages of 12 to 18 months old. The term Seborrhea actually means a scaling or flaking of skin.
There can be two major causes of this condition; primary, which is genetic and thus inherited, or it can be secondary and the result of several underlying causes, but in most cases it will be a nutritional deficiency. With the secondary form, it can affect any breed of dog.
The breeds that seem to be the most affected genetically are German Shepherds, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Dachshunds, Basset Hounds, Terriers, and Spaniels, especially American Cocker and English Springer’s, and well as Miniature Schnauzers.
However, it can also be found in obese dogs of any breed as they will have a more difficult time in properly grooming themselves.
Types of Seborrhea:
There are three types of Seborrhea in dogs; Seborrhea sicca, which is the dry form and will demonstrate dry and scaly conditions in your pet, Seborrhea oleosa, which causes an overproduction of oil in the skin which makes it stink and actually helped to coin the word smelly dog, and Seborrheic dermatitis, which demonstrates both conditions.
Canine Arthritis
courtesy of www.remarkabledogs.com
Most aging dogs become susceptible to arthritis. Read this article to find out how to spot some of the early signs of its onset.
How To Spot Canine Arthritis
The Daily Wag
Like your dog’s pet parents, one of the inevitable issues of old age is arthritis and achy joints. Dogs feel the same type of pain associated with old age as we humans do. Our dogs cannot tell us when they hurt so the task of discovery falls on the pet parent.
Conscientious pet owners are aware of every nuance of behavior their dog demonstrates. The trick is to spot the signs of canine arthritis early so your dog continues a great quality of life throughout their golden years. Here is what to look for:
- Reduced playtime
- Lack of enthusiasm when the leash comes out
- Difficulty getting up
- Climbing stairs one at a time
- Excessive licking of paws or joints
- Less energy and lethargic
How to get smell of skunk off your dog
If your dog has ever come running up to you and you immediately recoil because they reek from the nauseating aroma of skunk, you know how hard it can be to get rid of. But here’s an article that claims to have a remedy.
How to get smell of skunk off your dog
Katrena Mitchell/For the Times Record News
Posted February 28, 2010 at 8:38 a.m.
As I do every night right before bedtime, I let all my dogs out one last time. It was only a few minutes before I smelled the distinct and very strong odor of skunk. With a big groan, I called the dogs to the back door since the smell was really strong at the front door. I gave them each the sniff test. Only two were allowed back into the house for the night — they must have been far away from the mayhem and missed out on the skunk spray.
Slow Motion Dogs
This is in no way an endorsement for Pedigree, but I will have to say it captures the emotion and anticipation we normally only see in an instant from our dogs, so a very entertaining and worthwhile video.
Video – Slow Motion Dogs Catching Food
February 28, 2010 by Kelley
Here’s a wonderfully entertaining commercial showing several cute dogs in slow motion catching treats. The video is phenomenal and anyone who is a dog lover will truly love watching it. I’m not fond of Pedigree dog food, but wow what a great commercial.
Foods Your Dog Should not Eat
There are a number of foods that can be detrimental to your dog’s health and should be avoided. Read this article to find out what some of them are.
Ask a Vet: Grapes, raisins and other foods your dog shouldn’t eat
By DR. FRANCINE RATTNER, For The Capital, Published 02/26/10
Q: I have heard recently that I shouldn’t feed grapes to my dogs. She loves them. What is wrong with grapes?
A: There are lots of treats your dog might love and you would enjoy giving to her, but there a few that can be so toxic that if enough is eaten, they could be fatal. Unfortunately grapes and raisins are on the list of foods to avoid feeding your dog. It has only been in recent years that this has become apparent.
Eating grapes or raisins can cause acute kidney failure in dogs. The reason for this is not yet known. Theories being investigated involve mold, pesticide, or metal contamination.
The toxin seems to be in the grape itself and not the seeds. Reported cases of kidney damage have occurred with the equivalent amount of three ounces eaten by a 10-pound dog. Not every dog that eats grapes will get sick. There seems to be some individual susceptibility to the poisoning, but it is best not to take a chance.
The prognosis for survival is good if you get early treatment after a dog has eaten grapes. This would involve emptying the dog’s stomach and giving it a dose of activated charcoal to absorb any chemicals still in the intestinal tract.
Intravenous fluids are needed to flush the kidneys and continued for 2 or more days, depending on laboratory tests to evaluate kidney damage.
While we are on the subject, there are several other toxic foods you shouldn’t share with your dog.
Reporting an Adverse Drug Reaction
If your dog has been given a medication which appears to have an adverse effect, read this publication to find out what you should do.
How to Report An Adverse Drug Experience
Introduction
Veterinarians and animal owners are encouraged to report adverse experiences and product failures to the government Agency that regulates the product in question. Pretesting by the manufacturer and review of the data by the government does not guarantee absolute safety and effectiveness due to the inherent limitation imposed by testing the product on a limited population of animals. CVM encourages you to contact the manufacturer of a suspect product. Reporting information for the following product categories:
Behavior Changes in an Older Dog
The effects of aging often bring on fears of Alzheimer’s disease in humans. But our aging dogs can display some behavior changes as well. Always contact your veterinarian to determine if these changes require medical attention, or whether they are just a normal part of your dog’s aging process.
Old dog behavior changes
by alexadry, hubpages.com
Senior dogs get Alzheimers too!
Owners of geriatric dogs often call their veterinarian office concerned about their dog’s recent behavior changes. They may report that their dog may wake up in the middle of the night and start howling. Others may report their very well house-trained dog gets up and has accidents around the house or wakes up to drink and then shortly after urinates on the carpet.
I know about these instances as I have personally often taken these calls.
I recall particularly, an owner one day calling concerned about her dog because he started wandering around the home at night bumping into furniture and hardly recognizing her. He would then sleep for most of the day undisturbed. The owner was unable to sleep properly and was very concerned by this recent worrisome behavior. Afterward, the dog also changed behavior, from an outgoing dog he became an overly submissive and timid fellow. Read the rest of this entry »
Doggy Flatulence
courtesy of www.sixwise.com
We’ve all been there. You are relaxing in your easy chair and your furry companion wants to cozy up for a petting session or just settle into your lap for a nap, when all of the sudden, you are engulfed with an aroma that is beyond unpleasant, it’s downright disgusting!
Dog Gas: What Causes Doggy Flatulence … and What Can You do About It?
posted 2/17/10, www.sixwise.com
Does your dog have problems with flatulence that can easily clear a room? It’s nothing personal … just a normal process that occurs when bacteria in your dog’s digestive tract breaks down his food.
However, while some gas is normal, excessive flatulence can be a sign that something is amiss in your dog’s diet.
What’s Causing Your Dog’s Gas?
As in humans, flatulence in dogs is often related to the foods they eat.
It occurs when a food does not get completely broken down in the stomach and small intestine. The food then reaches the large intestine in this undigested state, and bacteria there get to work, essentially breaking the morsel down further.
Product Recall – Nature’s Variety
courtesy of www.ohmidog.com
If you are using this product, please take note of this recall.
Nature’s Variety recalls three frozen products
posted by jwoestendiek, 2/15/10
www.ohmidog.com
Possible salmonella contamination has led to a recall of Nature’s Variety frozen chicken diet for dogs and cats, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA said the Lincoln, Neb., company initiated a voluntary recall of its chicken formula raw frozen diet. The company said the recalled product is limited to:
The recalled dog and cat food was distributed across the United States, with limited distribution in Canada.
