Dog Health

Terrie Simpson asked:


Almost every home, car, office, and job site has a first aid kit and attendant to attend the needs of the humans. Dog shows and trials have veterinarian hospitals listed for emergencies. But what about the pet which ends up hurt at home, in the car, or at the park? Ambulances and first aid attendants take care of our human needs until we can reach proper medical care. But who takes care of our pets?

We as conscientious owners can be somewhat prepared to help our pet by at least having a first aid kit prepared specifically for pet needs. Another way we can help our pet is by taking a pet First Aid course. Many local veterinarians offer First Aid courses. Some dog clubs also arrange for veterinarians to come teach classes to the group. Also, check with the local SPCA as some branches offer courses and are heavily involved in the community.

Taking a First Aid course will give you some confidence when assessing the medical situation involving your pet. You will also learn some basic skills to use at home for small emergencies and how to prepare yourself and your pet to enable you to transport it to a veterinary hospital in the event of a serious situation. Taking a First Aid course is never a substitute for professional care. If you ever have doubt about a pets health or injury you should never hesitate to contact a professional.

Here is a list of some articles that should be included in a First Aid Kit for your pet. They should be kept in a handy sealed container in the home or in the car. Don’t forget to take it with you when traveling.



Gauze pads (based on the size of your dog)

Gauze rolls -not only to bandage but to possibly muzzle your dog

Cotton balls

Q-tips

Blunt nose scissors -to cut away long hair and tape

Tweezers

Thermometer

Adhesive tape -athletic type is the best

Sterile water

Alcohol (99% solution)

Hibitane soap (4% solution)

Hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) -to induce vomiting or cleaning wounds

An old sock -to protect bandaged feet

Cohesive flexible bandage -great for wrapping a wound and not having it pull hair like adhesive bandages

Veterinary ointment for small wounds and burns

Eye drops or ointment

Ear cleanser and dryer

Spoon or syringe for administering fluids

Towel or blanket -serves many purposes: controlling temperature, transporting the pet, controlling the pet

Zip lock bags -to contain urine or fecal matter -to keep bleeding paws from staining your clothes, etc.

Quarters

Your veterinarians name and phone number written down on a sheet with

Your name and your dog’s name written down as well. Any medications your dog usually takes.



Other useful items to include are Maalox, Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismal and buffered aspirin. Never administer without first consulting with your veterinarian for the dosage and proper usage based on the needs and size of your dog.

Watch the expiry dates and replace when necessary for optimum effect of the medicines. And most importantly, remember self diagnosis is your worst doctor. When in doubt always consult with your local veterinarian.



Jordan

Terrie Simpson asked:


I’m a new mother again. My daughter just gave me an early Christmas present, a puppy. So over the course of the next few articles we will touch on puppy care. Christmas, Easter, Valentines, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day usually bring an increase to a few families. No doubt there may be a few other families needing some pointers in the near future.

Owners of newly acquired pets should obtain the medical history of the pet and contact their veterinarian to set up a schedule for worming and vaccinations. Some breeders and pet stores have already started the worming and vaccinations prior to the adoption release and will provide you with the information. All pets adopted from the SPCA have been wormed and given vaccinations. They will also recommend you contact your veterinarian to follow up on worming and vaccinations.

Most reputable breeders initiate worming treatments at 2 weeks, and repeat at 4, 6, and 8 weeks, just prior to releasing the pet for adoption. On a newly acquired pet that has no history of de-worming contact your veterinarian to set up and immediate schedule of de-worming While consulting your veterinarian on basic worming schedules, you should have your pets stool examined for tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and a blood test done for heartworms.

There are several types of tapeworms, the most common is the flea tapeworm. This tapeworm is most common in residential or urban areas. Dogs ingest it during grooming. The other types are usually transmitted to dogs through eating rabbits, rodents or uncooked meats. Tapeworms look like flattened pieces of rice in your pets stool or attached to the fur in the anal area. Dogs may drag their behinds as an indication of infection. Don’t allow your dogs to ingest raw meats or hunt rodents thus eliminating the opportunity for infection.

Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitos. When a mosquito bites an infected dog, it not only sucks up blood but baby heartworms in the blood. This gets passed along to the next dog the infected mosquito bites. An infected dog may show signs of a chronic cough, laboured breathing, listlessness, and is easily tired during exercise. Once your veterinarian has determined your dog is free of heartworm infection he/she will begin a regular preventative medication program.

Roundworms live in the dogs intestines and live by sucking blood. Puppies often are infected through the placenta of the mother. This is why de-worming is usually begun at 2 weeks into the life of the puppy. Pets infected with roundworms usually have bloated bellies and rough looking coats. Your pet may show signs of vomiting, diarrhea, and colic. If left untreated a severe infection could damage the brain, liver, or lungs.

Hookworms attach themselves onto the intestinal lining with hook-like teeth. As this worm feeds on your dog’s blood, it moves around continually leaving bleeding sores. Bloody, mucus-laden diarrhea is an indication your dog may have a hookworm infection. This worm infection can cause anemia, weight loss, skin problems, rough coat, weakness, and impair the growth and physical development in puppies.

To prevent infection of any type of worm it is important that you do not let your dog drink stagnant pond water, ingest other dogs feces, rabbits or rodents, raw meats, garbage, or bones it may find on walks. Also, do not let your pet play in possible areas infected by mosquitos or other dogs. And last, but not least, have your dog examined and put on a regular preventative treatment program by your veterinarian.



Martin

David Beart asked:


Animals can bring years of happiness and companionship into our lives. Children, adults, and senior citizens spend their lives caring for companion animals with much love. However, if a pet needs extensive medical treatment or an operation, pet owners can easily accumulate several thousand dollars in veterinarian bills and countless hours of worry. To help prevent large expenditures for companion animals and reduce worry, pet owners are taking out insurance policies that cover routine care, accidents, and major illnesses. Pet insurance will help protect your pet’s health.

A Pet Insurance Policy Should Be Promptly Put Into Effect

Many pet owners wait until their pets are several years old before taking out a pet insurance policy. This is a mistake; a policy should be put into effect as soon as the animal arrives in the home. Policies not only include accidents and illness, but routine care that includes office visits, x-rays, prescriptions, and medical procedures can be covered.

Pet Insurance Saves Money

While there may be co-payments attached to many medical procedures, pet insurance policies help dog owners save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars when a pet needs extensive medical treatment. Having a pet insurance policy in place can even prevent the animal from having to be euthanized due to a pet owner’s inability to cover extensive medical costs.

Insurance Policies Provide Security

If an animal becomes ill or needs an operation, a valid, pet insurance policy will immediately alleviate much of the stress associated with pet illnesses. When an insurance policy is in place, it is easier for pet owners to cope with and pay for a beloved pet’s illness. Instead of worrying about a dog’s sudden, unexpected illness and the resulting medical costs, a pet owner can rely upon an insurance policy to assume some of the burden associated with a pet’s illness.

Pet Insurance Covers Many Types Of Animals

Most people assume that pet insurance will only cover treatment for cats and dogs. There are many policies that now cover common household pets, as well as exotic animals. The coverage varies depending on the carrier and individual policy. When taking out a pet insurance policy, pet owners need to ask about coverage for all their animals.

Extended Cancer Care Coverage Is Available

When someone in the family is diagnosed with a potentially fatal illness such as cancer, the possibility of prolonged illness, exorbitant medical bills, and possible death must be considered. The situation is the same when an animal is diagnosed with cancer. As effective treatments for animal cancers are improving each year, many pets are treated when they contract cancer and their lives are extended or saved.

Pet insurance policies offer basic coverage for cancer, and extended policies provide additional coverage that includes unanticipated treatment and medications.

Not only does pet insurance help pay medical costs and provide security for pet owners, but it also provides peace of mind. Pet owners experience less worry when a pet insurance policy is in effect. The stress of knowing that a dearly loved pet has to undergo medical treatment is reduced by knowing that pet insurance is in place for the animal. Pet insurance can bring security into a home shared by animals and protect your pet’s health.



Bailey

John Williams asked:


Dog food poisoning can come in many different forms and types and can be a frightening time for dogs and pets and can cause then to feel extremely ill with frequent bouts of diarrhea and vomiting. In this article we will discus what causes and can cause food poisoning in dogs and the most common reasons for this.

Before we continue on to see what can cause dog food poisoning it is important that we first explain how food poisoning occurs and how it affects the dogs body. This happens when he dog finds something of interest and that they like the smell of, they then eat this harmful substance and when the body realises that it should not have been consumed and is causing harm to the body, it will try to dispose of it as quick as possible so the dogs body can return to normal again.

To do this the body will first determine in which part of the body or digestive system the offending substance has reached. Normally the dogs body will pick up on the abnormality in food pretty early on when the substance has only reached the stomach or upper intestines but in some occurrences it will have reached a further stage and be in the lower intestines.

The further this unwanted food has moved down the dogs digestive system the more the difference in symptoms will be and this can act as a big clue to the vet in diagnosing the condition successfully. If the symptoms are vomiting then the chances are that the offending food and cause of food poisoning is in the stomach, if there is a case of diarrhea and vomiting then the problem may be situated in the upper intestines, and finally if the symptoms are diarrhea only hen it is probable that the cause is in the lower intestines of the dog.

The most common causes for dog food poisoning are eating ‘gone off’ food from bins in kitchens or outside, or eating food off the floor while taking your dog for a walk, so to help prevent further situations of dog food poisoning, these are the first places you should look and try to prevent. If it continues or you are worried that it might be more serious than dog food poisoning then contact your vet for further advice because diarrhea and vomiting are very common and there are many causes for it, without a proper diagnosis and examination the cause may be hard to find.



Trinity

confused… asked:


i need a little feedback on pet insurances…who is the best insurance provider when it comes to someone who has multiple dogs..VPI is the most popular but it isnt that convincing to me since they increase their cost as dogs age and i’ve heard too many negative comments about there coverage…. can someone help???

Dylan

Colin Philips asked:


All dog owners are familiar with the problems caused by pesky fleas. Fleas are very small wingless insects, brownish red in color, and have sharp mouths by which they obtain blood from their canine hosts. Flea bites usually cause your dog to scratch at affected areas and some dogs are more sensitive than others and can have allergic reactions to flea bites.

In general, fleas do not transmit diseases from dogs to humans, but the potential for this exists and they can and do bite humans as well as dogs and cats.

Fleas and flea larvae live in warm climates and will live until the ground freezes in cooler climates. They can live on in your home well past this time also.

If you suspect that your dog has fleas, you should take him to your veterinarian. Your veterinary staff member will first use a flea comb on your dog.

Flea combs are wide tooth combs and “flea dirt” or dried blood flea excrement is what they are looking for. If this is found, your veterinarian will recommend treatment.

Most veterinarians recommend preventive treatment for fleas as it is much easier to prevent them than to treat them.

For those of you that wish to treat your dog for fleas without commercial products, there are a few recommendations.

One way is to comb your dog with a flea comb regularly. You can put some petroleum jelly on the comb to help fleas stick to the comb. Other people recommend using rubbing alcohol to slow down the fleas so they are easier to catch.

Garlic and Brewers Yeast added as supplements to your dog’s food are recommended by those who prefer the natural approach to treating fleas, however, the benefits of these treatments have yet to be proven.

There are several over the counter flea treatments available at your local pet store. However, many of these contain pyrethrins, which are natural insecticides derived from the chrysanthemum plant.

In the past, this kind of treatment of fleas was the only one available to veterinarians. If you choose to use a product containing pyrethrins, you should be aware of the potential side effects.

There is a potential threat of toxicity when using a product containing pyrethrins, not just to your dog, but to other animals in the house and humans as well. Make sure you follow the label usage directions and if you have any questions about using these products, consult your veterinarian.

Today, there are much safer products available. Most of these products are only available through your veterinarian. One of the most popular treatments for fleas is Frontline Plus by Merial. It is topically applied to the skin of your dog on the back of the neck.

According to Merial, Frontline Plus kills 98-100% of adult fleas within 24 hour and will also kill eggs and larvae to prevent fleas from recurring. Frontline Plus is waterproof for up to 30 days and is safe to use on puppies as young as 8 weeks of age.

Another popular flea treatment is Sentinel by Novartis. Sentinel is a monthly pill that also prevents heartworms. Sentinel kills adult fleas, eggs, and larvae.

Novartis also makes the flea control products Program and Capstar. Program is a flavored tablet that is given monthly, and while it does not kill adult fleas, it does interrupt the flea life cycle by preventing the development of flea eggs.

Program is safe to use in dogs and puppies four weeks of age and older. Capstar is a pill that is given to kill adult fleas. It can be given as often as once per day. According to Novartis, Capstar will begin killing adult fleas within 30 minutes. One pill should kill all adult fleas.

Capstar is safe for dogs and puppies four weeks of age and older.

Remember that it is much easier to prevent fleas than to treat them once your dog has them. As with all medications, follow the advice of your veterinarian.

If you need more information about fleas and flea prevention, contact a member of your veterinary staff or pet professional.



Camila

Kelly Marshall asked:


Every dog owner wants to ensure that his or her dog lives in the pink of health. It is only natural for us to wish for our dogs’ good health because, after all, they are our best friends. However, despite of having the best interests in our minds, we often fail to give the right kind of health care for our dogs.

Read on to find out how you can keep your dog in the best of health:

Dogs have an in built ability to take a certain amount of care for themselves. There are a number of natural ways which keep the dog in great health. They are blessed with a natural healing system which, to a great extent, repairs cells, organs and molecules. This natural healing power is something that has ensured the dog’s survival over the centuries, before man started embracing the dog into his daily life and devising ways to care for his pets. Since there is an in built natural care system in dogs, it is our duty to enhance it through our love and care, rather than repress this inherent quality through our artificial methods.

Natural healing in dogs is something that all of us have witnessed. If you see a skin injury in a dog, you will notice that it disappears after a time period of approximately two weeks. Yes, there is a certain amount of time required for the healing, but the healing does occur and it is something that happens beautifully and has the touch of Nature’s perfection.

In order to take good care of your dog, you have to understand these natural health processes at first.

It is only through a thorough understanding of the natural processes which will show us the way of taking good care of our dogs. Every single day, the dog’s body is repairing some kind of minor damage or the other. The numerous cells, organs and molecules in the dog’s body are quick to sense damage, however small it may be, and start working on it.

There is an innate capability of healing that dogs are born with. But as responsible and caring owners, we must create ambiences which will enable the dog to heal itself to its full potential. This can be accomplished by giving our dogs a healthy diet. It is through a healthy diet, proper exercise and love and care that we can give them the best condition for staying healthy and healing themselves.

Another thing that you must ensure for your dog is regular check ups. Take your dog to a veterinarian regularly in order to check for health disorders. In cases of extreme illnesses, do not leave things to natural healing. For example, if your dog breaks its paw, you have to go for surgery immediately.

Just making sure that your dog gets these things mentioned above and you will be happy to learn that your dog will be able to live a long and healthy life. After all, that is all that we as dog lovers want, a happy, healthy and barking long life for all our dogs.



Avery

John Williams Dog Training asked:


Your dog’s fur is a very important aspect of your dogs life, keeping it clean and in good shape is a good way to keep your dog happy, healthy, and clean. If you don’t keep your dogs fur in good shape it will only be a mater of time before tangles and knots appear in your dog’s coat picking up insects, pests, and causing discomfort for your dog.

Different dogs have different types of fur and with so many cross breeds and different looking dogs, naming all the different types of fur would be impossible. There are many different types of dog fur, some will look after themselves more than others but the general rule is that a longer dog coat will normally tangle and know easier than others.

To maintain your dog’s fur and keep it looking as it should, lots of grooming may be needed so this should be taken into account when buying a new dog. But grooming does not need to be a chore you have to do for your dog because grooming is proven to be a great bonding between owner and dog and creates trust and comfort for your dog making them a lot easier to train.

Step one is to get a good comb for your dog ensuring that there are no sharp edges and that your dog is comfortable with you using it without hurting him/her. Your vet or local pet shop many be able to help you and give you advice with choosing the correct comb but this will be a deciding point in whether your dog will enjoy you doing it or not.

After you have chosen your comb, grooming should happen often and you should do it thoroughly each time, ensuring all knots and angles are removed, if you haven’t yet combed your dog’s fur then it may be difficult to start so do a bit at a time to ensure you don’t discourage your dog and make them not like the grooming process.

After the initial combing, the more often you groom your dog the easier it will be, leaving it for long periods of time is not advised because this means it is more likely to hurt your dog when it eventually does get done. If your dog is finding it tough going then maybe a dog bath is needed to make it easier to detangle and add to your dog furs health.



Jack

DogDayDillemas asked:


One of the dogs I’m considering adopting is said to be between 2-3 years old (male lab). He already has a lot of grey around his muzzle and neck. Is this any indication of how quickly he’s aging? Would a black lab that doesn’t grey that early age slower (live longer healthier) then one who grays so young?

Samantha

Chargers Chick asked:


I was feeding my great danes diamond brand dog food for breakfast and then again for dinner mixed w/ pedigree canned dog food. One of my danes has been completely uninterested in the food. She’d let her food sit in the bowl until she was so hungry she’d finally eat it. Well then one day I ran out of food but the feed store was closed so I had to buy from the grocery store. I got them Gravy Train and they love it. Even my girl who always eats as a last resort licks up every last bite. I think I might stick w/ the Gravy Train - they seem to really get excited about it, but I thought the Diamond brand might have more nutritional value since it is sold at the feed store. What do you dog lovers out there think?

Roger