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Diabetic Dogs: Keeping The Disorder Under Control

Robert Runkel — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:10:20 +0000

In the same way that millions of people cope with diabetes, so too, does the disease affect canines. Specifically, the disorder is called diabetes mellitus (DM). An insulin deficiency prevents your pooch’s body from metabolizing glucose effectively. There are two varieties of DM: Type I and Type II. The former is the most prevalent type (99% of dogs with DM suffer from this type) and occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin. The latter occurs when insulin is manufactured but your pooch’s body isn’t able to use it properly.

In this article, we’ll describe the warning signs that may suggest your canine has developed diabetes mellitus. It’s a potentially life-threatening condition, so catching it early is critical. We’ll also explain how the disease is diagnosed and treated as well as what you can do at home to help your dog manage the disorder.

Possible Warning Signs

The most common symptoms of DM include a marked increase in the amount of water your canine drinks and as a result, the frequency with which he urinates. You might also notice that he is losing weight even though he maintains a strong appetite. Other signs include a general apathy or decrease in physical activity and the sudden onset of blindness.

Treatment After Diagnosis

The health of your pooch can decline rapidly once diabetes mellitus develops. His body’s inability to process glucose effectively can lead to severe dehydration and other health issues. It is important that you have a veterinarian perform a full physical exam if you notice any of the warning signs described in the section above.

The veterinarian will ask you about your dog’s eating routine as well as his elimination activity. You’ll also be asked to describe any changes in his weight and disposition. Then, a urine analysis is performed to identify possible infections and review glucose levels.

Once diabetes mellitus has been diagnosed, your veterinarian will teach you how to administer daily insulin injections for your pooch. He or she will also create a diet and exercise routine that will help your canine manage his weight. During the first several weeks of treatment, the amount of insulin administered will likely change. Most veterinarians prefer to start cautiously with small doses and increase them gradually.

What You Can Do At Home

Providing care for your dog involves administering daily insulin shots (sometimes, twice daily) as well as any other medications that your veterinarian has recommended. You’ll also need to be vigilant regarding your canine’s eating and exercise routine in order to ensure he maintains a healthy weight level. If your dog experiences an insulin overdose (he might seem weak or disoriented), give him food right away.

As noted, diabetes mellitus can be potentially deadly. However, once it has been diagnosed, you can help your dog live a healthy, happy, and problem-free life.

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Correct Dog Food Is The Key To A healthy Pet

David E. Broadhead — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:27:36 +0000

Everyone wants their pet to be healthy. The diet of your pet dog plays a crucial role in keeping it healthy and enraptured. It’s important that you be highly careful in picking the dog food for your pet. Read on for some considerations and suggestions about choosing dog food.

The prime aspect is to be conscious of what your dog is eating. On the packing of dog food you’ll find a list of all its ingredients. Ensure that you go thru this list before purchasing the dog food. Also make sure that the dog food does not include any such ingredient which is harmful to your particular breed of dog. Dog foods which have any meat by-product, chicken by-product, poultry by-product by-product beef or bone meal in the first five ingredients might not be suitable for all sorts of dogs.

Besides ingredients; another thing to be watched out for is the nutritive value of dog food. It’s essential the product must have acceptable quantity of all the essenatial nutrients. In addition to checking the nutritional value; it is suggested that you should always check the percentage of calories as present in a dog food. If a specific dog food is observed to be running high on the calorific content; its better to refrain from purchasing such dog food.

The dog food has to be selected in accordance to the nutritive duty of your dog. This criterion of selection is imperative because different races of dogs have varied requirements of nutrition. It has been observed that the smaller dogs are more in need of carbohydrates. On the other hand the dogs which are huge in size need more of minerals and vitamins quantity. So first update yourself about the nutritive wants of you dogs. Only then buy a dog food which is able to meet the desired nutritional requirement.

In the process of selecting dog food, you must also watch out about the preservatives employed in the dog food. There were cases of companies selling dog food with chemicals which are damaging for your dog. The usual suspects here are BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin. It is recommended that you select dog food which has Vitamin C as preservative.

Always select safer dog foods. For this it is essential You need to sometimes go in for foods that are APHIS approved. It has been found that the foodstuff which have APHIS certification are high on safety level as compared to the dog foods that have no such validation. This is foods that are APHIS approved foods have human grade ingredients in them. Such foods thus give you an assurance that they aren’t dangerous for your pet. A trip to a vet can also prove very helpful as he / she may suggest the food brand that can work for you pet in the right demeanour.

Selecting dog food with extra care and caution is critical. While the wrong dog food could deter the overall health of your child, the right food can play a big role in keeping your pet healthy. So, watch out when selecting dog food.

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Dogs Urinary Problems:Don’t Overlook These Top 5 Signs Your Dog Has Bladder Problems

Kate Rieger — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:00:21 +0000

Can you tell when your dog is not feeling well? Chances are you can. Most dog owners are in tune to their pets, and will observe the behavioral changes that can occur when their dog is sick. In dogs, urinary problems can be hard to spot, especially if your dog urinates in the yard, instead of on a walk. Here are five most key signs exhibited by dogs with urinary problems.

1. “Accidents” in a housebroken pet. If your adult dog is suddenly having accidents indoors, this is a sure sign that something is wrong. In adult dogs urinary problems will often present first in this way, and may be accidentally assigned to a behavioral problem.

2. Straining to urinate. If your dog is having difficulty producing urine, or seems to be straining, a urinary problem may be the culprit. With dogs, urinary problems can be painful, just like they are with humans. If your dog is reluctant to urinate, it may be because it is painful for him to do so.

3. Change in activity levels. If your normally energetic and rambunctious dog is suddenly lethargic and sleepy, this is a strong clue that he is not feeling well. If your dog is exhibiting extreme lethargy, you should see your vet right away.

4. Needing a walk more (or less) often. One of the early signs dogs with urinary problems will exhibit is a need to go “out” more often. Your dog may be feeling an urgent need to relieve himself, but be unable to do so because of a urinary problem. Some dogs may do the opposite-and stop indicating they need a walk entirely. You should know how often your dog urinates normally in order to spot any behavioral changes.

5. Drinking a lot more water than usual. If your dog has been very active, or it is hot outside, he will naturally need more water. If your pet is drinking extra water in cold weather, unrelated to activity, this could be a sign of dehydration. Dogs with urinary problems are likely to become dehydrated, and may drink excessive amounts of water.

Certainly observing a dog’s urinary symptoms is the first step in recognizing a problem condition. You will need the guidance of your veterinarian to determine the severity, prognosis, and treatment. Your vet take blood and urine tests as well as perform a physical examination along with asking you some questions about your dog’s recent behavior or change in behavior.

If your dog is exhibiting one of the signs listed above you should visit the vet to see what is going on. Early detection and treatment is key to curing your dog’s urinary problems. Use a homeopathic remedy to boost your pet’s immune system. Urinary problems are easy to prevent if you catch them early, and may be eliminated entirely with dietary and herbal support. Find these easy to use remedies at http://www.Pet-Natural-Remedies.Com.

Canine Kidney Disease – Why Dog Get Kidney Problems

Kate Rieger — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:22:46 +0000

Canine kidney disease is a very serious illness that affects many pooches. It can become life threatening very rapidly and there are a number of things that cause the problem. Below you will find out what some of the usual causes of canine kidney disease are.

Bacteria is a major cause of kidney disease in dogs. It is pretty common for a dog to suffer from urinary tract infections. Infections like this are caused by bacteria that get in through the urethra and make it to the bladder. When these infections go untreated, then the bacteria can get into the kidneys. There, it will cause damage and loss of function which is irreversible.

Trauma is another common cause of kidney failure in dogs. If your dog is hit by a car or kicked hard enough it could cause kidney failure. Fungal infections can also cause trauma to the tissues of the kidney. There are two main fungal infections that often cause kidney damage, and these are blastomycosis and canine valley fever.

Obstructions in the bladder or urinary tract can also damage the kidney of your dog. These obstructions are most commonly caused by bladder or kidney stones. Stones like this are prone to becoming contaminated with bacteria, which then increases the infection risk. When an obstruction blocks the ability for urine to flow freely, then it can become life threatening in only a day or two.

If your dog ingests toxins, this can also cause kidney disease. It is the job of kidneys to filter toxins but when a toxin is too strong, it can cause them to shut down. The most common toxin ingested by dogs is antifreeze, because it has a sweet taste that dogs like. Other things that can cause kidney failure if ingested are heavy metals, rat poison, some types of plants and turpentine. Keep all of these things out of reach of your dog.

Some types of medications that your dog must take can cause damage to the kidneys over time. You can avoid this by only giving your dog all natural medications for whatever medical problem they are having.

As you can see, canine kidney disease has a variety of sources. Some of these can be prevented, and others cannot. The most common cause of kidney failure in dogs is old age, and this cannot be treated. However, as long as you take care of your dog well, they shouldn’t have to get kidney disease for any other reason.

To maintain a quality life for your dog keep your eyes and mind open to changes in his activity and behavior. When he is sick he needs your emotional support and strength to help him through the rough times of canine kidney disease. Consider boosting his diet with healing herbs from http://Pet-Natural-Remedies.com.

The Most Common Causes of Ear Infections in Dogs

Heather Fox — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 09:57:06 +0000

Introduction – The Anatomy of the Canine Ear

A dogs ears are the same as a persons ears in that their main function is hearing. Dog ears just do not look like peoples ears. The outside part of the ear is called the pinna. In some dogs it is floppy (like a Basset Hound) and in some dogs it stands up (like a Corgi). The pinna helps to funnel sound into the ear canal. Whereas people have a straight ear canal, the ear canal in the dog is a little L shaped. It is made up of the vertical (descending) canal and the horizontal canal. The horizontal canal ends at the eardrum, or tympanic membrane. The eardrum is a transparent membrane that separates the external ear from the middle and inner ear.

Common Causes of Dog Ear Infections

The most common ear infection in dogs is an infection of the external part of the ear including the horizontal and vertical canals. This type of infection is called otitis externa. Otitis externa in dogs is really only caused by three things, namely ear mites, bacteria and yeast.

Otodectes cynotis or ear mites are the cause of this ear infection. It is most commonly found in puppies, but can be contracted at any age. It is highly contagious and is transferred from one infected animal to the next. These mites can also live on the head and neck.

Staphylococcus is the most common cause of bacteria related ear infections. Malassezia is the most commonly seen cause of yeast related ear infections. These two types of infections are seen more frequently than ear mite infections. However, there are predisposing factors that make your dog susceptible. They include:

Ear Canal Conformation – If a dogs ear is longer or smaller than normal, this will allow for moisture and debris to become trapped more easily, thus resulting in infection.

Over Abundance of Hair in the Canal – This excess amount of hair is the perfect tool for trapping debris and holding onto water which can lead to an infection.

Residing in Humid Climates or Swimming – In a humid environment, water from the air can become trapped in the ear. In addition, a dog that swims can end up with water retained in both the horizontal and vertical canals, both of which can lead to infection.

Floppy or folded over pinnae – Pinnae that cover the opening of the vertical canal may result in retention of water and debris which can lead to an ear infection.

Allergies to Food – Not only will food allergies cause skin problems; they can also alter the environment of the ear canal. When this happens excess moisture is retained and results in ear infections.

Seasonal or Inhalant Allergies – This is also known as Atopy. If a dog has an allergic reaction to grass, trees, mold, dust and other environmental factors it can affect the environment of the ear canal. When this occurs, moisture accumulates creating an ear infection along with skin afflictions.

Systemic Diseases – Some diseases of the endocrine system, such as hypothyroidism, change the environment of the skin and decrease the ability of the immune system to fight off infection. The combination of these things can lead to ear infection.

A Growth or Foreign Object – If there is an abnormal mass or some kind of foreign particle in the ear, it can trap debris and moisture causing an ear infection.

Over Ear leaning – If a dog’s ears are cleaned too often, excess water and cleanser can be left behind. These two things can trap debris and eventually lead to an ear infection.

Heather Fox is an experience veterinarian who loves to share her knowledge about Dog Diseases Symptoms. She has an online classroom at Clivir.com where you can find more of her articles about Ear Infections in Dogs.

Dog Dental Disease Symptoms and Care

Heather Fox — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:30:25 +0000

It is very common for any dog over the age of three to have some form of dental disease such as tartar or gingivitis. In fact, statistics state 85%. This is why dental disease is one of the most common canine afflictions. The most common symptoms include:

Halitosis or Bad Breath

Bleeding gums

Display of blood on chew toys

As the progression of gingivitis and dental disease progress, other symptoms will appear. These include:

Not wanting to eat

Excessive Drooling

Difficulty picking up food or chewing hard food

Discomfort when opening mouth

Enlargement of the lymph nodes under the jaw

Swelling on the face underneath the eye

With advanced dental disease; it is possible for bacteria from the mouth to spread to other organs and cause infections. Organs which may be affected include the heart, kidneys, and brain.

The Veterinary Visit ” Diagnosis and Treatment of Dental Disease

Generally, a physical examination performed by your veterinarian can determine if your dog has dental disease. All that is needed is a thorough view of the inside of the mouth and teeth. However, tartar below the gum line cannot be seen by the naked eye. For this, your veterinarian will require X-rays. This procedure will require your dog to undergo general anesthesia. This is typically performed during the treatment process as both require anesthetic.

The best way to treat gingivitis and tartar accumulation is with a professional veterinary cleaning. This procedure is usually an outpatient procedure that is done in the veterinary office. It requires general anesthesia.

Under sedation, the veterinarian will clean and polish your dogs teeth both above and below the gum line. This is done in exactly the same manner a human dentist cleans and polishes peoples teeth.

If severe dental disease and gingivitis are present, x-rays of the teeth and jaws should be taken while the dog is under anesthesia to have its teeth cleaned. This allows assessment of the health of the jawbone and root of the tooth and helps in preparing a treatment plan. In some cases, where there is an abscess or severe infection under or around the tooth root, a tooth may need to be pulled. X-rays of the jaw allow the veterinarian to decide which teeth may or may not need to be pulled. Most dogs do very well after having teeth pulled. A great many of them can even continue to eat dry food after losing a large number of teeth.

Many owners opt not to have their dogs teeth removed. Instead, they choose to visit a veterinary dental specialist where root canals and other procedures can be performed.

Dog Dental Disease Prevention

The best way to prevent tartar accumulation and gingivitis is with daily brushing. Use special toothpaste made only for dogs along with a soft toothbrush when brushing your dogs teeth. Do not use human toothpaste as it was not meant to be swallowed and foams too much. The video below contains a detailed description of how to brush your dogs teeth.

Heather Fox is an experience veterinarian who loves to write and share about her experience and knowledge about her job. She started an online classroom at Clivir.com where she provide more information about Dog Dental Disease Treatment and Demodectic Mange in Dogs.

How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Need?

Thomas Clark — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:00:42 +0000

Dogs are still viewed as a man’s best friend, even though many of them would like to eat the remote control. It is because they have that characteristic of being dynamic, but they are at home with a television addicted couch potato. This mismatch can make for a strained human relationship – or a really sad dog.

If you have decided to bring home a dog, there are physical activity levels that you should be able to think about since it will determine the factors needed by the dog to keep him fit not just physically but also emotionally. Having a dog that needs walking twice daily can somehow give those idle adults the kind of physical exercise that for so many years, they have been taken for granted. Active dogs need active keepers, but if they have been matched with lazy folks, a change of ways is badly needed – nevertheless, that can’t be easily done. The dog will be the one to stomach the consequences of having a idle keeper as he won’t be able to get what he genuinely calls for in a regular outside time since the keeper is more likely to slacks off on walking.

You should know that the quantity and kind of physical exercise that you give to your dog is not the same as giving him the quantity of physical activity that he needs everyday and both should be catered to. The time to walk, run, jump and unwind is what each and every dog needs for every single day. Walking on a lead to a park or just around your neighborhood is also one way of doing this. You don’t have to put your dog on a leash to let him enjoy the freedom of running and playing if you have a home with a fenced in yard. Mobility limitations can sometimes be a problem of some older adults and if this is the case, choosing a dog that calls for a lesser daily activity is the best thing to do. Active dogs may find individuals who are fond of going out-of-doors to have fun or relax after a day’s work to be ideal owners that are suitable for them. Meeting at the end of the day is what both the keeper and the dog gladly anticipates, when they can play pursuit in the park or go for a run together.

Larger dogs tend to be more physically active. Those coming from the breeds of working or hunting dogs may comprise those kinds of dogs. They have an innate desire to be busy and work off energy. Dogs which are born for movement and agility may include the Doberman, Beagle, Irish Setter, German Shepherd and Greyhound, so, the longing to have daily exercises is already expected by them. Size can fool you as the extremely large dogs like the St. Bernard and Bull Mastiff, who can easily outweigh their keepers, are low physical activity dogs. The movies may have presented you with a St. Bernard doing some rescue operation, what you don’t recognise is that to sleep in front of the fireplace is the physical activity that usually takes up most of the dog’s time.

Small dogs like Poodles and Chihuahuas can live in small spaces and forgo the daily long walk in the park, but these dogs can be high in activity even just around your house because they have in them some high-strung temperaments which are already part of their breed. Granted, their activity may be running aimlessly around the room, jumping on your guests or bouncing on you, but once they’re already out of energy, all they do is simply behave. That’s the point where the little dogs crawl back on your lap or on their sumptuous pillow for a well-deserved nap to recharge.

There may seem like so much to know before buying a dog – and there is! By taking time to make a profile of the dog that best fits your living space, personality, and personal activity level, you’ll have a better match for a lasting relationship.

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Dog Health Care

doggirl — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:38:52 +0000

dog health care is such a vast domain that you would need really specific problems to focus on in order to cover the issues you’re interested in. Among the main dog health care problems we may say that the most frequent ones are fleas, worms and poisons. If these are not professionally taken care of, other very serious troubles may be expected. Worms and external parasites waste the dog’s body of nutrients and energy; plus dog health care providers insist that neglected dogs are full of toxins because of the parasite overgrowth.

Here are some dog health care tips to be used when dealing with worms, fleas or various poisons the dog comes into contact. Puppies need de-worming as early as two or three weeks with the procedure repeated at four or six weeks of age. dog health care specialists claim that worm immunity in puppies doesn’t appear sooner than six months of age, and the worm larvae pass from mother to puppies. In order to meet the dog health care requirements you need to remove all stools from your garden, keep the lawn cut short and make sure you feed your dog on thoroughly cooked meat.

Fleas are the next dog health care problem under discussion here, and to a certain extent they are responsible for the possible tapeworms they may carry. Fleas and lice are easy to deal with; thanks to the many shampoos, collars or special drops, this dog health care issue has become piece of cake. Do not use human shampoo to wash your dog as it will completely degrease the fur and afterwards the dog’s skin would have to secret even more oil to compensate for the deficit. Anti-flea sprays, powders, collars or any other products can be purchased from any dog health care store. However, it’s good to ask the vet in the first place too.

Make sure that you keep your dog away from any potentially harmful substances that may lead to poisoning. dog health care specialists point out that rapid intervention in the poisoning cases is crucial for saving the animal’s life. If you think your dog may have ingested some toxic chemical, try to give it some fresh milk as a first aid measure and call your vet immediately. For more dog health care tips you can visit www.dog-training-expert.com, a professional and resourceful site for dog owners and breeders.

Show Dog Shampoo, Watch Him Scatter

doggirl — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:35:30 +0000

If you are seriously considering showing your dog, they need to be used to baths. You also need to find the right show dog shampoo for your dog. Not all dog shampoos are alike – just as not all people shampoos are alike. If you have a show-quality dog who is terrified of baths, seriously consider getting professional training in order to avoid injuries to you, your dog and your house.

Make Bath Time Treat Time

To make your dog look foreword to bath time, find out what his favorite treat is. Save that treat for only after (or even during) a bath. Make sure everyone else in the household follows this same procedure. You also want to talk calmly to your dog, especially if he is nervous. Please don’t shout or scold. That will only make your dog more nervous and make getting him to tub even harder.

One of the advantages you have in training your dog to look forward to bath time is that they love attention. Getting a bath, for some dogs, is a way that they soak up all of their owner’s attention. All dogs love to please their people. In praising and giving treats to your dog, he will eventually equate bath time with goods things.

Don’t Over Bathe Your Dog

Don’t bathe your dog too much, no matter how gentle a show dog shampoo you use. Too much bathing will not only strip the dog of his natural skin oils, but will make him shed more dander. You should bathe your dog only if they stink to high heaven or a few days before a show.

Don’t bathe the dog the night before the show or the day of. The coat will not have time to settle down and look its best. In some cases, the coat won’t even be completely dry yet. Be sure your show dog shampoo is for show dogs – people shampoo is usually too harsh for dogs.

So Many To Choose

There are nearly as many kinds of show dog shampoos as there are breeds of dogs. There are show dog shampoos specifically formulated for specific colors or coat textures. Be sure your show dog shampoo will be appropriate for your dog. Avoid shampoos and conditioners that have an extremely strong smell. They will be irritating to your dog. There are even show dog shampoos for dogs with skin conditions. A spray detangler can help make the bath easier on your dog, too.

Dog Health Food

doggirl — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:24:55 +0000

How many dog owners know something about dog health food when they buy their pets? If they don’t get informed about dog’s nutritional needs, they are very likely to be confronted to all sorts of health problems that result from the improper food they feed their animals on. There are special dog health food tips that a vet can tell you about, since you may not know very much about the digestive needs of your pet. First of all, in order to meet the requirements for dog health food, you have to be sure there are minerals, calcium in particular and quality protein in the diet.

As it is very comfortable, we usually feed our four-legged friends on special dog meals, but this is not always dog health food. It is usually prepared by blending hemoglobin powder, with bones and meat, all processed at very high temperatures. Then, there are flavors and vitamins added, and this is the dog health food we find in the supermarket. For all dog owners I need to say that this is not great at all for your pet. Try to combine processed meals with dog health food you prepare at home.

What should real dog health food be like? First of all, have fresh meat and boil it for around ten minutes. Thus, you destroy the unfriendly bacteria while also preserving all the nutrients intact. Then, cut it into small pieces, it may seem natural that your dog should tear it alone, but you don’t want any mess around the house. For the calcium in dog health food, you may use a natural supplement such as ground egg shells or calcium powder available in drug stores. Try to mix the pieces of meat with a little water for a better hydration of your pet.

As for bones, I know all dogs like them, but research shows they don’t make the best dog health food at all; on the contrary there may be side effects and even ailments. Thus, never feed your dog chicken or pig bones. The only ones that are fully digested and make real dog health food are the leftovers from your cooking veal for instance. Another tip many people don’t know is that for dog health food, not only proteins are necessary, vitamins are also important. A little grated carrot added together will pass unnoticed but it’ll be of great help for the pet’s well-being.