Posted on 06 July 2010. Tags: dental care for dogs, dog breed, Dog Dental Care, Dog Health, good dog, Ownership Advice, Tips and Advice
Dental care for dogs has come a long way and includes a variety of options for home dental treatment that will actually prevent tartar build up and early tooth loss. In addition the options for dental procedures that can be completed at the vets have also increased dramatically. They now include options for reconstructive jaw surgery to correct misaligned teeth and other congenital problems that lead to dental health issues in dogs.
Home Dental Care for Dogs and Dog Dental Treatment Options
Dental treatments for dogs can be as simple as including a good, safe chew bone or nice fresh joint bone for the dog to chew on. This natural form of dental care is still one of the best for dogs and will prevent the tartar build up that leads to most of the more costly dental procedures.
Some of the more common dental care options and dental treatments that are easy to add to the routine at home include:
• Regular daily or every other day tooth brushing for the dog
• Feeding only dry kibble that will act to scrape tartar off the teeth
• Providing specially formulated dental treatment or dental care treats
• Using rubber or texturized nylon chew toys
How To Provide Home Dental Care for Dogs
Most dogs and puppies will learn to enjoy having their teeth brushed. Start by just running your index finger around the base of your dog or puppies teeth, on both the inside and the outside. Once they are comfortable with this, add a small amount of flavored dog toothpaste. It is really important to never use human toothpaste, dogs really don't like the taste!
The next step in building in a dental care routine is to add either a finger sleeve that slides over your index finger or a soft bristled doggy toothbrush. Both of these items, as well as the dog toothpaste, can be purchased at your local pet store. Start brushing your dogs teeth on a routine basis, they will really start to enjoy this dental treatment, especially with the flavored toothpaste.
Dog Dental Procedures
The most common dental procedures include scaling or removing the tartar from the teeth. This is done by your vet and does require that the dog be fully anesthetized. Since there is some risk involved anytime your dog has to be put to sleep, taking care to keep a good dental routine in place and maintain your dogs overall dental hygiene is important.
Dog dental procedures including scaling, as well as dental care and home dental treatments are all important for your dog. In combination they will help ensure your dog doesn't suffer from any irritation or pain in the gums or mouth for his or her life.
Posted in Dog Health
Posted on 15 June 2010. Tags: dog heat stroke, Dog Heat Stroke and Problematic Breeds, heat, heat stroke, heat stroke in dogs
Heat stroke in dogs can happen to almost any dog although Pugs and other short muzzled dog breeds are the most susceptible to the condition. These include breeds that are known as brachycephalic dogs such as:
- Boston Terriers
- Bulldogs
- Mastiffs
- Boxers
However dogs with heavy, double coats are also at risk if they are exercised or kept in direct sunlight in hot conditions without shade or enough shelter and water.
Signs
The signs of heat stroke in dogs start rather quickly after the dogs are exposed to intense heat or exercising in hot weather, often in about 20 minutes. Signs include excessive panting, drooling, staggering, dry gums, vomiting, diarrhea and disorientation in the early stages followed by bloody saliva and vomit, rapid, very shallow and weakening breaths, seizures, coma and very shortly after this the dog will die if not treated immediately.
Emergency Treatment
Since the biggest concern with heat stroke is that the dog's core temperature is rising, it is absolutely essential to get them out of the heat and into someplace cool. This may be in the shade, in an air conditioned vehicle or ideally in a house. Cool water from a hose or on a cloth can be applied to their feet, body and legs, or even better place your dog in a sink or a bathtub or any suitable container that will hold water and run cool water over his or her entire body. Do not use ice water, this can cause shock and will complicate the recovery. Always support your dog's head as if they are disoriented or slipping in and out of consciousness you need to keep their heads up to avoid inhaling water. This cooling needs to be done immediately at the very first signs. The longer the core temperature stays elevated the greater the chance of long term neurological problems.
Provide cool water but do not force the dog to drink. He or she will when the body temperature has cooled back to normal. Contact your vet immediately as they dog needs to be tested for other health issues that can occur when heat stoke has been a problem.
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Posted in Dog Health
Posted on 29 December 2009. Tags: Breeds/Hybrids/Mixed Breeds, Conditions, dog, dog breed, dog breeding, Dog Care, Dog Collar, Dog Grooming, Dog Neurological Disorders, Dog Neurological Disorders and Conditions, Dog's Health, doggy, dogs, good dog, owner, Ownership Advice, tips, Tips and Advice
Most neurological conditions in dog health issues are directly related to genetic factors. Neurological conditions are most commonly recessive genetic conditions, meaning that both the male and female used in the breeding pair must carry the gene for the disorder for the puppy to have the neurological problem. A great number of these conditions can be managed, however there are not actual cures for these conditions. DNA testing has made identifying affected carrier dogs possible in some breeds, which will helpfully work towards ridding the breeding lines of the recessive genetics.
Posted in Dog Health
Posted on 29 December 2009. Tags: Breeds/Hybrids/Mixed Breeds, Conditions, dog, Dog Bathing, dog breed, dog breeding, Dog Care, Dog Collar, Dog Grooming, Dog Health, dog health issues, Dog Hereditary, Dog Hereditary Conditions, doggy, dogs, Hereditary, owner, tips, Tips and Advice
Although there are a great number of hereditary conditions found in the canine species, a lot of these dog health issues can be successfully managed to have no serious impact on the dog's ability to lead a normal, happy life. Some of the more common hereditary dog health issues include hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), von Willebrand's disease, and conjunctivitis. Although there are serious and fatal hereditary diseases and conditions, the dog health issues listed above are treatable and manageable, plus will be much less severe when identified early rather than later in the dogs life.
The following is a general introduction to the canine hereditary conditions and the dog health concerns faced by a great number of pets every year.
Dog Hip Dysplasia
Almost any breed of dog can have problems with hip dysplasia, although larger breeds are often more at risk for inheriting the condition. Hip dysplasia is actually an irregularity in the hip joint that eventually leads to degeneration and damage of the joint. Dogs can be treated with steroids and oral anti-inflammatories to help manage the condition, plus surgical processes can repair and strengthen the joint. All breeding males and females should be tested for hip and joint problems, especially in the lines where hip dysplasia is known to exist.
Posted in Dog Health
Posted on 29 December 2009. Tags: Breeds/Hybrids/Mixed Breeds, dog, Dog Bathing, dog breed, dog breeding, Dog Care, Dog Collar, Dog Grooming, Dog Health, doggy, dogs, flea eggs, Fleas, Fleas On Dogs?, good dog, owner, tips, Tips and Advice
It was early in the morning, and the sun was already up. My border collie puppies and I had just been outside for their morning routine walk, their tiny feet wet from the heavy morning dew. Another day of hot weather was in the making. The steady hum of local insects were beginning to swarm around the flowerbeds and garden area. As I nonchalantly observed Mother Nature in progress, I saw my dogs scratching from one end to another, with an age-old problem that had not yet shown its ugly head this season. Fleas.
Probably more than my dogs, I hate fleas with a passion. Once they have started their cycle, it is a continuous battle until the first freeze outside. This famous irritable parasite has a reputation that is known to have killed more victims than those who have died in all the world wars. The bubonic plague, which caused the deaths of more than 200 million people in the 14th century, is just one of the many win-win situations caused by this little creature.
The Result of Modern Pollution
Under “Pet-Grub.com” there was article about a Native Canadian woman who stated her forefathers never had a problem with the flea, because “it was basically a result of modern pollution and damage to the environment.” Her tribe was from an area that bordered B.C., Alaska and the Yukon border, and the author of the article was interested in why this woman’s forefathers survived in insect heaven in their early days. The author of the article, along with myself, was very surprised at the answer as most of the world today prides themselves on their cleanliness and sanitary living. Guess we were wrong.
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Posted in Dog Health
Posted on 29 December 2009. Tags: Breeds/Hybrids/Mixed Breeds, dog, dog breed, dog breeding, Dog Care, Dog Collar, Dog Grooming, Dog Health, dog hydrotherapy, doggy, dogs, Hydrotherapy, Hydrotherapy For Dogs, owner, Psychology & Training, tips, Tips and Advice
Hydrotherapy has been used to aid humans for many years. Its benefits are widely acknowledged and its use is commonplace for treatment of numerous ailments. Veterinary medicine adopted hydrotherapy for use with horses, but until a few years ago it was not often used for dogs.
That’s all changing with the development of specialized hydrotherapy centers for dogs and better understanding among veterinary practitioners of the benefits of hydrotherapy.
Hydrotherapy for dogs, also known as swim therapy, uses the buoyancy of water to support your dog’s weight so that he can exercise without impact to his joints. Many veterinarians are now recommending swim therapy as a way to help dogs with hip dysplasia, arthritis, knee injuries, elbow dysplasia, or range of motion problems. Other conditions that may improve through the use of swim therapy are growth problems, muscle degeneration, paralysis and stroke.
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Posted in Dog Health
Dental care for dogs has come a long way and includes a variety of options for home dental treatment that will actually prevent tartar build up and early tooth loss. In addition the options for dental procedures that can be completed at the vets have also increased dramatically. They now include options for reconstructive jaw surgery to correct misaligned teeth and other congenital problems that lead to dental health issues in dogs.
US $34.00
