Archives for Dog Health category

How to Choose a Dog Grooming Clipper

Owning a dog involves more than just feeding and walking him. Dog owners must provide a grooming routine to help keep their pet healthy and happy. Regular grooming at home and with a professional groomer is an important factor in the healthy life of any dog. Your kit should include brushes, combs, nail trimmers, pet shears, a pet trimmer or dog clipper, quality shampoo and conditioner specifically for your pet.

Right now, we will take a look at the dog clipper specifically. There are numerous models to pick from, ranging in different price brackets. From experience, I can attest that the lower the price of the clippers, the more disappointment will result. For a mid-level price, you can get a better quality clipper from a more recognized company, such as Andis or Oster, which will last a longer time and give you better results. Only use pet trimmers specifically designed for animals.

Maintaining your pet’s coat can be a daunting job. If you need help with how to properly trim, brush or clean your pet’s coat, ask your professional groomer or your veterinarian. You should be able to get some advice from your groomer in between their appointments. Regular grooming, both at home and with your professional groomer, will make the experience for you and your dog much more enjoyable.

WHAT TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN LOOKING FOR A PET CLIPPER * A price tag that suits you * Manufacturer - pet industry leaders * Variable speed options * The number of RPM’s, which will determine the quality of the cut * Weight of clipper (there are battery operated models that weigh only ounces…while the electric pet trimmers can weigh one pound) * What options are available for the blades and what does the manufacture have in terms of interchangeable blades * Choose between battery powered or electrical clippers

A pet trimmer ought to be of high quality, easy to handle and rather noiseless. Correct handling of the pet clipper will result in an even trim and a calming experience for your pet. Should you want assistance in how to handle the dog groomer on your pet, request a brief appointment with your groomer to get some instruction. We would sooner help you sustain your pet’s coat than for you linger too long only to have to totally cut off your pet’s coat completely.

Invest in a high-quality pet trimmer that will last a long time and make the task much easier.

Learn more about dog clippers. Stop by Babette Woodhouse’s site where you can find out all about professional dog clippers and what it can do for you.

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Feb 27, 2010 | 0 | Dog Health

Mange Treatments To Heal A Sick Animal

Mange is a skin condition that includes scabies, red mange, ear mite infections and cheyletiella which is caused by mites in mostly dogs and cats. The veterinarian can offer the right advice and provide the correct Mange Medicine for your pet.

There are many varieties of mites that adversely affect live stock, dogs and cats. Some of them even affect people and are a cause for concern. There are three mites that need to be checked by the vet since they may cause sever health issues for your pet and they are ear mites, Demodex mange mites and Sacoptic Mange mites.

Surprisingly, Mange can also be contracted by humans. The condition can get transferred to a human after having contact with an afflicted pet. Humans will experience the intense scratching and irritation in the same way as the pet does. Luckily, though, the infection will disappear in just a few weeks once the pet has been disinfected. The types of Mange that can affect humans are Sarcoptic Mange and Notoedres Mites.

It is important to treat these conditions as quickly as possible, as the discomfort can become quite severe. Seepage, scabs or boils may begin to appear as well as balding skin patches. If that happens, the vet will likely have to do a biopsy to check for other types of infections that may have developed.

The vet will need to give the pet periodic injections of Ivermectin for a up to four weeks. Bath your pet with dandruff shampoos and dab the affected area with insecticides recommended by the pet. The steroid cortisone and antibiotic creams would relieve the redness and itching.

The Demodex variation of the infection is not contagious, but you still want to get it checked out and treated as quickly as possible, because you run the risk of causing a secondary infection in your pet if you don’t. With Demodex, your pet will experience the same itching, irritation and discomfort as with the other types of Mange, so of course you want to relieve your pet from that in the fastest time.

Not all dogs and cats are affected by this mite but some of them are severely affected and this is caused by hormonal changes, suppressed immunity system or a genetic disorder. This disorder is seen mostly in pups going through hormonal changes and most animals recover from it without treatment.

Vets would recommend treatment to ensure safe recovery and that includes boosting the dog’s immune system with tonics and vitamins. Baths with a Benzoyl peroxide shampoo would help the pet.

Ear mites cause intense itching and discharge in the ear in dogs and cats. Cats are more sensitive to chemicals hence it’s important to consult the vet in how to safely treat the feline.

Homeopathic treatments are a popular choice for many pet owners and they can be a good choice for pets that have sensitivity to certain medications. But, again, the first course of action is to talk to your vet. Of course the most important thing is the proper care, nutrition and cleansing of your pet to help prevent him from getting any of the varieties of Mange ever again.

If your dog has mange and needs a remedy or medicine to help, you can find a mange spray. There are tons of mange medicine that you can find on the Internet that could help.

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Feb 26, 2010 | 0 | Dog Health

What to do about Dog Allergies

As pet lovers, is there anything we love more than dogs? What more could one want than a playful, sweet, loyal friend that will love you until the day you die? But some people may find it harder to cuddle up to man’s best friend. Dog allergies cause problems for thousands of people. In fact, 15% of the population suffers from pet allergies. Some are even forced to find a new home for their dog because of intensified allergies. While this may be a solution to dog allergies, it is not a realistic solution to this problem.

Allergens from Dogs find their origins proteins from three sources; Dander (shed skin cells,) saliva, and urine. Allergic reactions in people to these causes usually happen if they have over active immune systems. Notice that hair is not in the list. A well-known myth is that hairless dogs will not cause reactions. While they do produce far less allergens, in the case of shedding skin cells, you can’t really stop a dog from slobbering and going to the bathroom. Typically symptoms are normal allergy symptoms that everyone is used to, such as itchy eyes, a runny nose, shortness of breath, red itchy skin or a rash. While these can be annoying, there are many ways to mitigate them to make them less problematic.

A clean home is the best defense against dog allergies and allergens. Vacuuming every week or so, buy furniture that doesn’t absorb allergens, avoiding clutter, and running air purifiers will reduce the amount of dander floating around in your house. Bathing your dog will also flush out anything festering in the fur. Just remember to also wash your dog’s bedding as well, or else that bath won’t do any good.

Or take the easy way. Many companies make products that reduce allergens. Special shampoos can help reduce dander on a dog without drying the skin. Start learning some new habits and you’ll be decreasing dog allergies in not time at all.

Of course, if the allergies are too bad, consulting with a professional may be your best bet. Some strong medication is out there, both prescription and over the counter, that can mitigate the runny noses and itchy eyes. For extreme cases, you can get allergy shots, which are a good idea if you have bad allergies in general. Kicking your dog to the curb should be a last resort.

More information can be found about dog foods that are hypoallergenic. You can also find out about brands of hypoallergenic dog food.

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Feb 23, 2010 | 0 | Dog Health

Dog Health Questions Revealed

Are you concerned about your canine friend? Both seasoned and new owners often have some dog health questions. Here are some of the most commonly sought after subjects.

What vaccinations does your dog need? Around the ages of six to eight weeks, pups should be given shots to protect against these often fatal diseases: adenovirus, parainfluenza, distemper, parvovirus, and rabies. Bordatella is also recommended though it is not usually fatal. Boosters should be given every one to three years respectively as a dog ages. Rabies shots, however, are required yearly by law. There are also vaccines available for problems associated to the different regions you live in.

How do you deal with worms? Well, there are many different kinds of worms your pet can pick up, and some can even be passed to us humans. If you see anything that looks like white rice or anything moving in your dog’s stool, you should get it to the vet. They will do a fecal exam and then de-worm accordingly. Have this done regularly at their yearly exam. Also, put your canine on heartworm prevention because it is fatal.

How can you control fleas and ticks? The best way to keep your pet free of parasites that feed from them is a topical preventative that is applied monthly. It goes right onto the fur. Should your dog be incessantly scratching or you see fleas on them, give them a flea dip. Ticks carry diseases and should be removed promptly and carefully and flushed. Use a flea killing spray throughout your home to rid them from the premises as well.

Have you checked for fleas and your dog is still scratching? He may have allergies to something that is around the yard or the house. Ear mites could also have settled in his ears and cause him to constantly itch. See your veterinarian if you suspect either of these problems. The last conclusion is that it could be just dry skin. This is especially true in the cool months. Find a shampoo made from tea tree oil or oatmeal to soothe his skin.

What type of diet is best for your dog? The best food for your dog is always going to be dry food. It is packed with nutrients while canned food has more water content which can cause problems with the teeth and gums and cause your dog to become overweight. Canines that live off kibble have less problems with their teeth, gums, and obesity than those that do not. When you choose your kibbles, be sure that there is real meat. The first words on the nutrition label should not be wheat or corn or meat byproducts.

Does your older canine have trouble walking? If he is stiff-legged and slow to move, he may be arthritic. Senior dogs all hit this problem at some point. It is caused by the cartilage between the bones wearing down and creating friction in the joint. Difficulty getting up is a sure sign. If you have certain breeds like a German Shepherd or Siberian Husky, your vet should check for hip dysplasia.

Whether you have owned many dogs or this is your first, there are dog health questions that we all wonder about. Now you know how to feed your dog and take care of fleas! Always consult your vet before using any treatments on your four-legged buddy.

If you want to get some FREE answers to some of the more common dog health questions, then please click on any of these given links: dog health questions dog health questions in the world

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Feb 21, 2010 | 0 | Dog Health

Dog Health Problems - Easily Treating Them

The master is who takes care of the health of the dog and it’s a hard task to take, but that’s the responsibility of owning a dog. Watching out for health problems in your dog is a must in order to obtain a good healthy pet. If you do not pay close attention to the health of your friendly pet, it could have you paying lots of money and this is another reason why it’s important to remember the responsibilities of taking care of a dog. When you find that your pet has a health problem, you will need to take them to the vet. Dog health problems can vary between bodily problems and skin problems. Within this article, I am going to discuss how to avoid certain dog health problems.

You should take note that certain breeds of dogs are more prone to certain health problems. Take the pit bull as an example, they are more prone to having hip dyspepsia while the boxer is more prone to having eye problems. As we continue this article, we are going to tell you what to do for all breeds of dogs. That’s right, this article is for Pit Bulls, Boxers, Rottweilers and even those small critters.

Making sure that your dog is well trained will keep him happy and healthy. By properly training your canine, you will make him smart and smart dogs have a habit of staying healthy. If you care about your dog’s well-being, you will begin his training as soon as possible. You should begin by leash training him and teaching him his name. By doing this, you will have more control of him which will allow you to keep your canine out of trouble. Teaching your canine that the road is a dangerous place would also be adviseable because many innocent dogs have died on the road.

If your canine has a health issue, you need to look for a vet that can resolve any problems your dog may have. Your dog can have many health problems and one of the major ones is heart worms. Heart worms can have your canine going through a difficult time as they get older and more than likely not make it through. So, if your beloved canine is coughing, this could be a sign of heart worms and needs to be looked at by a vet. Fortunately, there are various ways to prevent heart worms that will allow your dog to live a long and healthy life. If the heart worms are detected too late (heart worms have spread throughout the body and grew all over the heart), then your four-legged friend may lose his life.

You should keep an eye out for health problems that are the most common. These problems can involve fleas and ticks. To prevent ticks and fleas from infesting your dog, you should look into purchasing one of the many popular flea and tick prevention products. There might also be parasites and bugs which can also have a detrimental effect to your canine. Parasites can feed on your dog and leave it weak. They can also cause heart problems.

When a dog has problems with his skin he can be left with mange. Mange is a common health problem that is found in dogs that spend a lot of time in the outdoors and don’t take baths on a regular basis. Most dog health problems occur because you are neglecting them or not visiting the vet enough.

Some dog health problems such as bone problems can be difficult to avoid. Many canines with hip problems and other problems with their bones will have a difficult time when they get older. They will not have an easy time moving around and they will have to endure some pain. The best thing a veterinarian can do to alleviate the pain is to give them pain medicine and/or joint supplements.

You should make sure that you provide your dog with the right type of health supplements and/or vitamins. Your pet needs to have nourishment. You will be able to improve his health by giving him some dog health supplements and/or vitamins. However, you need to make sure that you are dealing with the brand of supplements and/or vitamins that are tested. In order to know if they are trusted, you will need to speak with a reliable veterinarian on this subject. If you give your dog the incorrect supplements and/or vitamins, it could have negative effects on his health.

I highly recommend you see that your dog gets a good amount of exercise. There are some dogs that are not so active, but they still need to be exercised. When you exercise your dog, you are strengthening their stamina as well as preventing them from becoming overweight. When it comes to the type of exercises for your dog, it all depends on the breed you have. You will be able to ask your vet for some assistance on this issue.

Just as human beings need to get vaccinated, so does your dog. This is why you should pay attention to his vaccination schedule. There are vaccinations that can prevent infections and viruses from destroying your canine’s health. Some of these vaccinations may require a follow up either a couple of months or a couple of years later as your canine grows up.

It is important that you take your four-legged friend to the vet each year. The vet will check him or her over and at this point, if you have any dog health questions, it would be the best time to ask. The experience and knowledge of your veterinarian will help you understand your dog’s health a bit better. So there you have it. How to avoid your dog’s health problems all has to do with you and how you care for him.

For more information about some of the more common dog health problems, please click on any of the given links: avoid dog health problems dog health problems

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Feb 20, 2010 | 0 | Dog Health

Border Terrier As Man’s Best Friend

Border Terrier’s are known for their jumping ability and agility. They are very intelligent with a level temperament. Many times you will see Border Terrier’s as therapy dogs due to their capacity for independent thinking.

Borders love to run so daily trips to the park or out for a long run is just what the Border Terrier needs to keep them active. Natural born foxhunters they were used back in the day to flush the foxes, otters and badgers out of their holds. It’s always amazing to see this quick dog in action and jumping despite their how short their legs are.

Beware of these little runners, they have been known to chase many a small animal like cats, mice and others. It’s in their blood but you can break the habit if the Border Terrier is raised with the animal. But when you are outside your domain, keep an eye on them because they can disappear in a flash if something catches their eye.

You do have to watch the stuffed animals around the house. The Border Terrier has been know to destroy and consume these stuffed fury friends. If your dog becomes lethargic, unable to sleep, non-interested in affection, best to get him to the vet for an x-ray just to rule out illness.

While these dogs are typically very active, they do love to just lounge in the park and take in the sites. Watching all the goings-on is something they enjoy. They are known to be a bit stubborn once they get settled and often refuse to get up and along, especially when they are tired!

There are a few health problems common to the Border Terrier such as seizures, juvenile cataracts, hip Dysplasia, retinal diseases to name a few. They can also be slow to anesthetize even though they are sensitive to anesthetics. They can also have a very high threshold for pain.

Border Terriers are classified as a medium size dog and usually grows to about 15 pounds as adults. With their weather resistant coats it’s best to brush them weekly to keep them tangle free. Shedding can be an issue with this short haired dog but you can do hand stripping two times per year along with the weekly brushing can keep their shedding to a minimum.

Command training with these dogs from an early age on will allow you to have better control over your overly impulsive pup. Being consistent and providing them with adequate exercise can keep them in line. Their eagerness to please and love for people makes them a good dog for family pets.

They are known to get along well with other dogs but at times can be confrontational. While signs of aggression are not unusual, this behavior is not displayed very often. Knowing your dog’s limits and socialization can be contributing factors that lead to a happy Border Terrier.

Have a Pet that you Love? Check out Catherine’s favorite Pet Supplies for Dogs site that uses all natural ingredients. They have the greatest selection of wonderful Natural Organic Dog Shampoos on the market.

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Feb 17, 2010 | 0 | Dog Health

Prevent skin disease in your yorkie puppies

Your yorkie puppy does not want to spend the precious hours of his or her new life scratching at a parasite or any other skin condition for that matter. Help your pup out by increasing your own awareness of the following skin diseases for early detection and treatment.

Common skin diseases found in yorkie puppies are parasites and general skin conditions. These two provide a nasty infestation for countless puppies year round.

Major parasites are worms, roundworms, hook worms, and tapeworms. Most puppies have roundworms and they should be treated at least twice before they are taken into another home, and it is wise to do so every ex weeks for the first year.

Apply treatment found at the drug store to your poor yorkie puppy’s wounds. Salves and ointments are better applied when the pup is comfortable and in the most warm, loving environment.

It is particularly necessary to worm regularly where there are children in the household, and to burn the resulting excreta. The immature roundworm larva may rarely infect a child, and this larva migrates and could cause blindness.

Yorkie puppies may also suffer from one of the unfortunately common general skin conditions that so often can be inflicted. Some common skin conditions that yorkies may be infected with are allergies, dermatitis, or eczema.

Because a common skin disease form is allergies, yorkie owners should pay special attention to household items that may cause an allergic reaction. Allergies due to foods, household textiles, especially the man-made fiber carpets, and inadequately cured skin rugs, disinfectants, and washing powders are quite common in yorkies.

It takes patience to work through general skin conditions for an owner, especially knowing your sweet yorkie puppy is in pain. Always remember your vet will prescribe suitable treatments.

Read more about Yorkie Puppies at teacup yorkie dogs.com.

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Feb 14, 2010 | 0 | Dog Health

Teacup Yorkie Care: Mealtime

With so many fine dog food products on the market today, there are many foods designed especially for teacup yorkies. Because of this fact, any caring owner may consider trying some of these specialty dog foods. However, owners should also be advised that the secret to the best dog food lies not only in the food, but also in the care surrounding feeding.

Take advantage of your teacup Yorkie’s feedings. Be there for your pet. If you have the time, spend it with your yorkie to encourage proper eating habits.

Yorkie food comes in many forms. You may want to mix or match your pet’s food depending on many factors. Some examples are cost, availability, and pet preference.

Of course convenience is a top priority for many yorkie owners in this busy day and age. With the right purchasing decisions owners may eliminate or at least greatly decrease time spent during feedings. Various packaged foods that can be served alone or as supplements and that can be left out for a few hours without spoiling.

Feeder bins are used by many kennel owners as well as pet owners. These devices help to conveniently store and distribute dry foods in a sanitary, efficient way. Bins also benefit the end user, the teacup yorkie, by getting a meal prepared quickly and tend to be fresher.

Many people who work during the day find feeder bins to be a convenient alternative to placing out your pet’s food yourself. These dry or semi-moist rations convenient to use. Additionally these foods are great to bring along if you travel with your teacup yorkie.

Be sure to read the labels carefully before you make your dog food purchase. Most reputable pet food manufacturers list the ingredients and the nutritional content right on the can or package. Instructions are usually included so that you will know how much to feed your teacup yorkie to keep him thriving and in top condition.

Many teacup yorkie owners find supplements to be an additional preferential treatment for their pet. Liquid or powder vitamin and mineral supplements, or those in tablet form, are available. These supplements may be given if you need to feel certain that the diet is balanced.

Teacup Yorkies

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Feb 10, 2010 | 0 | Dog Health

Treating Your Dog for Ringworm

Although ringworm is regularly thought of as a human ailment, it is also extremely common in dogs and other animals. .

One of the easiest ways to spot ringworm in dogs is through lost patches of fur. Ringworm hardens the skin and fur follicles which causes the fur to break off at the bottom. The dog’s skin that can be seen through the missing hair typically looks like a circle with raised edges. There might be a pale spot in the middle. It regularly causes your dog to become itchy and uncomfortable. The dog’s skin might also become crusty, scaly, or red.

Dogs can easily spread their infection to other parts of their body by itching. In humans ringworm can be seen as red circular rashes with healthy skin in the center of the rash. scratching can spread ringworm in humans also. It can also be spread through blankets and bedding in both humans and dogs.

The best way to determine if your dog has ringworm it to have your vet check him out. The vet can scrape the skin and take a sample for an accurate analysis. As soon as the diagnosis is confirmed, which may take a number of days, the vet can then prescribe the suitable medication. There are numerous treatments available. None are demanding. But persistence in treatment is the key to success. Because ringworm has a 10 incubation period between exposure and actual signs to the rash, it can be tricky to fully stamp out. Meticulousness in cleaning of the all potential areas of contact is essential. Usually the medication prescribed for your dog should be given on a daily basis. Creams as medication, while recommended for humans, frequently do not work on dogs as they tend to lick or rub them off. Anti-fungal shampoos are typically more effective in treating dogs and other animals. Shampoo will remove the fungus spores from the hair and treatment is applied all over the dog’s body at once helping to eliminate fungus spores that have not yet revealed symptoms. Most likely more then one bath treatment is considered necessary to rid your dog fully.

Because ringworm spreads so effortlessly its important to treat your dwelling as well as your dog. Cleanse any areas where your dog frequents in the home.Don’t forget to cleanse the dog’s bed each day. And avoid contact with your dog until the rash is totally gone. Using the ringworm shampoo on them even if they do not have ringworm will not harm them. The worst thing you can do with ringworm is to not treat it totally. So, when your dog is diagnosed with it, make sure to do everything you need to do everyday and when symptoms subside in your dog, take it back to the vet and have them retest your dog’s hair to make certain that the fungus is actually gone.

Precisely spotting ringworm in you dog is crucial to successful treatment. For additional information click on the link http://RingwormRemedy.com.slhost3.com and while your browsing feel free to sign up for our free email mini-course “10 Steps to Curing Ringworm”

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Feb 05, 2010 | 0 | Dog Health

Everything You Need to Know About Pet Ear Mites

Ear mites could affect any pets, and are a common problem that can be very distressing for the animal concerned. Furthermore, if left untouched ear mites can lead to more painful and serious afflictions and an unhappy period for a cat or dog. For this reason it is imperative that the pet owner is aware what ear mites are, how to eradicate them, and what to look for to spot them.

What are Ear Mites? Ear mites are miniscule insects that exist on the blood and nutrients found in an animal’s skin; they appear as, when magnified, crabs and have legs that hook on to the host with some strength. Very hard to remove, the mite is a notably horrible creature that can bring displeasure to a much-loved family pet.

They live on the upper edges of the ear canal and thrive on the debris that is left there, and are very much contagious, moving from animal to animal very rapidly indeed. In fact, ear mites may also be passed to human sufferers, but are more likely to be seen on domestic pets and farm animals. It must be remembered they can spread between species - a cat may pass to a dog, or vice versa - and that individual animals react in various ways to the presence of mites. Ear mites are a very regular cause of illness in cats and dogs, primarily young kittens and puppies, and can cause the animal to hurt frequently.

This can cause changes later, as furious scratching - particularly in cats - may bring about blood vessels to break, bringing about unwanted infection and a more dangerous level of suffering as well as the possibility of horrible disfigurement. In addition, if left alone the mites can lead to bacterial afflictions and more, and this has been shown to lead to a rupturing of the eardrum - a painful problem that leads to deafness in the animal. How to Spot Ear Mites There are numerous pointers that give clues to the presence of ear mites in cats and dogs.

The first is the usual increase in scratching of the infected area that accompanies the onset of mites, and this can also be indicated by an exaggerated and violent shaking of the head, as if trying to dislodge something that is clinging on (which is, of course, exactly what the animal is trying to do.) The ear produces wax as a matter of course, and the presence of mites might cause this to be done.

Learn more about Ear Mites in Dogs, and be sure to read about theEar Mite Success Storiesto see some encouraging feedback. Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.

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Feb 05, 2010 | 0 | Dog Health

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