Home » Archive by category "Dog Health" (Page 5)

Which Situations Does Your Pet Require Emergency Treatment?

As a new pet owner, you may be unfamiliar with which situations are medical emergencies requiring immediate treatment and which can wait until the following day.  Since emergency vet visits are expensive, it is important to know which situations are dire emergencies and which are not.  Discussed here are a handful of common problems a new pet owner may face. My Dog Is… Vomiting Vomiting in itself is not a cause for immediate concern.  If your dog is attempting to vomit but cannot produce anything in conjunction with having a very bloated stomach, you should seek immediate medical attention for your pet, as Bloat may be to blame.  However, if your dog is throwing up but acting normal otherwise and the vomit does not contain traces of blood, pet owners are advised to wait 24 hours to see if symptoms subside before scheduling an appointment. Has Diarrhea Dogs are prone...
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Benefits of Maintaining a Healthy Weight for Your Dog

Pet obesity is at an all-time high, with an estimated 53% of America’s dogs registering at least 20% overweight.  While many pet owners do not think much of their dog carrying a few extra pounds, the truth is that an animal’s quality of life, as well as its lifespan, decreases as weight increases.  Listed below are just a handful of benefits that maintaining a healthy weight for your dog can provide. Longer Lifespan An alarming study showed that obese dogs may live up to 3 year less than their littermates who maintained a healthy weight.  If no other reason compels an owner to keep their pet’s weight in check, this should be it! Fewer Health Problems Dogs that are overweight have a drastically increased risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, kidney and liver failure, arthritis, as well as certain types of cancer.  Dogs that maintain an appropriate weight are less...
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TYPES OF WORMS IN DOGS, AND THEIR TREATMENT

It does not matter the age of the dog; worms are common ailments for them all. Either you are referring to a purebred dog from a reputable breeder or a rescue pup fresh in from the shelter; any dog can be infected by worm-related ailments at some point in their lifetimes. Different parts of a dog’s body are attacked by several types of worms. Worms come in different forms and effects. Some pose no hazardous threat to health risks and are easy to deal with, while others are fatally dangerous to dog’s life. By learning about the five most rampant worms usually found in dogs, their symptoms as well as their treatment options, you can surely protect your pup by keeping her in good health. Just as applicable to all other health issues, it is mandatory to consult a professional veterinary doctor for diagnosis as treatment is only effective when...
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FRONTLINE PLUS VS K9 ADVANTIX: WHAT IS THE BEST FLEA MEDICINE?

Discomforts and unwanted pains that biting pests like ticks and fleas inflict on dogs cannot be overemphasized. In severe cases, when some ticks bite, it can lead to serious illness such as Lyme disease, and also are fleas a carrier of tapeworm. It requires little or no effort to protect your dog, but then, how do you determine the type of repellent that works best for your dog? With varieties of options, like Revolution for dogs and Comfortis, it can be pretty difficult in discerning which medication is just perfect for your dog. It is recommended to use a proven brand when it come to this type of medication. Some can harm your dog more than others. You’ve probably come across few people who recommended either Advantix or Frontline Plus to you, or even heard about both of them. Depending on what pests your pooch is exposed to, her lifestyle,...
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Can My Dog Eat Raw Food?

Yes, he can! In fact, raw food has been growing in popularity during the last years. You’ve probably heard of the BARF diet. BARF, which stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, is a diet that combines raw meat, vegetables, fruits and bones. According to its creators, the aim of this diet is to “maximize the health, longevity, and reproductive capacity of pets and, by doing so, minimize the need for veterinary intervention.” Simply put, raw food diets try to mimic the diet that the species’ ancestors had on the wild, which includes muscle meat, bone, fat, organ meat, and vegetable ingredients. For example, in a particular BARF formula one can find chicken meat, offal, liver, kidneys, heart, tripe and bones, broccoli, spinach, celery, carrot, cayenne pepper, apple, pear, grapefruit, eggs, kelp and alfalfa. The formula can also be supplemented with cod liver oil, vitamin E, zinc and manganese. One of...
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From Birth to Adult: Phases and Changes

Dogs go through a few different sensitive periods during their lifetime, when it comes to their physical and behavioral development. Some of these periods are quite important, due to the impact they’ll have on the dog’s personality and behavioral health. We can identify nine different phases; in this article, we’ll discuss some of the particularities of each of them. Phase One The first phase is the fetal period. This includes the development of the fetus up to parturition. During this period, the puppy will be influenced by the mother’s experiences. If she’s exposed to high levels of stress, the puppies will be prone to develop anxiety and fear. It is also during the fetal period that the male’s brains will go through a masculinization process, due to the production of testosterone. This will make them more likely to exhibit typical male behaviors such as urine marking, roaming, inter-male aggression and...
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Running with Your Dog

Just like humans, dogs thrive when properly exercised.  While not all breeds have the same exercise requirements, certain types of dogs such as those from the sporting, herding, or terrier groups require more activity than other breeds.  Running is one of the quickest and most efficient forms of exercise, and is one activity that requires little training.  Listed below are the benefits of running with your dog, and how to safely start a running program together. Running has numerous benefits for pets beyond simply keeping them trim and fit.  Adequate exercise can eliminate most nuisance behaviors in pets such as excessive barking, digging, chewing, humping, and attention-seeking because it is an outlet for excess energy.  Dogs also crave mental stimulation that cannot be provided when simply let into the yard.  Running is a fantastic form of socialization and helps dogs experience new sights, sounds, and smells that bust boredom.  Finally,...
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Dog Dental Chews- Choose The Right Type Of Chews And Treats

Have you ever though that your pet friend can face dental, oral problems as well? Yes, that’s right. Your dogs can suffer from oral health conditions like gum disease and much more. Dental problems in your furry friend can result in lost or broken teeth, loss of appetite and damage to organs when bacteria get in the bloodstream via diseased gums. So, to avoid getting such dental problems, there are dog dental chews and treats available in the market that proves to be really useful. Some of these products contain polyphosphate in the form of coating. It helps to reduce tartar by around half. These chews are available in different flavours and tastes as well like some taste like mint and others like chicken and so on. Professional brushing and cleaning are surely amazing ways that help to maintain good oral health. But these dog dental chews may provide amazing...
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Hip Dysplasia Treatment Options

Hip dysplasia is very painful in dogs and it is thus heartbreaking for the dog owners to see their pet suffering. The problem is so severe that the canine will struggle hard to do his normal day to day activities and the pain gets so serious that it can change the temperament of the dog. Also, your pet friend will not wish to play or indulge in any type of exercise or games. But you need not worry much as there are many treatment options available for curing hip dysplasia in dogs. Medical therapies Weight management is the best way to stop the problem faced by the canine due to extra weight on his body. The medical or surgical procedures will surely be more successful when the dog is not overweight or obese. So you need to keep a check on what your pet eats. Also, exercising is equally crucial...
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What Is Dog Hip Dysplasia? Causes, Symptoms And Diagnosis

Hip dysplasia is the abnormal joint structure and laxity of muscles, ligaments and connective tissues that support the joint. When joint laxity is faced, articular surfaces of two bones then lose contact with one another. And this separation of cones within the joint or subluxation causes great change in the overall shape and size of articular surfaces. Most dogs suffering from hip dysplasia are born with having normal hips however because of genetic makeup or other factors, soft tissues which surround the joint then develop in an abnormal way thus causing subluxation. It is thus the subluxation and hip remodelling that results in symptoms that we generally link with the disease. Hip dysplasia indeed may or may not affect both the hips. Also, each case of this disease is different, as per the dog and its condition. It can start to develop in pups of just 4-5 months and may...
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