Dogs & Puppies Blog

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Dogs are not only man’s best friends as more than being great companions, these animals are treated as family members as well. Due to the close association, it is not surprising for a dog owner to panic at the sight of a hurting pet. A seizing dog is not a pretty sight. A dog owner seeing a seizing dog for the first time would panic as the pet would appear to be suffering from severe pain. Knowing that first aid methods can save the life of the pet, a dog owner may want to administer first aid to the pet but is there a first aid for seizure?

A dog can have a seizure that is either single or repeated. Single seizures are short episodes that usually last for a few minutes. Both the single seizure and repeated seizure last only in seconds or in a few minutes at the most but repeated seizure would happen one after the other. Repeated seizure is a fatal condition as the seizing dog that has not yet regain consciousness would seize again and again.

Status epilepticus and cluster seizures are the two types of repeated seizures. Both repeated seizures are typified by convulsions that would occur one after another. Status epilepticus is a condition that would be more frightening for a dog owner given that the seizure would continue to occur even if the dog has not regained consciousness. In cluster seizures, the dog that has regained consciousness after recovering from the first seizure would again become unconscious as another seizure occurs. Owners of seizing dogs must take the pet to a veterinary facility at once as the seizing episodes can result to the death of the dog.

Seizures cannot be controlled with first aid although medications can control the frequency of seizures. First aid methods are given to save the pet from pain, to prevent the condition from worsening and of course to save the life of the pet. As these first aid objectives would be ineffective if administered on a seizing dog, the best thing an owner can do is to let the seizure run its course.

The dog owner though can do a lot to make the seizing dog comfortable and to ensure that the dog would not inflect harm on itself. The pet must be moved away from the stairs. Objects that can fall on the dog and cause injuries should be removed as well. Pet owners are advised not to hug a seizing pet to keep it from trembling. Seizing dogs are somewhat disoriented and the well meaning pet owner can be bitten by the pet instead. It would be better to talk softly to the seizing dog. The owner’s voice is believed to have a calming effect on the dog.

More about repeated seizures and first aid for dogs at Sarah’s Dogs.

Housebreaking a new puppy is no easy task, but as I’m sure you’ll agree, it’s a very necessary one. But how do you start? Is there a right or a wrong way to go about this process? These are the questions we will explore in this brief article as we give you a short lesson on how to housebreak your new puppy most effectively.

The proper age to begin housebreaking your puppy is when he/she is about 8 weeks old—an age when your pup can begin to understand your commands and preferences. The process should begin by taking your puppy outside frequently, up to 8 times a day, and should be repeated until the behavior is learned. Be sure to take the puppy outside after he awakes, after play sessions, and about 10-15 minutes after each meal, and take him to the same spot outside each time to avoid any confusion about your preferences.

Once you have taken your puppy outside and to the designated area where you would prefer he “go,” watch your puppy carefully until he begins the act of elimination. Be quiet during this time so he doesn’t feel agitated or pressured, but as soon as he is finished praise him, pet him, play with him or offer him a reward. After a few sessions like this your dog will begin to understand that the act of going outside is connected to the praise.

The next step in housebreaking a new puppy is indoor supervision. Accidents will happen—at least until the puppy is about 12 weeks old—but the frequency of these accidents can be lessened with proper supervision. Keep your puppy in the same room, and when you are away, make sure that he/she is crated so he cannot go on the carpet or floors. If you catch your new puppy in the act of relieving himself indoors, immediately discourage the behavior and take him outside to the preferred location.

Owning a new puppy can be very rewarding indeed, but it can be a lot of work initially. To ensure that your new puppy learns the skill of “outdoor elimination” try to be consistent with both your praise and scolding. With a little time and effort most puppies will respond to this program and will quickly become housebroken.

www.myvirtualexpert.com and www.learninginformationcenter.com are places where you can find lots more articles.

We humans can remove our coats, jackets and other cold weather gears when the weather warms up. Dogs cannot discard their one of a kind fur coat thus they are more prone to heatstroke. Dogs do not sweat like humans because their very few sweat glands are located in the paws. To be able to regulate body temperature, dogs would pant. Panting though is not an efficient method of normalizing body temperature. This is the reason why heatstroke is common in dogs.

Heatstroke or hyperthermia is a very serious condition that can happen to a dog instantly. Not many dog owners realize that heatstroke or hyperthermia can occur if the dog is confined in a car with closed windows or if the dog is left chained in the yard under the heat of the sun. Heatstroke is a deadly condition that occurs when the dog can no longer disperse the heat that the body gains from its environment. The breakdown of cells caused by high temperatures will thicken the blood and result to dehydration. As mentioned an elevated temperature would thicken the dog’s blood but once the temperature soared to 106°F, the heart, the liver, brain and other vital organs will be greatly affected. If the body temperature is not quickly reduced, these conditions would lead to the death of the dog.

A dog owner has to be aware of the signs of heatstroke so that first aid can be immediately given to the pet. An elevated body temperature will make the dog pant rapidly. Thick saliva will drip from the bright red tongue. Affected dog would either have a pale or very red gums. Vomiting, diarrhea and a state of general weakness are other signs. The dog can die if treatment is not administered at once.

The dog has to be taken to a shady or cool area. The goal of the emergency care is to bring down the elevated temperature of the dog. Soaking the dog in cool water can achieve this purpose. Hosing or immersing the dog in a tub of cool water will make the temperature drop quickly.

Towels soaked in cool water and placed on the dog’s head and neck will help bring temperature down. To lower the temperature, ice packs can be placed on the dog’s feet and the groin area can be sponged with washcloth soaked in cool water. The temperature of the dog has to be reduced but very cold or ice water must not be used as it will constrict the blood vessels and prevent the heat from escaping. First aid methods to cool the dog must be stopped when the rectal temperature reading has reached 103°F.

Read more about heatstroke and first aid for dogs at Sarah’s Dogs.

What is the Best Dog House?

­Whether you’ve always dreamed of giving your dog Snoopy’s dog house or just want something to shelter your pet when your family hangs out away, building a dog house can be a very fun, rewarding and useful come across.

If you aren’t the handiest handyman, don’t fre­t. You can get as composite as building your own dog house from scratch with your own plans that you drew up yourself, but there are much easier routes.

You can find blueprints and plans online, customize your own house or buy a kit that requires little more than your own cock and screwdriver.

It doesn’t matter if you need a castle for your two canines or a simple structure for your pooch. Plans and kits come in a variety of personal manners and options to fit your dog, your style and your backyard.

You can do it yourself with lumber you cut for less than $70. Or, if you want a preassembled lavishness home built to order based on your specifications for furnishings, lighting, heating and cooling, you might spend more like $7,000

What size dog house is right for your dog? Use the following guideline to select the right dog house: Roof Height should be 25% to 50% taller than your dog. Door height should be 3/4 the shoulder height of your dog.

The overall DoI dimensions should not be more than 27% longer than your dog in either direction. If your dog will be outside all year round it is best to use an insulated dog house.

You can purchase warming mats to help fight the cold. It is indispensable to restraint that the piddle supply is clean and that it does not freeze. There are many watering devices available to insure a continuous clean water supply. You will also need a non-freeze water container.

hese stainless steel water containers assure a fresh water supply even in the coldest endure. Hot weather should also be a concern and there are cooling mats available that you should consider.

A great Dog house site if your into out of the norm dog homes is www.dogigloo.net

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Carter

Moist eczema or acute moist dermatitis is commonly known as hot spots. These circular sore spots would erupt on the head, face, chest, hip and on other parts of the dog’s body. As the name suggests, hot spots are circular inflamed and raw patches of skin that are itchy and painful. Dogs have the tendency to lick, bite and gnaw any part of the body that is causing them discomfort. Because of the itch, a flea bitten skin will be continuously licked and gnawed by the dog. Hot spots are not life threatening concerns but urgent treatment is necessary as this skin infection that develops very fast would be the concern both of the dog and the dog owner. Hot spots are also called pyotraumatic dermatitis because self mutilation is one big factor in the development of this skin infection.

Hot spots can develop in any breed of dog but these skin lesions are commonly seen on dogs with long coats and dense undercoats. Dogs living in places with humid and hot climates are at greater risk to develop this skin infection. Hot spot is not a serious and persistent disease but an affected dog tend to have this skin infection again and again. Additionally, because of the fur covering, signs of the disease are not easily apparent so that the treatment that could have controlled the development of the infection is oftentimes not administered.

These circular patches of skin infections can be caused by mite and flea infestation. Dogs with sensitivity to allergens and dogs with ear infection and anal gland problems are susceptible to this type of skin infection. Hot spots commonly develop in dogs that are not regularly groomed because the tangles in the coat are perfect breeding places for bacteria.

First aid treatment is necessary to control the spread of infection. First aid treatment is necessary not only because the hairless and raw lesions would not be a pretty sight but more importantly, the treatment would alleviate the pain and discomfort of the pet. The edges of the lesion must be exposed thus the hair on the affected area must be trimmed. By trimming the hair, air will be allowed to dry the infected tissues. A sterile saline solution must be used to clean the lesions daily. A topical antibacterial ointment will control the growth of bacteria thereby speeding up the healing process.

Dogs with hot spots tend to have the skin infection over and over again until the underlying cause of the infection is not eliminated. External parasite infestation has to be controlled. Regular grooming will do a lot to prevent the development of the itchy and painful sores.

Want to know more about hot spots and first aid for dogs? Visit Sarah’s Dogs.

Dogs are probably the most loved pets. As such people tend to share whatever they eat with the dog unknowing that some human foods can be dangerous to dog. A pet owner would wonder why foods that give humans a lot of benefits would be harmful to dogs. Humans and dogs are believed to have many genetic similarities but they differ in many ways as well. In spite of the similarities, dogs, unlike their human friends cannot tolerate chocolates. The toxic effect of chocolates on dogs is made more dangerous because a lot of dog owners are unaware of this fact. People love chocolates as this comfort food has many benefits for humans. Chocolates and dogs though is a bad combination.

The substance theobromine in chocolate is the reason why this world’s most loved treat is toxic to dogs. Theobromine, a chemical that is similar to caffeine is a naturally occurring substance found in cocoa beans. Theobromine serves as a stimulant and causes frequent urination, affects the kidneys and the heart muscles as well as the central nervous system. Unlike humans, a dog’s system does not have the ability to digest this substance. Because of the dog’s inability to digest the theobromine substance, continued consumption will cause an accumulation in the dog’s system until a variety of medical concerns happen because increased level of toxicity.

People love chocolates and because dogs are well loved pets, the chocolate bar or the Black Forest cake the dog owner is eating will be shared with the pet. No signs of poisoning will be noticed if the dog has consumed small amount of chocolate. Theobromine have dangerous effects but a dog has to ingest a substantial amount of chocolates before clinical signs of poisoning will be seen. The level poisoning would depend on the type of chocolate consumed. Because white chocolates is low in theobromine content, the toxicity level is also low. A dog has to ingest about 200 ounces of white chocolate per pound of body weight before the dog shows clinical signs of chocolate poisoning. Milk chocolates and semi-sweet chocolates have higher theobromine content. Among the types of chocolates, the baking chocolate is the most dangerous. Althogh a dog owner may not give the dog baking chocolate it is still possible for the dog to ingest substantial amount because the dog’s nose would find where the chocolates are kept and would have an eating spree. This situation calls for immediate treatment to save the life of the pet. Find out more about what to do if your dog eats chocolate.

Dog mating can be embarrassing to some people but it is actually an impressive act. The mating process is another wondrous work of nature that ensures the recreation of the dog species. Dog owners have various reasons for mating the dog. Financial gain is one of the reasons why dogs are bred. It is certainly understandable if a dog owner would want to care for dogs produced by the pet.

Dogs are mated to produce a dog with the good looks and ideal disposition. Whatever reasons these dog owners have for breeding the dog, one thing is common. All would want to have a healthy litter.

Long time dog owners would present a blas© front when exposed to the mating of dogs. A new owner though may find the act rather alarming especially if the mating is the first time for both or for one of the dogs. The distressed whining of the pet will naturally alarm the owner. The mating dogs would seem to be ineffectually pulling away from each other thus an uninformed owner’s first reaction is to help. However, no matter how distressed the pets appear, a dog owner must never try to separate mating dogs. Being stuck together end to end is completely natural in mating dogs and attempts to pull them apart can cause injuries.

Unlike male dogs that are always eager to mate, female dogs would only accept males if they are in the estrus stage. Female dogs cannot be forced to mate because if they are ready, they will show flagging or the lifting of the tail to one side to invite a male dog. The bitch will allow the favored dog to mount her from behind in seconds the vulva will be penetrated. After penetration, one of the dogs will twist around so that they will be tied in their rear ends while facing opposite directions.

A dog’s male member can achieve penetration even if it is not erect. Dog’s male member has a small bone called baculum that aids penetration by keeping the male member erect. After penetration, the tie will take place. The male dog will be trapped inside the bitch when the tissues of the male member get swollen with blood. The dogs will remain stuck together for about 20 or 30 minutes until all the sperms have entered the vulva. With the mating tie, the survival of canines is ensured.

There is an straightforward way to treat ear mites with out getting to consider your pet to the veterinary office. Mites can bring about a lot of damage to your pet’s hearing if they are at hand untreated. Using mineral oil to destroy these mites is a basic method that you can do at home.

Once your dog or cat’s ear are inflamed, swollen or reddened they probably have ear mites. These parasites can trigger the middle ear to turn out to be infected, which should generate it hard for your pet to keep its balance. Frequently, they should not be able to stroll or when they try to walk, it will be in continuous circles. A different sign that your pet may possess mites is if they are continuously scratching at their ears or constant shaking their head.

You need to initially confirm that your dog or cat has ear mites. If there are dark destinations in the ear or if they are acting sluggish and feverish there is a good likelihood they have them. The dark destinations are blood and pus induced by the parasites. If you determine it is ear mites, then making use of mineral oil to the infected ear will kill them.

Two valuable factors to use mineral oil are that it should loosen the earwax and blood or puss that is plugging up their ear and it should smother the parasites. Utilize the mineral oil to your dog or cat’s ear with an ear irrigation pump or an eyedropper.

Therapeutic massage the ear once applying the oil. Lightly grab their ear, arrange your thumb inside the ear and with your various fingers maintain the outside of the animal’s ear. Rub the within of the cat or dog’s ear to distribute the oil. Do not go so relaxed into the ear that you harm the internal ear. Let the thumb go down into their ear right up until you really feel the internal ear, make sure the mineral oil has unfold into their ear canal.

Soon after you are carried out massaging, let your pet shake out the filth and oil from the ear. This is a excellent outdoor procedure, to guard your carpet and furniture from the oil. As soon as your pet has shaken out all the loose stuff, you can wipe out any residue still left with a egyptian cotton ball. Do not use a Q-tip in situation you push it too far straight down into the ear creating damage.

You can continue this procedure until you feel the ear mites are absent for excellent. If you discover immediately after a 1 week of treatments that they are not going aside then you must contact your vet to consider your dog or cat in for further treatments. The vet may end up providing you a prescription ointment to put in their ear. A lot more than most likely, a journey to the vet can not be necessary, as mineral oil is an excellent way to treat ear mites.

Dogs are known to be the man’s best friends for several good reasons. They are loyal, funny and fascinating. However, dogs are rather complex creatures which can flourish when they are under the responsibility of a friendly human being.

You should not take the adoption of a dog thoughtlessly; that’s why I am going to give you some important tips which will help you in the choice of this animal which will spend a good deal of time in your company.

Thus, when you are really ready to get a dog, it is necessary to ask yourself the following questions:

1. What size of dog could feel comfortable in my house?

Make sure to choose the right size of dog especially if you buy him as a puppy because dogs grow in size. The bigger a dog is the more space he needs.

2. Determine who will be responsible for taking the dog out, for his exercise and his care.

 If your space is limited, choose a dog which lives well in small spaces instead of a dog used to big spaces.

3. What is your budget for dog food?

Bigger dogs need more food. This factor can play a role in a tight budget.

4. Be sure to know the behavior of the breed of the dog which you plan on adopting.

If you have children, it is better to choose races of dogs which get along well with children.

5. Do you want a male or female dog?

6. Do You Prefer a purebred or mixed-breed dog?

You will know what you buy if you choose the pedigree dog, but this one can cost you more than a mutt.

7. And finally, do you want a puppy or a grown-up dog?

Puppies need a lot of attention, patience and some house training but they generally fit much more easily in their new home than the grown-up dogs.

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In all probability the best loved and most cared for pets are dogs. Dogs may not have the ability to complain but an observant pet owner would know if the dog is in pain. Dogs are uncomplaining animals but a discerning owner would be aware of what the dog feels. Vets are the experts in these matters but an owner that has closely bonded with the pet would be more attuned to what the dog is feeling. Undoubtedly, a vet would know at a glance if the dog is in pain but the bond people have with their pets make them highly attuned to what the dog feels. No dog owner would want to see the pet hurting thus it is common for owners to reach for a medication that gives them pain relief and medicate the pet themselves. Customarily, a dog owner wanting to alleviate the pain of the pet would administer his/her own medication for pain. Although dogs can suffer from the same diseases that afflicts humans it is not advisable to give the pet human medications for pain relief. Just as it is not advisable to share medications, it is also not wise to give a dog human medication in spite of the fact that these animals are afflicted with human diseases too.

Dogs are commonly debilitated by short term or chronic pain. Acute or temporary pain can result from surgery or from injuries that damage bones and muscles of the dog. Acute and temporary pain can occur as an aftermath of surgery or when the bones and muscles were hurt from an injury. Chronic or persistent pains are most common in older dogs with musculoskeletal concerns. Musculoskeletal problems are the common causes of chronic and persistent pain in older dogs. It is your job to provide the pet relief from pain. Owners are duty bound to give the pet medications that will alleviate the pain. Dogs in pain can be given analgesics, the drugs that relieve all kinds of pains. Analgesics are given to dogs as this drug is an effective pain relief medication.

Several options are available to ease the pain of the dog. In veterinary facilities, these pain medications are usually given intravenously or through injections. In animal hospitals the pain medication is either injected or given through IVs. Home treatments calls for oral administration of pain medications. If the pet is not hospitalized, the pain medication is usually administered orally. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications that were originally formulated for humans are also given to dogs. It has been the habit of pet owners to give a dog in pain non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that were specifically formulated for humans. Although these NSAIDs can cause stomach and intestinal bleeding, they are given to the pets as they are effective in giving the dog relief from pain. Adverse effects such as stomach and intestinal bleeding are manifested by dogs given NSAIDs for pain. NSAIDs that were newly formulated were proven to be more pet friendly. Newer NSAIDs though were proven effective in alleviating pain without the side effects. Metacam, Mobic and Rimadyl can alleviate the pain without causing intestinal bleeding. Examples of these newer pain medications that do not cause intestinal bleeding are Mobic, Rimadyl and Metacam. Narcotic medications are also given to dogs for their pain relieving capabilities. To alleviate pain, dogs are also given narcotic medications. With humans, narcotics can cause addiction. Prolonged use of narcotics results to addiction in humans. Fortunately addiction is not a problem with dogs. Addiction though does not happen to dogs.
 
Arthritis causes chronic pain. Dog Gone Pain (DGP) is considered by pet owners as one of the most effective medications that can immediately ease the pet’s pain. Dog Gone Pain is one effective pain relief. Joint inflammation causes the dog debilitating pain. The debilitating pain of the dog can be due to inflamed joints. Corticosteroids have very little pain relief capability but these are effective anti-inflammatory medications. Corticosteroids may not be big on pain relief but these meds have excellent anti inflammatory capabilities.

Dogs are well regarded pets because of the way they have made human life so much better. You have a lot of choices to help the pet but be sure that the one you have chosen would not only give pain relief but one that would safe for the dog as well. You as an owner would think of helping the ailing pet but be sure to make the right choice – a choice that will not only give the dog pain relief but one that will be safe for the dog as well .

Find out more about what you can give a dog for pain as well as information on first aid for dogs at Sarah’s Dogs.