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How to remove ticks from dogs

March 13, 2011 By albert Leave a Comment

Ticks are one of the freeloaders that pester dogs. These very small parasitic arthropods are the bane of a dog’s existence as these parasites cause anemia when they feed on the blood of the dog. Moreover, these small parasites can carry diseases that would not only affect the dog but also pose a dangerous threat to humans. A dog that is infested with ticks can get Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis thus dog owners would make sure that the infestation is resolved at once.

After the transmission of the tick borne disease, the dog will be lethargic, have fever and show signs of weakness. A dog affected by a tick borne disease can suffer from temporary paralysis. Once the tick is removed, the symptoms of the tick borne diseases will be gone as well

Due to a high prey drive dogs are often seen wandering in grassland and woodland trails as these animals would be happiest if they are trailing prey. Unfortunately, instead of snaring a prey, the dog may come home one day with ticks latched on its body. Ticks are parasites that would patiently wait in grassland for potential hosts. Ticks are equipped with sensitive sensors that can recognize the approach of a potential host. Once a victim is sensed it would jump not unlike a flea into the victim’s body, burrow its head into the skin and begin its blood meal.

Engorged with blood, the tick that is as small as the point of a pencil can grow as big as a raisin. Tick borne disease will not be transmitted to the dog immediately even though the ticks would start feeding on the dog’s blood. It is therefore very important to groom the pet especially if it has been playing in grassy areas. Even if the dog is infested with ticks, transmission of diseases can be prevented if the ticks are removed at once.

A dog owner has to make it a habit to groom or to inspect a dog that has been playing outdoors especially in area where ticks are prevalent. The coat must be brushed and the hand run through the dog’s body to feel for small bumps. Ticks are not really hard to remove. Unlike fleas that are hard to remove by hand, ticks remain stationary. To remove ticks, position the tweezers as close as possible to the skin and pull the parasite in one steady motion but squeezing the tick must be avoided so that bacteria carried by the tick is not injected to the dog. The tweezers can be used to carefully remove tick head that was left embedded in the dog’s skin. Clean the bite area with antiseptic solution.

Find out more about dog grooming as well as ticks at Sarah’s Dogs.

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Controlling the Dog’s Flea infestation with Grooming

March 13, 2011 By albert Leave a Comment

Is it really true that an ill kept dog is owned by an ugly owner? There may be some truth to this belief given that the appearance of the pet is actually a reflection of the personality of the owner. A dirty and mangy dog, or one that has an emaciated look will be pitied and the owner will be scorned. People will believe that the owner is not fit to keep a dog for a pet.

A healthy diet would not be enough to keep the pet healthy and looking good. A responsible dog owner would also know the importance of regularly grooming the pet as it is not only an essential factor in the maintenance of the dog’s admirable appearance but also a necessary preventive measure against the development of various health concerns.

Flea infestation is most common in dogs. Fleas are very fast and wingless parasites that would not only cause the dog discomfort but a lot of other health concerns as well. A dog with severe flea infestation will constantly scratch and bite the body because flea bites will cause severe itching. A dog that is sensitive to flea saliva can develop flea allergy dermatitis. A dog’s appearance will be marred by the bald patches and oozing sores that would result from the flea infestation. A dog severely affected by fleas can suffer from anemia. If the pet is infested with fleas, tape worms can be transmitted not only to the dog but also the human family as a flea carrying tapeworm eggs can be accidentally ingested.

Regular grooming will prevent the development of flea infestation. Fleas can be transmitted by an infested dog or when the dog plays or passes areas where fleas are hiding. Adult fleas can be easily eliminated by anti flea products but the infestation tends to recur as the eggs are resistant to insecticides.

The importance of regular grooming in the prevention of parasite infestation is very important. The dog can be bathed with anti-flea shampoo. The lather must be allowed to stay in the dog’s body for at least 10 minutes before it can be rinsed. Use a fine toothed comb on the thoroughly dried hair to remove dead fleas. For good measure, all the areas of the house frequented by the dog must be vacuumed thoroughly giving particular attention to carpets and rugs as well as to cracks and crevices as these areas are favorite hiding places of fleas. To totally eliminate the fleas from the house, it would be a good idea to wash the things used by the dog in hot water.

A regular grooming routine allows the dog owner to act on a developing parasite infestation before it worsens. Furthermore, the grooming sessions enables the owner to strengthen the bond with the pet.

Want to know more about dog grooming as well as dog fleas. Visit Sarah’s Dogs.

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Dog eye care

March 13, 2011 By albert Leave a Comment

Dogs are known to be very intelligent animals. Apart from adapting to training easily, dogs seem to have a knack of acting instinctively in emergency situations. Countless lives have been saved by dogs. Surprisingly, these very intelligent animals would still depend on their owner for their well being. For thousands of years dogs have managed to survive in the wild without the help of man. Modern day dogs’ well being largely depend on the care provided by the owner. Have these animals gone weaker?

How well the dog looks and feels would depend on the care provided by the owner. A dog owner is mistaken if he/she thinks that dog ownership starts and ends with giving the pet regular meals as dogs would require grooming and companionship too.

The eyes of the dog are very sensitive organs. Just us humans, a dog’s eyes are his “window to the world” too. Despite the high level of intelligence, it is apparent that dogs do not have the ability to take care of these delicate organs. Because of high prey drives, dogs would follow prey under thick underbrush oblivious to the injuries that can happen to the eyes. Digging a buried treasure, a dog would not mind if dirt and soil would get into the eyes as long as the bone is found. Grooming the dog’s eyes therefore falls on the hands of the responsible dog owner. Regular eye grooming would not only remove the tear stains that would mar the pet’s appearance but also prevent the development of possible health concerns.

Unlike other grooming procedures that can be done weekly or monthly, the dog’s eyes have to be cleaned daily. Because of the dog’s tendency to have eye irritations, a dog owner has to make sure that the first aid kit of the pet contains the necessary eye care supplies. Basic eye care supplies are eye care solution and antibacterial ointment.

Removing the gunk in the dog’s eyes with a damp towel or a baby wipe every morning would not take too much time. Some eye irritations are caused by the dog’s hair that gets into the eyes. This can be prevented by trimming the hair near the dog’s eyes. The eyes must be examined for tearing redness and swelling. Flush the eyes with the sterile eye wash to remove foreign objects or dirt that is causing the redness, swelling and tearing. Excessive tearing, eye discharge and constant pawing of the eyes can be an indication of an eye health concern. The swelling, redness and tearing should be gone after a day but if these symptoms continue, consulting a vet would be the best option to arrest the possible development of a serious eye problem.

Sarah’s Dogs has more information about dog grooming as well as information about dog eye care.

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Dog Grooming Explained

December 10, 2009 By scribe Leave a Comment

Dog grooming is a crucial factor of dog care. Dog grooming consists of a number of diverse tasks. Routine combing and brushing to eliminate dead hair, skin and general flotsam and jetsam. Bathing and nail trimming, as well as caring for your dog’s ears, eyes and mouth.
For good dog health you should groom daily, it is also a great moment for quality time and bonding with your pooch. This is a great time to fuss your pooch. Dog grooming must be started early in the puppies life, build a daily routine, do at the same time, place and do in the same way. When commencing dog grooming, be gentle, but decisive, that way he will not be anxious, but knows that he has to do it.
The brushing and combing will care for your dog’s coat, removing all sorts of potential skin irritant and pests, giving a shinier and better coat. The specific type of grooming required depends on the type of dog, the below is general and suitable for most dogs, but either check with the dog breeder, or find more information on the web, or your dog sitter should be able to help.
Bathing
Bathing is an important task in dog grooming. You will hear many different views on how often a specific dog or breed must be bathed. The different aspects centring around natural self grooming maintains natural body oils. Whilst bathing, even with special dog shampoos will bathe the natural essential oils away. So many people wait until the dog becomes dirty prior to washing. There is a female / male bias, with women generally preferring to wash regularly and more often. Generally a bath around every couple of months or so should be expected.
It is easier to introduce them to bathing at an early age, so it comes naturally, and even look forward to it. Before a planned bathing of the dog it is best to brush the dog well.
For a stress free bath, plan the dog bath well, collect and place everything ready and at hand prior to getting him. Bathing is particularly stressful for those in large towns, with insufficient space and without the delights of shower rooms and utility rooms by the back door. For us city dwellers, we often have to take the dog up to the bathroom.
Avoid you and the dog loosing footing, so place the rubber mat in your bath. To evade ear problems, shield the ears by using cotton wool in the dog’s ears to stop water ingress into the ears. Some breeds with open ears such as collies can be particularly susceptible to ear problems.
You do not want to shock your dog so use warm water to rinse your dog. It is easier to use a shower or spray hose. Keep the nozzle head close to the fur and do not spray onto the dog’s face, as this could scare him.
There are specially formulated dog shampoos which are specially formulated to meet their special needs. Only use a little and commence with the head and top and work downward and toward the tail. Be careful to avoid the eyes. Important areas to spend time on bathing well are around the chin, particularly if he is messy with food, behind the ears, around the toes and the rectum.
Finish by rinsing with warm water, ensuring all the shampoo is washed out.
Do not forget the natural way for a dog to remove water is to shake, so let him and stand clear, then you can rub him down. You may like to use a hair dryer, mainly women again! This is not normally needed unless you are needing to take him out. Let him finish drying off naturally inside.

The other jobs of dog grooming and dog care will be covered later, including coat care, ear and teeth care and nail trimming

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Havanese – a Great Dog.

November 9, 2009 By scribe Leave a Comment

The Havanese is a Bichon Group breed, that includes Bichon Frise, Bolognese, Coton de Tulear, Lowchen and Maltese The Havanese is a good-humoured small dog, toy dog that were bred to be good companions, so are good with children. They love to have attention and will do many things to attract it. This love for notice does not make them an ideal choice for a busy working couple. They will often follow owners around the apartment, but are rarely overly possessive of their “ people”, so are great with other animals and dogs. They often like to eat with someone in the room, so stay there when they are eating, otherwise they may take their food with them and eat it as they walk, which can be messy. They are a “real dog”, playing games such as football with gusto. Not the greatest walkers in the world, often liking breaks with games or just watching the world go by. Professional dog trainers such as London Dog Training love them, as they are so responsive to positive reinforcement.

For dog care they are straightforward. One advantage of the Havanese is that they do not shed much. You may see on lists that they do not shed, this misleading as all hair follicles will have a cycle of growing and dying, shedding it hair, but this is variable and not often, so there is no strong cycle of hair shedding. The coat catches the hair and dander internally, so many people think it is non-allergenic, but they all release dander that can aggravate allergies. If you have an allergy sufferer in the house, have one to stay for a few days to check.

The Havanese has a slight wavy double coat, which is soft and light, with a denser undercoat.

The Havanese should ideally be groomed daily, as the fur has a tendency to mat. If you are not showing the dog, you can trim the coat. Whilst they have fur, it is a coat to keep the hot sun off the body, not warmth inside, so in some areas you may need to buy sweaters for them.

It is advisable to dry them after a bath with towels, rather than a hair drier, which can make their skin too dry and prone to infections. It is a breed that the kennel clubs, prefer and dictate a natural look, avoiding the bows and preferring the hair over the eyes, that protected their eyes from the Cuban sun.

They now come in many different colours and patterns, but were originally white.
They have a stocky appearance relative to most toy dog breeds. The Havanese weight ranges from four to six Kgs (ten to fifteen lbs). Its height measured at the withers is about two hundred and fifty mm( 9-11 inches). The back raises from the withers to the rump which is unusual in dogs.

The Havanese move with an agile springy gait. Whilst they are relatively good swimmers, they generally shire away from water, but be prudent close to water if there is something for them to run after.

The Havanese have almond eyes, with average sized ears that are well covered and hang down. They are prone to ear infections, so routinely check their ears and clean them. Every so often they may need inner hairs to be plucked by tweezers or hand. The tail sweeps over the back and is also well covered. The Havanese have a great sense of smell and are trained in some countries for search. The Havanese are easily trainable so are often found in circus shows, tracking, hearing assistance dogs, mould, termite and drug search.

They routinely live fourteen to sixteen years. The Havanese being breed from a limited gene pool suffer from some genetic diseases. These include liver disease, heart disease, cataracts and retinal dysplasia (dots and streak on the retina). It is advisable only to acquire Havanese from parent dogs who have clear eye certificates. Havanese may develop brown tear stains, this is more obvious on the lighter coloured dogs.

The dog originated from the now extent Bichon Tenerife and was taken to Havana by traders and settlers. Being popular in Havana in Cuba. Internationally the Havanese is a relatively recent breed, taking off in the 1970s from only eleven animals in the USA. They were common in Cuba, prior to the revolution, but suffered afterwards. It is now one of the fastest growing registrations in most country kennel clubs. For this reason it may be difficult to acquire one, so the best of luck on finding one.

A great family dog that is well worth considering.

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Tips For Good Puppy Health

October 29, 2009 By scribe Leave a Comment

If you have never owned a puppy before, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed with the sudden responsibility of caring for the wellbeing of your new pal. In this article you will learn about the basic health responsibilities you should attend to and how you can go about doing so.

Your puppy’s diet is first on our list. Puppies are on their mother’s milk until they are about six to eight weeks old. This weaning age is usually when breeders allow the puppies to be taken home by their new owner. Ask your breeder what the pup is currently eating and continue to feed him that. Usually they will be eating a soft canned food mixed with puppy milk replacer. Use less and less milk until your puppy is on pure canned food. You can do the same when switching to dry food by mixing in a little soft food and then cutting back a little each day until the puppy is on dry food only. Dry food is recommended as the best type of food for dogs as it has less fat content and keeps your dog’s teeth strong and free of plaque build up. This should happen gradually over the course of about 7 – 10 days. You should never feed your dog human food (ie: table scraps) at any time during his life. A dog’s diet requires a specific balance of certain nutrients and feeding your dog table scraps will upset this balance. Also remember to keep a water bowl filled for your pup at all times.

Your next concern should be to see that your dog gets all of the required vaccinations. Some breeders may start the vaccination process, so check with your dog’s breeder to find out if any vaccinations have been given to your pup. There are three shots given three weeks apart. These shots are referred to as the “core” injections. They help to prevent your pup from contracting distemper, parvovirus, and hepatitis. You can have the first shot administered when your puppy is 6 weeks old. Your veterinarian may suggest vaccinations to prevent illnesses that are a concern for certain breeds or demographic regions. These are called non-core vaccinations as they are not a requirement for all dogs. To be on the safe side, we recommend you keep your dog away from other dogs (that are not in your home) until your puppy has completed his round of core vaccines. They will become effective about 10 days after the last vaccination.

Our next health tip is grooming. Regardless of the breed of your puppy, all dogs require a certain amount of grooming. For instance, long-haired dogs will require much more brushing and haircuts than other breeds, but there are also some breeds, particularly the ones with long ears, that need their ears cleaned frequently to avoid infection. All dogs need to have their nails clipped every so often, but we recommend that you have this done professionally if you aren’t experienced at the job, as clipping too close to the quick in your dog’s nails causes a great deal of pain and bleeding. Do a bit of research on your puppy’s breed to get a good idea as to what your grooming responsibilities will be.

Exercise is one of the most vital aspects of your dog’s health. Your puppy will have a great deal of energy, which is completely natural! You should encourage playtime, especially outdoors so that he can have tons of room to romp around. If your puppy becomes restless, he may chew excessively which can be dangerous for your puppy (think of all the cords/cables plugging into your outlets, as well as wooden furniture that can splinter!). Pet steps are a great tool you can use to give your dog a workout. The time you spend training him to use the dog stairs to get onto furniture will encourage your pup to bond with you as well as to be obedient and respectful.

For more tips on raising a healthy pup, visit HelpYourPets.com.

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