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Dog Teeth Cleaning

March 13, 2011 By albert Leave a Comment

Does your pooch have a killer breath? Dogs are highly valued pets. Notice how a dog lover would constantly touch the pet. Dogs are often seen being hugged and kissed by their owners. Dog owners make sure that the pet is regularly groomed to maintain cleanliness and health as these pets live and sleep with the family.

Unfortunately, while dog owners would take so much pleasure in bathing and brushing the dog’s coat, a lot would baulk at cleaning the dog’s teeth. Dental care that should have been made a part of the grooming routine often takes a back seat. Most dogs have adapted to bathing, to nail clipping and even to the tickly ear cleaning. These four legged friends even love having their coats brushed. Brushing the dog’s teeth would be a challenge as these animals not accustomed to having their mouth and teeth touched would struggle with all their might.

Proper dental care is very important for canines as unlike in humans, the enzyme that prevents food from sticking to the teeth is not present in their saliva. This condition promotes the buildup of plaque and tartar when the dog’s teeth are not brushed. Although dogs do not get cavities, these four legged friends can have bad breath because of the tartar and plaque. Dogs unlike humans cannot use dentures thus ensuring that the pet receives proper dental care is one of the responsibilities of a dog owner.

Dental health concerns that would require canine dentist visits can be avoided if the dog teeth is cleaned at least twice a week. Regular grooming of the dog’s teeth would not only remove the dog’s bad breath but most importantly, periodontal diseases that can lead to heart concerns can be prevented. Dog owners are aware of this fact but cleaning the dog’s teeth can be a challenging task that often ends up with the fingers of the owner nipped by the pet.

However, dogs are intelligent animals that are known to adapt to training easily. Dogs are trained to like tooth brushing especially if treats are given as rewards. The trick is to train the dog to be touched in the mouth. Dogs have the reputation of being food motivated. Gain the dog’s interest by placing a dab of peanut butter on the tip of the toothbrush. The dog will get used to the feel of the toothbrush when it licks the treat. Substitute the peanut butter with chicken, beef or malt flavored doggie toothpaste. Enticed by the promise of a treat, the dog will no longer put up a struggle when the teeth is brushed.

Find out more about dog grooming as well as information on dog dental care at Sarah’s Dogs.

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Canine Diarrhea: Simple Ways For Your Dog To Feel Better

November 23, 2009 By scribe Leave a Comment

According to surveys by the national Veterinary group, canine diarrhea is the third most common problem they treat in their offices. If your pup has ever had this issue, you know how much your day is changed around. Stomach problems in dogs can come from too much bacteria in their intestinal system tract, or just from you giving them too much food or snacks. The more serious cases can include bloating or even stomach cancer.

If the dog’s stomach problems are not accompanied by vomiting and a sudden lack of appetite, the problem may be mild and you can handle it yourself. We’ve got some tips you might find helpful if your dog has loose bowel movements. But if your little dog is vomiting or showing blood in his feces, you need to put him in the car and drive directly to the vet’s office.

But sometimes stomach problems and loose bowels are just side effects from diet changes, super snacking or digging through the trash in the kitchen. Other causes could be due to parasites like worms that can make harmful bacteria grow in your dog’s stomach and intestines.

If you see worms in your dog’s feces, either spaghetti looking or rice like in appearance, you can get an OTC de-wormer medicine and this might just do the trick. But some parasites like Giardia or other worms you can’t see are not so easily dealt with by pet owners. This will probably cause further stomach problems and more diarrhea. When this happens, you need to scoop up some of your dog’s stool and carry it off to the vet office for further testing.

Its possible that you can handle mild stomach problems just by withholding food from your pet for a day. This with the assumption that all else is normal with your dog’s health, with the exception of the loose stool.

After a day of no food at all for your dog, give him or her a meal made of boiled hamburger, chicken and white rice with all the fat drained off of the meat. Give your dog small portions of food 5 or 6 times a day until his bowels are normal and the stool turns firm again. Sometimes, the vet would recommend small bits of yogurt so that beneficial bacteria can grow safely in the dog’s stomach.

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Dog Fitness: Is Your Pooch Out of Shape?

October 29, 2009 By scribe Leave a Comment

Have you begun to notice that your dog is looking a little overweight, or simply less lean than he should be? It might be time to start considering what your options are to help him get into shape. We’re going to talk about a few ways you can discover where your pet’s health is suffering and how to get it back up.

You must realize that all dogs require exercise. Whether you have a Pomeranian or a Great Dane, every breed and size of dog must maintain certain levels of activity on a daily basis. Think about your dog’s average day from beginning to finish. If you can’t bring it to mind, keep an eye on him for a few days and write down his usual activities. For my dog, I drew a time line of his average day. In my timeline I wrote down when he woke up, his meal times, his usual trips outside, nap times, etc. This really helps to put into perspective whether your dog is truly lacking exercise or if a change of diet is required.

That brings us to our next topic: the great outdoors. Have you ever stepped outside on a nice crisp morning, taken a deep breath of cool air and revelled in how good it feels to connect with nature? Maybe you don’t do this all the time, but for a dog, this is a common comparison of how natural it is for them to crave the outdoors—because dogs are natively the “outdoorsy type.” Being outdoors can cause inspiration, not just ideas, but for activity—and this is what your dog needs. If your dog doesn’t get to go outside often enough, this could be an answer for why his spirit for activity has shrunk. Try taking him outside at least twice a day, and not just for a bathroom break. Encourage him to run about and play with toys. It might help to remember that your dog is more likely to want to play if he has someone to play with. If you don’t have a private yard, try taking him on pet-friendly walking trails or to do a dog park where he can socialize and spend some alone time with you. Walking is a great way to improve your owner-dog bond as well as lose weight. Going outside isn’t the only activity you can do. Dog steps are a great tool to use to give your dog a bit of exercise while staying in the comfort of your home (especially on rainy or snowy days!). Make a game of running him up and down the steps, such as pushing the stairs against your bed and hiding treats in your covers. This is a favourite of mine as I love watching my dog go crazy as he paws through the covers!

If your dog seems to be getting enough exercise but still seems to be overweight, it may be time to reconsider what you’re feeding him. Does he get a lot of table scraps? Most of the food humans eat simply doesn’t offer any health benefits to dogs. The canine diet is supposed to consist primarily of lean meat, supplemented with raw vegetables and specific types of grain. Feeding your dog leftover pizza crusts or the leftover casserole that no one else would eat is a sure-fire way to cause health decline. So cut out the human food! You can also try putting your pooch on a name brand diet kibble for a month or two to see if that helps.

Any time you feel that there could be something amiss with your dog’s health, it’s always best to make an appointment with your dog’s vet to rule out the possibility of an underlying health condition.

For more great information about caring properly for a dog, or to buy a durable set of dog stairs, please visit Help Your Pets.

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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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Dog Health Problems: Signs There Might be A Health Problem

October 29, 2009 By scribe Leave a Comment

Dog owners should know a bit about the various common dog health problems that their pet couild get over the course of their lives. There is an old canine folklore held and believed by people from long ago saying that a cold and wet nose on a dog is a sign of good health. The truth is that there is no basis in science whatsoever that when a dog has a cold, wet nose, that they are healthy and have no problems such as heart problems, worms, mange mites or any other canine health condition.

Responsible owners should disregard such beliefs without scientific basis and focus on looking at the overall condition of the dog including regular physical checks of the eyes, teeth, ears, mouth and skin for any abnormalities that could be signs and symptoms of a particular disease. On top of that, the dog owner should be responsible enough to provide all the care and attention that their dogs need including proper nutrition, preventative medicine and good grooming to ensure that their pets will be in good and healthy condition for years to come.   

Signs Of Common Dog Health Problems

There are a number of signs and signals that might be telling you that your dog has specific dog health symptoms or problems or diseases. Dog owners need to make sure they are familiar with symptoms of potential dog health problems so they can take quick action and avoid bigger problems later on.

* Overall, a healthy dog’s coat is shiny, soft to the touch and full. With wiry coated dogs, like Australian terriers, you need to be sure that the coat is springy and has thick strands of fur. Breeds with double coats should have no indication of thinning on the undercoats.

* Redness, sores, scabs, scales, flakes, lumps and growths on the dog’s skin can be signs of health problems. Your dog’s skin and fur should be free of parasitic infestation like ticks, fleas or mange mites. An overabundance of scartching or biting of their own skin could mean your dog is infested with parasites like mange mites.

* Just like us, bright, shiny eyes in your dog means good health. Around their eyeballs, dogs have an area that needs to be pink to show that they are healthy. This area is called the conjunctiva and a pale color in this area could signify some underlying health problems. Its important that there be no abnormal discharges from the eyes, especially no greenish or yellow fluids.

* Bad odors and/or bloody discharge from the ears is good symptom that something is wrong. Its important to keep the ears clean and free of parasites like mange mites.

* Gums that have a healthy pink color which may contain some black pigmentation is a sign of good health. Pale or very light colored gums could mean your dog has anemia. Reddish gums that leak droplets of blood can often be signals that there is something amiss peridontally and this combined with a rank breath odor can spell trouble with a hidden health problem.

* Thinking back to the old time thinking about a dog’s nose, a dog full of health usually has a cold, wet nose but this is really only due to the kind of clear and watery discharge that are normal in dogs. If a foul and colored discharge from the nose emanates, this is a sign of an abnormal condition and should be looked at. These kinds of discharges in young puppies could indicate canine distemper and may turn out to be fatal.

A few of the other factors to indicate good dog health are weight, body temperature and the appearance of urine and feces. The most important thing is to understand these symptoms of dog health problems so that the minute you spot something out of the ordinary, you can take action right away.

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What is the Best Pet Med for your Dog or Cat?

September 28, 2009 By scribe Leave a Comment

At times when your vet prescribes medication to your dog or cat, you will have to choose between the options available like fluid or tablet? Commercial or holistic? Your vet may suggest to you a few choices but it has to be your final decision.

Factors to think about:

The medicines your vet prescribes may have some minor side effects, but at times it is possible that medication reacts severely against the health of pet.If your dog or cat needs a trip to the vet for medication do not forget to ask the vet about the duration of medication and what kind of effect that might have on your animal.To avoid any side effects from vet-prescribed medications, give your vet full disclosure about the allergies your pet may have towards certain medications, as well as any existing treatment your animal is undertaking.Do not forget to ask your vet about the variety and options regarding pet meds available in the market which suit you the best.Keep these medications out of reach of children, and please be careful regarding any reactions which may take place.

So how do I know what pet meds with suit me?

Since you will be administering the dog medications, a good question to ask is, “What works for me?” Are you available to administer dog medication every four hours, or do you need something longer-lasting? Are you comfortable administering a pill, or would you rather the vet gave your dog an injection? The easier the dog medication is to administer, the greater the chance that your dog will get it on schedule, and for the full course of the medication. And that benefits you, and your dog.

Factors to consider when deciding on the best pet medicine:

The best dog or cat drugs should have no severe side effects against the health of the pet, and should not be too costly as well.The medication given by your vet should be appropriate with the breed, age and sex of your dog or cat.There are many different ways to go, however, as you can decide between different brands or whether or not to go with a natural or holistic remedy instead of a commercial one.Knowing what medications will work against a particular ailment is often a bit hit and miss, so if you don’t think they are working properly, stop and try something else rather than sticking with those meds for too long.

Safety tips:

If your animal needs pet medications make sure you follow the label instructions in order to minimize the harm done by the medication and ensure the maximum effectiveness.For topicals, apply them in a place where they can’t be licked or washed off easily. Keep all pet medications out of the reach of children and never use vet meds to treat a human condition, even if the symptoms are the same.Holistic medication has sometimes been proven to be effective without serious side effects for certain ailments and is therefore a realistic alternative to commercial products in some cases.Always consult with your veterinarian before giving any holistic medications or supplements to your dog or cat just to be on the safe side. It is well known, as an example, that cats are a lot more sensitive and prone to serious complications if given natural remedies such as herbal extracts.

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