Dog Health Blog

Dogs can suffer from similar ailments that we get as we age, including arthritis and pain in the joints.

Some breeds of dogs are more prone than others to getting certain ailments and you need to be aware of the possible problems that your particular breed of dog might get as it grows older.

By giving your dog a warm place to lie when it sleeps you might be able to ward off arthritic pain.
By keeping the body weight down to acceptable levels for dogs that are prone to overeating and weight gain might stop your dog from developing other symptoms that can affect the quality of life.

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It is far better to control things that can affect the dogs health during the course of their life than to make them, and you, pay for ill health as they age.

According to many dog experts our pets should be living for a lot longer than the current life expectancies that we have come to accept.

With good medication we can expect to enjoy more years with our dogs but it is just as easy to add many quality years to their life by ensuring that they get the optimum nutrition and suitable living standards during the course of their life.

Most dogs are very hardy but even they will benefit from additional comforts and care.

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As a 10 year old child, I watched helplessly one hot August day as my beloved boxer, Duke, died in my arms. Four decades later, I still have that memory painfully etched in my mind. We didn’t learn until after the fact that Duke had died of a heat stroke. Even more painful was the realization that, had we known what to look for, we could have taken measures to possibly prevent his death. In honor of his memory, I want to share vital information that may keep your dog from suffering Duke’s fate.

What is heat stroke?

Too much time exposed to the dangerous combination of increased temperature and humidity can lead to a heat stroke. A mammal’s body (and that includes humans, too) can only tolerate temperatures up to about 107 degrees before cells start dying. The higher the temperature, the faster this occurs. The longer the body remains at an elevated temperature, the less chance there is for recovery. Heat stroke can occur very quickly, given the right set of circumstances, and if too much time has elapsed, even your best efforts may not be enough to keep your dog alive.

Is my dog at risk for heat stroke?

Any dog can fall victim to heat stroke, but hot weather is especially hard on puppies and older dogs, (they have a harder time regulating their body temperature), short-nosed breeds, (like pugs, pekes, boxers and bulldogs), overweight dogs, those with heart or lung problems, and dogs recently moved from a cooler climate. These risk factors increase if your dog doesn’t have enough water, if he’s in an enclosed space or is exposed too long to direct sunlight.

How can I recognize heat stroke?

Heat stroke causes dogs to pant rapidly and heavily, the body’s defense in an effort to lower the core temperature. Their eyes may be open abnormally wide, and they may appear to stare blankly, ignoring your commands. They may drool excessively and stagger weakly. The gums will appear pale and dry and eventually, if left untreated, the animal will collapse into unconsciousness.

What should I do if my dog has a heat stroke?

If you suspect your dog is suffering from heat stroke and you’re close to a vet or animal hospital, put him in the car, crank the air conditioning all the way up and get him there as soon as possible. They’re the ones best equipped to handle your dog’s recovery. If that’s not possible, you must try to reduce your dog’s temperature yourself. Get him to a shady area and either put him in a tub of cool (not cold) running water, or spray him with a hose. Be sure the water penetrates his coat and wets the skin beneath. Run it over his tongue and mouth, inside the legs and on his stomach. Remember that small dogs will cool down more quickly than larger breeds. Take your dog to a vet as soon as you can.

Hopefully your dog will never suffer a life-threatening heat stroke. If he does, at least now you know the signs and symptoms to be aware of, and the measures you can take that will offer him the best chances for a full and total recovery.

About the Author

Honey Wesley is the owner of http://www.justsaydogs.com, a fun, innovative and informative website dedicated to dogs and dog lovers everywhere. Send a blank email mailto:Bou@justsaydogs.com. You’ll get “12 Ways to Keep Your Dog Safe this Summer”

Canine heart disease basically means heart disease in dogs. If you are a dog owner, you probably know this concept, but if you don’t, just remember that as a dog owner you have the responsibility of keeping your dog’s heart healthy.

Keeping the dog’s heart healthy is not a hard thing to do. The key here is regular visits to veterinarians, and awareness of the fact that canine heart disease is one of the biggest causes of death in dogs.

This disease can be present at birth or acquired. It may develop at certain points in your dog’s life, commonly during the middle age, and it may occur regardless of the sex and age of your pet. Well, this is also true in humans, and since canine heart disease can be life-threatening, dog owners must do something to avoid it.

But before knowing the steps to take for a healthy heart, it is best to know first the types of canine heart disease. According to some studies, dogs develop the disease in two different ways. On one hand, it occurs when the heart valves are damaged, losing their ability to close properly then causing an abnormal or irregular flow of blood to the heart. On the other hand, it may occur as a result of the thinning and weakening of the heart’s muscular walls, also causing an abnormal blood flow to the organ.

Well, it’s interesting to know that both of these mentioned types of canine heart disease develop gradually over time. If they become severe, chances are a serious condition like heart failure may occur.

Heart failure is basically one type of canine heart disease that affects dogs to a greater degree. Statistics have shown that 3.2 million of dogs around the world have developed this complication. It basically results in the incapability of the heart arteries and muscles to pump blood at a rate the body requires for the heart and other organs to function properly. This may also result with the continuing attempt to pump blood further.

Canine heart disease develops with certain signs or with no signs at all. Also, it may manifest itself with varying symptoms. Because of this, it is then wise to bring your dog to a veterinarian to diagnose and evaluate the case. Usually, dogs with mild to moderate heart failure show symptoms such as coughing, lethargy, shortness of breath, and enlargement of the heart. Those that experience severe cases of this illness are said to develop difficulty in breathing even at rest, loss of appetite, weight loss, fainting, and intolerance to exercise.

Given all those types and symptoms of the disease, there’s really nothing best you can do but to approach a veterinarian and let your dog be checked for whatever problem there may be. It is also best to follow the recommendations of the veterinarian and make sure that your pet gets a moderate amount of exercise on a regular basis to help him or her live longer and healthier life. Add these tips with a balanced diet. Note that an obese dog is more likely to develop canine heart disease than those that maintain a normal weight.

About the Author

Read More Information On Canine Heart Disease In Dogs At: http://heartdiseasepicture.vioxxandcoronaryheartdisease.com

Vital Nutrition Canine Heart Health 4 oz Helps support optimal heart health. Contains L-Carnitine, Omega 3 & 6 Fatty Acids. Great tasting, easy to serve gel.

Storm and I were best friends from the day I found him abandoned and covered with ticks. About 6 years ago, however, our playtime became a burden to Storm instead of fun. He developed arthritis. The symptoms began with general slowing down of his movements. Then it became harder for him to move because of stiffness in his joints. He had trouble getting up and climbing stairs.

I took Storm to the vet and was disappointed with the arthritis treatments for dogs that were available. The vet suggested giving Storm aspirin for the pain. That did work for a while, but it didn’t fix the problem. It just hid it. I stopped giving Storm aspirin after he almost died from taking it! He contracted a very serious intestinal infection. This almost tragic event sparked my desire to find a safe arthritis treatment for dogs. I wanted to find an arthritis treatment for dogs that didn’t just cover up the problem, but actually helped. I found a product called Glucosamine that claimed to be an arthritis treatment for dogs. I ordered a bottle and started to give it to Storm.

The first thing I liked about this arthritis treatment for dogs was that it was easy to give. It came with a built-in measuring spout. All I had to do was measure it out and pour it over his food once a day. Storm didn’t even notice that I had put it on his food. He didn’t mind the taste at all. The best thing about this arthritis treatment for dogs was that it didn’t really have any side effects, which was a relief after the scary events with the aspirin.

Storm started to show improvement in about a month. The slowness that he had been experiencing improved and he was able to get around much easier. The stiffness also improved. Storm didn’t struggle to get up and could climb the stairs again. He wasn’t a puppy, but Storm and I could continue to make our trips to the park. In fact, we continued to play (although more slowly) until he passed away from old age at 15, which is quite an old age considering that Storm was a large dog. I gave him the glucosamine arthritis treatment for dogs every day and that probably helped him live a longer, healthier, more fulfilling life.

Thousands of our customers have had the same experience with their arthritic dogs as I did with Storm. Liquid glucosamine can’t be beat as an arthritis treatment for dogs.

What makes liquid glucosamine work so well? The main reason that glucosamine is a well accepted and effective arthritis treatment for dogs is that it works without negative side effects! Glucosamine is not only an accepted arthritis treatment for dogs, but for humans as well. The ease of administering glucosamine makes dog owners feel at ease that they are giving the treatment correctly and makes it easier to stick with the treatment. Dogs either don’t notice the taste of the glucosamine, or don’t mind the taste. Out of the thousands of customers using glucosamine as their arthritis treatment for dogs, only one has reported that their dog refused to eat food with the glucosamine poured on it.

When I began to search for a treatment for Storm’s arthritis, I didn’t want something that would just cover over the problem as it continued to get worse. Many anti-inflammatory, and sometimes dangerous, drugs do just hide the pain while allowing the arthritis to worsen. Using glucosamine as an arthritis treatment for dogs does not hide the pain. It works by actually rebuilding and regenerating joint tissue. Glucosamine helps repair the damage that arthritis causes to joints.

Most dogs, and people, will suffer from arthritis to some degree as they get older. Because of this, we recommend giving your dog glucosamine starting with the second half of their lives because this is the time of life when arthritis begins to set in and start to cause damage. Giving liquid glucosamine is so easy and effective as an arthritis treatment for dogs that it just makes sense to stop the pain arthritis can cause before it happens.

About the Author

Steve Weber has a degree in Natural Science Education and has worked 15 years in Oklahoma public schools. Cactus Canyon

http://www.articletrader.com/

Genesis Resources Joint Support Plus A blend of Glucosamine Sulfate, Perna Mussel, Sea Cucumber, MSM, antioxidants & anti-inflammatory herbs. For dogs suffering from pain, stiffness, lameness, inflammation, arthritis, & other joint diseases.