Dog Health Blog

Owners who are considering purchasing pet health insurance for their dogs should make sure that the eye health of their dogs covered by the insurance policy. Because many insurance companies will not insure the eyes of a dog whose breed is habitually diagnosed with chronic eye problems may want to consider purchasing their puppy from a CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation). Breeders who are recognized by the CERF have been publicly acknowledged as breeding puppies without known health problems. In some cases insurance companies might also require that the owners have genetic screening done on the puppies before they can be insured.

Glaucoma is a common eye condition that begins with very subtle symptoms such as dilated pupils that don’t respond well to light, and eye that appears to be red, poor vision, and corneas are often cloudy. One California-based veterinarian claims that because the initial symptoms of Glaucoma can be very subtle many California pet owners to not immediately bring their dogs and for an examination. If Glaucoma is not immediately seen by a veterinarian within 24 to 48 hours the increased pressure in the eyeball can lead to permanent cases of blindness. In severe cases of untreated Glaucoma veterinarians have been forced to remove the pet’s eye.

Any dog who has the developed an irritation in their eye that causes them to squint to produce extra tears is called a “squinting dog”. Most cases of squinting is caused from a minor irritation such as an in turned eyelash or minor scratch to the cornea. However some cases of squinting dog has led to the early diagnosis of diseases such as cancer and Blastomyosis.

The Dermoidis is a benign corneal neoplasam. It is sometimes referred to as the third eyelid. Hair growing from the Dermoidis can irritate the dog’s eye which can cause discharge and occasionally cause an ulcer to appear on the eye.

Once you have seen a person or animal with cataracts you will always be able to diagnose them. The official definition of a cataract is opacity of the lens. When you look into an eye that has a cataract it looks as if a darkly tinted contact lens has been placed over the lens. If the cataracts become too thick the pet will go blind.

Shar Peis. Cocker Spaniels, Labradors, and Rottweilers are susceptible to eye condition called Entropion. Entropio, happens when an eyelid folds inward toward the eye and causes the eyelashes to brush against the cornea. The irritation of the eyelashes rubbing the cornea generally gives the eye a squinty drippy appearance. Bulldogs, Poodles, and Cocker Spaniels are often diagnosed with a condition called Cherry eye.

Dry eyes is the term used to describe the eyes of a dog that isn’t producing enough tears. Lhasa Apso, Pugs, and Shih Tzus are breeds that are particularly susceptible to dry eyes. Dog owners should bring their dogs to the veterinarian as soon as they notice any of the following conditions; squinting, tearing, pawing at the eye, cloudiness, bloody eyes, a blind eye (this can happen very abruptly), constantly dilated pupils, and swollen eyelids. Dog owners need to understand that early diagnosis is often the key to preventing further eye issues.

Have you caught your dog eating poop? As disturbing as it might be, it’s rather common. Dogs occasionally eat poop — their poop and others. Oprophagia is the scientific name for poop-eating, and it’s a common behavior with young dogs. Most dogs, though, will outgrow this behavior within a few weeks.

There are lots of different ideas about why dogs eat poop. Some think that a dog eats poop when he’s missing something in his diet. And while there are some health ailments — such as intestinal disorders, parasitic infestations or starvation — that can lead to malnutrition, they aren’t very common.

Usually, dogs are attracted to poop because it smells like it might be good to eat. If you catch your dog heading for a pile when you’re out for a walk, simply pick up the poop. You can also try putting unpleasant substances on the poop — such as Tabasco sauce or an available powder called “Forbid” — but even these measures don’t always deter determined dogs.

Determining if your dog is pregnant can be difficult, but the earlier you can identify a pregnancy, the better you will be able to care for her. Of course, if you have been breeding your dog in the hopes of having a litter, you’ll probably know exactly when she conceived. Your veterinarian should be able to determine if she is pregnant within three weeks after a breeding attempt.

If you aren’t planning for your dog to be a mommy, you probably won’t know she’s pregnant until nearly six weeks into the pregnancy, when her abdomen will start to enlarge. However, there are a few early signs, such as decreased eating, appetite loss, an inflamed vulva, vaginal secretions and engorged nipples.

After discovering a pregnancy, you should take your dog to the veterinarian for an examination. The vet will determine if she needs any unusual prenatal care other than the standard improvements to her diet. As the pregnancy progresses, your dog will likely sleep longer and eat more food to feed her growing pups. Maintaining a regular exercise routine during the pregnancy is vital to make sure she’s fit for the delivery.

The average dog pregnancy lasts eight to nine weeks. As you approach the last two weeks, you should create a whelping box packed with velvety blankets. Try not to leave her alone during the final days, since she may require help in delivering the litter.

Every year billions of dollars are spent on dog food and veterinary care. It is a huge market and the people who are selling goods in this market are constantly trying to offer better products at better prices. This is great for dog lovers like us as we benefit from the competition.

The Internet has added to that competition to deliver the best dog products as more and more online pet stores compete for our dollars. With reduced overheads and the ability to source a bigger range of products in recent years, there has been a big increase in online sales of pet products.

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Some of the biggest online pet stores offer prices that the local pet stores just can’t compete with any longer and they all offer the best guarantees and returns for products that you might not be satisfied with.

Along with this they have regular overnight deliveries throughout the country and they can even deliver worldwide.

It is always good to check the prices of the online pet stores and compare with what you might be paying elsewhere as you can save quite a lot of money by doing so.

While it is essential that you have a good relationship with your local veterinarian and they know the history and health of your dog. Items such as dog toys are generally better to purchase from the Internet and there are also many people who will buy all their dog vitamins and food via the Internet due to the savings that they are able to achieve.

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