Dog Health Blog

Aging is the one thing science has yet to find a cure for.
Our pets suffer some of the same insults of growing older
that we do.

Some dogs may exhibit a number of behavioral changes linked
to senility. This condition is now commonly called Canine
Cognitive Dysfunction, or Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome.
While this syndrome is recognized in dogs, it has not been
scientifically established in cats.

There are four main areas where CCD symptoms appear. They
are disorientation, interaction with people, activity level
and sleep, and housetraining.

Disorientation can be seen as an animal that wanders
aimlessly, gets stuck in corners, stands at the wrong side
of a door or appears not to recognize people or familiar
commands and words.

Changes in interaction with people include seeking more or
less attention than normal, not wanting to be petted, and
not responding to his or her name.

Activity level and sleep changes show in such behaviors as
sleeping more during the day and less at night, barking for
no reason, forgetting meal times, and wandering aimlessly.

Housetraining changes are obvious – urinating in the
house, not asking to go outside or forgetting why they are
there when they do go out. This is not the same as
incontinence, which is usually a physical problem.

Cats may show some of these same signs, though they are
often more subtle. There are also a number of other reasons
for behavior changes in both dogs and cats.

Chronic pain can cause changes in behavior, in particular
pacing and not sleeping at night. Hyperthyroidism in cats
is often a reason for some of the odd behaviors older cats
may exhibit.

Other hormonal disorders can also cause changes, especially
those involving eating patterns or aggression. Medications
can also cause changes in behavior, as can many other
diseases and medical conditions.

Cats are also prone to small strokes, which can cause
changes such as walking into walls, or appearing
disorientated.

A thorough medical exam with blood work will be necessary
in order to determine if your pet has a cognitive disorder
due to aging.

There is also a syndrome called societal disassociative
disorder, which is similar to CDS and is caused by loss of
senses such as hearing and sight.

You can help your pet through these times by being aware of
the causes and not taking it personally or punishing the
animal for inappropriate behavior. You can offer extra
attention and reassurance.

Try to keep a consistent schedule, and to not make a lot of
physical changes in the dog or cat’s environment.

The use of flower essences, aromatherapy, herbs and touch
therapy can all be helpful in keeping your dog or cat free
of anxiety.

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Elyse Grau is an herbalist and a long-time pet owner,
well-versed in pet nutrition and feeding. She is the author
of Pet Health Resource, your web guide to a healthy, happy
dog or cat. For more information on this subject, visit:
http://www.pethealthresource.com

The skin is a body’s largest organ. It acts as a barrier
against harmful invasions from the environment. It also is
one of the methods by which the body eliminates toxins.

Skin problems are probably the most common ailments seen in
dogs. Usually they are not a disease in themselves, but a
symptom of another underlying problem.

The most common reason for skin problems in both dogs and
cats is an allergy. It may be dietary, environmental,
chemical or drug related. Problems can also show up due to
dietary deficiency or poor diet in general. Symptoms
include such as itching, redness, and poor coat quality.

If no other reason for the problem can be found, it is time
to look for food allergies. Changing to a premium or
home-made dog food can usually make a big difference in a
short time. Often simply adding raw meat to the diet is
enough to see an improvement.

If the problem persists, or the pet is already on a healthy
diet, then you must look at the specific ingredients in the
food. Beef, chicken, corn and soy are the most common
allergens, but cats and dogs, like people, can be allergic
to anything. Try eliminating the above four things first,
if that doesn’t work a more drastic “elimination diet” may
be necessary. This usually takes at least 6-8 weeks to get
a good reading.

If no food allergy can be identified, or if eliminating an
offending food has not solved the problem, then you must
look to the environment - inside as well as outside. Once
an allergic reaction has been allowed to continue for some
time, the immune system is taxed and the body may become
sensitive to other irritants.

Play detective! Ask yourself if anything has changed in
the house recently; new carpeting, new cabinetry, fresh
paint? These things can all give off chemicals which may
cause illness. Are the symptoms seasonal? Pollens are a
common allergen, and difficult to avoid, especially for a
dog. Did the symptoms start suddenly? What happened just
before they appeared - vaccinations? Other illness?
Emotional upset? Finding and eliminating the cause can be a
long and difficult process.

Essential Fatty Acids can be extremely helpful in clearing
up mild skin problems. Herbs that assist the kidneys and
liver in detoxifying are also very helpful. There are many
natural topical products that can be used to calm the
symptoms.

Bathing is not always the answer. If the dog’s coat is dry,
bathing may just make matters worse. If you must bathe, use
a gentle shampoo. Oatmeal is a good shampoo ingredient to
look for for a dog with itchy skin.

Another common cause of itching and redness for dogs and
cats is flea bite dermatitis. Not all animals are allergic,
but fleas will at least cause scratching or biting in all
pets simply because they are annoying! Flea allergies
however, cause the pests to be more than just an annoyance.
Symptoms of flea allergy include hair loss, redness, and
sometimes sores known as “hot spots”.

If you suspect your pet has fleas but you haven’t actually
seen any, look for the tell-tale black “specks” at the base
of the hairs. Fleas particularly love the areas at the base
of the tail, ears and hind legs (where they meet the
belly). To determine if the specks are flea dirt (dried
blood) and not just dirt, put some on a white paper or
cloth and wet them. If they turn red, you’ve got fleas.

Some diseases cause symptoms of the skin and coat. Thyroid
imbalances may cause dull, flaky or greasy coat and
sometimes hair loss. Skin and ear infections are common
with Cushing’s Disease.

There are some specific skin diseases as well. Mange is
caused by a mite and causes lesions and hair loss, usually
around the mouth and eyes. This most often clears up on its
own, but some dogs and cats cannot rid themselves of the
mites and have a more severe case. Ringworm is a highly
contagious fungus affecting cats, dogs and people
(especially children). It shows up as circular lesions that
are raw, hairless and scaly. The disease spreads rapidly.

Boredom or anxiety can cause a dog to lick its paws
repeatedly and constantly, resulting in “lick granulomas”.
These are raised nodules, often rough and scaly. There is
also a group of autoimmune diseases called Pemphigus which
cause scaly skin, scabs and pustules. Some breeds are
particularly susceptible to the disease.

—————————————————-
Elyse Grau is an herbalist and a long-time pet owner,
well-versed in pet nutrition and feeding. She is the author
of Pet Health Resource, your web guide to a healthy, happy
dog or cat. See her website for
http://www.pethealthresource.com

If you have ever owned a dog, then you have smelled it
- dog breath. It can knock you over, bring
strong-stomached men to their knees, and even overpower
small children, and it’s nothing to laugh about. Right
along with “dog breath” comes that other great smell -
“dog”. There is no need to explain it any further,
everyone knows what “dog” smells like. Getting rid of that
“dog” smell or dog breath is no small feat either, as every
pet owner knows. There are many great dog grooming tips
and techniques that have been tried over the centuries, and
few have stood the test of smell. There are so many
products to choose from, dog deodorizers and colognes, dog
dryers, dog toothbrushes, but they all seem so odd. So,
how do you get rid of dog odors for good? Well, here are a
couple of tips to help you find the cure.

That “dog” smell - If you have a dog that just smells
terrible, and you feel like you have tried all the old
wives tales out there, then you need to head down to the
local dog groomer and learn some dog grooming tips that you
can use at home after a bath or brushing. Your local dog
groomer can suggest some great dog grooming accessories
that you can purchase to help keep your pet smelling less
like a dog when you get home. And, they can tell you the
best shampoos to use on your pet to keep them smelling,
looking, and feeling their best.

That “dog breath” - There are many products out there that
advertise that they help to cure “dog breath” and then
don’t cut the mustard. So, once you have tried them all,
where do you turn? Well, your local vet can help you here.
The vet can suggest some great dog grooming tips for “dog
breath” that will help to knock it out. If these fail,
then your vet can suggest and prescribe some medications
that you give your pet daily that will help to knock out
the dog breath before it knocks you over. Some dog
grooming supply shops will have these medications in stock
in an over-the-counter dose, so you can also check there
before purchasing expensive medications.

If your pet has “dog breath” or smells like a dog, don’t
fret. Just remember that there are plenty of dog grooming
techniques and tips that you can learn from local groomers
and vets that will help you to keep your dog on the sweet
smelling side of life. You can also purchase some great
dog grooming accessories that will help you accomplish this
as well. Knowing how to treat and prevent these less than
wonderful smells will help you, and your pet, to have a
more loving relationship!

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Visit http://www.PetsEverywhere.com for more fun ideas to
spend time with your pets.

———————————————————————————–
Dog Health. A Complete Guide To Your Dogs Health
Click Here!

———————————————————————————–
Author: Jeremy C.W

The number of diseases that a dog might suffer from in its
lifetime may be many. Being alert of these illnesses and the
proper technique to care for them can assist you greatly in
caring for your dog better. Dogs should be vaccinated and given
booster at least once a year to keep them safe. Your dog can be
vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, kennel
cough, rabies, parvo and corona. At some point, he could suffer
from internal or outdoor parasites and there are several types
of infections that a dog owner should be aware of.

You might consider getting Pet Insurance if you have one or more
pets. Investing in vaccinations and caring well for your pet
usually cost a lot lesser than risking an infection and having
to fork out hundreds of dollars to treat them later.

One of the most common and deadliest dog infection is Parvo.
Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and eventually
death.

Distemper is another form viral infection. Symptoms may include
nasal and eye discharges, fever and loss of appetite.

Note that Canine hepatitis may cause similar symptoms as
Distemper and ought to be treated with IV fluid therapy,
dietary, nutritional and antibiotics care(consult your vet
before giving medication).

Rabies is spread by the bite of another animal. If your dog has
rabies, he will behave strangely. Your dog can be vaccinated
against Rabies from 4 months of age. There aren’t any cures at
this point of time, vaccination is crucial.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial virus infection which attacks the
dog’s kidneys and liver. Consuming contaminated water or
infected urine from another dog or puppy can cause this. High
Fevers, yellow gums, gloominess, depression and blood in the
dog’s urine might hint a warning of leptospirosis.

Bordatella, or Kennel cough, is a respiratory tract disease.
Kennel cough symptoms include a loud and coarse cough nasal and
eye discharges. The treatment in this case is usually
anti-inflammatory medication, cough suppressants and a medium
dose of antibiotics.

Corona or the medical term Coronavirus, is one of the more
contagious viral illness. Vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss are
possible warning symptoms. Antibiotics and IV fluids are used in
the treatment of Corona.

Another very common dog infection is the infection to it’s ears.
Symptoms include pawing at the ears and shaking of the head
constantly. You should examine your dog’s ears every month and
take him to your local vet for treatment if you spot any signs,
at your soonest. Even the most common ear infections like blood
clots may cause deafness and even lead to extreme blindness if
not treated properly.

A few more obvious signs of a dog infection are heat, swelling
and sluggishness. Appearing to be in pain, fretfulness or
listlessness are also some more obvious signs.

If the infection is intense, then the dog might have a high
temperature and be swollen around it’s neck, armpits or groin
area. If you cannot get to a vet straight away, you should keep
the dog lying down and avoid any physical exercises like running
which will make the infection spread even more quickly.

Dogs with infections might reject food and water so it is
important to seek professional advice.

Infections can pose a serious hazard anywhere in a dog’s body
but especially if the infections are surrounding the body’s
exposed regions like the mouth, nose and eyes as they could
spread quicker to the blood stream. The key thing to know is
that you should get your dog immunized as soon as he is old
enough. Also make sure to follow up with a bi-yearly injected
booster.

If your dog does seem to be ill or have some kind of infection,
call the vet to schedule an appointment straight away. Unlike
human beings, infections in dogs can become extreme very quickly
and it is not a good idea to wait and see if the infection or
illness heals itself.

About the author:

I’ve hoped you enjoyed reading this article as much as I’ve
enjoyed writing it for you. Visit
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-Really-Necessary.html”>Dog infections and
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Health. Warm Regards, Jeremy C.W