Dog Health Blog

Here’s Today’s Joke: Why is it called a litter of puppies?
Because they make such a mess.

We all seem to have less and less time to do the things that we want these days.

Fortunately due to the convenience of the Internet we don’t need to forget our best friend simply because we haven’t got the time to get to the local pet shop for toys and supplies that will keep our dogs happy and healthy.

Some of the biggest distributors of dog supplies sell their wares on the Internet, which is great for busy people like us.

Add to that the fact that more often than not the goods we are buying are cheaper than we would ever pay at the local pet shop and we’re winning on both counts.

More Information:
Dog Supplies

And it gets even better with the goods getting delivered to our door, generally overnight so we don’t even have to wait long to get our purchases.

The big online pet stores have all the latest items and the best dog foods and you can browse online and find out all the information you need before buying.

Best of all, you can do it 24 hours a day at your own convenience and when you have a spare moment to place your orders.

Shopping online is both safe and convenient and there are money savings by buying online that can’t be gained by shopping at the malls.

This is especially good for people who live in areas where there are no suitable pet stores nearby, as door-to-door delivery will ensure you get the goods on time all the time without even having to leave the house.

If you are hesitant to make your first purchase online, just try buying something small to see how easy it is to order, but remember that there are often discounts for bigger purchases and some online stores offer free freight if you buy more than a specified amount from them.

More Information:
Dog Supplies

As a pet owner, it is an important responsibility on your
part to keep your dog healthy. You must bring your dog to
the vet regularly. Even a healthy puppy will require many
visits to the vet. Vaccinations, exams, worming, spaying,
neutering and flea control are a few of the things that
requires to be done to your dog on its first year of life
to protect it from disease and other dog health problems.

Your dog cannot tell you when it feels sick. It is very
important that you are familiar with your dog’s normal
behavior. Any sudden change to his physical or social
behavior may signal the onset of a dog health problem, and
early detection may save your dog’s life. If your dog gets
sick, take him to the vet right away. Veterinary care
protects your health as well as your pet’s, as the dog may
carry a disease that can be transmitted to people. The most
dangerous and well-known transmittable disease by far is
rabies, a disease that causes almost certain death if not
treated immediately.

You should learn to recognize signs of illness in your dog.
A sick dog usually tires easily, drinks excessive amounts
of water and/or refuse to eat. Other signs may include
convulsions, fever, dry cough, runny or red eyes, and a dry
nose. Frequent vomiting and loose bowel movement may also
indicate a medical problem.

Parasitic worms are also a cause for concern as these
parasites cause various dog health problems. Blood tests to
check for heartworms should be included in your dog’s
annual checkup. These parasites are transmitted by
mosquitoes and can cause serious illness. Your vet can
prescribe you medicine that will protect your dog against
heartworms.

Fleas and ticks are also a nuisance to your pet’s health.
They can cause anemia or paralysis. Keeping your dog clean
and well groomed can help minimize this threat. Cleaning
and dusting your pet’s quarters with flea powder weekly can
also help keep your dog free of fleas.

As an owner there are preventive measures that you can take
in order to prevent dog health problems from manifesting.
Make sure that you give your dog the best nutrition
possible in order for him to develop a shield against
common diseases associated with malnutrition or improper
diet. Keep your pet healthy and in shape by giving him
plenty of room and time to exercise. Follow your
veterinarian’s vaccination schedule and regularly bring
your dog for check-ups in order to detect any early signs
of trouble. Give your dog its regular prevention medicine
for heartworm and other parasites. Always keep your dog
well-groomed and clean. Brush your dog’s teeth or give it
a tooth cleaning treat every week to avoid any gum or
dental problems. Most of all, do not forget to give your
dog lots of affection and firm but fair discipline to help
keep him mentally healthy and happy.

Your vet can tell you more about common dog health problems
for your dog’s particular breed, so make sure you ask about
them on your dog’s next visit.

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It is the owner’s responsibility to notice changes that
might signify a sickness in your dog. It would be much
easier if your dog could say to you that he feels bad, but
he can’t. It is up to you to notice changes in your pet’s
behavior that may be signs of some sort of sickness. This
might include having no appetite, changes in stools or just
being abnormally tired. The more information you have for
your vet, the easier it will be for him to determine the
problem. Most of the time, your dog will receive a basic
exam and the vet will ask you many questions about your dog
and his health.

One of the things your veterinarian will look at is your
dog’s nose. You have probably heard that dog’s noses
should be wet and cool. This is true for the most part,
however a dog with a warm and dry nose is not necessarily
sick. However, if it’s not, your vet will probably not be
overly concerned. What will concern him is fluid, mucus or
changes from the last visit. Your vet will also take a
close look at your dog’s eyes. Because eye diseases happen
in many dogs, the vet will check to see if there are any
warning signs that would warrant further testing.

Not necessarily in this order, your vet will take a good
look in your dog’s mouth. He will be on the lookout for
gum inflammation or tooth decay. He can also check the
blood pressure by simply pressing on your dog’s gums. Pale
gums can mean that you have an anemic pet, while a
yellowish color can mean that your pet has a liver issue.
Pink, healthy gums and strong teeth are a great sign. From
here, your vet will also check the nails to see if there is
damage in the nail bed or a wearing of one paw’s nails.
This can mean that the dog has an injury that is causing
him to favor one leg. Flaky nails also may call for
further investigating for some sort of metabolic disorder.

A healthy skin and coat will signify a healthy dog.
However, a dull coat may mean that your dog has fleas,
mites, or some other parasite. It can also mean that your
dog has an infection somewhere else that needs to be found.
Sometime during the examination, your vet will check your
dog’s genitals. For female dogs, the vet will check for
discharge or irritation. There could be some sort of
reproductive or urinary problem. A male dog will also be
checked for swelling or inflammation in the genitals to
ensure good health.

Through these different methods of checking your dog, your
vet will be able to tell if there is some sort of condition
that needs further looking into. Assuming that you have
noticed no problems with your dog and each of these areas
appears perfectly healthy, your vet will most likely
present you with a clean bill of health for your
four-legged friend!

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Making sure you give your dog adequate amounts of exercise
is extremely important not only in preventing behavior
problems, but also for the overall health of your pet. It
can help keep you both happy. But not all dogs need the
same amount of exercise so how do you know what amount you
need to spend exercising your dog?

The primary consideration in determining the amount of
exercise a dog needs depends on breed. Herders, hunters
and working dogs need the most exercise of all the dog
breeds. Ideally, these dog breeds need 30 minutes to one
hour of daily exercise, whether it is a walk with its
owner, playing outside with other dogs or running around
and chasing squirrels. Misbehaving is much more likely to
occur as well as health deterioration without this daily
amount of exercise. Examples of these breeds are: Hounds,
Beagles, Border Collies, Alaskan sled dogs, Australian and
German Shepherds, Terriers (particular Jack Russell) and
Shelties.

A common misconception is that the smaller the dog the less
exercise the dog needs. This is a misconception. It is all
about breed.

Mixed breed dogs makes it a little more difficult for the
owner to know how much exercise is needed. The best way to
gauge this is for the owner to observe the dog’s behavior.
If the dog seems to enjoy lying in the sun all day then
most likely he does not need a lot of exercise. On the
other hand, if the dog is restless and wanders around the
yard and house constantly, his needs will be better served
with more exercise.

Walking is one of the top modes of exercise. But it’s not
a lot of fun to walk a dog that “pulls” or who is not
obedient to your commands. Clearly a dog who knows the
proper way to walk on a leash will get more walks. Teaching
this skill to your dog as a puppy is critical. However if
this is not yet accomplished, there are ways to teach your
adult dog to walk properly on a leash.

The phrase “walking properly” refers to the dog obeying the
commands the owner gives and not “pulling.” For example if
the owner says “stop” the dog knows and does stop. If the
owner says “sit” the dog knows and does sit. If the owner
says “heel” the dog knows and does heel. By teaching your
dog these commands, both you and your pet will have much
more frequent and enjoyable walks together.

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Dogs love to go for walks. Without question, walking and
providing your dog with an adequate amount of exercise is
extremely beneficial for their overall health. For some
owners, however, it’s more of a chore than enjoyment. As a
result, as with many chores, a dog who does not know the
proper way to walk on a leash will get less walks.

So what is the “proper” way for a dog to walk on a leash?
You want your dog walking by your side with enough slack in
the leash to be able to step over it. That’s the goal.

Going for walks with an untrained dog is often fraught with
uncontrollable pulling, quick bursts of running and a
constant starting and stopping circus of smelling. Proper
leash walking by the dog will clearly make walk times more
enjoyable for all.

Recognize that you as the owner taught him to walk
improperly on a leash, and as such, you can train him to
walk properly.

Below are a few pointers to assist you in this training:

* Correct leash length. All professional dog trainers
agree. The proper and most effective leash length for
training of your dog is six feet.

* Think about how your dog thinks and feels. Dogs do not
like to feel pressure. Some dog owners may have
inadvertently taught the dog to “pull” by keeping the leash
tight, even if the dog is walking right beside them.
Anytime a dog feels pressure, he is going to instinctively
pull on the leash in an attempt to relieve the pressure.
The owner has to teach the dog that walking beside them is
pleasant not hurtful. Constant slack in the leash is what
the owner is after.

* Encourage your dog to look at you during walks. Rarely
are leash corrections (dog walking beside owner with slack
in the leash) successful unless the dog is looking at its
owner. Looking at you reminds him you are still there.
Dogs are easily distracted. In order to get the dog to look
and make the correction, a message has to be sent to him
through the leash. Usually all this requires is a gentle
flick of the wrist. If that does not work, then lure him to
look at you without pulling the leash. When he does, pat
him on the back, draw him towards you and smile. To
continue to encourage proper leash behavior, anytime during
your walk that your dog looks at you, do this same
behavior; pat him on the back, draw him near you and smile.

* Love your dog constantly and consistently. The owner is
the one a dog wants to be closest too. Always let your dog
know how much you love him and how much you want him there
by your side. Whether on walks or just relaxing at home,
love your dog constantly. This will carry over into your
training.

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