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Archive for October, 2009

Oral Health Care for Your Dog

Posted on 31-10-09, under PET. No Comments

Are you giving the proper attention to your dog’s oral hygiene needs?

Periodontal disease is the most common oral problem that dogs face. Adversely affecting the tissues that support and surround the teeth, periodontal disease is usually the result of excessive plaque buildup. As plaque accumulates on the teeth, it gradually hardens into tartar.

When plaque builds up it provides an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria. The bacteria results in inflammation of the gums causing them to swell and eventually bleed. As the dog’s gums become more irritated additional bacteria are produced, causing the gums to recede and exposing the root. Eventually the teeth become loose in their sockets and, if left untreated, the teeth ultimately fall out.

The symptoms of periodontal disease include consistently bad breath, brown or yellow stains on the teeth, reddened and/or bleeding gums and exposed tooth roots. Additionally, if your dog seems to be having difficulty chewing, is drooling excessively, shows a reluctance to eat or has mouth pain (as evidenced by rubbing his face on the ground or pawing at his mouth) the cause may be periodontal disease.

Although periodontal disease is quite painful and can result in tooth loss, the condition can cause additional, much more serious, health concerns. Continued bacterial growth can result in bacteria entering the blood steam and then migrating to internal organs including the urinary tract, heart valves, and other systems of the body. This snowball effect, starting with the improper attention to oral hygiene can ultimately lead to critical illness and even death.

All breeds of dogs are at risk of developing periodontal disease. However significant oral problems are most commonly found in dogs with short muzzles and flat faces. Dogs who are fed soft dog food are also more at risk than those who are fed primarily dry dog food. Also, older dogs are also at increased risk since plaque has had a long time to develop.

Treatment of periodontal disease is dependent upon the degree to which the disease has progressed. Brushing your dog’s teeth on a regular basis may resolve the problem. For more advanced cases the dog’s teeth may require descaling – usually performed by the veterinarian with the dog under general anesthesia. When the disease has progressed to a very late stage, a specialist may be required to perform advanced dental surgery.

As always, prevention and early detection are critical. Routine brushing of your dog’s teeth will help fight the buildup of plaque. In addition, regular visits to your veterinarian for a routine check-up can identify any hidden damage to the teeth before the problem grows more serious.

Help your dog maintain overall health by regularly visiting your veterinarian, feeding him a healthy diet, routine brushing of your dog’s teeth, and giving him the occasional chew toy. He’ll appreciate your efforts to keep him from getting “long in the tooth”.

Jim Navary has been a freelance writer and researcher for over thirty five years covering a broad range of topics. He has also been enamored with dogs for longer than he’d care to remember. Check out his DogBurg web site for canine friends at www.DogBurg.com. Once there, sign up for his newsletter for dog lovers and receive the free ebook, “Pamper Your Dog: 130 Recipes for Your Canine Friend.”

How to Cure Wood Chewing Behaviors in Horses

Posted on 31-10-09, under PET. No Comments

Wood chewing not only damages stables and fencing, it can also be bad for the horse’s health. Wood splinters can get stuck in the gums or teeth. If swallowed, the splinters can damage the stomach or intestines, or cause impaction colic. Fortunately, the habit of wood chewing is usually not difficult to correct and the short-term health risks are low in most cases.

One should first check that the problem is actually wood chewing and not cribbing. The two are sometimes confused as both result in wood damage and both involve the horse biting wood. However, they are very different problems. Wood chewing is simply that the horse chews on wood. Cribbing doesn’t involve chewing the wood but rather the horse firmly griping the wood with its teeth, then arching its neck and swallowing air. If you happen to see a horse performing either of these activities it should be apparent which is the problem, since they are very different. Looking at the damaged wood will also likely determine which problem the horse has as in one case it will be nibbled away whereas in the other it has been firmly gripped and pulled.

The most common cause of wood chewing is boredom. Horses which are left in their boxes most of the day with nothing to do simply do not have enough mental stimulation, so they start chewing on wood to occupy themselves. Another cause is stress or nervousness; just as some people chew their fingernails or pencils when they are stressed, a nervous horse confined to its box with nowhere to direct its nervous energy may start chewing on wood to distract itself. The third possible cause of wood chewing in nutritional deficiencies; if the horse’s food does not contain all the minerals they need they will start to chew on other items (such as wood or earth) in an attempt to obtain the missing minerals.

If one does not know which of these possible causes is the issue, one can simply address all three. Try to provide as much pasture time, exercise and other mental stimulation as possible so that the horse is not bored. Watch the horse to see possible sources of stress (such as bullying by another horse) and fix the problem. Put a mineral stone and salt lick in its box to address any mineral deficiencies in its normal diet.

Taking these steps should improve the situation but may not stop wood chewing completely. Unfortunately, once the habit has been established, simply removing the originating cause will not eliminate the habit. One also needs to address the behaviour as well.

One stops the habit by making it unpleasant or impossible for the horse to chew wood. There are a number of products which are designed to taste terrible which one can paint onto wood surfaces, so the horse does not want to chew on them. For fencing, adding an electric fence wire (under current) to the top of the rails will keep the horse from chewing them. Within the stall, one can place metal strips onto the top of wood (e.g. on top of wooden stall doors).

It is important to do both these steps: address the cause and discourage the activity. If one treats the cause (e.g. boredom) but not the behavior (e.g. with unpleasant tasting paint) the habit may diminish but is unlikely to stop. Alternatively, treating the behavior (with unpleasant paint) but not the cause may stop the horse from chewing wood but the horse may then develop a different behavioral problem in response to the continuing underlying problem.

Duber Stewart is the author of Horses Wood Chewing, which is part of his Horse Care series of articles

Identifying Heartworm Symptoms In Dogs And The Importance Of Pre-Treating

Posted on 30-10-09, under PET. No Comments

Heartworm larvae is carried by mosquitoes and transmitted to dogs when they bite them. In almost every area in the United States there are periods during the year that mosquitoes are present. If a dog has not been pre-treated to protect them from being infested they can easily be infected with the larvae and for several months or years there may be no symptoms of infestation. By the time that heartworm symptoms in dogs becomes visible it has become a serious condition for the pet.

Protecting a pet from heartworm infestation is relatively inexpensive and easy to do. There are many treatments available from the vet that can be applied to protect a pet. In addition, there are injections that can be given when a dog has it’s yearly health check that will protect it from infestation.

Adding treatment for heartworm should be included in this yearly check-up. The medicines available to prevent heartworm in a dog are affordable and come in topical creams, pills, or shots that are given yearly. Using these treatments assures that a pet will not be infected by a mosquito bite.

Mosquitoes exist and multiply in any area that has standing water or new construction. There are many cases where mosquitoes will inhabit an area near a pool in a home’s yard. It is very hard to protect a pet from playing in a field or yard where there may be standing water and this water can be a breeding ground for infected mosquitoes.

An infestation is fully manifested by the type heartworm symptoms in dogs become visible. Heartworms can live in the bloodstream of a dog, attacking organs throughout the body, for several years with no visible symptoms. By the time the symptoms do begin to appear the dog is ill and needs to see a vet immediately.

When heartworms infect the heart and lungs of the dogs many of the symptoms in dogs of heartworms will become visible. Heartworms clog the vessels in the heart and the blood supply to the brain is significantly reduced. They will often develop a cough that include gasping. In some cases dogs will also cough up blood in their attempts to breathe while coughing.

With the infestation in the lungs the ability for a dog to produce oxygen that they need is greatly reduced. This causes many dogs to have shortness of breathe and sound very raspy when they breathe.

As the heartworms accumulate in the blood stream the flow of blood to the organs and the brain is severely decreased. This can cause a dog to be lethargic and unable to function or be active without falling down or coughing. By this time a pet will also be unable to walk any distance, will not be able to run, and will need to be lifted or carried up stairs.

Heartworm symptoms in dogs that has become visible and noticeable to the owner is an indication that they have a severe infestation. Along with the heartworm infestation most pets also have other infections that result from the inability of their bodies to fight off infection. The treatment for these symptoms involves several trips to the vet for medication and treatment. Following treatment a dog must be kept quiet for several months and checked regularly until the infestation has been destroyed and they can return to health.

Learn more about Heartworm Symptoms In Dogs. Stop by Jennifer Richard’s site where you can find out all about Heartworm Prevention For Dogsand what it can do for you.

Train Your Dog

Posted on 29-10-09, under PET. No Comments

Raising a puppy doesn’t only mean providing food and loving attention to your puppy. You will be responsible for teaching the puppy how to behave well as it grows up. It just doesn’t grow old and understand you on its own. You have to be teaching him manners that become his habit so that he would be able to live a good life with you in your neighborhood. There are many training methods out there that are written about. The general principles are simple and these should guide you to having the right idea in how to teach your dog right.

The usual way dog owners would train their dogs is considered to any at all. Taking the dog out for a walk and letting the dog do as it pleases with only little consideration for you is opening an invitation for the dog to take over. You will not be leading but you will be lead by your pet. It’s a passive attitude in rearing dogs. They ought to know how to behave on the streets and around passing strangers such as other dogs. You can’t effectively teach it to adopt good behavior if you can’t establish a clear authority. This is not to say you start acting like a Fascist. A firm tug towards the right direction should discourage the dog from pursuing unacceptable behavior. It’s easier said than done.

Trainers would encourage good behavior by positive reinforcements such as the use of praise and treats. Praising a dog that deserves it is good and encouraging. Doing it too much would be distracting if you are still in training. It would make the dog forget you’re still in the serious business of training it.

There are just some dogs that are too satiated to bother. When you have a busy schedule, you could be confusing your dog that wants to go with treats. You are clearly misunderstanding its needs when you’re giving it more food while it has the urge to go.

You must establish yourself to your dog as its leader. It must understand that its welfare and everything else depends on you. Once you have this recognition, you should have no problems in setting the rules or teaching the dog how to be receptive to your commands.

Learn more on dog potty training in order to efficiently & effectively train your dog. James K. Bosley will give you many more leash training and facts about training your dog correctly.

Can Dogs Get Diabetes – What Are the Symptoms of a Dog With Diabetes

Posted on 28-10-09, under PET. No Comments

Dogs can in fact become afflicted with diabetes. In general, older dogs and certain breeds such as Poodles, Old English Sheepdogs, Golden Retrievers, Daschunds, Miniature Pinscher, Schnauzer and Beagles are the most affected.

Diabetes is characterized by the non production of insulin and high glucose levels. In order to remedy this, insulin must be administered. There is insulin produced which is specifically for canine use.

Two forms of Diabetes:

Diabetes Insipidus: Is the lack of the anti-diuretic hormone called Vasopressin. Vasopressin controls how the kidneys absorb water.

Diabetes Mellitus (DM): Is insulin insufficiency. It is the most common and the most dangerous for dogs.

Diabetes is comprised of two types:

Type 1 – Is insulin dependent diabetes. The pancreas is not making insulin at all. Type 1 is seen mostly in younger dogs.

Type 2 – Is non insulin dependent diabetes. The pancreas is making insulin but the body is resistant to it. This type is mostly seen in older dogs.

Diabetes is an autoimmune disease that can be passed from parent to puppies. In addition, big dogs have a higher risk for onset of diabetes than smaller dogs.

Symptoms:

You may notice that your dog is:

Eating more Drinking more Weighing less Diagnostic Testing:

If your dog is showing symptoms of this disease, a visit to the vet is in order. The vet will conduct blood tests to check your pet’s glucose level. He will also do a urinalysis to check for kidney function and urinary tract infection. If your pet is positive for diabetes, changes in diet and getting more exercise will aid in reducing the symptoms and prevent complications.

Treatment:

Fido will most likely be put on a diet that is high in fiber and protein. Fats and carbohydrates will be restricted. Depending on the severity of your dog’s disease, you may need to feed him prepared meals instead of what is regularly eaten. Proper nutrition given the same time each day will help to keep glucose levels as normal as possible. Insulin is given after meals, and it is important not to limit your pet’s fluid intake. Let him have his fill.

Exercise:

A daily exercise routine performed at the same time daily aids in keeping glucose levels down as well as preventing fluctuation. By doing this, you will keep your dogs glucose levels within normal range on a consistent basis.

Hormonal changes in your female dog put her at higher risk for diabetes. Consider having her spayed to prevent any undue complications of diabetes.

Barb Hicks is a licensed registered nurse who is passionate about writing and sharing her knowledge about Diabetes Cure online. You can find all her articles including Facts And Stats On Diabetes on Clivir.com.

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