Dog Emergencies
DOG EMERGENCIES
In spite of our best efforts, emergencies happen. You should know your vet’s procedures for emergency situations, especially the ones that occur at odd hours.
Heatstroke and your Dog
HEATSTROKE AND YOUR DOG
Heatstroke is caused by a combination of high temperatures, humidity, and poor ventilation. In spite of the warnings, many dogs suffer from heatstroke because they are left in cars on hot summer days.
Wintertime Hazards for Canines
Wintertime Hazards for Canines
To make enough energy to stay warm, outdoor dogs burn 50 percent more calories in the winter so they can make enough energy to stay warm. Their food must be increased accordingly. Normal rectal temperature for a dog is 100-102F, classically 101.5F is the average.
Broken Bones (dogs)
Broken Bones (dogs)
The most common cause of broken bones in dogs is automobile accidents. Fights between big dogs and little dogs can also end up causing broken bones. Other causes include falling from a table, bouncing from the back of a pick-up truck, and various diseases, including bone cancer.
Canine Automobile Accidents
Canine Automobile Accidents
The number-one cause of canine emergencies is automobile accidents. The term used by vets is “HBC” meaning “Hit By Car”. Some dogs in automobile accidents just end up with minor wounds, bruises, or lacerations. Most dogs, however, end up with broken bones and/or other internal injuries.
Dog Bites
Dog Bites
Over one million people are bitten by dogs each year. This figure probably represents only half the number of actual bites because the rest go unreported.
Types of Cuts and What you Can do to Treat them
Types of Cuts and What you Can do to Treat them
One of the most common accidents is a cut or laceration that causes bleeding. Bandage material, cleaning agents and anticoagulant powder (for nails that have been cut too short) take care of most minor wounds. Larger wounds should be seen by a vet.
Holiday Hazards for your Dog
Holiday Hazards for your Dog
Taking a few precautions helps ensure a safe, happy holiday season for you and your pets. Dogs get holiday stress just like people – so strangers, unfamiliar decorations, and hectic schedules can take a toll on your dog.
Preventing and Treating Burns and Scalds on your Canine
PREVENTING AND TREATING BURNS AND SCALDS ON YOUR CANINE
Flames from house, brush, and forest fires are just one type of burn that can affect your dog. A dog’s haircoat is extremely flammable and most dogs have not been taught that ever-important fire safety phrase: “Stop, Drop, and Roll”.
Pet Seizures: Holistic Solutions for Dogs & Cats with Epilepsy
Pet Seizures: Holistic Solutions for Dogs & Cats with Epilepsy
Convulsions or seizures are defined as sudden, uncontrolled bursts of abnormal activity that last from one to three minutes. Signs may include anything from a slight twitch to salivating and foaming at the mouth.
Potential Dangers for your Dog in the Home
Potential Dangers for your Dog in the Home
Dangerous situations in and around your home include plants, drugs, chemicals, gardening and lawn care supplies, car care supplies, and insecticide baits to name a few.
What you can do to Train your Dog
What you can do to Train your Dog
WHAT YOU CAN DO
* If you are lucky enough to start out with a puppy teaching her good habits from day one is your best bet the minute she walks through your door. By giving her a toy to play with , a post to scratch and a litter box to use, you are teaching her what is appropriate to play with and scratch and where it’s acceptable for her to do her business.
Barking
BARKING
Barking excessively is one of the biggest complaints pet owners hear. Constant barking is a nuisance to owners as well as their neighbors. Sometimes a simple change solves the problem, for example, bringing your dog inside at night. More often, excess barking is your dog’s response to being confused emotionally or otherwise.
Coprophagia and Dogs that Eat their Own Feces
Coprophagia and Dogs that Eat their Own Feces
Some dogs that eat their own feces or are coprophagic are deficient in B vitamins and/or minerals. A few may have a pancreatic enzyme disorder. This is called Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency and occurs primarily in adult German Shepards. Most dogs that are coprophagic do not have a medical or psychological problem.
Training Canines to Prevent Theivery
TRAINING CANINES TO PREVENT THEIVERY
Dogs can develop bad habits because of a lack of training or poor initial training. In some cases behavior that was permissible in a puppy is no longer acceptable when the dog is older.
Canine Lick Granuloma
Canine Lick Granuloma
A lick granuloma is also referred to as an Acral Lick Granuloma. It is a self-inflicted circular skin lesion usually located on the lower third of the front or hind leg, just above the paw. The area involved is always one that the dog can reach by licking, which he or she does continuously and compulsively.
Sources and Treatment of Stress for Your Dog
SOURCES AND TREATMENT OF STRESS FOR YOUR DOG
1. Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, (OCD) includes a group of abnormal behaviors that occur as a reaction to stress. Dogs react to stress in different ways which varies depending on their personality just like people do.
Training Your Puppy to Become a Well-Mannered Pet
TRAINING YOUR PUPPY TO BE A WELL-MANNERED PET
Training a puppy can result in a well-mannered pet. It can also mean the difference between life and death. Ten million dogs are euthanized each year because of bad behavior, it’s the number-one reason pet owners put their dogs to sleep.
Canine Separation Anxiety
CANINE SEPARATION ANXIETY
Canine separation anxiety is a complex behavioral disorder that occurs in response to separation from the person to whom the dog is most attached. Dogs with this disorder are often well behaved when the owner or family is home, but when left alone they panic.
Housebreaking your Puppy
HOUSEBREAKING YOUR PUPPY
Good housebreaking techniques teach your dog to relieve himself where and when you’d like him to. Dogs instinctively mark their own territory. Therefore, your goal is to teach your dog the boundaries of his territory. Housebreaking can be learned in four to eight weeks and can start when your puppy is eight weeks old.
Puppy-Proofing Your Home
Making sure that your puppy starts life out the right way from day one helps prevent behavioral problems from developing later in life. Puppies get new teeth until they are six months old.
Training your Dog
Training is basic obedience. It’s teaching your dog to sit, stay, come, and heal. When your dog learns to listen to you, you can do a lot of fun things together. Best results are achieved with training between eight weeks and seven months of age.
Dog Behavior
Most puppies respond best to praise, positive reinforcement, lots of love and rewards. Once you understand how your puppy learns, then try to figure out what he likes and doesn’t like.
Canine Epilepsy
The main sign of epilepsy is seizures, which are caused by abnormal electrical activity that begins in the brain. Most seizures last from one to three minutes, with the average time being 90 seconds.
Possible Reproductive Problems in Dogs
Male and female dogs are sexually mature and can reproduce between the ages of six and nine months.
Indoor Accidents May Mean Your Housebroken Dog has Urinary Incontinence
If your housebroken dog starts having indoor accidents, a medical problem called urinary incontinence could be responsible.
Canine Kidney Problems
The kidneys serve many vital functions. They filter and remove toxic wastes from the body via the urine, regulate calcium and vitamin D levels
Canine Hormonal Disorders
The Hormonal or Endocrine System is made up of seven glands that release substances called hormones which travel in the blood stream and go to other parts of the body in order to stimulate a response.
Cardiovascular Disease in Dogs
Well over three million dogs have some form of acquired heart disease and may be in heart failure. Heart failure results when the heart is unable to pump blood at a rate necessary to meet the body’s needs. As the heart tries to work harder, further damage occurs.
Your Dog’s Golden Years
Of the 62.4 million dogs in the United States, 18 million are age seven and older, therefore they qualify as “Seniors”. This represents almost one-third of our canine population. In fact, over 75% of our dogs and cats have passed middle age and are entering their “golden years”.