Risks of Dog Obesity - Prevention, Treatment and Weight Loss

Risks of Dog Obesity - Prevention, Treatment and Weight Loss

Obesity may be the most common disease I address in my daily practice. You are already several steps ahead of most owners because you recognize your dog is overweight and the importance of correcting the situation.

Obesity can cause or complicate many other conditions, such as arthritis and cardiopulmonary disease, by adding more stress to the already injured body systems. Conversely, painful arthritis and cardiopulmonary disease can contribute to obesity by discouraging the exercise necessary to slim that couch-potato figure. Genetics and hormonal conditions can also cause some dogs to be overweight. Hypothyroidism (low thyroid) is one of the most common contributing factors. More extensive thyroid testing may be needed if Ramsey's situation does not improve.

The most important fact to remember when pursuing a weight-loss program for your dog: Calories burned must exceed calories eaten. You can reduce food, fat and calories or increase exercise. Ideally, it is best to combine the two approaches.

To reduce calories, first eliminate all extra calories - no treats, table scraps, handouts from the neighbors, cat food, or extra food in the bowl because he looked at you with those big brown eyes. Everyone has to know because one cheater can ruin the entire attempt.

Next reduce the calories in the primary diet. You can do this by switching to a lower-calorie version of the food or to a diet food recommended by your veterinarian. Many diet foods have high levels of fiber to maintain a similar volume to non-diet foods and make the dog feel full with fewer calories. It is important to restrict diet foods to the amount recommended - eating too much diet food is still overeating.

Remember that the "light" designation means only that the food has fewer calories than the regular version, not necessarily that it is a diet food.

Some dogs will need vitamin, mineral and fatty-acid supplements to maintain coat quality and appearance while eating diet foods, so check with your veterinarian.

Try feeding two or three small meals each day, rather than one large meal; this may help reduce begging. Another trick is measuring the food allotment for the day, then giving half for breakfast, with the rest fed throughout the day in place of treats and rewards. Be sure you accurately measure the amount.

Increasing the exercise level is also simple if you can find the time. Gradually increase the level and duration of activity as Ramsey's exercise tolerance allows. Slow walking is probably not adequate for most dogs. Brisk walking, jogging and running off-lead (in a safe place) are best. Dog-friendly treadmills have recently become available. Swimming is an excellent alternative, especially for arthritic and lame dogs. Encourage exercise whenever Ramsey begs and seeks attention; assume he wants activity, not food.

You may need to address arthritis and pain to help Ramsey comfortably attain a reasonable level of exercise. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and carprofen and other arthritis treatments can be helpful. Check with your veterinarian about the need for these medications and proper dosages. Many overweight lame dogs magically lose their pain and need for medications once they approach a weight more suitable for their frame size.

[ ... ]

Dog Ear Infection Home Remedies

Dog Ear Infection Home Remedies

How would you feel if your favorite dog can’t stop scratching its ear, becomes irritable and in pain? Certain symptoms such as these may indicate that your dog has an ear infection. Dog ear infection can affect your pet’s daily activities thus when untreated, it can cause more severe infection.

Natural instinct is for you to treat the infected part. If your pet dog is suffering from dog ear infection and you can’t immediately bring it to your vet, it is important that you know some home remedies to ease the pain until such time you can visit your vet.

Effective home remedies for dog ear infection

Vinegar and water solution

A combination of water and vinegar can be used to clean the affected area. Use a cotton swab to clean their ear canal by gently massaging it and removing any dirt that is present there.

Dog ear infection can be very irritating to your pet and could lead to more infections if not treated immediately.

Vinegar, water and rubbing alcohol solution

This kind of solution is best when your pet dog loves to swim. For it to avoid dog ear infection, regularly clean the outside part of the ear with this solution.

Mix them together and squirt a little amount on the outer ear canal. The alcohol will help dissolve the dog’s ear wax and the vinegar will help prevent bacteria and yeast to grow.

Ear cleaner

A soothing ear cleaner is also effective, this commonly contains antibiotic that you can apply and massage to the ear canal once or twice a day until the dog ear infection gets better or totally healed.

Tropical ointments

Tropical ointments like those found in pharmacies are also handy in treating dog ear infection. You can directly apply tropical ointments after doing procedure of cleaning ear discharge and ear wax.

Oral antibiotics

Oral antibiotics can also be given with the prescription from your pet doctor. After visiting, you can acquire this antibiotic for your dog and regularly supervise giving it to your dog until such time the ear infection is totally healed.

Omega fatty acids

Treat your dog to diets that contain omega fatty acids. This will help boost their immune system and avoid the pain of having dog ear infection.

If you notice changes on your pet’s mannerism such as frequent scratching of the head, scratching the ear and colored discharge from the ear, they are likely to have developed ear infection. Immediately find a way to treat this as dog ear infection can be very painful.

To prevent getting your dog an ear infection, practice regular cleaning of their ears especially if they are in the water for most of the time. Dogs who love to swim are more prone to infections.

Make sure you squirt a disinfecting solution on the outer part of their ear canal after every bath or twice a week. Make sure they also have a healthy eating habit. Their food can be one of the irritants that cause ear infection.

[ ... ]

Dogs Skin Odor

Dogs Skin Odor

Dogs skin odor is something that every owner will face and there is nothing worse than a smelly dog. However, as bad as the odor may be, the underlying cause of it may be much worse in some cases. Skin odor in your dog is in most all cases a manifestation of some type of a skin infection and is usually the result of three potential causes; oily skin, a bacterial infection, or a yeast infection. In some cases, it may also be the result of something not nearly as dangerous; your dog has simply rolled in something that has a very foul odor.

Oily Skin:

Dogs skin odor starts with oily skin and if this situation is not corrected, it can very easily lead to other complications. The skin of some breeds produce excessive amounts of oil and once this occurs, it can become very rancid. The most commonly affected breeds are Cocker and Springer spaniels, and it is a condition that is referred to as Seborrhea. Seborrhea comes in two different forms; Secca, which is dry skin, and Oloesa, which is oily skin. The oily skin condition is also referred to in some cases as general seborrhea, and is more of a symptom that it is an actual disease.

This skin condition will produce scaling in your dogs skin and if it affects a breed other than spaniels, it will generally occur around the middle years of your dogs life. It produces yellowish-brown scales that primarily affect the elbows, hocks, and the ears of your pet. However, in Cocker and Springer spaniels it can be what is referred to as a primary condition that is present at birth. It is a defect known as keratinization, which is a condition where the epithelial cells become horny or scaly as the result of deposition of keratin, and is believed to be the result of a Vitamin A deficiency.

Treatment:

Treatment for this form of dogs skin odor is usually done with medicated shampoos to reduce the amounts of oil, unless it is severe. In the more serious cases, topical and systematic therapy may be used. Retinoids may have to be used in the more difficult of cases in order to normalize the turnover of the epithelial cells in your dog. If it is believed to be a caused by a Vitamin A deficiency, supplements or power forms of this vitamin will be given until the situation is corrected.

Bacterial Infections:

The next most common form of dogs skin odor is a bacterial infection known as Superficial Pyoderma. Bacterial infections such as this are usually the result of the normal flora of your dogs skin and are not contagious to other dogs. However, they can become very nasty infections that can be extremely painful for your dog. This form of infection comes in three different forms; on the skin surface, within the skin itself, or under the skin. The actual health implication that your dogs suffer from this bacterial infection can range from mild to quite severe.

The superficial form of pyoderma as well as the surface form can cause intense itching in your dog that can result in a tremendous amount of discomfort. If it is beneath the skin, it can cause several other potential health conditions, depending on the severity. If your dog develops this form of body odor and infection, there are three very distinctive symptoms that you can watch for. The first will be the development of red, itchy, and painful skin lesions; the second will be pustules or pimples; and the third will be draining sores.

If your dog experiences any of these symptoms it has now become more than just a skin odor, it has become a potential health risk that will need immediate professional attention.

Treatment:

Treatments for bacterial infections are usually done with antibiotics. Topical therapy may also be used and will include shampoos and conditioners that include Benzoyl Peroxide or other like medications to address the bacterial infections. In most cases, this is not few days' type of remedy, as it will usually take 3 to 4 weeks before it can be fully eradicated.

Malassezia Dermatitis:

The final form of dogs skin odor is considered to be the most common, and is a yeast infection referred to as Malassezia dermatitis. This form of body odor manifests itself as a greasy, red, and very itching skin condition that has an extremely rancid odor. This is the sticky wet dog smell but multiplied several times over as it can become that bad. This infection commonly affects your dogs ventral neck area, groin area, armpits, or their perinal areas. It is in most all cases also a secondary condition that is associated with some type of an allergy.

If it is left untreated, it can very easily move deeper into your dogs skin where it becomes very dangerous. If this does occur, it can result in nodules that become purulent, which means that pus discharge occurs. If the actual underlying allergy cause is not determined, it will become a reoccurring condition that will be extremely unpleasant for you because of the smell, and potentially very dangerous to your dog.

Treatments:

Treatments for yeast infections will all depend on the severity of the infection. If it is a mild case, topical therapy may be the only treatment used. Severe cases, however, will involve systemic therapy and the best method is by using a human shampoo that contains Selenium sulfide. The most common form is known as Selsum Blue. However, this is a very difficult condition to correct in some dogs, and several countries have approved Nizoral, another form of medicated shampoo which is extremely effective.

If your dog is an active swimmer, they will also need a follow up protective actions, but this form of treatment is very cheap. A vinegar and water rinse made of one fifth vinegar to one tenth water can easily prevent this condition for reoccurring in your dog.

Dirt:

There is still one other potential cause of dogs skin odors; dirt or other unpleasant objects. Dirt that is not cleaned promptly from your dogs hair coat can also case odors to develop. However, as any dog owner can attest to, dogs can do some very crazy things. For some reason, they just love to roll in something that is downright stinky such as cat droppings, bird droppings, or other like objects.

Summary:

Dogs skin odor is something that every owner will face at least once, if not several times, during your pets lifetime. In some cases it may be something very simple, while in other cases in can be something that has real potential dangers for your dog. Identifying the underlying cause once the obvious dirt issue is ruled out, and then having it looked at by your veterinarian, can save you and your dog a lot of unpleasant experiences.
I am an avid lover of pets and my wife and I have had several pets throughout our years. We are especially fond of dogs, and we have a 12 year old Dalmatian (our 3rd) and a "mutt" that we rescued when someone threw him away to die in a vacant field.

He found us, nearly starved to death, and weighed about 2 pounds.

After severe bouts of mange and severe dehydration, and over 1,000.00 in veterinarian bills, we saved the little guys life, and he is one of the best, if not the best, dogs we have ever had and today is a muscular, fit, and firm 70 pound best friend.

After finishing my MBA, which at middle age was not easy, I decided to keep the research work ethics that I acquired, and devote about two hours each night in understanding the health benefits of supplementation for both humans and pets and how they might strengthen our, as well as our pets, immune system in a pre-emptive approach to health rather than a reactionary approach.

Both of my daughters are avid cat lovers, and asked me to help them with health concerns and challenges with their cats.

I am not a veterinarian nor claim to be, just a lover of pets that loves to research and pass on some knowledge that might be helpful, or at least stimulating to the thought process.

[ ... ]

MAN’S BEST FRIEND

MAN’S BEST FRIEND

Dogs accompanied us from primitive camp sites to agricultural settlements to the massive cities in which we live today. They made these transitions so successfully because they re highly effective at adapting to changing conditions. A dramatically wide range of shapes and size helped them through these transitions, but it it their varied natures that have made dogs the most popular pet in the world today.

With help from us, dogs have evolved different characteristics to survive the varying environment in which we place them.

Today, there are over 400 recognized breeds of dogs. These breeds exist at our like. We create new breeds and combine or else old ones completely according to our needs or the dictates of fashion. Because of this, it is sometimes argued that dogs are an unnatural and wraped product of human intervention.

All breeds of dogs are the product of artificial rather then natural selection. Even the asustralian Dingo and the Papua New Guninca singing dog, which mate without pressure of human selection, are the result of our intervention, because thousands of years humans introduced “domesticated” dogs to those locations. All of our canine companions today are the result of the practical, aesthestic, economic, or even vital needs of preceding Human generations. Some dogs are independent, while others have been breed to be more obedient.

We sometimes confuse what suits us in a dog’s behavior with what is naturally best for the dog itself, making the mistake of thinking that the more trainable a dog is, the more intelligent it is. In fact the interactable stray dog who survives by its own wits might be more intelligent that dog who jumps through hoops at its owner’s command. My retrievers, lying on the floor by side, are not their result of natural survival of the fittest. Although they are a large and strong, they would be too gentle to survive for long in the wild.

In spite of all our intervention, however, elements of the dog’s ancestry can still be seen in our pets. Even in those breeds that are the most dramatically different from their wolfs roots-tinny breed such as the pekinges or Chihuahua, or delicate looking dogs like the Italian Greyhound-the bedrock of their original wild behavior survives. They still like pack animals. They still have the sense of a hunter. They court, mate and rise their young in the same way as other independent canine species such as the wolf. These facts of our companion are often over-looked. Because we share so many needs, emotions, and pattern of behaviours with dogs and because we have been influencceing their characters for thousands of years, it is easier for us to think like than like any other domesticated species. But we must remember that, although we share our homes with dogs, they differ from us in many ways.

In order to know your dog completely, it is vital to understand that, just as we sometimes think our canine companions as human in stage disguise, they think of us as rather odd dogs. We might be bigger than them, we certainly can smell different, and we able to do, awesome things like use ovens, but they can still only of us as other dogs and treat us accordingy. Their relationships with us are all based on this fact. To the core of its being even the smallest and fullest dog will always remain true to its roots, a wolf in disguise.

[ ... ]

NAMING YOUR DOG

NAMING YOUR DOG

Choose a short, clear name, that is, easy to say. Choose an unusual name, too or else. On future occasions, when you are hunting with others or at a group training class, there may be several dogs with the same name and three or four will come running up whenever you call your own dog. Do not call your dog (puppy or adult) by name all the time. The dog will cease to pay attention, and the call will go unheeded. Without its mother, its brothers and sisters and away from the place where it was born, the young puppy will feel lost and bewildered in your home.

To speed up the adaptation process, bring with it something which smells of its mother and it sibling : a piece of material or even some straw, to make it more comfortable in its basket. A few days before you go to fetch your new puppy, take to the kennels, the blanket or mattress that will be used in its basket so that it becomes impregnated with the smells of the place where the puppy has lived so far. Take it home again with the puppy so that it will be like taking the puppy’s own smell home with it.

It has already been said that in the absence of the mother or siblings puppies need to be close to something hairy, soft and warm or they will whine and whimper rather than sleep. There is a good reason why a puppy whines too. It is, in fact, complaining so as to obtain its mother’s aid. If you make it feel safe and secure with you, it will not whine. For the first few days, put a small clock inside the warm, soft mattress : its tick will remind the puppy of its mother’s heartbeat, a dog that cannot be called is of house.

A good response to a call depends not on the dog, but on you, when the dog has learnt that it has a name, it must learn to react to it by coming happily to its master or mistress. So its name must be associated with something positive : rewards, stroking, words of praise. If you call a puppy to you to scold it or worse, the point of the call will be lost. If you have to correct a mistake made by the puppy never use its name when doing so. The dog should equate its name with positive, enjoyable things, it must come to you readily wherever it may be. And is this easy to achiev ?

Of course : as long as you do not make any mistake, call your puppy in particular when it is hungry and when you actually give it its food. Call it also when you see that it is already coming towards you. Greet it with warm words and lots of stroking, make it very clear that coming to you when called will always be to its advantage. Tell yourself over and over that a dog that cannot be called is of no use and that a good response to a call depends not on the dog, but on you. Tell your self, too, that it is useless and harmful to say the dog’s name if you are going to shout at it or correct it. This will undermine the effectiveness of the call. If you do not make any slips, you will soon see your young trainee wherever it may be, running up to you, tail wagging, at the first call.

[ ... ]

SOCIAL CONTACT AT THE RIGHT TIME

SOCIAL CONTACT AT THE RIGHT TIME

A dog with three to seven weeks old id the most impressionable in social behavior. And this is the period when a dog should be exposed to more and more influence of people and situations. Without getting to know or being with the people, dog will stay aloof from people. They will become far more reserved and less open to training.

The very opposite happens if from birth, they have been stroked by people. It makes them learn different smells and experience different touches. When you are choosing and training a dog, it is important to take this process into account. The ideal situation is when a puppy realizes in its training period that people are friends and companions with when it can play, learn from and work with.

Dogs are often ready to befriend other domestic pets like cats, horses, rabbits and poultry. Dogs consider themselves rewarded by the mere presence of human being. A puppy that has no people around will quickly grow sad. People are becoming aware of the importance in training or abiding by the various cycles which correspond to the nature, and the physical and mental growth of the dog. Now a days, it is no longer possible to train dogs by trying to segregate the various breeds on the basis of their particular expertise : hunting, guarding or companionship. Lets remember that all dogs are at once hunting dogs, guard dogs and companion dogs. We better take into account the whole range of canine psychology if we want to achieve the best results. From birth to the age of 50 days, the puppy needs both its mother’s care and human exposures. We must ensure that the very young puppy knows us by the time it is of 20 days or slightly more but no more than 50 days.

Well between 70 to 90 days, it can free for itself, survive outdoor life. When it is four months old, it starts learning the first lessons of cooperation, tracking, hunting, defence attack and collaboration. And these foundations of collective life are consolidated by the time puppy is six months old. By 10 months, the puppy is regarded as an adult, who has learnt the essential things.

[ ... ]

Dog Selection

Dog Selection

It may not be easy to decide which sex you want to adopt. One obvious drawback of bitchs is their reproductive cycle. A family may object to their heavy vaginal discharge. And surgical neutering or contraceptive do add to the cost of keeping a bitch.



HOW TO ENSURE FITNESS AT THE TIME OF ADOPTION

The main thing is to ensure that whatever breed or sex you are adopting your puppy is fit. The following tips are most likely to help you in this regard :

1. A healthy puppy is happy to be picked up
2. Its body should feel firm and relaxed.
3. See to it that the ear flaps and canals are dry and clean.
4. Then examine its tongue, gums and teeth. If they are pink, it is a sure sigh of health. The teeth even and sparkling.
5. Make it a point to see that the puppy you choose has clear and bright eyes. It should be able to keep its eyes wide open. It should not blink too often and paw at its eyes.
6. Run a swift hard through its coat. If black dust or sores are noticed, the puppy will feel uncomfortable. And that obviously is an indication of ill-health.
7. Don’t forget to examine the anal area. It should be free from liquid stools or stains.
8. It is always better to postpone your, buying the pup than be taken in by the breeders excuses.
9. If there is any doubt about whether the pet has been vaccinated, or not, get if vaccinated again to be doubly sure.
10. Follow a strict regime and schedule of vaccination against distemper, parvovirous, leptospirosis, hepatitis, rabies and kennel cough.

[ ... ]

Selection

Selection

As when buying a car, one needs ask oneself certain questions. What do I want it from ? how do I intend to keep it, use it. What about its service? Having decided these small parameters, we proceed ahead. So is true of the dog. Its going is a life time commitment.

In selecting a dog, we need to match our life style to the physical appearance, requirements and temperament of a dog. German shepherds and borgoirs are not for people living in apartments. If you are short of space and cash, think of a small toy breed or you may settle for a mongrel. Don’t forget a well-looked after mongrel has hybrid vigour and is less prone to hereditary disease. And they came in all sizes, give them the affection and they reciprocate as lovingly as any blue blood.

[ ... ]

Looking After Your Dog

Looking After Your Dog

If you want to keep your loving pet healthy and happy, make a strict schedule of looking after it.

Well that means, you must be ready to give it your time, energy, and affection. And, it is indeed very enjoyable both for the owner and the pet to nurture and strengthen the bonds of care and concern. The more time you spend on attending to your dog, the more fascinating expects of can’s familiarize are revealed to you.

Dogs can be appreciated at many levels. To some, they are the sincerest, the truest of friends and the vest of companions. To others, they are skilled workers and assistants. So, remember gentlemen and ladies, whatever kind of dog you have it, possess it with pride. It will appreciate being looked after and you will have much more fun, entertainment and utility out of this enthralling hobby.

[ ... ]