Dogs and Mental Health

Did you ever think all you need to do to keep your dog happy is give him plenty of food, exercise, and play time? Some experts think a pet owner must consider a dog's mental health to keep him happy.

A dog's mental health problems can be seen in various ways. For example, a dog kept in a cage too long may become aggressive and develop cage rage. That dog may look upon the cage as his territory. He may need obedience training. Another dog mental health problem can cause him to panic when he is left home alone and tear up furniture, rags, or bark constantly. Dogs destroy property to try to force you to return. Crate training can be effective in dealing with this problem.

A dog can develop serious mental health problems if he is tied to a leash or chain all day, and can become bitter.

If a dog is scared by loud noises such as firecrackers, or gunfire, this mental health problem may cause a dog to escape. A dog with that problem has not had enough socialization when he was young.

Physical issues can cause mental health problems in a dog. A dog that has pain, a loss of appetite, or tumors can become aggressive, even with children. If your dog has any of the mental health problems mentioned, visit a vet to see if the problems were first physical. A dog's mental health can even be affected by the loss of a loved one or a move. A dog can also have anxiety around other dogs or a lot of people.

Depression is one dog mental health problem that can cause serious physical problems.

The best cure for a dog's mental health problems may be love, fun, play, and attention, according to experts.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ty_Magnum

How Kennel Cough Affects your Dog's Health

A simple coughing for dogs must need an attention. You might think that it is just a cough, a normal cough, but later you will know it will harm the health of your dog to the extent that it will not be treatable.

Just like humans, dog's health is sensitive too. They also need supplements such as vitamins to protect them. Most dogs are prone to infections, it could be infections on Tooth and Mouth, infection on their tonsillitis also known as Infectious tonsillitis or Infectious Tracheobronchitis better known as Kennel Cough . Among these infections, Kennel Cough is the most common one.

What is Kennel Cough and how does it affect your Dog's health?

Basically it is cause by the bacteria known as Bordatella Bronchiseptica. It is highly contagious illness which is characterized by inflammation of the upper respiratory system. It is contagious in the sense that it passes directly from dog to dog at kennels or places such as dog grooming parlors, pet stores, dog shows, parks and other humane societies. The most common sign of this disease is having soft dry coughs and sneezing. Coughs occur due to the allergic or cancerous conditions. Symptoms can include a harsh, dry coughing, retching and sneezing.

To prevent your dogs from this disease, antibiotics are the most common medicine to be given. This is to treat the bacterial infection that is present. Others use humidifiers which help clear the mucous from the throat. This allows the dog to breath easier. Cough suppressants can also be used only if the cough is not productive.

It is good if you try to isolate your dogs to avoid infection of others, keep all the cages disinfected, give them proper rest, monitor their temperatures and if the coughing is severe, over-the-counter cough syrup can be use. If your dogs have been exposed to other pets, it is better for them to have their kennel cough vaccination for every six to twelve months to avoid it from coming back.

It is always good for your dogs to be healthy. Protecting your dog's health is something that they will thank you for. Giving them the attention, providing them foods and shelter are one of the best things we could ever give to them. Surely they deserve those treatments!

Learn The Secrets To Keeping Your Dog Or Puppy Healthy And Safe

Right now, you're only moments away from finding out how to protect your puppy or your adult dog from hundreds of different diseases, illnesses, and other threats.

• Learn how to protect your dog or puppy from serious diseases like canine distemper, parvovirus, rabies, Lyme disease, leptospirosis, and kennel cough
• Learn how a mosquito bite can cause serious illness for your dog and what you can do to prevent it
• Learn why fleas, ticks and other parasites can be dangerous for your dog and find out how to prevent your dog from becoming infested with these parasites
• Lean how spaying or neutering your dog can prolong your dog's life
• Learn the one most important thing you can do for your dog that will make sure your dog lives a long, healthy, and comfortable life
• Plus much more

For more details check The Pet Med Site:

Rely on us for accurate, up-to-date
pet health care information.

Source: https://www.thepetmedsite.com/dog-audio.asp

Dog Costumes

Parties are not only for humans. Remember that.

Not only for us, but also for our loving dogs. It is always good to make your dog look presentable, cute and of course, will stand out among others.

There are a lot of costumes to choose from anywhere. It has something to do with the themes. For example, if the theme of the party is about movie character super heroes, dress your dog like superman, batman or even just like the pic above, mask of zorro.

It is always fun to look at our dogs with costumes.

Holloween is coming in months and for sure costume parties are on there way....

Children Salon is not only a shop for children but they also offer great costumes for pets:

http://www.childrensalon.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=5986

Click here for details

How Dogs Became Man's Best Friend

Do you wanna know how dogs became our best friends?

Here's a video from National Geographic:

Though they come in many different sizes and temperaments, all domesticated dogs living today are descended from just a few wild wolves that roamed Asia some 15,000 years ago.

But why, out of all of the animals that humans have domesticated, have dogs become so close to their owners?

Join an anthropologist as he conducts experiments on both wild dogs and down-home pups to figure out why dogs are so good at communicating with humans.

Continue here to view the video...

Identifying Skin Diseases in Dogs

Allergic contact dermatitis: Same as contact dermatitis, but rash may spread beyond area of contact. Requires repeated or continuous exposure to allergen (such as wearing a flea collar).

Canine atopy: Severe itching that occurs in young dogs and begins in late summer and fall. Caused by seasonal pollens. Occurs in mixed breeds as well as purebreds.Common.

Chiggers: Itching and severe skin irritation between toes, and around the ears and mouth. Look for barely visible red, yellow or orange chiggers.

Contact dermatitis: Red, itchy bumps and inflamed skin at the site of contact with chemical, detergent, paint or other irritant. Affects feet and hairless parts of the body.

Damp hay itch (Pelodera): Red pimplelike bumps on skin. Severe itching. Occurs in dogs bedded on damp hay and similar grass.

Flea allergy dermatitis: Red, itchy pimplelike bumps over the base of the tail, back of rear legs and inner thighs. Scratching continues after fleas have been killed.

Fleas: Itching and scratching along the back, around the tail and hindquarters. Look for fleas, or black and white gritty specks in hair (flea feces and eggs).

Fly-bite dermatitis: Painful bites at tips of erect ears and bent surfaces of floppy ears. Bites become scabbed, crusty-black and bleed easily.

Grubs: Inch-long fly larvae that form cystlike lumps beneath the skin with a hole in the center for the insect to breathe. Often found beneath chin or along abdomen.

Lice: Two-millimeter-long insects, or white grains of "sand" (nits) attached to hair. Not common. Found in dogs with matted coats. May have bare spots where hair has been rubbed off.

Lick granuloma (acral pruritic dermatitis): Red, shiny skin ulcer caused by continuous licking at wrist or ankle. Usually seen occuring in large, short-coated breeds.

Maggots: Soft-bodied, legless fly larvae found in damp matted fur.

Scabies (Sarcoptic mange): Intense itching. Small red spots that look like insect bites on the skin of the ears, elbows and hocks. Typical crusty ear tips.

Ticks: Large insects attached to skin. May swell up to size of pea. Found beneath ear flaps and where hair is thin.

Walking dandruff (Cheyletiella mange): Occurs in puppies 2 to 12 weeks of age. Large amounts of dry, scaly, flaky skin over the neck and back. Itching is variable.

Source: http://www.nzymes.com/articles/dog_skin_hair_problems.htm

Guidelines on How to Choose the Best Dog Shampoo

Lots of choices in dog shampoo! There are almost as many kinds of shampoo for dogs as for people, but that doesn't mean you should wash your dog with the salon shampoo in your shower. In fact, using shampoo made for human hair can irritate your dog's skin. A little bit of research for dog shampoos and you'll quickly sort out how best to shampoo away rover's aroma and leave his coat shiny too.

Features to Consider in Dog Shampoo

Quality

Ingredients

Efficacy

Scent

Reason for Use

So how do you choose which dog shampoo is right for Rover? Since a bottle of dog shampoo is likely to last you several months if not longer, focus more on your needs than the price. Look at the ingredients first. Good dog shampoos have ingredients that hold moisture to the skin and are often natural. If you have a lap dog, make sure you're going to enjoy the scent as well. You may even want to try out several brands in order to decide what shampoo works best on your dog and for you.

Desirable Features of Dog Shampoo

Easy to use

Works well

Lathers well

Rinses well

Tearless

Shiny coat

Dog shampoo is designed to cleanse away the dirt and excess oils, working exactly the way human shampoo does. The difference between the two is that dog shampoo should have lower pH levels more suited to canines and a non-tearing formula in case a little shampoo should get in your dog's eyes. Dog shampoo should also produce fewer suds for quicker rinsing, not to mention deodorize as well as leave your dog's coat shiny. If you're just looking for a cleaner pooch, a standard dog shampoo will get you what you need. Dog shampoos are sometimes formulated for normal, dry and oily skin and you can choose the shampoo that will work best on your dog's coat. You can also select a dog shampoo for more specific needs.

If you're looking for something to treat a skin condition, there are dog shampoos that help with this as well. Medicated shampoo is available by prescription if the condition is severe. Dog shampoo for a less serious problem is available at most pet supply stores and can help with irritated skin as well as a clean shiny coat.

Flea and tick shampoo contains chemicals that kill fleas and ticks but are harmless to your dog as long as you don't get shampoo in your dog's eyes or mouth. Pyrethrins are usually the best pesticide ingredient to look for in a flea and tick shampoo. Check with your veterinarian prior to using pyrethrins to ensure they are safe for your pet. Some flea chemicals can interact with each other and cause toxicity. Also, carefully follow label directions on any flea and tick products and ensure you use it only if appropriate to the species, age and weight of your pet. Also, ensure that you rinse all flea and tick chemicals well to prevent ingestion by grooming after the bath.

There are also dog shampoos that are designed to make your canine shine at the dog park or in the show ring. Colored shampoo is used to boost natural color and whitening shampoo brightens white coats. The ideal choice of dog shampoo is of course, what works for you and leaves your dog smelling clean and looking great.

Ideal Choice of Dog Shampoo

So how do you choose which dog shampoo is right for rover? Since a bottle of dog shampoo is likely to last you several months if not longer, focus more on your needs than the price. Look at the ingredients first. Good dog shampoos have ingredients that hold moisture to the skin and are often natural. If you have a lap dog, make sure you're going to enjoy the scent as well. You may even want to try out several brands in order to decide what shampoo works best on your dog and for you.

Safety and Buying Tips for Dog Shampoo

Be sure to look at the ingredients of your dog shampoo and check for anything that might irritate your dog. Heavy scents and some flea and tick shampoo may irritate the skin. Follow the directions on the bottle and always keep even tearless shampoos out of your dog's eyes.. Remember to dry the ear canals after bathing! You should take care to store shampoo out of the reach of children and pets. So find the dog shampoo that's right for you and your dog and enjoy your sweet smelling pooch!

Source: http://www.petproductadvisor.com/buyers-guide/dog-shampoo-how-to-choose-the-best-dog-shampoo/146/page1.aspx

Image Source: http://mypetspa-tampa.com/mps-dog-shower.jpg