How Kennel Cough Affects your Dog's Health

Saturday, August 30, 2008
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

Friday, August 29, 2008

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:

Pet Health Care Information From www.ThePetMedSite.com
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

Childrensalon-120-140px

How Dogs Became Man's Best Friend

Thursday, August 14, 2008
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

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

dog shedding 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).

dog skin problems 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.

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

dog skin diseases 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.

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

dog itching 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.

dog skin infections 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).

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

dog skin allergies 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.

dog skin condition 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.

dog bald spots 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.

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

dog dog skin 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.

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

itchy dog skin 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

Sunday, August 10, 2008
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

    Cleaning Your Dog’s Teeth

    Thursday, August 7, 2008
    Providing good oral care for our canine family members can actually extend their lives by as much as three to five years. In order to successfully clean your dog’s teeth, you must get your dog used to having its mouth handled by lifting its lips and examining the teeth. Do this 2-3 times per week, and each time, give your pet a small treat and lots of praise after you have finished. Your dog will be more comfortable with the teeth cleaning process when it knows there will be a treat when it's over.

    Introduce toothbrushing slowly to gradually accustom your dog to having you handle its mouth.

    You'll need a dog toothbrush (a wash cloth or gauze pad wrapped around your finger also works well), and toothpaste specially formulated for animal use. Dogs cannot spit, and human toothpaste is not safe to swallow in large quantities. Your dog will most likely swallow whatever you use to clean its teeth with, so it is important to buy toothpaste that has been formulated specifically for dogs. A good alternative for cleaning your dog’s teeth is a solution of vitamin C and water in a ratio of half teaspoon of vitamin C to a cup of water.

    Position yourself on the floor, with your dog in front of you. With smaller breeds or puppies, you can hold the dog in your lap. It may be necessary to start with gauze and work up to the toothbrush. Lift your dog's upper lip and clean your dog’s teeth in a circular motion, making sure to brush at the base of each tooth where it meets the gum line. The toothbrush bristles should be angled at 45-degrees to the tooth surface. Also, make sure to clean your dog’s back molar teeth, which are more likely than the front teeth to develop problems. Gently force the bristles into the area around the base of the tooth and the spaces between the teeth with about ten short back and forth strokes, focusing on the outside of the upper teeth.

    Do only one or two teeth the first few times. As your dog becomes comfortable with teeth cleaning, brush more teeth in each session. Clean your dog’s teeth twice a week. Always give your dog a small treat after each session.

    Hard bones are the primary cause of your dog’s teeth breaking; knuckle bones are soft.

    Giving bones to your pet to chew on is an effective method for keeping tarter from accumulating and aids in keeping your dog’s teeth clean. Raw knuckle bones (the joints), from your local butcher or meat counter at the supermarket, are great because they are soft and allow your dog to scrape its teeth into the bone, nicely cleaning food and tartar from teeth. These bones still have some tendons and muscle meat. They will clean your dog’s teeth and provide a nice oral workout as well as a healthy amount of natural calcium. Your dog will enjoy a good knuckle bone. It will be content and relaxed while chewing, and a little sleepy afterwards. Keep your dog on a towel that is easily washed.

    Cooked bones can splinter and cause mouth injury as well as intestinal problems.

    Supervise your dog to prevent it from swallowing a large piece of bone, which may cause choking or digestive problems. Give your dog bones that are too large to swallow and NOT cooked. Do NOT give unthawed frozen bones to avoid the possible breaking of teeth. Raw carrots are a good substitute for cleaning your dog’s teeth.

    Source: http://www.scribd.com/doc/1014011/Cleaning-Your-Dogs-Teeth

    Booger the pit bull is back! All five of him...

    Tuesday, August 5, 2008
    An interesting news about cloning of dog...


    SEOUL (Reuters) - The loss of Booger the pit bull terrier was almost more than Bernann McKinney could bear.


    Now she is happy, minus $50,000 and her house, and owner of five cloned Booger puppies.

    "It is a miracle for me because I was able to smile again, laugh again and just feel alive again," McKinney told a news conference in the South Korea capital to show off the week-old black puppies -- all of whose names include the word Booger.

    They are the work of the biotech firm RNL Bio, affiliated with the South Korean lab which produced the world's first cloned dog and is staffed with former associates of disgraced scientist Hwang Woo-suk.

    She sold her house in the United States to raise the $50,000 for RNL scientists to turn skin cells taken from Booger before he died two years ago into embryos carried by two surrogate dogs for two months until giving birth to the puppies last week.


    Read more...

    Common Health Problems and Diseases of Puppies

    Monday, August 4, 2008

    When I first had my pet, when he's still a puppy, he was so fragile. I guess most of puppies are. They are prone to sickness/diseases. It's always great to take the puppies away from those health problems for all time. And best way to get rid of those problems is to prevent the infections or other health problems basic to intermediate knowledge about caring for your new born puppy is very important.


    Here are some of the few common puppy health problems and diseases that a weak puppy might be susceptible to.

    Hypothermia:

    Hypothermia is one of the major problems. A tiny new born puppy has difficulty regulating it's body temperature as it's thermoregulatory system may not be fully developed yet. One common solution is to keep a new born puppy in a moderate heated environment of 85-90F degrees for the first two to three weeks.

    How can you do that? Simple, use a heated dog lamp or warming lamp. Also, it is a good practice to use warm bottles (not hot as they might be dangerous) and a puppy warming blanket. Use hypoallergenic cotton blankets as an alternative because they retain some body heat.

    Parvovirus:

    This is a common diseases for a young puppy and a dog. As a dog owner, ensure that your puppy is adequately protected against the deadly Parvovirus disease. Parvovirus is a contagious disease that attacks the lining of the dog or puppy's digestive system. It is usually spread through feces of another infected dog. Parvo can also be carried on kennels, crates and accessories of another dog.

    Symptoms include lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, weariness and putrid smelling dog stool. These symptoms have also been linked to high fever which could lead to congestive heart failure.

    Make sure that your puppies are vaccinated under a proper program and a health time table. Veterinarians recommend that infected puppies should not be taken to the dog park or even the yard where they can interact with other dogs, until the proper vaccination and injections are administered.

    Colostrum:

    This is an anti-body that can be given to your new born puppy at approximately 24 hours after birth.

    How? Simple, by feeding your puppy the full-bodied first milk of it's mother. This step if available, is critical to your puppy's health and health problems prevention.

    If you are concerned about your new born puppy' slower absorption rate; it is quite common, visit your local vet for a consultation about their Colustum's absorption rate. Your vet will usually do a blood test to check your puppy's anti-body absorption rate and if needed, your vet will then proceed to inject some serum from it's mother to speed up the process.


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

    Daily Vitamins for Dogs

    Friday, August 1, 2008

    Just like humans, our pets also need proper nutrition for their daily activities. Some may take their dog's health for granted, thinking that they're healthy physically, where the fact is they're not.

    It is known that a healthy diet for our dogs is one of the best ways that we can say "essential" to them in terms of maintaining health and warding them from illness and deadly diseases. However, we're humans right? Therefore, it is necessary that our daily lives are much different from our dogs. In other words we are as "busy" humans that sometimes, we don't have enough time for our pets. And sometimes, we even let them skip their meals...and even feeding them with high-quality commercial food which doesn't provide all the nutrition that an animal needs to stay healthy and strong in today's world.

    So what's the most solution to that? Give them a high quality daily vitamin that can supplement them with the optimal level of nutrients that may be missing from their food.

    Fat-soluble vitamins:

    • Vitamin A plays an important role in bone growth, tooth development, reproduction, cell division and gene expression. Also, the skin, eyes and mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, throat and lungs depend on vitamin A to remain moist.

    Sign of deficiency: Conjunctivitis; cataracts, retinal degeneration, and other eye problems; weight loss; muscle weakness; reproductive and developmental disorders
    Signs of excess: Skeletal lesions in kittens, particularly outgrowths of the cervical vertebrae, osteoporosis

    • Vitamin D plays a critical role in the body’s use of calcium and phosphorous. It increases the amount of calcium absorbed from the small intestine and helps form and maintain bones. Puppies and kittens especially need adequate amounts of vitamin D to develop strong bones and healthy teeth.

    Signs of deficiency: Rickets; abnormalities in skeletal development; progressive paralysis; reduction in body weight and food intake
    Sign of excess: Poor appetite; vomiting; lethargy; calcification of soft tissues

    • Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, protecting vitamins A and C, red blood cells and essential fatty acids from destruction. Research has shown that vitamin E may help prevent heart disease and cancer.

    Signs of deficiency: Poor appetite; depression; pain sensitivity in abdomen; fat tissue pathology

    • Vitamin K plays an essential role in normal blood clotting and helps promote bone health.

    Signs of deficiency: Excess bleeding; prolonged blood clotting time.

    Water-soluble vitamins:
    B-complex vitamins and vitamin C are water-soluble vitamins that are not stored in the body, are eliminated in urine, and must be replaced each day. All animals need a continuous supply of them in their diets.

    • Vitamin C helps hold body cells together, aids in wound healing, assists in bone and tooth formation, strengthens the blood vessel walls, is vital for the function of the immune system, and improves absorption and utilization of iron. It also helps prevent nutritional ailments such as scurvy. Vitamin C serves as an antioxidant, and works with vitamin E as a free-radical scavenger. Studies suggest that vitamin C may reduce the risk of certain cancers, heart disease and cataracts.

    Eight of the water-soluble vitamins are known as the B-complex group: thiamin (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, biotin and pantothenic acid. These vitamins are widely distributed in foods. They function as coenzymes that help the body obtain energy from food. They also are important for normal appetite, good vision, healthy skin, a healthy nervous system and red blood cell formation.

    Vitamin B1 (thiamin)
    Signs of deficiency: Neurological impairments including altered reflexes and convulsive seizures; heart-rate disorders; pathological changes in the central nervous system

    Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
    Signs of deficiency: Cataracts; fatty livers; testicular atrophy

    Vitamin B3 (niacin)
    Signs of deficiency: Poor appetite; weight loss; fiery red tongue, with ulceration and congestion

    Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
    Signs of deficiency: Stunted growth; fatty changes in liver; small bowel lesions

    Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
    Signs of deficiency: Stunted growth; convulsive seizures; kidney lesions

    Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) and Folic Acid
    Signs of deficiency: Weight loss; vomiting; diarrhea; intestinal disorders

    Biotin is a co-enzyme necessary for many reactions in the body. It assists in the making of fatty acids, and in the burning up of fatty acids and carbohydrates for body heat and energy. It also aids in the utilization of amino acids, folic acid, pantothenic acid, and vitamin B12.
    Signs of deficiency: dermatitis and muscle pains

    Minerals are found in the bones, teeth, soft tissue, muscle, blood, and nerve cells. They act as catalysts for many biological reactions within the body, including digestion and metabolism of food, transmission of messages throughout the nervous system, and muscle response. They are also important in the production of hormones. There is a synergism that occurs between minerals and other nutrients in the body, and the actions of specific minerals are dependent on the presence and proper amounts of other nutrients.

    Important minerals:
    • Calcium is essential to the formation of bones and teeth; blood coagulation; nerve impulse transmission; muscle contraction; cell signaling.
    Signs of deficiency: Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism; loss of bone mineral content, which can lead to collapse and curvature of lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones; bone pain, which can progress to fractures.

    • Chromium is a trace mineral that is essential for the transfer of sugar from the bloodstream to muscle cells, thereby giving them the fuel they need to work. Chromium is involved in maintaining cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and is necessary for muscle function.

    • Iodine is important for thyroid hormone synthesis; cell differentiation; growth and development of puppies; regulation of metabolic rate.
    Signs of deficiency: Enlargement of thyroid glands
    Signs of excess: Excessive tearing, salivation and nasal discharge; dandruff

    • Iron is essential to hemoglobin and myoglobin synthesis; energy metabolism.
    Signs of deficiency: Poor growth; pale mucous membranes; lethargy; weakness; diarrhea
    Signs of Excess: Vomiting and diarrhea

    • Magnesium is needed for enzyme functions; muscle and nerve cell membrane stability; hormone secretion and function; mineral structure of bones and teeth.
    Signs of deficiency: Poor growth; overextension of the carpal joints; muscle twitching; convulsions
    Signs of excess: Urinary tract stone formation in the presence of high pH

    • Phosphorus is needed for skeletal structure; DNA and RNA structure; energy metabolism; locomotion; acid-base balance
    Sign of deficiency: Hemolytic anemia; locomotor disturbances; metabolic acidosis

    • Potassium is needed for acid-base balance; nerve-impulse transmission; enzymatic reactions; transport functions
    Signs of deficiency: Poor appetite; retarded growth; neurological disorders, including severe muscle weakness

    • Selenium is important for defense against oxidative damage; immune response

    • Zinc is needed for enzyme reactions; cell replication; protein and carbohydrate metabolism; skin function; wound healing
    Skin lesions; growth retardation; testicular damage

    Amino acids

    There are 22 different amino acids that mammals need for various metabolic and energy activities. Dogs and cats are able to manufacture 12 of these, but need to get the rest in their diets. Because they are only obtained through food, they are called essential amino acids.

    Additionally, cats require taurine in order to live. Without it, our feline friends develop dramatic health problems, including reproductive failure, growth retardation, retinal degeneration and heart failure.


    Folic acid (folate)
    Signs of deficiency: Decreased growth rate; increased iron levels in blood.


    SOURCE: http://www.holisticpetinfo.com/Conditions/vitamins.htm