Summerize Your Dog!

Most dog owners know of the importance of not submitting your dog to high temperatures in your home and certainly in your vehicle. Here's a great article filled with useful tips about how to "Summerize" your dog and warning signs to look for:

Great Article on Summerizng Your Dog HERE

Three Forms of Canine Arthritis

Three Forms of Canine Arthritis
By D Swain

Canine arthritis is a condition in which there is inflammation in a joint. This inflammation can damage cartilage, fluid, or surrounding bones. There are three types of canine arthritis. They include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid, and septic. Let's take a look at these three types.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of canine arthritis. This condition results in deterioration of cartilage and bone. This deterioration can occur over long periods of time with your dog displaying few symptoms. However, this form of canine arthritis gets worse as your dog ages and starts to cause extreme discomfort and pain.

Osteoarthritis is usually treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids. However, if this form of canine arthritis starts causing your dog extreme pain, surgery may be necessary. Other treatment options include daily exercise, healthy diet, and weight loss.

Rheumatoid

The next form of canine arthritis is rheumatoid. This condition occurs when your dog's immune system produces antibodies that attack protein in the body. Rheumatoid arthritis causes severe inflammation and pain. It can damage cartilage as well as tissues surrounding the area. This form of canine arthritis can affect any of your dog's joints. If it isn't treated quickly, your dog will suffer extreme pain. The condition is treated with cancer drugs and steroids.

Septic

The final form of arthritis that can affect your dog is the septic variety. This form of canine arthritis is caused by a fungal, viral, or bacterial infection that occurs in one of your dog's joints. This is commonly caused by a wound such as a dog bite. The organism travels through the bloodstream until it reaches a joint which it infects. Septic canine arthritis can be treated effectively with antibiotics if the infection is caused by bacteria.

As your dog gets older, his risk for developing serious health conditions increases dramatically. As a responsible owner, you may want to learn about some of the common dog illnesses that can affect your dog. So stop by today to read all about conditions such as canine seizures.

Treating Small Leg and Paw Infections With Epson Salts

My Havanese recently got a nasty little infection on her paw near the leg area. I noticed her licking it quite a bit. There is a debate as to whether you should let your dog lick a wound in order to heal it or stop them from licking and applying medicine and a bandage.

I let her lick the little infection (small bump) for a couple of days and it showed no improvement. I decided to mix some Epson Salts with warm water and dipped a small piece of a cotton ball into it. I put the cotton on the sore and then wrapped gauze around it and then a bandage when we went outside.

Everyday I noticed the little infection get better. It finally broke open and drained. I continued to apply the Epson Salts poultice to the sore for about 5 or 6 days. When she was home at night and didn't have the bandage on I would clean the area with Apple Cider Vinegar (common store type). Within a week the wound had almost completely healed. When I wasn't looking she did lick the scab off it so I had to keep it clean and not let her lick it at all.

The strange part of this is that she does great licking wounds that are located on her side, belly and inside the leg area. She always heals them in those areas by licking. I suspect since the paws come into contact with dirt which has bacteria mixed into it that this is the reason licking does not heal the paw area.

So 4 paws up for the Epson Salts Poultice Cure!

What to Do If You Find a Stray Dog

What to Do If You Find a Stray
By Joseph Devine

An adorable dog comes running into your backyard. You want to help the poor fellow but have not a clue as to where to start.

First, determine if he is a lost pet or homeless stray. Has he been well fed? Is his coat in good condition? Are there any signs of identification on the animal such as tags? Does he have a collar or indentation marks in the hair around the neck where a collar previously was? All these are important clues as to whether the animal has recently been cared for. If you do feel the animal has an owner, it is important to act quickly.

If the dog is wearing identification tags such as residential, rabies vaccination, or licensing all that is needed is a simple phone call. Check for tattoos on the inside of the dog's ears, gums, and along the inner surface of hind legs. For help tracing tattoos, phone the regional chapter of the American Kennel Club, International Kennel Club, American Cat Fancier's Association, or the International Cat Association.

Since the owner is most likely looking for their pet, make sure to check to check the "lost" advertisements in the paper and also submit your own "found" advertisement. Many humane societies and animal shelters have lost/found matchup services in which you can register the animal. Post signs with the animal's photo around the area in which you first found the pet. Grocery stores, playgrounds, and libraries often have bulletin boards where signs can be placed.

The most valuable resource is often the neighborhood children. Children make it their duty to personally know many pets and will often know if a family in the neighborhood recently lost a pet.

You found the owner! Congratulations! However, caution does need to be taken. Reselling animals for breeding, research, and fighting is unfortunately, a thriving industry. Ask for identification and for specific details about the pet. Also, the reaction the animal has when seeing the "owner" should be most telling. If doubts still remain, do not hesitate to ask for veterinary records or photographs.

If you do determine that the pet is in fact a stray, your next step is to find a loving home. Do research into the potential owners to make sure it will be a good fit. If you do decide to bring the pet to animal shelter, research the rate of adoption when choosing one. For more information on stray pets, please visit http://www.houstonveterinarianclinics.com/

Joseph Devine

Who Gets Custody of The Dog? Think PupNups!

The Baltimore Sun has an interesting article on what occurs when couples who own a dog(s) breaks up. Who gets the dog? The issues that have to be considered are very similar to the issues for a child. Does the dog have medical problems, up in age, how do they react to stress and being left alone, activity level? Most dogs don't go to school so that is not a worry but if both people are very attached to the dog(s) there may be trouble.

Legally, dogs are considered to be your property and not family members. Nobody wants to think about divorce but unfortunately it happens very often and the issue of who gets the dog is similar to who gets the kids. People are starting to think about "PupNups", a prenuptial agreement to settle the custody issue of the furry kids.

Couples are now deciding to divide their time with their dogs like they would their children. Pet parents now will take primary custody and the other former spouse will pick up the dogs for the weekend or for vacations and so forth.

It's a sad issue to consider but one that seems based in reality and common sense-what's best for Fido?

Soap Opera Writer Remodels Kitchen For Her Dogs

Soap opera writer Megan McTavish (All My Children) remodeled her kitchen to include an area where she could bathe and groom her five Bernese Mountain dogs. She considers her dogs to be her family and with that in mind she made sure the remodel included a bathing tub and folding grooming table as well as floors and tub wall tiled in such a way as to accomodate the shaking of wet fur.

The designer chose "distressed" antique oak for the wood floors condering the army of dog nails hitting everyday. She wanted an old fashioned look for the overall remodel. The kichen makeover took approximately a year and she's very happy with the new look and practicallity of the design.

Read the rest of the story here at the Courant online

10 Questions I'm Most Asked about Dogs in Heat

10 Questions I'm Most Asked about Dogs in Heat
By Louise Louis ( Certified Canine Specialist)

1. What is heat?

Heat is more properly called the estrous cycle. During this cycle, female dogs may get pregnant. It’s equivalent to human menstruation.

2. What are the symptoms?

Females bleed from the vagina sometimes with swelling of the vulva and increased urination. Don’t expect bleeding comparable to a human female.

For small dogs, it’s usually not much and you may need to pay close attention to your puppy to identify her first cycle. Other than the bleeding, the most noticeable symptom may be
male dogs hanging around your house.

3. When does a dog come into heat?

The average female dog has her first cycle about six months of age. A few dogs start earlier and few dogs later, even as late as 14-months.

If you have a new female puppy, you should watch her and note when she has her first cycle. If she’s 14-months old and still hasn't’t been in heat, you should take her to a veterinarian.

4. How long does the heat cycle last?

The average is three weeks or 21-days. In some dogs, it lasts only two weeks while others go four weeks.

5. How often will she be in heat?

Most female dogs have regular cycles usually every six to eight months. It’s quite typical to be in heat twice a year.

6. When can she get pregnant?

She can get pregnant only when in heat. Some breeders
test for progesterone levels to identify the most fertile days but the rule-of-thumb is that the most fertile days are 11-15 of her cycle.

Note – when she’s in heat, the average dog will permit any male
dog to mount her. Few females, however, will accept a male when
they’re not in heat.

7. Can she get pregnant her first cycle?

Yes. However, responsible breeders generally would not breed a dog that early. For one thing, you need to do genetic testing and some serious problems such as hip conditions do not show up until a dog is approximately 2-years of age.

8. Can I take her on walks during this cycle?

Yes with care. She has no problem with the exercise but she’s a walking magnet for male dogs.

Even the best trained and behaved female dog will succumb to hormones. You can’t trust her off a leash or out of your control. Never let her outside by herself even in a fenced yard if there is any possibility of male dogs nearby.

For walks, if there are male dogs in your neighborhood, it’s a good idea to take your dog in your car and drive to a remote area. Take her for the walk there and drive back home. Otherwise, the scent of her urine and vaginal discharge will blaze a trail to your home.

9. When I can have her spayed?

The answer to that one has changed continually over the
25-years I’ve been in the dog business. People used to be told to let their dog go through at least one cycle or let them have one litter.

Today, veterinarians are doing it much earlier. Some vets spay as early as 6-weeks of age! Talk to your veterinarian about your dog and the vet’s preferences. The state of veterinary medicine also is much improved over the past 25-years.

10. If I don’t have her spayed, will she go through menopause.

No. Her fertility may decline but she will not go through menopause comparable to a human’s. She won’t lose her ability to become pregnant even as a senior so if you don’t want to her to have any (or more) litters, she must be spayed.

Louise Louis is a certified canine specialist
and the creator of http://www.ToyBreeds.com, your
online resource for Toy breed dogs.

Cost of Having A Dog

This site "How To Love Your Dog" shows the basic costs involved in taking care of a dog. It's geared toward children but adults who are thinking of buying a dog should pay attention not only to the actual costs but the time and care needed. A lot of time needs to be invested in taking care of a dog. They are emotional animals that want to be with their owners as much as possible.

Check out the cost of owning a dog HERE!

Famous Dogs: Matisse From Film Down and Out in Beverly Hills

If you've seen the film "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" you won't easily forget the family dog "Matisse". Matisse was chronically depressed and often had to have therapy. In real life his name was "Mike". Hopefully he didn't take his character's problems home with him off the set!

Taking the Stress Out of Vet Visits

Taking the Stress Out of Vet Visits



(ARA) - Spring is here and for many pet parents that means taking their family cats and dogs for their annual veterinary check-up to ensure they are in good health and prepared for the upcoming flea and tick season. As most people with pets have experienced, leaving home and going to the veterinarian can be stressful for both pets and pet parents due to many new sights, smells, sounds and sensations. By preparing your pet for their annual visit in advance and keeping them calm during the process, the experience can be made less stressful for all.


“It is important to help your pet adjust to traveling and the new environment of a veterinary clinic,” says Debra Nickelson, D.V.M. at Central Life Sciences. “Using pheromone-based products such as Comfort Zone can be a tremendous aid in helping dogs and cats remain calm in stressful situations.”


To make the trip to the veterinarian as easy as a walk in the park, try these simple solutions:


Crate comfort:

Many pets, especially cats, should be placed into a crate when traveling in the car. Pet parents can make the crated car ride to the veterinarian less stressful by allowing their pet to become familiar and comfortable around the crate a week prior to the scheduled vet visit. Keep the crate out for your pet to investigate or place him in the crate for short periods of time. This will condition them to feel more at ease and will reduce his reluctance to enter and exit it on their own. Pets that are apprehensive toward riding in cars will also benefit from taking a few short rides around the neighborhood prior to a vet visit.


Preparation for the car ride:

Preparing in advance is the best way to ensure the ride to the veterinarian office goes smoothly. Pets may become carsick as a result of motion sickness or stress caused by being removed from their home environment. To decrease the likelihood of your pet becoming anxious or ill while traveling, pet parents should be sure their pet has recently gone to the bathroom before entering the car and has been fed at least five hours prior to the car ride. Dogs and cats should be restrained in either a travel crate or approved harness to keep pet and driver safe. Pheromone based products, such as Comfort Zone will help to calm and soothe pets having trouble coping with the stress of the car ride.


“Usually my dog is a nightmare when she goes for a car ride,” says Paul Peterson, pet parent to golden retriever Bella. “I used Comfort Zone with D.A.P. spray on her collar before we left for the vet and sprayed it in my car 30 minutes before we left and I found it helped reduce her stress significantly during the car ride.”


In the waiting room:

Upon entering most veterinary offices, pet and pet parents must wait in an area filled with not only other pets, but a plethora of unfamiliar smells and noises. Some pets may find this situation stressful which is why it’s a good idea to keep them crated if that is how they traveled. Provide plenty of attention and praise to help them remain calm and distract them from their surroundings. To keep pets safe from other animals in the waiting room, pet parents should always make sure their dog is on a leash.


During the exam:

Once in the exam room, pets will likely be placed on a table to be assessed by the veterinarian. The combination of being in a foreign environment, isolated up on a table and touched by an unknown person can cause extreme levels of stress in dogs and cats. It is important to comfort your pet with petting and verbal praise to help alleviate any stress. Having a few treats on hand will also help your pet remain calm and forget about his current surroundings.


Follow-up:

Despite returning your pet to the comfort of their home and normal environment, many pets may continue to show signs of stress in the hours after a vet visit. If they seem anxious and whine excessively, be sure to act normal and do not to provide excessive attention as this will only reinforce their stress. If your pet is having a difficult time calming down several hours after the vet visit, provide them with plenty of exercise such as a trip to the dog park, their favorite special treat or a new fun toy. It is also important to stay home with your pet for several hours following a vet visit to help reassure him that life has returned to normal.


Pet parents looking for additional tips and advice can visit www.petcomfortzone.com/behave for more information.


Courtesy of ARAcontent