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February 5, 2008

Dog Dental Problems

To ensure your dog's dental health, they require dental care on a regular basis. Otherwise they may develop problems.

Dog dental problems may also result from injury, foreign bodies such as porcupine quills or foxtail, malnutrition or systemic diseases which infect the mouth as well as other parts of the body.



Occasionally a puppy or kitten will retain some deciduous (baby) teeth after the permanent teeth have appeared. This may damage the soft tissues of the mouth and may even accelerate wear of permanent teeth. A veterinarian should be consulted to determine whether or not removal is necessary.

From : http://petcaretips.net/dog_dental_care.html

Everything You Need To Know About....


Dogs have 28 deciduous teeth (temporary) and 42 permanent teeth. Deciduous or "milk" teeth begin to appear when a puppy is about four weeks of age, and are lost gradually between 14 and 30 weeks of age. During this time, puppies may eat slightly less and chew more. Hard rubber or rawhide toys made especially for dogs are a good investment to help prevent household damage during this time.


Common signs of dental problems in dogs include:



  • Loss of appetite

  • Red, swollen and bleeding gums

  • Drooling

  • Blood in the saliva

  • Yellow-brown tartar at the gum line

  • Broken teeth

  • Foul breath

Dogs sometimes suffer from broken teeth, often a result of biting on sticks or rocks. A cracked or broken tooth can be painful if the nerve tissue is exposed; if it becomes infected, there is the danger of the infection spreading through the bloodstream. Prompt veterinary attention is recommended.



Taking Care Of Your Dog's Teeth And Gums


by: Jack Russell

Clean teeth and gums are very important of the overall health of your dog. Here are some information on the most common dental problems of dogs and ways in treating them.


Dog's common dental problems


- Periodontitis


It is very common among dogs to have gum disease. At the age of two or three, many dogs have either periodontitis or gingivitis.


The most common dental problem for canines is periodontitis, also known as periodontal disease. The disease is caused by various factors: plaque, food debris, cell mucus, and a mixture of bacteria. This results to a film characterized by milky-white on the dog's teeth as well as the gums. When this film gets combined with saliva, the plaque it causes becomes tartar, and very hard to remove.


- Gingivitis


Gingivitis, also known as gum disease, happens when gum tissue suffers from an inflammation. Without treatment, it can lead to periodontitis, teeth loosening, bone less, and ultimately, loss of teeth.


- Tooth fractures


Tooth fractures occur when dogs chew hard substances, such as hard rocks and cow hooves. The fractures result to infection inside the broken tooth, which is known as the endodontic disease.


How to prevent dental problems


Your dog can fight off these dental problems by removing the plaque before it actually develops as tartar. How to do it? The most effective way is by brushing the teeth of your dog in a mechanical fashion. The brushing would reduce much of the bacteria presence in the mouth, not to mention making your dog's breath smell sweeter. Make it a habit of brushing your teeth on a daily basis.


Toothpaste. There are toothpaste products made especially for dogs. Brush your pet's teeth using dog toothpaste. Human toothpaste is specifically designed for humans to spit the paste washings out. Dogs cannot do that, so pick a dog toothpaste that is safe enough for dogs to swallow.


Toothbrush. Using a toothbrush in its teeth would take some time for the dog to get used to. Let your dog be acquainted and get used to this is by putting some garlic salt, mix the salt with water, and dip the solution in an old toothbrush. Hold the old brush, and let your pet taste and chew it. Your dog will start to realize that chewing a toothbrush is and tastes good. Make it a habit a few times, until it feels comfortable brushing with it.


Finger brush. You could also use a finger brush instead of a toothbrush. A finger brush is a good alternative, although nothing could replace the good ol' toothbrush. The finger brush just fits onto one's fingertip and can let you brush the dog's teeth without the dog knowing it. Well, at least almost. The disadvantage of getting a finger brush to clean your dog's teeth is that its bristles are quite large for the brush to go under the gumline's margin as effectively compared with regular toothbrush.


Professional cleaning. If you don't want to do the cleaning by yourself, you could take your dog to a veterinarian and have its teeth professionally cleaned. A good veterinarian will take additional measures in ensuring your dog's clean teeth by anesthetizing your dog, scraping the buildup of plaque from all over the gumline areas, and polishing the teeth for a sparkling finish.


Home checkup. Try to make it a regular habit of checking the teeth of your dog for any cracked or broken teeth. If you see some problematic teeth, check promptly with the veterinarian.


Home safety. Of course, cleaning your dog's teeth does not mean you should disregard other areas of concern. Tough substances, such as bones, rocks, hard nylon, or cow hooves should be removed from areas where your dog could see. Buy your dog chewing toys that are safer like rubber-made toys. You could also provide bones that are soft enough for your dog to chew.


Mouthwash. There are some products in the market that deal very well in helping to kill the bacteria in your dog's mouth and could actually help heal damaged gum tissues. Do not forget to ask your veterinarian on the best products in the market.


Dental problems do not only happen to humans. Dogs also have dental issues as well. It is up to the owners on how to help their pet dogs overcome their dental problems.


This article was posted on December 06, 2005

February 4, 2008

Understanding Dog Behavior

Understanding Dog Behavior
by: David Beart

Dogs are considered the most genuinely happy creatures on earth. Their entire day is filled with you whether you are there or not. They are waiting for you, sleeping on your bed, watching for you out the window, wondering where you are while they are patiently waiting for you in their crate.

Once you come home it’s all about you. Your attention, your love, your food, your commands, and of course, your time. For an animal that revolves his whole life around you, it can be confusing why he does some of the things he does. If he loves you so much, why is he destroying your shoes? If you are the light in his life, why is he ignoring you when you come home?

Dogs have a very unique way of expressing themselves. Most people believe that dogs have and show genuine emotion such as love and fear and even anger. We understand that when they sit at the door and bark they are telling us they need to go outside. We understand that when we have a leash in our hand and they get a little goofy that they are excited about the upcoming walk. Understanding their more subtle or destructive cues takes a little insight into your dog’s world.

Returning Home Behavior

Some dogs get so excited that you are home after a weekend away they completely get beside themselves with joy. They follow you around and may even be uncharacteristically clingy as you wander about the house. Others get so excited when you first walk in the door, and then leave you in complete peace for several hours. People usually say that he is angry with you for leaving in the first place.

Most experts say their behavior is more about security than anything. You are your dog’s entire world and when for some reason you disappear for a long period of time, and there is a sudden change in his routine, his security is thrown a bit. He is very happy to see you but he also needs a little reassurance that everything is getting back to normal. Some dogs do this by following you around the house until they are sure, and others do this from a more observatory stance. Either way your canine family member is just looking for reassurance and his typical routine to return.

The Canine Garbage Disposal

He knows better and he knows that you know he knows better. However, every chance he gets you see him scampering off with something that you just absolutely don’t want him to chew. He eats your best shoes while you’re in the shower, the corner of the bedspread while you’re getting dressed, and the phone cord while you were talking on it. And you haven’t even made it to breakfast yet. As much as you love him you are contemplating the moral issues of drop kicking him right out the door. You’ve tried everything that you can think of and yet he is still eating everything in sight. He is beyond the age where teething causes chewing but yet he still can’t seem to find his own toys to consume.

There are two key factors in a garbage disposal dog. The first and easiest to solve is a health problem relating to his teeth and gums. If his mouth is bothering him, he is going to chew on everything he can. Start with a vet visit to rule out any periodontal issues.

The more likely culprit of his unflattering behavior is stress and anxiety. Yes, your happy go lucky guy can suffer from stress. Has there been a change in the household such as a new baby, dramatically increased arguing or is someone who is supposed to be there suddenly gone?

For starter, confine him when you can’t watch him, although preferably with you. A puppy gate here can go a long way in simple things like keeping an eye on him while you are showering and watching his every move while you are getting dressed. Often the hurried morning is a higher anxiety period for your dog.

Then begin to address the problem. Make sure there’s an appropriate toy available to him at all times and make a big deal about it when he eats the right things. A sharp reprimand and a quick and immediate discipline is in order when you catch him at the wrong chew toys. You don’t want to stress him more by smacking him, although a rolled up newspaper banged on a hard surface is a quick attention getter. Never strike him with it. He will make it his mission to eat it if you do in an effort to eliminate an already stressful period.

Try to identify the stressor and relax him around the problem. If you can get him comfortable enough around the new baby to lie down even when the baby is crying, you have made strides. If there is tension in the house try to tone down the arguing, or take it to an alternative room. If your dog can be comfortably confined to an outdoor yard, that is the best option, but don’t get so wrapped up in your arguing that you leave him out there for extensive periods of time. Whatever the stressor is that is causing the chewing, try to get him comfortable and relaxed around it. This may take some time, but relieving his anxiety will also reduce the tension in your life as well.

Aggression

You know him as your sweet and loveable friend. Your friends and neighbors know him as the terror on your doorstep who wants to eat them. Aggression is not a nice quality in your dog. Aggression comes from the desire to protect, and anything perceived as a threat is going to be treated like one. For some dogs this means anyone and anything that doesn’t belong. He is only trying to defend his home and his human family, but aggression is a serious behavioral problem that needs to be nipped in the bud.

Check your own behavior. How are you reacting to him when he is growling and carrying on at the neighbor as she walks by your house? Make sure the words “good boy” are the last thing your dog hears. “Be a good boy,” or “That’s not a good boy,” are not deterrents. Neither is “Shh.”

Mild mannered people tend to have more aggressive dogs because their tones are not consistent with command. If your dog doesn’t believe you enough to listen to you, he certainly isn’t going to believe you can take care of yourself. I can’t tell you how many times our pups have been accosted on the street with an owner telling their dog that it’s ok. It’s not okay. The words you are looking for are firm and sharp and sound like “Sit” and “No.” One word firm commands are much more effective than reasoning. Aggression is a serious offense and it must be treated as one. We have one dog who got a little out of control. When sitting wasn’t getting him under control on his nightly walk we actually went to making him lie down. Right there on the street or sidewalk we commanded our German Shepard to lie down to get his attention and then added a “Quiet” command to get our point across. His aggression quieted down in a week.

Some dogs do better if they can at least see what’s going on even if they can’t be a part of the process. Aggressive dogs are really protective dogs. The delivery man might not want your growling, snarling beloved pet to join you on the porch, but he might do better if he has a place he can be directed to sit and watch provided he stays quiet. Constantly sequestering him does nothing to solve the problem.

The Overbearing Overgrown Puppy

He is happy to see you. You are his toy and his best friend and he will pummel you over in an attempt to play with you. He has run over the children and covered the cat with his doggie saliva. You love him, but wow does his energy get annoying sometimes. It’s hard to talk to someone one the phone when he’s jumping on you and wrapping his big paws around you and forget leaving the house looking presentable.

He is the puppy who never grew up. His body got big, but he seems intellectually stuck at four months old. Most of the time this behavior is a matter of dominance. When a dog views you as his alpha leader, he gives you respect. When you are his peer, you are his play mate. Alpha leaders are by nature a food related dominance. Of course other factors play into it as well, but to a dog food is leadership. If you are not already the dog’s food source, consider taking on that responsibility.

Establish yourself as a leader. This isn’t all that hard to do and you don’t even have to stop playing with him in order to do it. Start by giving him random commands, especially around feeding time. With his food in your hand tell him to sit. With the food in the bowl and the bowl on the floor tell him to wait, and then make sure he follows through. When he has looked to you for permission, allow him to commence eating.

Slowly add random commands throughout the day and rebuke rough playing immediately. If he wants to play, he has to sit and wait for things rather than tackle you. You can just as easily give him commands with playtime as you can any other time. A few commands before you throw the ball is usually enough to get the right message across as you are establishing dominance.

Interpreting Your Dog

Understanding your dog’s behavior isn’t quite as mystifying as it seems. He really is doing his best to tell you. Watching his communication with other people and animals in the household can really open your eyes to how he expresses himself.

A dog wags his tail to express happiness, yawns when he is content, and growls when he is threatened. With over one hundred facial expressions, he is constantly telling you something. The more you get to know your dog the more you will learn what he is telling you.

Owning a dog is a wonderfully joyous experience. They bring so much into our world which is why so many people have them. They look to us to tend to their needs. We owe it to them to give them at least our very best shot at keeping them safe, healthy, and happy.

From : http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1379.shtml


Home Remedies for Fleas

Home Remedies for Fleas
by: Mike Campbell

Many people treat their pets as family, and justly so. Well, when one of your children, or another family member has a rash or infection you take care of it as quickly as possible. Pets also deserve the same quick attention to keep them healthy. Instead of a huge vet bill, why not try an herbal remedy when your pet gets attacked by fleas. here are a few home remedy suggestions you can try.
Give An Herb Bath
At the first sign of a flea, bathe your pet with a natural pet shampoo that contains flea-repellent herbs. Pennyroyal or eucalyptus oil boost the bathwater's flea killing power. A badly infested dog needs a bath about every two weeks; a cat, about once a month.
Clean, Clean, and Clean Some More
Especially in the Summer, wash the pets bedding in hot soapy water once a week, and dry it in a hot dryer. Also vacuum your rugs every two to three days. Ninty percent of fleas are found where your pet sleeps.
Use Natural Powders
They generally contain such herbs as rosemary, rue, wormwood, pennyroyal, eucalyptus, or citronella, and sometimes tobacco powder. You can also dust the powder, or just diatomaceous earth, in all the nooks and crannyies you can't reach by vacuuming.
Diatomaceous earth is a great home remedy that removes the fleas waxy coating and dries them out, which kills them. Caution: Wear a dust mask to avoid the easily inhaled, finely ground diatomaceous earth used in swimming pool filteres; and pennyroyal and tobacco powder in large quantities can be toxic to you and your pets.
Attack Internally
Finally, add garlic and brewer's yeast to your pet's diet. Even try rubbing the yeast into your pet's fur. Both ingredients are said to make a flea's taste buds curl in disgust. There's no scientific proof, but some pet owners swear by this home remedy.
Preventitive care goes a long way with pets. Obviously they can't talk to you and let you know that they are beginning to host fleas, so be aware of your pet's behaviour and try these herbal remedies at the first sign.

10 Reasons Why Pet Insurance Is A Must by: Timothy Rudon

10 Reasons Why Pet Insurance Is A Must by: Timothy Rudon

Pets today need insurance as the cost of medical treatments are very high and in breeding and other problems have made pets more susceptible to diseases and other problems. Pet insurance can cost anywhere between USD 2000-6000 over the life of a pet and the amount of premium to be paid would depend on many variables like breed, age, and more. Pet insurance can be bought online or offline from leaders like: Pet care Insurance Companies; Veterinary Pet Insurance Company; Pets Best Insurance; and Vet Insurance. The best way to insure a pet is to ask your vet for advice. Pet insurance at affordable rates can be purchased online from websites devoted to pet insurance and pet care. The premium to be paid depends on age of pet, general health of pet, breed of pet, potential risks for susceptible diseases and so on. Before investing in insurance you must do your homework and find out all you can about polices, how to keep premiums low, and how to buy the best pet insurance at the most affordable rate. The internet is a knowledge highway and has great information on pets, insurance options, and more. Make the effort to educate yourself. Medical treatment can cost thousands of dollars. And treatments for hip diseases, cancers, kidney failure and more can cost between USD 1000- 5000. In case of disease or accidents pets can be treated and nursed back to health instead of “put down.” Here are a few reasons why pet insurance is to be considered: 1. A pet is a family member and death due to accident or illness can upset children. Insurance coverage could save the life of the pet. 2. Pet insurance gives peace of mind and owners can stop worrying about unpaid bills or pets crossing roads. 3. Pet insurance ensures longer life spans of pets. 4. Insurance offers preventive health care, which means diseases can be detected in pets at early stages when treatments can offer cures. 5. Pet insurance covers expensive diagnostics and hospitalization expenses for pets. 6. Pet insurance can save the life of the pet as it covers treatments like radiation therapy and kidney replacements. 7. Pet insurance releases the burden of having to pay when the family is going through lean times such as being “laid off” or having a personal illness to deal with. 8. Pet insurance can help you get a deductible which is cost saving and the insurance will protect the pet. 9. Pet insurance offers regular health checks, shots, elective and non elective surgeries, and sometimes extended stays at a pet boarding house. 10. In general pet insurance can cost as little as USD 20-40 a month and this brings good health and cheer to the pet, very much a family member. Pet insurance could save the life of a dear one without straining your wallet.

Dog flea treatment: Dog flea treatment

Before you begin with dog flea treatment on your dog, you have to first treat your house. Begin by thoroughly scouring the areas where your dog sleeps and where he usually goes to relax.

Wash all the bedding and then place it in a hot dryer. The next step in dog flea treatment is to vacuum every surface possible. This includes all furniture, rugs, carpets, and drapes. Another important part of the dog flea treatment is to wax the floor. This step of the dog flea treatment increases the chance of killing stray fleas as well as their eggs.

You may also hire an exterminator to take are of the dog flea treatment that you will need. They offer a welcome relief if your own efforts of treatment are ineffective or if you just do not have the time to do it. Dog flea treatment usually takes two sessions to completely eradicate the fleas.

The first dog flea treatment is usually done in the spring while the second dog flea treatment will usually be done in the mid summer. Also, it is ideal to have a dog flea treatment done about once a month if you live in a warm and humid climate.

After you have finished with the dog flea treatment around your house, the next step is to treat your dog. The most successful way to treat your dog is to use an insecticide dip.

Administer the dog flea treatment about twice per month until you are sure that your dog is free of these blood sucking parasites. For further treatment, use a spray if you have a short haired dog and apply powder to long haired dogs in between dips.

Another method of dog flea treatment is to use a dog flea collar. However, using a dog flea collar is not always effective and only provides local protection. Also, using a flea collar as your dog flea treatment may actually cause significant discomfort to your dog's eyes and skin.

Dogs who wear flea collars must have their necks checked regularly for inflammation. Checking the neck is important to make sure that your dog is not allergic or sensitive to the chemicals in the dog flea treatment collar.

Also, when using a flea collar for your dog flea treatment, make sure that the collar is not too tight; this can obstruct your dog's intake of air. Always check your dog to make sure that he is not chewing the dog flea treatment collar and that the collar does not get wet.

by Kathy
From : http://www.dogdigest.net/dog-flea-treatment-dog-flea-treatment/

Dog Flea: Detecting dog fleas

Every time you give your dog his regular grooming session, it is very important that you carefully examine his coat and skin. Aside from making sure that the coat and skin are clean and have a pleasant smell to them, you should also check to make sure that he is not playing host to any type of parasite that could trigger the start of various diseases and other several problems.

One very common parasite that causes serious irritation to your dog is the dog flea. A dog flea causes severe irritation by sucking on your dog's blood. Some dogs develop an allergy to the dog flea's saliva which causes them to scratch uncontrollably, resulting in sore and weeping skin. The dog flea is also responsible for the spread of tapeworms if your dog happens to eat it.

The severity of a flea attack is rather unpredictable. The slightest attack of the flea can cause mild itching and irritation even to a well groomed dog. In fact, an extreme case of widespread infestation from a relative of the dog flea was known to cause an unprecedented crusade of death in Europe, during the time of the bubonic plagues.

These days, a dog flea attack is most likely due to a particular type of dog flea called Ctenocephalides canis. This type of flea is a tiny, jumping organism that can be seen on your dog's skin. These dog fleas can easily hop on your dog while strolling around through bushes and grass. The flea knows that your dog is an ample source of blood, which is the main requirement of the dog flea to be able to lay its eggs.

As soon as the dog flea is done satisfying its thirst, it will hop off your dog and find its new home on a surface inside your house. The dog flea usually stays on one area of your carpet or your bed and will stay there to lay its eggs.

Dog fleas are not at all shy at having their presence detected. If you notice your dog scratching, biting, and shaking as if it is trying to get rid of something that is irritating him, chances are he may have unwelcome guests of dog fleas feasting on him.

Dog fleas are like tiny brown bouncing dots. Another sign of dog fleas are black and white particles similar to sand. These are dog flea eggs and waste material. When looking for dog fleas, start by pushing the fur back around the neck, along the back, and on the rear end and the belly. You may also use a fine-toothed comb to search for dog fleas. Run the fine-toothed comb over the dog's coat and see if you can catch these culprits.

  • Tapeworm Hydatid Disease

Dogs can pick up tapeworms by biting at or swallowing fleas. They can also catch the parasite by eating gophers which can carry the infectious form. Human infestation from tapeworms, although uncommon, can occur when we eat undercooked beef or pork infected from the organism. There is one type of tapeworm that can pose a treat to humans. This organism is the only variety of tapeworm that causes illness to both animals and people. The illness caused from this type of tapeworm is called Hydatid Disease.

This type of tapeworm can be found in the uncooked innards of cattle and sheep. The adult version of this parasite is relatively short, about five millimeters in length compared to the other type of tapeworm that occurs only in dogs which grows an average of one and a half feet in length.

This disease does not show any sign or symptom. Your vet will check the presence of this type of tapeworm by examining a stool specimen. Your vet will also prescribe treatment if the parasite is detected.

In order to prevent catching this type of disease, never feed your dog uncooked meat. Also, keep your children away from untreated dogs, especially rural dogs who usually pick up the worm through contact with the remains of dead livestock.

by Kathy

From : http://www.dogdigest.net/dog-flea-detecting-dog-fleas/