Category: Dog Health

Dog health issues helping you understand and treat

The importance Of Water For Our Pets

Water is a crucial part of a humans and pet’s health. Like humans, animals body are about 80% water. So, most animal experts will agree that pets should be given the same quality water as humans.

Cats and dogs, the two most common pets,  need fresh water and plenty of it.  On a side note,
cats are very finicky about their water; they like it fresh.  The longer the water sits out, the more oxygen it loses.
It doesn’t really matter what type of water is used in a pet’s bowl if the bowl is not cleaned frequently.
Bacteria can grow from mold in the air in your pet’s bowl. (That’s what those growths are!)
So, clean the bowl often and keep it filled with fresh, filtered water.
Additionally, drinking more water can also reduce urinary tract disorders in cats and dogs.

All year long, but especially during the hot season  you need to make sure your pet has enough fresh  water all day long. The simple solution is the pet waterer. Don’t forget to feel it when the level is low and clean the pet waterer once a week.
You can find many pet supply manufacturers offer water fountains, water filters, special bowls, special dispensers and more.
When it comes down to it though, a normal stainless steel or glass bowl filled with water from a home-filtration system works well.

 

First Aid For Your Dog and Cat

First Aid For Pets

If you’ll treat your pet good, his environment clean and his activity controlled, the chances he’ll need first aid are very slim. But it is important to be knowledgeable in case the unexpected happens.

Cuts and Wounds – Mostly happens while playing and running in open areas.

Stop bleeding by pressing directly on the injured area with gauze or clean cloth. After bleeding stopped, wash the area with running water and spread disinfect solution.

If the one of the paws injured use a bandage. Do not let your pet lick it. Go to the vet.

Bite Wounds – Some time the wound looks small and not as serious, but deep tissues can be damaged. Since cats and dogs do not brush teeth there is big risk for infection. Vet must check the pet and give antibiotic if needed.

Snake Bites – Snake bites are most dangers at the beginning of summer, when they just wake up from there winter sleep and the poison is especially concentrated. The immediate danger is death by suffocation from the swelling. You should calm your pet, don’t let him move when it is not necessary, wash with running water, put ice and go immediately to the vet.

Heatstroke – More common in long hair breeds and flatten nose like the boxer. Signs are fast breathing and heartbeats, and then spasm and blackout. You should put your pet in shadowed area and use wet towels or use the bath to reduce his body temperature. Encourage your pet to drink small amounts of water and take him to the vet.

Poisoning – Usually happens at home by swelling cleaning detergents, medications, disinfestations materials. Sometime during the first 4 hours vomiting can help, but you need to do it only with your vet order, as for some poisoning it will worsen your pet condition.

Go immediately to the vet, and do not forget to bring with you the name or even the whole bottle of what your pet swallowed

New Puppy Tips – Part 3

Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)p>
Hyperglycemia is a central nervous system disorder caused by low blood sugar. It occurs in Toy Breeds between the ages of 6 and 12 weeks. Most often, it is brought on by stress and can occur without warning when a puppy is placed in a new home or while being shipped and is something new Toy owners should be on the look-out for.

The first signs of low blood sugar are those of listlessness and depression. The condition is recongnized when teh puppy lies down and does not play. Another sign is if the puppy staggers when it walks or falls and does not get up or just appears exhausted for prolonged periods after playing.

To prevent this from happening, put honey on the puppy’s food or give it 0.5cc of nutracal twice a day as a precautionary measure. If the puppy has a low blood sugar, give baby pedialite instead of water to keep the puppy from becoming dehydrated. Treat as soon as possible. DO NOT PANIC if you find the puppy limp and he seems to be unconscious. Give the puppy honey immediately and rub it’s little body to keep the heat generated. keep the puppy from getting too cold and stiff. If within 10 minutes the puppy has not responded, take it to a vet immediately.

Home Remedies

Here are a few tricks of the trade for minor puppy illnesses that have worked for us. We are not Veterinarians but we have found these “home remedy’s” to work in a pinch….

** CONSTIPATION: Mineral Oil (1cc per day

** UPSET STOMACH: Pepto Bismol (2cc every hour until vomitting has stopped.) If the throwing up does not stop within 8 hours, contact your vet.

** DIARRHEA: 2cc Kaopectate every 1 to 3 hours

In the wild, animals instinctively seek out healing herbs to help them when they are ill or undernourished. In fact, Asclepius, the ancient Greek god of medicine, respected dogs very highly for their ability to seek out and eat medicinal herbs in the wild. This ability is shared by other animals, including cats. We are coming to realize that nature often has the answers – but animals have always known this!

Natural medicine can help your pet just as it can help you. While there is always a place for conventional veterinary medicine, natural medicine can compliment conventional veterinary care and in many cases cure your pets just as well – without the side effects and damage to health that can accompany synthetic drugs and antibiotics.

Study Says Half of Pets Are Overweight

As part of a study on pet obesity in 29 states and 3 Canadian province, vet examined their regular patients  for pet obesity prevention.

The findings – nearly half of the examined cats (43%) and dogs (53%) are overweight. Obese dogs (10%) and cats (19%).

What troubles in this finding is the fact that overweight and obese are greater risk for high blood pressure and diabetes.

In the US 32 million dogs and 46 million cats are overweight.  8 million dogs and 17 million cats are thought to be obese.

The majority  of owners 63% of dog owners and 73% of cat owners are aware of their pet weight. Whether they know the risks or not was not mentioned in the study.