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Guide Common Dog Problems

A specific branch of veterinary medicine is specialized in treating dog health problems according to degrees of severity. Infectious diseases are the major threat, and the general procedure is to keep them under control by thorough periodical vaccination. Rabies is the best example here. There are also numerous genetic dog health problems generally due to over-breeding or to the attempt of maintaining breed purity.

Mixed breeds are much healthier. Nevertheless, they are not safe from viruses, obesity, diabetes and other nutrition-related ailments. It is interesting to mention the fact that such dog health problems overlap with those of humans, because the diseases affect people and animals alike. Other dangerous diseases are tick-borne and highly dangerous for both dogs and humans. The same holds true for leptospirosis, a disease cause by a bacteria with which you or the animal can get infected through water, urine, food or soil contamination.

The number of dog health problems is much longer and complex, than this, but the above mentioned examples are illustrative for how serious things can get. Nevertheless, the list is extremely long and the topic would take thousands of pages to exhaust. What you should keep in mind is that PREVENTION of disease is what matters most. Follow the recommendations below to preserve your dog’s health.

• Take the dog to periodical health check-ups and make all the vaccines.
• Do not allow flees, ticks and worms to proliferate. There are products with large spectrum action that eliminate all parasites in one.
• Regularly wash and groom your dog!
• Pay attention to nutrition. Don’t give your dog sweets! Use organic food! Respect the dog’s preferences and the specificity of age and breed.
• Keep your dog fit and active.

Make sure the dog does not come in contact with hazardous substances such as cleaners, bleaching agents and other toxic chemicals.

Reading informative materials about the prevention of dog health problems allows you to correct mistakes and improve the living conditions of your pet. Negligence and lack of responsibility towards your pet is a crime and may be punishable by law, depending on the situation. Ultimately, a dog’s well being also depends on the owner’s attitude. Give love and attention to your pet and you’ll build a strong relationship together.

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Dog Food Allergies

Dog food allergies are rather difficult to distinguish from other allergies like atopy, etc., because the symptoms of food allergies tend to be similar to the symptoms of the other allergies.

SYMPTOMS

Despite there not being one outstanding symptom that would point us in the direction of food allergy, which makes diagnosis very difficult, there are some symptoms that have been identified as being related to a dog’s food allergy.

Symptoms tend to vary from case to case but I have listed some that have been identified as symptoms displayed by a dog with a food allergy:

• Dry, flaky skin
• Hair loss
• Itchy skin, feet and paws
• Persistent skin infections/ hot spots
• Persistent ear infections especially yeast infections
• Constant vomiting
• Frequent bowel movements
• Skin rashes and hives

Other symptoms like flatulence, sneezing, changes in behavior patterns and asthma can also indicate food allergies.

CAUSES

Research has shown that some dog food ingredients could be the cause of a dog’s food allergies, such as corn, dairy products, beef, eggs, wheat, chicken and soy; all common dog food ingredients by themselves.

Dog allergies are most often caused by the consumption of the same food for several years. These allergies tend to manifest themselves quite suddenly, irrespective of the fact that the dog has been eating the same thing for years. Detecting the actual cause of the dog’s food allergy can be both a frustrating and time consuming exercise, but here’s what you can do…

SOLUTION

Exclusion diet: this is probably the most effective way to find out the cause of a food allergy.

One source of protein is used for up to 12 weeks to see if the dog’s condition improves. After that, new ingredients are added (every seven days) one at a time until the problem returns so you can identify the ingredient that was causing the food allergy. This is a very slow and painstaking method but it is effective.

Make sure that you use a protein source that your dog has not been previously been given, such as tofu, venison, fish, lamb or rabbit, making sure that the digestibility percentage is at least 85%. Try to avoid additives as much as possible. Combine the protein source with a carbohydrate; one example would be lamb and rice.

A vet can give medication to help cope with the allergy and can administer a blood test to try and figure out the ingredient causing the allergy. However, such tests are not very accurate as a diagnostic tool and an exclusion diet is usually the best way to go about it.

To help relieve exterior symptoms, I suggest you consider using an all-natural product.

Tip: using distilled water or boiled tap water that has been refrigerated will help to avoid the chlorine content in the water, which is a possible factor.

PREVENTION

There is no quick fix for dog food allergies. It is up to you to find out the ingredient that is causing the allergy and eliminate it from your dog’s food. Once you have identified the food ingredient(s) to which your dog is allergic and removed them from your dog’s diet, the allergy should clear up quickly enough. Don’t forget to keep a diary to record the elimination process – this is crucial to helping your dog get rid of its food allergy.

Brandon Roe is the developer of K9 , the world’s only all-natural dog balm that helps clear up the 17 most common canine skin and coat problems… Guaranteed or your money back.

Signup today for Brandon’s weekly K9Kourier newsletter and get all the best from the canine world sent right to your inbox – . Signup today and receive a special free gift.

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dog get dandruff

This article examines dog dandruff and will suggest the 7 best ways to eliminate it, including prevention tips. So let’s get started!

SYMPTOMS

Dogs – like humans – are prone to dandruff, which is very similar in appearance as well. In most cases dandruff occurs when the skin cells die and start to flake off. Dandruff in dogs is nothing but a pile up of dead skin cells and when the dog scratches, more layers keep flaking off.

CAUSES

The most normal cause for dog dandruff is the natural process of skin cells dying and flaking off. However, if the dandruff keeps recurring frequently then you have to watch out because there is definitely a more serious underlying cause at work.

Some of these causes are:

- Allergies, parasites, infections
- Poor hygiene
- Low level of fluids in the body
- Low level of natural oils and fat in the skin
- Poor natural body nutrition
- Poor grooming and massaging of the skin
- Not bathed regularly
- The most common cause unfortunately, is improper grooming.

Dogs need to be brushed regularly to stimulate the oils in the skin.

- Poor diet can also lead to dandruff – if the dog has only dry food
- Skin irritants like harsh shampoos can lead to dandruff

SOLUTION

Here are 7 ways you can help eliminate your dog’s dandruff:

1. As soon as you see signs of flaking skin cells or dandruff, give your dog a bath. Use slightly warm water and a mild shampoo. This should do the trick if it’s a case of regular dead skin cells.

2. If the dandruff persists, try using a medicated pet shampoo with oatmeal sold specifically for this purpose.

3. Olive oil is very good for the dog’s skin and can be massaged into the skin at regular intervals.

4. There are also specific natural dog skin balms that help clear up skin problems and you should have a look at these as well (just use Google or your favorite search engine).

5. You also want to make sure your dog gets a balanced diet, not just a dry food diet.

6. Groom your dog regularly and make sure his living conditions are of a high hygienic standard.

7. Regular baths at reasonable intervals usually takes care of the problem.

Tip: Sometimes your dog is just plain lonely and keeps on scratching itself. Spend more time exercising and playing with your dog.

PREVENTION

Regular grooming is really all that is required to keep your dog’s coat healthy and shining.

While it is good to bathe the dog regularly, it is not advisable to over-bathe…

Olive oil massages and a little olive oil in the food helps a lot in maintaining a healthier skin.

Make sure your dog gets a high quality meal that contains a good balance of proteins, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.

Make sure that your dog always has plenty of fresh, clean drinking water – this will help to hydrate the skin. This is essential if you live in a hot, arid climatic zone.

Give your dog plenty of exercise.

It is recommended that you not take dandruff lightly. I suggest you monitor how quickly it reappears and, if the condition seems to be worsening in terms of fur loss, excess shedding, excess scratching and rash, consult a Vet immediately. Dandruff in dogs can sometimes lead to very severe illnesses like kidney failure so don’t take it lightly.

Brandon Roe is the developer of K9 KlearUp, the world’s only all-natural dog balm that helps clear up the 17 most common canine skin and coat problems… Guaranteed or your money back.

Signup today for Brandon’s weekly K9Kourier newsletter and get all the best from the canine world sent right to your inbox . Signup today and receive a special free gift.

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Dog Skin Problems

Have you found some red, moist, sores or lesions on your dog? What does it mean?

SYMPTOMS

These are hot spots, which can best be described as an area of skin inflammation and infection that can be superficial or very deep. The spot or lesion on the dog’s skin will be red, moist painful sores, sometimes with matted fur, that occur due to biting, licking or scratching. These hot spots only get worse as the dog continues to lick and bite the lesion. Hair loss soon follows due to all the scratching and biting.

CAUSES

There are several underlying causes for the appearance of spots on your dog that include but are not limited to mites, fleas, bacteria, allergies, harsh shampoo, severe fatty acid deficiency, external parasites, any skin wound or scrape, hot and humid temperatures and matted fur. In some rare cases the dog may start the hotspot out of boredom or stress!

SOLUTION

Once you discover the spot don’t waste any time treating it, as it can become a deep wound in a very short time due to the constant biting and scratching.

The first thing you do is put an Elizabethan collar around the dog because it is quite likely to snap at you as hot spots are very painful and also to prevent further damage to the lesion.
Next you take the two fold approach: treat the lesion and remove the underlying cause.

To treat the hot spot, trim the fur in the area around the hot spot or shave it, which leaves the hot spot exposed to the air and healing will be quicker. Clean the area with a non-irritating solution such as dilute Nolvasan solution, then rinse gently with cold water and pat completely dry. You can apply any desiccating powder that your Vet recommends.

Medication is usually Benadryl tablets but do check with your Vet. In the more severe cases oral antibiotics and pain killers may be needed.

Hot spots under a dog’s ear could be an indication of an ear infection and hot spots on the flanks could be an indication of an anal gland problem.

Tip: It is always advisable to take the dog to the Vet for a professional exam and treatment.

PREVENTION

A few tips on the preventive measures you can adopt to avoid your dog getting spots:

If your dog has a thick fur coat – make sure it is always well groomed and trimmed in summers to avoid matting of the fur. Never bathe your dog with matted fur, always comb out the tangles first. Matted fur tends to trap moisture inside it giving rise to the hot spot.

Dogs like human beings are prone to allergies – make sure your home and the surrounding areas are dust free and clean. Bathe your dog in skin soothing herbal shampoos containing Aloe Vera.

If the cause isn’t fleas, which usually are the most common cause, then maybe your dog is bored or lonely or stressed – start exercising and playing with your dog a little bit more than usual.

A word of advice, pets are like children – they need constant monitoring. Moreover your pet cannot speak for himself, so you need to be extra vigilant to ensure that Fido stays healthy and well groomed all the time.

Brandon Roe is the developer of K9 KlearUp, the world’s only all-natural dog balm that helps clear up the 17 most common canine skin and coat problems… Guaranteed or your money back.

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Good Dog Shampoo

Ever wonder how to sort through all the different types of dog shampoos? In this article I’ll talk about the 5 most important things you need to consider when buying a dog shampoo.

There are hundreds of dog shampoo products and dog product manufacturers. Because of this, many dog owners find it difficult to choose one that fits their dog’s needs the best. It is important to take note that human shampoo, no matter how expensive, elegant, or mild, is not appropriate for a dog’s hair.

Human hair and dog hair have very different genetic structure that should be treated with care. Presently, you may have your trusted dog shampoo brand, but please two minutes to read this short guide in order to make sure that the product you chose is the best shampoo for your dog.
How To Decide?

There are five factors that you must consider in choosing the best dog shampoo —the quality, the promised efficacy, the ingredients, the fragrance, and of course, the price.

Quality – When it comes to the shampoo’s quality, test how the dog responds to the product, and see for yourself if bathing your dog with this shampoo is easy or not. It’s very important that the shampoo you choose can be lathered and rinsed well.

Efficacy - By promised efficacy, it means that the product should highlight the desired results that it presented in the package. A dandruff shampoo, a shiny coat shampoo, a moisturizing shampoo, a hair growing shampoo and many other types must fulfill the promise that they leave to the consumers.
Ingredients – As much as possible, owners must choose shampoos that are hypoallergenic. This type of product contains mild ingredients that do not irritate the skin and produce serious allergic reactions. Choosing products with natural ingredients is also recommended, as biological conservation and eco-friendliness have also become pressing concerns today. Some of the most popular natural and organic ingredients used in dog shampoos today are aloe vera, peppermit, burdock, and shea butter.

It is important to take note though that many dog shampoos are not mild and natural, in as much as these dog products are aimed to cure certain skin conditions. There are shampoos for dogs suffering from itchiness caused by ant bites, fleas, ticks, and many other insects. There are also shampoos for dogs experiencing skin inflammation, wounds, and hair loss. Serious skin conditions, it must be emphasized, are a veterinarian’s business. Over the counter dog shampoo medications sold at pet supply stores are only for mild cases. (For a natural alternative to harsh shampoos for skin problems, check out the all-natural, veterinary-recommended dog skin balm K9 KlearUp).

Fragrance – The dog must feel homey, and this can be heightened by choosing the best dog shampoo whose fragrance is sweet and reminds the dog of his or her home. In picking a scent, choose something similar to the smell of home—the smell of jasmine, or orange, or strawberry, or lavender, or anything that reminds the dog that it is indeed at its home sweet home.

Price – The price of the product should also be a concern, but it is advised to check the label first before worrying about the tag price. Since the bottle will be consumed in perhaps two to three months, it is better to put in the basket something that is midrange or expensive in price but very worthy to be used than a less-expensive one that does not show satisfying results.

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