Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Understanding Dog Mange

Most households today have dogs as pets. Dogs make very wonderful pets due to their playful nature and their loyalty. Dogs are truly man's best friend. Dogs are easy to care for and this is why they make popular pets; however, dogs, just like other animals, can easily get affected by allergies and diseases. It can be very upsetting for owners to see that their dogs are suffering from health conditions. Dog mange is just one of the many illnesses which can affect your dog. This is a serious condition which can threaten your beloved canine’s life if not addressed quickly and properly.

Dog Mange Explained

Dog mange is a skin condition in dogs. It can be extremely painful to your dogs and if your dog has it, there will be severe itching. Scaling and scabbing can result from dog mange if it is not treated correctly and quickly. Aside from that, the severe scratching can also cause secondary bacterial infections which can makes your once great-looking dog a former shell of itself. The infections can alter go to the bloodstream and lead to sepsis. Sepsis is fatal and it may cause your dog to die eventually.

Symptoms of Dog Mange

Dog mange is characterized by a variety of symptoms. Some of the symptoms of dog mange are:
·         Loss of hair or fur
·         Extreme foul odor
·         Severe itching
·         Blisters and sores
·         Extremely dry, wrinkled and crusty skin

Dog mange is most often caused by parasites; especially mites that have made the dog’s body its permanent home. The mites burrow deep into the skin of the dog and the hair follicles. This causes extreme discomfort and itching. The parasites can multiple exponentially in numbers and then attack different parts of the dog’s body. They can cause  a lot of damage to body parts like the ears, face, mouth and limbs.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Best Dog Food for Sensitive Stomachs


There are some dogs which have sensitive stomachs. They can easily get food allergies and they cannot be fed just any type of food. Dogs like this will need a special diet. Fortunately today, there is a wide variety of foods which cater to dogs with sensitive stomachs. They can relive your dogs and make its condition a lot better than ever before.

Take your dog to the veterinarian

Before you buy a particular dog food for sensitive stomach, it is a must to take your dog to the veterinarian first and ask the veterinarian for an exam. There might be a medical condition behind your dog’s sensitive stomach and digestive problems and it is a must to get to the bottom of things so that the veterinarian can recommend a treatment that will surely work. It is possible that your dog has colitis or pancreatitis. To be sure, the veterinarian will do a blood test.

Feed your dogs easily digestible food

Feed your dogs food which can be easily digested like oatmeal, rice and chicken. There are also commercial dog foods made especially for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Your veterinarian may also suggest prescription dog food to alleviate your dog’s condition. Do not buy cheap dog food. You get what you pay for. Choose only high quality dog food. When feeding your dog treats, stick to easily digestible treats or treats which are especially made for canines with sensitive stomachs.  A good example is charcoal dog biscuits.

Aside from commercial dog foods, you can also supplement your dog’s diet with rice and boiled chicken, cottage cheese, oatmeal and yogurt. You can also research about nutritionally-balanced homemade diets. However, if you do not have the time to cook for your dog, it is best to feed it commercially available dog food for sensitive stomach. 

Use an elevated feeding bowl

When feeding your dog, it would help if you use an elevated feeding bowl. This can help aid digestion, especially in larger dogs. Why, because they will not have to bend over anymore. There are various styles of feeding bowls for dogs today so get a good one from your local pet supply store.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Pet Dander Allergy


Owners want the very best for their dogs and want their beloved canines to be healthy always. Unfortunately, no dog is exempt from dander allergies and no dog is exempt from allergies, for that matter. Even hairless dogs get dander too. However, there are some breeds which have less dander than others. Fortunately, even if your dog has dander there are still things you can do to reduce it.

Dander Explained

Most household pets produce dander, like cats, dogs and other furry animals. Even birds produce dander. Dander is dead skin cells. They trigger further allergic reaction when pets shake and scratch and the dander collects on the fur and feathers of your pet. Dander has an allergy-causing protein which can also be found on your pet’s saliva and urine.


What Does Dander Do?

Dander can have a lot of allergic effects on your pet and people. It can easily irritate your sinuses and it can lead to sneezing, post-natal drip and even congestion. At the onset of allergy attacks, a person’s eyes might water and it can lead to headache, cough, sinus pain and sore throat. People who have asthma will experience more intensified allergic reactions. Apart from what was mentioned above, they may also end up with chest pains and problems in breathing. 

What to Do With Dander?

Changes have to be implemented in the household to limit the amount of dander and the damage of dander. During pet grooming sessions, experts advise the use of a mask. You can also use shampoos which are especially made to reduce the amount of dander. Do not allow your pets to sit or lie on the family furniture. They should be taught not to do this. This will reduce the amount of dander in your furniture.

Dander is also an airborne allergen and so people are advised to use air purifiers. Air purifiers can not only improve the quality of air, it can also reduce the symptoms of pet allergy dander. Clean your carpet regularly and vacuum your home regularly. Don’t just use any vacuum. Use one which has an efficient HEPA filter. Do not also forget to use a micro-lined allergen filtration vacuum bag.

For owners or family members suffering from dander allergies, consult your physician right away. There are over the counter medicines which work but prescription drugs can be very pricey.  

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

How to Choose Hypoallergenic Dog Food


Is your dog suffering from food allergies? Is it constantly scratching? Although dog food accounts for the least amount of dog allergies, they should not be ignored. Dogs should be immediately treated to avoid further problems. Ask yourself first when the allergies started. It is possible that it is because you gave your dog a new type of food. This can make it easy for you to eliminate the food which is causing the allergies. If you really cannot pinpoint the food that is causing the allergies, it would be best to change your dog’s food to a hypoallergenic dog food


Hypoallergenic dog food is widely available today and they are not hard to look for. All pet shops have them. The choices dog owners have are vast. There are several brands of hypoallergenic dog food in the market today. The formulation of hypoallergenic dog food is very different from regular dog food. However, you will still need to compare the ingredients carefully. How do you do this? Cut out the particular ingredients which are also seen on the dog food which you have been giving your dog or puppy.

You can also jot down the symptoms which your dog has been exhibiting. Quite a few hypoallergenic dog foods today will not only list the ingredients, they will also list what these ingredients do. For example, a particular ingredient can help reduce excessive itching and scratching.  

You may also want to consult your veterinarian before you buy dog food if you do not want to do your own sleuthing. The veterinarian will be giving you a recommendation as to what hypoallergenic dog food is the best for you after a thorough checkup of your beloved canine.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Hypoallergenic Dog Food Brands


When dogs get allergies, most owners thing right away that it is because of the food they are eating. However, the fact is food amounts for the least amount of allergies in dogs. This does not mean though, that owners can just neglect food allergies. When your dog starts exhibiting symptoms of food allergies, common sense would tell you that you need to eliminate something from your dog’s diet to find out what the source of the allergy is. Switching to a high-quality hypoallergenic dog food is also another solution.


Regular packaged dog food has a lot of ingredients and it is more than possible that your dog is allergic to one or more ingredients of these commercial dog foods. As we all know, commercial dog foods come with flavorings, preservatives, chemicals and many other substances. Dog food ingredients are also not easy to understand. When you look at dog food on the supermarket, they may look as if they contain the healthiest ingredients at first glance. But you will be very much surprised if you see the effects it has on your dog. 

Some of the dog breeds which are very susceptible to food allergies are the following:
  • Golden Retriever
  • Labrador Retriever
  • Dalmatian
  • Bulldog Breeds
  • Dachshund
  • Rottweiler
  • German Shepherd
  • Schnauzer
  • Irish Setter
  • Shar Pei
  • Lhasa Apso
  • Cocker Spaniel

In response to the call of dog owners for dog food with better quality, a lot of manufacturers have come up with hypoallergenic dog food. Listed here, in random order, are some of the best dog foods in the market. You can easily buy them from your local supermarkets or order them online. 
 

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Grass Allergies in Dogs


There are many signs of dog allergies and some of the most common are hair loss, excessive scratching, sneezing, and wheezing. Dogs are very much like humans, they get allergic to a lot of things. As a matter of fact, they can even get allergic to their owners!

One of the most common dog allergies is grass allergy So, if you see your dogs exhibiting the symptoms of allergies while running through the yard and playing catch with you, it is very important that you get your dog to the veterinarian so that it can be remedied right away. How do you prevent your dog from getting dog allergies? There are many ways.

Trim the grass in your yard

Keep it short and limit your dog’s exposure to it. It would also be better if you can create a place for your dog with sand and gravel only. This will reduce interaction with grass and allow your dog to play and exercise without much concern for you.


Clean your dog

After play and activity outside the house, it is also beneficial to wipe your dog’s body with a damp cloth. This will help make sure that your dog is clean and remove the residues of pollen and grass which might cling to the fur. If you do this regularly, irritation will be kept to a minimum. Aside from making sure that your dog is clean after playtime, you should also vacuum your home to remove residues of pollen and grass and wash your dog's bedding regularly.

Monitor playtime

Monitor your dog when it plays in the yard. Train your dog so that it will stop rolling on the grass if you say so.