Ee Sing's Traventures: Three (3) Days in Slovenia

Ee Sing's Traventures: Three (3) Days in Slovenia: Decided to take a break in Slovenia before starting my Term 2. It was quite an impromptu trip as I only bought my ticket 5 days before flyin...

5 Must-Have Accessories Under $50 for Your Beloved Dogs

Your already cute pooch can become even cuter with the hottest accessories. If your pooch’s birthday is fast approaching or you just want to buy something extra special to celebrate your journey together, here are 15 must-have accessories under $20 for your beloved dogs. These gifts are not only gorgeous and cute, they are also very useful too.

Fresh Patch

Made of real grass, Fresh Patch attracts dogs and is a stylish and eco-friendly alternative to synthetic potties littering the market right now.  Easy to handle and fully disposable, it naturally absorbs urine and odors. The best thing about it is that it is fully disposable!

Self-Warming Pet Bed

What can be a better bed in cold months than a bed which self-warms? The K&H lounge sleeper is made of self-warming materials which radiate heat back to your pet and it does not require electricity. The full is made of recycled plastic bottles and it has a non-slip stable bottom. 

ID Tags

It is essential to have an ID tag for your pet so just in case they get lost, people will know where to return them. Made of premium quality anodized aluminum pet tags, the custom laser engraving is already included in the purchase.  You can choose from seven shapes (cat face, bone, round, heart, hydrant, paw or star) and also choose from eight colors (black, blue, red, gold, silver, pink, green, purple).

Dental Chews

The number one vet-recommended dental chew among veterinarians, you can never go wrong with Greenies Dental Chews. It is clinically proven to fight plaque and freshen your dog’s breath and helps maintain healthy teeth and gums. The natural chewing action will help wipe away plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth’s surface.

Dog Beer

Want to give your dog a treat for being a good canine? Get the 3 Busy Dogs Bowser Beer. A non-alcoholic and non-carbonated beer for dogs, it is made of healthy ingredients all from scratch. Among its many ingredients are malt barley which helps give dogs a shiny coat and glucosamine which is good for your dog’s joints.

Dog Constipation Remedies

Dog constipation can be caused by a myriad of things. It can be due to diet, illness, psychological factors or the ingestion of foreign objects. Most dog constipation cases are not serious and can be easily treated at home. Owners must learn to recognize the symptoms of dog constipation so they can give their pets the correct treatment and get them back on track to good health.

Your dog may be healthy and you may regularly bring your canine to the vet but this does not mean that it will not get constipated. Constipation can happen to the healthiest of dogs. Even if your dog looks health, if it has problems with its bowel movement, there is a big chance that it is suffering from mild constipation. A constipated dog will try to move his vowels, over and over with no success. He may also have bloating and abdominal pain and the stool passed is likely to be dry and small. The dog may seem depressed, lethargic and may even have personality changes.

Treatment 

Diet

One of the most common causes of constipation is diet. Your dogs must have adequate liquid and fiber because without these two things they can easily become constipated. Water should be fresh and clean at all times and owners must always opt for fresh, quality dog food. You do not have to purchase the most expensive brand but you also should not purchase the cheapest in the market! Remember, you get what you pay for.

Mineral Oil

Some dogs may still continue to exhibit constipation symptoms even after changing diets. For these pups, mineral oil might be the answer. Use one teaspoon of mineral oil per ten pounds of the dog’s body weight. It is best to mix the mineral oil with the food.

Caution: Do not administer mineral oil directly into the dog’s mouth! Dogs might develop aspiration pneumonia from inhaling the oil.

If your dog is exhibiting any of the symptoms below, go to your very right away.

·         Extreme abdominal pain

·         Fever

·         Diarrhea

·         Weakness

·         Vomiting

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.

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.

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.  

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.