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.

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. 

 

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. 

Plastic Allergies in Dogs

It is the owner’s responsibility to protect their dog. The owner is the dog’s first line of defense. This is why it is crucial for dog owners to educate themselves about the many things which contain irritants and allergens and make sure that their dogs get the best care possible. Dogs can easily develop contact allergies or reaction to things.

Dogs are exposed to allergens on a daily basis, this is only normal. Allergens are harmful to dogs and to people too. Sometimes, your dog’s immune system will react to the presence of allergen in a way as if it is a threat to your dog’s life. This is when allergic reaction starts. There is a long list of allergens today and some of them are pollen, food, plants, and plastic. Sometimes even owners cause dog allergies.

Causes of Plastic Allergies

Most dogs get plastic allergies when they come into contact with the substance when they eat or drink. They can also get plastic allergies when they play with plastic toys. Most of the time, it is the materials used for your dog which cause plastic allergies like plastic food dishes and water dishes. Even if your dog has already used plastic dishes before and it has not developed any allergies, it can still develop allergies later on. As a matter of fact, plastic allergies can happen to your dog any time in its life.

Symptoms of Plastic Allergies

If your dog is allergic to plastic, you will see symptoms. Your dog can develop contact dermatitis which is mostly seen on the chin, mouth and nose. Contact dermatitis is characterized by inflamed skin and it sometimes comes with bumps. Sometimes your dog’s skin may also become swollen and your dog cannot resist but scratch and scratch. In worse cases, dogs begin to lose their fur. 

Treatment for Plastic Allergies

It is common for other dogs in the household to also develop plastic allergies if one of your dogs already has them. The best way of treating plastic allergies is to remove plastics from your house or reduce exposure to it. Instead of using plastic dishes, you can opt for ceramic dishes or glass. Get rid of toys which are made of plastic. You will see improvements after you get rid of plastics in your household.

How to Get Rid of Fleas Permanently

Fleas are not only itchy on the part of your dog; they can also be potentially dangerous to humans. Fleas, aside from infecting dogs, can also transmit diseases like tapeworm. It is a must for owners to get rid of fleas not only for their pets but also for the sake of the family. Fleas thrive in places which are warm and humid. Fleas are not year-round problems in some areas. Regardless if you get fleas all through the year or just sometimes, you must be vigilant about them and get rid of them as promptly as you can.

Prevention is better than cure

This has been mentioned more than a thousand times. You must get rid of fleas before they even enter your home. Fleas are most active during summer and fall when it is dry and humid so check your pet during these times and look for signs of fleas.

Prevent fleas from thriving in your home by vacuuming your home frequently and thoroughly

Do not forget to include crevices, cracks, basements and corners. Adult fleas can easily escape from vacuum bags so make it appoint to dispose of them properly. Do not let your dogs socialize with other dogs which you think might have fleas. Your pet can easily get fleas from other dogs. Dog parks can be places which are very rich in fleas so be careful when bringing your pet to these areas and if you are really concerned, it is better not to bring your dog to dog parks.

Fine-toothed comb can be used to remove the fleas on your pet

You can get these combs from pet shops at affordable prices. Make sure that you clean your pet’s bedding regularly. Wash the bedding with hot and soapy water every week. Fleas and larvae are most often found on the beddings of pets. Give your dogs a bath every week. Use shampoos which are especially made for fleas.

Talk to your veterinarian

If you see that your dogs are exhibiting scratching, biting and raw patches on your pet’s body, consult the veterinarian right away. Talk to your veterinarian about the steps you can take to get rid of fleas permanently. 

Flea Allergies and Dermatitis

Fleas might be very small but they often cause big problems in dogs. Their saliva alone contains 15 different substances which can cause allergic reactions. The antigens found in flea saliva can cause dogs to become allergic to flea bites. As a matter of fact, more than 40% of dogs today have allergic reactions to flea bites. Dogs can develop flea allergy dermatitis or hypersensitivity. It is important to consult the veterinarian for problems like this, but there are also steps which you can take to treat this problem. 

Life Cycle of Fleas

Fleas are small parasitic insects which can jump 150 times more than their body length. They live on warm-bloodied animals and they drink the blood off their host which is most often dogs and cats. Fleas like to live in warm places which also have high humidity. According to the Dog Owners’ Guide, they have a life expectancy of 50 days. A female flea can lay as many as 2,000 eggs in that short of a time. When the female flea lays eggs, it falls wherever the animal lies or sits. The eggs hatch and become larvae and the larvae spins a cocoon or pupa. It then becomes a six-legged insect and it begins the life cycle again. 

Symptoms of Flea Allergies

If your dog becomes allergic to flea bites, it will cause the dog’s skin to become itchy and irritated. The dog will continue to scratch areas where it has allergies. Some symptoms of flea allergies are red bumps, a thick layer of skin which is usually located on the tail or the back. Dogs with fleas also have black specks of dirt on their bodies and when it is wet, it becomes red. These are flea feces.

Solution to Flea Allergies and Flea Bites 

There are various shampoos today which are especially made to treat flea problems. Flea shampoos can kill adult fleas and some even provide future protection from fleas. There are also topical medications like drops which are safe to use on dogs. It is important that the dog’s environment be also cleaned to prevent fleas. Clean the dog’s bedding and spray insecticides regularly to remove fleas, as well as their eggs. 

Commercial Products for Dogs' Dry, Itchy and Flaky Skin

Tried a lot of home remedies for your dog's skin problems but you do not see any result at all? Do not worry too much. There are lots of products available commercially which you can use to relieve your dog from constant scratching. However, you should remember to consult your veterinarian before using any product on your dog so you can make sure that it will not have any side effects. Here are some of the most popular commercial products for dogs with dry, itchy and flaky skin.

  

Home Remedies for your Dog’s Itchy Skin

Itchy, flaky and dry skin is a common problem with dogs. They can be caused by a variety of things including fleas, food allergies and infection. Pet owners often do not have any idea about what to do with dry, flaky and itchy skin. Owners certainly do not want to pay expensive veterinarian fees and buy expensive pet products. Well, the good news is, they do not have to. There are lots of home remedies which can help you soothe your dog’s skin problems. 

Ear Mites

These are one of the most common things which cause your dog to scratch incessantly. You will often see your dog scratching the area around their ears. Get a cotton ball and soak it in mineral oil. Rub the cotton ball gently around your dog’s ear and swab your dog’s ear canal gently. However, you must remember that this is only a temporary solution. You will still need to consult your veterinarian for a permanent fix.  

Flaky and Itchy Skin

When it comes to itchy and flaky skin, there are lots of home remedies which you can use. You do not have to spend a lot of money because most of these things can be found right in your kitchen and those which are not can be purchased at low prices. One of the many things which you can use is Calendula extract. This is a topical liquid which can be applied on infected spots. Remember to use a few drops only on each spot.

Vitamin E is also very helpful. You can get this in capsule gels. Just break open the capsule and apply Vitamin E directly on the skin. You can also mix the pill or capsule with your dog’s food for it to be taken orally.

Fish oil will also hydrate your dog’s skin. It will encourage your dog’s skin to produce essential oils which is a must for great skin. Fish oil can be bought in capsule form or in liquid form. Just apply fish oil on the infected area.

Have oatmeal in your kitchen? Use it to relieve your dog. All you need to do is mix oatmeal with water and rub it on your dog’s skin. Leave it for 10 minutes then rinse with lukewarm water. 

Tea tree oil is not only good for humans; it is also good for dogs. All you need to do is spray it on your dog’s skin to prevent itching. Tea tree oil should be applied daily to get the best results.

What are the Causes of Dry, Itchy and Flaky Skin in Dogs

It is very nice to look at the shiny coats of dogs. Sadly, not all dogs have nice coats and nice skin. Some dogs have skin problems which are often caused by parasites and allergies. Itchy, dry and flaky skin is very common in dogs. If this condition is not treated right away, your dog could end up losing hair and getting infected. Diagnosing problems like this can be a bit of a challenge but there are some easy measures which dog owners can do themselves to improve their dog’s condition. 

Causes of Dry, Flaky Skin in Dogs

Listed here are the common causes of dry, flaky skin. Some are easy to treat while others may require the attention of a veterinarian.

·         Fungal Infections. Yeats infection is an example of fungal infection. Ringworm is yet another culprit which can seriously affect the skin of your beloved dogs. Ringworms are small organisms which cannot be seen by the naked eye. This can easily spread on the dog’s entire body and if owners are not careful, this can also spread to them.  If your dog has fungal infections you will see redness, flaking, scaling and oozing. 

·         Allergies. The most common allergies which cause dry, flaky skin are food allergies and contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis is a skin irritation which can easily happen overnight. Harsh chemicals found in dog shampoos, household chemicals and laundry detergents can cause contact dermatitis on your dog’s skin. Food allergies are also very common. This happens when your dog has intolerance from a certain food. A food elimination diet might be necessary in order for you to tell what is causing the allergic reactions on your dog. 

·         Parasites. Fleas are the most common parasites which can cause skin problems. Parasites live in the hair follicle and they are not visible to the naked eye. If this is the cause of dry, itchy and flaky skin, it is best to go to the veterinarian. He or she might need to perform a skin scraping procedure.  Other common parasites on dogs are scabies, ear mites and cheyletiella mites.