Dogs are prone to ear infections because of the anatomy of their ears. They have a horizontal and a vertical component to them, so it is hard for anything in to drain out. Signs of an ear infection include excessive head shaking, yellow to brown oozing in the ears, or a yeast-like smell. Additional signs of ear infections include redness and swelling.
There are several causes of ear infections. The most common cause of ear infections are due to allergies. Some dogs are more prone to allergies than others; therefore they get more ear infections. If your dog does have an ear infection it is important to properly clean your dog’s ears before applying any medication. To clean your dog’s ears, start by placing a few drops of an ear cleanser into the ear and massage the ear to help loosen any debris that is in there. Then use a cloth or cotton gauze to wipe the dirt out.
After your dog’s ears are thoroughly clean, you can then apply your medication. Follow your veterinarian’s advice about how much medication to apply to the ear, usually a few drops. The treatment your veterinarian will prescribe will vary depending on the cause of the ear infection. For yeast infections, they might prescribe anti-fungal medication. For bacterial infections they will probably prescribe antibiotics. Normally, treatment is applied directly into the ears, but in severe cases systemic treatment may be needed. This usually means having to give your dog pills orally. Some breeds of dogs that are prone to ear infections include breeds with large ears that flap over the ear canal, and breeds of dogs that have a very small canal. These dogs need their ears checked often. By knowing what to look for, you can detect ear infections early.
Author: Donald Whitehead: Spay or neuter your dog or cat to help control the pet population. More Pet Information, articles, and product links.
Dog Ear Infection Kit has a comprehensive protocol of natural products for your dog ear infections health condition.
Possibly the single biggest cause of cats not using the litter box is a medical condition called Feline Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Your cat often may not display outward symptoms of discomfort and pain early on. It’s only after your kitty feels significant pain, time and time again, that she stops using her litter box because she associates her urinary pain with the cat litter box.
However, there are a few signs you should be on the lookout for. While none of us really want to watch our kitty use the litter box, it’s a good idea to observe her a couple times a week. This way, you can separate normal litter box behavior and habits from those that indicate something is not quite right.
First, we are looking to see if our cat cries or howls in obvious pain while she’s urinating. If this is the case, run, don’t walk to the phone, and call your vet immediately!
Next, even if kitty does her business in silence, look at the urine ball (or puddle) before she buries it. If you see any tinge of red or pink - get your cat to the vet as fast as you can, because she definitely has a UTI in full bloom.
After she uses the box and covers her business, if she licks her genitals
excessively, and meows, you can be pretty sure she has a feline UTI. Particularly if you see this behavior coupled with “accidents” around the house, you can be pretty certain you are dealing with a UTI.
A few minutes now can save both you and your cat discomfort later. By knowing what is normal for her, you will be able to catch any problems early and get the UTI cleared up before it becomes too uncomfortable.
Author: Donald Whitehead
Help Control The Pet Population-Have Your Pet Spayed or Neutered.
Dogs have a tendency of trying to eat just about everything they come across. In most cases, there are deadly household poisons every where in the home, and some are taken for granted by us and are just laying around. Most of These dangers could cause some slight discomfort if eaten by your dog. There are poisons, however, that can be dangerous enough to cause death to your dog too if he eats them. The Following is a brief list of deadly household poisons that you should look out for to help keep your dog safe: 1) Antifreeze: Many people do not realize it and are unaware of it being a deadly household poison, but antifreeze kills many pets each year. It smells and tastes very sweet to your dog and is very appealing to him and is a common dog poison.
2) Chocolate: Chocolate contains a substance called the obromine which is toxic to dogs. Baking chocolate and dark chocolate is especially dangerous.
Bleach: As you might imagine, household bleach is toxic to dogs. Keep all products containing bleach out of your dog’s reach.
4) Tylenol: Is yet another deadly household poison and As little as two regular strength Tylenol tablets can kill a small dog.
5) Watch Batteries: If your dog ingests a watch battery, it can cause a potentially fatal ulceration in the stomach within 12 hours. All other alkaline batteries are toxic to dogs as well.
6) Moth Balls: Moth balls are very dangerous to dogs. They contain an insecticide that causes central nervous system excitement and seizures..
7) Fabric Softeners and other detergents: All sorts of household detergents are toxic to dogs at one level or another, but fabric softeners fall into the highly toxic category.
Mouthwash: Mouthwash can contain boric acid which is highly toxic to dogs. Symptoms of poisoning by mouthwash include vomiting, drooling, seizures, and coma.
9) Peach Pits: With most fruits, the pits and the seeds are toxic to dogs. Signs of poisoning include drooling, vomiting, and lethargy.
10) Household Plants: Many common and popular household plants are highly toxic to dogs. A partial list of toxic plants includes poinsettias, lilies, ferns, devil’s ivy, aloe, and ivy.
If you think your dog may have eaten any of these substances, or anything else that could poison him, call a vet immediately. It could save his life. And last but not least, keep all of the above household items away from your dog because they are considered deadly household poisons to him.
Author: Donald Whitehead
Please Help Control the pet population, have your pets spayed or Neutered. More Pet info
Fleas!
Whether you have a dog or a cat, chances are you will find yourself in need of ridding them of fleas at least once. Below are a few suggestions to help you with the task.
Symptoms
Keep an Eye on Your Pet
Watch your pet for commons signs and symptoms of a flea infestation such as excessive biting and scratching, particularly around the tail and lower back areas. Check for raw patches of skin where your dog or cat may have been scratching at fleas for some time. Another bit of evidence is “flea debris,” specks of dried blood that are black in color.
Flea Collars and Powders
If you have caught the problem relatively early, it may be possible to eliminate fleas by simply using flea collars and powders. There are several brands and types to choose from, and many contain a special comb with fine teeth that is designed to remove fleas from fur.
Flea Baths
It’s helpful to bathe your pet frequently using a specially formulated soap or treatment. It’s necessary to take into consideration the type of fur or coat your pet has when bathing. This is particularly true for dogs as some breeds have essential oils that shouldn’t be washed away with soap and water more than once or twice a year. If bathing in a flea bath isn’t an option for your pet, consult your vet for other alternatives.
Monthly Medication
There are pills available for your pet to take on a monthly basis that will prevent fleas from reproducing, but they do not kill the ones that have already reached adulthood. There are also multi-purpose medications and products available that are designed to prevent fleas from reproducing as well as controlling heartworm, hookworms, whipworms and roundworms.
Use Special Care When Using Flea Products
Fleas will always exist, but with careful planning and proper treatment, they need not become a problem for you or your pet. There are precautionary steps that you can take on a more permanent basis to help in keeping Fleas under control such as, Flea collars, powders, drops, etc. Please be advised that caution should be taken when using flea products on your pet when your pet is consistently around small children. Excessive use of powders and sprays and soaps etc., on your pet when around children who interact with the pet could be harmful to the child. Always use good judgment.
Author: Donald Whitehead
Please help control the pet population, have your pets spade or neutered.
Many dogs suffering with dog separation anxiety are put to sleep by owners who can no longer figure out what to do with a dog that barks or howls constantly when they are gone, destroys things in their absence and basically makes a nuisance of himself. These people do not understand that the dog is not being disobedient—he is most likely suffering from dog separation anxiety.
Dogs are pack animals. As his family, you are his pack. When you leave him alone, he feels lost and scared. Often loud noises will frighten him. His howling and destructiveness are the only way he has of showing his displeasure. You can help him get through this with patience and a firm understanding of the disorder in which he is suffering from, dog separation anxiety.If your dog spends every second that you’re home glued to your side, including sleeping times, and any destruction you find happens within the first 20 minutes of your absence, chances are great that your dog is suffering from dog separation anxiety.
Try to find a room where he feels comfortable—one that isn’t close to a street or other traffic. If possible, buying a crate made specifically for the size of your dog will help him feel more comfortable. Placing a loved toy and an item of clothing that smells like you inside with him will increase that comfort. Just the sense of having you near, a piece of clothing that smells like you, will lessen the chance of your dog of having a dog separation anxiety attack during your actual absence.
Start by leaving him only a few minutes at a time. He needs to be confident that you will return. You can gradually extend the amount of time as he becomes more comfortable. Praise him greatly for every time he waits quietly. If all else fails, talk with your vet and see if he can prescribe some type of anti-anxiety medication to give your dog when you need to be away.
Your dog can’t help his dog separation anxiety attacks. You are his safety and he feels insecure without you. Give him time and patience and he will eventually learn to tolerate your absence. There is no reason to have a healthy animal put down because he loves you so much he misses you when you are gone. Work with him. You and he will both benefit from conquering these bouts of dog separation anxiety episodes.
Anxiety is the #2 most common reason why most dogs are either euthanized or even given up by their owners, why? Because most of the owners mistake the disorder for disobedience instead of the disorder that it actually is. Dogs reactions can vary, from relieving themselves in the home,becoming destructive, continuous barking,as well as having personality changes such as aggressiveness or even perhaps shyness (becoming with drawn), all a result of being separated from it’s pack member, (you) it’s owner. A lack of exercise can cause some of, if not, all of the same symptoms above also.
Author: Donald Whitehead
Help to control the pet population, have your dog or cat spade or neutered.
Liver disease is more common in cats than is commonly realized. It is important to recognize for leaving the disorder untreated will result in the liver shutting down and the cat dying. Literally, your cat will starve to death. One of the earliest symptoms is jaundice, which shows as a yellow coloring of the cat’s eye whites.
It is hard to identify a cat is suffering from liver disease because the signs and symptoms vary. Some might show decrease in appetite, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, depression and jaundice. Other cats pass off pasty looking stool and display inappropriate urination and defecation behavior. This happen because fatty liver disease causes the liver to be is weighed down by rapid fat accumulation and simply shut down.
Immediate medication treatment is necessary for the recovery of liver disease. The treatment would depend on the cause and may include antibiotics, coagulation treatment for bleeding, intravenous fluid therapy, appetite stimulants, anti-emetics and diet management.
When preparing a diet plan for a cat with liver disease, note that he needs a high-quality protein diet in moderate amount, with most of the cat’s caloric intake coming from non-protein sources. If you are preparing your own food, it is recommended that the diet be based around eggs, cottage cheese, rice and liver. Your cat may also need multi-vitamin supplement.
Small, easily digestible and frequent meals are generally recommended. Many experts also recommend organic foods because they are not exposed to chemicals, artificial colors or preservatives and can help lessen the chances of your cat contracting liver disease.
It may seem like a lot of work, but preparing the special diet necessary is well worth the effort. If you have more than one cat, it will be necessary to keep feeding stations separate so you can watch the cat who is ill. You will need to keep a close eye on his eating habits.
Author: Donald Whitehead
Help Control The Pet Population, Have Your Pet Spade or Neutered.
Be Unpredictable!
Making quick and abrupt turns, While Walking your dog, in the opposite direction anytime your dog starts to get ahead of you will teach him to pay attention to where you’re going. Praise him lavishly when he returns to your side and even reward with a small treat if your dog is food motivated. The idea is to stop the pulling before it even starts by catching him off guard. The main thing when walking the dog is to be Be calm, no need to scold him, he’ll figure it out. You may have to turn around forty times in the first session and barely make it half way down the driveway, but don’t worry, walking your dog will get better the more you practice. Many dogs catch on quickly to this game and start to watch their owner closely to see what they’ll do next. A dog that’s paying attention to you isn’t pulling on the leash.
Set The Rules
And stick to them! Decide once and for all that you will not allow him to pull and then react anytime he tries to move ahead of you. This means you’ll have to be watching him closely during the first couple sessions. Allowing him to pull sometimes but not all the time will only confuse your dog. Look at your next couple of dog walks as training experiences, not exercise. Once your dog gets the hang of it then you can start to plan on moving past the driveway.
Practice, Distract, and Practice Some More
Teaching good leash dog walking skills is an ongoing process. You may always need to ‘be unpredictable’ every once in a while even after your dog understands what you expect. Keep him on his toes and keep practicing. Don’t be stingy with the praise, let him know when he’s doing the right thing and you’ll start to see more of that behavior. Dog walking should be fun, and not a dreaded event.
Author: Donald Whitehead
Help control the pet population and have your pet spade or Neutered. Quality Assorted Pet Products
Be aware of exactly how cold it is, including the wind chill factor. A doghouse is good to have but may not protect them from frostbite on their extremities. Be sure to bring your pet in out of the cold. Put down a warm blanket for them to sleep on, since tiles can be cold. You can also purchase beds made for dogs at your local pet store Another misconception is that snow is a substitute for fresh water. Make sure that your pet always has fresh water available to drink, regardless of the weather conditions.
Fur can provide a measure of warmth for your pet, but fur that is long can also pick up clumps of snow and ice, making it uncomfortable for them. Trim the areas around the paws to keep this from happening. Dogs with short hair don’t get the same level of warmth as dogs with long hair. Buy them doggie sweaters or knit one yourself. They will keep your dog warm and make them look even more adorable.
Many areas salt icy streets to provide traction. This salt or deicer can be painful to dogs, if they get into cracks in their paws. By rubbing a thin film of petroleum jelly on the bottom of their paws, it will lessen the amount of salt that sticks to them. When you get back home, be sure to clean their feet so that they will always be able to walk comfortably. Damp fur can be uncomfortable for your pet. When coming back from a walk in rainy or snowy conditions, be sure to dry them off, preferably with a blow dryer. The cold of winter can be just as dangerous to your dog as the summer heat. Use common sense and keep him safe and warm.
Anyone with a dog has heard the term distemper, but do you know what it is? The following article will give you a brief overview.
Canine distemper is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus attacking the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of dogs. Although dogs are the most commonly affected, Canine Distemper is also seen in foxes, ferrets, mink and many other carnivores. These infected animals are often the cause of the spread of this disease to domesticated dogs.
Canine Distemper is spread through bodily secretions (nasal fluid for example. The most common way it is caught is by breathing in particles secreted by infected dogs. For several weeks after recovery, a dog will still carry the virus that can lead to further contamination if not properly quarantined.
Upon contracting the virus, dogs often appear “normal” for several days. The initial symptoms of the disease are runny nose, water eyes and a sore throat. The dog’s temperature will increase to approximately 103.5°F (39.7°C). Over the next couple of days the symptoms worsen with the tonsils becoming enlarged, and the dog develops diarrhea. After approximately four weeks the virus begins to affect the brain. The dog will start twitching, which will gradually turn in to larger convulsions. The convulsions normally become so frequent and violent, that euthanasia is often carried out at this stage.
At this time, there is no cure for the actual virus that causes Canine Distemper. Treatment consists of controlling spread and severity of secondary symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Constant care is needed to make your dog as comfortable as possible.
The best thing to do is to have your dog immunized against this disorder. This will make it unnecessary to put yourself and your dog through the hardship and heartache associated with Canine distemper.
Author: Donald Whitehead
Be Kind To Animals, Also help control the pet population, have your pets spade & Neutered.
When you first got your cat, my bet is that you Didn’t expect a nervous cat, you actually probably envisioned a cuddly little ball of fur that was ready and willing to accept affection whenever you chose to give it. There are some cats who are, however, very nervous and shy by nature. These ones will hide and act scared of you if you simply look at them. Below are a couple suggestions to help.
It is usual for a cat to be cautious and timid for the first week or so in its new home. The more contact a cat has had with humans, the less nervous it will be. Give your cat a little space and don’t force the issue. It is very likely he will approach you once he becomes sure of his new surroundings.
One way to gradually get a nervous cat used to petting is to gently wrap your pet in a thick towel, to prevent it from scratching you, and gently stroke its head. Talk to your cat softly as you do so. Set aside a time each day to perform this bonding ritual and your shy cat may grow to trust you enough to stroke it without the towel, remember patience pays.
Bribery can often work wonders with nervous cats. Try a offering a tempting healthy treat, if your cat is hungry enough to overcome its fear and stay still to eat its treat, stroke it gently, don’t make sudden movements! You may have to persevere, but often your pet will eventually accept and enjoy your petting.
Never lose patience, and remember that your nervous cat is not rejecting you, it is just an in built protective reaction to something that has given kitty cause to be wary of humans. Love and perseverance will often win the day, and you will be rewarded by your cat’s affection.
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Mouthwash: Mouthwash can contain boric acid which is highly toxic to dogs. Symptoms of poisoning by mouthwash include vomiting, drooling, seizures, and coma.
Help Calm Anxiety Tendencies In Your Pet
