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Defend your dog against cancer

Filed under: Dog Health — Chantee Hale on March 4th, 2010

While there is no cure for cancer or guarantee that you can save your pet from this disease, there are steps you can take to reduce your pet’s risk of developing cancer. Risk reduction, or prevention, is the only way you can ensure that you’re doing your best to defend your dog’s health.

The key step in reducing your pet’s risk of cancer is to support a healthy immune system. Experts believe that a healthy immune system is essential to holistic risk reduction. Diet is an important factor in helping your dog maintain a healthy immune system. By providing your pet a diet that is full of healthy real food fats and proteins instead of substitutes like chicken meal or fillers like wheat and corn, you will provide your dog with the vitamins and minerals necessary for healthy growth. Antioxidants and vitamins that are designed just for dogs can also help boost immune systems and reduce risk of cancer. Proper exercise and a happy home life can also help reduce your dog’s risk.

Environment can also take a toll on your dog. If your dog is exposed to toxic chemicals like pesticides, fluorinated water, exhaust fumes, or second hand smoke he or she is more likely to develop canine cancer. As recent studies have shown that over vaccination can increase cancer risk, getting your pet Titers instead of vaccination boosters, or limiting the amount of vaccinations your pet has, can also help decrease risk of cancer.

While there is still no one proven prevention method or cure for cancer you can guard your dog’s health, and ensure that he or she lives a long and happy life.

Household Plants That Are Poisonous to Your Dog

Filed under: Dog Health — Chantee Hale on February 10th, 2010

Unknown to you, your home may be a virtual death trap for your dog. Many favorite houseplants can be toxic or even deadly to your pet. These plants can cause a wide range of health problems to your dog, from mouth swelling and vomiting to asphyxiation and seizures, as well as death.

Here is a small list of some of the more common houseplants that should be kept well out of your dog’s reach:
· Aloe Vera
· Bird of Paradise
· Daffodil
· Elephant Ear
· Ficus
· Jack-In-The-Pulpit
· Jade
· Lilly
· Mums
· Norfolk Pines
· Poinsettias
· Tulips

If your household harbors plants that are a potential source of toxins for your dog make sure to keep them out of your dog’s reach. If your dog eats a toxic or poisonous plant be sure to call your dog’s veterinarian and the poison control center immediately.

How Dog Food Effects Your Dog’s Weight

Filed under: Dog Health, Food & Nutrition — Chantee Hale on February 9th, 2010

While you may be aware of the effects a good diet may have on your dog’s bone and joint development, you may not consider the subtle effect that dog food has on your dog’s weight. Many brand dog foods contain wheat or other ‘fillers’ that can not only cause allergies in your dog but can be harder for their systems to digest. These fillers also do little to actually fill up your pup, causing him or her to need more food to satisfy his or her nutritional needs.

Premium dog foods tend to use less fillers and more ‘real food’ proteins. The result is a food that fulfills your dogs nutritional needs, aids in proper bone and joint growth, and is less likely to cause food allergies. On top of that, dogs that eat premium dog foods often need to consume less food to feel full.

Side by side a dog that eats lower grade dog foods may slowly pack on the pounds, or go around languishing for the nutrition he or she needs. Meanwhile a dog that consumes premium dog food will be able to turn those healthy proteins into energy, allowing them to maintain a fit and active lifestyle. If your dog has been struggling with weight, consider changing to a premium brand dog food with real food ingredients instead of fillers like wheat or corn. The change could be just what your pet needs to tip the scale in his or her favor.

Dog Safety for Car Travel

Filed under: Dog Health, Travel & Leisure — Chantee Hale on February 6th, 2010

Automobile accidents in which pets are involved have become so common that most major auto insurance companies have begun to cover pets that ride in the automobile in their policy coverage. If you’re one of the 29 million pet owners who frequently travel with their pet, it may be time to invest in a car seat, belt, or carrier to ensure your dog’s automobile safety.

Fortunately, dog car safety doesn’t mean having to coop your pet up in a kennel, although that is an option for many pet owners. Many dog product makers now make automobile safety devices, like the PetBuckle Seatbelt Harness for all dogs or the PetGear Dog Booster Seat for small dogs. No matter what method you choose it is as important to restrain your dog during any length of automobile trip, as it is to buckle up yourself. Even a fender bender can result in severe damage to your dog if he or she is thrown about or hit by objects that may shift in the vehicle.

Another important aspect of safe dog travel is to ensure that your pet doesn’t hang their head out of the window. A dog whose head is out of the window is more likely to be injured by bugs, flying debris, or severely harmed in the event of an accident. Dogs whose heads are outside of the vehicle can be thrown out of the vehicle or have their trachea crushed by impact with the window frame during an accident.

Any time you transport your dog it is important to make sure that his or her ID tag is attached to the collar. Not only will this help identify your pet in the case of an accident but will help your pet be returned to you should they escape from the vehicle as you are exiting or entering.

Another thing you should carry with you is an emergency list. Creating a sticker, similar to CHAD stickers often placed on children’s Car seats, is likely the best way to ensure your pet’s health and care in the event of an accident. This list should include information such as the dog’s veterinarian’s name and number, and emergency contacts. In the event of an accident this could help your pet to get the medical care it needs, or aid in helping rescuers to return him or her to their family.

We do a lot to prevent injury and loss due to automobile accidents for ourselves, and our canine companions should be no different. By securing your pet while he or she rides in the vehicle, ensuring that your dog is tagged and emergency information is on hand, and protecting them from dangers outside of the moving vehicle, you can give your pet the safe ride he or she deserves.

Doggie Dental Disease

Filed under: Dog Health — Chantee Hale on January 17th, 2010

Dental disease is an often-overlooked area of your dog’s health, but it can lead to serious health issues. It is estimated that 80% of all dogs two years and older are suffering from a dental disease. Gingivitis, Plaque, and Tartar build-up are all contributors to dental disease in dogs. While dogs may not suffer from cavities like humans do, periodontal disease, which destroys the gum and bone around teeth, can cause dogs to loose teeth quickly. Loose teeth, inflamed or bleeding gums, and bad breath are signs of dental disease.

As it takes only two days for tartar and plaque to harden around a dog’s teeth it is important to maintain a daily brushing schedule. While dental visits and doggy dental treats can assist in keeping a dog’s teeth healthy the only way to prevent dental disease is to brush your dog’s teeth once a day. It is recommended that you use a special doggy toothpaste, infant toothpaste, or baking soda to brush your dog’s teeth because fluoride and other additives in human toothpaste can make dogs ill.

Allergies and Your Dog’s Health

Filed under: Dog Health — Chantee Hale on January 15th, 2010

Dogs suffer from many different types of allergies, including contact and flea allergies, as well as food and inhalant allergies. For dogs allergies may cause their skin to itch or result in coughing, sneezing and wheezing. Some allergies also cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Contact allergies are not very common in dogs, but some dogs are allergic to various items like flea collars, wool bedding, and even shampoos and soaps. Contact allergies usually result in a localized itching of the skin. Flea allergies, on the other hand, are very common among dogs. Dogs with flea allergies have a severe reaction to the flea’s saliva and will scratch and chew on themselves to the point of losing large areas of coat. Scratching due to allergic reaction may also result in sore scabs and open lesions.

Dogs aren’t born with food allergies, although many dogs develop them during their lifetime. Food allergies are most often developed as a response to proteins, and are usually foods that dogs eat repetitively. Digestive disorders, itching, and respiratory problems often occur in dogs that have food allergies, and testing is necessary in order to determine the exact allergy.

Inhalant allergies, often called seasonal allergies, are common among dogs. They can be allergic to the same kinds of allergens that humans are, from plant pollens to dust. While some dogs may display respiratory distress the most common reaction to airborne allergies is itching and scratching. Frequent bathing with hypoallergenic shampoos, anti inflammatory such as steroids, and allergy shots are the best treatments for dogs with seasonal allergies.

Allergies aren’t just a discomfort for your dog. They can cause respiratory issues, and result in hair loss or bacterial infections due to open wounds. If your dog suffers from seasonal allergies be sure to talk to your Veterinarian about what can be done to help ease your dog’s discomfort.

Routine Vaccinations and Your Dog’s Health

Filed under: Dog Health — Chantee Hale on January 9th, 2010

In recent years the routine vaccinations that are recommended for dogs have come under fire by many veterinarians. Due to the over-vaccination of the family dog many pets have developed allergic reactions, and even the potentially fatal disease known as Auto-Immune Hemolytic Anemia or AIHA.

Due to the growing debate about the health risks involved in vaccinating dogs, and particularly in administering yearly ‘booster’ vaccinations, dog vaccines are now being divided into two categories. The first category, called Core Immunizations, includes vaccines that most Veterinarians agree are necessary to protect your dog and carry a low risk of negative side effects. These vaccinations are the canine distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, and rabies vaccinations.

Non-core vaccinations include ones that are often required by boarding kennels and trainers, as well as some airlines and dog-friendly hotels. These immunizations can cause moderate to severe reactions and may not be worth the health risk for your pet. They include the measles, CAV-2, Parainfluenza, Bordetella, Lepotospirosis, Coronavirus, and Lyme vaccinations.

Due to research that has shown that the duration for Core vaccination immunity is a minimum of 7 years many Veterinarians have started to use “titers.” Titers are annual blood tests that can check the Titer levels, or antibodies created by the vaccinations, in your dog. These tests can help to reduce unnecessary ‘booster’ vaccination, which increases your dog’s risk of an adverse reaction to the immunization.

Before you immunize your dog, be sure to discuss with your Veterinarian the risks and benefits of each vaccination. Make sure that they are aware of any illnesses, stress, or other potentially health-affecting factors in your dog’s life so that they can more accurately judge if the vaccination is a necessary risk.

Choosing a Veterinarian

Filed under: Dog Health — Chantee Hale on January 8th, 2010

If you’re in the market for a new Veterinarian then here are a few tips to help you select the best:

1: Call around and talk to several different Veterinarians’ offices to determine what services they provide in-house. Services you will want to ask about may include:

- The ability to drop-off and pick-up of doggy patients
- Do they provide in-house diagnostics
- Are in-house x-rays available
- Are Surgeries done on site
- Hours of operation.
- What emergency services are offered

2: Check their track record.

You can check a veterinarian’s track record in many ways. Here are some suggestions:

- Ask for clientele references
- Ask about their training, and how long the veterinarian has been practicing
- Ask about their staff turnover rate. Determining how satisfied the staff is with the office environment and their work will give you a good idea how well you and your dog will be treated.

3: Visit the office with your dog before you become a client.

Meeting the person you plan to use as a Veterinarian, as well as seeing how their office is maintained may help you decide between equally qualified practitioners. Also make sure to meet and greet as many of the veterinarian technicians as you can when you visit. This is important because it is likely that you and your dog will spend more time with the office’s veterinarian technicians.

Using these tips you will be able to choose the vet whose practice meets your expectations in services and affordability. By carefully reviewing your local Veterinarian offices and the services they provide you will be able to ensure that you and your dog have a long and happy relationship with your Veterinarian.

The Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Dog

Filed under: Dog Health, Dog Life — Chantee Hale on January 7th, 2010

While an estimated 75% of American dog owners have decided to spay or neuter their pet, there are still thousands of pets that are euthanized every day due to unwanted pregnancy. If you have a puppy or older dog and are debating the choice to spay or neuter your pet here are some things to consider.

If your pet is female, then the choice to spay your dog may be made easier by the long list of undesirable side effects of an “intact” female. For example, an un-spayed female is very difficult to keep away from male dogs when she is in heat, and these unwanted males may even dig under your fence to get to her. Females in heat suffer from mood changes, and are also prone to bleeding for 10 days, twice a year. Plus, the care for new puppies can be more costly than having your dog spayed. Unless your dog is AKC registered, and you are prepared to handle the costs of spaying/neutering, immunizing, and registering the new puppies yourself it is likely your puppies will be “free to a good home.” Many ‘free’ dogs are so easy to adopt that the new family may not consider the costs of taking care of a dog. If they tire of a free dog, they will abandon it at a shelter because they spent nothing on their pet and are saving money to do so.

For owners of a male dog, the choice may seem less simple. Most men agonize over taking their dog’s “manhood,” and cite concerns such as laziness, depression, and weight gain for why they don’t want to neuter their dogs. Research shows that such concerns are inaccurate; weight gain and laziness are contributed to canine diet, exercise, and age. For male dogs that are submissive, neutering can actually improve their personalities, while dominant or alpha males may display more dominance after neutering. Neutering your male dog is actually good for his health, as it eliminates his risk of testicular cancer. While the responsibilities for new puppies are less for male dog owners, a responsible person should ask himself or herself if they can guarantee that their choice will not affect another household negatively.

How Table Scraps Affect Your Dog’s Health

Filed under: Dog Health, Food & Nutrition — Chantee Hale on January 6th, 2010

If your dog has ever snuck a little nibble from under the table, or is on a ‘real food’ diet, you may be wondering what the fuss over dogs eating table scraps is about. Unlike ‘real food’ table scraps are actually unhealthy for your dog for a number of reasons. But, when your dog steals a small amount, you may not notice it make much of a difference.

The maid difference between ‘real food’ and table scraps is consistency. Real food is whole, uncooked foods that are healthy for your dog. Table scraps, on the other hand, is often cooked and will stick to your dog’s teeth. Such ‘sticky’ foods can cause periodontal disease, or other health problems.

The other major contributor to the unhealthiness of table scraps is food poisoning. A large number of foods is toxic to dogs, or cause allergies and intolerance if eaten consistently. Wheat and corn are foods that can cause intolerances in dogs, and are often part of what falls of the table. Other foods that are toxic to dogs include onions and onion powders, which are frequently used in seasonings, as well as avocados and eggplants. You may think you know what your dog is scarfing when they get into table scraps but the presence of onion powder or wheat might be unknown to you and will affect your dog’s health in the long term.

Of course, everyone’s dog steals a little extra snack at some point. While the stolen tidbit may result in stomach upset or cramps, and the need for an extra tooth brushing it’s not the end for your beloved dog.

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