Archive for the 'Dog Health' Category
Inhalant Allergies in Dogs
When humans feel the onset of allergies, they do everything they can to eliminate pollen, mold, and dust from the area. Dogs are equally susceptible to common allergens, but they lack the communication skills required to make a change. It’s therefore up to a pet owner or a veterinarian to supply the diagnosis. Common symptoms of dog allergies include excessive scratching and biting at the feet and flanks, and tell-tale redness in the ear flaps.
If you can effectively control your dog’s environment – keeping him indoors when pollen begins to spread, for instance – it’s enough to minimize allergic reactions in some cases. Otherwise, talk to your vet about medical options. Dog allergy shots have proven to be safe, but they aren’t always fast-acting. Demonstrate patience in the weeks following allergy treatment because your dog will almost certainly experience relief in the long run.
Update on the Schnauzer Crud and Nutrition
I want to give my readers an update on a post published on March 22, 2009 regarding the Schnauzer crud and whether it can be treated by changing your dog’s nutritional diet. Two to three weeks prior to that post I had changed my Schnauzer’s diet to Wysong Dog Food, a natural dog food, and so far it has been a wise decision. I want to update you on the results I have had and the overall condition of my dog.
I was feeding him a food from the health food store and thought he was getting a balanced diet and he was probably getting far more nutrition than what most of the products on the market provide, but it apparently was still lacking some vital nutrients. Even with this food, I was supplementing with Omega 3 fatty acids and a powdered vitamin supplement, and he didn’t thrive then as he is now. He, first of all, has not developed any more ingrown hairs that have festered with puss. He no longer has dry scaly skin that flakes on his rump. His teeth and gums are really healthy. The tarter he had is more than 50% gone from his back teeth, and I haven’t been brushing his teeth as much. I have been using Wysong’s DentaTreat that is sprinkled over his food, which is a dentifrice that removes tarter and I’m extremely impressed with it. His breath isn’t as bad. He no longer has flatulence (gas), which used to run us out of the room! And, even within just a couple of days, I noticed he no longer had that somewhat bloated look in the belly.
I have to give this food and the company several thumbs up! I have followed Wysong’s advice and use a number of different products to give my dog a variety of flavors. Not only does the variety of flavors spice up meal time for him but they provide a variety of nutrients based on the food that is in that particular meal. We would literally die if we ate the same food every meal every day of our lives, which I think would be short lived because we would not be getting the whole gamut of nutrients that our bodies need. I do believe this also applies to our dogs.
He is revisiting his youth, he has so much energy now, I can hardly keep up with him. I have carefully watched him and this energy is not the hyper type of energy, you can just tell he feels good, wants to play more and is more alert.
I know that the food is on the expensive side, but in my book, well worth every penny! I still use the kibble from the health food store that I had a huge bag of and wasn’t going to throw it out. So, I split his meal with half of Wysong’s Archetype Raw Dog Food, Archetype Buffet or the UnCanny variety pack with half the kibble. And with only half of his ration of daily food being Wysong I have witnessed the above changes.
Wysong also has all natural dog treats, which are made with whole foods without the additives or sugars. Yummy treats for him and I can give him all the treats I want without feeling guilty about what he is eating or afraid he will gain weight.
Guard Your Dog Against Fleas & Ticks
I love this time of year when everything is sprouting, growing and blooming. Unfortunately, the fleas and ticks are doing the same! They are just waiting for the right time to emerge, grow and invade every unsuspecting animal that comes their way. And everyone of those fleas and ticks is looking for food. Don’t let your dog be their next meal! These nasty critters not only feed on our pets and leave sores they also deposit diseases as they feed. The infected ticks can transfer Lyme Disease to our dogs when they attach and feed on them
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To protect your dog there are a variety of products on the market such as: dog flea and tick collars, flea and tick shampoos, flea and tick powders and probably the most popular is the dog flea and tick drops that are placed between the shoulders of the dog. This is a personal preference of mine because of the ease of application, the lasting protection it provides and it is waterproof. The dog flea collars and powders are good, but I would consider another method if you have children. Especially, if you have very young children, with the flea collar and the powders the chemical that kills the fleas can transfer to their hands when handling the dog. And they don’t know not to rub their faces, eyes, nose or mouth before washing their hands. The flea and tick shampoo also works good, but it lacks the long term protection. If your dog is infested with these pests your dog has already been bitten many times over before they are bathed with the shampoo to kill them. So, unless you shampoo them all the time the flea infestation can occur again and your dog is at risk of being bitten by infected ticks.
The flea drops is very easy to use, a once a month application will protect against flea and tick infestation for the month and the product is waterproof, so no need to re-apply after grooming. With this method your dog is protected before the pests can begin to feed, and thus it prevents the transfer of Lyme Disease and prevents the infestation of fleas on your dog and in your home.
Dog: Schnauzer Crud…Can Nutrition Cure It?
The “crud” is particular to the Schnauzer breed, although other dogs may have the same thing, I don’t think it is as prevalent in other breeds as it is with the Schnauzer. The reason I mention this is because my veterinarian explained that the bumps were infected ingrown hairs.
I have discovered that the dog’s diet plays a significant role in the decreased amount of infected ingrown hairs on my dog’s back. I know that good nutrition plays a significant role in how I feel so I know for my dog to be his healthiest he also needs all the vital nutrients. I have always felt that our canine friends could live longer healthier lives if they received the proper nutrition.
I was feeding my dog, at least what I thought was good food. It was derived from whole foods. This food decreased the severity of the bumps but he usually had three or four of them at any given time.
I went on a search for a really good, healthy dog food other than making it from scratch, which of course, is the 
ultimate source of nutrition, but time consuming. I wanted the next best thing I could find. My search ended with Wysong Dog Food. They know that popular dog food processing kills the vital nutrients in the food. They have developed a state-of-the-art processing that retains the nutrients that our pets need to live long and healthy lives. So, I decided to try Wysong dog food. The point of telling you this is to tell you about my results.
The “crud” is going away and so is the dry scales on his rump! He had a couple of bumps that were there before changing his diet and those are decreasing in size but the most important thing is, he hasn’t developed any more. At any given time, he has always had a couple of these ingrown hair bumps and scaly dry skin on his rump. It was a continuous cycle of some disappearing and more appearing. Another important note: my dog’s breath isn’t as bad as it used to be. Since he was young I’ve brushed his teeth to keep the tarter removed, but it was also to help his breath. The last couple of weeks, I’ve been very busy and haven’t brushed his teeth and the other day I noticed that his breath wasn’t as bad as normal, even without the brushing.
I found this rather odd as the other dog food was very expensive and the best I though I could find. The only difference I see is in how the food is processed. Even if only the highest quality food products go into the food but they use extreme temperatures and other processes that kill the nutrients, then all that nutrition has gone to waste.
My dog has always loved his food but, he goes absolutely wild when it’s meal time now. There’s one that he really, really likes and that’s the Chicken and yogurt. Try it, your best friend will thank you over and over for the rest of their life.
If your dog has a dull brittle coat, skin problems, poor gums and teeth, dull eyes, and they lack energy and vitality, you may want to consider that the current dog food isn’t providing the essential nutrients your pet needs.
Your Dog’s Toenails - Tips for Trimming
Trimming your dog’s toenails can be a tricky endeavor and very time consuming part of your dog’s grooming, especially if they have black nails and you can’t see where the quick is. Years ago, I began trimming my dog’s toenails with the common guillotine nail trimmer. Many times I would nick the dog’s quick and it would bleed and bleed. Even though I always had the septic powder available for those times, the nail still bleeds quite a bit before it stops. I always felt absolutely horrible when this would happen. It didn’t make it any easier the next time because my dog remembered that I hurt him the last time I trimmed his nails. So, needless to say, trimming the dog’s nails wound up being a struggle and I dreaded the thought of tackling the chore.
I have discovered a much easier way to do this and that is by using a coarse nail file. What I did was purchase a couple of cheap coarse nail files from the drug store and I filed his nails with those instead of cutting them with the guillotine clipper.
I have a small dog, so I would set on the sofa, get an old towel, lay it across my lap and have my dog lay either next to me or on the towel. If your dog is large then you may want to sit on the floor next to them. Be sure to have healthy dog treats handy so you can treat them when they behave well having the nail trimmed.
Begin by having them lay next to you and before you begin be sure they are in a relaxed state, then take one paw, hold a nail firm in your fingers and begin to gently file the nail. At first, your dog won’t be used to how the grinding on the nail feels and will probably jerk away. As they become acclimated to the filing of the nail, you can begin filing harder and more rigorously to speed the process. Trimming the dog’s 
nails in this fashion is less stressful for you and your pet. Plus, there’s no worry about nicking the quick and making the nail bleed. The finished length of the nail should not touch the floor when your dog is standing. Your dog’s nails need to be trimmed at least twice a month. If those nails don’t get trimmed the quick will extend longer inside the nail and it’s difficult to get the nail trimmed as short as it should be.
Be sure to purchase the very coarse nail files so that you can take off a substantial amount of nail in the shortest period of time. Using the coarse nail file can be a precursor to using the very popular Peticure that is advertised on TV. I have not used the PediPaws brand but would assume it works the same, although the one I use is not battery operated, it’s electric with a variable speed. I only mention this as I use the Peticure to facilitate the amount of time it takes to trim the nails and my dog adapted quickly only needing to get used to the noise it made.
This aspect of your dog’s grooming is such a very important part that it is necessary to find alternate ways of getting those nails trimmed. If the dog’s toenails are left untrimmed they will continue to grow and become jagged and split, possibly exposing the quick. Not only do the nails become jagged and split, but over a lengthy period of time, the dog’s feet can become deformed if their nails are left too long, which is painful for the dog.
Don’t give in or stop when the dog jerks his paw away, it’s just because they aren’t used to the grinding on the nail. If you let them relax and try again they will become used to it and realize that it doesn’t hurt.
Happy toenail trimming!
How Does Your Dog React When Visitors Arrive?
Does your dog attack visitors at your home before they are barely inside the door? Is your dog absolutely out of control barking, jumping on you and rushing the door in attack mode? Yes, I understand and this is not an easy behavior to change. But it can be done and here are some basic dog training tips that you can use to change your dogs behavior when there is a knock at the door.
First, establish a boundary that your dog is to stay behind and you don’t open the door until they calm down and stay behind the barrier. Second, they are to remain there until your visitor comes into your home. The dog is not to cross the boundary to approach the visitor. The visitor can cross the boundary when the dog is calm and then allow the dog to sniff and smell them. The dog is not to jump on the visitor.
These are very basic principles and not difficult to understand, but can be difficult the first several times you put this into practice with your dog. You don’t need to wait for visitors to arrive to facilitate your dog’s training. You might consider having a family member, friend or neighbor assist you with the dog training. Have them knock on or ring the door bell, patiently wait until your dog calms down and is in their designated waiting area and then come into the house. Praise them with kind words and treats when they behave well. If you do this several times a week your dog will learn this faster than relying only on visitors. If you drill your dog in this frequently and early on in their training then your visitors aren’t outside waiting in the rain. Take a look…
In this video you will see the basic dog training technique in action.
Does Your Dog Itch, Scratch, Bite & Lick?
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Itch-And-Scratch-Bite-And-Lick! If your dog is continually scratching, biting and licking at itself, and is driving you crazy with its self-absorbed antics, take comfort. And if your dog has had numerous cortisone “shots” to “stop the itching”… be sure to read this article by Doctor Dunn.
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Itching and scratching in dogs:
One of the most common calls made to any animal hospital in America goes something like this: “Doctor, I’ve got to get this dog in right away. He’s driving us nuts. All he does is itch and scratch, bite and lick and he’s keeping us up all night!” My thought is that if the pet’s caretakers are being driven “nuts” by the dog’s scratching and licking, how awful must the poor dog feel? This kind of call to the veterinarian refers to a fairly serious case of pruritus (pruritus means itching). In reality there is a wide spectrum of causes and severity of pruritus in dogs with skin and coat trouble. Some dogs can spend hours romping through fields, digging holes, and rolling in the grass and still have no after-effects at all. Others, kept indoors and fed an excellent diet, may have severe skin disorders.
Let’s see if we can make some sense of this complicated and aggravating situation and try to answer the question “Why does my dog itch-and-scratch-bite-and-lick?”
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There are six main categories of dermatitis we veterinarians have to consider whenever a “Skin Case” is presented. Most skin and coat abnormalities can be defined by or placed in one of these categories: |
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Keeping in mind that there are entire textbooks written about these categories, you might understand why veterinarians often take a deep breath before entering the exam room wherein awaits a patient with “a skin problem”. Let’s look at each category, starting with the simplest - Environmental, and finishing with the most challenging - Neurogenic Dermatitis.
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Environmental Dermatitis - Patients in this category are physically and nutritionally normal, but present with signs of pruritus, hair loss and skin irritation. By careful discourse with the owner regarding diet, activity, medical history and Nutritional Dermatitis - Correction of these cases should be a “no brainer”, but even today, many veterinarians and pet owners really believe the “Complete and Balanced” statement on pet food labels. Unfortunately, many dogs and cats live their entire lives in less than optimum health because their caretaker feeds the least expensive food they can find… and feels secure in doing so because of that “Complete and Balanced” statement. In my thirty-five years of practice, I have seen hundreds of dogs and cats whose lives changed dramatically, and where the pet’s caretakers were shocked and surprised at the remarkable difference in their pets, by the simple act of providing the pet with a high quality, meat-based diet. Look at Nutrition in ThePetCenter.com for some common sense information about sound feeding principles. Take a look at the photo of a dog in less than optimum health that has been eating a “Complete and Balanced” diet for years. Without proper nourishment this dog’s entire body, not just its skin and coat, will be continuously in a state of stress. High quality, (more expensive!) meat-based dog foods seldom, if ever, create the kind of skin and coat seen in the photo above. If you feed dry commercial dog food, be certain that the first ingredient listed is meat such as beef, poultry, lamb or fish. PetFoodDirect.com displays a number of high quality diets and their ingredient lists, too, so you can compare all kinds of diets for quality ingredients. Will supplements help? Absolutely! But if the diet is a high quality, meat-based brand, the need for supplements is much less critical. It has been my experience that supplements such a Omega Fatty Acids, Vitamins and table scraps will always help a dog that is eating a generic, commercial dry dog food; and on occasion, supplements may even show positive benefits in a dog eating a high quality diet. Many types of dermatological problems are avoided if the dog or cat is consuming an optimum diet. In some cases, adding a supplement such as DermCaps, a popular Omega Fatty Acid supplement with a number of beneficial ingredients, is the key factor in avoiding repeated episodes of Hot Spots and other skin afflictions. If your dog or cat seems to lack good coat and skin health, consider upgrading the diet to a meat-based ingredient formula and adding a supplement such as DermCaps. Parasitic Dermatitis - The most common response a pet caretaker makes when they see their dog scratching and biting at itself is “I think he’s got fleas”. And sometimes this guess is correct. Dark, copper colored and wingless, and about the size There are a number of highly effective and safe flea preventatives your veterinarian can prescribe. Fleas are ubiquitous, but an understanding of their life cycle, where they hide in the dog’s environment, and utilizing modern pharmacology breakthroughs, no dog needs to be “driven crazy” with pruritus, hair loss, scabs and infections as a result of flea infestation. See a veterinarian’s discussion about fleas at ThePetCenter.com. Repeated exposure to fleas can trigger a hypersensitivity (an abnormal, excessive reaction) to the bite of even a single flea. Every veterinarian has been fooled into making a diagnosis of “allergy”, not even suspecting fleas, simply because no fleas were discovered at the time of the physical exam. This is a classic example of a Parasitic Dermatitis (flea bites) triggering a complicated Allergic Dermatitis (due to the flea saliva). Interestingly, the all-too-common tick rarely triggers pruritus or allergic reactions, but on occasion will leave an ulcerative lesion that is notoriously slow to heal. Chiggers, deer flies, and gnats (sometimes called No-See-Ums) can be considered nuisances and generally do not create remarkable systemic skin problems. Local treatment with first aid ointments generally is successful. Cheyletiella mites look like tiny spiders under a magnifying glass and are often called “Walking Dandruff” because upon close inspection it seems like little flakes of dry skin are actually moving about. Partly because they live on the surface of the skin, these tiny critters can be eliminated easily by using any common flea shampoo. And here’s a creepy thought… Cheyletiella mites can be transmitted to humans where they create, just like on the dog, alopecia (hair loss) with a dry, flaky, slightly pruritic skin surface. Sarcoptic mites are nasty critters! Also called scabies or red mange, they create very intense pruritus, alopecia, and inflamed skin with multiple small scabs often present. Sarcoptic mite infestation, more than any other entity, is frequently misdiagnosed as Allergic Dermatitis by even very competent and experienced veterinarians. There is a good discussion of Scabies in the Exam Room of ThePetCenter.com. Many veterinary dermatology specialists will not accept an uncontrolled “Allergic Dermatitis” referral case unless the referring veterinarian has first ruled out Sarcoptic mites by actually treating the dog for scabies. Do as many skin scrapings as you like, you’re not going to find these little rascals because, unlike most skin parasites, these burrow right down into the skin. (Even ticks simply hold on to the surface of the skin while they feed; ticks do not burrow into the skin.) Unfortunately, many dogs are treated with cortisone for a supposed allergic dermatitis when in fact these Sarcoptic mites are the cause of the pruritic, inflamed skin… the unnecessary cortisone eventually worsens the situation. Sarcoptic mites happen to have preferences… certain types reproduce and thrive on dogs, but they do not thrive on other species such as humans. Nevertheless, Sarcoptic mites from dogs can infest humans so if your dog has signs of scabies and you are itching and have little scabs, make sure you see your dermatologist (MD, not DVM)! Mention your concern about scabies mites. If your physician makes a diagnosis of scabies on you, your next call should be to the veterinarian to make an appointment to discuss the possibility of Sarcoptic mites in your dog… (the one that’s been getting all those cortisone shots for “allergy”). Then there are Demodex mites - also called “mange”. These little rascals do live and reproduce just under the skin surface in the tiny hair follicles and oil glands of the skin. Unlike Sarcoptic mites, Demodex mites can be seen on a skin scraping viewed under the microscope. They look like tiny cigars with stubby legs stuck to the front half of their body. Demodex is most commonly seen in young dogs. In adult |
Infectious Dermatitis - Bacterial, fungal and yeast organisms are notoriously obnoxious skin and coat pathogens. Fungal Yeasts, most notably a common contaminant of inflamed and environmentally stressed skin called Malassezia pachydermatitis, can irritate an already diseased skin surface. Especially notorious for creating long term, low-grade external otitis, Malassezia does cause pruritus and inflammation. Yeast infections typically create greasy, odorous and pruritic signs in affected dogs. The skin is stressed by the waste products of the organisms and responds by releasing histamine - which triggers further inflammation, pruritus and cell damage. If a yeast infection is diagnosed, there’s generally something else going on such as Hypothyroidism, chronic administration of cortisone medication or dietary fatty acid deficiency. Bacterial dermatitis rarely occurs spontaneously. Normal healthy skin has tremendous numbers of a variety of bacteria present all the time. If something upsets that balance, such as antibiotics eliminating one or two types, the remaining types have a free-for-all! Anything that damages the normal, healthy, intact skin will hamper the skin’s defense mechanisms. Any Environmental Dermatitis, such as contact with grass, plastic, an abrasion or moisture, can adversely affect the skin’s defensive barriers and opportunistic bacteria then have their way. Parasitic damage to the skin will allow invasion by bacteria and trigger the body’s healing defense mechanisms. A common affliction of dogs, Infectious Dermatitis often is so irritating that dogs will lick continuously at the lesion and undo The treatment for Infectious Dermatitis often includes clipping the hair from the area to allow the air to assist drying. The application of gentle topical medication is helpful as is the administration of oral antibiotics to fight the organisms that are deeply invading the skin. Yes, cortisone may assist in alleviating the stinging or itchy sensation, but may also suppress normal healing processes. Whenever an infection is present, the decision to use cortisone needs to be very carefully evaluated. A better choice may be antihistamines orally. Allergic Dermatitis - I’ll be honest. There’s no way to cover this topic in one article. Veterinarians spend entire weekends and lots of money attending seminars on this topic alone! It is common, it can be lifelong, it is a challenge to diagnose, and once identified it can be resistant to attempts at treatment. All the other categories of dermatitis must be ruled out (especially those elusive Sarcoptic mites) before a diagnosis of Allergic Dermatitis can be made. Food ingredients, synthetic and natural fibers, medications and pharmaceutical products, plant material and even dust all can trigger an Allergic Dermatitis. Even common bacteria on the dog’s skin can provoke an allergic reaction to themselves! These cases of sensitivity to normal resident bacteria are very challenging to correct. No matter what kind of allergic dermatitis afflicts the dog, the ultimate cellular cause of the inflammation and resulting “itch-and-scratch-bite-and-lick” activity has a common cause… the release of histamine from skin Mast cells, the deposition of antigen/antibody protein complexes within tissues, the dilation of some blood vessels and constriction of others, the release of toxic chemicals from broken intracellular structures, and chemical and physical irritation of sensory nerve endings. To what are dogs allergic? Take a look around you right now. Odds are that your dog could be allergic to half-a-dozen different substances in the very room you sit; that doesn’t even include microscopic substances in the air you and your dog breath! Food, carpeting, blankets, dust mites, mold spores in the air, pollen, plastic food dishes, furniture stuffing and ornamental plants all have the potential to trigger an allergic reaction in your dog. Food allergies are so common that pet food manufacturers have invested millions of dollars in research, development, promotion and delivery of “antigen specific” diets to help in the therapy of dogs with food allergies. How to allergies develop? Each individual’s biochemistry is determined by millions of genetic variables. On occasion, an individual’s various immune responses may over-react to a certain material and “learn” to recognize this substance in case of future contact with it. The offending agent is called an antigen. Flea saliva is a good example of an antigen that triggers “flea bite” hypersensitivity. When an antigen makes contact with the dog, the dog’s immune defenses - all primed and ready for a fight since it has previously identified the antigen as an enemy - set to work to disarm the antigen. Unfortunately, during the course of the battle (called an antigen/antibody reaction) side effects of the battle can cause tissue irritation, inflammation, swelling and cell destruction. That’s when we notice the dog going into the “itch-and-scratch-bite-and-lick” mode! There’s a biochemical war going on within the dog! Immunologists have classified a number of different types of allergic reactions. Skin and blood tests are common methods of attempting to identify what the patient is allergic to. Probably the most common type of Allergic Dermatitis seen in dogs is Treatment of Allergic Dermatitis includes topical medicated soothing baths, ointments and sprays. The use of oral antihistamines can neutralize some of the destructive effects of internally released histamine. More effective in alleviating the discomfort of allergies is cortisone. This potent hormone, normally secreted by the adrenal glands, can be manufactured commercially. Numerous derivatives of cortisone are used in pill, injectable, spray, liquid and ointment form. Caution: If you are sent home with a prescription for cortisone, or your dog has simply been given “a cortisone shot to stop the itching”, your dog may ultimately be worse off than before if the true diagnosis happens to be an unrecognized case of Sarcoptic mites! Be patient, yes, but be persistent, too. If your dog is itching, scratching, and licking, or if the skin and coat are not healthy appearing, you and your dog need a diagnosis before treatment is started. A key point to remember is this: There is no cure for allergies! All we can do is avoid the food, material or parasite that is triggering the immune response, desensitize the patient through immune modulation techniques, and assure that the patient is eating a high quality diet. Neurogenic Dermatitis – This group presents a major challenge to diagnose and treat. As a veterinarian I know I have classified a number of cases as Although rarely seen in cats, in the dog something creates an impulse to lick at a specific area of skin. Characterized by persistent, obsessive licking and chewing at the target area, lick granulomas may have an unknown origin. Commonly, though, most cases have a suspected cause such as boredom, separation anxiety, frustration, confinement, or even a minor physical origin such as a tiny abrasion that captivates the dog’s interest. The dog persists in traumatizing the area, which is usually confined to an easily accessible forelimb, carpus (wrist) or ankle area, and never allows the skin to heal. Repeated episodes of self-mutilation, partial healing, then repeated trauma and healing, result in severe and disfiguring scarring. Deep bacterial infections are common and permanent skin damage results. A Specialist in Dermatology and a Behaviorist may be the dog’s best friends in these cases of Neurogenic Dermatitis. |
See the photo on the right. Also see two photos of a tick in action… obtaining a blood meal and severely traumatizing the skin in the process. Go to photos…
dogs, Demodex cases seem to be associated with individuals that are stressed from disease, poor nutrition, immune disorders or a harsh environment. There is evidence that many cases of Demodex have a genetically transmitted immune protein deficit underlying its manifestation; the dog’s breeder should be informed of any cases of Demodex mites. If the dog is otherwise healthy, there are effective treatment protocols for Demodex. On the “itch scale”, Demodex causes very little pruritus. On the “baldness scale” Demodex creates mottled and patchy alopecia.
In summary, keep in mind that any dog whose skin and coat are not in optimal health needs attention because that dog surely does not feel well. Be patient with your veterinarian because each category of “Dermatitis” must be evaluated, categories need to be ruled out, and a final diagnosis needs to be established BEFORE proper, effective treatment begins. Expect laboratory work, skin scrapings and blood tests to be required to reach that diagnosis.
If your dog is suffering from Chronic Dermatitis, all is not hopeless. Be persistent in trying to identify the cause and then pursuing a treatment. And do not be bashful about requesting referral to a Specialist in Veterinary Dermatology. These experts work with severely affected patients on a daily basis and can be an excellent resource for assistance to those poor dogs that seem incessantly to itch-and-scratch-bite-and-lick. Resolving these cases invariably puts a smile on the veterinarian’s face, the pet owners face, AND the dog’s!
At last we can see the smiling dog’s teeth again… which, by the way, seem a little unhygienic. Maybe a Dental procedure would be in order. Let’s see, we have time next Monday…
Article from ThePetCenter.com
Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth
Brushing a dog’s teeth is becoming more and more accepted by dog owners and has become a part of the dog’s regular grooming. Especially, since we realize there are things that we can do to help our pets have healthier teeth and gums and a much sweeter smelling breath by simply brushing their teeth.
There are several kinds of brushes, there’s the single head, the triple head toothbrushes and the ones that slip onto the finger. When beginning, you may want to start with the type that fits over the finger, it’s a little softer and you don’t have to worry about the handle of a brush hitting and hurting their gums. Once your dog has become accustomed to having your finger in his mouth you will be able to graduate to the full toothbrush. A good brush, if your dog will tolerate it, is the three-headed brush because it gets both the inside and the outside of the tooth and gums with one stroke.
If the dog likes the toothpaste you’ve got half the battle won because he likes what he’s tasting. Even if your dog is older, it’s still not too late to start the brushing, it will just take a little longer getting them used to it. Introduce the process slowly, take your time, let them smell the toothpaste, taste it and then introduce the brush with
the paste. Let them chew on the bristles at first and then begin to gently move the brush against the teeth and gums. If the gums are tender, don’t brush too vigorously or it will make the gums bleed.
Given enough time and patience, on your part, your dog can become accustomed to the brushing and will have healthier teeth and gums. Along with the brushing, have the type of dog toys available for them that will help with the scrubbing of their teeth. This is easier on your dog than being put to sleep to have their teeth cleaned and much cheaper for you.
Has Your Dog’s Food Affected his Teeth?
Some factors that play into the health of your dog’s teeth and gums are the type of foods they eat, dog treats and whether you brush your dog’s teeth.
Let’s review the dog’s diet. Unfortunately, the dog food manufacturers give the illusion of how nutritious their dog food is by hiding the actual ingredients behind words we can’t pronounce and we, the unsuspecting, feed it to our pets. A good percentage are full of fillers, such as sawdust, meat byproducts (that can’t by used by any other industry, such as “roadkill”), colors and artificial nutrients. And our poor pets try to survive on thi
s stuff.
If you notice your dog’s teeth becoming coated with tarter and their gums are looking red and somewhat swollen, their diet may be the culprit. The good news is it can be avoided with the proper attention given to their diet. In severe cases, like the picture to the left, the dog would require a dental cleaning and possibly removal of bad teeth by a veterinarian. But, we can prevent or forestall this from happening by providing nutritious meals for our pets.
Feeding a healthy, balanced diet will give your dog the nutrients to support their gums and teeth. I am in favor of a diet consisting of food derived from all natural food products or a raw home prepared diet. There are some very healthy kibble dog foods that derive their nutrients from the natural ingredients in the dog food rather than dead artificial supplements. A raw diet is the most nutritious, although it is more time consuming. If you do feed a raw diet you can supplement with hard tarter control biscuits or natural treats and brushing their teeth, if needed. And, of course, have chew toys around that will assist with scrubbing the teeth and massaging the gums.
The natural nutrients in the dog food will balance the bacterial and chemical makeup of the saliva and the enzymes in the digestive tract, which will also have an affect on the dog’s breath. With the proper nutrients your dog will have strong jaw bones with which to support the teeth and healthy gums.
And last but not least, is brushing your dog’s teeth. There are several kinds of brushes and toothpastes available. Getting your dog used to having their teeth brushed just takes a little patience.
Make Sure Your Dogs’ Food Is Safe Food
One way to reward your dog for doing a great job is to give him dog treats. They will really enjoy this and will want more. So, don’t just give any food and treats to your dog. You have to check if the food is safe so they will remain healthy.
There are so many different treats that you can buy for your dog. You can find pizza flavored treats, liver biscotti, dog brownies and even dog cookies. Your dogs can really have an assortment of treats that they can enjoy after doing a good job in training or for just being a great pet. You can be sure that they are made with the best organic ingredients. You have to be cautious with what you feed your dog since a lot of other dog foods have been recalled already.