Aging Dogs and Some Common Issues
How old should a bitch be when weaning her last litter? In general, a female should not be more than five years old when weaning her last litter, nor younger than the second heat, which means between one and two years old. She should also be bred only every other heat, which means a total of three or four litters throughout a female’s lifetime.
How old should a male dog be before he should be prevented from copulating? Dogs generally have a self-checking mechanism, which means that they would not ordinarily pursue sex beyond their abilities and fortitude. If they did attempt copulation beyond their physical stamina, they would simply pass out. As dogs get older, they have a lower sperm count, so for selective breeding purposes you are better off using a younger dog with not only fine conformation but stable temperament as well.
Do female dogs experience a change of life? Not that we are aware of. Female dogs can remain fertile until they die. We know of a cocker spaniel that had puppies at the age of fourteen. For the most part females simply stop coming into heat, or come into heat less often, without any menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, etc.
What is the oldest a dog can live? We have heard of dogs living to eighteen years. In general, these cases occur among the smaller breeds.
How does a dog’s hearing or sight change as he gets older? It generally gets worse. Barring any medical problems, it is not uncommon to see normal longevity of nine to fifteen years in a dog that has become deaf. The older dog will lose his hearing gradually, so that his owner is often not aware of it until the dog is deaf or almost deaf. Dogs very rarely become blind, but many will experience a clouding of the lens as they get older. A dog’s sight is comprised of rods but no cones, so they don’t see color – only shades of black, white, and gray.
Do older dogs tend to get fat? Dogs in general tend to be overfed. They are being killed with kindness through frequent snacking. However, older dogs, like people, will tend to loose muscle tone. Overfeeding and lack of exercise will cause any age dog to become overweight.
How common is the problem of gastric torsion? It seems to occur primarily in big dogs. The condition usually is precipitated by a heavy, fatty meal, eaten hastily, followed closely ‘by a lot of water then by exercise. The stomach is contracting, trying to digest food and building up fermentation momentum until, in the big chested dog, the stomach literally flips over, twists, and closes off the openings at both ends. It can be remedied only by immediate surgery to unclip the stomach and sew it to the stomach wall if necessary. If not caught in time, the dog goes into shock and dies.
Jane Saeman loves dogs and strives to keep other dog lovers informed. A whole world awaits other dog lovers.
Find out how cute the dog in your life is at my website which is at http://www.PicturesOfMyDogs.com
Preventing Dog Health Issues the Natural Way
Preventing dog health issues is easy if you know how to follow simple, practical steps. In this articles, you’ll learn what you need to do to ensure that your delightfully faithful, furry friend has a long and happy life.
Most pet owners don’t think about how to prevent dog diseases, so you are way ahead of the curve. As with children, we are the stewards of our pets and it’s our job to make informed decisions for them that will support health, vitality and longevity. Just as we make lifestyle choices to boost our immunity, we need to do the same for our pets. It’s the best way that we can show we care: by looking out for their best interests.
Preventing dog health issues requires feeding your dog a nutrient-rich diet. This is why it is best to avoid commercial kibble because it is often made from byproducts, cheap grains that can cause intestinal and urinary issues, fillers, dyes, chemicals and preservatives. Just as you wouldn’t feed yourself a junk food diet if you wanted to be proactive about your health, you shouldn’t give your dog junk food kibble. At your local pet store, health food store and even grocery store, you should be able to find organic kibble that is made with real protein, nutritious carbs and healthy oils. Although this kibble will be more expensive, it will last longer because your dog won’t need to eat so much to get the nutrients that his body needs.
Next, make sure your dog is properly hydrated at all times. Your dog should always have access to a bowl of fresh, clean water. You do not need to buy bottled water, but you should use a tap filter to get rid of chemicals in the water.
Third, exercise is an important part of a dog’s daily routine and a great way to prevent dog diseases because exercise detoxifies the lymph system and rids the body of the effects of stress. Exercising by walking together, running or throwing a frisbee in the park is also a great bonding activity for you and your dog. Your dog loves more than anything just to be with you, while taking in the smells, sights and sounds of the world.
Finally, an essential component of any preventative program is a natural supplement. Since even organic kibble doesn’t provide pets with all the nutrients they need, give your pet a daily vitamin that has antioxidants and herbs that are proven to boost immunity and fight off disease, the effects of stress and aging. A supplement that contains Echinacea (which detoxifies the lymph), Mistletoe (fights off disease) and Indian Ginseng (promotes energy and vitality) is the best way of preventing dog health issues known today. Of course you’ll want to make sure that you are also following the steps outlined above.
So there you have it: a great way to return your dog’s loyalty and affection: prevent dog disease by giving your pet a healthy diet, lots of water, exercise and a daily supplement designed to boost immunity and promote health, vitality and a good long life.
Laura Ramirez is a passionate researcher of products that help restore health and vitality to pets and people and keep their immune system strong for prevention. To learn more about her findings, go to www.pet-health-supplements.com.
She is also the author of the award-winning parenting book, Keepers of the Children: Native American Wisdom and Parenting which teaches parents how to raise children to lead productive and meaningful lives.
Dog Health Issues ? Kennel Cough
When one hears the term of Kennel Cough, one imagines a horrible disease that affects dogs if they are left in unsanitary conditions at a rundown kennel. The image that this brings up is certainly unpleasant. However, dog owners should be aware of this health issue.
Kennel cough is a lung infection. Any dog can come down with this health issue. Most of the time, a dog will get this type of infection if the dog was exposed to large amounts of smoky air, air which was extremely dusty or a room with poor ventilation. Example may be if a large amount of construction work was being done in a house and brought up a huge amount of dust; a dog left to live and breath in those situations would be a candidate for this illness. If a dog was unfortunate to be in the vicinity of a fire, this would also likely cause a large intact of smoky air and the Kennel Cough may settle in. While some kennels may be poorly ventilated, these conditions can certainly be found at other locations other than a kennel.
This medical problem is an infection of a dog’s lungs and will cause a dog to cough severely. The cough will be a dry cough; phlegm is usually not present with this type of illness.
The treatment for Kennel Cough is a strong round of antibiotics for your dog. These must be obtained from your vet. Once your dog has taken the course of medication, the coughing will cease. The recommended method of giving your dog medication is to mix it into their dog food. If a dog resists and eats around the medication, you can ask your dog’s vet if you may break up the pill into dust or obtain a liquid version that can be mixed thoroughly into the food.
Other veterinarians opt to give dogs a vaccination to prevent this in the first place. It is a personal decision. The downside to having a prevention shot is that doing so may decrease a dog’s defense system.
There are some herbal remedies that are sold; these claim to cure Kennel Cough. However, before using any type of homemade or herbal treatment a dog owner should always check with their vet. The last thing that you want to happen is for the treatment to not work and the infection to grow immensely.
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Understanding Dog Skin Issues And Possible Treatments
Have you noticed lately that your dog is constantly licking and zero? There are many possibilities why this happens and it is very important that you move quickly to the problem of diagnosis in the interest of your dog and your well-being due. Skin problems can be very annoying for the dog and you can leave it very uncomfortable can lead to sleep deprivation and other health problems. Here are some steps you can take to diagnose the problem and get your dog back on the road to good health and comfort. The first step in treating skin problems your dog is to know exactly where the problem lies. Is the area itchy belly, legs, neck or anywhere? This will lead to new possibilities of what the problem might be. Then you should check for symptoms such as scaly skin, red bumps, discoloration, sores, and so on. There are a number of different types of skin diseases that can be found on the symptoms you can see. For example, contact dermatitis is a skin irritation from contact with certain things like washing powder carpet or other household chemicals that react negatively to the skin of your dog. This could be the cause itchy bumps and raised on the skin of your dog. Another possibility for some of the raised bumps that itch is the king of the infestation. Parasites usually more land for use on a dog, it increases blood flow so that when he signs of irritation in these areas alone, you, if we consider the possibility of pest problems. The skin condition can be a simple skin infection, which would have a number of different sources. Normally, infection of the skin is not a particular organ, but rather a broader area than the entire chest and belly to be aligned. Another possibility that always affect the skin of your dog can food allergies. This is one of the toughest conditions should be recognized in due time and steps necessary for diagnosis. Assuming that the current food crisis caused an allergic reaction may be inaccurate and, therefore, every effort would be to bring your dog to a new source of food in vain. You do not know until you realize that the irritation of the skin better. There are a number of options for the treatment of skin diseases, or at least temporarily the symptoms that people infected with irritated skin, relieves the causes. Buy Spays antiseptic that temporary relief of, itchy irritated feelings of infected areas. Many sprays also contain ingredients that have a bitter taste, lick in reducing the amount of your dog . This will address the healing process. Another way to condition the skin, washing the infected area with a medicated shampoo after a few days. It will be a relief of symptoms and promote healing. If these methods do not work, your vet will be able antibiotics that your dog outside the body fight infection and help heal to affected areas. It is important to remember that if you have what is effectively a skin condition, consult a veterinarian before starting your own decisions as far as to treat the skin condition n are not sure. What would you think appropriate treatment for the skin problem that your dog knows, could effectively end the cause of your problems and you would end up with more money for treatment in the long term if it Just consult a veterinarian immediately.
Causes Of Dog Health Problems Bloody Stool Issues
Melena is the number one cause of dog health problems bloody stool issues. Melena and hematochezia cause the dog to have bloody stool. Melena is blood that the dog digested, and looks dark in color. Hematochezia is considered fresh blood in the stool and is considered minor compared to melena. Many health reasons result in a bloody stool and most tests by a veterinarian will confirm the problem.
This health problem causes a lack of energy and sometimes incontinence, as accidents happen due to the inability to move outdoors quickly. By restricting food, the dog will eventually stop the diarrhea and give the intestines time to heal. If the diarrhea results from infection or parasite, the problem will persist until proper medical is received. This condition affects all sizes and breeds of dogs no matter what you do to prevent it.
Causes of Dog Health Problems Bloody Stool Issues
Medications, infections, cancer and foreign objects digested by the dog. A metabolic disorder or hemorrhagic gastro enteritis may cause a dog to have a bloody stool. Some heavy metal or blood ingestion and gastrointetestinal ischemia are all causes of melena in dogs. Metabolic diseases cause ulcers of the stomach or intestines and can result from many different causes. If your dog health problems bloody stool issues arise with such signs as pale gums, frequent urination and thirst, lack of appetite and weight loss are all signs of problems along with dark black stools. For more inf see http://www.aboutdoghealth.org/dogbreedhealth/Pomeranian.html on pomeranian dog health.
If the dog continues to have diarrhea for more than twenty-four hours, medical treatment is required. The first thing you can try is a bland diet of rice and potato instead of their regular food. This may help, but in case it does not, you may need to have a veterinarian determine the cause.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Dog Melena
When you notice black or dark colored stools, you need to contact the vet for further tests. These tests will include urinalysis, a biochemical work up, stool sample diagnosis, blood work up, ultrasound and chest/abdominal x-rays. After these tests are concluded, the vet will determine the exact cause of the dog health problems bloody stool issues and discuss treatment with you.
If the dog does not have a severe health condition, they may be treated at home instead of an overnight stay at an animal clinic. A special diet of a bland diet that is specified by the vet and any medications prescribed by the veterinarian need to be dealt with at home in order to treat the dog health problem bloody stool issues. In most cases, medications are needed to block stomach acids and coat the intestines. If you do not see any improvement, you need to contact the vet for further treatments. .
Get treatment for your dog if this problem persists and stick to a strict diet and medication schedule for proper treatment of a sick dog. The dog will need plenty of rest and a calm environment in order to heal and come back to health.
You can also find more info on Boxer dog health & large dog health issues. AboutDogHealth.org is a comprehensive resource to help in dog health issues.