• Diarrhea and Vomiting ... ?
• Giving Medicine ... ?
• Overweight Pets ... ?
• Skin Problems,5 step to healthy hair & skin, Ear infections, sick dog ...

If your dog is not showing other signs of illness, you can save yourself a trip to the vet if you wait 12 hours and do the following:

1.      Take away all food and water so that the irritated intestinal tract can settle down. Nothing makes a vomiting dog vomit more than a big drink of water or a large meal. You may allow the dog to drink very small amounts, and in this short time, if your dog is otherwise healthy, you don't have to worry about dehydration. If the diarrhea resolves, after 24 hours, you may give your dog very small amounts of a bland food, such as drained, cooked hamburger mixed with an equal amount of cooked rice.

2.      Observe your dog closely. Is behavior and activity otherwise normal? Think about and try to identify the cause of the problem. Could your dog have eaten something (like grass, garbage, or a dead animal) that upset its digestive system? Has your dog been wormed lately? Watch how your dog vomits or eliminates so you can describe it to your vet if symptoms persist. Examine the stool or vomit. Collect samples if you believe you will need to take your dog in. Monitor the dog's weight for possible weight loss.

When you should call your veterinarian

Vomiting:

• blood in vomit
• vomiting accompanied by diarrhea
• vomit looks and smells like stool
• vomiting is projectile
• vomiting is sporadic and there is no relationship to meals
• multiple bouts of vomiting occur over a short period of time
• ingestion of a poison (like antifreeze or fertilizer) is suspected
• vomiting persists more than a day or two
• stomach bloating occurs or your dog tries to vomit but can't
• dog also appears listless
• there is weight loss
• dog is showing other signs of illness such as labored breathing or pain.

Diarrhea:

• bloody diarrhea
• diarrhea accompanied by vomiting
• multiple bouts of vomiting occur over a short period of time
• ingestion of a poison is suspected
• fever and other signs of toxicity are present
• diarrhea persists more than a day or two
• dog also appears listless
• there is weight loss

dog is showing other signs of illness such as labored breathing or pain

Giving Medicine to Cats and Dogs

All the medications you have been given for your pet are important. Be sure you understand how to give each one before leaving the Animal Medical Center. If questions arise once you are at home, do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian during his or her phone time.

First, check the label of your medications(s) for specifics such as whether it should be refridgerated and whether it should be given before or after meals, etc. It is important that you understand when to give your pet its medication. In addition to the oral instructions given to you by your veterinarian, written instructions accompany each medication. Unless otherwise instructed by your veterinarian, start with the first dose when you get up in the morning and space the other doses equally throughout the day until bedtime.

How to Give a Pill or Capsule

Dogs: Have your dog sit at your side. Place one hand on the upper jaw and press the dog's lips gently against the sides of the teeth with your fingers. With the fingers of your other hand, pull the lower jaw down and place the pill on the base of the tongue, far back in the mouth. Close the mouth, return the head and neck to normal position, and blow on the dog's nose or massage his throat to encourage swallowing. Any form of distraction (praising, stroking, etc) will also help to get the dog to swallow.

Some dogs are easier to medicate if you put the pill in a small amount of canned dog food, cheese, or peanut butter. Offer it to your pet and be sure that he swallows it. Some pets will appear to have eaten something only to spit it out when you are not looking.

Cats: Place a towel on a table and put your cat on the towel (this gives the cat something to cling to), or place the cat on your rug. Gently open the mouth and insert the pill at the back of the tongue. If your cat tries to scratch you, try wrapping its body and legs in a towel, leaving only its head sticking out. If you cradle your cat in one arm, and place your thumb and forefinger on either side of its face, you can force the mouth open by applying gentle pressure at the space between the teeth. This should allow you to deposit the pill in your cat's mouth, preferably at the back of the tongue. Next, return the head and neck to a normal position, massage your cat's throat, blow on his nose, or otherwise distract him until he swallows.

Administering Liquid Medication

Some medications are available in liquid form. Make sure that you tell your veterinarian if you have a preference.

Dogs and Cats: Gently pull the corner of the mouth away from the face to form a "pocket." Slowly give a small amount of the liquid. Allow your pet to swallow before giving more liquid. Do not squirt all the mediation into your pet's mouth at once.

Applying Ear Drops and Ear Ointments

Before administering ear medication, the ears may need to be cleaned. Your veterinarian may recommend a cleanser, or you can use moistened swabs. To apply the medication, push back the ear flap and gently position the applicator or tip of the tube in the base of the ear. Discharge the number of drops or amount of ointment prescribed. Gently massage the base of the ear with your fingers to help the medication work its way into the ear canal.

Applying Eye Drops and Ointments

Before administering eye medication, be sure that the eye lids are clear of discharge. Ask your veterinarian if a special eye wash is needed, or you can use warm water on a cotton ball to gently cleanse around the eyes. Next, use your thumb and forefinger to open the eyelids. With your other hand, place the 1 to 2 drops or a tiny amount of ointment on the eye or the pink tissue around the eye. Your pet will blink and the medication will cover the entire eye. When applying medication to the eye, try to avoid your pet's direct line of vision when approaching, and avoid touching the eye with the container of medication.

• Be sure to give all medication as directed by your veterinarian.
• Be sure that you understand whether you are to give the medication until it is entirely used up or for a specified number of days.
• Be sure that you understand how the medication should be stored and special instructions for giving the medication.
• If you have any problems administering the medication, contact your veterinarian.

If the condition worsens or does not improve as expected, contact your veterinarian.

Overweight Pets = Unhealthy Pets

Are we harming our pets by sharing a treat with them? Or by feeding them every time we think that they want to eat? Or by making their food constantly available to them? Maybe we are. Some of the foods that we, as humans, like to share with our pets is extremely dangerous to them and others are not good for them at all. Chocolate and onions are very dangerous. Sugar, spices, salt and raw fish are not good for them.

Actually, if our pets consume too much of any food, it is harmful to them when it leads to an overweight animal. An overweight animal will experience a shortness of breath as all the internal organs become compressed. Obesity also shortens their life expectancy and causes many secondary, life threatening conditions such as diabetes, liver and kidney problems. They are less able to exercise, play and enjoy life. A lean pet is a healthy, active and responsive pet. We should be able to feel the ribs of our pets, with a light cover of body fat under the skin. If you cannot feel the ribs, they are overweight.

If we have an overweight pet, the way to help them lose weight is to feed top quality food in small amounts, often and exercise more.

Does Your Dog Have Skin Problems?

Constant scratching and licking can drive dog owners mad with the frustration of trying to discover what is causing the terrible itching your dog is feeling. Dog skin problems are not uncommon and no matter how much you look for fleas, ticks, and other pests you may not find anything except your dog has skin problems.

Most dog owners will undoubtedly worry when your dog spends most of their time itching, scratching, and licking themselves to try to get rid of the annoying tingly burning sensation they are feeling.  The problem is, when all the scratching is done, your dog's skin will be more irritated thereby being worse for them.  The best thing to do is to take your dog to the vet and have them properly diagnose the problem.  You first need to know exactly what the skin problem is so you can properly treat it.  

Some Causes of Dog Skin Problems:

Parasites are a possibility for your dog itching and scratching and there are many different types of pests that cause your dog to itch. Generally they are either ticks or fleas, easily found by rubbing the dog’s skin for lumps or looking for flea feces in the fur.

Dog allergies are also another common cause for itchy rashes on your dogs’ skin.  Once you find the cause, which could be something in your dog's basket or sleeping bed, the remedy is easily solved by removing the offending product from reach of the dog.

Bacterial and fungal skin infections are skin problems for dogs that affect their body in a variety of ways.  You may notice either loss of hair in areas of your dog's body with dry skin in the center and a general soar look to the skin, or by ulcer like patches on your dogs skin also looking soar and painful.

There are many kinds of dog skin problems, so always remember to consult your vet about your dogs’ skin issues to help ease the suffering and pain for your dog. 

Five Steps to a Healthy, Shiny Coat for Your Dog

We all want our dogs to have a beautiful, shiny coat; but it is not only about the "looks".  Your dog having a shiny coat starts on the inside, so we have to think about your dog's coat from the inside out.  Your dog's outer appearance is actually somewhat of a reflection of your dog's inner health.  If your dog is healthy, then his coat will show this and that's what we all want.  

Step 1: Your dog's great looking coat starts from within 

Feed your dog a high quality dog food. A good all-natural dog food would be best because often time’s generic commercial dog foods use cheaper ingredients which are not good for your dog. 

Remember to read the labels on your dog food, or if you have a concern, consult your local veterinarian.  Also, if you give your dog treats make sure they are all-natural as well, and don't overdo it by giving your dog more treats than food.  

Step 2: Check your dog's fur regularly

How can you be sure that your dog is not being irritated by fleas, ticks, or other parasites if you don't regularly check his/her coat?  Responsible dog owners should make a schedule of when they will check their dog's fur, usually on the weekly basis. 

Step 3: To condition or not to condition

Depending on the breed of dog you have, you may want to consider getting a conditioner for your dog.  If you have a dog with long-hair, sometimes a conditioner, when used in conjunction with a good natural, safe dog shampoo, will make your dog's coat really shine and soften.  If you have a short-haired dog, you may want to get a conditioner that's more geared for short-haired dogs.  These normally, have more skin conditioners in them as opposed to focusing on long hair.  Look for a tearless dog conditioner so as not to irritate your dog if it gets in his /her eyes.

Step 4: Invest in a good brush for your dog

Especially for long-haired dogs, you need to brush their fur at least twice a week.  This will help keep kinks and knots out of your dog's fur and also, keep your dog's coat much more manageable.  For short-haired dogs, you may not have to brush their coat but once a week, or so.  You can use your best judgment on this depending on the breed of dog you have.  Another often missed benefit of brushing your dog's fur regularly is the bonding factor.  As your dog gets more and more comfortable with you grooming him, your bond of trust and friendship with your dog will strengthen.

Step 5:  Give your dog the right amount of baths

Certain breeds of dog require more baths than others, so it is a good idea to consider this when figuring out how many baths your dog needs per week or so.  If you give your dog too many baths, this will sometimes dry out his/her skin, making your dog start to itch.  If you don't give your dog enough baths, it will be very difficult to keep his/her coat looking shiny.  Always makes sure you use a good safe, natural dog shampoo and NEVER human shampoo, these are often too harsh for your dog.  If you're not sure about your dog see our dog breeds info section or check with your groomer on your specific breed.

Remember, if you have tried these 5 steps and your dog continues to have a dull luster to his coat, you may want to talk to a professional dog groomer or your vet; they will be able to give you additional suggestions based on your dog's specific breed and circumstances.

How to Detect Dog Ear Infections

Many different situations can cause dog ear infections.  These types of problems seem to be quite common in dogs and other animals, as well.  Since one of your dog's primary senses is his hearing, it can be very painful for him during the time of the ear infection.  

A dog's inner ear is actually the cause for so many different ear infections.  This is, due to its shape, its tendency to collect moisture from water, rain, from ear wax, dirt, debris or other foreign objects, even parasites.  

Like many things, being observant to your dog's behavior is the easiest way to identify if your dog may have an ear infection.  If your dog keeps rubbing his head and ears against objects around the house, there may be a need to look at him more carefully.  Sometimes, a dog may tilt his head, in order to stop the ringing in the irritated ear.  Some dog owners have reported to have seen the ear become red and irritated with a sore foul smelling discharge.  

A good ear infection solution for dogs can be a big help.  However, if you suspect your dog may have an ear infection you should always consult your veterinarian immediately.  Procrastination can be detrimental to your dog's health because the longer you wait the worse it gets.  Your vet should properly diagnose the infection, then, will probably prescribe medication.  In some more extreme cases, the dog may have to be sedated in order to clean out any foreign debris in the infected ear.  Make sure your vet is experienced at this because this can be more than a simple procedure depending on the case. 

When your veterinary professional prescribes a medication make sure you learn to apply it the proper way.  Some medications have to be put on the outside of the ear, some on the inside and swished around, so you need to make sure you understand the instructions.  

Early detection is key and dog ear infections that are diagnosed correctly can more than likely be cured, but taking your dog to the vet is critical, because without this step you will be putting your dog through more pain and it will take longer to become better.   And we all want our dogs to be healthier and happier.

How to tell if Your Dog is Sick?

Every dog owner will inevitably have to experience a time when their dog will become ill.  This can be a trying time because no one wants to see their furry friend sick or in pain.  However, this is natural for a dog or any other animal; they all get sick at one point or another.

There are ways in which you can ease the suffering for your dog and help them get the fast recovery they deserve. There are many different home remedies for helping your dog get better, but if you notice that your dog may be getting sick, the best thing to do is to consult your veterinarian as soon as possible.  Your vet will give you a diagnosis of your dog and suggest suitable remedies to help your dog get better.  

So, how can you tell if your dog is getting sick?  Well, since dogs can't talk, the only way we can tell if they are getting sick is by watching.  A responsible dog owner will have to watch out for signs of illness, such as:

Lethargy/Not wanting to move

When dogs become ill, many won't move very far, have pain while trying to move, refuse to exercise, limping or has signs or injured paw/leg, or just general decreased agility. Theses can all be signs of illness or injury, and should be watched out for.

Discharge

This may seem an obvious choice but many dog owners fail to notice discharge from eyes, nose, and ears. This is normally not a big problem unless you notice discharge with a foul smell and unusual color.

Loss of Appetite

A dog’s loss of appetite is a good clue that your dog may be ill.  Other symptoms may include over eating without weight gain, sudden weight loss, or diarrhea. Keep an eye on your dog’s diet and food habits to make this easier and to recognize when it happens.

Itching and Scratching

Itching or scratching and trying to rub themselves up against furniture can be symptoms of skin irritations or new pests on the scene.  Fleas, ticks, or parasites may be present, so you have to watch for signs of this.   

Mouth Problems

Bleeding or soar looking gums, along with discolored teeth or loss of teeth, all need to be diagnosed properly by a vet as this could lead to more serious illnesses.

Basically, if you notice your dog acting unusual or seems to be in pain, the best thing is to consult your vet.  Even if you just have questions or concerns, it's better to be safe than sorry.  By staying aware of your dog's health, you can ensure that he will stay healthy and happy for a long time to come.