Dog Lover Community

For many of us owning a dog is more than having a pet, it is an extension to our family. There is a special bond between a dog and his owner that is rarely seen with other animals. Most dog owners are very concerned about their pet’s wellbeing and there are a few key disorders that all dog owners should know about.

Skin Allergies
One of the common skin disorders with dogs is allergies. If you think you are the only one with allergies, well think again. Many people are unaware that their dog can also develop allergies. Dog’s can be allergic to different types of food, mold, pollen and fleas just like we can. In many cases the dog can develop skin irritations which result in loss of hair, redness of the skin and even soar on the skin due to allergies.

In most cases a change in the environment or the dog’s diet leads to the allergic reactions. The key is to recognize the problem and work with your vet on resolving the issue.

Mange
Mange is another skin disorder that should be of concern to dog owners. When most of us think about mange we think about the dog’s hair falling out in patches. However, there are two different types of mange that can affect your dog: Demodectic mange and Sarcoptic mange. Demodectic mange is where the parasites live on the hair follicles of the dog and Sarcoptic mange, also known as Scabies, is a condition where the parasites burrow themselves into the dog’s skin. Both forms of mange are treated differently and it is important that you work with your vet if you suspect your dog does have mange.

Fleas and Ticks
We are all familiar with fleas and ticks but what people don’t know is that there are cases where a dog has fleas and/or ticks so bad they develop a form of anemia. Also, fleas are known to carry tapeworms. Your dog can come down with a case of tapeworms by eating the flea and introducing the parasite into his system. Your local pet store has a variety of different foggers, dips and other products that can get rid of fleas and ticks. You should always consult with your vet if you are unsure whether a particular product is right for your pet.

Bloat
Skin disorders are not the only issue that dog owners should be aware of. Your dogs eating and exercise habits could lead to a potentially fatal condition called bloat. Bloat is a condition where the dog’s abdomen becomes enlarged by swallowed air or gas production. In extreme cases of bloat, the dog’s stomach will twist, a condition known as torsion, and start to die. In order to save their pet the dog owner needs to be able to quickly recognize the symptoms of bloat and get the dog to a vet as soon as possible.

Tying it all together
As a pet owner it is important that you recognize potential risk and issues in your dog’s health. Early recognition of some conditions such as bloat can help save your dog’s life. Even if the issue is not life threatening recognizing the disorder and how to solve it will increase your dogs well being.

For more detailed information about potential health issues, the symptoms and treatments check out http://www.dog-health.power-of-knowledge.com/

Tags: bloat, dog health, fleas, mange, pet, skin allergies, ticksbloat, dog health, fleas, mange, pet, skin allergies, ticks

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Many people may not realize that dogs, just like human beings, can suffer from allergies. In fact, about twenty percent of the dogs in the United States alone suffer from allergy at any one time, with flea allergy dermatitis being the most common form of allergy in dogs. Other types include atopic dermatitis, inhalant allergies, and food allergies.

Signs and symptoms of dog allergies may vary but are often marked by persistent itching and discoloration of the skin (most common with skin allergies), coughing, sneezing, wheezing, and mucus discharge (most common with inhalant allergies), and nausea, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea (common with food allergies.)

Over-the-counter preparations and treatments for common dog allergies exist and may be purchased at any good pet supply store, but care should be taken when choosing such treatments. Consultation with a vet is the best first course of action for several reasons. First of all, what you think is an allergic reaction may actually be signs of a more serious ailment and a vet should be the one to determine whether that is the case. Secondly, if the allergy is severe enough, over-the-counter treatments may not be sufficient to treat the symptoms. There is also the chance that the dog does not have an allergy at all. The last thing you want to do is medicate your pet unnecessarily.

If you do think your dog has some type of allergy, consult your vet. He or she will be able to perform tests to determine whether an allergic condition exists, how severe it is, and what the appropriate treatment should be. If the dog has an allergy to certain foods, it will be imperative to restrict the animal’s diet to eliminate those items that cause a reaction. The vet’s testing methods can help to determine whether this type of allergy exists as well. If the dog has flea allergy dermatitis (an allergic reaction to the saliva of fleas, rather than to the insects themselves), an strict flea prevention regimen will be recommended.

The vet may also recommend cortisone or steroids. Many vets are conventionally trained and do not offer holistic alternatives, which can be just as good as the toxic drugs which vets routinely prescribe. So before you accept your vet’s recommendations for drugs, do investigate the alternatives:

1. Natural Flea Treatments

2. Natural Worm Treatments

3. Detoxification of Your Dog’s System if your dog has taken toxic drugs or been exposed to chemicals (household cleaners, insecticides, etc.) in the past.

4. Past steroid use may have compromised Your Dog’s Immune System (characterized by such chronic illness as Lyme’s Disease and many others). Your dog’s immune system can also be boosted by natural means.

5. Treat your dog’s skin allergies naturally from the inside and out.

You should always discuss your intentions with your vet, when proceeding with any new regime, whether natural or otherwise, but knowledge is power. And being armed with the knowledge of the harm that conventional medicines can cause, and the effectiveness of holistic, natural, alternative methods, will stand you in good stead. Many vets are open to such alternatives when asked directly about them by a pet owner who has done research and is looking for a more natural way of dealing with illness, and this case specifically, allergies, in their dog.

Just like humans, dogs that suffer from various allergies can live comfortably with them if they are detected and treated properly. It is important to bear in mind that this is not a time to “play doctor” by attempting to diagnose and treat a possible allergic condition yourself. Only your veterinarian is qualified to determine whether your dog is suffering from allergies. What course of action to take, however, may well be a matter for discussion between you and your vet.

(c) 2006, Brigitte Smith, Healthy Happy Dogs

Brigitte Smith is a dog lover with a special interest in natural dog health, including:

Natural Flea and Worm Treatments
Immune Support for Your Dog

Skin Allergies

Tags: dog allergy, dog health, fleas, immune support dog, natural flea treatment, natural worm treatmentdog allergy, dog health, fleas, immune support dog, natural flea treatment, natural worm treatment

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“No, your dog is not pregnant but she has fleas”, said the vet.

“Excuse me?”

(She lifts up the dog’s tail) “You see all these fleas”

I was stunned. I give my dog flea preventative every month! She bathes monthly and she rarely goes outside. So how could she get fleas?

I learned that all the things I thought mattered did not. After all, what good is flea preventative if it doesn’t work?

Based on my experience, I am going to tell you how to treat and prevent dog fleas.

First, an ounce of prevention is worthwell you know the rest.

It’s easier to prevent fleas than to treat them. I recommend using a high quality flea preventative monthly. Avoid the cheap ones you find in the grocery store and the flea collars. You want to get a treatment that is applied directly to your dog’s skin in between the shoulder blades.

If your dog gets fleas, you not only have to worry about getting the fleas off of your dog, but you have to get the fleas out of the environment. That means everywhere your dog has run, jumped, rested or thumped is full of flea eggs that you have to eliminate.

When you notice that your dog has fleas (If your dog has a lot of fleas, they will be easy to spot. But if it’s only a few fleas you will need to check under your dog’s belly. Then look under their tail)

If you notice fleas, it’s time to act quickly. First you need to treat your dog. Your dog needs a Capstar pill which is a pill that immediately kills all adult fleas within a half hour. You can get this from your vet which will run you about $7 a pill, or you can check out some online stores where you can find it for $14 for a package of 6 pills.

After you apply the Capstar you need to follow up with a flea preventative. This is because the environment still has fleas and you don’t want your dog to get re-infested during the treatment process. Though it can get pricey, I would recommend using Frontline or Advantage.

Next you need to treat the environment. Remove all the dog bedding and immediately wash it. Vacuum all the floors where the dog has had free run; after you vaccum throw away the vacuum bag because it probably contains flea eggs. Next you need to get your pet out of the house and spray your house down. I would recommend getting a bottle of Knockout ES from your vet. Spray all the carpet, all couch cushions, under all furniture and all nooks and crannies. If you use Knockout ES you will need to leave the house for a few hours after you spray because it is very strong.

Now you should have your dog and the environment under control. But there is still a chance that flea eggs did not get treated and are ready to hatch so in 2-3 weeks you need to repeat the environment treating. In 4 weeks, reapply toe Frontline or Advantage to your dog.

This article is courtesy of SmallDogBreedSite.com. Visit SmallDogBreedSite.com to subscribe to our ezine and get the latest information on caring for, traveling with, and shopping for your small dog breed.

Tags: dog health, dog itching, dogs, flea treatment, fleas, prevent fleasdog health, dog itching, dogs, flea treatment, fleas, prevent fleas

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