‘Dog Health’ Articles
Written by Barry on 15 February 2010
My dog is a Cairn Terrier and he is almost 2 yrs old. He was very friendly and playful with other dogs. On Jan 3, 07, he got attacked and wounded by our neighbour’s German Sherperd. His body has healed but he fears other dogs now. Whenever we see dogs that are bigger than or equal to his size, he gets very nervous and barks crazily. And also he would pee when he was too scared. I feel so sad because I don’t know what I can do to calm him or to stop him. Can anyone give some advices? Click on the article title to comment & answer this reader question
Tags: Dogs, Fear, Help, Other, Overcome, With
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Written by Barry on 09 February 2010
Springer spaniels are prone to Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety in springer spaniels amongst a few other dog breeds is a frequent and distressing problem but one that may be effectively beaten. You may well have heard the name but wondered what, exactly, is separation anxiety and how do we diagnose it in dogs?
Being left on your own is 1 of the most disturbing ordeals a young kid could encounter. Perhaps it is possible to imagine back to when you were small and felt with out your family for a short time. The widespread reaction for the kid would be to begin to cry. It is usually a difficult experience. The terror of being in isolation is not solely felt by human beings. Dogs, in particular, can sometimes suffer a similar psychological trauma while left alone in the house or garden.
Dogs are pack animals and, therefore, naturally sociable. A dog’s initial attachment in life is with its mother who will feed and nurture it as well as, to a lesser degree it’s father as well as siblings that make up its pack. After the canine family bond is broken off, the dog immediately supplants its loyalty and pack mentality on to its owner.
Simillar to a kid, when a dog is left behind by its “pack” it could be exceptionally upset. This psychological reaction may manifest itself in numerous ways. This condition is called ‘Separation Anxiety’. A few clues of separation anxiety in dogs could consist of the following:
• Excessive woofing and whining when on it’s own
• Defecation and urination inside your home.
• Chewing furnishings and physical objects such as shoes or boots
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Over or under eating
• Aggression or unhappiness when about to be left alone
• Unusual behaviour – leaping, pacing, panting etc
One can find a number of breeds that show a noticeable predisposition to separation anxiety. Weimaraners, Springer Spaniels, German Shepherds, and Airedales are all dog breeds which suffer typically although it ought to be said that any specific type of dog can develop separation anxiety. Vets as well as dog breeders notice that it can be frequent in dogs that have been separated from their mothers much too early on. It also is usually widespread in dogs that have had lots of owners in early life as well as in dogs that have spent time in the dog pound. Older dogs also can develop separation anxiety following a change in their particular environment. Perhaps a divorce has decimated the pack or moving house also can bring on the condition.
Having diagnosed the issue, what will be done to sort it out? There are two courses of action to take. The actual course which is the proper one for you and your pet in reality is determined by the severity of the problem.
An owner can work along with their pet in order to stop and largely reduce these anxieties by means of applying a expert and carefully structured behavior training program. An owner could pay a visit to a specialist in dog behaviour or, far more conveniently, find a professional dog training course online to download and learn from.
The other alternative is to see a veterinary surgeon and have them prescribe anti-anxiety medications. This is seriously only advisable in severe situations or wherever behaviour training has been unsuccessful. The vet will most probably recommend selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s) that will change the way your dog thinks and acts. They’ve got very a small amount of, slight side affects.
Whatever course of action is decided on, its important to reach the root in the problem and sort it out sooner rather than later. Both dog and owner are going to be happier when the anxiety has been effectively beaten. Take a look at the links on the left. You will find details of overcoming separation anxiety in dogs in “The Secrets to Dog Training” Click Here
Tags: english springer spaniels, obedience training dogs, separation anxiety in springer spaniels, separation anxiety in welsh springer spaniels, springer spaniels, training springer spaniels, welsh springer, welsh springer spaniel, welsh springer spaniels
Posted in Dog Health, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
Written by Barry on 08 February 2010
Fleas are the most common parasite affecting dogs. If you have a dog, at some point you will have fleas as well. The fleas itself is very small and brown. They move very quickly and are difficult to swat. That, however is just the start of problems surrounding a flea infestation. Here we will learn a little more about fleas and how to get rid fleas from your house.
Fleas feed on blood, yours, your dog’s blood, and any other animals in the house.. The life cycle of a flea is four stages from eggs to the flea itself and can move rapidly in the right circumstances. An adult flea lays hundreds of eggs per day. Each egg will then become an adult flea, which will give rise to hundreds more potential fleas each day. Then you can see how just one flea can become a big problem very quickly!
So how can we tell if our dogs have fleas?
A dog with a fleas will tend scratch almost constantly, especially in these places: the ears, the base of the tail, the belly, and the the skin between its leg and belly. t’s actually the saliva of the flea that causes the irritation, not the bite itself, and some dogs have a genuine allergy to this saliva (as opposed to a standard irritation). Dogs with allergies suffer much more significant negative reactions to a flea infestation, and usually develop “hot spots”. These are areas of sore, red, skin caused by the flea saliva and can bleed and become infected easily. Constant scratching may cause the dog to develop bald spots too.
To check for fleas, groom your dog with a fine toothed flea comb (available from vets, petstores or pharmacies). While you are combing his fur you may notice flea droppings – like tiny black pepper grounds. This can be confirmed by wiping the comb onto some kitchen paper. The spoor should look red when smeared on the paper.
If your dog does not show signs of having fleas then preventative action is the sensible thing to do If you are reading this article out of curiosity and your pet does not have a fleas problem, then this is what to do: Scheduled flea treatment is the best prevention. Use prescribed treatment products according to a calendar and stick to the schedule. Your vet will recommend the best product for your size and weight of dog.
OK, so maybe its a little late for that and you have identified that the dog has a flea problem. Well, actually, you have a household problem that you will need to deal with but the important thing is not to panic just work through the steps methodically and you will succeed. Also remember there is no shame in getting a flea infestation, it can happen to anyone with a pet.
You will need to treat your dog and his bedding. You will also need to treat all of the house – your carpets, bedding as well as fleas will be present throughout the house and yard.
If your dog already has fleas, you have two options:
1. You can ‘bomb’ the house. Although you may feel like it we are not talking ‘explosives’ here. They are pesticide products which are called ‘foggers’ which coat each room, and the yard, in a fine mist or dusting of pesticide. You can also use special anti-flea sprays for the surfaces in the house and garden. Although you will succeed in ridding the home of fleas, this method is far from ideal as the stuff you are filling your house with is toxic. Many people leave the home for a few days when bombing as there can be severe allergic reactions to the pesticides both for humans and pets.
2. A healthier alternative is to target the dog with a topical anti-flea solution prescribed by the vet and at the same time thoroughly (very thoroughly – every day) clean the house. This means you will need to vacuum each room completely each day (it’s a good idea to place a flea collar in with the vacuum bag to kill any fleas that get sucked up). You will need to wash the dogs bedding at least every two days until the problem has gone and you will need to change and wash your bedding each day as well as cushion covers and other soft furnishings.
Eventually, groom your dog again and check that the problem is going or has gone. Then start on the preventative treatments mentioned earlier.
There are one or two things to remember:
- Do not use more than one flea treatment on your dog at any one time. This could make your pet quite ill.
- If there are other animals like cats in the house, they will have to be treated too
- Be consistent. If you get halfway through getting rid of the fleas and stop, then they will be back in full force again soon.
The war against fleas is win-able. Remember not to panic and just follow through with the method you have chosen.
Over in the links section to the left of this post is a link to the Ultimate Dog Health Guide. This not only helps you rid fleas from your dog but deals in depth with other parasite issues that can affect your pet, how to treat them and when you should consult a vet. Owning this book could save you thousands on vet fees.
There is also a special book just about getting rid of fleas from your pets and your home. To take a look CLICK HERE
Tags: obedience training dogs
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