A lump in the throat of your dog is an understandable concern. Although this is a rare case, it is still important to know more about it. Even if you are an expert dog owner or the first time you have adopted a pooch, you need to be familiar with this rare disease. If you’re familiar with the disease, then you know what you need to do first–you’ll be aware of the dos and don’t, and the steps you need to take to help your furry friend.

We all love dogs and we never want them to suffer. So, what should you do? 

Don’t worry, dog lovers! You’d know more about this health concern in this article. Don’t panic, therefore. Keep calm, get your pen and paper and take down the important things I’m going to share with you.

Here are the things you should know about the causes, symptoms, and treatments for lumps in your dog’s throat:

How to detect the lump in your dog’s throat?

It’s really easy to detect the lump in your dog’s throat. No need whatsoever for a complicated procedure. Why? Because we usually pet our dogs in the area where you can feel it.

Note that lumps may appear as a ball under the skin of your doggo. DON’T PANIC if you feel it!

Once you feel like your dog’s throat has a “ball-like” flesh, ascertain whether it’s soft or hard and if it is hurting your pooch or not. Knowing not only the lump’s appearance but also its consistency is really necessary.

Lump in your dog’s throat: What are the symptoms?

You should always remember as a dog owner, expert or first-time dog parent that it is important to note whether your pooch shows other symptoms. Observing the behavior of your dog and taking note of the changes can be very helpful, especially to your veterinarian.

The following are the symptoms that expert dog owners and vets usually notice if the pooch lumps in their throat:

• Weight loss. Because of the difficulty in your dog’s eating food and drinking water, it may start losing more and more weight.
• Difficulty breathing. They may experience breathing difficulties because of the illness, meaning your dog may breathe with their mouth opened.

• Weakness
• Difficulty in swallowing.
• Changes in voice and loss of bark. 
• Always thirsty than usual.
• Changes in the frequency of urination.
• Depression or change in behavior.
• Drooling
• Poor stamina
• Changes in drinking.
• Vomiting 
• Swelling in the neck area.
• Coughing
• Odorous breath

Note: In general if the lump is cancerous, it is really important to spot these symptoms. Early detection is the key to helping your dog because whatever you do if you ignore the early signs, you may have risked your pooch’s life–it’s going to be too late to save them.

What are the causes of the lump in your dog’s throat?

Some say the cause of this disease is still unknown, but there are a number of reasons why your dog got a lump in their throat, according to Dog’s Health Problem website. But, if these said “causes” are true or not, the only way to know is to consult your vet.

Since veterinarians know the ins and outs in dog health, they can easily find the lump’s underlying cause by doing a few simple tests.

The cause of the lump in your dog’s throat can be benign or malignant. Listed below are some of the possible causes of the lump in your dog’s throat:

• Fatty mass
• Genetics
• Environment
• Problem in salivary gland
• Presence of an abscess
• Tumor
• Viral bacteria or infection
• Allergy
• Parasites
• Age of the dog
• Cancerous cells
• Call malformation

The fatty mass is one of the most common causes of the lump in your dog’s throat, based on the report from Dog’s Health Problem.

This fatty mass is called lipoma by the vets. A lipoma is an accumulation of fat under the skin of your pet. Usually, it is soft and easy to move under your dog’s skin.

Note: As a dog owner, you should always remember that soft masses are not automatically lipomas.

What do you need to do if you found out that your dog has a lump in their throat?

First and foremost, when you feel there’s a ball-like appearance in your dog’s throat, you need to schedule a vet checkup. The best thing you can do is to ask for professional help, especially if you’re a dog owner for the first time or you don’t know what kind of illness your dog has.

Never act as a vet because you may endanger the health of your dog, or worse, their lives. So, remember, seek professional help at all times. Never rely on what you’ve just heard or read because it’s really important to be accurate in times like this to save your dog from a more severe health issue.

Lump in your dog’s throat: Diagnosis

If you’re adopting a dog, knowing its background is vital. Legally adopting a dog means you can familiarize yourself with where the pup came from, what are the parents ‘ health issues it might inherit, etc.

Knowing your pooch’s complete medical history is vital because it may help your veterinarian. Vets will conduct tests to determine your dog’s condition and to assess the stage the lump has reached.

Here are some of the tests that your vet might do when you consult them about your dog’s lump in the throat:

1. Physical examination
2. Blood test
3. X-rays
4. Cytology
5. Full surgical excision
6. Mapping

Lump in your dog’s throat: Treatment

The treatment will always depend on the nature of illness and the stage it has attained. In addition, the course of treatment also depends on the lump’s size. However, here are the options that your vet might suggest if your dog has a lump in their throat to guide you and prepare you for the said treatments.

1. Surgically removing the lump in your dog’s throat. 
2. If you are dealing with a cancerous lump, radioactive treatment may be an option. It is considered an effective method of treating thyroid tumor.

Types of throat tumors in dogs

• Tonsillar tumor
• Laryngeal tumor
• Esophageal tumor
• Tracheal tumor
• Mast Cell tumor
• Thyroid tumor

If your dog is diagnosed with throat cancer, it is important to remember that you should not leash him anymore. Find an alternative way to monitor your dog or to keep your dog near you. 

Take note: Usually, cancerous bumps are large, painless, and hard. In the meantime, cancerous lumps can be felt outside the skin of the body of your dog. It may appear in their neck, legs, or arms.

If cancerous, how long do dogs live?

Eventually, the untreated disease will kill your dog in a snap–dogs can live for up to two months, more or less. However, if you consult a veterinarian as soon as you notice changes in the health and behavior of your dog, you can prolong their lives and even save them from a more serious and deadly health problem.

Recovery from the treatment 

Remember that the recurrence of the same disease is also possible in dogs, just like humans. So, you really need to monitor the health and behavior of your dog. Always check them out and have a regular check-up to find out your pet’s condition.

Be more conscious about your dog’s diet during and after the treatment. Having your dog’s “diet plan” is a great way to help them recover quickly and stay healthy. Do not hesitate to ask your veterinarian for your dog’s recommended diet plan.

It is important that you put them in an area where they can fully rest during the recovery phase. The best place for them is a quiet, comfortable area. It is helpful to keep them away from people to avoid stress.

Lump in your dog’s throat: Final thoughts

You should report immediately to your vet any bumps and lumps you noticed in your dog. Whether it’s old or new, big or small, it doesn’t matter – it’s important to head straight to your vet so the disease can be treated immediately.

It is really important to take the right steps when dealing with this type of situation as it involves your pet’s health and possibly life. Again, if you don’t know anything, never act like a vet. To know what is the best thing to do first, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

It is also important to keep calm at times like this. You don’t have to feel under pressure. Don’t be in a panic. When dealing with an unfamiliar health issue, the presence of mind is really important. It makes you more aware of the right thing to do when you are calm.

The post Lump In Dog’s Throat: Detect, Symptoms, Causes and Treatment first appeared on PetXU.com.

Her red eye condition could be because of many factors. Here are the causes, symptoms, treatment, and home remedies to help alleviate the condition of your dog. We’re also going to have some tips to prevent your dog from getting red eyes.

Difference between human and dog eyes

1. Your dog has a third eyelid like the nictitating membrane of snakes. It’s inside the corner of the eye. It extends up to protect the eye from trauma.

2. Your dog also has more rods in each cornea. This enables her for better track movement and light than human beings do. To see a flying Frisbee better. But there are not many colors your dog can see.

Why are my dogs eyes red

Many factors could turn your dog’s eyes red. Here are some of them:

1. Age: Your dog might be old. With age comes health problems that might affect her eyes.

2. Allergies: Your dog might be allergic to something in her environment or her food.

Bacteria or virus: Bacterial or viral conjunctivitis may have been contracted by your dog. Conjunctivitis is also called Pink Eye. Bacteria, viruses or irritants in the internal portion of the eyelids attack the pink tissues. The result of inflammation or infection is a red eye.

Bacterial conjunctivitis usually happens when your dog already has inflamed eyes from dry eye or viral conjunctivitis.

Viral conjunctivitis is common among pets with canine distemper. It may also be caused by systemic diseases (a disease that affects the entire body).

Breed: Your dog may be from a long-hair or brachycephalic (flat breed). Because they have bulging eyes, flat-faced dogs like Bulldogs, Pugs, and Shih Tzus are more vulnerable to eye problems. Many of them are also more susceptible to dry eye disease (see below).

Meanwhile, Sheepdogs, Maltese, and Poodles are vulnerable to having their hair poking their eyes. Individual hair could also fall into the eye.

3. Dry Eye: The eye(s) of your dog may not produce enough tear films to lubricate them. This may be due to adenitis, which may damage the tear films ‘ lacrimal glands. The corneas of your dog (the film covering the eyeball) will become dry without tears. Possibly the eyelids swell. Yellow discharge from the infected eye may emerge. This also makes it easy for the cornea to get irritated with debris such as dust or dirt.

This condition is also known as Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). It can be a symptom of an underlying illness. It’s also very painful if left untreated.

5. Eye disease: Your dog might have an eye disease like:

• corneal disease;

• episcleritis (a small mass, nodule, or growth that is smooth, pink or tan, and might look like a pimple);  

• glaucoma (increased pressure in or on your dog’s eyeball due to improper drainage, which may result in a gradual loss of vision) may be accompanied by corneal disease;

• hyperemia (excessive blood in the eyelids);

• ocular vasculature (excessive blood in the blood vessels of the eyes); or,

• uveitis (inflamed iris, choroid, or ciliary, parts of your dog’s eye which have sensitive blood vessels). 

6. Genetic disorder: The third eyelid of your dog may have developed a genetic disorder that weakens the third eyelid’s ligaments. The third eyelid pops up or prolapses when this happens. In the inner corner of the eye, it looks like a small, bright red bulge. This is why the condition is also called Cherry Eye. The eye may be vulnerable to inflammation or infection if the gland pops out.

Another genetic condition could be distichiasis. This is the abnormal growth of an eyelash. Instead of growing outward, the eyelash grows inward, constantly rubbing against the eyeball.

The third type of genetic disorder is an abnormal formation of the tear ducts. Usually, tears are drained. But if the tear duct is not properly formed, there may be a buildup of fluid. This disorder may result in primary glaucoma. This type of condition could begin in one eye and advance to the other. That’s why medical surgery is needed for such a condition.

7. Hemorrhage: Your dog could be suffering from a ruptured blood vessel. The blood floods into the rest of the eye.

8. Injury or trauma: On or near her eye, your dog might have had an accident. For example, her eye is poked by a grass stalk. But the trauma doesn’t need to be on the eye directly. Even if the eye is not harmed, it may still hurt the surrounding area.

For example, she could bump against a chair and hurt her eyebrow. This will lead to an inflamed eye area.

9. Irritants: Your dog’s eyelashes are very short. So, smoke, dust, dirt, and other sources of irritation could easily enter her eyes.

10. Skin disease: Your dog might have a skin condition near her eyes. She might have mites or cancerous growth.

11. Systemic diseases: Your dog may have an underlying disease such as hyperthyroidism, leptospirosis, or cancer (lymphoma, a type of cancer, may cause the eye to turn red).

My dogs eye is red symptoms

Redness is a red eye’s primary symptom. The redness in one area of the white eye (episclera) could begin. But it might spread to other parts of the eye. The following could be other symptoms.

• The area surrounding the eye could be swollen, including the eyelids.

• The eye could be watering too much.

• Excessive eye discharge. The mucus could be clear, white, grey, green, yellow, or red.

• Cloudy, hazy, or bluish cornea (dog equivalent of a cataract).

• Scratches or scars on the cornea.

• Itchy eyes that your dog paws or rub a lot.

• Your dog squints or blinks her eyes a lot.

• A foreign object like an eyelash could be stuck on the eye.

If you see any of the symptoms in your dog, bring it to the vet. Any discoloration in the eyes is always a source of concern. It might be a sign of being infected or inflammation.

Medical treatments

1. Watch your dog. Do not attempt to diagnose the condition yourself or treat it. Anything that affects the eyes of your pet needs medical attention.

2. Take your dog to the vet without delay. Any delay might lead to worse conditions like the loss of eyesight for your dog. The sooner she is checked, the better.

3. Share with your observations like when you first noticed the redness or swelling.

4. Your vet will do the right tests and prescribe the right treatment. Do not be afraid if your veterinarian is doing more than an ophthalmological examination. Your veterinarian may ask for blood, urinalysis, X-ray, ultrasound, and other tests. You might think the eye has nothing to do with these tests. But your veterinarian just wants to make sure your dog doesn’t have an underlying systemic disease or bacterial infection.

For example, if the cornea is damaged, the fluorescent dye will be used by your vet. The vet will put a few drops of the color in the red eye of your dog. Don’t worry, the coloring is harmless. Under a special light, this procedure will make any abnormalities such as scratches visible.

If the problem is dry eye, your vet will perform the Schirmer tear test to find out how much tear films your dog’s eye produces.

If there is an episcleritis, your vet might perform a biopsy to rule out your dog has cancerous growth.

5. The treatment will be based on redness cause. It might be cyclosporine for dry eye. It stimulates the production of tears or artificial tears. Your vet will need surgery to put the third eyelid back in place for a cherry eye.

6. Apply the medication your vet will prescribe. It could be topical anti-inflammatory medication, antibiotics, or eye drops.

Make sure that you ask your vet how to administer the medication properly before you leave the clinic. Make sure your vet show you how to do it. You wouldn’t want to poke the eye of your dog as you try to treat it.

If your dog doesn’t like being touched or handled, you might also want to get some tips from your vet.  She might be extra skittish when you try to administer her medication.

7. Your vet will likely schedule follow-up appointments to make sure that your dog’s condition is improving.

Home treatments

After your visit to the vet, you can take some measures to make your dog comfortable while she heals at home.

• Avoid scratching or pawing your dog’s eyes. Put an Elizabethan collar around her neck if she keeps doing it. Or put her paws in socks so that the inflammation is not aggravated.

• Put a cool compress on the sore eyes. If you think it’s too cold, make sure you wrap the compress in a cloth. The coolness will numb the inflammation and itchy soothed.

• Always keep the eye area clean. Wipe the discharge with a piece of tissue dipped in warm water or use wipes safe for dogs.

• Keep constant observation of your dog. Bring her back to the vet if she shows other symptoms such as fever, lack of appetite, or lethargy.

• If the original eye symptoms worsen or if her surgery looks infected, bring her back to the vet also.

Home-care preventive measures

You may not be able to protect your dog completely from all possible irritation, disease, or injury sources. But you can do your best to reduce her chances of getting a red eye and protect the eyes of your dog.

• Try to keep your home free from dust or dirt.

• Limit her outdoor activities when it’s dusty or when you know that there will be a lot of pollen flying about.

• Regularly trim your dog’s hair, especially those around or near her eyes.

• Don’t allow your dog hang its head out of the window of your car. The air that rushes to her eyes carries dust, dirt, and other irritants. If your dog is the type that gets stressed in a closed car, why don’t you buy a doggle like the following?

• Pecute Fashion Pet Goggles have a pair of polycarbonate lenses. The lenses provide UV protection. The eyes of your dog will be safe from wind, debris, or water. The frames are sturdy, which will withstand even the most energetic dog. 

• JD Gems Cool Puppy Goggles have trendy designs. They block your dog’s eyes against the wind, debris, and water. They’re only a perfect fit for big dogs, though (about 12 kgs).

• ILS X-Small Racing Flames Frame and Orange Lens Doggles have an orange tint to their 100% UV-protected lens. For dogs with big noses, the extra-wide frames are perfect. They are made of a flexible and elastic material that is not going to press too deeply on the head of your dog. For small dogs, this stylish brand is perfect.

Conclusion

You will probably be tuned to any change in your dog as a loving owner. The change may be much or small. But no change is too small when it comes to the eyes of your dog. Take care of her condition. You always want the eyes of her puppy-dog to be loving and not painful, right?

The post Dog’s Eyes Are Red: Why Are My Dogs Eyes Red? Symptoms and Remedies first appeared on PetXU.com.

Your dog could have broken her toe or toes in one paw. This article will show you how you can find out if this is your dog’s condition and what you can do for your pet.

What are broken toes?

Your dog has four toes on each of her feet. Each toe has three bones. The two toes in the middle bear most of your dog’s weight.

Sometimes, like humans, dogs can break their toes. If this happens to your dog, there will be a crack in her bone, which is also called a fracture. This crack may be as thin as a hair, or it may break two or more pieces of a bone.

A fracture may be an open or closed form. An open fracture (sometimes referred to as a compound fracture) indicates that the broken bone is exposed to your dog’s injury. This type may have a high risk of bacteria and dirt infection. There are no noticeable injuries in a closed fracture and the damage is all internally.

Whatever the size of the fracture may be, it can be excruciating for your dog. The crack should be healed properly or your dog could be limping for the rest of her life.

How does your dog break her toes?

There can be many ways that your dog could get her toes broken. It is not just a playful pooch who can get an accident. Here are the common ways that your dog could break her toes:

1. She gets her toes stepped on. Small breeds are highly susceptible to getting their paws accidentally stepped on. Since they’re little, the bones can fracture easily.

2. She lands wrongly. Your dog may enjoy jumping off sofas, stairs, tables, or other high spots. But she could land in the wrong way. Or she could land too hard and her paws might have too much force and she develops a fracture.

3. She’s stubbornly running hard and unable to pause, so she’s stubbing her toe against the sofa or table perhaps wall. Or you might inadvertently open the door and rub it against the foot of your dog

4. She stumbles and twists her toes. While running, she could stumble on an uneven path or a pebble. She could then twist her toe and fracture it.

5. After it’s stuck in something, she pulls her paw too much. Your dog may love to wriggle into things like clothes, rugs, brambles. All of these could catch her paw. If this happens, the natural reaction of your dog is to unstuck her paw. And your dog might sometimes strain her foot, leading to broken toes.

6. She finds herself in a car accident. Your dog might escape her leash and run into a car, no matter how hard you try. Or she might be so excited to welcome you home that when the door is opened, she runs out to kiss you. Only she to crashes into the car instead of you.

7. She fights with another dog and gets wounded. Dogs like to bite each other when they fight. Sometimes a bite on the paw could become too hard—hard enough to fracture.

8. She doesn’t get the necessary nutrients she needs. Like us, dogs require calcium. Your pet may not get enough calcium or other nutrients to keep her bones healthy.

What are the signs of broken toes?

Your dog may have a high pain tolerance. Also, she may have a unique way to tell you she doesn’t feel good. But some common signs of broken toes are visible. Check if the behavior of your dog is similar to the following:

1. She cries or whines in pain whenever she walks or when you hold her paw.

2. She limps a lot when she walks. This would become easily noticeable if your dog injured her middle or weight-bearing toes.

3. She holds up a paw to you even while she is resting. But she may not want you to touch the paw when you try to examine it.

4. She licks her paws a lot more than usual.

5. Her toe or her whole paw may look swollen.

6. She might look depressed and lose her appetite. Or she might become lethargic and might not want to move.

What do you do when your dog’s toes are broken?

If you suspect your dog has broken her toes, immediately bring her to the vet. Do this even if you think the injury is a minor one. It may also be possible to let the vet evaluate her to prevent further complications of the injury.

Open fractures require immediate veterinary care to prevent infections. Before you go to the veterinarian, you can perform first aid. Wrap over the open wound a clean gauze or towel and apply gentle pressure to stop the bleeding. Support the injured paw with towels. To prevent her from going into shock, wrap your dog in a towel.

A vet can immediately assess which toe is broken and how severe it is without the need for lab tests. But the best way to be certain that the toes are broken is to take an x-ray of the paw, which can only be done in a clinic. This is particularly true when a hairline fracture is a cause that is unpleasant but impossible to assess from feeling alone.

It’s also necessary to immediately bring her to the vet if you think she’s fractured her middle toes and hurt the bone on a joint layer. If she has a fracture in her weight-bearing toes, there could be a chance that she will become lame. If a joint surface is hurt, arthritis may develop, which may lead to long-term pain or even lameness.

The vet can perform additional diagnostic tests like radiographs and orthopedic exams. These exams will not take long.

How can your dog’s broken toes be treated?

Your vet will be able to determine the best way to treat your dog’s broken toes. The treatment will depend on how severe the injury is and if your dog is suffering from complications like infection.

The injured paw is most likely to be wrapped in a bandage. Unless you have some experience, don’t try to wrap the paw at home by yourself. You could bandage it too tightly which could restrict the flow of blood. The wound could get worse when blood flow is cut off and involves the whole body, not just the hand. Probably at home, you will need to redo the bandages. The wrap may get soiled or your dog may chew it off. Ask your vet for the best way to do this before you go home.

Sometimes a fracture will need a splint or a cast, especially if the broken toe is weight-bearing. This will keep the bone immobilized while it heals.

If the fracture is bad, the vet could perform surgery and keep the two parts of the bone together with pins, wires, screws, or metal plates. This will help knit the bone together.

The vet could also prescribe the necessary anti-inflammatory, antibiotics, and painkillers to help your dog while she heals.

Broken toes usually take at least four weeks for young puppies and six to eight weeks for older dogs to heal. But this period could be longer based on the following reasons:

1. The severity of the injury – a fracture in the hairline will heal faster than a bone broken down into two; if your dog undergoes surgery, it will also make a recovery a little harder and longer.

2. Your dog’s age – an older dog will take a longer time to heal than a younger dog.

3. Complications – If infection occurs, your dog’s condition may become more complicated, so it may take longer to heal than usual; if joints are affected, this additional injury would add to the healing period.

4. Home care – If you manage to restrict the activity of your dog when you bring her home and give her the right medicines, her healing time may be faster; but if she keeps walking, jumping, or running, it may take longer.

How do you help your dog heal at home?

You will need to limit the movements of your dog when you take her home so that her fractured toes will heal quickly. Activities such as leaping and walking are banned during this period. To limit the activities of your dog, you may need to install gates or pens. In her recovery period, you could also limit her to her kennel.

The dog can unexpectedly become violent towards you because of the pain. The toe in a wrap or cast may be chewed and snap. You may need to put a muzzle on her so she won’t bite everything and everyone.

Help her rest better by laying her on her good side. This will make sure that her body will support the injured paw. You can also use this position when you need to re-bandage her paw.

Remove the old bandages gently when you need to redo the wrap. Check if there is no hair dirt, blood, or pus in the cut. If you see any, use a pet-safe cleanser or cotton to wash them gently. If the injury seems to be tainted, take the dog to the vet. If it looks clean, follow your vet’s directions on how to best put a bandage around the broken toe of your pet.

Your dog might also need assistance to stand or use the toilet during her recovery period. You will need to be aware of her needs to help her.

Set several follow-up appointments with your vet. The best schedule is a weekly visit. But talk with your vet about this. An expert should monitor if the bone is healing properly.

You will still need to walk the pet during her recovery period. Exercise will help her bones not to stiffen up and her muscles not to shrink Massages might also help keep her the limber in her body. The veterinarian will also be able to give you feedback on what activities the dog will do best. The veterinarian will also be able to tell you how to get the dog back to its former level of activity safely and slowly.

How can you prevent your dog from breaking her toes?

No matter how much you take care of your dog, some accidents are unavoidable. But you can lessen the chances of your dog getting into an accident with the following tips:

1. Train your dog to follow the command “stay.” This is important if she is very frisky and loves running. Read this article for tips on training your dog to stay.

2. Keep your dog in your fenced yard until she is adequately trained.

3. Always keep your dog on a leash when you walk her outside.

4. Put thick rugs close to furniture from which she loves to jump. This will not prevent injuries that may happen. But it can provide your dog with a softer landing spot and may be cushioning.

5. Open doors carefully. Your dog might be lurking behind it.

Summary

As mentioned above, in spite of your best efforts to keep your dog safe, accidents can happen. Track your dog at all hours. Note any behavioral changes.

If she breaks one of her toes, the best thing you can do for her is to treat her injury immediately. In this way, she will heal properly as soon as possible.

Additionally, by restricting her movements, providing her medication, and taking care of her, your dedication to helping her recover from her injury can shorten her recovery time. You’ll need to stand firm no matter how much she wishes to run. She might not know why she is being constrained. But if you’re committed, your dog will soon return to her healthy, normal self.

The post Dog Has Broken Toes: How? Signs, What To Do? Treatment, Heal at Home and Prevention first appeared on PetXU.com.

This article will discuss what calluses are, how your dog develops one, how you can treat it, and how to prevent it from coming back.

What is a callus?

A callus is a rough, thick patch of skin that forms on a bony point on your dog’s body. It is also known as a pressure sore and a dog hock.

Your dog has an ulna bone, the bony part that sticks out like her elbow, hocks (the back legs), hips, and leg sides in certain parts of her body. Your dog could do these three activities that hurt the ulna bone:

1. Your dog loves to flop down on hard surfaces. So, she constantly hits her ulna bone.
2. Your dog loves to slide or scrape her elbows (and other parts) against hard surfaces.
3. Your dog has a very sedentary lifestyle, lying all day, and her favorite spot is the cold hard floor, which puts excessive pressure on her elbows and other parts of the body.

If the ulna bone is always put under these activities then it will try to protect itself by forming a callus. This spot is dry, firm, hairless, and scaly skin. It can be gray, dark brown, or black.

Large breeds with short coats are more likely to develop a callus like Labradors or Mastiffs than one with heavy coats. Padding and protection against hard surfaces have been added by dogs with thick coats. Smaller breeds have less body mass than for their joints to be under pressure Deep-chested breeds such as German Shepherd Dogs, Akitas, and Boxers may develop a sternum (breastbone) callus.

A callus can get crack and bleed more than being unsightly, or it can become infected and ulcerated. For your dog too, a callus makes it uncomfortable as it may be itchy or painful. If your dog chews or bites her callus, it may cause a crack or tear in which bacteria can enter and infect the skin. An infected callus means a trip to the vet for an urgent situation.

Alongside it, the callus can produce hygroma. A hygroma is a pocket of fluid that may be infected again. A hydrogoma that is not contaminated is usually small. If your dog avoids hard surfaces for a while, it can heal naturally. Your vet could also drain the fluid. An infected hydrogoma becomes quite big and very painful to your dog. Extreme cases require surgery.

You will know that your dog is developing a callus with these symptoms:

• Her fur becomes thin around the ulna bones.
• The skin becomes dry and discolored.
• She has trouble bending her elbows.
• She licks her elbows a lot because the callus is irritating her.

If you notice these early symptoms of a callus, treat her immediately.

How do you treat your dog’s callus?

Some calluses are not a cause for alarm and do not need a trip to the vet. But other calluses should be presented to the vet for immediate medical action.

If you manage to spot your dog’s callus early, try these treatments:

1. Provide your dog with a good bed that takes into account her size, breed, and sleeping preference.

When she decides to hang out, rent a sofa bed for her. When she enjoys curling up and needs protection, it would be great to have a canopy bed or a cuddler dog bed as it protects her body from all angles. Place soft bedding inside it if your dog sleeps in her kennel. If she’s old, an orthopedic bed may be good for her callus as well as for her arthritis.

For summer months, get her a cooling mat. You can put this mat on the floor or atop her bed. 

Train and encourage her to go to her bed even for naps or even if she’s just lounging around. If you can afford it, buy a couple of beds so she will have a lot of choices and she will have less time to sleep on the floor. If she likes to lie next to you, when you settle down, bring her bed with you. One way she can be encouraged to use the bed is to put her favorite toys there. That’s going to signal she owns it.

Also, this might be against your house’s rules, but let your dog settle on the couch. It will be better to keep cleaning the fur off the furniture than for your dog to develop a callus on the cold hard floor.

2. If it is not easy to persuade your dog to sleep on her bed, put some pillows or blankets on the floor on her favorite spots. This isn’t going to be as good as a bed, but it will at least reduce the soil’s hardness and make it a bit softer.

3. Always clean any callus that forms on your dog’s body. Making sure that it is clean could prevent infection.

You don’t have to use dog soap or shampoo all the time. You can use wet wipes that are safe for pets.

Pogi’s Grooming Wipes — Dogs & Cats deodorizing wipes are hypoallergenic, and they are safe for your dog. They contain ingredients such as aloe vera that can moisturize the callus of your dog. And because they’re made of bamboo fiber, they’re earth-friendly.

4. Once rubbing the callused elbow, contact the doctor. The cover can restrict the area’s blood flow. A callus also requires soothing air to heal. The wrapping can infect or damage the callus. Some dogs developed swollen legs due to the wrapping of the callus in a bandage.

5. If you get the go-signal from your vet to wrap the callus, try to put a protective sleeve around the callused elbow of your dog. Usually, these products are not as restrictive as bandages. Try the following:

Nature Pet Deck Elbow Protector/Dog Elbow Sleeve/Hygroma Elbow Pads for Dogs – this product is not as restrictive or tight as normal bandages. It can protect the callused elbow from scraping the ground. As it has padding, it also serves as a shield for pressure. If your dog has hygromas, you can even use it. It has an inside pocket where for additional cushioning, you can place heating or cooling gel sheet. The Velcro closure device allows you to adjust the protector’s tightness and looseness.

Suitical Recovery Sleeve – this product is made of breathable, stretchy fabric. So, this still allows air to reach the callus. But it covers the entire leg of your dog so she won’t be able to lick the spray or topical medicine you’ve applied to her callus. The sleeve’s style ensures it won’t slip off easily.

You could transform an old sock into a home-made sleeve for some new-school lining and shielding. Cut a hole at the end of the toe. Let the heel part cover the callus. Use some strong string or old pantyhose and make it into a sling that won’t drop the sock down. If you have some suspenders, you can use it to hold the sock up and make sure it’s not going to slip down.

6. The easiest way to heal a callus is to reduce the pressure on the joints. But by applying elbow balm, cream, or wax, you can prevent the callus from getting worse. The callused surface will be moisturized. Applying this type of medication can make the rough skin of the callus smoother, softer, and less restrictive. This, in turn, could prevent cracking, tearing and bleeding of the callus. Make sure that pets are safe from the product you are going to use. Try the following products:

The Blissful Dog Elbow Butter – this product contains all-natural ingredients, so even if your dog licks it, it is healthy. This comes in an easy-to-apply tube. It’s as easy as putting on your lipstick. On the spot, simply twist and dab. You should rub the material after you have applied it so that it penetrates deeper into the layers of the callus. Apply twice a day for the best results. If the callus is tender, you should apply once a day.

Petroleum Jelly like Vaseline – you likely have this in your house because it’s such a low-cost, multi-purpose lubricant. Add a generous amount twice a day to the callus of your puppy. Massage so that it hits all callus regions. Remember that the grease of the petroleum jelly may be transferred to your flooring and furniture from the callus of your dog. Try not to let the dog lick it, too. It is not toxic to dogs. Yet the pet may be adversely affected because it is not food.

7. For a more organic approach, try putting coconut oil on the callus. Massage the oil for 2-3 minutes. If you have your vet’s approval, put a sleeve or padding over the area so that your dog will not lick it.

These are the conditions where you need to visit your vet:

1) Check the callus every day. See if the moisturizer you’ve applied is effective. Make sure that the callus is not bleeding or oozing. If it does, bring your dog to the vet.

2) Do not give medicine to your dog, especially medicines for human pain relief, without first consulting the vet. These can be easily obtained from a pharmacy, but the dosage may be wrong. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

3) Consult your vet if, after all that you’ve done, the callus won’t go away. If necessary, your vet can perform surgery and tell you which antibiotics, spray, or medicine you can give your dog to help it heal more quickly.

What do you do to prevent a callus from developing again?

The best prevention is to keep your dog away from hard surfaces. Training her to use her bedding is paramount. During the summer months, invest in a cooling pad or an elevated bed.

Don’t let your dog get overweight. If her weight is high, it will have a greater impact on a hard surface. A heavy body will also mean extra pressure on the elbows of your dog. It’s also tougher for overweight dogs to cool down. So if your dog is overweight, she’ll always be searching for better spaces on the floor

Make your dog lead a more active lifestyle. Take her out for more walks instead of allowing her to nap or lay down all day.

Summary

A callus is the reaction of your dog’s body to being repeatedly hit. It might lead to more serious issues for your pet and your finances if left untreated. Train your dog to lie down on soft places instead of the hard floor. If you see a callus begin developed in one position, treat it immediately with your vet in consultation. Instead of treating a full-blown callus, it is always better to stop something at the beginning. You would not want to see your beloved pooch suffering from pain, would you?

The post How to Treat and Prevent Your Dog’s Elbow Callus? first appeared on PetXU.com.

As a dog owner, it can drive you crazy because you can’t figure out what the deal is, but just imagine how much harder it must be for your pooch!

Skin itchiness may happen in dogs for multiple reasons. You understand for sure that when you notice hot spots on the body of your dog, it has become problematic. Hot spots in the skin are red, and moist spots become irritated by continuous scratching, biting, or chewing.

Incessant Scratching (and Licking) in Dogs

Pruritus is described as an inconvenience leading to an undeniable urge to scratch. It should be noted that itching is not in itself a sickness, but rather a symptom of an underlying illness or behavioral issue. Pruritus or incessant scratching in dogs are the most prevalent causes:

1. Allergies

Allergies or sensitivities often trigger pruritus to food. A dog may have a food or instant environment allergic reaction. It may also be triggered by contact dermatitis, a type of skin disease that develops when they come into contact with delicate substances (e.g. soap, pesticides, and other comparable chemicals).

2. Dry Skin

Nutrient deficiency or the weather may cause dry skin in dogs. Usually, dogs will respond to this by scratching their bodies or licking their fur. This can typically be solved by tweaking their diet or using special shampoos.

3. Ticks, Fleas, or Mites

Another prevalent cause of pruritus is canine parasites. When t they feast on your dog these unwanted residents, it generally leads to a lot of discomforts. Ticks can be big enough for the naked eye to see, while fleas are stealthier until the infestation becomes too severe.

Mites, in comparison, are microscopic, so we won’t know if they are causing the problem unless your veterinarian can confirm it. Hence, if your dog is incessantly scratching yet you can’t see any physical signs of the problem, better have your dog checked by the vet.

4. Pain

Sometimes dogs may scratch or lick certain parts of their body obsessively because they feel pain in those parts. If your dog suddenly seems obsessed with his paws, for instance, you can check for any foreign objects that might have stuck between his nails. They may also react to orthopedic illnesses such as hip dysplasia and arthritis.

5. Bacterial or Fungal Infections

These infections usually happen after excessive scratching has already taken place due to other causes. Skin punctures invited unwanted microbes on the wounds, hence, more scratching ensues.

6. Anxiety or Boredom

Dogs can also have similar behavioral reactions in the same way that people can get fidgety when they are nervous or bored. If they don’t know what to do with their anxiety, or if they simply can’t find anything to do, dogs can scratch, lick, or chew on themselves or furniture without ceasing.

In this situation, your dog must be trained to eliminate the conduct so that he can learn how to divert his energy to better stuff. Otherwise, you may end up with a highly injured dog, or worse, your things and furniture may be damaged as well. The owner always has to guarantee that at all times their dog will act properly.

7. Hormonal Imbalance

Skin infections may occur when your dog produces too many or too few particular hormones. It can also sometimes lead to bald spots in the body of your dog. Since the pattern of scratching and licking may be very comparable to all the other possible causes in this list, if hormones are the culprit, a visit to the vet will reveal.

How to Help Your Dog Out?

Since there are different reasons why a dog may suddenly itch particular parts of the body, or worse, scratch itself all over, a thorough examination by your veterinarian will assist you in determining the real cause of the pruritus of your pooch. Yes, you can always superficially try to treat itchiness, but unless you work to eliminate the actual cause, the skin of your pooch will remain itchy.

For instance, antibiotics will usually alleviate itchiness that is caused by infection, while an elimination diet may provide relief for allergies. However, that is only one piece of the puzzle. The best course of action, really, is to treat the underlying cause and provide skin relief at the same time.

Recommended Shampoos for Itchy Dog Skin

Once you find the main reason why your dog’s skin is so itchy, you should now work to get his skin back to normal. One of the quickest ways to do that is by using a specially formulated shampoo. Appropriate shampoo would rely on the source of the itch, but there are some factors that you should consider when purchasing one for your pet:

• Ingredients: Ingredients such as soap and alcohol will probably make your pooch worse. Natural ingredients such as oatmeal, coconut oil, aloe vera, and shea butter should therefore be used. It also recommends nutrients that are useful for the body (e.g. vitamin E, biotin).
• Hypoallergenic label: Go for this label if your pooch is presently suffering from allergies. Again, the best choice for minimizing further allergic reactions is a product with natural ingredients without harsh chemicals.
• Medicated label: This is an excellent option when dealing with diseases of bacteria or fungi. Just make sure you’re guilty of diseases to make sure you’re using the correct dog shampoo.

Listed below are some of the best shampoos for treating your dog’s itchy skin:

1.   Vet’s Best Allergy Itch Relief Shampoo Natural Formula

This is one of the dog shampoos most sought after to help treat allergies to dogs. Using only natural ingredients such as oatmeal, tea tree oil, and d’limonene, it is produced particularly with the assistance of veterinarians to moisturize the skin and provide itch relief.

It also has neem oil and chamomile, so you can be sure that you won’t only keep your dog’s skin healthy, you will also leave him smelling fresh for longer.

2.    Burt’s Bees for Dogs Itch-Soothing Shampoo with Honeysuckle

This is a nice choice for dry skin dogs. It is produced with a 100% natural formula that contains ingredients such as honeysuckle to clean your pooch slightly. It is also pH-balanced so that both dogs and puppies can use it safely. You can also purchase another version of Burt’s Bees, which is the Burt’s Bees for Hypoallergenic Shampoo Dogs.

Because it is soap-free, it is especially helpful for pets that are suffering from atopic dermatitis. It will leave your dog’s coat clean and soft, though if you are looking for something that smells good, this may not be the shampoo for you.

3.    Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe All-Natural Pet Shampoo

If you’re trying to tackle dry skin issues, this natural formulation is another excellent option. This is because its primary ingredients oatmeal and aloe vera, are efficient against skin irritation. It also operates well as a delicate skin moisturizer and encourages quicker skin healing that has been badly devastated by the teeth and nails of your dog.

Soap-free and pH balanced, this shampoo ensures that your pet will feel better in a few days. It will also help improve the quality of your dog’s coat, and best of all, it smells really good. It will only make you want to cuddle your pet more!

4.    Moosh Dog Shampoo

This shampoo is good at eliminating pet odor as well as encouraging good skin and coat. This formulation is highly recommended if your pet is dealing with allergies, dry skin, or hot spots. It has aloe vera, argan oil, shea butter, and bentonite clay to cure most kinds of diagnosis of pruritus.

5.    Veterinary Formula Antiparasitic & Antiseborrheic Medicated Shampoo

This shampoo is for you if your dog has bacterial, fungal, and parasitic diseases. Its formulation includes salicylic acid, micronized sulfur, and carbon tar to provide relief and cure for parasitic diseases such as mango, seborrhea, and microbial diseases. To moisturize the skin of your pet, it also has allantoin and colloidal oatmeal.

6.    Sentry Pet Care Flea & Tick Shampoo with Oatmeal for Dogs and Puppies

If your dog is suffering poorly from an infestation of ticks and fleas, this is a nice shampoo to kill these parasites. It is perfect even for pooches with delicate skin due to its natural ingredients. It also has a Hawaiian ginger fragrance aside from oatmeal, which will leave your dog smelling really beautiful.

The best shampoo for your dog will be the one that addresses why he is scratching his skin in the first place. If you are thinking of buying a particular shampoo, make sure that you ask your veterinarian first so she can tell you whether it’s good or not.

Home Remedies for Your Itchy Dog

Sometimes, your dog’s itching may not need any serious intervention because it only happens intermittently. Although your pooch’s skin may not look that battered, it may still be worth it to try out home remedies to alleviate the itching.

1.    Oatmeal Bath

Oatmeal baths have long been used by humans to relieve dry and itchy skin, and it also works (and is safe) for our canine friends. You can go for an oatmeal bath if your pet likes baths, or you can create an oatmeal paste and use it as an ointment.

You just need to sprinkle simple ground oats on warm water if you want to go to the tub and then soak your pooch in this mixture for about 10 to 15 minutes. Slowly add water to your oats until it becomes pasty if you want to produce a paste. Then spread it for relief in the impacted regions.

2.    Coconut Oil

Coconut oil can be applied directly to the itchy areas. Because it is a natural ingredient, you don’t have to worry when your dog feels like licking it. Aside from providing relief from the itch, it also moisturizes your pet’s skin.

3.    Olive Oil

Olive oil includes vitamin E and antioxidants so it can assist in maintaining your dog’s skin and coat healthy. All you have to do is add 1⁄2 tablespoon of olive oil to your dog’s dinner three to five times a week. Soon enough, you’ll see a significant improvement in their skin and itching habits.

4.    Plain Yogurt

Plain yogurt can help improve your dog’s gut health, but only if it’s safe enough for their digestion. Hence, you should see to it that the yogurt doesn’t have xylitol, sugar, or any other additives that might be harmful to your dog.

For small dogs, one teaspoon a week and two teaspoons a week should be enough for big dogs to see a difference in their skin status. This is particularly helpful for allergy pooches. Before providing yogurt to your pet, make sure your vet provides the go signal.

5.    Herbal Tea and Chamomile

Dogs that have hot spots may greatly benefit from warm tea baths. Prepare your dog’s bath and put in the water several herbal tea bags. Let these bags steep for at least three minutes, then give an all-natural herbal bath to your dog.

Conclusion: Itchy No More!

The products and tips mentioned above can assist you to relieve your itchy dog. To make sure you get the correct item, however, you must first understand the root cause of your dog’s itch. Otherwise, you may be using an ineffective product to eliminate the pruritus of your pooch.

Whatever the cause, some home remedies are great at offering relief. If you really want to accelerate the healing process, the best things to do are to use superficial medicines and eliminate the culprits.

The post Itchy Dog Skin: Why is Your Dog Scratching All the Time? Shampoos and Home Remedies for Your Itchy Pooch first appeared on PetXU.com.

There are many reasons why your dog develops bad breath. There are also many ways to remedy the problem.

Reasons for bad breath on dogs

The cause of your dog’s bad breath could be internal or external. Internal causes include illnesses. External causes could include gross things that she eats.

1. Oral disease

Some oral disease tooth decay, mouth tumors, inflamed gums, plaque and tartar build-up, or foreign items stuck between the teeth are the most prevalent reason for poor breath (or halitosis as medically described).

Dogs from small breeds like Shih Tzus are more prone to developing dental problems because the shape of their mouths makes them vulnerable to decay and bacteria.

Looking inside her mouth is the simplest way to find out if your dog has some oral disease. Check if her teeth are dark brown or black, or her gums are red and swollen, also that if internal lips have sores. Look for foreign objects such as bones or the remaining food stuck in the teeth of your dog.

Plaque and tartar could inflame gums, make gums recede exposing teeth to more bacteria, destroy the tissue in your dog’s mouth and gums, and cause severe halitosis.

The dental disease could be so bad that the bacteria have seeped into the blood vessels of your dog’s mouth, causing infection.

2. Kidney disease

If the kidneys of your dog don’t work correctly, your body won’t be able to remove waste properly. The waste products will build up in the body of your dog, leading to bad breath.

To check if this is the cause of your dog’s breath, have a sniff of her breath. If it smells like ammonia or urine then there is a big chance that something is wrong with her kidneys.

3. Liver disease

The liver is a significant organ in the body of your dog. It performs many tasks: it eliminates blood toxins, metabolizes food to transform it into energy, stores vitamins, helps digestion by generating bile acids, and generates proteins that are essential for blood clotting. When liver failure occurs, your dog may have bad breath as a symptom of this severe disease.

Check if your dog vomits, does not want to eat or lacks the usual appetite, and has really bad breath. Yellowish gums instead of the usual pink ones mean that the problem needs the attention of a vet ASAP.

4. Diet

All dogs love to eat. Even things that are not considered food are fair game to them. Your dog might have eaten something toxic to her. Or she might have eaten something foul like garbage, dead animals, or even poop.

For instance, if your dog eats raw fish, her breath smells like one. If she smells like poop in her breath, you understand what she’s eaten. It is a normal activity for dogs to eat poop, particularly cats poop, but it is a very unhygienic activity that should be stopped.

5. Diabetes

Diabetes can lower your dog’s immune system. If this happens, bacteria could proliferate in your dog’s mouth without antibodies to check it.

This issue could result in a sweet and fruity breath. But because your dog’s breath smells good, it does not mean that you should let the problem continue. Diabetes could lead to other complications.

You will know that your dog has diabetes if drinks and urinates more than normal.

How to get rid of dog’s bad breath (remedies)

To start treating your dog’s bad breath, the most significant thing to do is to discover the origin of the issue. Upon finding out the root of the smell, you can choose which alternatives would be best for your dog to get rid of your dog’s bad breath.

1. Consult your vet

Your vet will be able to determine the exact reason for your dog’s bad breath by conducting an examination. Tell your vet all of the symptoms that you have noticed.

If the problem is an oral disease, dental cleaning can be provided by your veterinarian. You might be amazed, but the deep cleaning of the dog’s teeth will involve anesthesia. Not many vets give teeth cleaning without anesthesia. If you are concerned about anesthesia then do some research in your neighborhood if a vet clinic provides dog teeth cleaning free from anesthesia.

If your dog is not allergic to or can handle anesthesia, your veterinarian should be able to examine. Cleaning may also require x-rays and radiographs because your veterinarian will need to determine whether to remove some of your dog’s teeth to prevent further infection.

If the root of the halitosis is more serious like kidney disease or diabetes or liver disease then your vet will be able to advise you of the proper treatment.

2. Diet and exercise

A healthy body leads to breathing with a good smell. Feed your dog high-quality, nutritious food. Also, if you’re feeding her wet dog food, make sure there’s no leftover food stuck between her teeth. For instance, brush her teeth frequently or offer her chew toys.

Also, give her plenty of exercises so that she does not develop illnesses like diabetes.

3. Home remedies

You have several options to solve your dog’s bad breath problem at home. Here are some of them:

1) It is essential to maintain adequate oral hygiene. In order to prevent plaque and tartar build-up, always brush the teeth of your dog. Do it once a week at least. Use formulated dog toothpaste. Human toothpaste includes xylitol, which is highly toxic to your dog.

Try the Pura Naturals Organic Solutions dental kits. There are separate kits for puppies, adult dogs, and senior dogs. Each kit is supplied with a gel tube and a toothbrush. The gel has no harmful components while the brush is strong enough to scrape plaque, tartar, and food stuck in the teeth of your dog.

2) Monitor your dog and prevent snacking on stuff like garbage, poop, or dead animals. When you have your walks, always keep her on a leash so that you can pull her away from unhealthy things she may want to eat.

If you have cats in your house, make sure that your dog cannot access the litter box. Put it in a place where your dog cannot reach but which your cat can easily get to.

3) Give your dog a lot of toys she can chew. Choose ones that have nubs or grooves that can help scrape your dog’s teeth while she chews. 

Try the Brushing Stick Dog Chew Toy from Bristly. This product is a toothbrush as well as a toy. Your dog, while having fun, can clean her teeth on its own. There are four sizes you can choose from depending on your dog’s breed. Each toy has a collection of2-sided bristles that can clean the teeth and gums of your dog. Two paw pads allow your dog to hold the toy readily. You can even place toothpaste in a reservoir.

If you want something more natural, Antlerz Natural Dog Chews offers deer antlers that come in various sizes perfect for small to big breeds of dogs. These are natural chew bones, so they do not contain any additives or chemicals.

4) Use coconut oil as a natural cleanser for antibacterial teeth. You can use it on your dog’s chew bone or toy as an alternative to toothpaste, offer it as a syrupy treat, or add it to the meals of your dog.

Owners who give their dogs coconut oil recommend you provide a maximum of 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of dog weight.

In addition to making her breath fresh and cleaning her teeth, coconut oil can provide your dog with extra advantages. It includes saturated fats that can improve the digestion of your dog, contribute to a brighter coat, moisturize her skin, and help fight arthritis.

5) Give her chew treats that are specially formulated to clean teeth. Chlorophyll, cinnamon, and clove as ingredients are good for making your dog’s breath fresh and cleaning her teeth.

Try the DentaCare Daily Oral dog treats. These come in various flavors such as yogurt and peanut butter, yogurt, peppermint, and parsley, and combos of yogurt and fruit. The treats help remove tartar. Moreover, the American Kennel Club recommends this brand, and each pack has the approval seal of the Club.

6) If you want to give chlorophyll directly to your dog, add some fresh cuttings of wheatgrass to your dog’s food. You could also juice it and add the liquid to your dog’s food or water.

Or you could grow your wheatgrass mini-hedge and keep it near your dog’s food bowl. Whenever she has the urge to eat grass, she can eat the wheatgrass instead of your lawn.

When you start this diet, try to give only a little bit at a time until your dog is used to the raw grass.

Wheatgrass comprises, vitamins, fiber, amino acids, antioxidants, and enzymes besides chlorophyll. So, in addition to freshening the breath of your dog, wheatgrass can help with your digestion, stop constipation, increase her energy, and fulfill her desire to consume grass.

Warning: chlorophyll can sometimes make your dog’s poop turn green. If you are unsure about adding it to your dog’s diet, then consult your vet.

7) Another natural ingredient you can add directly to your dog’s food is cinnamon.

You can sprinkle a little bit of your dog’s food. Don’t offer that spice too much, though. Cassia-type cinnamon has coumarin, a compound that, if ingested in high quantities, could be harmful to your dog’s liver.  In general, cinnamon also has anti-clotting characteristics. Too much could thin out the blood a bit more than usual.

This spice is said to boost brain function among dogs. Plus it might be able to regulate your dog’s blood sugar and thus ward off diabetes. Research has also shown that cinnamon mixed with honey can benefit dogs with arthritis.

8) If your dog hates having her teeth brushed and does not like having additives included in her food, then you might need to add something to her water.

Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Tartar Remover is an additive to water that helps kill plaque-causing bacteria. Specially developed to freshen the breath of your dog and stop the build-up of tartar and plaque. Simply add 1 tablespoon of your dog’s water to 32 ounces.

Before adding much to the water of your dog, do a taste test first. Some owners said their dogs didn’t like the taste while others said their dogs had no issue drinking their spiked water.

If your dog does not like the taste, you can dilute the solution and spray it directly into your dog’s mouth.

9) Some individuals believe a good intestine is a good body. Because harmful bacteria are the primary cause of many halitosis causes, add a few probiotics to your dog’s diet to fight against poor bacteria. Probiotics are a good bacteria source.

Nusentia Probiotic Miracle is an addition containing various kinds of good bacteria. It comes in tasteless and odorless powder shape. So you can sprinkle it over the food or water of your dog. It has an all-natural formula, so it is safe for your dog to ingest.

Conclusion

The bad breath of your dog might have a simple or complex reason behind it. Find out what the cause is so that you can immediately begin to treat her disease. You can enjoy her loving kisses again quickly if you do that.

The post Dogs with Bad Breath: Reasons Why and How to Get Rid Of Your Dog’s Stinky Breath Through Home Remedies first appeared on PetXU.com.

What is Canine Heartworm?

This is an infection caused by a bite of a mosquito. Yes, it’s true. An apparently small and harmless insect may actually present your dog with a serious health problem. These worms are very harmful because they do not invade the intestinal lining, but they attack the key organs in your dog’s lungs that are the heart and the blood vessels.

If your dog is diagnosed with heartworm disease, this implies it has been infected with an organism called Dirofilaria immitis, a nematode or a roundworm known as heartworm for its name. The severity of this disease relies on variables such as the number of heartworms detected in the body of your dog, how long these worms have been lurking inside, and your dog’s reaction to these worms.

What Causes Heartworms Disease in Your Dogs ?

Perhaps you’re wondering how a small mosquito can attack your dog when it’s covered with fur/coat. But this sort of mosquito is microscopic and can, therefore, enter the skin of the dog irrespective of the type of dog coat. So whether your dog is a chihuahua or a Siberian husky, heartworm infection can still infect them.

Once your dog is bitten by a mosquito which carries the nematode Direfilaria immitis larvae, the worms invade your dog’s body. The larvae travel around the body of your dog until it settles in the heart and the blood vessels of your dog’s lungs.

The larvae mature in the heart of the dog and the lungs ‘ blood vessels. These rise to about 12 inches in size once the heartworms achieve maturity. The worrying aspect is that these heartworms keep multiplying and releasing undeveloped heartworms in your dog’s bloodstream called microfilariae.

But this process takes time, about six months to a year, and that is precisely why the heartworm infection is already at its advanced stage at the moment the symptoms manifest. It’s like that when your dog is diagnosed, the heartworms have multiplied into a hundred or so.

Now when a mosquito bites the infected dog, this microfilariae enter the mosquito’s body and then passes the disease to another dog. Such is the heartworm life cycle and avoidance is something that all fur parents need to think seriously about. I will discuss it later in this article.

Which Dogs Are Prone To Get Heartworm Disease?

Although all dogs have the risk to get this infection, there are those who have higher chances of getting infected and these are the following:

• Dogs which are not administered with heartworm preventive medicines.
• Dogs which live in mosquito-infected areas.
• Dogs which live in endemic regions, meaning, there is a high incidence of heartworm disease in that particular region.
• Dogs that live in warmer regions.

Ways To Determine If Your Dog Is A Carrier of This Disease? (Signs)

Below are the different levels or classes of heartworm canine disease:

1. Class I:

At this time,  a dog does not show any indications that it has been affected by heartworm disease. It is asymptomatic except for occasional mild coughing. This is the stage when the worms are getting its way into a dog’s heart.

The reason there are no apparent indications is that the heartworms have not yet replicated and the underdeveloped larvae called microfilariae have not been produced. Moreover, the dog’s body is not yet producing any antigens to combat infection. 

2.  Class II:

This is the stage where the dog starts to show visible signs of heartworm disease. The usual symptoms in this stage are coughing and getting tired too easily.

There may be already the presence of microfilariae. The dog’s body starts to produce antigen to battle the infection.  A blood test can already pinpoint that the dog is infected with heartworm disease.

3.  Class III:

At this third stage, the advanced symptoms are already manifesting. These symptoms include weight loss, a cough that has deteriorated and may have some blood, labored breathing, dry or greasy hair, potbelly, and low stamina for exercise.

At this stage, x-ray examination shows that a dog is suffering from heartworm infection.

4.  Class IV:

This advanced stage is more centered on providing convenience medications. The dog can no longer survive at this point because a multitude of heartworms, a condition known as caval syndrome, are already present.

Summary of Symptoms of Heartworms in Dogs:

1. Dry Cough
2. Inability to Exercise or Lethargy
3. Weight Loss
4. Difficulty in Breathing
5. Chest is Bulging
6. Allergies
7. Collapse
8. Nose Bleeding
9. Pneumonia
10. Sleeping Too Much
11. Increase in Blood Pressure
12. Blindness

Heartworm Tests for Dogs:

This is a silent killer since the signs are seen at the advanced stage. That’s why it’s suggested that you test your dog regularly. Even if you live in colder climates such as Alaska, undergoing heartworm tests is still a good practice. Remember the dog is asymptomatic during the initial stage of this disease. Or if ever there is a symptom, most of the time, these are mistaken for another type of dog health problem.

How Testing is Done?

A blood test is a proven way to determine if your dog has heartworm disease. There are two ways that the Vet can do after getting a sample of blood from your dog. It could either be:

1. Antigen Test: This will determine the presence of female heartworms in the bloodstream of your dog.

2. Microfilaria Test: This type of a blood test is done in order to find out if the larvae have multiplied and have produced the underdeveloped heartworms referred to as microfilariae.

Both of these blood tests are very precise, and even if the disease is at its earlier stage it can be detected. Now if the blood test reveals positive results, the vet does further heartworm testing to find out how bad the infection is. 

These additional tests are:

3.  X-ray: To find-out the shape as well as the size of the heart. Dogs with an advanced stage of heartworm have enlarged pulmonary arteries.

4.  Ultrasound:  This is done to find out the condition and if the heart is functioning in a normal way or not. Also, to determine which stage is the heartworm disease.

In short, a simple blood test is a sure-fire way to determine if your dog is infected or not. Therefore, do not postpone and perform this test on a yearly basis to inhibit the progression of heartworm disease. As I said earlier, during the early stages, the symptoms are not seen. The duration of inoculation is quite long once an infected mosquito has bitten your dog. It will take an average of six months before you see any signs. But a blood test can immediately detect signs so don’t think twice about doing the heartworm blood test.

Heartworm Preventive for Dogs:

Prevention is the best way to stop your dog from getting infected. I will share with you two types of canine heartworm prevention:

1. The Conventional Method to Prevent Canine Heartworm:

You can avail of the monthly chewable tablets for the prevention of heartworm. Most dogs are okay with the chewable tablets as these come in the form of a treat. But you have to be consistent like you have to administer it to your dog every month on the same day to be very effective.

On the other hand, you have another option, which is the topical medication, if you don’t want this approach. This is a liquid that will be applied to your dog’s skin. This is the best option if you find it challenging to let your dog ‘ swallow the bitter pill.’ However, if your dog is hyperactive, it can be quite messy due to the liquid medication.

2. The Natural Method to Prevent Canine Heartworm:

By removing stagnant water around your backyard, you can reduce the population of mosquito in your home. You can also plant mosquito repellants such as marigold, sage, and catnip in your garden.

You can install insect screens in your windows to stop the mosquito from going inside your home.

Try to minimize the use of chemical mosquito repellants as they are harmful to your pets as well. Instead, attempt to mix water, 25 drops of eucalyptus oil and two ounces of coconut oil or almond oil. Sprinkle this combination on your dog’s coat but be sure to prevent the regions of the eye and nose.

Heartworm Medicines for Dogs (Preventive Medicines):

Listed below are the different kinds of heartworm meds for dogs. Take note that these are all prescriptive medicines:

1. Ivermectin-Based Medicines :

• Heartgard Plus Brand: This is widely used medicine because it is a fusion of Ivermectin and Pyrantel. Your dog will love the beefy flavor of this medicine.
• Interceptor Plus Brand: Aside from treating heartworms, this chicken-flavored medicine also kills tapeworm and whipworm in dogs. 
• Tri-Heart Plus Brand: The price of this brand medicine for the treatment of heartworm is much lower than the Heartgard plus but it gives the same results.

2.  Selamectin-Based Topical Medicines:

• Revolution Brand: This medicine is very effective in the treatment of heartworm and at the same time, it kills other parasites such as fleas and mange in dogs.

3.  Moxidectin-Based Topical Medicines:

• Advantage Multi Brand: This is an easy to apply topical treatment for heartworm, fleas, hookworms, and other parasites in dogs.

Heartworm Shot for Dogs (Preventive):

If you don’t like giving your dog a pill once a month or applying topical medication, the best option is the heartworm shot. Administered this twice a year. The only heartworm shot for dogs approved by the FDA is the ProHeart 6 brand with Moxidectin’s generic name.

What Medicine is Used to Treat Heartworm?

If your dog is positive with this disease, a very expensive medicine called Immiticide is administered in a cycle of three injections. Antibiotics like Doxycycline is also given along with Prednisone.

Heartworm Treatment Cost:

Once the heartworm infection is positive for your dog, be prepared to spend a lot of money. It might be between $400.00 and $1,000.00 or so. The cost depends on your dog’s size, weight and the stage or severity of the infection.

The reasons why it is so expensive is because of the following factors:

• Diagnostic Testing like blood testing and x-ray
• Regular Vet Visits
• Hospitalization
• Immiticide is the drug used to treat the advanced stage of heartworm, not easy to procure, thus, it fetches a high price.

BUT, if you’re only going to use preventive drugs like Heartgard Plus, you’re only going to spend about $5 to $15 a month. For three months, topical medicine such as Revolution will cost you between $50.00 and $100.00 only. The dosage is relative to your dog’s weight.

Conclusion:

Heartworm is deadly. The sad fact about this dog disease is that the symptoms are only seen once the disease has advanced. But there is something you can do about it. Make use of preventive drugs that can save your dog’s life. Moreover, the cost of preventive drugs and heartworm treatment in dogs is very significant. Act now before it’s too late — give your dog the preventive medications that could prevent heartworm infestation.

The post Heartworms In Dogs: Symptoms, What Causes, Test, Prevention, Medicines, Shot & Cost first appeared on PetXU.com.

Dog owners should always keep in mind that the risk of developing illnesses such as cancer is greater as our dogs get older. Based on the statement of Dave Ruslander, a veterinary oncologist, half of the pooches aged 10 and above develop a tumor at some point in time. Like humans, cancer in dogs is a real problem and affects individuals in the same manner.

You will learn more about dogs, symptoms, treatments, and many more in this article. I may not be a veterinarian or dog owner specialist, but I know I can help you to understand it by offering you comprehensive information. It may be at first confusing, but now it is essential for you to know how to spot cancer indications in dogs so that you can assist them as quickly as possible.

Cancer in dogs: What do you need to know about it?

According to the Drake Center, not all cancer in dogs will be noticeable, but it commonly appears as fleshy but solid lumps underneath their skin. Pooch owners usually discover cancer while bathing or petting their dog. 

Once you noticed a lump, it is advisable to consult your veterinarian about it…never do a personal diagnosis on your pet.p Early detection is always the key to help your dog survive. Therefore, it is vital that you always check your dog and have a regular veterinary checkup.

The vet will usually do a needle pulled to get a cancer sample of the cells if you told your veterinarian that you had noticed a lump below your dog. Through the cells, he will be able to examine to know what kind of cancer your dog has. However, since some types of cancer cannot be visualized, your vet will do a checkup by feeling it with touch.

What are the symptoms or signs of cancer in dogs?

Cancer in dogs is a very complicated condition. Usually, if a dog is suffering from cancer, the dog owner will notice big changes in her pet’s routine. There will be changes in their energy, mobility, and food intake. Some of you might think that it is just a change in mood, but these signs, if not taken seriously, could lead to a very serious condition. 

The warning signs of cancer in dogs are different from the structure in the body the tumor is attacking and what type of cancer it is. Like us humans, in doggies the symptoms of cancer are very similar to those of cancer patients who have a tumor. A bump or a lump, enlarged lymph nodes, a wound that doesn’t cure, lameness and an unusual bleeding form some classic warnings that we generally see in sick dogs. Some instances indicate little or no signs of animals who have cancer, at least in the early phases of the disease.

Some of the symptoms that you should know are: 

1. Weight loss
2. Loss of appetite
3. Abnormal swelling
4. Difficulty in eating like swallowing or drinking
5. Odor
6. Loss of stamina or energy
7. Difficulty in breathing
8. Difficulty in urinating or pooping

Veterinarians and dog specialists and trainers have always said that once you realize that your dog doesn’t feel well or show low energy, then the best approach is to consult a veterinarian. Their conduct may be caused by a severe problem like cancer. The more early you seek assistance, the better the opportunity of your dog’s survival.

As a pet owner, you should always be a keen observer. Some signs like unexpected weight loss or excessive leg licking could mean your pet is suffering from either cancer or bone tumor. 

You should know your pet’s routine and what they look like because sometimes, the signs are unnoticeable if you do not know much about your pooch.  

Types of cancer in dogs

Like what I said, dogs are susceptible to the same kinds of cancers people can have, and it could be treated as quickly as possible if they were arrested early. In general, many dogs are tumor-stricken. The most common kinds of cancer in dogs are:

• 1. Melanoma – if your dog has melanoma, dark spots might appear in your dog’s mouth or eyes or on swollen footpads. 

• 2. Mouth and Tumor of the Nose— once your dog has this kind of disease, you will realize that your pet has a mass in his or her gums, it will have trouble eating with abnormal bleeding and odor. Furthermore, the symptoms of nose cancer are bloating, swelling of the face, and breathing difficulty.

• 3. Malignant Histiocytosis – big sport dog breeds are the ones that are most affected by this tumor. Unfortunately, there no reported treatment for this type of tumor. 

• 4. Bladder cancer– some dogs breed are more susceptible to such tumor. Bladder cancer grows slowly and may not display warning signs for 3-6 months. In the meantime, bleeding and urinary obstruction are prevalent symptoms of this type of disease.

• 5. Brain Cancer – unusual seizures or behavior could mean your dog might be suffering from a brain tumor. 

• 6. Lymphoma – a swollen lymph node is the first sign of lymphoma. 

• 7. Bone Cancer – one of the most common types of primary bone tumor is osteosarcoma. This kind of tumor occurs in many parts of the body. However, it mostly attacks the bones bordering the shoulder, knee, and wrist. It mainly affects older big dogs. 

• 8. Mast cell cancer –this form of cancer can grow in almost any part of the body. It is frequently seen as a skin lesion. However some dog breeds are more susceptible than other pooches, such as boxers. Some people claim genetics may be responsible for this tumor of a pooch.

What are the treatments for cancer in dogs?

Treatment for the tumor of your pet will rely on the sort of cancer it has. The treatment will be determined by your vet. Usually, your veterinarian will suggest one therapy to help your dog survive, but sometimes they will also prescribe a combination of distinct cancer treatments for your pet, depending on how serious it is or how uncommon the type of cancer is. In some cases, the following are recommended by most veterinarians to pet owners:

• Surgical removal of the cancerous tumor.
• Radiation Therapy to kill the remaining cancerous cells.
• Chemotherapy that can be administered topically, orally, subcutaneously, intravenously, intramuscularly, intracavitary, intratumorally. 
• Stem cells for dogs that have been diagnosed with cancer in the blood.
• Immunotherapy through getting an anti-cancer vaccination.

How much do cancer therapies for dogs generally cost? 

Though it is difficult to determine how much dog cancer therapies generally cost, most dog owners would say, treatment for cancer in dogs is either affordable, costly or very costly. 

Just like what human cancer patients experience when they undergo therapy, the medicine and the treatment for your dog’s condition could also be a pain in the pocket. The cost of the treatment and medicines for cancer in dogs depends on the type of tumor, and how severe it is. 

To know more about the cost of the treatment and medicines for your pooch’s condition, it is better to consult your oncologist or veterinarian because they could give a rough estimation of the cost. Mostly, vets layout a treatment plan for you, and this plan has a proposed price. Keep in mind that though your vet gives you a rate, many factors could affect the eventual price of the plan. 

Types of pet insurance

Pet insurance helps deal with this situation. Many kinds of insurance cover tumor therapies. However, you need to understand the rules and the conditions written on the pet insurance contract.

Pet insurance does not cover cancer treatment costs before, but that has changed. These are some of the well-known pet insurance that you could check:

• 1. Nationwide. It is one of the biggest and famous pet insurance in the US. It has insurance plans for both cats and dogs. Adding on, it also covers cancer. 

• 2. Trupanion. This has only one pet insurance plan. It has 90 percent reimbursement and has no spending limit. Trupanion covers many things like surgery, supplements, hospitalization, diagnostic examination, and medication. 

• 3. Progressive. This pet insurer offers insurance through Pet’s Best. It covers hospitalization, medicines, surgery, accident, illness, injury, and cancer treatments.

Conclusion

It is no more a secret that cancer treatment is expensive, but as a dog owner, we can make sure that we introduce our dog to a healthy lifestyle and a healthy environment.

Knowing that most dogs breeds are vulnerable to cancer, pet owners should always make sure that they do regular check-ups.

Keeping a close eye to your dog’s routine and health and knowing them better is one of the best steps that you could do to ensure that they are healthy. Once you notice some changes, you better consult your veterinarian because early detection is the key to help your pooch survive. 

The post Cancer in Dogs: Signs/Symptoms, Types, Treatment and Cancer Therapies Cost first appeared on PetXU.com.

Just about every dog can be affected, while some breeds are more likely to get it than others (more on this later). If you don’t already know what bloat in dogs is, then this article is for you.

Knowing the early physical manifestations of bloat could imply the distinction between life and death for your dog. Also, knowing precisely what to do when your dog reaches the bloat would be extremely helpful for you as the dog owner.

What exactly is Bloat in dogs?

Gastric dilatation-volvulus complex or GDV is more commonly referred to as the “bloat”.

It is one of the many diseases that is considered to be a real medical emergency.

So what happens to our dog do with the Gastric dilatation-volvulus complex or GDV? Gastric dilatation-volvulus complex or GDV may shock our dogs by stopping blood from flowing, eventually decreasing the quantity of working blood, making it hard for our dog to stay completely well and functional. The amount of working blood is decreased due to the buildup of stress in the stomach. Air filling in it causes stress in the stomach.

Similar to humans, dogs also go into shock if they do not have enough blood circulating in their body.

Usually, when the pressure is already built up in the stomach, the blood from the back limbs of the dog cannot successfully recirculate back to the heart, causing the back limbs of the dog to be paralyzed or dysfunctional.

But that’s not all, the buildup of stress in the stomach not only paralyzes the back limbs, it also cuts the blood flow from the spleen and pancreas of the dog. Unfortunately, oxygen can not reach the pancreas without sufficient blood circulation, and when the pancreas is deprived of oxygen, it begins emitting very toxic hormones that can take the life of a dog very rapidly. Indeed, one of the hazardous hormones that the pancreas begins to emit when it lacks oxygen targets explicitly the heart, causing it to stop, apparently from nowhere.

This is why bloat or Gastric dilatation-volvulus complex (GDV) is incredibly dangerous, and this is also why you should know about this. Without proper care, bloat can quickly take a dog’s life.

Knowing what to do at the time of crisis means a lot for the future and well-being of your little furry friend.

What are the Symptoms of Bloat in Dogs?

If you see any of these symptoms on your dog, call your vet immediately.

Bloat or Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus Complex (GDV) generally occur pretty rapidly, and if you missed the early symptoms, your furry companion might find it more difficult to recover. So what are the early signs that could suggest Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus Complex (GDV) to your dog?

Your dog might have bloat if he:

• Gets too fidgety – if your dog is acting too restlessly, he may be experiencing some discomfort. Keep a close eye on him and watch out for any other symptoms, he might be just eager to poop or play.
• Has a swollen or enlarged stomach – if his stomach is visually larger than usual, try to gently press his stomach and see if there is an air buildup. If yes, your dog might have Gastric dilatation-volvulus complex (GDV).
• Drools – when dogs are ill or feeling any discomfort, especially around the stomach region, they tend to drool.
• Keeps looking at his stomach – this one is like a giveaway, in addition to the swollen stomach, if your dog keeps looking at it, there is something troubling in his stomach.
• Keeps pacing himself – as the situation quickly gets worse, your dog might panic and start pacing.
• Attempts to vomit – your dog will try to resolve the issue himself through means that he knows how. If he’s feeling some discomfort on his stomach, he might try to vomit and empty his stomach.

As the condition of your dog worsens, he might:

• Feel weak – if he’s toned down with the pacing and began to settle in one place, the stress in his stomach may already have deteriorated, paralyzing or about to paralyze his rear limbs.
• Have a rapid heartbeat – once his heart notices that not enough blood is coming back to power his entire body, his heart will attempt to keep up by raising your dog’s blood pressure and heartbeat.
• Catch his breath a lot – with what’s happening to the body of your dog, breathing in rapid succession is an instinctive response from them.
• Collapse – the whole situation might be too much for your dog mentally, physically, and emotionally, causing collapsing of your dog.

Do not wait for the situation to be out of hand. If you think that your dog has Gastric dilatation-volvulus complex (GDV), take it to the vet right away.

Any form of hesitation could mean life or death for your dog.

What Causes Dogs to Bloat?

Researchers and veterinarians have been asking since the disease’s early discovery: “Why dogs bloat?”Unfortunately, nobody understands, not just yet, any response to the question. What we know is that the stomach is filled with air, the pressure is increased and the stomach is twisted. Strangely enough, no one understands whether the twist causes the stomach to be pressurized or the stomach to be air-filled causes the stomach to twist.

Veterinarians and researchers are still unable to pinpoint the root cause of why dogs get Gastric dilatation-volvulus complex (GDV). However, there are a few things that are known to raise a dog’s risk of getting bloat, like:

• Eating too much
• Eating one large meal for the entire day
• Eating from an elevated food bowl
• Eating quickly
• Playing, jumping, running right after eating
• Drinking too much
• Any form of stress for the dog

Who can be affected?

Just about any breed of dog can be affected; however, based on statistics and research, some breeds are more likely to get it than others.

Research suggests that Gastric dilatation-volvulus complex (GDV) or bloat is a lot more common in breeds with large physique and deep chests like the following:

• Akitas
• Boxers
• German Shepherds
• Basset Hounds
• Great Danes
• Gordon Setters
• St. Bernards
• Irish Setters
• Weimaraners

What is the treatment for Bloat in Dogs?

Gastric dilatation-volvulus complex (GDV) or bloat in dogs is a severe condition that shouldn’t be taken lightly. It is very dangerous for our dog’s health, and no dog is completely safe from it.

Do you understand what you can do in an unfortunate case where your dog gets Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus Complex (GDV)? Do you know what to do? Do you know anything you can do to assist your dog?

Bloat has no natural or fundamental home remedy that you can easily follow, unlike other dog illnesses like diarrhea or cold. Once your dog has been given Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus Complex (GDV), only a skilled veterinarian can now help him.

So what can you do and what must you do? It’s easy, once you find out your dog has Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus Complex (GDV) based on the symptoms I shared earlier, don’t panic, and immediately bring your dog to the nearest dog clinic or your specialist veterinarian as if your dog’s life depends on it -because it does.

The treatment or operation pursued by your veterinarian to heal your dog is extremely dependent on the situation of your dog. If you could bring your dog to the vet before the situation got worse, your vet could heal your dog by non-surgical means. If not, we’ll have to do surgery.

The very first thing you might see your vet do is to bring a tube into your dog’s mouth, down his neck, and into his stomach to release the inside pressure. If the stomach is twisted already, it may not be trimmed by the tube. Placing the pipe and releasing stress through this means would be much difficult.

If the stomach of your pooch is already twisted once you took him to the vet, your vet might decide to pierce your dog’s belly with a hollow needle to get to the stomach and release the pressure.

Once that is taken care of, your vet will address the shock of the dog by giving him the necessary fluids and nutrients through an IV, antibiotics might also be given to your dog.

Don’t be alarmed if your professional veterinarian tells you that your dog needs to undergo an X-ray immediately, and this is a normal and standard procedure, used to determine whether or not the stomach is twisted.

If and when your vet discovers that your dog’s stomach is twisted, emergency surgery will have to be done to your dog instantly to fix the stomach, untwist what is twisted, and put everything back in its normal position. After that, the vet will also check the other parts if they were affected by the Gastric dilatation-volvulus complex (GDV).

Can Bloat in Dogs be prevented?

Like I said earlier, no one knows precisely how and why dogs bloat. However, some vets and researchers found that having some of these practices decreases the risk of your dog having Gastric dilatation-volvulus complex (GDV):

• DO NOT let your dog play or run after eating, wait for a few minutes before allowing your dog to play and run again.
• DO NOT feed your dog off of raised dog bowls unless you were specifically instructed by your professional vet to do so.
• Divide the meals of the day into small bits and feed your dog slowly, don’t give the entire food for the day in one go.
• Keep your dog hydrated.

Gastric dilatation-volvulus complex (GDV) or bloat can be very threatening, but with the proper knowledge of it, you can face the bloat without a hint of fear for you and your dog.

The post Bloat in Dogs: What is GDV? Its Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Prevention first appeared on PetXU.com.

In fact, it is a reality that ticks infect virtually all dogs. It affects even sheltered pooches. Fortunately, you can do some measures to avoid dog ticks. When it comes to dog tick treatment, there are many ways to prevent it.

What are Dog Ticks Anyway?

Ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of your dog. Ticks are tiny in size, but they can develop to the size of a pea once your furry friend’s blood is ingested. The issue with ticks is the transmission to humans and the illnesses that your furry friend can get from them.

Can You Spot Ticks on Your Dog’s Body?

You can easily spot ticks on your dogs. There are doggie parts from which ticks prefer to attach themselves onto; the paws, dog’s neck, and ear regions. If you pet your dog, ticks are large enough to be felt. Once you have a roundish feeling, then most of the time these are ticks.

Is There Such a Thing as “Tick Season”?

It is a misconception that ticks are only active at spring/summertime. Numerous researches have shown that during the winter season ticks do not hibernate. In reality, by creating an anti-freeze glycoprotein within their system, ticks have discovered a way to survive the cold climate. So, never let your guard down and always be on the lookout for possible tick infestation as a responsible dog parent.

How Does Your Fido Get Ticks?

The nasty truth is that ticks can be found both indoor and outdoor. So if you think that you can protect your pooch from having it by not allowing to go out, then you are wrong! Ticks are just all over.

If you take it out for some exercise, ticks walk around the woods and in low and high grass. Among other things, they crawl on shrubs, between crevices. They’re discovered in carpets, on bedding, just to name a few, once they’ve penetrated your homes. That’s why getting infected with ticks all year round is easy for your fido.

But don’t fret as there are many methods which you can use to stop and prevent ticks from attaching to your fur baby, which will be discussed more thoroughly later in this article.

What Are The Recognizable Signs That Your Dog Has Tick?

1. There’s a Tick in your Home:  if you discovered one while you’re cleaning your home, then your dog will likely have it. Even if you only see a single tick, don’t take that it lightly. There are more ticks hiding in corners and crevices from all of you.
2. Head-Shaking and Ear Scratching: An occasional head shake is normal, but if it’s beginning to be incessant, then I recommend you start looking for ticks in your dog’s body. Use your phone’s flashlight to look inside your dog’s ears. Ticks like the moist and dark environment of your dog’s ear canal. Check your dog’s paws and tail as well. A cluster of ticks can be found in those areas.
3. You Feel a Bump while Petting Fido:  While chilling with your fido, take time to feel its skin and if you feel a bump, chances are you will find ticks on your dog’s body.
4. Scabs or Scars:  Ticks cause severe itchiness, as a result, you pooch will lick or nip and bite the affected areas to relieve itchiness. Too much of the mentioned behaviors lead to scarring.
5. Fever: Believe it or not, but fever can be caused by ticks. That’s experience-based. My Shitzu had a high temperature of the body. No reason for her fever and sluggishness could be found by the Vet. It turned out that my fur baby was attacked by fever-induced ticks.

What Are The Tick Medicines for Dogs?

There are many types of tick drugs available in the market for dogs. Some of these are medicated, which means that ticks are killed by the chemical components. Then there are those categorized as under natural and only natural and non-chemical substances are used as the name indicates.

I have shortlisted the Top Five Tick Medicines for Dogs (Medicated) which you can safely use for your pooch.  Always read the instructions and practice safety when using these products:

1. Frontline Plus for Dogs:  (Spot-on Treatment)

Fipronil and methoprene are the two active ingredients present in this product. These two ingredients are safer when used on dogs because they are not spread in the bloodstream of the dog, but are dispersed in your dog’s hair and oil glands. And if you’re looking for a dog-free tick medicine, this is the ideal product.

Not only does this tick medicine for dogs kill the adult ticks, but it also kills eggs and larvae. The efficacy of this medicine lasts for 30 days.

2. Bayer K9 Advantix II:  (Spot-on Treatment)

This tick medicine for dogs is a monthly topical application that will kill and drive away ticks. For puppies aged 7 weeks, this is safe to use. It is also good to be used on adult dogs. What’s nice about this product is that to be effective, you don’t have to wait until the ticks bite your dog, but kill ticks on touch.

The active ingredients are permethrin and pyriproxyfen.

3. Bio-Groom Flea & Tick Pyrethrin Dip: (Tick Dip)

This product includes a focused chemical that must be blended with water. Apply by soaking a sponge and then rub it on the coat of the dog. Another way to do is by pouring the mixture at the back of the dog. Rinsing shouldn’t be done so the chemical stays on the dog’s coat. For pups, pregnant and lactating dogs, tick dips are not recommended.

4. Mozart Flea and Tick Prevention for Large Dogs:  (Tick Collar)

Using this item is no problem at all. Open the pack and put it around your puppy or adult dog’s neck. This will protect your fido for 6 months. No need to worry because when you get in touch with it, you are secure. Thus, you and your kids can still hug your fido as this tick prevention collar is safe for humans, too.

5. Fedciory Flea and Tick Prevention Collar for Dogs 1 year Protection: (Tick Collar)

Who isn’t going to love this item? Wear it around the neck of your dog and change it after a year! It is hypoallergenic, waterproof, and suits dogs in all dimensions. Your dog gets continuous and all-year-round protection from ticks. 

What Are the Natural Methods to Prevent Ticks on Dogs?

1.  Flea Away Natural Tick Repellant: (Oral Medication)

Are you the type of fur parent advocating only natural and chemical-free dog tick medicine? If so, you’ll quite enjoy this product. This is devoid of any toxic chemicals that make this product very safe for dogs and puppies who are pregnant and lactating.

This product is a form of a vitamin complex which produces a safe barrier from ticks. How? This tick medicine for dogs mask the smell of CO2 from your dog’s breath, thus, ticks are not attracted to attach themselves to your dog.

The flea away natural tick repellant is a chewable tablet which contains beef liver to entice your dog to eat it.

2. Pet Naturals of Vermont- Flea + Tick Repellant Spray: (Tick Spray)

You won’t find any kind of chemical or drugs in these products. It is composed of oils like sesame oil, castor oil, lemongrass, and cinnamon oil. Just spray it all over your dog’s coat, and you’re done.

3. Sentry Natural Defense Flea and Tick Topical for Dogs and Puppies: (Spot-on)

This is just as efficient as the tick dog collar with medication except that it contains an all-natural ingredient. As it has lemongrass oil, thyme oil, peppermint, and cinnamon oil, it also smells nice. It is safe for adult dogs and puppies to wear.

4. Earth Animal Flea and Tick Internal Powder: (Powder)

A powder produced from dark brewer’s yeast, including B-vitamins garlic. The powder is mixed with food or water from the dog. It operates in a manner that makes your dog less appealing to the ticks. Many dog owners swear by this product’s effectiveness.

How to Get Rid of Ticks on Dogs?

All parents of fur know how difficult it is to eradicate ticks completely. But there are ways to avoid and get rid of ticks on dogs, as mentioned previously. You can choose the options that you believe are right for your fur baby:

1. Spot-on Treatments
2. Oral Medications
3. Tick Collars
4. Tick Sprays and Powder
5. Tick Dip

You may also want to use herbal tick wipes such as Vet’s Best Flea + Tick Wipes for Dogs and Cats. The ingredients contain plant-based like peppermint oil. This product is also environmentally friendly as there are no plastic resins in each wipe. Thus, using this item not only kills ticks and their eggs but does not pollute the environment.

I also strongly advise you to wash and process your home and your gardens in relation to the above treatment choices. Make it a habit to reduce the tick population by trimming your plants. Spray chemicals to remove ticks like Zodiac Flea and Tick Yard & Garden Spray.

Are There Homemade Methods That Will Get Rid of Ticks on Dogs?

You can also make your spray (DIY) at home and here is what you need:

• Add thinly sliced lemon to a quart of boiling water and steep overnight
• Drain and place the lemon water in a spray bottle
• Add ten drops of lemongrass oil and citronella oil
• Then add once cup of either apple cider or distilled vinegar
• Then add a few drops of cedar wood oil
• Shake everything together, and it is ready to use.

You can use this concoction by spraying it all over your dog’s coat. It all relies on you and the way your dogs live. How often can you use this? It will not be harmful if it is used every day. This home-made preparation is an efficient way of avoiding dog ticks.

Conclusion:

Ticks are around 365 days a year. But you can take steps to avoid its infestation. For a fur parent, whether medicated or natural, there are many choices. Whatever you’re comfortable using for your dog, you’d be happy with the results and ticks won’t make your pooch itch anymore throughout the year.

Related tip: Dog Flea Treatment: Oral Pills & Topical Medicines and Prevention

The post Ticks On Dogs: Signs, Tick Medicines, Natural Methods To Prevent & How To Get Rid Of? first appeared on PetXU.com.