All About Our Canine Companions

Types Of Canine Arthritis And Their Treatment

By Brian on Friday, September 9th, 2011 | No Comments

<p>By Sarah Thomas

Did you know that dogs are affected by arthritis just like humans? And just as with humans, there are many causes and classifications of canine arthritis. The term arthritis actually means inflammation of the joint. This inflammation can be triggered by aging, trauma, ruptured tendons, torn ligaments, degenerative joint disease and also lack of activity. Below are some of the common forms of canine arthritis:

Canine Arthritis: Osteoarthritis

This form of canine arthritis is the most common and it is also referred to as degenerative joint disease. This type of arthritis is a slowly progressing disease which causes the breakdown of the cartilage inside a joint. Cartilage is a special type of tissue that swathes the bones where they come in contact with each other to provide shock absorption and lubrication. This provides pain free and frictionless movement. When the cartilage becomes damaged, osteoarthritis begins to develop. When the body is unable to repair the damaged cartilage, pain and inflammation sets in followed by permanent damage to the joint.

Canine Arthritis: Infectious Arthritis

This type of arthritis is caused by a growth of microorganisms within a joint. The infection can start in the joint, or spread there from a different place in the body which is the case with Lyme disease. Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks and can affect one or more joints.

Canine Arthritis: Rheumatoid Arthritis

This form of arthritis is not common and usually strikes middle aged or older dogs belonging to the smaller breeds.

Canine Arthritis: Systematic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

This type of arthritis is a polysystemic disease which affects the joints. The disease causes the dog’s immune system to attack the body and damage the organs, joints, and skin.

Canine Arthritis: Symptoms

A common sign for the dog to display if he is suffering from arthritis is to have stiffness in the morning. He may appear to have pain and not want to be picked up or touched in certain places on his body. He may favor a particular limb while walking and may develop a limp. The dog may also become lethargic and not have an interest in physical activity. He may hesitate to jump or have difficulty standing or sitting.

Canine Arthritis: Treatments

Unfortunately there is no cure for canine arthritis as of today but there are methods to control the symptoms. The primary treatment is for the purpose of pain management, and pain relief lotions have proven to be effective for treating the stiffness and aches associated with canine arthritis. Sometimes, surgery is recommended but usually the less extreme treatment methods will be attempted first. The best thing to do is consult with your veterinarian who can advise you on how best to care for your ailing dog so he will receive the best care possible. Your vet may try such supplements as chondroitin and glucosamine which have both been shown to be useful in reducing inflammation and slowing the degenerative process in dogs. These substances work by drawing fluid into the joints which helps the body to repair the damage to the cartilage.

About the Author: Sarah Thomas is an established freelance writer. You can find more of her writing at all-arthritis.com and back-pain-sos.com.

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On Helping Your Canine Overcome Separation Anxiety

By Brian on Saturday, June 25th, 2011 | No Comments

<p>By Larry J. Reaves

Many owners dismiss separation anxiety in their dogs as normal behavior. In reality, it is a psychological issue that only afflicts a small percentage of canines. Unfortunately, it can place great strain on the relationship between a pet and his owner, and causes many people to ultimately abandon their dogs. This leaves them to fend for themselves, or exposes them to possible euthanization if they are taken to a shelter.

Below, we’ll explain how to identify separation anxiety in your pet. You’ll learn how to discern whether he is merely excited by your company, or suffering true angst in your absence. We’ll also pose a few points regarding how the problem begins in the first place, before explaining how to curb it.

Signs Your Pet Is Anxious About Your Absence

Every canine is different. While there is a defined set of symptoms associated with separation anxiety, most dogs display only a few. Some signs are evident while the owner is home. For example, your dog might follow you as you walk through your house. This is not a display of loyalty. It suggests he is afraid you will leave him if he lets you out of his sight. A similar presentation is a habit to continue checking on you while you are home. He may do this to reassure himself that you have not left him.

Some canines only show signs of separation anxiety when their owners leave. In some cases, it might occur immediately, even while the owner in still in sight (e.g. getting into his car). Other times, a dog might only become stressed after his owner has been absent for a long period. He might begin whining, barking, drooling, and pacing the floor. He may also urinate or defecate indoors, or display destructive behavior.

These symptoms are not exclusive to separation anxiety. They merely provide clues. It is important to narrow down the underlying issue before you can successfully address it.

Narrowing Down The Problem

When you observe signs that suggest your pet is becoming overly anxious in your absence, have his veterinarian perform a physical exam. The goal is to make sure your dog is not suffering from an unrelated issue that may be triggering the symptoms. For example, if he shows destructive behavior, it may be due to boredom and pent-up energy. If he defecates inside your home, he may be suffering from a digestive problem. The exam will reveal these and other issues.

Why Does Separation Anxiety Happen?

This problem is not breed-specific. Nor can its root cause always be determined since it presents in different circumstances. For instance, puppy mill dogs and pets that were mistreated by past owners may form unusually dependent attachments to their new owners.

Separation anxiety can also occur when a canine is deprived of proper socialization training throughout his life. Denied exposure to other people and animals, he becomes entirely dependent on his owner for interaction and mental stimulation.

This issue can also present if the canine’s schedule changes, or if the home environment changes (e.g. the birth of a baby). Both circumstances can leave him feeling insecure about his place in the home.

How To Address Your Pet’s Anxiety

Most veterinarians recommend an approach that combines desensitization training and medications. The former aims to help your pet become accustomed to your absence. The latter aims to help him feel less anxious while this training occurs.

The process of modifying canine behavior stemming from separation anxiety requires significant time and patience. It involves rewarding calm behavior as you acclimate your pet to increasingly longer periods of being separated from you. Dog treats make ideal rewards, but praise and petting are also important. Here, the goal is to encourage your canine to remain calm when you leave by associating his good behavior with food.

Many owners have also found that providing auditory stimuli (e.g. television, radio, etc.) twenty or thirty minutes before leaving the home helps downplay their departure. This can be a useful component in desensitizing your pet.

It is important to realize that your dog’s anxious behavior is not directed at you. That is, if he destroys your couch or garden, understand he is not doing so to get back at you for leaving him. It is merely how he expresses his anxiety. Hence, avoid punishing him, and instead, work toward helping him overcome his stress.

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Originally posted here: On Helping Your Canine Overcome Separation Anxiety

Common Canine Health Problems

By Brian on Thursday, June 23rd, 2011 | No Comments

<p>By Kelly Marshall

Your dog is your best friend, and because of that you want to be sure that your dog spends many years to come with you. To make sure that that happens you need to be sure that you take very careful care of your dog’s health. The truth is that just as humans face typical health problems so can dogs. In fact, these diseases can be quite similar to those that human beings face so do not be alarmed if you hear the words arthritis, diabetes, or depression coming out of your veterinarian’s mouth.

The tough thing about caring for your dog is that when they are not feeling well you may not know what to do. Your dogs behavior may significantly change and you may not know why. Additionally, it can be very tough to not be able to communicate properly with your dog to let him know that everything is going to be okay. What you need to do in these instances is to really dig out the facts of your dogs condition. You want to take careful notes as to the symptoms that your best friend is displaying. Be sure that you have these documented so that you can communicate them to your veterinarian.

Once you have the symptoms documented you will want to visit your pets veterinarian. Do not be alarmed by the symptoms until you discuss them with your vet. Honestly, sometimes symptoms can appear very scary, but may only indicate a slight problem. However, you do not know until you ask so it is best to go to the expert.

For example, if you start to notice something odd about your pets skin you may be worried that it could be some sort of cancer or serious infection when in fact it may just be allergies. Again though, without consulting an expert you will never know.

When it comes to typical health problems there are several different treatments that your vet may prescribe. One of the most common changes that vet’s give pet owners is to adjust their dog’s diet. This may mean that you need to change the dog food that you are feeding them. However, more often than not some of the changes that you will be asked to make is to eliminate all “people food” from your pets diet.

Another common treatment is to increase your dog’s physical fitness level. Many dogs are out of shape and this can lead to the stiffening of joints, and general respiratory problems. When you are working toward increasing your dog’s physical fitness level you want to start slowly and gradually increase from there. That is the way that you can be sure that you do not overly tax your dog.

Of course your dog may also be given medication to treat some of the more common health problems. This is not a bad thing, but you will want to watch your dog to see how they react to the medication. Be on the lookout for progress and any unexpected side effects. By doing this you can ensure that you will be properly treating your dogs ailments.

About the Author: Kelly Marshall is a popular contributor at ohmydogsupplies.com – where you can find large dog collars, dog beds, dog steps, and more unique dog gear that you’ll never find at your local pet store.

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The Fundamentals of Caring For Your Canine

By Brian on Saturday, June 4th, 2011 | No Comments

<p>By Lawrence Reaves

The friendship you share with your dog is mutually beneficial. He offers his loyalty, company, and even protection against intruders or other would-be assailants. But he needs you to provide several things for him in order that he remains healthy and happy. Food and water are a given. So, too, is exercise. But he also needs periodic trips to his veterinarian, ID tags, and professional training. These are a few of the things your pooch requires from you.

This article will provide the basics of giving your dog the care and attention he needs. If you keep the following suggestions in mind, you’ll find that your canine will be a more pleasant companion throughout his life.

Routine Veterinary Care

Veterinary care is easy to overlook, especially when your dog seems healthy. The problem is, health-related issues can develop without obvious symptoms and quickly worsen. Even when symptoms present, many owners fail to recognize them.

Make routine appointments with an experienced veterinarian. He or she can perform regular checkups to ensure your pooch’s health is sound. If there are problems, the vet can recommend the best form of treatment (e.g. medications, dietary changes, surgery, etc.).

ID Tags And Microchip

Canines have a tendency to stray from their owners and homes. In most cases, the reason is curiosity; they love to explore new territory. Unfortunately, straying too far often leads to dogs becoming lost. Unable to find their way back, they roam until other people stumble upon them.

For this reason, it’s important that your pooch wears identification tags on his collar. The tags should include your name and contact information so another person can get in touch to reunite you and your canine. Also, consider having a microchip placed under his skin. That way, an animal shelter can still retrieve your contact information in the event your canine’s collar falls off.

Plenty Of Exercise

Just like people, your dog needs to exercise every day in order to stay healthy. Two daily walks should be sufficient to help him keep in shape (assuming you’re controlling the amount of food he consumes). You’ll also benefit. Not only will taking him for walks each day provide you with exercise, but the time you’ll spend together will improve your friendship.

Professional Dog Training

Canines love to please their owners. Unfortunately, learning how to do so properly often takes more time and patience than many owners are willing to extend. This is one of the many reasons to enroll your dog into professional training classes. An experienced trainer will use positive reinforcement, such as praise and treats, to encourage certain behaviors.

Look for classes that allow you to participate along with your pet. This provides valuable opportunities for socialization, an important component in encouraging your canine to be friendly to other people.

Spaying Or Neutering

There is a startling number of owners who either neglect or refuse to have their dogs spayed or neutered. This is tragic because it leads to millions of abandoned pets finding their way into animal shelters each year. If a home cannot be found for them within a given timeframe, they are euthanized.

By spaying or neutering your canine, you can help prevent this problem. Moreover, pets that undergo the operation are typically healthier, less aggressive, and live longer.

Nurture The Friendship

Like all relationships, the bond you share with your canine grows stronger with time. Likewise, there will be instances during which he tries your patience. It’s worth remembering that dogs want their owners to be pleased with them. If your pooch develops a specific behavior you find unacceptable, it’s likely a simple training issue. It might also be a result of a physical problem (e.g. barking due to hearing loss).

Be patient with him. The ongoing companionship and loyalty he offers makes the time and effort worthwhile.

About the Author: Find the best Dog Treats and Sam’s Yams at http://www.bestbullysticks.com

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Continued here: The Fundamentals of Caring For Your Canine

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