Adding heartworm and flea prevention for dogs to your to-do list as a pet owner is worth every bit of time and effort you put into it. Not only does it help keep your dog safe but also it saves you the trouble (and expenses) of treating a full-blown infection or infestation.
Read moreA Run-Down of Heartworm and Flea Prevention for Dogs
With the summer sun blissfully shining above, all we want to do some days is relaxing. Sitting in the garden, whilst enjoying a fresh fruit, can be a real chill-deal. With our best friend, the furry one that is, wagging their tail and begging for a bite, we’re not quite sure. Doubts creep in as we’re questioning the idea whether dogs can eat fruits.
Read moreHealthy Yet Delicious Fruits Your Dog Will Love to Eat
As a responsible pet owner, one of your top priorities should be to seek out the right heartworm and flea preventative. Many people do not realize this, but fleas and heartworms can be extremely dangerous to your pup. If left untreated, these pests can end up being costly for you, the pet owner, and deadly to your beloved four-legged friend.
Read moreBasic Tips on Heartworm and Flea Prevention for Dogs
One of the first things to consider when adopting a dog is whether or not you are going to spay or neuter her or him. For many people, it is a no-brainer to neuter your dog, as you have no intention of breeding him. For others, the idea of spaying or neutering a new pup is more complicated. In order to make an informed decision about dog neutering and spaying, it is important that you understand the pros and cons of both sides.
Read moreDog Neutering and Spaying: The Pros and Cons of Each
One of the most important things to keep in mind when you become a canine owner is dog paw care. This is because the paws are some of the most hard-working parts of a dog’s body. Apart from walking, paws also protect the feet’s bones and joints, help with walking on rough and uneven ground, and keep the feet insulated during extreme weather.
Constant exposure to a wide range of environmental factors usually leaves dogs vulnerable to many types of skin diseases. These problems affect dogs of all breeds and ages, but senior dogs are more prone to old dog skin problems because of their advanced age as well as their weakened immune response.
We all know a dog-shot schedule is an essential part of canine health care. Making sure your pooch gets their vaccinations on time provides him or her with the ongoing protection they need against serious diseases. Both Lyme disease and Leptospirosis are particularly prevalent in Maryland.
Not all veterinarians agree, however, on when and what vaccinations should be administered. Here is a look at both the standard and holistic views on the matter.
Read moreA Standard Dog-Shot Schedule vs. the Holistic Approach
Tapeworms are long, flat intestinal worms that attach themselves to your pet’s intestines. Comprised of multiple, small segments, tapeworms secure themselves to the wall of the small intestine using their hook-like mouthparts. Tapeworms are most commonly diagnosed by finding small white worms (or segments) that appear similar to grains of rice around the backside of your pet, in their feces or within your pet’s preferred sleeping and living quarters.
There are a handful of different kinds of tapeworms that latch onto pets, the most common of which is called the Diplidium or, in the cases of dogs, Diplidium Caninum, which relies on the flea as a host. Adult worms of this family can reach up to 8 inches in length, which can be extremely uncomfortable for your pet.
Tapeworms are, unfortunately, a common problem that many pets and their owners have to deal with. While they do not usually cause serious health problems to humans, regardless, it should be addressed by your local veterinarian as soon as possible. Understanding what exactly tapeworms are, how your pet can get a tapeworm and what you can do to prevent them from arriving will help you provide him or her with the best care possible.
Canine kennel cough is perhaps one of the most widely recognized terms for pet owners. It is loosely used to describe a range of infections, both viral and bacterial. These infections cause inflammation of a dog’s voice box and windpipe and are essentially a form of bronchitis that is comparable to a common chest cold in humans.
In most cases, kennel cough clears up on its own. However, it is highly contagious to other dogs and it is therefore important that it is treated as soon as possible. There are numerous ways dogs can catch kennel cough, including aerosols in the air, transfers from dog to dog and germs on contaminated objects.
Kennel cough is most commonly spread in small, enclosed areas that do not have great air circulation, such as an animal shelter or boarding center. Your dog can also catch it from simply sitting in a vaccination clinic, training class or grooming facility.
In order to better understand this disease and how you can protect your dog, it may be helpful to take a look at some of the most common symptoms as well as treatment options. If you have any questions about the listed information, please do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian.
Diabetes is a chronic disorder that typically occurs in middle-aged dogs and middle-aged to older cats. Diabetes mellitus, in particular, affects the pancreas and is characterized by some level of insulin deficiency. Thankfully, this disorder can be managed successfully through insulin therapy and paying extra special attention to your pet’s diet.
As a disease of the pancreas, diabetes mellitus is caused by the failure of the pancreas to regulate blood sugar. Research shows that this type of diabetes is related to elevated concentrations of blood glucose and the inability of an animal’s body to use glucose as a source of energy. As a pet owner, it is important for you to be aware of this disease and to understand the signs of it so that you can get your pet the care he or she needs.
We thought it would be helpful to go over what exactly diabetes mellitus is, what the signs of it are and what your treatment options will be. Having a grasp of common ailments that affect older dogs and cats as well as brushing up on some tips will help you provide better care for your animal and ensure they live a long happy and healthy life.
Read moreDiabetes Mellitus in Pets: Recognition and Treatment