GIVING YOUR DOGS PILLS

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Todays Tips-Giving Your Dogs Pills
Giving medication can be difficult for anybody, even your veterinarian. It is one of those skills of pet care that's important to aquire. It is important to give the medication properly, for the prescribed period of time, for pet health.
Step 1
Put the pill between the thumb and the index finger . Hold the upper jaw with the thumb and index finger of the other hand.
Step 2
Fold the upper lip over the teeth as you open the mouth. This will lower the chance of being bitten.
Step 3
Tilt the head upwards. Use your middle finger to slowly open the jaw.
Step 4
Put the pill as far back on the tongue as possible. Immediately close the mouth. Keeping your hand over the mouth.
Step 5
Rub the throat or blow on the nose to encourage swallowing.
Helpful hints
Always read the label instructions.
Ask your veterinarian if the medication can be given with food or must be given on an empty stomach. If it can be given with food, just put the pill into a piece of cheese or balled up spoon of canned food.

BAD DOG BEHAVIOUR-TIPS TO STOP YOUR DOG CHEWING EVERYTHING

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Todays Tips-Tips to stop your dog chewing everything.
Bad dog behaviour seems to be worse with dogs in the house, simply because this is not a natural environment. Outside, they generally don't have to worry about shoes and vases, and fragile glassware or electrical items that can be ruined by their natural playfulness.
"The vast majority of behavior problems that you have with dogs are normal behavior patterns, but inappropriate for the setting in which they're occurring," says Daniel Q. Estep, Ph.D., a certified applied animal behaviorist in private practice in Littleton, Colorado.
Its normal for dogs to chew things. In their natural environment, this is not bad dog behaviour. But dogs are fast learners, for the most part. Here are some dog training tips to help you reduce the bad behaviour in your dog, and make the house a better place for the both of you:

1. Give your dog lots of toys. No matter what the age of a dog, from puppy to adult, give them lots of toys. You won't stop your dog from chewing things completely, what you are trying to do is train him to understand what can be chewed and what cannot. The first step is providing him some alternatives in the form of toys.
2. Do not give your dog toys that either used to belong to you, or still belong to you. And this includes old shoes, clothing, or anything. Things you have even once owned, even when washed, will still carry your scent. You may not smell anything but laundry perfumes, but your dog will still be able to pick up your scent. So if you give them anything that belonged to you and encourage them to chew on that, they won't know not to chew other things. And when they get in trouble for chewing things that they shouldn't, they will be thoroughly confused. You are effectively sending your dog mixed messages by doing this.
3. Create a space for your dog that is his. If you have the space, give him a room. Otherwise, a crate or a dog house. Use this when disciplining him, or when you are going out and can't keep an eye on his activities

SEIZURES IN DOGS

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Todays Tips- Seizures in Dogs
Seizures are one of the most frequently seen pet health problems in dogs.There are a number of things that you can do at home in pet care to lessen the severity. A seizure is also known as a convulsion.
SIGNS
The signs of seizures vary, but they generally include some of the following symptoms.
- Loss or derangement of consciousness, -Contractions of all the muscles in the body, -Changes in mental awareness from nonresponsiveness to hallucinations, Involuntary urination, defecation, or salivation,-Behavioral changes, including non-recognition of owner, viciousness, pacing, and running in circles
Seizures consist of three components:
1) The pre-ictal phase, or aura, is a period of altered behavior in which the dog may hide, appear nervous, or seek out the owner. It may be restless, nervous, whining, shaking, or salivating. This may last a few seconds to a few hours.
2) The ictal phase is the seizure itself and lasts from a few seconds to about five minutes. During this period, all of the muscles of the body contract strongly. The dog usually falls on its side and seems paralyzed while shaking. The head will be drawn backward. Urination, defecation, and salivation often occur. If it is not over within five minutes, the dog is said to be in status epilepticus or prolonged seizure.
3) During the post-ictal phase, there is confusion, disorientation, salivation, pacing, restlessness, and/or temporary blindness. There is no direct correlation between the severity of the seizure and the duration of the post-ictal phase.
Despite the dramatic signs of a seizure, the dog feels no pain, only bewilderment. Dogs do not swallow their tongues. If you put your fingers into its mouth, you will do no benefit to your pet and will run a high risk of being bitten very badly. The important thing is to keep the dog from falling and hurting itself. As long as it is on the floor or ground, there is little chance of harm occurring. If seizures continue for longer than a few minutes, the body temperature begins to rise. If hyperthermia develops secondary to a seizure, another set of problems may have to be addressed.
STATUS EPILEPTICUS
Status epilepticus bears special note. It is characterized by a seizure that lasts more than five minutes. When it occurs, the dog's life is endangered. Unless intravenous medication is given promptly, the patient may die. If this occurs, you should seek treatment by a veterinarian immediately.
CAUSES
There are many, many causes of seizures. Epilepsy is the most common and of least consequence to the dog. The other extreme includes severe diseases such as brain tumors. Fortunately, most are due to epilepsy.
When a seizure occurs, we begin by taking a thorough history concentrating on possible exposure to poisonous or hallucinogenic substances or history of head trauma. We also perform a physical examination, a basic battery of blood tests, and an electrocardiogram (EKG). These tests rule out disorders of the liver, kidneys, heart, electrolytes, and blood sugar level. A heartworm test is performed if your dog is not taking heartworm preventative very regularly.
If these tests are normal and there is no exposure to poison or recent trauma, further diagnostics may be performed depending on the severity and frequency of the seizures. Occasional seizures are of less concern than when the seizures are becoming more severe and frequent. In this instance, a spinal fluid tap and fluid analysis may be performed. Depending on availability, specialized imaging of the head with a CAT scan or MRI might be performed. Fortunately, these additional tests are usually not needed.
TO THE VETERINARIAN..
We generally prescribe 1-2 weeks of anticonvulsant therapy. If there are no more seizures during that time, the anticonvulsants are gradually discontinued. The next treatment is determined by how long it takes for another seizure to occur. That may be days, months, or years. At some point, many dogs have seizures frequently enough to justify continuous anticonvulsant therapy. Since that means that medication must be given every 12 to 24 hours for the rest of the dog's life, we do not recommend that until seizures occur about every 30 days or unless they last more than five minutes.
It is important to avoid sudden discontinuation of any anticonvulsant medication. Even normal dogs may be induced to seizure if placed on anticonvulsant medication and then abruptly withdrawn from it. Your veterinarian can outline a schedule for discontinuing the medication.
HYPOALLERGENIC DIET.
There are reports that show a link between diet and seizures in dogs. Every seizuring pet should at least try a commercial hypoallergenic diet for 12 weeks. You can also make your own elimination diet.

DOG FOOD

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Todays Tips- Your Dog's Food
Dog food is an essential part of pet care. Feeding your dog with premium food designed for his stage of life is a big part of excellent dog care.
YOUR DOG'S FEEDING SCHEDULE
Your dog's nutritional requirements may never be more demanding than when she is a puppy. Therefore it is essential that you choose a high quality food that is nutritionally complete and balanced for optimum nutrition during this critical growth stage.
HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS FOR FEEDING YOUR DOG
Good feeding habits start as soon as you get your dog! Your dog's diet will influence her health status, development, appearance and attitude. How you feed your dog will influence many behaviour aspects, from house training to begging. It is also important to prevent your puppy from gaining too much weight, which can predispose her to obesity and its associated health problems later in life.
The following tips will get you off to a good start.
1. Choose your dog's diet carefully! There is excessive misinformation in the market regarding puppy foods. We know it's confusing, particularly with all the advertising and marketing efforts by competing companies. The old adage "you get what you pay for" probably applies more to pet foods than anything else. We encourage you not to compare foods by the "Guaranteed Analysis" on the label - it is a chemical analysis only and it measures gross quantities of ingredient types - it tells you nothing about the quality or digestibility of the ingredients. Don't hesitate to ask your local vet about any issues you may have regarding your dog's diet.
2. Do not "free choice feed" your dog. Free choice feeding is essentially feeding your pet as much as he wants to eat. Free choice feeding can contribute to digestive upset (vomiting and diarrhea), bloating, difficulty in house training, and obesity.
The best approach is to feed your dog's daily allotment of food in two or three measured meals a day. If your dog hasn't eaten his measured amount of food within 15 minutes, remove it. Continue on with the same measured portion at the next meal. If you find your pet consistently isn't finishing his meal but is otherwise doing well, cut back on the total daily allotment. On the other hand, even if your dog devours the meal in a few minutes, do not give more food.
Watch his body condition and review this with us at each visit.
3. Avoid feeding your dog "human food". Establishing right from the start that "human food" is off-limits will reduce begging and an increased opportunity for obesity. It also helps minimize the chance of dogs becoming very picky eaters. If you must feed some "human food", stick to small amounts of low calorie options such as vegetables, rice, etc., but always put them in your puppy's bowl! Never feed your dog from the table.
4. Familiarize yourself with healthy treats. We all like to treat our pets. It helps us in socializing, training and just plain loving them. There are several healthy treat options now on the market. Remember many treats on the market have more calories than you find in a ½ cup of dog food!
5. Use meals as a house training opportunity! Puppies normally eliminate 5 to 15 minutes after eating a meal. Therefore, after the feeding take your puppy outside to the appropriate place in your yard where you would like him to eliminate, and wait for the magic moment. Praise your puppy for a job well done!
Puppies also need to eliminate after nap and play sessions. Use this to your advantage in training and avoiding "accidents"!
6. Food is an excellent training tool! Food makes training easier and more positive for you and your dog.
7. Feed your dog in a quiet place. Avoid feeding just prior to or just after exercise. This helps establish consistency, reduces excitement around a meal, and reduces the incidence of stomach upset.
8. Change diets slowly. If you are changing your dog's diet, mix the new food with the previous diet in small amounts the first day or two. Then the portion of the new diet can be gradually increased over a week or so until your dog is completely on the new diet. This will reduce the likelihood of vomiting and diarrhea. Your dog should make a formed stool, which is easy to pick up.
9. Bones and milk. Please do not feed your dog any bones. Digestive disturbances, bone fragments and their resulting damage can require the use of medication and possibly surgery. Many dogs cannot digest milk, and it ends up giving them diarrhea. This can also interfere with the absorption of nutrients from the intestinal tract.

ALLERGIC VACCINATION REACTION IN DOGS

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Todays Tips- Allergic vaccination reaction in Dogs.
Immunizations (or vaccines) are intended to stimulate the immune system so as to protect the animal from the infectious agent. However, this stimulation may cause some minor symptoms. Your pet may react to immunizations in ways that range from soreness at the site of injection to mild fever to allergic reactions, which can range from mild to severe.
Mild.
Mild reactions include fever, sluggishness, and loss of appetite. Mild reactions usually resolve without treatment.
Moderate.
Urticaria is a moderate vascular reaction of the skin marked by hives or wheals and rapid swelling and redness of the lips, around the eyes, and in the neck region. It is usually extremely itchy. Urticaria may progress to anaphylaxis, which is considered life-threatening. Urticaria is the most common reaction in dogs.
Severe.
The most severe reaction is anaphylaxis, a sudden, severe allergic response that produces breathing difficulties, collapse and possible death. Symptoms usually include sudden onset of vomiting, diarrhea, staggering, rapid drop in blood pressure, swelling of the larynx leading to airway obstruction (and inability to breathe), seizures and cardiovascular collapse or death. This reaction is life-threatening for your dog.Both anaphylaxis and urticaria are reactions that are triggered by antibodies that the immune system has made to some portion of the vaccine and usually requires at least one previous exposure to the vaccine. The antibodies cause inflammatory cells like basophils and mast cells to release substances that cause the allergic reaction. The impact on the dog may be life threatening but if treated successfully the prognosis for long-term health is good. Mild reactions usually resolve without treatment.DiagnosisThere is no diagnostic test for anaphylaxis or urticaria, but a quick physical exam will show common signs of an allergic reaction and the history will reveal recent vaccination.
Treatment
Anaphylaxis is an extreme emergency. Your veterinarian will begin immediate emergency life support including establishing an open airway, oxygen administration, intravenous fluids to increase blood pressure and drugs such as epinephrine, diphenhydramine and corticosteroids. Dogs that survive the first few minutes usually return to normal health. Anaphylaxis usually occurs soon after vaccination, often while the dog is still in the veterinary clinic.

Urticaria occurs soon after vaccination, often shortly after the animal gets home. Your veterinarian will recommend immediate return to the hospital for treatment. An oral antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl®) may be recommended to initiate treatment. Urticaria is usually treated successfully with injectable corticosteroids like dexamethasone or prednisone. Antihistamines do little to help with acute allergic reactions but may be given by injection to help prevent recurrence of symptoms after steroids wear off.

Mild vaccination reactions usually require no treatment. However, if the symptoms persist for more than 24 hours, call your veterinarian.
Home Care and Prevention
Be sure to schedule vaccination appointments when you will be available to monitor your dog after the vaccine is administered. Be sure to call your veterinarian with any questions or concerns.The good news is that severe vaccination reactions are rare. The risk of anaphylaxis and urticaria are much more rare than the benefit of the vaccine in most cases. You can limit vaccines to those that prevent diseases to which your dog may be exposed. Your veterinarian is the best judge of what vaccines are needed to protect against the diseases in your area. Your veterinarian will record any adverse reactions to vaccines to help prevent those vaccines from being administered again. It is a good idea to also keep a record yourself. Reactions are more commonly associated with vaccines for leptospira, rabies and parvovirus.

Hypothyroidism in Dogs

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Todays Tips- Hypothyroidism in Dogs
Hypothyoid disease is a very common pet health problem. Affected dogs show a variety of signs, the most common being lethargy, weight gain, recurring skin problems. The diagnosis is relatively easy, although the treatment options are limited.Hypothyroid disease is a relatively common pet health problem in dogs, but rarely seen in cats. There are some specific at home pet care remedies that you can do to improve your dog's health.
The thyroid gland is one of the most important glands in the body. It is located in the neck near the trachea and is composed of two lobes, one on each side of the trachea (windpipe). This gland is controlled by the body’s master gland, the pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain.

The thyroid gland regulates the rate of metabolism. If it is hyperfunctional, metabolism speeds up. If it is less functional than normal, metabolism slows down. The latter is the basis for the clinical signs of hypothyroidism.
CAUSES
Hypothyroidism is almost always caused by one of two diseases: lymphocytic thyroiditis or idiopathic thyroid gland atrophy. The former disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism and is thought to be an immune-mediated disease. This means that the immune system decides that the thyroid is abnormal or foreign and attacks it. It is not known why the immune system does this. Idiopathic thyroid gland atrophy is also poorly understood. Normal thyroid tissue is replaced by fat tissue in what is considered a degenerative disease.
These two causes of hypothyroidism account for more than 95% of the cases. The other five percent are due to uncommon diseases, including cancer of the thyroid gland.
SIGNS
When the rate of metabolism slows down, virtually every organ in the body is affected in some manner. Most affected dogs have one or more of several “typical” physical and/or chemical abnormalities. These include:
-Weight gain without an increase in appetite-Lethargy and lack of desire to exercise-Cold intolerance (gets cold easily)-Dry hair coat with excessive shedding-Very thin hair coat to near baldness-Increased pigmentation in the skin-Increased susceptibility to skin and ear infections-Failure to regrow hair after clipping or shaving-high blood cholesterol-Thickening of the facial skin so they have a “tragic facial expression”-Abnormal function of nerves causing non-painful lameness, dragging of feet, incoordination, and a head tilt-Loss of libido and infertility in intact males-Lack of heat periods, infertility, and abortion in females-Fat deposits in the corneas of the eyes-Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (“dry eye” due to very thick tears)
DIAGNOSIS
The most common test is for the T4 level. This is a measurement of the main thyroid hormone in a blood sample. If it is below normal and the correct clinical signs are present, the test is meaningful. However, testing for the T4 level can be misleading because some dogs that are not hypothyroid may have subnormal levels. This happens when another disease is present or when certain drugs are given.
If hypothyroidism is suspected but the T4 is normal, other tests can be performed. These are more expensive so they are not used as first line tests.
TREATMENT
TO THE VET
Hypothyroidism is treatable but not curable. It is treated with oral administration of a thyroid replacement hormone. This drug must be given for the rest of the dog’s life.
There is a standard dose that is used initially; it is based on the dog’s weight. However, after about one month of treatment, further testing is done to verify that the thyroid hormone levels are normal. In some dogs, the dose will need to be further adjusted every 6-12 months.
If too much medication is given, signs of hyperthyroidism can be caused. These include hyperactivity, lack of sleep, weight loss, and an increase in water consumption. If any of these occur, notify us so that a proper adjustment can be made.
ANTIOXIDANTS.
In hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland is being attacked by the immune system, therefore, antioxidants may give it some protection. The three most effective antioxidants are Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Selenium.

ATTENTION SEEKING BEHAVIOUR

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Todays tips-Attention Seeking Behaviour
Both we and our dogs engage in a little attention getting behavior from time to time, and there's nothing particularly wrong with that – as long as the behavior stays within reasonable limits. If a dog barks at his owner as if to say, "Hey you! Over here," – that's perfectly acceptable communication if your dog has something to convey and is otherwise being ignored. Likewise, if you are engrossed in conversation and your dog paws at your leg to solicit your attention, or to be petted, it's no big deal to respond if you're up for it.But what you have to remember is that your dog will quickly learn what works and what doesn't according to how you respond. If you always (or even worse, sometimes) cave in to unreasonable requests, you will get even more of the obnoxious behavior in the future. The principle involved is "positive reinforcement," which effectively ensures that you reap what you sow.
Even telling your dog to stop, or reprimanding him, can be rewarding for some dogs. The principle here is that some attention, even negative attention, is better than no attention at all. Attention seeking behavior can reach serious proportions. Take, for example, a dog that is always barking in your face to maintain your undivided attention, or one that constantly jumps on you or paws you whenever you are talking with a friend. Some dogs try to attract attention by stealing things and chewing them up or even swallowing them. Your hysterical reaction, yelling and chasing the dog to get the object back, can be just what the attention-needy dog wants. The game "keep away" that results is, apparently, a whole lot of fun for the dog – especially if you wave your arms around and scream a lot. Other attention seeking behaviors can be really strange. Some dogs develop pseudo-medical attention-seeking behaviors, like faking lameness, following a visit to a veterinary clinic where they have received much attention for their ailment. A toy poodle patient of mine scratched violently at his face for years despite intense diagnostic workups and assorted medical interventions by her veterinarian owner. The problem resolved when the other dog in the house died and resumed when the owner acquired another dog. In retrospect, the dog was scratching her face because she wanted attention, any attention, including medical attention, from her veterinarian owner when she engaged in the behavior.
Types of Attention Seeking Behaviors
Barking
Whining
Vomiting
Feigning lameness
Chasing lights or shadows
Snapping at "imaginary" flies
Strange bodily contortions and posturing
What to Do About It
The main principle behind treating attention-seeking behaviors is to ignore the behavior. But it doesn't work right away. In fact, the behavior may get worse, even more intense or more demanding, before it eventually fades away. It's as if the dog is thinking, "That's odd – this used to work. I'd better try even harder to make it work again."
Stages in TreatmentThe treatment stages are as follows:
Owner ignores unwanted behavior, say, stealing objects.
Dogs steals more items, more often and dances around in front of the owner to try to get him to intervene or Chase him
Owner continues to ignore the behavior.
Dog starts to lose confidence in this attention-getting technique and performs it less frequently.
Owner continues to ignore the dog's charades.
Dogs attention seeking behavior eventually peters out
Warning
If you give in intermittently, or succumb to your dogs charades after a lengthy period of trying to "tough it out," you will actually reinforce the behavior even more firmly. The dog learns that if he keeps it up, attention will eventually come his way. This is the same principle that keeps gamblers riveted to "one arm bandit" slot machines.
How to Hasten Successful Treatment
Use of a "bridging stimulus" can help speed up successful treatment. A bridging stimulus is a neutral signal or cue that heralds a particular consequence. The actual stimulus could be the sound of a duck call or tuning fork, or the sound made by striking a key on a piano. The noisemaker is sounded at the time the dog is engaging in the unwanted behavior to signal that the owner is about to withdraw attention, perhaps even leave the room. You must follow through after issuing the cue. It must always signal immediate withdrawal of your attention or the dog will fail to make an association between its unwanted behavior and the inevitable consequence.What the bridging stimulus does is focus the dog's attention on that point in time when attention withdrawal is imminent. It is not intended to be aversive but rather to be a consistent herald of what is to follow. Attention behavior will melt away more consistently and rapidly if a bridging stimulus is used than if attention withdrawal is employed on its own without such a signal.
Conclusion
Dogs that display attention-seeking behaviors are needy individuals that are probably under duress or are in some emotional conflict. Pretty much, any behavior can be reinforced as an attention seeking behavior: Attention-seeking components may be involved in various other behavior problems, too. The attention-hungry dog will do whatever works best to get you to pay more attention to him.

WHAT IS CANINE INFLUENZA?HOW IS DOG WITH CANINE INFLUENZA TREATED

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Todays Tips-What i s Canine Influenza?How is dog with canine influenza treated?
Dog Flu, also called Canine Influenza, is a new dog disease. It is similar to Canine Cough. Only a small percent of Canine Influenza cases cause death. The disease has adapted in the dog from a common infection in horses. It is a highly contagious and sometimes deadly canine flu that is spreading in kennels and at dog tracks around the country.
Currently there seems to be much misinformation about this emerging infection in dogs.
There are no reported cases in Canada, and the U.S. infections seem to be confined to Boarding Kennels and Greyhound Race Tracks.
There are a multitude of disorders and diseases that will cause a dog to cough and gag and hack.
Individual assessment for your dog is imperative to diagnose the true cause of the dog's difficulties.
What is canine influenza?
Canine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection of dogs that is caused by a virus. The canine influenza virus is closely related to the virus that causes equine influenza and it is thought that the equine influenza virus mutated to produce the canine influenza virus.
For ways to treat your pet with at-home remedies that are safe, natural and
Two clinical syndromes have been seen in dogs infected with the canine influenza virus—a mild form of the disease and a more severe form that is accompanied by pneumonia.
Most Dogs suffering with the mild form of canine influenza develop a soft, moist cough that persists for 10 to 30 days. Some dogs have a dry cough similar to the "kennel cough" caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica/parainfluenza virus complex. For this reason, canine influenza virus infections are frequently mistaken for "kennel cough." Dogs with the mild form of influenza may also have a thick nasal discharge, which is usually caused by a secondary bacterial infection.
Dogs with the severe form of canine influenza develop high temperatures (104ºF to 106ºF) and have clinical signs of pneumonia, such as increased respiratory rates and effort. Pneumonia may be due to a secondary bacterial infection.
Because this is a newly emerging disease, almost all dogs, regardless of breed or age, are susceptible to infection and have no immunity. Virtually all dogs that are exposed to the virus become infected and nearly 80% show clinical signs of disease. Fortunately, most affected dogs have the mild form.
Do dogs die from canine influenza?
Fatal cases of pneumonia resulting from infection with canine influenza virus have been reported in dogs, but the fatality rate (5% to 8%) has been low so far.
How is a dog with canine influenza treated?
As with any disease caused by a virus, treatment is largely supportive. Good animal care practices and nutrition assist dogs in mounting an effective immune response. In the milder form of the disease, a thick green nasal discharge, which most likely represents a secondary bacterial infection, usually resolves quickly after treatment with a broad-spectrum bactericidal antimicrobial. In the more severe form of the disease, pneumonia is thought to often be caused by bacteria, and responds best to IV Fluids and a antibiotics.
Is canine influenza virus transmissible from dogs to humans?
To date, there is no evidence of transmission of canine influenza virus from dogs to people.

VACCINATING YOUR NEW DOGS AND DOG VACCINES

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Todays Tips-Vaccinating your new dog and Dog Vaccines
Vaccines are a controversial topic- How many?? How Often?? Will they harm my pet??
These are important questions for you want to give your dog the best pet care.
The approach to vaccines is to give only what is necessary as infrequently as possible for the best pet health.
New research has suggested that following the series of puppy boosters, and booster at 1 year, individual vaccines will give protection for longer than 1 year. Meaning you DON'T need combination vaccine boosters every year!!
Vaccines have been linked to the occasional auto-immune disease ( where the body attacks part of itself) and allergies.
That being said, Vaccines are important in preventing some of the serious infectious diseases that still occur today. The 3 most common ones are Canine Parvovirus ( causes severe bloody diarrhea), Canine Distemper (cause nervous system signs ) and Rabies.
When puppies are born, their immune systems are not mature enough to make antibodies until approximately 8 to 12 weeks of age. Nature provides for temporary immunity in the form of colostrum, which is very rich in antibodies. Babies who fail to suckle colostrum in the first few days of life will be extremely susceptible to disease until their own immune system matures and makes their own antibodies.
We as pet owners assume that our healthy puppy did get its mother's colostrum. After weaning around the age of 8 weeks, it is now your responsibility to protect your new pet by putting him on a vaccination schedule.
VACCINATION SCHEDULE
First visit - 8 weeks: Distemper + Parvovirus + Parainfluenza + Hepatitis
Second visit - 12 weeks: Distemper + Parvovirus + Parainfluenza + Hepatitis
Third visit - 16 weeks: Parvovirus + Rabies + Parainfluenza + Distemper + Hepatitis
Year 1 - Parvovirus , Parainfluenza, Distemper, Hepatitis and Rabies.
Year 2 - Parvovirus
Year 3 - Distemper
Year 4- Rabies
This cycle is repeated until your pet reaches the age of 12. At that age we stop vaccinating all together. It is still important that your pet has yearly checkups.
Canine Distemper
Vaccination against this often fatal, hard-to-treat disease is absolutely essential. Highly contagious, it is spread by discharges from the noses and eyes of infected dogs. Symptoms can include listlessness, fever, coughing, diarrhea and vomiting; convulsions and paralysis may occur in the disease's final stages. The distemper virus attacks many organs, including the nervous system, which may be permanently damaged, even if the dog recovers.
Canine Tracheobronchitis (CANINE COUGH)
Just as with the human common cold, this respiratory-tract infection is easily transmitted from one dog to another, so vaccination is imperative if your pet will come in contact with many other dogs in such situations as obedience training or boarding at a kennel. Caused by various airborne bacteria and viruses, including Canine Parainfluenza virus, Canine Adenovirus Type II and Bordetella Bronchiseptica, you'll first notice its onset by your dog's dry, hacking cough.
Canine Parvovirus
Very contagious, debilitating and widespread, the disease caused by this virus emerged in many parts of the world only in 1978. Spread through infected feces, the highly resistant virus can remain in the environment for many months. Symptoms include high fever, listlessness, vomiting and diarrhea. Vaccination is the only certain method of preventing this potentially fatal disease, which is most severe in young pups and elderly dogs.
Rabies
This incurable viral disease affects the central nervous system of almost all mammals, including humans. It is spread through contact with the saliva of infected animals (which can include skunks, foxes, raccoons and bats) through bites or any break in the skin. Vaccination will provide your pet with much greater resistance to rabies if he is exposed to the disease, but you must be aware that there is no cure once it occurs. For this reason, many municipalities absolutely require that all dogs receive rabies vaccinations on a regular basis. Plus, you will definitely have to prove that your dog is vaccinated if you travel with him - whether across the province, to the United States or around the world.
Infectious Canine Hepatitis
Caused by Canine Adenovirus Type I, this disease is transmitted among dogs by contact with secretions, such as saliva, infected urine or feces. Its symptoms are similar to those of the early stages of distemper. Causing liver failure, eye damage and breathing problems, the course of this disease can range from mild to fatal. Vaccination remains the best protection.

BACK AND DISC PROBLEMS

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Todays Tips-Back and Disc Problems
SIGNS
Your pet is unable to speak, but she can communicate well with body language. She may be hunched over, or have her spine twisted to one side. She will be in pain and may have trouble moving or cry when you pick her up.
CAUSES
Back pain is particularly common in low, long dogs, such as Dachshunds. We also see it in the highly active dogs that do a lot of jumping, such as Border Collies. Anything that puts undo pressure on the spine can cause a back spasm.
The spinal cord is one of the most important and sensitive organs in the body. If it is damaged, the nerve cells do not regenerate but are replaced with fibrous or scar tissue. Spinal cord injuries usually result in permanent damage. Therefore, the spinal cord is protected in a very special fashion. It goes through a bony canal within the spine and is surrounded by protective bone everywhere except the junction of two vertebrae. These junctions are filled by rubber-like cushions called intervertebral discs. They allow the back to move up and down and sideways without allowing contact between the bones of the spinal column. This extreme protection of the spinal cord reflects its importance and fragility.
The disc is composed of two parts. The outer covering is much like a thick shell. It is comprised of tough fibers that protect and contain the central part. The disc is thinnest at the top. This thin area is located just below the spinal cord. The central part of the disc is much softer than the outer part and has the consistency of thick toothpaste.
When the outer shell degenerates, it allows the central part of the disc to escape. This is called a disc rupture or a "slipped" disc. Since the disc is thinnest near the spinal cord, disc material that escapes through the tear usually goes upward, putting pressure on the spinal cord. Because the spinal cord is encased within its bony canal, it cannot move away from the pressure and it becomes “pinched”.
Degenerative disc disease causes spontaneous degeneration of the outer part of the disc, resulting in disc rupture. It may not be related to injury, although trauma is a common cause. It is also not related to age. Most dogs with degenerative disc disease are 3-7 years old. It is a sudden event most likely due to genetic factors. Certain breeds, especially the Dachshund, Poodle, Pekinese, Lhaso Apso, German Shepherd, Doberman and Cocker Spaniel have a high incidence of disc disease.
Most owners report that a disc rupture occurred following some kind of traumatic event, such as a relatively small jump or fall. Although this act is frequently blamed for the disc rupture, the injury actually occurred due to chronic disc degeneration.
The spinal cord is like a telephone cable carrying thousands of tiny wires. When it is crushed, transmission of information through the wires is slowed or stopped. When the disc degenerates and ruptures, a similar event in the spinal cord occurs. The central part is forced upward, putting pressure on the spinal cord and the nerves that leave the spinal cord over the discs (i.e. spinal nerves). Pressure on the spinal nerves results in pain. Pressure on the spinal cord results in pain and/or loss of information transmission causing partial or complete paralysis.
Most disc ruptures occur in the middle to lower part of the back. However, they may also occur in the neck. Back injuries often cause paralysis without severe pain while neck injuries usually cause severe pain without paralysis. If paralysis affects all four legs, the disc rupture must be in the neck. Due to the way nerve tracts are arranged in the spinal cord, disc ruptures in the neck may affect the rear legs first and may not involve the front limbs.
Disc degeneration usually occurs relatively slowly, usually over several days or weeks. The dog often experiences pain and becomes reluctant to move. It may lie around for a few days allowing the body to try to heal the injury, often without the owner being aware that a problem existed. However, discs may also rupture very acutely. Some dogs will go from normal walking to total paralysis in less than one hour.
DIAGNOSIS
A presumptive diagnosis of disc disease is made based on the dog's history of neck or back pain, uncoordinated walking, or paralysis when there is no history of trauma. The physical examination will indicate that the problem originates from the spinal cord, giving further evidence to disc disease. Another important factor is the breed. If the dog is one of the high incidence breeds, the diagnosis is even more likely.
In some cases, plain radiographs (x-rays) may assist the diagnosis, but they may also be normal since neither the disc nor the spinal cord is visible on an x-ray. If the diagnosis is in doubt or if surgery is to be performed, a myelogram may be done. This procedure involves injecting a special dye around the spinal cord while the dog is anesthetized. When radiographs are taken, the dye will be seen outlining the spinal cord. A break in the dye column means that there is pressure on the spinal cord at that point.
It is possible that the pressure is due to a blood clot or tumor. Both are possible but rare, especially when compared to disc ruptures. If the patient is a high-risk breed and there has been a sudden onset without trauma, there is an approximately 95% chance that a disc rupture is causing the clinical signs. However, the diagnosis is not definite until the time of surgery.

CANINE HEALTH PROBLEM-PREVENTING CANNE COUGHING

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Todays Tips- Canine health problem- Preventing Canine Coughing
Canine coughing is a potentially serious issue. If your dogs cough goes on for longer than a day, you may have a canine health problem on your hands, and you should take your dog to the vet immediately. Todaystips relates to prevent coughing caused by external irritants rather than coughing from viruses or bacteria. If your dog has the flu, or some other illness, it will need medication from the vet.

.Outside, pollen, dust, fumes or other types of irritants can cause your dog to cough. So make sure the area where your dog plays is as free of these things as possible. In summer, particularly if there is a lot of pollen in your area at this time, you could keep your dog inside in the early morning and late afternoon. Indoors, cleaning products, carpet powders, and dust stirred up by vacuuming can cause canine coughing just as much as it causes people to cough. Try keeping your dog in another room whilst you vacuum - the noise would probably bother him anyway.

.If the air is too dry inside your house, your dog can develop phlegm or mucous in the back of his throat. This will lead to canine coughing to try and clear it from the back of his throat. If this is a problem, try buying an air humidifier to keep the air more moist. They're not expensive.

.Second hand cigarette smoke is not good for animals. So if you smoke, try smoking outdoors. And if you must smoke inside, ensure there is very good ventilation and fresh air circulating. Open windows and doors. Or if its very cold or snowing outside, smoke at an open window, or in a room where the dog doesn't go. Some dogs have developed emphysema from the second hand smoke of their owners.

.Dogs can take cough suppressants. But you should talk to your vet about your dogs coughing before you give your dogs cough suppressants. There may be an underlying canine health issue that needs to be dealt with. Vets suggest using a product with the active ingredient dextromethorphan. But this should be an absolute last resort for dealing with canine coughing. If you've ever taken cough suppressants yourself, you'll know they don't make you feel full of vitality. I personally would rather cough than take a cough suppressant.

IS SHIVERING AN INDICATION OF PAIN

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Todays Tips-Is Shivering an indication of Pain
Shivering is not usually an indication of pain. Dogs shiver when cold just like humans, but there are also other causes. Nervous dogs can tremble and shiver as a result of nervous energy - this is more common in smaller dogs and is not something to worry about. Older dogs have also be known to start regularly shivering as a result of weak muscles and arthritis. There are also a large range of illnesses that can have shivering as one of their symptoms.
An ill dog with a fever may show these symptoms but there are many more less obvious illnesses for which shivering can be a symptom. These include some types of internal parasite, auto immune disease, and infectious diseases such as leptospirois, although most of these would have other symptoms such as fever, stiffness of joints and diarrhea in combination with the shivering

DOG HEALTH ISSUES

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Todays Tips-Dog health issues
Dogs of all ages are susceptible to infectious hepatitis - a dog health issue every dog owner should protect his animal against. Because approximately eighty percent of all dogs over one year of age are exposed to hepatitis, vaccination against the disease usually is considered a must.Hepatitis is caused by a virus which infects the kidneys and is eliminated in the urine even after the animal has recovered. Symptoms of this disease may vary in severity from dog to dog, but they usually include a fever of at least 104 degrees Fahrenheit.As the infection progresses with this serious dog health issues, the animal becomes listless, shows lack of appetite, develops an extreme thirst, and has watery discharge from his eyes. In addition, his throat, especially the tonsils, become swollen.Statistics indicate that the mortality rate for dogs with this disease is very high. Those dogs that recover usually eat well, but are slow to regain lost weight. For these reasons you should consult your family veterinarian immediately upon recognizing the symptoms and get the appropriate medication administered to the puppy as early as possible.
How Does The Virus Spread?
Major dog health issues such as infectious hepatitis is a disease that usually affects young puppies although it can strike dogs of any age. The virus is not airborne and it is not likely that your puppy will contract hepatitis in this manner.The hepatitis virus attacks a puppy when he comes in direct contact with the saliva or urine of infected animals. When given proper medication, the disease settles in the kidneys and is eliminated through your pup's urine.The virus may also be passed on to a puppy in an indirect way. Objects made out of wood or pieces of clothing may harbor canine hepatitis virus that may be transferred to others and cause severe dog health issues within the recipient.Urine from recovered animals also contains hepatitis virus and is a major factor in the spread of the disease. The urine of an infected animal is dangerous for some time following recovery. Pet owners should keep these dog health issues in mind when taking their pets out for their daily walks.
A Good Vaccination Program
A solid vaccination programme against dog health issues such as infectious hepatitis usually consists of two doses for puppy's under three months of age. The first dose is to be given after weaning and the second dose two to three weeks later. Dogs older than three months should respond to a single dose inoculation.Life-long preventions of major dog health issues for your dog or puppy can be maintained with an annual vaccination program. Please schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for an examination to ensure your pet is up-to-date with his shots to maintain good dog health.

ABOUT DEAF DOGS

About Deaf Dogs
Dogs that cannot hear are quite often written off as too difficult to train, unable to recall or be let off lead and generally unable to live a ‘normal’ life. But a deaf dog only has one of the five senses missing and can accommodate for this loss much better than you might imagine. With their heightened sense of smell and eager eyes, a deaf dog can understand, interact and learn just as well as their hearing companions. With a little time and imagination from their owners, a deaf dog can learn all the behaviours that a hearing dog can, including recall.
Deaf Dog Hand Signals
The key to a ‘normal’ relationship with your deaf dog is to substitute the spoken word for some hand signals. Some people learn commands from UK or USA sign language standards. Alternatively, you can make up your own signs to suit you and your dog. Have some fun and be inventive but bear in mind that all signs should be clear, easily distinguishable from other signs and preferably even performed away from your body so that your sign is clearly visible to your dog. For this reason, by all means look up some official signs but do adapt them to your own needs, or change them completely into something that you can easily remember. We made up many signs for our deaf dog, Berkeley. Only a few of them are large and away from the body such as the recall sign. Most are more discrete as Berkeley is very observant and also rather frightened of large sweeping hand movements. See how you get on and don’t be afraid to adapt your signs to your own dog’s needs.
Using Sign Language with a Deaf Dog
Whatever signs you choose, be consistent. Make a note of the signs you intend to use and maybe draw them out. Put them on the fridge door or somewhere easy to view and stick to those signs.Start to use your signs exactly as you would normally speak to a hearing dog. Start with some everyday pleasant events such as a sign for ‘dinner time’ and a sign for ‘walkies’. These are two activities that most dogs love. So, for example, get your dog’s attention with a gentle tap near the shoulder blades and sign for ‘dinner’ and then put the food bowl down or sign for ‘walkies’ and immediately get the dog lead off it’s hook. You will be amazed at how quickly your deaf dog will come to associate the sign with the event that follows. Keep using your chosen sign and watch your dog’s reaction. If they respond with excitement and prepare for walkies or dinner then you have successfully communicated to your deaf dog. Congratulations.You will be surprised how the rest of the signs will follow easily. Your deaf dog soon learns that your hands and movements are telling them interesting things.
Speak as you Sign
It is always a good idea, when signing, to also speak to your dog. If you are signing something happy such as ‘walkies’, it helps if you are smiling as you sign. As you sign ‘walkies’ also say ‘walkies’ and this will show in your face. Dogs are experts at reading body language, including facial expressions. The sign will be learnt quicker and have more meaning to your dog. Of course, the same goes for naughty signs such as ‘no’. Perform your sign for ‘no’ but also say ‘no’ at the same time, which will help you to convey your meaning.
Training a Deaf Dog with Hand Signals
Now you are in the swing of using your hand signals consistently and for everyday activities, you can begin some basic training. Remember, we are training a dog, it just happens to be a deaf dog. The basic rule is to train the same way you would train a hearing dog but add hand signals to your verbal commands. It is important to remember this. All the usual rules of good basic dog training apply*.Training a deaf dog is not really that different to training a hearing dog. At most it will involve a little more time and patience, but it is possible and deafness is not ever an excuse for a poorly behaved, under trained pooch.
* Good Basic Dog Training:Train your dog using whatever motivates them, be it a food treat or a favourite toy. Keep training sessions short (5-10 mins per session) and always end training sessions on a positive note such as an easy trick that you know your dog can perform. Never shout or loose your temper and never train if you or your dog is tired or getting bored. Always use positive training methods as you will get much better results and your pooch will thank you for it.

RABIES SYMPTONS AND RABIES VACCINE

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Todays Tips-Rabies Symptons and Rabies Vaccine.
Rabies is a viral disease of the central nervous system. It is produced by a virus that fundamentally attacks the brain, reaching there through the nerves of the zone where it has been bitten or where there has been saliva contact on a small wound, allowing the entrance of the virus to the organism. The symptons, seriousness and period of incubation depends on where the dog has been inoculated, head or a place of little hair, and the virus reaches the brain sooner. It is important to mention that for a healthy dog to show symptoms of rabies, he has to have been bitten by an already sick dog or any other animal that can carry this disease, e.g. cats, cows, sheep, bats, rats, etc. Some people believe that rabies can be a consequence of a lack of food or water, punishment, prolonged exposure to the sun, etc. Whoever thinks that is totally whack. The disease does not appear alone, solely through the saliva of a sick dog or its bite. Although the incubation period is rarely less than 10 days and not more than four months, there are cases where that differs. Most cases begin with a change of character; the dog that was normally very friendly now wants to be alone and hides. Those who were energetic now become more peaceable. Before declaring the symptoms of the seas, the saliva of the bitten dog can contain an enormous quantity of the virus, which means that there is danger of contagion. The disease usually evolves into a gradual way until there is a marked hyperexcitement. Rabies can be divided into classes: Furious and Silent
Rabies Symptons
Initially, the rabies symptoms are that there is an evident change of character; the dog becomes doubtful, sad and restless. This is also called "dog rage" Soon there appears a marked nervous excitement, and the dog has a fixed, brilliant, dumbfounded look in his eyes. The dog also starts to drool by the mouth. He attacks and bites other animals and people without any selection whatsoever. In his excitement, he injures his mouth, breaks his teeth, but insists on his rages of fury. He drinks avidly, not only water but also any sewage water or dirty water that he comes across with. (It is also wrong to think that a dog with rabies does not drink water). This particularity (hydrophobia) is only the manifestation of rabies in human beings. The dog keeps on way it is at its use and sometimes races off or turns around in circles for long periods. Other times, he abruptly stops whatever he's doing as if facing hallucinations.
The way the dog barks lets you know that he is going through a lot of torment. After that comes the paralysis of the limbs, first showing signs of an unsteady walk and finally the inability to walk despite all efforts. Death is nigh and very sad, as in a certain way the owner is the one responsible for not having giving him his vaccines.
The first manifestation or Signs of the Rabies is a change of character. The dog becomes withdrawn, spending long periods in dart and distant places, or sorrowfully looking for the company of his owners. He seems to suspect that he is getting sick, or maybe he already feels kind of sick. He progressively goes losing all appetite, worsening his depression and showing insecurity when he walks. He soon starts to drag his paws, keeping his mouth open and his face fixed. This is the beginning of the paralytic period. The eyes look glassy, and the mouth is open, with saliva drooling out by the openings. The tongue hangs out, and the dog has a lazy attitude, lying on his hind legs. In essence, the typical image of a very sick dog. The movements of his open mouth seem to indicate that a foreign body has gone into his throat and is choking him. This sometimes results in unwarned people sticking their hand down the throat trying to remove an object, running the risk of getting contaged if the person has any wound on their arm. The paralysis progresses and the dog dies in two or three days. Silent rabies is less dangerous for humans than the furious one. The early paralysis of the jaw makes it possible for the dog to bite, although the saliva is just as contagious. Never leave your dog running around or out of sight. The danger is as serious for the animal as for the human is he is bitten and cannot take the necessary precautions. Vaccinate your dog between the fourth and sixth week of life. Annually repeat the vaccination.

WHICH ARE THE SERIOUS DOG HEALTH PROBLEMS?

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Todays Tips-Serious Dog health problems

Dog health Problems can run across a whole raft of areas of dog health issues. Let's just look quickly at a few of the more serious dog health problems:
Serious Dog Health Problems:
Canine distemper is a serious dog health problem caused by a highly contagious virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of dogs.
The death rate from canine distemper is unfortunately very high.
The symptoms of canine distemper are not necessarily easily detected. And it is because of this that immediate treatment is rarely given.
Puppies should therefore be vaccinated against distemper at about 9 to 10 weeks of age, and thereafter at 14 weeks and 1 year. Some believe that an additional vaccination at 16 to 18 weeks is also advisable.
Natural Remedis forDistemper are also available, which can help to remove canine distemper from the dog health problems your dog may suffer from.
Another of the more serious dog health problems you may come across is Kennel Cough. Dogs can most easily acquire the disease in animal shelters, veterinary hospitals, local parks, kennels, dog shows, grooming parlors or animal boarding places where it's not difficult to come into contact with infected dogs.
Signs of kennel cough include thick yellow or green nasal discharge, rhinitis and conjunctivitis in some dogs.
As with distemper and other dog health problems for which conventional vaccinations are the favored treatment by many vets, natural alternatives for Kennel Cough prevention and treatment also exist and can be quite effective.
Parvovirus is another of the dog health problems not to be taken lightly. It is a disease with a high rate of mortality, especially among puppies. Vaccination may prove to be the best line of defense against parvovirus.
Homopeathic parvovirus Remedies also exist for prevention, and supervised treatment, of parvovirus.

WHAT ARE THE COMMON HEALTH PROBLEM IN ADULTS DOGS ?

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Todays Tips-Common health problems in adult dogs

Common health problems in Adult dogs are: Fleas,Allergies and Obesity
Fleas
Fleas and other parasites such as ticks and mites (which cause mange) constitute a common heatl problems for dogs. Fleas are the easiest to spot, but they can be difficult to get rid of as they reproduce quickly.If your dog is constantly scratching himself, he may have fleas. You can check by examining his fur and skin. Black specks on the skin indicate fleas, and if your dog has a serious flea problem, you'll probably notice the little bugs jumping around in his fur.If your dog has fleas, you can use a flea comb or flea bath to get rid of them, depending on the severity of the problem. Seek the advice of your vet if you're having trouble controlling fleas.It's important to prevent fleas throughout your dog's life, either by giving him monthly anti-flea treatments or feeding him flea-preventing food such as garlic.

Allergies
Just like people, dogs are susceptible to many types of allergies, including food, environmental, contact and drug allergies. The following symptoms can be caused by allergic reactions:
*Itchy, irritated skin
*Vomiting*Diarrhea
*Decreased energy and mood
Dogs are often allergic to common "fillers" in dog food, such as wheat, corn and soy, and many dogs are sensitive to dairy products, eggs and meat.
Obesity
Obesity is a growing epidemic in people as well as dogs. Vets estimate that one quarter to nearly half of dogs are obese.Even slightly overweight dogs are at risk for related health problems like diabetes, digestive disorders and respiratory conditions.Although dogs love to eat and it can be tempting to give food to a begging dog, you should never overfeed your pet. Keep a regular feeding schedule and don't keep your dog's food dish out between meals.Reserve treats for training sessions and opt for healthy treats, such as carrots and apples, when you want to reward your dog.

PREVENTING CANINE COUGHING

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Todays Tips-Preventing Canine Coughing.
Canine coughing is a potentially serious issue. If your dogs cough goes on for longer than a day, you may have a canine health problem on your hands, and you should take your dog to the vet immediately.Tips to prevent coughing caused by external irritants rather than coughing from viruses or bacteria. If your dog has the flu, or some other illness, it will need medication from the vet.

. Outside, pollen, dust, fumes or other types of irritants can cause your dog to cough. So make sure the area where your dog plays is as free of these things as possible. In summer, particularly if there is a lot of pollen in your area at this time, you could keep your dog inside in the early morning and late afternoon. Indoors, cleaning products, carpet powders, and dust stirred up by vacuuming can cause canine coughing just as much as it causes people to cough. Try keeping your dog in another room whilst you vacuum - the noise would probably bother him anyway.

. If the air is too dry inside your house, your dog can develop phlegm or mucous in the back of his throat. This will lead to canine coughing to try and clear it from the back of his throat. If this is a problem, try buying an air humidifier to keep the air more moist. They're not expensive.

. Second hand cigarette smoke is not good for animals. So if you smoke, try smoking outdoors. And if you must smoke inside, ensure there is very good ventilation and fresh air circulating. Open windows and doors. Or if its very cold or snowing outside, smoke at an open window, or in a room where the dog doesn't go. Some dogs have developed emphysema from the second hand smoke of their owners.

. Dogs can take cough suppressants. But you should talk to your vet about your dogs coughing before you give your dogs cough suppressants. There may be an underlying canine health issue that needs to be dealt with. Vets suggest using a product with the active ingredient dextromethorphan. But this should be an absolute last resort for dealing with canine coughing. If you've ever taken cough suppressants yourself, you'll know they don't make you feel full of vitality. I personally would rather cough than take a cough suppressant.