All About Dog Diseases

By : Gerry Ronson
Taking care of your dogs is extremely important. You will find that dogs need to be taken care of to avoid certain diseases and that some of the other diseases are genetic. With genetic diseases you will find that they are difficult to prevent, which means that if your dog is susceptible you will be unable to prevent the disease, but there is much that you can do to help your dog through such diseases. When you are talking about prevention of dog diseases you do need to understand the inner workings of some of the more popular ailments of dogs. We will look at a brief overview of some of the dog diseases that you can prevent.

First it may be a surprise to you, but there are many dogs that have issues with the ears and eyes. Most of the dog breeds that suffer from ear or eye infections tend to have long hair that gets in the way of these two areas. Dogs that have long fur tend to have hair that will grow around the eyes and fall into the eyes. While the hair is part of their body it can cause infections based on the oils as well as the dirt that may be on the hair. You will want to make sure that when you groom your dog you remove any hairs that are near the dog’s eyes. Poodles, some terriers, and English Sheepdogs tend to be a few of the breeds that suffer from eye infections. To prevent these eye infections grooming around the eyes should be done once a month. In other words that means that you should check their eyes daily for infection and remove any hairs that have grown in the way, and once a month you should trim around the area. For ear infections you will find that ticks and other small insects can get into the ears. This means that you have to keep the ears clean on a daily basis. You should check to make sure there are no insects in the canals and that any dirt is removed. Hair can also cause ear infections in certain breeds like the Mexican Chihuahua that tends to grow hair in the ears and cause infections. When you are worried about eye and ear infections for your dog breed you should make sure to use a soft wet cloth around the areas each day to prevent any such infection from occurring.

Another dog disease that can be a difficult is hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is one of the most common ailments you will find in large dogs. Hip dysplasia is caused when the hip bones do not form properly. There really is no reason for the bones not to form, but most believe it has something to do with a calcium deficiency during the puppy stages. Hip dysplasia can be treated in a variety of ways. In English Sheepdogs they tend to cut the tail short to prevent the issues. In some cases they offer nutrition and calcium supplements to help your dog grow the bones as a puppy that they need.

Diabetes is another common ailment in dogs that has been seeing an increase like it has in people. You see with most diabetes cases there is a direct link to an improper diet as well as improper exercise. Diabetes is luckily treated with medication as well as changing the diet of your dog so it can be prevented. In some cases after a dog has suffered diabetes and the nutrition and exercise has been fixed the dog may not need to have medication for life. You will find that most dog breeds can suffer from this disease.

Article Source: http://www.contentfueled.com


Gerry Ronson has been working with dogs for over 20 years and now works as a writer for the websites dog accessories and Kong Toys.

Why Take Out Pet Insurance?

By : Nicholas Hunt
As a nation of pet lovers, many of us spend considerable amounts of both time and money providing our companions with the necessities of life and in most cases, lots of luxuries too. From gourmet pet food to comfortable sleeping quarters, stimulating toys to the best in flea protection and grooming, we lavish care and cash on our pets. One thing that not all pet owners are willing to pay out for though is a decent pet insurance policy.

Maybe it's because of a distrust of the insurance industry in general - after all, it doesn't always have the best of reputations - or maybe it's through a lack of knowledge, but pet health cover often comes bottom of the list if it's even considered at all.

This is perhaps not surprising in some respects. While your pet is young and healthy, it's not pleasant to think about all the bad things that might happen in the future, whether that be illness or accident, going missing or even in the worst scenario, loss.

This attitude is entirely understandable, but in the long term it is perhaps not one that gives your pet the level of care and consideration that is deserved. The costs of standard treatments such as immunization are high enough (and insurance doesn't cover this), but the costs of an accident or major illness can be astounding, especially if surgery is required.

An encounter with a vehicle or even a wild animal can leave your pet needing treatment costing thousands upon thousands, which is unwelcome enough even if you can afford to pay it. If you can't afford it, and have no way of raising it, then that leaves your pet in a dire situation, and you'd have to consider the distressing option of having it put to sleep.

A good, comprehensive pet health care policy will avoid this upsetting situation, giving your pets the treatment they need when they need it, and the costs are lower than you might think with policies starting at only a few dollars or pounds a month.

There's also the rather important matter of public liability. Should your pet damage someone's property, or even worse cause a personal injury, then in today's litigious society you'll be wide open to crippling legal bills, whether or not you were at fault or negligent. Most policies will cover legal bills and compensation claims up to the tune of millions.

Finally, you never know when your own health might become an issue. Should you need to be hospitalized for treatment, do you have arrangements in place for looking after your pets? Insurance will pay the kennel or cattery costs involved in a hospital stay, meaning you have one less thing to worry about during your recovery.

All in all, even though insurance isn't a thrilling subject, and many of us don't see why we should pay for it when things are going well, there are plenty of convincing reasons to take out a policy, and if the time comes when you need to call on it then you'll definitely be glad you had one in place.

Article Source: http://www.contentfueled.com


Nicholas writes for a pet health insurance information site, which covers areas including horse insurance and other general pet cover topics.

How to Choose a Comfortable Dog Bed for your big dog

By : Richard 21. Andriola.
There are so many kinds of dog breeds out there. Some of these dogs are cute, small and cuddly. They can fit in any bag and they can hide under any chair. Whereas, there are other dogs that are so big that their owners cannot easily control them. There are also dogs that are of normal size, and most of these dogs are mixed breeds, as the qualities of their parent’s qualities and genes are mixed well.
Since the dogs are our true best friends, we need to make sure that they are well taken care of. These creatures give us all the love and care that they need do that they will not feel maltreated or unloved. We really should give them what we can, because they are the only ones in our lives that will always love us unconditionally. This is the reason why there are so many pet owners out there who give their pets the best in the world without a second judging. They buy the best of pet beds in the market, the best treats and the best accessories that they can find. As long as their pet enjoys them, these loving and most faithful pet owners will give it to them.
But since it is quite easy to choose the treats, the food and the accessories as compared to the pet bed, one should always keep in mind how to choose the said bed. There are so many things to keep in mind before you decide on buying a particular brand, and a particular piece of furniture, especially the pet bed. Make sure that you know the height and weight of your pet before buying a pet bed. Do not easily spend money on the first pet bed that you will see.
As mentioned before, there are different kinds of dogs. There are really small dogs, the extra small breed, which are normally under the 10 pound mark, and they are most likely the terrier breeds, poodles or the smallest breed of dogs, the Chihuahuas. These breeds are also called the teacup breeds, and they really do feel happy when they have extra small pet beds. These beds can reach up to 19 inches wide, and 19 inches long. These small dogs are not usually heavier than 25 pounds, and the nesting type of their bed of their pet beds are around 20 to 25 inches.
There are also medium breed dogs, which can be around 14 to 22 inches tall, and they can weigh from thirty to sixty pounds. They are the most number when it comes to dog population. The kind of bed chosen for them should be in nesting size of thirty to thirty five inches, and should range thirty five inches long to thirty five inches wide. Make sure that you are quite aware of the breed of your pet because the pet bed that you will definitely depend heavily on that, although it is quite better to measure your pet before buying a pet bed.

Article Source: http://www.contentfueled.com



Richard Andriolais the author of this article on DOG BED. Find more information about PET BEDS here.

The American Foxhound Dog

By : Gerry Ronson
The foxhound has several wonderful qualities including hunting, tracking, being a watchdog, and a trail dog. They are a hardy breed, which means they have a lot of energy to expend and love to have some type of job or game to play during the day. They have been used as pack dogs as well. You will find they are not good around other pets like cats. Their instincts are to chase and they can end up harming the other pets. They do okay with other dogs, but again this depends on the breed of the other dog. They can do well with the same breed. You will find they are not the best of dogs to have around children or novice owners. However with the proper training in socialization and obedience they can be in family homes. Training will be difficult as they are a stubborn breed. As long as you are firm, but gentle you should have no difficulty in further training after obedience. They are often a barker, so you may need to train them when to bark and when not to bark. They are very friendly, loyal, and energetic pets to have in your home. You will find they do better in outside kennels and should not be placed in apartment living.

The American foxhound looks much likes it UK counterpart in that it has the same color pattern and body type. You will find the American foxhound is a little taller and a little light in the body, but they are still about the same. The height of this foxhound is 21 to 25 inches with 65 to 75 pounds. They have straight bones adding to the height and making them a bit more agile as foxhounds. They have floppy ears, a long tail, and thin legs. They are usually white with black spots, and a brown head; however they can be just about any colour. The American foxhound was breed from the English descendent and the French hound.

As you can imagine there are many hounds that have been used for fox hunting and other hunting over the years. In the UK most are familiar with the foxhounds. The American foxhound is really just another breed of the UK foxhound that has been adapted. If you are looking for a lovable dog that will want to play, exercise, and have a generally good time in your back yard you may be interested in the American foxhound.

For proper care of your foxhound you will need to have a small or large home with plenty of backyard. The foxhound likes to run around during the day and play. They also need attention from their owner. They should not be left alone for long periods of time. Exercise should be given daily, especially long walks. Usually two to three walks a day are needed. Typically if you provide the right care they can live for twelve years. They are prone to some health conditions that are genetic like hip dysplasia and bone problems, but on the whole they are very healthy. Grooming is important on a weekly basis. The short hair requires a brushing to remove dead or loose hair. They should only be shampooed when necessary as they have sensitive skin. They are an average shedder all year long, so it helps to brush them often. For nutrition it is best to supply them with a high protein diet, with little meals throughout the day to prevent weight gain.

Article Source: http://www.contentfueled.com


Gerry Ronson is a writer for the website soft dog beds that sells the wiggly giggly mini ball

Brain Cancer in Dogs

By : Gerry Ronson
Your dog is very important to you and I bet you have treated your dog carefully, making sure they have the proper nutrition, exercise, and of course love. Even owners who spend all their time trying to prevent cancer in their dog will be shocked to find out that their dog has cancer. In some cases you just can’t prevent cancer no matter how careful you are. In these cases you just have to learn how to care for your sick dog and understand the progression of the disease to help treat it. With brain cancer you will find there really is no cause science has been able to find. They believe that brain cancer is usually a result of a genetic disorder in the cells that allow them to mutate and form.

Brain cancer or meningioma is a tumor cell that can form in several areas of the brain. The cancer can form at the base of the spine, or any part of the brain. The cells will mutate and the cancer will grow if left untreated. You should know that this type of cancer is malignant. This means that the cancer will continue to grow in the brain until the dog either dies from the cancer or from the pressure on the brain causing an aneurism. It is important that you know and recognize the early symptoms to prevent suffering and of course death of your loved one.

Symptoms of brain cancer include personality changes, stress, aggression, shyness, or depression. They are also appetite changes, lethargy, lameness, muscle twitches, eye and facial issues, coordination problems, bleeding in the nasal cavity, respiratory issues, and heart problems. The early symptoms are usually related to the appetite, weight loss, and personality changes. As the brain cancer progresses you will see more changes and of course extremely muscle weakness. The brain is the center for all things in the body. If a small section is affected it can through off the other functions of the body such as the liver, heart, lungs, and immune system. Sometimes brain cancer is a result of another cancer forming somewhere in the body and moving through the blood cells until it creates a second mass on the brain. Some of the symptoms will be determined by the location fo the actual brain cancer.

As I mentioned above there really is no known prevention making the treatment for your dog extremely important. You will have a few choices in treatment and therefore care. Surgery is often very difficult on dogs with brain cancer as they have to go in to remove the actual mass. This can cause lasting effects, so most often an owner will decide care and medication are the best choices. There are medications that have been created to prevent the actual mutation of cells. Keep in mind that the medication usually does not reduce the cells already formed; therefore you may need to try radiation or chemotherapy with your dog to reduce the cells that have already formed and prevent the cells from re- growing. If you choose medication and radiation you will need to make adjustments for care. The dog will need a different diet, more care from you while you are home, and less exercise. Exercise is important, but when they are feeling ill they tend to want to lie around. So allowing for more rest is as important as short five minute walks. You also need to realize that they can be sick from the treatment so they need you to be there to help them get over the vomiting and other issues of the treatment.

Article Source: http://www.contentfueled.com


Gerry Ronson is a writer from Leicester, England. His website is dog accessories and supplies from which he sells dog beds.