Teach Your Dog

One of the most important things we can do to protect the health and actually promote longevity in our dogs is tooth brushing! Dental health is critically essential for wellness of the major systems of the entire body! More on this and other dog care subjects can be found at http://bichonworld.com/bichon-dog-articles.html.

Imagine what would happen to us if we didn’t brush regularly each day! We’d have horrible breath, of course. But even worse, the resulting periodontal disease would mean multiple and severe health problems. The same is true for our 4-legged best friends.

Did you know that periodontal disease is the most common infectious disease in dogs? (This is also true for cats).

Studies indicate that more than 85% of all dogs 4 years and older suffer from periodontal disease! Not surprisingly, then, it is reported that by 3 years of age, 85% of dogs have begun to experience some phase of gum disease.

The progression of the disease begins with the formation of plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that forms in the mouth at the gum line. Amazingly, 1 milligram of plaque contains more than 1 trillion bacteria - disease causing bacteria!

Plaque left on the teeth hardens into tartar which sticks to teeth like cement. The tartar leads to gingivitis, or gum disease, a condition in which actual gum damage begins. The gums become red and swollen, not to mention painful! Once this happens, the gums start to recede from the teeth, creating even more space for bacteria to grow.

Periodontal disease is now “off to the races” with a variety of very harmful effects. The roots of the teeth loosen as infection starts to cause bone loss. In smaller dogs, like our Bichon breeds, the bone that holds the teeth is thinner than that of medium-sized and larger dogs, so gum disease is likely to be even more of a problem for them.

Perhaps the most devastating and deadly effects of periodontal disease occur as the bacteria enters our companion’s bloodstream through the mouth and gum tissues. This leads to damage of tissue in the heart, kidneys, and liver, and even the lungs and nervous system.

Unfortunately, it is a little known fact that neglecting the dental health of our beloved little buddies can cause potentially fatal heart-disease, kidney-disease, and liver-disease.

The good news is that all this can be prevented! However, please, don’t be fooled into thinking that using dry dog food and providing bones or other chew toys is an effective solution for the necessary dental hygiene!

To maintain a healthy mouth and to prevent the serious conditions that result from ignoring dental needs, 2 things are needed:

* a tooth-brushing routine (preferably daily), and
* periodic professional cleaning by your veterinarian.

There is more good news! Tooth brushing can be done very quickly. Also, there are a variety of tasty doggie toothpastes and gels on the market to make our task easier. (Be sure to avoid using “human toothpaste” since those products are made to spit out and not to swallow!)

Although the thought of daily tooth-brushing for your dog might seem a little daunting at first, you’ll find it very quick and easy once it’s become a habit. Just keep in mind that what you’re doing is adding to the quality and years to your best friend’s life!

Author Info:

Sandy Schneider: Sandy Schneider, author, writes on a variety of subjects of interest to dog owners and fanciers. Please visit her http://www.bichonworld.com/bichon-dog-articles.html site soon. Please go to http://www.bichonworld.com

Dogs do not have the same reaction symptoms individuals do. A dog’s reaction to an allergy often comes in the form of dog skin problems, such as excessive itching and biting as well as making a poor quality coat of fur. Anal itching and chronic ear infections can also be signs and are something most pet owners don’t think of as being allergy related.

While dog skin problems and allergies can be caused by many things, allergic reactions to food are very common. Food reactions may take years for symptoms to develop, even if you have been feeding your dog the same food.

Once dog skin problems or other allergy symptoms do initiate appearing, it’s a good idea to check your pet’s diet first. You do this by simply taking away their regular food for several days and giving them a diet that consists of protein and starch. A good diet to try is lamb or rabbit mixed with rice. Do not give them anything else during this test period.

When the indicators improve, go back to giving your dog its regular food and take notes. If the dog skin problems or other symptoms return, you know it’s something in their food.

Next you return to the test diet above, but commence adding one new ingredient each week. For example try chicken one week, beef the next, wheat, then corn. If symptoms get better, for example with beef, you know that beef is not the source of the allergies. If they get worse, then there is a good chance that you’ve discovered the culprit.

Even if you find that your animal is allergic to one ingredient, it’s important to continue this process with all ingredients because your dog could be allergic to more than one thing.

Once you find what your dog is allergic to, you can start to look for commercial foods that do not contain those elements. Some of the best preferences with brand name dog food are foods that are made with lamb and rice. Both lamb and rice are considered hypoallergenic (as long as it does not incorporate wheat or corn.).

Do not limit yourself to just commercial pet food. Many pet owners have used a raw food diet with grand success for treating dog allergies. This natural manner of diet consists of raw meat, raw bones and raw vegetables. You can find out more material about the raw food diet for dogs by doing a quick search on the internet. (If your dog is already on a raw food diet, you should still use the test diet outlined above and alter ingredients.).

Dog skin problems, reactions and food all boil down to one basic fact. Your dog’s diet is the cornerstone of a long, comfortable and wonderful life. You need to get the best dog diet information available and take a proactive stance so your pet does not have to needlessly suffer.

For more about dogs, visit Dog Skin Problem. Also check out Dog Skin Problems.
For Ron’s website, visit Dogs Skin Care.

Pets today need insurance as the cost of medical treatments are very high and in breeding and other problems have made pets more susceptible to diseases and other problems. Pet insurance can cost anywhere between USD 2000-6000 over the life of a pet and the amount of premium to be paid would depend on many variables like breed, age, and more.

Pet insurance can be bought online or offline from leaders like: Pet care Insurance Companies; Veterinary Pet Insurance Company; Pets Best Insurance; and Vet Insurance. The best way to insure a pet is to ask your vet for advice. Pet insurance at affordable rates can be purchased online from websites devoted to pet insurance and pet care. The premium to be paid depends on age of pet, general health of pet, breed of pet, potential risks for susceptible diseases and so on.

Before investing in insurance you must do your homework and find out all you can about polices, how to keep premiums low, and how to buy the best pet insurance at the most affordable rate. The internet is a knowledge highway and has great information on pets, insurance options, and more. Make the effort to educate yourself.

Medical treatment can cost thousands of dollars. And treatments for hip diseases, cancers, kidney failure and more can cost between USD 1000- 5000. In case of disease or accidents pets can be treated and nursed back to health instead of

In this article, you

When people are sick we notice their sickness…..right? Actually, not all ailments are noticeable but luckily, when we are depressed, tired or have a stiff neck, we can tell someone about it. Unfortunately, our animal friends do not possess the gift of speech. Unconditionally loving, our pets take their lot as it comes. Arthritis, depression, asthma and many common ailments become a way of life for them, and we often notice it only after it is too late.

As voluntary guardians of our pets we take interest in their wellbeing. Intent is all very well but without knowledge we are powerless. Here are some symptoms and information about five common ailments which our canine friends are susceptible to.

Asthma
Asthma is not just a human disease but can affect animals including dogs. Asthma is the inflammation and spasming of the airways as well as excessive production of mucus which results in difficulty in breathing. It affects dogs of any breed and age. In a severe asthma attack, respiratory distress may occur, the symptoms of which are: the dog breathing with difficulty through the mouth and a purple color to the tongue and gums due to lack of oxygen. This must be treated as an emergency and medical attention must be administered as soon as possible.
Symptoms: Coughing is normally the first sign. During an attack, wheezing is evident (whistling sound made by air traveling through narrowed airways, normally loudest on the exhale). Dogs breathing will be shallow, rapid and labored. There is lots of effort put into inhaling and exhaling as well as dramatic movement of the abdomen. Some dogs lose weight and become lethargic. In less severe cases the only symptom is a chronic cough. Most pets seem quite normal between attacks.

Aggression
Some breeds are more aggressive than others. Aggression is sometimes related to common problems such as past abuse, physical discomfort and related breeding problems. It is also normally related to specific situations such as only when eating. If your dog is constantly aggressive, this could be due to underlying causes like tension and stress.
Symptoms: Barking, snarling, snapping, raised fur along back of neck and along the ridge of the spine.

Joint and muscle disease
Sprains and strains are common in active canine though certain breeds may be more prone than others. Certain dogs may also be more prone due to their genealogy. Serious medical conditions are not uncommon. Arthritis (inflammation of joints), spinal diseases such as spondylosis and spondylitis are more likely to affect older dogs. Hip dysplasia (malformation of the hip ball and socket) can affect any dog but especially certain breeds.
Symptoms: Overall stiffness (especially after rest), whimpering when getting up, difficulty in climbing stairs or in and out of the car, reluctance to exercise, lameness, unusual movements, disjointed or wobbly gait, swelling and tenderness in limbs or spine, shying away from being stroked along back, thickening of joints of affected limb, favoring the use of one limb more than another and irritability.

Fleas
This is a common parasite among dogs. Some pets suffer very little from bites but some develop an allergic reaction to flea saliva which leads to severe skin reaction known as

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One of the central elements of dog ownership is vaccination and your Golden Retriever should be properly protected against certain diseases at certain times. This is to help safeguard him and other animals he may come in to contact with. The following is a clarification of vaccinations and why they should be given.

Your veterinarian will most likely recommend a series of three sets of vaccinations when you get a Golden Retriever puppy. The first vaccine will be at eight weeks of age and the remainder given at four week intervals. The first vaccination will be referred to as distemper, usually a combination injection that will protect your dog against the following diseases

Distemper

Also known as called canine distemper, a highly infectious disease mostly affecting young dogs. It is caused by an unidentified virus and characterized by coughing, lethargy, fever, catarrh, diarrhea and vomiting. Golden Retrievers of all ages can be afflicted by it, but mostly unvaccinated puppies. Distemper is fatal in half of the occurrences.

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is characterized by jaundice, fever, liver enlargement, and abdominal pain and affects the liver, pancreas, kidneys, and the lining of blood vessels. The outcome of the disease varies, but most often it is fatal in young puppies.

Parainfluenza

Is a respiratory infection caused by a virus and it is quite mild in comparison with other infectious diseases. Symptoms include sneezing, discharge from the eyes and nose, and coughing.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease of dogs and can be defined by fever, muscle pain, and jaundice. The liver and kidney can be affected in severe cases. The symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, and abdominal pain. Usually the leptospirosis component is not a part the initial injection and will be included the next time the combination injection is due. Some dogs are allergic to the leptospirosis vaccine, but your vet will guide you on this point.

Coronavirus

Symptoms that indicate the disease Coronavirus include loss of appetite, orange or yellow diarrhea, lethargy, and fever. It causes inflammation of the intestines and the disease most often affects puppies. Prognosis is usually good.

If your Golden Retriever is liable to be mixing with other dogs then it is important that he is vaccinated for Bordetella Bronchiseptica. This is usually at the second visit or at 12 weeks of age. Most often referred to as Kennel Cough, Bordetella Bronchiseptica is extremely infectious and is usually transmitted in areas where many dogs are together such as obedience classes, boarding facilities, and dog parks. Infection usually becomes apparent when you notice a dry cough. It is worth taking into account that no vaccine is 100% effective and your dog may still become ill with this disease. A booster is usually administered at the 16 week visit and thereafter annually.

One of the more serious ailments that your Golden Retriever can get is Rabies which has an adverse influence on your dog

An overwhelming majority of people around the world own pets and most folks buy treats for their pets at one time or another. Some people own cats and buy cat treats, others own dogs and buy dog biscuits and chew toys. The one thing all of these people have in common is that they want their pet to have the healthiest food and treats possible! That

Pet health insurance is simple, affordable solution for those owners who love their pets but is concerned about the financial hardship of high-quality pet care. It brings peace of mind, protecting you and your beloved pet from the inevitable and the unexpected.

Pet health insurance is still relatively new, and many pet owners are still unaware of their choices. By going though the components of a typical pet health insurance policy, you will know what to look for when selecting the right pet insurance policy for you.

The principal component and the number one reason for people insurance their pets, is to cover vet fees. The majority of pet insurance companies will quote the vet fees as an amount per incidents, illness or condition. The vet fees listing will be one for three types.

Type 1: Time & Fee Limit
This type of cover has a time limit over which the condition can be claimed (usually 12 months) and a maximum payout amount per condition. One the time limit or dollar amount has been reached the condition is no longer covered. This is commonly referred to as a

Why are there dogs that have a very foul odor? Even if you bathe them regularly, they still have that stinky smell in them. Sometimes dogs with bad odor lick themselves a lot, and actually pulling out their hair. They lick themselves often and their breath smells very bad after they do that.

There are a lot of reasons why a dog stinks and there are also a lot of simple remedies to combat this. There are times when you even have to go to the vet just to cure and get rid of a dog