Dog Health Care and Dog First Aid

Even the best-cared-for dog may become sick or get injured at some point
in his life. The AKC Pet Healthcare Plan can help you to help your dog
when it's most needed. If your dog falls victim to illness or accident,
you will need to do what you can to get him out of immediate danger,
administer first aid, and keep him comfortable until you can get him
to a veterinarian.

You should also be prepared to care for you dog in the event of weather
disasters or other emergencies.

Restrain or muzzle the dog to keep him from panicking and struggling
against you. You can make a muzzle out of panty hose, a cotton bandage,
a necktie, or any sturdy piece of fabric about two feet long. Tie a
loose knot in the middle, leaving a large loop. Slip the loop over
the dog's nose and tighten gently but firmly about halfway up the
nose. Bring the ends down and knot under the dog's chin, then bring
the ends behind the back and tie again.
dog carefully to avoid causing further injury.
Place the dog on a piece of plywood or other hard surface to move
him. Small dogs should be placed in a box. Towels or blankets can
also be used as stretchers.

Artificial respiration to apply this first aid, the dog's mouth
should be checked and cleared of any obstructions, including mucus
or blood. Hold the mouth closed, inhale, completely cover the dog's
nose with your mouth, and gently breathe out. Do not blow hard.
Repeat every five to six seconds.

Heart massage (CPR) dog first aid. Lay the dog on his side, place
hands over the heart area, and press firmly about 70 times per
minute. For small dogs, place one hand on each side of the chest
near the elbow. Press gently to avoid breaking the dog's ribs.

External Bleeding dog first aid should be staunched by applying
gentle pressure from a cloth, bandages, or your own hand if necessary.

Internal bleeding, from a fall or from being hit by a car or other
heavy object, can be more dangerous than bleeding externally. The
dog may show these signs: painful or swollen abdomen, pale gums,
blood in vomit, urine, stools, saliva, or nose discharge.

Internal hemorrhage is extremely serious and should be tended
to by a veterinarian without delay.

Read more...

All About Pet Health Care and Vaccinations

gleaned from a conventional DVM PHD veterinarian:

For the last forty years it has been standard conventional veterinary practice in the United States to vaccinate dogs yearly for canine distemper virus (CDV), canine leptospirosis (CL), canine adenovirus-1 & hepatitis (CAV-1), canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV), canine parvovirus (CPV), canine Coronavirus (CV) as well as canine bordatella or kennel cough and Lyme disease.

There may be dog health problems associated with too frequent
vaccinations. For one, the immune system of your pet is stressed by
these vaccinations.

Occasionally dogs develop health problems such as allergic reactions, facial edema,
enteritis, lethargy, fevers, pruritis, nausea, and coughing.

Veterinarians also suspect that vaccinations can trigger certain autoimmune diseases
such as Adison's disease in dogs. Occasionally these reactions are life threatening.

By law, for dog health care, most states require a yearly rabies vaccination even though
studies have shown that many of the rabies vaccines used give the dog three years of
protection.

In the January 2004 issue of a U.S. veterinary journal, an article that was published by the
Pfizer Drug Company, determined that their dog vaccines were active (protective) up to
and beyond four years after administration for all five of these diseases (1). Other studies
have documented immunity lasting up to seven years (2)(3). No two vaccine manufactures
produce identical products so you should not assume that the brand your veterinarian uses
induces this long immunity for your dog's health, but it is suspected that they all protect
well over a year.

Least protective appear to be the vaccinations against CPIV, Bordatella, Lime Disease
and the various types of Leptospirosis. For optimum dog health care from these diseases,
an annual vaccination is probably a good idea. Another good protocol for your dog's health
would be to give your dog a booster vaccination against Bordatella (kennel cough)
about two weeks before it is kenneled.

The scientific way to determine if your dog needs a booster vaccination is to run
serum titer tests. Protective titres for CDV are 1:32 or greater. For CAV-1, CAV-2
and CPIV titer of 1:16 or greater are protective, and for CPV titer of 1:80 or greater
are protective; and mean your dog does not need a booster vaccination. Many
veterinary laboratories already offer this service.

Read more...

Find Some Useful Information On Dog Health Care!

Everything About Dog Health Care, Natural Dog Medicine, and Natural Medicine.

Signs Of A Healthy Dog

Skin - Optimum dog health care will promote skin that is flexible and smooth, without scabs, growths, white flakes, or red areas. It ranges in color from pale pink to brown or black depending on the breed. Spotted skin is normal, whether the dog has a spotted or solid coat.

Eyes - Optimum dog health promotes eyes that are bright and shiny. Mucus and watery tears are normal but should be minimal and clear. The pink lining of the eyelids should not be inflamed, swollen, or have a yellow discharge. Sometimes you can see your dog's third eyelid, a light membrane, at the inside corner of an eye. It may slowly come up to cover his eye as he goes to sleep. The whites of your dog's eyes should not be yellowish. Eyelashes should not rub the eyeball.

Ears - Optimum dog health care promotes ears that are light pink and clean. There should be some yellow or brownish wax, but a large amount of wax or crust is abnormal. There should be no redness or swelling inside the ear, and your dog shouldn't scratch his ears or shake his head frequently. Dogs with long, hairy ears, such as Cocker Spaniels, need extra attention to keep the ears dry and clean inside and out.

Nose - Optimum dog health promotes a nose that is usually cool and moist. It can be black, pink, or self-colored (the same color as the coat), depending on the breed. Nasal discharge should be clear, never yellowish, thick, bubbly, or foul smelling. A cool, wet nose does not necessarily mean the dog is healthy, and a dry, warm nose doesn't necessarily mean he's sick. Taking you dog's temperature is a better indication of illness.

Mouth, Teeth and Gums -

Optimum dog health care shows up as healthy gums that are firm and pink, black, or spotted, just like the dog's skin. Young dogs have smooth white teeth that tend to darken with age. Puppies have 23 baby teeth and adult dogs have approximately 42 permanent teeth, depending on the breed. To check your dog's mouth, talk to him gently, then put your hand over the muzzle and lift up the sides of his mouth. Check that adult teeth are coming in as they should, and not being crowded by baby teeth. Make sure the gums are healthy and the breath is not foul-smelling. Look for soft white matter or hard white, yellow, or brown matter. This is plaque or tartar, a pretty common dog health problem, and should be brushed away. Mouth infections can lead to serious problems in the gums and other parts of the body, including the heart, so it's important to keep their teeth and mouth healthy.

Temperature - A dog's normal temperature is 101 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 to 39.2 degrees Celcius). To take your dog's temperature, you'll need a rectal thermometer. Put some petroleum jelly on the bulb of the thermometer. Ask someone to hold your dog's head while you lift his tail and insert the thermometer about an inch or so into the rectum. Do not let go of the thermometer. Hold it in until the temperature is read (about 3 minutes for a mercury thermometer), and then remove gently.

Heartbeat and Pulse- Because dogs come in a wide range of sizes, their heartbeats vary. A normal heart beats from 50 to 130 times a minute in a resting healthy dog. Puppies and small dogs have faster speeds, and large dogs in top condition have slower heartbeats. To check your dog's heartbeat, place your fingers over the left side of the chest, where you can feel the strongest beat. To check the pulse, which is the same speed as the heartbeat, press gently on the inside of the top of the hind leg. There is an artery there and the skin is thin, so it's easy to feel the pulse.

Elimination - Urine is a good indicator of a dog's health, and should be clear yellow. Most adult dogs have one or two bowel movements a day. Stools should be brown and firm. Runny, watery, or bloody stools, straining, or too much or too little urination warrant a call to the veterinarian.

Read more...

Pet Auto Safety

Seat Belts and Car Seats for Dogs

Does your dog love to travel in the car with you? You and your family wear

seat belts

when riding in the car. Does your pet? If you have not considered it,

here are eight important reasons why your dog should wear a pet auto
seat belt:

1. The dog won't be able to distract the person driving the car. Distractions
an be very dangerous to the driver. Some dogs are naturally well-behaved
in the vehicle but many dogs have to be trained car-riding decorum.
Why not train them in thepet auto seat belt instead?

2. Sudden unexpected stops won't cause the dog to fly forward into the dash,
the back
seat,
or onto the floor. Dog's noses are very sensitive. Hitting their nose on the dash or back
of the seat can be a very painful experience.

3. The dog won't be able to put their head out the window. Did you know that even a tiny spec
of flying debris can do serious damage to the dog's eye or nose? Many dogs love to put their
heads out the window, but it can be an equally pleasant experience if they are sitting in a pet
auto seat belt by an open window. They won't be able to put their heads out, but they can
still get a whiff of the multiple odors zipping by.

4. Not only will the dog not be able to put their head out the window, they won't be
able to get their body out either. Dogs are instinctive creatures and if something catches
their attention, such as another dog, a squirrel, or other animal, they may go after it
without a thought. Perhaps your dog is too smart to do this, but why take the chance?

5. Many dogs will run or even bite if frightened. What if you and your pet happen to be
in a serous auto accident? Your dog is going to be terrified. If there is a means of
escape, the dog may get out of the car and run. And where are they most likely to
run? It would be a terrible thing to survive an auto accident only to get hit by a car
. Even if there is no way for the dog to escape, they may need medical attention.
An injured dog may react defensively by tying to bite someone who is actually trying
to help them. A dog that is already restrained however, is easier to muzzle and
therefore, easier to attend to.

6. Did you know that some pet restraints are required for dogs traveling in the car
in the state of California? This type of law may soon be required in other states as
well. Get ahead by purchasing a pet auto seat belt now. If you wait until your state
passes such a law, there will be businesses that will take advantage of the
requirement and raise the prices on their products.

7. A pet auto seat belt can actually be quite comfortable once the dog gets used
to it. Dogs can have a difficult time lying down in a seat because of the turning,
speeding up, slowing down, and stopping movements of the car. Many dogs can
brace themselves better by standing or sitting. With a pet auto seat belt, a dog
can stand, sit, or lay down comfortably and not have to worry about bracing
themselves against car maneuvers.

8. Last but not least, a pet auto safety belt shows you to be a responsible and
caring pet owner as well as a responsible driver. Friends and strangers will be
impressed with your thoughtfulness and foresight. They in turn, may consider
getting a pet auto seat belt for their own dog. You can be indirectly responsible
for saving another dog's life.

As you can see, all eight reasons are excellent reasons for your dog to wear a
pet auto safety belt. Any argument against it are easily outweighed by the
examples above. So do what is safe, what is best for you and your pet, and
in some states, what is required by law. You and your dog will be all the
happier for it.

Read more...