Jan 1, Dog Eye Problems, Symptoms and Care Tips - Pictures of Cloudy, Cherry eyes, Third Eyelid and Glaucoma

Dog eye problems can be relatively common occurrences, and there are a variety of them that occur most frequently.

Dog eye care is essential for pet owners because unlike you they cannot simply remove any foreign objects from their eyes themselves, and they can't directly alert you to pain they are in. Therefore you have to be attentive to symptoms and you should work on keeping your dog as healthy as possible with preventative and maintenance dog eye care to prevent worsening conditions.

Pictures shows a dog with an irritating eye.

Many dog eye problems can be easily prevented with some very easy and light maintenance and care. For example, taking just a moment once per day to use a clean, damp cloth to wipe away the buildup of gunk around your dog's eyes can help prevent irritations and infections. Gently use a wet cloth to wipe the area clean and be careful to not rub, poke or scratch the actual eye.

You should also be sure to keep the hair under and around the corner of the eyes short and well kept as well. The hair itself could begin to poke, bother or scratch the eyes, or the presence of the hair can prevent the proper disposal of some of that eye buildup and gunk. Of course, if you trim the hair yourself always do it in a downward direction, in other words never have the tip of the scissors pointed toward your pooch's eye. Even a calm dog could suddenly jerk, move or twitch leading to serious potential eye injury.

First of all it's simply bound to happen that your dog at some point will get irritated eyes as a result of contact with some other kind of object or material, or even as the result of some kind of foreign object being embedded into their eyes. If your dog irritated, reddened, slightly swollen or inflamed eyes and so forth, you can try to flush out the eyes yourself.

You can use a contact lens solution, a pre-made saline solution or a quick salt solution you can make on your own. Just mix in a teaspoon of salt into a pint of water. Then dampen a clean cloth, cleaning the eye area gently. You can also use an eye dropper to get some of that solution directly into the eyes.

If you see that there is actually something stuck in the eyes, you will want to go see the vet as soon as possible. There could already be small and damaging scratches or there could even be corneal ulcers. The dog may need to receive some anesthesia and undergo a brief surgical procedure to remove something that's really stuck up there.

Don't try to do this yourself because you need to be careful and precise and your dog could be in significant. It's a situation where the proper dog eye care is really administered by the vet, although you can check for the problem existing, looking for any foreign objects you can directly see, or noticing symptoms such as swelling of the eyes, tearing and even blood.

There are certain dog breeds such as beagles, cocker spaniels, Pekingese, and bulldogs are more proned in getting an eye conditon calls Cherry Eyes. Cherry eye is a prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid. Dermatitis, bacteria, parasite or fungal infections may cause inflammation of the eyelids. This makes gland protrudes and becomes irritated. The normal treatment for cherry eye is surgical replacement of the gland.

Another one of the common dog eye problems that you may run across is a cataract. Cataracts in dogs are essentially the same as they are in people, the lens becomes cloudy and opaque, which can significantly hamper vision and even lead to blindness in severe cases.

It's important to catch this problem as early as possible, and this can be done by regular veterinarian check ups. Additionally, keep notice if your dog seems to be struggling to maneuver around. The lens can actually be removed through surgery, although the condition cannot be completely cured. In the majority of circumstances, cataracts are genetic conditions, although trauma and injury could also create these kinds of dog eye problems.

Another serious dog eye problem is Glaucoma. It is a condition where increased pressure within the eye. The pressure causes the eye to stretch and enlarge which will cause eye blindness later on. Glaucoma is an inheritable disease and is common for a couple of dog breeds like cocker spaniels, chow chows and labrador retrievers.

These are some of the more common and basic dog eye problems that you'll encounter and it's important to be familiar with them. You can prevent a lot of hassle and aggravation for you and your pooch by practicing preventative dog eye care and by being attentive to early warning signs and other symptoms. Most problems can be easily fixed, although some like severe cataracts have serious long term consequences.

Dec 13, Dog Ear Infection - Symptoms and Home Remedy Treatment for Ear Infection in Dogs

Depending on a host of different factors, your pooch could end up suffering from a dog ear infection.

The condition can cause a substantial amount of pain and discomfort in a dog, so you'll want to know how to recognize it and what you should do about it. The good news is that ear infection in dogs is highly treatable and preventative measures can also be taken to help ensure that problems don't arise to begin with.

Picture shows a Vet is checking a dog for ear infection.

The two primary sources of dog ear infection are bacterial infections and yeast infections. There are natural balances of both bacteria and yeast in your dog's inner ears. Either one of these can become out of whack for a variety of reasons, potentially leading to overgrowth and a resulting infection. While these two problems are somewhat related you should be able to differentiate between fairly easily.

A bacterial ear infection in dogs could lead to unusual or excessive discharge from the ears, swelling and pain, and redness. The most important distinguishing characteristic is a pungent odor that you'll notice, and definitely recognize if you clear out your dog's ears from wax.

A yeast dog ear infection will carry some of those same symptoms, but could also lead to scaling, dryness and itching. This kind of infection can also spread to other areas of the dog's face. The odor from a yeast ear infection in dogs will be chalky, so you should be able to differentiate between these two primary causes.

Depending on the type of dog ear infection that your pal is suffering from your veterinarian could prescribe or suggest several different medication options. These include Otomax ear drops and Cephalexin antibiotic for bacterial infections, and Mometamax ear drops for yeast infections. In either case, Epi-Otic Flush or Temeral-P can also be used depending on your vet's recommendations.

Or, you may try home remedy dog ear infection treatment using white vinegar (also called as acetic acid). You have to dilute the vinegar using 1 part vinegar with 1 part water. After that you apply it with a squeeze bottle with a nozzle. This will change the pH in your dog's ear canal and make it an unpleasant place for yeast or bacteria to grow.

Dog ear infection can be caused by a variety of different factors. Often times they can be caused from a situation in which the dog was immersed in water. Water that then doesn't get removed from the inner ears can lead to imbalances and growth changes. So if you take your dog swimming or give him a bath, be sure to dry those ears out. Also regularly clean out your dog's ears in any case. Instead of using Q-tips those, use soft cotton balls. You can coat these in an ear cleanser for an effective and quick preventative cleaning.

Ear infection in dogs can also stem from hormonal imbalances and hereditary or genetic conditions. For example hypothyroidism can lead to a dog ear infection and can be treated with Soloxine from your veterinarian. Certain breeds of dogs are more prone than others and dogs with very floppy ears are also more likely to suffer from dog ear infection because it's easier for water and other substances or materials to get trapped in their ears.

It's also common to mistake certain ailments with ear infection in dogs when there are actually other causes. For example if your dog rolls around in the grass a lot, particularly high or weedy grasses, a foxtail could get caught in his ear. This can really get lodged up there and it will be very painful to the touch, causing a lot of discomfort. You can try to remove this with a pair of tweezers but they could become so deeply rooted that you may need to go to the vet for help.

Other ear problems that your dog can run into besides a dog ear infection will be infectious ear mites. These are usually received via contact with another animal that has the problem, and can be treated with specific medications. Fleas, ear tumors and of course direct trauma or impact on or near the ear can also lead to ear problems and can be mistaken for ear infection for dogs. Be sure to consider all of the possibilities and do your best to find out what's really causing the symptoms so you know how to proceed.

You might love those floppy ears on your pooch but they can make your dog more susceptible to ear infection in dogs. Even other breeds with smaller or pointed ears can be susceptible to dog ear infection. Learn to recognize between bacterial and yeast infections, along with all of the other potential ear ailments your dog could be suffering from and you'll be able to find the right course of action.

 

Dec 13, Dog Food Poisoning - Symptoms and Treatment of Poisoning, Avoid Chocolate

Dog food poisoning can be an extremely serious problem, which can lead to major side effects and in the worst case scenario, even death.

There are dozens if not hundreds of different items, both natural and synthetic that can lead to poisoning in your pooch. That means that for one thing it's important to be as watchful as you can be, and as careful as you can be.

For another thing that means that when it comes to dog food poisoning one of the biggest problems is determining what the poison was. Different chemicals or substances will need very different treatments, and while some symptoms are easily recognizable, others are harder to distinguish between. This can make treatment more difficult and time consuming, and of course time has to be a primary concern when dealing with dog food poisoning.

That means that anytime you fear your dog is suffering from dog food poisoning you should always try to quickly figure out what the problem was. Did some food get left out that the dog got into? Does your dog always sniff around in your yard near certain plants or weeds? Did your dog get into the garage where they could have been antifreeze spills or other hazardous and toxic materials? Determining the cause of the symptoms will enable treatment to be as effective and efficient as possible.

If your dog is suddenly struggling with dog poisoning you have two courses of action that can be taken regardless of the causes. The first is to, as described above, try to quickly determine what caused the problem. The second is to call a veterinary emergency center as soon as possible, and then to get down there as quickly as you can. When in doubt and when you don't know how to react, that's the fool proof way to go about things.

As discussed the treatment for different variations and poisons can be very different from one another. The general guideline is to induce vomiting to get as much of the substance out as possible, usually using a medication. Sometimes substances are also given to your dog to coat the stomach to prevent further absorption. Following both of these, laxatives or edemas may be given to further speed up the process of removing the toxic substance.

It can be tricky to induce your dog vomiting or coat the stomach on your own, and in many cases you won't even have the right materials to get the job done in the first place. In this situation it's really best to get to an emergency vet as soon as you can and to let them handle the process. Speed is certainly of the essence in cases of dog food poisoning.

Unfortunately the list of causes for dog food poisoning is quite vast. One common category of these are foods and spices that you keep around the home. The good news is that these typically require fairly large quantities to inflict serious damage. The bad news of course is that it can be easy to lose track of something you were using, or to lose track of what your dog can and cannot eat and feed him a piece.

Just a few common household food products that can lead to dog food poisoning include chocolate, particularly unsweetened dark chocolate, macadamia nuts, certain avocados and tomatoes, raisins and grapes, garlic and alcohol. Also be alert to keep your medication such as Tylenol and aspirin safely away from your pooch at all times.

The most serious and problematic causes are synthetic substances and chemicals. This includes things like antifreeze which unfortunately dogs are often attracted to, and can have fatal consequences. It also includes poisons, insecticides and pesticides used on your property. With any chemical or synthetic poisoning such as this action is required immediately.

If your dog is having violent seizures (Dog Seizures) the cause could likely be strychnine, which is sold in pellets and used as poison for moles, rats and mice. Serious nervous system damage can result, and you have to take care to not only get your dog quickly to an emergency center but also to leave the dog as free from startles and other bothers as possible. Put the dog in your backseat and put a sheet, or light blanket over the dog until you arrive at the vet.

Of course this is just a brief overview of the many causes, symptoms and solutions involved with dog food poisoning, but it should give you a head start if anything unfortunate happens.

Dec 13, Dog or Puppy Vomiting Causes and Treatments - Symptoms like Illness, White Form, Diarrhea

Any owner of a dog has to deal with all kinds of problems and issues with their lovable pet, and puppy vomiting is certainly one of them.

When your pet has some dog vomiting, it can be hard to figure out what to do. Of course your puppy can't just walk over and describe what's the matter and what they need to be better. Therefore, you have to use your best judgment and understand what to look out for and what kinds of steps to take in order to help fix the situation.

One of the first things you have to do with puppy vomiting is try to find direct causes for it. If you puppy vomited white foam or yellow bile, this would mean that the puppy ate something that he wasn't supposed to. This could include types of foods which don't sit well with dogs or it could be completely inedible objects (undigested food) that they picked up off the floor or elsewhere. Whatever it is, if you can track it to something you may be able to quickly understand that this case of dog vomiting was just a one-time scenario and your dog will be fine immediately after.

Of course, lots of dog vomiting is caused when your puppy eats one of those inedible objects and then gets something stuck in their throat as a result. This is when you're likely to hear a lot of that retching sound as your dog tries to rid the obstruction from its body. As long as the dog can clear this out you won't have a problem. But if it continues or is physically affecting the dog and it seems like he is having difficulty breathing or moving around then you also need to seek out the vet immediately.

Switches in foods and diet can also be a cause of puppy vomiting. The stomach of all dogs, and of puppies especially, is very particular. They get used to certain kinds of food, in certain amounts. Eating substantially more or switching to different foods can cause a problem with their digestive system. In this case, you may want to avoid giving your dog food for just a short while, giving their bodies a chance to clear out a bit. Then a bland meal consisting of foods like boiled white rice and maybe a small bit of plain chicken will help them get back on track.

Puppy vomiting can also be a sign of a more serious illness or infection of some kind. So how are you supposed to know if it's just something that's passing from a change in diet or something wrong that was eaten, or if your dog is really sick? Well, one way to check is to see if it's prolonged. If the dog vomiting continues for several days then it would clearly seem that there is more to the situation, and you will need to seek out a vet for some assistance.

Also important is that if your dog is dealing with some kind of illness or infection then the puppy vomiting will only be one symptom and there could be many others. Other symptoms could include diarrhea in your dogs, fatigue and lethargy, irritations or dog hot spots on their body and so forth. In this case it's definitely time to seek out the vet and to see what they recommend for treatment.

A veterinarian has many different tools and medications at his disposal that he may choose to use for your sick dog. One of these is the medication Flagyl, used to combat bacteria and parasites that could produce vomiting. To induce vomiting, the vet may use something like Apomorphine, a medication that's dispensed via an eye dropper. Alternatively, your vet may seek out actions such as an IV of fluids to combat a lot of harmful vomiting, or may want to take x-ray pictures to see what's going on and if there's anything else involved.

Hopefully by now you have a bit of a clearer picture on puppy vomiting. Many different things can be its cause, and there are many different ways that you can try to combat dog vomiting. The most important thing of course is to just be watchful of your pooch, to try to understand the situation as best as possible for yourself and to always seek out assistance for anything drastic or prolonged.

Feb 4, Common Dog Health Problems Symptoms - Puppy Nutritional Guide, Care, Treatment and Veterinary

Any smart dog owner should become as knowledgeable and informed about common dog health problems as possible.

Learning about dog health problems, symptoms, causes and treatments will make it as easy for you to deal with these problems and situations as possible. The end result will be a healthier and happier dog, and a great relationship between you and your animal.

Unfortunately the list of the most common dog health problems isn't exactly a short one. There are many different ailments, conditions and illnesses that could arise to your pooch. On the bright side however almost all of them can be treated and dealt with relatively easily once you know what's going on and what you need to be ready for.

One of the most common issues that many dog owners encounter are dog hot spots. Hot spots are patches on your dog's skin where they have repeatedly licked, scratched and bitten, causing irritation and redness, along with fur loss. These patches can be bothersome and you need to keep the animal for making the problem worse. You can treat the problem from home by cleaning and treating the wound, and using a cone or Elizabethan collar to prevent further damage.

However, a trip to the vet will still be needed because these dog skin problems, like many other dog health problems symptoms that arise, are really spurred on by other underlying causes. Common causes for dog hot spots include allergies, flea and other insect bites, bacterial infections in more.

These are problems in and of themselves and will need to be treated on their own. Fleas can be prevented with simple once per month application of something like Frontline for dogs during outdoors season. If an infestation is already present, then the dog needs other treatment and you also need to clean out the carpet and other areas as well.

Canine allergies can be caused by all of the same things that give you allergies, like pollen, dust and dust mites and more. Allergic reactions can also stem from food allergies, allergic reactions to bites or medications and more. You have to be wary of the curious trouble your dog may get into and anything they could have ingested that they should not have.

Some allergic reactions could get very serious, while reactions to other foods and household items and substances could lead to food poisonings, puppy vomiting, dog diarrhea and more. Unfortunately, common dog health problems include sometimes deadly accidents where dogs lick up antifreeze from the garage floor, or eat something like rat or mole poison tablets or pesticides and insecticides from the yard. Serious symptoms like vomiting, convulsions and seizures could arise and veterinary assistance is needed immediately to prevent further absorption and clear out the system.

Seizures in Dogs can actually be caused by a variety of other conditions as well, and they can be a very frightening problem to deal with. The saddest part is the helplessness of not being able to help in the moment. You just have to try to comfort your dog, calm it down and care for it afterwards and work with the vet to try to find the underlying causes.

Luckily, many of the other common dog health problems are much less serious than the issues mentioned above. For example, you'll probably run into some dog ear infections, dog eye problems and irritations and so forth. There are various causes and symptoms for these different problems but they can typically be treated with simple cleaning and the quick prescription of some antibiotic by your veterinarian. In both cases though, there could be an issue with something being stuck in either the eye or the ear, and your vet may need to carefully remove that.

You may also end up dealing with dogs with arthritis. Arthritis in dogs can be caused by old age and being overweight, but it could also be a genetic problem that arises at an early age. Dog can also be born with hip dysplasia, and surgery may be necessary to fix the condition and prevent a better quality of life with more activity and less pain.

Dog health problems symptoms can pop up at anytime, so you always have to be prepared. But the best course of action is to keep your dog healthy each and every day and you'll be surprised at the difference that you can make with just some basic steps in your routine. For example you should always be attentive and tuned into your pooch, checking for unusual behaviors, symptoms and warning signs and so forth. It will help you realize when something is wrong and you'll catch problems before they become worse.

You can also prevent many common dog health problems simply by ensuring your dog has a proper diet and nutritional guide intake, and by providing plenty of play and exercise. Depending on your breed of dog, or specific conditions you already know your dog has, the diet may need to be altered or tweaked. In addition, frequent bathing, cleansing and grooming will go a long way to keeping your dog healthy and spotting problems before they can spiral out of control.

Of course there are other common dog health problems that you will run into through your course of dog ownership. The good news is that most of the problems won't happen to your pooch, but it's still important to completely understand all of the possibilities and scenarios that could take place.

We encourage you to take a look at all of our specific pages on these common dog health problems and much more to find all of the information that you need. You will learn about dog health problems, symptoms that make them easy to spot, the underlying causes of the problems, potential home and veterinary treatment and much more. Do the work ahead of time and you'll prevent as many of these common dog health problems as possible while staying prepared should any of them arise. Your dog will certainly thank you for it!