Ok, So this is an article I happened upon and is written GREAT with awesome info! Soo I copied and pasted it below, you can find the original article here :https://vetericyn.com/blog/5-common-dog-skin-problems/ It is written by Dr. Melinda J. Mayfield-Davis, DVM, WCHP-AH, brings over 20 years of experience in veterinary medicine. I couldn't find a better way to share this info with Y'all so please read the important info that Dr. Mayfield-Davis DVM has written and soak it in. It may help with your pets needs. Underneath your dog’s healthy coat, whether it is a full and luscious mane or a short and bristly pelt, is a whole lot of skin. And what’s more, a dog’s skin is very sensitive, which is why it’s so important to use the right pet shampoo. When it comes to canine skin care, we may be dismissive at times, or even downright forgetful because of how little skin is exposed on our dogs. However, dogs are susceptible to skin problems, and below are the top 5 common dog skin problems you could encounter as a dog owner.
Hair Loss: For the most part, hair loss in dogs is the symptom of a more severe skin issue rather than the underlying cause. When you begin to notice your dog losing hair, it is important to pay close attention to whether the hair is falling out on its own or if your dog is chewing it off as the result of irritated skin underneath the fur. If the hair is falling out on its own, then it may be one of the following skin conditions that are the impetus for the hair loss. Causes: The two leading skin conditions that cause hair loss in dogs are pressure sores and parasite infestation. Pressure sores are more prevalent in older dogs but can manifest themselves at any age depending on your dog’s predisposition to them. Parasite infestations occur as a result of contact with a particular parasite or bug, and an infestation occurs when the contact goes unnoticed or untreated. Most often, parasite infestations come in the form of fleas, ticks, and occasionally, ringworm. Dogs tend to pick these critters up from parks, wooded areas, and even other dogs. Signs and Symptoms: Pressure sores can be identified by hard scabs and scaly skin tissue in and around the joints, and an infestation can be identified by vigorous gnawing or scratching at the affected area. Both of these skin conditions are characterized by hair loss. While the cause of hair loss is slightly different for each, in both situations, the hair falls out as a direct result of skin irritation. Whether from pressure or parasitic infestation, when your dog’s skin becomes irritated, it begins to scab over. As this happens, the hair will not be able to grow in the affected areas, and it will start to fall out. Look for bald spots or patches of thin hair as signs that your dog’s skin may be under attack from an external source. Treatments: The treatments for pressure sores is two-fold and includes treatments like topical creams to soothe the affected areas, as well as introducing padded surfaces like a dog bed to allow your dog a more comfortable surface with less abrasive pressure. Bug and parasite infestations are often treated with a combination of topical antifungals and in some cases more intense chemicals to kill and eradicate the pests from your dog’s skin. Be sure to speak to and work with your vet to develop a treatment plan best suited for your dog. Hot Spots and Dandruff: Hot spots are also called moist dermatitis and can be categorized as wet open sores on your dog’s skin. A related skin issue to hotspots is dandruff, where instead of the surface being irritated by too much moisture, it is caused by a lack of moisture turning the skin scaly and flaky. Causes Hot spots come as the result of excessive licking or scratching, and sometimes as a combination of both. Much like hair loss, hot spots are often the result of a different more deep seeded skin issue that causes your dog to attempt to lick and scratch the irritation into submission. This irritation could be the result of something as simple as a flea bite or a thorn that is stuck between the skin and fur. Dandruff is caused by a lack of moisture in the skin, and often if your dog suffers from dandruff, hot spots are soon to follow. As your dog deals with the dry and flaky irritation of dandruff, it will try to compensate by licking and scratching at the surface of the skin. This inevitably causes more serious skin issues like hot spots to wreak havoc on the skin. Signs and Symptoms: Dandruff is an easily noticeable skin condition. As the skin dries out and becomes flaky and scaly due to dandruff, small particles of skin, usually white in color, will flake off and either stick in your dog’s fur or fall to the ground. Hot spots are a type of infection and often cannot be seen underneath the coat. Some signs your dog may be experiencing a hot spot include excessive licking, itching, and guarding the surrounding area. If you suspect that your dog is suffering from a hot spot, separate the fur and inspect for an open wet sore. Treatments: Dandruff is not curable, it is, however, treatable and relatively easy to keep in check. Because dandruff comes on as the result of dry skin, introducing more fatty acids into your dog’s diet and using a conditioning dog shampoo will both help in keeping dandruff in check by adding moisture to your dog’s skin. Hot spots should be treated by shaving away the fur around the lesion and applying a topical treatment daily to kill bacteria and prevent further growth. Be sure to keep the area clean and allow it to heal on its own. To prevent your dog from messing with the hot spot and making it worse, you may want to consider using a cone. Allergic Dermatitis: Allergic dermatitis simply means an allergic reaction manifested in the skin. This skin condition can be brought on by any number of external triggers that cause a dog’s immune system to overreact with a physical response. Allergies in dogs are quite common and typically fall into the categories of contact allergies, inhalant allergies, and ingested allergies. Causes: Brought on by a myriad of sources, allergic dermatitis is most commonly caused by pollen, food, and direct skin contact with foreign bodies like flea saliva or harsh chemicals. Dogs can inherit allergies from their parents, as a predisposition to specific allergens can be passed down through genetic material. Allergic dermatitis occurs when an allergen is exposed to the immune system over a long period. Eventually, the immune system mislabels a particular allergen, like pollen, as a threat to the immune system, which triggers the immune response of an allergic reaction. It is an owner’s responsibility to account for changes in environment like seasonal blooms, the introduction of new chemicals like fertilizers, or changes in diet as these could all trigger an allergic reaction from your dog. The most common allergens that a dog is susceptible to developing an aversion to are:
Symptoms of allergic dermatitis include:
Rashes and Hives: Rashes, and more specifically hives, are an extension of the allergic dermatitis family with one crucial distinction. While allergic dermatitis is caused by the immune system’s introduction to an allergen over time, rashes and hives are an involuntary rapid onset reaction to a specific stimulus. Causes: For the most part, rashes and hives are the result of a contact allergy. Typically to produce hives, the skin must come in direct contact with an allergen. There are cases where hives are the result of ingesting or inhaling an allergen, but for the most part, direct dermis contact will spur a rash or hives. Potential causes for hives and other rashes include bug bites, poisonous plants, pesticides, and fertilizer. Signs and Symptoms: Hives can appear anywhere on your dog’s body but are most prevalent on the abdomen, face, and legs. Rashes will tend to be red in color and generally carry with them some kind of texture. In the case of hives, look for patches little red bumps that are clumped together. Hives are a specific rash that include additional symptoms such as swelling of the jowls, redness around the ears, excessive drooling and swollen face and eyes. Hives may not always be visible, and they sometimes hide in your dog’s ears. Treatments: Rashes can be treated the same way most skin issues are dealt with by administering a topical cream. Remember to never give your dog anything without having the substance approved by your veterinarian. Due to the rapid onset of hives and most other rashes, typically a remedy for the ailment is case specific. Skin Infections: Infection is one of the most common forms of dog skin problems. Due to the wide variety of skin infections that are possible for a dog, it is vital that you consult your veterinarian before attempting to diagnose your dog yourself. Bacterial infections are often treatable and usually no cause for alarm. When the skin becomes infected, it is referred to as pyoderma and is the general term used to describe any type of infection on the skin. Causes: Pyoderma is any disruption of the skin due to bacteria, fungi, or other microbial agents that cause infection. Most commonly, infections occur when a wound goes untreated, but infections can also take root in healthy, undamaged skin. The most common types of skin infections for dogs include yeast infections, impetigo, and ringworm. Impetigo and yeast infections are both bacterial in nature, while ringworm is caused by fungal overgrowth. Signs and Symptoms Depending on the specific infection, symptoms will vary. However, there are a few tell-tale signs that usually point to infection of some kind. First, skin infections will typically include some sort of pus-filled scabs or red bumps on the surface of the skin, also known as pustules and lesions. In the case of impetigo, pus-filled bumps will appear on the abdomen and the paws. Second, infections will typically turn the skin a discolored mix of red, orange, yellow, and brown and include some kind of dried discharge. In the case of yeast infections, you will notice a thick coating of yellowy discharge in between the toes on your dog’s paws and in the ear flaps. Finally, infections will generally make the skin hard and crusty, which will cause old hair to fall out and prevent new hair from growing. This loss of hair, known as alopecia, is a good indicator that your dog may be suffering from some kind of infection. Treatments: Treatments for infection are case specific and vary in intensity depending on the severity of the infection. Typically vets will prescribe a tandem approach of topical and systemic therapy such as antibiotics. Traditionally infections are treated for a few weeks and monitored to prevent any further issues in your dog’s health. Wrapping Up With all the activity your dog gets into, there is a good chance that at some point, your dog will have a problem with his skin. However, with the right knowledge and a willingness to take the proper action, you can keep your dog’s skin healthy all year long! Skin problems in dogs can be manageable but often require long-term or even lifelong treatment. Be sure to act quickly when you notice a potential problem with your dog’s skin and always consult a vet for a professional diagnosis.
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1. Beware of anti-freeze! Ingesting antifreeze is lethal. Unfortunately both cats and dogs have been known to lick this sweet tasting substance. Make sure to check your car for leaks and make sure all bottles are stored far away from your pets. 2. Don’t leave your pets outside for prolonged periods of time. It doesn’t have to be Winter for it to get cold--especially for puppies, senior pets and smaller animals. 3. Beware of ticks. It’s still tick season and playing in the cool autumn leaves is one of the many ways your pooch could get them. Consider using a tick repellant to help protect your pet. (As many as 15 tick species live in Tennessee, but the four most common are the blacklegged tick, commonly called the "deer tick"; the Lone Star tick; the brown dog tick; and the American dog tick, sometimes called the "wood tick.") It's also a good idea to check for ticks at least once a day, a good time is during the time you've set aside for brushing your dog daily ;). 4. Let em’ have their fur coat. If you have a dog that you shave during the summer, let him start growing his coat back in the fall. Just like you need your Fall/Winter coat he’ll needs his too. Just remember to set aside at LEAST 5 mins a day to brush your pet as they grow out so they do not mat and it is also a good time to check for ticks that may have attached while your dog was outside! 5. The changing of seasons is great time to check your pet ID tags and microchip. Just take 5 minutes to make sure all your pet’s information is up to date and in proper order. 6. Make holiday arrangements with your dog groomer, walker, pet sitter or doggy day care NOW. As the holidays approach, most of us will get busier and possibly have to travel. Take time out and plan ahead so you can make the holidays easier on your pets. 7. Fall celebrations such as Thanksgiving and Halloween, often mean people coming over to visit your home. If you have a pet that has special needs or is wary of new people, be sure to tell your guests about your pet before they come over. 8. Make sure your pets can’t escape through the main entrance of your home. This is especially important if you plan on having several guests in and out of the house this holiday season. It may be worth investing in a baby gate or creating some kind of barrier between the door and your pet. Especially if you have pet that’s known for bolting. 9. Be careful with holiday treats. Aside from known hazards such as chocolate, cooked bones, raw bread dough and many fruits and vegetables can also be life threatening to pets. ( I have a blog post about safe and unsafe holiday foods posted here a couple years ago.) 10. Be careful with decorations. Many shiney new decorations look like really fun toys to your pets. Make sure decorations are out of reach because many of them contain toxic metals and can become choking hazards. If you have a dog that has sensitive skin, often itchy, maybe a little smelly (we call it Frito dogs smell) Your dog may have allergies. (disclaimer of I am NOT a veterinarian and definitely ask yours before giving any type of allergy pill/shot/lotion.....) I can't diagnose YOUR dog, but I CAN tell you about my two lovely westies...and their terrible skin. Skittle's is 16, we adopted her as a juvenile, (guessing between 3-6 years old) and she came with TERRIBLE skin. black patches, super itchy, smellz to high heaven, and ear infections to go with it. I worked at a vets office then and took her in to see our beloved Dr. Roberston, (Skittles LOVED her vet, we sadly moved across the country and shes gonna hate me when I take her to a new one) Dr. R fixed Skittles right up with this amazing little shot called Cytopoint. (She ran skin scrapping's, and had other medicines for the ear infections but for the skin issue Cytopoint was a miracle!) They medical mumbo jumbo for Cytopoint is: "Cytopoint provides quick, long-lasting itch relief in canines. It starts working within twenty-four hours after administration and continues to maintain its effectiveness for four to eight weeks afterward. All within a single dose! It does this by specifically targeting and neutralizing canine IL-31, an important cytokine which sends the itch signal to your dog's brain. If your dog has been suffering from itchy skin and, as a result, has caused skin damage due to excessive scratching, this is a useful product to have. The long-lasting itch relief gives the damaged skin a chance to heal. It is also a generally safe product to use, as it does not cause any liver or kidney damage to dogs who take it. In fact, it is safe to use with most dogs, regardless of age. Side Effects: One study showed vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy in a small percentage of treated dogs. A larger study showed side effects not significantly above that seen with a placebo injection, further safety studies are ongoing. CYTOPOINT is safe to use in dogs of any age. It can also be used in dogs on many other commonly used medications, or dogs with other diseases. In fact, a clinical study showed dogs receiving CYTOPOINT had no more side effects than dogs receiving placebo (injections without medication). It is not a drug, and therefore is broken down and recycled by the body naturally. Cytopoint® remains in circulation for several weeks. Safe to give dogs of all ages. This is not a steroid or immunosuppressant. Cytopoint is safe to use with most common medications, though be sure to consult your veterinarian before administering!" So, YES you need a prescription for Cytopoint. YES, most veterinarian offices have it and can administer it for you, you can also get a prescription for it written and buy it online and have it shipped to your house if you are shot giving savvy like I am and save a little $, (not a lot honestly because you have to pay certain shipping and handling fees to get it to you asap as it needs to stay cold, and then you have to be the "Bad person" and stab your dog with a needle.) Skittles has an a ray of allergies, environmental mostly and I've noticed when she eats chicken or foods with a lot of grains her skin gets worse, but this shot every 6 weeks or so is amazing. Sometimes I can stretch it and skip like 3 months before she needs another one, depends on the time of year and the season. We tried Apoquil and it did nothing for her, so if you are having issues and your pet is uncomfortable and/or miserable ask your Vet about Cytopoint! If you start it message me or comment below with how its helped!!
Staying cool is essential during the heat of summer. Here’s a few tips to keep your pup safe, while still having fun. Summer is here, and you and your dog want to go outside and play. But it’s so hot. Intense heat can lead to breathing problems – especially in flat-faced dogs – and heatstroke can happen in the blink of an eye. Luckily, there are many creative ways to help Fido stay cool all summer long. 1. Hydration It’s important that both you and your dog stay hydrated, especially during the summer heat. Drink plenty of fluids and provide your dog with ample cool water. To encourage your dog to drink during outings and to boost his system, place one cup of bone broth in his water bowl or travel bottle. To help keep his water cool, you can freeze the bone broth and add it as frozen cubes! 2. Shade Keep in mind that direct sun can quickly cause heat exhaustion and heatstroke. When taking your dog for a walk, seek shady parks. If your dog has a fenced-in yard, encourage him to play under the shelter of trees, or invest in an awning to shade his favorite play area. 3. Doggie pool A fun way to keep your dog cool is to provide him with his own doggie pool. And you can enjoy the fun, too! Put on your bathing suit and get in to entice your pup to play. Squirt guns and other pool toys are a fun way to get the whole family involved. Wagner LOVES his pool! Penny loves to race through it at top speed, but is not much of a swimmer, and Skittles....well she "supervises" A word of caution. Do not allow your dog to drink or gulp too much water as this can lead to water intoxication, (which can be life threatening) and they can also barf it up once back in the house...lovely. 4. Sand box Dogs love to dig – and it helps keep them cool by exposing cooler ground! Encourage your four-legged friend to dig a hole and lie down. If he seems uninterested in the activity, try hiding stuffed chew toys and other favorite goodies in a sandbox so he has some hidden treasures to uncover. If you have a large yard, combine the pool and sandbox idea to create your very own beach! And then you can call me to schedule your next grooming appointment as the sand and water can also cause Fluffy to look scruffy. 5. Frozen treats Summer is a great time for frozen dog treats. Grab your dog’s favorite cooling foods such as pears, cucumbers, strawberries, blueberries, melons or oranges. Peel, dice and puree, and toss into the blender with a mint leaf for added coolness. Add the mixture to ice cube trays or your dog’s favorite hollow toy, and freeze. In 24 hours, your dog will have a frozen treat to delight his taste buds. PLEASE make sure if you are going to ad fruit that you ask your vet or google to make sure the foods/fruits added are safe for your pet! (Grapes are highly poisonous to dogs!!) 6. Stay indoors There will be times when you and your dog should stay indoors. This is a great time to play some indoor games, teach your dog some tricks, or head to your favorite dog-friendly store! If your dog has a lot of energy, take him for short swims, and walk him after dark to avoid the sun’s hot rays. Always keep your companion animals indoors during spells of high heat or humidity. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog! Also, if you are j=headed out on a W-A-L-K (or jog or run for that matter) place the BACK of your hand on the sidewalk, if YOU can't keep it there for 5 seconds, the ground is TO HOT for your dogs pads and can cause serious injuries and burning! Summer is an exciting time – but safety should always come first. These tips will help you and your dog beat the heat while having a blast! With the recent pandemic, our pets have thrived with all of us being at home. As the fall starts to roll in and some school districts opening with precautions and counties moving into phases of being fully open and us parents headed back to work, our pets may start wondering...Where's my persons??? Separation Anxiety is a real thing with our pets. They are a pack minded animal and are most comfortable around us, their pack. So as we head back to work, school and travel we need to keep their needs in mind as well. It's super easy to get upset if your pet is jumping on you all the time, or constantly underfoot, barking at any little thing and the little accidents or boredom issue that arise. What we as pet parents need to understand is there is normally a reason for them. If your pet is constantly underfoot, they are feeling excluded and are trying to reassure themselves that you are near, and they are safe. Most destructive behavior happens from boredom or acting out like little kids! They've been so used to having all of us all the time that even a few hours away now is going to be very hard for some of our pets. We need to remember the love and companionship that we love so much from them, they NEED from us! WE are their Alphas! WE are their pack, we belong to them as much as they belong to us. Make sure you set your pet up for success before heading out on your day. Dogs who suffer from severe cases of nervousness need to be worked into the upcoming transition in shorter periods of time away from you. These separations should not produce any anxiety, so be sure you start with a reasonable time limit. To start, try performing an out of sight stay.
Ok, so I am definitely not ready to admit that it's almost September, which means.....it's almost Fall. I LOVE summer and try to hold on to it as long as I can. Especially now that we are in the south and OH MY are these sunsets and lightning bugs and heat just ahhhhmazing! But being from the Seattle area until recently, I definitely know just what fall brings. Rain, and puddles, and mud. Here are some tips I learned to keep my house clean of muddy paws, wet dog smell and keep my dogs comfortable as they dash out into the fall weather to play, relieve themselves or just to chase the random thing they made up in their minds. Instead of putting your dog in a rain jacket, doggie boots or a plastic bubble, I'll letcha know what works at our house. So 1st off I'm gonna let you know that those little products that you dip the paw into to "clean' off the mud and muck, yeah don't waste your money! It may work on the first paw....but then even if you change out the water, all those little nubby things on the sides that are supposed to scrape the mud off are now covered with mud and you literally have to WASH the contraption completely after EVERY paw so your not just spreading the mud from one paw to another. Unless you want to buy 4 of them. Not to mention your dogs feet are now most likely more wet than when they originally came through the door... The easiest steps I have found for my pack (3 dogs, two of them being terriers who love to dig and one Golden Retriever puppy) are making sure the paw pads are shaved out. This is easily done at your dog's grooming appointment. Every 4-6 weeks your pets paws are being trimmed up, the pads shaved out and the nails being trimmed and sanded short is the easiest way to ensure that you can keep the feet clean during muddy season at home. Keep a towel by the door to wipe off their feet as they come in. I keep good door mats on the outside AND inside so when the pets come in they are wiping their feet across the outside mat and then standing on the inside one while we wipe their paws off. I've used (sensitive skin) baby wipes which work well too, but they are not environmentally conscious and the cost will add up. So using a towel and popping it in the wash is easiest. Having pavers, rocks or even sand as a "barrier" in between the mud/grass and the door they come in helps. Now if your dog is a true mud magnet, Having a shallow pan or tub of water by the door may be in your best interest. Have your pet walk through the tub of water and wipe/dry off paws as they come out. Depending on just how much fun your pet had in the mud, your may want two towels. One for wiping excess muck and then one to follow up and dry. (I DO NOT RECCOMEND WASHING PAWS WITH SOAP EVERYTIME THEY COME IN!!! It will cause irritations and the skin to dry out and pads crack by being washed too much! Water will work just fine.) Now for the WET DOG smell. There are some awesome rinse free shampoo's out there incase your dogs bellies or feathering gets muddy too! Simply spray on (I like the smell and ease of the TropiClean products) and brush through and wipe with your towel, easy peasy. There are also an array of doggy spray on scents out there, pick your flavor, just remember that less is more, and you still have to remove the muck and dry the dog first or your just adding a perfume to a wet dog annnd you're still gonna smell it! Never forget the magical power of a BRUSH! Seriously though, it will remove not only loose hair but dander and dirt as well. a good quality brush is like a magic wand. (My absolute favorite brushes are Chris Christensen brand, YES expensive but extremely worth it and last forever vs a $5 amazon brush that the pins will break and bend.) brushing your dog before letting them go out reduces the amount of hair that stuff can get stuck on too! so take the 5 mins to brush your dog, you will never regret it! Remember that your dog, is a dog! As much as the next fabulous person thinks and treats their dogs as a child, they are a canine. They were literally built to dig, sniff, run and have fun OUTDOORS. As irritating as it can be for them to dig in your flower bed and such, and look as happy as can be while doing so, dogs follow their noses. The catch a sent and have to explore so reprimanding or expecting your dog to stay clean while going out to play or a potty break is seriously insane. Part of owning a dog (or being owned by one) is maintenance, so just keep up on the grooming, start a routine as they come in from the great outdoors every time and soon it will be easy to just wipe off the paws as they wait patiently at the door. Thanks for reading and remember, "Have a Pawfect day!" It is well known that dogs are intelligent creatures, and are more aware about their surroundings as compared to humans. According to some people, dogs can even sense some paranormal activity (they see dead people) and can predict when someone is about to die. It's crazy how accurate some dogs can be at "sensing" when something is changing or about to happen, and then try to give us the heads up. (But, ehhem DOGS where was the "Head's-up" for 2020?!?!) For instance, Dogs are capable of detecting bad weather. Owner's have noticed that their dog starts to bark or cuddle in their lap before we witness bad weather. Whether it is a storm or thunder, even tornados, dogs are masters at predicting the terrible weather. "Dogs are able to use all of their senses to predict when a tornado and storm are coming. Your dog can detect small changes in barometric pressure, which changes and charges when a storm is approaching a location - this is what alerts the dog that there is something changing with the pressure in the air." (quote Published by wagwalking dot com) Apart from this, dogs are also good at hearing sounds of thunder of storm before we can hear them. 'Dogs can detect earthquakes,' the belief has been around for hundreds of years. Although no one has been able to prove this to this date, it has been said dogs can reliably predict the arrival of an earthquake, (there is some science that supports the fact that dogs can forecast an earthquake. According to seismologists, dogs can sense the electrical signal which is produced by the movement of rocks beneath the earth.) When earthquake occurred in Japan in early 2011, people witnessed some crazy behavior from dogs, elephants and other animals before the earthquake. In similar example from China in 1975, people reported strange behaviors from animals before the earthquake which killed about 2,000 persons. When it comes to situations like this, I REALLY wish some one would actually invent those collars that the guy from the Disney "UP" movie had on his dogs that translated his dogs barks into actual voices so they could tell us " DUDE get to safety like NOW" cuz that would save a whole lot of lives. Dogs are highly sensitive of pheromones which we are not aware of. This is the reason dogs can predict possible danger. They can get to know about the intention of a person we meet by sensing their subtle facial expressions and body language. (Which is also why I not only trust my dogs more than most humans... but if a dog doesn't like a person, I usually follow their lead as they are normally right in sniffing out weirdo's) Not only dogs can make you aware about any danger from a person, they are also good at detecting bombs, drugs etc. If your dog shows unusual dislike towards someone, he is making you aware about the potential threat that person can present to you. Dogs are capable of detecting cancer, even when it is at stage zero. Researches have found that cancer tissue release particular chemical that is different to normal tissue, and dogs are surprisingly good at recognizing the difference between malignant tissue and normal tissue. A woman from California noticed that her dog used to lick her right breast, and when she went to doctor she was diagnosed with breast cancer. In a research, a trained Labrador retriever was able to successfully detect colon cancer in people with more than 90 % accuracy rate.Not only cancer, your dog can alarm you when you have low blood sugar and seizures. Which is why so many dogs are being used as Service animals for SO many different medical reasons, I have a friend who is training her dog to be her service dog for her Diabetes, it'll be able to help her keep her sugars and insulin levels in check. Although, there is no concrete scientific evidence that proves that dogs are capable of sensing pregnancy, so many examples prove it. Dog's ability to read human body language, smell, and behavior helps him to detect pregnancy. Certain changes happen in the odor, body shape, body language, mood and behavior of pregnant woman which dog can read easily. Dogs DEFINETLY act different around their owners when they are preggers! I've seen it, I've experienced it. My dog Kayleigh was SUPER attentive the whole time I was pregnant with my son, and when he was born he was part of HER pack and was like HER baby. SO, the next time your doggo is acting a little....OFF, run down your mental list. 1. Preggers? ( seriously, EVERY woman is gonna start with that at the top!) 2. Serious weather warning in the forcast? 3. When was the last time you had a full medical check up and are you feeling ok? 4. Are you hanging around a new person(s) or place and your dogs giving them the side-eye? 5. Were you just dancing too hard or did the ground ACTUALLY move??? 6. Are we just all over paranoid about every last thing because let's face it, 2020 has been one hell of a shitshow and really nothing is gonna phase any of us at this point! Thanks for reading and catch y'all soon! Why Grooming Your Dog Is Important
With our increasingly busy lives, sometimes a mundane activity like dog grooming can seem like a chore. You may even assume that grooming your furball isn’t that important—after all, his coat looks to be in okay shape, so why bother? But grooming is so much more than a quick swipe with a brush; grooming is about looking after your dog’s skin, eyes, ears, nails, teeth, and yes, coat. Grooming is an essential part of caring for your dog. APPEARANCE First of all, grooming makes your dog look nice. While this may seem like a superficial reason, in actuality it can have a psychological effect on the people with whom he comes in contact. People and children may be afraid or suspicious of an unkempt dog. But a dog who looks well cared for will invite more people to interact with him, thereby giving him more opportunities to socialize. HEALTH CHECK Grooming is a chance to give your dog’s body a good once-over. When you are brushing him, this is the time you are most likely to find any suspicious bumps or lumps that might be hidden by his coat. You’ll also find any mats that may be causing him pain. When you are cleaning his teeth, you might discover sore or bleeding gums and bad breath that may indicate a health problem. All of these potential issues will come to light when you are consistent with your grooming. Think of it as a weekly health check. The sooner you discover a problem, the more likely your veterinarian will be able to help your dog. HOUSEHOLD CLEANLINESS Grooming will help with the general sanitation of your house. The more you brush and comb your dog, the less hair and dander will shed inside your home (and on your curtains, couches, and rugs!). Plus, if someone in your family is prone to allergies, regularly brushing and bathing your dog can help tame some of the dander that causes flare-ups. BONDING TIME The last, and probably most fun reason to keep on top of your grooming duties, is that it’s a great way to bond with your dog. Too often we take our companions for granted, and grooming gives us the chance to slow down and pay some quality attention to our dogs. If you look at each task as a chance to give your dog some love and attention, then suddenly brushing doesn’t seem like such a chore! After a long winter and a spring thaw, we’re eager to get back out into the sunshine and enjoy the long days and warm nights with neighbors, friends and family. And for many of us, “family” includes our pets. In fact, including your pets in your summer activities is healthy fun for everyone. But when the summer heat and humidity start to rise, it’s important to understand how pets are affected by the spike in temperature and take the necessary precautions to keep them cool and comfortable. H2O is a Pet’s Best Friend: Unlike humans, dogs and cats have few sweat glands, which hinder them from cooling off by sweating. Instead, they lose heat and moisture from their tongues by panting. This water loss needs to be replaced, so it’s important to keep some fresh drinking water available at all times. This is especially important when you take them out for long summer walks or car rides. Don’t Park Your Pet: Never leave your pet alone in a parked car, not even for a few minutes. The air in a parked car doesn’t circulate and, even in the shade, the temperature in a vehicle will start to rise and become life threatening in just a few minutes. Rules for Pools: Getting together at your backyard pool to swim, have fun and cool off is a great summertime tradition. But the pool can be dangerous for adults, children and pets unless safety is observed at all times. You should always be cautious when your pets are in or around the pool, especially if they’re older and can’t get in and out of the pool as easily as they used to. Some manufacturers produce ramps to allow pets an easy escape from an accidental fall into the water, and remember to empty after each use. Pools left full overnight are terrific breeding grounds for parasites. Block That Sun: It may be surprising to learn that pets with light-colored skin and hair can get sunburned. In fact, extensive time in the sun can even result in skin cancer. If you are going to be in a situation where your pet will be spending a long time outside on a hot, sunny day, talk to your veterinarian about using specially developed sun block for pets on unprotected areas like the nose and ears. Make Some Shade: If you keep your pet outside, be mindful of the fact that a cool spot in the morning can turn scorching hot by mid-afternoon. Be sure to always have a comfortable, sheltered area available that they can retreat to for their rest. A kiddie pool in the shade can provide relief on those scorching summer days. Summer can be a particularly difficult time because overweight dogs and cats can overheat faster as extra layers of fat act as insulation, trapping heat and restricting breathing. Grooming is Cool: Common sense would lead you to believe that animals with longer hair would be cooler in the summer if you gave them a “haircut”. However, just as a pet’s coat insulates against cold, it also insulates against heat. Be sure to brush your pet’s hair regularly to get rid of mats and tangles and remove loose undercoat. The more you brush, the more the hair “breathes”. High Noon is No Time for Exercising: If you’re used to taking your dog for a walk during mid-day, it would be wise to change your schedule during summer to early morning or late afternoon walks with fresh water always at hand. Hot pavement can burn a dog’s pads, and walking outdoors during the hottest time of the day can lead to heat stress. After the summer is over, feel free to return to your usual schedule. |
BethanyI've been a groomer for almost 20 years. After working for big corporations and veterinary hospitals I have found the peace of working for myself and at home. Here are some of the things that happen, and tips on how to care for your pet. Archives
October 2020
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