Posts Tagged ‘Pet’

Dogs are naturally energetic. Man’s best friends are always on the go. Some dogs would even retain their puppy-like exuberance into adulthood. Apparently, dogs have many similarities with humans as these animals are also weighed down with degenerative diseases. When we get older, our muscles and joints start acting up. Muscle pains and aching joints will be felt with each movement and getting up would be grueling especially on chilly mornings. It is common for people to attribute the aching muscles and the sore joint to old age but these can be symptoms of arthritis. This malady affects our dogs too. Arthritis is a common problem as it afflicts about 25% of dogs in the US.

Arthritis is either degenerative or inflammatory. This extremely painful and uncomfortable disease is commonly caused by the weakening of bones associated with old age. Other causes of joint instability are infection or traumatic injury. Obesity can cause arthritis too as the weight of the dog increases the concussive pressure on the joints.

Similar to people with arthritis, an arthritic dog’s mobility is as well impaired because of muscle pains and sore joints. Although dogs cannot speak about how they feel a discerning owner will know that the pet is not well. Moreover, the impaired mobility would also be a sign that the dog is suffering from the degenerative disease. Dogs would rather run instead of walk because these are very energetic animals. A dog suffering from arthritis would limp; have difficulties in climbing stairs or getting up after lying down because of stiff joints. In most cases, the dog would run a temperature because of the pain.

A vet consult is necessary so that appropriate treatment will be given to the pet. Pain medications will alleviate the discomfort of the pet but most anti inflammatory and steroidal drugs have side effects. An owner can opt for surgery to repair the joints or for acupuncture to alleviate the pain.

To help the pet an owner has to give the pet more TLC. Because of the pain the dog may refuse to move thus an owner has to coach the dog to exercise to retain joint flexibility. To help the ailing pet, a dog owner must ensure that it is comfortable. A well padded elevated bed will ensure the comfort of the pet. Massage is proven effective in reducing the discomfort of arthritic people thus a massage will be good for your pet too. It is a good opportunity to bond with the pet as well.

Sarah’s Dogs has more answers to questions about dog arthritis as well as information about first aid for dogs.

Dog Ear Cleaning

We dog owners know that a dog’s hearing ability is far superior to what we humans have. A dog’s ears though are a very fragile and sensitive organ that is not only prone to infection but tends to get damaged easily as well. As such, a dog’s ears must be kept clean and free from foreign objects that can result to infection. Grooming the dog’s ears weekly would ensure that this delicate organ remains clean to prevent the development of ear health concerns.

One of the most common health concerns of dogs are ear infections. Floppy eared dogs, retrievers and other breeds that spend more time in the water are most prone to Otitis Externa, a type of ear infections. This ear infection occurs when the moisture is trapped inside the ears and prevented from being air dried as the ear opening is covered by the dog’s droopy ears. The damp environment of the ears makes a suitable breeding ground for bacteria. The dog’s ear concerns can also be due to ear mite infestation, to excessive earwax build up and to foreign objects like grass, grass seeds that were lodged inside the ears. Needless to say, all these ear health concerns can be prevented if the ears of the dog are regularly groomed as any developing ear problems can be spotted and treated early on.

To be able to make the task of grooming the dog’s ears easier, the owner has to have the right cleaning supplies. The dog owner will be needing a hemostat, a commercial ear cleaner, medicated ear powder and cotton. The dog’s ears must be inspected for foreign objects and signs of infectious before starting with the cleaning procedure. Smell the dog’s ears as a rancid smell is a sign of infection. Any foreign object in the dog’s ears must be removed.

Lift the ear flap to expose the area inside the dog’s ears. To make ear cleaning easier, hair inside the ears must be plucked. Gently clean the ears using cotton dampened with the cleaning solution. Be careful not to damage the ear drums when cleaning the dog’s ears.

Ear cleaning does not have to be done weekly if the ears are perfectly healthy but if there is an existing hear problem, the dog would benefit from more frequent ear cleaning. An ear mite infestation for instance is characterized by excessive ear wax build up. Apply mineral oil to the affected ear and massage thoroughly to smoother the ear mites. Moisten a cotton ball with the commercial ear cleaner and remove the softened ear wax.

Sarah’s Dogs has more information about dog grooming and dog ear care.