Dog Health Care Topics

The information provided is intended to help dog owners but is not intended to replace the advice, counsel, or assistance of licensed personnel. It is always recommended that you seek the help of your veterinarian.

While it is important to vaccinate our dogs, there is debate about how often we should be administering vaccines, and if we should at all due to known side effects. Combo "all-in-one" shots are popular as they were designed for human convenience (only one trip to the vet), however many holistic vets consider them to be the worst for your dog's immune system, causing "vaccinosis" (over-vaccination) which may present symptoms such as skin diseases, cysts, cancer, allergies, or seizures, loss of motor control, or other neurological issues, even death. It is recommended to compromise on vaccines, instead of forgoing them entirely. Single dose vaccines can provide lifelong immunity. Rabies vaccines are required by law in most states, but many areas allow a three-year vaccine instead of the annual shot. If you still feel the need to get booster shots, avoid combination shots - they are basically daring the immune system to fight off a handful of diseases at once. Space them apart from each other and not all on the same day. Dogs should also not be vaccinated along with another procedure, like surgery, spaying/neutering or dental cleaning. If you're in doubt about your dog's immunity levels, ask for a titer test. When reading results, know that higher antibody titers indicate better protection. Distemper titers should be above 32; levels between 2-16 provide limited protection. Parvovirus titers should be above 80; levels between 16-32 provide limited protection.

To help relieve symptoms, there are shampoos and sprays that contain oatmeal, aloe and other natural products such as essential oils. Benadryl can be used to treat allergies, sleeplessness, insect bites or stings, and even motion sickness. The general rule of thumb for determining the correct dosage is 1mg/lb of the dog's weight, given 2-3x/day. Typical dosage is 25mg-50mg and it is best to not exceed this dosage. For topical use, cut open a Benadryl gel tab, mix with 1 drop of tea tree oil, then spread on gums or rub into bug bite. Beware of any meds that include a steroid such as Temaril or Prednisone, or anti-inflammatories such Tramadol, as as they can cause behavior issues such as anxiety or aggression. The three common causes are insects, food and the environment. Check your dog for ticks, fleas, mites, bug bites or stings. Keep your dog's bed or crate spotlessly clean. Weekly vacuuming of carpeting and furniture and laundering of your dog's bedding will remove many allergens helping to control dust mites and mold spores. Be aware that cigarette smoke, perfumes, and cleaning products can also affect your dog. Tennis balls! Some dogs can have allergic reactions to the rubber latex they are made with. Reactions can be mild to severe, causing skin rashes, hives, swelling and closing of the eyes, or closing of the airways. Instead of tennis balls, use rubber balls that manufactured to be safe for dogs. If your dog is still itchy, consider feeding your dog a raw diet instead of kibble or can food. For dogs with skin allergies, it is recommended you feed rabbit or duck and avoid chicken and lamb. If it is a food allergy, you should see some improvement after the first few weeks. If you are not able to reduce symptoms within a few days, do not wait to consult with your veterinarian. Your vet will probably recommend skin or blood tests to find out what's causing the allergic reaction.

Comedones or "bumps" are just dog pimples (raised, crusty bumps) found on your dogs back along the spine, usually with patchy hair loss. This tends to be genetic and will require treatment throughout your dog's life. Mild cases can be treated with weekly baths using a benzoyl peroxide shampoo such as Dermapet's DermaBenSS. Use a soft brush or microfiber washcloth to gently scrub your dog's skin. Allow the medicated shampoo to remain on the skin for 5-10 minutes before rinsing off. Daily treatments
Food allergies can exacerbate comedone formation. Consider feeding your dog a raw diet instead of any processed kibble or canned food. You may also want to provide a daily cleaning using a product that contains benzoyl peroxide & tea tree oil, such as Benzoil. It may take a few weeks to see significant improvement.

Never give your dog any medication or supplements without first consulting a licensed veterinary professional. Beware of any meds that include a steroid such as Temaril or Prednisone, or anti-inflammatories such Tramadol, as they can cause behavior issues such as anxiety or aggression. The following is an imcomplete list of common medications that could help your dog. Do not exceed dosages without consulting your veterinarian.

• Meloxicam reduces pain, inflammation, and stiffness. Dosage 0.05-0.1 mg/lb
• Trazodone is used as a sedative, can help treat chronic pain. Dosage 2-5 mg/lb
• Gabapentin used for neuropathic or chronic pain, seizures, dementia, and anxiety. Dosage 2-5 mg/lb
• Carprofen (or Rimadyl, an NSAID often used with Gabapentin), reduces inflammation, pain and fever. Dosage 2 mg/lb

In a pinch, you can use buffered aspirin, not enteric-coated aspirin. Enteric-coated aspirin will not provide enough relief from pain as the buffered type since the dog's digestive tract cannot break down the coating and it will just pass through the dog's digestive tract. Buffered aspirin dosage should not exceed 20 mg per pound over a 48 hour period. Administer with food and only on rare occassions. Prolonged use can cause organ failure. Avoid over-the-counter products such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and naproxen or anything that has caffeine as they are toxic to dogs.

There are steps you can take if you or your dog is bitten that can dramatically decrease the risk of complications. First, control any bleeding by applying a clean towel or washcloth to the wound and apply firm pressure. If the wound is superficial, clip the fur around the wound and then clean the wound gently & thoroughly with hydrogen peroxide. Extreme care must be used since bite wounds are painful and your dog may bite out of fear or pain. You may have to muzzle your dog. Continue cleaning the wound gently 3-4 times a day. It is important to monitor the wound for signs of infection such as excessive redness, swelling or pus. If you notice any signs of infection then a visit with your doctor or veterinarian is needed to evaluate the wound, properly clean it, and make recommendations for treatment such as prescribing antibiotics or a surgical drain. It is also important to restrict movement to avoid reopening the wound delaying healing and increasing the risk of abscessation.

Some dogs wag their tails constantly, hitting them repeatedly against solid objects causing injury. You will want to wrap your dog's tail in a towel and seek veterinary help to be sure there isn't any nerve damage. To prevent tail injuries, you may want to wrap the tail in vet wrap tape. Using a smaller crate, lined with bedding/padding, can also be helpful. In worst cases, you may need to have the tail docked by your vet.

There is much controversy around this, pros and cons for both. Intact dogs want to stray and wander from home due to a desire to mate. Unable to fulfill this need, they can become frustrated and start urine marking, mounting and even become aggressive. If the procedure is done prior to adolescence, these behaviors can be eliminated in most dogs. There is also a decreased risk of mammary, ovarian, and testicular cancers. This does not mean that you do not need to train your dog. Many believe that neutering a dog will get rid of all his behavior problems. This is a myth. If your dog continues to have serious behavior problems after he's neutered, contact a dog trainer/behavior specialist. Less well-known are the adverse effects to neutering/spaying too early. It inhibits the dog's physical and mental development. There is an increased risk of obesity and diabetes, prostate and bone cancer, arthritis and hip dysplasia. There is also an increased risk of endocrine disorders, such as hypothyroidism which can be linked to aggression and anxiety. Knowing that most behaviors can be managed through good training, it may be beneficial to wait until your dog is 1-2 years of age before having the procedure done.

Using a sharp pair of "dog" nail clippers, snip just the very tip of your dog's nails. A good rule is to cut the nails parallel to the toe pads, so that the nails just clear the floor. When using a guillotine cutter, the blade should slice upward from the underside of the nail. If you are using a dremel (best tool), carefully hold the tool against the surface of the nail with a slight pressure, removing just a small amount from the tip. Be careful that the tool is not getting warm and heating your dog's toe. Remember to trim the dewclaw nail, on the inside of the leg. Even if the nails are very long, only trim off the pointed tip. Otherwise, you may hit the quick, which will bleed and be very painful for your dog. Using a dremel will greatly reduce hitting the quick. If the tip of the nail begins to bleed, apply pressure using styptic powder, baby powder, or even corn starch. With white nails, you can see the quick as a pinkish spot within the nail. With dark nails, you can see the quick if you shine a flashlight up next to the nail, or you can trim a small part of the nail and then look at it from straight on. The quick will be a small dark circle within the nail. This spot has a group of nerve endings and blood vessels that you cannot clip. When you see this, stop. The quick will lengthen if you don't trim the nail regularly. Trim off more of your dog's nails once a sharp tip grows again. This could take a few weeks. Gradually, you will be able to decrease the length of the nails.

Motion sickness is normally caused by confusion of the senses. The eyes report that your body is in motion, but the ears say that you are not moving. This is more commonly seen in puppies and younger dogs because the ear structures used for balance aren't fully developed. Have your dog's ears checked as an inner ear infection can also cause motion sickness. Your vet can prescribe medication for your dog when you travel. If your dog has experienced a few car rides that left him nauseated, he may have been conditioned to equate travel with vomiting, even after his ears have fully matured. Stress can also add to travel sickness, so if your dog has only ever ridden in the car to go to the vet, he may literally worry himself sick on the road. You can gradually build your dog's tolerance to car trips with the following tips:

If you feel hot, chances are so does your dog. When dogs are hot (or stressed), they will try to release heat by panting and may secrete pheromones from the glands in the pads of their paws, leaving behind damp paw prints when they walk. However, this is not enough to cool them down. Dogs are able to release heat and cool themselves down more efficiently by laying on cool surfaces such as a cool tile floor, by jumping into a pool or getting hosed down. Counter-intuitively, fur also helps a dog cope in the heat. Fur actually insulates the body from both cold and heat, much like the insulation in your home. So while it may seem that your dog would be cooler if you shave your dog's coat in the summer, it can actually make your dog hotter. If your dog seems sluggish, perhaps confused, weak and uncoordinated, panting heavily, tongue and gums looking bright red, gray or purple, drooling excessively and possibly showing signs of fear, your dog is in trouble! Take your dog into the shade or a cool room. Run a constant flow of slightly cool water over his body, the head, neck, chest and groin areas. Use your hand to wipe off the water so it carries the heat with it. Allowing your dog to lay on the steps of a swimming pool works great too. Seek immediate medical attention! To prevent heatstroke, walk only in the coolest parts of the day during the summer, and keep the walk short. One good rule of thumb is to put your palms or bare feet on the sidewalk; if it's too hot for you, it's too hot for a dog. Keep your home cool or well ventilated. Keep bowls of cool fresh water both inside and outside the house. Think twice about taking your dog on trips and to outdoor events, where it might be hard to prevent them from becoming overheated, and NEVER leave your dog in a parked car on a warm day.

Your dog should drink 1 oz of water per pound of body weight each day. Toy dog breeds, puppies, as well as senior pets, need more water as they are prone to dehydration. Pets with certain health conditions, including kidney disease and diabetes, may also require more water than average. If you are feeding your dog moisture-rich foods, such as a raw diet, some of the water requirements will be met during meals. If you are feeding a dry kibble, you will need to provide more water than normal as this type of diet actually puts incredible stress on the kidneys because of its lack of moisture. One of the simplest ways to determine if your dog needs to drink more water is to lift some skin at the back of the neck, then let it go. If well-hydrated, the skin will quickly fall back into place, otherwise the skin will fall slower and may stay in a tent formation. You can also check your dog's gums; they should be moist and slick, not dry or sticky. Also, if you press on your dog's gums, they should turn white and then quickly turn back to pink when you remove your finger. Other signs of dehydration include fatigue, loss of appetite, panting, sunken or dry eyes, dry nose, constipation. Signs of severe dehydration include weakness and difficulty walking. If your pet is severely dehydrated, get to an emergency veterinary center right away, as your pet will need to be given fluids intravenously.

Bloat (gastric stomach torsion)

Bloat requires IMMEDIATE medical attention or the dog will die. This happens when the stomach flips over (torsion), cutting off blood supply and quickly leading to necrosis (tissue death). Time is critical; minutes can mean the difference between life and death. Do not wait, insist on immediate x-ray.

Symptoms

Prevention

Do not "free-feed" your dog! If your dog does not eat his food, pickup his bowl and he must wait for the next feeding time. There are many benefits to this. Success in training and house-breaking relies heavily on keeping your dog on a consistent feeding schedule. What goes in regular will come out regular. Make sure you are feeding your dog the proper amount of quality food each day! The common brands of kibble or can dog food found in grocery stores are the equivalent of fast food, you get what you pay for and you pay for it in vet bills and unwanted behaviors. Instead of kibble or food from a can, consider feeding your dog a BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) or fresh food diet to improve your dog's overall health, reduce allergies, and improve behaviors. While the better quality dog food may cost more, your dog will produce less waste, your vet bills will be lower, and your dog will feel and behave better. If you feed processed dog food, be sure to examine a list of the best brands of dog food at DogFoodAdvisor.com. The food you feed your dogs will impact their health and their mood. The "hot" dog will typically seek cool places, can be hot to the touch, may pant at inappropriate times (while at rest), may be restless, and affected by allergies that create high-arousal. These dogs should be fed cooling foods such as rabbit, duck, goose, beef, or fish. The "cold" dog will show signs of general weakness, fatigue, slow movement, and a preference to lay around. They will typically seek warm places, have poor appetite, fecal or urinary incontinence, stiffness or joint pain that gets worse with rest or cold weather, and have coldness in their ears, back, and limbs. These dogs can be helped by feeding warming foods like chicken, lamb, venison, or turkey.

Your dog's poop should be brown & firm. If it has a really foul odor, an abnormal color, or any other consistency, it should indicate an alert. If any part of the feces moves, run to the nearest vet as your dog may have worms. Most of the colors we see in our dog's poop is the result of something they ate. However, be on the alert for black, tarry stools or bright red blood as this can mean internal bleeding. Gray or yellowish stool may indicate parasites. Mucus and blood in the stool may indicate parasites or possible tumors. White stool may indicate a lot of calcium in the body, usually seen after the dog has been eating raw bones, however if your dog is not being fed bones, it can signify something serious is wrong, such as a problem with the pancreas or gall bladder, or it could signify a blocked bile duct. If you see more than one or two abnormal bowel movements within 48 hours, please call your vet immediately to have your dog examined.

Coprophagia [cope-ruh-fey-jee-uh, -juh] (eating faeces)

This is a very common behavioral problem. Dogs will eat poop if they are stressed, bored, hungry, or have a vitamin deficiency. You will want to first consult a veterinarian to check for a vitamin deficiency. You will also want to make sure your dog doesn't have any parasites. Then make sure your dog is on heartworm prevention & is current on vaccinations. The best solution is vigilance. Accompany your dog outdoors on-leash, watch for poop on the ground, and don't let him eat it. Don't scold your dog if he does eat it, just work on your vigilance and timing. Call him off it when you see him go for it, use the leash to pull him off it if you need to, and then praise him for leaving it and coming to you. Make sure you are also walking your dog everyday along with play time. Exercise, routine, and consistency will help reduce stress & boredom which can lead to unwanted behaviors like eating poop. Also, examine your dog's environment and remove or block things that may be causing him stress, such as access unruly children.

Be sure your dog is getting enough water and is eating quality dog food. To help loosen things up so stool can be eliminated, take your dog for a 20 walk.
Need a little help? Try the "Match Trick"!
Still no luck? Take your dog to your veterinarian.

There are many causes of diarrhea in dogs. Stress, food intolerance, foreign objects such as chew toys or bones, intestinal parasites, tumors, or side affects from medications such as dewormers or antibiotics are common. In many cases, it is caused by sudden changes in a dog's diet or living circumstances. Overfeeding can also cause chronic soft or liquid poop. When it occurs, start by resting the gastrointestinal tract by withholding food for 24 hours, providing only water and probiotics. There are also a few OTC human medications that are considered safe to treat common GI problems in dogs. The following is a dosage guideline, but always consult with your vet before administering any medication to your dog.

• Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate): 8mg/lb, 2-3x/day
• Imodium (loperamide): 1mg/10lbs, 2-3x/day
• Pepcid (famotidine): 10mg/20lbs, 2x/day (best without food)
• Kaolin/Pectin: 1-2 tsp, 2x/day
• Soft Gel w/Peppermint oil (.4ml), Ginger oil (.04ml), Fennel oil (.04ml): 2x/day

After fasting, serve only 25% of your dog's normal food portion the first day, increasing the amount each day by 25% until you are at your dog's normal daily portion size. It is a common suggestion to feed your dog an easily digestible and bland diet, such as boiled chicken and white rice, pumpkin, etc, however this rarely helps. Instead, be sure you are feeding your dog quality dog food, a BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diet is best! If you believe your dog's diarrhea was a result of stress, find ways to make your dog comfortable, examine your dog's environment and work to remove any stressors. If your dog continues to have diarrhea and shows no improvement or worsens after 48 hours, or at anytime your dog's stool becomes greasy, foul smelling, or has occasional mucus and/or blood, see your vet immediately! Your vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment - e.g., Fenbendazole or Tylosin. (Avoid Metronidazole if possible as it can cause neurological issues, tremors, seizures). Once your dog is healthy again, feeding a BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diet can help prevent more issues with your dog's immune and digestive systems.

Giardia, distemper, parvo, influenza, salmonella, E. coli, bordetella, etc - it can be found everywhere. Dogs are exposed to infection every time they sniff, lick, consume or come in contact with contaminated sources, such as feces, poop scoopers, irrigation water, creeks or ponds, soil in a dog park, inside of petstores, shared dog bowls, or dirty dog crates.

Symptoms

Treatment for Dogs

Treatment for Environment

• Poop should be picked up immediatley. The moment it drops, pick it up.
  Wash your hands after handling feces and disposal equipment such as poop scoopers!
• Keep dogs separated and confine infected dogs.
• Do not allowing sharing of bowls, beds, crates, blankets, bones, toys.
  Toss any bones or toys that may have been contaminated.
• Bowls should be washed each night.
• Dogs should be bathed weekly during the course of treatment.
  Dogs with long hair should be trimmed near the anus and between the paw pads and toes.
• Blankets should be laundered daily with hot water and bleach. Dried on high heat.
• Crates, beds, floors, and poop scoopers should be cleaned & disinfected daily using a cleaning solution of bleach and a disinfectant (such as Best Shot 256) diluted (1:64) in steaming hot water. Allow the areas to air dry before reintroducing pets.

If your dog appears to be snapping at invisible flies or licking the air, it may be an indication of a neurological, gastrointestinal, or behavior problem. Some dogs do this out of boredom to entertain themselves or from anxiety which can turn into an obsessive-compulsive disorder. If the behavior appears to happen when lots of people are around, loud noises, or new places, a behavioral issue is likely be the culprit and you will want to seek the help of a dog behavior specialist. Repeated episodes may be a sign of "mini" seizure activity, which can often be controlled through medication. However if you notice the behavior appears after eating, your dog has a decreased appetite, is not motivated to eat or take treats, there may be a GI issue. Studies have shown that 70% of dogs exhibiting this behavior had an underlying gastrointestinal disorder. Be sure to keep a log and capture video of the behavior you can share when you consult with your vet. It will also be best to consider feeding your dog a BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diet.

Symptoms are your house-trained dog suddenly starts urinating in the house or another inappropriate area, or straining to urinate, or involuntary or uncontrollable leaking of urine, or urinating more frequently or in smaller amounts than usual. The dog's urine may be bloody, foul-smelling or cloudy. Other symptoms can be an unexplained increase in thirst, lack of appetite, lack of energy, or obsessive licking of the genital area. Finding wet spots in your home doesn't necessarily mean your dog has a medical issue. Make sure your dog is being allowed outside frequently enough. If you think your dog does have incontinence, it could be from a urinary track or bladder infection, or a partial blockage of the urethra. Dogs who have been spayed or neutered may urinate normally, but leak urine while resting. This could be due to hormone incontinence. Treatments will depend on the cause. See your Vet for a physical exam, blood and urine tests. Your Vet will prescribe the proper medication or hormone supplements and proper treatment. Ask your Vet about estrogen supplements, Resources Canine Incontinence Support, and HomeoPet Leaks No More.

When a dog has megaesophagus, the esophagus stays enlarged and does not push the food down to the stomach. The food is eventually regurgitated. This is not the same as vomiting. There is usually no retching and heaving, instead the food or water basically just falls back out of the mouth or throat with no warning. The food may even appear tube shape. Treatment: There is currently no cure for megaesophagus. The main treatment method is life style management. 1- Elevated feeding should be practiced as this uses gravity to pull the food into the stomach. This can be done by using a Bailey chair. A Bailey chair is a specially designed chair that allows the dog to sit upright (like a begging position) while eating. You will want to keep your dog in this elevated position for at least 10-20 minutes after eating. 2- Find the right food and consistency that works best for your dog and stick with it. There is no one type that has been found to be the best. 3- Feedings should be given in frequent, small meals as opposed to few, large meals. While this requires changes in your dog's eating habits, in most cases your dog may live a long, happy life.

The best way to remove ticks is with fine-tipped tick tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and gently pull upward with steady pressure, taking care not to break off the head. Don't twist or jerk the tick out as this can leave the head or mouth-parts embedded in the skin. Also, do not grab the tick by its body or it might regurgitate infected fluids into your dog's body.

• Example of home made repellent for large dogs:
• 5 drops Cedarwood oil
• 5 drops Rosemary oil
• 2 drops Citronella oil
• 1-2 ml Permethrin SFR
• Add to 4oz squeeze bottle, mix with water or coconut oil

Remove yard debris, especially leaves. Keep lawns mowed short. Spraying your yard on a regular basis with products containing essential oils may help repel them, but not kill them. To kill ticks, apply Bifenthrin and/or Permethrin to your lawn, spray or granules. For spraying inside and around your home, add 2-3 oz of Permethrin SFR 36.8% to 1 gal of water in a pump sprayer. If you can't beat em, it may be best to hire a professional pest control expert to treat your home.

If a bath isn't helping, know that stinky dogs could just be from a poor diet. Consider feeding your dog a proper raw diet. However, if your dog stinks like moldy bread, popcorn, or corn chips, your dog may have a yeast infection. If your dog smells like rotting fish and spends a great deal of time licking, digging, or scooting the rear end, your dog may have inflamed, infected or impacted anal glands. See your Vet for these issues. Oh no! Skunk! Bathing your dog in tomato juice is a myth. To get rid of skunk odor, mix in a pail: 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup baking soda, 2 teaspoons dishwashing liquid. While wearing gloves, use a sponge to rub the mix into your dog's coat and skin. Avoid getting any into your dog's eyes! When you rinse the head area, tilt your dog's chin upward so the solution runs back off his neck and does not run down into the eyes. Rinse and repeat until the odor is gone. Your final rinse should be very thorough.

This is where "mangy mutt" comes from. It is caused by an infestation of microscopic spiderlike mites. Dogs may scratch and bite themselves with great ferocity and develop lots of hair loss and crusty skin infections near the ears, elbows, legs, and face in the early stages. It will later spread throughout the body. Mange can be highly contagious to both human and dogs, so if your dog is diagnosed with mange, everyone & every pet, and all places where the dog shares space, furniture, etc will need to be treated. Consult with your veterinarian to decide on the best course of action for your pet.

This infection is from exposure to mosquitoes or infected dog. See your vet for proper treatment. During at-home treatment, isolate your dog from spreading infection, keeping your dog in a crate/kennel in a cool, isolated, quiet area. Your dog's crate will also keep your dog as still as possible. Your dog should get very little exercise, only potty breaks, on-leash, away from any excitement. Pickup poop after every dropping to prevent dogs from eating infected stool. Keep activity and excitement levels down, not allowing anything near the dog that can increase heart rate, excitement and anxiety levels, preventing cardiac failure.