A dog owner would be very frightened if the active and seemingly healthy pet would topple down and make pedaling motions with its legs. A dog owner that is seeing a seizing dog for the first time would panic and try to help the pet. Dog owners that have been exposed to the seizing episodes of the pet would know that rushing to help a seizing dog would be dangerous.
The owner of a seizing dog has to remain calm to be able to help the pet. Remaining unaffected while the pet appears to be in agony would be very difficult. Understanding the causes and the effect of seizure would be a big help in dealing with the condition of the pet.
Some conditions would trigger an abnormal activity of the brain and a dog unable to handle the abnormality will seize. Various ailments can cause the abnormal activity of the brain. A trauma in the head that causes the brain to swell or the ingestion of poisonous substances can trigger a seizure. Seizures, also known as convulsion or fits can be single or repeated. In repeated seizure the dog would seize in clusters or in a single seizing episode, the dog would seize repeatedly. A single seizure would be over in seconds or in a few minutes and generally, the dog would not have another seizure for the whole day or even in 24 hours. A vet’s attention would be needed for both types of seizures. Single seizures have short duration thus the dog is usually seen by the vet after the seizing episode.
Because of the short duration of a single seizure, the dog would have recovered before the pet owner can do anything. Needless to say, first aid that will shorten the seizure will not be necessary. Although first aid may not be necessary to stop the seizure, the dog owner can do something to help the seizing pet.
The dog owner has to remain calm to be of more help in preventing the dog from causing itself harm. The dog must be moved away from water or from stairs. To prevent the dog from being injured by sharp and hard objects, the dog must be moved away. A seizing dog actually does not feel anything even if they appear to be in the throes of pain thus the owner’s effort to hug or to pat the pet can result to injuries when the disoriented dog turns aggressive. Softly talk to the dog instead as the owner’s voice would have a calming effect on the dog .
Learn more about single seizure as well as first aid for dogs at Sarah’s Dogs.
A well stocked medicine cabinet is a very necessary accouterment in every home especially when there are children and senior members of the family. Children and older members of the family are often affected with health problems. A medicine chest at home will ensure that any member of the family will receive immediate first aid care when needed. The same thing applies to pets. Pet owners have to be ready to deal with the injuries sustained by the pet. A well stocked first aid kit will somehow lessen the anxiety of a pet owner knowing that emergency care will be given to the pet. First aid kit ensures that the owner can administer measures that will stabilize the pet’s condition before it is transported to a veterinary facility.
Dog owners must always be prepared for any emergency. As caring for a dog is comparable to caring for a baby, a medicine kit for the pet will be very useful given the fact that accidents can never be prevented. A first aid kit is still a must even if the neighbor is a vet. Running to the every now and then would be a costly habit. Moreover, the vet may not be around.
A dog owner that has a first aid kit for the dog will be able to give the pet emergency care even late at night. Dogs are great companions thus these animals are taken by the master almost everywhere. A first aid kit is most needed in remote areas where emergency care needed by the pet would have to be administered only by the owner.
A dog owner can either buy a commercially made kit or create one that would be suited to the needs of the pet. Due to nearby animal clinics, the first aid kit of pet owners that live in the city may only contain the bare essentials unlike customized well stocked kits of owners that live in far flung places that are away from animal clinics.
Basic equipments for the dog’s first aid kit are scissors, rectal thermometer, cotton balls and swabs as well as leash and muzzle. A dog’s first aid kit should contain different sizes of bandaging materials. Diarrhea, allergies and infected wounds are common concerns of dogs thus the first aid kit should have antihistamines, antidiarrhea medications, as well as wound disinfectants and antibiotic ointments. Activated charcoal and hydrogen peroxide would be very necessary because dogs are prone to ingesting poisonous substances. Along with the equipments and basic medications, a first aid kit for the pet has to have the phone numbers of the vet or the location of a veterinary facility.
Find out more about first aid kit as well as information on first aid for dogs at Sarah’s Dogs.
A lump or a sac that contains pus often develops in dogs. Due to the painful swelling, a dog with abscess would be feverish and would be disinclined to move. The dog owner has to know what first aid methods can be administered to give the dog relief from pain.
Puncture wounds from dog bites, scratches and bruises are injuries that usually develop into abscess. Skin injuries are often the outcome of the dog’s skirmish with other dogs and with other animals. Abscess can develop on the affected body part of the dog. The swollen pus filled sac develops when a wound heals very fast so that dirt and germs are trapped beneath the skin. The subcutaneous layer of the skin is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Bacteria will cause the inflammation of the skin.
The dog’s immune system will react to the invasion of foreign material by increasing the blood supply and the number of white blood cells that will fight the invaders. The white blood cells sent by the dog’s immune system to ward off infection would result to the formation of pus and to the swelling of the affected body part. Pus and brown or yellowish smelly liquid will fill the sac. The swelling will be hot and tender to the touch. An abscess would be painful thus the dog will be reluctant to its normal activities. The dog may have no interest in food as well.
Abscess is not a serious health concern. Abscesses have to be treated to alleviate the pain that weighs down the pet. Left untreated the abscess can seriously affect the tissues around the affected area and cause internal toxicity. It would be a good thing if the abscess ruptures spontaneously. The pus and the smelly discharge would drain from the abscess. The fur around the lump will be matted by the odorous discharge. The matted fur must be clipped as close to the skin as possible. The contents of the abscess must be drained fully.
Warm compress can be applied to the lump repeatedly until the abscess ruptures. Blood flow to the infected area will be increased with the application of hot compress. This process must be repeated until the abscess comes to a head. Gently squeeze the ruptured abscess to remove the core. The pus must be drained completely as well. Flush out the opening of the abscess with hydrogen peroxide. Tincture of iodine or other kinds of antiseptic must be generously applied to the wound. An abscess must not be bandaged as the pus and the brown discharge must be allowed to drain completely.
At Sarah’s Dogs you can read more aboutfirst aid for dogs and many other interesting things about dogs.
Dog owners should be responsible enough not to let their pets wander as being curious animals that are predisposed to chasing motorists, the pet can be hit by a car. What would you do if you hit a dog with your car? Would you stop to help the dog or would you think that it’s not your fault and continue driving? The medical expenses of the dog would certainly be a burden especially for someone on a tight budget.
Dogs are highly valued pets and even thought of as a family member. Consider the grief the dog owners will have to go through at the death of the pet. You have decided to drive on as the accident is not your fault but not doing the humane thing of helping the dog can end up with the death of the injured animal. The injured dog could have survived if you only cared to stop and help.
No one in his/her right mind would purposely injure or allow a dog to die. If you hit someone’s pet with your car the law requires you to stop and assume the responsibility of helping the animal. You can be taken to court for not assuming the responsibility for the injured dog. A dog hit by a car must be removed from the road not only because it will be a road hazard to other motorists but also to prevent the injured dog from sustaining more injuries from oncoming cars.
Dogs that are in pain or in shock can turn aggressive and bite. As a precautionary measure you can use a tie or a scarf to muzzle the dog or you can use a blanket to cover the head to prevent the dog from snapping. Moving small dogs to the side of the road will be easy. A blanket can be used as a makeshift stretcher to pull heavy dogs.
Injuries sustained from car accidents can range from minor bruises to grave internal injuries that can result to the death of the dog. It is very necessary to get the dog to a veterinary facility as the dog may have serious internal injuries. Dial 911 to get help. The authorities will help you in taking the dog to a medical facility. The owners of the dog must be notified thus it would be necessary to examine the dog for any identification tags. Whether the accident is your fault or not and whether the dog survives or dies you still have to pay for the medical bills.
What to do if you hit a dog with your car? This and questions about first aid for dogs are answered at Sarah’s Dogs.
There are many reasons why people would always want to have a dog by their side. Some dog breeds are utilized to hunt, some are used in search and rescue operations, others are kept as protection dogs but majority of these four legged friends are primarily kept as companions. Apart from having an innate eagerness to please attitude, dogs are loyal and very protective of its people. Being social animals, dogs would always manifest its affectionate nature. Dogs are considered as members of the family because of these most valued human-like attributes.
The dog’s inability to speak is not considered as a handicap as dogs can very well communicate with humans by using a variety of body movements. You would think that a dog is three-legged because of its tendency to prop its body against people. To gain balance, a dog scratching its body would usually lean on the masters legs. On the other hand, a dog would lean on people not only to prop the body when scratching an itch. Affection, possessiveness, a show of dominance and protection are other reasons why dogs lean on people.
Dogs will show their affectionate nature to all the members of the family as dogs are social animals. As soon as the dog sees a member of its human family, it would speedily approach and would lick, kiss or lean on the its beloved person. Dog owners would provide the pet with comfortable beds and crates but the pet preferring to be close to the members of its human family would prefer to lean and sleep on the master’s feet.
This leaning habit can be the dog’s way of showing its protective and possessive nature. Dogs can easily discern danger. Once danger is seen, the dog would lean on the master…ready to offer protection. Due to the strong bond between master and dog, it is not surprising if the dog shows a possessive attitude. When the dog leans, it is telling everyone that the person it is leaning to is his master.
A dominant dog has the tendency to lean not only on people but on other animals as well. Dogs, being pack animals would lean on humans and on other animals to assume a dominant role. Owners of dominant pets will be overwhelmed with the task of managing the pet. Pet owners would always value the affectionate nature of the pet but if the dog’s tendency to lean is an exhibition of a dominant behavior then the dog’s tendency to lean must be stopped.
Find out more about why dogs lean, dog first aid and dog behaviour at Sarah’s Dogs.
When people starts to sneeze and sniffle it means that the cold months have sneaked in. People will sport watery eyes and red noses so that you would think Rudolph’s red nose is the current fad. As many people would have cold, Kleenex and hankies will be widely used. The idea that pet dogs would stick with the master through thick and thin seems to be true as just like its master the dog can have a cold too. The dog may not have a reddened nose but for sure a dog can sniffle, sneeze, cough and have watery eyes – all telltale signs that the dog is affected by the cold weather.
Cold is an ordinary human illness that often times would not need any treatment. Commonly, a bowl of hot soup, a cup of steaming tea and a day in bed would make the cold go away. Would the hot soup or the cup of tea be effective to cure the dog’s cold too? Aside from the cold weather there are other reasons why a dog can contract cold. Similar to humans that can transmit the cold to other humans , dogs can get colds from other dogs too. A dog with a weak immune system can be easily affected by cold-causing germs and viruses.
Dogs are noted for being very energetic animals. A dog owner should not be surprised if the dog catches cold because these animals are known to enjoy frolicking in the snow and because of a high prey drive, dogs would not mind the pouring rain as long as the prey is trailed.
A cold is an ordinary non-serious illness that is normally allowed to run its course as after a day or two the cold will be gone. Because dogs are tough, the cold of the pet will not really worry the owners. But it would not hurt the dog if the owner will make the dog more comfortable. Keep the dog warm.
Dogs must not be allowed to play in the cold lest the cold develops into a more serious illness. Supportive therapy would prevent the pet’s cold from getting worse. Keep the dog well fed with nutritious foods will boost its immune system. Vitamins and supplements will boost the immune system of the dog for better protection against viral and bacterial attacks. The breathing of dogs with cold is hampered by clogged nose thus a steam filled bathroom will help the to dog to breath easily. Lots of drinking water is good for dogs with cold as more liquid intake will speed up the recovery. Colds normally last for a few days and the dog will be good as new but if the dog’s cold lingers and the dog is showing other symptoms a vet’s consult will be necessary.
Sarah’s Dogs provides more information on what to do if your dog has a cold as well as first aid for dogs.
Grapes are favorite fruits of humans but these innocuous looking fruits can kill a dog. The reasons why these luscious red, green and black sweet juicy fruits must not be given to dogs are unknown. The studies conducted verified that the toxicity of grapes to canines is not due to fertilizers and pesticides used. However, the studies have established that grapes can cause renal failure in dogs. This is a very serious condition as the pet would not only suffer from severe pain but the pet may also expire if no immediate treatment is administered.
In humans, grapes or raisins are favorite snacks as jam packed with vitamins and other nutrients, grapes are considered as healthy foods. Grapes have significant amounts of antioxidants. Experts tell us that oxidants or free radicals are the cells in the body destroyed by unhealthy living . Good cells turn into oxidants because of unhealthy food, consumption of alcohol, exposure to pollution and the harsh rays of the sun. The oxidants are partly to blame for the heart ailments, cancer arthritis and many other health conditions that have a negative impact on human’s way of life.
To stop these free radicals from doing more harm people need to have antioxidants and as mentioned grapes are good source of antioxidants. Now many people are aware of this fact but nevertheless, grapes are consumed in large quantities. These fruits, apart from being delicious have low calorie content thus weight watchers can eat as much grapes as they want without worrying about increased waistlines.
The potential fatal effect of grapes to dogs is a recently discovered fact. Grapes were once given to dogs as treats and some pet owners would argue that nothing happened to their pets. The toxic effects of grapes has puzzled dog owners and scientists as not all dogs are affected by this fruit. While some dogs can get away with eating a lot of grapes some dogs will manifest toxicity symptoms by eating just a few. The toxic effect of grapes, unlike that of chocolates is not dose dependent.
A dog that is affected by the toxic effects of grapes will show symptoms of poisoning at once. Hyperactivity that is followed by depression and sluggishness are the first obvious signs. Diarrhea and vomiting are signs that the dog was poisoned. The dog must be rushed to a veterinary facility for aggressive treatment. This kind of toxicity will cause renal failure as the toxins will prevent the kidney from functioning.
Sarah’s Dogs has more answers to why dogs cannot eat grapes as well as information about first aid for dogs.
Obedience trainings enhance the bond between owner and pet. Obedience trainings turn dogs into well behaved individuals. Without a doubt, an owner would brag about the pet’s ability to do tricks. Obedience training is one way of controlling a dog’s behavior. One of the important basic obedience trainings is teaching the dog to come when called as this can save the pet from a potentially dangerous situation. Dogs have been injured, others have died because the owners were not able to teach the pet to obey the recall command.
It is very important for leashed dogs or those that are kept on a crate to be trained to come when called. Dogs are energetic animals that would love nothing more than to jump run and play. Thus when a leashed or crated dog breaks its confinement, it would be gloriously happy. It would be extremely difficult to capture a dog that is ecstatic for being free more so if the dog was not trained by the owner to come when called. Dogs have been injured and worst killed because of this kind of situation.
Teaching the dog to come when called will be easy as dogs already have the tendency to be the shadow of their masters. Dogs are not called Velcro pets for nothing. However, aside from being hunters, dogs are also very curious animals. The dog would want to obey the master but it will be excited to follow the interesting scent as well. In most cases, the interesting scent will win hands down.
Training the dog to come when called must be started when the dog is still a puppy. As always, a calm environment is a most suitable training area as a dog that is not distracted would adapt more to the training. Start the training by standing a couple of paces away from the dog, call the pet’s name and give the “come” command.
The dog may not come during the first try so you can let the dog see that you are holding a toy or a treat in your hand. A toy, a treat, a praise or a hug given to the dog after it has obeyed the command would be associated by the dog to the action and make the dog obey the command again. This exercise must be repeated several times a day but be sure that the training session would not be more that 5 or 10 minutes as dogs easily get bored. After the dog has consistently obeyed the command, you can move a few feet farther or you can call the dog from another room.
Sarah’s Dogs provides more information on how to train a dog to come when called as well as dog first aid.
Biting is a normal behavior of dogs. Dogs bite to communicate with other dogs and to manifest their dominance over other dogs lower in rank. By biting anything that they can put in their mouth puppies can discover their world. The biting that puppies are accustomed to do is not really dangerous as often times it is their way of playing and showing affection to humans. The puppies tendency to nip must not be allowed to developed given that biting coupled with aggression can be a dog owner’s most serious concern when the puppy matures. It is therefore necessary for a dog owner to make the pet understand that biting is an unacceptable behavior. Biting dogs that hurt people are often put to sleep. This tragic incident can be prevented by training the dog not to bite.
The dog’s method of stopping puppies from vicious biting is more effective than what we humans have. Observe how a mother dog will punish a puppy that gets too rough and have bitten a litter mate too hard. The threatening growl of the mother dog is a sign that it is not pleased with the way the pup has bitten its litter mate. If the message not to bite was ignored, the mother will pick the puppy and give it a violent shake.
This effective method of dogs in training puppies not to bite can be adapted by humans. A high pitched NO! and turning your back on the biting dog will make the pet understand that you don’t approve his behavior. Dogs are quick witted and they would realize at once that they have displeased the master.
People will certainly be concerned with mature dogs that has the tendency to bite. Play biting of puppies are generally harmless but a big older dog’s bite can result to severe injuries. A dog that has the propensity to bite is usually displaying dominance. Obedience training can modify the dog’s tendency to bite. Changing the dog’s biting behavior can be done by the owner or by a professional dog trainer. In an obedience class, the dogs will be coached to obey command that will modify its vicious personality and stop its tendency to bite people.
The dog’s propensity to bite can be prevented with socialization. A dog with a nervous nature commonly display an aggressive temperament. A defensive dog trying to protect its territory, its food and its life will bite. To eliminate the feeling of being threatened by strangers, introduce the pet to as many people as possible.
How to train a dog not to bite? Sarah’s Dogs has more answers to this question as well as dog first aid.
Ever since the association of dog and man has begun, dogs have always been the highly valued affectionate companion that has provided man with joys and entertainment. Dogs are much loved pets that are even considered as the “baby” of the family so that all eyes will be turned to the dog and all the antics of the pet will be noticed and appreciated. Although pet owners would always want to have the pet with them because of their affectionate nature, some owners have another purpose for taking the dog – to make other people green with envy with the pet’s ability to perform tricks. The dog’s ability to roll over, to pay dead, shake hands, to beg will certainly make a positive impression on people. A pet owner that has successfully trained the dog to do tricks would be the envy of other dog owners.
Teaching a dog to do tricks is not easy. Without a doubt, encouraging the dog to learn new things would be a daunting task. Dogs have different personalities. Some dog breeds noted for their intelligence would easily adapt to training. Don’t be discouraged if your pooch looks at you as if you are speaking some foreign language that cannot be understood by the pet. Encouraging the dog to learn tricks would need lots of patience as countless repetitions would be necessary before the dog can correlate the command with the desired action.
Teaching the dog to do tricks is pretty much similar to obedience training. Trick training, similar to obedience training would need the owner to be persistent and to have a lot of patience to undertake the many repetitions needed to make the dog learn the trick. For the training to gain the desired result, an owner has to establish the position as the alpha dog to secure the respect and obedience of the pet. Directions must be simple and clear to be easily understood by the dog.
Reinforcing verbal commands with hand gestures would make the command more understandable for the dog. By holding out one hand in the shake hand trick, the dog will be prompted to extend its paw. Use an authoritative voice to give a consistent command until the trick is learned.
Dogs naturally want to please its people. The dog will be encouraged to obey if it receives lavish attention from its master. Treats are no-fail means that will make the dog respond to training. Apart from being energetic, dogs are curious animals as well. Training the dog to do tricks must be conducted in short sessions and in an area where there are few distractions.
How do you teach a dog to do tricks? Sarah’s Dogs has more answers to this question as well as dog first aid.