Diagnosing and Treating Dog Health Problems

Posted on December 24, 2020 by ralekson

When it comes to health problems for your dog, there are many potential issues that can catch you off guard. If not dealt with quickly and effectively the results can be both emotionally devastating and expensive.

If you learn to avoid potential health problems as they occur, you can take the proper steps to avoid them altogether.

Potential Dog Health Problems

Dogs can suffer from any number of health issues. Animals are very good as masking pain and illness and usually by the time the symptoms appear veterinarian care is necessary. Therefore, it is important to pay close attention to your dog if he starts acting “off.”

Infections – Dogs can suffer from a number of potential infections. Most common are ear infections and these often occur due to bacteria or a foreign object getting lodged in the ear. Carefully check your dog’s ears for any foreign substances, redness, swelling, sores, etc.

Allergies – Dogs can have many types of allergies. Flea allergies are by far the most common and they can cause hot spots which may lead to infections. For this reason, it is vital you give your dog flea medication every month. Hot spots could be indicative of a food allergy.

Diabetes – To reduce the risk of diabetes, keep your dog on a strict diet of dog food only and no table scraps. If your dog is diagnosed with diabetes, you will need to change his diet, and possibly need to give him insulin injections. This would be something you and your veterinarian would discuss

Arthritis –Pure breeds have a long history of arthritis problems. Make sure your dog receives daily vitamins and minerals and have your veterinarian check for joint degeneration at least once a year.

Obesity – Obesity is a common problem with dogs. In and of itself it does not lead to mortality, but the higher rates of heart failure, tumors, and liver disease can all be very dangerous if not dealt with immediately. Obesity can be treated with a strict diet and an increase in your dog’s activity levels.

If your dog gets plenty of exercise, eats well every day, and is kept clean and well groomed you may not have to deal with the above issues. Still, you should make sure you visit your veterinarian annually (every six months for a senior dog) to check for any potential issues. As with people, early detection is the best prevention!

Peace and Love are present in my world now,

Effective Crate Training for Your Puppy

Posted on December 24, 2020 by ralekson

You just adopted a dog and now you’re wondering how to train him. That’s a great question. Dog owners everywhere have figured out how to keep their dogs in a crate or separate room when they leave the house so they can help reduce the dog’s anxiety, destructive behavior and barking.

The Value of a Crate to a Dog

Most dogs love their crates. When dogs are in the wild, they will seek out a small space to burrow in that will keep them warm and safe. A crate gives them these options that are theirs alone.

How to Crate Train a Dog

It is usually best to crate train your dog as a puppy. A full grown dog may grow anxious if he has never been in a crate and may have a harder time adjusting. A puppy may be upset but will probably adapt much quicker.

The best place to crate your puppy is in a room that will be occupied by members of your family, such as living room or family room. At bedtime, you should put the crate in the same room as you to help alleviate anxiety. After several weeks you should be able to keep the puppy in one room but initially keep them close to you so he can remain calm and feel safe.

Make sure he has a comfortable place to sleep, clean water, and one or two of his favorite toys nearby. The crate only need be big enough for him to sleep in because if he has too much space to wander around he may make a mess. For purposes of crate training, he doesn’t need too much extra space.

When you are learning how to crate train your dog, make sure to leave him in there if he gets upset. Otherwise he will learn that if he cries and makes a fuss, you’ll give him attention. It is suggested not let him out until he has been quiet for at least 5 minutes. At that point, you can greet him with a lot of attention and even a treat to reinforce his good behavior.

When you first begin crate training, try to leave the puppy in the crate for an hour or two at a time. Once he is older, you should be able to increase that time for a full night of sleep.

As long as you learn how to crate train a dog properly, you can have peace of mind knowing your dog will never get too loud, destructive, or anxious when you have to be away from home. A puppy will adapt quicker too, which will make the process much easier for everyone in your family.

Peace and Love are present in my world now,

How to Deal With a Puppy that Bites

Posted on December 24, 2020 by ralekson

Many dog owners have to deal with the issue of dogs biting, and it can be very stressful trying to determine what is causing the behavior and how to put a stop to it. While initially obnoxious, biting can become dangerous and you need to take action quickly to stop it.

How to Stop Dogs from Biting as Puppies

It is best to put a stop to this behavior when the dog is still a puppy. If the puppy is under six months of age he is very easy to retrain because he is still in the formative years of his life.

Many people mistakenly assume their puppies are merely playing or teething and not really trying to hurt them. Unfortunately, what is really happening is that your puppy is learning how to assert his position in the pack, and by doing so is using teeth to show who is in charge.

There are several ways to stop your puppy from biting. Most of them will mirror how the puppy would be treated with his litter mates and mother. A light tap on the back of the neck, a crying noise when he bites, and handing the dog a toy instead of your hand are all acceptable ways to teach the dog that biting other people will not be tolerated. If you find your methods to stop biting unsuccessful, there are options of obedience school or working with a certified puppy trainer.

How to Stop Dogs from Biting at One Year

If your puppy is allowed to nip and bite and show that he is in charge of the pack, he will then move on to play biting at around one year of age. There are a number of factors that can contribute to this behavior. You should stop playing physical games the instant he begins biting. Also it is important to avoid wrestling, tug of war or other dominance related games.

Additionally, you need to stop allowing your dog the run of the house. Give him boundaries. Crate if necessary.

How to Stop Dogs from Biting as they Age

If given the opportunity to continue biting, eventually it will evolve into a big problem when the puppy becomes an adult. If allowed to bite through his formative years, the behavior will be a part of his permanent personality.

If the biting is still going on after the puppy turns a year old, it is strongly advised that you seek the help of a qualified trainer immediately because the puppy may suddenly choose to assert its dominance at any time with an attack.

With the exception of disease or mental disorder, dogs who bite as adults had issues as puppies that could have been resolved if properly addressed..

Peace and Love are present in my world now,

Caring for A Senior Cat

Posted on December 22, 2020 by ralekson

There are three groups that classify older cats:

7-10 years (44-56 human years): Mature or middle-aged
11-14 years (60-72 human years): Senior
15+ years (76+ years for humans): Geriatric

With proper home and veterinarian care, many cats live into their late teens and early twenties.

It is important to understand aging changes, as well as what constitutes “normal” developments in additional to what signal signs of treatable conditions. This can be challenging because some owners might think that unlike dogs, cats do not need to visit the veterinarian on an ongoing basis. In fact, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Cats are masters at hiding disease. Despite underlying problems, they may appear well. The American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends a veterinarian check-up every six months for a healthy, older cat.

What to Check for During a Routine Visit With Your Veterinarian:

Overall body and weight condition
Quality of the skin and coat
Teeth, mouth and gums
Ears and eyes
Lungs and heart
Abdomen
Muscles and joints

Please make your veterinarian aware of any changes in condition from your previous exam.

Obesity is about more than just being “fat.” It is considered by veterinarians to be a disease that alters metabolism and makes a pet more likely to develop certain conditions, including but not limited to: diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, breathing problems and lower urinary tract disease.

At the opposite end of the spectrum in the senior and geriatric age group is a cat becoming underweight. Some older cats have a decreased ability to digest protein and fat, or it may be caused by a disease. Also keep in mind the fact that cats lose their sense of taste or smell as they age and this can cause loss of interest in eating. A broken tooth, chronic kidney disease or memory problems can also impact the ability to eat.

One of the key elements to your cat’s continued good health is a proper diet. Older cats are prone to dehydration and constipation, so increased water intake is important for older cats. Also offering three or four small meals per day makes food easier to digest for older cats.

Dental care is important to maintain your cat’s oral hygiene to help ensure continued health. Neglected teeth and gums can result in severe mouth pain and even lead to infection in other organs. Untreated oral disease and dental pain in your cat can cause her to experience emotional and physical decline.

A range of illnesses can occur as your cat ages. The most common are mentioned below:

Chronic Kidney Disease

Kidney disease often begins in middle age but is most common in older cats. Some signs may include:

Mild behavior changes
Changes in drinking frequency or location
Excessive thirst
Increased volumes of urine
Constipation
Appetite decrease
Muscle decrease and weight loss

Diabetes

Diabetes is most common in obese male cats. It is a significant disease in older cats. Nearly half of all diabetic cats range in age from 10 to 15 years.
Signs include:

Excessive hunger
Weight loss
Excessive thirst and urination

Other diseases that affect older cats are listed below but not limited to:

Thyroid disease

Hypertension
Gastrointestinal Conditions
Cancer (About half of all deaths in cats aged 10 and older are caused by cancer)
Arthritis

Even with appropriate treatment and regular veterinary care, many senior cats eventually reach a point where illness significantly affects their quality of life. If and when that time comes, it is important to include your trusted veterinarian in decided the best course of action for your pet.

Peace and Love are present in my world now,

Dealing with the Loss Of A Pet

Posted on December 16, 2020 by ralekson

Any animal lover will tell you that losing your pet is one of the hardest things to experience. Whether through illness, age, or accident it can be very difficult to fill the void left in your heart and in your life by the loss of your furry companion.

I’ve often wondered which is worse: Losing your pet suddenly and never getting to say goodbye, or being with your animal as they take their last breath.

For me the decision to have my beloved cat put to sleep was gut wrenching. Even though I knew she was suffering, and had been since basically the day I rescued her. We had 9 wonderful years together and during that time she was on several meds daily. In fact, during the last 9 months of her life I was giving her IV injections daily. That in of itself was a huge challenge for me. I definitely have a needle phobia. I had to take her in every week to have blood levels checked and as soon as it was time, I bolted out of the exam room. To this day I still can’t be in the room when my pets need shots of any kind.

But when it became obvious that the end was approaching and Savannah needed me to step up I did. It wasn’t the cost aspect of bringing her in to the vet every day for the fluids; It was her comfort level. If you had to have chemo every day, would you prefer to do it in a loud, disruptive clinic with people yelling, or would you prefer the peaceful environment of your own home?

It was definitely a challenge for me. My vet told me he was more worried about how I was going to handle the whole thing and NOT my cat. It took a lot of practice with the Dr. and indeed the first time I did it at home I nearly passed out afterwards. As the vet knew she would, Savannah handled it like a trouper and it was relatively easy until we got months into it and she began to develop scar tissue and it became increasingly difficult to find an injection site. If you aren’t familiar with sub-Q fluids injections with an animal there is only a small area between the shoulder blades where the needle can go in. You have to pinch the skin and pull it up like a tent. And on a 6 pound cat there isn’t much room to work with.

Even though I knew it was coming, had known for months in fact, the day I had to say goodbye was more difficult than I ever imagined. If you’ve been through the loss of the pet you know that it’s like hitting a brick wall at 100 miles per hour without a helmet. I had spent weeks preparing myself and thought I was ready… but are you really ever ready to say goodbye to someone you love? Someone you’ve cared for for several years? Someone who was always there for you through laughter and tears?

Although death wasn’t imminent and she may have lasted through the night and even for another 24 hours, she would only continue to get sicker and her suffering would increase. Then my vet said something to me that I will never forget. “You have to listen with your head because your heart will never let you let go.”

While it was one the hardest decisions I’ve ever made, my vet gently reminded me that what I was allowing was a final, loving, humane act for Savannah by ending her suffering. He also shared my grief with me, having cared for her since day one. He told me I could take her home and if I needed him, even at two am, I could call his cell phone and he would meet me at the clinic. I didn’t want to have to take her for her final moments to some unfamiliar 24 hour animal hospital. I wanted her to be with people who loved her, and Dr. Johnson was just as emotional about the situation as I was. He told me that he didn’t want to be the one to have to put her to sleep, but that he would do it for her and me. Having a Vet you trust and rely on during a crisis like that can mean the world. Your head and heart and emotions are in a tail spin and I will be forever grateful to him for his support and guidance during that time.

Because Savannah was ill for so long I had a lengthy period of time to decide whether or not I wanted to be with her when she took her final breath. It is a deeply personal decision that you have to live with for the rest of your life and I can’t image having to make it in a moment’s notice. There is so much going on in your beloved companion’s final moments that while you think you had everything planned out, it’s such an emotional time that you question every decision afterwards. I, however, stuck with my choice and I absolutely do not regret it to this day.

Even though this all happened 5 years ago I still remember it as if it were yesterday. If you or someone you know has recently or will soon be going through a situation like this and I can help in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Having someone who has been through the experience can be a tremendous comfort, as my vet was to me.

Peace and Love are present in my world now,