Pet Library » General Pet Care

What Are The Symptoms of Arthritis in Dogs?

Pet Library Editor — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:03:25 +0000

Experts estimate that over a million dogs suffer from canine osteoarthritis in the UK and a shocking 650,000 of these cases go undiagnosed. This is because arthritis is really difficult to spot and, unlike humans, dogs don't display obvious signs of chronic pain.

Joe Inglis, a vet who has appeared in the media, has said,

"Hundreds of thousands of our dogs are suffering every minute of the day with really painful joints and there's a strong chance that yours could be one of them. The funny thing is that you wouldn't know because they will only yelp if they experience sharp pain, like stepping on glass, but with a gnawing pain like arthritis they'll just put up with it and it'll get worse and worse."

Joe continues,

"People need to take action, check out their dog and take them to the vet for a professional diagnosis. Once the condition has been identified, it can be treated immediately and your dog can be back to fighting fit condition.

Symptoms of Canine Osteoarthritis Include:

- Licking or self injury
- Reluctance to walk or play
- Difficulty in getting up, climbing stairs and/or jumping into the car
- Limping or stiffness
– Change in character or aggression
- Reduced interaction with people
- Reduced appetite
- Increase in anxiety/clinginess

Find out more: http://www.k9magazine.com/arthritis-in-dogs

How to Have a Dog Proof Home

Pet Library Editor — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 07:57:09 +0000

As a dog owner, you'll know just how crucial it is to keep your dog safe and protected in their home and garden.

With dog theft on the rise and straying figures also climbing, this timely guide from DogTips.co (how to dog proof your home) is essential reading for any dog lover.

In the article you'll learn how to implement easy, actionable measures to keep your dog secure and to make your home the safe environment it needs to be.

Have a look: http://www.dogtips.co/dog-proof-home/

How to Stop a Puppy From Biting

Pet Library Editor — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 20:11:08 +0000

How to stop a puppy from biting your hand too hard is one of those problems that crop up over and over again on these pages.

We've recently recommended the FANTASTIC 'Cure Puppy Biting' book which helps owners solve this perennial canine behaviour issue inside the space of a dinner break. But we thought we'd do a more indepth article on the topic.

Animals play much rougher than people do, but this isn't a problem when they're playing among themselves. They have thick fur that protects them from each other's teeth. People, with their soft skin and hairless bodies, are much more vulnerable. Adult dogs understand this, but puppies don't. In fact, when they get really caught up in a game, they can get carried away and forget who they're playing with.

Dogs from 6 months to 2 years old do the most biting. Like human teens, they have more energy and strength than judgment. Plus, they're constantly testing boundaries. Even when they know they're not supposed to bite, they'll try just to see what happens. Dogs usually bite when everyone is running around and getting worked up. The faster and more furious the game, the more stimulated dogs get.

At that point, they're prepared to match playful aggression with more aggression. And once they're caught up in the camaraderie and competition, they may forget all their good manners and do rude things, including jumping on people, knocking over lamps, and biting.

Some lessons need to be taught at home. For dogs, one of the most important lessons they'll ever learn is that biting is bad manners. Mom dogs and other puppies in the litter have a very effective way of discouraging bites. They bite back, giving a little extra oomph for emphasis. It doesn't take dogs long to learn that biting invariably invites stronger bites in return.

By the time they're 8 weeks old, most pups have learned that biting their elders and playmates is a bad idea, even when they're playing. And most of them carry this knowledge into their human families.

However, if a puppy is taken away from his siblings and his mother too early – especially before 6 weeks of age – he won't have learned the proper etiquette about biting. At this point, it's up to his human "littermates" to teach the lessons that the poor pup didn't get earlier.

It's not always easy to do, mainly because of instinct: Puppies have an instinct to bite, and people have an instinct to swat the offending muzzle. This teaches dogs two things. They find that they can stop someone from swatting them by biting their hands and holding them. Second, they may decide that any hands coming toward them are fair game for biting.

How to Stop a Puppy From Biting – An Alternative View

Lena Carlson of How to be an Alpha Dog writes

If you have just bought your new puppy home and are reading this article, then you should congratulate yourself. Many owners of a new puppy do not do anything about their puppyÕs biting habit until they are almost fully grown adult dogs. It is easy to understand this behaviour, the puppy is very cute and almost comical in the way that it tries to bite at your toes, but unfortunately as your pup grows up, the bites will be harder and may even lead to aggression. Therefore it is essential that you let your puppy know that biting is not okay, no matter how cute they may be!

Puppies will learn so much about life and etiquette in their first 8 weeks of life, and one such lesson will be focused on biting. The little puppy that bites his brother will get just as big a bite back and they will quickly come to learn that the biting hurts.

To ensure that your puppy fully benefits from these lessons ensure they remain with their mum and litter until they are at least 8 weeks of age.

When you get your puppy home, you will need to develop your plan for biting, teach everyone in your home what to do if the puppy bites in any circumstance, especially if the bite occurs while you are playing. The first thing is to ensure you do not shout or hit your puppy, as you will confuse them. Instead, let your puppy know that you are hurt; the most effective way to do this is by a quick yelp and then follow this with a soft whimpering. While you are doing this, give the puppy one of his toys and withdraw from the game or interaction for a little while.

Because you are copying how a puppy would react if he or she were bitten while in their litter, your puppy is more likely to understand that they have hurt you. They also will associate the bite with the end of play together time, which will add to his or her lesson.

When your puppy starts chewing or biting the toy that you have given them, encourage and praise him or her to let them know that they are doing a good job.

Finally, it is best to avoid games, which can promote biting or aggression such as chase, tug-of-war and wrestling. Substitute these with games of fetch and extra walks.

Puppy Training

Whether or not your puppy bites, it is best to enrol him or her into obedience school. These are a great way to teach your puppy basic commands in addition to them learning valuable socialisation skills. If your puppy does bite, ask for a special class that focuses on this behaviour.

Keep up the training at home and reinforce the commands that your dog has learnt. Be strong and do not go soft on the puppy by letting him or her get away with nipping at you or your family. It is easy to let the puppy off because you know they didnÕt mean it, but if you do, you will be confusing them and quite possibly making the problem harder to get rid of later on.

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Go to: http://www.puppybiting.co.uk for more tips on how to solve puppy biting problems.

Why Do Dogs Dig?

Pet Library Editor — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 10:35:33 +0000

Ahh. That perennial question: why do dogs dig?

Dogs, it would appear, love to dig.

Let us see if we can't get to the bottom of this fascinating canine behavior trait and learn the secret as to why dogs love to dig.

Some dogs have practical reasons for digging: It gets them under the fence! They're convinced that there is something underground worth having. Or they simply want to create a comfy, climate-controlled bed in which they can curl up and go to sleep.

Then there are dogs who couldn't care less about practicality. They dig for one reason and
one reason only: It's a heck of a lot of fun. For them, digging is the canine equivalent of sailing on the ocean and enjoying the salty air. They love the smell of freshly turned dirt and the way it feels under their paws. They enjoy the feeling of exhilaration that comes from tossing clouds of dirt behind them. Digging is their sport and their hobby. It requires no special equipment, and they can do it any time and just about anywhere.

The reason that dogs are attracted to dirt in the first place comes down to one thing: instinct. Long before domestic dog beds were created, dogs dug themselves dens, both for sleeping and for a secure place to raise their pups. They dug to catch burrowing prey and to bury leftovers. Digging was one of the few useful tools they had at their disposal, and they used it often.

Aside from searching around in the garden for treasures or making the occasional great escape, dogs don't have many real uses for digging anymore. That's fine for some dogs and some breeds. Greyhounds and Great Danes, for example, were never much into digging anyway. But others can't leave it alone.

For example, terriers were bred to control vermin and snakes, and dachshunds were badger dogs. For hundreds of years, breeders picked the dogs that had the most enthusiasm for digging. You can't just turn that off. Instinct is a powerful force. Add to it generations of specialized breeding, and you have a lot of dogs who will always find a way and a place to dig, even when there's nothing to dig for.

Dogs who are destined to dig usually hit their strides between the ages of 3 months and 3 years. Some get started after watching another dog do it, or even after watching their owners in the garden. Others don't need any more inspiration than an afternoon of boredom and the desire to try something new. It doesn't take much to get them started. They'll paw at a cricket on the grass, for example, and that leads to more pawing, and pretty soon the entire yard is filled with craters. At that point, they're usually hooked and aren't going to give it up easily.

Dogs love to dig. It's in their nature and it seems like it's not going away any time soon!

Passive Smoking Harms Dogs

Pet Library Editor — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 04:19:28 +0000

Can Second Hand Smoke Harm Dogs?

March is the month where National No Smoking Day urges people across the country consider stubbing out once and for all, leading veterinary charity, PDSA, is encouraging owners to consider their pet’s health when lighting up.

Research* shows cats exposed to second-hand smoke are twice as likely to develop feline lymphoma, a potentially fatal form of cancer, in smoking households. It can also make them sneeze, cough and wheeze.

Dogs are also very susceptible to smoking-related respiratory problems and their exposure to tobacco smoke has been linked to nasal and sinus cancers**.

Cigarette smoke can also be extremely harmful to pet birds, which have very sensitive respiratory systems.

“The effects of passive smoking on humans are well known, but many people don’t realise their pets are also affected by breathing in second-hand smoke,” says PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Sean Wensley.

“Studies have shown that animals dislike toxic fumes in their living environment, it causes their day-to-day life to become extremely unpleasant. As with people, the effects of cigarette smoke eventually take their toll on our pets, who then have to suffer the pain and distress of life-threatening cancer or chronic breathing difficulties.”

So next time your cat cuddles up to you on the sofa or your dog brings his ball for you to throw, please think about their health and don’t light up!

For more information about pet health log onto www.pdsa.org.uk.

Vets Warn of Lungworm Dangers for Dogs

Pet Library Editor — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 04:29:42 +0000

Clear your garden path in this wet weather, warns PDSA: dogs in danger from lungworms / slugs

The current wet summer weather may be annoying for us but it’s causing chest problems for many of our pet cats and dogs, says leading veterinary charity, PDSA. In many areas of the UK, vets are seeing cats and dogs with lungworms caused by eating snails, which thrive in wet conditions.

Sean Wensley, PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, says: “Some slugs and snails carry infective larvae which, if eaten by a cat or a dog, can lead to lungworm. In cats, these lungworms live in the lungs, which can cause the cat to cough. In the dog, these thin worms live in the blood vessels that supply the lungs, which can also cause coughing, as well as problems with the circulation.

In rare cases these worm infestations can be very serious indeed – even fatal. PDSA vets have seen a gradual increase in pets affected by lungworm, which was previously confined only to Wales and the South West, but is now seen in many areas of the UK.”

“This rise in the number of cases of lungworm should remind pet owners of the importance of getting their pet regularly wormed by their vet. Lungworm is just one of many types of worm that are prevented by regular worming with an effective worming product.”

It’s not just a pet’s health that can be affected by worms; they can pose a real health risk to humans too. Some worms and other parasites can be passed onto humans from cats and dogs which can prove particularly dangerous for children and pregnant women, causing blindness and birth defects.

PDSA recommends dog and cat owners carry out a thorough worming programme for the whole of their pet’s life and produces a free Leaflet on Worms which gives advice on what to look for and how to prevent your pet getting worms.

This forms part of a range of leaflets on pet care topics including First Aid, Diet and Nutrition and Vaccinations. The leaflets are available from PDSA PetAid hospitals and charity shops nationwide. Further information can be obtained from www.pdsa.org.uk or by calling freephone 0800 917 2509

Lungworms in dogs

Dog Training Info: Dog Clubs

Pet Library Editor — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 23:15:26 +0000

Can dog clubs solve behaviour problems such as fighting, wrecking the house, or attacking the Hoover? Frankly no, these problems need to be dealt with in your own home by an experienced behaviour advisor. Dogs never have ‘just the one’ problem, but often it is only one of many which drives owners mad, or proves to be expensive. If your dog has any behaviour problems, sort those out first, as training will not help.

Do dominant dogs benefit from training? Eventually, but how do you spot dominance in your dog? Most dogs will assume dominant behaviour if they feel the lack of leadership within the household. A good rule of thumb is a dog who won’t be groomed won’t be trained.

The reason for this is that superior or dominant dogs will not accept grooming from their inferiors. Should you find yourself in this position, get advice and sort out who makes the rules in your house. Dogs do not appreciate being in charge, this is your job, but they will take on the role if you refuse to.

What can you expect to learn at a Club? Walking on the lead without pulling, returning when called, sitting, lying down and staying when told to are the basic building blocks, and you can expect to learn these exercises first. Should competition work be your goal, you will need to find a specialist Club.

Should you simply want a well behaved pet, try a club which hosts The Kennel Club’s Good Citizen Scheme, as this means that the training should be well planned, follows a well thought out route and you get to earn certificates and rosettes along the way! It also means that the Club is listed with The Kennel Club, and that it has valid insurance. The latter is important, as should you have an accident, or you or your dog suffer injury, an Insurance claim will need to be made. Well trained Instructors will show you how to use play, food, body language and voice to train your dog, and never a check chain in sight!

Common dog training problems

In a recent survey, 89% of owners said they had turned to the Internet to help them succeed with puppy house training. Training a new dog to go to the toilet outdoors is one of the most common behaviour problems new owners encounter. Dog club won't solve this particular problem but some of the people who attend dog clubs will certainly be able to advise!

Article sponsors and resources:

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London / petbuzz / March 2011
Distributed by Robin Wiseacre on behalf of petbuzz :: social media for pet brands.

Canine Hip Dysplasia – An Insight in to Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

Pet Library Editor — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:19:49 +0000

Did You Know The Connection Between Hip Dysplasia In Dogs & Arthritis In Humans?

Canine hip dysplasia is a developmental malformation of the hip joint in dogs. The same condition was recognized in humans by Hippocrates in the year 370 B.C. In the past six decades, a lot of money, effort, and time have been used in the study and research of canine hip dysplasia. This calls for all of us who are interested in, and have a deep love for dogs, to pause and determine our course of action toward the control of this condition.

What we knew about hip dysplasia back in the 30’s was limited to only what could be read in the medical press which, summed up briefly: “It constituted faulty growth and development of all tissues in and around the hip joint, that it was not uncommon in a tribe of Canadian Indian children and Italian children and, if not corrected in its early stage, could lead to very painful, arthritic hips in human at middle age or beyond.”

Additional Knowledge Of Canine Hip Dysplasia

As knowledge and experience with this condition in dogs had increased, we learned that there was an acute stage during the period of rapid growth of the dog. During this stage, the canine, usually one of a large breed, would have difficulty getting up, particularly on a slippery floor.

The dog would flop down instead of easing itself to the ground, and would, in different ways, show pain in the area of the hip joints. As our understanding of canine hip dysplasia further increased, we learned that canines recovered from the acute phase and by the time they were matured physically, the hip joint symptoms not only lessened, but very often disappeared completely.

The Connection Between Canine Hip Dysplasia & Human Hip Problems

The later phase of arthritis that occurred in humans might or might not be evident during middle age or later in life depending on race, lifestyle, activity, sensitivity, and weight of the person. We found out that some dogs were able to live long lives with this condition, experiencing only minimal discomfort or malfunction.

There are two main factors that account for the clear difference between the course of hip dysplasia in human and in dogs. First, man walks entirely on his “hind legs” and for many more years than do dogs. Second, diagnoses of this condition in dogs were being made on the basis of joint laxity (looseness) in the young dog.

As to the first factor, we can say that dogs with dysfunction or pain in both hind legs can and do shift a considerable part of their weight-bearing function to their forelegs. The second factor, we can say that hip joint laxity has been reported to be present in all large breeds of dogs, except racing Greyhounds, at some phase of their growth period.

The same has been reported to be present in children. It is established that hip joint laxity may be a precursor to hip dysplasia but it should be realized that it very often does not lead to the later-life arthritic changes that complete the cycle and define the disease.

How to Wash a Dog

Pet Library Editor — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 16:16:37 +0000

How to wash a dog? You'd be surprised how many people ask us that very question, or a variation of it (such as 'how do I get my dog to enjoy being washed? or how do I wash my dog without the stress?)

Grooming your dog or puppy should be a weekly affair, and often daily depending on the breed and physical characteristics.

Bathing is at the top of the list of most important grooming habits that every dog owner must adhere to. It doesn't matter what breed of dog or what coat type – every dog needs a thorough washing on a regular basis.

Despite what the experts say, I personally believe that dogs really do like to be clean. Every time I give my Chihuahua a bath there is an obvious happiness and buzz that comes over him.

You can tell once you are done as they run, frolic, play, and in general have a blast after getting all clean. They can even be hams and like being told they look great. Besides, you will enjoy working with your dog more if your hand isn't stinky or dirty every time you get it back!

How Often Should You Give Your Dog A Bath?

In general, how often you bathe your dog will depend on its environment. Is he an inside dog or an outside dog? Does he get dirty eating? Does he have an odor?

A dog's skin and fur vary from breed to breed, just like humans, so if he smells then definitely give the pooch a bath. If he is an outside dog then the weather and parasites will have something to decide in the matter as well (bathing more often).

What Is The Easiest Way To Bathe A Dog?

It's always better (and easier) to use the bathtub to wash your dog because the water can be warm and he will be able to get a full soak. Not only that, but shampoo comes out a bit better using a combination of water temperatures.

Things you need in the tub for washing your dog:

1) Rubber anti-slip mat.
2) Spray attachment for faucet or shower head.
3) Gloves (not necessary).

When you shampoo your dog it can be helpful to mix some water and shampoo in a separate bottle just for that bathing. It goes into the coat easier that way and comes out better. After the scrub, have a heavy towel or rug on the floor and dry him with big towel. Let him go directly out to a grassy area to shake. No dirty sand pits please.

Note: Small dogs can sometime go in the sink for their bath but beware of the disposal and use caution with dogs that like to jump.

How Do You Get A Dog To Enjoy Being Washed?

If you get your pet as a puppy, the sooner you teach him that they will get a bath the better. The goal is to help the pup to grow into a dog that knows when to stay in the tub and how to help you by getting out when the bath is over.

Over time, the dog will learn to get in and out on his own if he isn't too small. Give the dog a treat after a bath to make it a more pleasant experience.

How to Socialise a Dog

Pet Library Editor — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:58:44 +0000

Understanding the value of socialising your dog can't be overstated. Here we offer 5 great tips on how to socialise a dog and how to recognise the positives from having a properly socialised canine companion.

5) Don’t inadvertently re-enforce fearful responses from your dog when socialising. If your dog acts fearfully to a new situation such as meeting another (friendly/inquisitive) dog, don’t pick him or her up or make a big fuss. Instead allow your dog to process what is happening in their own time and approach it in their own manner at their own pace. By trying to re-assure your dog if he or she responds with fear you may be accidentally instilling the belief that acting fearfully to new situations is the desired response you are looking for from your dog. By making an intervention you will also be preventing the dog from carrying out a canine/canine interaction in the natural way and the dog will learn to expect your intervention all the time. Obviously in situations when your dog is presented with an aggressive or potentially dangerous situation you must read the situation and act by simply removing your dog from the vicinity of the danger with as little fuss as possible. If you can, simply turn away in another direction, don’t say a word and carry on your way as if nothing has happened. Remember at all times that your dog regards you as his or her pack leader and the way YOU respond to situations will have an enormous bearing on how your dog responds.

4) Develop an understanding and ability to ‘read’ your dog. Try and predict your dog’s responses to certain events and ensure you are able to act if necessary. For instance, if your dog is very playful or bold, is he likely to get into trouble by being too forward with another dog or person? How will your dog respond to a dog who is likely to snap? How will you deal with the situation? You must plan for all scenarios, formulate how you will respond and put it into practice the moment it happens. It is not at all uncommon for some dogs to suffer with longstanding fears as a result of incidents that happened years ago if it was something they had either never experienced before of if their owners were not prepared to take appropriate action at the moment the incident occurred. Situations where dogs have had an ongoing fear of a particular breed as result of a frightening experience earlier on in their life are common and therefore your foresight and ability to act quickly can really help your dog to regain confidence and composure very quickly in the event that they suffer an unpleasant experience at the hands of another dog or person.

3) Always make a point to reward positive behaviour from your dog when they are interacting with other dogs. Dogs, very much like children have the uncanny ability to pick up bad habits from other dogs far quicker than you can instil the good habits into their psyche. Make sure your dog is rewarded for good behaviour despite what may be going on around him or her. Dogs, when together, can act very differently to the way they normally do when they are on their own. Barking at people, chasing animals or anything else that moves, stealing from each other, mounting or riding one another are just some of the unwanted behavioural traits displayed when their pack instincts are awoken and their confidence levels are up as a result of being surrounded by canine-chums. Ensure your dog is rewarded for not taking part in undesirable activity by praising him or her for behaving normally when all around them are ‘showing-off’. Make a big point of letting your dog know that you are pleased with them for not joining in the bad behaviour even though they may not have done anything out of the ordinary. YOU will never know how tempting it was for your dog to join in the ‘fun’!

2) Include your dog in as much as you are able to. Always try and think to yourself ‘can the dog come?’ You might be going to the pub for a quick drink ‘can the dog come?’ You might be going in the car to the tip to get rid of some junk, ‘can the dog come?’ Picking the kids up from school, ‘can the dog come?’ Wherever possible expose your dog to as much as you humanly can and always try and include them in different activities and expose them to different environments. Make it a rule whenever you are about to do something or go somewhere ask yourself ‘can the dog come?’ Remember to assess each situation and plan ahead. Can you, at least to some extent ‘control’ the scenario? Do you have your pre-planned responses worked out? Are you in a position to ‘read’ your dog? Can you ensure your dog will be safe and you will be in a position to reassure him or her if needed? If the answer is yes then take the dog where you go as often as you can.

1) Dog training classes are excellent as they will allow you to socialise your dog in a controlled environment under the watchful eye of a knowledgeable dog trainer or behaviour expert. Take advantage of them even if you are confident of being able to train your own dog in the basic commands. You can’t beat the experience of allowing your dog to mix freely with all sorts of other dogs or different shapes, sizes and temperaments. Make the most of these classes even if you only attend occasionally