Epilepsy - Canine Dancing Fever

As you read more and more of the articles on this website regarding dog disease, you'll begin to notice that many of the ailments experienced by man can be experienced by canines. And like most sicknesses of humans, they too can be cured (not all, most). One disease shared in common is Epilepsy - you've probably heard of this before, and maybe it even happened to one of your relatives and perhaps even you. Canine Epilepsy is one of the "not so typical" disorders occurring in dogs regardless of breed all over the world. How will you know if your pooch has Epilepsy? The most obvious and dud give away of the disorder would be seizures.

A seizure is characterized by a loss of muscle control and having involuntary movements. An example is a man shaking on the floor, or having consistent uncontrollable of the back, arms, or whatever. It may look like dancing in some cultures, but it's not. Basically, it may come in three types, the first being Intracranial. The cause of this type is related to something more "physical" affecting the brain, like a tumor, which triggers the attacks. Some say that physical trauma, such as getting hit very hard in the head by a baseball bat, fast moving flying object like a baseball, or blow from a 300 pound man.

The 2nd type would be the Extracranial kind, which is more "chemical" than it is "physical" A person or canine having this as his/its trigger would have been caused by a change in the metabolic and toxic substances or things outside their brain - the sudden change would lead to seizures. The last type would be Idiopathic Epilepsy - the cause here is harder to detect. All the types are can occur in all dog breeds - according to statistics, the cause of Epilepsy can be linked to the age of your pet, for example: if your dog is less than one year old, the cause of Epilepsy would most likely be of genetic origin (possible canine hereditary disease), triggered by toxins, and/or infections - usually the 2nd type which is Extracranial.

If your pet has reached an age of over 6 years and the disorder does occur to it, the underlying cause would most likely be the Intracranial type - as said above, probably a tumor or some inflammatory disease. A pooch aging 1 to 5 years will most likely be attacked by the Idiopathic type. If you suspect your pet to have Epilepsy, make no hesitations in bringing it to a veterinarian. From there the vet will be able to diagnose the problem and suggest a treatment program for your beloved dog. Making a documentary (taking a video) of the pooch having an attack can come in handy for the veterinarian - it'll be able to help determine the cause of Epilepsy, and a more effective treatment.

Remember that if your dog does have this disorder, it doesn't mean its going to die (yet). There is medicine available that can shorten the durations of the attacks and the frequency of it happening. Dog health is something that all pet owners should give importance to - don't be ignorant and/or cheap in shelling out some cash for the well-being of your pet.

The author of this article, Alex De La Cruz, is a Dog Expert who has been successful for many years. Because most people think that Arthritis is a humans-only disease Alex now informs dog owners with his http://www.doggybooks.info Ebook on how to discover this disease and let their dogs live as pain-free as possible.

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Nuisance Barking - How to Fix It

As a natural and completely normal part of a dog's behavior, they bark. While this may be for a number of different reasons, it doesn't always mean that danger is imminent. Some dogs bark excessively, which can become quite annoying. It can be controlled, but you must first understand some of the reasons they bark - and why YOU might be at the root of the problem.

Barking seems to be more dominant in certain breeds of dogs than others. Huskies are very vocal dogs, Yorkies tend to bark a lot. Barking by a dog can be a signal that he's defending his territory, alerting others that they are in his space. Barking dogs will also use it to seek attention. Barking is also part of the play routine.

However, most if not all nuisance barking is due to boredom and loneliness. We tend to forget that dogs are pack animals. They have a social structure in their pack and they belong to a PACK. They are generally NOT solitary creatures. But we, as dog owners, more times than not, do not think about what our dogs need to be balanced. And being isolated and alone does not make your dog balanced- it makes your dog anxious, lonely and bored.

As an example, it you have relegated your dog to the backyard that is a sure fire recipe for behavior problems. The reasons are:

* There is no one outside to interrupt inappropriate behavior with a NO, OFF and redirect to appropriate behavior so the dog is allowed to practice unacceptable behavior all day long or all night long.
* The dog has no intellectual stimulation. They are intelligent creatures and their brains need to be active
* The dog is terribly lonely, even if there is another dog outside with them, YOU are inside
* The dog is storing up energy and will release that energy by digging up your yard or flower beds, chewing up your lawn furniture, digging out of the backyard and escaping to the wonderful outside world!

If your dog barks constantly and is an inside dog, some of the reasons can be;

* Demanding your attention. The dog barks, you pet or pay attention, the dog figures out barking gets him what he wants
* Territoriality. Dogs that are allowed to bark at a window at passersby are rehearsing territorial dominance. They bark, the THING goes away, the message to the dog - barking works.

So how do you fix an inside dog that barks. Use your leadership role and training. When the barking starts, immediately interrupt the behavior with a NO OFF then give the dog something to do that is appropriate and praise. If your dog is barking to demand your attention, do not give him attention. If the barking continues, use your leadership and training skills and have him go to his place. Remember, things must by on your terms, not your dog's terms.

So how do you fix an outside dog that barks---easy. Bring it inside and begin teaching your dog how to be a great member of your family.

Be as comfortable with the trainer of your dog as you are the teacher of your children. And remember, Opportunity Barks!

Need more help with your dog's behavior. Visit our behavior page and sign up for current solutions that work, based on my 25 years of positive dog training.
http://www.petiquettedog.com/yourdog/dog_behavior.php

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Dog Toilet Training - How to Do it the Right Way

Dog toilet training is not something that most people particularly look forward to, but it's a necessity when having a pet. Truth be told, this is one of the harder things you will have to do when having a pet.

This process is made harder when you start looking for tips on how to do it, since it seems that everybody suggests a different way. To put it frankly, some work and some don't. Here are some surefire dog toilet training tips that are guaranteed to have you a trained animal very quickly.

Be Consistent

First, think about an appropriate area for your pet to go. This could be inside our outside. It really doesn't matter; the key is just having a consistent place.

Start to look for signs that they need to go to the bathroom, whether that greater activity, whining, barking, etc. Most will give some sort of warning signal before they go, and looking for cues will help you spot the disaster before it strikes.

The best times to train

Generally speaking, younger animals have to go roughly fifteen to twenty minutes following a meal, right after waking up, and immediately following playing. Therefore, letting them out at these times will be the most effective and really speed the dog toilet training up. The important thing is having a steady time and place every day, and they will soon catch on.

Try and feed them at a consistent time each and every day, which will likewise help them develop a constant time for going. Finally, make sure to begin this process as soon as you can. The earlier you start training them, the faster they will get it.

What to avoid

Try to avoid giving them food with lots of sugar and fiber, because they will have trouble digesting it. Not only is this unhealthy for them, it also tends to cause them to need to go more frequently, which of course means more work for you.

The most important, remember, is to not rush the dog toilet training, and don't get frustrated if they don't learn right away. Remember that different dogs pick up things at various paces. The important thing is to exercise patience during this process.

Traditional dog training tips are holding you back. Discover how to have a well trained dog in just 6 days by checking out http://www.dogtrainingtips.info

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How to Choose Healthy Dog Foods For Your Lovely Companion?

Do you want to give your dogs healthy dog foods? You might want to consider homemade dog foods. This will help you to apply only the food that is both clean and useful for them. You can find the ingredients very easy and not expensive at all especially when you are buying in a bulk. Sometimes, you can give your dogs a similar food with what you are having.

Red Meat

Your dogs require red meat because it contains necessary protein. However, you should not give red meat to them everyday because they could have too much protein which makes them become unhealthy. When you serve a red meat to them, they will be very pleased. These pleasure can be seen clearly when they are eating and also they will be more energetic when playing or running for the ball. This is a result of an extra energy they got from a healthy foods.

Rice

Another excellent healthy dog food is rice because rice is an excellent origin of carbohydrates. With the proper amount of rice, they will be able to play longer. Besides, rice is inexpensive and very easy for you to obtain to make your own dog foods. You can use rice to make many combination. That's why many vets recommend it as an excellent food.

Fish

I'm sure you already know the benefits of fish. Then, why don't you give the same benefits to your lovely companion? The fish has omega 3 oil, which is really good for them. It will help to prevent them from many skin and coat problems.

The dog food and dog care industries want only your money. They are not going to help your dog live a healthy life. By making simple changes to the way you feed your pet you could help them to live a much healthier and longer life.

Check out free dog food special report at Dog Food Secrets

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Food Allergies That Dogs Have

Food allergies make up about ten percent of all the allergies occurring in dogs and cats, coming in after inhalants and flea bites. Many people feel that diets based on lamb and rice are helping them treat or prevent allergies in their pets, but they may not be. We don't really understand how dogs become sensitive to particular foods or food ingredients. Fortunately, there are still plenty of things we do know. Let's look at the way we diagnose food allergies, how we treat them, and what the symptoms are.

Unlike inhalant allergies, there isn't a strong link between a dog being a particular breed and developing particular allergies. Male and female animals are equally affected, and neutering seems to have no effect. Allergies can show up as young as five months of age, and as late as twelve, but most dogs show their symptoms between the ages of two and six. The majority of animals with allergies to foods will also have other allergic reactions as well.

We do need to distinguish between real allergies and mere food intolerances. Food allergies involve skin problems and itching, while food intolerances tend to involve digestive issues and don't have a standard allergic response. Fortunately, the best way to treat both types of problem is to remove the food causing the allergy or insensitivity from the diet.

There are a number of ingredients that are most likely to cause allergies, including dairy, wheat, corn, chicken, eggs, soy and beef. Of course, these are also the most common ingredients in dog food. The incidence of reactions is likely associated with exposure. Lamb and rice diets have been produced to attempt to combat allergies, but there is nothing special about those ingredients except that they are uncommon in pet foods. If lamb and rice become the most common ingredients, more dogs will have reactions to them.

Most allergies in dogs have the same symptom - itchy skin. Other symptoms that come up often include scratching, skin infections, hair loss and chronic ear infections. Dogs with allergies may also have more bowel movements than non allergic dogs. Unfortunately, the fact that most allergies appear the same means that it can be hard to tell what your dog is allergic to. If your pet has recurrent ear problems, has allergies year round, has moderate to severe skin problems or doesn't respond to steroid or antihistamine treatment, food allergies might be the culprit.

Once you've ruled out all other causes of allergy and have determined the problem is definitely food, it's time to do a food trial. The method used is to feed a new source of protein and carbohydrates for twelve weeks, using foods the animal has not eaten in the past. Venison and potato, rabbit and rice, and duck and rutabaga have all been used by people making homemade diets. There are some commercial diets, too.

The pet must eat nothing else for twelve weeks, even treats. If the symptoms disappear or are reduced, the next step is to try the old food again, to make sure they return. If this happens, a food allergy is confirmed. Blood tests and skin testing may also be performed, and once a positive diagnosis is made, you can then choose a new commercial diet or a homemade diet to prevent allergies from happening again. Specific ingredients can be tested one at a time till you find the perfect diet for your pet.

Article by Kelly Marshall of Oh My Dog Supplies your top spot to buy orthopedic dog beds online.

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What Type of Food is Best For Your Dog

There are many things that you need to think about when you are bringing a dog into your home. One of the most important things to think about is the type of food that is going to be best for your dog. Many dogs do well on many different types of foods, so you'll want to do your research and decide what the best type of food for your particular dog is going to be.

When you are choosing a brand of food, it is important to look at the ingredients of the food. Don't be distracted by fancy packaging, or by what the food says on the front. Everything that you need to know about the food can be found in the ingredient listings. First of all, you want to look at foods that list real meats and vegetables as their number one ingredients. Remember that with dog foods, ingredients are listed by what occurs the most often in the food, so the first thing listed is going to be the biggest ingredient. You want to look for a food that has real meat listed first - followed by real vegetables. Meats that have "meal" listed after them should really be avoided, as these might be any type of by product from the meat, and might not be what you are looking for at all. Also, any by products or chemicals are not what you want to find in foods.

After you have chosen a brand, you need to decide which type of food from that brand will be best for your dog. You have two main choices - canned food, which is usually wet or dry food. It is important to know that a well balanced diet should really include some of both. Dogs need dry food because it helps them to keep their teeth clean, and the wet food can often be more full of nutrients than the dry food. However, you can choose the type of meal that works best for you.

If a dog is fed wet food, the dog should not free feed on the wet food, because it cannot be left out that long, or it will spoil. Therefore, something that you want to do is make sure that you feed the wet food on a type of a schedule. If you are only feeding wet food, you'll want to feed your dog twice a day. You can feed him more often if you feed him smaller meals, but be sure that you stay on a schedule because your dog will come to depend on that schedule and won't want to change it. If you feed your dog dry food, he can free feed, but only if he doesn't eat too much. If you allow him to free feed and he eats too much food, he can easily gain weight and become unhealthy.

The best way to choose the right diet for your puppy or dog is to be sure that you do your research, and then try a few things to determine what works best for you and your family, as well as for him.

Article by Kelly Marshall of Oh My Dog Supplies where you can buy personalized orthopedic dog beds online.

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Canine Diabetes and Diabetic Ketoacidosis - A Deadly Combination

If your pet has been diagnosed with canine diabetes, you need to be aware of diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA. This is a very serious complication seen in dogs with diabetes who have high blood sugar levels. If you have a canine in your life, you must be aware of this life-threatening condition.

What Is Diabetic Ketoacidosis?

Ketoacidosis occurs when too many ketones build up in your pet's system. What are ketones?

Ketones are used by your pet's body to produce energy. When fatty tissues are broken down, fatty acids are produced. These fatty acids are then sent to the liver, which produces ketones from them. If blood glucose levels are too high, the liver makes too many ketones, which leads to ketoacidosis. This condition is fatal, if left untreated.

DKA can be the first symptom of canine diabetes, although it can also occur in pets who aren't receiving enough insulin. All pet owners should be alert for the symptoms of this dangerous condition.

* Drinking large amounts of water
* Having to urinate more often than normal
* A ravenous appetite, accompanied by weight loss
* Sudden loss of vision
* Lethargy and weakness
* Vomiting and dehydration
* Breath that smells like nail polish remover (which is what ketones smell like)

DKA is a veterinary emergency, so if your pet is showing these symptoms, take her to the vet as soon as possible.

How Is DKA Treated?

Treatment depends on how severe a case your diabetic pet has. Sometimes, in mild cases, IV therapy and insulin is all that's needed. But most cases are more severe, and require aggressive treatment as complications arise. These complications include kidney failure, pancreatitis, bacterial infections, anemia, and brain swelling that causes neurological problems.

Once your pet is able to eat and drink on her own again, your vet can decide what kind of insulin treatment is needed. The good news is that 60 to 70 percent of pets with DKA will get to go home with their owners. Your vet will teach you how to check your companion's blood sugar, and how to give her insulin injections.

Can You Prevent Diabetic Ketoacidosis?

If your pet is a diabetic, it's important to carefully monitor her blood sugar levels, and give her insulin shots as required.

The best way to prevent DKA is to prevent canine diabetes in the first place. If your pet is overweight, she has a much higher risk of developing diabetes in dogs. Your first order of business is to get her on a diet. Cut out the treats and table scraps, and feed her a low-fat, high-fiber diet.

Regular exercise will help to keep her fit and trim. Show her how much you love her by playing with her and taking her for walks, not by overfeeding her. Exercise is also a natural way to keep her blood sugar levels under control.

Some pet owners use natural remedies for dogs to regulate their pets' blood sugar levels. Research has shown that herbs, including goat's rue, fenugreek, and astragalus, along with the mineral chromium, are very effective in controlling blood sugar levels in pets.

Don't wait for DKA to strike your pet. Now that you have this information, you'll want to start taking steps to prevent diabetes in dogs right away.

Darlene Norris has combined her experience working at a vet clinic with her long-time interest in natural healing to bring you her new website, Natural Pet Diabetes Control. Learn how you can use natural remedies for dogs to prevent diabetes in dogs by visiting http://NaturalPetDiabetesControl.com

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