However it is a sign that all is well with the dog’s digestive system. If the dog is capable of leaving some stool on the kitchen floor or on the living room carpet or the doormat on the front door, it can only mean that he’s eating well and he’s breaking down his intake just as efficiently.

A constipated puppy, on the other hand, can be an indication of some alarming possibilities with regards to the dog’s health.

Worse, a constipated puppy – if left unattended – may very well be a very sick puppy in due time.

Is Your Constipated Puppy In Danger?

Nothing in this article should be taken to mean that a constipated puppy should immediately cause alarm.

Canine constipation is quite a normal occurrence, as common as constipation in humans. A constipated puppy may be suffering such a condition because of stress, as is the case when he is away from the toilet spot he has become familiar with. A constipated puppy may likewise have eaten something inedible which has caused havoc on his digestive system. Something as seemingly harmless as a bone, surprisingly, isn’t really fit for consumption.

The most common cause of dog constipation is lack of exercise which affects the rate of the pup’s metabolism and putting into disarray the scheduling of his body’s waste disposal system.

All of these may not seem that grave.

However, a constipated puppy may also be suffering from a very serious condition such as heavy worm infestation. Or he may be suffering from a prostate disease. Or he may even be suffering from a severe intestinal disorder.

Now these possibilities demand immediate medical attention, so if your puppy is constipated for more than 24 hours you should always visit a vet immediately.

When To Worry About A Constipated Puppy

Indeed, even if you are saddened by the plight of your constipated puppy, his condition is generally harmless. However, if his constipation is accompanied by the following symptoms then there may be a greater problem:

- When constipation is accompanied by chronic vomiting.
- When instead of disposing waste through his anus, the pup releases some blood.
- When the puppy refuses to eat for more than 3 days and he is not within his teething period.
- When constipation lasts for more than a week.

Prolonged constipation will trap some dangerous toxins in your puppy’s system. Given his still fragile internal defence mechanisms, these toxins may potentially be fatal for your pet.

How To Cure A Constipated Puppy

The most instinctive thing to do is to induce stool disposal. The safest way to do this is by introducing fibre to your dog’s diet. You can sprinkle a little serving of oat-based supplements with his usual food. One to two tablespoons of oat bran, for example, will usually be enough to regularize your dog’s potty schedule in less than a week.

Ample water supply should also be made available to the constipated pup at all time. Ensure that the water is clean. Most dogs suffer from constipation because they become dehydrated.

If constipation is persistent, you may want to expedite matters by using a dog-friendly mild laxative on your constipated puppy. Always consult your vet first though.

For a long term solution, feed your puppy with quality dog food and make sure that he has the opportunity to engage in regular exercise. 30 to 35 minutes of walking per day will be enough to keep his metabolism running at a healthy and efficient pace.

A constipated puppy who may be suffering from a grave medical condition as indicated by any of the symptoms we have discussed earlier will have to be brought to a vet. Only a veterinarian can identify with certainty the problem that’s plaguing the constipated puppy, and only he can prescribe the proper remedy.

Indeed, canine ticks may look harmless at first. But as soon as they attach themselves on your dog’s skin and a full blown infestation occurs, serious health problems may follow suit.

Canine Tick Avoidance, Not Canine Tick Prevention

Ticks aren’t insects. They don’t infest households, hence, there are no preventive measures that can be undertaken to repel these parasites. Like common opportunistic bloodsuckers, canine ticks live outdoors, using special heat-sensing functions to pinpoint warm-blooded mammals. Once their targets are found, they drop down on them to cling to their skin, sucking away in relative invisibility.

Though there is no such thing as dog tick prevention, there is such a thing as canine tick avoidance. Basically, if you don’t want your dog to be a victim of these mite-like parasites, then you have to avoid bringing your dog to places known as hotspots for canine ticks. These places include areas with tall grasses and woodlands immediately after the rainy season. These are known breeding grounds for canine ticks because of the moisture they manage to retain.

The Real Danger Of Canine Ticks

If you’d discover some canine ticks on your dog’s skin – especially the ticks that have frighteningly ballooned into the size an air pellet – you’d immediately ask if such is painful for your dog.

It isn’t.

The dog may feel some irritation, but in general, he won’t feel the blood being sucked out of his system.

However, though canine ticks are generally harmless, this doesn’t mean that they pose zero danger for our beloved dogs. The truth of the matter is that some canine ticks may carry diseases that they can introduce to your dog’s system. This is the real danger of canine ticks. Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted fever are just some of the potentially fatal illnesses that can be caused by canine ticks.

Some dog owners may also find it alarming that canine ticks can feed on humans as well. In most cases, dogs with canine ticks are likely to have owners with canine ticks too.

Getting Rid Of Canine Ticks

When it comes to eliminating canine ticks, nothing is surer than the old fashioned way: manually finding them, manually pulling them out, and manually squishing them into oblivion.

You will find mature canine ticks hard to pull out of your dog. Your dog may even show signs of pain whenever these parasites are pulled off his skin.

Temporary remedies like topical lotions and shampoos can help your dog avoid a canine tick infestation. However, most of these products only provide short-term protection – the most of which is merely 30 days – and they are not known to cure canine tick infestation that is already in progress.

To start with lets go through some of the things that are potentially dangerous for a dog to eat. Most dog owners are aware that chocolate should not be fed to dogs, but there are also plenty of house plants that can cause a rash for the dog when touched, and some that can even cause vomiting, cramps and kidney problems. If you are unsure which plants are unsafe to have in your house, be on the safe safe and contact your local vet who will be able to advise you. There is always the chance that a dog might ingest a poisonous household chemical, in which case you should contact your vet immediately.

There are also outdoor plants that can have a toxic effect on your dog, such as rhubarb, spinach and nutmeg.

Common reactions to being poisoned are:

1. Rash on the mouth or skin after contact
2. Swollen mouth or tongue
3. Vomiting, cramps
4. Diarrhea
5. Convulsions
6. Internal problems that are difficult to observe

If your dog exhibits any of the previous symptoms of dog poisoning then you should contact your local vet immediately. The best way to eliminate poison from your dogs stomach is to induce vomiting, but this should only be attempted if the owner feels able to do it, and even then only if the dog is not depressed, unable to swallow or experiencing convulsions. This is best left to a vet in all but the most extreme cases.

If the dog has come into contact with the poisonous substance on the skin, a bath in warm water with soap is the best way to clean the dog and stop it from licking the poison off. Even if the dog is not showing any signs of discomfort with the poison on its skin or coat, it should be washed off immediately.

Symptoms Of Ring Worm In Dogs

The main symptoms of ring worm is round patches of hairless skin on the dogs body. Usually these can be differentiated from other skin diseases because they will not be symmetric on the dogs body and have a circular shape.

The circular shape of the hairless patches caused by ring worm is what gave it its name, as it was originally thought they were caused by a type of worm.

Where Ring Worms Are Caught

Ring worms are contagious and can be passed from one animal to another, so this is a common way of the parasite spreading. The other problem is that the fungus can survive a long time without a host, so if it is on the dogs bedding it can spread to the dog with ease.

This means that if your dog has ring worm you should thoroughly wash all of its bedding.

Ring worms can also be found in soil in rare cases.

Ring worm can also be passed to humans via a pet.

Is Ring Worm Dangerous?

In most cases ring worm can be left untreated and after several months the symptoms will cease. However there is no need to let your dog suffer unnecessarily, so it is always advisable to visit a vet if you suspect your dog has ring worm to get treatment. This is also a good idea to reduce the time the fungus can spread.

If your dog has diarrhoea it may be a good idea to test whether it is a certain food that is causing it. Stick to the basic foods (but make sure your dog is getting enough food to stay healthy) which may give the diarrhoea enough chance to stop and your dog enough time to recover. However there are no foods that stop canine diarrhoea, and you are much better off getting medical advice from your vet.

Canine diarrhoea can be caused by Parvo Virus, an serious disease that affects many dogs, so visiting your vet should be at the top of your priorities.

The most important things to remember are:

• Your dog needs daily exercise. Make sure you know ho much your breed requires in order to stay healthy.
• Your dog needs to be taken to the vet at least once a year for check-ups and must also receive all the require vaccinations.
• Your dog needs a nutritious diet. Many store bought foods contain mainly filler and not much nutrition, so make sure you choose the healthiest food for your dog.
• Dogs can get overweight too, so make sure you’re feeding your dog the correct amount. You can consult your vet about how and what to feed your dog.
• While not directly related to health, a well trained dog is a safe dog. Make sure your dog at least knows the basic commands and can perform then even in distracting situations.

As dogs can’t tell you when there is something wrong, it’s vital to keep an eye out for signs of illness so you can take action immediately. In general if your dog is acting differently or strangely then there may be something wrong. Also keep an eye out for any skin problems, external and internal dog parasites such as fleas, worms or ticks, red eyes or discharge and a lack of appetite. All of these can be signs of an illness.

If you suspect there is something wrong with your dog then it’s extremely important to take it to the vet straight away. Your vet will be able to diagnose the problem accurately and advise you on the best course of action.

What Is Canine Spaying?

Spaying is the removal of the dog’s uterus and ovaries. While it is quite complicated surgery it is so commonly performed that the risks are not high. You’ll need to talk with your vet about the specific risks to your dog.

Why Should I Get My Dog Spayed?

Apart from the prevention of the dog having puppies, getting your dog spayed has several other advantages. Notably these include a decreased risk of developing certain types of cancer and the fact that there will be no bloody discharge that would usually occur when the dog is in heat.

What Is The Average Canine Spay Recovery Time?

It’s difficult to say exactly what the normal canine spay recovery time is but in most cases the younger the dog is the less recovery time required.

If your dog is a young puppy then it could be as little as a day before the dog is back to its normal self. It may take a few days longer for it to become 100% normal, but often it doesn’t take long. Older dogs usually take a bit longer but again can be fine within a few days. You should ask your vet about your dog specifically as he or she will be able to provide you with more accurate information.

You should try to ensure that your dog doesn’t run around too energetically for at least a week or two after the surgery.

This article is meant as a short general guide to Canine Osteosarcoma, but you should always contact your vet for more detailed information. This is not meant as medical advice and it should not be taken as such. Only a registered veterinarian can provide that.

Canine Osteosarcoma is usually diagnosed through excessive pain attributed to a meek accident. What this means is that often the disease is misdiagnosed as a muscle injury, when in fact it is more serious. If you have any doubts about your dogs health you should always visit a registered vet immediately who’ll be able to give you a professional diagnosis.

Usually Canine Osteosarcoma treatment involves surgery on the tumour which is then followed up with chemotherapy. In the majority of cases the vet won’t try to cure the disease would be extremely difficult, but instead tries to fight the disease to reduce the amount of pain the dog is in and increase quality of life. If the disease is caught before the cancer can spread around the dogs body then Canine Osteosarcoma treatment is often more effective but your vet will be able to advise you on the situation for your individual dogs case.

The most common form of surgery for Canine Osteosarcoma is to amputate the limb containing the cancer which can increase life span by around 6 months at most. Chemotherapy can increase the life span further, but may or may not be suitable for your dog.

Above all you should take into account whether the dog will realistically have a high quality of life if it is treated. Dogs usually respond well to amputation and can often adapt quickly and effectively. However your vet will be able to advise you whether the pain the dog is in will be able to be reduced to an acceptable level.

Symptoms Of Heart Worms

If your dog has heart worms, here are some of the symptoms to look out for. It is important to remember that while the disease can be extremely dangerous the initial symptoms are usually quite difficult to spot.

• A cough. This starts to occur when there is a mild infection of heart worm.
• If the dog starts to have strange or unusual noises from its lungs then this may be a sign of heartworm. You should always contact a vet if this happens.
• Unwilling or unable to perform exercise
• Difficulty breathing

If your dog has any of these signs you should contact your local vet immediately as heart worm can develop into a serious and even deadly condition if left untreated. Heartworm medicine for dogs may be needed, but your vet will be able to advise you.

Treatment of Canine Heart Worms

In the majority of cases heart worms can be successfully treated in dogs. However it is vital to get a proper medical examination by a trained vet.

Treatment centres around killing the adult worms in the dogs body while at the same time minimising damage to the animal. The earlier the symptoms of heart worms are spotted the easier this is.

Natural cures for canine heart worms should only be used if advised by a registered vet. They often do not contain the ability to kill the worms whilst keeping your dog as healthy as possible, and so you should be careful which ones you use. If left untreated, heart worms can kill a dog, so if at all possible you should always visit your vet as soon as you see any signs of deteriorating health.

I’ve heard blueberries are poisonous to dogs, is this true? What other foods shouldn’t a dog eat?

Chris

This is a surprisingly common question, as many different foods can be dangerous for dogs even if we don’t expect them to be. Things like chocolate and tea for example can be extremely poisonous for a dog to eat, even in small amounts, so you should always be careful.

But are blueberries safe for dogs? The short answer is yes, in moderation. A few blueberries eaten on a walk isn’t going to harm your dog, but if he eats too many you might find he gets diarrhoea. Like most things, blueberries are good in moderation but should not form a large part of your dogs diet.

So in short, as a treat blueberries are safe for dogs. Just don’t give them too many.

There are other foods that aren’t safe for your dog, and you should be careful not to leave these lying around the house.

Some of the more dangerous foods for dog include:

• Alcohol
• Onions and Garlic
• Chocolate
• Salt in large quantities

To provide your dog with the best possible diet you should try to make sure it has a balanced diet. This can include treats, but on the whole should be made up of a high quality dog food. Cheaper dog foods usually contain much more filler than meat and hence aren’t that great for your dogs health.

There’s been quite an uproar about dog food recently actually, with one site claiming that most store bought dog food is actually damaging to dogs health. I like to make home-made dog food whenever possible, and you can find out more about how to do this at here.