petcarefun.info

December 31st, 2008 by PetGuru

If your female dog leaks urine, it’s important for you deal with this problem.Female dog incontinence won’t go away on its own; it can lead to other problems for your dog and you.

Signs And Symptoms Of Female Dog Incontinence

The most noticeable sign of this problem is a wet spot or urine puddle where your dog has been sleeping.  You’ll see it when she gets up.The realization finally hits you that she’s not able to control the urine leaks.

Your dog’s bottom may also be red and raw due to urine scald.  Urine is caustic and irritates the skin if it’s in contact with it for too long.  You may also notice that she’s licking her bottom more often, in an effort to keep the area clean.  This can lead to further irritation.  All in all, it’s an uncomfortable situation for your canine friend.

Another sign of incontinence in female dogs is frequent bladder infections.  Bladder infections in dogs are more common in female dogs anyway, because the urethra in females is shorter and broader, which makes it easier for disease-causing bacteria to get into the urinary tract.  A pet with female dog incontinence may also have a relaxed urinary sphincter, which makes it even easier for pathogens to enter.

How Can I Help My Incontinent Female Dog?

Your vet can offer several treatments.  The first thing to do is to treat the bladder infection, if one exists. 

Many times incontinence in female dogs is hormone related.  Estrogen is very important for keeping the bladder muscles tight in female dogs.  When a dog is spayed, her ovaries and uterus are removed, so her body no longer produces estrogen.This is the answer to the question why this condition is so common in spayed female dogs between three and five years old.  Vets will often treat hormone-related incontinence with DES, or diethylstilbestrol.

Incontinence in female dogs is also treated with phenylpropanolamine (PPA).  This used to be an ingredient in diet pills until it was banned by the FDA for human use.This can still be used for treating animals.  Your dog may lose her appetite, and become irritable.  Another side effect is changes in blood pressure.

These drugs must be administered to your dog for the rest of her life.

Can Herbal Pet Remedies Help?

Many people are using herbal remedies for various ailments.  These natural remedies have stood the test of time and are still being used in many places in the world.  The question many pet owners have is, can these herbal remedies be used on their pets?

The answer is yes.  Herbal pet remedies are safe and effective, as well as being inexpensive and readily available. It’s important, though to buy these remedies from a reputable company that specializes in producing formulations that are safe for use on pets.  Buy only from a company that stands behind its products and offers a money-back guarantee.

Here’s some food for thought. As people are being more careful about their own medications, it’s only normal that they’re more careful about what their pets are taking. 

Darlene Norris has combined her long-time interest in natural healing with her experience working at a vet clinic to bring you her new website, Natural Pet Urinary Health.  Discover how herbal and homeopathic remedies can help your incontinent dog, and find the best place to buy them at http://naturalpeturinaryhealth.com

December 31st, 2008 by PetGuru

Many dog owners don’t know what to do when incontinence in female dogs becomes an issue.  This problems affects many pets, but their owners either ignore it or are too embarrassed about it to take their dogs to the vet.Female dog incontinence, and its causes and treatments, witll be discussed in this article.

Your Dog Leaks Urine

You’ll probably notice that your female dog is leaking urine, especially when she’s sleeping or she’s very relaxed.In fact, this usually occurs at night.  Owners will notice that when the dog gets up, she leaves a puddle or wet spot on the carpet.

The urine leaking is a nuisance for you, but it’s more annoying for your dog.  Urine is caustic and causes severe skin irritation if it’s in contact with the skin for any length of time.Your incontinent female dog will lick herself constantly, in an effort to keep herself clean.  She may even lick until the area is raw.  Leaked urine burns the area even more, so you can see it becomes a vicious cycle for your dog.

Incontinence in female dogs can also lead to more bladder infections, due to the urinary sphincter being too relaxed.  This makes it possible for bacteria to enter her urethra and cause urinary tract infections.

Is Your Dog At Risk For Female Dog Incontinence?

This problem is common in spayed females, especially the larger breeds, although it can occur in just about any breed.  The problem usually shows up when you dog is between three and five years old. 

Your dog has a muscular valve at the base of her bladder that keeps urine from dripping out.  In female dogs, estrogen helps the muscles of the bladder to stay strong.  You can see that if the hormonal balance in your dog’s body changes, she may not be able to hold her urine.

When a dog is spayed, her uterus and ovaries are removed.  This means that her body is no longer making estrogen, which can lead to a dog that leaks urine.

Treatment For Incontinence In Female Dogs

Vets usually treat this problem with DES, or diethylstilbestrol.This is a hormone replacement for estrogen.The dosage is given daily to begin, but it’s gradually reduced over time to weekly. 

Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) is also used to treat female dogs that are leaking urine.  This drug is not a hormone, but it was an ingredient in diet pills until it was banned for human use by the FDA.  It’s still approved for veterinary use, though.  Side effects can include irritability, appetite suppression, and changes in blood pressure.

Your dog will need to be on one or both or these drugs for the rest of her life.

Natural Treatment For Dogs With Urinary Incompetence

Herbal pet remedies are becoming a topic of interest for many pet owners.  Humans have been using herbal treatments for various conditions for centuries, and in many parts of the world, they still do.  It’s to be expected that pet owners would wonder whether these herbal pet remedies would work as well for their pets. 

The answer is that they do.You’ll be pleased to know that herbal and homeopathic remedies for pets are safe and effective, plus there are no side effects.They’re also readily availalble, as well as being inexpensive. 

You do need to buy your natural pet remedies from a reputable company that stands behind its products and is committed to providing formulations that are safe for your pet. 

Don’t be embarrassed about your incontinent female dog any longer.  Do yourself and your dog a favor and discover how a natural treatment for dogs with urinary incompetence is both effective and safe.

Darlene Norris has combined her long-time interest in natural healing with her experience working at a vet clinic to bring you her new website, Natural Pet Urinary Health.  Discover how herbal and homeopathic remedies can help your incontinent dog, and find the best place to buy them at http://naturalpeturinaryhealth.com

December 31st, 2008 by PetGuru

Is your dog showing signs of urinary incontinence?You may be unhappy to find urine puddles in different places around your home.You’re shocked to notice that not only is your old friend dribbling urine, but he can’t seem to control it either.  You know when he’s around because you can smell him. 

Many dog owners don’t realize that urinary incontinence in dogs is usually not difficult to treat.  If your dog is showing signs of this problem, you need to take him to the vet for a check-up. 

What Are The Causes of Urinary Incontinence In Dogs?

• Bladder infections
• Drinking too much water
• Weak bladder sphincter

Bladder Infections In Dogs

Female dogs are much more likely to develop bladder infections than males.  This is because the urethra is shorter and broader in females, which allows bacteria easier access to the urinary tract.

Your vet may want to do a urine culture to determine exactly what is causing the infection.  Most bladder infections in dogs are caused by E. coli or staph, although some may be cause by a fungal infection.The test results will help your vet determine which antibiotic is needed to treat your dog.

If your dog is incontinent due to a bladder infection, you’ll see rapid improvement in the situation as the infection goes away.  However, you need to be sure to give your dog the full antibiotic course to keep the infection from coming back.

Drinking Too Much Water

This may sound a bit silly, but drinking too much water can definitely cause your dog to have trouble controlling his bladder.  He just can’t hold it long enough to get outside.

Why would a dog drink too much water?  There can be several reasons:

• Diabetes
• Cushing’s Syndrome
• Kidney failure

If you notice that your dog is drinking excessive amounts of water, it’s important to take your dog for a vet check-up to check for these conditions.

Weak Bladder Sphincter

This sometimes happens as your dog gets older.  The muscles in the sphincter don’t tighten and close as well as they did when your dog was younger, which leads to urine dribbling.  If your dog is overweight, this can compound the problem. 

Your vet may treat this condition with hormone therapy.  Male dogs are given testosterone, while females receive estrogen.  Another treatment is a drug that stimulates the nerves in the sphincter muscles.These two treatments can be combined, if needed.

Do Natural Remedies For Incontinence In Dogs Work?

Conventional medicine focuses on the symptoms, but not on the underlying causes.  Holistic medicine, on the other hand, starts with the idea that your pet naturally maintains a balance in his body that protects him from disease, as well as helping him to heal himself.  If this balance is upset, your dog gets sick. 

Holistic medicine looks at your dog as a whole, not as a urinary tract, or a digestive system, or a nervous system.  Natural remedies work by stimulating your pet’s immune system so he’s able to fight off infections better.Instead of just treating the symptoms, herbal and homeopathic remedies work to heal the underlying cause of the problem.

You may want to consider this.  People are becoming more careful about the drugs they take, and it’s to be expected that they’ll take extra care with their pets, too.  Herbal and homeopathic remedies for urinary incontinence in dogs are safe and effective, with no risk of side effects.  They’re also inexpensive and readily available.

Now that you know this, you’ll want to learn more about how natural remedies for incontinence in dogs can solve your dog’s bladder problems.

Darlene Norris has combined her long-time interest in natural healing with her experience working at a vet clinic to bring you her new website, Natural Pet Urinary Health.  Discover how herbal and homeopathic remedies can help your incontinent dog at http://naturalpeturinaryhealth.com

December 31st, 2008 by PetGuru

Let me tell you a story about old dog incontinence.  Jane Smith’s beloved old pet has suddenly started dribbling urine.There are urine puddles everywhere her dog has been in the house..  The fur on her dog’s bottom is wet from the constant dribbling, and the odor is overwhelming.  She fears the worst, thinking that there is no cure for urinary incontinence in dogs.She’s concerned that her beloved friend is beyond help.

Why Is My Older Dog Incontinent?

There are many causes for this condition.Old dog incontinence is usually caused by either a bladder infection or a weak bladder sphincter.

Bladder infections in dogs are a leading cause of old dog incontinence, especially in females.  Your vet may want to do a urine culture to make sure it’s an infection and determine what’s causing it.  Most urinary tract infections in dogs are cause by E. coli or staph, although sometimes they can be caused by a yeast infection. 

A weak bladder sphincter is common in large female dogs that have been spayed and in older male dogs.  The muscles in the sphincter relax, either due to hormone imbalance or advancing age. 

How Does Your Vet Treat Urinary Incontinence In Dogs?

Bladder infections in dogs are normally treated with antibiotics.Be sure to finish all the medication even if your dog is no longer showing symptoms after a couple of days.  If your dog was incontinent due to a bladder infection, the problem should go away quickly.

A weak bladder sphincter may be treated with hormone therapy.  Females receive DES (diethylstilbestrol), while males are treated with testosterone.  Your vet may want to try a drug that acts on the nerves in the muscles of the sphincter to help it close better.  This drug can be used in combination with hormone therapy too.

Natural Remedies For Incontinent Dogs

The treatments your vet has are very effective, but side effects are always a possibility.  Antibiotics kill beneficial bacteria along with the harmful ones.  What this means is that your dog could develop another bladder infection as soon as the antibiotics are finished. 

Hormone treatments are ongoing and can be expensive, while the medication used for the sphincter nerves can cause irritability, appetite suppression, and blood pressure changes.

Prescription drugs treat the symptoms, but don’t address the causes of the problem.   

What Happened To Jane’s Dog?

Jane took her dog to the vet for a check-up and found that a weak bladder sphincter was causing the problem.  Jane started out giving her dog hormone treatments, along with the prescription medication mentioned above.  However, the therapy was expensive, and she was very worried about side effects on her old friend.

Jane started researching herbal and homeopathic remedies for bladder problems in dogs.  She learned that herbal and homeopathic remedies for urinary problems work just as well on pets as they do on people.  Jane decided to try a natural remedy, and found that it was safe and effective, with no worries about side effects. 

Are you struggling with the problem of an incontinent dog?  What’s stopping you from trying a natural remedy for your dog with bladder problems?

Darlene Norris has combined her long-time interest in natural healing with her experience working at a vet clinic to bring you her new website, Natural Pet Urinary Health.  Discover how herbal and homeopathic remedies can help your incontinent dog at http://naturalpeturinaryhealth.com

December 31st, 2008 by PetGuru

Why should you feed your dog using dog food recipes? A lot of people are clueless about what is used in commercially prepared dog food. However your dog’s health is terribly affected by it. Your pet’s health definitely must suffer if you mostly feed your pet many of the commercially prepared dog food brands. Pets provided commercial dog food come down with more chronic diseases, like high blood pressure. In addition such dogs will not live as long as dogs fed homemade dog food. The result is, their later years are lived in discomfort.

A lot of food for dogs is completely processed. Think of it this way, the more processed pet food is, the more it is removed from its original state. The more food is distanced from its original state, the worse it will be on our body when ingested.

However that’s not all. Not only is commercially prepared pet food very processed, the ingredients in it is mostly from a processing plant that processes food for humans. What is used in pet food is what has been determined unfit for us to eat.

These totally processed animal parts that are determined dangerous for us to eat have a serious harmful effect on the well-being of your dogs. It is believed that this pet food every day is the major cause of all chronic diseases in dogs, such as high blood pressure and others.

So what can we do for our pets? A good thing we can do is use homemade dog food recipes to make meals for our pet at home. This may be a little more expensive and somewhat more time consuming. However, your dogs will be a hundred times more healthy. Our pets won’t go to the vets as much. Also, our dogs will have a less painful life in their later years without suffering from degenerative disease.

Making homemade dog food is easy. You just need some decent homemade dog food recipes to guide you. Learn some homemade dog food recipes and start preparing nutritious dinners for your dog immediately.

December 31st, 2008 by PetGuru

The Chihuahua is a very popular breed of dog, one that you can feel safe buying even if you have a household of young children. This is mainly due to the small stature of the Chihuahua puppy, and if you are really interested in going to buy Chihuahua puppy, of course the next question that you probably have is where you can go to buy one.

Whether you want to buy Labrador puppy or buy Chihuahua puppy, there are a few pet stores in particular that you are going to want to consider.

Puppy Find

The Puppy Find Company is one that you can always rely on when you want to buy Chihuahua puppy. All you have to do is go onto their website, type in the breed of dog that you are interested in buying, which is this case would be a Chihuahua, and then you will see that not only do they offer listings of the different dogs of this breed that are available, but also information on the breed of dog so that you can better understand them.

They want to make sure that everyone who goes through them to find a puppy is completely satisfied and so they will work with you every step of the way to help you out with whatever you need. They are always updating their selection as new dogs become available each and every day.

They have a great search engine offering, so no matter what specific qualities you are looking for in a puppy, such as age, gender, and so on, you can find just the puppy you are looking for.

This is certainly not the only pet store of its kind, but certainly one of the best and one of the first that you are going to want to check out for yourself.

Also remember that other than going to these types of pet stores to buy Chihuahua puppy, you can always check out the local pounds and shelters in your area. This is where dogs go that were lost or that people simply did not want anymore. You can find a great Chihuahua puppy here, if it doesn’t bother you that they may not be purebred.

By getting a dog from one of these places, you are not only getting a furry friend for yourself but as well you are doing good because you are giving a dog a home.

Just make sure when you go to buy Chihuahua puppy that you take the time to ensure that you are getting a healthy, happy dog.

For more about puppies please visit www.puppycareblog.com

December 31st, 2008 by PetGuru

The Australian Shepherd dog can be a great companion to have a round. One should be used to an active lifestyle to appreciate this kind of breed. These animals are full of zest and very athletic and therefore can be a handful if one is not properly armed with a good dose of knowledge on how to train the Australian Shepherd. Read on to find out the basic information about this special breed.

Quick Facts

The Australian Shepherd or Aussie as it is commonly called from the US was used to herding in ranches. Robustly built medium sized country dog, has triangular shaped ears that is slightly rounded at the tip. {Aussie has a distinctive short bobtail}. Aussie has deep robust chest and stands evenly on all fours. Masculinity and femininity is evident in Australian Shepherds.

Height: Dogs 20-23 inches (52-58cm.) Bitches 18-21 inches (46-53cm)

Weight: Dogs 50-65 pounds (25-29 kg) Bitches 40-55 pounds (18-25 kg.)

Personality

Aussies are intelligent animals, hardworking and has an innate herding and guarding instincts. They can be easily trained and love performing tasks. You will not likely find them in one corner just sitting around for a long time. Aggressive and attentive, they can be a good guard dog. The animated quality of this animal makes them popular to kids. Though friendly and affectionate with their human family they are usually cautious around strangers. Typical Aussies would be happy with constant activities going on around them. Make sure to schedule plenty of walks, play and training to keep both their mind and body in tip top shape.

Training

The great qualities that make these animals so endearing can also be damaging if they are not properly trained since this could result to undesirable behavior like nipping, chewing and digging. Obedience training for Australian Shepherds is highly recommended since they are quick learners and this will make them realize what are expected of them early on. One way of developing their social skills is to expose them to a variety of people and other animals for them to learn how to discern between a friend and a foe. Very loyal and affectionate with their masters, they suffer from separation anxieties so it is not advisable to leave them alone for a long period of time. Poorly socialized Aussied could become aggressive without proper training.

{Aussies can live up tp 12 years and more}. Typical active Aussies may eat more than other dogs their size so be sure to give them hefty amount of quality food to keep up with their lifestyle. it is important for an owner to have time for this dog and be committed to nurture this special breed. With proper care and training of Australian Shepherds, a life with them will be enjoyable and rewarding.

December 31st, 2008 by KittyKitty

Parasites – The blight of ticks

Ticks can be considered by many as the worst external parasite which can be found on your dog. These bloodsucking parasites bury their head under the dog’s skin and lives from his blood while in return exposes your pet to dangerous diseases and viruses. These ticks can carry diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever as well as Ehrlichiosis.

A tick’s life

In general, the average tick which makes its way to your dog falls under a 3-host category. In basic form, this means that the larvae, the nymphs as well as the full grown adults live their life attached to your dog; all the while they feed from your dog’s blood. Once bitten, the tick causes the dog’s skin to become irritated and while this occurs with just a single tick, imagine an entire family calling your pet their new home.

Throughout their life, the tick starts off as a larvae and has six legs. As a larvae, the tick will feed from the dog’s blood for about 3 days before letting go of the dog. Once it lets go, the tick turns into a nymph and has eight legs. As a nymph, it can now lay eggs and will feed for another 7 to 10days before molting into a full-grown adult tick.

With eggs attached, if the tick turns into a female, it will then fertilize the eggs while at the same time consume vast amounts of your dog’s blood which allows it to grow in size rather quickly. These female ticks are usually easy to spot at this stage but hopefully you have spotted them and removed them long before they reach the adult stage. You will probably want to pick up a adjustable dog feeder or a double dog diner to keep your dogs food off the nasty floor.

Tick Removal

It is important that you remove the tick as soon as possible because they will burrow themselves in deeper under the skin. The deeper they burrow themselves the harder t will be to remove them. When it comes to removing the tick though, do not try pulling it off or scraping it off with your finger because their head is burrowed under your dog’s skin. Using a pair of fine tweezers, grab a hold of the base of the tick’s head to remove them. Sometimes this is not easy depending on how deeply the tick has burrowed under the skin. Their are many different dog supplies that can help with your dog parasite problems.

It is important to make sure that all of the tick’s head is removed because any part that is left will also leave the dog’s skin irritated. Just remember that the sooner the better when it comes to the removal of ticks. Do not try to burn them off because you may catch your pet’s fur on fire and do not use alcohol, just use a simple pair of fine tweezers.

December 31st, 2008 by PetGuru

Proper selection of feeders bird baths will transform your garden in to a hub of cheerful activity. All the chirping of the wild birds around the wild bird feeders and bird baths will be music to ears. Birding will be a rewarding hobby for you if you pay attention to the needs of the birds and their security. There are so many models available in the market that you may compromise security and the needs of the birds for beauty and design. Ideally, the bird baths and feeders should be a combination of both looks and utility.

The bird bath is an artificial puddle of water created for the birds to have bath and drink water. A shallow basin is put on a pedestal and a depth of two inches is sufficient for the wild birds, as they do not submerge their entire body in the water. They just dip their wings and splash water all over the body. You can heat up the water in bird bath with solar bird baths. The wild and migratory birds can get warm water to bathe in during the winter from your backyard. You can even add a suet bird feeder during the winter months.

The hobby of birding comes with certain responsibilities. Ensuring a hygienic environment for the wild birds is one of them. When you want to enjoy the company of the colorful winged guests, you also need to be prepared to take care of the cleanliness of the feeders bird baths. If left unclean, the bird bath and the bird feeder can be a breeding ground of killer viruses and bacteria. Regular scrubbing of the bird baths and bird feeders and treating the water with special tablets will ensure that the birds feed and bath in a healthy environment.

Cats and birds of prey would love a meal of birds if the can manage to get one or two from your feeders bird baths. To prevent this eventuality, the feeder and bird bath should be placed near a big tree or a bush. That would ensure that the wild birds can fly to safety when there is an attack from birds of prey or cats. A safe environment will ensure that they drop in to your garden every time they fly over. You will be pleased to have different types of birds at different times of the year, every year.

December 31st, 2008 by PetGuru

Getting the attention of birds of varied species is actually a fun and a relaxing way to spend time with your whole family right in your own backyard. Everything basically starts by providing the right bird feeding environment. And the only way to do that is by having plenty of wild bird food in an appropriate feeder. Choosing the right bird feeder for your yard starts by understanding the species that are indigenous to your area, as well as those that you wish to attract. So how do you choose the most ideal bird feeder?

The first thing to do is to learn more about the varied types of feeders. In general, the various species of birds can use any one of the four varieties of feeders, which are the hopper bird feeders, tube feeders, tray feeders, and the suet bird feeders. The most common of them are the hopper feeders and typically they look like a gazebo or a barn. On the other hand, a tube feeder is cylindrical in shape and is designed with a number of perches, with tiny holes in the tube for feeding. Tray feeders, also called platform feeders or ground feeders, can provide you with an unobstructed view of birds since you can place these feeders close to the ground. These types of feeders generally have an open design. Suet feeders are made from wires and hold suet cakes. Aside from these four common types, there is also the Hummingbird feeder, which will attract this incredibly unique bird for your viewing pleasure.

Once you understand the four major bird feeders, the next step is to find out the types of birds you wish to attract. In bird viewing, you can quite possibly attract many birds of different varieties, yet some of them may need different types of birdseed. However, hopper feeders can work well with almost all types of bird seed. If you wish to attract smaller and more interesting bird types, then tube feeders are the answer. These are generally ideal for watching Nuthatches or Chickadees. On the other hand, larger bird species are great viewed when feeding on platform or ground feeders. Aside from providing bird seeds, find time also to observe your yard for any predators. To avoid squirrels, you can opt for the suet or tube feeders since these are excellent squirrel proof bird feeder options. But then again, any type of feeder is suitable as long as you place them in spots and areas where squirrels do not have easy access.

Birds of various species will eat almost any types of seed, in general, yet if you can, provide them with seeds of top quality. Also, keep the feeders clean and full to the top. Migratory birds will visit as they fly from north to south and back again, and your family will be richer for the experience.