How To Quickly Stop Excessive Dog Barking

Dogs are great for companionship and to guarding and protecting properties but it becomes a big problem when they bark too much and too frequently.

 It can cause lots of problems for pet owners. Neighbors get irritated, postman get scared away, leads to neighborhood unrest and, occasionally, even lawsuits

Dog barks. Period. There's nothing you can do about it. The key is in the excessive barking and finding the causes and solution to stop that excessive barking.

Read More

What do I do to get my pet to eat again?

When a dog won’t eat, it is referred to as anorexia, which simply means a complete loss of appetite.This can indicate illness. They can include a sore tooth, an abscess or even cancer. It is important to seek veterinary care if you notice changes in your dog’s eating habits.

Your pets may suddenly eat much less than usual or it can be that they completely stops eating. If this persists, then they will become lethargic and weak. You should not wait until this happens.

There are many possible causes. What's important here is to get your dog eating again before a 24 hour period of anorexia to avoid further complications. This is especially important for cats, if unattended to, will develop a condition known as ‘Fatty Liver’ if they go on for 48 hours or more without eating.

For dogs, even though they can go a couple of days without food without significant repercussions, it is best to address the problem as early as possible. Here are some specific suggestions for you to consider:

SEE YOUR VETERINARIAN

If your pet is very lethargic, not eating or drinking and becoming dehydrated, then them to your veterinarian immediately. Your veterinarian will perform all the necessary diagnostic tests and if necessary, this may lead to force feeding of your pet or placing in some type of feeding tube.

TRY WARMING UP THE FOOD AND ADD FLAVOR

Dogs and sick cats often have a poorer sense of smell. Some owners reported of getting their pets to eat by warming up the canned food, then making it a little more tasty by adding garlic powder, beef or chicken cubes.

CATNIP

An appetite stimulant. In this case, you are just trying to get your dog or cat to start eating, regardless of the underlying cause. For cats, some owners have had luck using a the catnip herb by giving it as a tincture to anorexic cats and had them eating soon.

CHAMOMILE OR PEPPERMINT

These are anti-vomiting herbs which can be given as a tea. At the very least this can help re-hydrate your dog or cat. Make a herbal tea of either herb and give 1 tablespoon per 10 lbs  every 4-6 hours.

ALFALFA

For general anorexia not linked to any underlying cause, look at homeopathic alfalfa – you can give one 30C tab per 20 lbs 4 times daily.

Be patient with your pets and watch them closely for signs of illness. Work with your veterinarian if you are concerned about their health. Time, self-discipline and consistency will do well to get them to eat again.

 

Heal Your Pet At Home! 

TheVeterinary Secrets Revealed Home StudyCourse.

The MOST complete and thorough Home Study Course for natural veterinary Care.

• Veterinary authored
• Guided Step by Step instructions
• Carefully selected remedies that are Safe and Effective
• And it can very much help your dog or cat.
• It works !!

 

 

 

 

Read More

Is a Natural Treatment for Kennel Cough Right for Your Pet?

When your pet is suffering from what is known as "Kennel Cough", finding a quick and effective treatment for it will become a priority, otherwise your family won't rest in peace. That's because the affliction can be quite bothersome. There has been much discussion on what exactly caused Kennel Cough. Some believe it is from a virus, others believe it is caused by a bacteria known as Biordatella Bronchiseptica

This disease primarily affects the trachea of the dog, the minor irritation caused in the trachea leads to the loud, hacking cough by the poor dog, which is the main symptom for kennel cough diagnosis. This can be can sound very worrisome at times, but there is no need to be overly concerned though. However, the only sure way to have peace in your home is by making sure that your dog receive a treatment

There are a few basics that pet owners should know about this ailment. First, kennel cough is contagious and can easily be spread among pets in close proximity with the sick dog. Second, this disease affects dogs of all ages. Breed does not play a factor but a pet with a weaker immune system is exposed to the higher risk of contracting kennel cough.

Most pet owners will turn to home remedies when treating kennel cough. There is some controversy whether these remedies are effective or not. But for those who believe they are not, it would be beneficial to do a research on what type of home treatment will work best for your pet.  You'll find that you can apply these homeopathic remedies yourself, while ensuring your dog’s overall long-term health.

Please note that even when you're successful in using home-based treatments for kennel cough, it is still necessary to use an antibiotic for your pets. This is because if kennel cough has gone untreated for a long period, the infection in your pet may need to be addressed by some sort of anti-inflammatory medication or treatment to relieve the pain or symptoms your dog as experiencing until the infection is cleared. Also consider seeking additional immunity boosters for your pets.

Another important thing to remember is that when using homeopathic remedies, you’ll want to ensure that they do not negatively affect any additional medications your pet may be on. Some says that treatments for kennel cough offered by vets or other health organizations actually worsen the symptoms and increase the severity of your pet’s illness. This is not true because if your pet is already on different medications and has a low immune system, some of the treatments may leave a negative effect on the long term health of your pet. It is, therefore, advisable that you consult your vet before proceeding with alternative treatment and stick to one type of treatment for a period.

One final note to remember in choosing different treatments for kennel cough: If you're using the traditional kennel cough tablets as a home remedy, you may want to seek out an alternative treatment. These tablets are made of chemicals that could actually harm your pet, rather than help them. It’s would be wiser to stick to chemical-free or other natural herbs as alternatives

For the long-term and overall health of your pets, it is advisable to consider different medications, foods and treatments you offer your dog on a regular basis.

Treat Your Pets At Home:  The Veterinary Secrets

DISCLAIMER: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your own veterinarian.

Read More

How To Recognize and Treat Chronic Anal Gland Problems In Dogs

Have you ever seen dogs sniffing each other's bum? Well, I've seen it a couple of times and always thought it's kind of amusing until one day a veterinarian friend of mine explained that dogs do this as a way  greeting each other.

See, dogs have this anal glands and they express liquid in minute amount from it and apparently, it's a kind of calling card to get to know each other and hence, the typical friendly bum sniffing we see. It's the canine equivalent of a hand shake or formal introduction.

Cool !!

And these anal glands mind you, some pets have HUGE problems with it, while others have none. Most of you dog lovers know what they are, but here is a picture to help see better:

ANAL GLANDS

Anal glands are simply parts of your pet’s anatomy that lie just under the anus at 4 and 8 o’clock. The glands are designed to excrete a smelly fluid when your pet defecates. They give a particular scent to the stool. The glands can become blocked if your pet is not defecating regularly or there is only a small stool volume. The problem is most common in small dogs.

When a dog is not producing hard enough stools, the anal glands can become irritated and infected, and become engorged with fluid and bacteria. It doesn't have enough pressure to expel on its own

and this leads to infection and irritation on your poor doggie's bum.

SIGNS

Your pet will scoot across the floor or your new rugs rubbing its rear-end, excessive licking, chewing, or biting underneath the tail. It looks like it has a hard time to defecate, a sudden foul odor and frequently turning to look at the bum. The area around the anus can be seen swelling.

CAUSES

Traditionally, owners have attributed this to "worms". But many vet disagree. In most cases, the problem is caused by feeding the dog overly rich foods and table scraps.

Some cases are due to the pet being overweight or just genetically predisposed to the problem (toy poodles and miniature schnauzers fall into this group)

A few cases are due to intestinal parasites (hookworms or whipworms) which cause chronically loose stools which could not express out the anal sac contents normally.

Some practitioners believe that allergies play a large role. They lead to chronic inflammation and filled glands. The inflammation from allergies causes the gland ducts to enlarge and close over. Hence the glands FILL up and your pet has a problem.

SOLUTIONS

Treatment options will depend on how serious is the problem at the time of examination. If it seems serious or overwhelming for you, do consult your vet. But if you think you can handle it yourself, then by all means. It's not exactly fun, but it can help ease the problem.

• Put on a face mask and latex exam gloves.
• Place your pet in the bathtub and apply lukewarm water to clean his bottom.
• Lift your pet’s tail. The glands lie at 4 and 8 o’clock.
• Squeeze your thumb and forefinger together on the right side of the anus (4 o’clock) and the left side (8 o’clock). Apply moderate pressure. This will relieve the pressure and pain.
• If nothing comes out, adjust your angle and repeat. A brownish foul-smelling fluid should come out.
• When you're done, infuse the anal glands with antibiotic ointment.

Note: If this is very painful for your pet, take him to your veterinarian.

For post-treatment, you may use antihistamines- both natural and conventional. Benadryl can also be used for big flare ups of your pet's skin, dosing him at .5mg per lb ( I give 50lb Jessie 25mg of Benadryl at night). Do it twice a day if needed.

Vitamin C which also has some antihistamine qualities is also suggested. The Vitamin C dose is 100mg per 10lbs twice daily.

Essential Fatty Acid supplements. IF your dog has allergies, he needs to be on these. Use supplement which contains EFA’s. The omega 3 dose suggested is 1000 mg per 10lbs daily. This is equivalent to giving 1 tablespoon of flax per 50lbs daily to your dog.

Probiotics are increasingly being used for dogs. These beneficial bacteria play a role in normalizing the overactive immune system. You won’t see an instant response, but you may see some marked overall improvement after using probiotics for 4 weeks.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

Feed your dog a simple food that he is less likely to react to. A commercial diet of fish and sweet potato work very well, and with this there is less itching and licking. But every dog is different, so you have to try different foods; there is not just ONE right food.

The principle is to think simple, minimal ingredients, avoid artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. Try the new diet for 4 weeks.

Neutraceuticals* (simply means natural foods) are important in providing balanced diet and beneficial for maintaining the health of your pets long-term. It has a physiological benefits, provide protection against chronic disease and may assist your pets to live longer life.

(Neutraceuticals are products that ranges from Essential Fatty Acids, Probiotics, and even Colostrum. And also from isolated nutrients, specific diets, cereals, soups, and beverages)

Find out more about home treatment for pets here:

The Veterinary Secrets: Treat Your Pets At home

Read More