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Dog Health Topics
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Many of us grew up hearing that cold wet noses are a sign of health in dogs, and indeed they are. Even healthy dogs have warm, dry noses on occasion, and very sick dogs may have cold, wet ones. This simply means that a single measure of health is not accurate all the time.Searching for dog health information? Try these sites for in depth articles.
- Dog Logic has extensive health topics
- Healthy Pet is an informative site hosted by the American Animal Hospital Association
- Vet Info has a more technical health approach
The full text of many articles in this section is available in PDF format, which is quick to download. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the articles. It is available for free. |
Alternative Medicine
Alternative medicine offers excellent options for the treatment of canine athletes, for chronic conditions, or for geriatric care. Dogs have shown excellent responses to chiropractic manipulation, as well as acupuncture and herbal medicine.
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Complimentary Medicine for Pets
Basic care |
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Microchip - permanent identification to bring lost pets home
Microchip identification involves injecting a small, polymer-coated device under the skin or in the muscle of animals. It is about one centimeter long, and the diameter of a pencil lead. The chip can be scanned to detect a nine-digit number that identifies the pet. Once the number is read, a phone call provides the information needed to contact the owner and return a lost pet.
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Vaccinations
Vaccinations are the single most important step you can take to protect your dog or puppy against life-threatening diseases. A puppy must receive a series of vaccinations in order to achieve protective immunity. This series is necessary due to the pup’s immature immune system. The boosters that come later in the series are very important because they stimulate long-lasting immunity.
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What to do if your dog is lost
- Start looking right away! The sooner you start, the better your chances of finding your pet.
- Check with neighbors. Always look for cats in garages.
- Call shelters near you if your pet is missing more than 24 hours. Be sure to file a missing pet report.
- Post ‘lost pet’ flyers in your neighborhood. Describe characteristics of our pet and use pictures.
- Advertise in local papers.
- Watch for found ads in papers and on neighborhood bulletin boards.
- Visit shelters near you at least every three days or you could miss your pet!
- Don’t give up—it may take months.
- When your pet is found call the shelter and file a found pet report.
- Don’t wait until your pet is lost. Get ID tags, licenses, and microchips now.
Behavior & Training
Even dyed-in-the-wool dog lovers don’t appreciate being jumped on by an unruly dog. In order to coexist in harmony with people, dogs need training to learn the basics. Since dogs were bred to assist with specific tasks, they are usually much happier when given instruction in how they are expected to behave.
Crate Training
Any wild canine will secure a small snugly fitted space to call its own. This space represents security to the dog. In its den it cannot be attacked or bothered, so it is able to relax fully. This instinctive desire for a secure den is the basis for using a crate as a training aid. Once the pet owner has overcome his own prejudice against ‘caging’ a pet and accepts the sound reasoning behind crate training, she and her dog can begin to enjoy the benefits of the marvelous crate.
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House Training Tips
All dogs are naturally clean concerning elimination. In early life, they seek a spot to eliminate that is remote from where they eat and sleep. As pet owners, we are the culprits who force them to violate this practice by placing doors and other barriers between them and the proper toilet area.
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"The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too."
-Samuel Butler
- Learn about leash pulling
- Socializing your puppy
- Solving barking & growling problems
- Ten tips for preventing pet behavior problems
Breeding & Whelping
Expecting puppies? Your dog can get pregnant as early as six months old. It is recommended that you start getting ready for the puppies before they arrive. This article will tell you what to expect and how to make the delivery go smoothly. The gestation period is 58 to 63 days, no longer than 65 days, so you don’t have much time.
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Common Diseases & Conditions
Understanding common diseases and conditions helps you, the dog owner, make decisions about your pup’s health. It is equally important to be familiar with what is normal and healthy for your dog, so that you readily notice when she isn’t feeling well, and you can describe the changes to your veterinarian. The articles presented here are designed to inform you about issues, but not to substitute for veterinary care.
Canine Mammary Tumors
Mammary tumors are the most common tumor of female dogs. They represent 25-50% of all tumors in older sexually intact females. Most affected bitches are over two and a half years old (the age of complete mammary development) and the highest incidence is in dogs over six years old.
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Fleas
Fleas are common biting pests that annoy pets and people, as well as transmitting diseases and parasites such as tapeworm. It is difficult to eliminate fleas from your animals’ environment if they spend time outdoors. With persistence and a regular flea control routine, their pesky presence can be greatly reduced both on your animals and in your home. Your veterinarian can provide you with information, suggestions, and products for controlling fleas on your animal and in your home.
Heartworm
Today more than ever you are hearing about a disease that poses a new and dangerous threat to your dog’s health—heartworm. Heartworms are parasites that live in a dog’s heart and adjacent blood vessels. The adult worms produce young larva (called microfilaria) that circulate from the heart through an infected dog’s blood. We want to address this problem through education so that you can better understand the heartworm threat and make informed decisions.
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Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia usually results from a congenital (birth) defect of the dog’s hip joint, and is found most often in larger breeds. The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. In hip dysplasia the head of the femur is flattened and fits poorly into the hip socket (acetabulum) which also tends to be more shallow in affected dogs. The poor fit causes abnormal motion of the hip, leading to excessive wear and tear on the joint (arthritis).
Learn about Penn HIP, a new method of evaluating dogs’ hips.
Internal Parasites
There are several common parasites in dogs and cats, some of which also infect humans. A clean environment helps control parasite infestation. Fresh water, clean bowls, clean litter boxes and a clean yard are very important in controlling worms, and should be attended to daily. Have your pet’s stool checked for parasites at least once a year.
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Thyroid Testing & Supplement Protocol
Most commonly, dogs with thyroid problems have low levels, not high. When a dog is tested for thyroid level, (there are a variety of tests, always including T4, sometimes including TSH, T3, Free T4, Free T3) and supplementation has been initiated, there should be a retest after four weeks of supplementation to determine if the dosage was appropriate.
At a minimum, T4 levels should be rechecked yearly, and before the prescription will be refilled. All retests should be done six hours after morning dosing. Any patient who has been off supplementation for any reason should be back on for one week before doing a re-check test. Refills will be provided for up to 250 tablets as long as the period for rechecking T4 has not lapsed.
Dentistry
Gum (or periodontal) disease is one of the most common problems seen by veterinarians today. Besides bad breath, gum disease can lead to loss of appetite, weight loss, serious generalized infections, and even heart and kidney disease. The problems begin when plaque and tartar are allowed to build up on a dog’s teeth. Plaque harbors the bacteria, which can lead to infection.
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Euthanasia
There is never a good time to lose a loved one. We hope that our animals will die peacefully in their sleep. In reality, we must sometimes make decisions about ending their lives, decisions we may not feel ready or qualified to make, but must do nevertheless.
Many people want their vet to tell them when it is time to put their animal to sleep. Your veterinarian can assist you by providing information about your animal’s health and prognosis, but ultimately, you must make the decision. It is up to you to decide what time and place will be right for you and your animal.
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Consider a hospice approach to the end of your dog’s life. There are many resources to help in saying goodbye. Read more about loss and euthanasia.
Final care of the body is up to you. Several options are available to choose from. You may leave your dog with the vet for cremation or disposal, bury her at home (if permitted in your area) or in a pet cemetary. Most animal hospitals offer private and communal cremations. After a week or two you will be able to pick up a small urn with your pet’s ashes to keep, scatter, or bury as you wish.
Nutrition
The fundamentals of nutrition are ample clean water and quality food. There are a wide variety of canned and dry kibble products available. The quality varies, and many products have been developed to treat specific conditions. Your veterinarian can help you determine if a special diet would benefit your dog. Many people find that homemade diets (not table scraps) are a healthy and economical alternative to commercially prepared food. Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats by Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM offers many approaches to balanced, homemade diets.
Obesity
A growing number of companion animals in the U.S. are above their ideal weight, or obese. As in humans, we know this creates the risk for other health problems.
How to tell if your dog is overweight: place your thumbs in the middle of its back and let your fingers drop down to feel the ribs. If the ribs are easy to feel under a slight layer of muscle and fat, your dog is probably at the correct weight. If the ribs are difficult to feel with a thick layer of fat in between, your dog may be overweight. If you can not feel the ribs at all because of a thick layer of fat, your dog is probably obese.
It is important to pay attention to signs of weight gain because it can be the first signal of heart, kidney or glandular disease. Your veterinarian can help you make a weight loss plan for your dog. Read about Fat Cats & Pudgey Pooches.
Managing Overweight Pets
The general approach for treating an overweight pet is to lower caloric intake and increase the energy output (exercise). This can be accomplished by feeding a high-fiber, low-fat, low-calorie food and beginning an exercise program with your dog (play time). If your dog is in poor health, be sure to check if exercise is appropriate. Consult with your vet about making dietary changes because overweight pets can become severely ill if their diet is too restricted.
Successful weight loss should be maintained by appropriate feeding and exercise as well as periodic checkups with your veterinarian. Losing weight will not only improve your dog’s appearance and health, but will increase her enjoyment and length of life.
Supplements & Nutraceuticals
More information about Supplements & Nutraceuticals (from the AAHA)
Old age
Pets are a lifetime commitment, and the later years of your dog’s life can be some of the sweetest you will spend with your canine family member. By adjusting your dog’s care to meet its changing needs, your dog can live comfortably with you for years. Managing and caring for certain conditions poses greater challenges, but in many cases is well within the scope of a concerned pet owner.
As with people, you may notice that your dog responds more slowly to stimuli because her sight or hearing is not as clear as it was. Annual visits to the vet will help you monitor your dog’s weight. At home observe water consumption and continue to provide opportunities to be outside and exercise.
"There is no faith which has never yet been broken, except that of a truly faithful dog."
-Konrad Lorenz
- Cognitive dysfunction – Alzheimer’s in Animals
- Pain Management
- Senior Dogs, the section on caring for older dogs includes good health tips and information about conditions and diseases
- Tips for Golden Years
Spaying & Neutering - Compelling Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Dog
Spaying a female dog eliminates the heat cycle. Dogs are usually in heat for about 21 days twice a year. Spaying your female dog stops unwelcome visitors and unexpected litters of puppies. Neutering a male dog reduces the urge to roam in search of a mate which in turn reduces the risk of fights, injury, poisoning, or traffic accidents. There is a bigger reason to spay or neuter your pet: only one in ten of the 2,000 – 3,500 puppies and kittens are born in the U.S. every hour find a permanent home. That amounts to more than 30 million a year.
Surgery
In veterinary medicine surgery is used for biopsies, diagnosis, and the treatment and prevention of disease. As in any medical procedure, rigorous hygiene is critical, and follow up monitoring and pain control are important for both the comfort and recovery of the patient.
There are many different types of surgery. Elective procedures are scheduled in advance, including diagnostic or exploratory surgery, spaying or neutering, and hernia repair. Emergency surgeries cannot wait. They include abdominal obstructions, caesarian sections, and certain fractures. Orthopedic surgeries are performed on the musculoskelatal system, such as fracture repairs. Soft tissue surgeries treat body systems other than the bones and muscles.
- More about diagnostic tests and procedures
- More about exploratory surgery
- More about preanesthetic and screening tests
Laser Surgery
Laser surgery uses a non-contact mode that leaves no bruising, crushing, or tearing after making an incision. The laser simply incises through tissue while sealing blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerve cells, which ultimately results in less blto these benefits, the laser beam sterilizes as it cuts, reducing the incidents of post-operative infections.
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