Cats as well as dogs can be affected with mange. Side effects can vary depending on the type of mite that inhabits your dog or cats hair follicle. Mange can lead to genetic disorders, lesions and immune system problems.

Demodectic mange comes in two forms. It can be localized to a particular area of the body or can be general and cover the dogs entire body. Making a determination as to which type your pet has will determine the treatment your vet will administer.

While many vets will say they do not know what might cause mange, some believe that dogs can be predisposed to this disease due to an immune system problem. Generalized mange will appear as redness of the skin and patches of lesions over the entire body. Localized mange will be around the face, trunk or legs of the dog.

It is believed that one form of mite can be transferred from the mother to the baby via nursing. There are to other forms of mites and it is not yet known how those mites are transferred. Demodex canis gets into the hair follicle of the pet causing this transmission during nursing.

Diagnosis can be made in two ways. First it is ruled out that your dog does not just have an infection of the hair follicles. The vet will take a scrape of the skin and test that or if possible, test a urine sample.

Localized mange can be cured easily by itself over a period of time. The generalized mange can be more difficult to cure. Lime-sulphur dips and constant medication can relieve some of the symptoms. There are some cases that are more severe and you will need to weigh your options with the vet for the best solution for the dog.

Skin scrapings are necessary to continue testing the dog during its treatment to determine that the mites have been eliminated. If your dog is diagnosed with mange, it is important that you are diligent with the prescribed treatment. This will enable you to keep the spread of the disease under control.

Remember that if your pet has generalized mange, it’s best that you not breed it. Prevention can be simply maintaining a healthy diet for your dog. Regular grooming and good health may be all you need to keep your dog free of mange.

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If you start to notice a yellow-crusted spot around your dog’s body or head, he may suffer from Dermatophilosis. This condition is very common in cats and dogs but is treatable. Usually when you remove a crusty area, you will see a cluster of hairs underneath due to the impacted follicle.

Another symptom associated with Dermatophilosis can be excessive scratching. Additionally, if you notice pus under infected area, best to get the dog to the vet. In order to determine if this is actually Dermatophilosis, your dog needs to be tested.

The vet will take a sample of the infected area to run tests. Be sure that he knows that you have been around farm animals so he can test for Dermatophilosis. Once the vet has determined that it is Dermatophilosis, treatment will be prescribed.

The vet will recommend a topical medicated shampoo for the dog to be bathed in. Read the directions thoroughly before you begin. We also recommend that you wear rubber gloves to protect your hands.

If the condition is severe, then the vet might also prescribe an antibiotic that is administered for a number of days to assist with clearing the infection. Usually the vet prescribes penicillin for this type of skin irritation. Be sure that you are consistent with the medication to ensure a speedy recovery.

With conditions like this, the vet will ask for a follow up appointment. Usually he will wait about 2 or 3 weeks for the medications to do their job. Be sure to keep an eye on your dog during this time to make sure there are no more outbreaks.

With skin conditions like this, you want to be extra careful. It is possible for the dog to pass this condition onto a caregiver or a family member if they suffer from an immune deficiency. Take caution if necessary and quarantine the dog in a safe place away from people.

There are precautions you should take when dealing with topical medications. We suggest that you wear rubber gloves while shampooing your dog to protect you against the transfer of this condition. Following the logical steps will keep you and your family safe.

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Dog, like humans have needs where their diet is concerned. But also like humans, some might need more or less of certain things so it’s always best to check with your vet once you decide on a certain diet. With dogs having a major part in our family’s lives, we need to make sure we provide the proper nutritional needs.

Something that we don’t think about is that dog food for dogs have certain requirements. Being the carnivores that they are, we forget that they also need vegetables and grasses as part of their diet. Get familiar with what your dog’s dietary needs are to make sure that they are being fed a healthy diet.

Back in the days before us humans got involved with prepackaged dog food, a dog’s diet left up to their own devices would consist of something a lot different. They would be eating their own catch of prey, uncooked of course with a little grass and some seasonal fruits and berries. Today we scream and holler if they even remotely look like they are heading out for the kill.

Today it is not near as socially acceptable for dogs to eat their kills. I know that it’s hard for us domesticated humans to understand but dogs and cat as like most animals are born hunters. We have, over the centuries, trained them to rely on us for their nourishment.

The origin of the dog’s breed as well as the lifestyle of the dog can determine the diet necessary. Lap dogs of course are not going to have the same requirements as a hard working police dog or say a dog from the Artic Circle. Make sure if you are not certain about the needs of your dog concerning it’s diet that you check with your vet or the internet.

There are commercial brand foods that are good for dog but be sure you buy the premium top brands. These brands are tested on dogs and they are monitored throughout various stages of their lifetime. The important thing is that they are manufactured with the right dietary needs for dogs.

I know that many veterinarian offices do carry premium brand foods that you can purchase. With most commercial goods, they have certain preservatives that can deplete the nutritional value of the food. Most commercial brands however, do meet the nutritional requirements for dogs.

Just remember that you must supplement your dogs diet with meats and vegetables if you are only feeding them dry food. Whatever you decide to do about your dogs diet, make sure that you couple that with exercise and lots of love. Dogs are truly man’s best friend and they deserve to live happy healthy lives as well.

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If your dog is experiencing this disorder that causes unnecessary peeing, then he might suffer from submissive/excitement issues. After a clean bill of health from the vet that there are no other medical problems that might cause this problem, then we can move on to the submissive/excitement peeing issue. Here are some things that you can try with your dog.

As you stand over you dog in a dominant position or face her looking into her eyes and there is not an issue with peeing then, we know your dog suffers from an excitement issue. If your dog pee’s when in trouble or scared or you are being dominant over her, then it’s a submissive issue. Both of these problems are dealt with in a calm and reassuring manner.

Praise is the most important way to train these dogs to stop submissive peeing. Teaching them to sit, stay, and roll over then rewarding them when they complete this request will start to build your dog’s confidence. Approach your submissive dog by getting level with them, never pat on top of the head, always under the chin and of course never yell at the dog.

One thing to remember is that if they do have an accident, don’t respond to it, just wipe it up. However, when they do go in the appropriate place, you need to praise the dog for a good job. Repetition of this behavior will raise the dogs self confidence and slowly correct the problem of submissiveness.

For excitement peeing, this typically happens with puppies that are less than a year old. With older dogs as well, peeing can occur when friends come to visit or when you arrive home from work. As with the submissive, do not react, just clean it up and praise positively when the dog or puppy pee’s in the right place.

While playing with your puppy, he can get excited and pee so make sure you do all the playing out in the yard or in a protected area. As we mentioned before, if there are accidents, do not react and eventually you will see this problem subside. We can’t use the word praise enough so remember to make sure you acknowledge the good deed.

High energy greetings upon arrival home can also set off the excitement peeing. If you arrive home and the dog is excited and jumping around, we suggest you ignore him until he calms down. Keeping the excitement to a minimum can help correct the peeing problem.

Don’t feel you are mistreating the dog, remember they are not humans. This can work to cure the excited peeing dog. Calm hello greetings when the dog is not excited, affirms the calm behavior, whereas the greeting when the dog is excited encourages the excited behavior, which makes perfect sense.

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The Dysplasia abnormality can lead to your dog becoming lame if not treated. There is a type of condition similar to this that affects males more than females. Typically this condition is found in the larger breeds like Labs, Rottweilers, Chows and other giant breeds.

The specific type that affects more males than females is when you find a bone fragment in the inner surface of the upper ulna. The ulna bone is just below the elbow joint in the foreleg. This would be the only situation where there would be a gender difference for this condition.

Not all large dogs will show symptoms when they are young even if they are affected. If your dog shows signs of forelimb lameness that can also be irritated by exercise, which then turns to stiffness, this could be a sign of elbow Dysplasia. Also, when the dog extends or flexes his elbow or the dog will hold the affected limb away from his body.

The cause of this condition is not only genetic but can be caused by nutritional or developmental issues. It is important for you to get your pup to the vet for a medical examination. The vet will be able to make a diagnosis after a series of tests to eliminate other causes for the symptoms.

Unfortunately the symptoms for this condition can be related to other issues. Your doctor will probably take x-rays and perform other standard tests before making a diagnosis. Surgery might be needed if your dog is found to have Dysplasia.

After the surgery, you should apply ice compresses throughout the day to help with swelling and additional medications might be prescribed. You should keep your dog contained to minimize any movement for the first couple of days. Give assistance with movement to the dog and encourage some movement.

For future reference, you can take preventative measures for this condition by not promoting rapid growth of your dog. Manage their weight gain as they grow and feed them accordingly. In addition, do not breed a dog that has been diagnosed with this condition since it is genetic.

This is a fairly common condition in large dogs so don’t worry. If you got your dog from a breeder, it’s important to notify them of the condition. Your dog can continue to live a happy life just remember to get him yearly checkups with the vet.

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New dog owners many times have one main complaint. Their new puppy is keeping them awake at night. Their solution is to put the puppy in the bed with them and off to sleep they go. First big mistake made as a new dog owner.

As we try and eliminate the problem of loosing our bed to the new dog, we are faced with another issue. The dog is not sleeping at night and spends it’s time roaming around whining, barking and keeping everyone awake. Everyone is crabby and the house is up in roars.

Dogs can feel anxieties as we humans can. Sometimes your dog might be suffering from separation anxiety when he exhibits the whining and barking behavior when you are trying to separate them from the rest of the family at bedtime. Just moving his bed to your room or crating him in your room will solve this problem.

Sleeping problems can be eliminated if you will crate your dog. Training them from the beginning that the crate is a safe place for them to go at bed time is a good thing. I know you feel bad doing this but remember is a good place for the dog and can help with the sleeplessness.

If you have a dog that you just can’t cure of the separation anxiety issues, some vets suggest getting the dog a friend. Getting another dog can give the anxious dog a companion and tends to help relieve the separation issues. They will play during the day while you are at work and tire themselves out.

If you have a hyper dog, then walks are definitely a must. Not only do your dogs need the exercise, the socialization is stimulating for them as well. Get them out and about and hit the park or take a jog and you will see a big difference in the nighttime hours during sleep time.

Many people feel that since they have a nice big yard for the dog to run around, that they are getting their exercise. Actually the opposite happens. As you are working during the day, it’s more likely that your dog is laying in the sun or shade sleeping all day.

Remember, being a responsible pet owner includes exercising your dog. Dogs enjoy socializing and getting out as well as you do. Make it a family affair, you, the kids and the dogs, strolling through the neighborhood and the you can enjoy a good night sleep.

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Having a pet is a big responsibility and many people get a dog to see if they can handle the commitment. I know people who get a dog before children to see how they do with that. If you think about it, some pets are around in the house longer than our children.

I don’t think people think about how long of a commitment it is to raise a cat or dog. Some can live 20+ years. That’s sometimes longer than our children stay with us and you are feeding your pet, taking them to the doctor and boarding them when you take a vacation.

At least with children, there comes a time when they can stay on their own. Then they move away and go to college, eventually marrying and finally starting their own life with someone else. Well, I know that children do come and go and are always going to need us to some extent, but cat’s and dog’s can’t survive without us.

Loving your pets is what we do unconditionally. But had we realized that we were actually taking on a longer commitment then our children per say, this might have made us rethink that decision. Our pet can bring us great joy and companionship, but they are always there.

Don’t’ get me wrong; I would not trade either my cats or dog for anything. But when my daughter wanted the cats, little did I know that she would be gone before they were. Now, here I am, my daughter’s off and enjoying her life of carefree comings and goings and I have to hire a pet sitter.

I never realized it until now. It’s funny to me remembering when my daughter was becoming increasingly independent and getting ready to venture out on her own. I felt sadness that she would be leaving soon, but now realizing I have the cats to keep me company is a blessing.

In a way, your cats can be like your teenager, needing you but not really needing you. They are independent like your teenager but then they need you to feed them, love them and pet them when they are ready. Our children are a gift that we can’t keep at home forever, so enjoy them, send them off to their lives and you are left loving the pets they left behind.

Now this should make you think long and hard about your decision to get a pet. As long as you realize that getting a pet is just like a child, a lifetime commitment, then you can make the responsible choice for you and your family. Just remember that the pets can last longer then your kids, but the kids will always come home.

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