Showing 360 posts about dog health
Pet Product Review - Greenies® Dental Chews
If you look-up the definition of connoisseur in the dictionary, you will not see this:
con⋅nois⋅seur:
A dog of informed and discriminating taste
a.k.a Joey (see photo left)
Joey is our lovable, 10 year old Lab, who does not have a discriminating bone in his body much less his palate. He savors the flavors of anything he can get his furry little paws on. That's why I'm always happy to discover treats that are actually good for him and don't just pack-on the pounds!
Joey delights in the taste and texture of the Greenies® Dental Chews for big dogs while he unknowingly reaps the many benefits that come from chewing them: Help in controlling plaque and tartar, fresher breath, a healthier immune system, and a dose of daily fiber. The fresher breath is literally an in-my-face benefit that aids in prolonging our "cuddle time" every night.
You can find Greenies® products at most pet supply stores or use their store locator to find a retailer in your area. You can also purchase the Greenies® Value Paks for $9.68 on the PetEdge website.
Be sure to visit the Greenies® Exclusive Offers page for some great coupons!
Our dog's eyes are very similar to ours. Like us, they have a lens in the front part of the eye that focuses light on to the retina in the back of the eye.
Some people use a camera analogy for that process where the lens is like the lens in a camera and the retina is like the film. Without the ability to focus, the image on the film will be blurred. If the lens remains closed, no image at all will appear on the film.
A cataract is something that forms in the lens that interrupts the flow of light to the retina and results in impaired vision. Depending on the severity of the opacity, a cataract can result in blurred vision or blindness.
Most cataracts in dogs are hereditary. There are upwards of forty different breeds that have the potential to inherit cataracts. Other causes are secondary to metabolic diseases like diabetes, eye trauma and injuries or the result of other primary diseases of the eye like uveitis.
If you notice some clouding of your dog's eye or if your dog starts bumping into things or maybe starts to hesitate to go down stairs, he could be developing a vision problem. Your veterinarian can examine your pet's eyes to determine whether a cataract is forming fairly easily. She can also run tests to determine whether the cataract is secondary to another condition or disease of the eye.
This is really important because the customary treatment for cataracts is surgical removal. Many dogs with hereditary cataracts are good surgical candidates but dogs with cataracts secondary to another eye disease may not be surgical candidates. In those dogs, resolution of the primary problem is the first step in treating the eye. And dogs with diabetes are not good surgery candidates unless their symptoms are well controlled.
Vision can be restored in many dogs with cataracts following surgery and there are even prosthetic lenses available for both dogs and cats that can return vision to almost normal.
There is a condition that occurs in many older dogs that can look like cataract formation. This condition is called either nuclear sclerosis or lenticular sclerosis and is very common in older dogs. The lens does appear to be cloudy in these dogs but their vision usually remains quite good and there is no real treatment needed. 
Darcie had nuclear sclerosis for several years before she passed away. She was deaf as a post but she could see pretty well at the end. Your veterinarian can tell the difference between cataract formation and age related changes in the eye.
There is no consistent way to prevent the development of cataracts, but there is an organization called CERF, or the Canine Eye Registry Foundation that helps breeders determine which dogs to breed. You can have your dog certified free of major heritable eye disease through this group. It's well worth it if you have one of the breeds involved with this and other hereditary eye diseases. Selective breeding is one way to limit the spread of these conditions.
Since I seem to be on an eye kick we might as well talk about the big kahoona of hereditary eye disease; Progressive Retinal Atrophy. I'll do that next week.
Pet insurance companies put limits on how much they will pay out on claims. They do it in three different ways.
Per incident limits apply to specific issues like an ear infection or a broken leg. Some companies won't pay claims beyond a certain amount for a specific problem.
Annual limits are limits on how much an insurer will pay out over the course of a policy year in total and lifetime limits refer to how much they will pay over the course of the pet's life.
At PurinaCare we have no lifetime or per incident limits and a $20,000 annual limit. The annual limit resets with each year's renewal. We feel this should cover the vast majority of dogs and cats and we have never had anyone exceed our reasonable annual limit.
If you are considering pet insurance there are a couple of watch outs. The first would be a relatively low lifetime limit or annual limits. You buy insurance to protect your pet and your finances. Some conditions can be expensive and require lifetime care. There is at least one popular plan out there that limits you to $8000 annually. And with this plan if you get into a serious problem requiring ongoing care they can exclude coverage for that serious issue in subsequent years. This plan also has per incident limits. It is relatively inexpensive, though. 
There is another plan that has a relatively low lifetime limit of $20,000. I could see conditions that could cost more than that over the lifetime of the pet.
Coverage limits are one way for an insurer to limit their liability. This allows them to offer a lower "price point" for their monthly premium.
When you see pet insurance providers advertising, "Plans starting as low as" or something like that, be sure to read the fine print. One way to offer really low monthly premiums is to limit your exposure to large losses.
We prefer simple and comprehensive. No lifetime or per incident limits and a reasonable annual limit of $20,000. That's PurinaCare.
Nobody plans to need to provide first aid to their dog, but it's still worth making sure you know what to do should your Labrador Retriever have an accident or sustain an injury. It may save your dog's life. Pack a small doggie first aid kit, learn how to use its contents, and keep it handy when you and your Labrador are out and about.
Although we can't cover all possible emergencies in this article, there are a few situations which occur quite commonly, and you should familiarize yourself with how to handle them.
Labradors are very gentle dogs, but they may still snap or bite if they are hurt. A soft piece of string wrapped around his nose and tied behind his ears makes a good emergency muzzle. It is very effective in preventing him biting you as you provide basic first aid.
When he is muzzled, remove him from danger. If he has been hit by a vehicle, he needs to be moved off the road to avoid him being hit again. To do this, slide a blanket or large piece of cardboard under him and use it to lift him into a car for the trip to the veterinarian.
Your rough and tumble Labrador Retriever may get a cut or deep wound on his skin. If there is bleeding, put pressure on the wound with a folded piece of clean cloth. Don't remove it, even if blood soaks the cloth, as this will dislodge the blood clot that's forming, and bleeding will worsen. Just apply another cloth on top and maintain even pressure, then take him to your vet to see if he needs sutures.
Abrasions and scratches can be cleaned with either saline, or a dilute iodine solution. Watch for any signs of infection, such as an increase in discharge, or reddening at the edges of the wound. If you're in any doubt, take him to your vet for a checkup.
Dog fights are very frightening, and both dogs can come out of it a bit worse for wear. Bite wounds always need to be checked by your vet. Even a small puncture wound can have quite severe muscle damage under the skin. They're very painful, and can easily become infected. Antibiotics and pain relief can have your Labrador smiling again very quickly.
In the summer months, high temperatures can lead to heat stroke. Dogs can only disperse heat from their body by panting. They don't have the same type of sweat glands that we do. Labradors Retrievers love to play, and often don't know when to stop. This can cause overheating, lethargy and disorientation. Gentle hosing with tepid water will help to get his temperature down, but heatstroke can lead to internal organ failure and there may not be any indication of this in the early stages. This is another instance where it's absolutely vital to take your Labrador to your vet for follow up care. It could save his life.
It's a rare Labrador Retriever that doesn't eat everything in sight, and this can put him at risk of being poisoned. If you think he has eaten something toxic, take him and the packaging, if you have it, to the vet as soon as you can. That way, he can identify the ingredients in the poison, and start treating your dog with the appropriate antidote. Don't induce vomiting unless your vet advises you to do so; some poisons are very irritant and can do even more damage to your dog as they are vomited back up.
There are dog first aid courses available in many areas, and although you may never need to use that knowledge, it's a comfort to know that if anything did happen to your Labrador, you'd know just what to do to help him.
This guest post is brought to you by Dog Fence DIY's staff veterinarian Dr. Susan Wright. Dog Fence DIY has a large variety of electric fence for dogs at the best available prices. This system will also include the proper installation needed as well as the training for your pet.
Technorati Tags: all about labradors labrador retriever labrador labs retriever dogs pets Labrador Retriever's First Aid
Although we can't cover all possible emergencies in this article, there are a few situations which occur quite commonly, and you should familiarize yourself with how to handle them.
Labradors are very gentle dogs, but they may still snap or bite if they are hurt. A soft piece of string wrapped around his nose and tied behind his ears makes a good emergency muzzle. It is very effective in preventing him biting you as you provide basic first aid.
When he is muzzled, remove him from danger. If he has been hit by a vehicle, he needs to be moved off the road to avoid him being hit again. To do this, slide a blanket or large piece of cardboard under him and use it to lift him into a car for the trip to the veterinarian.
Your rough and tumble Labrador Retriever may get a cut or deep wound on his skin. If there is bleeding, put pressure on the wound with a folded piece of clean cloth. Don't remove it, even if blood soaks the cloth, as this will dislodge the blood clot that's forming, and bleeding will worsen. Just apply another cloth on top and maintain even pressure, then take him to your vet to see if he needs sutures.
Abrasions and scratches can be cleaned with either saline, or a dilute iodine solution. Watch for any signs of infection, such as an increase in discharge, or reddening at the edges of the wound. If you're in any doubt, take him to your vet for a checkup.
Dog fights are very frightening, and both dogs can come out of it a bit worse for wear. Bite wounds always need to be checked by your vet. Even a small puncture wound can have quite severe muscle damage under the skin. They're very painful, and can easily become infected. Antibiotics and pain relief can have your Labrador smiling again very quickly.
In the summer months, high temperatures can lead to heat stroke. Dogs can only disperse heat from their body by panting. They don't have the same type of sweat glands that we do. Labradors Retrievers love to play, and often don't know when to stop. This can cause overheating, lethargy and disorientation. Gentle hosing with tepid water will help to get his temperature down, but heatstroke can lead to internal organ failure and there may not be any indication of this in the early stages. This is another instance where it's absolutely vital to take your Labrador to your vet for follow up care. It could save his life.
It's a rare Labrador Retriever that doesn't eat everything in sight, and this can put him at risk of being poisoned. If you think he has eaten something toxic, take him and the packaging, if you have it, to the vet as soon as you can. That way, he can identify the ingredients in the poison, and start treating your dog with the appropriate antidote. Don't induce vomiting unless your vet advises you to do so; some poisons are very irritant and can do even more damage to your dog as they are vomited back up.
There are dog first aid courses available in many areas, and although you may never need to use that knowledge, it's a comfort to know that if anything did happen to your Labrador, you'd know just what to do to help him.
This guest post is brought to you by Dog Fence DIY's staff veterinarian Dr. Susan Wright. Dog Fence DIY has a large variety of electric fence for dogs at the best available prices. This system will also include the proper installation needed as well as the training for your pet.
Technorati Tags: all about labradors labrador retriever labrador labs retriever dogs pets Labrador Retriever's First Aid
This guest post is brought especially to you by Dog Fence DIY's staff veterinarian Dr. Susan Wright. Dog Fence DIY offers the well renownedpetsafe stubborn dog collar for the dog that is not responsive to a regular correction system. There is also a wide variety of different types of pet containment systems at the lowest price. Visit Dog Fence DIY for all your pet containment needs.
You know when your dog has an ear infection. He's constantly scratching at his ear, and shaking his head. He may even whimper in pain. If you look inside your dog's ear, and under the flap (pinna), it may be red, and there may be a smelly discharge. It's very distressing for him, and you don't like to see your dog so uncomfortable.
If your dog scratches and shakes his head too much, he may develop a hematoma, which is like a big blood blister on the pinna of the ear. It occurs when the shaking and scratching break a little blood vessel inside the flap of the ear, so it fills with blood. It is painful, and treatment usually involves surgery.
Ear infections in dogs are caused by bacteria or fungi, but in most cases, there are changes to the skin inside the ear that allow these organisms to grow and multiply. So, just treating the infection with antibiotics and ear drops won't resolve the problem. You need to work out what is happening to allow this secondary infection to develop.
The two main causes of ear infections in dogs are anatomy and allergies.
Some breeds of dogs, such as Labrador Retrievers and Cocker Spaniels, have floppy ears. This means that air doesn't circulate as well in their ear, and any moisture doesn't have the chance to dry out. It is worse if the dog goes swimming and gets their ears wet. Dogs with erect ears have less of a problem with their ears staying moist, but they may still develop ear problems associated with skin allergies.
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