Home remedies - Diarrhoea in Dogs

Occasional vomiting or stomach gurgles is not uncommon in dogs. Loose stools are, of course, the main indicator of diarrhea. Diarrhea may also be accompanied by vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain, lethargy, and other symptoms of disease.
When your dog has mild diarrhea, the best things to start with are a 24-hour rice-water fast; white rice balls that contain active probiotic cultures; and the oral administration of an intestinal protectant such as kaolin clay and pectin or a suspension containing bismuth subsalicylate . Loperamide can be given if the diarrhea doesn’t resolve easily; caution is required when using this OTC medication in Collies, and don’t use it for more than five days.

Fasting your dog allows her GIT to rest and recover from whatever insult it has received. During the fast, make sure she has plenty of rice water to drink. Rice water is the creamy liquid that results from boiling white rice in water. It’s important to use a good quality white rice; “minute” rice does not work and brown rice has too much fiber in it, which does not help firm the stool because it speeds the transit of digested material through the colon.

To make rice water, boil one cup of white rice in four cups of water for 20 to 30 minutes (depending on your altitude) or until the water turns creamy white. Decant the liquid and allow it to cool. You can serve the rice water to your dog as often as she will drink it. If she isn’t interested, mix a teaspoon of chicken baby food (or another flavor that your pet likes) in the rice water to increase its palatability.



Food additions — Pumpkin, sweet potatoes, bananas, and oatmeal are gentle foods that can be added to your dog’s meal to help settle the stomach, maybe even help chronic stomach upset.

What is Lyme Disease and Cytauxzoonosis in Pets?

I. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection than can affect humans, dogs, cats and other mammals.

Its primary carrier is the deer tick, which can attach to a dog or human and transmit the bacteria that cause the disease.

Clinical signs of Lyme disease include depression, swelling of the lymph nodes, loss of appetite, fever, swollen, painful joints and kidney failure.

Lyme disease is most effectively treated with antibiotics.

With prompt, proper treatment, your pet’s condition should start to improve within 48 hours.

II. Cytauxzoonosis is a lethal infection caused by tick bites.

This blood parasite is common in the South and is carried by bobcats.

Ticks who feed on bobcats may transmit the infection to domestic cats, for whom the disease is fatal.

Clinical signs of infection include: high fever, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite, jaundice, coma and death.

The infection progresses rapidly—in a matter of weeks—and there is no known cure, though several studies have proved successful in managing certain strains of the disease.

III. Treatment and Removal

 If you do find a tick on your pet, it is important to take care when removing it. Any contact with the tick’s blood can potentially transmit infection to your pet or even to you. Prompt removal is necessary, but it is important to stay calm and not rush. Follow these step-by-step tick removal instructions:

 Step 1: Avoid Direct Contact

 Put on latex or rubber gloves so you’ll never have direct contact with the tick or your pet’s bite area.

Because throwing a tick in the trash or flushing it down the toilet will not kill it, you should prepare a screw-top jar containing rubbing alcohol to put a tick in after removal. This also allows you to hold it for veterinary testing.

If possible, enlist a partner to help you distract and soothe your pet and hold her still during removal.

Step 2: Remove the ticks

Using a pair of tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the animal’s skin as possible. Pull straight upwards with steady, even pressure and place the tick in your jar. Do not twist or jerk the tick. This may leave the mouth-parts embedded in your pet, or cause the tick to regurgitate infective fluids.

Do not squeeze or crush the body of the tick, because its fluids may contain infective organisms.

Step 3: Disinfect and Monitor

 Disinfect the bite area and wash your hands with soap and water, even though you were wearing gloves. Sterilize your tweezers with alcohol or by carefully running them over a flame.

Monitor the bite area over the next few weeks for any signs of localized infection, such as redness or inflammation. If infection occurs, please bring your pet—and your jarred tick—to your veterinarian for evaluation.

Tick Prevention

Many of the same products on the market that treat fleas also kill ticks and prevent against future infestation. Speak to your vet about the best product for your pet.

Ensure a tick-free lawn by mowing it regularly, removing tall weeds and making it inhospitable to rodents by keeping garbage covered and inaccessible

 

Grooming equipment for grooming

A dog can be a wonderful addition to any home, but whether you're an experienced pet parent or a first-time adopter, it's important to keep your canine companion's health and happiness a top priority. It is recommended to establish a habit of regular grooming early in your dog’s life. Grooming then becomes a pleasurable bonding activity and is established as a regular part of your dog’s routine.

• If your dog has a long coat and is prone to forming matts, make sure you are very gentle and patient and use a good de-matting brush. 
• If your dog has a continually growing coat, at some stage you will need to clip your dog. This is easily done with electric clippers, either at the groomer or at home. 
• Help keep your dog clean and reduce shedding with frequent brushing. 
• Check for fleas and ticks daily during warm weather. 
• Most dogs don't need to be bathed more than a few times a year. 
• Before bathing, comb or cut out all mats from the coat. Carefully rinse all soap out of the coat, or the dirt will stick to soap residue

Security of Animals in homes

It is essential that pet owners carefully consider the safety of their pets. Below is a list of some essential security precautions you should take.This list is not complete and extra precautions should be taken as and when the circumstances require.
Animal lovers don’t have to compromise on home security. It is a general misconception that pet owners shouldn’t invest in home security systems, because pets and alarm sensors don’t mix well.

Dogs : You should never leave your dog alone in the car. It can cause distress if the dog is left for long periods which could be fatal in hot weather, and secondly, your dog is a target for thieves.
Do not tie your dog up outside shops.
Never kennel a dog for extended periods in the garden. It is advised against kennelling animals in a garden, but if you do so, it is a must to ensure they have adequate security and are provided with food and water.
Your dog should be microchipped. A microchip is a very small chip, about the size of a grain of rice inserted between the shoulder blades. The cost of microchipping your animal is minimal.

Cats: If you have your cat from a kitten, keep them indoors as long as you can up to the age of 1, this is well after males have been neutered and will ensure he is a home loving cat and uninterested in straying, where he may get lost or hit by a car. Never leave your cat outdoors when you are not at home. It is important your pet always has access to water and shelter.

5 mantras of effective dog raising

Dedicated dog parents are some of the most incredible people in the world. But even the most caring people sometimes do things that just aren’t in the best interests of their four-legged companions. Don't do these things to your dog.

1. Don't leave a dog alone in the car
In the warmer months, a car can quickly become a greenhouse of sorts and cause your dog to become extremely lethargic, overheated and sick. If left alone for too long, a dog can even die. In the winter months, a car acts as a refrigerator and can have equally scary consequences. And no matter the weather or season, a dog alone in a car is a target for thieves. Dogs should never be left alone in a vehicle unattended.

2. Don't make a dog live outside
Yes, all dogs should have access to the outdoors. Yes, sometimes it is perfectly fine to let dogs outside for a period of time as long as the weather is good and the dogs are supervised. Dogs should never be forced to live outside year round. Dogs need human interaction and stimulation. A bored dog is an unhappy dog. Being left outside is unfair and unhealthy.

3. Never neglect your dog's teeth
Experts say that although daily tooth brushing is advised for dogs and cats, only 2 percent of dog owners follow through. In addition, 65 percent of dogs with stage one periodontal disease often go untreated. Always have a veterinarian check your dog’s teeth at least once a year and prior to starting any home-based dental regimen. Get into the habit of regular dental care. A child’s toothbrush is best for newcomers and dogs with smaller mouths. A fingertip toothbrush is also acceptable for starters. Never use human toothpaste on a dog. Why? They can’t spit, and there are ingredients in many human toothpastes that can make a dog sick.

4. Never ever hit a dog
Putting your hand(s) on a dog as a form of punishment is wrong. It will harm your relationship with your dog and prevent proper training. When you hit a dog, you teach him to fear you, break his trust, and you weaken his confidence. Insecure dogs are the ones who are more likely to lash out in an aggressive display.

5. Visit Veterinarian regularly
There are some people who believe they can self diagnose their dog’s issue online and not seek veterinary care. There is a time and a place for online research or to look up additional medical information for a beloved pet. But if a dog acts out of the ordinary or there are any health concerns, seeking veterinary care is of utmost importance. Never take medical matters into your own hands.

Worms in Dogs
Canine worms can cause a variety of health problems in dogs. Here you’ll find a brief description of the most common types of worms in dogs, with links to in-depth articles on how these worms can infect your dog and what you can do to prevent and treat them.

1. Roundworms
Usually spread in feces or during pregnancy or nursing, the roundworm causes a serious infection in dogs and puppies. The roundworm eats the food of its host and may cause diarrhea and other symptoms. In puppies, roundworms can be fatal. Prescription and over-the-counter deworming products for dogs are very effective. If people contract roundworms, their symptoms can be even more serious than those in dogs. Read the full article.

2. Hookworms
Living mainly in the small intestine, hookworms suck the blood of their hosts. Puppies can become infected from their mothers. Adult dogs can be infected through their skin or when cleaning themselves. Infection causes weakness and malnutrition and can lead to death in puppies. Two rounds of deworming medication are usually effective, but a puppy may need other treatment, as well.  Humans can also become infected with hookworms from unwashed vegetables or by walking barefoot on sand and soil. Read the full article.

3. Heartworms
Heartworms are spread to dogs through mosquito bites. Up to 14 inches long, a heartworm lives in the heart and the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. Heartworms affect how the heart functions and how blood clots and is likely to cause death if untreated. Monthly heartworm preventives are effective. If infected, your dog may cough, have trouble breathing, and experience other symptoms. Treatment may involve two or three injections of arsenic-based drugs, followed by at least a month of rest. Read the full article.

4. Whipworms
Whipworms live in the area where the small and large intestines meet. Here, they suck the blood of their hosts. Dogs can pick them up from contaminated soil or by grooming. Whipworms do not cause serious blood loss or other serious symptoms unless large numbers embed in the intestine. Some heartworm preventives are effective against whipworms, and an oral dewormer is effective at eliminating whipworms.

5. Tapeworms
Dogs get tapeworms from licking themselves and swallowing fleas, which carry them. Tapeworms absorb some of the dog’s nutrients from the intestine where they attach. The tapeworm is made up of small segments, each about the size of a grain of rice. These are passed in feces and can sometimes been se around the dog’s anus. An injection or tablet can kill tapeworms. Humans can also get tapeworms, but people don't get them from an infected pet. Read the full article.

6. Ringworm
Despite its name, ringworm is not a worm at all. It is a skin infection caused by a fungus. In dogs, ringworm often presents as a dry, gray, scaly patch, although it may cause no symptoms at all. In people, it forms a round, red lesion with a ring-like appearance. Dogs pick up ringworm when their skin comes into contact with the spores of the fungus. Spores are commonly found in the soil or on cats. The spores can be present on a cat even when it shows no symptoms. People can catch it by touching an infected pet. Treatment for ringworm in dogs may involve medicated dips, shampoos, or ointments. Your dog may also need oral medication for one to two months. You may need to take other measures to clear ringworm from the environment or prevent its spread.

If your dog has a fever!!

The word “fever” is typically used to describe elevated body temperature caused by infection or inflammation. In an adult dog, a normal body temperature is between 38 and 39.2ºC (100º and 102.5ºF) . If your dog's temperature is anywhere above this average, as with humans, your dog has a fever. This can appear as a result of a serious disease of viral nature, such as parvovirus. In other cases, it may be due to a cold or it could be a symptom of hyperthermia. In any case, the temperature must be lowered to a normal level.

Although there are no definite signs, some symptoms that might indicate illness and fever in dogs include:Lethargy, Depressed mood, Shivering, Loss of appetite, Vomiting, Coughing and Nasal discharge

A variety of illnesses and conditions may make your dog run a fever. These include: Infection, Vaccination and Toxins.

Home remedy

1. It is important to keep your dog well hydrated as long as he has a fever. Encourage it to drink plenty of water, and if it refuses, you can prepare it some chicken broth! Just make sure you leave the chicken bones out, as they can be harmful to your pet. You should make sure that the water bowl is close to the spot your dog is resting so that he doesn't have to travel very far.

2. When a dog has fever, Feeding your dog a diet that's high in calories and nutrients is important for it to gain back its strength. If your dog refuses to eat solids, you can try feeding him some canned food or more chicken or beef broth.
If you're worried about your dog's diet, take a look at our article on what to give a dog with a fever for more specific information.

3. To refresh and cool down a dog with a fever, you can wet a sponge or cloth in lukewarm water and wipe the skin on its abdomen, armpits and groin. Remember to dry the wet parts - you can use the cold air from a hairdryer to do this.

4. If your dog has a high fever, one of the most used home remedies is to wash your dog in lukewarm water for two minutes maximum. It's very important not to exceed this time as its organism can fight against the stimuli produced by the water, increasing its temperature even more as well as producing a higher energetic expenditure in our dog, thus putting it in a difficult situation. Do not wash your dog with cold water.
This measure will help lower the fever if you can't immediately take your dog to the vet.

5. If the previous home remedies don't work for your dog's fever, another option is to place ice packs between your dog's back legs and head during a couple of minutes. It's not advisable for your dog to stay damp or wet during a long time as its situation could get worse, favoring a cold if it doesn't have one yet.

6. If after 24 hours your dog still has a fever, consult a veterinarian to find out the underlying cause of the fever. For a bacterial infection, vets will often prescribe oral antibiotics. Your vet may also prescribe oral administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Follow the directions of your veterinarian very closely and be sure to complete the entire course of the treatment. Not completing an entire course of antibiotics can lead to the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Tips
If your dog is very young or very old, it is recommended to take him to the veterinarian immediately if he develops a fever. Very young puppies and very old dogs are more vulnerable to infections.