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.

Training in puppies

We always anticipate the joys of all-that's-good about owning a puppy. But often it doesn't work out as well as we'd hoped. Because puppies are delightful bundles of energy and curiosity....but they can also be exasperating and frustrating.

The earliest training that your puppy must learn is housetraining. With patience, persistence, and consistency, housetraining usually takes only a few weeks. The key is to take the puppy outdoors at the times that dogs naturally eliminate and to praise them enthusiastically when they do. Establishing a designated area that the puppy can associate with elimination can be helpful. If accidents happen, take your pet outside to the designated elimination area and praise it for eliminating (if it does so). Punishment, such as rubbing a dog's nose in urine or faeces, does no good and can even have a negative effect on training. Each accident indoors sets the process back a little, so the fewer accidents, the better.

Proper nutrition is important throughout a dog's life and is especially critical during puppyhood. It is difficult for growing puppies to take in enough calories, fat, protein, vitamins, and minerals to meet their needs for rapid growth and development. Puppies need multiple daily feedings of a specially formulated puppy food. The number of daily feedings can be gradually decreased as the puppy ages, but feeding with a name-brand puppy diet should continue until adulthood, which is about 9 to 12 months in most dogs but up to 2 years in giant breeds

All dogs should learn to pay attention and respond to everyone in the household. Teaching young dogs basic obedience commands, including sit, stay, down, come, and heel, increases the control that you have over your dog, which can prevent potentially dangerous situations (such as running away or running into the street). Dogs have an early socialization period, lasting from roughly 2 to 4 months of age. During this time, they more easily learn to accept new people, places, animals, and other experiences. Giving your puppy positive experience with new events during this period can help reduce the chances of fearful behavior and other problems later in life.

Many good books are available on raising and training puppies. In addition, many local trainers, kennels, and community services offer socialization and obedience classes. Socialization classes can begin as early as 8 weeks of age, with obedience classes generally starting at 4 to 6 months of age. In general, obedience training is an activity that you and your dog learn together. The trainer teaches you, and you teach your dog. It takes only a few hours per week, is generally fun for both you and your pet, and can establish good behavior and a strong family bond for the life of your dog.

Importance of Veterinary Care in puppy care

Just like people, dogs receive a certain degree of immunity (known as maternal immunity) that is passed from their mothers at birth and also shortly thereafter through her milk. Vaccinations cannot effectively stimulate the puppy's immune system until this maternal immunity wears off. Because maternal immunity declines slowly over time, puppies should be vaccinated every 2 to 3 weeks until they are about 4 months old. This ensures that the puppy receives an effective dose of vaccine soon after maternal protection is gone. Restricting access to unvaccinated dogs until the full series of vaccinations has been given is important to avoid disease.

Puppies need frequent vaccinations until they are 4 to 5 months old.

Intestinal parasites are most common in puppies. Larvae are often passed through the placenta or mother's milk. Worms are so common that new puppies are often treated with a broad-spectrum wormer as a routine preventive measure. Faecal examinations, with additional treatments as necessary, are usually done every 2 to 4 weeks, until 2 successive faecal examinations are negative.

The earliest training that your puppy must learn is housetraining. With patience, persistence, and consistency, housetraining usually takes only a few weeks. The key is to take the puppy outdoors at the times that dogs naturally eliminate and to praise them enthusiastically when they do. Establishing a designated area that the puppy can associate with elimination can be helpful. If accidents happen, take your pet outside to the designated elimination area and praise it for eliminating (if it does so). Punishment, such as rubbing a dog's nose in urine or faeces, does no good and can even have a negative effect on training. Each accident indoors sets the process back a little, so the fewer accidents, the better.

Dog walking – problems and solutions

The daily walk is an important part of responsible pack leadership — but for many, it’s also the most stressful. Mastering the walk will not only make this part of your daily routine enjoyable, but also go a long way towards addressing other problem behaviors as well, because it can help your dog to see you as the Pack Leader.

Here are some solutions for dealing with dog walking problems.

Not interested in going for a walk

This is a common puppy problem. The little guy just decides he’d rather sit down or otherwise do his own thing. You can help encourage your dog to get up and get going by picking him up and taking him away from your home. Why? Because he is more likely to be motivated to walk back home than he is to walk away from it!

Distracted on the walk

Some dogs like to stop and smell the roses. And then stop to smell them again and again... You can prevent this behavior by keeping the leash short (but not tight) and your dog’s head up. Maintain your calm-assertive energy and stay focused on your destination. Then allow your dog brief breaks to stop, explore, and relieve himself. These breaks are your dog’s reward for following you on the walk instead of their nose.

Pulling on the walk

This is one of the most common problems faced by dogs. Some dogs don’t want to walk; they want to run! So let them. Go for a jog, or go biking with your dog to drain that excess energy before trying to address the behavior.

Another powerful solution is the Pack Leader Collar. It’s likely your current collar is actually working against you. By being placed around the strongest part of your dog’s neck — the lower part — it’s actually helping your dog to pull you! Think about sled-pulling dogs; they use this part of their body to pull heavy loads behind them. Instead, the Pack Leader Collar keeps the collar at the top of the neck, giving you more control.

Lunging on the walk

Are you constantly walking to the other side of the street to avoid passing other dogs or people so your dog won’t lunge at them? Corrections are key. You want to address the problem behavior quickly and immediately. The Pack Leader Collar can also help with this by keeping the collar at the most sensitive part of the neck, where he is more likely to notice the corrections.

Still having trouble getting the message across to your dog? Have a friend or family member film you giving corrections. Watch your body language. First, are you reacting before your dog does? Your anticipation of the behavior may actually be causing it. Second, are you maintaining calm-assertive control (head up, shoulders back!) when giving corrections, or simply yanking your dog around?

 Stopping in the middle of the walk

It’s possible that your dog is overheated or overtired, so this should always be the first thing you consider: Are you asking her to go too long or in temperatures that are uncomfortable for her? Sometimes we forget that a dog’s exercise needs change as they age. It’s also possible your dog is suffering from a health issue. Consult your vet.

Once you’ve ruled those causes out, one strategy for dealing with this is to give a slight sideways tug on the leash to jolt the dog back into walking. You may have to repeat it if she stops again until she gets the message to keep moving.

Risks for pets from waterborne diseases

Did you know that your pet or animal companion is at just as much risk of contracting a waterborne illness as you are?

Many outdoor Enthusiasts take along their pets when hiking or camping.  Animal companions like dogs and horses can contract infectious diseases from contaminated water.  The same effects humans get from coming in contact with a contaminated water source can affect your dog, especially puppies.

Your animal not only can contract a waterborne illness from drinking contaminated water, but they may also pass along viruses or bacteria from running, splashing and playing in contaminated water.

Water safety for pets:

   ·         Don't let your pet enter or drink from water that has a rotten egg smell or dead fish floating in it.

·         Crystal clear water does not mean it's safe to drink or swim in - try to get closer to the source to see where the water is coming from.

    

   ·         Be sure to use proper hygiene and wash your hands with filtered and disinfected water after handling an animal which has been running and playing in freshwater, and before handling food, eating, etc.

    

    ·         Avoid allowing your animal companion or yourself from swimming, wading or diving in stagnant water, ponds, water contaminated with effluent (wastewater from a treatment plant), as you may contract dangerous amoeba  (the brain eating kind) through splashing water into eyes, up your nose, into ears, etc.

    

   ·         Understand the seriousness and types of Bacteria, Viruses, Parasites and Protozoa found in freshwater and the diseases or illnesses they cause.

    

    ·         As an extra measure of safety for you and your animal companion - you should use a both a portable water purifier and portable water filter when obtaining drinking water from a freshwater source.

   

    ·         Basically, use the same caution for your animal companion, as you would for yourself when it comes to playing in, and drinking from a fresh water source.

Types of aggression in dogs

That's not an easy question to answer.  The most common causes of aggression your dog may show to members of your family are:-

      

     1.   A fear-based response where your dog is suddenly scared by a family member who moves unpredictably near him or her - such as someone disturbing your dog when it is asleep or suddenly waving a stick or raising a hand near your dog - even in jest.

     

     2.  An anxiety disorder created from previous traumatic interactions with people and not necessarily those in your family. The concept of flight/fight response is relevant to this. Anxiety-based aggression often involves growling and barking vocalisations, lunging, your dog's hackles being raised and sometimes the 'showing of teeth'. Anxiety-based aggression often grows from fear-based responses or harmful mistreatment.

     

     3. Predatory aggression particularly if your dog's aggression is directed towards people who move past quickly such as children playing. Rarely, predatory aggression is directed towards crawling toddlers when they are crying. Predatory aggression is quick and often silent so it's very dangerous.

    

     4. Protective aggression where the dog feels the need to protect itself when people approach, especially if they approach in a rapid fear-inducing manner. However, protective aggression is just another form of anxiety.

     

     5. Resource-guarding aggression where a dog will aggressively protect a bone or a rawhide chew. Sometimes resource-guarding aggression occurs when people touch a dog's toy and occasionally dogs can resource-guard their favourite family members from other family members.

Dog grooming in home

Bad odour of canine companion has always concerned you. As a pet owner, we all love our canine buddies, but we do not want them with a bad odor. Regular dog grooming sessions can help a lot in dealing with such problems in pet.

When we talk about getting a dog clean, we're talking about - clean smell, clean fur and appear to be well kept. However, this varies with the breeds. Some dogs do not require much grooming , while others require extensive brushing and clipping to make them look their best.

Basic Grooming Steps

The basic steps involved in grooming a dog are outlined below:

1.       Brushing

Brushing is any dog owner's first line of defense in the battle to keep a dog clean. This task should be carried out on a weekly basis for short-coated dogs, and at least every other day for long-coated breeds. Brushing removes loose fur, prevents matting, gets rid of existing mats, and helps eliminate dirt and debris. A thorough brushing is essential before giving your dog a bath.

2.       Ear Cleaning

Dirty ears can cause odors and lead to infections. Some owners prefer to clean out a dog's ears prior to a full bath, but you can always take care of this task after bathing if you prefer. To clean the ears:

·         Soak a cotton ball in commercial canine ear washing solution.

·         Begin by wiping out the inside of the ear leathers.

·         Gently pull out small sections of hair if your breed is one that grows a lot of hair in the canals. This improves air circulation, which in turn makes the canals less hospitable to bacteria and mites.

·         Once excess hair is removed, soak a cotton swab in the cleaning solution, and try to remove any debris you might find a little deeper in the canal. Be careful not to go in too deeply.

3.       Tooth Brushing

No grooming session is complete without giving your dog's teeth a good brushing. You can choose to use doggie toothpaste or simply use water. Start at the back teeth and gently work the brush against the teeth in a circular motion, taking care to clean the gum line especially well. Remember to clean front and back surfaces.

4.       Bathing

Bathing is the single most important step in how to really clean a dog. It's honestly better to forego the tub full of suds in favor of a sprayer set up. It will be easier to see if you're really getting your dog clean when he's not submerged.

·         Adjust your water temperature to a comfortable setting.

·         Have your shampoo, optional cream rinse and towel at hand.

·         Place your dog in the tub, and use the sprayer to fully wet him down. Be extra careful around your pet's head so you don't flood his eyes, nostrils and ears.

·         Once your dog is thoroughly wet, apply the shampoo. Start at your dog's head and work your way back through the tail. Next, soap his undercarriage and legs. Don't forget to wash between his foot pads.

·         Starting at the head, rinse all the suds out of your dog's coat. Repeat the shampooing process one more time to make sure he's squeaky clean.

·         After the shampoo, you may choose to work some cream rinse through your dogs coat in the same manner as the shampoo. Although not every coat type requires cream rinse, most will benefit from it. This product is essential for long-coated dogs since it will make the post-bath brushing easier.

·         Rinse out the cream rinse, and give your dog a final once over to make sure you've removed all visible dirt.

·         Squeeze out as much excess water as possible, and towel dry your dog. Take care not to scrub long fur or it may become matted.

5.       Drying

Some people prefer to skip the drying step, and in some cases this is acceptable. However, blow drying does give the coat a finished look, and is required for long coats in order to keep your dog from becoming chilled. It also makes it easier to brush out mats.

6.       Nail Clipping

Once your dog is clean and dry, it's time to carry out any clipping he might need. First, examine your dog's nails to see if they need to be trimmed. Some people prefer to do this before the bath, but this leaves sharp edges on the nails. If you want to avoid being scratched, leave this task until after the bath.

Only trim the nails up to the pink "quick" just barely visible through the nail. If you go any further the nails will bleed and your dog is sure to yip. When dealing with black nails, just remove the tips.

7.       Fur Trimming

Some extra trimming may be necessary to help your dog stay clean. Check his pads to determine if the hair between them needs to be trimmed a bit. Excessive pad hair can become matted and also trap debris. You might also choose to trim a small amount of hair away from the anus of a long-coated dog to keep stools from becoming trapped.

Finally, a long-coated dog will benefit from having the overall length of his coat trimmed level with the floor. You can also round off the paws to give them a clean, finished look.

Conclusion

Now you know how to really clean a dog just like the professional groomers do. With a little practice, no one will be able to tell that you groomed your dog yourself!

Is your pet ready for rainy season?

After months of scorching heat, monsoon season provides a much-needed relief from summer. Dogs require special care during the monsoon. Looking after your pet and his hygiene needs can be a trying task in monsoon as they are most vulnerable in these months to fungal infection, allergies, fur loss problems, and stomach disorders.

While the monsoon showers are a welcome break to us, they can make our pet’s life more stressful. Just like how often your dog licks himself is an indicator of how well he has been cleaned, his toilet habits too say much about his health provided you've been keeping a close eye.

Contamination of water is very common in this season leading to many a stomach disorder among dogs. The best option is to give your dog hygienically prepared dog food and fresh water, as packaged meats on the market too might be contaminated due to excessive moisture in the air.

Monsoon rains, with high moisture content in the air, bring lot of health troubles like infections, cough, pneumonia, cold and fever (Flu), and loose motions for your pet. Therefore, we need to take special care with the onset of the monsoon season.

Diet

Owing to high humidity and heat dogs usually do not eat dry dog food during the summer and monsoon months. Home-cooked diets or wet food are perfectly suitable in these months as they contain the required amount of moisture. A natural balanced diet should be given to your dog comprising a bio available source of protein, carbohydrates, fibre, calcium, fat and vitamins.

A high source of fibre such as sweet potato, lean chicken, brown rice, and tofu can help boost your dog's metabolism, and ensure his continued health and well being.

Pet health problems in Monsoon

In absence of proper prevention, your pet can suffer various health issues during monsoon season. 

1. Due to high moisture content in air, it is likely that your canine or feline friend will suffer from several respiratory diseases. Pets mostly suffer from the infections of respiratory tract which may also be related to dog allergy and cat allergy. In order to keep your pets comfortable, you have to make sure their surroundings are warm and dry.

2. The high humidity levels in monsoon makes the wet fur smell due to breeding of fleas and worms, and it can also lead to fungal infections.

3. In addition, the cold weather can cause coughing, sneezing, and cold & fever in pets.

4. Monsoon season also brings mosquitoes which can transmit life threatening pet diseases like canine malaria, dog heartworm, West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE).

Effective pet caring tips

You must take good care of your pets during the rainy season. Here are some effective pet caring tips to keep your pet healthy and happy during this season:

     

1.       Food and water

You should not store food and water in open air because it will get contaminated and contaminated food and water on consumption can lead to digestive disorders and gastroenteritis. The ideal diet for your pet in monsoon season is clean drinking water and cooked food.

     2.       Raincoats

It is necessary for your pet to wear a rain coat in monsoon season, as it will ward off severe infections which is caused from wet paws. Further, your pet is prone to catching cold during the monsoon season; therefore, make sure they refrain from playing in the rain.

     

     3.       Exercise

Don’t forget to provide exercise on daily basis to your pet. Generally, pets feel lazy in monsoon season and hesitate to move their muscle. You should never allow your pet to laze around the day. Regular exercise and walks help your pet to be cheerful and energetic and help on proper blood circulation in the body.

     4.       Grooming

Last but not the least is grooming. Humidity level of air is high during the monsoon which cause smelly coat of dogs. You should learn dog grooming basics tips and techniques to do effective grooming during the monsoon season.

      

     -          Regular baths of pets is needed in the monsoon season.

     -          Don’t forget to apply anti tick and flea shampoo and conditioners during the bath.

     -     Your grooming process should also include ear cleaning, brushing, nail clipping and dental care.

With these practices, you can keep dirt and fleas away from your pet’s hair.

Do’s and Don’ts during Monsoon season for good pet’s health

Do’s	Don’ts
Watch for fleas and ticks in the fur of pet on daily basis and get a de-tick solution for your pet	Do not wash your pet frequently, as it makes your pet prone to fever and cold. You should never give bath to your pet more than once a month
Paws and fur must be dried and cleaned to save your pet from fungal infection	Without proper consultation from the vet, you should never use any new product or medication
Vaccination and de-worming must be done by vet before monsoon begins.	Don’t allow pet to keep smelling anything lying on the road, during rainy season. There are increased chances of infection and germs that will cause considerable harm to your pet.
Make sure to wipe your pet and dry his fur, when he comes back from walk	Don’t use any human product on your pooch, be it cleaning product or antiseptic
Dry bathing is ideal in monsoon season
Your pet must wear a muzzle while going out for walk

While you can set a daily cleansing routine for your dog in between his walks, it can be counterproductive if you are not going to feed him the right foods after all. Begin by washing his water and food bowl twice regularly, keeping his chews sanitised, and following it up with a well balanced diet, and you'll see the difference in his energy levels and the quality of fur.

How you know your dog loves you!!

For social animals that live in groups as humans and dogs do, it’s important to be able to tell one individual in the group from another through facial recognition. But until recently, the aptitude for recognizing facial features was presumed to be a quality that only humans and possibly primates possess.

These days, it’s difficult to know whether your dog truly loves you, or whether he’s just hanging around for the free cheese cubes and access to the toilet bowl water. As it turns out, this highly developed skill is one we also share with our canine companions, which makes sense, since it’s an established fact that faces and eye contact play an important role in human-dog communication.

It’s a scary thought: What if your dog’s just not that into you? We think it’s important for you to recognize the signs of true puppy love.

Your dog loves you? Here’s how to know:

1. Dog returns your calls:

We all have friends who call and call and call their dogs before they get a response. Frankly, it’s a little uncomfortable for everyone. It’s like the more they bellow, “Mr. Ramesh, come here” the deeper into the bushes the dog disappears. Ask yourself, when you call your dog, does he quickly bound to your side? Or does he seem annoyed and give you that I need more space look?

2. Dog’s tail wags to the right:

According to a 2007 study by two Italian veterinarians and one neuroscientist, the direction your dog wags his tail says a lot about how he’s feeling. If he wags to his right, you’re probably the human of his dreams. To his left, and it may be he’s just not that into you. Come on, could we make this stuff up?

Oh, and one signal that shouldn’t be analyzed, scrutinized, or otherwise taken for anything more than face value: He humps your leg. This behavior indicates little, besides a willingness to publicly embarrass you in front of your in-laws. And yeah, we went there.

3. He’s not hung up on your appearance:

You get the feeling your dog’s up for cuddling, regardless of what you’re wearing, when you last showered, or how foul your morning breath is. He doesn’t care that you’re still sporting sneakers from 1983 or notice that you haven’t combed your hair in six months. Gain 20 pounds? No problem. That’s just more of you to love.

4. He takes an interest in what you’re doing:

You’re frying pakodas and he acts like it’s the most fascinating thing he’s ever seen. Or you’re preparing a pizza and he becomes more rapt with each slice of mozzarella you position. If you feel his eyes on you, even when you’re simply making a peanut butter sandwich, you can count on this dog to be mesmerized by your every move.

5. He bristles when you talk about others:

Do his hackles come up when you mention Shaggy or Brownie? What about at the dog park – does it seem like it’s impossible to pet another pup without You Know Who wriggling in between?

Recent studies

According to the University of Helsinki study, dogs also have more difficulty identifying faces that are inverted. However, since they spend a lot of time looking at the eyes in both normally oriented and upside-down faces, it suggests they do recognize the objects as faces regardless of orientation.

The overall results of their study indicate that dogs — like humans and primates — are indeed capable of facial recognition.

Healthy dog paws !!

Since dogs spend so much time running, jumping, fetching and generally romping indoors and outside, is it any wonder that having healthy paws is so important for a dog's well being? A dog's paw is made up of skin, bone, tendons, ligaments, blood supply, and connective tissue. But as tough as they are, paw pads are not made of armor.

As vulnerable as a human foot, paws need to be taken care of and pampered. An owner wouldn’t walk across a hot parking lot or a snow covered field without the proper protection on their feet. A paw pad needs to be checked for a myriad of issues that should be addressed including nail length, cracked pads and foreign objects wedged in between paw pads.

Trimming

If a dog’s nails are click, click, clicking when she walks or gets snagged easily, then she is in need of being clipped. The nails should barely skim the ground. Most vets offer this service if the owner is too anxious to do it themselves or the dog is unwilling to have it done. The hair in between the pads does cause painful matting if not trimmed regularly. Comb hair out and trim it even with the pads. Check for pebbles or other debris while trimming.

Cracked Pads

Pads do crack and bleed if they get too dry. Don’t use human lotion on the dogs pads, it may soften pads too much and lead to more issues. Instead look into pad moisturizers specifically designed for a dog’s dried out paws. While rubbing in the lotion give the dog a paw massage by rubbing between the pads and up in between each toe.

Summertime Care

Dogs paws feel heat as much as human’s do on the bottom of their feet. Keep this in mind while out walking during the heat of the summer. During the summer months, exercise your dog before sunup or after sundown to avoid pad blistering and other heat-related conditions. To avoid blistering and burning, avoid walking on hot surfaces (such as parking lots or sand) If blistering or burning occurs, wash with an antibacterial soap and loosely wrap with gauze.

Wintertime Care

Wintertime presents more issues for dogs like frostbitten toes. To prevent cold weather damage to dog's paws, avoid going outside for long periods of time. Excessive exposure to cold weather could cause paw pads to dry out. This will lead to pads becoming chapped and cracking. When coming home from a daily walk, either wipe down or rinse the paws with warm water to wash away any chemical they may have picked up. Another alternative is to slather the dog’s paws with Vaseline before a walk, or wrestle the dog into canine snow boots.

Cuts and scrapes.

Occasionally dogs will cut the pad of their paw and require some first aid. Clean the cut out with an anti bacterial wash, put some anti bacterial cream on the cut and bandage the paw. Of course that is easier said than done. If the dog is unwilling to have their paw tended too, the owner should do the best they can under the circumstances.

Activity participation

Dogs thrive on participating in activities just like any other family member. We take them to the store with us, for a hike up the nearest mountain and to the seashore for the weekend with many opportunities for dogs to walk on varied terrain.

To keep those very important paws in top shape, you could err on the side of caution and inspect your dog's paws every time they come in from outside to make sure they've not picked up a stick, thorn, or bee stinger in a paw or in-between the toes.

However, if your dog suddenly starts limping, you should examine your dog’s paws immediately. Look between toes, on the top of the foot and between the pads on the bottom of the feet.

Does your dog spend an inordinate amount of time licking his feet? If so, this could be a warning sign. Dog owners need to investigate the source of the irritant to determine if there is a particular reason or location of the dog’s attention to its feet.

Dogs heat stroke- do's and don't!!

Hot weather spells trouble for dogs. Because they can’t release heat by sweating the way humans do, heat and humidity can raise canine body temperatures to dangerous levels. Heat stroke kills, and heat stress (a less severe condition) can take a serious toll on a dog’s health. Unfortunately, heat-related problems are among the most common summer canine ailments. Prolonged periods of high temperatures, such as we are having now in India during May and June, can be life threatening to people and to dogs. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

The dog’s body is built to preserve heat which is great in the winter, but they are susceptible to overheating in the summer. They have sweat glands only in their noses and the pads of their feet

Dogs that are normally clipped should be given summer haircuts, but don’t shave dogs with double coats (German Shepherds, Huskies, Collies, Samoyeds). Their fur provides protection from the heat. Shaving them can actually cause heat stroke.

Temperatures that are not uncomfortable for humans can be life threatening to a dog. Short nosed breeds, pugs and bulldogs, are particularly vulnerable to heat. An overheated dog can suffer brain and organ damage in 15 minutes.

The symptoms of heat stress include profuse panting, salivation, an anxious expression, staring without seeing, failing to respond to commands, skin that is warm and dry, fever, rapid pulse, fatigue or exhaustion, muscular weakness, and physical collapse.

Symptoms of heat stroke

The symptoms of heat stroke or heat prostration can include a warm nose and foot pads, glazed eyes, heavy panting, rapid pulse, a dark red tongue, fever, dizziness, vomiting or diarrhea, immobility, and unconsciousness. Brain damage occurs when the body’s temperature reaches 106o to 107 degree F. A dog’s normal temperature is 100.5 to 101.5 F

If your dog experiences any of the above symptoms, provide immediate first aid. Your rapid response may save your dog’s life.

Reduce your dog’s temperature by moving her into shade and immersing her gradually into cool water, such as in a stream, pond, fountain, horse trough, bath tub, or wading pool. Otherwise, wet the dog thoroughly, pouring a continuous stream of cool water over her body, beginning with the head and extremities, from a hose, watering can, bottle, or pan. If possible, apply ice packs to her head and neck. Apply wet towels to her abdomen, groin, legs, head, and neck.

If you can, take your dog’s temperature and continue applying cool wet towels until it returns to normal. As soon as possible, take your dog to a veterinary clinic. Even if she seems to have recovered, her body temperature could increase again; heat stress always carries a risk of brain damage; and depending on the dog’s age, physical condition, and the amount of time spent with an elevated temperature, complications can occur.

Taking care of new puppies!

A puppy will become a new family member, and they will be completely dependent on you to meet all of their essential needs in order for them to be happy, fit and healthy.  This will include good nutrition, veterinary care, socialisation, training and regular exercise.  If raised in the right way, a new puppy will make a wonderful companion, but you have to put the time and effort in. Puppies are without a doubt some of the most adorable things on the planet. Parenting a new puppy, however, is no walk in the park. Here’s a guide to help you care for the new addition to the family.

When the time comes to finally bring your new puppy home for the first time, you can pretty much count on three things: unbridled joy, cleaning up your puppy’s accidents, and a major lifestyle adjustment. As you’ll soon learn, a growing puppy needs much more than a food bowl and a doghouse to thrive. And while it may be a lot of work initially, it’s well worth the effort. Establishing good and healthy habits in those first few sleep-deprived weeks will lay the foundation for many dog-years of happiness for you and your puppy.

Essentials 
Your puppy is going to need a room or at least a place he can call his own, and a cage or crate will fill this bill. You are better off getting one that is big enough for him to use as an adult. The pup will need food and water bowls, toys to chew on and play with, a collar and leash, a bag of a good quality dry puppy food, and plenty of newspapers or training pads. The bills are starting to add up!

The big day arrives, and it is off to pick up the puppy. Many people worry that this is a traumatic event for the puppy, but it probably is not as bad as you might think. Coming home will start out with a car ride from the shelter or breeder’s home. Try to keep this from being a terrifying experience for the pup. The main problem dogs have with car rides usually is not what we humans refer to as motion sickness, but simple anxiety about the vibrations, sounds, and to a lesser degree, the movement. Many dogs that have developed problems with car rides get nervous or even nauseous before the engine is even started. It is important that this first trip not be a bad experience that regresses into a repetitious behavioral pattern.

Before you leave the kennel, try to get the pup to go to the bathroom so there are no floods or surprises stimulated by all the excitement of the ride. On this first trip home, we break a cardinal rule about traveling with pets. We do not put them in a crate for traveling. Remember, they are small and easy to hold. Rather, we have someone other than the driver hold the puppy in a blanket or towel and talk or in some way try to distract him from the ride. If you have a long way to go and need to stop for the puppy to relieve himself, do not use a highway rest stop. At his young age, the puppy has very little, if any, protection from common dog diseases, and these areas can easily be contaminated with the organisms causing these conditions. We never recommend these facilities for pets of any age, but if you must use them, wait until your puppy has completed his vaccination series.

Being with people the first day home
Leaving her mother and littermates will probably bring about some form of separation anxiety. However, this can be greatly diminished if you plan your schedules so that you are with the puppy constantly for the first 3 to 4 days. Some authors suggest leaving the puppy alone and give her time to herself to adjust to the new surroundings. We disagree. In our homes, we plan for this introductory period by keeping the puppy involved with plenty of attention from children and other family members through every one of her waking moments. When we are not with the puppy, she is eating, sleeping, or going to the bathroom. You will be amazed how time spent in this manner will speed up the housebreaking process. If the children are young or are not familiar with how to handle puppies, you should spend some time with them during these first few days explaining common sense rules on how to play with the pup.