Posts Tagged ‘Health’

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Five ways to make your dog smile this summer!

Thursday, August 2nd, 2012
Happy dog earthbath summer smiling dog

This smiling dog can’t get enough of summer!

Nothing makes us smile like our dogs when they are obviously happy: there’s nothing quite like a sparkly-eyed, grinning dog to banish the blues! And here are our favorite ways to get our dogs smiling in the summer months… let us know yours in the comments below!

1. Challenge your dog’s mental skills and keep his cognitive functioning sharp! Everyone recognizes the importance of physical exercise for dogs, but it’s equally important to exercise your dog’s brain too, just as it is in humans!  Playing some interactive brain games with your dog is a fun way to bond and do something a little bit different and more challenging than the typical spin around the neighborhood, while building connections in the brain and staving off boredom. There are many different kids of boredom-busting toys that require problem solving on the market, including games that require your dog to solve various “puzzles” to retrieve a toy or treat, or you can come up with some of your own, like hide and seek – one variation on this traditional game is to hide some treats all over your house and play “hide and seek”with the treats… or, of course, you can be the hider and challenge your dog to come find you!  You can also continue to teach your dog different words: one special dog, a border collie named Chaser, christened the “smartest dog in the world” has learned the names of over 1000 different objects. While your dog might not be able to compete at Chaser’s level, you could certainly try to teach him the difference between a couple of his toys or treats and train him to fetch the one you ask for.  Heck, if your dog gets good at this, think of all of the things you could train him to fetch for you: a cognitive game could easily turn your dog into a practical helper around the house!

(more…)

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Peee-Yewww! Tips on reducing doggy gas!

Monday, May 14th, 2012
bulldog sleeping dog farts

Silent-but-deadly... Oh no!

It’s a Friday night, you’re all curled up with your sweetheart on the couch, engrossed in the latest DVD new release, sharing a glass of wine, when out of nowhere… OH. MY. GOD. A certain SMELL hits your nostrils, blowing you off the couch, nearly spilling your wine, and thoroughly ruining the mood. You look down, where your four legged friend is obliviously snoring (and farting) away.

Sound familiar?

While some amount of gas is normal and a natural by-product of, well, being a carbon based organism that takes in food and converts it into usable energy, for some dogs, flatulence is more than a source of occasional comedic annoyance around the living room but more like a horrible room clearing, frequent problem.

A common problem for big, barrel-chested breeds like Boxers and Bulldogs, flatulence can afflict any breed and stem from a variety of problems.

Most commonly, post-dinner gas results from wolfing down food too quickly and swallowing significant amounts of air in the process. If you feel that the flatulence is getting too excessive, it’s best to check with your vet to ensure that an infection or illness isn’t at the root of your dog’s odoriferous emissions. Diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite are usual accompaniments if there’s a serious problem.

If serious health problems have been ruled out, the gas is most likely due to a dietary issue including a potential allergy or sensitivity to an ingredient. Now it’s just a matter of trial and error: a good place to start is to change your dog’s food to a higher quality dog food that contains whole foods and no poor quality fillers like corn, split grains, or wheat. It’s also important to slow down your dog’s eating speed. Eating too fast can lead not only to bloating and intestinal gas, but also choking, obesity (since feelings of fullness aren’t triggered until too much food has already been eaten), and even the dangerous and even potentially fatal condition of gastric torsion.

Improve your dog’s mealtimes (and your indoor air quality) by:

  • Feeding a high quality dog food without cheap fillers
  • Feed smaller meals more frequently (so he isn’t so starving when it’s time for dinner that he literally inhales his food),
  • Using a specially designed dish called a “slow feeder” or “obstacle bowl” that contains shapes and protrusions on the bottom of the bowl that decrease the amount of food your dog can ingest at one time.
  • Adding canine-specific probiotic additives or a teaspoon of plain yogurt with active, live cultures to the dinner bowl is good for overall digestive health.
  • Adding activated charcoal to the food, which has been known to diminish the odor, if not the situation itself.
  • Keep your dogs active! A post-dinner walk will get the juices flowing, help ease digestion, keep the weight down and boredom at bay – for both of you. And any post-dinner gas that’s released can happen outside in the fresh air!
  • Keep a bottle of earthbath spritz nearby — it does double duty as a natural air freshener as well as doggy deodorizer!

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Do you really have to brush your dog’s teeth?

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012
dog dental health

Here's a happy dog that's proud to show off his bright pearly whites!

It’s that time of year again… February is here and that means it’s another month to talk about the importance of your pet’s dental health!

…I can hear the groans from here. And believe me, I get it. I think just about every dog owner would be lying if they said they were truly diligent about brushing and flossing their own teeth regularly, let alone brushing their dog’s teeth. As if there wasn’t already enough to do in the day, right?!

But there are some pretty important reasons why you shouldn’t ignore that “doggy” breath. It doesn’t have to be the norm that dogs have terrible breath; in fact, bad breath is usually a sign of a more serious health problem, ranging from rotting teeth and periodontal disease, to potentially life-threatening diseases in the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys.

How can a lack of pearly whites cause heart disease, you ask? It’s a valid question: the two don’t seem like they’d be at all related. But over time, the plaque and bacteria build-up on the teeth can enter the bloodstream and travel to the most critical organs in the body and lodge there, creating disease.

Most people don’t know that the most common health problem in dogs is actually gum disease. In fact, over 75% of all dogs show symptoms of this oral disease by the time they are three years old! And unfortunately, once periodontal disease sets in, there is no way to completely reverse it. The upside to this somewhat alarming statistic and statement is that oral disease is both a preventable health problem, and one that can be slowed or stopped with vigilant care once you notice it sets in. And as always, with problems like these, the sooner, the better.

If you’ve actually started a dental hygiene program for your puppy, our hats go off to you. You’re more vigilant about your dog’s dental health than 98% of the population, including veterinarians (we checked: out of all of the vets we asked, not a one replied that they brushed their dogs’ teeth daily… though all admitted sheepishly that they know they “should” and they still recommend the practice to their patients)!

If you’re unsure how periodontal disease manifests, we’ve listed the symptoms below, from least to most severe indicating the increasing progression of the disease. Since this month is all about pet dental health awareness, take some time this month to check your dog for:

  • Bad breath
  • Discolored and yellow teeth
  • Swollen gums
  • Drooling
  • Blood in the saliva
  • Broken or missing teeth
  • Nasal and eye discharge

Changes in behavior including:

  • Difficulty in chewing (including reluctance to chew/disinterest in toys and treats)
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss

EASY things you can do to ensure your lovable canines have nothing but healthy and strong canines and molars include:

Feeding a good quality, excellent dry dog food, without the wheat and corn that can act like decay-causing sugar to the teeth. Dry dog food also acts like mini scrubbies that brush away plaque and tartar, whereas wet dog food creates sticky tartar formation. If you feed wet food to your dog, make sure that the majority of his diet is made up of dry food.

Giving your dog dental chew toys and bones like knobby toys, rope toys and flossy toys – all of which help to scrape plaque and tartar off of the teeth. Pork skin is also a great choice as it is more digestible and nutritional than rawhide but still scrapes off tartar very effectively.

Making a yearly dental exam appointment (for the two of you, while you’re at it!). Most vets actually honor Pet Dental Health month and offer specials on teeth checkups and cleanings during February! Ask your vet’s office about this today!

And, ideally, of course… you’ll be:

Brushing your dog’s teeth at least once a week. Once you get into this habit, and incorporate it into his weekly brushing/grooming routine, it won’t take much time at all.

  • Use a special toothbrush made especially for dogs, a soft child’s toothbrush, a finger toothbrush, a gauze pad around a finger, or even a cotton swab.
  • Use special dog-specific toothpaste specially formulated for dogs, as this toothpaste is flavored to taste appealing to dogs, and, much like human toothpaste, also contains ingredients that continue to fight plaque formation and tooth decay long after brushing.
  • Focus on the back molars as they tend to develop plaque more quickly than frontal teeth.
  • DO NOT USE human toothpaste because human toothpaste contains foaming ingredients that can be toxic to dogs. In addition, the taste of human toothpaste, baking soda, or salt are all unpalatable to dogs and could upset their tummies or create an allergic reaction.

Keep smiling!casino aussie

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Joint support explained: Does your dog have creaky knees (or hips or elbows)?

Monday, October 10th, 2011
dancing healthy dog

With a little joint support your dog will be dancing!

Your dog may not be arthritic, but he may still benefit from some joint support. As the snap of fall chills the air, old injuries or general sensitivity can manifest in creaky joints and stiffness (just as in humans)!  And just as we humans benefit from taking our Glucosamine/Chondroitin and Omega-3 supplements, dogs can also benefit from a little extra joint support.

But what specific dogs should really take joint supplements?

  • Large breed dogs – simply the size of their frame means that their joints sustain more stress than joints of smaller breeds. Larger dogs are also more at risk for joint disorders like hip and elbow dysplasia, even if they’re not showing signs of it yet.
  • Active adult dogs, especially those within the “working” or “sporting” breeds – many working and sporting breeds are notorious for suffering from joint problems, and keeping them active without pain will ensure they stay happy.
  • Adult dogs that seem to have some difficulty with mobility – if you notice your dog seems to have trouble rising after he’s been sleeping, is stiff after exercise or generally seems stiffer than usual, especially as the temperature drops, consult with your vet first, but giving him some extra joint support in the form of glucosamine and chondroitin supplements and Omega 3s certainly can’t hurt. Many vets can even prescribe an injectable form of glucosamine that works much faster and more effectively than pills.
  • Overweight dogs – Just as in humans, any extra weight the frame has to carry creates excess stress on the joints and can develop into arthritis. Consider an exercise regimen for your overweight dog – as he sheds the pounds, he’ll love the stimulation from the exercise even more, and he’ll feel better too.
  • Older dogs showing signs of arthritis or other mobility difficulties like stiffness, limping, or  lameness
  • Young large breed dogs – supporting the growth of these large breed dogs with an excellent diet, good exercise regimen, and joint supplements if your vet recommends it will ensure they develop into strong and healthy dogs.
  • Breeds prone to hip dysplasia – chances are, if you have a dog that’s prone to hip dysplasia, you’re already aware of it. Just as with developing large breed dogs, keeping these dogs trim, fit, and healthy through a great exercise and diet routine will ensure they live a long and happily active life.

    The key ingredients you’ll see in joint supplements and what they do:

  • Glucosamine and Chondroitin: You’ve probably seen these two ingredients listed together on just about every joint support supplement, and are even found in many “joint-specific” foods and treats (“Happy Hips!”). These two ingredients work best together, which is why it’s rare to see one without the other. Both are vital to the production and maintenance of the smooth cartilage that covers the bones of a joint. Humans, dogs, and cats of any age can benefit from glucosamine and chondroitin supplements, which simply work in a preventative, truly “supporting” way to help lubricate and maintain healthy cartilage.
  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Found naturally in fish and some oils like flaxseed, these antioxidants help to stabilize cells against the effects of destructive substances including free radicals, the molecules that damage cells, including those in the joints and skin.
  • Antioxidants: Vitamins A, C, E, citrus bioflavonoids, quercetin, DMG, grape seed extract, selenium, and zinc all help to neutralize free radicals. The more one ages, and the more stress one is exposed to (in the form of pollution, poor nutrition, and emotional stress), the more free radicals are produced due to natural “oxidative” action of the cells. So antioxidants help to scavenge up and clear up the oxidants (also known as free radicals) that are a byproduct of this naturally-occurring cellular function. Left to their own devices, the free radicals float around the body and do damage to tissues, resulting in wrinkles (in humans), and poor skin and hair/coat health, and internal ways like pain and decreased joint mobility.
  • MSM: Methysulfonylmethane is a naturally occurring compound and organic source of sulfur used in normal cartilage production is most effective in combination with glucosamine and chondroitin.

Remember, the level of joint support your dog requires depends on a number of factors: age, breed, size, weight, level of activity, and current signs of pain or stiffness.  The best thing to do before starting a joint support regimen is to ask your veterinarian about it during your next annual checkup. He can recommend the best treatment or prevention plan for your individual dog.

 casino aussie

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Natural Remedies: Acupuncture For Your Pet?

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

Pain, arthritis, digestive problems, kidney failure, allergies, anxiety: these are just some of the ailments and illnesses that acupuncture can effectively treat.

…in animals.

Did you think I was talking about acupuncture for human maladies? You wouldn’t be wrong if so: just as in humans, acupuncture can effectively heal and even reverse many of the similar diseases and symptoms that afflict pets.  Even though acupuncture has been used on people for thousands of years in China, it wasn’t so long ago that the Western world only thought of acupuncture as that weird looking, slightly skin-crawling concept of sticking needles all over one’s body, and… eeek… leaving them there. But the results were solid, people started feeling better, yoga devotees, health fanatics and soccer moms alike started swearing by the treatment, acupuncturists proliferated, and techniques in alternative medicine became commonplace. And as holistic therapies become more and more common for people in the West, so too are they becoming accepted forms of treatment for pets here too (though according to the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, acupuncture has been used on animals for at least 3000 years!).

How does acupuncture work?

The principle of acupuncture is based on the belief that a being’s overall physical, mental, and emotional health depends on the state of its Qi or chi, thought of as an indeterminate and immeasurable life force of vital energy that flows throughout the body. If anything blocks the flow of chi, such as bacteria, virus, inflammation, etc., pain and illness can manifest in a number of ways.

Nerve endings in the body contain trigger points or “acupoints” which are stimulated by specifically-placed acupuncture needles to help release endorphins, reduce swelling, relieves spasms, and ultimately, restores the flow of energy, or chi, through the body to provide relief from pain.

Veterinary acupuncture sessions can last from 10 to 60 minutes, depending on the animal’s condition and sensitivity. Veterinarians assess the dog’s condition and ailments, and place the needles accordingly. For example, when searching for the underlying cause of disease, Chinese medicine practitioners will often start with inserting acupuncture needles at the “liver points.” Because the liver filters over a liter of blood every minute, it is responsible for detoxifying, nourishing, replenishing, and storing blood. So it’s not a stretch to believe that the health of one’s liver is a reflection of one’s overall health and well-being. According to the philosophy of Chinese medicine, the liver is responsible for the smooth flow of energy throughout the body, so stimulating these points will help release general blockages and stimulate free flow of chi, which will help heal other ailments throughout the body.

What does acupuncture treat (in humans and animals!)?

  • Musculoskeletal problems: Acupuncture is probably best known for treating these kinds of problems, including pain, stiffness, spinal disc problems, soreness, back and neck pain, degenerative joint disease (like hip and elbow dysplasia), osteoarthritis, and sports injuries.
  • Neurological disorders: Seizures, some paralysis
  • Digestive Problems: Gastric ulcers, vomiting, constipation (the ultimate blockage!), diarrhea, etc.
  • Chronic Conditions: Behavioral and emotional problems like aggressiveness, anxiety, irritation; asthma, allergies, hypo and hyperthyroidism, and skin problems.

How to find a qualified veterinary acupuncturist?

Only licensed veterinarians can practice acupuncture on pets in most states in the U.S., and in those that don’t require a veterinarian acupuncturist also have a veterinary license, it is HIGHLY advisable to seek one out with a license regardless! To find a vet who performs acupuncture and has successfully completed an approved veterinary acupuncture course, contact the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture or the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society.

Have you ever used acupuncture on your pet? What did you use it to treat? Please share your story with us in the comments below!casino aussie

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