Archive for March, 2009

dog health problems diarrhea
i have a 4 yr. old miniature poodle who is in good health. he has had Lyme disease since he was 6 mos. old?

he was given antibiotics a few times when he refused to eat (sign that lyme is acting up). the past month or so, he has been having diarrhea. took him to the vet and they prescribed metronidazole. i gave it to him for 10 days and he was fine. a few days off of the medication, he started having diarrhea again. the vet put him on another 10 days. (through all this he has been acting fine, eating, playing, etc) how long can a dog stay on this medication ? my vet said that some dogs have to stay on this for a couple of months before the symptoms disappear. any dog owner have a similar problem >? i’m getting worried .

I have no had to use this drug on my dogs, but where I work we have had to use it for dogs boarding with us if they get upset tummies, but we only give them 1 or 2 and they are usually better after that.
Here are couple of sites that other people have asked questions.
Hope they help you, and hope your puppy gets better

Crystal

Emergency Dog Health Care : How To Treat Dog Stomach Problems

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dog allergies itchy

Hypothyroidism in dogs occurs when your dog’s thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormone. The thyroid hormone is essential for regulating your dog’s metabolism, so when your dog doesn’t produce enough of it your dog usually starts to exhibit some noticeable symptoms:

Your dog may become lethargic

Your dog will probably gain weight without a change in appetite

Your dog may develop bacterial infections on his skin

His skin may become dry

There may be hair loss, especially on your dog’s trunk and tail

There may be a darkening and thickening of the skin where your dog has lost hair

Your dog may not be able to tolerate the cole and may look for warm places

His heart rate may slow

He may become aggressive

He may become depressed

He may develop chronic ear infections

Some of these symptoms, such as hair loss, bacterial infections and chronic ear infections, are similar to those found when a dog has allergic reactions If your dog suffers from chronic ear infections it can sometimes be difficult for an owner to determine the cause.

Why Hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism can be inherited but it can also be triggered by pollutants, allergies and other environmental factors. It usually begins in dogs around the age of 2 to 4 years of age, though it can occur in dogs as late as 10 years old. Some breeds, such as Golden Retrievers and Doberman Pinschers are more likely to be hypothyroid than other breeds. Hypothyroidism is rare in toy and small breeds.

Clean ears regularly

If your dog has frequent ear infections you should make sure that you are cleaning his ears with a good ear cleaner regularly. A good ear cleaner will help keep the ears at the proper pH level to discourage bacterial and yeast growth. Cleaning the ear will also remove debris that can trigger infections.

You should also make sure that you keep the hair inside your dog’s ear trimmed or plucked. This allows air to circulate inside the ear which helps to keep the ear drier. Infections can develop when the ear is moist, so a drier ear is a less hospitable environment for things to grow.

It could be allergies

If you suspect that your dog may have chronic ear infections because of allergies then you should make sure that he isn’t bedeviled by fleas or other parasites. Some dogs are allergic to fleas – even the bite from one flea can send them into a gnawing, scratching frenzy. An allergy to flea bites can result in flea bite dermatitis which leaves the skin red and raw and subject to infections.

Your dog could also be allergic to something in his food so you can take the sensible action of reading the ingredients and changing to a food that contains something different. Many dogs are allergic to corn and wheat so you could change to a food that contains rice or oatmeal, for instance. Food allergies are a frequent cause of chronic ear infections.

Let your vet decide

If your dog does have chronic ear infections and you suspect either hypothyroidism or aller gies, your best course of action is to take your dog to your veterinarian for a definitive diagnosis. Although serious, the condition can be easily treated. Your vet can determine if your dog is hypothyroid (or if he has autoimmune thyroiditis, the other name for hypothyroidism) with some blood work. If your dog is hypothyroid the condition can be treated with an inexpensive daily thyroid pill. You can see improvement in your dog’s condition in just two to three weeks. When a hypothyroid dog is on regular medication the dog should live a normal life with no side effects. And, all chronic ear infections and other symptoms should disappear.

In the meantime you can treat your dog’s dry and irritated skin with a good oatmeal shampoo and conditioner that will ease the itchiness and add moisture back to the skin and coat and your dog’s ear infections with an all around product like Ear Aid, that will cleanse and moisturize, heal and protect.

So, if your dog has chronic ear infections consider whether he has any of the other symptoms of hypothyroidism. If the ear infections are due to hypothyroidism you can treat the problem and help your dog very easily just by getting the right diagnosis from your vet.

A bad smell means that something is wrong in the ears, and that something usually hurts. Treating the cause of the smell will not only have you snuggling up to your dog again, but will have him feeling more comfortable. That’s a win-win situation for both of you. http://www.happytailsspa.com/

Cat or Dog with Itchy Skin? Allergies affect pets too.

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dog food j d
please translate into italian please?

please help with basic italian translation.
Please translate following sentences/questions into italian
a.Sometimes I cook.
b.Who tidies up your home?
c.Luisa, do you do housework?
d. Do you vacuum at home?
e. Do youu(pl.) go grocery shopping, sometimes?
f.Does Luca prepare the food for the dog?
g.Who does the gardening in your home?
h.Luca and Chiara empty the bin every day.
i.We wash the dishes after dinner.
j.I do the washing every Saturday afternoon.
k.Do you help your mum with tidying up the house?
l.Who cleans the bathroom in your home?
m.They clean their room every Saturday morning.

thankyou so much, it is such a great help. :)

lol
sorry i would love to help but i dont know italian in that detail.
good luck with your homework!!! ?
ILYYYY

dogfood

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natural dog allergies treatment

If you or a family member suffers from a dog dander allergy there may still be hope if you select the right breed of dog. Allergic reactions to dogs are caused by dog dander which is dead skin, So obviously the best dogs for people with dog allergies are those that rejuvenate their skin less and produce less dander. Fortunately there are many breeds that are considered hypoallergenic and more allergy friendly.

Popular Dogs For People With Allergies

Poodles are always a popular choice for those with dog allergies. Poodles rank high in terms of intelligence and they were originally bred to be retrievers so they are naturally playful. The range of sizes available also adds to their popularity as the small toy size make for good lap dogs for older people.

Shi-zu dogs are one of the oldest breeds and originally come from China where they became popular pets of the royalty. Like most small dogs they do not require a lot of walking, which make them great pets for someone who is less mobile than normal.

Italian Greyhounds are as you would guess by the name the speedster on the list of dogs for people with allergies. They are very intelligent but can be a little timid at times. Their short coat makes them sensitive to cold weather so they are far better suited for someone living in a place with shorter winters.

In recent years the market has seen an increased demand for cross breeds. Combining popular family friendly dogs like Labradors with more hypoallergenic dogs like poodles to produce a labradoodle. A large part of the reason for the success of such cross breeds is the quest to find better dogs for people with allergies.

Controlling Dog Dander

Even the best dogs for people with allergies produce some dander but fortunately there are things you can do to cut down on the amount of dander that a person with a dog allergy may be exposed to.

  • Vacuum often with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter.
  • Use a air purifier to help keep the air cleaner.
  • Keep dogs off furniture and beds, you may also consider keeping dogs out of the bedroom depending on the severity of the allergy.
  • Make sure that the dog is properly groomed but be careful of over washing as this can lead to dry skin.
  • On days when pollen levels are high you may want to limit your dogs outside time as they will tract pollen inside with them on their fur and the effects of allergies are cumulative, even if you do not suffer pollen allergies.

Its always wise to take your time making any decision on which breed of dog you will purchase, though tough you must avoid impulse puppy buying. Remember this will hopefully be a member of the family for a long time and you want the dog and everyone else to live comfortably together. Choosing one of the dogs for people with allergies will is not a guarantee everyone will live happy ever after and allergy free but it does increase the odds.

Natural Remedies For Allergies

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dog food ingredients list
Did you know that Orijen dog food is actually NOT grain free?

How can a company market a dog food as GRAIN FREE when it is actually not? Orijen has deceivingly listed corn in the ingredients list as “zea mays“…how can that be legal? Corn is a grain.
Wow…thanks for the link to the FAQ…but, the reason I found out about this is because my friend`s dog is allergic to corn and had a major reaction to Orijen. So, I am not sure how they could say that there will be no reaction in dogs who are allergic.
One more thing…if you look up the definition of ZEA MAYS, it says GRAIN…so why would they not just say CORN SILK on the ingredients list, instead?

It isnt so much corn being in the food, it is about the ingredient being low quality. Knowing Orijen, the corn they use is high quality. It is a grain option, just like oatmeal or brown rice. As long as its high quality, then there is no need to worry unless you are feeding grain free for allergies or cancer.

Dog Food Recall List – Pet Food Recall List – Eukanuba

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dog cancer ribbon
Roy Disney, local benefactor, dies
Roy Edward Disney, who despite toiling for decades in the shadow of his famous uncle put his stamp on the Walt Disney Co. through the revival of its renowned animation unit and charitable contributions, lost his battle with cancer Wednesday. He was 79.
Speed Painting A Special Picture for Courtney

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dog food brands at petsmart
What’s the best dog food brand for a GSD? A toy breed dog?

I want a really good quality brand with minimal fillers. (I know to best stay away from Pedigree or Purina, etc.) And where can I find these brands? Local pet stores or pet stores like Petsmart?

canadai

.

[NEWS] Pet Food Alternatives to Recall

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dog food allergies

Dogs just like men have allergies too. That is why dog food allergies are one of the most common types of allergies and as a pet owner, you need to be aware of it and find ways to cure it.

When your dog is allergies to a certain type of food, it is important and sometimes vital to his health that you discover exactly what this type is and avoid it in his diet.

Because some types of body allergic responses can even be fatal, while some will just cause irritation in your dog.

Dog allergies are very similar to human allergies. Just like when we are allergic to a specific fruit or food, what we do as the solution is that we avoid it.

The same goes with your dog too. There is usually no cure for allergic dogs, but to simply avoid the type of food they are allergic to.

But there is an important question you need to ask first…

“Does my dog really has allergies?”

Because sometimes it is not easy to tell the difference between your dog not liking a certain food, being sick, or being allergic to it.

Here are some common signs of allergies to help you find out:

Scratching – because of skin irritation

Sneezing

Coughing

Hair loss

Vomiting

If you see one of more of the above signs quite often, never assume that this is just a new habit your dog picked up. Dog allergies can make your dog very uncomfortable.

Take your dog to the vet or keep a careful eye of him to find out if he is allergic to his food.

You can change his diet to test different food and see which one he reacts to.

If you think your dog most likely has allergies, you can try the best and easiest dog allergies treatments to help cure your dog’s problem.

Dog Food Commercial – Bad Dog Food and Dog Food Allergies – The Shocking Facts

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dog food bin uk
Natural dog food brand with the TV advert with the dog that says “Tastes better than what was in there!”?

I saw an advert (UK television) for a new brand of natural dog food with a dog at the end that says “Tastes better than whatever was in there!” while looking at a bin, and throughout the advert plates of vegetables and meat are shown against the food (i.e. what’s in the food).

What is the brand?

It’s Pedigree better by nature.

I love that advert!

http://www.pedigreebetterbynature.com/betterbynature/Homepage/index.aspx

United Kingdom Talk Video Thursday 23rd April 2009

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