The Facts About Panosteitis

Filed under Dogs Health and Care by on July 16, 2008 at 4:53 PM {no comments}

Panosteitis is a bone disease which generally occurs in the young dogs that belong to some of the larger breeds, such as German shepherds, great Danes, Doberman Pinschers, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, and basset hounds. It is the most common in German shepherds. Beyond being common in the younger members of large breeds, the cause of panosteitis is not really known, although some suspected causes are viruses, vascular problems, parasites, allergies, and changes in the dog’s hormones. Panosteitis is seen in males more than it is seen in females.

The problem itself generally affects the long bones in a dog’s body, namely the humerus and the femur, which make up the bones in the upper parts of the forelimbs and hindquarters. In some cases, it affects the lower part of the limbs as well. For the most part, dogs who get panosteitis are between the ages of six months and eighteen months, but sometimes older dogs get it as well.

So what should you do when your dog gets panosteitis? First of all, make sure that your vet sees your dog, because he will be the best person to diagnose the problem. Panosteitis basically causes your dog to be lame and this lameness, while more common in the forelimbs, can shift between legs. You will be able to see a very pronounced limp. Other signs of panosteitis include loss of appetite, fever, lethargy, and the atrophy of the muscles in the affected legs. Together or separately, these symptoms do not necessarily always point to panosteitis, which is why it is better to get your dog to the vet as soon as possible.
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Dog Insurance

Filed under Dogs Health and Care by on July 11, 2008 at 2:54 PM {no comments}

Dogs are great pets, always pleased to see their owners shown by the wag of their tails. They do not complain and are a way to de-stress from everyday life. Taking your pet out for a walk or for a simple game with the Frisbee can ensure a healthy workout for you and in the most enjoyable manner possible. Your pet gives you silent company on lonely evenings and is more than happy to take a backseat when you are surrounded by your friends and family. They will never complain that you don't have the energy for that walk you promised them the day before, or the bath they so desperately need.

It is not very often that we are able to show our appreciation the way your dog displays theirs for you, but keeping them healthy is one way and a good dog insurance plan is a way we can give something back. Various pet insurance policies exist and how complete they are will depend on the provider as some will incorporate routine visits to the vet to check your dogs health in addition to situations like accidents or even illness. Even the healthiest of dogs can become sick and knowing you have a dog insurance policy that will pay for medical attention means the cost is never a concern.
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Choosing The Right Dog Food

Filed under Dogs Health and Care by on July 10, 2008 at 5:28 PM {no comments}

There are 72,114,000 dogs in the United States, according to the 2007 census. With over 72 million dogs in a sales demographic, you can see why there are so many different types and varieties of dog food. The dog food industry definitely has some competition.

With so many different dog food companies vying for your dog food dollar, how do you know which dog food to choose to keep your dog healthy? Do you choose dry, moist, or a combination of both? High protein, low protein, other nutrients, what exactly do you look for?

You want the best for your dog that your money can buy. You want to keep your dog healthy and satisfy his hunger at the same time. What do you do? Do you go with what everybody else is buying? Do you ask your family and friends?

THE DOG, THE DIET, THE FOOD.

The real issue when choosing a dog food for your dog is that every dog is different. I am not just talking about breeds, though they differ to, but two dogs of the same breed may not even have the same eating habits. There is no single silver bullet cure unfortunately.

So to find the right dog food to keep your dog healthy, you are going to have to do a little detective work.

Breed. Start with the type of dog you have. Obviously a small lap dog is going to have different requirements than say, a Great Dane. Size is a large factor in energy levels and digestive systems.

Age. Puppies are growing and require lots of good stuff to help them grow and to keep their energies up. They should be feed small amounts many times throughout the day just like a baby. In the dogs prime, say 3 years old to about 6 years old, they might have a very healthy appetite at each feeding, but only eats maybe twice a day. On the other hand the older adult isn't running after everything he sees anymore and like the "early bird special" older humans, they eat earlier in the day and not so much. Then bed time is much more craved than a bowl of food after 7pm. Just saying.
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Dog Health Questions

Filed under Dogs Health and Care by on July 5, 2008 at 1:38 PM {no comments}

There are lots of questions that dog owners should ask regarding their dog’s safety and health.

How often should the dog visit the veterinarian? For most dogs, they should visit their vet once a year for their vaccinations. For puppies, they should visit their vets more often since they require frequent vaccination boosters. If your dog has a medical problem, he should visit the vet more often. When your dog is six years old, you can take him to the vet twice a year for a thorough check up to find out if he is healthy or if a budding disease may be cropping up that needs immediate attention.

How do I know if my dog is sick? It is important to know your dog well and watch out for any changes in his over all appearance, behavior, eating, and drinking patterns. Other common signs include not having any appetite for food, changes in water consumption, changes in consistency of his wastes, vomiting, changes in behavior, weight loss, and frequent urination are other tell-tale signs of problems. Some obvious signs include whimpering in pain and limping.

Should I neuter my dog? If you are not planning on breeding your dog, then you can choose to neuter him. Health advantages include less aggressive behavior. Furthermore, neutering reduces their risks of developing testicular and prostate cancer in male dogs. Female dogs won’t get mammary cancer, womb infections, and diabetes. Neutering is usually performed on dogs that are six months old, although it can be done in very young puppies.
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Importance of Dog Nutrition

Filed under Dogs Health and Care by on June 29, 2008 at 6:51 PM {no comments}

There was a time when no one gave a second thought to whether their dogs nutritional needs were being met. At that time, any old dog food would do. Now however, after study and research, we have learned that a quality food, wet or dry will impact our dogs health. A quality dog food has minimal fillers, added vitamins and minerals, and is appropriate for the dogs life stage. Dogs do not naturally produce all the nutrients they require so they depend on us to feed then quality, nutrient rich dog food.

There has been a trend lately to feed dogs bones and raw food, or "BARF" as it is known. The idea is to feed dogs what they ate in the wild, before they were domesticated. The truth is, it is hazardous to your dog due to toxins, food borne bacteria, intestinal obstruction and the possibility of intestinal perforation. If you stop to think about it, you will realize dogs did not live as long or as well in the wild as they do now.

In this article, I will discuss just a few of the important nutrients required for a healthy dog. One nutritional element you may not be familiar with is Iodine. Iodine is crucial for proper functioning of the thyroid gland. Just as in humans, the thyroid plays a major role in regulating metabolism and growth. Symptoms of hypothyroidism, which is not enough thyroid hormone, include poor growth, weight gain and hair loss, as well as weakness and irritability.

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Health Insurance For Your Dog

Filed under Dogs Health and Care by on June 22, 2008 at 9:31 AM {no comments}

Most dog owners in America have not arranged for pet health insurance, and I'm not quite sure why. We all know just how important it is to have health insurance; so it makes sense that we should consider veterinary pet insurance to protect our pets.

It may at first look like just another regular expense; that is until dog owners are face to face with the expensive vet bills after their pet has an accident or gets sick. With everything around us is costing more and more money everyday, it is not surprising that vet fees have also risen as well; of course the knock-on effect has been a rise in pet insurance premiums. That being said, policies are much more affordable than you might expect.

The rising cost of medicine is one point to consider but is there any others to consider? Unfortunately, animals become sick from time to time or are involved in an accident. This can happen at any time and usually does when you can least afford it!

If this situation should occur, sometimes unfortunate choices have to be made; you know that treating your animal will place financial strain on you.

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