Monday, November 9, 2009

Dental Care For Your Dog!


When you want to make sure that your dog stays in good health throughout his life, you will find that you need to look into how to take care of his teeth. Most people don't think much about the dental care of their dogs, but the truth of the matter is that when your dog gets no dental care, you will find that his general health and his digestive health are going to suffer from it. Dirty teeth and gums that get no attention are actually severe health risks, especially as your dog gets older and if you want to keep your dog in good condition, you will discover that there are a few things that you need to know.

Just about every problem that humans have with their teeth, dogs can get as well. If your dog has had no dental care by the time that he is six, there is a significant chance that he is going to have gingivitis or some other persistent dental issue. The issue that dogs are looking at is that tartar and bacteria will build up and with no attempt being made to clean them, they are going to get infected. Because of their location, the infection can get into the blood stream and go on to cause more health issues.

If you re interested in moving forward and making sure that your dog can enjoy good dental health, preventative measures are quite important. If your dog gets to a point where he needs surgery to deal with these issues, this can be quite pricey and even dangerous for him. On the other hand, through a regular regimen of tooth brushing and mouthwash, you can make sure that your dog's gums and teeth stay health. Your veterinarian can recommend good products to you for this purpose and if necessary, can show you how to use them to ensure your dog's health.

Another trick that you might need to consider is looking into treating your dog with a chunk of very tough rare meat. Essentially, you need to look into stew beef and chunk steaks because they have a lot of connective tissue. Because the meat is so tough, your dog will spend a fair amount of time chewing on it and the connective tissue will essentially act like dental floss. If you can find meat on bones that will not splinter, the bones can also scrape some tartar away. If you want to make sure that the meat does not introduce harmful bacteria to your dog's system, simply dunk it into boiling water for thirty seconds.

If you are looking for tools that will make it easier to brush your dog's teeth and if you are interested in making sure that your dog won't dread having his teeth brushed, look into toothpastes that come in chicken, liver and beef flavors. Avoid using human toothpaste because some of the materials there will be unpleasant or even unhealthy for your dog. It can take some time to make your accustomed to this process, so be patient!

Taking care of your dog's teeth is quite important, so see what you can do!

Diabetes in Young Dogs


By. Kelly Marshall

Diabetes is a major concern no matter what gender, age, or even species you are. In addition to more children being diagnosed as a diabetic, it is also being found that some dogs, and puppies alike, can suffer from the lack of insulin as well. It is believed that some pups develop diabetes due to an autoimmune disorder or damage caused to the pancreas of the puppy from having parvovirus. It also seems to be an inherited trait most commonly passed along in the breed of Gold Retrievers. Larger dogs are often more prone to diabetes than small breeds of dogs. Overweight dogs are also at higher risk. While the disease once mainly attacked older dogs, pups and younger dogs are now more commonly being diagnosed also.

As with people, there are two types of diabetes that dogs may experience. Those two types are Diabetes insipidus and Diabetes mellitus. Diabetes insipidus is formed by the lack of a certain hormone that aids in water absorption of the kidney. Diabetes mellitus is commonly divided into two subtypes: Type I and Type II. These types are characterized by the lack of insulin. Diabetes mellitus is the more common type.

Diabetes in dogs can be identified in pups by several different factors. Inadequate growth is probably the most noticeable symptom of a puppy with diabetes. The puppy fails to continue growing although it is hungry and eats heartedly. The pup will lose weight and may even become paralyzed, often in the hind quarter, to an extent. As with humans, dogs with diabetes may be thirsty and drink more often and also urinate more often than typically expected. If your pup or dog appears weaker, thirstier, is losing weight and urinating more often, then diabetes is a strong possibility.

If it is suspected that a dog or puppy has diabetes, there are several health complications that could result from no treatment or lack of proper care. High levels of sugar in the blood are potentially toxic to certain organs in the body. Diabetes may reduce the number of years of life that the dog lives and cause organ failure.

In most cases, injections are the only treatment that is effective at controlling diabetes in canines. Control through diet or pills are often ineffective for use in dogs. The pet owner must administer daily insulin injections. In addition, the level of sugar should be examined through blood testing and testing of the urine periodically and to determine the correct amount of insulin to give through shots. It is also important to monitor the feeding amount and schedule of the pet.

It is possible to have a dog with diabetes that appears as healthy as dogs without the disease. With the proper monitoring and care, the dog may live as long as or longer than the expected life span of any healthy dog. However, diabetes must be detected, diagnosed, and carefully treated. This takes much dedication, love, and attention on the behalf of the dog's owner.