Sunday, September 19, 2010

Information About Symptoms of Heat Stroke in Dogs?

When a dog is incapable of releasing heat from his body and warms himself up too much, it is commonly known as a heatstroke. This can lead to harm to his body organs as they also end up getting heated. This heating up can even result in a dog?s untimely death.

You must look for signs that tell you whether he is suffering from a heatstroke or not. If he is panting too much and the panting appears to be very heavy, if he has a high pulse rate or if he has intense red gums, he has a heatstroke. Your dog might also look lifeless and drained, which is similar to the human condition during a heatstroke. If you ignore these signs, your dog might even fall unconscious.

House him in an airy and cool place. Also keep him constantly soaking in water so that the heat wears off. Another good idea would be to put him in a tub of ice for a little while. But do not overdo this. If his temperature comes back to a normal 103 degree Celsius then pull him out of the tub. If you do not maintain vigilance, then he might end up with hypothermia.

The dog should be taken to a vet as soon as he cools down and it is all right to move him. Young dogs and older ones are more susceptible to heatstroke and should be carefully looked after.

Even once the heating period is over, the dog faces risks of brain damage and lack of fluids, so look out for the symptoms. But if he doesn?t already suffer from it, it is very easy to avoid a heatstroke. You must give him plenty of water to drink and keep him in a cool place. He should not be overworked on a hot day. These simple things will keep him cool and healthy.

When a dog is incapable of releasing heat from his body and warms himself up too much, it is commonly known as a heatstroke. This can lead to harm to his body organs as they also end up getting heated. This heating up can even result in a dog?s untimely death.

You must look for signs that tell you whether he is suffering from a heatstroke or not. If he is panting too much and the panting appears to be very heavy, if he has a high pulse rate or if he has intense red gums, he has a heatstroke. Your dog might also look lifeless and drained, which is similar to the human condition during a heatstroke. If you ignore these signs, your dog might even fall unconscious.

House him in an airy and cool place. Also keep him constantly soaking in water so that the heat wears off. Another good idea would be to put him in a tub of ice for a little while. But do not overdo this. If his temperature comes back to a normal 103 degree Celsius then pull him out of the tub. If you do not maintain vigilance, then he might end up with hypothermia.

The dog should be taken to a vet as soon as he cools down and it is all right to move him. Young dogs and older ones are more susceptible to heatstroke and should be carefully looked after.

Even once the heating period is over, the dog faces risks of brain damage and lack of fluids, so look out for the symptoms. But if he doesn?t already suffer from it, it is very easy to avoid a heatstroke. You must give him plenty of water to drink and keep him in a cool place. He should not be overworked on a hot day. These simple things will keep him cool and healthy.

Article Source : http://www.articlewarehouse.com

In an attempt to understand their best companion - their dog, most dog owners prefer dog books that contain everything that one would ever want to know about dogs. Besides tips on grooming and training pet dogs, these also include information on various dog diseases to help you keep your pet healthy and safe.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Ten Foods Your Dog Should Never Eat

As a dog owner, we all want what's best for our dog. With the newest reports about the proper diet for your dog, they should have carbohydrates, vegtables, etc., more and more dog owners are giving their dog table scraps without realizing that there are certain foods a dog should never have. Before you put your left-overs in your dog's bowl be sure to read the top ten foods they shouldn't eat.

1. Chocolate - To dogs, chocolate acts as a stimulant, making your dog's heartbeat accelerate or beat irregularly, leading to seizures and even cardiac arrest. To compound things further, it also acts as a severe diuretic, causing frequent urination, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. If you even suspect your dog has consumed chocolate, take him to an animal hospital immediately.

2. Grapes and Raisins - Grapes and raisins create havoc with your dog's kidneys and digestive system. What's worse is that the amount of grapes needed to cause problems can vary greatly among individual dogs. symptoms include frequent urination, vomiting, and diarrhea.

3. Onions - Onions cause the breakdown of a dog's red blood cells, which deprives his cells of much-needed oxygen. If you're in the habit of feeding your dog table scraps, make sure the dish was not prepared with onions, as the effects can be cumulative over a period of time. symptoms can vary greatly, ranging from vomiting and diarrhea to loss of appetite, fever, or exhaustion.

4. Macadamia Nuts - While the exact chemical compound is still unknown, even a small amount of macadamia nuts can cause fever, irregular heartbeat, seizures, or mild paralysis.

5. Alcoholic Beverages - Dogs' physiologies are not equipped to handle alcohol consumption. They are extremely susceptible to alcohol poisoning, and even small amounts can lead to digestive problems or even death.

6. Bread Dough - Because it is soft, dogs will often swallow the dough without chewing it. When the dough hits your dog's stomach, his body heat will cause the dough to rise inside his stomach. This rising action can cause bloating or vomiting. To compound things further, the rising action creates alcohol as a by-product, and your dog may experience the symptoms listed in the previous paragraph.

7. Caffeinated Beverages - Similar to the effects of chocolate, caffeine is a stimulant and can negatively impact your dog's heart rate, causing seizures or heart attacks.

8. Avocadoes- Avocadoes are toxic to many animals. The offensive chemical damages heart, lung, and other essential tissues. Be aware since guacamole's main ingredient is avocado, that you keep any such dips well out of your dog's reach.

9. Pitted Fruits - (Peaches, Pears, Cherries, and Apricots) The pits of these fruits contain small doses of cyanide, which can be fatal to smaller dogs. Also, if the pit is swallowed whole, it may become lodged in the intestinal tract, where the blockage will have to be surgically removed.

10. Raw Fish - Raw fish, especially salmon, can contain parasites, usually fluke larvae. The dog consumes the fish, and the larvae hatch in your dog's digestive tract, attaching themselves to his intestinal walls. symptoms can take up to a week to exhibit and usually mimic other canine diseases, such as distemper or parvovirus. The hazard here is misdiagnosis by the veterinarian, leading to an improper or ineffective treatment. If you choose to feed your dog fish, be sure to cook it thoroughly to kill any bad critters that could be hiding inside.

This is of vital information for your dog care. If you want your dog to have the proper diet, take a small amount of what your making before you add the onions and the extra spices and make him up his own little plate and add it with his dog food.

Remember a good dog is a happy and healthy dog.

Article Source : http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com

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Friday, September 3, 2010

Pregnancy Stages in Dogs

Just like human females, your dog has a pregnancy schedule, and a uterine calendar that can pinpoint which pregnancy stage she is in according to her body's symptoms.

In a dog's first pregnancy stage, for example, when she is in the first two weeks of since copulation, the dog's nipples start to enlarge. When you notice this phenomenon your dog should see a veterinarian, to determine if there is a pregnancy and if so what pregnancy stage she is in.

The veterinarian will be able to tell if puppies have been conceived just by feeling the dog's stomach. Just as with human pregnancy tests, the dog's pregnancy or lack of it can be verified through a blood test. Of course, the pregnancy stage for a canine is shorter than that of humans because dogs give birth only sixty three to sixty five days after conception.

Each pregnancy stage for a dog, therefore, is only about 21 days long as compared with a woman's pregnancy trimester of three months. In the dogs sixth week of pregnancy her need for nutrition will increase as will her appetite. At this point she is truly eating for several little ones including herself, and should be fed more food accordingly. Her food consumption will increase approximately 50 percent over what she normally consumes. It is very important that her diet be balanced. For this you should take the advice of your veterinarian.

A dog that is going to have a litter of many puppies will have a visibly enlarged tummy, although there are some dogs - especially those giving birth to just a few - whose abdomen won't enlarge noticeably. For these dogs, the pregnancy stage where they are showing is about one week long. Dogs who deliver a great number of puppies tend to deliver them prematurely.

In general, your dog can deliver her own puppies without the intervention of a veterinarian. There are exceptions to this, of course, and it's important to be able to know what these exceptions are and when they are occurring.

You should call the vet if your dog has been carrying the puppies for more than 65 days, or has been having contractions for more than two hours without delivering any puppies. If your dog has given birth to a puppy or puppies but not all, and now three hours have elapsed since the last birth, call the vet. This is especially crucial if you see your dog pushing and putting in a lot of effort. If your dog is very tired and her contractions are so slight that they don't bring on delivery you should call the vet.

Once your dog has advanced to the stage of pregnancy where she has given birth you'll need to step in to give some care to the newborns. It's important that the babies have heat. A puppy crib is ideal, somewhere away from any circulating air. As puppies are still being delivered those that have been born can be pushed towards their mom for warmth and comfort.

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Dustin Cannon is owner of JustArticlesVIP.com and writes on a variety of subjects. To learn more about this topic Dustin recommends you visit: The Miracle Within