Ear mites are a common parasite that nits at the ears of dogs and cats. They are living organisms that look like ticks. They are tiny in size but can be seen with the naked eye. They will appear like tiny white bugs in the inner flaps of the ears. A mite infection is better detected by veterinarians that will examine the ear wax of the cat or dog under a microscope.
An infection of this nature will produce a black, scaly discharge. This discharge consists of the animal’s ear wax, blood and the actual ear mites. It is important to have the infection properly diagnosed by a veterinarian. These type of infections are often confused with other types of bacterial infections. And if the wrong topical treatment is applied, then the mite infection will just get worse.
The ear mites are parasites that tend to dwell on the surface of the animal’s ear. In cases of an extreme infection, the mites may travel to the animal’s face and head. The mites will lay their eggs on their host and they will typically hatch in four days. The hatched larva feeds off of the animal’s ear wax until it turns into mite.
If not treated, the ear mite will live in their host for approximately two months. They will continue to feed off of the animal’s ear wax. The mites will continue to lay eggs and grow new mites. This infection is seen in both dogs and cats but is more common in cats.
The ear mites are contagious and can be transferred from one animal to the other. So it is important that if you think your pet has this type of infection, they should be diagnosed and treated right away. All it takes is physical contact for the infection to spread. If your pet does end up having a mite infection, then they will have to have limited contact with other pets until the infection is gone.
This type of infection is very uncomfortable for the dog or cat that is acting as the host. The mites presence cause an inflammatory reaction that is very irritating to the animal. This infection can result in other skin diseases which can be more serious that the original mite infection. It is very important to make sure your pet is treated immediately if they have a mite infection in their ears.
There are a number of products on the market that get rid of ear mites. Many of the products are simple over the circumvent treatments that kill the incubating mite eggs. But these types of treatments must be used for the whole routine of the life of the mite which is nearly one month. This may be too lengthy for most dogs and cats if the infection is really bad. There are various health professional prescribed medicines that will operate faster. It is best to see your veterinarian for the correct treatment of this kind of an infection.
Filed under Cats, Dogs, General by on Oct 29th, 2011. Comment. 
Dog owners from across the globe have often wondered, “How do you stop a dog from eating poop”? Not every dog will partake in poop eating, also known as coprophagia, nevertheless there are numerous dogs that do. The act of a dog eating poop is puzzling to many dog owners and dog trainers. You should not have to witness anything like this. Take it from someone who has.
The cause of coprophagia has been the matter of great argument
Absence of nutrition
Your beloved dog may perhaps eat poop if there is a lack of vitamins in her food.
The carnivorous instinct
Once carnivores kill, they ordinarily eat the entire carcass of the animal, including the abdomen and digestive tract, which comes with, you guessed it, poop.
Boredom or stress
A lack of human affection, and a lack of mental and physical stimulation, are cited by many as possible explanations for coprophagia .
Improper housetraining
When there isdog pooing in house, a different feasible reason for poop eating is that dogs will eat their poop from the floor of the house before their owner sees it, so that they can avoid punishment .
Nursing mothers
In order to disguise evidence of the existence of her puppies from predators, a nursing mother will on a regular basis eat her puppies’ poop. By natural extension, a puppy will duplicate the behaviour of her mommy by eating poop. And who said you can never blame mothers for anything.
How Do You Stop a Dog from Eating Poop?
Act quickly
When you see your dog pooping , act quickly. Do not give her the chance to eat it, and make sure that you clean it up instantly.
The “leave it” command
Learning this command can be beneficial when you are in the yard with her, when you walk her, or if she elects to poop on your new leather car seats.
Positive Reinforcement
Stop your dog in the act of consuming poop, and reward her with lavish praise and treats. Constant application of this principle is essential. No matter whether you are inside the home, or out, you will want to apply this principle of positive reinforcement on a normal basis.
Try to show some creativity
Add normal deterrents, like pineappe or canned pumpkin, to her food. She will most likely eat the deterrents, even so their existence in the poop makes it unpalatable.
Use of products
If nothing would seem to work for you, and if you are still asking yourself, “How do you stop a dog from eating poop“?, then you can investigate the substitute of getting items from a pet store or vet clinic, that, once mixed in with your dog’s food, make her poop smell and taste quite bad (as if it didn’t already).
Filed under Dogs by on Oct 29th, 2011. Comment.
The relationship you have with your dog does not always just have to be about attempting to prevent her from doing something negative . Savoring fun times is also a large part of your relationship with your dog . Learning how to train dog to fetch is one of those fun activities that you can share with your dog that can produce a strong and loving bond . The most common form of this is training your dog to retrieve a ball.
Take it gradually
The first step to finding out how to train dog to fetch is to throw the ball a short distance away, and see if your dog runs after it, picks it up, and retrieves it for you . She most likely won’t on the first try . If this occurs, use praise and reward at different intervals of the overall process . At the point where she picks the ball up, praise her and give her treats . Tell her to stay, and then return to your first position. If you then call her towards you, and she brings the ball and drops it at your feet, then again reward her with praise and treats .
Then, see if she can do what you desire without you having to go to the location where she picks the ball up . Once you can get her to retrieve the ball, and then return it to you, then gradually start increasing the distance that you throw the ball .
Have a second ball on hand
Having another ball on hand is crucial in the event that you are experiencing issues in your dog returning the ball to you at your feet. If she does not drop the original ball at your feet, begin playing with the second ball, and ignore your dog in the process . Make her feel like you are playing with something truly special. She will ultimately grow tired of the first ball, and will drop it at your feet. When this happens, you can repeat the process of positive reinforcement . This will take some practice and patience.
Make the “fetch toy” a special one
Be certain to reserve the “fetch toy” just for fetch . If your dog plays with this toy everywhere and all the time, she will lose her desire to chase it when it comes time to play fetch . If your dog is made to wait to play with a “fetch toy”, her interest in it will be higher .
Focus her attention
Also think about briefly holding your dog before making it possible for her to chase after the ball . She will focus on it more this way, thus increasing her desire to retrieve it for you .
Practice makes perfect
It will take practice, patience, and consistency to properly learn how to train a dog to fetch, nonetheless all of your hard work will pay off in the end, when you can enjoy a special bonding experience with your best friend . A lot more fun that worrying about how to stop a puppy from biting, and how to stop dog aggression, isn’t it ?
Filed under Dogs by on Oct 29th, 2011. Comment.
Dog aggression towards other dogs is not a desirable situation, as this can result in injury to your dog, the other dog, or people who intervene to break up a fight between the dogs . Allowing the aggression get out of control in general can also lead to dogs being humanely destroyed if they are a hazard to society.
There are numerous reasons for dog aggression towards other dogs
The other dog frightens your dog
Your dog will feel scared in the presence of some dogs. Maybe she is threatened by the size of the other dog, or perhaps the other dog reminds her of a dog that she may well have previously had a fight with. It is crucial, nevertheless, not to confuse this fear aggression in dogs, to a specific stimulus, with overall aggression. Your dog may not be an aggressive dog overall, but may become aggressive out of fear, or when it comes to dog aggression with food.
Your dog would like to be the leader of the pack
Your dog may possibly sense that the other dog is a threat to her hierarchy in the pack. Your dog wants to be the alpha dog, and will react aggressively to another dog that she feels may be trying to steal her position.
Your dog is being territorial
Another possible reason for dog aggression towards other dogs is that your dog may view the other dog as a threat to her territory, which incorporates her personal space and her master, you. Your dog loves you very much, and wants to defend you at all costs. Your dog will probably act aggressively if she believes that another dog presents a threat to her personal space and your safety.
Your dog might be suffering from an undetected medical condition
There may perhaps be medical reasons that explain dog aggression towards other dogs. Most dogs can be trained to not act aggressively towards other dogs, nonetheless there remains the possibility that an underlying medical condition is the underlying source of the problem. It is very important that you contact your local veterinarian to go over the likelihood of this.
Evidence of dog aggression to other dogs can involve bared teeth, raised hackles, a high and straight tail, snarling, ominous growling, head low to the ground, and extended eye contact.
Under such circumstances, you need to immediately recognize that you have a problem. Whether you choose to deal with the matter yourself, or hire a professional, you should take the situation very seriously, and act promptly .
Filed under Dogs by on Oct 29th, 2011. Comment.
Get nice and sturdy leashes and collars is always I wanted. Luya always wants to chew on her collar and leash, some collars and leashes only last one or two weeks. The local pet store used to be the place I get my collars and leashes, I thought I should try somewhere else for some nice deals, I decided to go online to get leashes and collars for the time being. A few simple searches gave me a lot of interesting info about leashes and collars, and there were so many people and companies are selling them! It was like swimming in open water, you would be easily lost. There were a few stores I believed should be good, there actually were a few nice one which had good products with nice price, I actually found one which offered pretty good products with very nice price. In the end of the day I got what I was looking for.
The quality to price ratio is real nice for these leashes and collars, this is a interesting one, reflective dog lead 5/8”x60″, for $10-$15 you get six pieces in a bag, at least 4 different collars for you to choose, in addition they are reflective leashes, this deal is almost unbeatable. one more example, 6 nylon reflective collar 3/4”X16″22″, with less than $10, what you get in the pack is 6 pieces with more than 4 different colors, and the collars look pretty nice and sturdy, not a bad deal at all. And don’t forget the out door playing kit, we usually get dog collars with tie out stake and cable at the same time, when you have these items you have the mobile dog tie down post, the post can be anywhere, such as in your front yard, in the park, etc. Don’t forget there are more to the deal, you should look for free shipping offers, usually your order will have to meet certain criteria, most likely the total amount has to be $25 or more, and such this and such that.
Your little friends are your family members, forget about those lousy stuff, always get the good things and don’t forget nice savings deals, As long as you still need to save a few bucks, you will do what I said.
Filed under Birds, Cats, Dogs, Exotic, Farm Ranch, Fish, General, Horses, Reptiles Amphibians by on Oct 28th, 2011. Comment.
Bleeding wounds, various nicks and cuts, fractures…these are only some of the common injuries dogs have but impalement injuries is not really a common injury of dogs. Due to the active and playful personalities, accidents can never be prevented and impalement is one of the injuries dogs can get. Due to the inquisitive nature that puts them in tight spots, dogs are always injured. Ingestion of poisonous substances, bloat or a blockage caused by the ingestion of a foreign object are injuries that would make a dog owner take a few minutes to recognize the true condition of the pet. An impalement injury will be easily noticed so that the dog owner will not wonder what accident happened to the pet.
Falling from heights is one of the most common cause of impalement injuries as the dog can be speared by a tree branch or a fence. Impalement can occur if a dog that runs with a stick in the mouth stumbles and the stick is shoved into the mouth. Dogs have the inclination to roam and one that has trespassed and destroyed other people’s property can be meet a sad fate from the arrow of an irate person.
An impalement injury can be serious enough to be the cause of the dog’s death. Owner and pet would be lucky if the impalement injury sustained by the dog is not serious. Professional medical attention is imperative for any kind of impalement injuries. A dog owner may think that a professional medical care is no longer necessary especially if the foreign object that has impaled the dog was not embedded too deep. However, the condition of the dog may be more serious than it appears to be. The stick that has impaled the dog can possibly pierce a vital organ. Internal bleeding is another possible outcome of an impalement injury.
Professional medical attention must be given to the dog but before transporting the pet to a medical facility, first aid treatments must be administered to save the pet from a lot of pain.
The pain associated with the impalement injury can turn a well tempered dog aggressive. Use a muzzle to prevent the dog from snapping. The foreign body that was stuck into the dog must not be removed. Movements of the pet and the object that has impaled the pet must be minimized to prevent the dog’s condition from worsening. Moving the foreign object stuck into the dog could cause more internal damage. However if the object that has impaled the dog is stationary such as a steel bar on a fence, the dog can be removed gently. The removal of the object must be done gently and bleeding must be controlled while the pet is rushed to the hospital.
Sarah’s Dogs provides more information on impalement as well as first aid for dogs.
Filed under Dogs by on Oct 28th, 2011. Comment.
Veterinarians are a somewhat latest invention of the medical field. In much similar way that barbers grew to become surgeons, farriers began turning out to be veterinarians in the 1800’s. Some farriers have been more serious in applying new health-related strategies, started out learning said methods and at some point developed a body of investigation and literature. Other farriers had been additionally serious in other facets of livestock care and comply with their own up to date profession path.
Offered that veterinarians are this kind of a recent development, it should arrive as no shock that beginning veterinarians used a lot of superstition in their performance. Of course, human medical practitioners endured a lot of of the same problems. Health-related proper care in the course of the Victorian era was very a lot of a hit or pass up experience for both creatures and humans. Farmers typically killed animals they didn’t understand how to remedy so that the rest of their livestock wouldn’t be affected.
Nonetheless, animals occasionally got far better care than people by the basic reality that the total society had been targeted around livestock for a incredibly long time. Veterinary advice wasn’t coming out of nowhere, after all. Farmers had a bit of typical sense regarding which would do the job and which wouldn’t. Vaccines came on the scene that would improve the outlook on animal disease, whilst new cleanliness standards were made to encounter the booming metropolis populations of each animal and individual.
The newborn science of veterinary medication was enormously welcomed by absolutely everyone who had to depend on creatures, which is an additional way of saying everyone. The promise of veterinarians to remedy sick livestock and help with increasing their problems and all round health, was widely preferred by farmers wanting to generate additional profit. Improvements in pet medicine progressed speedily as the guarantee of research unfolded via telegraph and textbook.
Although some of the veterinary techniques of the Victorian era have fallen out of use due to much more superior analysis, there are quite a few approaches and methods we can use. The Victorian people had to depend on their livestock, resided with them on a day in and day out basis, and possibly understood them much far more than we do today. When studying and working with historic veterinary medicine, often keep in mind to implement your common sense. That way you can get the advantage of our historical past devoid of repeating its mistakes.
Filed under Birds, Cats, Dogs, Exotic, Farm Ranch, Fish, General, Horses, Reptiles Amphibians by on Oct 28th, 2011. Comment.
Pet owners are often searching for the most recent and greatest pet accessories for their animal friends. No matter what kind of animal you own, you can find all sorts of fun and functional accessories. There are products available for dogs, cats, rats, hamsters, rabbits and even exotic pets like snakes and lizards. The best place to purchase most of these accessories is online, where you can easily shop around and find the best prices without having to go store to store.
Common pets like cats and dogs understandably have the largest number of accessories available. You can purchase a wide variety of custom collars, food bowls and furniture for your canine or feline pets. You can even find a variety of Halloween costumes for your pet, ranging from pretty princesses to cowboys.
Shopping for pet accessories can be done at your favorite pet store or via the Internet. While shopping at a brick and mortar store gives you an opportunity to see the stuff you’re buying in person, buying online usually nets you a decent discount. If you limit yourself to shopping only at your local pet store, you’re at the mercy of the owner of the store. Most cities only have one or two pet shops, so they charge a premium for everything in the store.
When you shop online, you can usually find better deals. Considering the sheer number of merchants selling pet accessories on the web, you can generally discover one promoting the accessory you need at a low price. Bear in mind that quite a few of these shops additionally supply deals that could give you substantial discounts and free of charge shipping. As soon as you’ve located the accessory you desire for a good price, search for a coupon from that online seller. You may be shocked at just how cheap you can the item for.
Filed under Birds, Cats, Dogs, Exotic, Fish, General, Reptiles Amphibians by on Oct 28th, 2011. Comment.
“How do you stop a dog from chewing” has long been wondered by dog owners and enthusiasts. There are quite a few reasons why your dog is likely to chew destructively on something. To stop dog chewing, you will have to to put forward some time and effort, as well as exhibit some basic common sense and patience . Your reward will be a dog who will not chew on your furniture, clothes, shoes, and stereo wires. Putting a stop to chewing can also curtail biting and aggression difficulties before they become full blown, so you will not have to be concerned about how to stop a puppy from biting, and how to stop dog aggression.
Curiosity, boredom, anxiety, a lack of exercise, and a lack of respect for you are typical reasons for dog digging .
So, just how do you stop a dog from chewing?
Put an end to chewing by taking control
How do you stop a dog from chewing in this respect? By dog-proofing your residence. Don’t leave your clothes, socks, silk ties, or shoes laying around where your dog can can get to them. Make certain that any wires or chords are made invisible to your dog. Consider your dog’s ability to jump or leap high in the air to reach their desired object . Also contemplate spraying a bitter tasting chewing repellent onto the improper chewing objects, like cayenne pepper or lemon juice .
Stop dog chewing by clearly defining the boundaries
How do you stop a dog from chewing in this respect? Another critical thought to keep in mind when you are making an attempt to stop dog chewing is to not blur the boundaries between stuff your dog is allowed to chew on, and things that she is not . For instance, don’t expect your dog not to chew on a new thing if you have previously allowed her to chew on an older version of that same thing, liklike a piece of clothing .
Provide her with better alternatives
Another effective method to stop dog chewing is to provide her with lots of tasty alternatives to your “off limits” belongings. If the surroundings of your dog is devoid of acceptable chewing objects, then you can hardly blame her for going after your possessions. Try to give your dog some rawhide bones or chew toys to play with .
Stop dog chewing by interrupting your dog in the act, and follow it up with some positive reinforcement
If you are still wondering to yourself, “how do you stop a dog from chewing”, a good strategy to use is to catch her as she is in the act of that destructive chewing. Do not make a huge deal out of it, however. Stop the chewing, take the object away, and give her something good to eat , such as Froot Loops, a milkbone, or a dentastyk. As soon as her jaws clamp down on it, heap lavish praise upon your dog . Positive reinforcement like this is a helpful tool to have in your arsenal when setting out to stop dog chewing . Just be sure to be very consistent in your application of it. If you reprimand your dog for chewing on an unacceptable object, instead of simply teaching her that the thing is not hers to chew, she may possibly think you are reprimanding her for chewing something unacceptable in front of you, and that it is fine for her to chew on something unacceptable if you are not there.
A visit to the veterinarian
If you are at your wits end , and even with your best efforts you do not have an answer to the question, “how do you stop a dog from chewing” , consider it might be the case that your dog has a difficulty with her teeth and gums, which might demand veterinary care .
Filed under Dogs by on Oct 27th, 2011. Comment.
Despite the fact that your puppy is so cute, so adorable, and you love her very much, non-stop whining canwithout a doubt be an annoying sound ! As dog owners, wouldn’t we all love to learn how to stop a whining puppy.
It is important that you tackle this issue right from the beginning. The more that you go to your puppy when she whines, without trying to prevent it, the harder it will be to stop the whining . Your puppy will soon have it engrained in her mind that whining gets her what she desires . Watch out, here comes the alpha dog !
To learn how to stop a whining puppy, it is also essential that you identify the trigger that is causing your puppy’s whining, so that you can properly handle the situation .
Some common sense action by yourself can quite easily remove the whining caused by the following triggers
- She may be cold or wet
- She may be uncomfortable in her crate
- She may be hungry or thirsty
- She may have to go pee or poo
Ensure that your puppy is comfortable in her crate at normal room temperature, and do not put her in there if you have just brought her in from the rain. Also ensure that she is well fed at regular intervals, and that she has adequate water. Also make sure that she has regular bathroom breaks.
Still, other triggers require different treatment
- she may be lonely
If your puppy is lonely , then consider leaving a shirt of yours near her bedding area, as the scent of it will make her think of you, and let her know that you are near.
- she may be bored
If your puppy needs something to keep her mind occupied , consider letting her play with a toy, or else smear peanut butter all over a hard rubber toy. It will keep her busy for a while .
- she may have a fear of her new surroundings
- she may want your attention
If you sense that your puppy’s whining is brought about by a fear of her new surroundings, or by a desire for your attention, there are two critical training measures that you can put into action.
Simply ignore your puppy
This may sound cold and callous, however it is crucial that you practice this, and that you exhibit patience and consistency.
If your puppy is whining because you believe she just desires to get your attention, then it is important that you do not give in, and run to your puppy every time she whines with praise and treats . Before long, your adorable little puppy will realize that, by whining, she will get what she wants . If you do not implement this method of ignoring her early on, and then be consistent with it, your puppy will soon be in the Guinness Book of World Records under the category “youngest puppy ever to establish herself as the alpha dog”.
In the instance of a fear of her new surroundings, you may wish to attend to your puppy a little more often for the first little while. It can be quite an overwhelming experience for a young, tiny puppy to be thrust into whole new surroundings .
Positive reinforcement
Positive reinforcement, one of the principal tenets of operant conditioning, is also be a very effective tool in your training arsenal if you would like to learn how to answer the question, “how do you get a dog to stop whining“.If your dog is whining, and then stops for about 10 – 15 seconds, give her a treat, and praise her lavishly~ Be certain to wait a brief duration of time after the whining stops before giving her treats and praise} . If she begins to whine again for the treat, do not give in, and do not go to her. If she once again stops her whining, then repeat the process of giving her a treat and praising her lavishly . A positive association will soon become ingrained in her mind between not whining, and good things happening to her .
- she may be whining out of pain
Please bear in mind that your puppy may be whining out of pain. A good way to test this is to lightly touch specific areas of your puppy, to see if she winces in any way. Even if you have some doubts, she really should see a veterinarian .
Filed under Dogs by on Oct 27th, 2011. Comment.