Dogs are territorial creatures by nature. They mark their territory with urine, and expect that no other dogs will violate these markings. They will defend their territory and if another animal or person does enter their domain, they will turn them away with growling, barking, or even biting. They often guard resources, such as food [...]
Spaying and neutering does affect the behavior of dogs in some ways, however this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. One thing that you’ll notice is that neutered male dogs do not spray urine to mark their territory, and don’t usually mount other dogs. They are also less likely to be aggressive, get into fights or [...]
Veterinarians are more commonly diagnosing dementia in dogs. This isn’t necessarily because it’s becoming more common, but may be because we are better able to recognize the symptoms. It is also known as canine cognitive dysfunction, and, as with people, it is a disease of elderly animals. One of the first signs that your dog’s [...]
If your female dog is not spayed, then an accidental mating (or misalliance) is always a possibility. A non-neutered male will do almost anything to get to a female dog in heat, and their determination may well lead to success. This often results in a pregnant bitch and a litter of unwanted puppies. What do [...]
You will enjoy your relationship with your dog so much more if they don’t have any annoying behavioral problems, such as being overly fearful. It’s important that you put the effort into raising your puppy properly, so they grow up to be happy confident dogs. It’s not too difficult to instill proper behavior in dogs. [...]
Most dogs will be prescribed antibiotics at some stage in their lives. These drugs work by killing bacteria that are causing infection. Bacterial infections can occur in any part of the body, but they are most common in the skin, the respiratory tract, the urinary tract and the gastrointestinal tract. Antibiotics can not only make [...]
If you own a dog, you have to know how to give them tablets, even if they are never ill. Most regular worming treatments come in tablet form so you may need to give your dog a pill every few months to keep them healthy. One of the easiest ways of giving tablets is to [...]
Dogs, like people, can develop allergies to many things, including food, fleas and environmental chemicals. The symptoms vary, depending on the allergy, but can include itchy skin, sneezing, itchy feet, runny eyes and diarrhea. There are three ways of managing allergies in dogs. Firstly, you can keep your dog away from whatever is making them [...]
Arthritis basically means “inflamed joints”, and it can affect dogs as often, and in the same way as it affects humans. It is more common in older dogs, and large or overweight dogs are more susceptible to it because their extra weight causes more wear and tear on their joints. Some cases of arthritis are [...]
Foot problems in dogs are common, but they still must be treated seriously. A dog with a sore foot will often not put the sore paw on the ground at all. If there’s a cut or abrasion to the foot pad, they may leave bloody footprints as they walk. It is fairly easy for a [...]
Hormonal (or endocrine) problems are not the most common cause of skin problems in dogs, but they occur often enough to be of concern. The most common hormonal diseases that affect a dog’s skin are hypothyroidism and Cushing’s Disease. Hypothyroidism is caused by a lack of thyroid hormone. Cushing’s Disease is caused by an oversupply [...]
If you are planning on breeding your dog, it’s important that you’re familiar with a normal heat cycle. That way you know what to expect, and when to expect it. A bitch will first come on heat around 6 months of age. Larger breeds are often slower to mature, so may be closer to a [...]
If your dog has separation anxiety, your veterinarian may suggest the use of medication as he is undergoing a retraining program. While it might be amusing to think of your dog taking Prozac, these drugs can make life so much better for anxious dogs, and their owners! Behavior modifying drugs for dogs all work in [...]
Some dog owners dread New Year’s Eve, 4th of July celebrations and even summer thunderstorms. They know there will be loud noises and flashes of light, and they know their dog will be terrified. What can you do if your dog is one of those who is scared of noises and thunderstorms? Whatever you do, [...]
Does your dog bark, cry and whimper whenever you go out and leave him alone? Do you return to scratched doors, torn cushions and even soiled carpets? If so, you’re dealing with canine separation anxiety. Dogs that have separation anxiety often have a phobia to loud noises, fireworks and thunderstorms. It takes time and commitment [...]
An important part of owning a dog is training him: training him to be obedient, teaching him where in the home he is allowed to go, and helping him to adapt to spending time on his own. While training a dog to be alone isn’t a specific part of their upbringing, most dogs learn to [...]
Diabetes is a very common hormonal disorder in pet dogs. It occurs when a dog’s pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin. This hormone is involved in properly metabolizing the sugar in their diet, and if there is a shortage, the result is high levels of sugar in their blood. This can lead to a lack of [...]
The thyroid gland is a small organ in the neck, which produces a hormone called thyroxine. This hormone is involved in regulating your dog’s metabolism, and affects most organs of the body in some way. Hypothyroidism is, as the name suggests, a condition where the thyroid gland isn’t producing enough thyroxine, so the body systems [...]
The obesity rate in our pet dogs is rising almost as fast as it is in people. In some areas, up to 60% of dogs are carrying too much weight, and their health is suffering because of it. Why are so many dogs becoming obese? Certainly in some cases there is a medical reason for [...]
Obesity causes many health problems in our dogs. Not only that, but research suggests that being excessively generous around the middle shortens a dog’s lifespan by as much as two years. So, an overweight dog doesn’t live as long as a lean animal, and their quality of life is significantly reduced. It is easy to [...]
