Dog Health Network

Caring for your dog’s health not only requires giving it healthy food and regularly grooming it. It involves keeping your dog healthy and fit, which can be ensured by frequent visits to the vet for necessary medication or for a routine check-up.

Regular visits to the vet ensure that your dog’s health is being constantly monitored to prevent any future health problems which could possibly lead to severe disease or even untimely death. Early diagnosis of any health problem is the key to successfully curing it. Hence, a dog’s health care program plays a very important role.

An ounce of prevention is better than cure

The saying “An ounce of prevention is better than cure” also applies to a dog’s lifetime. Surely, you would not want to see your dog suffer from any illness. Dog health care does not only include check-ups but laboratories, too, such as blood test, x-rays and dental care. This way, serious sickness can be prevented through early detection.

Dog’s health care also includes prevention of external or internal parasites. Don’t wait for your dog to be infested with fleas, ticks, heartworms or intestinal parasites. You can occasionally let your dog take anti-parasitic medicines or you can apply topical solutions to their fur.

Advanced Dog Care Technologies

With the advancement of technology, your dog can undergo a more comprehensive physical and medical exam. Hence, your vet can easily diagnose your dog’s health problem, saving you from a repeated vet visits before the vet can have his final assessment.

Surprisingly, dogs can have cancer and other serious illness that are mostly suffered by human beings. If your dog has cancer, are you going to wait for your dog to die or are you going to let him undergo chemotherapy? Yes, chemotherapy. Nowadays, it’s very possible for dogs to undergo chemotherapy sessions to kill cancer cells present in certain parts of their body. Aside from chemotherapy, pacemakers for dogs are also available. If your dog has heart problems, you don’t have to worry. How about diabetes? Yes, your dog may have diabetes and he can be given medication to control its severity.

Your pet’s hero, your veterinarian is well equipped with knowledge and skills to save your pet from its health problem. Vets don’t only diagnose and cure. They are capable of performing operation procedures and they do the work of an anesthesiologist, radiologist, dietitian and a lot more.

Nowadays, veterinary hospitals are equipped with state of the art technology to serve you better. You can be sure that your dog will be taken care of by the hospital staff. The only question is, can you afford it? Are you willing to spend that much for your dear dog? For sure, dog owners won’t just sit and watch their dog suffer from sickness.

Dog health care helps dog owners enjoy the company of their dogs longer. A successful health care program is worth the effort. You may spend that much on expenses but it would be worth it once you see your dog regains his blooming health.

Mark Clayson is a professional, home business entrepreneur, mentor and speaker. Visit Start Work at Home for more information on starting or developing a home business or his official site to find out more.

Our dog’s health is important to us. When we suspect our dog is ill, we want to do the right thing. Unfortunately, distinguishing between a minor illness and health problems that need emergency attention is not always easy. It’s important to be prepared for and know how to identify serious dog health problems.

Know where to take your dog in an emergency

If your dog falls seriously ill, time wasted locating emergency services can be fatal. Know in advance where to go. Many veterinarians offer 24 hour emergency services. Find out if this includes your vet. If not, find out where the nearest veterinary emergency hospital is located. Keep this information in a convenient place.

So how do you know if you are experiencing an emergency?

Most veterinarians will advise you to not to take a chance but call the nearest emergency veterinary service if you suspect that your dog’s health needs immediate attention. Staff will assess the situation and usually advise that you bring your dog in for an examination.

The following information will help you identify and respond appropriately to the most common dog health emergencies.

Severe stomach pain

Signs that your dog is experiencing abdominal pain include an abdomen that is tender to the touch, standing with their back arched, and refusing food. Take your dog to the nearest emergency veterinary service immediately. Abdominal pain can be (and often is) a sign of a serious health problem.

Other signs of abdominal distress include vomiting, whelping, shakiness and breathing difficulties. Your dog may be suffering from gastric torsion. Gastric torsion develops suddenly and rapidly and tends to affect large, heavily-chested dogs more than most. This condition needs immediate attention.

Abdominal distress may also be a sign of bloat, constipation, kidney or liver disease, urinary stones, poisoning, an intestinal obstruction or a simple tummy ache. Err on the side of caution. A visit to the emergency veterinarian is advised to safeguard your dog’s health and give you peace of mind.

Control heavy bleeding

A laceration that results in heavy bleeding must be dealt with immediately. Apply direct pressure to the wound with a clean, dry bandage. Bleeding should stop within ten minutes.

With the bleeding controlled get your dog to the vet as quickly as possible. With dogs, there is only a small window of time for stitching a wound.

If the bleeding does has not stopped within twenty minutes, or if your dog is bleeding from the chest take your dog to the emergency clinic immediately.

Breaks and fractures

If your dog has had an accident and possibly broken bones, the first step is to call your regular vet. If they are unable to see your dog soon, take your dog to the emergency clinic. X-rays will determine whether or not your dog has broken bones.

Do not try to clean or straighten the wound. If you have a small dog, use pencils or pens as a splint. For larger dogs, use rolled magazines or newspapers. Place them on either side of the bone, then roll cloth or adhesive tape progressively up the splint material.

While traveling to the vet, touch your pooch’s toes every few minutes to be sure circulation is normal. If they get too cold, rewrap the splint material more loosely.

Difficulty with breathing

If your dog develops breathing difficulties, don’t hesitate. Take them to the closest emergency hospital immediately. Breathing problems are a sign of several health problems, many of them serious.

Vehicle accidents

When a dog is hit by a car, take him to the closest emergency clinic immediately even if he appears to have come to little harm. They may have suffered internal injuries that need to be identified and taken care of as quickly as possible. Shock can also pose a threat to your dog’s health. To prevent shock, wrap your dog in a blanket.

Keep away from your dog’s mouth. Dogs in pain may bite, even if they have never bitten you before.

Convulsions

Any degree of seizure is a problem. Call your veterinarian at once. If convulsions last for more than a few minutes, place a blanket over your dog, keep away from his mouth and take him to the nearest emergency service immediately.

Seizures are a sign of serious health problems including epilepsy, metabolic problems, brain tumors, and poisoning. Seizures themselves can be life threatening.

Whenever you are seriously concerned about your dog’s health, don’t hesitate to seek immediate veterinary advice. You know your dog well enough to know when something is seriously amiss. And you love your dog well enough not to take chances. Remember, veterinarians love animals too, and understand your concern.

Calling emergency services first will give clinic staff an opportunity to assess the situation and, if necessary, ensure that a medical team is prepared for your arrival. For further advice on emergency dog health problems, consult your veterinarian. A good veterinarian will be more than happy to help with any issue concerning your dog’s health.

Best Wishes,
Colleen

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What can you do to improve the health of your dog, its coat, and its skin that is cheap and effective? Grooming that’s what! The small investment of time and money involved for grooming can yield numerous benefits for your dog’s health!

Is your dog’s coat looking dull, tatty and matted? Is your dog’s sad looking coat causing you to worry about his/her overall health? Sometimes the simple things can often provide very effective benefits, and in the case of the health of your dog, grooming is one of these simple measures that can yield big results.

Dog health and grooming go hand in hand as the act of grooming has numerous benefits that can help prevent many dog health problems before they arise. Like humans, regular grooming and attention to changes in the skin, eyes, and teeth can help maintain health and prolong the life of your pet, as many indications of possible health problems are noticed and addressed before they progress to something more sinister.

Health Benefits of Grooming

• Grooming removes dead hair leaving only the healthy hair behind, which immediately looks better. It also lets air circulate through the coat better reducing any odor, keeps the dog cooler, and looks cleaner. It is also a good idea to bath your dog regularly with a quality dog shampoo to further improve the benefits of general grooming.
• Grooming stimulates blood flow, which in turn improves blood supply to the hair follicles working wonders for the health of the overall coat.
• Grooming also stimulates the lymphatic system, thus having a positive affect on the dog’s overall health in the same way that a massage does for humans.

Residual Benefits of Grooming
Aside from the more obvious physical health benefits of grooming there are other benefits such as: -

• Bonding with your Dog – While grooming your dog you are helping to create a bond between you and your pet because of the physical touching and interaction. This also has a positive effect on the dog’s emotional state as it feels more comfortable and safe in your hands. Dogs always love the attention they get during grooming.
• Knowing your pet – While grooming your dog you get to know your pet better and know what he/she likes or dislikes, and its favorite and least favorite places to be touched or brushed. Knowing your pet will help you to notice any changes that may indicate a health problem, for instance if your dog suddenly flinches when touched in an area where it usually loves to be touched would alert you to investigate the cause of the tenderness.
• Spot Possible Health Dangers – While grooming your dog you can check the skin for possible skin rashes and problems like hair loss or lumps. Also check for signs that your dog has been scratching a certain area of the skin which would indicate some sort of irritation such as worms, fleas, mites or ticks. Ticks in particular can be deadly if left undetected and a thorough visual check of the dog’s skin should be a regular part of your dog health and grooming strategy. It is a good idea to check the eyes for any signs of sight or health problems while grooming your dog. Also check the pads and nails of the paws for problems that may require attention along with the teeth for signs of decay or gum problems.

Possible Bonus Benefit for you

If you find that you enjoy grooming and become quite competent, you may consider starting your own dog grooming service to make a few extra dollars or perhaps turn it into a full time business. Dog grooming services are in high demand and can be very profitable. There is nothing better than making a living doing something that you enjoy.

What You Need to Start?

It is important to get the right grooming tools and information on grooming techniques. The internet has is a wealth of information about grooming along with numerous sites that sell a range of grooming tools. Other sources are local pet supply stores or alternatively most towns and cities have a local dog association where dog lovers can meet and exchange ideas. Public libraries may also have books on dog grooming.

The benefits to your dog’s health by regular grooming far outweigh the small outlay of money for the grooming tools, and time spent grooming. Your dog’s coat will look shiny and healthy and the health of your dog’s skin will also be improved. Spend a little time on your pet and he/she will love you for it.

Colin L Wolfenden is webmaster for http://www.my-resource.com and http://www.impressiveebooks.com.