PETS CARE

Intestinal Worms
Worms are common to dogs and puppies, and some may be passed to humans. Worms are usually passed to puppies via the mother's milk, which is why veterinarians administer worming medications to young puppies to treat and prevent worm infection. It is recommended to check adult dogs every year for worms and even the people the infected animal has been in contact with.
Types of Intestinal Worms
There are five main types of worms in dogs, and all with the exception of heart worms, affect the intestines of the animal. The most common intestinal parasite is the canine hookworm which attaches itself to the lining of the small intestine and lives off the blood of the dog. Tapeworms are also common and can be detected as small and flat rice-like objects that wriggle about in the feces of animals. They can be passed to humans and are resistant to over-the-counter deworming medications. Roundworms and whipworms are also intestinal parasites that attack dogs and other mammals. Whipworms, however, are not quite as common as the others and is difficult to diagnose. Whipworms do not lay many eggs, so multiple stool samples are usually required for proper diagnosis and treatment.
How Dogs Get Worms
Dogs can contract intestinal parasites like worms through a number of different ways and that's what makes the issue so common. Not only can the eggs of intestinal worms be passed through the milk of a lactating mother and the feces of other infected mammals, they can also be found in foods, soil and even carpet and linens. In rural areas, it is not unusual for roundworms and even heart worms to be contracted from horses and other livestock.
How Dogs Get Intestinal Worms - By C Hoffman

My dog? Overweight? Couldn’t be. Surely my dog is not fat! Ah, the song of denial by so many dog owners. But how can you be objective about your lovable pet? Here is how to know if your dog fat.


Step 1 Don’t expect yourself to be objective about your pet. Check your dog directly and try not to judge what is good and what is bad.

Step 2 Check you dog’s body. Run your hands over your pet and see if you can feel the ribs on either side of the body. You should be able to feel his or her individual ribs. If the ribs feel smooth, your dog is probably too fat. Run your fingers down the spine. There should be a sense of solidity on either side of the spine. You should not be able to feel any ribs at the top of his/her back. A bony back could mean your pet is too thin.

Step 3 Another way to check your dog’s weight is to look at his or her tummy. A dog in good condition should have a deeper chest with a noticeable tuck that lifts the tummy and creates a narrowness in the second half underneath. This is less reliable in an older dog as, just like with humans, organs tend to push down with gravity and that ‘trim waistline’ is less defined.

Step 4 If your dog is fat you are not only making him/her more vulnerable to disease and injury, but you are denying your pet his/her chance to feel good and energetic. Just like people, dogs feel happier when they don’t have to lug around a lot of extra weight. So check you dog regularly to keep weight under control.


4 steps know your dog fat or not-By Gardengates

If your pet starts to innocently explore outdoors—as in, put his nose where it may not belong—he may end up with a spider bite. The two main types of spiders to watch out for are: the black widow and brown recluse. Both of these spiders bite, and release venom when they do. Pets are commonly bit by the black widow (identified by their red hourglass-shaped marking) when they invade their nests. Although black widow bites are rarely fatal, smaller pets may have a more severe reaction, which can turn out to be fatal if not treated properly. Brown recluse spiders (recognized by the fiddle-shaped mark on their back) tend to hang out in dark, secluded areas and bite when they feel their space is invaded. Pets usually recover well from brown recluse bites, although a full recovery make take several weeks. Here are the steps for treating both of these types of spider bites.

Tips
Signs of a black widow bite occur immediately.There is a black widow antivenin available at hospitals for humans that can be also be used to treat pets, but always consult with a veterinarian before administering this type of treatment to your pet.There is a variety of topical treatments that you can apply to the bite area including antibiotic ointment and natural remedies that will prevent infection and aid in healing.Smaller pets may have more severe reactions to black widow venom due to their size, and cats normally have a more severe reaction than dogs.Pets with shorter or thinner fur are more prone to spider bites and scorpion stings.Do not place a tourniquet above or over a spider bite, as it will cut off circulation. With a black widow bite it will not stop the venom from spreading and with a brown recluse bite the venom normally stays in one place, anyway.If a brown recluse bite wound doesn’t heal, surgery may be required to remove the skin from around the affected area.


How to Treat a Black Widow Bite
Step 1 Keep your pet as calm and quiet as possible to slow down the venom from spreading. If the bite was on a limb, make sure to keep the limb lower than your pet's heart level.

Step 2 Give your pet 1 mg. of Benadryl per pound of body weight after checking with your pet’s vet to make sure it’s OK. This will help reduce swelling, inflammation and itching.

Step 3 Apply a cold or ice pack to the area to reduce swelling. A bag of frozen vegetables will work also.

Step 4 Schedule an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. If you notice any unusual redness or swelling, or your pet has difficulty breathing or moving (paralysis), get her to a vet or animal emergency clinic immediately.

How to Treat a Brown Recluse Bite
Step 1 Most pets won’t realize they were bitten by a brown recluse, but look for redness to appear after a while.

Step 2 Clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine or povidone iodine.

Step 3 If your pet develops a rash, fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea or appears lethargic, seek veterinary attention immediately. If the wound becomes larger or there is constant drainage, it is also a good idea to seek veterinary care.
Spider Bites treatment in Dogs - By Melissa Maroff

Venomous snakes pose a threat to pets as well as people. When our pets spend time outside in warmer weather (or in the case of climates like California, year 'round) there is always the risk of snake bites. As you are probably aware, snake bites can often be fatal—therefore how you treat the bite can be a matter of life and death for your pet. Here are the steps to treating snake bites in pets.


Tips
There is a rattlesnake vaccine available for dogs and cats. If you spend a lot of time camping or hiking with your pet or in an area frequented by rattlesnakes, consult with your vet about administering the vaccine. It won’t necessarily save your pet’s life, but can buy time until you get to the vet.A snake bite can cause your pet’s face and neck area to swell up, which could close the respiratory tract and cut off breathing. This can cause more immediate danger than the bite itself.Even if the snake that bites your pet isn't poisonous, snakes transmit bacteria, so veterinary care is still essential.

Step 1 Keep your dog or cat as still and calm as possible, and if you can, pick your pet up. The slower his pulse and breathing, the slower he will absorb the venom.

Step 2 If your pet was bitten on the neck, remove her collar. If it’s a bitten limb, keep the limb below your pet’s heart level.

Step 3 Immediately call the closest vet or animal emergency clinic if it’s after hours and see if they have antivenin for snake bites (not all vets stock it). Ask the vet if you should administer Benadryl in the meantime (usual dose for snake bites is 2 mg. per pound of pet’s body weight).

Step 4 Identify the type of snake or try to describe it without getting near it.

Step 5 Never do any of the following: try to cut out the wound, suck out the poison, apply ice, a cold pack or tourniquet. Although you don’t want the poison spreading to the vital organs, you also don’t want it concentrated in one place.

Step 6 Get your pet to the vet immediately. The vet will likely administer antivenin along with intravenous fluids.

how to handle a snake bite in dogs - By Melissa Maroff

With warmer weather comes bees—and with bees—unfortunately may come bee stings. Pets are not any more immune to bee stings than people. In fact, since they have a fondness for snapping at insects, they have even more of a chance of getting stung. Should this unpleasant experience befall your pet—here are the best ways to treat a sting.


Tips & Warnings
An EpiPen, a device that injects epinephrine, can buy some time for a pet with severe allergic reactions to bee stings until you get to the vet. Check with your vet about keeping an EpiPen on hand if your pet is prone to allergic reactions.The above steps are for immediate treatment of bee stings. There is a variety of natural and herbal remedies to soothe the area and promote healing. Check with your vet or a herbalist/homeopath for suggestions.Follow the above steps for hornet and wasp stings except for Step 1 (hornet and wasp stingers don’t become imbedded, although tend to be more painful than bee stings).If a number of bees swarm your pet, always seek immediate veterinary attention.A swollen muzzle can often indicate a bee sting. Swelling of the face and neck area can cause your pet’s respiratory tract to close and cut off breathing.


Step 1 If you see the bee’s stinger, scrape it away with a credit card or other blunt object such as a popsicle stick. Don’t pull the stinger with your fingers or tweezers, as that could release additional venom into your pet’s body.

Step 2 Give your pet 1 mg. of Benadryl per pound of your pet’s body weight after checking with your pet’s vet to make sure it’s OK. This will help reduce swelling, inflammation and itching.

Step 3 Apply a cold or ice pack to the area to reduce swelling. A bag of frozen vegetables will work!

Step 4 Monitor your pet for the next several hours. If you notice any major swelling that extends beyond the sting site, or your pet seems weak or has trouble breathing, take him to a vet immediately.


Bee Stings Treatment in Dogs - By Melissa Maroff

Dogs need dog insurance. Pets get sick just life humans do, accidents can and will happen. Protect yourself and your pet--if you can afford it--get dog insurance!


Step 1 Step 1

Determining the right plan for yourself and your dog. There are thousands of plans out there. Do not spend to much, but make sure your plan would cover you-and potentially save your dog--if an emergency did occur.

Step 2 get regular check-upsstep 2

Find a dog insurance quote. For a mid-size dog, weighing 30-50 pounds, you should be paying around $15-20 a month. There are price comparisons dog insurance quotes online. Find your plan and find the company which provides the most economical since for you!

Step 3step 3

Decide if you like the plan/price. Many companies do match quotes--if you receive a dog insurance quote which you agree on the price, however, are unfamiliar with the company, then negotiate. Insurance companies match dog insurance quotes

Step 4step 4

Pay monthly. Set up an automatic payment plan through your bank. Dog insurance fees are monthly so be sure to set up a withdrawal plan.

SAVE YOUR DOGS LIFE_About Dog Insurance - By sport

Step 1 Purchase Apple Cider Vinegar at the local Supermarket.

Step 2 Apply Apple Cider Vinegar to Cotton Ball.

Step 3 Rub Apple Cider Vinegar on Dog's stomach.


Springtime is upon us and so begins my dog’s allergic reaction to everything growing or blooming. The most beautiful time of year begins miserably for my Pit Bull Terrier, “Sunshine” and does not end until the winter.

Her misery began when she turned two years old and it was the beginning of the summer. It started with one small red bump on her stomach, which led to another and another. The sores spread like wildfire and left behind a trail of destruction and a very unhappy pooch. I consider myself very vigilant when it comes to the health, safety and happiness of my dog and continually try to be proactive with any adverse health issues affecting her.

At this point I made an appointment with my Veterinarian, his diagnosis was a staph infection caused by allergies (dust, grass, etc.). Poor Sunshine was even biting her feet because she is allergic to freshly cut grass. The Vet prescribed her an antibiotic and steroid that did successfully clear-up the infection. The only problem, this was only a temporary fix and the sores soon returned. Since I enjoy researching all sorts of ailments and how to fix them naturally, I decided to storm the internet.

This will surprise a lot of people, and after spending a fortune on products I wanted to kick myself. The solution, “Apple Cider Vinegar” and it was right under my nose the entire time. My internet research surrounded around the search “killing bacteria organically,” after many twists and turns I ended up with some interesting information. Apple Cider Vinegar is not harmful to dogs if ingested or applied on the skin and kills 99% of all bacteria. Well, my dog’s skin was attacking the tissue as an allergic reaction from everything floating in the air which was leading to sores and ultimately a staph infection. My deductive reasoning led me in the direction that if I can kill the bacteria on her skin that is causing the spread of these sores, then problem solved.

The experiment began with me rubbing straight cider vinegar on her sore stomach each night using a cotton ball. Be careful not to use straight cider vinegar near your dog’s private parts, ears or paws as it will burn these sensitive areas (never put in eyes). Be sure to dilute the vinegar with water near these sensitive areas using only a small amount of vinegar. Use it consistently for two weeks or so, depending on your dog’s condition.

The final solution that will end the daily ritual of putting vinegar on your dog’s stomach every night, drop a capful or two into your dogs water dish every time you give them new water. Trust me when I tell you that your dog will not even smell or taste the vinegar. Finally, this will end your dog’s discomfort and give you peace of mind.
Skin Problems treatment of dog - By Sunny