Dog health care, natural or holistic is fast becoming part of many pet owners` vocabulary. Many folks are concerned about their dogs,cats and other pets` health care. You need to be aware of things that can harm your pet and also have knowledge of alternative options.
Today many veterinarians practice natural health care for our pets. Hopefully you too will recognize the benefits of natural health care; and will locate a natural or holistic veterinarian. .
Commercial Dog Food:
Consider the corn,wheat and rice that are primary ingredients in many dog foods. A dogs` stomach is not designed to digest these grains. The meat bi-products are also suspect.
Chemicals found in many commercial dog foods:
BHA ...butylated hydroxyanisole
BHT ...butylated hydroxytoluene
BHA and BHT are linked to different types of cancer.
Ethoxyquin ...A pesticide that is banned for human consumption.
Be informed, read the label on commercial dog foods. Consider a natural dog food that you can quickly prepare in your kitchen.
Vaccines:
The ingredients in vaccines are scary to say the least. Now you may live in an area of the world where vaccinations are not required but more and more areas
require them. Rather than vaccinate on a yearly basis many veterinarians recommend vaccinating your dog and cat less frequently.This is something you might want to discuss with your veterinarian.
Prescription Medicines:
Your pet does need prescription medicine from time to time. We just have to administer it wisely. Oftentimes there are natural medicines that work quite well. These will help limit the chemicals that our fine friends consume.
Flea and Tick Treatment:
You should discuss dog health care, natural dog health care and the veterinarians ways of treating our furry friends. Many veterinarians are now turning back to natural or holistic health care for your pets. They are starting to recognize the fact that too many chemicals can not be good for your pet.
There are many flea and tick products on the market. Lets take a look at a few of the more popular ones:
Frontline Plus for dogs: This flea and tick product is sold and recommended by veterinarians. It has two active ingredients fipronel and methoprene
Fipronil is a chemical used to kill fleas Methoprene is an insect growth regulator.
Advantage for dogs: The active ingredient in Advantage is imidacloprid. It causes fleas to die of paralysis.
The manufacturers of these products claim that they are completely safe. We do understand their desire to present their product in the best possible light.
Our pets are what they eat and what is put in them and on them. Knowing these things makes us better able to choose what is best for our pets.Remember that dog health care natural or natural dog health care is a wonderful alternative for your pet.
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I am going to share with you some dog health care tips that can save you hundreds of dollars just by knowing how to treat the most common dog illnesses at home. The most amazing thing about these dog health care tips is that you can treat most common dog health care concerns with things that you already have in your medicine cabinet.
Tip #1 Vitamin E pills can be used to treat most common skin ailments in your dog. This is one of the best dog health care tips because Vitamin E pills can be purchased at most any drug store and are very reasonably priced. The Vitamin E pills can either be given to your dog whole or you can pierce the coating and apply the Vitamin E oil directly to your dogs skin. This is a great way to treat your dogs dry skin and many other common skin ailments in dogs.
Tip #2 Another great dog health care tip involves the old stand by Pepto Bismol. Pepto Bismol is a great home remedy for your dogs mild case of diarrhea or an upset stomach. Of course it is always a good idea to consult with your veterinarian to see what dosage is safe for your dog. If your dog is dehydrated from a bout of diarrhea or vomiting, Pedialyte can be used just as you wold for a baby.
Tip #3 Tip number 3 is one of the best dog health care tips because it is all about preventive medicine for your dog. Did you know that the live acidophilus that is found in yogurt is actually just as good for your dog as it is for you? Puppies are often susceptible to many illnesses such as a yeast infection or issues with their digestion. Yogurt will assist with your puppies digestion and keep the natural yeast found in the body to a balanced level. When purchasing yogurt for your puppy or full grown dog, it is important to get the plain white yogurt with live acidophilus.
These three dog health care tips are only a few of the many things that you can do at home to keep your dog healthy and happy. By looking at alternative health care remedies for your dog, you can save a trip to the veterinarian and promote long term health in your dog. On a closing note, it is always important to inquire with your veterinarian before using any over the counter medication for any other use than what the label states.
If you would like to find out how you can save money on your dogs health care needs check out Dog Health Care Tips for tons of great dog health tips
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Sighthounds are among the oldest recognisable types of dogs, and genetic testing has placed the Afghan Hound breed among those with the least genetic divergence from the wolf on some markers;this is taken to mean that such dogs are descended from the oldest dog types, not that the breeds tested had in antiquity their exact modern form. Today's modern purebred breed of Afghan Hound descends from dogs brought in the 1920s to Great Britain, and are a blending of types and varieties of long haired sighthounds from across Afghanistan and the surrounding areas.Some had been kept as hunting dogs, others as guardians.
Although demonstrably ancient, verifiable written or visual records that tie today's Afghan Hound breed to specific Afghan owners or places is absent, even though there is much speculation about possible connections with the ancient world among fanciers and in non-scientific breed books and breed websites. Connections with other types and breeds from the same area may provide clues to the history. A name for a desert coursing Afghan hound, Tazi (sag-e-tazi), suggests a shared ancestry with the very similar Tasy breed from the Caspian Sea area of Russia and Turkmenistan.Other types or breeds of similar appearance are the Taigan from the mountainous Tian Shan region on the Chinese border of Afghanistan, and the Barakzay, or Kurram Valley Hound. There are at least 13 types known in Afghanistan,and some are being developed (through breeding and recordkeeping) into modern purebred breeds.As the lives of the peoples with whom these dogs developed change in the modern world, often these landrace types of dogs lose their use and disappear; there may have been many more types of longhaired sighthound in the past.
Once out of Afghanistan, and Persia, the history of the Afghan Hound breed becomes an important part of the history of the very earliest dog shows and The Kennel Club (UK). Various sighthounds were brought to England in the 1800s by army officers returning from British India (which at the time included), Afghanistan, and Persia, and were exhibited at dog shows, which were then just becoming popular, under various names, such as Barukzy hounds.They were also called "Persian Greyhounds" by the English, in reference to their own indigenous sighthound.
One dog in particular, Zardin, was brought in 1907 from India by Captain Bariff,and became the early ideal of breed type for what was still called the Persian Greyhound. Zardin was the basis of the writing of the first breed standard in 1912, but breeding of the dogs was stopped by World War I.
Out of the longhaired sighthound types known in Afghanistan, two main strains make up the modern Afghan Hound breed. The first were a group of hounds brought to Scotland from Baluchistan by Major and Mrs. G. Bell-Murray and Miss Jean C. Manson in 1920, and are called the Bell-Murray strain. These dogs were of the lowland or steppe type, also called kalagh, and are less heavily coated. The second strain was a group of dogs from a kennel in Kabul owned by Mrs. Mary Amps, which she shipped to England in 1925. She and her husband came to Kabul after the Afghan war in 1919, and the foundation sire of her kennel (named Ghazni) in Kabul was a dog that closely resembled Zardin. Her Ghazni strain were the more heavily coated mountain type. Most of the Afghans in the United States were developed from the Ghazni strain from England. The first Afghans in Australia were imported from the United States in 1934, also of the Ghazni strain.The French breed club was formed in 1939 (FALAPA). The mountain and steppe strains became mixed into the modern Afghan Hound breed, and a new standard was written in 1948, which is still used today.
The spectacular beauty of Afghan Hound dogs caused them to become highly desirable showdogs and pets, and they are recognised by all of the major kennel clubs in the English-speaking world. One of the Amps Ghazni, Sirdar, won BIS at Crufts in 1928 and 1930. An Afghan hound was featured on the cover of Life Magazine, November 26, 1945. "Afghan Hounds were the most popular in Australia in the 1970s…and won most of the major shows".An Afghan Hound won BIS (Best in Show) at the 1996 World Dog Show in Budapest. Afghan hounds were BIS at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 1957 and again in 1983.That win also marked the most recent win at Westminster for breeder-owner-handler, Chris Terrell.
The Afghan Hound breed is no longer used for hunting, although it can be seen in the sport of lure coursing.
Data refer : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_Hound
Skin diseases on dogs are one of the most common health problems all dogs have. And, this can be a big headache for owners if these diseases are not treated properly and immediately. They will not only affect the appearance of your dog, but also create nuisance to the dog itself and also humans. There are several types of skin disease that are prone to happen to your dogs. Skin diseases might due to allergy, hygiene, weak immune system or attack from mites. Some of the symptoms can be easily detected especially when your dog experience itchiness at a particular area and keep on scratching it. Fool smell and hair loss are some of the other common symptoms. In this article, you can find out some of the common skin disease, each of the symptoms and general treatment methods. The skin diseases are categorized into 3 sub-categories: Flea Allergy Dermatitis, Immune-mediated Skin Disease and Infectious Skin Disease.
Flea Allergy Dermatitis is the allergy of dogs towards the saliva of fleas. The bite area will become slightly swollen and itchy. Your dog will tend to always scratch and bite on that area and resulting hair loss. Identify the problem due to flea by checking on the fur of your pet. If you can find lots of small black dots on the fur, those are the flea feces. Immediate treatment is to select flea repellent products with Etofenprox, Pyrethrin or Permethrin. They not only kill the fleas but also repel them. Bathe your dog regularly with flea repellant shampoo. Fleas tend to infest moist and shady areas. Clean and spray insecticide with Pyriproxyfen or Methoprene to your dog' corner to kill of fleas and destroy their eggs and larva. Keep the infected dogs away from other. Repeat the above procedures until your dog is flea-free.
Immune-mediated Skin Diseases are maladies result from irregular activity of immune system. These diseases are not contagious. Canine Atopic Dermatitis which is caused by hypersensitive to certain allergens such as mites, dust, pollen, mold, certain types of food, weather and etc. Symptoms of the disease are itchiness especially around the eyes, abdomen and paws, hair loss and skin darkening. Identify the allergen and keep away it from your dog. Steroids, fatty acid ailments (fish oil) and anti-bacteria shampoo can be used to relieve the itchiness. Canine Follicular Dysplasia is a genetic disease that causes the dog to lose hair. Parts on the neck area, back, hind legs and tails are placed this symptoms normally appear. Treatment for this disease is rarely successful. It happens to a dog when it is around 2-4 years old.
Infectious Skin Diseases are some of the more worrisome maladies. They are contagious to both your dogs and you. Commonly know infectious skin diseases are caused by mites which are called Manges. Depending on the types of mites, there are 3 types of them: Demodectic Mange, Sarcoptic Mange and Cheyletiella Mange (dandruff symptom). Symptoms for Manges are itchiness, sore and hair loss. Initial control by using anti-bacterial shampoo and anti-itch shampoo will help. However, it is recommended to bring your dogs to veterinarian once the above symptoms appear because they may have been infected by more severe Sarcoptic Mange.
Visit AllDogsRHere.com to know more treatments and preventing of skin disease, and other types of diseases such as Fungal Skin Disease.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1588588
If you own a dog and he is starting to show some unusual behaviors such as scratching more than usual, or scratching in just one spot, then he may have some form of dog allergy symptoms. Just like humans have allergies, dogs have allergies as well. The number one reason for dog allergy symptoms is from the types of food that he is eating. But another reason, is that your mutt might be allergic to something that is in the environment, or some type of biological organism or substance. It is important to understand what is causing the allergies, and be sure to treat these as soon as possible.
Since a dog has no way to inform its owner of dog allergy symptoms, it's important that you come up with a diagnosis yourself. All that he knows is that it is itching more than usual or itching the exact same spot, or that it isn't feeling very well at the moment. It needs you to treat the allergies.
As said, the number one reason for dog allergy symptoms is the type of food he is eating. Just like a human, your pup needs much of the same vitamins and minerals that you do, to a certain extent. A lot of times dogs are fed scraps left over from dinner or other meals. While this is usually okay in some instances, it also may be a reason that he is experiencing allergies. You need to make sure that the food you are feeding your pup is rich in vitamins and minerals. A lot of times people will think that it is okay to take the fat from steak or the skin from the chicken and feed it to their pets. Just because it isn't necessarily healthy for humans, doesn't mean it's healthy for dogs either.
If your dog is showing signs of allergy symptoms to the food that it is currently eating, you need to make sure to change from this type of brand of food. And the results that you experience are going to be determined completely by trial and error. Some veterinarians recommend that a dog stay away from chicken and grain products altogether, so keep this in mind when you're feeding him. You can actually purchase specifically designed food that are aimed and targeted towards preventing dog allergy symptoms.
Other common allergy symptoms is hair loss, dry skin, and digestive problems. If your dog is barking too much this could be a sign of an allergies to something. Vomiting is also a symptom that is involved with allergies. If you change the eating habits of your dog and haven't identified any other problems that could be leading to these dog allergy symptoms, it might be best to take your pup to a veterinarian. There might be some kind of underlying biological problem that needs to be addressed by a professional. In this case, it's as easy as getting an antibiotic.
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Along with ear infections, Dog Skin Allergies are amongst the most common health problems in dogs. They are difficult to diagnose as symptoms can be common across many diseases. Most Allergies are seasonal and the inhalant type, such as tree pollen. Allergies are usually not able to be cured and therefore need to be constantly managed.
Symptoms of Dog Skin Allergies
In most cases, if a dog has an allergy it will be apparent through excessive itching and/or visual skin problems.
Other signs that your dog has an allergy include:
- Chewing on its limbs
- Rubbing its face on the ground or carpet
- Mutiliated, red or sore skin
- Hair loss
- Nasal or eye discharge
Skin Allergy Testing For Dogs
There are two types of testing that can be undertaken for dog skin allergies:
- Blood Tests are taken to check for antibodies in the dog's blood that have been triggered by Antigens.
- Intradermal Skin Testing is where a small amount of antigen is injected into an area of the dog's skin and observed to determine whether it causes an Allergic Reaction. This is the most common form of testing and has a high success rate for identification of Dog Skin Allergies.
Alternatively, and more specifically if a Food Allergy is suspected, systematic elimination of items from a dog's diet or environment may help uncover the underlying causes of the allergies.
Dog Skin Allergy Treatments
1.Avoidance - Keep your dog out of grassy fields (keep your lawn mowed short), keep your dog indoors during the pollen season, use humidifiers and keep pets away from you when you are cleaning an area and it is likely to stir a bit of dust (eg vaccuuming).
2.Topical Therapy - This involves using "external medications" such as shampoos, rinses and creams for Allergy Relief.
3.Antihistamines - Antihistamines have historically been designed for human use and are successful for around only 30% of dogs. It is usually recommended to include fatty acids such as Omega 3 in your dog's diet when combined with this treatment to improve the chances of successful allergy relief.
4.Steroids - I wouldn't recommend this option except as a last resort. The side effects are numerous and the medication is expensive.
It is important to note that each dog responds differently to different treatments, but it is wise to be aware of Dog Skin Allergies so that you can ask the right questions of your vet and not blindly accept a recommendation of "drugs" to fix a problem that may be otherwise be eliminated by natural means or a slight modification of your dog's environment.
This article is the property of Allergy Info Central.
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The Black Russian Terrier was developed in the former USSR by the state for use as a military/working dogs. The breeding stock was largely imported from the occupied countries, especially East Germany. Breeds used in the development include the Airedale Terrier, Caucasian Ovcharka, Newfoundland, Giant and Standard Schnauzers and the now extinct Moscow Water Dog. BRT were bred for working ability, rather than appearance, and early examples only resembled today's Black Russian Terrier in their build and coat type. The BRT was bred solely by the state owned Red Star Kennel until 1957, when some puppies were sold to civilian breeders. These breeders began to breed for looks (as the original was rather plain) while retaining working ability. In time, the breed spread to the Balkans, Ukraine, and Siberia, and later to Finland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and the United States.
The breed was recognized by the FCI in 1984. On July 1, 2004, it was recognized by the American Kennel Club [AKC] in the Working Group. The Canadian Kennel Club has the Black Russian Terrier as a "listed" (formally Miscellaneous Class) breed in the Working Group.
According to the FCI standard the male stands 72 to 76 cm and not more than 78 cm at the withers compared to the female’s 68–72 cm and not more than 74 cm. The male weighs between 50 and 60 kg (110-132 lbs), and the females weigh between 45 and 50 kg (99-110 lbs). Nowadays, even larger individuals are tolerated if the dog is well proportioned and retains correct movements. At maturity (over 18 months of age), the AKC standard[2] recommends 27-30 inches for males with the desired height between 27 and 29 inches and 26 and 29 inches for females with the desired height between 26 and 28 inches. A mature male less than 27 inches or more than 30 inches at the withers is considered a serious fault. A mature female less than 26 inches or more than 29 inches at the withers is considered a serious fault. In proportions, a Black Russian Terrier should be slightly longer than tall, a ratio of 9 ½ to 10 being ideal.
Data refer : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Russian_Terrier
