Brian Kilcommons relates a terrible story about a beautiful golden retriever dog who was usually very gentle and kind with children. It's owners had a girl aged 3 1/2, and they normally got along very well. Then one day the little girl grabbed the dog's ear. It snarled and bit her face. She needed 47 stitches in her face, and they put the dog down. The parents had the dog euthanized without bothering to find out what had caused this sudden change in their dog's behaviour. The vet, however, did an autopsy, and found our that this dog was suffering not one but two severe ear infections that were incredibly painful.
Ear infections usually start out mild, and in the outer ear. This dog's health was effectively neglected by it's owners. And when their toddler grabbed the infected ear, the dog, already in constant pain anyway, reacted out of instinct. By not taking the time to properly care for their pet, these owners were in fact responsible for what happened to their child. And then blamed the dog. And probably out of ignorance or anger, or both, they had it killed. Their emotional response to what happened to their child as a result of their own neglect aside, I find this absolutely reprehensible. And the tragedy that happened to their dog when they chose to kill it instead of investigating further, as well as their child, was totally avoidable.
Unlike these owners, show your dog the same level of care and love you'd show your children. Become aware of the signs of ear infections, what causes them, and how to avoid them, taking dogs to get treatment when it seems like they have one.
Ear infections can be caused by any number of things. Wet ears not dried after swimming or bathing, a build up of ear wax, grass seeds and fox tails, untreated ear mites, using cotton tips to clean ears (which pushes things further into the ear), and growths in the ear canal, can all lead to ear infections. If your dog is scratching at his ears, rubbing them, holding his head to one side, or down, shaking his head, or if they look bloody or waxy or swollen, they should be checked out. And if he cries when his ears are touched, this is another sign of a potential ear infection.
When untreated ear infections progress deeper into the ear, the pain the dog is in increases sharply. The dog may hold his head as still as possible, and to one side. And opening his mouth, or touching his head, will cause him pain. Dogs can also become dizzy, with poor balance and coordination, when the infection progresses to the inner ear. Dogs may walk around in circles, and vomit.
Ear infections are also related to skin allergies, especially food hypersensitivity dermatitis and canine atopy. Dogs with these conditions often develop inflamed ears. The dog's ears become very itchy, which creates an 'itch-scratch-itch' cycle that in turn creates scabs around the ear, hair loss, crustiness, and raw skin. The ear canals become filled with a brown wax.
Some dogs are also allergic to some ear medications. A common one is an antibiotic called neomycin, but can be any ear treatment products including cortisone, nystatin, chloramphenicol, thiabendazole, gentamicin, miconazole, and clortrimazole.
One thing of concern in dogs that are professionally groomed is the practice of plucking the hairs out of the dog's ear. The serum which then comes out of their pores is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria, which is a common cause of ear infection. Vets generally don't recommend you allow your dog's ears to be plucked unless their is a good medical reason to do so. An example of a good medical reason is if there is a large mat of hair that is blocking air flow.
If the mats of hair are in the ear canal, they should be removed by a vet only. If they're not, first soak the hair in a coat conditioner for a few minutes to soften it. Then, with your fingers, separate as much of the mat as possible. You may be able to untangle the rest of the mat with a comb, but more likely you'll need scissors or a mat splitter. Be very careful if you're using scissors. Using a comb, position it under the mat to protect the skin. Hold the scissors at right angles to the comb, and cut into the matted fur in narrow strips. Very gently, tease the mat out, and then comb out any snarls that are left. Regular grooming, with the right tools, will avoid mats forming in the first place.
Always check your dog's ears after he's been playing in long grasses. If you think there is a foxtail in his ear, take him to the vet's and don't try and get it out yourself. Fox tails can really damage the ear. If when you press gently on the ear canal he cries out in pain, there's a good chance there's a fox tail in there.
References:
1. Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson, Good Owners, Great Dogs
2. Richard Pitcairn, Natural Health for Dogs and Cats
3. James Griffin and Liisa Carlson, Dog Owners Home Veterinary Handbook
2008年8月28日星期四
2008年8月23日星期六
Indoor Cat Versus Outdoor Cat: What Do You Do?
Should your cat be an indoor cat or an outdoor cat? This is one of the more debatable and critical choices you must resolve as a cat person. How do you juggle the desires, security, and safety of a Happy Healthy Cat versus its needs? Will your cat be happy with cat climbing furniture or cat climbing trees for activity? Will it be fulfilled in cat condos houses or cat condos with stairs for that extra exercise?
Outdoor Cats
It is not always remembered that our cats are wild animals with a bit of domestication thrown in. They are created to the same characteristics as a wild cat is. They have the desire to hunt and catch their quarries. They live to stalk the local wildlife. If you present any opportunity, they'll happily bring you back prey, adroitness made obvious. They will want your praise and approval of course, so don't freak out, since you will only confuse them!
The problem, to be sure, is that it's an unsafe world out there. They will not be the ultimate predators, and wolves / coyotes / dogs would be glad to harm them. There are illness and natural germs they can catch. Vehicles are extremely threatening to creatures of all types. Often the deadliest predator can be other people with malice in mind. We do no favors by assuming the best intentions out of a populace that runs the entire gamut.
Indoor Cats
Indoor cats lose adventure for assurance. They have an assured meal time. The threatening traffic they endure will be clumsy humans, which are far softer and less dangerous than a steel vehicle. Plus, they're fun to play with! A great selection of toys exists for their "playing with prey" enjoyment.
It is more difficult for an indoor cat to remain active, but methods abound to help them exercise. A simple corollary to this is not letting your cat overeat, certainly. They will obviously be disappointed not to be out in the world, hunting down dinner.
Your cat can always perch on cat climbing furniture or cat climbing trees and look out through glass at the world. They can repose in their cat condos houses or cat condos with stairs to climb. There's a huge selection but you can usually find cheap cat condos on the net. These concerns will be vital to mull over to ensure your cat remains a happy healthy cat.
Outdoor Cats
It is not always remembered that our cats are wild animals with a bit of domestication thrown in. They are created to the same characteristics as a wild cat is. They have the desire to hunt and catch their quarries. They live to stalk the local wildlife. If you present any opportunity, they'll happily bring you back prey, adroitness made obvious. They will want your praise and approval of course, so don't freak out, since you will only confuse them!
The problem, to be sure, is that it's an unsafe world out there. They will not be the ultimate predators, and wolves / coyotes / dogs would be glad to harm them. There are illness and natural germs they can catch. Vehicles are extremely threatening to creatures of all types. Often the deadliest predator can be other people with malice in mind. We do no favors by assuming the best intentions out of a populace that runs the entire gamut.
Indoor Cats
Indoor cats lose adventure for assurance. They have an assured meal time. The threatening traffic they endure will be clumsy humans, which are far softer and less dangerous than a steel vehicle. Plus, they're fun to play with! A great selection of toys exists for their "playing with prey" enjoyment.
It is more difficult for an indoor cat to remain active, but methods abound to help them exercise. A simple corollary to this is not letting your cat overeat, certainly. They will obviously be disappointed not to be out in the world, hunting down dinner.
Your cat can always perch on cat climbing furniture or cat climbing trees and look out through glass at the world. They can repose in their cat condos houses or cat condos with stairs to climb. There's a huge selection but you can usually find cheap cat condos on the net. These concerns will be vital to mull over to ensure your cat remains a happy healthy cat.
2008年8月9日星期六
All The Amazing Secrets About Pomeranians
The Pomeranian is one of the most lovable toy dogs on the planet and have become hugely popular in America. The Pomeranian belongs to the family of dogs known as the Spitz who were first bred in the Pomerania region of Germany. This article will discuss everything there is to know about the Pomeranian so you can get to know this wonderful breed of dog more intimately.
The Origin of The Pomeranian
Believe it or not the Pomeranian actually originated from the sled dogs of Iceland. These dogs were eventually brought into Germany. Of course they were much larger dogs back then and were often used for work purposes like most animals in that day.
So when did the Pomeranian start taking the shape of the dogs we know so well today. Well, it was Queen Charlotte who first brought the Pomeranian into England and through trial and error, English breeders were able to bring this 20 pound dog down to the size of a healthy toy dog. It wasn't until the 19th century that the Pomeranian was first declared a modern breed of dog.
The Appearance of The Pomeranian
The average size of a typical Pomeranian is around 3 to 7lbs. The face of a Pomeranian closely resembles a fox, with a typical pointy snout and cat-like ears. Their tails are generally thick coated and usually only become this way once they reach maturity. The coat is orange with shades of black, white and grey. There are different types of Pomeranians such as the black and white Pomeranian whose color, like its name is only black and white in appearance.
Temperament
The Pomeranian is a very active dog that enjoys a lot of action. This comes from the days when they were first used as sled dogs when being fit and active was highly necessary. As you might also suspect, they are very loyal and are one of the best companion dogs around. Due to their tiny framed bodies, they are usually not the best dogs to have with small children. There is a possibility when playing too hard with a Pomeranian, may cause it to snap and bite on occasions. Because of this many people like to compare them to the Chihuahua, but the only time a Pomeranian will become aggressive is when it feels it is being threatened. They are generally friendly dogs that enjoy as much play as possible as long as it doesn't become too rough!
The Origin of The Pomeranian
Believe it or not the Pomeranian actually originated from the sled dogs of Iceland. These dogs were eventually brought into Germany. Of course they were much larger dogs back then and were often used for work purposes like most animals in that day.
So when did the Pomeranian start taking the shape of the dogs we know so well today. Well, it was Queen Charlotte who first brought the Pomeranian into England and through trial and error, English breeders were able to bring this 20 pound dog down to the size of a healthy toy dog. It wasn't until the 19th century that the Pomeranian was first declared a modern breed of dog.
The Appearance of The Pomeranian
The average size of a typical Pomeranian is around 3 to 7lbs. The face of a Pomeranian closely resembles a fox, with a typical pointy snout and cat-like ears. Their tails are generally thick coated and usually only become this way once they reach maturity. The coat is orange with shades of black, white and grey. There are different types of Pomeranians such as the black and white Pomeranian whose color, like its name is only black and white in appearance.
Temperament
The Pomeranian is a very active dog that enjoys a lot of action. This comes from the days when they were first used as sled dogs when being fit and active was highly necessary. As you might also suspect, they are very loyal and are one of the best companion dogs around. Due to their tiny framed bodies, they are usually not the best dogs to have with small children. There is a possibility when playing too hard with a Pomeranian, may cause it to snap and bite on occasions. Because of this many people like to compare them to the Chihuahua, but the only time a Pomeranian will become aggressive is when it feels it is being threatened. They are generally friendly dogs that enjoy as much play as possible as long as it doesn't become too rough!
2008年8月3日星期日
A Label On Designer Dog Beds
Many dog beds claim to be a designer dog bed. Many distributors claim they offer designer dog beds. Do we really know what a designer dog bed is, and are they really designer?Well the definition of designer according to Webster's is;Designer;noun 1. a person who devises or executes designs, esp. one who creates forms, structures, and patterns, as for works of art or machines. 2. a schemer, intriguer, or plotter. adjective 3. designed or created by or carrying a label or identification of a designer, esp. a fashion designer, but often mass-produced: designer jeansAre designer dog beds really good for your dog? Perhaps, but not all are created equal. You must remember that the dog bed in question is meant for your loving companion and not necessarily made to fit in with your decor. Most people make the mistake of purchasing something that will fit into a given space and look fabulous in a modern setting but do nothing for the dog's comfort. Who is the designer dog beds for again?Yup, your dog. Before purchasing a designer dog bed, you should be asking yourself these 6 questions. 1)Where does my dog sleep now?The proper way of choosing a designer dog bed is to observe your dog's habits. If he sleeps on the floor in the kitchen, will you place a huge sofa bed or dog couch that is made of Chanel. No, you need to get something comfortable that is functional.2)How old is my dog again?If your dog is aging, you will need an orthopedic dog bed. Most designer dog beds do not offer any orthopedic qualities for your dog.3)How long do I want this bed to last?If you look around, beds that cost a fortune, generally don't offer durable fabrics.4)Does my dog have any ailments? If your dog has any issues at all with hip dysplasia, or abnormal formation, then this type of bed will not work for you. 5)How much can I really afford to spend?Most designer beds cost much more then are necessary.6)Think of your dog?Finally, think of your dog first. Designer is a broad term for a person who designs any of a variety of things. That usually implies the task of creating or of being creative in a particular area of expertise. It is frequently used to reference someone who draws or in some ways uses visual cues to organize their work. Designer is also the title for a person practicing in one of the design fields, such as architecture or engineering, but who is not licensed or does not possess a four year degree in that field. Designer is especially used in reference to a fashion designer, usually one who has his/her own line, such as Givenchy and Versace.A good synonym for designer is "architect". An architect is a builder, creator, draftsman, engineer, inventor, maker, and originator. That means that anyone who manufactures dog beds can technically by considered a designer of designer dog beds. Something to think about next time you are shopping around for a dog bed. One particular brand of dog beds stand out in my mind. With over hundreds of durable designer fabrics, Mammoth Dog Beds combines fashion with orthopedic qualities.
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