Category: Issues and Treatments

httpv://youtu.be/2TuCvl2xwO4

A concern among dogs in their golden years is the presence of sores at the bottom of their paws and cuts on their toes. This is but part of the aging process; as dogs grow old, their body’s resistance and joints weaken, and that includes their paws. Fortunately, there are senior dog treatments that can protect your dog’s precious paws and allow your fur buddy to live a normal life. Even something as simple as rubber coated dog socks will ease the ill effects of old age. Check out the video for yourself, and you might want to consider getting one for your older buddy as well.

Are you looking for senior dog treatments that are low impact, and appropriate for your senior dog recovering from an injury or suffering from arthritis? You might want to consider hydrotherapy, an easy and affordable type of physiotherapy that allows your dog to exercise the muscle joints as the body weight is supported by the water.

Hydrotherapy has several benefits for senior dogs. It’s an excellent complementary therapy for old dogs that have just gone through orthopaedic surgery, arthritis, or degenerative joint disease.

Hydrotherapy, one of the best senior dog treatments

Is your dog becoming stiff or suffering from arthritis? Why not bring your dog to do Hydrotherapy for Dog, I’m sure your pet will be thankful. Animals with arthritis have very swollen and painful joints. Walking and Exercise becomes very uncomfortable for them and they may also find it difficult to get back up after lying down for long periods of time. Most animals gain weight as they are much less active, putting even more pressure on their joints this is where hydrotherapy for dog helps with this problem.

When animals have Hydrotherapy for Dog the water supports the weight of their body so that they are able to move and exercise their joints easily. The warm water also helps reduce some of the swelling in the joints. The increased exercise makes joint movement easier, helps regain fitness and can help them to lose weight they may have gained.  (Read more here)

A great example of hydrotherapy would be swimming sessions, where senior dogs can exercise by chasing each other or playing with toys. As a matter of fact, research has shown that a 5-minute has the same health effects as a 5-mile run.

When doing hydrotherapy, a warm swimming pool (about 30°c) would be preferable to seas and lakes, which can easily cause a list of health problems, such as gastroenteritis and dermatitis. The senior dog should also wear a life jacket and have a nurse to help them with the swimming the entire time.

If you’re looking for an alternative therapy and your vet approves of it, hydrotherapy is one way of letting your senior dog recover from illness, all while having fun in the process, don’t you think?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9PONItkEUs

This quick video just confirms what I’ve known all along: complementary therapies like veterinary acupuncture are quickly becoming a trend in senior dog treatments. In the recently concluded Western Veterinary Conference, several veterinarians expressed interest in learning this form of therapy.

In veterinary medicine, it has gone past being a mere pain relieving technique to a proven way of treating seizures, liver and kidney disease, and allergies. Its effectiveness and success, of course, largely depend on the skill of the veterinarian practitioner. When bringing your pet dog to the vet, look for a certification that he has finished a course on acupuncture. You can also ask your friends for referrals on who can perform acupuncture on your fur baby.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKqahnPLq-A

The summer never bodes well for senior dogs. For pet owners, this means they have to deal with fleas on their fur buddies. If you can’t find a suitable flea spray in the grocery or don’t have the time to run to the store to buy one, here’s a video of how to make a homemade flea spray.

It’s hard not to love this homemade flea spray! It’s made under the supervision of a veterinarian, and contains no harmful chemicals. Only good and natural ingredients are needed to create this flea treatment. Senior dog care has never been this easy, not to mention inexpensive.

Skin disorders are among the most common dog ailments, especially for older canines. The good news is that veterinarians take skin issues in older dogs very seriously, and are relatively easy to treat.

There are several symptoms of skin disorders among dogs. Some of the more striking ones are a discoloration of their fur, inflammation of their ear canal, dry skin, skin flaking, foul odor emitted by their skin, hair loss, brown flakes, skin rash, redness, irritation, itchy skin, scabs, and dog warts.

Once it’s determined that your dog suffers from a skin disorder, you and your veterinarian will have to identify the causes, such as parasites (dog fleas, ringworm, dog lice, dog mange), vaccinations, environmental pollutants, psychological factors, bacteria, and skin allergies. The quality of the dog food is another irritant that can lead to your dog’s poor skin condition.

There are a variety of treatment options available for dog skin ailments. But before getting to that point, you might want to take preventive steps to boost your older buddy’s immune system. There are preventive dietary supplements, often made of natural herbs like horsetail, dandelion, spirulina, and focus vesiculosis, and kalium sulphate, that can vastly improve the health of your older dog’s skin and coat.

Another unconventional method is dog fasting. This will allow your dog to cleanse the body, and expel the skin problem—this is how dogs in the wild do it, and it might well work on your buddy too!

A third option is to take care of the affected area using a careful regimen.

Treatment for Dog Ailments Related to Skin

1.Clip away excess hair covering the spot on the skin.

2.Bathe your dog, focusing special attention on the spot(s).  Use a mild organic soap or shampoo.  We like the Castor & Pollux Head to Tail Aloe Oatmeal Shampoo.

3. After drying the hair and skin, try cleansing the spot(s) with a black or green tea.  This can be done often.  Using these teas supplies a tannic acid which helps to dry up the moist areas of the skin.

4. Next, apply natural Vitamin E oil or an aloe vera gel extracted from a living plant.  These plants can be found at most health food stores. (Read more here)

What makes these steps amazing is that they can be administered by any caring pet owner like you. Of course, you will still have to take your buddy to the veterinarian if the condition persists, but isn’t it great to know that we pet owners aren’t totally helpless?

Older dogs have to deal with several dog ailments. Regular visits to the vet will help in early diagnosis and treatment, but as an owner, you also have to be aware of the basic symptoms and signs that your fur buddy is suffering from an illness.

Geriatric cataracts are about as common in older dogs as they are in humans. The key to curing it is early detection, lest it lead to blindness or vision impairment. Symptoms that your dog has cataracts include cloudy or opaque eyes,  and lack of stability.

And then there’s obesity, another serious age-related health problem. More than ever, you have to be aware of your older dog’s diet. This often means changing the diet and controlling their weight.

You also have to watch out for arthritis, one of the more unfortunate dog ailments because of the lack of cure. Treatment for this condition, however, will result in reduction of the inflammation and pain.

Diabetes mellitus are more likely to happen to obese dogs. When your dog is always thirst, frequently urinates, and has an abnormal appetite, then it might be at risk for diabetes. It can lead to kidney failure if not treated early, so seek help from the vet ASAP.

Dealing with Dog ailments

Thyroid Disorder

The most common thyroid disorder found in senior dogs is hypothyroidism. This occurs when the thyroid stops producing a sufficient amount of hormones. It can be caused by weight, atrophy of the thyroid gland and cancer. Dogs with hypothyroidism generally have the following symptoms:

·         Dry, scaly or flaky skin

·         Lethargy

·         Weight gain

·         Thinning of hair

Hypothyroidism is treated with synthetic thyroid hormones. (Read more here)

You might also notice lumps on your dog. This is indicative of tumors and skin growths, which are quite common in older dogs. Although generally normal, you should still consult the veterinarian because it might be a symptom for a cancerous condition.

Last are two common ailments among older dogs: hearing and urinary incontinence. You need to determine the causes of both, because it might be a symptom of a more serious condition.

You have every reason to be cautious if your older buddy suffers from any of these illnesses.  What’s important is that you take your dog to the vet regularly, so you can cure the condition before it gets worse.

The arthritis dogs have can immobilize and subject your dog to intense pain, which is why there’s every reason to be alarmed if your dog is diagnosed with it. Fortunately, there is a variety of treatments available for dogs with arthritis. Before you choose one, or in case your vet has prescribed a certain treatment, you should first equip yourself with the several choices available.

1. Glucosamine and chondroitin (GAGS)

Usually given in oral form, GAG products prevent arthritis by strengthening the joins and rebuilding the cartilage in older dogs. If you don’t see changes after three to four weeks, you might want to switch brands, since dogs respond differently to supplements. There are also injectable GAGs, usually administered when orals don’t work. Just carefully follow the instructions in the packet.

2. A Health, Well-Balanced Diet

Another preventive measure is to have a healthy diet. Thereare certain foods you have to eliminate to prevent arthritis, suchas seeds, potatoes, peppers, and tomatoes. Instead, you might want to include certain foods that will help protect your dog, such as celery, alfalfa, tropical fruits, and papaya.

3. Maintain their weight by regular exercise

Help your dog lose weight. The excess fat has to go, because they’re bogging down the mobility of your dog. Depending on the age and capabilities of your dog, you should opt for low-impact exercises  to keep them flexible. Short walks and swimming are also great exercises that address arthritis.

4. Natural Anti-Inflammatory Supplements

Fish oil, which contain omega-3 fatty acids, has been proven to reduce inflammation. You should also put your dogs on Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and Bromelain (which is found in pineapples). You should also consider certain herbs that have been known for its anti-inflammatory properties, like licorice, nettle leaf, meadowswear, and yucca root to name a few.

5. Natural therapies like acupuncture and chiropractic treatments

Relieve the joint pain in your dogs by subscribing to natural therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic treatments, and hydrotherapy. These alternative treatments will help “align” your dog’s limbs and make them more mobile.

Two other methods, warmth and DLPA, have likewise been scientifically proven to address arthritis.

9 Treatments for Canine Arthritis

Warmth can help reduce arthritis pain. Thick, orthopedic beds that insulate your dog from the cold floor or ground as well as cushioning the joints provide a lot of comfort. There are also heated dog beds available, but be sure that the cords cannot be chewed. A product called “DogLeggs” can be custom-made to keep elbows, hocks, or wrists (carpus) warm. Some people have reported success using the homeopathic treatments Traumeel and Zeel by Heel Biotherapeutics.

Eventually, no matter what you do, your dog may require treatment for chronic pain. There is one more nutraceutical that can help with this: dl-phenylalanine (DLPA), an amino acid that is used to treat both depression and chronic pain.

The most common dosage range for dogs is 1 to 5 mg/lb (3 to 10 mg/kg) of body weight, but I have seen dosage recommendations as high as 5 to 10 mg per pound (2 to 5 mg/kg), two or three times a day. In humans, very high doses may cause numbness, tingling, and other signs of nerve damage, so be on the watch for any signs that your dog may be experiencing these if using such high doses. It takes time for DLPA to begin to work, so it must be used continuously rather than just as needed. Often, however, you needn’t continue to give DLPA daily once it has taken effect; sometimes it can be given as little as one week per month to retain results. It is safe to combine DLPA with all other arthritis drugs, but do not combine DLPA with MAOI drugs such as Anipryl (selegiline, l-deprenyl), used in the treatment of Cushing’s Disease and canine cognitive dysfunction, or amitraz (found in tick collars). (Read More)

8. NSAIDs

This is a bit controversial, because of the many side effects that it can cause to your dog, like liver and kidney failure, ulcer, and even death. Before putting your dogs on NSAIDs like Rimadyl (carprofen), Etogesic (etodolac), and Deramaxx (deracoxib), you should consult a vet. There are also certain precautions you should observe: have your dog’s blood tested; never administer it on an empty stomach; discontinue it at once at the first sign of complications; lastly, be very cautious when switching from one brand to another.

9. Tramadol

An alternative to NSAID, tramadol is generally safer but less effective in terms of anti-inflammation. It can be used alongside NSAIDs, and can even be used on a continuous basis.

Canine arthritis is a serious issue. The good news is that you don’t have to see your old buddy suffer every day for this condition. You can help your dog get through this condition, if you choose the treatment that is both safe and effective.

Seizures in older dogs are quite common, and yet most pet owners don’t know the reasons behind it. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that your dog is epileptic—seizures aren’t necessarily connected to epilepsy. In fact, the seizures may be indicative of another health condition.

Brain tumor is one common reason. As these tumors grow, the cause pain and pressure on the brain, which triggers the seizures. Aside from seizures, it is accompanied by a number of other symptoms, including loss of motor coordination and vision. To diagnose brain tumor, take your pet to the vet, who will most likely recommend a CAT (computed axial topography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).

It might also be a symptom of kidney disease. When toxins build up or when the acidity levels are high, your dog might experience seizures in the long run. Diabetes is also a cause—not because of lack of treatment (which will result in coma or stupor), but because of over-treatment. Insulin overdose can lead to seizures in older dogs.

Not a lot of people are familiar with Cushing’s Disease, but it also causes seizures.

Identifying the causes of seizures in older dogs

While Cushing’s Disease (also known as hyperadrenocorticism) is not typically a direct cause of seizures, some of the circumstances surrounding the condition can lead to seizures. In most cases, Cushing’s Disease is caused by a lesion in the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. The majority of these tumors are microscopic in size, however there are cases where larger tumors (known as macroadenoma) can sometimes get big enough to put pressure on the brain and cause seizures.  (More Here)

There are two types of seizures: a single convulsion, or a continuous one characterized by multiple convulsions. The second one is more dangerous and will require immediate attention. When your dog suffers from seizure, the first thing you need to do is to make sure that your dog doesn’t hurt himself. Don’t place your hand on the dog, as you might end up getting bitten. Instead, put a towel over it and gently restrain it. Once this happens, and the convulsions subside, take your old friend to the vet at once.

Does your old buddy scratch himself constantly, are losing hair, and having raw skin patches all over? No matter how many antibiotics or injections you try, the annoying itch might not go away. The good news is that common ailments like this don’t necessarily merit an expensive trip to the vet.

There is, however, a more practical solution: apple vider vinegar. This home cure can solve a lot of dog ailments. All you have to do is to spray it directly by either spraying or sponging it on the problematic spots. Do this twice a day, and in three days, you’ll notice the fur of your fur friend grow back.

In fact, even if your dog don’t have dermatitis, you can still mix apple cider vinegar in the bath water of your dog to neutralize the odor. It will also let your dog’s fur grow into a natural and thick sheen, and prevent them from hotspots. Add around a quarter of a cup of apple cider vinegar for every gallon of water—this should keep out the fleas and even avoid ear mites.

There are other home remedies that will surely be handy when your vet’s not around:

Fantastic home remedies for common dog ailments

For an upset stomach, try cooked white rice. Cook the rice according to package directions and feed this to your dog for a couple of days instead of their normal food. On the second day you can add ground chicken or turkey to the rice. I know some folks only feed raw meat to their dogs, so your choice to cook or not cook the chicken or turkey, it’s the white rice that will settle their stomachs and cleanse their system of whatever was causing it to be upset.

Add garlic to your dog’s daily food and it will prevent internal parasites. Garlic will also rid your dog of existing internal parasites. A few shavings of fresh garlic or about 1/4 teaspoon processed garlic mixed with their food daily. The garlic will also help keep the ticks off of your dogs. Ticks don’t like the flavor of garlic so they won’t attach themselves to your dogs.

If your dog has a gas problem, yogurt with Probiotics mixed with their food daily will solve it. About 4 teaspoons a day will do the trick. (More Here)

There you go.  With apple cider vinegar, rice, garlic, and yogurt, you should be able to keep your old friend in top shape…and keep the vet away!

You can’t be too careful when you take your old buddy on a walk or on a hike in the woods. You should be fully equipped—not just with a first-aid kid, but also with knowledge on how to administer quick treatments for the most common dog ailments. That being said, here are the ten most common dog injuries, and the corresponding treatments for them.

1. Porcupine Quills

Do not move the quill around as you attempt to remove it. Instead, you can use a pair of pliers or your fingers, and place them as close to the dog’s skin as possible before finally removing it. If it is placed around your dog’s mouth, make sure your dog is braced. Often, the dog will bite even  because of the pain caused by the quill. After removing the quills, clean the area with alcohol. If the discomfort persists, you can prescribe alcohol or iodine.

2. Foreign Objects Stuck in the Foot

If there’s a thorn or glass stuck in the foot, remove it fast and firmly. Afterward, apply antiseptic and antibiotic on the foot. If necessary, you will need to wrap a bandage around.

3. Broken Nail

If your dog bleeds because of a broken nail, you might need to use a pair of pliers to pull of the hanging nail. Be careful not to tug on the soft quick on the inside of the nail. And them, apply a styptic pencil to stop the bleeding.

4. Waterborne Illness

If the water your dog drinks off from contains viruses, your dog might suffer from diarrhea. It’s essential for you to hydrate your dog. You should also come prepared with an electrolyte solution that will be mixed with the dog’s water. Feed white rice to the dog if you have some with you.

Another waterborne disease is skin rash, caused by blue-green algae. This is toxic to your dog’s internal organs—bring him to a vet at once.

5. Foreign Objects Stuck in the Eyes or Ears

You can tell if this is the case when your dog keeps on blinking or rubbing either the eyes or the ears. If it’s not deep in the ears or eyes, you can remove it with tweezers and forceps carefully. You can also flush the eyes using a saline solution. Just don’t burrow deep and remove it manually if you can’t find it. Your best bet in this case is to bring the dog to a vet.

The next three ones are more serious injuries, and will require you to be extra careful.

10 Common Dog Ailments and Treatments In The Field

BARBED WIRE OR OTHER SERIOUS CUT

Attempt to control bleeding with pressure, clean the wound with antiseptic and antibiotic ointment, and wrap the wound with an ace bandage or by gluing or stapling it shut. If your dog is in danger of excessive blood loss, tie a tourniquet an inch above the wound with a ripped off section of a t-shirt, an ace bandage or whatever else you have on hand. Insert a small stick, pen or other straight, narrow object in the fabric loop and twist tight. Wrap the stick to the leg with tape or an ace bandage. Loosen the tourniquet every 15 minutes for one to two minutes to allow blood circulation to the limb, and get your dog to a vet as soon as possible.                                  

PENETRATING INJURY

Do remove an object you are certain is close to the surface by pulling it out the way it went it. But don’t ever pull out a stick that’s protruding from deep inside your dog’s chest, abdomen or anywhere else—removal can cause more damage than entry. If a stick is buried in your dog, hold the stick firmly, saw it off so that it doesn’t cause more damage, keep your dog as quiet and caln as possible and get to a vet.

FALLING TRAUMA (BREAKS, SPRAINS)

Bind sprains with an ace bandage in the figure-eight pattern described above with an ace bandage, but not so tight that your dog’s paw gets cold or swollen. Stabilize obvious fractures with a splint or stick, and get your dog to a vet while keeping it as quiet and caln as possible. Broken limbs swell. Sprains don’t, and they’re generally not tender to the touch. (Read More)

9. Heat Exhaustion

As you wound your way through the woods, your dog might feel overworked. Just like what you’d do to an exhausted human, take a rest, find shade, and let your old buddy take a bit off an energy bar.

10. Allergic Reactions

If your dog experiences an allergic reaction through rashes, swelling, or hot spots, wash the area concerned immediately. Apply steroid cream or calamine lotion on the area.

Your dog may be of age, but that shouldn’t stop you and your buddy from having fun. If your dog is up to it, and you have the time, go for a walk, take them to a field. As long as you know what to do in case they get ill, there shouldn’t be a problem.