If you notice some hair loss with your dog, it could be that it has alopecia. This common disorder is found in dogs and requires immediate treatment. This hair loss can be caused by trauma, immune disorder or an inflamed hair follicle.

Left untreated, alopecia can cause damage to the dog’s lymphatic or immune system. Alopecia not only affects dogs but cats as well. Alopecia does not discriminate against age, breed or gender and can start gradually so make sure to keep an eye on your pet for signs of hair loss.

If your dog is chewing or you notice patches of hair either varied or symmetrical, it’s best to get the dog to the vet. The skin can get infected quickly which is not good for your dog. If you dog has alopecia, then it’s always recommended you check your cat because it can be transferred.

Mange is the most common cause of alopecia. Mange is caused by the mite Demodex. Regular washing of your dog and constant checking for this condition can help to ward off any outbreaks. And remember, after checking your dog or applying treatment, proper hand washing is important.

Alopecia can show itself in many ways and for many reasons. A number of missing patches can be the result of an inflamed hair follicle. Extensive hair loss can be a more serious issue and you might need to have the dog tested. Unfortunately there is not a lot that can be done to prevent this.

Treatments are usually some type of medicated topical shampoo or antibiotic treatment. Sometimes it is important to take a look at the hormone levels of the dog as well. After treatment is prescribed, it very important that you stay up on the medication and monitor the skin.

Reddening on the skin coupled with scaling and patchy hair loss could be a sign of ringworms. These are highly contagious so it’s recommended that you wear gloves. A fungus like ringworms and bacterial infections are usually characteristic of this type of hair loss.

Literature on these and other problems can be found in most pet stores in the pet dog supplies section. Why not be as informed as possible to help your dog or cat. If you notice symmetrical or patchy hair loss on your dog, seek help immediately to keep your pet healthy.

You are responsible for the health and welfare of your dog. Be diligent in their treatment if you notice any symptoms of alopecia. Don’t let him suffer through without proper medical attention.

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If your dog’s teeth do not align right, its called malocclusion, which mean the fit of the bite is not right. This condition usually starts as the puppies teeth start coming in. As the dog grows to adulthood, the condition can get better or worsen.

By the time a puppy is about 6 months old he should have about 28 teeth. Those teeth are sharp and pointy so make sure your small children are careful while playing with a puppy. By the time the puppy reaches adulthood, he should have 42 teeth.

One of the side effects of this problem is that the dog might have problems picking up or chewing food. Best to have your vet check it out to assure you that your puppy does not run the risk of a fracture or wear on the teeth. Many times this condition has minimal effect with the dog eating.

While there are many breeds with this affliction naturally, the overbite and underbite are the most common malocclusion. Most dogs seem to be unaffected by this problem. The scissor bite is also most common, except in the flat nose breeds.

When you are looking for a pure breed dog there are certain characteristics that are common to their breed. The scissor bite is one of those malocclusions that is not common in the flat nosed dogs like Boxers, Shih Tsuz and Lhasa Apsos’. If the dog has a scissor bite, then you might not be getting a purebred.

It is not uncommon for puppies to be born with gaps in their teeth. These gaps will usually correct themselves as the puppy gets older and his adult teeth come in. If the problem does not correct by around the 10-month mark, it likely will not correct itself.

Your dog’s overbite may worsen as the permanent teeth come in because they are larger and can damage the soft parts of the mouth. Teeth extractions are sometimes necessary. Just check with your vet if you are concerned or notice that the dog is not eating.

Severe cases might require intervention as we have said. Typically these conditions do not ever affect the dogs ability to eat and will not require any medical procedure. As of late though, people are opting for doggy braces to correct their dog’s alignment issues. What is next, contact lens?

Many dog owners consider their dog a big part of their family. Be sure that they are vaccinated regularly to keep them protected from disease. They deserve to live a long and happy life with the rest of the family.

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Who would think that your job as a dog owner would involve brushing your dog’s teeth? Well, dog’s can have bad breath just as people do. When you brush your dog’s teeth, then you can enjoy those little doggy kisses with fresh breath, not doggy breath.

As with people, dogs can suffer from the same dental issues as their owners. We can eliminate the same problems that we have by just giving them a good brushing weekly. Tackle that plaque and tarter buildup and give them shiny teeth with minty breath and brush away.

One thing you might be thinking is “how am I supposed to brush my dog’s teeth?” Well, since you can’t teach your dog to rinse and spit, you use a special doggie toothpaste. Also, you can purchase a finger toothbrush in the dog pet supplies section of your local pet store.

As we play with our dogs, we are throwing Frisbee’s, sticks and other objects for our pets to retrieve. These things can easily break your dog’s teeth. Regularly checking your dogs teeth can eliminate problems, and save on large vet bills.

Without a doggy dentist, most broken teeth will usually result in an infection for your dog. Infections can lead to other health problems for your adored furry friend so be sure he receives proper care right away if there is an injury. Keeping your family pet healthy will ensure a long happy life.

Infections in the mouth can lead to more severe bad breath. So regularly brushing your dog’s teeth and checking for injuries or broken teeth can eliminate any issues early. Doesn’t your dog deserve the best care you can give him?

Make sure when you are playing with your dog, you are using appropriate doggy toys. Teeth can get broken when you are using things that are not dog friendly for your dog to catch or retrieve. Always make sure that the item you are throwing for your dog to catch is size appropriate for your dog.

Hit the dog pet supplies section of your local pet store to find an age appropriate toy suitable for your dog. Getting your dog a toy that is not recommended for them can cause broken teeth, leading to bad breath so make sure their chew toys are what the vet has recommended. If you are not sure, ask the clerk at the store or your vet.

As your puppies grow and their adult teeth start coming in, they will become big chewers. Rawhide bones are great for this time in a puppies’ life. Changing out the toys as they start to get torn up is safe and will eliminate the risk of choking for your puppy.

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In today’s day of natural medicines and herbs to cure human ailments, why not try them for dogs. Growing your own herbs at home allows you some options to treat certain issues for your dog. Save money and help your pet, enough said.

The use of Aloe Vera as a medicinal purpose has been going on for centuries. People have been using it for scrapes, burns and other injuries. Our pets can also benefit from this for stomach ulcers, wounds and burns.

Gas or constipation can also be cured by this amazing plant. For internal issues, this aloe Vera can be ingested by your dog by mixing it into the dog’s food. External issues are cured by rubbing a little Aloe Vera on the affected area. Topically or ingested, Aloe Vera is a plus for dogs.

Flowers from the calendula herb are best used for wounds, cuts and scrapes for both humans and dogs. While it can double as an anti-inflammatory and antifungal, it is used more for the healing of wounds. And there are more uses in store for this little flower.

The petals of the flowers can be directly applied to dress the wound. The petals can also be used as an antiseptic wash by making them into a tea which helps to prevent bacteria from growing. Good to know that these sweet little petals can also serve a purpose.

Ginger has long been the remedy we all hear about with a cup of hot tea for a cold. The ginger root can be the cure for your pets upset stomach by making it into tincture or tea. The centuries old delicious cure for common colds is becoming common for your dogs too.

Goldensel is a powerful herb that helps prevent bacteria from attaching to the walls of your cells. For those dogs with the nasty weeping eye syndrome; give them relief by using the goldensel as a tincture or tea and wash their eyes. No more weepy eyes after use of this amazing cure.

We all know about the calming affect of a nice hot cup of chamomile tea. Try this triple threat of chamomile, valerian and California poppy to sooth that hyper dog. Just a small amount of valerian is used in combination with the tinctures, teas and extracts to help keep your dogs blood pressure low.

As with any illness, we do suggest that you consult your local veterinarian before using the above mentioned remedies. Herbs have been curing our aliments for centuries so it’s only natural that we explore options for our pets. Happy and healthy dogs deserve it.

Have an Animal that you Love? Check out Catherine’s favorite Pet Supplies for Dogs website that uses nature’s best ingredients. They carry the most amazing Natural Organic Dog Shampoos on the market.

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In this article we are going to talk about ways to cure your flea and tick problems without using harsh chemicals and over the counter methods. We will outline some choices that you can use that will work as well as chemical methods. These methods are softer and easier ways to eliminate these parasites.

As a parent, we always want to keep our children’s environment healthy and safe. For many years we have heard that the chemicals used for over the counter flea remedies can be harmful. It’s great to finally to be able to share with everyone some of the natural remedies available.

You can start with an age old method of brewers yeast and a little bit of garlic mixed into their food. For cats, eliminate the garlic due to the fact that onions and garlic are toxic for cats. For a sweeter option, try squeezing lemon juice or orange juice on their fur and rub it in; acting as a natural repellent.

Regular brushing will keep flea infestations down. When bathing your dog, use a citrus smelling dish soap to also act as a repellent. Fleas don’t have the ability to hold onto the hairs so hosing your dog or cat down with water in a tub works to keep the fleas off.

A good way to protect your yard is to use the “beneficial” nematode worm, which is different than the worm that causes heart worms. This worm feeds on the flea larva and will help prevent fleas from infesting your yard. For you home’s interior, vacuum carpets regularly as well as furniture.

To protect your pest from ticks, you can do one simple thing to make it more difficult for the ticks. They live in wooded areas in tall grass and are not able to grab onto the hair of your dog. A good thing to do is take your old T-shirt to cover the dog’s body and belly, socks like leg warmers for his or her legs, acting as a deterrent.

Using a T-shirt to cover your dog’s body and belly will not keep the ticks away, however, it slows their progress to uncovered places as do the socks. By covering the hair it hinders the tick’s access to the warm b therefore acting as a deterrent. And talk about a chick magnet; this might work better than a cute puppy.

You can use rose geranium oil on the inside of your dog’s collar and on their fur to repel ticks. It’s a natural repellent for dogs but is not suggested for cats. Cats have severe reactions to all essential oils so steer clear of those for you cats.

Now that you have a few alternate means of combating fleas and ticks, you can feel confident that your pets will remain bug-free throughout the year. Summer time is a particularly hard time where fleas and ticks are concerned so keep your pet happy and critter free by using these safe and environment friendly tricks. Just remember that proper removal of ticks is essential.

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Our pets share the same instinct that we as humans have. We have an innate reaction to a threat that we have been born with. It’s a flee, flight or fight reaction to a dangerous situation; real or perceived.

An automatic reaction to a fearful situation is a trait we are born with. Our dogs are the same and they experience some of the same reactions as we do. Abnormal behaviors displayed in your dog, over time, can be changed.

Your dog can exhibit symptoms of anxiety in ways such as excessive barking, uncontrollable urination or whining. These are triggered by either visible stresses or separation. The most common stress a dog experiences is separation anxiety.

Constant and unwarranted fear of a certain sound that can cause your dog to react such as fireworks or thunderstorm is considered a phobia. These are the most common fears that are associated with a phobia for dogs. They may have experienced something in the past and are associating that with a memory causing a response.

As dogs get older, they may experience more separation anxiety then in the past. This can be caused by the decline in memory and thoughts. Anxieties and phobia see their onset around the beginning of social development which is about 12 to 36 months. Between 8 to 10 months they may experience a fear or withdrawal which is normal.

Some signs that your dog might be suffering some phobias or anxieties can vary. Tails tucked, withdrawn behavior or trembling can be identified as signs of mild fear. Some fears and anxieties are hard to diagnosis due to no identifiable stimulus.

What causes your dog to develop these conditions? Illness or a physical condition that causes pain can contribute to the development of phobias, fears or anxiety. Puppies not given proper social exposure until the age of– weeks may become fearful.

If you adopt a dog that came from a prior abusive situation, they might suffer some form of anxiety. Separation issues can be the cause of a previous abandonment experience. Whatever the issues are, be sure that you continue to nurture the dog and work on positive affirmation when you see efforts being made to curb the behavior.

Not to worry, most of these behavioral issues can be treated with medication and behavior modification. However, some dogs may not respond to the behavioral modifications. Additionally, medications can take up to 2 weeks in some cases before you will see results.

Have an Animal that you Love? Check out Catherine’s recommended Pet Supplies for Dogs website that uses all natural ingredients. They carry the greatest selection of amazing Natural Organic Dog Shampoos on the market.

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