Posts Tagged Dog Doctors


Dog Doctors-Are Our Puppies Making Us Sick?

Posted by dogstrollers in Dog Doctors on April 20, 2009


This is agreat article written by Catherine Guthrie for the Oprah magazine O. Sometime we just don’t realise that the pet we love can be actually making us very ill.
The Hazards of Puppy Love
By Catherine Guthrie
Dogs. We share our hearts, our homes, and—admit it!—our beds with 74.8 million of the licking, squirming, panting balls of fur. Sure they’re cute and cuddly, but can they be the source of sickness?
While you won’t catch a cold or a cough from dogs (or give them one, for that matter), you may be in for other troubles. Just keep in mind that the health benefits of cohabiting with a canine far outweigh the potential contamination. Simply petting a dog lowers your blood pressure and heart rate. And in one study of heart attack survivors, dog owners were 8.6 times more likely to be alive a year later than people without dogs. But here’s the question: When Spot comes to plant a slobbery kiss on your cheek, should you dodge?

Absolutely, says Lisa Conti, a veterinarian and director of the division of environmental health at the Florida Department of Health. “Dogs have bacteria around their mouths you don’t want on your face.” Every year, more than 200,000 Americans get stomach flu after ingesting a common bacterium found on the tail ends of dogs—and cats—called campylobacter. Another easily transmitted bacterium is salmonella, which causes diarrhea and fever in humans. The bugs get around thanks to the typical canine meet-and-greet sniffing, and an innocent kiss can pass it to you. “Dogs lick themselves all over, so these germs can be on the dog’s nose when it’s nuzzling you,” says Peter Rabinowitz, MD, associate professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine and an expert in pet-related infection.

Now that you’re ducking dog kisses, you should probably plan to wash up after heavy petting. Soap and water are your best protection against ringworm, one of the most common infections dogs pass to people. A fungus like jock itch and athlete’s foot, ringworm spores can lurk on a dog’s coat or muzzle. Every year, ringworm makes the leap from pets to people an estimated 2 million times. Signs of ringworm include circular, scaly red patches on the skin. In dogs, the fungus can surface as hair loss or dry, flaky skin. “I’m not saying don’t pet your dog,” Rabinowitz says, “but I am saying to wash your hands afterward.”

Less icky but no less irksome is poison ivy. Although the plant’s tenacious oil won’t bother Spot in the slightest, it can spread from his fur to your skin faster than you can say “no jump.” So if you think your pooch came into contact with the plant after a frolic through fields and forests (maybe even the backyard), get out your gloves and give him a bath. “If it’s low-growing ivy, you may be able to get by with just washing the dog’s feet and legs,” Conti says.

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Why is a Dog’s Diet Important?

Posted by dogstrollers in Dog Doctors on April 8, 2009


Your dog really is a best friend, so there is no doubt that you want to
keep your pet as healthy as possible. There are many ways to keep your dog happy and healthy and a nutritious diet is one of the best ways to positively influence their health and longevity.

If you consider how unpleasant a person can be when he or she is hungry or malnourished, you will undoubtedly see the importance of healthy choices when selecting your dog’s diet. Selecting a high-quality diet for your dog will increase the likelihood of a long and happy life.
A healthy choice for your dog’s diet will include the basic vitamins and minerals essential for their health. Also, your dog’s diet should include some extra nutritional supplements. Speak with your vet as they will be willing to help you make informed and educated decisions about your dog’s diet. Also ask about glucosamine or fish oil to combat health issues such as arthritis and dandruff.

Your dog’s diet will affect its energy level. If the diet is lacking,
they may be sluggish or may not receive adequate rest.
Your dog’s diet affects the amount and size of outputs. When your pet eats a healthy diet with few fillers, the excrement is less. This is
important to lessen the cleanup of the kennel or yard, just ask any
handler who picks up after their dog and ask them about the importance of a dog’s diet.

Obesity is not just a problem for people. Weight is also a concern for
your pet. Your dog’s diet plays an important role in maintaining a
healthy weight, giving extra treats can seem like a simple thing, but
they can create serious health problems when given to your dog too
often.

Finding the correct diet for your dog can even help to reduce reactions to food allergies. Decreasing allergy troubles will make your dog feel so much better. Sometimes a simple change in the type of dog food can make such a difference to your dog’s health..

A good diet will make your dog’s coat look and feel better with a
healthy diet, along with making a big difference to their teeth.
Choosing a dry dog food can help to sharpen and polish your dog’s teeth whilst avoiding canned food where possible will help to reduce tartar and plaque.

As you can see, a dog’s diet influences everything from outputs to
teeth,energy levels and attitude. Selecting your dog’s diet wisely and
consulting your dog doctor is a fabulous way to really improve the
quality of your pet’s life.

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Does Your Dog’s Diet Include Fiber?

Posted by dogstrollers in Dog Doctors on March 24, 2009


Does your dog’s diet include fiber?

We know the benefits of fiber in our own diet, but are there any benefits of having fiber in a dog’s diet?  Fiber was once just considered filler and bulk in year’s past, but today, the nutritional value of fiber in a dog’s diet has been finally realized.

What exactly is fiber?  It is a part of the carbohydrate family and is not easily digestible by the body.  Your dog’s diet can benefit from fiber in appropriate amounts.  Just like humans, too much fiber in a diet can have negative effects on the digestive system.  It is always important to monitor your dog’s diet to maintain a healthy level of fiber to suit your pet’s needs.  Talk to your veterinarian about the benefits of fiber in your dog’s diet.

Too often, pet’s become overweight and having Fiber in your dog’s diet is a terrific way to help your pet lose excess weight.  Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial to the longevity and quality of your dog’s life.  We know that fiber cannot accomplish weight loss on its own, but it can really make a difference as Fiber helps to keep your dog feeling full and content without the intake of large amounts of calories.

By combining fiber with strict portion control, you will be able to create a dog diet that is healthy and satisfying for your pet.

Again, similar to humans, constipation also occurs in pets.  Your dog’s diet should contain fiber to  help prevent this medical condition from occurring.  As your dog ages, his or her diet should contain elevated levels of fiber.  Senior dogs tend to have more issues with constipation and more frequently than their younger counterparts.  For this reason, having a higher fiber content in senior dog diets is very important.

How does fiber help keep things moving?  Fiber absorbs water, and because of the absorption of water by the fiber, the contents in the intestine have more bulk.  This is what causes the movement along the intestinal tract and means that the passage time through the bowel becomes more normalized and regular.

Healthy amounts of fiber in your dog’s diet will contribute to fecal consistency.  You will know when your pet is getting the proper amount of fiber when your dog relieves himself regularly.  Too much fiber in your dog’s diet will result in loose and messy stools.

Some studies indicate that a slight increase in fiber can assist in the management of diabetes mellitus.  The fiber helps to control blood sugar levels by slowing the absorption of sugar from the intestine.

Also remember that excessive amounts of fiber can have negative affects on your dog’s health.  For this reason, it is important to buy high-quality dog food from reputable companies to ensure a healthy diet for your dog. Good sources of fiber in your dog’s diet include beet pulp, soybean hulls, rice bran, apple and tomato pomace, and peanut hulls.  Grains such as oats and rice are examples of indigestible fiber.

Fiber does have benefits in your dog’s diet when used in proper amounts so talking with your vet will ensure that your dog receives the correct levels and maintains excellent health.

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