MOST COMMON DISEASES AFFECTING OLD DOGS

Rheumatism/ Arthritis

Arthritis usually shows up when the dog reaches 10 years of age. Most common symptoms are stiff joints, difficult movement and irritability. You should help the old dog by giving him a warm and dry place to live and sleep.

Blindness

Cataracts are the main cause of blindness and are common in the very old dog. Cataracts may be seen in the form of cloudy spots, and are visible through the pupil. Cataracts can be removed by surgery and a major portion of sight restored.

A blind dog can move about well in familiar surroundings. He can move without bumping into chairs or tables because he relies on his scent. Outdoors, the blind dog may get into trouble. Do not let him out of the yard alone.




Otitis

Old dogs frequently may suffer from otitis or inflammation of the ear. The condition can be very painful and he may refuse to eat. Otitis is more often seen in those dogs with long or pendulous ears, such as the Dachshund, Cocker Spaniel and Irish setter. Take your dog to vet for proper treatment rather doing it at your own.

Deafness

Otitis may lead to deafness. But deafness can be caused by other factors, such as disease and injury. When you know the old dog is deaf, you'll have to make some adjustments in the daily routine. Move quietly and try not to startle him as he may snap or bite when startled.

Nephritis

Chronic nephritis or inflammation of the kidney is present in most old dogs. These cases require veterinary attention as it is a life threatening disease. The dog with chronic nephritis will probably have to be on a special diet for the rest of his life.

Cancer

It is a tragic disease and symptoms may include abnormal growths under the skin, as well as swellings that don't go away. Cancer may also manifest itself through bleeding or bloody discharge from the eyes, mouth, ears, or any other opening.



Other ailments

Prostatitis, pyometra and ascites—ailments of the old dog — while these conditions are usually found in old dogs, they may be present as symptoms of disease in younger dogs.

TAKING CARE OF YOUR AGING COMPANION

• Buy a raised dog feeder and water bowl. Adjust to your dog’s height and prevent them from having to lean down to eat and drink, reducing strain on their neck and back.

• Your dog deserves a good night’s sleep. An orthopaedic dog bed supports your dog’s spine to keep them comfortable. Sleeping on hard surfaces can lead to the formation of large callused areas on your dog’s elbows; a soft bed will prevent this.

• Buy ramps or steps to allow your dog to reach higher places such as your bed or the seat of your car. Lifting your dog can hurt them and you.

• Pay attention to eating habits. Speak to your vet about switching to a soft food, or try soaking their food in a little water o soften it.

• Exercise keeps your dog fit. Although you may need to slow the pace or shorten the distance for walks, it is important to keep exercising your dog unless your vet tells you otherwise.

TIPS TO CARE YOUR DOG IN WINTERS

Winter pet care:

* Brush your dog regularly. The air in most houses becomes dry during the colder months, which depletes moisture from dog skin and fur. Brushing will improve skin, coat and blood circulation.

* A thick-coated dog typically needs grooming in cold weather. The fur can get wet and matted, making it an irritant. Clean fur lofts and holds air, thus helping the animal stay warm.

* Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter. Leave the coat longer for more warmth. When you bathe your dog, completely dry him before taking him out for a walk.

* Use omega fatty acid supplements during the winter, ideally starting several weeks before cold weather sets in, to help skin and coat.

* If your dog engages in a lot of outdoor activities, increase his food supply to help keep his coat thick and healthy.

DOG ODOUR - CAUSES AND HOW TO GET RID OF IT

causes of dog odour and steps to remove it -

1. Wash your dog properly - Too many people do not wash their dogs properly. This can actually make things worse. First, check the dog over thoroughly for any obvious stink sources such as something they rolled in or poop stuck in the fur. Once wet, using a gentle dog shampoo, lather the dog up good and proper. Finally, rinse, rinse, rinse to get all of the shampoo out or it will dry, itch, and cause the dog to produce excess skin oil.
2. Dry the dog thoroughly - It's not just oils and the things the dog rolled in that create dog odor. It's also bacteria and bacteria waste. These bacteria love wet animal fur and are able to live and reproduce quite happily in it. The dogs with thick coats, hit them with a blow dryer. Just make sure you set it on the coolest setting possible.
3. Dog breath - If bad enough, dog breath can make a dog and the house wreak like hell. There are several things you can do to help reduce this odor. The most important is to start a proper oral hygiene regimen. It is often recommended that you brush your dog's teeth once a day. If the dog isn't healthy, it probably won't smell healthy either.
4. Anal glands - secrete an ishy, musty smelling substance with the feces. Sometimes these glands get clogged. This can cause some serious pet odor. A vet or groomer can drain these glands and make Doggy smell pretty again.
5.Ear infections - If the ears look nasty or are stinky, take the dog to the vet. The dog might also just have a skin infection that is causing the smell. It could be a yeast infection, a bacterial infection, or an allergy that has caused an increase in the musty-smelling.

German Shpherd dog - common features

German Shepherds are a large-breed dog which generally are between 55 and 65 centimetres at the withers and weigh between 22 and 40 kilograms. They have a domed forehead, a long square-cut muzzle and a black nose. The jaws are strong, with a scissor-like bite. The eyes are medium-sized and brown with a lively, intelligent, and self-assured look. The ears are large and stand erect, open at the front and parallel. They have a long neck, which is raised when excited and lowered when moving at a fast pace. The tail is bushy and reaches to the hock.

A solid black German ShepherdGerman Shepherds can be a variety of colours, the most common of which are the tan/black and red/black varieties. Both varieties have black masks and black body markings which can range from a classic "saddle" to an over-all "blanket." Rarer colour variations include the sable, all-black, all-white, liver, and blue varieties. German Shepherds sport a double coat. The outer coat, which is shed all year round, is close and dense with a thick undercoat. The coat is accepted in two variants; medium and long. The long-hair gene is recessive, making the long-hair variety rarer.

HOW TO CHOOSE A GUINEA PIG

Try to avoid guinea pigs that are panicky when handled, especially if they do not relax quickly, and also those that are overly quiet and calm.
The guinea pig should be alert and active.
Avoid guinea pigs that are overly skinny or grossly overweight. The body should be firm and rounded.
The nose, eyes, ears, and rear end should be clean and free from discharge.
The coat should be full and soft.
Check the skin for flakes or redness, and be on the lookout for any signs of parasites such as lice

COAT COLORS IN GERMAN SHEPHERD DOGS

German Shepherd Dogs come in a variety of coat colors. Black & red, Black & tan, Black & cream, Black & sliver, Black, Blue, and White. Blue and White are genetically mutated colors, and are not bred by responsible breeders. The color of the dog is not usually considered when buying a puppy, as long as the colors are strong and well pigmented. The most critical things to consider are Temperament, Health and proper Structure. There are many variations within the preferred coat colors.

German Shepherd Black & tan or Black & red puppies are born nearly all black, and the colors continue to come in for the first few years of their life. The Solid Blacks are black at birth and stay that way. Black & red means the markings are darker than the traditional tan... that is there is a reddish-brown tone to the markings. Black & tan is the traditional color popular in India. Black & cream is a lighter shade of tan markings.

BEST SHAMPOO FOR YOUR DOG

In market a variety of shampoo are available for dogs. But it's your duty to choose the best shampoo for your companion. Following are some points to help you for the best selection -
1. Avoid Scented Shampoos - A scented dog shampoo may smell wonderful to you but it can be irritating to your dog's skin.

2. Dog's Susceptibility to Fleas and Ticks - If your dog has a serious flea and tick problem, you may want to consider a shampoo containing pyrethrins. Be sure to avoid getting it in your dog's eyes during bath.
3. Give Thorough Rinse - If shampoo is left on your dog's skin, it can cause skin irritation. Rinse thoroughly and then rinse again.
4. Check your Dog's Skin Type - Dog shampoos are designed for dogs with oily, normal, and dry skin. You may need to consult your veterinarian for opinion.

5. Consider Sensitivity of dog's Skin - Try to avoid dog shampoos with a lot of synthetic ingredients as they can aggravate the skin problem.

6. Natural Dog Shampoo - Always try to choose natural dog shampoo to get the best results.
7. Don't Let Dog Ingest the Shampoo - Shampoo should be out of reach of children and pets.

hairball in cats

Most people believe that a cat with a hairball will vomit hair, but it is really not the case. Some hairballs of course, do get vomited. But, more often, the hairball is leisurely parked at the exit to the stomach when the cat decides to eat a meal. The act of eating stimulates the stomach to contract and push Kitty's big meal out into the intestines to be digested. The forceful waves of stomach contractions send the food toward the pyloris with the intent of emptying the stomach, but the pyloris is blocked by the hairball napping in the road.The food is generally undigested, and since the cat experiences no real nausea or cramping, the cat usually goes back to her dish to begin satisfying that mystifying, returning hunger. Meanwhile, the hairball is being tossed and churned by a stomach that has begun the mixing stage of the digestion process, and is either dislodged from the pyloris to float freely in the stomach, or is forced into the intestines to be digested and passed. So you see, hairballs can cause vomiting of hair, food, or even water soon after drinking. A normal cat can vomit in this matter an average of one time per week. Most cats with a hairball will vomit once or even twice in one week, then be fine for 2-3 weeks before another episode.
For a hairball remedy to work, they need to be used as a preventative measure, not as a treatment after vomiting is a problem. These products physically coat the hair ingested during routine grooming to prevent it from entangling and joining other hair already in the stomach, thus preventing the dreaded hairball. If the hairball is already present, a petroleum product will not be able to penetrate the densely packed hair in a hairball.
If your cat vomits more than an average of once weekly, see your veterinarian! Vomiting can be caused by a huge list of cats problems, some of the most common being the ingestion of a foreign body, infiltrative or inflammatory bowel disease, stomach tumors, kidney disease, diabetes, and thyroid disease.