A puppy’s teeth start appearing when he is about four weeks old. These are deciduous (temporary) or baby teeth that do not have roots. By the time the young dog is about six weeks old, most of the deciduous canine, incisive and molar teeth are in place. As puppies are liable to bite their mother’s nipples, puppies are generally weaned as soon as the first set of teeth start appearing.

Being deciduous teeth, these teeth start falling off as the roots of the permanent teeth start pushing upwards. The process of replacement is usually complete by the time the dog is about eight months old. The incisors are the first deciduous teeth to fall off and the molars are generally the last.

When the deciduous teeth are being replaced by permanent ones, is when dog owners start observing the first signs of canine bad breath. Bad dog breath in puppies during this time is normal and can be easily addressed with a dog oral breath spray.

The exact timing when the temporary teeth are shed varies from breed to breed and in most cases, the owners are not even aware of the process that is taking place. This is mainly because of the fact that the temporary teeth are swallowed with food and do not really fall out.

Your pet may be in need of dog dental care. Does he have that typical bad doggie breath? If you do notice a horrible smell when he breathes into your face, chances are that it may be a clue that your dog may need dental care.

In the past pet owners believed that they did not have to do anything to keep their dog’s teeth and gums healthy. They believed that nature would take care of the dog’s teeth naturally. Gradually commercial pet companies introduced hard dog biscuits that would help clean your dog’s teeth. Since those beginnings, it has become more well known that dogs may need help in the teeth cleaning and breath area.

Dog dental care is one aspect of your overall pet’s health care. Dogs with healthy teeth and gums will have overall healthy mouths, which will help them to live longer and happier lives. Although having bad dental care may not decrease your pet’s overall life expectancy, it could cause him pain and discomfort and may even lead to him losing one or several teeth. And, if you didn’t know, having a serious infection in the mouth may even lead to heart and kidney disease.

Minor injuries in pets

Both dogs and cats often fall victim to minor cuts, scrapes, bites and stings- especially those with outdoor lifestyles and adventurous natures! Cuts and scrapes, abrasions, insect bites, fights with other animals – all can result in a miserable pet with consequent risk of infection. Like people, animals can also suffer from allergies and reactions to plants like Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

Most of these little injuries heal fairly quickly on their own and without long-term adverse effects, especially in healthy pets with strong immune systems. However, the immediate pain, discomfort and swelling can be unpleasant and debilitating for your pet and it is important to care for these wounds appropriately. Also, there may be a high risk of infection in otherwise minor wounds if they are not properly cared for.

How can natural remedies help?

Because of the risk of infection, pet wounds are often treated with antibiotics – taken internally or applied as a cream to the skin. They may also be treated with topical corticosteroid creams. While these can be effective in the short term, many holistic vets believe that they may also compromise your pet’s health by affecting immune functioning. Topical antibiotic, corticosteroid and antiseptic creams are also often licked off by pets and can contain substances that may not be good for them to ingest.

Does your dog have behavior problems? Does your dog chew furniture and destroy your house when you are not home? Is your dog aggressive with other dogs or people? Does your dog bark excessively, or maybe he excessively digs holes in the yard ? He may even defecate or urinate in the house. All of these problems could be as a result of your dog getting insufficient exercise.

A dog with excess energy needs exercise to spend that energy, otherwise he may find his own ways to react to that pent-up liveliness. If he is not exercised regularly he will become jumpy and irritable, and probably exhibit some type of behavioral issues. He may use his pent-up feelings and energy to chew furniture. Or it may come out in some other type of behavioral problem.

Exercise relieves your dog’s stress levels. It helps him to forget about the problems he is experiencing during the day while you are not home and focus on something else. Do not believe that just because your dog is at home quietly by himself that he is not experiencing stress. Don’t forget that dogs were not meant to be sedentary creatures. In the wild they hunted and lived in family packs. That was the social structure they were bred into. In today’s world they may not be allowed to practice what in the past was normally part of their daily lives. This can be stressful for some dogs, and that stress can lead to problem behavior.

Question:

My dog has been gagging/hacking…how do you clear hairball on
dogs? Any natural remedies?

Can you please help my poor dog?

Ron

Answer:

Hi Ron,

Thank you for your query. Although it is unusual for dogs to get
hairballs as they don’t generally groom themselves, if this is the
problem then you can quite safely and effectively give your dog our
hairball formula that is usually used for cats, Furball Dr.

Originally posted 2005-10-20 09:17:31.

There are two meanings when you speak of pet kennels. One is that a kennel breeds a certain type of pet, like a dog breeder who breeds Jack Russell Terriers. The other is that of a boarding kennel. Some kennels do both. This article discusses boarding kennels here.

If you ever need to be away from home and cannot take your pet with you, you may have to leave your pet in the hands of a boarding kennel. They are essentially a hotel for pets. It can be tricky to find a good kennel, though. You need to check out the kennel thoroughly before entrusting your pet to their care.

Here are a few things to take into consideration before leaving your pet in a kennel:

Be aware that your pet will be very insecure out of it home environment and you will need to be certain that the kennel staff will be sympathetic to your pet’s anxiety.

Choose a kennel that has your pet’s best interest in mind—one designed for the health, safety and comfort of your pet.

Make sure the kennel facilities are clean and sanitary. Kennels should be cleaned and sterilized before any new pet uses it, as well as cleaned on a daily basis.

Man’s Best Friend has been a trusted protector of our homes for thousands of years. Their keen senses and awareness, along with a pack mentality, have made dogs a valuable asset to man in his effort to keep his home secure.

In today’s world, home protection dogs are more valuable than ever. They can deter break-ins, assaults, and give real world protection in situations where lethal force is not an option.

Of course, a trained protection dog is not a panacea and they are certainly not for everyone. Weighing your options is very important and there are many things to consider before your purchase.

1. COST

The cost of a trained dog can be astronomical. A trained protection dog can cost as little as $1500 and as much as $50,000! While the old adage,”You get what you pay for,” is generally true, the more expensive dog is not always the better one. Investigate costs from reputable trainers and compare your needs to your budget. Decide what you can afford and discuss this with your vendor. Some may even offer financing or payment plans.

2. BREED

When a cat is allergic to something, common indications will be itchy skin, coughing and/or sneezing, or vomiting or diarrhea in the case of a digestive allergy. Allergies to fleas, foods, things inhaled, or something they have come in contact with are the most likely allergies in cats.

Contact allergies generally result in a fairly localized reaction on the skin. The cat may scratch a lot or there may be an indication of irritation at the place of contact. Most common causes of contact allergies in cats would obviously be items with which they come in close contact such as flea collars, bedding, toys, etc. The simplest cure is to remove the contact.

Flea allergies are very common in cats. A normal cat may simply bite or scratch for a while and then go on to other things, but a cat with a flea allergy may scratch, chew, and worry at the spot until large amounts of fur are lost.

Inhalant types of allergies are probably the most common in cats. Your cat can be allergic to the exact same allergens that you are. Tree pollens, grass pollens, and weed pollens along with the rest of the items we humans fear; mold, mildew, dust mites, and dust itself can all trigger allergic reactions in cats.

While moving your hand over your dog’s coat you might occasionally feel a bump under the skin. Chances are that if you have been able to locate one, a veterinarian will be able to find a few more since he is skilled and trained. Dog skin problems like bumps in the skin is as common an occurrence as feline acne and feline hair loss. Even though these conditions are common, they should not be treated carelessly. Such problems should not be considered as minor conditions of pet hair and coat disorders like canine and cat dandruff.

But spotting a bump on your dog need not be a cause of panic also. In most cases, bumps turn out to be harmless mass of fatty tissue. Such non-cancerous lumps like cysts, warts, infected hair follicles and swellings filled with blood can cause discomfort to the dog. But they are localized skin problems that have little impact on the overall health of the dog.

There are many reasons why these bumps appear on dog skin. Sebaceous cysts form due to plugged oil glands under the skin. Cysts that are a combination of dead cells, sweat or clear fluid often disappear on their own.

A vital part of good prevention is to know the common types of illnesses and disorders associated with particular dog breeds. For dogs, the parts of their body that are most frequently affected by congenital problems are the central nervous system, the eyes, the muscles, and the bones. For instance, the Beagle, Collie, miniature Poodle, German Shepherd, and Keeshond are more likely to inherit epilepsy.

Different types of nervous system disorders are often passed on within certain breeds. Examples are paralysis of the front and back legs, which is common in the Irish Setter, a failure of muscle coordination common in Fox Terrier, and abnormal swelling of the brain is common in the Chihuahua, English Bulldog, and Cocker Spaniel.

A great number of common breeds suffer from congenital eye abnormalities including glaucoma, cataracts, and blindness.

Breeds such as Basenji, Basset Hound, Pekingese, Lhasa Apso, and Cairn Terrier have a high risk for inguinal hernias (gut protrudes into the groin). Umbilical hernias (gut protrudes through the navel) are inherited defects in breeds like Bull Terrier, Cocker Spaniel, Pekingese, Basenji, Collie, Weimaraner, Airedale Terrier, and Pointer.