A major canine skin problem, hot spots on dogs represent a significant challenge to the dog owner.
Mutilation may be self inflicted by scratching due to the intense itch.
As the rubbing and itching and scratching continues, the skin is traumatized. If the skin is traumatized from repeated scratching, it weeps.
As the skin weeps, it sticks to the hair of the itchy dog. Hot spots in dogs develop under this wet matting of hair that forms a covering to the infection.
The crust of pus and hair hides an infection that spreads rapidly underneath. Hot spots on dogs develop suddenly and are intensely itchy. The poor itchy dog won't stop scratching the area and it will become red and raw.
It is important to clean the site and bathe away the pus. This can be achieved by bathing. You must clean away all the sticky pus and debris that are sticking the hair to the skin over the infection. Bathe this away with an antiseptic soap.
You can clip the hair away from the skin once the infection has been bathed and the muck removed.
Cutting or shaving away the hair from the skin is difficult, if the sore is painful. It can be difficult to cut or clip the hair from the skin because the infection has caused so much inflammation. The sore can be very painful.
In an ideal world you would use clippers to shave the hair from the skin as closely as possible. If the infection is on the face of your pet, clipping the hair away may be difficult. It may also be painful for your dog.
If it is difficult to clip the hair away and your pet is experiencing pain, it might be necessary to visit your vet.
If you succeed in clipping the hair away from the site of the infection, you will be amazed at the redness and swelling. The size of the sore is quite shocking once the hair is removed.
The pus should be removed gently from the red, painful sore by bathing. An ideal solution for bathing this weeping sore is a dilute solution of either betadine or chlohexidine.
When you use betadine, only use a few drops so that the solution looks like weak tea. Just add only a few drops.
An antiseptic solution will help kill surface bacteria and clean the infection.
You have to stop your dog scratching to prevent this becoming rapidly worse. This can be difficult. If you cover the feet of your dog with bandages of socks or even glad wrap, you can prevent the nails of the paws from damaging the skin.
It is one thing to treat hot spots on dogs. Preventing the intense itching and scratching that causes such terrible infection would be desirable.
You can stop your itchy dog scratching without expensive medicine and without going to the vet at http://www.itchydogvet.com
Calvo hair loss | dog owner's dog general skin problems
Flea saliva is the most common allergen in dogs and causes intense itching. Dogs can be allergic to molds, pollens and dust, causing some kind of eczema. Allergies are often presented as "hot spots". These are areas where a dog ...
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Have a dog with hot spots, itching or allergies? Check out these ...
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Dog Sores – How To Treat Dog Hot Spots And Identify The Root ...
Oh no. Fido has got dog sores. And he's feeling irritated. Treat the hot spot and get to the root of the problem. Learn more here.
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Dog Hot Spots - Hot Spots in Dogs
www.doghealthproblemsadvice.com - video segment on Dog Hot Spots by Sam Meisler DVM, a small animal veterinarian. Hot Spots in dogs can be caused initially by a variety of factors which include allergies, insect bites, splinters, or anything else tha...
Cushing's disease in dogs is one of the most overlooked of the dog diseases, as the symptoms are often mistaken to be a natural part of a dog's aging process. Also referred to as hyperadrenocorticism, it is possible to improve your dogs health and cure Cushing's disease in dogs, but it is first important that you recognize the symptoms. Some of the most common of the lot are:
An increase intake of water An increased frequency and quantity of urination (this may include having your dog pee inside the house when this was previously not an issue) An increased appetite, which may result in food stealing and begging A pot belly or bloated abdomen Weight gain Lethargy Excessive panting A dull, dry coat and thinning hair Calcified lumps on the skin Diabetes Pancreatitis in dogs Seizures
The real tip off when it comes to Cushing's disease in dogs is usually an owner noticing that their pet is drinking a whole lot more water than he or she used to, and for no understandable reason (i.e. you did not just go for a 10 mile jog, but your dog is drinking water as if he just had).
What Causes Cushing's Disease in Dogs?
There are three reasons why Cushing's disease in dogs occurs: veterinary/medical interference, meaning that your dog may have been prescribed too much of a steroidal treatment, a pituitary tumor, or an adrenal tumor. In all three cases, too much cortisol is in the dog's blood, which is actually poisoning your pet.
How is Cushing's Disease in Dogs treated?
The treatment of the disease really depends on what is causing the problem. As with the medical or veterinary interference mentioned above, the simple answer would be to stop administering those medications to your dog. When it comes to pituitary and adrenal tumors, one of the best ways to treat Cushing's disease in dogs is to have your dog undergo several sessions of chemotherapy. As with adrenal tumors, it is possible that the tumor can be surgically removed, which will put a stop to the disease.
The goal of any treatment is to improve the quality of your dogs health rather than extend his or her life. The sad truth is that the life expectancy of a dog with Cushing's disease is shorted from 1 to 3 years, but as long as you give your dog a comfortable life, then you have done your part as a caring dog owner.
To know more on Cushing's disease in dogs, pancreatitis in dogs or other dog health related information you're welcome to visit Nil's blog at dog-health-24.info.
Article from articlesbase.com
Find More Dog Disease Articles
It's important for every dog owner to recognize dog health problems and symptoms as your furry pal relies on you to be his or her "first responder" when they have a problem. You can tell when they aren't feeling all that well but do you really know what to do? Listed below are the symptoms for some common dog health problems ranging from the everyday to the very serious.
Dog Diarrhea
The symptoms of this condition are pretty obvious. Your canine buddy is probably going to express some pain when defecating because that strain is just magnifying the pain in his stomach. The stool will be runny and may be an abnormal color. The odor will be more intense.
Diarrhea in dogs is quite common thanks to a dog's complete lack of discrimination in what he eats. If it smells okay and doesn't hurt his mouth then it is potential food. As a result they eat stuff that makes them sick.
Symptoms Of Lyme Disease In Dogs
Lyme disease is a bacterium known as Borrelia which is transmitted to your dog through a tick bite. Unfortunately, there are no symptoms until weeks after the infection and when they do show they are often mistaken for other ailments.
The most common symptom is one that appears to be arthritis. Joints and lymph glands can become swollen making it very painful for the dog to walk or even get comfortable laying down. Your pal will become listless, may refuse to eat because the effort hurts too much, and may revert to using the inside of the house as his bathroom rather than going outside.
The giveaway that this is Lyme's and not arthritis is that the affected limbs will change. When arthritis develops it doesn't move around. With Lyme's disease one side of your dog can be affected one week and then suddenly it heals and the other side is affected.
Symptoms of Distemper
Distemper is an airborne virus that is highly contagious and affects the dog's respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. Distemper will first show itself with cold like symptoms with watery eyes, runny nose, a cough and sometimes diarrhea. Later in the development of the disease the dog will suffer from disorientation, twitching and even convulsions. Unfortunately there is no effective treatment for this disease.
Symptoms of Ear Infections
These infections are fairly common particularly with dogs that have heavy earflap like Bassets and Dachshunds. The infection is caused by bacteria or yeast that appear when there is a change in the dog's ear like an infestation of ticks or mites. Symptoms of an ear infection include the shaking of the head, a pawing of the ears, pain and a foul odor coming from the ears.
Of course there are many more ailments that can affect your canine friend but the thing to remember is prevention. It's really not so different from taking care of a kid. Keep their shots up to date, keep them well fed and clean and provide clean bedding. Parasites cause most of the problems and if you can limit your dog's exposure to strange dogs you are limiting the possibility of exposure to disease. If you notice dog health problems that do not go away after a few days, take your pal to the vet.
So now you know the symptoms of these dog health problems. Would you like to learn the treatment? You can find those and a ton more home remedies for common ailments like itchy skin, fleas, dog vomiting and other everyday dog health problems by visiting http://homeremediesfordogs.org right now
When your best friend becomes old, it is prone to many more diseases than when it is young. Like in human beings, dogs also suffer from increased illnesses and organ malfunctioning with age. Once your dog reaches the age of eight years, one of the organs that have a high risk factor is the kidneys.
Statistics show that a large number of dogs face kidney related problems after they reach a certain age. One of the most prominent markers of kidney disorder in dogs is the inability to control or eliminate the waste products. One of the possible reasons for this may be that your dog sustained some kind of damage to the kidney. When the dog has a kidney disease for a long time, it is known as a chronic kidney disease or a long term kidney disease.
Most dog owners do not seem to understand the cause of kidney disease in their pets. One of the most common questions that a vet faces from a dog owner is that why or how the dog got a kidney disease. Although there are numerous answers to this question, the reasons vary from dog to dog. The reason behind a kidney related disorder in my dog might be entirely different from the reason behind the kidney disorder in your dog. Still, one of the most common reasons for a kidney disorder is a sudden drop in blood pressure or massive loss of fluids.
Another reason behind kidney diseases in a dog is shock because of some kind of trauma. If your dog consumed some kind of toxic chemical, it will be highly likely to suffer from a kidney disorder. Another very common reason behind kidney related illnesses in dogs is heart failure or the offshoot of some infectious disease. There are numerous reasons behind kidney related disorders and you need to be very cautious and take very good care of your dog in order to ensure that it does not get a kidney disorder in its old age.
There are so many reasons behind kidney related disorders that you must go to a vet as soon as you sense that something is wrong with your dog's health. Also, doing a bit more research on the causes of kidney problems will help you take the necessary precautions and prevent kidney disorders. However, if your dog does get a kidney disorder, it is a great help for the vet to know how exactly your got hold of the illness. This assists in treatment.
One of the biggest problems with chronic diseases is that they have been in the dog's body for years and hence, they have already done a considerable damage. This is why treatment has to be very good and very effective in order to minimize suffering for your dog.
The kidney related disorders in dogs take years to spot because the kidney has certain in built reserve tissues that get rid of the toxin automatically. This means that although there are no evident symptoms, the damage gets done before you take your dog to the vet. This is a great problem that dog owners around the world face. So just take good care of your dog and go for regular checkups and preventive measures in order to minimize the chances of a kidney disorder.
Written by Kelly Marshall of Ohmydogsupplies.com, which has a huge selection of over 300 dog grooming tools and dog grooming supplies
A good diet and plenty of exercise are important to a dog's health, but they can't make a dog totally immune to illness. Early detection is the key to helping your dog overcome any health problem. If your pet's stools become very loose, or you notice a marked decrease in your dog's appetite and/or that she is very lethargic, she may just have a short-term "bug." On the other hand, if any symptoms continue for more than a few days, you should have your veterinarian examine her for parasites and infections.
Diarrhea is a common symptom in dogs, especially puppies. It can be triggered by stress or a sudden change in food, but also by a virus, bacteria or parasites. Diarrhea causes dehydration, which can be deadly to dogs. It is extremely dangerous in puppies, because they dehydrate faster than mature dogs.
If your dog has diarrhea for more than a day, contact your veterinarian for further instructions. You will probably be asked to collect a sample and bring it in so they can examine it to determine the cause and proper treatment.
Coughing, sneezing, and discharge from your dog's nose and/or eyes often indicate a respiratory infection. A lethargic dog with no appetite is likely fighting an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI). URI, caused by airborne viruses and bacteria, is highly contagious among dogs, but is not transmitted between dogs and humans. Early detection of URI is important; ignored dogs suffer from severe dehydration and risk developing pneumonia.
Bortadella, also called 'kennel cough" is another contagious respiratory disease commonly contracted in animal shelters, boarding kennels, or anywhere groups of dogs have close contact with one another. It is a short-term disease, and most dogs get over it with a few days of rest and tender loving care from you. It is possible to have your dog vaccinated against Bortadella – a good idea if you plan on boarding her or placing her in "doggie daycare."
Vaccinations are also available to protect your dog against more deadly diseases such as rabies, distemper and parvovirus. Most municipalities require that all dogs are vaccinated against rabies; some include distemper and parvovirus as well. Making these vaccinations mandatory protects the health of all dogs, and, in the case of rabies, human health as well. If your dog was vaccinated as a puppy, she's off to a good start. However, without yearly booster shots, your dog is at risk of great suffering from one of these diseases.
Dogs serve as hosts to a number of parasites. You will probably be asked to bring a fecal sample to your dog's yearly vet appointment, so that the staff can check for the presence of internal parasites. If you notice small, rice-like granules on your pet's bedding or around her anus, she is suffering from an infestation of worms and needs to be seen by your vet to get proper treatment. Other parasites take up residence on the outside of your dog's body. Mange and sarcoptic mites live on the hair follicles and skin of dogs, while ear mites live on the inside of the ear. These parasites are so small you might not see them, but they cause your dog extreme discomfort. Head shaking and pawing at ears are signs of ear mites. Frequent scratching and skin-biting can indicate either skin mites or a dog's worst enemy: fleas.
© 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard. Would you like to learn more about caring for and training your adorable dog? Visit MyPetAnimals.com now!
Symptoms of asthma in dogs include heavy breathing, panting, use of chest muscles to breathe, odd gum color and lethargy. Learn about treating an asthmatic dog withhelp from a staff veterinarian in this free video on dog health and pet care. Expert: Dr. James Talbott Bio: Dr. James R. Talbott is a staff veterinarian at Belle Forest Animal Hospital and Kennel in Nashville, Tenn. Filmmaker: Dimitri LaBarge
