Dog – Man Best Friends

Respiratory Disorders: Acute coughing, snoring, voice-changing

Acute Coughing

Even though we have discussed the problem of your dog having a constant and endless coughing problem, severe coughing can be a symptom of something a little less dangerous, but essential nevertheless. Acute coughing may be a sign of kennel cough, acute bronchitis, breathing pneumonia, a foreign article in the airway, or even an infection of the tonsils, larynx, or pharynx. Kennel cough is contracted from other dogs which causes inflammation of the voice box. Bronchitis is caused by a bacterial or sensitive to inflammation to the bronchi in the lungs. And of course any foreign object trapped in the lung will cause severe coughing.

What to do: Kennel cough is very contagious so be sure to separate your dog and get him to the veterinarian right away. Cough suppressants can be specified to your dog to relieve the pain. Medications an be administered to treat any of the above infections. And if there is simply a foreign object trapped, then the vet can pull it out with forceps.

Snoring

There are many breed of dogs that have extended soft palates that hang at the back of the throat, mainly those dogs with compressed faces. This soft palate interferes with the larynx and produces a snore. An allergic irritation in the throat can also be the cause of your dog’s snoring problem. Also, snoring is enhanced if the dog has slim nostrils and larynx.

What to do: Even though snoring may not appear like a series problem, it is always best to discuss with your vet for a full checkup. And if you have a dog breed such as the Pekingese or Pug that snores, this could be a sign of potential heart and breathing problems. Your dog may have surgical reduction of the length of the soft palate to decrease or remove the snoring issue.

Changing Of Your Dog’s Voice

If you notice that your dog’s bark is changed in any way, then it could be due to damage of the larynx. Also, allergic reactions from bee stings can reason laryngeal swelling. Worst case scenario for the older dog is that a cancer has developed.

What to do: Your vest may provide your dog antihistamines or anti-inflammatories to decrease allergic swelling. If the problem is as severe as a tumors, then your dog will undergo surgery to have the tumor removed.

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The importance of giving your dog first aid treatment

It is our job as dog owners to make sure that our pets are pleased and healthy. Nevertheless, it is not always an effortless job given that our dogs are curious and smart creatures with a tendency to find themselves into all kinds of trouble. And when they do get in ill or hurt, it is up to us to examine them and find out precisely what the problem is.

While there is no replacement for veterinary care, particularly when your dog is gravely hurt or injured, there are many things you can do to save your dog’s life and make him feel at ease. The care and attention that you provide to your dog throughout the first few minutes of an emergency can make all the difference between life and death.

Having the basic understanding of giving first aid treatment is important in that time between the beginning of the emergency and upon arriving at your vet’s workplace. Nevertheless, do not use first aid treatments as a way of delaying much required expert help. A more delayed treatment can simply be applied if you cannot reach medical care immediately.

In order to appropriately administer first aid treatments, it is essential to plan ahead and have the required supplies on hand located in a well-situated location. Do not wait for the emergency to occur before you begin putting together tools and remedies or to begin reading “how to do it” manuals. By being equipped, you can help keep tiny problems from turning into big ones.

First aid supplies

The following are list of supplies that you require to have available in case of an emergency. You can either purchase first aid kits at online catalogs or pet stores, or you can stock up on your own.

Here is what a first aid kit must contain: Ammonia water, Hydrogen peroxide, Antibiotic treatment, Hydro cortisone ointment, Eyewash, and Antihistamine liquid.

The following are basic materials that you may require: adhesive tape, absorbent cotton, gauze rolls or pads, scissors (if possible with rounded tips), tweezers, a rectal thermometer; syringes (without the needle) for giving oral medications; two blankets (thick and strong), elastic bandages, an enema bag, soap, and a plastic bowl for preparing dilutions.

It is also essential to have your vet’s phone number available as well as the phone number of an emergency weekend call or nighttime vet. You will also require a veterinary first aid manual to know precisely what to do in time of crisis.

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When You Have To Rear The Puppies By Hand

Newborn puppies are completely dependent on their mother for the first three weeks of their lives. They want her for food, to keep them clean by licking, and to assist them urinate and defecate and if the mother does not have sufficient milk, rejects her litter, or has died, you will require to learn how to appropriately raise the puppies.

* When bottle feeding the puppies, you have to provide them the milk formula initially every two hours. Discuss with a vet for guidance on the precise amounts to feed.

* After you have finished feeding the puppies, wash away any spilled milk and clean each of their anogenital area with damp cotton. This procedure mimics maternal licking, which stimulates them to urinate and defecate.

* Clean each of the puppy’s eyes, ears, and mouth daily with cotton moistened in warm water. You may still handle them regularly even if their mother is around; just make sure that you do not disturb her.

* You may have to trim their nails to avoid them from scratching their mother and one another.

* To appropriately keep track of their weight gain, cautiously weigh each one daily. This will determine weak puppies and those that are not sufficiently getting adequate milk. You can help puppies that cannot gain weight by helping them gain access to the most productive teats.

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3 steps to follow when applying ear drops to your dog

Precautionary measures decrease the likelihood of infection as well as the need for veterinary care. Dogs that suffer from continual ear problems should have their ears often checked and cleaned using a wax-dissolving drops.

1. The first step is to raise the flap of the ear and clean away any noticeable wax with a cotton ball moistened with warm water or a wax-removal solution prescribed by a vet.

2. The second step is to put in the nozzle of the bottle in the ear in a forward direction, toward the tip of the nose. This must be completed while holding the dog’s head still and with the ear flap laid back. Squeeze the suitable number of drops into the ear.

3. The final step is to remove the bottle and then drop the ear flap back into normal position without letting the dog shake his head. Rapidly but softly massage the ear. This lubricates the whole ear canal with the medication.

A word of warning: When using cotton swabs to clean the dog’s ears, you should simply clean the outer part of the ear that you can obviously see. Do not use swabs in the ear canal since they act like plungers, forcing ear wax farther down. Discuss with the vet instantly if you think that a foreign object is lodged within the ear canal.

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What to do when your dog is bleeding

Dogs are naturally curious animals. They will try and explore anything and everything that crosses their path. It is very common for them to get into small accidents and experience small scrapes and cuts. They may either run into spiky objects, step on glass, or get trapped on barbed wires.

When minor accidents happen, a simple first aid treatment is all that is required to maintain small wounds from getting worse and to stop the bleeding. Below are steps to follow to control your dog’s bleeding.

1. In order to stop the bleeding, you require to apply solid pressure straight over the wound. This can be completed using a towel or a piece of clean cloth. Press down with your thumb or the palm of your hand. The bleeding will then begin to slow down after a few minutes.

Nevertheless, in case of more severe bleeding, you may want to apply pressure straight to the artery. Dogs have 3 pressure point areas which you can compress to stop severe bleeding that is occurring in other parts of his body.

a) Pressing the upper side of his rear legs can assist control the bleeding of the lower hind legs.
b) Pressing the upper inside of his front legs will help slow the bleeding of the lower forelegs.
c) Pressing the underside of his tail will help control the bleeding of his tail.

2. Once the bleeding is under control, trim the hair around the spot of the wound using electric clippers or scissors. This will keep the wound hygienic and helps speed up the healing process.

3. A wounded dog in pain is more likely to feel puzzled and afraid. If you think that there is a chance that he might lash out and bite while you are treating him, it is best to use a muzzle. If you have a small dog, you can cover him in a towel, blanket, or a pillowcase before you start administering first aid. Make sure you do not wrap him too tightly for a long time or he may have difficulty breathing.

4. If you are having difficulty controlling the bleeding, you may want to tie a bandage loosely around the wound to assist slow the flow. If the bandage rapidly soaks through, it is better to just leave it there. Do not get rid of the clot that is trying to form. Nevertheless, you may require to take your dog to the vet if the bleeding still does not stop.

Warning: Avoid using a tourniquet. Many limbs have been unnecessarily lost since the blood supply was cut off for too long.

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