We were careful not to get too close to the skin or his eyes. I held him while my mom used the clippers. It went pretty well, although by the end we were hot and tired.

When dog owners attempt pet grooming at home, there are several common mistakes that are made. Pet grooming is a skill, but with the right equipment and patience it can become a household duty that will save both time and money.

My mom and aunt bought a professional clipper together to share. It cost about $200, which isn't cheap, but they wanted a good clipper that would last for years.

You have to be careful. A slip of the clippers can cause injury to your animal. This is not only physical injury, but emotional. Trust is loss once pain is inflicted and your pet may not treat you the same afterward.

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Tags: Dog Grooming

For your pet, autoimmune dog health is something that is very important because it will structure the way the rest of your pet's health goes.

What Is it?

The autoimmune dog health that you need to worry about is the health of the immune system of your dog. When he has a autoimmune dog health problem, it means that his immune system is not working the right way, and that there are sicknesses that are attacking it.

The autoimmune dog health is very important because without this type of health, you will find that your dog is very prone to other types of sicknesses, and is in general just not as healthy as he could be. Therefore, you need to watch the autoimmune dog health very carefully to make sure that you are giving your dog the best chance at a healthy life.

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Tags: Dog Health

It is important for you as a dog-owner to inform yourself about the diseases, illnesses and conditions of dogs, especially the breed that you possess. The information will then provide you with the symptoms, treatments and causes, which will help you to understand your dog's health better.

Organizational Tips

Before looking at the common ailments and health problems, there are some organizational tips which are important to look after Dog Health Issues. First of all you should choose a good veterinarian, maybe the one closest to your home and be in touch with him regarding any questions about the dog.

Then, you should keep your dog's information handy and updated at all times, perhaps in a folder. When there is an emergency, it should be immediately and easily available.

Also, if you leave your dog with a pet-sitter, he should have all the information about your dog too. Inoculations and deworming should be done regularly, for which you can maintain a chart in your folder.

Common Health Problems

The common health problems in dogs are pain management, intestinal parasites, skin problems, ear infections, fleas, and allergies of different types and in old age maybe arthritis, cataracts or canine hip dysplasia.

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Tags: Dog Health Problems

Here are three of the common dog health problems that can affect your dog.

Cancer

A serious dog health problem such as cancer can be successfully treated in some cases and cancer is more likely to occur in older dogs. Veterinarians can remove the growths but in some cases they return and have serious consequences.

Symptoms include abnormal growths that typically continue to grow in size, also open sores that don't improve, abnormal bleeding or unusual discharge substances from opening in the body, having difficulty breathing, continual coughing, loss of appetite and not being able to urinate easily. Other signs that may suggest your dog has cancer include a fever, loosing weight, and feeling lethargic.

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Tags: Dog Health Problems

Then what about vitamins, minerals and supplements? If you choose regular dog food, should you get dry or canned? The questions are almost endless.

Basically, start your dog on a high quality dog food (dry or canned, or home made) and watch to see how your dog does. A good indication is the health of your dog; how clear his eyes are, how shiny his coat is and how much energy he has.

A dog’s diet should include a combination of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats and proteins. If it does, then your dog’s needs for growth, tissue repair and exercise will be met.
To ensure your dog gets good nutrition, here are some tips to follow:

1. Ensure your dog always has fresh, clean water.

2. Avoid feeding your dog scraps from the dinner table. This can cause your dog to gain too much weight.

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Tags: Dog Diet

1. A good, high quality food for your dog. If you are getting a puppy, make sure the food you have is appropriate for puppies. Talk to the pet store or veterinarian about the most appropriate food for your dog. I highly recommend you don't get the food at a grocery store. The good food is available at pet shops.

2. A leash for walking your dog. Once your dog is off your property, you should always have it on a leash. Since you want your dog to walk beside you, don't get one of those leashes that lets the dog wander off. A short leash is best.

3. A collar and ID tag. Your dog must always have its ID tag on its dog collar. The tag will contain your phone number in case your dog ever gets lost.

4. Two dog bowls – one for water and one for food. Make sure you clean these regularly.

5. Kennel. I hope you will let your dog be inside with you. But if you have to put your dog outside at times, be sure to have a warm shelter available to keep your dog comfortable.

6. Bedding for your dog to sleep in. These come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and can be bought from the pet store or you can make up a comfortable place with old blankets and cushions for your dog to sleep on. A crate is useful for puppy training and to sleep in.

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Tags: Dog Care

Depending on the dog breed you own, your dog might require more attention than other breeds. But basically, every breed enjoys human company and does not require an enormous amount of time to take care of their basic needs.

Identity Tag and Vaccinations

When you first bring your new dog or puppy home, get an identity tag for him or her. If your dog has a tag with your phone number on it, you will be much more likely to get your dog back if it should ever get lost.

Check what vaccinations your local laws require take your dog to the veterinarian for shots and health check-ups on a regular basis. Seriously consider getting the Parvo vaccination if you have a puppy or older dog. Parvo seems to be under control sometimes and then suddenly there is an outbreak. Better to be safe and get the shot.

Dog Food and Fresh Water
Fresh water is extremely important for your dog, especially when it is hot. Be sure your dog has water available at all times.

Your dog also needs a healthy diet. No sugar, chocolate, grapes, or any other food item that is dangerous to a dog's health. Instead feed him or her a healthy dog food that your vet recommends.

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Tags: Dog Care

Roundworms (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina) are rather like pale earthworms and can reach approximately 10cm in length. They are pointed at both ends. Signs of presence in a dog are: mild vomiting, pot-bellied, dull coat, either sudden weight gain or weight loss. A puppy might cough or hiccup. A presence of worms will be seen wrapped around the stools passed.

The Life Cycle of the Toxocara canis starts with the bitch eating contaminated feces. The larvae migrate to various parts of the body- mammary glands, uterus, and remain in the intestine. Puppies feed off the bitch and the larvae enter their system, growing into an adult within two weeks. The adult worms lay eggs which hatch into larvae and burrow through the gut wall to the liver and lungs, causing respiratory problems.

Some lay dormant while others are coughed up and swallowed thus traveling down into the intestine where they grow into adult worms and lay thousands of eggs. These eggs are passed out of the dog where they lay waiting for a passer-by to eat the feces enabling the cycle to start over.

The Life Cycle of the Toxascaris leonina starts with the eggs being ingested, and hatching in the stomach. They do not migrate, but develop in the wall of the intestine, therefore infection to a bitch's puppies does not occur.

It is therefore advisable that pregnant bitches should be wormed under the vet's supervision; puppies should be routinely wormed after the age of two weeks. Adult dogs should be wormed every six months, every three months is wise if there are young children in the household.

Tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum) are flat, segmented and can be up to 50cm long. They are not normally seen as a complete worm, but the individual segments loaded with ripe eggs.

Signs of presence in a dog, is that the abdomen may become distorted, but the most common sign is the presence of rice-like grains around the anus. These worms can also be seen moving in the dog's feces. They can cause diarrhea and poor growth development in puppies.

The Life Cycle of Dipylidium caninum starts when a dog swallows a flea, which has itself, swallowed an embryonated worm. The larvae develop into adult worms in the small intestine. Specific worming remedies for this type of worm are obtained from a vet. Also ensure that the dog is regularly checked for fleas.

Ticks (Ixodes species) are brownish-white and can be initially mistaken for a wart, but on closer inspection the legs can be seen, while the head is buried in the epidermis. Having gorged on the dog's blood it grows to the size of a bean or pea.

Signs of presence may only be when a dog has an allergic reaction to them and due to scratching, red sore areas appear. Normally a dog will tolerate one or two ticks without showing any signs of irritation and they will only be noticed during grooming.

The Life Cycle of Ixodes species starts with adult ticks laying eggs that drop on the ground. Larvae hatch and climb on to blades of grass, shrubs, etc., where they wait for a passer by to brush past, thus enabling them to attach themselves on to the hair of the dog.

Surgical spirit soaked onto the tick suffocates it, thus loosening its grip. It can then be removed with tweezers. Never attempt to pull the tick off without soaking it first, as the head will remain and cause infection. Treat the area with insecticide. A special dip/shampoo can be obtained from the vet if infestation is severe.

Tags: Dog Health, Dog Care

Dogs also use their eyes in similar ways but with a few minor important differences. We see far and near fine detail in a wide range of colors and shades.

Dogs however, even sight hounds which have good vision, have a poorer color range and they are much better at detecting movement rather than detail. This gives them an advantage with night vision but they are poorer at seeing fine or close detail.

The main advantage dogs have is that they don't have to rely purely on vision for information on their world. An acute sense of smell and excellent hearing, along with good motion sensing vision, mean that dogs sense much more of their surrounds than mere humans.

Dogs eyes even look remarkably similar to human eyes. Like us, dogs have a range of eye colors although their predominant color is brown. One important difference between us is that dogs have a third eyelid called a nictitating membrane.

Although this membrane is not easily seen, certain diseases and eye irritation can make it stand out. The third eyelid sits in the inside corner of a dogs eye and helps to protect it from irritation by cleansing and lubricating the eye.

Most of the eye diseases and problems seen in dogs are the same as those found in humans. One of the most common problems seen in dogs is due to simple eye irritation.

The same environmental irritants that afflict us afflict our dogs. Dust, smoke and chemical pollution are the commonest cause of watery irritable eyes in our favorite pets. Apart from seeing red, teary eyes which are often swollen, you will likely observe your dog rubbing or scratching at their eyes.

Look carefully at whether both or only one eye is irritated. Symptoms occurring in only one eye usually mean a foreign body or injury in the eye involved.

Blocked tear ducts can also produce excessively watery eyes in dogs as well as humans. In some dog breeds, such as older Poodles and Shih Tzu's, you will often see damp matted fur around their eyes that signals tear duct blockages. An expert opinion from a vet is often needed to tell the difference between the different causes of watery eyes.

Another trait that elderly dogs share with elderly humans is the development of cataracts. Most long term dog owners have seen the cloudy milky haze that spreads in the centre of each pupil as the cataracts form. This milky haze is the lens inside your dogs eye becoming opaque and the dog slowly becomes blind.

It's important to distinguish cataract from another change called Lenticular Sclerosis. Lenticular Sclerosis is a condition which looks similar to cataract but where the only the center of the dogs lens hardens and vision remains unaffected. Both problems are seen in elderly dogs.

One significant advantage that aging dogs have compared to humans is that eye damage and blindness does not incapacitate them to the same extent as human blindness. Good hearing and an acute sense of smell compensate well. There are many stories told of blind dogs managing wonderfully well in life and it's a pity we aging humans are unable to see through the "eyes" of our beloved dogs at times!

Tags: Dog Health, Dog Care

Because many of us are so busy, we often don’t have the time to get them all the exercise they need during the day, especially after the recent time change. This means they have to be walked after the sun sets. Even in the safest areas accidents can happen. This is why you should get your pet a reflective dog collar for your nighttime walks.

Reflective dog collars are a great way to give drivers a heads up when they are driving at night. It seems the moment we step out of our cars we forget how hard it is to see at night. Even the best and most alert drivers can miss things, and shadows seem to blend into shadows, especially at twilight.

You may think a driver can see you, but you can never count on that. If you have reflective dog collars on your pets, you are giving the driver of any vehicle a better chance of seeing you if you dart out from between cars, or even if you are using the crosswalk like you should.

You can find reflective dog collars anywhere you find regular collars, though they may cost you a little more. It’s always worth the price, however, because they can help keep your dogs and you safe after dark.

Reflective dog collars often contain the same material that you might see on other reflective items like emergency uniforms, or safety markings on roadways. They should be able to reflect light from a high distance, and alert any driver that a living creature is moving about ahead of them.

You can also find these reflective dog collars online, and you may find a better price by shopping this way.

If you have already spent a lot of money on quality collars, you can make your own reflective dog collars out of what you already have. You can buy the reflective material in craft or fabric stores, and then securely glue them with powerful glue to the existing collars you own. Make sure you use enough reflective material, and you may even want to attach some to your leashes and your own jacket or shoes as well.

Tags: Protecting Your Dog, Dog Care