Iron Toxicity in Dogs

Iron is usually vital for the production of red blood cells in the human or animal body. It can be obtained from various different vitamins and supplements. Normally iron toxicity is found to occur when there is an accidental ingestion by way of overdose of iron supplements or also from accidental ingestion of different supplements. Iron is found in various different forms and is usually indicated on packaging with the help of ‘ferrous’ which is the word that means ‘contains iron’. There are various different forms of iron which can result in iron toxicity. These forms are called as ferrous fumarate, ferrous sulfate, ferrous carbonate and ferrous phosphate. When there are toxic quantities of iron in the body it can lead to damage being caused in the intestinal lining and also to the stomach region. Iron toxicity in dogs can also result in heart damage and in severe damage to the liver. Iron toxicity is a form of metal poisoning in dogs. One’s pets are harmed more easily than the human owner by an iron overdose as these animals are not able to remove the excess iron easily from their bodies. Even if small doses of iron are given over a long time span, toxicity of iron can still develop in the body only because the body is not able to rid itself of the iron that is present already. Some of the main symptoms of iron poisoning in dogs is drowsiness, lethargy and listlessness and also vomiting. The dog may also suffer from bloody diarrhea.

The first indications of iron poisoning will be visible in about 6 to 7 hours of the dog having consumed the toxic quantities of iron. At times without being given any treatment, the dog may start to improve once the first gastrointestinal upset has passed. If the dog however has not recovered in 24 hours, then the diarrhea will start to come back and it may be accompanied by dog liver failure. The dog may also go into shock or into a coma. There may be some bleeding disorder that can also accompany the problem.

Among the veterinary world, mercury poisoning is found to be most common amongst cattle and also dogs. Mercury poisoning in dogs is limited in most other species primarily because these animals may not have access to the metal. This form of poisoning is mainly rampant in the urban environment.

Read more on antifreeze poisoning in dogs.

Dog Calorie Intake

All dog calorie requirements differ fundamentally from the human calorie requirements. There are a huge number of dogs that are overweight and also a huge number that are underweight. Most people are not aware that calorie needs for most dogs will differ depending on the individual dog. This holds true for most animals. Calorie intake of one’s dog or other pet will also differ based on the environment that the dog is living in and also the amount of exercise each animal will get. There are various guidelines and dog food recipes that are available which help in providing the daily dog calorie intake. This calorie intake will also differ depending on the stage in the dog’s life. Usually on an average the stipulated amount of calories for dogs is approximately 25 calories per each pound of the dog’s body weight. This is a daily requirement that is needed in maintaining the animal’s stable weight. Dogs that are neutered or dogs that are inactive or even dogs which live in the warmer climates are found to need lesser calorie intake. On the other hand, dogs that are working dogs or are active dogs may require a larger intake of calorie that is dependent on the amount of activity they do. The Rottweiler puppies are found to be very active puppies and thus need more calorie intake than the average other puppy. There are however also some dogs that are even smaller and weigh less than 20 pounds, but may need almost 40 calories to the pound of the dog’s body weight. Also there may be dogs that weigh more than 100 pounds but that may need only about 15 calories in a day.

It is vital that the dog owner make sure that their dog does not end up eating too much good as it can lead to the dog becoming over weight. This is especially so of the dog does not get adequate amounts of exercise. Those dogs that are overweight tend to be a lot more susceptible to the animal getting various kinds of different health problems. It is the responsibility of the dog owner to help in ensuring that the dog always remains a healthy and balanced weight. It is the owners responsibility also to ensure that the dog diet is a nutritionally balanced one and that it provides the vitamins for dog needs while at the same time being palatable.

Pet Travelling Tips

Pet travel safety is extremely essential. This is mainly because one’s pets are unable to take care of themselves so it is the owner’s responsibility to do so. For dog travel safety the main step is to ensure that the heat is kept off. This is important even if the weather is cool outside. Never leave the dog in the car or a closed vehicle by itself with the heat turned on. Even if one leaves a crack open in the window or the weather seems nice outside, it may be enough to kill one’s dog, if the temperature begins to rise. One should always keep one’s dog secured safely. It may nice to have one’s dog sitting in one’s lap for the journey or for the dog to be peering out of the window to catch some breeze, but this can prove to be extremely dangerous not just to the dog but also the driver. This principle holds true even in the case of cat travel safety. Hence always secure one’s dog or cat to the special harness that is available for one’s pets when travelling. Just the way one should never keep one’s child playing in the back seat without a child harness or child seat, similarly one should not keep one’s animals locked up in the car without a dog harness or a cat harness. When travelling one should always ensure that their pets are well hydrated and do not get too thirsty along the way. Make adequate stops to give them plenty of water. One should also make lots of stops along the way to ensure that one’s pet gets to walk and stretch its legs. One can use this time to give the dog or cat some food and some water.

Always keep your pet on a leash when travelling or walking in a new place. This is required even if one’s pet is not used to being put on a leash. There may be open highways nearby or unfamiliar terrain that can be harmful to the animal. If the pet gets lost it may also be very hard to locate again if in unfamiliar territory. One should always put a collar around the dog or cats neck which provides adequate information if the animal gets lost. It should have the owners address information and any other information that is essential for the animal’s safety. When travelling by air, make sure that the pet is kept in an environment that is not too hot or too cold. Sometimes the cargo area of the plane can face extreme climates.

Pets for Older People

Be it for a long period of time care or even when the elderly are living in their own houses, studies have indicated that they hugely benefit from having a pet around the place. A pet in the form of a cat or a dog or parakeet, can provide the elderly with an unlimited amount of care and comfort. It can even be goldfish in a bowl or donkey in the yard that can help in giving the aged the companionship and purpose that is needed.
These pets can help the elderly by the simple task of just being present in their lives. Studies have indicated that having pets around one can help in decreasing the stress levels which then consequently results in one’s blood pressure reducing and also helps in increasing a person’s appetite. Pets for elderly also help in giving them the exercise they need by the simple need of having to walk one’s dog or the process of feeding the pets. Studies have also shown that having a pet around the house results in the older person requiring lesser medications and thus lesser visits to their doctors. Some of the older patients who suffer from Alzheimer disease have actually had some of their related behavioral problems get better when they had their pets around them. These patients also showed a greater tendency to want to socialize with their fellow residents. Pets tend to make their owners laugh and relax. Further studies have shown that when an aquarium was kept in some of the nursing homes, the results showed that the patients had a fall in their pulse rate and also in their muscle tension.

There are some dogs for elderly that make great companions. These dogs do not really need anything but the love and attention that they can get from their owners.  One can actually select the kind of breed that will adjust to the lifestyle of the elderly person. One can take into account the person’s home size, their lifestyle, the elderly owner’s health status and also their physical strength. The temperament of the dog and also the size of the dog all need to be taken into account when selecting the dog. Some of the main benefits of dogs for the elderly are that they chiefly help in providing companionship and joy. They also help in providing various other health benefits like lowering the person’s blood pressure, lowering their cholesterol levels, lowering the triglyceride levels and also in helping to lower the feeling of loneliness that some of the elderly do suffer from.

Catnip Effects on Cats

Catnip is something that we’ve all heard of but know very little about. Catnip is actually the name for an herb of the mint family. This herb was not a local one and was imported from Europe where it grew traditionally. Catnip oil isolated through steam distillation has been found to work as an effective insect repellent.

Catnip can produce pretty strange reactions in most cats, and pet owners are often baffled by the seemingly inexplicable changes in behavior. Catnip effects on cats may vary wildly however, with some displaying almost no reaction, while others can act completely berserk. In cats that do react to catnip it can be quite a sight. The cat will rub against it almost affectionately, loll about with it, kick at it, and all in all go quit nuts. This reaction lasts for several minutes, after which the cat loses interest. The cat then wanders off and in all probability may return and react in the same manner after a couple of hours.

So why do cats like catnip? We don’t really know what goes on in that cat brain, but what is known is that a chemical present in catnip called nepetalactone is what triggers the response. In most cats that are sensitive to the chemical it seems to set in motion a somewhat stereotypical pattern. This reaction and sensitivity is hereditary, and some cats may simply not respond to it. This behavior may even be observed in big cats like tigers. This reaction does not last for more than a few minutes but it would be at least an hour before the cat returns to normalcy. Of course the cycle can then begin all over again. Catnip does not seem to produce much reaction in older cats and very young kittens however.

Although catnip produces a strangely euphoric reaction in cats almost akin to what we would experience from certain recreational drugs, catnip is not a drug.  This similarity is what worries many cat owners but you really don’t need to be concerned. It is completely safe to give to your cat provided you don’t over feed it. The only reaction known from over eating catnip would be diarrhea, or cat vomiting, both of which are quite rare. The best solution would be to simply give your cat the occasional catnip puffs as treats from time to time. Catnip is completely nontoxic to cats, and if you wish to you can even grow it at home.

Dog Flea Control

There may be no single treatment for fleas that could be recommended as the best flea control for dogs, but most products available in medical stores are quite effective. The key to effective treatment is through meticulous observation of the prescribed instructions.

Fleas can be really problematic for dogs. These minute parasites feed on blood, and if you find just one flea on your dog or around the vicinity, you can be sure that there are a whole lot more. A flea infestation can be troublesome and discomforting to any dog, but more so to some dogs. As with humans, some reactions are much greater in some individuals because of greater sensitivity to the trigger. This is also true for some dogs, as it is possible for a dog to be extra sensitive to the saliva of fleas. Under such circumstances, just one flea bite can be enough to trigger intense skin irritation and itching, a condition referred to as flea allergy dermatitis. In severe cases of the condition there may even be thickening of the dog’s skin and hair fall. This occurs as a result of the relentless cycle of itching and scratching. The raw exposed skin is even more problematic because of the increased susceptibility to infections.

Fortunately there are plenty of products that are very effective not just at killing off, but also at repelling fleas. Your veterinarian would however be the best source of information if it is a specific product recommendation that you need. All of these products come with detailed instructions that you need to follow to the tee. Many pet owners are under the mistaken impression the more the powder or shampoo you use the more effective it should be. This is not only untrue, but it is also dangerous to your dog, as all of these products do contain toxins or chemicals of some kind, whether natural or artificial. In other words their use is best restricted to what is deemed necessary.

The most important measure of flea control for dogs would be to take protective measures against flea infestations. When a dog has a flea infestation you need to treat it to kill of the fleas. But this is not adequate, as fleas can survive away from the dog and are capable of traversing great distances. You need to make sure your house and any other pets are also treated for fleas. Make sure that all linen, and clothing is also washed and treated appropriately.

Negative Reinforcement Dog Training

The debate over negative reinforcement dog training versus positive reinforcement dog training is one that has been raging forever and shows no signs of abating. The conflicting views and heated arguments that take root from the varying beliefs of dog owners the world over can be quite confusing and distracting to a new dog owner who needs to come up with a dog training plan.

Although there are various differing techniques that different owners use to train their dogs, most of these techniques fall squarely into two categories – negative and positive dog training. Positive reinforcement dog training is the more recent development, prior to which most training techniques revolved around negative reinforcement. Methods of negative reinforcement training have been harshly criticized as being cruel, draconian, and ineffective by proponents of the positive reinforcement training. Although there is some truth in these claims, negative reinforcement dog training is not really the evil it is often portrayed as being. There is however a time and a place for it, and its effectiveness and necessity are limited to certain situations. This said, the perfect dog training routine would be one that uses a combination of both negative and positive reinforcement dog training techniques.

Proponents of positive dog training may still dispute this, but there is no denying that some extent of negative reinforcement training is necessary. It does help to create an aversion to certain behaviors in the dog that could create a problem for not just humans but for the dog as well. For example, if your dog has a habit of chewing on wires, posing a risk of electrocution and fire, you could use negative reinforcement techniques to train your dog against this. This works like conditioning, wherein you can coat the wires with a bitter unpleasant tasting substance like apple cider vinegar. The dog will develop an aversion to chewing on wires, solving the problem.

Negative reinforcement dog training typically involves punishing a dog for any action or behavior that is deemed inappropriate, and could involve techniques varying from yelling at the dog, an electric shock, or even choke collars. Confinement is also a kind of negative reinforcement. This treatment of dogs has quite naturally attracted criticism for valid reason. Animal behaviorists and trainers have found that most animals don’t learn to well from negative reinforcement. For example training a dog to come when it is called and punishing it if it does not respond does not help at all and will only make the dog fearful. On the other hand giving the dog a treat and some fussing when it responds to the training can work wonders. The main criticism of negative reinforcement dog training is that it can create potentially negative emotions in the animal, such as anger, aggression, and fear. These emotions are in turn responsible for most behavioral problems, spawning a vicious cycle.

Dog Sense Emotion

Whether dogs sense emotions in their human counterparts is a subject that has been highly debated, maybe in the scientific community, if not among dog owners. Most dog owners are convinced of the fact and would regard any claims to the contrary as being ludicrous. So what is the truth, can dogs sense emotions or not?

While most pet owners feel a close connection and bond with their pets, they also like and feel the need to believe that their pets reciprocate these feelings. This has given rise to a variety of claims, from dogs sensing human emotions to other less likely claims. Researchers do accept that non-human animals can experience a wide range of emotions like anxiety, fear and anger but they do not have the same levels of self consciousness that we do and are therefore incapable of experiencing secondary emotions. This is a very valid argument and it would logically imply that the likelihood that dogs sense human emotions is very low. Without a sense of self awareness, they claim that it’s not possible to experience secondary emotions like jealousy or empathy. For example, an animal would not be able to put itself in another rival’s place to think ‘he’s enjoying that more, but I’d like it better’ and so on. This viewpoint would however be a very big over simplification of what we know, as there are clear examples of dogs sensing and responding to human emotions. The only issue that should be up for debate is whether these responses are purely emotional or largely instinctive.

The subject of dogs and emotions may rage on but there can be little doubt among those experienced with dogs that dogs sense emotions in humans. This is not a biased view, but is based largely on observations. The greatest sensory organ of the dog is probably its olfactory system, which dogs and the entire wolf family have traditionally relied on for survival. A dog’s sense of smell is in fact thought to be upto a thousand times more powerful than ours. When we experience emotional changes or physical conditions, there are also simultaneous hormonal changes. Dogs can pick up on these cues as our bodies do emit these changes in scent. It is for this very reason that dogs apart from being used to hunt can also be used to detect certain diseases in humans. These very qualities also make them a great aid to individuals who suffer seizures or palpitations, among other conditions, as dogs have often been able to predict impending attacks, giving the patient time to prepare or even avert the condition. Canines are so perceptive of mood and emotional changes through the changes in scent from fluctuating hormones that it is actually very true that they can smell fear.

Dog Eating Cat Poop

As absurd and revolting as this may seem dogs eat cat poop quite commonly, and there is in fact even a medical term for this behavior. Coprophagia is a medical term that quite literally means ‘consumption of poop’. This of course only refers to the deliberate consumption of feces, not accidental. Walking in on your dog eating feces can come as a big shock and be revolting to most pet owners, but more so to first time dog owners. But this is not an unheard of problem and it something you will learn to deal with and prevent.

The problem of a dog eating poop is most prevalent among puppies, but this behavior can also persist in adult dogs. Coprophagia is simply another canine eating abnormality just like pica, which is the consumption of non food materials, or psychogenic water drinking, which refers to excessive and almost compulsive water drinking. There hasn’t been adequate research into the subject of dogs eating feces, which is why identifying the cause is to a large extent a guessing game for veterinarians. But dogs are not the only species to demonstrate such behavior. In most cases this behavior is observed in herbivores like rabbits, where their diet consists of hard to digest plant matter, which is why you could say there are two attempts or a recycling attempt to minimize wastage of nutrients.

Dogs on the other hand do not have a similar problem, but this behavior in other species does give us some insight into dog behavior. It is known that many animals like dogs consume feces because of vitamins that are present in it, produced from intestinal bacterial activity. These vitamins can not be absorbed trough the intestinal wall, which is why it isn’t uncommon to find a dog eating poop instinctively to ingest those vitamins. Very often dogs eat cat poop for the simple reason that cat’s being purely carnivorous produce feces that is high in protein.

In the case of a nursing mother, the bitch will eat the feces of her offspring simply for the purpose of keeping the den clean. This behavior is shared with a variety of other species like cats, and is not abnormal. According to some dog behavioral experts dogs may also eat other dog’s feces to get rid of it as dogs sometimes tend to mark their territory with poop. Researchers also point to the fact that wolves and coyotes often eat their own feces during times of scarcity, and this may be instinctive behavior passed on to dogs. In food shortages they may even consume the feces of herbivores, because of the presence of necessary B vitamins in it.

Canine Thyroid Disease

Hypothyroidism is a very common thyroid deficiency and a problem in canines. Pets that have this problem will start showing the symptoms from the time they are around 4 to 6 years old. Proper functioning of the thyroid gland is essential for the metabolic processes of the body. When the thyroid gland doesn’t work properly, it causes dog thyroid problems. This is a common health problem which can be found in both male and female dogs. This disorder usually affects mid to large sized dogs, miniature dogs are hardly ever affected.

Dog thyroid problems show variety of symptoms. Some of the major symptoms include unexplained increase in weight, sudden loss of hair, dry and flaky skin and unusual sleepiness. Some other symptoms to watch out for in your dog include mental dullness, excessive shedding, hyper pigmentation of the skin, cold intolerance, slow heart rate, high blood cholesterol and anemia, which are normally observable in dogs with hypothyroidism. Your pet might not be as bright and alert as it used to be, he may become more sensitive to cold and chilly weather.

Dog thyroid blood tests can be conducted to determine the levels of T3 and T4 hormones. A low count will indicate the malfunctioning of the thyroid gland. Another test for confirming the hypothesis is conducted, this test is called as the TSH test or the thyroid stimulating hormone test. After the diagnosis of this disorder, a number of successive blood tests might be conducted to see if the canine has overcome this disorder once and for all.

Treatment of this disorder can be done by administering the hormone thyroxin to your pet. Thyroxin helps in maintaining the normal rate of metabolism. The thyroid hormone is also available in an inexpensive tablet form. All dogs are given the dosages tailored according to their specific bodily requirements. Each veterinarian will have a plan of action based upon his treatment methods and the individual needs of your dog.

Dog thyroid treatments will have to continue throughout their life. Early diagnosis can help your dog survive for a healthy period of time. After the treatment has begun you shall notice that all the symptoms related to this disorder will disappear. Sometimes the hormones come within the normal ranges and then the treatment will stop. There is no need to panic once your dog is diagnosed with this disorder since it is not an unnatural phenomenon for a dog to have thyroid related problems.