Tips for Keeping Your Dog Allergy Free This Summer

We are heading back into summer and with that comes the itching and scratching associated with allergies. Allergies can be a little frustrating to deal with and it can take some trial and error to work out what will help your pet. Today we pass on some tips from Dr. Eloise Bright from Love That Pet to keep your pet happy this summer.

Dogs are pretty unique in that whatever they may be allergic to, they tend to get itchy skin. Skin allergies tend to cause red, irritated areas on the skin, ear infections, hotspots, anal gland problems or an itchy bottom or most commonly, cause your dog to lick or chew at his feet.

Common causes for allergies include:

1.    Contact allergies to grasses and Wandering Jew.

2.    Food allergies (these tend to be year-round rather than seasonal).

3.    Flea allergies (commonly around the base of the tail and often worse in summer).

4.    Atopic dermatitis.

During summertime, we see an increase in dogs with atopic dermatitis and flea allergies in particular, but the reality is that many dogs are allergic to more than one thing. These dogs may have an allergy to chicken, so respond well to an elimination diet for 8 weeks, but will get a flare-up in summer because they also have a flea allergy.

Flea Allergies

You would think the simple flea would be an easy allergy to solve. Unfortunately most flea products we use still allow fleas to bite, in fact many take 8-24 hours to kill each individual fleas. For dogs that have a flea allergy, just one flea can cause scratching for up to 2 weeks, so they need a very strict flea control regime to tackle those sneaky little parasites. Some brands such as Bravecto and Nexgard will offer protection for both fleas and ticks simultaneously. You can find some more tips on how to outsmart fleas here.

Atopic Dermatitis

For humans, if we have an allergy to pollens we tend to get hayfever. Dogs are a little different and will lick their feet, develop frequent ear infections and an itchy bottom with a pollen allergy. These allergies are the most challenging to manage, since it is rarely possible to remove the allergen entirely. The following strategies can help:

1.    Wipe your dog down with a wet towel after coming indoors, pay particular attention to the bottom of your dogs feet, and make sure they stay dry.

2.    Use an oatmeal shampoo like ‘Aloveen’ weekly to soothe the skin and remove any allergens from the coat.

3.    If your dog has a tendency to develop dry skin or dandruff, add some fish oils to his food or soak your dog for 10 minutes in QV bath oil at the concentration on the bottle once every few days.

4.    Ask your vet which antihistamines and you can use safely in your pet.

5.    Another great product your vet can supply is called Cortavance. You can apply this spray once daily and it gets through the hair much more effectively than steroid creams and can provide immediate, short-term relief.

6.    If your dog has greasy, smelly skin and is prone to developing hot-spots, use a weekly medicated shampoo like Malaseb that will help reduce bacteria on the skin. You might not necessarily cure the itch, but you can limit those secondary skin infections.

7.    Wash any pet beds on a hot cycle in the washing machine with a very small amount of low allergen detergent once a week.

8.    Vacuum any carpets weekly or consider restricting your pet’s access to the carpeted areas of the home.

Allergies are estimated to occur in 20% of pets. If you find your pet is still itchy, visit your vet and have a chat about all the different options for treating those allergies, including allergy testing, desensitising allergy ‘vaccines’ and Atopica. Happy summer, we hope it is sneeze-free for you and itch-free for your pet.

Compare Bravecto and Nexgard

Two new dog tick products have hit the Australian market this year and it's hard to choose which is the best, Nexgard by Merial and Bravecto by Merck Sharp Dohme (MSD)

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Both Nexgard and Bravecto work by attacking the nervous system of fleas and ticks.  Nexgard was released in late 2014 followed by Bravecto in March 2015. Both are selling well in the Australian pet market and many dog owners want to see Bravecto and Nexgard compared.

Which Dogs Can Take It?

Nexgard: dogs at least 8 weeks of age and weighing at least 4 pounds.

Bravecto: dogs at least 6 months of age and weighing at least 4.4 pounds.

How Do I Give It?

Nexgard: beef-flavored chewable tablet given once each month with or without food. Dosage depends on your dog’s weight; 5 strengths available.

Bravecto: beef-flavored chewable tablet given once every twelve weeks (or every 3 months) with food.  Dosage depends on your dog’s weight; 5 strengths available.

Are Nexgard and Bravecto It Safe?

Nexgard: in a field study of 415 dogs, reactions included vomiting, dry/flaky skin, diarrhea, lethargy, and lack of appetite.  These reactions occurred in 4% or less of dogs.  Three dogs in the study had a history of seizures; 2 out of 3 experienced one or more seizures after taking Nexgard.  In the margin of safety study, Nexgard was given at 1, 3, and 5x the recommended dose, with only vomiting noted as an adverse event.  All lab data collected from all dogs was normal.

Bravecto: in a field study of 294 dogs, reactions included vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, and increased drinking.  These reactions occurred in 7.1% or less of dogs.  In the margin of safety study, Bravecto was given at 1, 3, and 5x the recommended dose, with diarrhea and vomiting noted as adverse events.  All lab data collected from all dogs was normal.

Nexgard compared to Bravecto

At the end of the day,  the major factor for dog owners to consider is the choice between once monthly and every three month administration.  All things considered, most vets are recommending Bravecto although Nexgard may have its place for dogs under 6 months of age who cannot be started on Bravecto.

The other factor is pricing, however the cost of buying Nexgard or Bravecto online is reasonable and will generally work out cheaper than Frontline Plus or Kiltix over 12 months. You can buy Nexgard online from $42.96 and you can buy Bravecto online from $38.48.

HOW SHAKING HANDS COULD BE THE TRICK TO HELP MELBOURNE DOGS BEAT THE WINTER CHILLS

As Melbourne’s early winter hits with a vengeance, many Melbournians have reached for their Ugg boots and doonas in an effort to keep warm, and in many cases, the family pooch is also rugged up and kept inside to avoid the winter chills, but experts warn this is the worst thing for the four-legged Melbournians.

With the onset of winter and a natural inclination to move less, pets are under real threat of not only weight gain from reduced movement, but also joint problems as their mobility and exercise tends to plummet. When these two elements – weight gain and reduced movement – are combined, it can spell disaster for many pets, with dogs facing the highest risk.

“When we become stiff a nd sore we do less – the same is true with our pets,” explains leading Melbourne Vet, Dr Karen Davies.

“But moving less, especially in winter months is not the answer as it leads to the joints becoming more restricted and stiff, and then this stiffness leads to a reduced desire for exercise which then leads weight gain which in turn, puts more stress on the joints. It’s a vicious and dangerous cycle than can easily creep up on pet owners during winter if they are not careful,” Karen explains.

Karen, who has a special interest in animal hydrotherapy and rehabilitation at her Point Cook clinic says that there are many specific exercises pet owners can do with their pets to help prevent the winter stiffness, and one of her favourites is playing ‘shake hands’ with the dogs.

“Encouraging your dog to shake hands is a fun and easy way to support the delicate elbow and shoulder joints and the best par t is, it can be done inside anytime,” Karen explains.

Karen says that keeping joints mobile is the best way to reduce the effects of arthritis, and the most effective way do to this is through walking, but she does have some other fun tips for pet owners for exercises that can be done inside:

• “Dancing” and squats are great for the hips, supporting the pet but holding up the front legs and getting them to stand upright (like a human) then encouraging movement back and forth, side-to-side and in gentle circles. Squats can be done by getting the pet to sit and then stand, sit then stand repeat until your pet thinks your nuts or they have done a series of 10. These exercises are also great for cats.
• Hill climb is great for strengthening hips and knees and increasing “range of motion”, in the case of small dogs making a ramp up onto the couch can be a great option, otherwise ramps at the skate park can come in handy of you don’t have a local hill to climb.
• Hydrotherapy (exercise in water) will help support the body and provide resistance improving the benefit of the work out
• Natural supplements found in most homes such as Turmeric, Fish oil, Flax seed oil which all have natural anti-inflammatory properties can be used to make pets more comfortable.
• Pets should undergo a basic health check prior to commencing new exercise to ensure the exercises are appropriate to their needs and to minimize the risk of injuries.

Whilst Karen concedes that not every house has the ability to put their dog in a heated pool, there are specialist hydrotherapy units that enable owners and vets to tailor an aqua-based exercise program for even the stiffest of dogs, one of them located less than 30kms from Melbourne at Direct Vet Services Clinic in Point Cook.

Sometimes, a pet will need a bit of additional support over and above exerc ise, but Karen believes owners should take heart in the fact that keeping up the movement during winter will stave off many diseases.

Karen stresses though that many owners and vets wait till there are very obvious signs of joint degeneration before they take action, and her view is that the more owners can do to support their pets prior to serious joint problems taking hold, the happier their pets will be.

For more information on how owners can help their pets avoid the onset of early arthritis and other joint related problems this winter, contact Karen Davies 03 9369-1822

Are Lilies Poison for Dogs

Vets are aften asked "are lilies poisonous for dogs?" or "are lilies toxic for dogs?". When it comes to toxic garden plants for dogs, lilies seem to be the number one concern for many dog owners.

Dr Liisa warns dog owners about lilies

Dr Liisa Ahstrom, Bayer Technical Services Vet, tells us that  lilies can cause gastrointestinal upset and indeed there are many plants and flowers which are toxic to dogs including popular cut flowers Tulips and Hyacinths and popular potted or garden plants Cyclamens, Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Sago palms, Lily of the Valley, Daffodils, Dieffenbachia, Oleander and Crocus. 
 
For those of us who have both cats and dogs, it is very important to be aware that many lilies are toxic to cats including Tiger (Lilium tigrinum), Day (Hemerocallis spp), Asiatic (Lilium asiatic), Easter (Lilium longiflorum) and Japanese Show (Lilium speciosum) lilies. All parts of the plant appear to be highly toxic to cats including the petals, stamens, stems, leaves and even the pollen. Ingestion of small amounts of any part of the plant or even water from the vase containing lilies can cause severe kidney damage.

Fortunately lilies don’t cause kidney failure in dogs, but because lillies can cause gastrointestinal upset in dogs, it's still best to restrict dogs' access to these plants.

When asked what is the most concerning toxic problem for dogs in Australian gardens, Dr Liisa quickly identifies, not a plant, but  nasty life forms of a different kind. Ticks and fleas!

Most toxic garden concern for dogs

To keep your dog free from ticks and fleas, Dr Liisa tells us,  you need to use an effective parasite protection product, according to the directions on the pack.  Most products rely on parasites biting the dog to receive a lethal dose of active ingredient with their blood meal.  Bites from ticks and fleas cause discomfort and can spread disease, and the bite from a single paralysis tick can be fatal.  

To prevent ticks from biting, including the deadly paralysis tick, it’s important to use a product that can repel ticks before they bite. Advantix for dogs is the only product that kills and repels ticks.  Advantix also kills fleas and lice, repels biting flies and kills and repels mosquitoes and sandflies. To stop fleas from biting your dog, use a product that kills fleas fast, and on contact, so they don’t need to bite your dog to be killed. The Advantage Family products (Advocate, Advantix, Advantage) all stop fleas that jump on your dog from biting in just 3 – 5 minutes, and kill them on contact within 1 hour.  If you live in or are visiting a paralysis tick zone with your dog, it’s also important to check them over for ticks every day.

The Top 4 Signs Your Pet Dog is Going Through Stress

With access to luxuries that his ancestry could never dream of experiencing, your pet dog may be

living quite comfortably in your home. However, he still has a set of instincts for survival that

are very active. For instance, other animals, being away from his pack, attention from humans

that he does not want or even threats to his territory can cause your pet to feel stressed out. The

good news is that pets tend to be very good at letting you know he is going through stress. All

you need to do is learn how to decipher the top non-verbal lingo so that you can find stress-

relieving solutions for your pet.

Change in Behaviour

When regular stress is something your dog is sustaining or is subjected to, such as if a home

routine has changed, when a family member is absence or if you have just moved homes, your

dog’s behavior may change as a result of residual stress. Behavioural indicators of stress include

destructive behavior, restlessness, refusal to eat and excessive shedding.

Sounds of Stress

There are many different sounds that indicate your dog is feeling stressed out. Typically, a

whimper or a whine are the first audible stress signs. If you ignore this, he might start barking.

He may even revert to a sustained, low growl when his barks and whimpers are ignored.

Needless to say, these should not be ignored. These are indications that your pet has run out of

polite methods of letting you know he is feeling stress and is beginning to feel anxious.

Facial Gestures

With just his eyes, your dog can communicate a ton of messages. When he is being submissive,

looks away repeatedly or refuses to meet your gaze, he is trying to tell you to please be kind to

him and that he is not a threat. In the event that you ignore his submissive behavior, he might

start feeling threatened. When he feels stress, you will see him narrowing his eyes. Other signs of

stress include pinning the ears to the back, panting, yawning and lip licking.

Reading Your Pet’s Body Language

A stressed out dog will tend to reveal his feelings with obvious signs. On the other hand, if ‘dog

language' is something you don’t speak, there are a few hard-to-miss signs you might want to

take note of. Shifting weight on his right or left legs, hunching and low tail carriage are all

stressors that other canines will tend to recognize quickly. This is behaviour that your dog

expects you to be familiar with as well.

By recognizing classic stress symptoms in your pet, you can help control the stress levels of your

canine companions.

Why do dogs eat their own poo?

If there’s one thing that never fails to turn the stomach of any dog owner, it’s when they see their dog eating poo.Sometimes poo eating in dogs can be a one off, but some dogs eat poo all the time. Pretty gross!

Why Do Dogs Eat Poo?

The scientific term for the eating of poo is Coprophagia, which if you can get past the obvious horror of it all is actually quite interesting. There’s a good deal of science to explain many of the causes of poo eating, but at the same time there are also dozens of long-standing theories that could also shed light on the subject.

For example, a great many animal experts insists that the act of a dog eating poo dates right back to the ancient origins of the animal. Prior to being domesticated, dogs were scavengers and would basically have no choice other than to eat anything that presented itself in order to ward off starvation. As such, the theory remains that poo eating is a historic behavior that still presents from time to time.

One of the most common instances in which a person will see their dog eating poo is when the dog has recently given birth to a litter of puppies. Dogs are instinctively wired to keep tabs on their babies and to ward off any potential predatory attacks. And as predators would pick up on the smell of her new babies’ poo, she’ll make sure she cleans up every last bit of it by eating it. Disgusting it may be, but at the same time she’s just being a good mum!

And then of course come the instances of simple domination, which are common in households where there are several dogs present. In such cases, it may be a natural and instinctive behavior for a submissive dog lower down the pecking-order to eat the poo of his superior.

Why Poo Eating Shouldn’t be Ignored

More often than not, poo eating won’t cause any real harm to the dog, other than terrible dog breath.  It isn’t necessarily anything to worry about. At the same time however, it should never be ignored, but instead brought to the attention of a professional as soon as possible.

When a dog eats poo, there’s always the chance that it could be a sign of a potentially serious illness which will need checking up straight away. For example, when and where a dog has a digestive problem and is unable to absorb enough nutrients from its food, there’s a chance it may instinctively eat his own poo. There are also various health problems associated with nutritional deficiencies that could be the cause of the poo eating.

Along with physical health problems, there are also certain behavioral issues that poo eating can be a sign of. For example, high levels of stress or anxiety can trigger poo eating in dogs as something of a compulsive behavior they have little to no control over. This is precisely why poo eating is common in boarding kennels and other such communal doggy areas as the animals may become too stressed out to really know what they are doing.

In some instances, it has become clear that the actions of an irresponsible dog owner have contributed to the poo eating problem. When and where a dog is made to feel that pooing is a crime and is scared to death of being attacked by its owner after pooing, the dog may resort to eating the poo in order to get rid of it. This is a rare and highly distressing behavioral trait for which the owner is 100% responsible.

Regardless of the cause of the poo eating however, one of the main reasons it is crucial not to ignore it is the way in which you cannot predict or control which poos your dog may eat. And if he decides to eat the poo of a dog with a serious illness, chances are he’ll end up with the same disease.

What to Do About Poo Eating

The first thing any responsible pet owner must do is take their dog to the vet and have him checked out for any signs of illness. If the vet gives the dog the all-clear, this essentially means that the poo eating isn’t a serious problem and can therefore be addressed by the owner.

First and foremost, the best tip of all is to prevent access to any poop in the first place. If and when the dog goes to the toilet, it’s the owner’s duty to pick it up and dispose of it as quickly as possible, which over time can teach the dog that it’s not in fact to be eaten.

It sounds awful, but in some cases it has been reported that dogs resort to eating poo either because they simply cannot stand the food they are being given at home, or their daily diet is lacking what their body needs. As such, in all cases of poo eating it’s a good idea to look carefully at the dog’s diet and ask – is it really 100% premium, or just the cheapest garbage on the shelf?

Last but not least, dogs often eat poo simply because they are bored and have nothing else to occupy them, so it’s always a good idea to try adding a few new toys and generally giving him all he needs to stay occupied and happy.

Dogs and their Supplements

Supplements have already become very popular among people who want to improve their health and

to avoid diseases. These days, pet owners are also looking for ways to improve their pet’s health by

trying out various supplements. But the thing that’s stopping some dog owners is the cost of regularly

providing pets with supplements. However, if cost isn’t an issue, should your pet be provided with

supplements?

The following are some helpful tips for finding the best deals for the right kinds of supplements for your

pets, as well as some reasons as to why pets may also need supplements.

Why dogs may also need supplements

These days, there are a wide variety of pet supplements available out there, and knowing which one to

buy and where could be a daunting task. Some supplements are designed for dogs that are exposed to

pollution. What these types of supplements do is that they help pets eliminate the toxins that they have

ingested, whether it is from the surroundings of from the foods that they eat.

Choosing the organic way

As with humans, organic supplements provide pets with the optimum amount of nutrients. Some

synthetic supplements may provide some of the nutrients that your pets need, but organic ones are

best for digestion. Organic supplements may contain herbs that provide essential nutrients that may pet

foods are not able to sufficiently provide your pets.

Naturally, pets have a natural sense of what their body needs. That’s why some pets nib on grasses to

feed their body’s need for natural nutrients.

Choosing the organic types of supplements is essential not only for the nutrients that they contain,

but also for the compounds that the pet’s body needs. Most synthetic supplements may not contain

compounds that are present in natural foods, which are crucial for the pet’s overall health.

If you are faced with tons of choices that actually choosing seems to be a daunting task for you, ask your

vet for which ones you should choose.

Best Way to Clean Dogs Teeth

Knowing how to clean your dog's teach properly is important for her good health and quality years. Veterinarians recommend daily dental care at home for pets. It’s best to begin at an early age (eight to twelve weeks) during puppyhood, but it is never too late. You can buy a dental kit at your online pet-supply store.

It is also good practise to get your dog used to having its mouth inspected.

• Acquaint the pet with mouth care slowly. Gently open the animal’s mouth and run your finger around the lips for 30 seconds on the first day and progress to a couple of minutes at a time.  Reward the animal with a small treat at the end of each session.
• Next, use a washcloth wrapped around your index finger or wet toothbrush on the teeth (NEVER use a human toothbrush).
• Next lift lips. Massage the outer surface only of the upper and lower teeth minutes.

Remember to have good strong teeth they need to be cleaned so tartar etc. does not build up. A dogs way of doing this is to eat bones and dry food so make sure your dog has these available at all times.

Chewing and grinding bones fulfills the natural instincts for bone crunching; it also acts as a natural teeth cleaner and can be a great reliever of boredom for the urban dog. City-slicker dogs are somewhat soft and certain bones cause a lot of problems, especially in the very young.

You should never feed your dog cooked bones.

Like us if a dogs teeth aren’t attended to they will need to be professionally cleaned by your veterinarian. Prevention is better than cure.

Sponsored link:

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Say No to Chocolate for Dogs

Never feed dogs chocolate

Our love for our pets can sometimes go too far. A line is crossed if our love also harms our pet’s health. Yet it’s not uncommon: there are frequent reports of people feeding dogs chocolate.

It’s easy to understand how it happens. When you’re treating yourself, and you love your pet, it’s only natural to want to treat your pet too. But unfortunately, when people feed dogs a chocolate biscuit, chocolate cake or a square of chocolate, they’re neglecting their responsibilities as a pet owner. Chocolate can seriously harm your dog’s health.

Treat with danger 

Chocolate is a powerful stimulant. It’s banned in horse racing due to its performance enhancing properties. And for dogs, its effects can overwhelm their small bodies.

Killer ingredients

Chocolate contains naturally occurring methylxanthines caffeine and theobromine, both of which are toxic to dogs (and cats). Whereas humans can quickly metabolise methylxanthines, they can hang around in a dog’s bloodstream for 20 hours. At high enough quantities they may cause hyperthermia, heart attacks, epileptic seizures and even death.

Early signs of toxicity may include drinking and urinating more than normal, vomiting, diarrhoea and restlessness. Due to their small body mass, chocolate is even more dangerous for puppies.

If there’s a chance your dog or puppy has eaten chocolate, contact your vet immediately.

As much as you pride yourself on your own appearance, so too does your dog. Dogs and puppies will groom themselves to a certain extent but no matter what breed of puppy you have, whether he’s long or short haired, small or large, it’s important for their health and general well-being that they’re groomed regularly. 

How to master brushing

Removing loose hair and keeping long hair untangled is best achieved by brushing. If your puppy or dog won’t sit still, give them a few treats and they’ll appreciate your attention a lot more. 

Here are few tips:

•   Choose the right brush for your pet. There are a number of brushes available for grooming and you’ll need to choose the one that’s most beneficial for their fur. In general, bristle or pin brushes, metal wire brushes and combs can be used for wiry short-haired breeds, right through to silky, long haired dogs. You can use a combination, depending on how knotted their fur can become

•   If your dog’s hair is particularly tangled, matting and loose hair can be removed by using long, firm strokes across the length of their body

•   Dogs with long coats will benefit from regular clipping to prevent mats

How to master bathing

•   That ‘wet’ or ‘dirty dog’ smell is never attractive and can linger in your home. Bathing your furry pal on a regular basis is important to keep these smells at bay and also to ensure your pet is clean and fresh, ready for cuddles

•   Choose a gentle shampoo over a harsh soap-based product. There are a number of suitable products available from your Vet or your local pet store. Specially formulated dog shampoo is better for your puppy’s skin than soap.Soap-free shampoo should be used with top-spot products such as flea, tick and worm treatments

•   Before you get your puppy in the bath, make sure their collar is still on. This will help you control them, in case they wiggle about. You can also use this to hold their head up as you pour warm water over them

•   When you are gently rubbing the shampoo into your dog or puppy’s coat, avoid getting shampoo in their eyes or mouth. You don’t like it, and neither does your pet! 

•   When you’ve finished and they’re all clean, rinse and dry their head before you dry their body. Always use clean, warm water in the bathing process

•   Dry your puppy with a towel, remembering to keep them covered and warm. If you give your dog a bath they enjoy, they’ll be more likely to co-operate the next time round… and less likely to run soapy bubbles all over your house!

Source: http://www.friendsfurever.com.au