How Can I Get My Dog to Smell Clean?

Re Post from Real Simple:

Q. How do I keep my dog smelling fresh?
Cindy Mullis
Hampton, Virginia 
 
 A. If repeated trips to the groomer don’t keep the stench away, smelly fur may not be the problem; a medical condition, such as an ear infection, could be the cause. Unlike our straight ear canals, dogs’ L-shaped canals are hard to clean, says Janet Tobiassen, a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Floppy-eared dogs, like cocker spaniels, are even more susceptible to infection than those with pointed ears. Be sure to check these breeds regularly. When you look at your dog’s ears, observe the color. You should see a natural pink pigmentation. If the ears are red or look inflamed, call your veterinarian. 
 
Once a medical issue has been ruled out, turn to the bathtub. Use a gentle soap and a conditioner that is made specifically for your breed. In between washes, use an all-natural dog body spray, such as Lani Body Spray ($15,lanidigyourdog.com). Bonus: The spray doubles as a detangler, so your pet will smell and look fresh, too. ―Ashlyee Hickman 






Read More: http://www.realsimple.com/magazine-more/inside-magazine/ask-real-simple/how-get-dog-smell-clean-00000000019527/index.html

How to Treat Dogs Insect Bite

Re-Post from Fox News: Dogs Have Same Understanding as Babies, Study Says

A new report in Current Biology highlights that some dogs have the skills of a 6-month-old baby, USA Today reported.

The study’s results “support the notion that dogs are sensitive to the cues of signaling humans’ communicative intent in a way that is analogous to preverbal human infants,” said Jozsef Topel, the study’s author and an associate professor in the Comparative Behavior Research Group at the Institute for Psychological Researches, Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest.

Dr. Nicholas Dodman, director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in North Grafton, Mass.

In the study, 16 dogs watched videos of actresses turning toward a plastic pot.

During the first experiment, one actress stared directly into the dog’s eyes and said in a high-pitched voice, “Hi, dog.”

In a second experiment, the actress said, “Hi, dog,” in a low-pitched voice, but did not make direct eye contact.
The researchers used eye-tracking techniques similar to those used in studying infant behavior to determine the dogs were likelier to follow the human who turned toward the pot when they received eye-to-eye contact.Topal suggested that eye-tracking techniques could also prove useful in studying dogs’ memory skills and reasoning abilities.

“The [dog's] gaze was only triggered when preceded by communicating intent. It does seem to be that dogs do look at humans and follow gestures,” said Dr. Nicholas Dodman, director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in North Grafton, Mass. “This is intuitive to anyone who owns a dog, that dogs seem to be more in tune with us than some scientists believe.”

Adam Goldfarb, director of pet care issues at the Humane Society of the United States, said this is important research since dogs primarily work with people instead of hunting. He urged pet owners to keep up with their “baby-talk voice,” as it is likely to get the dog’s attention.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/01/06/dogs-have-same-understanding-as-babies-study-says/#ixzz1ivEplQrs

Effective Dog Training

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Emergency Dog Health Care: How to Tell if Your Dog is Sick

10 Tips to Keep Your Dog Healthy

1. Establish a good relationship with your dog’s veterinarian. For older dogs, it is recommended to make an appointment with your vet every six months. Your veterinarian should be someone whom you trust and with whom you feel very comfortable working with.

2. Be acquainted about the diseases common to older dogs and the healing treatments used for them. Take note of the symptoms, bring them to your veterinarian if you see any abnormalities in your dog and get ready to discuss different therapy options.

3. Provide your older dog the best dog food you can afford to buy; consider giving him a food prepared by you and two small meals daily instead of feeding him with a large one time meal.

4. Don’t feed your dog more than his daily requirements. Obesity problems are increasing in dogs’, it will not only create health problems but it can also shorten his life.

5. Glucosamine/Chondroitin is a good dietary supplement for the prevention of arthritis in dogs.

6. Let your older dogs perform adequate exercise, but don’t over exhaust them.

7. Pay attention to your dog's dental health always. Brush his teeth daily and have them cleaned professionally with Gentle Dental Cleaning whenever your veterinarian recommends it.

8. The Major Veterinary Associations advises that dogs will be vaccinated only once every three years, so better tell your veterinarian that you will follow this protocol.

9. Be eager in removing fleas and ticks or better yet control them if they are already present, and keep your dog and his surroundings meticulously clean.

10. Let your older dog be a part of your daily life because it will make him happy and active. They have feelings too so don’t reject them whenever they want your attention. Enjoy playing with your dog!

Let Your Dog Live Longer

Let your Dog Live Longer

One of the ways you can prolong your pet dogs’ life is to keep his teeth as healthy as possible. Periodontal disease is a preventable disease for smaller dogs. Don’t take teeth and gum problems for granted and take heart these dental health tips to make your new puppy live longer.

1. Take care of your pet’s Dental Health

Take a look at your pets’ teeth and see if it’s white and look for anything abnormal. Healthy canine teeth and feline teeth are strong and white. If the teeth is discolored and the gums are red or bleeding, this just

means one thing, that they need to be checked. Another unusual characteristic of an infection is when your adult dog has a very foul smelling breath.

2. Prevent tartar build up

Dogs’ teeth are the same as humans because they build up tartar and plaque like humans do. There are already ready-made dental chews that are formulated to help remove tartar and plaque. If your pet chews on this, it will help keep his teeth healthy and strong. Raw beef marrow bones that are uncooked are also a good way to keep your pet’s teeth be free of tartar.

3. Brush, brush and brush

Using a special pet toothbrush and toothpaste in brushing your pets’ teeth will help keep your dogs’ teeth healthy and strong. Small type toothbrushes are better to use because it allows you to clean the inside their mouth without putting much pressure on their mouth.

4. Get Regular Gentle Dental Cleaning

There are lots of harmful bacteria that may cause infection and tooth decay in your pets’ dental health. Because of the increasing advancement of technology, Gentle Dental Cleaning is now available. It is anesthesia free and it uses low-stress teeth cleaning method that will definitely remove harmful tartar and plaque.

5. Pay your Vet a visit

Don’t forget to visit your Vet regularly for evaluation of your pets’ dental health. Your veterinarian is an expert with tooth extractions and treats serious gum infections should there be any dental problems.