Heartworms, which are considered to be internal parasites, can be more disastrous to your dog's health than outside parasites, such as ticks and fleas. This is especially true for young puppies who are more susceptible to negative health conditions. A puppy's physical developing process can be interrupted from heartworms. And important nutrients from the food a puppy eats can be absorbed by heartworms, instead of being utilized by the dog's system for growth and good health.

Another important concern to worry about when it comes to these types of worms is if you have children. You should take the extra precaution necessary because certain types of parasites that are found inside puppies and dogs can be transmitted to your kids. As a good rule of thumb, always walk your dog or puppy through clean areas outside and do not let him sniff at any dog poop that is laying around as this can cause transmission of parasites.

Preventing heartworms

Heartworms are nasty little creatures and are transmitted by insects such as mosquitoes. This means that there is more of a danger of heartworms during hotter climates with high levels of humidity. Heartworms make their home within the confines of the heart and lungs of an animal. If this parasitic condition goes unnoticed by a dog owner, the little puppy or adult dog can die.

As you can clearly understand by now, it is better to take preventative measures against heartworms rather than discover them after they have already infested your dog. Fortunately, preventative action against heartworms is a very simple procedure. Below are two options that you can choose from:

1. You can supply your dog with a daily pill that will prevent heartworms. Your veterinarian can prescribe your dog with a daily heartworm-fighting pill that comes in the form of hard tablets or chewable tablets which are made for easier ingestion. The only downside of this preventative tablet form is that you must feed it to your dog every day without fail. And the medication is not as strong as the once per month tablet, which is described next.

2. Your second option, which is a bit more expensive than the daily tablet, is to give your dog a heartworm pill only once per month. Your veterinarian can offer you this monthly heartworm tablet to feed your dog which is a lot easier to maintain than trying to keep up with medication everyday. The vet will prescribe the spill based on how much your dog weighs.

Dog Massage - Indulge Your Dog By Giving Him A Pet Massage (Part 1)

Besides giving your dog love and attention, another great gift that you can give is a soothing pet massage. A pet massage, just as the name suggests, is a type of physical therapy that is similar to acupressure or chiropractic care.

This type of pet bodywork gives your dog an instant gratification of comfort, relaxation, and the feeling of being loved. When given to your dog on a regular basis, a pet massage helps minimize his sensitivity to touch, either by you or a stranger. This makes him easier to groom, handle, and also makes it faster and easier for the vet to examine and treat him.

The growing popularity of pet massage makes it widely available all over the country, especially if you live in a major city. However, you can learn the basic technique of this type of bodywork and give it to your dog, making the experience more enjoyable for the both of you.

Treating your dog to a relaxing pet massage is an excellent way to bond with him. Not only will he love the way it feels, but he will appreciate the time and attention that you are giving him, a true treat that will make your dog's heart melt with joy.

Below is a simple step-by-step procedure to giving your dog a relaxing massage, starting from the top of his head down to his muzzle.

1. Call your dog and tell him to sit.

2. Ease your way into the massage. Start by giving him a light caress the way you would normally do. This way, he won't think that you are about to do something different that might probably scare him away.

3. Give him an overall petting, from head to toe. Apply firm but gentle long strokes. The stroking prepares his muscles for more intense work and makes your dog feel more relaxed. Do this for about two more minutes.

4. Put your hands over his head, moving one hand gently underneath his muzzle while your other hand is stroking the top of his head.

5. Next, massage his ears, one ear at a time. Your dog's ears contain a lot of nerve endings and massaging them will feel very good to him. Do this for at least one minute per ear.

6. Lightly massage his forehead for about 30 seconds, sliding down to his cheeks also for 30 seconds, and then to his muzzle for another 30 seconds.

Fleas - How To Prevent Flea Infestations Now & Forever

Fleas are very stubborn creatures. They linger, multiply in large numbers, and eliminating them completely can take a very long time. Therefore, I believe that the easiest approach to get rid of an infestation of fleas is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Below are three ways to keep fleas from invading your dog and your home:

Use an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR). Sometimes referred to as birth control for fleas. An IGR prevents flea eggs from hatching and flea larvae from maturing into adult fleas, making them incapable of reproducing and eventually die. IGR's come in pill form or a liquid. Apply IGR to your dog before he gets the fleas, and continue to do so every 4 to 7 months, or sooner if you live in a warm climate.

Try Adulticide. A flea infestation occurs anytime during the summer or all year long in warm climates. Another treatment that is effective in controlling fleas is an adulticide. An adulticide is a spot-on liquid treatment that spreads out across your dog's coat and skin and immediately kills adult fleas on contact.

Keep your house clean. During the flea season, schedule one day each week where you pay special attention to specific areas around your house, both inside and outside, where fleas usually inhabit. Give your carpet and furnitures a thorough vacuum, particularly where your dog frequently stays. Wash all bedsheets, both yours and your dog's, from all the rooms in the house.

You may also buy an IGR spray that is specially made for furniture and carpet inside your house, and one that is specially made to use in your yard. Be careful, however, about using more than one flea product at one time (such as an adulticide treatment followed by a flea shampoo). Consult with your veterinarian to make sure that the mixture of these products are safe to use.

Keep your dog clean. This is especially important during the flea season. Keep his coat well groomed using a flea comb. If it's necessary, trim his coat short, this will prevent fleas from jumping in.

Flea Prevention: Chemicals & Natural Remedies - Which Work Best?

What are the best flea medications out there and are there any natural remedies that work? What natural ways can you use to prevent them altogether; before they spread throughout your dog's environment and your home?

These are very common questions that just about every dog owner asks when trying to keep their pets and homes flea-free.

Fleas are like roaches - they have been around for a very long time. There doesn't seem to be a way to eliminate permanently. Every year, with every new season, the fleas like to come around for a long, annoying stay. And if you live in the tropical areas then they pretty much stay year-round.

So What Can You Do About It?

Your options to counter the flea problem vary. Here are the most common ways to deal with them:

1) Veterinary prescribed flea medications
2) Over the counter flea spot treatments
3) Insecticide dip
h) Flea collar
5) Flea-fighting shampoo
6) Flea powder

Unfortunately, just about all of these solutions contain harsh chemicals which may or may not work well for your situation. And the fact that some dogs are sensitive to many of these applications brings on its own additional complications. Keep in mind too that the age of your pet, be it puppy or an older dog, will determine what you can use.

Flea Advice For Puppies

Do not use flea collars on puppies (in general) and powder is usually out of the question if they are not even eight weeks old yet.

The Older Dog

Use caution with chemicals on older dogs. Why? Because just like people, as dogs age they become extremely sensitive to chemicals. Old canines tend to get dermatitis too.

Dietary Flea Prevention: The Natural Way

Over the years Brewer's Yeast has been given to dogs to ward off fleas. You can take 1/2 teaspoon and mix it into your dog's food, then increase that dose over time. Fleas dislike the yeast. Brewer's yeast is also full of vitamins that are good for your dog.

Garlic is also a good alternative for flea prevention but you have to be creative with it and somehow grind or mix into food or treats for your dog. It should be fresh garlic, not powder or processed.

Veterinary Intervention

Your vet can provide spot treatments that kill fleas instantly after biting. You can also get some good over the counter options. Just keep in mind that many of these products may work on some dogs, but provide no benefit to others.

Try This Chemical-Free Soak

Wash your dog with normal shampoo, something gentle, and then change the water so that his entire body can be soaking for about 15 minutes.

Beforehand, mix of one teaspoon of the herb rosemary in boiled water in about one gallon. Let it cool, then add to the dog's water soak. Once the 15 minutes are up, wash the dog once again with a gentle shampoo and use the same rosemary water to rinse. It smells nice and does work.

Tip: Some people have used pennyroyal with good results in this soak treatment.

Almost everyone has heard of distemper, and most dog owners know that their pet needs some type of "shot" in order to protect them against this disease, but that may be the total extent of their knowledge.

As we discuss his temper in this article series, please keep in mind that the discussion will be generalized and based primarily on research findings. Averages are the basis for any vaccination recommendations and in no way reflect individual variations, individual problems, geographical peculiarities, practitioner preferences, etc.

Every program for vaccinating animals against distemper is based on compromises according to the prevalence of disease, owner convenience, cost, and many other factors. In the final analysis, the pet owner must trust his veterinarian to provide adequate protection.

The Disease

Canine Distemper (CD) or Carre's Disease, is caused by a virus which attacks epithelial and nervous tissue cells. It can affect lymphoid tissue, the intestinal tract, nerves, the brain, lungs, footpads, and other epithelial tissue in the body. "Hard Pad Disease" is nothing more than one of the many clinical manifestations of the distemper virus.

There is only one strain of canine distemper so the many clinical syndromes are only a reflection of individual response to the disease. The virus will infect dogs, fox, wolves, dingoes, coyotes, raccoons, weasels, ferrets, mink, and skunks.

Transmission of the CD virus is through discharges from the eyes, nose, or mouth of infected animals. These enter the respiratory system either by direct contact or with virus-laden dust or droplets. Flies can also mechanically transmit the virus. Urine and feces may also contain the organism and thus act as a source of infection.

At warmer temperatures the virus appears to be very unstable outside of a host and may only survive up to a few hours. In fact, at temperatures of 140 degrees forಞ minutes will destroy the virus, as will many chemicals. In colder environments, however, the virus may lie dormant for long periods and reactivate with warmth.

This can be used as a guideline as to when a new dog can be brought into a home which has harbored a distemper case. In warmer weather, a few weeks should be more than sufficient, but in a cold climate, the backyard may act as a source of infection as the temperatures rise. Incubation is about one week. This is the time which takes for a virus to cause the disease from the time it enters the body.

One of the most difficult tasks facing a veterinarian is how to manage hip dysplasia. There are several modes of therapy available, but only the most commonly accepted techniques will be discussed.

1. Maintenance: This is non-surgical management and consists of rest and restricted exercise, pain relievers, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Its best use is in mild cases or in dogs who are poor surgical risks.

2. Hip Join Reconstruction: This is extensive bone surgery with the ultimate goal of returning the hip joint to a normal anatomical relation. It is quite difficult to perform and often must be referred to an orthopedic surgeon. Surgery to correct hip dysplasia works best in young dogs before arthritis of the joint has become a problem. The techniques include pelvic osteotomy, acetabuloplasty, and varus osteotomy.

3. Joint Replacement: Older animals may benefit from surgery in this classification. The "ball" part of the joint is either replaced with a synthetic ball or removed entirely. Synthetic replacement has not been very successful to date. Removal of the femoral head eliminates its bone contact with the pelvis and, eliminates the pain.

Prevention

Any disease with a hereditary component can be at least partially controlled by selective breeding and studies thus far have been very rewarding. A nonprofit organization, the Orthopedic Foundation For Animals (O.F.A.), has been engaged in the study of orthopedic diseases since 1966.

Their program for the control of dysplasia is centered on x-ray evaluation of the hips. Three independent veterinary radiologists interpret every film sent to the foundation. If the joints appear normal, an O.F.A. Certification number is given. If any degree of dysplasia is found, the owner and his veterinarian are notified. Dogs showing any degree of dysplasia should not be used for breeding.

Large-breed owners should insist on a radiographic evaluation of the hip joints of any dogs to be used for breeding, whether male or female. Anyone who has suffered with a growing pup afflicted with this crippling disease can appreciate the importance of this type of control program. It should be noted that the O.F.A. certified parents may produce dysplastic offspring, but the incidence is greatly reduced.

Since the treatment of hip dysplasia is far from satisfactory in many cases, restrictive breeding remains as our best weapon for exterminating this disease.

Dog Health - Natural Ways To Calm The Overexcited & Stress Out Dog

Does your dog become anxious and extremely fearful for no apparent reason at all? You have probably researched and read a lot about dog psychology and behavior issues that result from aggression or fear, however, sometimes the problem is not as complicated is we make it out to be.

Anxiety and fear are not necessarily the result of improper behavior or lack of training. Oftentimes your dog can feel better with less stress levels by using natural therapy. Many dogs like this also have a tough time sleeping at night due to their anxiety. Here are a few tips that you can try to use in order to help your dog relieve his fear and stress:

1. Try feeding your dog any food that has wheat in it. Reports have shown that the byproducts from digesting wheat can help act on certain centers of your dog/s brain which helps make him feel calm.

2. In other way to activate the calming function of your dog's brain is to feed him warm milk with a little bit of natural honey. Add a dog biscuit to the mix and you have a great meal that is a healthy and natural way for your dog to relieve his stress and fear.

3. There is a natural herb called kava which can be found in most health food stores. Try adding a few drops of this herb to your dog's water bowl. Kava has a natural relaxation-inducing effect and is perfectly healthy for your dog to ingest. It can also be purchased as a dry herb which can be added to your dog's food. Please do not use more than the recommended dosage that comes with the package.

4. Since we are on the subject of natural food in order to help relieve your dog's stress and anxiety, simply give your dog small snacks to nibble on during the day instead of one or two big meals. Research has shown that nibbling on food in very small amounts can also create a calming effect on both animals and humans.

5. Last but not least, there is another supplement that is very similar to Kava. It is called Bach's Rescue Remedy and can be found in most health food stores. Dosages vary but of course be sure to read the label for accurate amounts to feed your dog. We suggest that you opt for the liquid form of Bach's that does not contain alcohol and simply add it to your dog's water bowl.

If your dog has been diagnosed with diabetes, early treatment by your veterinarian will help prevent further complications from this disease. Your pet may be saved from the painful experience of nerve damage as well as avoiding blindness. Conventional treatments will go a long way to keeping your dog healthy.

Insulin Injections

Depending upon your dog's needs, insulin injections will be given one to two times daily. The amount of insulin used for each dose and how often these doses are given will depend upon your veterinarian. Some dogs will be able to take tablets instead of being given shots.

Insulin doses are typically given in smaller amounts at the start of treatment so that the blood sugar levels can slowly stabilize. Under extreme circumstances this may require your dog to be treated in the hospital for a few days. If his diabetes is more stable, then your dog may receive outpatient treatment.

During this period, your dog's blood sugar will be monitored every hour in order to determine the exact dose of insulin he will need on a regular basis. Once the correct measurement of insulin has been reached, your veterinarian will instruct you to monitor your dog by testing his urine and/or blood.

Proper Diet

With diabetes, there is nothing more important to increase your dog's life expectancy than with a strict diet. In fact, it is so important to your dog to eat accordingly when he has this disease, that there is a chance that his diabetes can go into full remission just from the change of diet alone.

You should be feeding your diabetic dog meals that are high in fiber and low to moderate and carbohydrates. Now is the time to start cooking your dog's meals from the home with meats and other raw ingredients.

Before you decide what to feed him, it would be wise to consult with a holistic veterinarian who has education on nutrition. Your goal should be to utilize food as "medication" so that hopefully one day your dog can stop taking "official" medication.

Puppy Bone Health: 2 Major Hip Problems Every Puppy Owner Should Look For

Hip dysplasia is typically the first concern of bone problems in growing puppies but there are two other bone issues that your pup may have to deal with. They are called Osteochondritis (OCD) and Patellar Luxation.

Osteochondritis (OCD)

This is a common joint problem in growing puppies of larger breeds. It typically affects the same breeds that are prone to hip dysplasia. OCD is primarily a disease of growing cartilage. It develops due to reduced blood supply to a localized area of cartilage. The cartilage fails to mineralize (become bone) and the piece of cartilage that separates from the surrounding bone, causing pain and lameness.

While any joint can be affected with OCD, those most commonly involved include the shoulder, elbow, knee, and ankle. Joint supplements, herbs and homeopathics can help control pain and nourish the normal cartilage and joint structures, but ultimately surgery is needed to remove the malformed and detached piece of cartilage from the affected joints.

Patellar Luxation

So far we've talked about bone and joint problems in puppies of larger breeds, but one particular problem that most commonly affects smaller breeds is congenital (present at birth) patellar luxation. Breeds that typically suffer from this malady include poodles, Pomeranians, Maltese, Yorkshire terriers, and chihuahuas.

The patella is the technical term for the kneecap. In patellar luxation, the patella dislocates (luxates) when the knee joint is flexed and extended. As the joint moves, the patella usually pops right back into place, never bothering the dog or causing lameness.

The good news about patellar luxation is that it rarely ever causes the dog a problem, so treatment isn't usually needed. Often, people with these dogs don't even know there's a problem. A good veterinarian should diagnose patella luxation during annual physical examinations and point it out to the client (who is probably unaware of the issue to begin with).

In some cases treatment will be required. The current recommendation is to surgically stabilize the patella via one of several surgical techniques. Surgery is only necessary for those dogs in which the patella does not slide back into place and causes persistent lameness.
Following surgery, a good joint supplement containing glucosamine, chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, or perna mussels is important to minimize the chance of the dog developing arthritis in the future.

Just like children, puppies can experience growing pains as they get bigger. In young dogs, however, the problem can sometimes be more serious than a few aches and pains. Being aware of potential bone and joint issues, having your puppy screened for these conditions, and taking steps to help minimize them is your best defense.

Since the 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster, several new laws have been passed to ensure the safety and protection of our four-legged canine friends. The animal welfare organization has come up with a better emergency plan of action and more shelters have been established to keep the pets with their owners in case such an event happen again.

President Bush signed a new federal law in October of 2006 called the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act. This act states that FEMA is required to include the needs of individuals with companion pets and service animals. It also states that evacuation rescues for emergency or major disaster is included in the funding of state as well as local disaster plans. The act also allows FEMA to help rescue pets and other service animals before, during, and after a disaster occurs.

In addition to the federal PETS Act, many states are also joining in on the effort to ensure animal safety during a disaster. These states have either passed their own pet evacuation bill or revised an existing bill that includes the protection of companion pets and service animals.

The state of Louisiana, for example, passed a bill on June of 2006 that enables the state to aid in the evacuation as well as give shelter and other assistance to pets when disaster strikes. These pets and service animals will be given a bar code tag and the owners will get a copy to help them locate their pets after the emergency.

Other states such as Louisiana, California, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey, Illinois, and New York have also established a better disaster action plan to make sure that no pets are going to be abandoned and left behind.

The American Red Cross has also modified its policy on pets. The organization is now joining forces with local animal welfare agencies all over the country to establish shelters that can accommodate pets in separate rooms or in a facility in the same location.

Animal control departments and local human societies are also using the World Wide Web to post pictures and descriptions of pets to help reunite them with their owners. For more information, call your local animal agency.