Stuffed Animals

     Why is my dog eating grass?

     Everyone knows that dogs are carnivores, then why do dogs eat grass? This is a very common question asked by many pet owners, which really does not have a straight answer. There can be many answers to this question, that include, upset stomach, certain vitamin or mineral deficiency or sometimes it is just that your dog loves the taste of grass. Grass eating is usually not a problem, until you are sure that the grass is free of harmful pesticides and chemicals. A dietary deficiency of fiber is linked to grass eating. Further, in some cases when fiber sources were added to the dog’s diet, grass eating was not noticed. Grass eating is not harmful but ensure that it is not excessive. Read more on dog training.

     Why is my dog eating poop?

     You may have seen your dog eating poop of itself or some other animal and must be wondering why do dogs eat poop? You may find it quite disgusting and yucky. Poop eating or stool eating is usually noticed in puppies, and is termed as Coprophagia. There are number of reasons that can lead to poop eating. Some researches relate poop eating to dietary deficiency while, some say that it can also be a method of seeking attention. Poop eating can cause health problems if the poop is infectious due to harmful worms, virus or bacteria. If poop eating is a result of behavioral reasons then you need not worry, as you can get rid of this habit by training your dog not to eat poop. However, you may need to consult a vet if it is eating poop because of some medical disorder.

     Why is my dog throwing up/vomiting?

     This is one of the most common health problems noticed in dogs. There are a number of reasons that can cause vomiting and hence, you need to find out the reason immediately because some of the causes can be life threatening. Stomach upset, over eating, infection, liver inflammation, gastritis, etc. are some of the reasons that lead to vomiting. Initially you can change the diet of your dog and observe if it vomits. Because of the wide array of the possible causes, diagnosing the problem can be a bit difficult. So, consult a vet at the earliest, when your dog throws up or vomits frequently. Read more on when and how to induce vomiting in dogs.

     Why is my dog not eating?

     Loss of appetite, dislike of the food’s taste, behavioral problem, illness, etc are some of the reasons which can make your dog stop eating food. Your dog may not like the smell of the food and hence may avoid eating it. Try and experiment with dog foods that can attract your pet to eat. Sometimes, injury or dog illness causes discomfort to the pet and leads to refusal of food. Some health problems like infection, viruses, digestive system problems can also the be reasons of not eating food. To avoid further health problems, it is always better to consult a vet at the earliest, when you observe that your dog is not eating food.

     Why is my dog panting excessively?

     Let us first know, why do dogs pants? In dogs, panting is a source of releasing body heat or decreasing body temperature, because unlike humans, dogs do not sweat. Though dog panting is quiet common, excessive panting in dogs should not be neglected. Make a note that certain dog breeds pant excessively due to their facial structure, which includes dogs with small heads. Example bulldog, pugs, etc. Even obese dogs pant too much. There can be some underlying cause that has caused excessive panting in your dog like stroke, heartworm infection, congestive heart failure, obesity, etc. Thus, in case of excessive panting, it is necessary that you consult a vet to find out the root cause and start the appropriate treatment at the earliest.

     Is my dog overweight?

     Obesity is not just a problem in humans, even dogs can be overweight, due to overeating and lack of exercise. Many of the dog owners are unaware that their pet is overweight. Usually veterinarians use a scoring system of 9 points to find out whether a dog is obese or not. 1 indicates an underweight dog while 9 indicates extremely obese dog. A recent survey observed that more than 50 percent pet dogs are obese. Obesity in dogs leads to cardiovascular health problems and hence, should not be neglected. Visit a veterinarian to find out whether your dog is overweight or not, and follow the prescribed method to reduce its weight. Read more on, dog obesity.

     Why is my dog shedding/losing hair so much?

     Dog shedding is normal and is something which irritates dog owners a lot. There are no non shedding dog breeds, it is just that some dog breeds shed comparatively less, while some dog breeds tend to shed excessively. So, first find out to which group does your dog belongs to. Shedding is also affected by seasonal changes, nutritional changes, skin infection, etc. Regular dog grooming can help to reduce the rate of shedding. If you observe that your dog sheds excessively and you suspect that there is some other reason, it is recommended that you consult a vet. Read more on dog hair loss.

     Why is my dog licking everything?

     A very common question asked is, why do dogs lick? Dogs consider licking as the way of expressing love for their owner. Thus, dog licking is usually ignored by all the dog owners. However, if you observe that your dog is licking everything quite frequently, then you need to pay special attention. Excessive licking can be a cause of behavioral disorder. However, too much licking can also be associated with some medical problem. Thus, you need to find out the problem and the solution accordingly. For the behavioral disorder, you can approach a pet trainer and make your dog get rid of this habit.

     Does my dog have cancer?

     When you suddenly come across a lump on your dog’s body it can frighten you. A lump on the body may not always indicate dog cancer. Dog cancer symptoms are not observed in initial stages, similar to the cancer in humans. Not every tumor indicates cancer, tumor can be a result of some skin allergy or swelling due to injury. So, if you come across such a tumor, do not panic and visit a vet at the earliest, to diagnose what type of tumor it is. Canine cancers are usually treatable.

     How often should I take my dog to a vet?

     Visit to a veterinarian, largely depends on the health condition of your dog. If your dog is healthy, you can give a visit after every six months or so. If your dog is suffering from some disease, then you should ask the veterinarian for the frequency of the visits. When you notice any abnormal physical or psychological behavior in your dog, it is recommended that you visit the veterinarian at the earliest. Since, there a are number of dog illnesses you should not neglect and approach a veterinarian for further diagnosis and treatment.

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