Stuffed Animals

Deviant behaviors have rarely straightforward causes, and the same logic applies for canine activities at night. Two underlying causes are:

Separation Anxiety
Night anxiety in dogs could be a form of canine separation anxiety. Dogs are highly social beings and their loving and loyal nature makes them very attached to their owners. But an unusual amount of attachment can cause a dog to behave very erratically in the absence of his loved one. While dogs are not as independent or aloof as cats, they can make do on their own, at least for sometime. A dog anxious at separation, cannot stand being left alone. And when the owner returns, an over-abundance of affection is displayed. Separation anxiety can be triggered or created. Some situations like the loss of a familiar figure, new house or neighborhood and change in schedule, where the dog is used to his owners coming home at a time and suddenly the timing changes, are known to cause anxiety problems. Abused dogs, or shelter bred and pet store pooches with a difficult early life, are more susceptible to separation anxiety.

A mental problem it may be, but separation issues result in very physical and rather crazy behavior from a dog. And such behavior patterns can assert themselves at night, when the owner is around, but not with the dog. So the dog is more anxious at the thought of being kept apart from his master. If your dog shows any of the following signs as nocturnal antics, it’s likely he’s suffering from separation issues:
•Scratching and pawing at closed doors or windows to try to get into your room
•Very vocal in distress – whines and pants incessantly, howling loudly
•Pacing throughout the house in a disturbed manner
•Defecating and urinating in random places
•Erratic acts of destruction, like chewing and biting stuff, or emptying dustbins
•Tries to harm itself by biting its tail or scratching at its face with claws out
Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS)
We share so much in common with our dogs, even diseases and disorders. In older dogs, age can take a toll on mental ability and reasoning. This results in a change in the way a dog behaves. A normally active dog might sleep the whole day away and instead spend nights in a disturbed state. This sort of pattern is described as sundowning, a common symptom among people with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Night anxiety in dogs is the one of the key symptoms of CDS or cognitive dysfunction syndrome. Read the rest of this entry »

The discipline of veterinary medicine involves the use of medical, diagnostic, surgical and dental therapeutic procedures for treatment of animals. Veterinarians are professionals with the know-how of veterinary medicine. History of veterinary medicine reveals interesting facts about how this field of science evolved. Let us understand more about veterinary medicine through following paragraphs.

The desire and need to care for animals led to the development and progress of the science of veterinary medicine. It was in the 19th and 20th century that people realized the importance of veterinary medicine. Educational institutes for specialized training in veterinary medicine were set up. The following sections present information about ancient, middle and modern history of veterinary medicine.

Ancient History
Indians, Egyptians, and Chinese were the ones who first made use of veterinary medicine. Ancient Indian artworks portrayed pictures of people taking care of animals. Asoka, an emperor from India, is also known to have started hospitals for the treatment of animals. Study of Chinese civilization reveals that documentation of different diseases in animals was made by them as early as 2500 B.C.E. History of veterinary medicine in Egypt can be traced back to the period of 3000 B.C.E. The Egyptians cared for animals and the fact that they considered the cat as a sacred animal emphasizes their concern for animals. Their fascination with cats lead to the domestication of this feline species in Egypt. Columella, a Roman scholar first used the term ‘veterinarius’. He wrote books on animal care and related subjects like livestock health and breeding.

Middle Ages and Modern Period
The development of veterinary medicine as a branch of science in Europe took place with the spread of diseases, like plague, originating from animals (rats). In 1600s, the blood circulation theory proposed by William Harvey was published. This know-how of the circulation theory helped in carrying out blood transfusion in dogs. Lyon (France) was the place where the first veterinary school began in 1782. John Hunter, a surgeon from Scotland, is known to have done a lot of research in the field of veterinary medicine.

In the 1800s and 1900s the field of veterinary medicine became much more specialized than that of earlier times. The Victorian Era also witnessed growth in the field of veterinary science. Typhoid, tuberculosis, and cholera were identified and treatment measures for these diseases were developed. Protecting farm animals from these deadly diseases therefore, became possible. Read the rest of this entry »

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Joint problems in the hip and elbow area, are one of the major Rottweiler health concerns. These orthopedic disorders are a noted genetic disorder among large and giant breeds. It is difficult to trace the exact cause and occurrence of the defective genes, that give rise to joint dysplasia.The structure of the canine hip joint is “ball and socket”, with the top part of the thigh bone (“ball”) fitting into the acetabulum (“socket”). The gait of the dog is carried out by smooth and frictionless movement of the ball into the socket. If the ball fits loosely into the socket, or if the socket itself is misshapen, with jags, then friction is created. Due to this, cartilage keeps growing, as the joint tries to repair itself. Numerous health complications develop, due to the wear and tear. If the elbow-joint in a dog is abnormal in development or has a defect, especially with cartilage structure, then abnormal wear and tear of the joint takes place. The joint deteriorates and worsens, causing chronic pain. Secondary complications include inflammation and arthritis.

While both of the above conditions are hereditary, they can be aggravated by over-feeding, or a poor and unbalanced diet. Another cause is injury during youth, or excessive and hectic exercising. To avoid the risk of genetic defects, buy puppies from registered breeders and check the conformations of both parents. At 12 months old, x-rays are recommended for an early diagnosis, of any such problems.

Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV – Bloat)
A sudden but serious disorder, where the stomach is distended or swollen. It becomes life-threatening when the stomach swells and then flips over its own axis, causing a twisted system. First the digestive system is impaired, then the whole body. Probable causes are over-eating, drinking too much water after eating, exercising after a meal. Look out for retching without any vomit, difficulty in breathing, weakness, excessive saliva and belching. Check for a distended abdomen.

Sub-Aortic Stenosis (SAS)
A relatively new but common, congenital heart disease. It is genetic in occurrence, with no standard pattern of inheritance, making it difficult to predict. With this disorder, the aorta, leaving from the left ventricle is narrow and thin. Due to a narrower passage, the heart finds it difficult to pump blood throughout the body. So the heart muscle thickens, blood supply to the heart lessens and scarring of the heart muscle occurs. All these occurrences cause a disturbance in the heart rhythm. The outcome of such a disorder is varied. Sometimes sudden death occurs, without any symptoms. Some animals develop congestive heart failure and some simply have “murmurs”. The only cure for such a disorder is careful breeding practices. No affected dogs should be bred. Read the rest of this entry »

The symptoms of canine cold are not serious or life-threatening, but they surely make your pet weak. In case, your pet dog has contracted any of the cold virus, he will manifest the typical symptoms that we experience during a cold episode. But, fever or running high temperature is seldom present. If it is so, influenza is suspected and you need to take him to a veterinarian. The notable symptoms of canine cold include the following:
•Runny nose
•Coughing
•Sneezing
•Watery eyes
•Reduced activity
•Loss of interest in food
•Chest congestion
It is to be borne in mind that canine cold is extremely contagious. The pathogens (both bacteria and virus) are spread through mucus secretions of an infected pet. Also, touching surfaces contaminated with respiratory droplets of a sick dog is another route for spreading canine cold to healthy dogs. So, consider all these aspects, and do not neglect the symptoms. Special attention is needed for canine cold in puppies and older dogs, as they have a weak immune system. You can read more on can dogs get cold.

How to Get Rid of a Dog’s Cold?

Treating your dog’s cold symptoms promptly requires you to act fast without delay. So, keep a close eye over your pet’s health, especially during the cold and flu season. While attending a dog with cold, the first and foremost thing is to quarantine him. Of course, you should take your pet out for morning and evening walks, but isolating him from other pets is a practical solution to contain pathogens. For your understanding, effective tips on how to get rid of a dog’s cold are discussed below.
•Steam treatment is an effectual remedy to deal with canine cold symptoms. It has many benefits, including quick draining of mucus, easy breathing, reducing cough and clearing clogged airways. For giving steam therapy, allow your pet to stay in the bathroom filled with steam for some time.
•Needless to remind, you should feed lots of water and healthy fluids to your pet. They help in diluting mucus and hydrating the body. Feeding fluids may not be an easy task, but you can spend more effort by preparing chicken broth or soup with bones for increased flavor and taste.
•Change in appetite and losing interest in food are obvious signs in a dog down with common cold. As a responsible pet owner, encourage your dog to have healthy foods and offer his favorite food items. This helps in keeping the dog’s immune system strong, thus ensuring quick recovery. Read the rest of this entry »

Bringing a pup home is like bringing a new family member home. Labradors cannot deal with separation and tend to become restless as they are introduced to a new environment. Bestowing all the love and affection on your Labrador pup is the key in strengthening the bond and developing a comfort level with the puppy. The initial days of the Labrador pup are very crucial in raising your dog. It’s always enjoyable to watch the pup acquainting itself to the environment. However, if its left unattended, the whole house will be in a mess which should be the cause for disciplining your pup. The process of Labrador training must be slow and patiently dealt.

House Breaking
Dogs have a sense of selecting an appropriate place to poop. In case of a pup, as it lets itself get acquainted with the new place, it might end up dirtying the house. That’s where the first lesson of house breaking should be introduced to the pup. When the pup shows signs to poop, place it outside the house or the place where it should shit. To save your house from getting dirty, take the lab for a walk after 5-10 minutes it eats its food, the moment it wakes up in the morning, before it goes to bed at night and after playing. Patting or talking to your pup will encourage him to obey your commands.

Many lab owners face the problem of night barking. Leaving Labradors alone results in anxious behavior. This behavior sometimes generate the feeling of fear and insecurity. Therefore they need to be attended all the time. To reduce the irksome barking of the Labrador pup, arrange a sleeping bed inside or just outside your room. This will give them a sense of comfort and ease their stress.

Organize Training Sessions
As the Labrador mature they tend to be energetic and hyperactive. Having some organized and consistent training sessions can instill some manners in Labradors. You can appoint a professional dog trainer to make your dog obey your instructions. Sometimes, you can even start with small commands like “no”, “sit” or “fetch” which can bring some discipline into your dog.

Training Collar
After your dog learns to obey your commands at home, it is time to take him for a walk then. It is always a great experience to take your dog for a walk. Labradors are curious and want to explore. Hence, they get excited when there is a change in the environment. During this time the pup might try to pull the master rather than walking with him. To save yourself from getting dragged by your dog, train it to walk with you. When the pup tries to pull away, slightly pull the leash so that the dog understands your command and begins to obey you.

Training without a Leash
Try to make your dog independent by training it without the leash. It will help you get over the fear of the dog running away. This training helps the dogs to understand and remember the route back to its house. Begin this training in the house and slowly move out of the house to train the dog without the leash. Use specific body gestures and voice commands while you train your lab puppy without the help of a leash. Read the rest of this entry »