Puppy Health

Ear mites can be a source of serious discomfort for a dog of any age. If you suspect that your dog is suffering from an invasion by the microscopic insects, schedule an appointment with the veterinarian immediately.
The old adage, “out of sight, out of mind,” certainly applies to the pesky ear mites, which are referred [...]

Having your dog tested for heartworms is one of the most important things you can do to insure the health of your pet as well as those living within the traveling range of mosquitoes from your house.
Heartworms are not a new deadly parasite. There was mention of them more than 100 years ago in the [...]

Puppies can become constipated for a variety of reasons. When this happens, the symptoms are the same as those suffered by humans. The puppy will strain to have a bowel movement or pass feces that are hard and dry.
Generally, constipation is not something that will have you and Fido running off to the vet’s office. [...]

Controlling unwanted canine pregnancies is a must in today’s world where large numbers of dogs have to be put to sleep due to a lack of good homes. Spaying or neutering your dog is one of the best things you can do for your four-legged canine friend if you do not plan to purposely breed [...]

There are several types of common urinary problems that affect dogs. Urinary tract infections, incontinence and bladder stones are three of the more common ones.
Bacteria in the urethra tube frequently causes urinary tract infections. The bacteria can cause dogs to experience pain when urinating. It is best to treat the problem immediately because it can [...]

Your puppy is driving you crazy with a bout of reoccurring ear infections or constant licking, scratching and chewing at his skin. The more the puppy scratches, the more hair loss there is. You are worrying that you may soon end up with a bald dog if the itching continues.
What can you do? Schedule [...]

Raising a puppy is a hard job. If the normal tasks of puppy rearing aren’t enough, you, as a puppy owner, need to be aware of dehydration, a common problem among young dogs.
Dehydration is the loss of fluid and it is very common in puppies less than six weeks of age. This is due to [...]

Lyme disease, which is one of the most common diseases transmitted by ticks worldwide, is one that affects dogs and humans alike. The disease can cause death in both species if left untreated, so it is important that you check regularly for the blood-sucking pests that carry borrelia burgdorgeri, a type of bacteria that is [...]

Dogs need to have a balanced diet to keep them healthy and active.
Most dogs do get a complete and balanced diet that contains the vital vitamins and minerals if they eat a good quality dog food that has been made according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s guidelines. Dogs that are fed a [...]

A clean dog bed is vital to the good health and happiness of your dog, especially in areas where fleas, ticks and lice are prevalent.
One of the best things you can do to help make house cleaning easier is to provide any dogs in the house with their own beds. This helps to keep the [...]

If you’ve ever had an earache, you know they can be very painful. Unfortunately, ear problems are very common among dogs too. In fact, ear infections are one of the most common reasons that people take their dog to a veterinarian for something other than annual vaccinations and routine examinations.
It is important for pet owners [...]

Every dog will suffer from a bout of diarrhea at some point in his or her life. While diarrhea is obviously easy to see, it can be extremely difficult to diagnose because it is a symptom of many diseases – some that are very serious and others that are not so severe.
In many cases, diarrhea [...]

Most dog breeds do shed hair under normal everyday circumstances, so be prepared to give the vacuum cleaner a workout.
Shedding is a natural phenomenon that makes room for the growth of a new coat. Many dogs shed with the different seasons and this is to be expected. The amount of shedding depends on the [...]

In today’s world of escalating medical costs, pet insurance is almost a must. You never know when disaster will strike and veterinarian bills can easily cost as much as your doctor bills.
Consider for a moment that a gastric torsion (the intestines become entangled or the stomach flips) surgery can cost $4,000. Treatment for a heart [...]

If you have ever had to give a puppy medication, you know it can be quite a feat to accomplish. However, there are a few tricks that can help you get that pill into Fido without having to call in the National Guard for help.
It is important to realize that not all puppies can easily [...]

If your puppy loves the great outdoors, you will need to provide additional protection during the winter months in cold climates. You don’t have to keep the puppy indoors, but there are a few things you should do to keep the dog from becoming too cold.
It’s important to note than most dogs love to play [...]

Healthy puppies are usually very inquisitive and full of energy, but common illnesses such as colds or upset stomachs can take the play right out of them.
Unfortunately, it can be very hard to tell if your puppy’s problem is something easily treated at home or the symptom of a much more serious disease. If [...]

Your puppy’s first bath is likely to set the stage for all grooming sessions to come, so be sure to make the first experience a good one for Fido. Think of the future. You don’t want to have to drag a full-grown dog into the tub.
It is important to understand that not all canine [...]

It is not unusual for a puppy that is separated from his or her mother and littermates to experience separation anxiety.
Think about it. A puppy spends the first several weeks of its life with other dogs. All of a sudden, he or she is taken from the litter to a strange place with strange [...]

Puppies and infants have a lot in common. One of the main things is that neither can tell you when they are feeling sick, so they depend on you to identify a problem and fix it.
Knowing and understanding your puppy’s habits is key to being able to identify a medical problem before it becomes life [...]

Vaccinations are an important part of puppy rearing and are necessary to promote wellness and good health.
During the first couple of days of nursing, puppies get antibodies from their mother. The mother’s milk, which is full of maternal antibodies for which the adult has been recently vaccinated, is known as colostrum. This helps puppies ward [...]

Puppies deserve the best and in some cases that may mean preparing Fido’s food yourself. However, consult a veterinarian and do some serious research before you turn on the stove. You need to make sure you want commit to feeding him homemade food for the long run because it is best to feed your puppy [...]

Puppies love people food. There’s no getting around it. You could feed Fido the most expensive, top of the line puppy food and he would still be interested in what you have on your plate.
Unfortunately, there are several food items that can cause toxicity. Therefore, it is best to avoid feeding people food at all, [...]

Chewing is one of the most basic habits of a dog. Chewing serves multiple purposes including eating, easing puppy teething pains, manipulating objects, and relieving boredom. Since your puppy is a young creature, chewing is also one of its most basic forms of play. Puppies are born toothless but by the time a puppy is [...]