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Canine Ticks – Simple Ways To Remove Ticks

August 4, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Ticks can cause serious health problems for dogs, including humans. When it comes to transmitting communicable diseases, they rank second to mosquitoes. To identify if your dog is infested by ticks, following are the signs and symptoms to lookout for: irritation, inflammation, local infection, hypersensitivity, fever, lameness, loss of appetite, sharp pain in legs or body, arthritis, malaise or lethargy, cough, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis.

Since ticks are hard to detect if the dog’s fur is long, most pet owners would maintain their pet’s hair short for easy tick detection. In searching for the presence of ticks, it is advisable to don gloves. Rub your hands against the dog’s hair and feel for bumps. Visually check if it is a tick.

Removing Ticks – Common Practice

To get rid of ticks, spray alcohol or pour one to two drops of mineral oil at the tick. It will immobilize the tick in seconds. It also helps loosen its clasp to the dog’s skin. Carefully, grip the head of the tick, as close to its mouth as possible. Carefully apply pressure. Carefully, remove the tick away from your pet’s skin. Avoid gripping the tick at its head as not to twist the tick. Twisting can leave tick debris or other parts behind. Be conscientious not to crush the tick. Crushing the tick can spread more microorganism, or worse, it can cause the blood of the tick to access the dog’s stab. If the head or any part of it remains in the dog’s skin, remove them cautiously. Although the immune system of the dog can usually banish these remainders, an infection or swelling might occur, so it is best to contact your veterinarian if uncertain.

After removing the tick, drop the parasite to a mineral oil or alcohol, ensure that it is dead before disposing it to a nearby garbage bin. To avoid transfer of infection, wipe the mineral oil in the dog’s fur and then disinfect the area with alcohol.

Efficient Tools For Tick Removal

It is not expedient to directly takeout the tick with your bare hands. Doing so can transfer bacteria from the tick to your nails. Although removing dog’s tick might not be as easy as you think, there are other strategies to readily remove ticks by using different tools such as curved hemostats, tick spoon, tick slider, tick nipper, tick noose, and tick pincers. Curved thermostats are traditionally used by physicians or veterinarians. Tick spoon on the other hand, is an impressively well-crafted little plastic spoon with a notch at the end. Tick spoon is used by sliding the notch under the tick before levering it off. The tick slider is very similar to the tick spoon. Simply, slide the instrument under the tick before lifting it off. Tick nipper is a little plastic instrument with a curved jaw, which enables you to grasp the tick by its head before lifting it off. Tick forceps is just like an instrument used by ophthalmologists. It can readily grasp the head of the tick because of its fine tipped end. Never use sharp objects when removing ticks as not to poke holes in your pet’s skin.

Although ticks might be removed easily using various instruments, prevention is still far better than cure. Regular bathing and other preventive tick medications are still the most excellent ways in keeping the ticks off your pet.

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Pet’s Health – Things You Should Understand About Ticks And Fleas

July 28, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Ticks and fleas are very common to animals specially dogs and cats. But because vermin can attack our furry little animals, it is important to know some basic facts about these two vermins.

Dog fleas are six legged wingless little insects that measure approximately 1.5 to 3.3 mm long. It is very active and can jump either horizontally or vertically up to 200 times its own height. Their body is hard and polished with tiny hairs. Its armor-like shell provides armor that is very resistant to finger pressure. They feed on their hosts’ blood by piercing and sucking using their tube-like mouth.

Fleas – Life Series and Environment
An adult female flea after having a good feast of fresh blood from its host may lay up to 50 eggs per day. In just a short span of time, let’s say three months, a pair of these two little critters can produce up to 20,000 fleas! Their eggs are laid normally on the skin of their host and hatches after about two days to two weeks. The larvae in order to live, feeds on tiny food fragments. After some time, it can turn into tiny pupae which, later on, will hatch into a new batch causing harm to the dog but also to its owner! It is important to keep in mind the life cycle of the flea before considering what kind of protective measure you are going to undertake. This could give you a better chance of breaking the cycle of reproduction.

Following are some traceable signs and symptoms that can confirm that your pet is suffering from fleas infestation:
– Tiny bits of dark reddish brown “grains” attached to the dog’s fur itself. Test if these are excreta from fleas by wiping them using a damp paper cloth or towel. A noticeable tinge of blood red on your paper towel will confirm infestation.
– Use of flea comb.
– Bald patches due to skin irritation or excessive scratching, redness, and tiny red spots on your dog’s complexion

Once flea infestation is confirmed, your next best move is to consult a qualified veterinarian regarding preventive measures that will fit your dog, and will be safe for you and the whole family.

Tick (Nuttalliella namaqua) is an eight-legged arachnid, a cousin of spider that is well-known for spreading diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, tularemia, encephalitis, and tick paralysis. The most common among its genus that feed on dogs are wood tick, brown dog tick, and the deer tick; they all thrive in woods and shrubby areas.

Not like fleas, ticks are slow movers, hence they can be spotted easily. With the use of cotton buds dipped in disinfectant, one can perfectly remove ticks. They’re frequently found between the dog’s armpits, inside ear flaps, between digits and paw pads, tail, inside thighs, et cetera.
Using the tweezers, grasp the tick purposefully, then, gently rock the bug back and forth until it lets go. Be sure to avoid contact with the ticks’ body fluid by wearing clean gloves or surgical bags. To avoid local infection on the spot where the ticks were removed, a blob of disinfectant is recommended.

To control tick invasion, start to look for places that are suitable for them to reproduce. Trim regularly garden grass or damp bushes. To manage the condition, there are medicated shampoos, powders and sprays that are specially design to get rid of ticks and fleas. All the same, a visit to a licensed veterinarian is highly recommended to ensure proper care of your beloved dog and safety of your family.

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Treatments For Canine Arthritis With Human Glucosamine For Animals

July 26, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Human Glucosamine for dogs has been efficiently employed to treat dogs struggling with arthritis or osteoarthritis. The outcomes have been quite encouraging and positive. These merchandise have been identified to become the safest and most effective way of treating aging dogs struggling with the crippling effects of arthritis or osteoarthritis.

Human medicines have to be of human food worth although for pets the same have to be of animal food worth, that is at a significantly lower level. Therefore, the challenge may well come in the way of obtaining the dogs to ingest the medicines. Human Glucosamine can not be patented by pharmaceutical majors and therefore they favor to keep away from manufacturing medicines for pets. Glucosamine belongs to a class of nutraceuticals and also the FDA will not exercise strict control over it. Glucosamine is a naturally occurring substance identified in several food merchandise in abundance and are categorized as vitamins.

The typical patients that happen to be subjected towards the remedy are middle aged and old dogs who exhibit signs and symptoms of stiffness and limping. Some dogs locate it difficult to negotiate stairs although some have issues although obtaining in and out of cars.

Glucosamine is mostly identified inside the cartilage of animals and humans, along with a majority of it can be unsuitable for use because of degradation. Animals synthesize the necessary Glucosamine from glucose. Nevertheless with superior age, the capability to synthesize glucose diminishes significantly and also because of elevated injury to cartilages, the physique is unable to keep with all the requirement. For that reason one particular has to provide Glucosamine from outdoors for standard bodily functions.

1 can safely use human Glucosamine For Dogs to replenish the depleted volume. 1 should consult the veterinary doctor before utilizing any medication. It is usually advised to have the dog completely checked and diagnosed for a distinct condition before commencing medication. Glucosamine will not hide or mask the pain, rather it assists, renew, repair and rebuild cartilage. You can find no reported side effects even for circumstances exactly where there has been prolonged usage of Glucosamine. Glucosamine supplies dogs using a essential component of cartilage named collegen. Collegen is composed of water, which in turn is supported by proteogylcans. Glucosamine synthesizes proteogylcans in two methods. The first way is by virtue of getting a essential component with the structure of proteogylcan. Secondly, Glucosamine induces the production of proteogylcan producing cells.

Glucosamine is readily offered in Chitin, that is a essential component inside the structure of shell fish. Pure Glucosamine is obtained following removing calcium and proteins, following which the Glucosamine is stabilized with yet another substance to ensure potency. For dogs one of the most studied and extensively employed variant of Glucosamine is Glucosamine Hydrocloride.

You can find some schools of thought that think that human Glucosamine could be harmful for dogs. Nevertheless, the common belief is the fact that if your vet recommends it, there’s no harm is helping your old and suffering pet.

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Dog Fleas – How To Handle This Parasite At Home

July 25, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Do you own a pet dog? Apprehensive about fleas? Worry no more. This article is all about dog fleas. Its causes, symptoms to watch out for and a couple of helpful home treatments that you can try.

If there is one thing pet owners dreaded the most, it is dog flea. Fleas are yucky. It can trigger mild to severe itching and scratching to its host. They are not easy to eliminate. They measure approximately 1.5 to 3.3 mm long. They do not have wings. They suck on blood. There are about 2,000 species of fleas, but the most common is the Ctenocephalides felis, also known as the cat flea. Dogs are their linchpin prey.

Causes of Dog Fleas

Did you know that a dog can still fall victim to fleas though it stays at home all the time? Yes, your pet can get fleas particularly in a hot and humid weather. Since fleas are so miniscule, they can come into small screens or windows. But the most common way of transmission is via direct contact with other pets.

Fleas are generally found in dogs and cats. Tragically, human beings are not spared. When a pet is out or is already gone, fleas can plague humans. Without pets at home, fleas are in a hunt for a new host and this is when they begin to attack humans. They normally bite humans at the waist area, ankles, and armpits.

Symptoms To Lookout For

Can you identify if a pet is suffering from fleas? In fact, you can tell right away if the dog is suffering from flea infestation with just one look. First, you will see your dog itching and scratching. Then the affected skin of your canine friend may turn red and inflamed as a result of flea bites and the continual scratching and biting. Also, flea dirt is evident on your pet’s skin, on its sheets and bed-dings, or in other areas where your pet frequently hangs out. Flea dirt looks like little dark specks. Flea dirt is a mixture of desiccated blood and flea fragments.

To check if your dogs have fleas, get your pet’s comb and carefully run it through your little friend’s fur. If you spot tiny black insects finding its way back to your dog’s fur then it is confirmed. Your dog is infested with fleas.

Home Treatment For Dog Fleas

After confirming that your dog has fleas, do not lengthen your dog’s agony. Do something about these infuriating little critters. Following are some of the most common household treatments for dog fleas.

Avon Product – Skin So Soft
According to one analysis conducted in the University of Florida in Gainesville, this extraordinary bath oil, is an excellent flea repellent product. Basically cleanse your canine friend in the solution of Avon’s Skin So Soft. Your dog will surely be relieved in an instant.

Rosemary
Rosemary has anti-inflammatory property. It also helps stimulate the growth of hair. With constant scratching and biting, your dog can experience mild to severe hair loss. Restore your dog’s natural fur and use rosemary consistently.

Brewer’s Yeast
This commercial product is not yet proven nonetheless according to many pet owners this product can help keep fleas away.

Seeing your pets suffer because of flea infestation is very sad. Yes, fleas in dogs are very common. On the other hand there is something that you can do to deal with the condition. Follow the tips above and your pet will be relieved from fleas in no time.

Control ticks with Frontline for dogs. Frontline for Dogs treats all types of fleas and ticks and kills them quickly.

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