Tips For Treating Severe Itching In Dogs

It is not unusual to see dogs scratch behind their ear or neck once in a while. But if you see them doing this frequently and it seems to be happening more often as the day goes by, your canine friend may be suffering from excessive itching.

One of the usual causes of excessive itching or pruritus is dry skin. Dry skin in dogs can be caused by a number of factors including using the wrong shampoo when bathing them, under-grooming, dry climate or excessive forced air heating, and even a poor diet. Allergies, infections, parasites, and eczema can also cause pups to itch and scratch excessively.

To correctly identify the cause of your dog's severe itching, it is best to bring him or her to your vet. However, you can help dogs get relief from this itching by following the useful tips below:

Change your dog's diet. When you start providing better, more nutritious, and well-balanced meals to your dog, you help him or her stay in tip-top condition and this will reduce itching and scratching. If the main cause of your skin's dry skin and itchiness is his or her diet, your vet will likely recommend a hypoallergenic diet for your pet. You can also consider cooking or making food for your dog using organic ingredients instead of feeding him or her commercial dog food since this a healthier and chemical-free option.

Groom your dog properly and regularly. You can reduce minor itching in dogs by using a special dermatological shampoo at each washing or as advised by your vet. Giving your pet an oatmeal bath may also be beneficial for your dog since this can temporarily alleviate itching. However, make sure to rinse all the oatmeal out of the dog's coat when you're finished. There will be instances though when frequent shampooing will not be advised by the veterinarian. This is especially true if the dog's skin is particularly dry. In such instances, the vet will recommend gentle brushing with a medium strength bristle brush to remove debris from the coat. You have to take special care though when brushing your dog to avoid scratching the damaged skin.

Get rid of the parasites. If parasites, such as ticks or fleas, are causing your dog to itch, ask your vet for a suitable and safe parasitic treatment. There are various flea control products and miticides available today, including collars, liquid treatments and injections. Your vet will also have to advise you on whether there are any specific areas on your dog's body that requires some particular type of parasitic treatment.

Hold an ice pack wrapped in a towel against the dog's itchy area to give him or her some temporary relief. Lastly, this tip can help alleviate itching in your dog, but make sure you remove the pack after a few minutes so that you won't injure or damage the pup's skin.

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The Dignified Family Dog - The Afghan Hound

Afghan Hounds were bred in Afghanistan to hunt large prey. The long fur kept it warm in mountainous areas. The breed is very fleet and an independent, intelligent hunter that would hold leopards at bay till horse mounted hunters could catch up to the prey. This means they have great endurance and speed (they outrun most horses). Additionally, they think for themselves and are very independent. Because of it's hunting instincts, as a pet, they will still chase small animals and are used for coursing trials and games. Afghan Hounds should be kept in a large fenced yard and on a leash, once they escape they can be very difficult to capture. They are also bright enough to find ways out of fenced yards and are quite good at being an escape artist.

Afghan Hounds are between 24 and 29 inches tall and weigh 44 to 60 pounds. This is a healthy breed, typically living for 12 to 14 years. Afghan Hounds are affectionate and loyal to family members. They can have a tendency to be a one-person dog and are frequently aloof to strangers. They are also affectionate on their terms, not yours! When the Afghan Hounds wants attention, they will let you know, otherwise just leave it alone. They do tolerate children; however, this is a large dog and can easily knock small children down. Also, do not expect it to run and play with children. Despite this size, they are content to lay around when indoors and do adapt to apartment living. That said, the Afghan Hound does require regular, daily exercise regardless of living arrangements. This is a high-energy dog.

The long flowing, fine texture coat is a hallmark of the breed. Afghan Hounds do shed and keeping the coat is excellent condition is not for the faint of heart! The coat tangles and mats easily, requiring daily brushing to keep it tangle free and blowing. Additionally, frequent baths are required to keep the coat clean and shiny. Owners either invest time to learn to deal with the coat or invest in a good groomer. Either way, plan on spending time and money to keep the Afghan Hound looking great. As with all dogs with ears that are not erect, they are prone to ear mites and ear infections. Carefully checking the ears on a regular basis is recommended.

Training your Afghan Hound can be a challenge! They are very independent and do not particularly care if they please you or not. They are not motivated by food and snacks, either so this can make training a challenge. Therefore, it is not a good breed for a first-time dog owner. Due to the personality, sensitivity, and intelligence of the breed, consistent, patient, and positive training methods are required. Even when this approach is done with the Afghan Hound, it may still only train on its schedule, not yours. The good news is that Afghans rarely bark, so apartment dwellers and neighbors are happy. This means that the breed is not a good watchdog. Despite these features, the dog can be affection and fun and like to play games, so there is an upside as a companion. Owners just need to go into the relationship, realizing what the dog will and will not do.

Afghan Hounds are beautiful and dignified, but can be aloof as a companion dog. Grooming of this breed is a major consideration and investment of time and money. This is an independent breed, that can try your patience, entertain you and be your best friend or not, all within a 30 minutes' span of time. Afghan Hound aficionados love their dogs, but the reverse may not be true.

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Everything Your Dog Needs You To Know About Kennel Cough

Kennel cough is very similar to a cold. It may be caused by both viral and bacterial infections and affects the upper respiratory system including the trachea and bronchial tubes. Tracheobronchitis and Bordetella are other names for this condition. It is highly contagious and most dogs will experience it at least once in their lives.

What Are The Symptoms Of Kennel Cough?

A common sign that a dog has kennel cough is the presence of a dry hack often accompanied by a honking noise. A light mucus nasal discharge is often present. In mild cases, affected animals will continue to have an appetite and remain active. However, pups that are not vaccinated and dogs that are immuno-compromised are at higher risk for complications.

It is not uncommon for sick dogs to hack up large white balls of phlegm. A mild fever may be present. It may progress to pneumonia with the risk of death.

How To Treat Kennel Cough?

The best treatment is prevention. Dog owners should see the vet as soon as possible to arrange for vaccinations. Unfortunately, once a dog has contracted Bordetella, the vaccines are not an effective way to treat the condition.

In most cases, a vet will recommend that the disease be allowed to run its course. Dogs should be encouraged to eat and drink to maintain their strength. Moist environments are good for these sick dogs, so consider having your dog come into the bathroom while you shower. The steam will help relieve clogged up passages.

Your vet may prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug to alleviate the worst symptoms. Antimicrobials are often prescribed when your pet is running a fever or having a difficult time breathing. Be sure to remove collars or other items from around your dog's neck during this time.

How Is Kennel Cough Spread?

This disease has earned its name because it is rapidly spread when dogs come into contact with each other. In kennels, where dogs are in close quarters, the spread is very rapid. In fact, most kennel owners require their clients to bring paperwork proving that their dogs have received vaccinations before they will agree to board them.

Kennel cough can be caught at a busy dog park or by simply sharing a bowl of water with another infected dog. And, since dogs have such a tendency to drool, it is easy to understand why it is so contagious since the virus or bacteria is also a waterborne infection.

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Can You Get Sick From Your Dog?

We are surrounded everywhere with viruses and infections when we leave the house - bird flu, swine flu or stomach flu. These are the viruses we expect to encounter at the play field or at the office. In our own homes, we can get infected from our friends and family members but we don't expect our pets to infect us.

It is very possible for a pet owner to get an illness from their pet - there are some illness that are more common than others. There are a number of pet diseases that can get a human being and they are transmitted differently depending on the specific ailment. For example you can get roundworm parasite if you touch feces that are infected and you do not wash your hands well.

With hookworms it is a little different. The larvae has to penetrate the skin for you to get infected. With toxoplasmosis - it is very dangerous to pregnant women for it can cause birth defects. It is transmitted if you touch infected feces or if you handle raw meat without proper washing of your hands after.

Some of the illnesses can be transmitted from cats and dogs to human though body contact with their fur and skin. Ringworm is a fungal disease that is more of a skin infection than a worm. Other infections include: mite, Scabei - these infections can affect dogs, cats and people and its main sign is loss of hair and/or rash on the skin.

There are other dog ailments that have to be transmitted through a 3rd party - Lyme is a perfect example. A tick can bite an infected dog, then that trick may crawl around and bite a human.

There are some ailments that can be transmitted if the infected animal injured a person. For these category, there are fewer cases. An example is rabies. It is transmitted if you get a bite from a wild animal or a pet that has rabies. If you are bitten by such a dog, you should seek immediate medical help as it may result to death. There is vaccination for your pets too.

Knowledge is power and knowing the diseases you can get from your pet is very important.

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