Here is a free video and a written guide to Dog Skin Problems!

Don’t ignore Your dog scratching or chewing its skin, it could be the sign of a serious skin problem! Just like human, dogs can have skin problems too, and it is super important to understand what the signs and symptoms are of dog skin problems in order to make sure that we keep our pets comfortable and healthy no matter what the situation. Here are some basic irritations to watch for during the course of your dog’s life.

And remember, they can be contagious or non-contagious, and any sort of issue may be present because there is something else wrong that is causing a particular flare up to happen. Some problems are caused by the environment, others by things like parasites, bacteria, fungi, viruses, or things like compulsive licking, which is always a bad one.

Here is the Video on Identifying Dog Skin Problems:

Here is our written guide to identifying why your dog itches

One of the biggest things that causes dog skin problems is allergies, believe it or not. Vets say that one out of every seven dogs has an allergy bad enough to affect its daily life. Just like humans, dogs can be super irritated by things like pollen and what is in foods occasionally.

Another skin condition that dogs occasionally have is something called a hot spot, which is basically an area where there is a rash that the dog makes worse by licking or biting at. It become further infected and can spread rapidly to other parts of the dog’s body, causing a lot of discomfort and it looks particularly ugly in some cases. There are pictures that would make you cringe!

Fleas and ticks are also regular offenders when it comes to things that irritate a dog’s skin, and you can get these little critters from just about anywhere, including other animals out on the street, or out in the woods on any adventures that you may head out to when you’re feeling like a journey to a park.

Hair loss often accompanies skin problems, either because the dog scratches the fur away, or whatever is creating the issue causes the skin cells to have their fur drop out. It can be an indication of many different things, so if you aren’t sure, ask your local veterinarian.

Depending on what the actual cause is, there are many different types of treatment that are appropriate for a dog with skin problems, including shaving the effected area, putting on creams or ointments, and potentially things like shampoo or oral drugs in the dogs food.

So if your dog has skin problems, your best idea is to identify what the issue is as soon as possible and then get the correct treatment, before the condition becomes worse or untreatable in some cases. Your dog deserves love for the love it gives to you!

A video and  guide to diagnosing and treating Hot Spots on dogs

In this article we give a free video on Dog Hot Spots and a thorough written description of what they are and how to treat theme - We all know how important our pets our to us, and dogs especially, so it’s good that you know what to look out for in terms of skin irritation for them, and some things that they run into occasionally are areas called dog hot spots, which will be described in detail in the summary below. You can click on this link to read our guide to other Dog Skin Allergies.

A Veterinarian presents a video guide to Dog Hot Spots

A written guide to diagnosing and treating Hot Spots on your Dog

Officially, these hot spots are areas that have become infected, and then the pus from the infection gets caught in the dog’s fur, which makes the problem get worse. Compulsive licking can make the issues spread quite rapidly, so once you see the first signs, you should be sure to do whatever you can to stop them quickly.

As far as what caused the initial irritation, there are several possibilities. It could have been an environmental or physical skin condition, or it could be something like parasites, bacteria, fungi, or potentially a virus. All of these things can cause a dog to itch initially, and from there it can all go down hill quickly, as when a dog wants to itch, it itches!

Another thing that might cause an outbreak is some sort of allergy that you dog might have. Just like humans, dogs react to allergens and they get the same types of hives and red bumps that we do, but they can’t do anything about it, so they scratch to make it feel better. Food can also sometimes cause allergic breakouts.

Another major source of initial skin irritation is any sort of bite by a flea or a tick. You dog can pick these up just about anywhere, including from other animals, wandering around a new hours or apartment, or heading off exploring into the woods or through any type of farmland or extremely natural area.

Excessive hair loss or shedding can be an indication that something else is wrong with your dog, and often occurs when hot spots or symptoms of other ailments are present at around the same time, so it’s always good to stay aware of things like your dog’s general health as well, and know the signs of discomfort.

Treatment for hot spots

Treatment is usually with creams or ointments to treat the skin, antibiotics to fight the infection, and shaving the hair around the spot to allow for the area to breathe and heal, rather than be under a coat of fur.

So if you think your dog has hot spots, check on the internet to see if the symptoms are right, then take it to the vet and find out what the best remedies are so you and you pet can get back to having fun!

You can click on this link to go to out main page at Buy dogPedic Beds for more helpful articles like this.

OK that it for this article and video on Dog Hot Spots

Nuts that may be poison to your Dog!

In this Article We give a video on what not to feed your dog in general AND we discuss Almonds, Pistachios, Peanuts, Pecans and Macadamia Nuts. We tell you which are bad, which are OK, the cause, the symptoms and what to do and provide and emergency number to call if your dog is ill. You can click on this link to read our article Is Broccoli toxic to dogs which gives a list of other dog poisons and symptoms.

A Neighbors dog who came to visit while we were making a Snow Horse in the front yard, He was big and friendly and lovable!

Below is a video that covers foods that are toxic or otherwise bad for dogs. Note it is a little loud but worth watching

Nuts that CAN BE POISONOUS to  Dogs – Almonds, Pecans and Macadamia Nuts

Must Know Summary : If your dog is sick -Vomiting, Diarrhea, other other symptoms on the list further down the page – call a vet. Even if your dog ate something that is not supposed to be toxic THEY MAY HAVE EATEN SOMETHING ELSE YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT!

Macadamia Nuts – TOXIC  they can cause a temporary paralysis

Pecans and Almonds – TOXIC ONLY IF the nuts have a mold on them. It is this mold that makes the dogs sick

Pistachios – Not poisonous to dogs

Peanut – Not poisonous to dogs

Ten Symptoms of Food Poisoning in Dogs:

1. Vomiting.
2. Vomiting along with diarrhea.
3. Your dog is abnormally  lethargic,
4. Your dog is whimpering and perhaps curling into a ball.
5. Other unusual activity – Yes your dog may try to “tell” you he is sick: My dog had a serious stomach ailment and he came up to me while I was laying down and placed his belly right next to my Head! He never did that before. I noticed his stomach was tight and took him to the vet. It saved his life!
6. A sick dog will also be off its food.
7. Jaundiced eyes and pale gums.
8. Suddenly hyperactive behavior.
9. The dog may become disoriented
10. Seizures , collapsing, Coma.

IF you think your dog has been poisoned: Call a vet OR Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. The ASPCA Poison Control Centers Phone Number is telephone number is (888) 426-4435. There is a $65 consultation fee for this service. So if you can call a local vet it will be cheaper!

Here is a great guide to Dog Health. I know you love your dog so if you want to pro-actively keep them healthy and want to prevent costly Vet visits then this Book is worth checking out. You can just click on the Book to go to the Authors page and find out more about it!

Poisonous Macadamia Nuts and your dog – The Facts

• Macadamia Nuts Are poisonous to dogs and can require hospitalization.
• Chocolate makes it worse.
• Dogs develop a tremor of the skeletal muscles, and weakness or paralysis of the hindquarters.
• Affected dogs are often unable to rise and are distressed, usually panting.
• Some affected dogs have swollen limbs and show pain when the limbs are manipulated.

Almonds and Pecans – The Facts

• Dogs that have eaten pecans and almonds would suffer from stomach upset.
• Moldy Almonds and Pecans can make a dog sick AND they should see a vet
• Tremorgenic mycotoxin is found in moldy almonds and pecans.
• Almonds and pecans become toxic to dogs because of this chemical that is produced by molds.
• Seizures and other neurologic symptoms result when dogs consume moldy almonds and pecans.
• Only humans can safely eat pistachio nuts because the aflatoxin it contains cannot be tolerated by animals.
• Pistachio ingestion would cause cancer and liver diseases in dogs

Pistachios and peanuts – The Facts

• Pistachios and peanuts are not considered to be toxic to Dogs.
• but all nuts contain fats, which can cause gastrointestinal upset, including vomiting and diarrhea.
• Foods with high fat content can also produce an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis.
• Many commercial nuts are heavily salted, which poses a risk for the development of sodium ion toxicosis in large quantities.
• Bottom line – they will get over it BUT DO NOT feed them to them in large quantities

Why are we even talking about nuts and your Pet?

Dogs have great appetites. Dogs rarely turn away from food. Dogs would wolf down the food not even bothering to chew and to savor the taste. Dog owners can be surprised how the pet can clean the doggie bowl in a matter of minutes. The indiscriminate eating habit often lands the pet in tight spots. Poisoning is one of the most common causes of dog deaths. Dog poisoning is usually caused by ingestion of toxic chemicals. Not many dog owners are aware that some common human foods can poison the dog too. Humans and dogs have different metabolism thus foods that are perfectly safe for humans to consume can have dangerous effects when consumed by dogs.

Dog owners must make sure that the pets are steered away from nuts as this people food have harmful effects to dogs. Because of its harmful effects, dog owners should not use nuts to train the pet to catch food with its mouth. Nuts are generally not tolerated by dogs though the harmful effects vary. While some nuts would cause the pet stomach upset, others would have more dangerous effects that would necessitate urgent medical attention.

Roasted, barbecued or sugared – nuts are favorite snacks. People that watch TV would usually snack on a bowl of nuts. Dogs are food motivated and the smell of the food being eaten by the master would be very interesting thus nuts must not be left lying around. Due to the high fat and phosphorous content, nuts are generally considered harmful to dogs. Nuts cannot be digested easily by dogs and as dogs don’t usually chew the food, nuts can create an obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract. Almonds, walnuts, pistachio, pecans and macadamia nuts must be kept away from the dog’s reach.

Dogs that have eaten pecans and almonds would suffer from stomach upset. Tremorgenic mycotoxin is found in moldy almonds and pecans. Almonds and pecans become toxic to dogs because of this chemical that is produced by molds. Seizures and other neurologic symptoms result when dogs consume moldy almonds and pecans. Only humans can safely eat pistachio nuts because the aflatoxin it contains cannot be tolerated by animals. Pistachio ingestion would cause cancer and liver diseases in dogs

An unknown toxin in macadamia nuts causes temporary paralysis in dogs. By eating as few as six macadamia nuts, the dog would develop tremors and swelling of limbs. The pain associated with the swelling of the limbs would make it hard for the dog to move. Manipulation of the hindquarters would make the pet yelp in pain. Dogs that have ingested macadamia nuts can develop bladder stones because of the nut’s high phosphorous content.

You can click on this link to go to our main page and read more articles like this Toxic Nuts to Dogs article

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