Labrador Retriever Dogs Blog

There are several common health problems that may affect your dog during their lifetime, hence why so many opt to take out dog insurance cover. Most of the common illnesses or ailments are not life threatening. If you take measures to prevent or treat the ailments as soon as they occur; your dog is less likely to become seriously ill from these conditions. Below are some of the most common pet ailments that can affect your canine companion.
Arthritis - Arthritis is a common problem and one in five dogs over the age of seven usually has some form of arthritis. If you notice a change in your dog’s daily routine or your dog starts to display signs of discomfort while exercising or when out for a walk you should take him to see your vet. There isn’t a cure for arthritis, however, there are treatments and medications that can help your dog be more comfortable and allow them to stay active.
Arthritis can affect your pets hips, shoulders, joints, neck and back. There are two kinds of arthritis. Degenerative joint disease, also called osteoarthritis, is caused by stress on the joints. Inflammatory Joint Disease is usually caused by an infection. Some of the symptoms include loss of weight and fever. The most common causes of this condition is ticks and bacteria.
Worms – There are many types of worms your pet could become infected with. The more common worms are Flatworms, Tapeworms, heartworms, hookworms, whipworms and lungworms. Worms are very common in dogs and are easily treated. Did you know that a puppy can be born with worms if their mother is infected. An adult dog can get worms from being bitten by fleas, ticks and even mosquitoes. While out playing in the parks they can easily pick up worms by eating or coming in to contact with dead birds, eating frogs and most commonly dog and cat feces. They could even share toys with an infected animal and pick up intestinal worms in this manner. It will not always be apparent that your dog or cat has worms, some worm infected pets show no symptoms initially while other worms cause diarrhea, weight loss and abdominal pain. Possibly one of the best indicators you’re your dog or cat has worms is when they show a lack of energy and motivation to exercise. There are many different treatments ask your vet which one is right for your dog. Worms are not life threatening if you treat them properly. If you set up a regular worming programme you will not have to worry about your dog becoming infected. Most worm infections do not pass to humans, however some do. Ask your vet for more information if you are concerned about your family pet passing worms to your kids.
Anxiety Disorders - Anxiety Disorders are fairly common and recognising them and getting the proper treatment is key to keeping your dog healthy. An anxiety disorder can affect the dog’s emotional and physical health. Some things that dogs are afraid of are things like thunder or fireworks. Sensitive dogs even become anxious when their owners raise their voices unexpectedly. A dog can also suffer from separation anxiety when left alone for long periods of time. Studies have shown that this may be a genetic trait in some specific breeds of dogs. Some of the breeds include, Great Danes, German Shepherd, Jack Russell Terriers and Dalmatians. Some of the symptoms a dog may have include, barking, pacing, urinating in the house and licking themselves excessively. When a dog is in acute distress they may try to hide under a bed.
Your vet can run tests to see exactly what is wrong with your dog. Some of these symptoms could also be associated with other ailments. Once the vet has determined it is anxiety, then they will give you medications or treatments for your specific dog. A dog with anxiety disorders does not deal well with change so you should try to establish a daily routine for your pet. If you maintain a regular schedule of feeding, playtime and walking the dog will be much calmer.
Canine Allergies - Canine Allergies are very common in dogs. Dog allergies usually affect the skin and cause itching and a rash while other common allergic reactions may cause you pet to sneeze and or wheeze. Coughing is actually quite common too. There are three major causes of allergies in dogs. They are insects, with fleas being the most common and airborne allergens such as pollen, grass and mold. The third type is an allergic reaction to certain foods or medicines. Regularly airing your pets bed sheets and kennel, dusting and removing any mould will greatly help reduce the chances of common allergies from flaring up.
A dog will not always display an allergic reaction immediately after exposure; there is often a delayed reaction. One common symptom of allergies is if your dog constantly licks its paws. Other symptoms include face rubbing, head shaking and belly licking. A dog can also get hives from an allergic reaction and they usually disappear within 24 hours. You should consult your vet when you think your dog may be allergic to something. They will suggest the proper treatments. It is possible to have your dog tested for allergies if you are concerned. That way you will be able to prevent some allergies from occurring. Depending on what your dog is allergic to will depend on the treatment, such as changing a dog’s diet or flea treatments.
Ear Problems - Ear problems in dogs are quite common and there are multiple causes, including wax, mites and bacteria. The most common ear problem is excessive ear wax build up or ear mites. Some dog breeds are more susceptible to ear problems than others are, especially breeds with hairy inner ear flaps, like miniature poodles and schnauzers. Did you know that underlying food allergies is the actual cause of ear infections in around 18 to 20% of dogs who have regular ear infections! A dog’s ears should be cleaned and checked on a regular basis to prevent ear infections from occurring. A simple way to help keep your dog’s ears healthy is to keep the hair from blocking the ear’s opening. You could trim the hair to allow air to flow into the ear which will help prevent ear infections.
Your vet is in the best position to determine what is wrong with your dog’s ears and suggest the best treatment. Treatments usually include putting medicated drops in their ears and sometimes a vet will also give your dog an antibiotic. Always contact your vet before you treat your dogs ear infection as infections and treatments vary.
These are just a few of the common ailments that dogs tend to get at sometime in their lives. If you use preventive measures and keep an eye on your dog’s behaviour; you will be able to keep them healthy and happy for their lifetime. Lastly don’t forget pet insurance in case the unexpected happens!

After starting a business focused on healthy dog products Distinctive Dog (www.distinctivedog.com), a new world opened up regarding the state of dog nutrition and what manufacturers do not tell consumers.

There is much debate when it comes to dog food, treats and pet nutrition. In the wild, dogs inherently hunted and consumed animals and plants. Their digestive systems were designed to break down raw meat while the enzymes present in the meat aided the digestion process.

Today, most domesticated dogs eat processed kibble containing primarily grains and refined protein sources. Once the meat source is removed, the remaining ingredients are mostly unnatural for the pet. Wheat, barley, rice, corn and oats are all man-raised crops that a dog would never eat in the wild. So how have dogs adapted to a diet consisting mostly of grains and processed protein sources?

To begin with, dogs are highly allergy prone animals. Wheat, corn, soy and barley are common culprits of allergies in dogs. The most interesting factor here is that most of these substances are not contained in the dog’s natural food chain.

Corn is an inferior protein source and some experts contend that the dog’s liver must work overtime to extract useable protein, which in the process produces excess nitrates. These nitrates place extra strain on the liver and as some veterinarians will say, is one cause of premature aging.

Wheat, soy, barley and white rice have very little nutritional value and are used by manufacturers to squeeze more profit out of their products. As a fun experiment, place your dog’s dry food in water for about 10 minutes.  If it swells dramatically, it probably contains high amounts of these grains.

There are a variety of theories on the affects of processed dog food and dog treats on our pets. Veterinarian John B. Symes writes and speaks on the affects of gluten, casin from cow’s milk, corn and soy on otherwise healthy dogs. He is a “recovered” celiac and believes these substances are blocking nutrient absorption during the dog’s digestion process.

Many of these ingredients are used as filler in commercial dog food and when mixed with water, create a sticky substance. Symes points out that the dog’s digestive tract is not designed to break down these materials and the resulting partially-digested sticky material coats the intestines, blocking absorption of essential nutrients.

“Imagine that a German shepherd puppy begins eating a wheat, barley, corn, or soy-based diet from the moment it is weaned. If inadequate levels of calcium and vitamin C are absorbed, what are the chances that its hips, elbows, spine, and other cartilaginous structures are going to form properly? I would say “Not good”. Most people familiar with dogs know that this breed has a reputation for horrible hip dysplasia. But, they also have serious allergies and other immune-related disorders. This, of course, is no coincidence. Once it is understood that the allergies form in the area of the gut that is being damaged or coated by the ‘glue’, it is easy to see why the trouble breeds like the German Shepherd, Cocker Spaniel, Shih Tzu, and others have their ‘genetic’ tendencies such as allergic skin and ear problems, orthopedic abnormalities, intervertebral disc ruptures, and cancers,” contends Symes.

Another way dog food and treat manufacturers cut costs is through the protein sources. Most dog foods contain protein sources labeled as “meal”, “digest” or “by-product”. These ingredients contain meat sources that are deemed unsuitable for human consumption. Rendering plants process dead animal and other matter for animal feed, and yes pet food. With virtually no government regulation, these often contaminated protein sources pass as our dog’s dinner.

One regulation on the books was written in the National Research Council’s 1974 publication, The Nutrient Requirement of Dogs. It states that all mammals (except humans) are legally allowable “meat” for rendering as long as they are not decayed. Some states have passed an additional standard excluding dying, dead, disabled, or diseased tissues.

Deborah Lynn Dadd in her book The Nontoxic Home and Office: Protecting Yourself and Your Family form Everyday Toxins and Hazards states, “Each year about 116,000 mammals and nearly 15 million birds are condemned before slaughter. After killing, another 325,000 carcasses are discarded and more than 5.5 million major parts are cut away because they are determined to be diseased. Shockingly, 140,000 tons of poultry is condemned annually, mainly from cancer. The diseased animals that cannot be sold are processed into animal feed.

Now, there is no way to substantiate the claims but I do know that there is no real way to truly know what these ingredients actually contain. In addition, the food is processed at extremely high temperatures during the rendering process which kills much of the nutritional value that may have been present.

When we begin to examine our dog’s diet, one only wonders why dogs are prone to allergies and health issues. William D. Cusick, author of Canine Nutrition & Choosing the Best Food for Your Dog states that nations with generations of dogs raised on commercial pet food have experienced canine longevity decreases up to 50 percent. In addition they have recorded increases in cancers, reproductive complications and other health issues. Hypothesized reasons include environmental pollution, pesticides, vaccinations, urbanization, fluoridated water and commercial pet food.

Cusick furthers his point by stating that in identical environments, humans have increased life expectancy while dogs have decreased. Moreover, in countries where commercial dog food is unavailable these decreases have not been documented. This point cannot be overstated. It points to the dire need for structured research to substantiate the empirical evidence and governmental regulation within the pet food industry.

Today there is no way to concretely determine the health consequences of commercial dog food and grain based diets. As a result of these concerns, many people choose to feed their dogs a Bones and Raw Food diet (BARF). These holistic diets provide a diet closest to what dogs eat in the wild. Our pet’s stomachs are designed to process raw meat and they receive live enzymes not present in cooked food.

Another option is home cooked meals. This can be a tricky option because some human food can be toxic for our pets. A good book on the subject is Home-Prepared Dog & Cat Diets: the Healthful Alternative by Dr. Donald Strombeck. Dog nutrition is different than human nutrition, so I recommend you check with your veterinarian before considering either a BARF or home-prepared diet.

At the very minimum, read and understand pet food labels and ingredients. Ingredient labels are listed in order of quantity. Locate products with minimal levels of wheat or wheat by-products, corn, soy or barley. These are fillers that can adversely affect your dog’s digestive system and if your dog is allergic, they can cause itchy and flakey skin, dull coat and hair loss. These grains should never be listed as the primary ingredient in your dog’s food. Also, understand protein sources and ensure that the protein sources you are providing your pet are high quality and not from rendered sources.

As a general rule of thumb, do not look for quality pet food at your local grocery store or pet store chain.  Specialty pet stores often have greater expertise and can help you find the right food for your pet. If you are looking for healthy dog treats, many companies including Distinctive Dog Bakery (www.distinctivedog.com), offer home baked dog treats free from wheat gluten, soy, corn and other harmful ingredients.

Lastly, consider supplementing your dog’s diet with enzymes and probiotics. Probiotics are friendly bacteria that help in digestion and the absorption of nutrients. They prevent harmful bacteria from growing and causing problems including gas, diarrhea and vomiting. Enzymes help complement probiotics during the digestion process. Adding an enzyme-probiotic mix to your dog’s diet can improve digestion, create better hair coats and increase immune function.