Fit Dog Friday – Getting Fit with My Dogs

I’m working on Pierson’s dog aggression by going on group walks with other dog owners. It’s dog training and exercise at the same time.

My dogs are very fit and healthy. It helps that I am careful about what I feed them and how much. And that I keep them relatively fit by taking them for regular walks and playing fetch with them. But I have not been so good at keeping myself fit and healthy. So this Fit Dog Friday is mostly about me and a little about how my dogs Maya & Pierson contribute.

Benefits of Keeping Fit
I’ve been very focused lately on losing weight in a healthy way. Since mid-December, I have lost 18 pounds. Now, thanks to a little initiative on my part and to great partners like Maya and Pierson, I am only 5 pounds away from reaching my goal weight! Besides the benefit of losing excess pounds, I also get to buy new clothes, I have fewer problems with acne, my fibromyalgia symptoms are less severe, and I feel like I have more energy.

Healthy Diet
How did I do it? I did use some Herbalife products. However, these products were merely a support. What really helped me lose weight were the lifestyle changes. I’ve always generally eaten healthy foods like whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies, and baked but not fried meat. But I’ve also been eating too many sweet foods. So the first thing I did when I really made up my mind to lose weight was to eliminate those sweets (for the most part).

Walk, Walk, Walk
The second thing I did was exercise more. It hasn’t been enough to just walk the dogs. Now we walk faster, more often, and further. Sometimes, instead of driving to the convenience store for a cup of coffee, I will walk the mile distance with Maya or Pierson. I’ve even taken one of them with me when I walked to the UPS store to ship a package. I also walk to the grocery store if I just need a few things, but Maya and Pierson don’t get to go because they are not allowed in the store and I don’t want to leave them tied up outside for that long.

Fun Activities with the Dogs
Maya, Pierson, and I have also been doing more fun activities together. Instead of just playing fetch with the dogs, I try to get involved with the games. Seeing who can catch the thrown ball becomes a contest to see who can get to the ball first. Although I always lose this game, Maya & Pierson love it when I chase them. Now that the weather is getting nicer, I’ve also been taking Maya to dog park more often. Our dog park is around Clinton Lake and is not fenced. So from the dog park, we are able to walk the wooded trails to an area by the lake for Maya to swim.

Dog Walking Group
I’ve recently joined a group of other dog owners who have trouble with their leash-reactive dogs. In this group, we actually walk spaced out so that our dogs can’t hurt one another. The distance apart depends on the dog. I have to be the furthest away because Pierson’s behavior is the worst amongst the group. His behavior is especially bad at the beginning of the walk. But after about 10 minutes of walking and rewarding for good behaviors, I can decrease the distance between him and the dog ahead of us. After a few of these group walks, Pierson still has to walk a few feet behind. But this group has really helped him decrease that distance.

I can see us doing even more fun activities this spring. My husband and I are talking about going camping and hiking. I’d also like to teach Pierson some agility, which means less time for me sitting at the computer and more time outdoors. What other fit activities can you think of that Maya, Pierson, and I could do together? What do you and your dogs do to stay fit?

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Pierson’s Seizure

January 10th, 2013, Pierson’s Gotcha Day – Except for the tapping on my keyboard, my office is virtually silent. It’s evening, late enough to be dark out but not quite dinner time. I have the lights off so the only light is from my computer screen. All is peaceful. I’m working on fun dog stuff online while Maya lies at my feet and Pierson rests beside my chair.

Suddenly, Pierson starts thudding around on the floor. My first thought is that I had rolled the chair leg onto his long hair and he was trying to get up but couldn’t. But when I pull the chair away, he’s still doing the same thing. Is he playing with something? Is there a bug on the floor that he’s trying to catch? I don’t know. I can’t see. The lights are off.

I quickly turn on the lights to see him on his side. He’s making motions like he is trying to get up but can’t. I quickly kneel beside him to see if I can tell what is going on. His eyes are rolled back. His upper body is moving oddly but his back legs are stretched out behind him and not moving, as though paralyzed. The paw of one of his front legs is curled up close to his chest.

I rest my hand on his side to calm him and keep him from trying to move around too much. Alarm bells are going off inside my head but I remain outwardly calm and try to make my voice sound as though all is normal. He stops moving around in that peculiar way and tries to get up but his legs won’t cooperate. I massage his muscles thinking perhaps he had a muscle cramp.

Even if it was just a cramp, I have to make sure. I have to call the vet. My phone is in my pocket but I don’t have the vet’s number saved on it. The number, where is it? I have to call them as quickly as possible before they close for the day. The computer is right there. I could look it up. But I remember that the number is also on a refrigerator magnet in the other room. I go to get it and Pierson tries to get up to follow me. His legs still won’t work properly and he falls.

I make him stay and quickly retrieve the number. The receptionist answers. Thank goodness, they’re not closed yet. Help is close at hand. She asks a few quick questions then puts me on hold to get the vet on the line. When I get back to Pierson he seems a little shaken but fine. He gets up and is now walking normally. I sigh heavily with relief.

I kneel beside Pierson and he is shaking, but otherwise okay. The vet gets on the line and asks me what happened. As I explain it, I realize that what I am describing was probably a seizure. My vet agrees. After further discussion and helpful information from the vet, I decide it probably isn’t necessary to bring Pierson in immediately unless he has another one.

If we suspected Pierson had been hit in the head, exposed to something potentially harmful, if the seizure had lasted for several minutes, or if he kept having them over and over again, the vet would have strongly urged to bring him in right away. But none of these was a factor. It was probably an isolated incident. It’s okay if I wait to bring him in the next day for a check-up. Pierson went the next day and we are still awaiting test results.

Upon further research regarding seizures in dogs and canine epilepsy, this is what I have found:

• Although I didn’t notice this in Pierson, there is sometimes an event called an ‘aura’ that occurs before the seizure. This can include restlessness, panting, demand for attention, or desire for seclusion.
• Move stuff out of the dog’s way so they don’t hurt themselves.
• Do not put anything in the dog’s mouth. Dogs can’t swallow their tongues so don’t worry about that.
• Don’t touch the dog as this may prolong or trigger another seizure.
• Be calm.
• After-effects of the seizure include disorientation, stumbling, drooling, etc.
• After-effects can last a few moments or even a few hours.
• Seizures can occur for many reasons including brain trauma, poisoning, and heat stroke.
• The most common reason for a seizure is a disorder called idiopathic epilepsy. It occurs in as many as 5% of all dogs.
• Dogs can live long normal lives even though they may suffer from idiopathic epilepsy.

If you think your dog has had a seizure, call your vet. It could be an emergency situation or everything could be fine. Pierson is doing well, back to his normal silly self. He hasn’t had another episode. The vet did not notice anything of great concern when we went in the next day so we can now just sit back and relax… thank goodness.

Review of Kinn Kudose Pill Concealer for Medicating Pets

The Kinn Kudose pill concealer base, bottle with apple/chicken baby food in it, and pill casings that will disintegrate when your dog eats it.

I recently had the opportunity to try out the Kinn Kudose pill concealer. When I first saw the product online I was a bit put off by the price. But when I got it in the mail I was pleasantly surprised. This isn’t some cheap flimsy product. It is very well made. And if you are medicating pets regularly, it is very useful.

At first I had a difficult time with it. One of the recipes it suggested was a peanut butter with oil recipe. It calls for smooth peanut butter and that is what I used. But I used Smucker’s Natural Peanut butter which is just peanuts and salt, no sugar or other additives. Even though it was the smooth variety, this particular brand was not as smooth as the peanut butters which have additives. So when I tried to squeeze it out of the Kudose bottle, it wouldn’t work. I guess the peanut chunks were too big and got stuck in the nozzle.

So I went and bought some baby food, which was another recipe Kudose suggested. It suggested chicken and gravy but I ended up buying sweet potato with turkey and apple with chicken. These worked very well and squeezed right out of the bottle. In fact, it came out so easily that the first pill I made was overfilled and I made a mess. But after making a couple more, I was able to make them quickly and easily.

The Kinn Kudose pill concealer with a pill case in it, the bottle on top, and sweet potato/turkey baby food being put inside.

Maya takes medication on occasion. I hate it when I try to hide the pill in soft cheese and she still manages to spit it out. Sometimes I would just skip the pleasantries and drop the pill in the back of her throat and close her mouth to make her swallow it. Not fun, but at least she ate her medication. But with the Kinn Kudose pill concealer, medicating Maya is 100x easier.

While the initial cost of getting the Kinn Kudose base dome and bottles might be considered pricy, it is a onetime cost and well worth it. The only other thing you would have to buy afterwards is more pill cases. These cases are just under $5 for over 100 of them.

The pill cases dissolve quickly so that the goodies and medicine you are putting inside gets digested by your dog. So you will want to make a pill as needed, not in batches. Simply open the empty pill casing and put the larger piece in the proper slot of the Kinn Kudose base. Put the medication in the casing. Then take the bottle of whatever goodie recipe you decide to use and set it directly over the pill casing onto the base. The attachment on the bottle makes it very easy to just simply set it and fit it over the top. Squeeze gently until the pill case is full, take the bottle away, then take the other piece of the pill casing and place it over the top.

After medicine is put in the pill and it is filled with the treat (in this case it is sweet potato/turkey baby food), put the pill together.

Ta da! In no time at all and no mess, you have a delicious tasting pill. Both my dogs gobbled it up!

Pierson really wants the pill from with the apple/chicken baby food in it.

Maya really wants to try a pill from Kinn Kudose with sweet potato/turkey in it. No meds this time, just a treat.

For more information about Kinn Kudose, visit their website, Kinninc.com. They also have a pill splitter/crusher so that you can break pills in half or crush them for mixing.

Dose Your Dog with Care and Your Vet’s Supervision

We have a guest post today from a friend in the UK. This article has some very useful information about common pet issues and conferring with your veterinarian before medicating your dog with prescribed drugs or over-the-counter meds.

In 2012, the FDA investigated more than 4,000 online pharmacies and seized counterfeit and expired drugs worth more than $10 million. Experts say online vendors of popular pet medications work the same scams and frauds as Internet purveyors of human medications, and they warn pet owners to purchase their prescription pet medications only from real world pharmacies they know and trust. Experts also very strongly caution dog owners to administer pet medication for dogs exactly according to the doctor’s instructions, because uses and doses absolutely depend on a dog’s size, weight, age, breed and overall health. Just as you should not self-medicate for serious health conditions, so you should not experiment with over-the-counter and home remedies for your dog except with your vet’s knowledge and permission and then you can take help of reputable online vet stores for ordering vet products.

Most commonly prescribed pet meds
Perhaps not surprisingly, antibiotics now top the list of most commonly prescribed canine medications. Because bacterial infections prompt well over half of all dogs’ visits to vets’ offices, doctors prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics like Amoxicillin, Clindmycin, and Cephalosporins for hundreds of canine complaints. These powerful medications have proven especially effective against oral infection, dental diseases, and treatment of serious wounds. Many vets will prescribe one of these anti-bacterial agents while they wait for lab results to determine other therapeutic options.

As your dog gets older, he naturally becomes susceptible to more congenital and chronic diseases. German shepherds, for example, frequently develop hip dysplasia, and many veterinarians refer to pedigreed boxers as cancer machines.  Golden retrievers similarly suffer inflammation and soreness in their joints, and they frequently develop  hot spots  or chronic skin irritations. Doctors most often prescribe Rimadyl, an NSAID much like ibuprofen and Celebrex, to relieve joint pain and restore some freedom of motion. For hip dysplasia, most vets recommend Deramaxx which relieves swelling and provides excellent pain relief. Both these medications are steroid-free and FDA approved for veterinary use.

Other common canine remedies
If your adult dog suffers from phobias or anxiety, your veterinarian may prescribe mood- or behavior-altering medication. Adapted from formula for psychoactive drugs that treat anxiety, depression, and behavioral disorders in humans, these drugs require some time to build-up to effective levels in your dog’s system, and you may need to try several different meds before you find  the magic bullet  that treats your dog’s specific condition. Just as clinicians will not prescribe psycho-active drugs for people until they carefully have observed and diagnosed their conditions, so vets take great care to assess your dog’s behavior and moods before they recommend treatment. Even after careful scrutiny, vets usually prescribe minimum does of anti-depressants and mood regulators, because they sometimes aggravate pets’ problems instead of relieving them. As you request mood-altering medications for your dog, make sure you tell your vet about all the other prescription and over-the-counter drugs you give your dog, because dogs are just as vulnerable to drug interactions as humans.

Many pet owners very strongly recommend Rescue Remedy as a safe, effective, inexpensive alternative to prescription medications for behavioral and mood disorders. In the 1930s, British homeopath Dr. Edward Bach first formulated Rescue Remedy as one of his thirty-eight all-natural remedies for the full range of human ailments. In the last few years, Bach’s formula have gained widespread acceptance among American naturopaths and aromatherapists. Cautious vets often suggest Rescue Remedy before they resort to stronger medications. Available in pills, drops or spray, Rescue Remedy blends five different floral essences to support calm, compliant behavior in dogs, cats and horses. The formula includes helianthemum, clematis, and impatiens, ingredients many naturopaths recommend for treatment of human anxiety, phobias, obsessive-compulsive and mood disorders.

Nutraceuticals
As they celebrate their second birthdays and mature from adolescents to full-fledged adults, many dogs develop adult onset food allergies. They most often develop sensitivity to corn and wheat derivatives, the ingredients in most inexpensive dog foods. You easily will recognize the symptoms of food allergies diarrhea and urgent need for frequent relief plus scratching and licking to relieve dry and itchy skin. If your dog has suffered from loose bowel movements for more than two or three days, he may be severely dehydrated, and your vet may ask you to come in for an injection of lactated Ringer’s solution; it’s the same remedy ER Doctors use for their patients suffering dehydration or heat stroke.

Food allergy symptoms often disappear within just a day after introducing grain-free dog food into your dog’s regular diet. Your veterinarian may, however, recommend dietary supplements, now known as nutraceuticals, to compensate for poor nutrition and diarrhea’s after-effects. Canine caregivers frequently prescribe omega fatty acids, potassium supplements, Vitamin B complex, and Vitamin K1. These supplements may look familiar, because many people also use them to supplement their diets.

Experts note that housebound dogs are far more prone to physical and behavioral problems than dogs that spend most of their time outdoors. Outdoor exercise helps maintain dogs’ immune systems, keep their joints and bones healthy, and prevents obesity. San Diego County, California, veterinary technician Diane Hutchins advises, For complete health and happiness, your dog needs the same things you do lots of exercise, proper portions of healthy foods, and tons of love and affection.

Wordless Wednesday – Practicing Pet Safety

I remember working in the corporate world and noticing that I had more pictures of my dogs on my desk than other people had of their children or grandchildren. So I wouldn’t be surprised if some people thought of me as the crazy dog lady. I don’t have kids so my dogs are my family (for years, it was just Sephi and I). And as such, I take care of them as well as, and sometimes better than, I take care of myself. Here are some photos to prove it:

We all eat healthy. Maya & Pierson get a good quality dog food in measured portions.

I feed my dogs twice a day so that they don’t eat a large amount at one time. Eating too much at once can cause bloat, which can be deadly for dogs, especially big dogs. One thing I would like to try is a slow pet feeder dog bowl.

I decided to stop using retractable leads since it made Maya’s walking habits worse and because I heard a horrible story about a dog getting struck by a car because he tried to run across the street after another dog. The owner did not lock the retractable lead quickly enough.

Pierson has a rabies tag, the Home Again tag with his microchip number, and his id tag with my phone number.

Maya is wearing her Kurgo Tru-Fit dog car harness.

I make sure the fenced yard is kept repaired and any dug holes are filled up.

Dougie wears a dog life jacket when he is out on the water. Dougie is not my dog. Maya has one, but I don’t have a picture of her wearing it. Pierson has yet to go swimming so he doesn’t have one yet.

I keep these in my car along with pet identification cards with vet info, a blanket, water, and extra leashes.

This sign goes on my car window whenever my dogs ride with me in the car. It has their photo and emergency contact information.

Dog toys that I know my dogs will chew to pieces are kept picked up and can only be played with under supervision.

After I heard about a dog running with a stick in his mouth and the stick getting jammed into the back of his throat, I try really hard not to let Maya play with sticks.

The first thing I do after a snow is shovel and de-ice the steps. These steps are the only way my dogs can get to the fenced yard and I don’t want them to slip. Warm water is used when they get inside to remove the salt.

How do you practice pet safety? Am I missing anything important?

For more Wordless Wednesday pet photos, check out our Pet Auto Safety Blog for the blog hop.

Nearly Wordless Wednesday – Celebration for Rumpy Dog’s Gotcha Day

Who is Rumpy, What is Gotcha Day, and How are We Celebrating?

If you haven’t seen the Rumpy Dog Blog, you have got to check it out. Rumpy is an adorable Malamute and his Gotcha Day is the day he found his forever home. Since he was a stray, we don’t know his birthday so his Gotcha Day is the day that is celebrated. For his Gotcha Day, Rumpy would like for us to talk about the importance of spaying/neutering your pet.

As cute as my dogs Maya & Pierson are, it just isn’t a good idea to breed them. There are so many adorable dogs out there without homes or who are being bred in a bad way. Stop the madness and spay or neuter your pet. I know he or she is probably as adorable as Rumpy and my four-legged children, but you wouldn’t want them to go without a home. Spread the word and visit the Rumpy Dog Blog for more information.

I’m neutered and I am still one very happy dog. I don’t even need neuticles!

I’m spayed and proud of it.

The Sad Day My Dog Contracted Bloat

Guest Post from Joanne for her Westie dog named Dougie

Joanne – I am writing this to heighten all dog owners awareness about dog bloat.  Bloat in dogs is the second biggest killer after cancer.  When it happened to my much loved dog Dougie, I was ignorant and totally unaware of what was happening to my poor dog.  Due to my lack of awareness, my dog suffered more than he ever should have….

Every morning when I get up my dog greets me, when I go into the kitchen, with his favourite toy in his mouth – hoodie bear!  It is what he lays at my feet, day in day out – his greatest treasure – that he knows I love, as I exclaim what a good boy he is and fuss over him reaching for his treat tin.  2 years ago, one morning this didn’t happen – he didn’t even get out of his basket.  Worried, I went over and felt his nose which was warm.  I talked to him, he wasn’t much interested, he just kept turning around in his basket restlessly but his breathing was normal.

I had my coffee, I was alone, as my husband had gone to work.  I kept talking to Dougie and he got up a few times and wretched but either nothing came out or just foamy white -  he had done this before, so I wasn’t overly concerned.  I remember thinking what he had eaten the night before and knew he had been given a largish lamb bone with quite a lot of meat on it.  Suddenly I had an awful thought, usually the bone lay discarded on the floor but it was nowhere to be seen.  I started to search for it frantically and went through about 20 mins anguish until I found it buried deep in his basket!  Strangely this almost set my mind at rest and I just put it down to a tummy upset, whilst keeping him under close supervision.  I gave him water which he lapped up eagerly and I thought this was a good sign, it wasn’t though.

During the next few hours he started trying to be sick increasingly more often and paced around the room, settling here or there, then getting up again.  I got really worried again and started to look for the vet’s number for advice.  Whilst I was actually on the phone to the vet’s nurse, Dougie started whining, collapsed and started to crawl all hunched up to get behind the sofa – a place he had never ever previously bothered with.  It was happening in front of my eyes as I described it on the phone, by this time I was frantic and starting to panic badly, with all sorts of fear going through my mind.  The nurse put a vet on the phone at once and he told me to come IMMEDIATELY.

I put down the phone and rushed to Dougie, dragging him out from behind the sofa where he was hunched – there was a trail of blood on the floor which had come from him and he was slumped, whining acutely now.

My car was in the garage for service and I quickly googled taxi numbers and had to make 3-4 phone calls before I could find a taxi to come quick enough who was also prepared to take a dog, a very unwell dog at that.  I was in a terrible blind panic between phoning and trying to keep Dougie warm and next to me.  I was in tears and not coping well at all.  I finally found a taxi and wrapped Dougie in a blanket and headed outside and into the car.

Dougie was crying a lot and very distressed, I just held him close and talked to him all the 2 mile journey to the vets, which seemed to last forever.  I was oblivious of the taxi driver and on arrival at the vets, I just leapt out of the car and gave him far too much money.

The vet was waiting and immediately took Dougie from me and asked me to wait outside.  I didn’t think there was much chance now and just started to pray.  About 40 minutes later the vet came out and asked me to come into his consulting room, Dougie wasn’t there.  I thought I knew what was coming…so started to sob whilst he told me Dougie was sedated, on a drip and needed to be kept under very close supervision for the next 24 hrs.  He told me it was bloat and Dougie would have died probably died within the next 20 minutes if he hadn’t been attended to.

My dog lived thankfully.  If I had been aware of the main symptoms of bloat, I for sure, would have taken him to the vets sooner.

Drink better anti-gulp dog bowl

I have had to make quite a few changes in Dougie’s eating and drinking habits since he contracted bloat, as his digestion process had failed – this is essentially what happens when a dog bloats.  A dog who has already had bloat is more at risk of it happening again.  Gulping food or water can cause bloat.  Drinking large amounts of water either before or after eating can trigger it too.  As part of our routine to prevent or minimise the risk of bloat we use slow feeder bowls - drink better and eat better by Alpha Paws.

My Dougie is 10 now, a senior boy and I love him even more than when he was a pup!

(Guest post from Joanne in the UK)

The Best Flea Treatment

Nearly all Dog owners have to deal with fleas at some time or another. And the reality is that they can be a relatively expensive problem to deal with. We need to buy medications on a regular basis, and we need to normally apply them to our pets skin, which can be problematic.

The great news is that there is now a fairly new product on the market that makes flea prevention and treatment about as simple as it could possibly be. Comfortis is becoming extrememly popular very quickly as it has a number of benefits over all other options we may have used in the past.

Why Buy Comfortis

This is a simple tablet that we give with food to our pets. We can either give it orally, or mixed in with food. The tasty beef flavor ensures they will devour it in seconds, and this certainly makes life a little bit easier.

Here is a quick check-list of the benefits:

• Easy to chew beef flavor tablet
• Gets to work in 30 minutes
• Kills fleas before they can lay eggs
• Eliminates fleas in 4 hours
• Month long protection

As we can see it is a very effective product.

The Only Month Long Flea Treatment Tablet

Comfortis for Dogs is the only orally ingested tablet that give protection against fleas for a whole month. All other options that protect for this long are applied externally to the skin.

It allows owners to protect their pets without going through the trouble of applying chemicals to their Dogs. It also means that we no longer have to have that greasy patch on our pets coats where we apply the solutions.

Price

Comfortis for Dogs is actually a very competitive flea medication. The Comfortis price holds up well to all other brands and the fact is that it is actually a faster working treatment than the externally applied options.

Buying for the best price is going to mean buying online, prices are much lower than at the vets. At Tato Chip we make it our aim to find the best suppliers so this is certainly a very good place to start.

But always be sure to compare prices from suppliers that you have faith in, often you can find very good price by doing a little extra research.

Conclusion

If you want a very fast acting flea treatment that prevents re-infestations for a whole month then we really do recommend Comfortis. It is cheap to buy, easy to administer, and a nice tasty treat for the Dogs too.

Guest blog from Karen at Tato Chip. Karen writes about many different pet meds at the TatoChip site. She also gets plenty of help from her two companions, Tato the Cat and Chip the Dog.

How to Care for Your Dog’s Arthritis

Have you noticed how your elderly pet dog has slowed down lately? If you’ve noticed that it’s getting difficult for him to walk or play with ease, and that he shrinks from physical activities, he might be suffering from arthritis. You have to ensure that the disease is detected early and treated without delay. It would be even better if you can prevent the onset of this painful ailment. Follow the tips given below to prevent, detect and treat arthritis in dogs.

Preventing Arthritis in Dogs
The first thing that you must remember is that it is impossible to prevent setting in of the age and its usual accompanists. The best you can do is following a healthy routine in order prevent the diseases that come with age and ensure good health of your canine.

1.      Control The Food Amount
Just like in the case of human beings, over eating and obese problems are prevalent in pets. Follow your pet’s diet chart carefully and avoid over feeding him. It can be hard to ignore your pet’s continuous pleas for treats, but you have to be strict with his diet so that he leads a healthy life. You can switch to pieces of carrots as treats as a good non-fat food item.

2.      Don’t Ignore Activity
Activity is very important to a pet’s health just as it is important for your health. Spend a considerable time every day playing with your pet or taking him out for a run. You can actually use this time to bond with your pet!

3.      Visit The Vet Regularly
A regular check by a professional vet is a good way of monitoring and curing the small problems that your pet suffers from with age. This will ensure his long-term fitness.

Recognizing Arthritis in Dogs
No matter how much care and love you shower your pet with, he will show signs of aging and arthritis in the long run. Early detection of the disease will ensure that you can start the treatment at the earliest so that your pet’s suffering is minimized. The usual signs of arthritis in pets include:

• Limping
• Sleeping more
• Reluctance towards walking or standing
• Decreased activity
• Changes in attitude or behaviour
• No interest in playing

At-Home Tips to Ease Arthritis in Dogs
While most people will ask you to visit a vet immediately and to buy a couple of dog supplies to make things easy for your arthritic dogs, there are also a number of at-home treatments that you can do for your little canine friend:

1.      Workout
Shedding the fat and excess weight will ensure that his joints are carrying lesser weight. Start taking him out for walks and making him run in order to shed the weight.

2.      Vitamins
Give him daily doses of pet vitamins containing glucosamine and chondroitin in order to ease his discomfort and pain resulting from arthritis.

3.      Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Omega 3 fatty acids are great for the joints as they act as anti-inflammatory agents. You can introduce this nutrient in your pet’s meal by mixing fish oil pills in his diet.

Remember that a timely and regular visit to the vet is the best way to prevent as well as detect and cure the problem of arthritis. You mustn’t delay going to the vet in case you see that you at-home remedies are not having the desired effects.

Guest blogger Lisa Lyttle is a work-at-home mom and owns two little poochs. Lyttle makes innovative yet cheap halloween costumes to make a living. You can click the link to check out adult animal halloween costumes made by her. 

Hypothyroidism in Dogs

Hypothyroidism in dogs is relatively easy to treat but can be difficult to diagnose if you don’t know what to look for. Some symptoms are obvious but not all dogs have the obvious symptoms. My dog Sephi, for example, did not have the obvious symptoms so went through a lot of treatments and harmful medications before a vet thought to check for hypothyroidism. Since testing for hypothyroidism is easy and relatively inexpensive, take note of all the following symptoms. If your dog exhibits even one of them, have him tested.

Which Dogs are at Risk?
According to a pamphlet I received from the Banfield Pet Hospital where Sephi was treated, hypothyroidism commonly occurs in middle-aged or senior dogs. My dog Sephi got it at age six. Certain breeds are also more susceptible: Dobermans, Rottweilers, Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, Golden Retrievers, and Scotties. According to Banfield, there is no way to prevent a dog from developing hypothyroidism.

Behavior Changes
One symptom of hypothyroidism which I failed to notice was that Sephi was sleeping more than usual. Since she was six years old and since the change was gradual, I attributed it to old age. Your dog can also exhibit depression or possibly even aggression. Sephi also had aggression issues, but I mistakenly attributed it to her breed mix. Consider having your dog tested for hypothyroidism for any sort of unusual behavior change.

Physical Symptoms
The main clue regarding Sephi’s hypothyroidism was her skin infection. Unfortunately, the first vet was trying to treat the infection rather than considering they underlying cause. The medication they gave me for her infection ended up causing liver problems which caused Sephi undue suffering.

If a dog has hypothyroidism, it is more difficult for them to fight off infections. Infections resulting from hypothyroidism include dry skin, excessive shedding, hair loss, darkening of the skin, ear infections, and pale gums. Dogs with hypothyroidism can also have problems with weight gain, weakness, constipation, or neurological issues such as sagging on one side of the face.

Don’t confuse some of these symptoms for old age. And don’t be afraid to ask for a simple hypothyroidism test if your dog has an infection of some kind. If left untreated, hypothyroid symptoms can get worse and could cause other severe health issues. Treatment for hypothyroidism is generally very easy. Your vet will ask to have their blood tested a few times while the medication dosage is being determined. And the medication itself is very inexpensive.

Do you suspect your dog of having hypothyroidism? Have you ever had a dog with hypothyroidism? Share your experience with us and our readers. We’d love to hear from you.