Dogs are very curious animals and as omnivores and natural scavengers, can get into and eat just about anything. However, there are many toxic substances found in your home that could potentially kill your dog. The following is a list of ten common household substances that you should make sure to keep out of your dog’s reach.

1) Antifreeze: Many people do not realize it, but common antifreeze kills many pets each year. It smells and tastes very sweet to your dog and is very appealing to him. Ethylene glycol is toxic however, and each winter, many animals are killed by it.

Symptoms of toxicity include seizures, vomiting, stumbling and lethargy leading to kidney failure. Make sure to keep your antifreeze out of your dog’s reach. If you suspect that your dog has ingested antifreeze, take your dog to the veterinarian immediately.

2) Chocolate: Chocolate contains a substance called the obromine which is toxic to dogs. Baking chocolate and dark chocolate is especially dangerous.

While it usually takes a somewhat large amount of chocolate to kill a dog, poisoning and death does occur with smaller amounts ingested. Signs of chocolate poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, increased urination, and increased activity.

This can progress to seizures and unusual heart rhythms. Call your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate.

3) Bleach: As you might imagine, household bleach is toxic to dogs. Keep all products containing bleach out of your dog’s reach.

Symptoms of bleach poisoning include drooling, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Do NOT induce vomiting if you suspect your dog has ingested bleach and contact your veterinarian immediately.

4) Tylenol: As little as two regular strength Tylenol tablets can kill a small dog.

Dogs lack the proper liver enzymes to break down acetaminophen. Signs of toxicity include drooling, lethargy, and abdominal pain.

If you suspect your dog has ingested Tylenol, call your veterinarian immediately.

5) Watch Batteries: If your dog ingests a watch battery, it can cause a potentially fatal ulceration in the stomach within 12 hours. All other alkaline batteries are toxic to dogs as well.

Symptoms of toxicity include drooling, lack of appetite, vomiting, and lethargy. If you suspect your dog has ingested a watch battery, contact your vet immediately.

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6) Moth Balls: Moth balls are very dangerous to dogs. They contain an insecticide that causes central nervous system excitement and seizures.

When metabolized, ingestion of moth balls can lead to liver failure. Symptoms of poisoning by moth balls include vomiting and seizures. If your dog has consumed moth balls, do NOT induce vomiting. Seek veterinary care immediately.

7) Fabric Softeners and other detergents: All sorts of household detergents are toxic to dogs at one level or another, but fabric softeners fall into the highly toxic category.

Signs of toxicity include vomiting, lethargy, burns to the mouth, drooling, muscle weakness, and even coma. Do NOT induce vomiting if your dog has ingested any detergent. Contact your veterinarian immediately.

Mouthwash: Mouthwash can contain boric acid which is highly toxic to dogs. Symptoms of poisoning by mouthwash include vomiting, drooling, seizures, and coma.

You should take your dog to the veterinarian immediately if you suspect poisoning by mouthwash or other household item containing boric acid like contact lens solution or denture cleaner.

9) Peach Pits: With most fruits, the pits and the seeds are toxic to dogs. Signs of poisoning include drooling, vomiting, and lethargy.

If you suspect your dog has eaten a peach pit or the pit or seeds of any fruit, take him to the veterinarian immediately.

10) Household Plants: Many common and popular household plants are highly toxic to dogs. A partial list of toxic plants includes poinsettias, lilies, ferns, devil’s ivy, aloe, and ivy.

Symptoms of poisoning due to ingestion of toxic plants include vomiting and central nervous system excitement. Many of these plants are fatal if ingested. Please contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your dog has eaten a toxic houseplant.

With diligence on our part, we can help prevent our dogs from getting into substances that are toxic to them.

Many veterinary school websites offer lists of things that are toxic to dogs and what you should do if your dog ingests such things.

As always, if you think your dog may have eaten something dangerous, contact your veterinarian immediately or take your dog to the closest emergency clinic.

By: Colin Philips -

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Mange is a common health problem that is found in dogs that spend a lot of time in the outdoors and don't take baths on a regular basis. Most dog health problems occur because you are neglecting them or not visiting the vet enough. … The best thing a veterinarian can do to alleviate the pain is to give them pain medicine and/or joint supplements. The health of your dog all depends on you and you should know that one by now. Did you know that there are certain vitamins …

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Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is a congenital condition and is the leading cause of lameness in the rear legs of dogs. It is very common in certain large and giant breed of dogs. The condition develops due to several factors, which are rapid growth rate, weight and poor nutrition.

Dogs are not born with CHD, they develop this condition as they grow older, however, it is sometimes seen in younger dogs as well, but most common in older dogs.

CHD develops when loose ligaments fail to hold the round knob at the head of the thighbone in place in the hip socket. The result is a loose, unstable joint, in which the ball of the femur slides free of the hip socket. This causes wear on the cartilage in the hip joint, and over time resulting in arthritis.

In most cases, canine hip dysplasia affects both hips. When looking at your dog from behind, he may appear to be stilted or a possible pelvic swing, being most noticeably on the side of the hip that is most effected. When your dog tries to run, it make be similar to a bunny hop.

You may also notice when your dog stands he may hunch his back, and he does this to avoid extending the hips. You may also notice when he rises that he appears to be stiff.

Exercise causes your dog to be uncomfortable, and the stiffness get worse over time. Extension of the hip causes mild to moderate discomfort. This is a result of the muscles of the hind leg are small due to underdevelopment.

Treatment for canine hip dysplasia can vary from just easing the symptoms by using pain relievers and prescription drugs, which both have long term harmful side effects. A weight reduction program and exercise, to painful hip-replacement surgery, which is effective, however is expensive and painful for your dog.

There are also other non-traditional forms of treatment that involve all natural products that a lot of pet owners are switching to. The natural treatments are not only cost effective, they are also better for your dog’s over all health, and your dog will not experience any harmful and painful side effects.

By: Paula Snyder

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Discover how to treat your dog for canine hip dysplasia the natural way without drugs or surgery. You will be amazed at the results.

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Choosing the Right Bed for Your Pet

A simple tips that should be considered in choosing the best bed for your pet.

Tired of cleaning your dog’s drool on top of your favorite velvety sofa, or scratches on your elegant leather couch? Then you definitely need to teach your pet not to sleep on your furniture. Or just buy them a more comfortable cat bed or a dog bed that they will definitely love. With a pet bed they will have a personal space where they can sleep and relax anytime they want without being bothered. Not to mention the benefits pet beds can provide to the health of your dog especially for old dogs that are suffering from arthritis, hip and joint pain. Dog beds and cat beds also provides good insulation that makes it more comfortable for your dog to sleep on.

Whether you’re looking for the best dog bed or cat bed, the following should be considered.

Choosing the right size

Choosing the right size of pet beds for your dog or cat is not that hard, all you need is some common sense. Of course you won’t buy small dog bed for your large breed dog, but other than that you also have to consider how your pet sleeps so you can get the right measurement in his largest sleeping position. If your pet likes to stretch out, get a larger bed and choose a pet nest or cuddler bed if your pet likes to curl up. Just remember to add an extra allowance for the length so that you can use the bed longer as your pet grows up.

Fabric Materials Used

The most advisable fabric that you can consider in choosing the best pet bed for your pet, are pet beds that uses microvelvet fabrics. Microvelvet fabrics repel pet hair, dirt and moisture for easy cleaning. But don’t forget to buy an extra sheet, so you can immediately change pet bed’s cover when the other one needs washing.

Temperature of your Home

When you teach your pet not to sleep in your furniture, they usually end up sleeping in the carpet which is not enough to warm their body. Not to mention the carpet ends up with pet hair which is hard to remove. This is where a heated pet bed comes in handy. Heated thermal pet bed keeps your pet cozy and warm which has a good effect in their well being. For summer season there are also cooling beds available that beats the summer heat thus prevent your dog from having heat stroke.

Age and Health

For dogs that suffers from arthritis, hip and joint pain; an orthopedic pet bed which are made of high memory foam which helps ease the pain and also can be a great support to their bones.

Fillings Inside the Bed

No one wants to sleep on a bed that is hard and uncomfortable. So if you want your dog to sleep like in a cloud of cotton then you should choose a pet bed that is made of Hypo-Loft polyfill. There are also pet beds that are made of 100% virgin polyster fiber which has superior memory and resilience.

Where the bed will be Used

If you are considering buying a pet bed for use in the outdoor, you should choose a pet bed made of high quality tough materials that can withstand maximum force extended by your pet.

With these buying tips you can expect to buy the right pet bed for your dog and cat. Where they can sleep and relax for the next day of fun and excitement.

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A young dog who has an abnormal development of the hip joint will suffer eventually from hip dysplasia, this does not necessarily mean that it will be bilateral, affect both the left and right side. It happens because of the laxity of the muscles, connective tissue and ligaments that would normally support the joint.

The majority of dysplastic dogs are born with normal hips, although in some due to genetic and other factors, the tissues surrounding the joint can develop abnormally as the puppy starts to grow. The changes that this causes are that the bones actually move instead of being held in place.

This will cause the joint capsule and ligament between the two bones to stretch; this adds further instability to the joint. Once this happens the surface of the two bones will lose contact with each other. The separation of these two bones within the joint is known as subluxation, the results of these problems, are what are associated with this disease.

A lot of dogs who suffer from this disease are primarily the large and giant breeds, although it can be found in medium sized breeds and very rarely in the smaller breeds. The breeds who have a higher incidence of hip dysplasia are, Golden Retrievers, Labrador, German shepherd, Saint Bernards, Great Danes and Rottweilers.

Treatment for hip dysplasia can vary between several surgical procedures, although this also depends on the age and severity of joint degeneration. A lot also depends on the dog’s age and health before any surgery.

Triple Pelvic Osteotomy; (TPO) is normally a procedure that is used for young dogs under 10 months of age, these will have had radiographs which shows severe hip laxity, at this young age they will not have developed damage to the joints. This is major surgery and expensive but is very successful.

A total replacement of the hip is often advised for a dog that has degenerative joint disease due to chronic hip dysplasia. This type of surgery involves removing the existing joint and replacing it with prosthesis. The dog must be skeletally mature and weighing at least 20 pounds, there is no maximum size limit, if both hips have to be replaced then usually a three month rest period is advised between the surgeries.

Medically hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis has been improved over the years with the introduction of new supplements and drugs. Hip dysplasia is primarily an inherited disease therefore no products on the market can prevent the development. If you start by giving your dog a proper diet, exercise, supplements and pain relief, this may help to decrease the progression of the joint disease.

Weight management and exercise for your dog from an early age can help to prevent many diseases, although sometimes as mentioned hip dysplasia can be genetic. Those of you who are thinking of acquiring a puppy can always ask the breeder about hip dysplasia of the chosen breed.

This article was written by Kelly Marshall of ohmydogsupplies.com – the #1 place for quality dog bowls.

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Author: Kelly Marshall

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Glucosamine for Dogs

Glucosamine is used for the treatment of dog ailments like canine osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia. Here is some information about the use of glucosamine for dogs.

Glucosamine is a monosaccharide, found almost in all organisms including fungi, crustaceans, arthropods and other higher multicellular organisms. Naturally, it is synthesized by reacting glucose with glutamine (an amino acid). Glucosamine is a precursor compound for glycosaminoglycans, the main component for the formation and repair of the joint cartilages and other body parts. It is because of its major role in cartilage repairing that glucosamine is used in the treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs.

Glucosamine for Dogs

In order to understand the use of glucosamine for dogs, let’s discuss in brief about canine osteoarthritis, which is one of the most common dog ailments. It is estimated that about 30 percent of pet dogs suffer from osteoarthritis at certain stages of their lives. Canine osteoarthritis, also referred to as degenerative joint disease (DJD), is the progressive loss of the cartilage that covers the joints. In such a condition, the bones become exposed without any cartilage protection. The ultimate result is that the pet will experience pain when two bones touch each other. There may be swelling and inflammation of the affected joints.

The most noticeable symptoms of canine osteoarthritis are an altered gait, muscle atrophy, lethargy, limping and signs of pain when movement and/or touching the affected part. Depending upon the severity, the pet may experience loss of appetite and other behavioral changes. Pet dogs having congenital joint problem are more susceptible to canine osteoarthritis. Other risk factors include injury at the joints and aging process (since glucosamine synthesis slows down with age).

If a pet dog exhibits any of the symptoms of osteoarthritis or changes in behavior, then it is always advisable to consult and seek advice from a qualified veterinarian. The vet may prescribe glucosamine doses as a treatment option for canine osteoarthritis. There are three common types of glucosamine available in the market viz. glucosamine sulphate, HCL or 2KCL. While administering glucosamine to your pet, make sure to check the ingredients and purchase the superior quality one. You can opt for either glucosamine liquid or pills, which can be given as a dietary supplement to the dog’s food, as per your pet’s convenience.

Majority of pet dogs respond well to glucosamine used for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Depending upon the doses (about 500-2000 mg/day) and its general health, the pet may cure within one or two weeks. Due to anti-inflammatory properties of glucosamine, your dog’s health improves very rapidly. It is observed that glucosamine supplements are more effective for treating osteoarthritis among the larger dog breeds.

Commercially, glucosamine is produced either by hydrolyzing the exoskeleton of crustaceans or by fermentation of grains (e.g. corn and wheat). Chrondroitin sulfate is added in majority of the glucosamine supplements in order to increase the elasticity of the joints and also to prevent the cartilage destruction. There are very few cases of side effects and/or complications from glucosamine. At times, the dog can suffer from vomiting or diarrhea for one or two days after the administration of glucosamine.

Research studies have shown that glucosamine, after being swallowed, is absorbed by the connective tissues of the joints, which then helps in repairing and regeneration of the tissues. However, it is is to be noted that even though glucosamine is used for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis, there is a lack of clinical data that supports its usage in therapies.

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