Canine Hip Dysplasia is seen as a mystery for most of those in the veterinarian field. Since the early seventies many dogs have been affected by hip dysplasia. In fact beginning in the seventies hundreds of dogs suffering from the disease were euthanized so that they would no longer have to suffer. It was a very practical choice back in the seventies because we didn’t know what affected the dog’s diagnosis of the disorder and therefore we didn’t have a way to help them feel better. Hip dysplasia can lead the dog to being severely crippled if it is not seen to. In the past euthanasia was the only offer once a dog was diagnosed with the disease, but many vets strived for some way to correct the genetic disorder.

The facts discovered during the later seventies and early eighties is that any dog with hip dysplasia didn’t have to be euthanized. Instead the dogs could lead a pretty normal life if the diagnosis was made as a puppy. As a puppy the canine would need some corrective procedures so that as an adult the dog would not suffer. Many vets began researching the type of surgery that would be needed to correct the problem in a younger dog. Unfortunately many found that in some cases correcting the dog while he or she was still young could create hip dysplasia by harming the tendons. Vets have offered surgery on many dog breeds that are subject to hip dysplasia. In some cases they have actually removed the dog’s tail or shortened it in order to keep hip dysplasia from happening. By changing the weight that is placed on the hips it has been thought that the hips will not hurt as much or end up in a position that is uncomfortable.

At the moment it is uncertain if hip dysplasia in dogs is genetic. Many believe it is genetic because certain breeds are more affected from the disorder than others. A common breed is the English Sheep Dog. English Sheep Dogs tend to develop or are born with hip dysplasia. A Swedish study done on 11,036 dogs resulted in information that hip dysplasia is not necessarily genetic. The study was completed on German Shepherds over a ten year period. In fact they tried selective breeding to reduce the occurrence of hip dysplasia. In other words they breed dogs that didn’t show the traits of the disorder in their bones were breed, yet their off spring still had the disorder. This led the Swedish to believe that it is not influenced by genetics. There were other findings with the pelvic inlet that showed the rate of bone maturation could be the cause of the hip dysplasia.

(more…)

1. When you become the proud owner of a new puppy or an adult dog you will have so many moments of enjoyment.  You automatically shower the new family member with lots of love and attention.  However, spending all your time with your new pet can create problems when you have to return to your normal routine and may well be out of the house at work for hours on end during the day or night .

This is why it is important to get the balance right from the beginning.  Whilst showing your new pet lots of attention also get the dog to accept that some time has to be spent on his or her own, even when you are there and if this is done gradually it will ensure a less traumatic time when you have to leave the dog to go out.

You could begin by going into another room, closing the door as you leave the dog in the first room on his or her own. Carry out this routine several times each day and then try leaving the house for five minutes, then ten, then fifteen until both you and the dog feel comfortable about the pet being left on their own.

(more…)

(more…)

Like many other people you may adorn the inside of your home with plants such as elephant ears, caladium, a few philodendrons, alocasia, and a sprinkling of skunk cabbage to add a bit of sparkle.  Ask yourself - could there possibly be anything to fear in this beautiful setting?

All of the plants mentioned above contain a substance called calcium oxalate which is in a sharp crystal form.  When your pet takes a bite of these plants he or she will not only feel soreness from the crystals sticking in his mouth but the swelling of the tongue, preventing the dog from breathing in a normal way is highly likely to cause suffocation and the dog may die as a result.

(more…)

Although this vision you are seeing may seem like perfection it is potentially fatal for your dog.  One little sip from the bowl with the floating leaf and your dog could be dead in less than an hour. There are coming up to a thousand different plant species which are poisonous for household pets and this figure is just for North America alone.

On several occasions when a pet is taken to the vets due to an unexplained sickness,  the vet will reveal that the dog has been poisoned and the owner will automatically think that someone else has tried to poison their dog, when all along it is probably their own fault.  At least 95% of visits to the vet with an animal suffering sickness are as a result of the owner unknowingly poisoning their dog by the products of their garden such as bulbs of hyacinth and daffodils and other common plants which are deadly for animals.

(more…)

Agility: This is a popular dog sport and it has gained recognition by the United Kennel Club (UKC). and the American Kennel Club (AKC). A course of obstacles such as ramps, climbs, tunnels, jumps and much more present the challenge the handler has to successfully direct his dog through.

It is a fun sport as the handler and the dog get to work as a team. The speed and accuracy with which the dog completes the course are the skills the performance is rated by. The dog is off the leash throughout the procedure and is dependent on the verbal direction and body signals of the handler so the ability to follow instructions and be on best behavior is essential.

(more…)

If this kind of hobby appeals to you, you will be happy to know that there are many sports activities that you and your dog can  participate in together.  Obedience trials, agility tests, musical freestyle ,field trials, disc dog and many more are becoming increasingly popular amongst dog enthusiasts, for the following reasons:

1. These type of sports are an excellent way of keeping your dog in great physical shape.

(more…)

There are many styles of body harnesses to pick from, but most of them have a basic metal D-ring on the strap that runs down the dog’s back into which the leash is clipped. A harness provides a much safer environment than a standard collar when the dog attempts to pull away.

This works by the puppy receiving the tension from the leash instead of all the pull being on the neck area which could result in spinal injury. Puppies in particular are prone to running and dashing about at every opportunity, whether on the leash or not but this will help to control him.

Other Types Of Body Harnesses

(more…)

The dog should visit the vets for a general check up so you are aware of any pre-existing problems and to enable you to avoid complicating this condition further.  The following tips may help you when booking the flight:
Choose The Quickest Route By Air

Many dog owners do not think about this before booking.  It is important that you spend some time looking at all the options available and then choose the fastest route flight so your pet has the least possible amount of time in transportation.

(more…)

The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine states a heart murmur is caused by abnormal blood running through the heart. Although some heart murmurs are quite normal, others often heard in aging dogs, may well be a sign that heart disease is prevalent. Listed below are the most common cardiac diseases in dogs :

1. Congenital birth defects - often obvious when the puppy is very young.
2. Degenerative valve disease - when the heart valves leak and this is found mostly in older or middle aged dogs.
3. Loss of heart muscle tissue - typically seen in young dogs or middle-aged dogs of the larger breeds.

Spotting The Disease

(more…)