The Official Dog Blog

Kennel cough is so named because it is spread by germ-laden droplets in the air when dogs are kept together in close quarters, such as kennels. Dogs outside kennels can catch the disease, but it is more prevalent in places where dogs are caged together, because the concentration of airborne virus particles is much greater in close quarters.

Kennel cough is an infection of the throat and bronchial tubes. The cough alone is akin to what is found in the human cold. The trick with kennel cough is to avoid complications and secondary infections, including bronchitis and pneumonia, which can be fatal.

For treatment, isolate the dog so as not to infect other dogs. It is important that she rest in a humid atmosphere. Keep a home vaporizer running in one of her favorite warm and confined sleeping areas and encourage her to nap there during the day and at night. Exercise the dog daily – but not strenuously. A mild, children’s cough syrup will help soothe the cough, and that in turn may help your dog to conserve energy. Kennel cough without complications should disappear in about two weeks.

Although some female dogs who give birth turn up their noses at the placenta, most take to it as though it were a deluxe pizza. The slippery sac containing the pup is torn, the baby licked and cleaned. Then the dam turns to the task of eating the placenta. Others eat it first, chomping and slurping, before they tend to the pup. In those cases, you tear the sac. Occasionally, it may be consumed as the pup is delivered, with you never seeing it.

Consumption of the placenta, with its hormones, stimulates the milk flow, facilitates delivery of the following pup, and aids reduction of uterine size after delivery. Before domestication, dogs ate the evidence of a fresh birth to hide the litter from predators. Opinions concerning placentas differ. Some breeders allow the mother to consume all of them; others let the dam have two or three and dispose of the rest.

The wisest course is to allow the dog to follow her instinct. Do not get into a hassle over this issue, upsetting her. If the situation can be managed calmly, let her consume a few. Too many increase the discharge or result in diarrhea or indigestion. However, it is better to cope with diarrhea than a frantic mother who has been thwarted in her efforts to do as nature is telling her.

Many dog owners kiss their pets, and vice versa. Wolves and dogs not only sniff each other’s bodies all over, but often lick and “kiss” on the nose and mouth. This is a form of greeting, affection, and bonding and can also help pack members recognize the scent of prey on an individual’s breath.

In general, kissing a dog should pose no problems as long as the animal is in good health, but a parent may understandably object when a child continually kisses a dog on the lips. Just like any other behavior, excessive “kissing” can be modified in a dog, but in this case the easiest and best solution is to prevent or avoid the problem.

ï You may want to suggest to a child that a pat, hug, or even a kiss on the top of the animal’s head is just as good a sign of affection as a mouth-to-mouth kiss.

ï If a dog persists in putting its nose directly in your face you can fend it off easily with a “NO” at the same time you blow directly into its face. Most dogs don’t like this and will back right off.

ï Another way to prevent a dog from “kissing” or licking your face is to use something such as after-shave or cologne. Dogs don’t like the smell or taste of anything with alcohol in it.

Does the presence of your dog cause you to sneeze unmercifully? Do your eyes fill with tears of misery instead of tears of joy when your canine companion wants to be close? Many of us who love animals find that we can’t even pet them without having severe allergic reactions. Miserable allergies prevent us from sharing our lives with the four-legged friends we adore.

Pet allergies can cause watery eyes, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, scratchy, sore throat, coughing, wheezing, and even hives. To keep you responding to your dog instead of reacting to him, try some of these suggestions.

1. Restrict the areas in your home to which your dog has access.

2. Wash your bedding weekly.

3. Make sure you have your allergy shots and take any medication your doctor advises.

4. Purchase a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to remove allergens from your home.

5. Eliminate carpets, draperies, and stuffed furniture from the bedroom to keep your pillows, mattress, and bedding allergen free. Treat carpet and upholstered furniture in other rooms with an anti-allergen dust spray.

6. Use allergen-proof vacuum cleaner bags.

“My dog has a very bad, oily smell to her skin. What is the cause and is there any way to get rid of it?”

Your dog may have a seborrheic skin condition. Chronic low-level inflammation of the skin causes increased production of fatty acids. Bacteria grow more easily in this bed of extra fatty acids, and they create that “dog smell” that you are complaining about.

You can treat mild cases using a medicated antiseborrheic shampoo once a week. Moderate to severe cases will probably need to be seen by your veterinarian, who can prescribe steroids and other medications that will help to decrease the inflammation in the skin. When using medicated shampoos, remember to let them sit in contact with the skin for ten minutes.

There are many types of medicated shampoos on the market. It is recommended that you buy one from your veterinary hospital. However, if your doctor prescribes one from the pet store, that is also alright. Just be sure you get the directions for its use from the doctor. Don’t rely on the pet store clerk to give advice on this condition.

“Our veterinarian wants to refer us to a specialist for a total hip replacement because our dog’s hip dysplasia is so bad. It will cost about $2,000 per hip. Do you think we should do that?”

The total hip replacement is a major surgery. It requires very special knowledge, special equipment, support staff and the prosthesis (artificial joint) itself. The old hip is literally taken out and replaced with a plastic socket and a metal ball. The dog is totally free from the pain of hip arthritis after surgery, because the arthritic joint is gone.

There is some pain after the surgery due to the incisions through the muscles and movement of muscle tissue in order to get access to the joint. After an initial healing period, these dogs do quite well. By the way, both hips will not be done at the same time. There will probably need to be at least two months between procedures.

The best recommendation is for you to have a family meeting and discuss the expense and the aftercare. Then talk to the specialist and ask all your questions. You will be impressed with the professionalism of such a specialist and with the speed in which your dog recovers.

“Ethoxy” is an additive called ethoxyquin and is added to almost all pet foods, and some human food, that helps prevent the oxidation of fats. This gives the food a longer shelf life, prevents the formation of dangerous toxins in foods and makes the food taste better. There is even some evidence that the chemical has some anticancer properties.

Ethoxyquin has been tested and retested and has been found to be safe time and time again. It has been successfully used in pet food for over thirty years. Even the “all natural,” “no preservatives added” foods have it, in which cases it has been added to the basic ingredients before the manufacturer formulates the food.

It is used at a level of .001 ounce per average daily ration. It prevents the use of other preservatives such as BHA and BHT, which would have to be used in substantially higher amounts, which would, of course, add to the cost of pet food. The most researched and highly formulated premium brands of pet food contain this compound because of its many benefits.

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