Dog health

Tips to help protect your dog from fleas and ticks

Every dog owner should keep in mind how important it is for his pet to be protected from fleas and ticks. Ticks in winter The most common mistake of the owners is that they think that there are no fleas and ticks in the late fall and winter so they do not put any protection on the animal. Unfortunately, the changing climate and the very resilience of these pests have made them active throughout the year except during deep snow. The second most common mistake owners make is that they think that ticks are found only in the woods and that dogs cannot pick ticks by walking through meadows around the city....

What is BAER hearing test?

BAER or brainstem auditory evoked response is a hearing test used to evaluate the hearing of dogs and other animals. It is a painless and non-invasive test where, by releasing a sound stimulus directly into the ear, we read or do not read electrical activity. In the case of an animal hearing electrical activity, it reads like a written curve, while in animals that do not hear a sound, we have only a straight line. Upon completion of testing, an official certificate is issued confirming the existence or absence of deafness in the dog or another animal. How long does a BAER test take The procedure lasts f...

Hypothyroidism in dogs

Hypothyroidism is a common health issue in dogs. The thyroid gland is located in a dog’s neck and it is one of the most important glands in the body. When the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of the necessary hormones (especially the hormone thyroxine), it causes dog’s metabolism to slow. This is called hypothyroidism. Simply, the thyroid gland is producing hormones that control the process of turning food into fuel that keeps the dog’s metabolism going and when the thyroid gland is not working properly the metabolism slows down and this slower metabolism put almost every organ in the body in danger...

False Pregnancy in Dogs

False pregnancy, or pseudopregnancy, is a term used to describe a condition where a non-pregnant female dog is showing symptoms of pregnancy. Although the cause of this condition is unknown, it is believed that false pregnancy happens because of dog’s hormonal imbalance. Every time a female dog ovulates, her progesterone levels rise and stay elevated. Hormon progesterone regulates ovulation and menstruation. After that, when the progesterone levels begin to fall, levels of hormone prolactin start to rise. Prolactin stimulates milk production. These hormonal fluctuations can make your dog’s body think th...

Epilepsy in Dogs

Just as humans, dogs can also suffer from epilepsy. Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disorder in dogs and humans. Epilepsy is a chronic condition that is characterized by repeated episodes of seizures caused by an abnormality in the brain. Approximately 1 in 111 dogs suffer from epilepsy. Epilepsy in dogs - breeds Epilepsy can be idiopathic, structural or reactive. Idiopathic epilepsy is the most common one in dogs. This type of epilepsy usually affects young to middle age dogs (6 months to 6 years old) and the cause of this type is unknown. It affects all dogs – purebred ones, as well a...

Bloat in Dogs

Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) complex (better known as „bloat“) is a serious condition where the stomach fills with air and twists itself (anywhere from 180 degrees to a full 360 degrees), causing pain. When stomach is twisting, both the entry and the exit from the stomach are closed off and air, fluids, foods and gasses are unable to get out. All this causes the dogs' belly to bloat, putting pressure on other organs. As the stomach flips, it drags the spleen and pancreas along with it, cutting off the blood flow. At the same time pressure builds, stopping blood from the hind legs and abdomen from r...

Why do dogs eat grass?

It is not unusual to see dog acting like a little cow, standing in the grass and eating it. But, why do dogs do that? Are they sick? Are they bored? Is it just a natural instinct? Maybe the reason your dog is eating grass is a condition called „pica“. Pica is a disease that compels the eating of non-food objects such as dirt, toys, and grass. Both humans and animals can suffer from pica. A lot of dog owners believe that grass eating is a sign of illness and sometimes that's true. Dogs can eat grass to induce vomit (it is believed that long, unchewed pieces of grass tickle dogs' throat and stimulates v...

Excessive Weight in Dogs

Excessive Weight in Dogs (or simply obesity) is a nutritional disease which is defined by an excess of body fat. Obesity and overweight are not the same thing! As body weight is easier to measure than trying to measure body fat, people use body weight as a guide to determine whether a dog is overweight or obese. Dogs are considered overweight when they weight 10-20% above their ideal body weight. Dogs are considered obese when they weigh 20% or more above their ideal body weight. Obesity isn't something to ignore. It can result a lot of serious health conditions and reduce your dogs' lifespan. Obesity i...

Osteoarthritis in dogs

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common degenerative joint disease (DJD). Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in dogs and it is estimated that as many as a quarter of the dog population is affected. It is a chronic, permanent, long-term deterioration characterized by loss of articular cartilage that covers and protects the ends of bones in most joints of the body. In contrast to humans, OA in dogs most commonly occurs secondarily due to developmental orthopedic disease. The joints that are most commonly affected are the hip, stifle, and elbow. Osteoarthritis in dogs - life expectan...

Hip Dysplasia in dogs

Hip dysplasia is an inherited condition resulting from an improperly formed hip joint. It is the failure of the hip joints to develop and, because the joint is loose, the dog's leg bone moves around too much, causing pain. Hip dysplasia is one of the most common skeletal diseases in dogs. It is common in many dog breeds, particularly the larger ones. However, that does not mean that smaller breeds are safe and will not be stricken with hip dysplasia. For example, pugs and French bulldogs are prone to suffer from this condition but are less likely to show clinical signs. Hip Dysplasia in dogs - signs Exc...

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