By: Elyse Grau
Putting some kind of identification on your pet will increase the chances of its being returned to you. This article will outline the types of pet id available and the pros and cons of each.
The most typical form of pet id is the simple collar tag. This is usually metal, but increasingly can be made of plastic or even paper. Metal tags last the longest and resist scratching.
This tag is attached to the dog or cat's collar with some kind of hook. The figure -eight is usually a sturdier connection.
This type of pet identification tag needs to be engraved. You can choose to put whatever you want on the tag. At a minimum the tag should include the animal's name and your phone number. If space allows, it is a good idea to provide at least one additional phone number, such as a cell phone, a neighbor or your vet.
By providing your address as well, the pet can be returned to you by the person finding it. City and state are not necessary; usually the animal is lost close to home. A zip code or area code is useful in case the animal gets loose somewhere farther away.
Temporary ids are made from paper or cardboard, which are then laminated or inserted into a plastic holder. These types of id tags are great for when you are traveling with your pet. Attach them to the collar in addition to the regular id. The temporary id should have the phone number or numbers where you can be reached, perhaps with the dates that you will be at these numbers.
If you want to get really fancy, you can purchase an embroidered collar for your dog or cat in place of the tag. Also, you can order a flat id that is threaded onto the collar. The drawback to this kind of tag is that it is not easily seen, and unless the finder looks for it, he may think the animal does not have a tag. The benefit is that it is unlikely to fall off, unless of course the entire collar is lost.
An even more permanent type of identification is the microchip. This is a relatively new technique that is becoming more and more common. Most animal shelters now automatically chip the animals when they are adopted.
The information embedded in the microchip also resides on the providing company's database, and can be accessed from anywhere in the country. The chip can then be traced back to the purchaser of the chip, not necessarily directly to you.
Since the tag cannot be seen or felt, the animal can also wear a tag that tells people it has been chipped. In order to read the microchip, the dog or cat will need to be brought to a police station, vet's office or animal shelter. Not all chips are compatible with all scanners, although improvements have been made in this area.
Most of the chip manufacturers provide some type of pet recovery service. This is separate from the chip registration. An annual fee is charged. You register your pet with your information. Once the chip has been scanned, you will usually get your pet back within twenty-four hours. There are also independent companies that provide lost-pet services, using any microchip brand.
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Elyse Grau founded The Original Dog Biscuit Company, a natural dog biscuit producer. She is a herbalist, preferring to treat her animals holistically. She has made it a point to learn as much about animal nutrition as possible. You can read more of her articles at: www.pethealthresource.com
The Truth About Pet Food – Dogs & Cats
By: Claris Rivers
In recent times pet nutritionists have come to the conclusion that many of today’s health problems in animals, including physical and behavioral conditions have their roots in poor nutrition. Many of the leading manufacturers of so-called ‘quality’ pet food are responsible for this decline in your pet’s health. Veterinarians are noticing this deteriorating health in pets and believe that chemical additives and preservatives play a part.
So, just what is in your dog or cats pet food?
The fact that when you open up a can of dog food you turn your nose, is a sign that there are all sorts of gases and odors released that are unfit for human and animal consumption. The heavy use of preservatives such as BHT/BHA and Ethoxyquin are likely to be responsible as well as urine, faecal matter, hair, pus, meat from sick or adrenalin filled animals (most animals just prior to the kill in abattoirs release a rush of adrenalin into their bloodstream as they intuit they are about to die). Ethoxyquin is actually an herbicide and has had detrimental effects on humans who were working with it in the rubber industry. Reports of liver/kidney damage, cancerous skin lesions, hair loss, blindness, leukemia, fetal abnormalities and chronic diarrhea were noted and in animals it has been linked to immune deficiency syndrome, spleen, stomach and liver cancer, as well as the above mentioned diseases.
It is no doubt that the increased use of chemical preservatives in pet food is linked to the rise in pet disease over the last 25 years. Rancid animal and poultry fat (by-products of the meat industry) that have escaped human consumption are the staples of most canned pet food. These unhealthy putrid fats are difficult to digest and are likely linked to stomach and liver disorders resulting in bloating, gas, diarrhea and the notorious bad breath our pets are known for.
At present, the department of agriculture does not have mandatory inspection of the ingredients used in pet food. They are allowed to use "4D" classification sources such as meat, tissues, skin and insides of animals that are dead, dying, disabled, or diseased (AND UNFIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION). Some of the animal meat used will be loaded with heavy hormones, steroids and antibiotics from the farming industry that continue to be ‘active’ in dead tissue! Add to this a host of artificial colorants, preservatives and sweetening agents such as cornstarch and sucrose and you have a chemical concoction bound to cause disease in any animal that ingests it.
Cat food manufacturers use corn syrup, which cause addiction and over stimulate the production of insulin and acidic digestive juices. These empty sugars put a great deal of stress on the pancreas and may result in diabetes. They also interfere with the animal’s ability to absorb nutrients and vitamins from their food. As with humans, artificial sweeteners can cause hyperactivity and behavioral problems in animals and destroy friendly bacteria that aid in digestion. The added sugar content could also be responsible for diseases such as diabetes, hypoglycemia, obesity, allergies, loss of vision and cancer.
Another harmful chemical is propylene glycol, which is responsible for prolonging the shelf life of dry products. However, they also dehydrate the colon, causing constipation and the formation of small, dry,hard stools. These kinds of stools may be uncomfortable for your pet to pass as well as leading to diseases of the digestive tract in the long term.
The addition of salt to canned pet food is also a health hazard. Too much refined salt can lead to hypertension, water retention, kidney damage, palpitations and other ailments.
To add fiber, soybean meal is added to pet food, which hinders digestion in dogs. Peanut hulls are also used but can be an irritant to the colon and cause constipation.
As you can see from the above, properly feeding your pet is an essential part of caring that you, the owner is responsible for. Just as there is a growing awareness today of what’s healthy for humans to eat, it is just as crucial to make sure your pet is also getting the proper healthy nutrition it needs for optimum health. A happy pet = a happy owner. Give YOUR pet the best chance of optimal health through proper nutrition today.
May you both live long happy healthy lives together.
Article Source: Article Beam - a service of A1 Web Server Web Hosting
Breakthrough Dog Food Recipes shows you how to feed your pet healthy food that you can easily make at home.
In recent times pet nutritionists have come to the conclusion that many of today’s health problems in animals, including physical and behavioral conditions have their roots in poor nutrition. Many of the leading manufacturers of so-called ‘quality’ pet food are responsible for this decline in your pet’s health. Veterinarians are noticing this deteriorating health in pets and believe that chemical additives and preservatives play a part.
So, just what is in your dog or cats pet food?
The fact that when you open up a can of dog food you turn your nose, is a sign that there are all sorts of gases and odors released that are unfit for human and animal consumption. The heavy use of preservatives such as BHT/BHA and Ethoxyquin are likely to be responsible as well as urine, faecal matter, hair, pus, meat from sick or adrenalin filled animals (most animals just prior to the kill in abattoirs release a rush of adrenalin into their bloodstream as they intuit they are about to die). Ethoxyquin is actually an herbicide and has had detrimental effects on humans who were working with it in the rubber industry. Reports of liver/kidney damage, cancerous skin lesions, hair loss, blindness, leukemia, fetal abnormalities and chronic diarrhea were noted and in animals it has been linked to immune deficiency syndrome, spleen, stomach and liver cancer, as well as the above mentioned diseases.
It is no doubt that the increased use of chemical preservatives in pet food is linked to the rise in pet disease over the last 25 years. Rancid animal and poultry fat (by-products of the meat industry) that have escaped human consumption are the staples of most canned pet food. These unhealthy putrid fats are difficult to digest and are likely linked to stomach and liver disorders resulting in bloating, gas, diarrhea and the notorious bad breath our pets are known for.
At present, the department of agriculture does not have mandatory inspection of the ingredients used in pet food. They are allowed to use "4D" classification sources such as meat, tissues, skin and insides of animals that are dead, dying, disabled, or diseased (AND UNFIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION). Some of the animal meat used will be loaded with heavy hormones, steroids and antibiotics from the farming industry that continue to be ‘active’ in dead tissue! Add to this a host of artificial colorants, preservatives and sweetening agents such as cornstarch and sucrose and you have a chemical concoction bound to cause disease in any animal that ingests it.
Cat food manufacturers use corn syrup, which cause addiction and over stimulate the production of insulin and acidic digestive juices. These empty sugars put a great deal of stress on the pancreas and may result in diabetes. They also interfere with the animal’s ability to absorb nutrients and vitamins from their food. As with humans, artificial sweeteners can cause hyperactivity and behavioral problems in animals and destroy friendly bacteria that aid in digestion. The added sugar content could also be responsible for diseases such as diabetes, hypoglycemia, obesity, allergies, loss of vision and cancer.
Another harmful chemical is propylene glycol, which is responsible for prolonging the shelf life of dry products. However, they also dehydrate the colon, causing constipation and the formation of small, dry,hard stools. These kinds of stools may be uncomfortable for your pet to pass as well as leading to diseases of the digestive tract in the long term.
The addition of salt to canned pet food is also a health hazard. Too much refined salt can lead to hypertension, water retention, kidney damage, palpitations and other ailments.
To add fiber, soybean meal is added to pet food, which hinders digestion in dogs. Peanut hulls are also used but can be an irritant to the colon and cause constipation.
As you can see from the above, properly feeding your pet is an essential part of caring that you, the owner is responsible for. Just as there is a growing awareness today of what’s healthy for humans to eat, it is just as crucial to make sure your pet is also getting the proper healthy nutrition it needs for optimum health. A happy pet = a happy owner. Give YOUR pet the best chance of optimal health through proper nutrition today.
May you both live long happy healthy lives together.
Article Source: Article Beam - a service of A1 Web Server Web Hosting
Breakthrough Dog Food Recipes shows you how to feed your pet healthy food that you can easily make at home.
Oral Checkup Can Add Years to Your Cat's Life
By: Matthew Paolini
Cat enthusiasts need to make sure that a dental checkup is part of every trip to the veterinarian. Like all mammals, cats are vulnerable to a variety of dental diseases and problems, some more serious than others. Having your vet give your favorite tabby a thorough dental examination at least once a year is an important step in ensuring a long and healthy life for your cat.
Most dental problems in cats develop after a cat begins to get his or her permanent teeth. Kittens start out with twenty-six "baby" teeth, which usually begin to appear when a kitten has reached the age of three to four weeks. Starting an an age of about three or four months, permanent teeth begin to replace these temporary teeth. By the time the process is complete, adult cats have a total of thirty permanent teeth divided into two rows of sixteen (upper jaw) and fourteen (lower jaw) teeth.
Unlike humans, however, cats don't eat a diet full of sugar-rich foods or high-acid soda pop, which means that cats are generally less susceptible to tooth decay. But because cats can't brush or floss their teeth, a gum disease called gingivitis is common in felines. In fact, gum disease plagues more than 70 percent of cats three years or older. Badly inflamed gums, ugly tartar or calculus along the gum line, and the feline equivalent of dog breath are common symptoms of gum disease in cats. Having a vet remove the tartar and calculus will reduce the inflammation and help with your cat's chronic bad breath.
A broken tooth is also a fairly routine dental issue with cats. The tooth most often affected is a cat's sharp upper incisor, which is sometimes damaged by a fall or by food that is simply too hard to chew. If your cat has a broken tooth, it may or may not exhibit signs of pain. But a cat with a fractured or broken tooth will frequently sneeze uncontrollably, a sure sign that it's time to visit the vet.
While gum disease or a broken tooth usually prompt cat owners to visit a vet without much delay, regular checkups can also help to ward off or identify more serious conditions. Oral health problems in cats are sometimes indicative of more serious conditions like resorption lesions or viral infections like feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency or feline calicivirus.
Having a vet check the oral health of your cat on a regular basis can add many happy years to the life of your pet. Finding a vet for your cat is often as easy as asking a friend or relative who also has a pet. If you're a solitary cat lover looking for a vet, check your local or online yellow pages for a list of qualified veterinarians in your immediate area.
Article Source: Article Beam - a service of A1 Web Server Web Hosting
Are you a cat lover looking for a vet? Locate a veterinarian in your neighborhood using CityBook.com's online yellow pages.
Cat enthusiasts need to make sure that a dental checkup is part of every trip to the veterinarian. Like all mammals, cats are vulnerable to a variety of dental diseases and problems, some more serious than others. Having your vet give your favorite tabby a thorough dental examination at least once a year is an important step in ensuring a long and healthy life for your cat.
Most dental problems in cats develop after a cat begins to get his or her permanent teeth. Kittens start out with twenty-six "baby" teeth, which usually begin to appear when a kitten has reached the age of three to four weeks. Starting an an age of about three or four months, permanent teeth begin to replace these temporary teeth. By the time the process is complete, adult cats have a total of thirty permanent teeth divided into two rows of sixteen (upper jaw) and fourteen (lower jaw) teeth.
Unlike humans, however, cats don't eat a diet full of sugar-rich foods or high-acid soda pop, which means that cats are generally less susceptible to tooth decay. But because cats can't brush or floss their teeth, a gum disease called gingivitis is common in felines. In fact, gum disease plagues more than 70 percent of cats three years or older. Badly inflamed gums, ugly tartar or calculus along the gum line, and the feline equivalent of dog breath are common symptoms of gum disease in cats. Having a vet remove the tartar and calculus will reduce the inflammation and help with your cat's chronic bad breath.
A broken tooth is also a fairly routine dental issue with cats. The tooth most often affected is a cat's sharp upper incisor, which is sometimes damaged by a fall or by food that is simply too hard to chew. If your cat has a broken tooth, it may or may not exhibit signs of pain. But a cat with a fractured or broken tooth will frequently sneeze uncontrollably, a sure sign that it's time to visit the vet.
While gum disease or a broken tooth usually prompt cat owners to visit a vet without much delay, regular checkups can also help to ward off or identify more serious conditions. Oral health problems in cats are sometimes indicative of more serious conditions like resorption lesions or viral infections like feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency or feline calicivirus.
Having a vet check the oral health of your cat on a regular basis can add many happy years to the life of your pet. Finding a vet for your cat is often as easy as asking a friend or relative who also has a pet. If you're a solitary cat lover looking for a vet, check your local or online yellow pages for a list of qualified veterinarians in your immediate area.
Article Source: Article Beam - a service of A1 Web Server Web Hosting
Are you a cat lover looking for a vet? Locate a veterinarian in your neighborhood using CityBook.com's online yellow pages.
How to Choose a Good Dog Food or Cat Food
By: Elyse Grau
Feeding your pet a high-quality dog or cat food is the best way to assure a long and healthy life. This article will help you make some of the choices involved in deciding on a dog food or cat food
How do you know what dog/cat food is right? For many the choice is a homemade diet. If you have the time and the resources, I agree that this is the preferred way to go. This is usually the best, and occasionally the only choice for animals with multiple food allergies. The choice is yours whether to go cooked or raw, with bones or without.
Basically, a homemade diet should consist of 40-60% meat for dogs, 60%-90% for cats, 20-50% vegetables (dogs, or 10%-40% for cats), and the rest, optionally, grains. The choice within each category is vast, and depends on your budget, availability, and what the dog or cat prefers. Often allergies to certain foods will determine the diet.
Each dog and cat is unique and what is best for one may not work well for another. Feeding a variety of foods is the best way to provide all or most of the nutrients that your pet needs.
A good quality multi-vitamin and calcium supplements will help make sure the diet is complete. It is difficult to attain the right amount and balance of calcium to phosphorus in a home made dog food, so be sure to include some form of calcium supplement.
If you like the idea of homemade pet food, but lack the time, there are pre-mixes available, or complete ready-to-serve meals. Pre-mixes come freeze-dried, dehydrated or frozen. Usually they are grain and vegetable mixes, along with some supplements such as calcium, to which you add the meat. Ground meats, sometimes with bone, are also available where pet foods are sold. You can then add your own vegetables and/or grains if you so desire.
Complete raw-foods diets are also sold as frozen, dry or freeze-dried. Some areas may have local entrepreneurs who make and sell these diets fresh. They may also custom make meals to your pets specifications.
If you prefer to feed a commercial product, choose one of the many premium dog foods now available. though the cost may be higher than grocery store brands, what you save in vet bills will more than make up for the difference.
Whether to feed canned or dry pet food will depend on you and your dog or cat. Canned food is usually more expensive, kibble is more convenient. Pets usually prefer canned foods and some need the softer, wetter consistency. Canned pet foods generally contain higher quality proteins than dry pet food, and a higher percentage of protein and fat. The higher moisture content of canned foods can be beneficial to dogs and cats with kidney or urinary tract problems. Dry pet foods contain more preservatives. Some people choose to use both.
The most important criteria in choosing a pet food is the list of ingredients. Whole meats are always better then meat meals, and meat meals are preferable to by-products. Single source meals, such as “beef meal” or “chicken meal” are more wholesome than those marked simple “meat” or “poultry” meals. Single source meals contain the muscle meat from that animal, along with accompanying tissues, such as nerves, blood vessels and skin. Generic meals may contain other organ tissues and fatty tissue. By-product meal is a catch-all term for anything that doesn’t fit the other meal definitions - avoid these at all costs!
Look for the meat source (or sources) to be listed first on the label. If grains are included (which they always are in kibbles), they should be whole grains, rather than fractions, such as wheat bran, brewer’s rice, etc. Watch out for multiple listings of grains, they may add up to be more than the meat portion!
Avoid foods containing artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. Colors are added for your benefit, not to appeal to dogs. Artificial flavors are added to enhance palatability or cover up off tastes of poorer quality ingredients. Most natural foods stores and holistic pet supply stores will carry premium brands of pet food. If you are unable to find a satisfactory dog food in stores near you, many of them can be found on the internet.
Article Source: Article Beam - a service of A1 Web Server Web Hosting
Elyse Grau founded The Original Dog Biscuit Company, a natural dog biscuit producer. She is a herbalist, preferring to treat her animals holistically. She has made it a point to learn as much about animal nutrition as possible. You can read more of her articles at: www.pethealthresource.com
Please Rate this Article
Feeding your pet a high-quality dog or cat food is the best way to assure a long and healthy life. This article will help you make some of the choices involved in deciding on a dog food or cat food
How do you know what dog/cat food is right? For many the choice is a homemade diet. If you have the time and the resources, I agree that this is the preferred way to go. This is usually the best, and occasionally the only choice for animals with multiple food allergies. The choice is yours whether to go cooked or raw, with bones or without.
Basically, a homemade diet should consist of 40-60% meat for dogs, 60%-90% for cats, 20-50% vegetables (dogs, or 10%-40% for cats), and the rest, optionally, grains. The choice within each category is vast, and depends on your budget, availability, and what the dog or cat prefers. Often allergies to certain foods will determine the diet.
Each dog and cat is unique and what is best for one may not work well for another. Feeding a variety of foods is the best way to provide all or most of the nutrients that your pet needs.
A good quality multi-vitamin and calcium supplements will help make sure the diet is complete. It is difficult to attain the right amount and balance of calcium to phosphorus in a home made dog food, so be sure to include some form of calcium supplement.
If you like the idea of homemade pet food, but lack the time, there are pre-mixes available, or complete ready-to-serve meals. Pre-mixes come freeze-dried, dehydrated or frozen. Usually they are grain and vegetable mixes, along with some supplements such as calcium, to which you add the meat. Ground meats, sometimes with bone, are also available where pet foods are sold. You can then add your own vegetables and/or grains if you so desire.
Complete raw-foods diets are also sold as frozen, dry or freeze-dried. Some areas may have local entrepreneurs who make and sell these diets fresh. They may also custom make meals to your pets specifications.
If you prefer to feed a commercial product, choose one of the many premium dog foods now available. though the cost may be higher than grocery store brands, what you save in vet bills will more than make up for the difference.
Whether to feed canned or dry pet food will depend on you and your dog or cat. Canned food is usually more expensive, kibble is more convenient. Pets usually prefer canned foods and some need the softer, wetter consistency. Canned pet foods generally contain higher quality proteins than dry pet food, and a higher percentage of protein and fat. The higher moisture content of canned foods can be beneficial to dogs and cats with kidney or urinary tract problems. Dry pet foods contain more preservatives. Some people choose to use both.
The most important criteria in choosing a pet food is the list of ingredients. Whole meats are always better then meat meals, and meat meals are preferable to by-products. Single source meals, such as “beef meal” or “chicken meal” are more wholesome than those marked simple “meat” or “poultry” meals. Single source meals contain the muscle meat from that animal, along with accompanying tissues, such as nerves, blood vessels and skin. Generic meals may contain other organ tissues and fatty tissue. By-product meal is a catch-all term for anything that doesn’t fit the other meal definitions - avoid these at all costs!
Look for the meat source (or sources) to be listed first on the label. If grains are included (which they always are in kibbles), they should be whole grains, rather than fractions, such as wheat bran, brewer’s rice, etc. Watch out for multiple listings of grains, they may add up to be more than the meat portion!
Avoid foods containing artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. Colors are added for your benefit, not to appeal to dogs. Artificial flavors are added to enhance palatability or cover up off tastes of poorer quality ingredients. Most natural foods stores and holistic pet supply stores will carry premium brands of pet food. If you are unable to find a satisfactory dog food in stores near you, many of them can be found on the internet.
Article Source: Article Beam - a service of A1 Web Server Web Hosting
Elyse Grau founded The Original Dog Biscuit Company, a natural dog biscuit producer. She is a herbalist, preferring to treat her animals holistically. She has made it a point to learn as much about animal nutrition as possible. You can read more of her articles at: www.pethealthresource.com
Please Rate this Article
Skin Problems in Dogs and Cats
By: Elyse Grau
The skin is an important organ, it is one of the ways of removing toxins from the body. Because of this, symptoms of disease or other problems in your dog or cat often manifest themselves in the skin and coat first
Skin problems are probably the most common ailments seen in dogs. Usually they are not a disease in themselves, but a symptom of another underlying problem.
Allergies are the most common reason one sees problems with the skin or coats of their dogs and cats. Foods, pollens, dust or medications may cause signs of allergy. Problems can also show up due to dietary deficiency or poor diet in general. Symptoms include such as itching, redness, and poor coat quality.
If no other reason for the problem can be found, it is time to look for food allergies. Simply by changing the dog or cats diet to a higher quality food will often make a difference. Often simply adding raw meat to the diet is enough to see an improvement.
If the problem persists, or the pet is already on a healthy diet, then you must look at the specific ingredients in the food. Beef, chicken, corn and soy are the most common allergens, but cats and dogs, like people, can be allergic to anything. Try eliminating the above four things first, if that doesn't work a more drastic "elimination diet" may be necessary. This usually takes at least 6-8 weeks to get a good reading.
If no food allergy can be identified, or if eliminating an offending food has not solved the problem, then you must look to the environment - inside as well as outside. Once an allergic reaction has been allowed to continue for some time, the immune system is taxed and the body may become sensitive to other irritants.
Play detective! Ask yourself if anything has changed in the house recently; new carpeting, new cabinetry, fresh paint? These things can all give off chemicals which may cause illness. Are the symptoms seasonal? Pollens are a common allergen, and difficult to avoid, especially for a dog. Did the symptoms start suddenly? What happened just before they appeared - vaccinations? Other illness? Emotional upset? Finding and eliminating the cause can be a long and difficult process.
Essential Fatty Acids, also known as Omega-3 and Omega-6 are important nutrients for the skin and coat of dogs and cats. You might also consider certain herbs, such as Milk Thistle or Dandelion, which support the liver and help the body detoxify. There are many natural topical products that can be used to calm the symptoms.
Bathing is not always the answer. If the dog's coat is dry, bathing may just make matters worse. If you must bathe, use a gentle shampoo. Oatmeal is a good shampoo ingredient to look for for a dog with itchy skin.
Another common cause of itching and redness for dogs and cats is flea bite dermatitis. Not all animals are allergic, but fleas will at least cause scratching or biting in all pets simply because they are annoying! Flea allergies however, cause the pests to be more than just an annoyance. Symptoms of flea allergy include hair loss, redness, and sometimes sores kown as "hot spots".
If you suspect your pet has fleas but you haven't actually seen any, look for the tell-tale black "specks" at the base of the hairs. Fleas particularly love the areas at the base of the tail, ears and hind legs (where they meet the belly). To determine if the specks are flea dirt (dried blood) and not just dirt, put some on a white paper or cloth and wet them. If they turn red, you've got fleas.
Some diseases cause symptoms of the skin and coat. Thyroid imbalances may cause dull, flaky or greasy coat and sometimes hair loss. Skin and ear infections are common with Cushing's Disease.
There are some specific skin diseases as well. Mange is caused by a mite and causes lesions and hair loss, usually around the mouth and eyes. This most often clears up on its own, but some dogs and cats cannot rid themselves of the mites and have a more severe case. Ringworm is a highly contagious fungus affecting cats, dogs and people (especially children). It shows up as circular lesions that are raw, hairless and scaly. The disease spreads rapidly.
Boredom or anxiety can cause a dog to lick its paws repeatedly and constantly, resulting in "lick granulomas". These are raised nodules, often rough and scaly. There is also a group of autoimmune diseases called Pemphigus which cause scaly skin, scabs and pustules. Some breeds are particularly susceptible to the disease.
Article Source: Article Beam - a service of A1 Web Server Web Hosting
Elyse Grau has written many articles on pet health and care. She was a pet-care columnist for her local paper. See her website Pet Health Resource for more information on caring for your dog or cat. www.pethealthresource.com
The skin is an important organ, it is one of the ways of removing toxins from the body. Because of this, symptoms of disease or other problems in your dog or cat often manifest themselves in the skin and coat first
Skin problems are probably the most common ailments seen in dogs. Usually they are not a disease in themselves, but a symptom of another underlying problem.
Allergies are the most common reason one sees problems with the skin or coats of their dogs and cats. Foods, pollens, dust or medications may cause signs of allergy. Problems can also show up due to dietary deficiency or poor diet in general. Symptoms include such as itching, redness, and poor coat quality.
If no other reason for the problem can be found, it is time to look for food allergies. Simply by changing the dog or cats diet to a higher quality food will often make a difference. Often simply adding raw meat to the diet is enough to see an improvement.
If the problem persists, or the pet is already on a healthy diet, then you must look at the specific ingredients in the food. Beef, chicken, corn and soy are the most common allergens, but cats and dogs, like people, can be allergic to anything. Try eliminating the above four things first, if that doesn't work a more drastic "elimination diet" may be necessary. This usually takes at least 6-8 weeks to get a good reading.
If no food allergy can be identified, or if eliminating an offending food has not solved the problem, then you must look to the environment - inside as well as outside. Once an allergic reaction has been allowed to continue for some time, the immune system is taxed and the body may become sensitive to other irritants.
Play detective! Ask yourself if anything has changed in the house recently; new carpeting, new cabinetry, fresh paint? These things can all give off chemicals which may cause illness. Are the symptoms seasonal? Pollens are a common allergen, and difficult to avoid, especially for a dog. Did the symptoms start suddenly? What happened just before they appeared - vaccinations? Other illness? Emotional upset? Finding and eliminating the cause can be a long and difficult process.
Essential Fatty Acids, also known as Omega-3 and Omega-6 are important nutrients for the skin and coat of dogs and cats. You might also consider certain herbs, such as Milk Thistle or Dandelion, which support the liver and help the body detoxify. There are many natural topical products that can be used to calm the symptoms.
Bathing is not always the answer. If the dog's coat is dry, bathing may just make matters worse. If you must bathe, use a gentle shampoo. Oatmeal is a good shampoo ingredient to look for for a dog with itchy skin.
Another common cause of itching and redness for dogs and cats is flea bite dermatitis. Not all animals are allergic, but fleas will at least cause scratching or biting in all pets simply because they are annoying! Flea allergies however, cause the pests to be more than just an annoyance. Symptoms of flea allergy include hair loss, redness, and sometimes sores kown as "hot spots".
If you suspect your pet has fleas but you haven't actually seen any, look for the tell-tale black "specks" at the base of the hairs. Fleas particularly love the areas at the base of the tail, ears and hind legs (where they meet the belly). To determine if the specks are flea dirt (dried blood) and not just dirt, put some on a white paper or cloth and wet them. If they turn red, you've got fleas.
Some diseases cause symptoms of the skin and coat. Thyroid imbalances may cause dull, flaky or greasy coat and sometimes hair loss. Skin and ear infections are common with Cushing's Disease.
There are some specific skin diseases as well. Mange is caused by a mite and causes lesions and hair loss, usually around the mouth and eyes. This most often clears up on its own, but some dogs and cats cannot rid themselves of the mites and have a more severe case. Ringworm is a highly contagious fungus affecting cats, dogs and people (especially children). It shows up as circular lesions that are raw, hairless and scaly. The disease spreads rapidly.
Boredom or anxiety can cause a dog to lick its paws repeatedly and constantly, resulting in "lick granulomas". These are raised nodules, often rough and scaly. There is also a group of autoimmune diseases called Pemphigus which cause scaly skin, scabs and pustules. Some breeds are particularly susceptible to the disease.
Article Source: Article Beam - a service of A1 Web Server Web Hosting
Elyse Grau has written many articles on pet health and care. She was a pet-care columnist for her local paper. See her website Pet Health Resource for more information on caring for your dog or cat. www.pethealthresource.com