5 Common Dog Breeds In India And Their Health Issues

Just as your DNA can be a reason for various health issues, your dog’s genes can affect his. Here are some of the conditions to look for in Dog breeds in India and what you can do about them.

Pug: Eye Problems

Pugsare prone to eye problems. The most serious eye problem that pub have is their eye-popping out of a socket. It can happen due to an accident or during a fight with another dog. If you’re facing the same issue, cover your dog’s eye with a damp cloth and rush to your vet. The vet may be able to fix it;however, there is no guarantee of retaining vision. It depends on the extremity of the damage.

Bulldog: Respiratory Problems

The adorable smashed-in-faced bulldogs have a risk of developing breathing problems. The reason can be small nostrils, elongated soft palate, and narrow trachea, leading to a life-threatening emergency when they get overheated or overtired. To avoid such a situation, keep your dog cool in summer and don’t overdo its exercise.

Labrador Retriever: Obesity

Just like humans, your dogs can get overweight too. If you have a lab dog, make sure to include vigorous exercise in its regime. Moreover, feed them healthy food, including raw carrots, green beans, or apples, etc. Also, you can consult with your vet for the right diet plan.

Golden Retriever: Skin Allergies

If your golden is continuously licking, it might be experiencing skin allergies. Frequent scratching,  licking, and chewing can lead to hot spots. Consult with a pet for proper treatment before trying any home remedies. Use an oatmeal shampoo for the bath to soothe itchy skin. Also, don’t forget to add an omega-3 supplement to their diet, and make sure they have regular flea treatment.

Pomeranian: Hair Loss

Pomeranians have a high risk of an adrenal gland disease called alopecia X, causing hair loss. This disease usually begins when a dog is young. Consult with a vet to treat this disease. He may recommend melatonin supplements in your dog’s food.

If you want to know more about dog Indian breeds, let us know in the comment section!

Why Does Your Dog Have Bad Breath?

Did you catch a whiff of bad breath in your dog?

Almost every dog likes to lick faces or kiss. It's their most natural way of showing affection and love. Generally, if your furry friend has stinky breath, giving good oral care like brushing regularly and feeding a fresh-food diet might suffice. The cleaning of teeth is essential for all dogs above the age of two.

Puppies mostly have a sweet-smelling breath as they do not have a build-up of the bacteria yet in their mouth. However, bad breath is common in smaller dog breeds, older dogs, and breeds with short snouts.

But, if your dog is healthy and yet its breath smells like it ate some cat poop or garbage, it's a pressing health concern.

Here are some common causes of bad breath in dogs

Dental or Gum Disease

Bad breath is medically known as halitosis. The common reason for it is bacteria built-up/plaque that produces unpleasant odors. A neglected plaque can cause

●     irritation

●     inflammation of gums

●     gum diseases like gingivitis 

Untreated gum diseases can lead to severe health repercussions for your dog. The other dental health reason for bad breath in your dog can be infections due to tooth decay. Therefore, make an appointment with your vet (even if it's in-between visits) if you suspect a dental issue in your dog.

Toxic or foreign substances

Some dog breeds like running around and eating anything, including things that are bad for them.

Does your dog do it too?

Such foreign objects can get stuck in their teeth leading to bad breath. Some toxic substances can smell bad too. If you notice your four-legged friend has ingested toxic substances like antifreeze or a rodenticide, call your vet immediately.

Gastrointestinal Issues

An imbalance in gut microbes can cause stomach and digestive issues. Furthermore, the overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine can cause smelly gas, which gets absorbed into the bloodstream leading to bad breath in your dog.

Take your pet to a vet, if you notice any other unusual signs, like

●     Changes in appetite

●     Nausea or vomiting

●     Changes in the stool

Diseases and Health Conditions

Some diseases and health conditions can also cause bad breath in your dog. A breath test and timely dental checkups can detect the early onset of these diseases.

●     Diabetes: The breath of your dog would smell unusual, sweet, almost fruity, or like nail polish remover due to increased sugar levels in saliva.

●     Liver Diseases: If you find the dog's breath smells musty or like a dead animal, it's a sign that the liver is inefficiently filtering out toxins.

●     Kidney Diseases: If the dog's breath smells like urine or fishy, it can be due to high urea levels in their body. It's a sign the kidneys are not filtering out toxins appropriately.

●     Sinusitis or Rhinitis: Does your dog have a cold? When your dog breaths through the mouth, it causes it to go dry and result in stinky breath.

●     Oral Tumors: It causes blood vessels to break up and turn into dead areas. The bacteria growing in it can also cause bad breath in a dog.

Conclusion

Maintain good oral hygiene and don't neglect bad breath issues in your dog. To know more about it, post your questions and comments below.

How To Make Life Easier On Your Senior Dog

As a pet parent, we all have to bear the irreplaceable loss of bond with our pet someday. Our love for them grows more each day, and as they become seniors, it's time we make life easier for them.

All dog breeds like humans face health issues as they age - such as Pitbulls have cataracts, Dobermans have liver disorders, Labrador Retrievers face eyesight issues, hearing loss, and suffer from arthritis, and so on.

Therefore, ensure to take care of the health of your pet right from the beginning. Regular exercise, annual checkups, and giving a balanced diet with calcium in dog food can go a long way to help life get better in their senior years.

Here are some specific ways to make life easier for your senior dog

1. Make at least bi-annual appointments with your veterinarian

If you have a dog breed aged six years above, get your pet checked at least every six months.

The idea is to catch the problem before your dog gets sick, and things become complicated!

We suggest consulting a veterinarian and get these test done routinely ( in 6-months gaps)

●     Full body examination from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail.

●     Blood chemistry test and a complete blood count test

●     Urinalysis test

●     Nutritional Analysis

●     Fecal test for parasites

2. Better Bedding

Aging can cause issues of arthritis in your pets. Therefore, get quality calcium-rich food for dogs and provide them orthopedic, comfortable beds to relax. You can add a memory foam mattress or get a raised bed depending upon your dog breed, making it easier for them to change positions in bed.

3. Exercise

Being a pet parent of a senior dog does not mean you can leave exercises out of your schedule; the body movements are essential! Moderate exercise can lubricate their joints as well as maintain their muscle mass. So take them on regular walks and avoid stairs if your pet has arthritis or cardiac issues.

4. Handicap Accessibility

We are sure you loved when your dog used to jump on your couch or bed in one go!

At present, aging can make jumping hard for them. If you want to re-enjoy old moments, just purchase, or build a ramp/steps that helps them get onto the bed or couch. It even can help them get into the car.

5. Safety Considerations

Slipping and falling can be risky for your senior dogs! 

Apart from giving calcium on dog food, for strengthening bones, check the floor tiles in your house. If they are slippery, get rubber or silicon slip-on nail covers for them. It prevents slips and falls for all senior dog breeds.

6. Elevated Food Bowls

If your dog struggles with joints and bone issues, elevated food bowls can help them eat comfortably. It puts a lesser strain on their neck, hips, shoulders, and joints. It's an excellent option for those dog breeds suffering from arthritis, orthopedic conditions, joint disorders, sore joints, or spinal conditions.

Conclusion

Start adopting these specific ways to make life easier for your senior dog breeds. If you need a more holistic approach to the pet-healthcare, leave your questions and comments below.

3 Simple Ways to Stop Your Puppy From Biting

Biting and nipping is a common trait found in every dog breed in India. While it's natural dog behavior, uncontrolled biting can lead to severe injuries. Therefore, it is essential to teach your puppy to stop biting as early as possible.

Here are three simple ways to stop puppy biting.

Teach Bite Inhibition

Dogs love to chew, and nipping and biting are common in dogs of all breeds. What's important is the force from which your puppy bites. Sometimes, puppies may put their mouth on you or someone else if they're in pain or fear. But if the dog is big and strong, even one bite can be hazardous.

The first way to stop biting is a technique called bite inhibition. Dogs practice this technique all the time. Puppies naturally nip at each other while playing. If they bite too hard, their mother or the other dog makes a yelping sound, indicating the puppy that what it did was painful.

You can do the same thing to stop your puppy from nipping. If they bite you, make a high-pitched "ow" sound. Some puppies, however, may get more excited after hearing such noise. In this case, turn around quietly and walk away from your dog. You can also gently put them in a crate if you want to.

Teach That Biting Means "It's Over"

If your puppy bites while playing, stop immediately without any exceptions. Many dog owners tend to stop puppy biting by yelling or physically punishing their dog. This is a big no-no, and it can make your puppy fearful of being handled. Instead, teach them that biting will get them nothing. Of course, when they stop, reward them with a treat or a pat on their head.

Give Your Puppy An Alternate Chewing Item

Always keep a toy handy, and as soon as your dog demonstrates biting behavior, give them a toy or a piece of furniture. Doing this over and over again will give your pup an idea about what's OK to bite and what's not. When they get too excited while playing and start nibbling at your fingers, substitute your fingers with a toy.

If they continue to bite, stop the play session immediately. If you've trained your pup well, you can also redirect them to sit and then reward them with a toy.

What Not to Do?

Never, ever hit or physically punish your dog, no matter what dog breed in India you have. It won't fix the problem, and it'll also damage your relationship with your dog. If puppy biting doesn't stop even after trying everything, get in touch with a dog trainer.

Conclusion

No matter what dog breed in India, you have, not controlling the biting and nipping of your dog can be dangerous. Therefore, start your training early and make sure you understand that biting is wrong. If you aren't able to stop puppy biting on your own, get in touch with an expert dog trainer. 

Why Your Dog Has A Bad Breath?

Just like humans, your dogs can have a bad breathe issue. It can be a sign of major health issues in your dog. Before you try any home remedy, take out some time to find out the possible causes of your dog’s bad breath and steps you can take to prevent it.

Causes of Bad Dog Breath

Your dogs can have bad breath due to many reasons – read on!

1. Oral Hygiene and Periodontal Disease

The first and most common reason can be the bad oral hygiene of your dog. It is also known as periodontal disease. The plaque and tartar build-up in teeth can be a home for various bacteria, resulting in a dog’s bad breath. Brush your dog’s teeth regularly to reduce the development of tartar. This can also lead to inflammation of the dog’s gum, tooth loss, infection, cavities, and many other issues. So it’s best to make an appointment with your vet for your dog’s dental treatment.

2. Diabetes

Your dog might be having diabetes if its breath has a sweet or fruity smell. In such a situation, contact your dog’s doctor for proper treatment. Diabetes is a serious but treatable condition. Some other symptoms of diabetes in dogs include increased urination, excessive thirst, increased food consumption, and sudden weight loss, etc. Your vet can easily confirm diabetes by doing a simple test for glucose in the blood and urine.

3. Liver Disease

If your dog is doing vomits, showing signs of lack of appetite, and having foul breath with a yellow tinge in its gums, it can be a sign of liver disease. Liver or kidney disease is a serious health issue. Make an appointment with a vet for proper check-up and treatment. Kidney disease is serious and could be a symptom of a larger medical problem.

Treating Bad Dog Breath

Curing bad dog breath depends on the cause, but luckily there are quite a few treatment options out there.

If plaque, tartar, and periodontal disease are behind your dog’s bad breath, then the best thing you can do is to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to see if your dog is a candidate for a dental cleaning. However, if your dog is having breath due to health issues such as diabetes, kidney, and liver disease, the bad breath will go away once the underlying issue is resolved. 

To know more about dog health, visit dog best website in India!