Pet Care Tips Blog

So, your dog's scratching? So what! It's what dogs do isn't it? Well, yes, but within reason! All dogs do scratch, but if it becomes excessive, there's usually something wrong which needs attention. Read on for free vet advice on how to give the necessary pet care whilst avoiding unnecessary vet fees.

First of all you need to do a bit of detective work to find out what's going on.

What causes it?

Scratching is what's called a 'non-specific sign' - in other words it can be caused by lots of different things. If your dog is scratching more than is normal, in a general, all over sort of way, then the first thing to look for is to see if he's carrying any 'passengers'. The commonest such things are fleas - fast-moving, chestnut-brown, 2mm or so, and difficult to catch as they race through the parted fur - they tend to congregate around the neck and rump, but they may turn up anywhere, perhaps even on you!

Anyone who lives in an area that has mosquitos has probably used or is contemplating using heartworm treatment for Dogs. It is the most effective way to ensure that your Dog stays completely free from heartworms. There are a number of different products available to use and each has its own merits. From heartgard to more generic brands, there are lots of medicines to choose from.

The generic brands have the same active ingredients as the more well known brands but are considerably cheaper. Valuheart is a very well priced heartworm medicine that will effectively stop your Dog from getting infected with the larval worms that are passed on by mosquitoes. Whatever brand you choose to use they most be given monthly. There are tablets or liquids that are applied externally but each performs the function of stopping the worms from growing to adulthood. It is these adult worms that pose a considerable risk to your Dogs health.

When I first started my horse shoeing career I apprenticed for slightly over a year and was on a shoeing job in Gilroy California at Savanah Farms. The horse being shod was a very beautiful bay halter show horse – an Arab gelding. And I do happen to be an Arab fan.

We had the horse is cross ties and I had gotten both front feet done and finished, both rear shoes are put on but needing to finish rasping. While shoeing this horse it remained in the cross ties like a statue, never moving a muscle. It was Beautiful and magnificent looking. I had been working on this horse for about 40 minutes at this point and I was just saying to my self “oh boy, he’s being perfect all horses should be just like this horse”. I had just put his rear foot on the finishing stand as I was saying this. As I bent over to pick up the rasp to finish his foot and right as I was thinking how perfect he was he NAILED ME! Like being shot by cannon! Full power kick dead center my knee.

When do you know you have to take your pet to the veterinarian? If you answer yes to any of these questions, then the time is immediately. There might be other signs, but these are the basic ones experts insist you must pay attention to:

1. Has your pet lost its appetite for more than two days?

2. Has your pet vomited more than twice?

3. Has your pet had diarrhea for more than two days?

4. Does your pet vomit and have diarrhea?

5. Is your pet behaving with unusual listlessness - brooding, hiding in the bushes, lacking enthusiasm for its favorite activities?

6. Has your pet collapsed?

7. Has your pet had a seizure or an uncontrolled muscle spasm?

8. Does your pet seem confused or disoriented?