Don’t Neglect Dog Paw Health
It’s obvious that should a dog have a paw injury or health problem, its mobility will be affected in some way. Detecting that a problem exists before it becomes debilitating for him is the responsibility of his owner.
Dog paw health can be adversely affected by injury, illness or allergy and acting fast will alleviate discomfort and hasten recovery.
For dogs who enjoy outside activity, foreign objects like twigs and thorns can lodge in between his toes. If you find this has happened and can easily remove the object, follow up with bathing the area with a saline or hydrogen peroxide solution for a few days to prevent infection. By leaving it unattended, an abscess may form and result in infection.
Just as cuts in human fingers and toes bleed profusely when cut, so too do the pads and webbing between the toes in dogs. It is because these are vascular areas and to stop bleeding a pressure bandage will be required. If the cut is very deep, a visit to the vet is advisable.
If swelling is apparent between the toes, it is possible that the dog has developed an interdigital cyst. These are not uncommon and are caused by a sweat gland blockage. Soaking the paw in salty water will help bring the cyst to a head. If it doesn’t, a trip to the vet is required.
One of the most common paw problems in dogs is interdigital dermatitis, and is often caused by allergies, especially to some grasses. If the dog cannot be prevented from licking the area, the skin could become raw and the veterinarian will need to be consulted for anti-inflammatory or antibiotic medication.
The ideal ways to ensure good dog paw health are:
• Examine your dog after playing and exercising to ensure he has not scrapes, cuts, prickly seeds, splinters etc. especially if you have been in an open grassy area or forest
• Always dry your dogs paws carefully after he has gone swimming, has been on wet grass, after giving him a bath
• Stop your dog from licking any area of skin that is swollen, ulcerated, or irritated (you may need to bandage the area).
• If you ever suspect that your dog has walked over dangerous chemicals wash the dog’s paws very carefully with sponge and cold water, don’t allow him to lick the area, and call your veterinarian.
• For dogs who do not walk and run often, it may be necessary to cut your dogs nails. Take instruction from the vet on how to do this, or better still, have the vet do it. If allowed to grow long, nails can snag and break causing a lot of discomfort to the dog.
Dog paw health is an area that can be overlooked but a dog spends a lot of time on his feet and will suffer if any problems are left unattended.
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Who Else Wants A Toilet Trained Dog?
There are many different methods of toilet training a dog, and which is best depends on the owner’s situation.
An owner who is home all day has the advantage of being able to devote a lot of time initially to the task, with probably quicker results. However for working owners, who may find it necessary to leave their pet confined and unattended for 3 or 4 hours at a time, it will take a little longer.
The type of food and frequency of feeding influences the timing of when a dog needs to eliminate. Premium dog foods are highly digestible and can make toilet training much easier. Because they contain high quality ingredients, the dog requires less, meaning less frequent bowel movements and less stool volume.
A gastro-colic reflex takes place when a dog eats, i.e. when the stomach receives more food it sends a message to the bowel that it is time to eliminate as there is more on the way. This results in a dog usually having a bowel movement from 30 to 60 minutes after eating.
Puppies are best fed three times a day. The first feeding should be just after the puppy has been taken outside to urinate in the morning. The second should be mid-afternoon and the third at around 8 pm. Keeping a record of feeding times and noting when he eliminates will help you predict when to take him out for a bowel movement.
The most important aspect of toilet training a dog is to teach it to relieve itself in a specific area.
If the dog does not eliminate when you take him outside, confine him (either in a cage, or a flight kennel, or a small room) for around 30 minutes, and take him outside again.
Dogs usually urinate first and follow a short time later with a stool. When this is produced, don’t hold back on the praise! Tell him what a good dog he is, and reward him with a walk or outside play time. It is no reward to bring him back inside.
It will only be a matter of weeks before the puppy understands the reason for this praise, and a routine will be established. Only when this has occurred should you introduce food treats, which should be given immediately it has eliminated, on the spot. Don’t call the dog to you for the treat or it will think it is being rewarded for coming when called.
As mentioned earlier, the last feed should be at around 8 pm, which will make the morning elimination at a reasonable hour. Feeding a puppy at 5 pm will usually require a bowel movement at the unsociable hour of 4 am.
One technique that is growing in popularity is hanging a bell from the door handle of the door to outside. Give the bell a tinkle every time you open the door to go out. Clever puppies will watch and learn to ring the bell when they need to relieve themselves.
Lastly, and most importantly, owners should understand that when toilet training a dog, delayed punishment does not work. If you discover that your dog has had an accident, taking delayed action is counter-productive. Praise and reward desired behavior, ignore the accidents.
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House Training Small Dogs
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They’re so cute! That’s the first among many reasons to get a small dog for your family. Small dogs are a great choice for people living in apartments, or those who can’t manage to exercise a larger breed. They eat less and shed less and generally make less of a mess, while maintaining large personalities and huge hearts. If a tiny dog has captured your heart, keep a several things to keep in mind about the care of small dogs as you prepare your home for him.
A fenced yard is great for exercising your dog. However a fence that will contain a large dog may have gaps or holes that a small one can fit through. Check the area outside your house thoroughly to make sure there are no large containers that your small dog can fall into or get stuck in.
Remember, too, that little dogs can be harmed by predators that wouldn’t dare bother a bigger one. An enclosed, roofed area is best if you are planning to put your dog outside by himself. Otherwise, make sure you are present while he’s running around the yard.
Smaller dogs may have special food requirements. Regular dog kibble is often too big to fit comfortably in their little mouths. Many small pet owners choose canned food. If you don’t use dry food, you may want to brush your dog’s teeth fairly often. You’ll need to be sure you’re not overfeeding your pooch; some tiny breeds eat as little as 1/8 cup per day.
Remember that your small dog needs lots of exercise. Often tiny pets are carried around and do not run as much as they should. Chasing a ball or toy in the house is also good exercise. One of the advantages of having a small dog is that you can really wear him out in a small amount of space!
Very small dogs are easy to trip over or step on! Your family will get used to using caution when walking down a dark hallway or opening a door quickly. When guests come over, make sure the dog is in his crate or basket, or that you are holding him.
Children need to be watched especially carefully, as they love to play with small dogs, and may not realize how delicate they are.
Generally, small dog care is not very different from any dog care. Love and attention are the main ingredients necessary for long and happy lives.
Carolin Shadler’s Blog
