There are many different types of ticks throughout the United States, each with the disease-carrying potential. Example of ticks carrying diseases include:

• Deer ticks/black legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis – I. dammini) – may carry Lyme Disease
• American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) – may carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) and tularemia
• Lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum) – may carry tularemia, tick paralysis and RMSF
• Brown dog ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) – may carry canine ehrlichiosis and babesiosis

Clinical signs of tick-borne disease include (but not limited to):

• Lethargy
• Lameness in one or more legs
• Anorexia
• Lack of appetite
• Weight loss
• Fever
• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Liver/kidney failure
• Seizures

Signs can be few and subtle until later stages of the disease. Signs of tick-borne disease can also be confused with other medical conditions. Other than clinical signs, laboratory testing can be done to diagnose the disease. If you suspect your dog is exposed to a tick-borne disease, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Since vaccination is not available for all tick-borne diseases (vaccination for Lyme Disease is available through your veterinarian), prevention is a key to avoid tick infestation. Avoid areas ticks love, such as grasses and low shrubs. Examine your dog’s body for ticks as soon as returning from an outing and promptly remove ticks with caution if you see them. It is a good idea to save them in a container with rubbing alcohol for future identification.

Never remove ticks with your bare hands. Use tweezers or wear gloves so that you will not expose yourself to a potentially infected tick.

Watch for sings of tick-borne diseases after removing ticks from your dogs. If you see any signs or notice any abnormality, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Heartworm disease (also known as dirofilariasis) is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease caused by parasites called heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis). There is little sign of disease in earlier stages of infection. Signs show up in later stages of the disease. Most common signs are persistent coughing, lethargy, loss of appetite and trouble of breathing. Infected dogs suffer damage in organs such as heart, lungs, liver and kidneys.

The early detection of heartworm infection can be done by examining the dog’s blood. The procedure can be done at any veterinary clinics and the treatment can be done successfully if the disease is detected early.

The good news is this disease is almost 100% preventable with preventive medication administered properly. There are a few methods of administration: orally, topically or by injection. Before you start any preventive medications, your veterinarian must exam your dog’s blood and confirm that there is no presence of heartworms in dog’s system. Then the veterinarian can prescribe the preventive medications. It is very important to administer the medication properly and on schedule.

Keep this in your mind – prevention of heartworm disease is easy and inexpensive, but treatment for this disease is long-term, risky and can be very expensive!

Here are some tips on selecting a boarding/daycare facility:

Locate a few facilities that are in convenient location by using:

• Yellow Pages
• Internet
• Recommendations of other dog parents

Interview the facility:

• Ask if the facility can accommodate your dog
• Find out how long they have been in business
• Ask for references
• Find out price, hours,boarding requirements and policies
• If your dog has a special need, ask if they accommodate
• Ask if you can visit the facility before you schedule the boarding

Visit the facility:

• Check the cleanness and smell of the entire place
• Check out the areas your dog spends time (sleeping area, play area, outdoor pen, etc.)
• Check out facility staff and their interaction with dogs
• Find out the daily routine (how often does your dog go out, feeding schedule, etc.)
• Find out the facility’s supervision and safety procedures

Before making a final decision:

• Check references
• Check with Better Business Bureau for any complaints against the facility

Animal feces can be a potential health hazard for you and your pet. Parasites such as whipworms, hookworms, roundworms, Giardia, and Coccidia can be transmitted to pets and people through feces. In addition, your dog can contract and spread potentially deadly disease like parvovirus through feces. Flies are attracted to feces and they are another potential health hazard to pets and humans. Not only can flies spread diseases, but they can also bite your dogs.

The best and easiest way to prevent disease and problems that can spread through feces is to simply remove them properly at least once a week or more if you have multiple dogs. Using in ground stool digester may be a good idea to safely dispose dog waste.

You can’t prevent your dog from producing stools, but there is a way to lessen its volume. Feed your dog high quality food. Quality dog foods usually contain more calories per pound, so it takes less amount of a quality food to meet your dog’s needs. Thus your dog produces less stools.

The research to study how dogs respond to certain types of music or sound was conducted in the United Kingdom. Fifty male and female dogs in a shelter were used as subjects. Researchers provided them five different types of aural stimuli – pop music, heavy metal, classical music, human conversation and no sound. They found that dogs rested more and were more relaxed and calm while classical music was being played than any other aural stimuli. Dogs made more movement such as jumping and pacing and barked more while heavy metal was being played.

Researchers concluded that playing classical music may create a less stressful environment to dogs. These dogs are living in a shelter environment, which could be stressful time to time. So how does this research apply to our dogs? Many of our dogs are left alone at home when we are at work during the day. These dogs often engage in destructive behavior due to stress caused by separation anxiety or simply from boredom. If we play classical music while they are left alone, would it help to relax them? It may be worth a try!

Suggestions

Collar and ID tag:
An ID tag attached to a collar is the most common and economical way to identify your dog. One of the downside of the ID tag is that it is easily removed – accidentally or intentionally. One of the solutions to such situations is to microchip your dog.

Microchip:
A microchip is a tiny computer chip that contains unique identification number programmed into it. The chip, about the size of a rice grain, is injected under the skin, usually between the shoulder blades. The procedure can be done at participating veterinarian’s office. Once injected, the identification number cannot be lost or altered. Many shelters and veterinarians are equipped with microchip scanners. If they pick your dog up as a stray, they will first scan your dog to see if he/she has microchip implanted. Once the number is read, they can contact the microchip manufacturer’s registry or national database to get information on the dog’s owner. The cost of microchip varies, but usually runs about a little over $50.

Tattoo:
Tattooing is another way of permanent identification. Tattooing can be applied at the veterinarian’s office or by a skilled individual at tattoo clinic. The procedure can be done in a few minutes with little pain. Anesthesia is usually unnecessary, but if your dog is having other procedures such as spay/neuter or teeth cleaning, it may be a good idea to have it done then. Once the tattoo is applied, be sure to register the number with an organization like National Dog Registry.

Permanent identification is also a good way to protect your dog from a pet thief. For example, if a pet thief tries to sell a dog with microchip or tattoo to a research laboratory, the lab will not accept the dog. Even if your dog has microchip or tattoo, be sure to have your dog wear a collar and id tag.

• Alcoholic Beverages
• Avocados
• Bitter almonds
• Broccoli (in large amounts)
• Caffeine – i.e. Coffee beans & grounds, tea, etc.
• Chocolate
• Cigarettes, tobacco, cigars
• Fatty Foods
• Grapes and raisins (including all associated products, such as juice or wine)
• Hops (use in home beer brewing)
• Macadamia nuts
• Moldy or spoiled foods
• Onions or onion powder
• Pits and seeds from fruits (apple, apricot, peach, plum, and some varieties of cherry)
• Potato peelings and green parts of potatoes (green peelings, sprouts and foliage)
• Processed Sugar (can cause diabetes)
• Rhubarb leaves
• Salt
• Tomato leaves & stems (green parts)
• Yeast Dough

How much chocolate is too much for dogs?
The amount of theobromine in chocolate depends on the kind of chocolate and the serving size. Baking chocolate contains far more thebromine than milk chocolate. On average, baking chocolate contains 390mg thebromine per ounce and milk chocolate contains 44mg thebromine per ounce.

To determine “how much is too much?” can be difficult since many factors such as the dog’s health, age and size are involved. However, it is estimated that toxic reactions can occur with the theobromine ingestion of 45mg per pound of a dog’s body weight.

What are the signs of chocolate poisoning in dogs?
Common signs of chocolate poisoning include (but not limited to) vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, restlessness, excessive panting, muscle twitching, and increased heart rate. Seizures, coma and even death can occur with chocolate poisoning.

If you suspect your dog has ingested chocolate, seek veterinary attention IMMEDIATELY!

The easiest and most common way to get a prescription for your dog is to get it from your veterinarian. This works fine for something like antibiotics for infections, but what if your dog needs long term medications like arthritis medication, eye drops for glaucoma treatment, etc? By using an online pet pharmacy, you can often save money and trips to your vet’s office.

How Does Online Pet Pharmacy Work?
Ordering from online pet pharmacy is easy, just like ordering any pet supplies. Only difference is you will need a prescription from your veterinarian. There are usually four different ways to submit the prescription: mail the prescription; fax the prescription; have your veterinarian call the pharmacy; or have the pharmacy call your veterinarian.

How to save money on your dog’s medications:

* Always compare prices of pet medications.

* Search online coupons for the merchant you are using.

* Most online pet pharmacies also sell non-prescription items as well. So you can add these items to your prescription order. You may qualify for multiple order discounts or any special offer (such as free shipping) they may have.

With a proper care, dental problems can easily be prevented. Here are some tips to good canine oral hygiene.

Visit your veterinarian for checkup:
Thorough dental checkup should be a part of your dog’s annual physical examination. If tartar buildup is present, your dog may need professional dental cleaning. Ask your veterinarian when to schedule periodic cleanings.

Brush your dog’s teeth regularly:
Brush your dog’s teeth at least twice a week or more (preferably daily) with a toothbrush and toothpaste especially made for dogs. Do not use human Toothpaste. It can upset your dog’s digestive system.

Provide chew toys and chewables:
Exercising and massaging gums with chew toys and chewable such as rawhide help strengthen gums and reduce plaque. They also satisfy your dog痴 need to chew and can be great stress relievers. Always supervise your dog while he chews.