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Diagnosis And Causes Of Hip Dysplasia In Dogs

Diagnosis

The first thing that a vet will do when he thinks that a dog might have hip dysplasia is reading the medical history of the dog, after which he will examine the dog in detail. After the physical examination, the veterinarian will look at the joints of the dog to see if there are any signs that their motion is limited or reduced, if the joints are lax or if they creak, or if the muscles of the thighs are atrophied. The results, together with the symptoms that were mentioned above will tell the doctor if the dog suffers from hip dysplasia. You need to mention those symptoms that you observed when the doctor asks you about them, so he can form a full image of the dog’s condition. He will watch the dog as he moves or walks around, and check if he can lie down or sit properly. Sometime, he will be able to diagnose the dog as having hip dysplasia just by doing.

Diagnosing hip dysplasia requires taking x-rays in most cases, and they’re a tool that is very important to the diagnosis. Using them allows the doctor to find the disease both in cases when symptoms are present and when they are not (sometimes it happens). Taking an x-ray needs the dog to keep still, without moving, which means that the vet will probably need to give him some anesthetic. After this is done, he will be able to use the x-rays results to find out if the dog has hip dysplasia. The doctor can also use the x-rays to find out how much of a problem the hip dysplasia is and at what stage it is. This will determine what course of treatment the dog needs to take, and how it should be implemented. The treatment will improve the dog’s quality of life and take away some of the pain.

Causes

Hip dysplasia in dogs is usually caused by his genetic heritage. Studies have revealed that genetics play a great part in the appearance of hip dysplasia. What that means is that the medical history of the parents plays an important part in determining if hip dysplasia will show up or not. That’s why there are breeds that have an increased chance of getting hip dysplasia. In most cases, the breeds with a big chance of getting hip dysplasia are the big ones, like German Shepherds, St. Bernards, Labrador Retrievers, Rottweilers, Golden Retrievers and Neapolitan Mastiffs.

However, genetics isn’t the only reason why dogs can develop hip dysplasia. Other reasons why hip dysplasia shows up include environmental factors. These can influence the appearance of the disease. One factor that can influence hip dysplasia is the nutrition of the dog. What I mean by nutrition is the fact that dogs that become overweight are more likely to get this disease, since the added weight makes the joints more stressed. The second factor can be the type of physical activity, as jumping and climbing stairs can also add extra stress on the joints of the dog, when done too much. If the dog does this type of physical activity on a regular basis, it can add to the chance of developing arthritis.

The third factor that can contribute to hip dysplasia is a slippery bedding or flooring. If they puppy stays on wood or newspaper floors, they have an increased chance of getting hip dysplasia. A surface that is slippery will not make the dog get hip dysplasia, but it can worsen the situation. Even though hip dysplasia is caused by genetics, other factors can influence how the disease is expressed or how it develops.

About the Author

Want to learn more about hip dysplasia in dogs? On HipDysplasiaInDogs.Com you can find articles about hip dysplasia in dogs dealing with the main causes, symptoms and treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs.

Recognizing Hip Dysplasia in Dogs - VetVid Episode 014

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Effective PetMassage for Older Dogs DVD $15.00 This 55 minute DVD is a continuation an elaboration of the lessons in the video Effective Pet Massage for Dogs, Volume I. This video was created as advanced training for people to learn to PetMassage their pet dogs at home. This lesson is for you, the caregiver, whose dog may be showing signs of physical discomfort, advancing hip problems, the effects of poor circulation, or who is just having a …

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Dogswell Happy Hips Chicken Jerky - 32 oz $20.00 Dogswell Happy Hips Jerky - ChickenDogswell Happy Hips Jerky - Chicken helps your pet maintain healthy hips and joints with glucosamine and chondroitin. It is made from cage-free chicken raised without antibiotics, added growth hormones or added steroids and provides amino acids for muscle development and maintaining muscle tone.Available in 5 oz., 15 oz. and 32 oz. sizes….

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Dog Health: Hip Dysplasia (HD): Must Read Guide for Dog Owners Concerned about the Origins, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention of Hip Dysplasia (Vet Clinic Pet Guides) $8.00 Dog Health: Hip Dysplasia - Must Read Guide for Dog Owners concerned about the Origins, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention of Hip Dysplasia. An easy-to-read Dog Owner Guide written by a vet on Hip Dysplasia origins, key symptoms, possible complications to watch out for, suggestions to prevent the disease and the tried and tested methods to improve your dog’s Hip Dysplasia condition. A Must Have Gu…

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happytails Canine Spa Line Joint Resolution $10.42 happytails Joint ResolutionSore, aching joints are lubricated and nourished by this blend of BioCell Collagen II, herbal extracts and chondroitin, ingredients that have been clinically proven to strengthen cartilage and improve flexibility. The all natural formula is safe and effective for long-term use and is perfect for dogs suffering from old age, arthritis or hip dysplasia….

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i am going crazy trying to find a healthy affordable way to feed my dogs! Help?

i tried Evo but its too expensive. i really wish i could afford to feed them that but right now we just cant afford it. i switched to canidae and its more affordable but i cant get my dogs to eat it. one of my dogs starved herself for almost 3 days so i had to start mixing it with wet food which got too expensive. i went to a feed store and the guy recomended diamond naturals for small breeds. he gave us some samples and i came home and did some research on it only to find out that its crap. i know some people have said the chicken soup brand food is good but the guy at the feed store said diamond makes it and its really not all that great.
how am i suppose to feed my dogs healthy and still be able to feed myself?
i just found out not too long ago how bad most dog foods are. like many people i thought purina and iams were the best.

Just buy the best food that you can afford that’s all anyone can ask. Check this site out http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/ find a quality food that you can afford.

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Understanding Labrador Retrievers - Why a Lab May Be the Wrong Dog For You

Labrador Retrievers are extraordinarily animals. In other words, they have to be in tune with their owners in order to follow specific guidelines. The way to understanding this is to delve deeper at what Labs were bred to do, and that is to hunt and retrieve.

Think of it this way, these dogs must be in good harmony with their hunter/owner in order to follow precise guidance to track and fine birds that have fallen to the ground and out of sight. This need for a dog to have direction carries over to all aspects of a Labrador’s life - even at home.

This breed is perfect for people who enjoy and need constant canine companionship. On the other, it is bad for dog owners who have a Labrador Retriever but expect the animal to entertain itself with very little interaction from the owner.

There are hunting dogs that were actually bred to be independent hunters with hardly any interaction and guidance from people. Good examples of these types of dogs are Terriers and Hounds, which lead the way by use of their senses (by smell and sight) with the hunter determined to keep up with the dog’s pace.

Labs are created to retrieve, and in doing so they must have a connected attention link directly to the hunter. If a retriever does not adhere to the hunter’s commands then they may hit the water and swim far past where a squirrel has fallen, and possibly keep swimming out and away.

Well trained Labs do not make mistakes like this because they have the innate ability to attend to and follow specific directions from the hunter. This skill is absolutely crucial to being a dependable retriever and is one of the reasons that these dogs make great service animals and obedience trainees.

Why Many Labs Do Not Work Well With Some Families

I’m sure that you probably understand by now just how connected and dependent a Labrador Retriever becomes to its owners. It is always looking to people for leadership and must have interaction with people.

Every dog breed is companionable to some extent, some more than others, but Labs need a lot more attention than most dogs. They do not survive very well when left alone for long periods of time, whether within the home our outside. Many families who are away for long periods of time and come home and discovers that their Lab has ram shackled a side door or window trying to escape does not understand why how this could be happening.

These owners are understandably frustrated and then yell at their Labs. A well educated Lab owner will never react in this way because they know the reason why. The reason is that what causes a Lab to try to escape like this is because they want to search out and find its owners. They are under the impression that their “pack” missing and make an attempt to find them on the outside.

One lesson to take away from this information, especially if you have not yet decided on what type of dog to own and are considering a Labrador Retriever, is understand that you have to devote your Lab, regularly. If you neglect spending time with your dog, you should consider getting a more independent dog breed. Or else, your Lab may soon become extremely unhappy and will end up a very violent house pet, or even a runaway.

About the Author

Article by Kelly Marshall from
Oh My Dog Supplies
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Local paints and garden-care group Dulux made a positive if low-key debut on the Australian sharemarket yesterday.
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Do animals have rights?

In my view, animals do have the right to be treated well unless they are a danger to humans [crocodiles should be hunted], need to be used as food, to work like work horses or guiding dogs, to clothes us [fur] or be used in laboratories. The mouse will never know why he/she is in the laboratory testing medicines. Of course I do not hunt, never hurt squirrels nor birds, and never harm dogs nor cats. And I am no conservative republican, PLEASE! [I voted democrat last November] What’s your opinion?

Certain animal species are protected by laws. Of course you will never find one in court claiming it’s rights were violated however that does not mean they can’t receive justice. The USDA is the federal agency that implements most of these species specific laws. I think animals like everything else man touches generally tends to get poor treatment even on our best days. Why? Because we’re here and we ain’t leaving anytime soon.

during our anatomy class, our group dissecting a dog

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Homemade Dog Food: What You Need To Know

Most dog (and cat) owners are seriously concerned about the safety of the commercial pet food that they are using. With the pet food scares and recalls that are all over the news recently, more and more dog owners want to prepare their own nutritious dog food for their loving companions. However, a balanced diet for you or I is not the same as the one required by our furry friends. Their nutritional requirements are slightly different and these differences need to be taken into consideration for them to have a healthy balanced diet. The 3 major ingredients are discussed below.

Protein
All dog breeds require a significant quantity of protein in their diet, whether from a concentrated meat source or some other vegetable protein source. This is the first and foremost ingredient in a dog’s diet. Examples of good protein sources would be chicken, beef, lamb (including organ meat) as well as fish, eggs and cheese.

Essential fatty Acids
The second most important requirement is fatty acids. Of these, Linoleic Acid (Omega 6) is the most important as it is the only one that dogs can’t make themselves. Examples of good Omega 6 sources would be vegetables, vegetable oils, grains and fruits.

Calcium
Calcium is another important requirement for dogs. They actually need significantly more than their human companions. Examples of good sources of calcium for dogs would be animal bones which they can chew and calcium supplements obtained from vegetable sources. The disadvantages of calcium from bones are that they may contain disease (”mad cow” disease), have a high amount of phosphorous and contain toxic elements like arsenic, lead, mercury, & radioactive strontium.

Foods to Avoid
There are several foods that you should avoid when making meals for your pet dog.

Onions and garlic - the thiosulfates in these foods are actually very toxic to animals and can potentially cause the red blood cells to burst resulting in haemolytic anaemia.

Chocolate and cocoa products - chocolate contains theobromine which can be poisonous to dogs when eaten in large quantities.

Raisins and grapes - large quantities of these can cause liver failure.

Macadamia nuts - small quantities can cause temporary paralysis.

Avocados- the plant and the fruit are toxic to dogs.

Raw meat - the book is out on this one as many people advocate giving raw meat to their dogs. However, there is a chance that your dog (and you) will get sick from food-born parasites. Remember, if you do feed your dog raw meat, to practice safe food handling procedures. Also practice safe handling of your dog’s waste as, although salmonella rarely affects dogs, they can pass it in their feces.

Cooked poultry bones - these bones can splinter and kill your dog.

If you are thinking of changing your dog’s diet to a home made one, you should consult with your dog’s veterinarian, just like humans consult a physician for major changes in their diet. He/she is your best source of information on pet nutrition and can advise you on creating a balanced home diet. Dietary changes should be made gradually as rapid changes in diet can cause stomach upset or discourage your dog from eating. Just remember that to stay fit, healthy and active your dog needs a nutritious and well balanced diet.

About the Author

Mike Mathews is a writer and editor for
Dog Breed Facts
as well as the author of a new ebook
“Choosing a Dog for Your Lifestyle”

Home-Prepared Dog & Cat Diets: the Healthful Alternative $54.99 With an eye to the long-term health of pets, Dr Donald Strombeck outlines diets that the care giver can prepare at home or in the clinic. He offers nutritional and dietary guidance for animals with particular problems, from obesity, allergies, and gastrointestinal complaints to diseases of the kidney, pancreas, heart and joints. Each recipe includes nutrient content for proteins, fats and calories…

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Dining Calendar: Make your dining plans


Food writer Ron Mikulak offers a weekly listing of dining events, restaurant news, special meals, food events, wine tastings, cooking classes and more.
Homemade Dog Treats - Turkey and Cranberry Savories

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My dog is losing her hair…Does anyone know if this is a symptom of allergy to fleas? Or possibly nerves?

Not that I have seen any fleas, but I’m very concerned for her. She is a lab mix and I think she has some pit in her. She has been staying with my mom because I’ve been in the process of moving and my mom describes her as looking like she has mange. Can a dog lose her hair…literally chew it off because of nerves? I’m about to get her back after months so I will be taking her to the vet soon, but I’d like to do anything I can for her at home to make her comfortable first.

My dog lost her fur because of a thyroid disorder, and it looked like mange, but there are many reasons besides that one. Usually it’s in the same areas for thyroid. For some dogs, the winter season is bad and they lose their fur and then get it back afterwards. Dogs oftentimes chew their hair off due to boredom. If it’s a flea or mange problem, Frontline plus can control it, or the vet may prescribe a different topical.

Pet Damage

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How To Train A Dog Not To Bark

One of the most common questions dog owners are forced to address is how to train a dog not to bark.

Dogs love to bark. It’s a perfectly natural thing for your dog to do, just as it’s normal for
us humans to speak.

It’s when our dogs bark excessively that it becomes a problem for all concerned - including
our neighbours.

Considering this, our goal isn’t to to stop our dogs from barking, but rather how to control the excessive barking.

There are of course situations when we want our dogs to bark (and I guess there are also times when I like my chatty aunty to speak!;)

Training our dogs to stop or at least reduce their barking habit can be a very difficult task.

The first step in modifying this problem is to determine the reason why your dog is barking
in the first place. Once you’ve identified the cause or trigger, you can then plan your
training solution.

Why Do Dogs Bark?

- To express their needs (being bossy).

- Some dogs are bred to bark (some terriers and hounds).

- They are staking out their territory.

- To alert other members of their pack (that’s you and your family) of impending danger.

- When playing, just through sheer excitement.

- Barking at other animals. Depending on where you are in the world, it could be squirrels
or any other small animal.

- If they are isolated.

- Some dogs bark excessively when seperated from their pack (you and your family).

- If they are trapped behind some type of barrier like a fence or window.

- Just for fun!

- To express dominance (puppies normally test you out at some stage with a display of
dominance barking).

- They bark because their owners have inadvertently rewarded excessive barking in the past
(this is crucial to understand).

- Through boredom or a lack of physical and mental stimulation.

- May feel stressed or uncomfortable for some reason. Things like feeling threatened or if
they don’t have an appropriate place to sleep can cause excessive barking problems.

- Dogs that haven’t been properly socialized often become nuisance barkers.

- May be looking for a response or some attention from their pack.

Another thing to keep in mind is that even though it may appear to you that your dog is
barking at nothing, this is not necessarily the case. This is due to the fact that your dog
has a much more acute sense of hearing, smell and sight than us humans. Your dogs excessive barking is probably being triggered by something.

How To Stop Your Dog From Barking

Ok, now we’ve sorted out the reason for your dogs barking problem, we can put some training
techniques in place to control it.

The most important piece of advice to remember when trying to modify any dog behavioral
problem, is to clearly communicate to your dog what is acceptable behavior and what is not.

One of the biggest mistakes us dog owners make is to inadvertently reward our dogs excessive barking. We actually encourage and reinforce the barking problem when we commit these three dog training sins:

- Yell and scream at the dog, this just gives them the attention they were crying out for.

- Let them inside. If your dog is barking his head off outside, then you let him in, this
just rewards the barking.

- If your dog is barking and you react by giving him a comforting cuddle or a treat of some sort, you are definately encouraging your dog to bark again. By doing this you are communicating to your dog that you are happy with him. You should be making it clear that his excessive barking is inappropriate.

Right, lets get stuck into some proven techniques to stop your dog from barking. I’ve listed
the most common reasons why your dog may be barking, and some suggested solutions you can try.

Dog Goes Crazy Every Time The Phone Rings

This is a very common and annoying time for dogs to bark excessively. Try these training
techniques:

- Never yell at your dog.

- Get your dog used to the phone ringing, don’t make it such a big deal. Ring your home number from your cell phone or get a friend to keep calling you. When the phone rings just sit there, don’t say or do a thing. Repeat this process over a few days, your dog will probably continue to bark for a while but will give up before long.

- If you give your dog basic obedience training, behavioral problems such as excessive barking are easily controlled. Your dog looks up to you as their pack leader and is eager to please you in any situation. Teaching the Quiet! or Stop! obedience training command will soon correct nuisance barking problems.

- You may have some success by changing the tone and volume of your ring tone.

Dog Barks When You Are Not Home

I’m not going to pretend this type of barking will be easy for you to control, because in
reality it is often a difficult and lengthy process.

Always remember that dogs are social creatures, when they are seperated from their pack (you) they can become stressed and frustrated. This type of excessive barking is often caused by seperation anxiety.

- Firstly I’d say just use your common sense and get these dog ownership basics right. Keep your dog well exercised (physical and mental) and provide fresh water, chewing toys and a nice comfortable place to sleep. You can also try to block your dogs view of the street or other distractions. Basically, make sure your dog is happy.

- If you know your dog has been barking while you have been away, you must ignore him for a while when you return home. I understand this is difficult for lots of owners, but otherwise your dog believes that his barking is the reason you came back home to him. Just go about your business for a little while when you get home, ignoring your dog. When your dog has settled down, you then initiate contact with him.

- This next method takes time and patience, but can be a very effective way to stop your
dog from barking. It’s based on that important rule applicable to all training situations.
Praise or reward when your dog does something good, create a negative association when he does something bad. Leave the house as you normally would, but just hide somewhere nearby. When your dog starts to bark spray him with water or throw a tin can full of coins or rocks in his direction (this is the negative association). Try to keep out of your dogs sight while doing this if possible. Go and hide again, if he is quiet for a while, go in and reward his good behavior with some praise and maybe a treat. This process may need to be repeated over and over until you have broken the excessive barking habit.

- The above techniques have proven to be successful with my own dogs, but if they don’t
work for you, maybe you could try a Citronella Collar. Again this method uses the power of negative association. Every time your dog barks, a fine mist of citronella is sprayed into the air. Most dogs hate the smell, and soon realise if they don’t bark, the smell isn’t there to bother them. If you have more than one dog this method is not a suitable solution.

Dog Barks For Attention Or To Demand Something

This is one excessive barking problem that can be corrected very quickly.

- If you establish yourself as the pack leader or alpha dog in your owner-dog relationship, this type of barking problem won’t occur. You’ll also form a strong bond with your dog based on trust and respect.

- Another effective method you can try to stop this attention barking is simply ignoring your dog. Your dog will probably become frustrated and bark alot initially, but once he realizes that it is not getting him anywhere, he will stop. This training method can be hard on the ears for a while!

Dog Barks At Passers By

Workers like the Postman and Delivery Driver’s are constantly being barked at throughout their day.

Your dog perceives these type of people as intruders or a threat to their territory. The dog then barks and every time he barks he is rewarded, as the intruder goes away. Your dog is then very pleased that he has averted this threat, which leads him to do it again and again. His behavior is reinforced and therefore this can be a difficult problem to turn around.

- If possible, you could try to block your dogs vision or access to the area where these
people pass by.

- Dog obedience training is the best solution to this type of excessive barking. Once you have your dog properly obedience trained, you will be able to communicate to him that this is unacceptable behavior.

- If your dog consistently barks at a particular person, you may need this person to help
modify your dogs behavior. Just say your dog gets really agitated each time the postman
arrives. Have a chat to your postman and give him some of your dogs very favorite treats. Each time he delivers to your house, he can also deliver a tasty treat to your dog. In your dogs mind the postman goes from being a threat, to a welcome guest.

How To Train A Dog Not To Bark

In extreme cases of excessive barking, where all else has failed, some people advocate
debarking surgery. I’ve never needed to go down this path with any of my dogs, and don’t think I ever would. But if you have come to the end of the line and think you have run out of options, you could discuss debarking surgery with your Veterinarian.

Good luck in trying to control your dog’s excessive barking. If you consistently apply the above training techniques and add a little patience, you should have your dog under control before long.

About the Author

Chris Smith is a dedicated dog owner and creator of
www.dog-obedience-training-review.com

Discover the right way to train your dog at home.

Dog Treats

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We found 4 ticks on my dog….?

And we took them off before they attached. But now, even though I checked myself for ticks, I’ve noticed I’m having a harder time chewing, which is a symptom of Lymes, paralysis in the muscles of the face. I don’t think I have lymes, but this is the only symptom that has occurred, should I be worried?We found the ticks about 18 hours a go.

I doubt very much if you picked off “Lyme” ticks off your dog unless you have magnifying eyes! They are very tiny.

I think that your problem may be just the thought of a tick that has set up a nervous reaction.

Have someone thoroughly check every bit of you body for a bite or even an embedded tick.

I don’t like your symptoms…best you go to a Doctor ASAP!

Paralysis Tick

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