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Recipe for De-Skunking

If your dog gets sprayed by a skunk the following recipe will remove the odor.

1 quart Hydrogen Peroxide
1 quarter cup baking soda
1 teaspoon liquid soap or shampoo

Mix very well, apply all over dog, let set for 10 min. Rinse well then use whatever shampoo you use and just shampoo again works well . You must have long plastic gloves and protect your body very well from splash, where a mask.

Peter Precourt, CT

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About Fleas
Appearance:  Small (1/12 - 1/16" long) dark, reddish-brown, wingless, blood-sucking insects. Hard, flattened bodies covered with short spines and long legs adapted for jumping.

Life cycle: 4 stages: * egg * larva * pupa * biting adult
Warning signs:
Pets infested with fleas will bite and scratch themselves constantly. Their coats become roughened and the skin can become infected. Watch for excessive scratching and use a flea comb on your pet regularly, checking for black specks or "flea dirt." The usual flea bite has a small red spot where the flea has bitten.

Flea-Bite Related Problems: Besides the discomfort even one flea bite can cause people and pets, there are more serious medical concerns that may result from fleas.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) -- Some pets or people may develop an allergy to flea saliva. Even one flea bite can result in significant irritation, itchiness and aggravation that lasts up to 5 days. It is characterized by small scabs and redness at the bite site, hair loss and secondary infection. The primary treatment is to remove the existing fleas and prevent future flea bites.

Tape Worms -- this intestinal parasite is a common ailment associated with fleas. Though not transmitted by bites, fleas cause tape worms when a pet ingests a flea carrying the tapeworm larva while grooming itself. After ingestion, the tapeworm larva develop and move through the gastrointestinal tract. The parasite segments resemble small pieces of rice and may be discovered around the anal region of your pet.

Flea Bite Anemia -- occurs in severe flea infestations or in very young pets. When a flea bites, it feeds on blood. With many fleas feeding at the same time, significant blood loss can occur, resulting in severe anemia. Blood transfusions, iron supplementation and hospitalization are frequently necessary. Flea bite anemia may even be fatal to some pets.

Treatment:
To effectively eliminate fleas and prevent re-infestation, you must break the flea life cycle by killing flea eggs and larvae which make up 95% of the flea population. Spot topical treatments like Advantage, Bio-spot, Hartz Advanced Care and Zodiac Spot On kill flea eggs, larvae and pupa. They will also kill and repel adult fleas.
Any serious flea associated illness, such as FAD, Tape Worms or Flea Bite Anemia, should be treated by your veterinarian.

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About Ticks
Appearance: Small (1/8 - 1/2" long) dark brown, round, blood-sucking parasite. Adult ticks have eight legs, larvae or seed ticks have six.

Life cycle: 4 stages: * egg * larva * nymph * adult
Warning signs: Ticks may appear as a small dark speck on your pet's fur, or may appear as small growths when engorged. Examine your pet's skin regularly, checking for the presence of ticks. Infestations are more common in dogs than cats.

Tick- Related Problems: Although not all ticks carry disease, it is important to note that certain ones can transmit various diseases. The brown dog tick and the American dog tick are the most common carriers of disease among dogs. This includes Ehrlichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme disease and tick paralysis. All these diseases can be life threatening, so seek veterinary care immediately if you pet contracts any of them.

Lyme disease -- serious disease usually transmitted by deer ticks to humans and animals. Signs include lameness, fever, weight loss, lethargy and fever. Condition may become chronic.
 
Ehrlichiosis -- Most common disease transmitted by brown ticks. Characterized by anemia, bleeding, fever, lethargy, appetite loss, depression and stiffness and swelling in limbs and joints.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever -- Commonly diagnosed in outdoor pets. Characterized by fever, breathing difficulty and swelling of face or extremities. Neurologic and vascular irregularities may also occur.

Treatment: If bitten, ticks should be removed from skin promptly to minimize the amount of disease transmitted. Using tweezers, grasp the tick close to the skin and pull gently. Never remove ticks with your bare hand. Prevent new ticks from biting and help detach already attached ticks with special collars or products applied topically. Avoid prolonged exposure to wooded spaces or areas with tall grasses. Check your clothes and your pet thoroughly after time spent outdoors. Advantage, Bio-spot, Hartz Advanced Care and Zodiac Spot On will kill and repel ticks at all stages. If you suspect your pet has contracted any of the tick diseases, immediately contact your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.

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A Shiny Coat: Nutrition is Key
Why Nutrition is Important to Skin and Coat Health

Nutrients such as protein, fat, vitamins and minerals are important players in the skin and coat health of dogs and cats. To understand their role, it is necessary to start with understanding skin and hair. The purpose of skin and hair is to block things from leaving (such as water or heat) or entering (such as viruses and bacteria) the body. The hair coat is composed almost entirely of protein. If the animal's diet doesn't contain adequate protein quantity and quality, hair may fall out or become dry, weak and brittle. Skin is made up of squamous cells--flat cells tightly packed together. These cells have tough membranes composed of proteins and fats. Without proper amounts of these nutrients, cell membranes weaken, allowing water to escape and bacteria and viruses to enter more easily.

Essential Amino Acids and Fatty Acids
Proteins are found in both animal-based and plant-based ingredients. Animal-based proteins contain all the essential amino acids dogs and cats need, whereas plant-based proteins may contain only some essential amino acids. Dogs and cats need animal-based proteins to achieve optimal health.

Fats can also be found in both animal-based and plant-based ingredients. They are incorporated into skin cells as fatty acids. There are two essential fatty acids for skin and coat health. Linoleic acid maintains skin and coat condition in dogs and cats. Without enough linoleic acid dogs and cats may experience dull, dry coat, hair loss, greasy skin and increased susceptibility to skin inflammation. Cats also require arachidonic acid for normal skin and coat health. Both of these are omega-6 fatty acids and are found in animal tissues like chicken fat and in vegetable oils (corn and soybean). However, most commercial dog and cat diets contain more than adequate amounts of omega-6 fatty acids. Because these fatty acids can be converted to compounds that promote skin inflammation, it is important to balance the amount of omega-6 fatty acids in the diet with omega-3 fatty acids, which do not promote inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in oils from fish and some plants (canola and flax). Research has found that combining fat sources in the diet at a ratio of five to ten omega-6 fatty acids to one omega-3 fatty acid results in excellent skin and coat health.

Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins and minerals are essential for the development of healthy skin and hair coat. The best way to provide these nutrients is through a complete and balanced diet containing appropriate amounts of essential vitamins and minerals rather than through supplements.
Vitamin or Mineral   Importance to Skin and Coat Health
 
Vitamin A - for growth and repair of skin
Vitamin E - Protects skin cells from oxidant damage
Vitamin C - Helps heal wounds
Biotin - Aids in the utilization of protein
Riboflavin (B2) - Necessary for fat and protein metabolism
Zinc - Necessary for fat and protein metabolism
Copper - Involved in tissue, pigment and protein synthesis

Changes in Coat Condition
Diet is believed to be a factor when changes in skin and coat condition are noticed. The most common causes of these changes, however, are season and lifestage. As cold weather approaches, most dogs and cats grow a thick coat to help keep heat in and cold air out. As the weather begins to warm up, they shed the thick, heavy coat. Most puppies and kittens are born with soft fuzzy hair, but as they age, a coarser coat grows. Pregnant or lactating bitches and queens also may experience a change in coat condition or hair loss. And, as with humans, the hair on dogs may thin out and become coarser and white as they reach their senior years.
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Developing a Workout Schedule for Your Dog

Jump in and find a fitness plan both you and your dog will enjoy. Just like you, your four-legged friend can benefit from an exercise routine. Regular exercise improves muscle tone, joint flexibility, digestion and cardiovascular fitness. Exercise also helps prevent obesity, which has been linked to numerous health problems in dogs. Besides making your dog healthier, exercise also makes her happier. She'll be more relaxed and less destructive.

Getting Started
Before beginning a fitness plan, take your pet to your veterinarian for a pre-exercise physical. He or she will check for heart, lung, and joint problems and evaluate your dog's overall condition. Your pal's exercise program should be tailored to her age, size and breed. Ask your veterinarian how much exercise - and what kind - is appropriate for your dog. Even if your dog has a health problem, she still needs to be fit. Your vet can recommend an appropriate exercise program that works around her condition. Healthy dogs can begin to incorporate exercise into their routines with two short exercise sessions a day. Possibilities include a 15-minute walk, a game of fetch in the backyard or a quick swim. Start slow and listen to your vet's advice ... but start!

Basic Guidelines
When you exercise your dog outdoors, pick areas with soft grass or dirt. Exercising your pet on hard or slippery surfaces can damage her footpads or lead to falls.
Prevent heatstroke by skipping exercise sessions on extremely hot days. Watch your pet closely to see if she drinks plenty of fresh water during the day and stop if you notice excessive panting or fatigue during workouts on very warm days.
Also, avoid exercising your pet within an hour of her eating a large meal, especially if she's one of the larger, deep-chested breeds predisposed to bloat. (Bloat is a serious disease in which the stomach fills with air. In serious cases the stomach can twist, trapping the air and causing shock -or even death.)

How Much Is Enough?
Different breeds require different exercise routines. For the average adult dog, 20 to 45 minutes of moderate exercise, such as brisk walking twice a day, is sufficient. This guideline applies to most mixed breeds and purebred dogs. More active dogs, including many of the sporting, herding and working breeds, may need one to two hours of vigorous exercise each day. By contrast, small toy breeds may get much of the exercise they need inside an apartment. Once you've worked up to the exercise level your veterinarian recommends, monitor your dog's activity level. If she still tears through the house or takes flying leaps off your sofa, she might need a more vigorous workout.
On the other hand, take care not to do too much too fast. Your canine companion can't tell you when she's had enough, so it's your job to look for signs of weariness, including an altered gait or heavy panting. Use your dog's exercise session to connect with your canine companion. She'll not only release pent-up energy, she'll look and feel great!

Quality of Life
When our pets are young and brand new to us, it's easy to remember to visit the vet on a regular basis. Although as time passes, many pet owners don't realize or remember the importance of regular veterinary care. Without regular visits, your pet's health can decline and create internal problems that effect his quality of life. Your pet's quality of life is dependent on the assurance that even as he ages and his internasystems slow down, he is provided the comfort to live without pain.
As your pet ages, many of the normal bodily functions stop performing at their optimal capacity. When problems arise in an older pet, they can often be complicated by the fact that the organs are not in peak condition and will not be able to fight off an ailment as they once did when your pet was younger. If these problems are detected early, the chance of treating and correcting them are significantly increased. Early detection begins by first identifying what age category your pet fits into.

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How do you know when your dog becomes a senior dog?

The age of any dog, relative to humans, is primarily based on the size of the breed. Smaller breeds, or those under 20 pounds, age slower -- while larger breeds, or those over 90 pounds, age much quicker.
While an exact determination of the animal's age relative to a human's is impossible to measure, these standards can be used to estimate at what age your dog will be considered a senior:

20 pounds or less = 8 years
21 - 89 pounds = 7 years
90 pounds of more = 5 to 6 years
Cats = 7 years

If your pet falls into the senior pet category, it is best that they are examined by a veterinarian twice a year. While this may seem excessive, a yearly visit for an older dog is equivalent to allowing four years to go by without a trip to the doctor for an elderly human. Problems can arise within this time that are easily undetectable by the pet owner and can cause serious problems if left untreated for too long.

What is the vet looking for in their exam?
Initially, the vet is going to look at all your pet's vital signs, such as heart rate and breathing pattern, as well as physical characteristics such as the condition of the eyes, ears, nose, and throat.
Behavior is very important as well. Is the animal alert and responsive or dull and depressed? Has water consumption increased? Has urination frequency changed? Does the animal vomit often or have diarrhea? These characteristics can be very telling as to the overall health of your pet.

The vet will check how the bones and joints are holding up. Is stiffness a concern? Does the animal have trouble getting up? Can the dog no longer take long walks or run like they used to? Many animals feel pain and cannot tell their owners.
The veterinarian will also review your pet's medical history. Have the vaccinations been routinely given year after year? Are preventative care programs followed, such as heartworm preventative and flea and tick control? All of these things together contribute to the longevity and the quality of life that the animal requires.

What is the next step?
Your veterinarian will discuss the health of your pet with you and make recommendations as to how to sustain a long and healthy life by giving you the tools you need to assure that their quality of life is not compromised in the later years. After all, it is not the number of years, but the quality of those years that matters most.

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Did you know that oil of oregano applied to fungus worts or ringworm or any fungus on the dogs body, will get rid of it after a few applications??

Barbara Cox, TX

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