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Holistic Dog Health

• Dog Frequent Urination - Why it Happens

  You may have noticed that most young dogs urinate frequently. If you are having problems with your dog’s frequent urination, the best thing to do is to get down to the bottom of the matter. Try to find out what is causing the dog’s frequent urination. You may not be aware of it but there are a number of causes that could lead to dog frequent urination. Each of these causes has to be approached differently. The following are the possible causes of frequent urination in dog: 1. Territory marking. Dog frequent urination may be attributed to the dog’s instinct to mark its territory. Male dogs usually mark their territory by urinating on the spot. This is a common trait in dogs which are dominant. If the dog wants to mark more territories, he does so through frequent urination. One way to stop this behavior is to have the dog neutered. 2. Submissive urination. Dogs, especially puppies, may urinate frequently as a sign of respect to its owner. This is called submissive urination. This can be stopped by teaching your dog other means of showing respect to its owner. 3. Fear. Frequent urination in dog may be caused by fear or phobia that the dog is experiencing. Like humans, dogs can feel fear towards certain things and events. They may also acquire phobias because of traumatic events that they may have gone through. To stop fear-based frequent urination in dog, read through the following tips: • Do not shout at or try to hit your dog. • Do not intentionally bring your dog to a place of which you are aware that he has some fears with. • Let your dog mingle with other dogs. • When the dog shows signs of fear, do not attempt to reassure him. Let him fight his fear and show to him that there is nothing to be afraid of through your actions. You may also distract his attention by giving him food or something to play with. • Avoid the things which you know induce fear in your dog. Territory marking, submissive urination, and fear are three reasons that a dog may urinate frequently. These reasons are easy to deal with and you may not seek the help of a veterinarian to stop them. However, dog frequent urination may also be caused by severe medical conditions. In these cases, the help of a vet is essential. Dog frequent urination may be caused by the following medical conditions: urinary tract infection, bladder infection, diabetes, and prostate cancer. Dogs with urinary tract infection or other problems associated with their urinary system may exhibit signs of frequent urination aside from many other symptoms. When you suspect the frequent urination in dog is caused by any of these underlying medical conditions, it is best to bring it to the vet for check-up. These conditions may be fatal to the dog. If ignored, frequent urination in dog may lead to other symptoms such as blood in the urine and dehydration. Without treatment, such conditions could endanger a dog’s life. Find the right natural treatment for your dog's frequent urination. Click the link!

• Recipes for Homemade Dog Food

  It is understandable that responsible dog owners only want the best for their beloved pet dogs. After the pet food recall that happened recently, many dog owners are trying to learn how to make homemade dog food. They believe that by making their own homemade dog food they can help their pet dogs avoid the potential harm that can result from the intake of contaminated commercial dog foods. We cannot blame pet owners if they shun commercial dog foods away from the diet of their pets. In a way, they have made a wise decision. Recipes for homemade dog foods usually contain ingredients that are natural and are therefore safe for dogs. Apart from this, dogs can be given optimum vitamins and minerals since homemade dog foods can be cooked according to the vitamin and mineral requirement needed by the dog. A variety of recipes for homemade dog foods can be found in the Internet. Dog owners can browse websites and see for themselves which recipe will be best for their dog. They can try cooking all these recipes or choose only those which fit their budget. However, before giving their pet dogs any homemade dog foods, they should consult the veterinarian first and ask if the homemade dog food they will be giving their pet will better give the pet the nutrients it need. The veterinarian can give advice on the proper preparation of the homemade dog food. In addition, prior to shifting completely into homemade dog foods, the owner must see to it that the dog is ready for the change in his diet. Abrupt dietary changes may result to problems of indigestion and upset stomach. There are many ways of making homemade dog foods. Some of these ways may be costly but some can be very affordable. If you want a recipe that is friendly to your budget, try some of these following tips. 1. Look for the ingredient that is on sale in the market. For example, if a certain kind of meat is on sale in the market you can make your dog food from this meat. Mix and cook this meat with other ingredients and your dog food is ready to go. 2. Look first in your kitchen if there are available ingredients there that are good for your homemade dog food. This way, you do not have to buy and shell out any money for the dog food. 3. Use your left-over meat or rice for your dog food. You can save a lot from this. 4. Buy ingredients in bulk. This way, you can save a few cents. You only need to be creative to be able to make homemade dog food that will fit your budget. Recipes for homemade dog foods don’t need to be costly. There are ingredients that can be bought at a lesser price but can still give the daily nutrient requirement of your pet. You can also turn to your existing supply in the kitchen and make your homemade dog food from what can be found there. And for 180 Delicious Gourmet Homemade Dog Food Recipes - click here.

• UTI in a Female Puppy: Six Symptoms of Female Puppy UTI

  If you are constantly rushing your female puppy to the vet for recurring urinary tract infection (UTI), it would very much help if you know how to spot the symptoms of female puppy UTI before the condition worsens. Most frequently, owners do not realize that their puppy is suffering from UTI until the condition has already reached its advanced stage. As a result, the life of the puppy is put at risk and the owner is likely to administer aggressive treatment that may bring about harsh side effects in an attempt to save the puppy’s life. To keep this from happening, it is imperative that an owner knows the symptoms of UTI in a female puppy. Symptoms of UTI in a Female Puppy The symptoms of UTI in a female puppy are easy to detect if you are aware of the urinating habit of your puppy. Any signs of irregularity may signal a problem in the puppy’s health. The following are signs of female puppy UTI. 1. Frequent urination. A female puppy suffering from UTI may tend to urinate more often. This constant urination may be caused by an inflammation in its bladder. If inflammation has worsened, this frequent urination may lead to incontinence or the inability for the puppy to control the flow of its urine. 2. In contrast to frequent urination, a puppy with UTI may urinate less than usual. This condition could be caused by a blockage in the female puppy’s urethra or bladder. The blockage may be caused by the formation of stones or plugs. Although blockage is most common in male puppies, it could also happen in females. If left untreated, a complete blockage may occur and put the puppy’s life in extreme danger. 3. Excessive thirst. Female puppies with UTI may also tend to drink more water. This increase in thirst may be a sign of dehydration which may be caused by constant urination or excessive excretion of liquid from its body. 4. Bloody urine. In its advanced stage, UTI in a female puppy may result to bloody urine. This can be extremely painful to the puppy. 5. Straining to urinate. The puppy may strain to urinate but produce only trickles of urine. The puppy may also whimper when trying to urinate because of the pain that goes along with the process. 6. Lethargy. If you notice that your puppy is getting lethargic more often, or is feverish, chances are it may be suffering from female puppy UTI in its advanced stage. Treatment is a must in this condition. Female puppy UTI could cause a lot of discomfort to the puppy. It is important that as a dog owner, you take the necessary precautions to keep your puppy free from infection. Female puppies are especially prone to UTI, so you must see to it that you give it proper care daily. Giving it enough amount of clean water to drink everyday and washing it regularly would help. Likewise, you may give it a dose of homeopathic remedy to help keep its immune system strong to fight against infections. Most importantly, bring it to the vet immediately when you suspect it is suffering from any of the symptoms of female puppy UTI. Find out more about preventing symptoms of female puppy UTI before they eventuate by using natural preventions - click here.

• Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs

  Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Urinary tract infections in dogs are caused by any kind of these bacteria: proteus mirabilis, escherichia coli, pseudomonas, coagulase positive straphylococcus, esterococcus, or klebsiella. These bacteria enter the dog’s body through the food it eats and the water it drinks everyday. Bacteria can also penetrate a dog’s internal system through its external urinary orifices. This instance is called “ascending UTI”. Once bacteria have entered the dog’s system, they cause inflammation to the dog’s gall bladder and urinary tract. If left untreated, the bacteria may spread to the dog’s kidneys and cause even more infection. Urinary tract infection in dogs causes discomfort and pain to the pet. The female dogs are more prone to this disease than the male dogs because female dogs have shorter urethra compared to the male dogs. Although at some instance the infection may resolve itself without medical intervention, it could spread and put your dog’s life at risk. Thus, it is important that as a dog owner, you know how to tell when your dog is suffering from UTI. Symptoms of urinary tract infections in dogs are easy to determine. Observe your dog and watch for any of these signs: tenderness of the lower area of the stomach, blood in the dog’s urine, a foul smell in the dog’s urine, pain in urinating, and urinating in the most inappropriate areas of the house. If you notice any of these signs in your beloved pet, bring your dog to the veterinarian for proper diagnosis. There are many ways to cure urinary tract infection in dogs. Usually, the veterinarian would prescribe antibiotics. However, you could use homeopathic treatments and other natural remedies especially when the urinary tract infection is still at its early stages. Some natural remedies you could try at home are the following: 1. Cantharis. This natural remedy helps relieve the pain caused by the urinary tract infection in dogs. 2. Uva ursi 3. Berberis vulgaris 4. Cranberry juice and other pure citrus juices. These increase the acidity of the dog’s urine and prevent bacteria from spreading to the dog’s bladder; thus, minimizing the spread of infection. 5. Give your dog a dose of vitamin C everyday. Vitamin C helps strengthen the dog’s immune system. 6. Staphysagris 7. Juniper berry 8. Goldenrod Giving your dog clean water to drink everyday helps prevent urinary tract infections in dogs. Likewise, it helps speed up the healing process of the infection. It is also best to bathe your dog everyday as regular bathing could help flush away the bacteria and prevent them from entering into your dog’s internal system and causing infection. Urinary tract infections in dogs is health-threatening and may lead to more severe cases of infection and may ultimately result to the death of your pet. However, it is highly curable. Be wary of the symptoms of the disease in your dog and be quick to take him to your vet for proper diagnosis if you see any of the warning signs. This way, you can prevent the spread of infection and ensure that your dog stays in good shape. Prevent Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs - Click Here!