Pet Wellness - Lead Poisoning in Dogs

Dog wellness advice on the chat today is with regards to lead poisoning in dogs. Lead toxicity or lead poisoning is medically known as Plumbism, and refers to poisoning due to ingestion or inhalation of products containing lead. When lead based paint is on the walls its fine, but when it is disturbed, causing dust and chips of paint to fall to the ground, this is where the problem starts. Dogs especially will ingest pieces of paint - particularly puppies. The dust from the moving and scraping of the paint settles in the pet’s fur and between his toes as well as is inhaled through his nose.  This is one of the more common causes of lead poisoning in dogs, when a home is renovated or newly painted. 

Paint produced prior to 1977 contained high levels of lead and some companies today are still using this paint on children and pet products.  Although the Consumer Product Safety Commission checks the safety of all toys for humans and enforces a federal standard for lead in paint for children's toys, there is not an organization that regularly tests animal toys nor is there a standard for lead in pet toys.  So pet owners need to be vigilant in ensuring their pets are out of harms way when renovating their home. However it isn't just paint that can cause lead poisoning in dogs or other pets.

Lead poisoning or lead toxicity can come from the following;

1. Paint, or the disturbance of paint due to re painting or renovations

2. Lead weights used as sinkers on fishing poles

3. Lead pellets and shot for use in guns

4. Household items such as drapery weights, linoleum, rug padding, and foil from the tops of wine bottles

5. Automotive parts such as batteries, wheel weights, leaded gasoline and discarded oil from cars using leaded gasoline

6. Construction materials such as solder, putty and caulking

7. Plumbing and roofing materials

Puppies are more likely to ingest materials containing lead because of their chewing, playful nature and their need to get into just about everything.

Dogs are more likely than cats to eat lead containing objects and younger animals absorb larger amounts of lead than older animals. In pregnant animals the babies are affected because lead crosses the placenta and is excreted in the mother's milk, causing the fetus to be effected.

Lead poisoning in dogs can cause gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea.  It can cause anemia and seizures, and suppress the immune system.  Basically if your dog or pet has lead poisoning he is very sick and definitely requires immediate urgent medical attention.

Signs and Symptoms

*Loss of appetite
*Abdominal pain
*Vomiting
*Diarrhea
*Anxiety
*Aggressive behavior
* Muscle tremors
*In coordination
*Weakness
*Seizures
*Blindness
*Deafness
*Behavior changes
*Mental "dullness" (not alert)
*Increased thirst and urinations
*Shortness of breath
*Intolerance for exercise
If you notice any of the above symptoms in your pet, contact your vet immediately.

In order for the vet to properly diagnose your dog he may perform a series of exams such as diagnostic tests, which would include a complete blood count, Serum biochemistry tests to check the liver and kidney function and assess the extent of systemic injury from the lead. Another test would be a blood lead concentration test to determine the amount of lead concentration in your dog's body. Pumping of the stomach and enemas are performed to remove any remaining lead. Surgery may be needed for removal of any object in the stomach.  Fluids are administered intravenously to correct dehydration and facilitate urinary excretion of lead. Diazepam Phenobarbital or Pentobarbital are administered to control seizures.

So as you can see, if your dog, God forbid were to get lead poisoning, you are talking about a very involved, sad, uncomfortable, stressful, and costly vet visit.  Not to mention the recovery time and medications your dog might be on for a while, as well as frequent follow up visits.

Home Care

Pet natural health care is extremely common and used by pet owners around the world with very successful results, particularly when it comes to common pet illnesses.  However in this case there is no natural or home care for lead poisoning in dogs. Seek veterinary care promptly if you suspect your dog has ingested lead-containing materials or shows any of the above signs.

Once you take your pet home from the vet it is vital that you administer medications exactly as directed by your vet and monitor your pet daily.  Note down any symptoms that become worse or any new symptoms you notice. Immediately discuss these changes with your vet.

Prevention

Dog wellness means dog owner awareness and a huge part of preventing lead poisoning in dogs is awareness.  Being aware of items or chemicals around your home and yard that contain lead and making sure they are out of your dogs reach - keeping in mind any special skills your dog may have either in his breed or owner taught. If you can remove all sources of lead from your home and garden this would be the best way of prevention.  Keep your dog away from any renovation that might be going on in your home, and away from discarded materials.  Keep your dog away from your garage if you know you are storing lead containing materials. It is also important to make sure dog toys and bowls are lead free. Never underestimate your dog.  Assuming your dog won't get into things because he is behaved, out of the puppy stages, or simply isn't bothered could cost you to have a very sick dog.  Don't take any chances and keep any toxic materials well away from your dogs reach - at all times.

Dog Trivia: An African wolf dog known as the Basenji is the only dog in the world that cannot bark.

Dog Wellness - Choosing a Dog Breeder

There are several avenues in which to go when looking to purchase a dog.  You can go the dog pound and rescue a dog or puppy.  Dog pounds do not only have mutts they also have pure breed dogs and puppies. Another option is a pet store, once again having pure breeds and mixed breeds. Or, you can get a pure breed puppy from a dog breeder, which means you must know the ins and outs of choosing a dog breeder. The most important thing is to get the best possible breed for your environment and family as well as to get the healthiest puppy with a good personality.  These are the first areas for possible future dog owners to infiltrate good dog wellness practices.

If you make the decision to go the route of a dog breeder do not be fooled into thinking that all dog breeders are good because they must love dogs and would certainly not take any short cuts or endanger the dogs.  This is not at all the case.  There are poor dog breeders that do not follow the rules and take short cuts, and will try and pull the wool over their customers' eyes. A bad breeder doesn't practice proper prenatal care, socialize their puppies, or give disease screening.  They also do not provide their puppies with good preventative pet health care. 

When you interview a dog breeder it is important keep an eye out for  red flags that wave in the wind.  According to the dog care professionals at Pet Place.com and Russel Wake, professional dog breeder, should you decide to go with a dog breeder, here is what to look for, ask for and red flags you need to be able to recognize when shopping for your new puppy.

1. Puppies that have been socialized
Puppies that receive little or no human handling between the ages of eight and 16 weeks of age often remain fearful when exposed to new situations. A puppy who is not socialized may appear fearful when around you, in the car ride home, their first trip to the vet and meeting children, strangers or other dogs. Meeting their new family for the first time, the car ride to their new home, their first trip to the vet, and meeting children, strangers or other dogs for the first time can be extremely frightening for these puppies.

The dog breeder you are interviewing should be able to discuss socialization of puppies, give tips, tell you how he has socialized his puppies, and tell you ways to ensure you continue the socialization and training.

2. Puppies that have seen a veterinarian
The dog breeder should have no problem providing you with proof of medical care and nutrition, as well as medical records.

3. Beware of breeders who are reluctant to give you references.

4. Beware of breeders that breed more than one breed of dog.

5. The breeders facilities are open to inspection, are kept sanitary, and dog wellness techniques and care are obvious.

6. Beware of breeder facilities that look like puppy mills.

7. Beware of puppies that appear dirty or smelly.

8. Breeders that don't work with a veterinarian providing good quality prenatal care to the bitch.  Once again their medical records should be available for your to see.

9. Beware of breeders that don't take the puppies to their veterinarian for general "wellness care" and health certificates.

10. Beware of breeders that won't give you a guarantee.

11. At least the dame of the litter is on the premises and available for your inspection, with pictures and contact details of the owner of the sire.

12. Beware of breeders that sell to pet shops.

Here are some questions to ask when you interview the dog breeder.

1. Are the puppies' parents certified?  Most diseases such as hip problems, eye and heart problems are inherited.  Many breeders will have their dogs evaluated and tested for that disease and ultimately "certified" by a veterinary specialist to be disease-free. Know about the breed and if there are any common genetic problems.

2. Ask to see the puppies parents in order to evaluate them and take note of their size.  Their size will give you a good indication of the size their puppies will grow into. Investigate their temperament as well.  Are they shy, aggressive or well adjusted?

3. Confirm through medical records that the pup has been vaccinated, dewormed and has seen the vet.

4.  Ask if any of the puppies in the litter have been sick? If so, what were the signs, the diagnosis and treatment?

5. What is the breeders guarantee? What guarantee does the breeder give with their puppies? If the puppy is found to have a severe illness, what will they do? A good breeder will be used to discussing this area of his business and will not find it offensive or unusual. 

6. Ask the breeder for a couple references of puppy owners that they have sold to within the past year. Call the owners and inquire if the puppy was healthy, and if they had any problems and how those problems were handled if any.

7.  Some breeders require that you spay or neuter your dog by a certain age. If that is the case, that may not be a problem but it is best to know before you get your puppy.

8. Ask the breeder for the family history of which ever pup you select. What age did the parents live until? What did they die from? The medical history of both parents?  This could be important for when your pup is older.

9. What is the breeder currently feeding the puppy? Regardless of what they are feeding, it is ideal to continue feeding the same food for the first few days at home to minimize the risk of gastrointestinal disturbances. If you choose to change the diet, do it gradually.

10. Health certificate and certificate of sale. Ask the breeder if he will supply a health certificate for the puppy issued by his veterinarian. Some states require also a certificate of sale.

Good dog wellness practices means doing research on the suitable breed for your lifestyle and family, as well as doing research on dog breeders and how to assess them before purchasing a puppy. These are the first responsible steps any future dog owner should take.

Dog Trivia:   A dog’s sense of smell is more than 100,000 times stronger than that of humans.

Dog Wellness - Safety, Wellness and Health Tips

If you are considering adding a dog to your family it is important to understand all that is entailed with being a successful, happy dog owner and ensuring you have a happy healthy dog. Of course, there are many things to know and understand before getting a dog but these dog wellness tips are a good place to get an idea of things you need to have and take care with to ensure safety, health and wellness for your dog.  If you already own a dog ask yourself this; Are you aware of the things that can hurt your dog and aware of the things he needs to stay happy and healthy?  Good dog wellness practices start with pet owner knowledge and awareness.


With compliments of Dr. Jon, veterinarian, here are some dog wellness tips to increase your knowledge and add to your compilation of necessary pet care knowledge. 

Bread Dough

When bread dough is ingested, it rises in a dog's stomach and as the dough ferments, alcohol is produced, causing alcohol toxicity.   After ingestion, dogs will act nauseated, vomit, act painful, lethargic or become disoriented.

If your dog does get his paws on bread dough, call your veterinarian or local emergency clinic.

Obesity

Not only does extra weight put stress on joints and discourage exercise, but obesity may also lead to increased risk of diabetes, arthritis and cancer. Check your dog's conformation to determine if he is too chubby. An obese dog has a rounder girth, a paunch on his underbelly and his ribs are buried.

Traveling with Your Dog

When traveling with your pet in the car, it's import to follow these tips:

• Use Proper Restraint: When traveling in your vehicle, your pet should always be properly restrained for both your and their safety. In the case of an accident, a dog can weigh up 30 times its weight upon impact while traveling at 35 mph. Today, many companies create seat belt systems and crates to keep animals safely secured while on the road.

• Never Leave Your Pet In the Car: In 70-degree weather and above, it takes only minutes for the temperatures in your car to escalate to triple digits. Leaving the window open an inch does not provide adequate ventilation. Many states are passing laws that prohibit leaving your pet alone in your automobile.

• Bring Water: Car travel can make your pets feel anxious and result in nervous panting. Be sure to take frequent breaks during your trip to allow your pet the opportunity to re-hydrate.  Let him out of the care on a leash and give him some water in a bowl and even a nice healthy treat.

 Healthy Dog Signs

There are several signs that can indicate a problem with your dog. It is important for dog owners to be  aware of the signs and symptoms that indicate a problem. Problem signs include a lack of appetite, decreased activity, weakness, changes in water consumption, not grooming, bad breath, sleeping more, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, trouble breathing, frequent urination or bloody urination.

Ideal Pet Food Storage

An ideal choice for a dog food storage container is a sturdy, airtight, bug-proof container that is easy to clean and large enough for an entire bag of kibble.

Choosing a Doggie Door

Your ideal doggie door is sized to fit the standing height of your full-grown dog when measured from the top of the shoulders, and the width at the chest.

Bad Doggie Breath 

Many people think that dog bad breath just comes with the territory of being a dog.  This is not the case.  Dog bad breath can be associated with teeth and/or mouth abnormalities.

Exercising your Senior Dog

Exercise and play is important to all dogs, including your elderly dog.

First of all, exercise helps maintain a healthy body weight. Being overweight may lead to a number of health problems. It places excess stress on your pet's heart. Excess weight on degenerating joints can speed up the development of arthritis.

Your elderly dog's mental health may also benefit from exercise. Activity keeps oxygen and other nutrients at optimum levels in the brain. The brain is like every other organ in the body in that it requires good nutrition.

Removing Skunk Odor

Try a mixture of 10 parts hydrogen peroxide to 1 part baking soda. Add a dash of  dish-washing soap and pour into a spray bottle.  Spray liberally over dry coat and allow to air dry. Avoid eyes.
This same mixture works on inanimate objects as well.

Healthy Teeth Tips for Dogs

Keeping your dog's teeth clean can help keep your dog healthy. Use a soft toothbrush. A child's toothbrush for small dogs is ideal; an adult size should be used for larger dogs. Use toothpaste formulated especially for pets, available at pet supply stores or your veterinarian's office.  Do not use human toothpaste - it is not safe for your dog.

Begin by only brushing the outside surfaces of the teeth. When your pet has adjusted to this, add the inside surfaces between the teeth and tongue.

Nail Trimming Problem

If you make the mistake of cutting your dog's nails too short here is  a home remedy to stop the bleeding.  A small amount of flour packed onto the end of the nail will often quell the bleeding.  Also try rubbing a bar of soap on the end of the nail for the same effect.  Nothing, however, beats having a stash of styptic powder, which you can buy at your local pet store or at your vet's office.

Cocoa Mulch 

Mulch is commonly used in landscaping.  Most types of mulch are safe, however, cocoa bean mulch is toxic.  The cocoa bean produces beautiful dark mulch that has the aroma of chocolate. Unfortunately, this type of mulch is dangerous because of the by-products of the cocoa shells. When ingested, dogs can show severe signs of chocolate toxicity.  If you do any landscaping make sure to use pet safe mulch.

Adding a new dog to the one you already have.

Don't encourage ill will between future buddies with a too-close-for-comfort feeding time routine. Make sure to feed the new member of the household in a separate location, using a using separate food bowls.

Puppy Proofing your Home

• Start by assuming you have a two-year-old child.

• Everything that you would lock up for a child, lock up for your puppy.

• Keep all cleaning materials, household chemicals, and medications locked behind cabinet doors.

• Keep poisonous plants, electric cords, and children' toys out of reach.

• Block off portions of your home such as bedrooms, bathrooms, or any part of the house you are not occupying most of the time.  The new puppy should have a very limited place to roam in your home until he properly potty trained and outgrows chewing on things.

Winter Paw Care for Dogs

In cold weather, the pads on the bottom of your dog's feet can take a beating. One way to protect them is to buy special boots made of neoprene or similar materials.

Preventing Heatstroke in Cats

• Do not leave your cat in the car - even if you think the weather is fine.  Cars heat up very quickly and become similar to a small sauna.

• When the weather is hot or even warm make sure your cat has plenty of shade and water if he is outside.  Consider leaving a small tub of water for your cat to play in and stay cool in the hot weather.  Make sure the amount of water is drowning proof safe.

Bland Diet for Vomiting

Many veterinarians recommend a "bland" diet for dogs that have been vomiting or had vomiting and diarrhea.  The general approach is as follows:

1.  First, start with water. After the small increments of water are offered, gradually offer a bland diet.

2.  Small frequent feedings of a bland digestible diet such as: Hill's prescription diet i/d, Iams Recovery Diet, Provision EN or Waltham Low Fat are usually recommended. Homemade diets can be made of boiled rice or potatoes (as the carbohydrate source) and lean hamburger, skinless chicken or low-fat cottage cheese (as the protein source).

3.  Return to regular dog food should be gradual over one to two days. If vomiting continues at any time or the onset of other symptoms is noted, call your veterinarian promptly.

Protect your Dog from Common Household Dangers

There are items in every home that can hold hidden dangers to pets. Many household items may look benign yet have potential to cause serious injury.  For example, a recliner can crush a small puppy or fast-closing doors may allow paws or tails to be caught.  Here are a few items to keep your eye on:

1. Paper shredders
2. Ethylene glycol
3. Doors
4. Recliners
5. Potpourri
6. Bones
7. Human foods and substances
8. Trash cans
9. Unsecured medications
10. Glues and cleaners

Tips for a Successful Vet Visit

When you go to your veterinarian for your dog's next visit, make sure you get the most out of the visit. Ask lots of questions and be prepared. Here are some tips:

• Write down any questions and health concerns you have before you go and take the list with you.

• Make a list of any medications your dog is on, the dose and frequency.  Be sure to discuss any effects the medication may or may not have had or any difference in behavior if any since taking the medication.

Yard Safety Tips

There are several possible hazards in your yard that can cause injury or create problems for your dog.

1.  Sharp nails or wires on fencing
2.  Loose fence boards or areas where pets can sneak out, around or under
3.  Trash tossed or blown into the yard that may be chewed on or ingested
4.  Improperly stored toxins such as rodenticide, slug bait, fertilizer or antifreeze.
5.  If you landscape or are having any landscaping done at your home, make sure to use pet safe mulch.
6.  Make sure you do not have any pet toxic plants in your yard.

Natural Remedies for Cats and Dogs 

Pet natural health care is becoming extremely common amongst pet owners around the world.  It is important to remember that just like an over the counter medicine there are several different approaches and natural ingredients that can be used, so monitor your pet while he is being treated in case he needs to try a different dosage or different mix of medicine.

Being a responsible pet owner means knowing how, when, where and what when it comes to your pet, keeping abreast of changes and new findings, and putting pet wellness practices into motion on a daily basis or as required.

I will be adding new tips for pet wellness as they come my way, so be sure to check back for updates, new findings, and new advice

 Pet Trivia: Do you know that dogs can be trained to detect epileptic seizures?

Dog Wellness - People Things To Avoid

While we dog lovers have hearts three time the normal size when it comes to our Canine friends, we need to make sure we remember that they are dogs, and some human items are simply not good for them, and can even be toxic to their system. A good dog wellness practice is dog owners knowing what human items have value for their dogs and which ones need to be avoided. 

Here is a list of some human items that can be hurtful to your dog.  Of course there are many more people things not suitable for dogs than just those on this list, but here are some that you may not be aware of.

Human Food
Some human foods are good for your dog such as vegetables, rice, chicken, pasta, bread (but not bread dough), baked potato, beef, liver and even fruits, to name a few. However, there is another side of human food that can cause illness in your pet.  Avocado, alcohol, onions, coffee/tea, grapes, raisins, nuts, candy, gum, chocolate, raw eggs, raw meat/fish, watermelon seeds, bread dough, and too much salt.  These are some of the more common foods found in every home, but close tabs should be kept to ensure that everyone in the family is aware that these normal human foods can be toxic to your dog.

Human Clothing/Costumes 
If you like to dress your dog make sure you are dressing him in clothing made for dogs.  People clothing is usually not made for dog where, as dogs need to be able relieve themselves easily and are build differently than humans.  Our clothes can also be uncomfortable and cause  annoyances.  That means no pants or other garments that cover their full body. People clothing also has zippers, buttons, snaps, etc that can be harmful if swallowed by your dog.

Human Toothpaste
Although dog owners need to brush their dog's teeth regularly, the fluoride in human toothpaste is toxic to your dog.  Make sure you use toothpaste especially formulated for dogs.

Human Toys
People toys, even those made for kids can be unsafe for your dog.  The material some toys are made of can cause irritation to their stomachs, as dogs can easily cause destruction to these toys through their bite, the material and small pieces easily enter their stomach.  It is also important that in order for a dog to get the necessary requirements from a toy, it needs to be made in such a way that it can withstand the dogs bite, wear and tear.

Human Multi-Vitamins
It is vital that your dog receives the appropriate amount of nutrition, but giving your dog human multi-vitamins is accomplishing nothing because these vitamins are not produced for a dogs system.  Those that contain iron can cause damage to the digestive system, kidneys and liver.  Make sure you give your dog the appropriate canine vitamin suitable for his breed and age.

Giving your dog vitamins supplements specially formulated for dogs is a must.  Just like we humans take our vitamins to help us avoid illnesses and keep healthy, dogs are no different. Dogs need vitamins to help their immune system healthy and working, and to help them avoid bone and joint problems.  Using pet natural health care for your dog's source of vitamins is an even smarter dog wellness practice.

Another good dog wellness practice is utilizing pet natural health care for the many ailments dogs or cats can encounter.  These remedies are specially formulated for dogs and cats and other pets, and have similar properties to the natural, herbal and holistic remedies for humans. These remedies are safer now and in the long run for your pet, safer for the environment, household safer, and are less costly than over the counter medicines that usually require a vet visit first.  They are safe and effective and have shown to have better results than over the counter drugs. I always go for natural or holistic remedies whenever possible for my kids and pets.

Having a successful and fulfilling relationship with a dog means owners need to be vigilant in ensuring they have a good awareness level of dog wellness practices and carry them out to the fullest extent possible.  Being vigilant about protecting your dog from harmful human things, as well as ensuring he has the appropriate vitamins and pet care are areas that not only help keep your dog happy, they also help keep you a happy and content dog owner.