Signs of Dog Ear Problem

How many times have you been to a vet because of dog ear problem? Perhaps, you've given antibiotic drops, and the ear problem cleared up.....until the next time.

Bacteria is not the cause of most ear problems, but anything that changes the normal health of the ear canal can leave an opening for bacteria and yeast to grow and multiply.

Your dog's ear canal is lined with skin, and skin diseases are usually to blame for unhealthy and unhappy ears.

Whenever you notice signs of ear problem in dog like an ear discharge, odor,sensitivity, don't stop at the ear. Look further.

Evaluate your dog's skin and coat, check for parasites such as fleas, or trouble spots on the skin.

If your dog is suffering from a dog ear problem, your dog could have food allergy. You might see ear troubles coupled with mild gastrointestinal symptoms, such as belching, flatulence, and soft stools.

• Scratching – means your dog is itchy or uncomfortable

• Shaking the head – it could mean your dog’s ear is painful or irritated as from a foxtail or infection. If your dog is holding one ear lower than the other; that’s probably the ear that’s bothering him the most.

• A head tilt - it means a very painful ear or an inner ear problem, often from an infection that has extended across the eardrum.

• Repeatedly ducking or bobbing the head while swallowing – indicates a foxtail in the ear, tonsil, or throat

• Sensitive to touch – If a foxtail or plant seed is lodged deep in the canal, your dog might cry out when the base of the ear is even gently touched. In some areas of the country, spinous ear tick can cause great discomfort when it crawls into the canal and feeds there.

• Redness - together with tiny blisters and swelling of the skin and tissues of the ear are all common symptoms of dog ear problem associated with allergies. Redness can also result from yeast infections and constant scratching.

• Offensive odor or discharge – this ear problem in dog with strong odor usually means infection. If a wet, soupy discharge is present, and the ear is painful to touch, have your vet check your dog.

• Bloody discharge – indicates a serious disruption and should be seen by your vet ASAP.

• Heavy accumulation of wax – a small amount of brown wax is normal for some dogs. Excessive brown wax is often seen with skin problems affecting the ears. Black, waxy discharge may mean yeast or ear mites. Ear mites can sometimes be seen with a magnifying glass as tiny, white, moving dots.

• Crusts or scabs on the tips of the ear – Flies can cause irritation to the ear margins.

you may also like doberman-isues 

Non-core vaccines for your puppy dogs

One of the best ways to help your dog live a healthier and longer life is to get them vaccinated. Vaccines against infectious diseases must be given when your pup is old enough to build immunity. Some of these diseases are rabies, infectious hepatitis, distemper, parvovirus and parainfluenza. On the other hand, vaccines for bordetella bronchiseptica, coronavirus, giardia, Leptospirosis, and Lyme disease are optional. This usually depends on the risk factors for your dog and the occurrence of the mentioned diseases in your area.

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has made guidelines to help categorize dog vaccines as core or noncore.

Leptospirosis Bacterin

The vaccine against Leptospira bacterins may help protect against two or four of the most common subspecies of bacteria which causes leptospirosis. The two-serovar bacterin can be combined into a DHPP shot administered at dogs 12 weeks of age, the next of which is at 14 to 16 weeks of age. Most of the veterinarians administer the four-serovar bacterin as a separate injection as early as 12 weeks, the next of which is two to three weeks later.

Leptospira bacterin has been reported to be responsible for 70% of post-vaccination DHLPP anaphylactic shock reactions. Dogs and toy breeds that are younger than 12 weeks old are believed to have the highest rate of reactions to this bacterin. Also, the two-serovar vaccines do not provide protection against the two species which is responsible for the majority of cases recently. As such, routine vaccination is considered optional now for dog owners. It is still indicated in certain areas where the risk of contracting the disease is higher than the risk of vaccination. The vaccine against leptospirosis is not included in all combination vaccines, therefore it can be given separately.

Companies like Pfizer and Fort Dodge already have vaccines that covers all four of the primary serovars of leptospirosis. These are called subunit vaccines, and it poses a low risk of an allergic reaction to dogs. Due to the rising cases of leptospirosis, this vaccine may be recommended in more areas. Immunity following the vaccination usually takes place four to six months  after. As such, if vaccination for puppies is essential, it may be recommended to revaccinate after every six months. You can also ask your veterinarian to learn what would be the best for your dog.

Canine Parainfluenza

Parainfluenza is the primary virus indicated in the kennel cough complex. By getting this vaccine for dogs, it decreases the severity and prevalence of the infection. However, the vaccine does not prevent the disease. The vaccine for parainfluenza is combined into the canine distemper-measles-parainfluenza and DHPP shots. The first dose is given to dogs that are eight to twelve weeks of age, while the second dose is given at 16 weeks. According to the guidelines of AAHA 2006, the vaccine should be given at six to eight weeks of age. However, a lot of veterinarians choose to wait until dogs are seven to eight weeks of age before commencing vaccinations. An intranasal vaccine which incorporate the vaccine for bordetella is also available.

The injectable vaccine against parainfluenza helps protect dogs, but does not completely eliminate the virus coming from nasal secretions. This means that pups can still transmit the infection. The intranasal vaccine provides protection against both infection and disease, therefore eliminating the possibility of disease transmission to other dogs.

Yearly boosters of this vaccine are recommended by the manufacturer. However, there have been evidences suggesting that the vaccine against parainfluenza does not always give protection for the full 12 months. In many cases, the vaccine should be given twice a year, especially for dogs that pose a higher risk.

Keep in mind that this recommendation is applicable only for the parainfluenza vaccine, and not for other viruses that are usually included in a combination vaccine. Since this is not a core vaccine, it must only be given to pups with lifestyles that increase their risk, like dogs who will be boarded and show dogs.

Bordetella (Noncore)

The vaccine for bordetella bronchiseptica can help control kennel cough as well as other respiratory infections caused by the bacteria. This optional vaccine works best for dogs living in kennels, show dogs and boarded dogs.

As of the time being, there are two available vaccine types to help prevent bordetella in pups. The first is an intranasal vaccine, and the second one is an injectable vaccine. The intranasal vaccine that helps protect dogs against bordetella and parainfluenza, provides the most immediate immunity. However, either type of this vaccine is ideally given at least a week before possible exposures.

The injectable vaccine, on the other hand, should be given to dogs twice. The first injections is administered to pups that are eight weeks of age, which will be repeated two to four weeks later. Dogs that are born in high-risk areas where bordetella is widespread can be given the intranasal vaccine at three weeks of age.

Annual boosters for this vaccine is also recommended by the manufacturer. However, due to the short duration of immunity, semi-annual boosters might be more advisable for dogs.

Lyme Disease

The vaccine for Lyme disease, also known as Borrelia burgdorferi, is only recommended for dogs in areas with high risk. This includes dogs that visit areas where Lyme disease is widespread, as well as areas with a high risk of tick exposure.

The killed bacterin is not that so much favored right now, and the subunit vaccine which features OpsA antigen is the one more preferred should the vaccine be needed for your dog. The immunity of dogs from this vaccine can be determined from a natural exposure. Tick control must be the first line of defense against Lyme disease

• training your dog with help of dog

Training your dog with the help of dog training advice. Dog Training Advice

Introduction To Dog Training Advice 

If you have a pet dog, it is obvious that you would love it just like any other family member.  It is equally important that you train the dog in the right manner.  If you are a novice and do not have correct understanding of how to go about, you need to check for dog training advice.  It is imperative that you understand how to train your canine, teach them the commands.  Just like your children, you would have to teach your canine to obey you and also follow instructions.

Teaching your canine good habits

It is of essence that you teach your dog good habits so that it follows the same in your home also.  Irrespective of whether you are there in your home or not, it needs to follow correct instructions and make sure that it does not have any bad habits. Practice surely makes perfect and you can now provide the requisite dog training advice.  When you browse the internet, you would come across a plethora of sites that offer dog training advice and guidance on how to take care of y our canine.

Your dog is learning in the process and if you take good responsibility, it would also learn in a better fashion and follow all the good habits that you have taught it.  As compared to human beings, the grasping and learning capabilities of dogs would vary and hence you need to be patient and not lose your cool.  If you start getting impatient, the dog would start reacting in the opposite fashion and it could start developing behavioral problems that are not good.

Check out for dog training advice books or online tutorials

The online tutorials would guide you and teach you about how to effectively communicate with your dog.  Once the right dog training methods and communication patterns are followed, the dog would now be in a position to grasp the commands. Your pet is surely going to be the envy of all dog lovers, thanks to following all the instructions perfectly.

Dog Training Advice Behavioral Problems

Dog lovers would have to put up with various dog related problems like whining, separation anxiety, pulling on leash, digging aggression and bolting.  There are different types of dealing with these problems and depending on what suits the dog and its personality, you may want to take up a specific technique.

Personalities vary depending on the breed of the dog

It is important to mention here that the personality of the dog and the behavior would also vary depending on the breed of your dog.  Some of the dogs are fierce and violent whereas some are timid.  You need to be clear as to the type or breed of dog you would like to have.  If you have more than one particular breed of dog, you would have to go through the dogtraining advice manual to get a better view.

Summary

Last but not the least; be a little patient with your new pup.  It would chew, housebreak  but with time, it will surely understand.