Health

Dog breeding means practice of mating selected dogs with intention to produce particular qualities and characteristics in offspring. However, this selective breeding has also led to a rise in various diseases. Selective breeding… Selective breeding or close breeding, commonly known as line breeding or inbreeding, results that the number of bad genes in most breeds exceeds the average number…

Certain house plants are harmful to pets when ingested or swallowed. Keep these plants out of reach of your dog. If your dog ingests any of these, consult your vet immediately. A few examples of house plants most commonly found in any household. Aloe Vera is used to heal cuts, burns and skin problems but the aloe emodin chemical in the leaves is dangerous to your dog. Amaryllis with its huge…

Common household substances can be hazardous for your canine. Stack them away and make your home pooch-friendly. Household products for specific uses may be hazardous to pets with accidental exposure. Exposure of the household substances may be dermal, oral, ocular or inhalational. Some of the important indoor substances with higher toxic potentiality are described. Soaps and detergents…

Here are FAQs on the role of nutrients for your pooch’s healthy skin… Skin, body’s largest organ, is a natural protector against toxic substances, dehydration, infection and ultraviolet light. Skin health is reflective of overall health status of pets. Healthy skin is flexible, without scabs, white flakes or any red areas. Skin of dogs and cats is sensitive and is vulnerable to multiple…

As pet parents, we all must have melted at the soulful eyes your pooch displays while you are eating.  But table scraps can be harmful to your pooch. Here’s a checklist on what to do. Can we feed our dogs table scraps? “Table scraps do not constitute a balanced meal for dogs. Some dogs cannot handle the spiceseither. It’s best to give dogs food which is meant for them and not us,” told Dr Sunita…

Something as simple as salt can become a matter of great concern for your beloved pet. Salt is nothing but sodium and chloride, but there are innumerable myths surrounding salt in dog’s diet. So, grab your cup of coffee and embark on this enlightening journey. Why salt is important? “Sodium chloride is required to main tain blood pressure, blood volume, transmission of nerve impulses and maintain…

Ears are a vital part of the body – they not only help in hearing, they also maintain the balance. Hence, it is very important to take care of your pooch’s ears. The canine ear is divided into three parts - the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. The most common ear problems in dogs are caused by parasites, foreign bodies, climatic conditions and allergies. Causes of ear problems...…

Life without vision is unimaginable. A simple looking redness in your dog’s eye can lead to permanent blindness in your pooch. Here’s more on this eye disorder. Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS) is a disorder of the tear glands that results in insufficient aqueous tear production and may lead to permanent blindness in your pet. It is also known as ‘Dry Eye Condition’. Susceptible breeds Dry eye is…

Otitis externa and otitis media are two common ear problems in pooches. Here are the causes, symptoms and treatment for these ear problems. Otitis externa is defined as an acute or chronic inflammation of the epithelium of the external ear canal which may also involve the pinna. The condition is characterised by erythema and increased discharges or desquamation of the epithelium with varying…

Probably the number one health problem for dogs, apart from being overweight, is periodontal disease. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, more than 80 percent of dogs show signs of periodontal disease by the age of three. Here’s how to take care of your pooch’s teeth. The accumulation of tartar and plaque and the resulting gingivitis can lead to more serious disease. Tartar…

There is hardly any dog who has not eaten grass in his life time. Grass eating in dogs is a general complaint by the pet parents. Some believe dogs eat grass to correct their upset stomach while others believe that they eat when they want to vomit. Here are few myths and facts surrounding dogs eating grass. Common myths surrounding dogs eating grass Myth 1: Dogs eat grass as a natural remedy to…

Now a days it is common to see dogs brought into pet clinic complaining that dog is drinking too much water and urinating excessively and also vomiting food. The pet parents complain that these dogs want to be let outside more frequently during the day and may urinate on household furniture as well. These may be the first observable signs of acute renal failure (ARF) that appear suddenly, but…

Looking after your pet’s health is probably the most important gift that you can give them. Some diseases like chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure build up over a long period of time and very often pet parents are not even aware that their pet is affected. Chronic kidney disease (CKD): CKD is the most common kidney disease in dogs and cats. Regardless of the cause, CKD is characterised…

We all know that arthritis is a common ailment of old age but not many of us would know that it is the case with our pooches as well. If your pooch is not willing to play or work or has slowed down, he might be suffering from arthritis. But help is here at hand! What is arthritis? Arthritis comes from Greek word arthro-(joint) + -itis (inflammation). It refers to a group of conditions involving…

Canine Babesiosis is a highly fatal disease of dogs. It is caused by blood protozoan called Babesia canis and is spread by ticks. Babesiosis has worldwide prevalence, mostly in regions where the tick vectors are prevalent. This disease occurs in all age groups of dogs but young pets tend to become infected more often and with worse symptoms. Here’s more on this disease. Cause and transmission…

It’s a myth that high level of proteins causes aggression and kidney failure in pets. Here’s the myth buster. Role of proteins: Proteins perform numerous functions in the body, encompassing roles as diverse as structural components of practically all body tissues, enzymes for digestion of food and metabolic reactions, homeostatic hormones and transport proteins, and immunoglobulins and other…

Plaque and calculus accumulation in pet’s teeth lead to complete tooth erosion. If we act fast, the recovery will be earlier and complete. As we delay, the complications can culminate in an irreparable damage. Here’s more on pooch dental hygiene. In humans, the dentistry has gone in a sea change in terms of product awareness and innovations as well as availability of products in dental care, oral…