Health

How cataract occurs? There is a lens in the eye which has its place behind the pupil. It is transparent and focuses light onto the retina. The retina sends the image to the brain, where vision is perceived. Cataract forms when the cells and the protein of the lens begin to deteriorate. The lens gets cloudy and the light cannot be transmitted to the retina. There are many different forms and…

Your eight-year-old Toy Poodle is still hyper, fit, and happy, while your six-year-old St. Bernard is beginning to lag. Why? A dog’s breed and many other lifestyle factors affect whether or not your dog is actually a senior. There are common signs of aging to look for, to determine whether your dog is a senior: Moving more slowly: Like humans, dogs can develop orthopaedic problems, like…

What is obesity? Obesity is an excessive accumulation of fat at the adipose storage areas of the body leading to increased body weight above the optimal physiological weight. Dogs weighing 15-20% or more than his optimal physiological weight are overweight; over 30% they are obese. Unfortunately, one dog in four is overweight and obesity is a rapidly growing phenomenon. We have to be particularly…

Protein is important dietary constituent not only for humans but also for our canine friends. Right amount of protein in your dog’s diet will help in the well-being of your dog. Proteins are complex molecules containing chains of subunits called amino acids. All proteins are basically made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen but unlike carbohydrates they always contain nitrogen. Although about 20…

Dogs have great ears. Your dog can hear sounds over a wider range of frequencies and at a greater distance than you. Unfortunately, dogs pay a price for their superior hearing abilities. A dog’s ear design contributes both to his advanced hearing and to many ear problems he may experience. Ear mites, infections and aural hematoma are the most common conditions. Read on to discover the symptoms of…

Ticks and Fleas are the most common and most important ectoparasites of companion animals throughout the world. Next to these are mites, lice, sand flies and mosquitoes as nuisance ectoparasites. Here’s more on fleas and ticks on dogs and cats. Fleas on dogs and cats These small dark brown insects prefer temperatures of 20–30 degree Celsius and humidity levels of 75-85%... so for some areas…

Healthy Diet Our dogs are dependent on a balanced diet, which is appropriate for their breed to maintain a good state of health and life expectancy. To determine what is appropriate for our dogs, we must look at their ancestors, the wolves. They are not purely carnivores as in addition to their prey such as rabbits, hares and deer, they eat fruit, berries, foliage, grass, insects and even the…

Sharing a snack seems the easiest option to score brownie points with your pooch and what could make your pet happier than a choco-chip cookie or a piece of Kentucky Fried Chicken. More out of love than ignorance, dog owners often forget that their best buddies belong to a completely different species and that their body mechanisms are poles apart from ours. What seems perfectly nutritious treat…

Tooth care for a small dogs - keeping their milliom-dollar smile safe! Teething in small dogs The adult teeth of small breed dogs (less than 10kg) appear between the age of 4 and 6 months and the fi nal molars come through, at the latest, at around 7 months. Each half jaw carries 21 teeth including 6 incisors, 2 canines, 8 premolars and 5 molars. Oral hygiene: starting early As soon as the puppy’s…

Though it is always advised to rush your pet to a vet in any emergency case, still a little knowledge of first aid can go a long way in helping your furry family member cope with the situation before she gets proper medical treatment. First aid in time can save the life of your paw buddy. Emergency situations When do you know your dog requires emergency medical aid? It is the duty…

If your dog has been ill or had an operation, you’ll have to give him some special care and attention. Here’s a guide to what you need to the dietary and medical needs of a recovering dog. Your dog needs sleep, rest and peace While he’s recovering, your dog may feel weak, and gets tired easily. He’ll probably spend more time than usual resting or sleeping. But don’t worry, this is a natural…

Powerful, liverly, intelligent, loyal..the German Shepherd has many impressive qualities. An excellent guard dog, he is also a perfect rescue dog due to his exceptionally refined sense of smell. He is appreciated not just for his physical aptitude and flexible character, but also for the beauty of his black and tan coat... a perfect blend of looks and character! Caring for a dog who gives his all:…

Young dogs need a lot more calories than their older counterparts. But meeting this need is easy; just follow the guidelines in this article. Caring for your breeding female dog If your female dog is eating a good balanced diet, she will not need any extra food for the first five weeks after she’s mated. In the womb, most of the growth of developing puppies takes place during the last 4 weeks of…

Dogs scratch and it's perfectly normal. It's so normal that most of the time you don't even notice it. When you think about it (or better when you concentrate on it), you will realise that you too will rub your nose or scratch your scalp, but even that itch can be dangerous and painful to your loving pooch. Pruritus: an intense itching sensation that can have various causes…Pruritus (medical term…

With the number of cases of tapeworm infection in dogs on the rise, some know-how of the disease by pet owners is crucially called for. This is crucial not only for the safety and good health of one’s dog, but also to prevent communicability of the disease from the pet to his human counterparts. The foremost thing to know about tapeworms is that they are not dangerous to your pet and are easily…

Come rainy season and every pet parent gets scared of ticks and fleas, which can cause a lot of discomfort to our canine friends. Let’ see what they are and how we can protect our pooches from these. Ticks Facts Ticks are very common and whenever our pet walks through damp soil, long grass, or low bushes, there may be thousand of seed ticks, and adult ticks waiting to attach themselves to your…

One cannot help but fall in love with a Labrador for his natural affability, the gentle and loyal look in his eye, a solid physique, and a link nature...a Laabrador Retriever is truly versatile! And this pooch needs a perfect balanced food to keep him fit and fine...and Royal Canin's Labrador Retriever 30 provides a balanced diet. A Lab’s characteristics… Labrador Retriever originally belongs to…

Pheromones are best described as chemicals released by the surface of an animal’s body into the surrounding environment and are picked up by other individuals (normally of the same species) in which they bring about a reliable change in the expression or development of behaviour. Appeasing pheromones are now used to correct behavioural problems in pets. As companion animals are coming closer to…

Ear infection is one of the most common infections in dogs and is a matter of concern for all pet parents. Here are some of the common queries about this disease. Q: What are the common ear infections in dogs? A: The ‘Otitis Externa’ or the infection on the external ear canal is the most common type of infection seen in dogs. And when the middle ear is affected, it is called ‘Otitis Media.’ Q:…

Dogs chew almost anything. Hey, if it’s on the floor, it’s fair game, right? Unfortunately, certain foods and everyday substances that are perfectly fine for people can be toxic for dogs. Even a small quantity of the following substances can put your dog’s health at risk. Alcoholic beverages Because alcohol can be fatal to dogs, no amount of alcoholic beverage is safe - yes; even beer should be…