Why Do Dogs Chew Their Nails?

Nail chewing and biting is not standard dog behavior and could be a cause for concern, according to Dr. Page Wages at the Oberlin Animal Hospital. Boredom, anxiety, poor grooming, allergies and infections are common causes for the chewing habit, and should be addressed quickly to ease the dog’s distress. Some causes can easily be resolved by a trip to the pet store for allergy sensitive food and toys, while other conditions will require a prescription by a veterinarian.

Allergies

• Food and outdoor allergies can lead to nail biting in dogs. Allergies to grass, pollen and other outdoor items may be irritating the dogs paws and nails. Additives to the dog’s diet may also be causing discomfort, including corn. Chewing the nails is a way dogs relieve their itchy sensation. Allergy sensitive foods, including those without corn, are available at large pet retailers. Veterinarians can provide a prescription to ease the symptoms of outdoor allergies.

Infection

• If a nail is injured, and the wound is exposed, infection may result. If the area around the dog’s nails appears red, swollen, tender to the touch or is seeping, it may be infected. Dogs will chew the area to relieve the pressure and itchy feeling. An antibiotic is required to cure the infection, so a trip to the vet is necessary

Anxiety

• Leaving dogs alone can cause anxiety behaviors for some. Chewing nails, defecating in the house and destructive behavior are common signs of anxiety. Crate or kennel the dog when he will be left alone in the home. Dogs are den animals by nature, and need to feel secure. Consider leaving a radio or TV on so the dog can hear human interaction, and supply him with a few chew toys to ease his need to gnaw.

Boredom

• Stimulating a dog’s senses is essential. Exercise, playtime, talking and training are all essential. A bored dog will become destructive to himself and his surroundings. Nail biting is a common sign of boredom. Supply the pet with interactive play toys when dog or human interaction isn’t possible.

Poor Grooming

• Some dogs chew on their nails simply because they need to be trimmed. Visit the vet’s office, a grooming salon or invest in a dog nail clippers. The nails should be kept trimmed to just above the quick. Have a vet or grooming salon show you how to do this task if you wish to maintain the dog’s nails at home. Overgrown nails lead to cracks, chips and more nail chewing from your dog.

Unsafe Toys for Dogs

Dogs will chew on just about anything, especially when they are puppies. With that in mind, even some dog toys found at your local pet store may be unsafe your pet. While you can do your best to avoid unsafe toys, supervision is really the key to keeping your pet safe.

considerations

• When it comes to dog toys, what is safe for one dog may be unsafe for yours, so always buy toys appropriate to your dog’s strength and activity level. Strong dogs may rip apart a nylon bone in a matter of minutes, while another may chew on it for years.

Size

• Small toys can be unsafe. All of your dog’s toys should be large enough that your dog cannot swallow them, so a good rule to follow is that the toy should be bigger than your dog’s mouth. Always watch over dogs playing with a new toy to make sure it is an appropriate size.

Age

• Old or worn toys may be dangerous for your dog to chew on as pieces, even strings, may become lodged in your dog’s throat or intestines. As squeakers fall out, rubber crumbles or seams shred, the toy becomes a choking hazard.

Chews

• Rawhide and Greenies can also be unsafe toys for your dog. While not dangerous for all dogs, some pets cannot digest the pieces of the chews, which can cause intestinal blockage.

Identification

• Before purchasing a dog toy, look for unsafe parts by gently pulling on pieces to make sure nothing falls off easily. Squeeze rubber balls and toys to see how durable the material feels and try to avoid flimsy construction.

Warning

• Don’t let dogs play with your child’s or non-pet toys, as they often have parts that can be swallowed, such as plastic eyes, bean stuffing or removable pieces. Instead, look for toys that have embroidered eyes and nothing plastic sewed on or attached.

RAW HIDE, THE DANGERS OF GIVING THEM TO YOUR DOG

Rawhide is sold in just about every pet store – often in many different varieties. It’s a staple in most households with pets. Yet many blogs, organizations, and veterinarians warn that rawhide could not only be dangerous, it could actually be lethal. Here’s what you need to know before you give your dog rawhide.

What is rawhide? According toPet Planet, a franchise that prides itself on being well-versed in canine health, rawhide is the tough inner layer of bull, cow, water buffalo and horse hides. It is essentially a byproduct of the meat industry.

What are the dangers of rawhide? First of all, rawhide is not considered a food item. Thus, it is not covered by any labeling, processing, or content laws, and it may contain chemical preservatives. According to Associated Content, imported rawhide chews often contain toxins including arsenic, lead, titanium oxide, formaldehyde, chromium salts, mercury, cadmium and bromine. Even with the use of these highly questionable preservatives, the FDA reports that Salmonella has been detected in some of the imported chews. In the US and Canada, refrigerated trucks provide safer transport and the hides are generally only treated with hydrogen peroxide and a water rinse.

In addition to the chemical risk, rawhide can swell up to four times its original size in your dog’s stomach and cause life-threatening blockages. And dogs can chew off and swallow large pieces of rawhide which can get stuck in their esophagus, stomach, or intestines. This almost always requires surgical removal. In the terrible light of realizing too late, many dog lovers have postedwarnings and alternatives on their websites, like The Northeastern Boxer Rescue who lost a gorgeous dog named Maxwell because of a blockage caused by a rawhide chew.

The worst tragedies are the ones that can be prevented. If you must give your dog rawhide, make sure it was made in America. Choose one of the higher end brands and make sure it compliments your dog’s proportions and habits. For safety, monitor the chewing. Throw away the small, chewed down pieces.

Alternatives to rawhide: Or better yet, consider alternatives to rawhide like beef chews or rubber toys like the Kong (a delicacy when stuffed with peanut butter) or even the ingenious Antlerz, a chew made of deer antlers. They are long lasting, rich in minerals, and will not splinter during digestion.

Chewing is a very natural behavior for dogs. It helps keep the tartar from collecting on their teeth (preventing periodontal disease and dragon breath) and gives them immense satisfaction. There’s no need to take that away.

Do, however, chewse (you must have seen that coming!) wisely.

How to Stop Dog Shedding

Unfortunately, dog shedding is a common problem for virtually all breeds, whether they have short or long hair. Of course, breeds with finer, softer hair may shed even worse. Either way, when dog shedding happens, you could be putting yourself and your family at greater risk for allegories and other breathing problems. Also, when it comes to aesthetics, excessive dog fur doesn’t look right on your carpet or furniture.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how_4674614_stop-dog-shedding.html#ixzz2bb9mZ0C6

Instructions

1. • Wash your dog. Before you can stop dog shedding, you must make sure that your animal is properly groomed. This process begins by thoroughly washing both their fur and skin. To do this, you need to first get a dog washing shower attachment. These attachments cost between $20 and $100, but they make bathing a lot easier. You won’t get water all over the place plus there won’t be any shampoo left behind in the dog’s skin.

     Make sure you only use dog shampoo and conditioner on your pet’s skin. Human shampoos may not contain the necessary ingredients to optimize the health of your dog’s skin and fur. And, if your dog has a dandruff problem, use dog shampoos that help treat dry skin.

   • Comb and brush your dog’s fur. Use dog shedding combs and brushes to remove the top layers of fur. You will want to make a habit of doing this every day, especially in the morning.

   • Use a vacuum dog brush. The techniques mentioned above do not help as much when it comes to removing a dog’s undercoat. That’s why you will want to consider an additional regime: sucking out some of the undercoat with a vacuum dog brush. These attachments are readily available at any pet store, and they’re easy to use. Just place them at the end of a vacuuming hose, and you’ll be ready for business.

   • Add a tablespoon of olive oil to your dog’s food. Olive oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are nutrients that are essential for your dog’s skin and fur. And, since olive oil is virtually tasteless, you won’t have to worry about the dog rejecting its food after it’s been added.

   • Give your pet dog vitamins. If a dog is malnourished, it is more likely to shed because it’s not receiving enough nutrients to maintain the health of its fur. And, due to the fact that many brands of dog food do not contain enough protein, you will want to give them vitamins regardless of how much they eat.

   • Schedule an appointment with your vet. Sometimes dog shedding is caused by a more serious health problem. So, if you plan on stopping the shedding, you will have to get a physical examination for your dog.

How to Strengthen Bones in a Dog

For many people, dogs are an important part of everyday life. Some would even consider their dog to be an official member of the family so it’s crucial to keep your four legged friends in the best of health. Making sure your dog has strong bones will help him reach and retain that health for many years to come. With some effort and the proper education you can help strengthen your dog’s bones today.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how_5970267_strengthen-bones-dog.html#ixzz2bbAlnmRa

Instructions

1. Promoting Strong Bones

2. • Pay attention to the ingredients in your dog’s food. A healthy, well balanced diet is crucial to his bone strength. Vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus are all well known for promoting bone strength so try to find a dog food with all three of these ingredients. Bone meal is a great source of these vitamins and minerals and can be added to most foods, if needed.

   • Take your dog out for exercise on a regular basis. When it comes to strengthening a dog’s body, bones included, there is no substitute for good old exercise. Using the leash, take your dog on walks at least 2 to 3 times a week, but he won’t mind if you want to walk him every day. If you have the physical ability, play with your dog often. Dogs can store lots of energy they must release, and this way they get even more exercise.

   • Look for food that also has glucosamine, which will strengthen both your dog’s joints and bones. Joint and muscle health are just as important, and keeping other aspects of your dog healthy will help keep the bones as healthy as they can possibly be.

Tips & Warnings

• Always consult a vet before changing your dog’s diet.
• Research healthy dog foods and find some good choices before you go to the pet store. This way you will always know what you’re feeding your dog and the different ways it could be beneficial to him.
• Consider providing home cooked meals for your dog. Assuming you properly educate yourself on the nutritional needs of dogs, cooking for your dog can be a great way of ensuring he gets the right amount of crucial vitamins, minerals and supplements
• Adding too much of certain ingredients found in dog foods could cause more harm than good so it’s important to get a professional opinion before making any serious changes. Therefore, it is usually wise to provide a well balanced meal for your dog than to give it too many vitamin supplements.

Kill them with kindness!! The dangers of raw hide

Rawhide is sold in just about every pet store – often in many different varieties. It’s a staple in most households with pets. Yet many blogs, organizations, and veterinarians warn that rawhide could not only be dangerous, it could actually be lethal. Here’s what you need to know before you give your dog rawhide.

What is rawhide? According toPet Planet, a franchise that prides itself on being well-versed in canine health, rawhide is the tough inner layer of bull, cow, water buffalo and horse hides. It is essentially a byproduct of the meat industry.

What are the dangers of rawhide? First of all, rawhide is not considered a food item. Thus, it is not covered by any labeling, processing, or content laws, and it may contain chemical preservatives. According to Associated Content, imported rawhide chews often contain toxins including arsenic, lead, titanium oxide, formaldehyde, chromium salts, mercury, cadmium and bromine. Even with the use of these highly questionable preservatives, the FDA reports that Salmonella has been detected in some of the imported chews. In the US and Canada, refrigerated trucks provide safer transport and the hides are generally only treated with hydrogen peroxide and a water rinse.

In addition to the chemical risk, rawhide can swell up to four times its original size in your dog’s stomach and cause life-threatening blockages. And dogs can chew off and swallow large pieces of rawhide which can get stuck in their esophagus, stomach, or intestines. This almost always requires surgical removal. In the terrible light of realizing too late, many dog lovers have postedwarnings and alternatives on their websites, like The Northeastern Boxer Rescue who lost a gorgeous dog named Maxwell because of a blockage caused by a rawhide chew.

The worst tragedies are the ones that can be prevented. If you must give your dog rawhide, make sure it was made in America. Choose one of the higher end brands and make sure it compliments your dog’s proportions and habits. For safety, monitor the chewing. Throw away the small, chewed down pieces.

Alternatives to rawhide: Or better yet, consider alternatives to rawhide like beef chews or rubber toys like the Kong (a delicacy when stuffed with peanut butter) or even the ingenious Antlerz, a chew made of deer antlers. They are long lasting, rich in minerals, and will not splinter during digestion.

Chewing is a very natural behavior for dogs. It helps keep the tartar from collecting on their teeth (preventing periodontal disease and dragon breath) and gives them immense satisfaction. There’s no need to take that away.

Do, however, chewse (you must have seen that coming!) wisely.

Best food I have found

Here is what I have found, if you have a bulldog, boxer, boston terrier or a french bull-dog with some skin issues like their fur is falling out in patches, or they have that smell of sour yeast it is typical of bulldogs. I rescued our bull-dog Misses last may and soon after she arrived she started loosing her fur for some reason, we took her to the vet to make sure is wasn’t anything serious, which it wasn’t thank god, but that set me out on a journey to find a better dog food then the one she was eating! In my experience I have found that Acana Pacifica for bull dogs is a fantastic food. It is 60% fish, 40% fruits and veg. and ZERO grain! Our Misses has been on this food since May of this year and I am proud to say doing fantastic. I can not say enough good things about this food and it is also priced very fair! If you are looking for this food you can purchase it at  Global Pets both in Trenton and Belleville.