Home Remedies for Dog Acid Reflux

Dog acid reflux is a common condition that affects several dogs across the world, regardless of their breed, age, size or gender. However, it is more common in puppies and younger dogs. It is also known as canine acid reflux and it occurs when a particular muscle (that keeps the acids confined to the stomach) in your pet’s stomach becomes weak, thereby allowing the acid to spill into the esophagus. Symptoms may include frequent regurgitation (spitting up of food), vomiting, weight loss and lack of appetite. Most vets recommend that dogs suffering from acid reflux be treated, as this condition could cause a lot of discomfort to your pet and can even cause erosion of, or severe damage to the esophagus. The treatment can be administered at home, by making a few alterations to your dog’s diet, so that the amount of acids produced in the stomach are decreased and the weakened stomach muscles are strengthened. Some medication may also be recommended to expedite the digestion process. However, some of these medicines may cause undesirable side effects like aggression, restlessness or diarrhea. Therefore, most pet owners are now more interested in curing the condition, through the use of home remedies for dog acid reflux. Some of the most common natural remedies for dog acid reflux include:

Treatment for Canine Acid Reflux

Feed your dog smaller meals, throughout the day. It is more difficult to digest bigger meals, than smaller ones. Therefore, eating heavy meals or large portions at one time may aggravate the condition in canines. Eating lighter and frequent meals is the best option for them. Refrain from giving your dog unhealthy treats even during snack times. There are several healthy snack options for dogs, which can be given instead. Make sure that you feed your pet healthy food, designed for dogs, not people.

The use of Honey has been recommended, in treatment for dog acid reflux. The honey coats the esophagus and protects it from gastric acid. Spread about one teaspoon of the honey on a small piece of bread and give it to your pet around 15 to 20 minutes before you feed him. This remedy is believed to be relatively safe, in the long-term treatment of reflux, as it could take several months for the esophagus to heal. However, before making any changes to your pet’s diet, or even giving any home remedies for dog acid reflux, it is important to consult a veterinarian.

Dog Crying in Sleep

Dog are wonderful animals to have as pets. They can be a lot of fun and very affectionate. Dogs are social animals and love to be in the company of other dogs and people they have bonded with. As a dog owner you are responsible not only for feeding and providing your pet with the medical attention it needs but you also have to train your dog with basic commands and behavior. One behavior that you may want to correct is your dog crying and whimpering in his sleep. Whining or crying is your dogs’ way of communication as they can’t speak.

There are several reasons why your dog is crying or whining at night, some of these are; it might be uncomfortable because of a new sleeping arrangement, it might be in heat, it might be in pain or it probably needs something. It is important for you not to slavishly respond every time your dog cries, because if you do then this will become a very bad habit your dog develops. There are many ways to help your furry friend overcome this problem. The first thing you need to do is take your dog to the vet in order to rule out any medical reasons that might be causing your dog to whine or cry. When dogs aren’t feeling well they have no verbal means of communicating these feelings to us so they become very quiet or cry and whine. Once the vet has examined the dog and given you the go ahead then it’s time for you to address this behavior. Try and maintain a journal where you pen down everything you notice about the behavior, both before and after the dog starts crying. You need to do this in order to find out if there is a pattern or any particular thing that triggers off this behavior.  You need to do this for at least a week and surprisingly you will notice a pattern. You must understand that if you pay attention to the dog every time it cries it will never learn to stop crying. You must teach your dog replacement behavior by ignoring it when it cries and react by giving it a treat once it is calm. You must ignore his crying especially if it is using it to escape a bath or medication and continue with what you need to do but give it a treat instead when it calms down.

Dog Pregnancy Cycle

A dog pregnancy cycle lasts about nine weeks or a little over two months. The due date is determined by calculating the number of days from the day the dog mated and delivery can occur anywhere between the 58th and the 64th day. Since the dog pregnancy timeline is so short, things tend to happen fast and the owner will have to keep an eye out for minute changes in dog behavior. Of the dog pregnancy stages, in the first one month or so, no change is likely to be noticed in her diet and she may be eating as usual. Her vulva will be rather enlarged, about the same size it was during mating time. Dogs do not usually vomit and there shouldn’t be any vaginal discharge during the dog pregnancy cycle. However, if you do notice any discharge, she will have to be taken to the vet immediately as it could be a sign of an advanced stage of pyometra or some other infection which can not only be life threatening, but also cause her to lose her pups. She will have to be fed a high protein diet with the necessary vitamins and minerals in it as she is eating not only for herself, but for her pups as well. Since the pups will draw the necessary nutrients from her body, she will be severely depleted and malnutritioned if not fed properly. It would be ideal to consult one’s regular vet to check if she requires vitamin supplements and the amount to be given. The next particularly noticeable dog pregnancy stage is the fifth week where her nipples begin to show more prominently and take on a pink colour and her girth will generally increase with the hips broadening out as it gets ready to birth. By the 5th and 6th week, her appetite will increase and there must be an increase in her food by about 30 percent. Dog pregnancy period is also crucial in terms of her general fitness and to ensure that the delivery is smooth and without hassle, she must be taken for daily walks. By the time she crosses the sixth week, long walks may tire her out and she can be given short walks about thrice a day. After she crosses the seventh week, her feed amount will have to be increased again. A whelping box will have o be made and plenty of you newspaper used to make it as comfortable as possible. Make sure the room is warm and away from other pets, children and general noise and disturbance. She will require help at whelping to avoid any complication.

Holistic Dog Remedies

Holistic dog health can be achieved by taking care of every need of one’s pets and these include nutrition and general health. Holistic dog health care not only builds the dog’s strength over a period of time but also aids in its longevity and helps the owner derive the most from its company. Dogs are prone to a lot of diseases that affect their human counterparts such as arthritis, diabetes, cancer, liver disease and so on and the best way to treat these is with a mixture of the holistic approaches as well as a conventional approach. Hence, upon noticing any serious symptoms, it is important to consult the veterinarian immediately.

Holistic Dog Recipes

The key to maintaining natural dog health is to provide them with proper nutrition keeping in mind their overall health, age and other special needs. Dogs can be fed chicken, turkey and beef but their diets must contain an ideal balance of plant and animal nutrients and hence a chicken meal would involve cooking a little brown rice and steaming vegetables like beans, peas, spinach and carrots along with it. Adding half a teaspoon of freshly ground turmeric while cooking the chicken would be an ideal way of getting rid of germs as well if any. Similarly broccoli and cauliflower can form part of their turkey meal along with brown rice. There are several of these recipes available online and pet owners go for these to maintain holistic dog health because many are not sure of the ingredients of commercially available pet food. The quality of the meat, whether from antibiotic fed, hormone injected cattle or from dead and diseased animals has in the past caused some concern and while there are certain brands that a lot of pet owners vouch for, a homemade meal is best for natural dog health. Supplement the dog’s diet with vitamin and mineral supplements as well, but this must be done in conjunction with the vet’s opinions too. Dog health care also involves trying to help out with other health conditions at home. For instance, a concoction can be made at home to boost its general health and immune system. The mixture includes sage, garlic, thyme, rue, wormwood and vegetable charcoal. For mange and other skin infections, a paste made out of turmeric can be applied and alternated with lavender oil or lemon juice. In case of severe injury or illness, consulting the vet is important as dogs can bear a lot of pain and the owners may not be aware of its condition till it gets advanced.

Dog Hip, Knee Joint Problems

Our dogs are usually an active lot and often jump around and play all through the day. Though all the jumping and running around is perfectly normal for healthy dogs, it does take a toll on the dog’s legs. The hip and knee joints of the dogs are as delicate as ours and injuries or stress on the joints can often translate into a lot of pain and suffering for the dog.

Dogs are as susceptible to hip and knee joint related injury and disease as their human master, specifically anterior cruciate ligament tears and osteoarthritis. Since dogs have two sets of legs and an equal stress is placed on all four joints, there are more chances of the dog getting injured in the joints.

There are two main categories of dog joint problems. The first is a developmental problem, like elbow or hip dysplasia, and the other is a degenerative problem like dog arthritis.

Both developmental and degenerative disorders are common in dogs. However, arthritis and problems in the cruciate ligaments due to overuse are the two main dog joint problems faced.

A lot of times, people tend to notice that their dogs are less active than before. This is the primary symptom of a problem in the joints of the dog. The dog may not climb stairs with much alacrity or may not even want to climb on the couch. You may even see the dog struggling to stand up and sit down. It will also lose interest in all play activities that it enjoyed earlier. All of these are common symptoms of problems with the dog’s joints.

If these dog joint health problems are not addressed immediately, they could convert into overt lameness. They are often seen holding their limb up or walking funnily, without putting stress on one of the limbs. However, the pain may not be immediately evident. A dog may have suffered for a long time before the pain actually manifests itself in this manner.

There are certain dog breeds that are more prone to developing problems in the joints. For instance, an increase in the size and the weight of a dog is always a factor in joint problems. The heavier the dog, the more likely it is to have joint problems. Bigger dogs are more prone to suffering from both developmental and degenerative diseases. Rottweilers, for instance, are known to have more knee and ankle problems than any other breeds while Newfoundlands are most prone to ACL tears and injuries.

Dog Spleen Hematoma

The dog’s spleen is located in the abdomen and is an elongated organ that performs important functions for your pet’s body. The spleen is responsible for filtering blood and participates in various immune functions in the dog’s body. The size and location of the spleen is dependent upon the size of surrounding organs like the stomach. It is a large, dark red organ and is supplied by several blood vessels. A normal spleen resembles a tongue and is covered by fibrous tissue. The spleen is internally divided into red pulp, white pulp and a marginal zone. The red pulp area is where blood cells are produced and stored and it is the area that traps immune proteins called antigens. The white pulp area is populated by special immune response cells like reticuloendothelial cells and lymphocytes. The marginal zone separates the red and the white pulp area and helps filter the blood in between. The spleen performs several important functions in your dog’s body. It is responsible for producing blood cells and functions as a storage space for these cells. In addition, the spleen houses platelets – elements in the blood that are important for clotting. In addition, the spleen is responsible for filtering blood by removing abnormal or old blood cells and by preventing bacteria, old cells and foreign particles from circulating in the blood stream.

There are several diseases and disorders of the spleen that may affect any dog. Dogs are most commonly prone to enlargement of the spleen, spleen tumors and spleen hematomas. An enlarged spleen in dogs can arise as a result of a number of factors. Some of the common causes for enlarged spleen in dogs include anemia, immune system disorders, massive production of red blood cells and some kinds of infections. In addition, dog spleen hematoma is another common disorder of the spleen in dogs. Dog spleen hematoma is the development of a hematoma, or a blood clot, as the result of blood accumulation in the spleen. These clots could arise as a result of trauma or injury, a bleeding disorder or even a bleeding tumor in the spleen. Dogs may also suffer from an enlarged spleen or a congested spleen on account of twisted blood vessels in the spleen. Another common disorder of the spleen that affects dogs is dog spleen tumor. These malignant tumors can be mast cell tumors, lymphosarcoma or multiple myeloma and should be treated immediately.

Canine Lymphoma

Dog lymph problems may be of various kinds and should be treated immediately because your dog’s lymph glands are responsible for protecting his body against invasion by bacteria and viruses. When your dog’s lymph glands become enlarged therefore, it is evidence of the fact that your dog is fighting an infection. Lymph glands protect your dog’s body by producing lymphocytes or white blood cells that are responsible for fighting any invading viral or bacterial agent. When your dog’s lymph glands are triggered thus, they become inflamed as a response to the infection. Dog’s have various lymph glands located all over their bodies. These lymph glands can be divided into two types – external and internal. Swelling in external lymph glands can be detected easily as they can be easily located during a physical exam. Swelling in internal lymph glands may only be detected through exploratory surgery as your veterinarian may not be able to easily palpate them. Swollen lymph nodes in dogs may be indicative of various serious disorders and should thus be attended to immediately. If you suspect that your dog is suffering from enlarged lymph nodes, consult your veterinarian about possible courses of treatment immediately.

The areas where swelling can generally be observed is the area beneath the jaw, around the shoulder and near the joints of the legs. In addition, dogs can also suffer from swollen nodes in the area near the groin and this may make defecation difficult. Swollen lymph node in dog’s groin may be the result of a local infection or a more serious disorder and should be attended to immediately. Some of the most commonly affected lymph glands in your dog are the ones located in the region where the jaw meets the throat. If there are swollen glands in dogs throat, therefore, it is indicative of a local infection. Swelling of the glands in the throat could be the result of a sinus infection, tooth abscess or even salivary gland infection. In most cases, when the underlying infection is treated, swollen lymph glands will return to their normal size. Very often however, swollen lymph nodes are also the result lymphoma and this can be confirmed with the help of a few simple tests. One of the most common ways in which dog lymphoma is diagnosed is through fine needle aspiration. During fine needle aspiration, some fluid from the swollen lymph gland is taken out and sent to a pathologist for evaluation.

Make Dog Vomit

Dogs are one of the most lovable domestic pets and are highly regarded for their undying loyalty and affection. Because of their natural hunting skills, most breeds of canine will also make very good watch dogs. As with any pet owner, it is always rather heart wrenching to see your beloved animal suffer from any kind of medical ailment or discomfort. When the symptoms of the same are rather apparent, it can be a rather scary situation. Vomiting in humans is generally a sign that something has not been digested properly; disagrees with the digestive system or simply the result of a bug or infection in the digestive tract. The causes of the occurrence in dogs will have more or less the same grounding. However, it is not uncommon to attempt to induce dog vomiting if it is seen as a medically beneficial step in the efforts to nullify some other ailment. For example, one way of getting some indigestible object out of the animals body is to give the animal a laxative while the other is to induce vomiting. Some of the more common instances when inducing a dog to vomit include the animal swallowing an acid, alkali, heavy duty cleaner or solvent; ingestion of some kind of petroleum products as well as a phase in which the animal appears to be going through a phase of severe depression or comatose.

One of the first steps to take when you feel that induction of dog vomiting may be required to help the animal is to identify the object or substance consumed. If you approach a veterinarian for help, this is probably one of the first questions they will ask you. Depending on the kind of object or substance consumed, the seriousness of the condition is likely to vary along with the window of opportunity that the veterinarian has to work in – especially if the substance ingested is highly poisonous. One of the best methods of inducing vomiting in dog is to place a single half teaspoon of salt towards the back of the tongue. Another very efficient method would be to give the animal a single teaspoon of ipecac syrup for every 10 pounds body weight of the dog or ever 3% hydrogen peroxide solution in three teaspoons every ten minutes. You could also try mixing an activated charcoal tablet with 2 teaspoons of water as it helps prevent the onset of toxins from reaching the bloodstream by absorbing or deactivating the poison.

Read on Dog Vomiting Yellow Mucus

Dog Having Seizures

Seizures are always a rather scary experience to have witnessed, whether it affects a human being or an animal. Actually witnessing the occurrence of a person or animal losing complete control over itself is rather frightening because of the raw physicality of the episode. Essentially, a seizure is the result of a rather sudden and abnormal neurological activity – which most scientists will describe as being an electrical storm in the brain. Seizures are also accompanied by altered or complete loss of one’s consciousness. Each seizure will have a certain duration – which needs to be recorded for medical reasons as it will help the attending veterinarian get a better insight into the seriousness of the problem. Some seizures may last not more than a few seconds while others may last a number of minutes. Seizures in dogs are classified into two categories – generalized and focal seizures. Generalized seizures will affect the entire body of the animal and include overall stiffness as well as involuntary actions and limb movements. Most dogs will also experience full body rigidity while the animal may also lose control of its bladder and bowels.

Focal seizures in dogs are usually isolated to a certain part of the brain and, therefore, will affect only a certain part of the animal’s body. One example of the same include facial twitching but will also feature a sudden disorientation or fainting spell. Some of the most common causes that influence a dog having seizures include a reaction to some kind of toxin or allergen, a systemic disorder much like thyroid disease or liver shunt, a brain tumor, structural or developmental abnormality and a bacterial or even viral infection. As with most serious medical complications such as this one, it is important to be able to identify anything you notice may have triggered the reaction in the animal. Factors like stress, the sudden explosions of fireworks, excessive exercise or playing as well as consumption of some strange product or food item. If it is the first time that the animal has suffered a seizure, it is important that the veterinarian be contacted as soon as possible. Some breeds are known to be at a higher risk of suffering from seizures than others. These breeds include beagles, British Alsatians, Dachsunds, golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers. Some of the tests that the veterinarian may run in order to aid diagnosis include an MRI or CT brain scan to help identify the presence of a tumor, toxin tests, antibody titers and spinal tap.

Dog Vomits Yellow Mucus

The tendency of most dogs to eat almost anything they find lying by the way side means that most of them are likely to, at some point of time or the other, vomit out any consumptions that do not agree with their digestive system. This can become a rather grave concern for the dog owner in cases where the condition appears to be chronic. When dog vomits yellow bile, it can be a symptom that there may be something medically wrong with the animal as well. When instances like this occur rather frequently, it is important that the dog owner look for any traces of red in the vomit while also looking to identify the presence of any blood in other secretions. It is also important to remember and recall the last meal that the animal consumed and identify if there is a possibility that one of the ingredients in the meal is a likely allergen – triggering an allergic reaction to take place. Some of the more prominent symptoms that any dog owner should look out for when they find their dog vomiting yellow mucus include a disinterest in eating, noticeable weakness and lethargy as well as a rise in the animal’s body temperature. Also keep a track of how often the animal appears to throw up in a period of 24 hours. Unfortunately, one aspect that very often interferes with the effective treatment of the condition is the fact that it is very often confused with a number of other medical conditions. For example, it is very often misdiagnosed as being gagging or retching which then results in the dog vomiting white foam. This occurrence is more often the result of a respiratory condition much like kennel cough or a throat irritation.

The yellowish substance that the dog is vomiting is, in all likelihood, under-digested and lacking in any acids. As a result – most animals will even choose to eat up the vomit. While this may appear rather disgusting to most owners, the dogs are unlikely to pay much attention because of the fact that it is going to taste very similar to the food before ingestion. However, it is important to be able to effectively differentiate between dog vomiting and regurgitation because of the fact that it will greatly hamper the treatment process. In puppies, the tendency to vomit can also be a sign of an adapting digestive process, and therefore, is merely a part of the animals growth.