Though the dog days of summer are almost over, Tampa sees warm temperatures year round. Its important for dog owners to remember the Florida heat can take a toll on your dog. Dogs have higher body temperatures than humans and can get hot very quickly. Here are seven tips to help your dog beat the summer heat.
Dog ear care is pretty simple if you keep up with it. I've found that with my dog, Koda, the easiest way to keep your dog's ears clean and problem-free is to make cleaning a weekly chore. Be sure to check your dog's ears for wax buildup, redness or inflammation around the ear, dirt in the ears, or anything else that might be in your dog's ear.
Also be sure to smell your dog's ears. A foul or sour odor indicates a problem like an ear infection, ear mites, or even fleas or ticks. If you think your dog might have an ear infection, take your dog to the veterinarian immediately. Letting your dog's ear infection go can result in a severe infection or even deafness.
When you are cleaning your dog's ears only use a gentle solution. Never use soap and water or alcohol. Never use Q-tips, or any other cotton tipped swab as these can push dirt further into your dog's ears creating a bigger problem. You can also hurt your dog's ear canal.
Dogs with floppy ears are very prone to ear infections, as there is hardly any air circulation around the ear so it is even more important to check your dog's ears weekly.
Here are some symptoms of a possible ear infection:
Your dog shakes his head
Your dog paws or scratches his ear a lot
You notice your dog tilts his head to the side
Your dog's ear smells bad (can indicate a dog ear yeast infection)
You notice a heavy wax buildup when cleaning your dog's ears
You see fleas or ticks in the ear
You notice your dog's ear is red and immflamed
Your dog's ears are moist
If you notice any of these problems it's best to get your dog to the veterinarian as soon as you can to avoid a worse problem.
Arthritis doesn’t discriminate. It affects not only people of all ages -- including children -- but also strikes our dogs, too. In fact, arthritis affects one in every five adult dogs in the U.S. and is one of the most common sources of chronic pain that veterinarians treat.
How do you know if it’s arthritis? Your dog can’t explain what’s wrong with him, so it’s important to watch his behavior closely and take even subtle changes seriously.
February is National Pet Dental Health Month - the perfect time to brush up on your dog's dental health Here are some great tips for keeping your dog's chopper's in great health.
Just like for humans, plaque is bad for dogs. Plaque consists of 80% bacteria and 20% food and saliva. If plaque is not removed every day, it mineralizes and forms tartar on your dog’s teeth.
Though the dog days of summer are almost over, Tampa sees warm temperatures year round. Its important for dog owners to remember the Florida heat can take a toll on your dog. Dogs have higher body temperatures than humans and can get hot very quickly. Here are seven tips to help your dog beat the summer heat.