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262 results for “dog coat”
Symptoms and Treatment of Obesity in Cats and Dogs
Obesity is a nutrition disorder; by international standard, 10 to 15 percent over ideal weight counts as obese, and a body condition score gives a clearer read. In developed countries 10 to 40 percent of dogs and over 20 percent of cats are obese. Causes split into simple obesity from genes, overfeeding, and little exercise, and secondary obesity from hormone or endocrine disease. Diagnosis uses exams, body scoring, and lab work, and treatment is diet, more exercise, and managing any underlying disease.
Why Your Dog Sheds and Stays Thin
Shedding plus failure to gain weight often points to parasites. Black specks in the coat mean fleas and call for external deworming; eating well but staying thin suggests internal parasites; scratching, scooting, mite-related patchy loss, or worms in stool all signal infestation. Puppies need deworming from 40 days, adults every three months, and more often if exposed.
Habits That Age Your Dog Too Fast
Some everyday choices speed up a dog's aging. High-salt food strains the kidneys, fur dye harms skin and heart, seafood upsets a fragile gut, confinement breeds illness and depression, and skipping deworming invites parasites. A little care goes a long way.
Why Does Your Dog Smell So Bad?
No matter how much you love your dog, the odors it carries can be hard to love. Many owners wonder why their dog smells, and the causes are not always obvious. A bad smell can signal a health problem, from wet-coat yeast and bacteria to ear infections, skin-fold dermatitis, gas, and impacted anal glands. Knowing where the odor comes from helps you treat the root cause instead of just masking it. Regular bathing and grooming, plus simple odor absorbers, can handle everyday smells that are not linked to illness.
Winter Dog-Care Tips
Winter care matters. (1) Keep exercise: don't lock the dog indoors for fear of cold—it loses freedom and can get depressed or weak and sick. On a sunny afternoon, leash it to the park for a walk and sunlight that kills coat bacteria. (2) Dress smart: cold-prone small breeds (Chihuahua, Teddy) can wear comfy clothes, but Huskies and Goldens generally should not. (3) Diet: skip 'winter tonics' and rich food—a cold gut handles them poorly and they just add burden. Keep the normal feeding plan.
Key Things to Know About Dog Deworming
Parasites split into external (fleas, lice, ticks, mites) and internal (coccidia, tapeworm, roundworm, hookworm, giardia). Suspect worms if: scratching and scooting rise; black specks on the coat; a non-pregnant dog with a swollen belly but thin frame and bigger appetite (heavy load); cough, fast breathing, low energy, or sleepiness without other illness; or worms in the stool (bring a sample to the vet). Start around 1 month old (mothers pass parasites on). Frequency: puppies internal every 3 months, external monthly; adults every 6 months. Dose by weight/age per label or vet; give 3 hours after meals (mild gut irritation). Vaccines aren't dewormers—wait 7 days post-vaccine. No single drug kills all types, so target the parasite with your vet; keep the environment clean.
Preventing Autumn and Winter Dog Illnesses
Cold seasons bring risks. Keep warm—especially puppies and seniors—with a warmer bed, blanket, or heat lamp (watch electrical safety and distance); bathe at midday in sunlight, less often, warmer water. For weather-related colds (sneeze, runny nose, cough), use pet-specific cold medicine and warmth—never human drugs—and see a vet if it worsens. Keep walking for immunity; short-haired or weak dogs can wear coats and must be dried after rain. Diet may need more frequent small meals; keep probiotics ready for soft stool. Deworm year-round (fleas stay active), and expect the autumn coat shed (Sept–Oct).
Six Common Misconceptions About Raising Dogs
Six myths to drop: (1) making a dog stand often harms hips—some breeds have poor hip development, so avoid it and supplement calcium; (2) bathing too often strips protective skin oils and invites dermatitis—every 1–2 weeks is enough; (3) 'dogs don't hold grudges' is wrong—they just don't dwell on it, but chronic hitting/coldness makes them distant or depressed; (4) skipping walks fades the coat and weakens immunity—daily exercise matters; (5) skipping deworming raises parasite and skin-disease risk; (6) homemade food as the main diet causes pickiness and imbalance—balanced kibble should lead, with toppers added.
How Climate Change Affects Dogs
Autumn is the most comfortable season, loved by people and dogs alike. Notice that whenever weather changes, a dog's mood shifts noticeably. Heat: most dogs grow listless in hot seasons, preferring the AC; short-nosed breeds lose many companions each summer, and double-coated dogs struggle (owners go mad from shedding)—they need regular brushing for airflow. Cold: dogs turn lazy in severe cold, especially short-haired and lean breeds lacking insulation; long-haired and double-coated dogs thrive. Low pressure: dogs sense weather via air pressure and can foresee storms; the AVMA found pressure changes strongly affect behavior—restlessness, even aggression, or unusual excitement before storms. This doesn't permanently change behavior, but comfort an intense reactor. Do dogs get depressed? A UK vet charity survey found 40% of UK dogs show winter mood drops, suspected of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD); affected dogs sleep more and move less, and sunny outdoor time (as in human SAD treatment) eased symptoms—because winter SAD comes from extra melatonin, the sleep hormone, which sunlight stops the pineal gland from releasing.
What to Do If Your Dog or Cat Has Tapeworms
Many species of tapeworms parasitize dogs and cats, and the adult worms seriously harm their health, while the larval stages often use livestock or humans as intermediate hosts, threatening both animals and people. Common species include Dipylidium caninum, Taenia spp., Echinococcus granulosus, Mesocestoides, Spirometra mansoni, and Diphyllobothrium. Infection causes intestinal inflammation, malnutrition, and in severe cases intestinal blockage, with signs like vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and odd behavior. Diagnosis relies on clinical signs plus fecal egg exams. Prevention means regular deworming, not feeding raw offal, and controlling fleas. Treatment uses praziquantel (5 mg/kg dogs, 2 mg/kg cats), arecoline hydrobromide, bunamidine, or fenbendazole under veterinary guidance. Because some tapeworms (like Echinococcus) also endanger human health, prompt and correct control matters.