Search Results
312 results for “feeding puppies”
Everyday Habits That Seriously Harm Your Dog’s Joints
Joint disease in dogs is on the rise, and beyond obesity many overlooked daily habits do real damage. Slippery floors force dogs to grip hard and risk falls; bad exercise — long runs, sharp stops, jumping from heights — wears joints down; frequent stairs overload the knees, especially in long-backed breeds like Corgis; standing on hind legs for attention strains the spine; and overfeeding accelerates cartilage loss, particularly in large breeds with hip-dysplasia risk. Cold, damp floors stiffen joints and worsen pain. Watch for early signs — stiffness after rest, reluctance to jump, hind-leg dragging, pain when touched — and support joints with glucosamine and chondroitin.
What Is Canine Bordetellosis
Canine bordetellosis is a chronic respiratory infection of dogs caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica. It spreads through the air in crowded or poorly ventilated kennels, where puppies and stressed dogs are most at risk, and often appears alongside other respiratory viruses. The hallmark sign is a harsh cough, usually worst in the morning, that lasts one to two weeks and clears on its own when there is no secondary infection. Confirmation needs laboratory culture of the bacterium. Treatment relies on antibiotics chosen by sensitivity testing plus good husbandry and warmth, while prevention comes from lowering dog density and, where available, vaccination.
Daily Hygiene and Disease Prevention for Dogs
Every disease has a cause, and good daily management can remove many of those causes before they harm your dog. The principle of prevention over treatment is central to responsible dog keeping. Food safety, clean living quarters, and a tidy environment are the three pillars that lower the cost of illness.
Hookworms in Dogs: Symptoms and Deworming
Hookworms are intestinal parasites named for their hook-like mouthparts, which anchor them to the gut wall. Only about an eighth of an inch long, they are hard to see, yet they drink large amounts of blood from tiny vessels and can inflame the gut, cause anemia, and threaten life, especially in puppies. Dogs catch them by mouth, through the skin, or from mother to pup via placenta and milk. Signs include pale gums, weakness, weight loss, and bloody diarrhea. Diagnosis is a fecal float, and treatment is regular deworming plus a repeat dose to kill newly matured worms.
Common Bone and Joint Diseases in Dogs
Poor care often deforms a dog's legs. Know the risks: hip and elbow dysplasia in retrievers and shepherds, osteochondrosis in large fast growers, femoral head issues in small breeds, and degenerative joint disease eased by weight control, gentle exercise, and glucosamine. Home setup matters too, slippery floors and stairs cause lasting damage.
Can You Keep a Dog While Living Alone?
For a nine-to-five worker, the biggest worry is whether you can manage feeding and care, and what a dog does alone all day. The key issue is keeping up with three to four meals a day while a puppy is young; solve that and the rest falls into place. A dog also brings real security and warmth to a solo household.
Why Is My Dog’s Stool Soft or Unformed, and What Helps?
Soft, unformed stool in dogs has several causes, from a simple upset after the wrong food to gastroenteritis, parasites, or even a viral infection. The right response depends entirely on the cause, so guessing at medicine can waste time. This guide walks through the four common reasons—indigestion, gut inflammation, internal parasites, and viruses—and the matching treatment, from probiotics to a timely trip to the clinic.
Why Is a Puppy Vomiting and Refusing to Eat?
When a young puppy vomits and turns away from its food, the cause usually falls into one of four buckets: stress from a new home or unsuitable food, uncontrolled feeding habits, internal parasites, or an infectious disease such as distemper. Puppies are especially vulnerable because their immune and digestive systems are still developing, so a single episode should not be ignored. Identifying which factor is behind the symptoms lets you act quickly—whether that means calming the pup, fixing the feeding routine, deworming, or getting to a vet before a treatable problem becomes serious.
Characteristics of a Puppy’s Weaning Period
The weaning period is a major transition for puppies. As the mother's milk declines, the pups' fast growth pushes their nutritional needs up, and their digestion begins adapting to soft foods like thin meat porridge. This stage is also stressful and disease-prone — maternal antibodies hit a low around 40 days, so a careful plan matters: start supplemental feeding at 25–28 days, keep the original cage while moving the mother away, follow a fixed feeding schedule to avoid hypoglycemia, and stick to the deworming and vaccination timeline (e.g., Nobivac 2-way at 35 days, 4-way at 50 and 70 days).
What Are the Symptoms of Canine Coronavirus?
Canine coronavirus is a fast-spreading intestinal virus that looks a lot like parvovirus. Infected dogs become lethargic and lose their appetite, then develop persistent vomiting and foul-smelling, watery diarrhea that may carry a little blood—often in recurring bouts. Puppies are especially vulnerable, while adult dogs usually recover. There is no specific cure; treatment is supportive (fluids, anti-emetics, gut protectants, and a recovery diet), and prevention through vaccination and good hygiene is the most reliable defense.