What Is Giardia and How Can You Prevent It?

What is Giardia?

Giardia in dogs is a barely discernible disease normally found in dogs and puppies. Contaminated water is one of the major causes of giardia in puppies in addition to general contact to the disease in the environment such as contact to infected surfaces in parks or even in your dog’s food.

Cause of Giardia

The most widespread causes of giardia in dogs are from drinking water outside, such as from a pond or stream that has been contaminated with another infected animals feces. The feces contain a cyst that enters the gastrointestinal tract of your dog. The cysts sheath Trophozoites which cause the situation. Puppies are very vulnerable as their immune system has yet to build up to its full capacity so Giardia typically transmits to dogs that are less than a year old.

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7 Tips On How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Your Pet

Introduction

Dog Eating Food We don’t consider dogs as pets; we consider them as the part of our family. So it’s useful to know which canine nourishments are useful to your dog’s wellbeing, and which you ought to avoid. With a large number of pet food items available in the market, picking the best can be troublesome, yet it’s not incomprehensible in the event that you recognize what you’re searching for. Being specific about the information provided on the label, is an incredible initial step and makes pet proprietors more mindful of what we are going to share now.

All of our editors and veterinarians at Top Dog Tips believe that as an expansive piece of your dog’s wellbeing is controlled by the sustenance that they eat. In any case, with such a large number of nourishment choices out there, how would you pick which is best for your canine? There are some straightforward rules to help you with the choice of what to feed your dog. While there is no such food which can be labelled as the “best” puppy food, there are unquestionably some that are superior to others when compared on the basis of nutritional value.

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Considerations When Buying Pet Insurance

Pets are as important as the rest of the family and they should get their very own insurance coverage. Deciding to get an insurance cover for your furry best friends is therefore an amazing idea. However, you need to put some thought into the pet insurance plan you intend to get before you commit to it. Basically, the following considerations should act as a guide for you.

The Type of Coverage

Knowing the type of policy will help you determine its extent, the limitations, the timeline, cost and a whole lot of other important information. You don’t just take to any policy. Instead you look for the one with maximum advantages at minimum costs.

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7 Myths About Jack Russell Terriers

Let’s face it, there is all sorts of bad press about Jack Russell Terriers out there. A couple of experiences involving bad pet parents and a case of a bad dog or two have made this breed into one as bad as the myth revolving around a pit bull. If you are considering looking at a Jack Russell Terrier as being a pet, but are concerned about the stories you’ve been hearing, here are some myths that we can take away from your decision.

1. Jack Russell Terriers are hyper and crazy

While this dog is definitely one who would need an active owner and lifestyle, Jack Russell Terriers are not hyper or crazy, as the myths suggest. They simply need plenty of time and space to run around, play, and interact with you. They don’t like to be cooped up in a small apartment where there is no room to move around or play. They need to run and have a great time in an open space. If you are an owner who can give him time to play and run around, you’ll see that he is actually a very calm dog.

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5 Things You Should Know About Pet Ear Care

Written by Dr Helen Burns

Dog and cat owners often ask vets about caring for their pet’s ears. The truth of the matter is that normal healthy ears are remarkably self sufficient. They are designed with their own self cleaning mechanism. It is only when this fails that we need to intervene.

How do ears stay clean naturally?

Our pets’ ears are lined with skin that is similar to that on their ear flap. Vet Examining Ears of Dog This skin contains glands that secrete waxy and oily material that combines with shed skin cells to form what we know as ear wax. Remarkably, for something that seems so simple, ear wax plays two very important roles.

Firstly, it keeps the ear drum soft and moist. Have you ever wondered what happens to all that dirt in your pet’s ears after it rolls around on the ground? Well, ear wax traps foreign material that gets into the ears, such as dust and dirt, then the skin cells lining the ear move the wax up and out of the ear like a conveyor belt. Thanks to this process, ear wax doesn’t build up in normal healthy ears.

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What to Expect When Adopting a Special Needs Pet

It’s hard not to fall for the underdog, and pets with special needs tend to tug on our heartstrings the hardest, of course. Although it can be rewarding to give that special creature a loving forever home, caring for a pet with unique needs isn’t for the fainthearted; in fact, it usually means that these pets require a lot of extra time, patience, and often a change in your normal routine to accommodate their needs. For those animal lovers who are determined to open their hearts and arms, here’s what you should be prepared to do when you’re adopting that special cat or dog.

Do Your Research

What specific problems or needs does your new pet have? Do they need medication, prescription food, special training, or a particular home care routine? Although Dr. Google is where many people turn to for advice, it’s better to talk with professionals like your veterinarian, behaviorist, and staff at the rescue or shelter that you’re adopting from. Ask about what the future may hold for your pet, especially if they have a chronic disease that affects their long term health.

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How to Care for Your Blind Dog

It’s natural that many dog lovers would be upset by the prospect of their beloved friend becoming blind, and regardless of the initial cause of vision loss, it can be especially hard to watch when our dogs are confused or distressed by such a major change. It’s also not unusual for owners to feel completely unprepared to care for a blind dog, and many might think that this is the end of their dog’s enjoyment in life. Take heart, however – though the transition can be difficult for dogs at first, most of them adapt very well, and with our assistance, they learn to get around almost as well as before, allowing them to continue living rich and happy lives.

To begin with, it’s important to realize that every dog might react differently to becoming blind – some easygoing pups might take it in stride and adjust within a matter of a week or two, while others go through a period of withdrawal or even depression at the beginning. Here are the basics when beginning to care for your non-visual friend.

Make their home safe and secure. Protecting your pup from danger is essential right from the very start, since falls and inadvertent blunders are a possibility. Block off access to pools, use gates to restrict your dog’s access to stairs, and bump-proof sharp edges and corners that your dog might walk into. If you’re not able to supervise your dog as they’re adjusting, keep them in a secure crate or limited area to prevent them from getting into troublesome situations.

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Beat the Heat: Summer Safety Tips for Your Dog

We humans may love the summer sun, but our four-legged friends can have a tough time staying cool – could you imagine wearing a fur coat on the beach? Hot or intensely humid weather can be dangerous for our dogs, and there are some particular hazards that we need to keep our pups safe from when the weather gets warm.

Beat the Heat

Hot paws! Asphalt heats up very quickly in the sun, and can cause painful burns to your dog’s pads. Walk your dog on grass instead of pavement, put protective boots on, or even carry them when needed.
Exercise your furry friend during the cooler times of day, like early mornings or evenings, and keep in mind that they may need more breaks for water and rest than usual.
Don’t forget the sunscreen. Light colored or thinly-haired dogs can easily become sunburnt – ask your vet about dog-friendly sunscreen to use on your pup’s skin.
Very senior dogs, overweight pooches and short-nosed Pugs and Bulldogs can very easily become distressed in the heat and might even have problems breathing well. In extreme temperatures, these pups are best kept safely inside where it’s cool.
Leave your dog at home when you’re running errands. The inside of a car can reach dangerous temperatures in just a few minutes, even with the windows cracked on a mild day. Hot cars kill pets.

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For the Sake of Seniors: Caring for Your Elderly Pet

No pet owner wants their best friend to get older. For most of us, our pets are truly four-legged family members, and as they enter their golden years, we’re faced with the fact that sadly, they won’t be with us forever. Many of our pets change as they become seniors, too – sometimes they’re sore and stiff, or they don’t want to chase the ball or bat that mouse around like they once did as a puppy or kitten. It can be frustrating for us when we call their name over and over, only to realize one day that they’re not coming because they can’t hear us. Take heart, though – some of the best memories of your pet can emerge from these later years, and with your help and support, your furry friend can still live a rich, full and comfortable life as a spoiled senior. Here’s a few of our top tips to guide you in caring for your senior pet.

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A Healthy Behind: A Guide to Your Dog’s Anal Gland Health

Anal glands – many dog owners have no idea what they are, what they’re used for, or even what issues may arise with these small organs. Here’s a brief guide to two of the most infamous body parts your dog may possess.

So, what are these things in the first place? The anal glands are two small, grape-sized sacs that are located under the skin on either side of your dog’s anus. They contain a strong smelling, yellow-brown fluid which is released through small ducts when your pet has a bowel movement. It’s thought that the secretions of the anal glands are a way for dogs to mark territory when they have a poop, although it’s common for many canines to release anal gland fluid when they’re frightened.

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