Dog Grooming

I have a dog. Then what?

Having a dog, means responsibility on your part. One thing you need to know when having a companion like dog is how to groom them. Now here's a quick tip on dog grooming.

• Research your dog's breed or coat type. Finding your dog's breed and coat type will help you determine what tools to use during your grooming session. 
• Make grooming session pleasant and short. Provide your dog with plenty of treats or do anything that can make your dog relax and calm during the session.
• If you want your dog to enjoy grooming, it is best to start train them during puppyhood.
If your dog is afraid of being groomed and will bite or struggle, you may want to consider hiring a local dog trainer to teach you how to make grooming an enjoyable experience for your dog through a systematic desensitization protocol.
• Avoid frequent bathing of your dog. There are other types of dogs that need not to be bathed more than once every 4-6 weeks.
• Brush your dog's teeth everyday. There are toothbrushes available for dogs. 
• Trim dog's nails weekly. If you don't know how, leave it to the pro's. 
• Visit a veterinarian if you see any signs of an unhealthy coat or skin problems - bald spots, scaly patches, excessive dryness or oiliness, open sores of any kind, hot spots, etc. These coat problems can be symptoms of underlying problems ranging from dietary deficiencies to allergies, extreme stress, or hypothyroidism.

Win P10,000 in Dogs of Deal Dozen Photo Contest!

Get a chance to win P10,000 by sharing your funniest, cutest, or even craziest photo of your dog through the Dogs of Deal Dozen application.

To join, simply follow the steps below and you’re good to go:

1. Be a registered user of http://www.dealdozen.com/

2. Like our Deal Dozen Facebook fan page

3. Read through photo submission rules

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Most importantly, don’t forget to tell your friends to VOTE for your dog to help your pet bring home the coveted TOP DOG award!

Entries can be submitted from Oct. 24, 2011 until Nov. 30, 2011. 

The photo entry with the most number of votes at the end of the voting period will be crowned as Deal Dozen's Top Dog!

Moving On

So its been quite here for awhile. Let's just say I was mourning for my Oreo. I never thought this would happen. I built this blog for him, for us. All I post here is related to the knowledge I acquire from raising a dog like Oreo and from both our experience. I feel sad about what happen, we all are. But the thing is,  we need to move on. I guess I have to start here. 

What happen was painful for us. But we come to accept it. May be there's far more good reason why that happen. Days after Oreo died, I send a message to the person who gave Oreo to me, Tolets. Fortunately, right now, Oreo's mom is pregnant again with another puppies. He told me he will give me another pup when it give birth this October. 

I know no other puppy can replace Oreo. But I'm willing to start over again. This time, I'll make sure I do my best to keep it alive and happy! :)

I will still be updating this blog. This will keep me reminded that once in my life, I had a wonderful dog that leave a deep mark in our hearts. 

Oreo

Oreo

Born : September 5, 2010

Died: September 12, 2011

I'm sad to say that my beloved Oreo just died yesterday. 

May you Rest in Peace Baby... We will surely miss you! 

Foods That Dogs Need to Avoid

You may not know this, but some foods that are good for you might be dangerous to your dog. Chocolate is just one among others. Do you know why? Read through to understand how this food affects your precious dog. 

1. Chocolate can stimulate the nervous system and the heart. Make your dog vomit, increase in thirst, tremors, seizures, restless, increased or irregular heartbeat, increase in body temperature and agitation. 

2. Macadamia Nuts can cause muscle  and Nervous system problems to your dog. Possible effects would be vomiting, weakness, tremors, lethargy and increase body temperature.

3. Avocado contains persin which damages the heart muscle. It can result to vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy.

4. Raw Yeast and Bread Dough forms gas in digestive tract; fermentation of yeast causes alcohol poisoning. Possible effects might be vomiting, diarrhea, disorientation, lethargy, distention of abdomen, difficulty breathing, lack of coordination, tremors, coma and seizures.

5. Xylitol which commonly seen on sugarless gum can cause increased insulin secretion, resulting in lower blood sugar levels. This is very poisonous to dogs. Possible effects of xylitol to dogs are diarrhea, vomiting. lethargy, seizures, jaundice and  lack of coordination, 

6. Alcoholic drinks can depress the nervous system. Possible effects are vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, disorientation, lack of coordination, tremors, coma, difficulty breathing and seizures.

7. Onions and Garlic can damage red blood cells which cause anemia. Most probably the effects would be vomiting, weakness, anemia and red-colored urine.

8. Grapes and Raisins can damage the kidney. Increased thirst, lethargy, vomiting and increase in urination are  just among other possible effects on your dog. 

These are the foods that your dog should never eat. You now understand how these food can affect them. So better keep these away from them. :) 

Cesar Millan... Your Dog's Bestfriend

Have a bad temper dog? Do you want to have a dog trainer but don't know where to look for? Why don't you just watch Dog Whisperer on National Geographic Channel! 

All your questions about your dog's behavior and attitude, Cesar can answer it. And if your wondering how you can train your dog to behave, just watch the show.

I've learned a lot from this show. I hope you do too. :D 

Dog Health: Ear Infection

Recently, I've noticed a lot of wounds in Oreo's ear. At times it would disappear and after awhile, it comes back again. I observe it for a month or so and realize that it was some kind of allergy that cause it. So I stop giving him something that would trigger his allergies and start treating his wounds. Anyways, I thought I might share a little information I've learned about this one.

 Dogs can commonly acquire ear infections or wounds. There are a lot of different causes, and the treatment varies from dog to dog. If you can identify what causes your dog's ear wound, then it will be a lot easier for you to treat him.

Signs that your dog might have ear infection: 

• constant scratching and rubbing of the ear
• foul odor coming from the ear
• changes in behavior: tirediness, lack of appetite, and irritability
• redness of  the inner ear

Causes:

• Allergy-- Your dog may have food allergies you didn't know. Observe what he eats, by then you'll know what food he'll get allergies from. 
• Parasite-- Check your dog's ear for ear mites or any parasite. Usually dog can acquire them especially if their ears are big and touches the floor. 
• Trauma-- There are certain accidents that can cause trauma. It might also be caused by fighting with cats that left wounds untreated. 

Treatment: 

• If your dog's ear infection is caused by a food allergy, then restrain him from eating that kind of food. 
• If its parasite, clean your dog's ear and apply medication. Apply medication that your veterinarian prescribed you. There are also shampoos available in the market that you can use. REMEMBER: Always consult your vet before giving or applying any medication to your dog. 
• If your dogs have ear wounds that left untreated, treat it regularly. You can apply betadine. Its fine to use this medication on your dog. 

Hope this gives you an idea how to deal with that ear infection or wound on your dog. Oreo has been doing great and I started restraining him from eating food that can trigger his allergies. His wounds have been healing , and I'm happy it did. 

This is How He Sleep

I was making a shoe organizer this past few days, and Oreo keeps messing around with my things. Until he gets tired and sleeps.

This is his favorite position when he sleep. Don't mind the open eye. He wakes up when he heard someone walking behind my back. 

Does your dog sleeps like this? He's so cute isn't he?

Common Dental Problems in Dogs

Dogs are also like human beings. They also have their own dental issues. I'll give you some idea about the common dental problems of your dogs. Knowing this problems, you'll be able to feel the urge to prevent this from happening to your dog.

Dental problems in dogs:

• Plaque. This is the accumulation of food particles and bacteria along the the gumline.
• Tartar. This is form if unremoved plaque is combined with minerals in the saliva. 
• Periodontal Disease. A serious infection that spreads to the tissues and bone in which the teeth are rooted causing loss of the teeth.
• Gengivitis. This is the inflammation of the gums caused by accumulation of food particles in the crevices between the gums and the teeth.
• Broken teeth. This is commonly caused by aggressive chewing on hard objects.

Most common signs of oral disease which you would watch out for:

• Increase salivation
• Yellow and brown tartar bulidup
• Missing or loose teeth
• Bleeding
• Bad breath
• Red inflamed gums
• Difficulty chewing
• Change in eating habits
• Pawing at the mouth

If you every observe any of these in your dog, contact your Veterinary for advice and check-ups. Never take this for granted. Some disease can cause a dogs death. You don't want that to happen to your dog right? Schedule your dog for annual dental check-up if you have to. Act now before its too late.  :) 

How to Deal with Dog's Menstruation

I have already provided you with some basic information about dog's menstrual cycle yesterday. I guess I have to share how to deal with your dog during her menstrual period. Now they tend to get messy around if you don't take care of them. This tips might give you some idea how to deal with it. :)

• If your dog is bleeding heavily, purchase a dog diaper or  pants. If your on a tight budget and don't have any money to buy some diaper, you can make use of a man's underwear on her. Put the underwear backwards and put the dog's  tail out through the fly or cut a little hole, enough for her tail to fit. Then put a menstrual pad or pantyliner inside the underpants.

• If she refuses to wear underpants, put her in one room with a floor that is easy to clean. Use baby gate to close her on a room when she is bleeding the heaviest.

• Stay close to your dog whenever she is outside. Male dogs can smell a female dog in heat and will tend to have intercourse with her, even if they have to climb or dig under a fence. 

• Take your dog outside more frequently during her menstrual period. This will allow her for more frequent urination.

• Take note of your dog's first menstrual day, in that way you can expect her next menstrual cycle and be ready for it.

I hope this few tips can help you deal with your dog during her menstruation. :) 

Thanks for reading!
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Dog Menstruation

Do you know that female dogs have also there menstrual cycle? Yes, they have. In fact my cousins dog name Kimchi had her first menstruation yesterday. After learning about this news, we ask her Veterinarian about it and also do some researches of our own. 

Bleeding in dogs are also known as heat period or estrous cycle which is equivalent to menstrual cycle in human being. Usually dogs heat cycle occur at age 6-12 months. For smaller breeds it may start as early as five months. For larger breeds it my take until 14 months or may be later for this to happen. Dogs menstruation last in an average of 21 days or three weeks, but may vary from 8 to 30 days. Menstrual/heat cycle of dogs happen at least twice a year or once every seven months.

There are four cycle in Dogs heat cycle/estrous cycle:

1. Pro-estrus. This stage usually last for 4-20 days. During this phase, your female dog my show symptoms such as swelling of the vulva and clear discharge sometimes accompanied by blood and frequent urination. Some large breed dogs may not show any external signs and symptoms. 
2. Estrus. This stage can last for 4-7 days. During this phase, your dog would be more receptive to males and allow them to mate with her. At this stage, the bleeding normally stops but there could still be swelling at the vulva region. Your female dog's secretions would also turn a lighter color.
3. Diestrus/Metestrus. This phase is known as the false pregnancy phase. Your dog would gradually stop bleeding and would also stop from flirting from other male dogs. Prenancy would last for about 60-64 days, that is if your female dog mated successfully and got pregnant.
4. Anestrus. This is the last phase, the time when your dog ends her heat cycle. There is no activity in the female dog's reproductive tract at this time, lasting around 5-11 months.

Sometimes it is hard to tell if your female dog is in heat. But here are some signs you may watch out for:

• Increase urination
• Swelling vulva, although this may not be noticeable in some dog breeds
• Menstrual bleeding

There, that should give you some basic ideas regarding your dogs menstrual cycle. :)
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How to Manage Fleas and Tick on Dogs

Although I'm not a veterinarian to discuss you on topics like this, but I think I have the right to share what I have learned on my researches regarding this topic. Oreo--my dog,  got infested with fleas and I'm in the process of getting rid of it. So if your interested, read through. :)

First and for most, you might be asking how the hell did your dog got this parasites. Well, basically they can have this infestation from stray dogs who happen to be lost in your yard. They can also acquire this from your neighbors infested dogs or in the woods where you went hiking with.  With my Oreo, he got it from dogs in our neighborhood. Basically, dogs can have fleas and ticks, but you can do something about this to prevent it from infesting your dog.

Fleas and Tick can transmit disease to our dogs. Fleas it cause our dog some allergy called flea allergy dermititis. It is manifested when your dog starts to bite, scratch and fall off their hairs. I've seen this with my Oreo. Fortunately, its still not that serious when I found out about this.

With ticks, a lot of disease can be transmitted to your dogs. Lyme disease, rocky mountain spotted fever, tularemia, ehrlichiosis are just a few of them. There are also others that can kill your dog.

Fleas and Tick Management:

Bath your dog regularly. Buy a flea shampoo from the pet shop near you and use it in bathing your dog. Lather thoroughly and deeply through the fur into the skin. Take extra care on areas like behind the ears, neck, ankles and joints. That is most of the time fleas stayed. You can use a flea comb during or after bathing. It will kill the fleas by trapping them in the comb's fine teeth and dipping it in a soapy water.

Use a dog repellent. There are several dog repellant available at the petshop. Frontline, Mace Brand Mazzule and more.

Clean your house. You should also clean your house regularly to prevent fleas and tick from living there. Vacuum your carpets and floors. Wash those beddings and pillow cases. 

Clean your yard.  You clean your yard by trimming your grass short. Leave it just bare ground. You can also use some repellent in your yard just to minimize if not eliminate the parasites. You can also build or repair your fence to avoid stray dogs inside your yard.

Povide your dog with nutritious food. These parasites love to live in a weak and malnourished dogs. Now you don't want that to happen right? So provide your dog with food less in food coloring and food preservatives. Healthy dog is much more better than a malnourished one. :)

Now, if anything else fails. Bring your dog to your Veterinarian for further procedures. They surely know what to do with your dog. :)

All about Dachshund Dog

Oreo is a dachshund dog, so I decided to do my research about him and put it here to share for everyone.

Overview
The dachshund name is of German origin which literally means badger dog, from Dachs (badger) and Hund (dog). These dog are short-legged, long-bodied dog breed belonging to the hound familly.

Life Expectancy: 12-15 years

Three Varieties of Dachshund:

• Short-haired   
• Wired-haired  
• Long-haired 

Size, Weight and Height

Their are two sizes of Dachshund, the standard and Miniature.

Standard:

   Height up to 8-11 inches (20-27cm.)

   Weight - over 11pounds (4.9kg.) at the age of 12 months

Miniature:

   Height up to 5-7 inches (13-18 cm)

   Weight 11 pounds (4.9kg) or less at age 12months

Characteristics:

Dachshunds are a very clownish breed and can be very mischievous at times. A very intuitive dog, the Dachshund is now most commonly seen as a companion rather than a hunter. This breed loves to be around people and should never exhibit signs of aggression or timidity. The Dachshund is an all around friendly dog, is very outgoing, and is sure to steal the hearts of everyone he meets.


Temperament:
The Dachshund is a fun loving dog, tenacious, and lively, but can become jealous and be very irritable. This breed does not do well with smaller children, but can do very well with older and more considerate children. Due to his small size and tiny legs, this breed should not be placed in a home with larger dogs unless they were raised around each other. The Dachshund has the tendency to become jealous, however can do very well with many other toy breeds in the home providing they are not snippy.

Trademark Traits

• Long and short
• vigorous and muscular
• Tenacious and high-spirited
• Loveable
• Loyal
• Hardworkers
• Great players

Vaccine Schedules for Dog

Age	Vaccination
5 weeks	Parvovirus: For puppies at high risk. Check with your veterinarian.
6 & 9 weeks	Combination vaccine* without leptospirosis. Coronavirus: where coronavirus is a concern.
12 weeks or older	Rabies: Given by your local veterinarian (age at vaccination may vary according to local law).
12 & 15 weeks**	Combination vaccine* Leptospirosis: include leptospirosis in the combination vaccine where leptospirosis is a concern, or if traveling to an area where it occurs. Coronavirus: where coronavirus is a concern. Lyme: where Lyme disease is a concern or if traveling to an area where it occurs.
Adult	Combination vaccine* Leptospirosis: include leptospirosis in the combination vaccine where leptospirosis is a concern, or if traveling to an area where it occurs. Coronavirus: where coronavirus is a concern. Lyme: where Lyme disease is a concern or if traveling to an area where it occurs. Rabies: Given by your local veterinarian (time interval between vaccinations may vary according to local law).

Recommendations vary depending on the age, breed, and health status of the dog, the potential of the dog to be exposed to the disease, the type of vaccine, whether the dog is used for breeding, and the geographical area where the dog lives or may visit.

*A combination vaccine, often called a 5-way vaccine, usually includes adenovirus cough and hepatitis, canine distemper, parainfluenza, and parvovirus. Some combination vaccines may also include leptospirosis (7-way vaccines) and/or coronavirus. The inclusion of either canine adenovirus-1 or adenovirus-2 in a vaccine will protect against both adenovirus cough and hepatitis; adenovirus-2 is highly preferred.

**Some puppies may need additional vaccinations against parvovirus after 15 weeks of age. Consult with your local veterinarian.

Bordetella and parainfluenza: For complete canine cough protection, we recommend Intra-Trac III ADT. For dogs that are shown, in field trials, or are boarded, we recommend vaccination every six to twelve months with Intra-Trac III ADT.


Source: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=85

Types of Dog Worms

There are different kinds of dog worms that puppies can acquire. Puppies that did not undergo deworming vaccine are more prone to worm infestation. Just like my Oreo. He was not able to have his deworm vaccine at an early age. It is also advisable to screen your puppy from worm infestation every now and then.

Here's a common general symptoms of a puppy having a worm infestation:

•  Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Gastrointestinal disturbances
• Weight loss
• Big eater without putting on weight
• Anemia (whitish gums)
• Scratching, particularly around the base of the tail
• Mild to severe coughing
• Feels warm (high temperature)

Here's the types of worms commonly seen on puppies:

1. Roundworms (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina)

This is the most common type of dog worm. Puppies can acquire these through their mothers milk or they may be born with. They can also acquire this by ingestion of an infected animal (such as a rodent) or infected soil. Eggs of round worms can live in the soil for many years. If this are ingested by your puppym, it will grow to adulthood in your puppies stomach. Roundworms has a spaghetti-like appearance and can grow until 7 inches. These worms can be seen in our dogs feces or vomit.

Common symptoms of dogs with round worms:

• Vomitting
• Diarrhea
• Scooting
• Dull coat
• Pot-belly appearance (especially in puppies)
• Weight loss
• Cough

2. Hookworms (Ancylostoma caninium)

Same as roundworms, hookworms harbors in the intestine and can be transmitted to humans.Hookworms is very small that can't be seen by the naked eye. It can only be diagnosed by a vet. This worms hook themselves inside the intestine of the dog with their sharp teeth, and can cause intestinal bleeding.

Common symptoms of dogs with hookworms:

• Bloody stools
• Pale gums
• Anemia
• Weight loss
• Diarrhe
• Low energy level

3. Tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum)

Tapeworms got its name from its appearance: Long, flat, tape-like appearance. Like the roundworm, tapeworms can be seen by the naked eye. It can often be seen in the dogs stool. 

Common symptoms of dogs with tapeworms:

• Abdominal pain
• nervousness
• Severe itching around the anus
• Weight loss
• Vomitting

4.Whipworms (Trichuris vulpis)

Whipworms lives in the dogs colon. It is long, thin (whip-shaped) dog worms that can't be seen in a naked eye. They attached themselves to intestinal walls and feed themselves which can cause intestinal bleeding. This worm is the most difficult to eliminate among all the dog worms.
 

Common symptoms of dogs with a Whipworms:

• Anemia
• Weight loss
• Flatulence
• Diarrhea with blood or mucus in the stool
• Low energy level

5. Heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis)

Heartworms is highly preventable, but if left untreated, it can cause fatal damages to dogs. This worms are spread by mosquitoes during the warm month, were mosquitoes are most active. This worm can cause congestive heart failure and death to dog by destroying the muscle and tissue of the heart.

Common symptoms of dogs with a Heartworms:

• Pot-belly
• Coughing
• Lack of energy
• Dull coat

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Day 2: Low Energy Level

I'm sorry if I was not able to update you on Oreo's hospitalization. Things at our home just went crazy.

So we went back to the clinic to visit Oreo. I was expecting him to be very excited to see me, but I guess his just too weak to do so. The thought of seeing him on his best shape just vanished in a second. It is not as what I have expected. I got a little consolation though, he wiggle his tail when he see me. Its enough to make me happy.

I was with Claire, my little sister when we visit Oreo. She's like Oreo's second owner. She just love him so much. We spend almost an hour in the clinic cuddling Oreo. When we decided to go home, the doctor told us that we might bring him home the next day if his condition gets better. I was happy to hear that news.
Here's some picture of that day...

He started to eat his food

Day 1 in the Clinic...

Oreo was not feeling well this past few days. He stop eating, and if he does eat, he just vomit it out. His weight started to drop. Because I was so worried, I called a vet and ask about his condition. She ask me to do a couple of things to insure how dehydrated he was. Unfortunately, he was very dehydrated. The Vet advised me take Oreo to the clinic the next day.

On our way to the clinic, Oreo was so steady at his sit. He even have the time to nap. When we arrived there, the Veterinarian immediately accommodate us. She took Oreo from me and do their Initial assessment. I found out that Oreo had a fever from his temperature results. The doctor also perform some microscopic exam on his stool and found out that he has a worm. They even gave me a chance to look over the microscope and have a look at the worm's egg.

The Doctor explain to me, that it was the worms living inside his body that cause his loss of appetite and vomiting. She then advise me to let Oreo be admitted in the clinic for the mean time, until he regains his strengths and starts to eat. I really wanted Oreo to get well so I decided to leave him there for a while.

The doctors put up an IV line for Oreo to aid in his dehydrated status. They also told me that they will give him some Iron supplement to help build up some blood in his system, because he was so anemic. They said that they will deworm Oreo starting with little dose. They're afraid that if they will give him a larger dose of deworming medication, Oreo's body might not be strong enough to take it and might cause his death. 

They even put some mouth guard to prevent him from eating his IV line. He was so weak. If only I can take out all his illness and transfer it to myself. I will really do it. I really love him and I don't want to loss him. Although I was so worried about Oreo, I was also happy knowing how pessimistic the doctor was regarding his status. I hope he start regaining his strengths. We really want him to get well, so that we can take him home. The house is really empty without him. No one to follow me around and bark those cats from our neighbors. We plan to visit him tomorrow in the clinic. I'll just keep you posted on his status.

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Celebrity Idol with their dogs

Here's a sneak pick to some of my celebrity idols with their very pretty dogs.

1. Jessica Alba and dog Syd

2. Ashley Judd and dog Buttermilk

3. Oprah Winfrey and dog Sophie and Solomon

4. Sandra Bullock and dog poppy

5. Jennifer Anniston and dog Norman

6. Blake Lively

7. Ashley Tisdale

8. Orlando Bloom

9. Kristen Dunst

10 Leighton Meester

11. Lauren Conrad

12. Justin Timberlake

13. Rihanna and dog Oliver

14. Hayden Panettiere

15. Paris Hilton