This is an important question for every dog owner out there. Should I be giving my dog heartworm medicine? Do they need it? What happens if I don’t? If you’re reading this, you’re taking the right steps in learning more about this dangerous disease, and how to prevent your dog from getting infected with it.

First off, heartworms live just about all over North America, so if you and your pet live, or visit North America, there is a chance your pet could contract heartworm disease. In the past, the disease was confined only to the southern most parts of the United States of America. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case as the disease as rapidly spread across the entire continent and even into the southern parts of Canada. Heartworm is transmitted via mosquitoes, so this parasite can travel rapidly and easily across large stretches of land. It’s even gaining a foothold in South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. So even if there isn’t a high incidence of heartworm disease in your country yet, because of the nature of technology and travel today you could be seeing the disease in your area very soon. So you might want to speak to a vet soon about getting your dog heartworm medicine, because the disease is so prevalent across the globe.

Let’s say you haven’t given your dog heartworm medicine, is he in danger of contracting the disease? Anywhere there are mosquitoes, there is the potential for this parasite to spread. If your dog gets bitten by a mosquito carrying heartworm disease, the larvae are transferred into your pet’s bloodstream where they begin to incubate. At this point, it’s difficult to tell if a dog has been infected with heartworm disease, as symptoms don’t become visible for at least 6-7 months (this is known as the “prepatent period”). Once the disease has firmly gained a foothold into your pet’s body, your doggy’s health is now in danger. That’s why it’s important to prevent the disease, rather than treat it, and giving your dog heartworm medicine is the best way to prevent this deadly disease.

If your dog is diagnosed with the disease, your vet will most likely indicate that treatment is needed. If the disease has been allowed to progress to this point, there may be heart, liver, or kidney damage and your vet will have to evaluate their health to see if there are any risks to treating the disease at this point. After your dog has been treated, the worms will be dead but still present in your pet’s heart. Your dog will need to rest for several weeks, because the worms could potentially break loose if your dog is physically active. This can be extremely dangerous, especially if the worm travels to a critical part of their body (such as the lungs).

This disease is so difficult to detect because of the 6 month long prepatent period while the worms mature. Speak to your vet about giving your dog heartworm medicine, because the risks are so great. A little bit of preventative medicine could save you thousands of dollars in vet bills treating the disease, or even worse, your pet could die.

Linda is an experienced veterinarian who recommends that every owner give their dog Heartworm Medicine.

Allergies are caused by allergens, which are substances of all nature found in our environment. These allergens will, for some reasons, cause our immune system to act up, as if they were toxic to the body. This reaction leads to the release of histamine, which cause the allergic symptoms.

Runny nose and itchy eyes, most people have experienced allergies in their lives, whether it is to pollen, house dust mites or cat hair. But did you know that, just like you, your dog can also suffer from allergies? As a matter of fact, dogs can even have similar allergies to humans.

Canine allergies will mostly make your dog is scratching like crazy, leading to open sores. If the allergy stays and the dog keeps scratching, those open sores can become infected, causing bad odors and lots of pain. Allergy symptoms also include vomiting, diarrhea and ear infections. While some breeds are more prone to developing allergies, all dogs are susceptible and it is important to look out for allergy symptoms before they develop into infections.

There are several allergens that can cause dogs allergies, which include fleas, pollen, dust mites and even dog food.

CANINE ALLERGIES TO FLEAS

One of the most common cause of canine allergies is flea allergy dermatitis, where the dog becomes allergic to the saliva of the flea. When the dog has flea allergies, it takes as little as one flea bite to send to the dog to a sudden burst of itchiness, and the dog starts frantically scratching and chewing its skin. This scratching and chewing can lead to open sores and more severe skin infections.

If you suspect your dog of having flea allergy, take some steps to determine and make sure that it is canine allergies to fleas. Look for fleas, severe itching symptoms, biting or chewing around the tail, the legs and the rump and oozing skin sores caused by scratching, biting and chewing.

Of course, preventive care is the best way to prevent canine allergies to fleas. But if your dog has fleas, you will need to treat your dog for fleas, using either flea collars, pills, vaccines, shampoos, sprays and a wide range of other products your vet can tell you about. Remember that the war to fleas also extends to the dog’s environment, including where your dog sleeps, any cracks in floors, the car seats, etc.

Then if the scratching and biting have caused open lesions, you will need to treat the secondary skin infections, using products such as antibiotics or antifungals as determined by the gravity of the open sores and infections.

Then, you need to stop the itching. You can use topical steroidal creams to help reduce or stop the itching, and give time to the skin to heal.

DOG FOOD ALLERGIES

Unlike canine allergies to fleas, dog allergies to food is not as common and can start at any age. Canine allergies to food are more difficult to ascertain and it is believed that food allergies can happen with a brand or type of food the dog has been fed for a long time. Beef, chicken, eggs, fish and milk are the most common causes of food allergy in dogs.

If you suspect your dog of having food allergies, look out for symptoms such as foul skin odors, lots of scratching around the face, ears infections, open lesions caused by severe scratching, biting the chewing, and, sometimes, onsets of diarrhea or vomiting.

To treat canine allergies to food, give your dog special diets low in allergens, or diets free of the ingredients your dog is intolerant to. Similarly to other allergies, you will need to treat your dog for skin infections as needed, using antibiotics or antifungals.

While some brands have specialized hypoallergenic food, with ingredients such as lamb, rice, fish, potatoes or venison, many veterinarians simply recommend to home cooked food diets. Finding a diet or a new type of brand your dog will not be allergic to can be difficult. It often consists of tries and errors, by giving the dog new food until all the symptoms disappear, which mean you found the perfect diet. Unfortunately, nothing can assure you that, after another few years, the dog will not develop another allergy to the new diet.

ATOPY ALLERGIES

Atopy allergies are also known as canine allergies to inhalants, which are substances found in the air and that the dog inhale everyday. These irritants can be seasonal, such as pollen or ragweed, or all year-round, such as house dust mites. Unlike humans, dogs allergy atopic symptoms manifest through itchy skin, frantic scratching, chewing and biting, which can quickly lead to oozing skin infections.

There are no cure to canine allergies to inhalants, but, fortunately, there are several products available to help relieve some the allergy symptoms. Antihistamines are good to treat atopy symptoms, but the best solution remains avoiding the allergens (vaccuum the house more often, get rid of the carpets, shorten the walks when it is pollen season). Bathing your dog with shampoo containing aloe vera is a healthy option an a good option to help reduce the itchiness until the allergy discomfort diminishes. If you wish to learn more about treatments, read our post Dog Flea Treatment.

For more information, visit Heartworm Medicine.

If your dog has fleas, it’s very important for their health (and your home!) to get rid of them. First off, they tend to be incredibly annoying for both your dog, and for the people around them. They can cause severe skin itching and infections, especially from scratching at them. Lastly, they can transmit diseases and tapeworms. It’s incredibly important that, once you’ve established your pup is infested, that you find an effective dog flea treatment before the situation gets out of control.

picture credit musicienne

How do I tell they have fleas?

First sign would be if your dog is scratching and biting itself, especially around their head and tail. They may develop bald spots in their fur due to scratching, as well as their skin getting irritated from the bites. You aren’t immune either, the fleas may spread to the furniture, your clothes, and you. Flea bites often show up as small bumps and an itching rash.

Effective Dog Flea Treatment

As they say, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Keep a close eye on your canine, especially during the summer and early fall, this is flea season. Give your pet a bath on a regular basis, at least once every week to 2 weeks. This should help to wash away any fleas that have gained a foothold and laid eggs.

Consider getting a flea collar as well, they’re one of the oldest, most effective ways to prevent fleas. Additionally, they’re available at just about any pet store. Just be sure to pick the right one for your dog by reading the instructions carefully.

Chemical Dog Flea Treatment

There are a wide range of chemical dog flea treatment options available, which include anything from topical medications, drops and sprays, and creams, to oral medications. Ask your veterinarian about some of the most common brands, such as Frontline, Advantage, and Sentinel. They are all highly effective treatment methods.

Once you begin treating your pet for fleas, remember that the fleas aren’t just hiding on your pet. They’re hiding all around you, in your carpeting, your furniture, your bedding, and your clothes. Effective treatment includes treating all these high rish areas to be sure that you don’t get a resurgence.

Don’t attempt to purchase these dog flea treatments on your own, instead be sure to consult a veterinarian. They will inform you of the different options in treatment available, and make a safe choice based on your dog’s weight, age, and history.

Herbal Treatments

One of the oldest and most effective “natural” ways to prevent fleas  is to add a bit of garlic to your pet’s meals. This is a time tested means. A little sulphur, or black walnut hulls (available in many health food stores) will not only help with fleas, but other pests such as ticks and mosquitos. These are all slow acting solutions that can take a month or 2 to notice any effect. You can also read our post about natural flea repellent to find more information about natural ways to fight fleas.

To learn more about dog flea treatment and other infestations in dogs, visit Heartworm Medicine.

While we are busy putting sunblock over our bodies and drinking cool pops to refresh our bodies during summer, we often forget about our pets, and just like humans, dogs are sensitive to heat. Hence, because they are covered with fur and unable to tell you if they are hot or cold, it can be difficult for the owner to tell when their friend is danger of overheating. So here are few tips to help you keep your dog healthy, even through a hot summer.

1. Make sure that your dog fur is groomed accordingly to the time of the year. During cold seasons, winter and fall, let the hair grow long, but as soon as warmer seasons arrive, bring your dog to the groomer to trim their fur. Would you like to wear a winter coat all summer long? So doesn’t your dog!

2. Provide your pet with a comfy environment in the house. The dog’s room should not be higher than 77-80 F. If it is too hot for you, then it is too hot for you puppy as well! If it is a very hot summer day, put a little fan near the dog’s sleeping area. You can even use a cool wet cloth in front of the fan to cool down the area by a few degrees.

3. If your dog is spending some day outside on a hot day, make sure that there are cool shaded areas for the dog to rest. Also make to have on hand some cool water for the dog to avoid dehydration.

4. Check you dog’s water bowl. Make sure the bowl is at least half full at all time. Even in the shade, the water in the bowl can become warm, so check the temperature of the water every few hours.

5. Even on hot day, you will still need to give you dog its exercise. However, avoid long walks, exercicing and playing at the park with other dogs in the middle of the day. Opt for early hours, when the temperatures are cooler and the sun less strong. Bring a cool bottle of water and a bowl so the dog can drink after playing.

6. Summer is bugs season. Protect your dog against fleas, ticks and worms by vaccinating them or using specialized anti-bugs products. Remember that fleas and worm infestation can be dangerous for your dog, but the worms or the disease they carry can often also be transmissible to their owner. Heartworm disease is also a pest that affects canines. It is spread through mosquito bites and can be prevented using preventive medication.

7. We will never say it often enough. Do not leave your dog in the car on a hot day during long period of times. If you have to run a quick 5 minutes errand at the pharmacy, make sure to leave the window slightly open and to park the car in a shaded area.

8. Do not attach your dog to a pole, with no or insufficient protection against the sun. If you are going to have lunch or a coffee, make sure that the dog will have a shaded area where to hide from the sun. And remember that sun will move in the sky, so a shaded area could potentially become a dangerously exposed area in the hot summer sun.

Dogs, just like humans, can suffer from heat exhaustion and heat strokes. So take the all the necessary protection for your dogs during summer.

For more information, visit Heartworm Medicine.

When you dog has fleas, it is pointless to treat your dog without treating your house as well. Remember that the dog’s environment can become a big reservoir of fleas if not treated. For each parasite you find, there are probably 9 other ones hiding in your dog’s hair or in the house! Knowing that each female flea lay up to 30 eggs per day, that will hatch and reproduce within 3 weeks, needless to say that a good house and dog treatment is essential to avoid recurrence of the flea problem. Here are some house natural flea repellent and control tips to help you and your pet stay away from the fleas for good.

First, make sure to wash puppy’s blanket every week and to keep it’s immediate environment clean. Avoid using a reed basket or a thick cloth mattress that can’t be easily washed. Just like rugs and carpets, they are cozy little nests for bugs, and nightmares for the owners and their little companion.

Second, when “fleas hunting”, make sure to put a lot of emphasis of the carpets, the cracks in the floor, the bottom of the curtains, the covering of fabric couches and the bottom of furniture, which are all favorite fleas hiding spots. During spring or summer time, steam clean your carpeting to kill and destroy any hidden parasites.

Third, use special products to treat your dog’s environment. We suggest you can make you own natural flea repellent mixture with 15 drops of tea tree oil, 5 drops of lavandin super oil, 5 drops of cannelier de Ceylan oil, 10 drops of vervain oil, and spray it in the dog’s basket, on the ground, where the dog likes to lie down, on cushions and on the bottom of curtains.

Moreover, you can also use some natural flee repellent such as lavender or cedar potpourri near the dog’s bedding, or under the dog’s blanket. This will keep the bugs away and smell good! You can also use add some neem oil in the dog’s shampoo to kill the fleas.

Fleas also enjoy a nice garden or big yard with grass. If you have a garden, make sure to keep the grass short and to trip the bushes as often as possible. This will allow the sun to burn off the flea larvae. Keep your garden clean as heaps of grass, dead leafs and branches can also attract ticks.

In case of a flea problem, ants in your garden can be an asset. Those ants will feed on the flea larvea and eggs. Where you dog likes to lie down, clean off the dead branches and leafs, and put a dark plastic cover. The heat will kill off any flea larvea. You can also spread some diatomaceous earth, also known as diatomite or kieselgur a naturally occurring, soft, siliceous sedimentary rock that can be used as natural flea repellent.

For more information, visit Heartworm Medicine.