Most dog owners choose to keep their pet inside their home and save themselves from the hassle of building or maintain the dog house. However, many owners build a dog house to provide a private space for their pets and for keeping guard or maintaining hygiene of home.

A doghouse, dog house, dogshed or kennel is a small shed commonly built in the shape of a house, a shelter intended for a dog. It is a structure in which a dog is kept and it is intended to provide a safe place to dogs outdoors.

When you build a house for your dog it is important to keep check on wear and tear, and hygiene issues too, so your dog can enjoy a safe shelter.

Here are 5 Step on maintaining your dog house

Disinfect the entire house

You must regularly disinfect your dog house for prevention from fleas, tick and other allergies. Keeping the dog shelter clean ensures that your own home is safe from germs.

You can find various disinfectants in the market, however, if you are using a bleach solution, do care to dilute it in the ratio of 1:32 (one part of bleach with thirty-two parts of water). After using the bleach, do not forget to rinse the surfaces inside the house to prevent any chemical ruins and inhalation.

Regularly clean accessories and materials

Regularly empty and clean water bowl, food bowl, toy and sheets or blankets. Keeping sheets and blankets under the sunlight kills most of the germs without the need to wash it often. Dogs often have a habit of bringing foreign stuffs inside their kennel. You must remove them and keep the inside cleaner to prevent germ infestation.

Provide cold-proof layer

If your city or suburb is colder or has a harsh winter, it is important that you provide extra protection for your dog. Warm the dog's indoor bed if the dog lies directly on cold and try making an elevated bed from the floor. Avoid metal or concrete for the floor.

Consider using a hot water bottle or a microwavable heating pad, designed to stay warm for up to 12 hours. Using heated water and food bowl is a good option. You can also add inner wall to provide insulation from cold. Care to use a plastic or flaps as the door to keep the cold out.

Check for leakages

Because of wear and tear, the dog house can endure leakage over the time. This poses a problem during rain, winter and wind.

Start by removing all the old shingles and sub-roofing. Add a layer of insulation, lay down some water-resistant membrane, and then re-shingle. You can also use water proof coating or cover for the house

Upgrade or improve doghouse every year

Although you need to clean the dog house every week, the entire house may require an upgrade or maintenance to keep it safe, clean and hygienic. The major upgrade can be done once a year.

If the growth of size is continuous, you must design the house according to dog's proportionate size. Building a larger dog house may not be suitable for smaller dogs, and vice versa.

You can consult with the Vet and experts to learn more about housing conditions and requirements.

Dog grooming is a process by which dog’s appearance is enhanced. It not only enhances the appeal but also keeps your pet hygienic and clean. It is also essential to keep your pet stress free and comfortable, especially those with long or heavy coats.

A person who professionally grooms the dog is known as dog groomer or Groomer. The grooming procedure, time and tools differ from one breed to another and one coat type to another.

5 benefits of Regular Grooming

1. Eradicate Health Problem –Grooming lessens any chances of various health problems, such as skin allergy, parasitic infections, scratches and matted hair.
2. Cleanliness –General tidiness and physical appearance is ensured by regular and proper grooming.
3. Vital Organs in Check –Grooming also monitors the status of essential body parts for the infection, such as; Eyes, Ear and Teeth, Nose, Underside, Skin Coat, Nail and Pads etc.
4. Physical Appeal –The physical appearance and standard is maintained with regular grooming.
5. Stress-free environment –Matted hair, long and burly fur can cause stress to many dogs on daily basis. Grooming keeps them comfortable and happy.

Grooming based on Coat Type

Short haired

Short-haired dogs may require fewer baths and grooming to keep them clean. Grooming every 5-6 months is generally enough. They can be bathed every 4 months. Short haired canines like German Shephard may shed excessively. You can ask your groomer for any low-shed services. Keep in mind that nothing will stop shedding entirely, not even shaving your dog.

Short hair and double coated

These kind of dogs typically shed seasonally. You can choose to groom them four times a year to keep them clean and prevent excessive shedding. They require bath every 6 weeks to keep their coat clean and also to protect their natural oil. Golden Retriever is a popular short haired doubled coated dog which requires constant grooming and bathe.

Long hair and double coated

These dogs may frequently suffer from matted and overweighed hair. Matted hair invites moist, infection and allergies. They tend to shed seasonally and have long feathers on their feet, legs, bellies, butts, and ears that needs to be trimmed often.

You must never shave your double coated dog, as they are unable to grow their top layer coat back! Akita, Alaskan Husky, Alaskan malamute, American Eskimo, Chinook, Chow Chow, Finnish Spitz and Finnish Lapphund few examples of long haired double coated dog.

Thick Undercoated

Thick undercoated dogs require proper grooming to ensure their thick undercoat remains safe. These undercoat must be removed seasonally but never shaved. Shaving may cause severe skin problem, allergy and sunburn.

Thick undercoated dogs require grooming at least every three months. Golden Retrievers, Huskies, Collies, Shelties and Shepherds are dogs with thick undercoat.

Silky coated

The single coat on dogs tend to be silkier which grows continuously, hence it must be trimmed periodically. They can be groomed every 2-3 months. Some may require grooming every 4-6 weeks to prevent severe matting. Afghan hound, Maltese dog, Shih Tzu, Skye terrier, Tibetan terrier and Yorkshire terrier are few examples of silky coated dogs.

Curvy or Wavy coated

These dogs are the most likely to mat because of the excess of hair and chances of entanglement. Any hair longer than half an inch should be brushed at least twice a week; and hair longer than an inch should be brushed daily.

They may require grooming every four to six weeks to prevent severe matting. Curly coated retriever, Pumi, Portugese water dog, irish water spaniel, Lagotto Romagnolo and Poodle are few of the curvy or wavy coated dogs.

Check Pet grooming to learn more about proper grooming technique and professional help.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation or CPR is a lifesaving technique useful in many emergencies, especially when your dog’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped. Heart attack, near drowning or electric shock are few of the occasions when a dog may require CPR. Unlike humans, the resuscitation is done only through the nose but mouth, and the CPR is only performed on unconscious animal to avoid the risk of being beaten.

CPR alone is unlikely to revive the heart. Its main purpose is to restore partial flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and heart. Its objective is to delay tissue death and to extend the brief window of opportunity for a successful resuscitation without permanent brain damage.

Common CPR technique for dogs

Check for breathing and a heartbeat

Confirm if your pet is breathing or check their heartbeat. If they aren’t breathing or there is no sign of heartbeat, then immediately begin CPR with chest compression.

Give chest compression

CPR for Dogs below 30 Pounds (14 kg)

For cats, small dogs and deep chested dogs, place the heel of one of your hands directly over the pet’s heart and place your other hand directly over the first hand.

Compress the chest for one inch to one-quarter or one-third the width of the chest for a count of one and then let go for a count of one. Carry on at a rate of 100 compressions in a minute.

CPR for Dogs above 30 Pounds (14 kg)

Without bending both the elbows, press the rib cage in a downward motion.

Compress the chest for one-quarter to one-third the width of the chest for a count of one and then let go for a count of one. Carry on at a rate of 80 compressions per minute.

Make sure the chest comes back fully (recoils) before compressing again.

Give resuscitation

To provide resuscitation, gently close the dog’s mouth and extend the neck to open the airway. Cover their nose with your mouth and exhale until you see their chest rising. Give a second rescue breath.

Continue CPR

Continue giving CPR with a cycle of 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths until your dog begins breathing again on its own.

Check again for breathing and a heartbeat

Briefly check for breathing and a heartbeat every 2 minutes.

If your dog doesn’t show any sign of improvement after 10 minutes, you can stop the procedure as it hasn’t proven successful.

Although it’s uncommon among canines, coughing up hairball can sometimes be a problem for dogs with medium to long fur. It is mostly attributed to self-grooming, however, there other reasons for the dogs to ingest its own hair.

Unlike dogs, felines or cats have a major problem of vomiting hairballs frequently as they are more susceptible to self-grooming and cleanliness causing ingestion of huge amount of hair.

What is hairball?

Known as tricholith or trichobezoar, hairball is the accumulated animal hair or fur that surrounds a non-digestible item generally stuck inside the stomach of the animal. It is generally accumulated when the hair doesn’t pass through feces and is stuck in the intestine.

The hairball is generally shaped rounded, tubular or spherical, depending on amount ingested. It can be wet and soggy mass or a dry one too.

Why do dogs cough up hairballs?

Typically, a dog who inadvertently swallows his own hair or fur in the process of self-grooming will pass any stray hairs in his feces. As they don’t often groom themselves like cats, ingestion of hair is least common among most dogs.

Hairball formation has a kind of snowball effect; once a hairball begins to form, the more hair a dog ingests, the larger it becomes. Once a hairball is large enough, physical discomfort may compel them to vomit it out.

Self-grooming

Self-grooming is the major cause of hair ingestion. The licking of own fur can sometimes lead to ingestion of hair and causes to accumulate inside the bowel.

Fur Shedding

Fur shedding can be other major reason for hair ingestion. There is fur shedding season for dogs which can cause them to ingest more hair than often.

Wound, Tick-bite or Allergy

Sometimes, wound or tick-bite can cause dogs to lick their hair more often. This can lead to ingestion of more amount of hair which isn’t easily passable through the bowel.

Eating prey

Some dogs with prey instincts tend to eat up the whole animal with feather and furs. Since hair is indigestible, it will remain inside their stomach and accumulate over the time.

How to prevent it?

There are many ways to prevent dogs from swallowing their own hair. First, let’s look at the symptoms of hairball problems.

Symptoms

• Repeated attempts to cough or vomit
• Dry heaving
• Constipation
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Gagging
• Diarrhea
• A bloated stomach, in more serious cases

The possible prevention methods for hairball ingestion are;

Go to Vet

See you veterinarian to assess if your pet has any skin allergy or parasitic infestation. If it isn’t skin allergy or parasitic infestation, the vet may refer laxative or dietary changes.

Hydration

A well-hydrated dog experiences efficient bowel movements.

Grooming

Grooming is essential to keep pet skin cleaner. It prevents excessive licking of fur which may cause hair fall.

Playtime

Dogs which are more preoccupied with boredom may start chewing or licking themselves simply to pass the time. This may cause hair ingestion, hence, you need to keep your dog occupied with enough fun time.

Learn more about pet care and grooming.

Bathing your dog is essential to keep it clean and hygienic or parasite free. The pets enjoy an entirely different lifestyle than us humans, hence, their hygiene may vastly differ. Dogs tend to keep themselves cleaner by licking themselves or by removing toxins from skin through perspiration, however, this may not prove to be hygienic for the owners.

The type of bath and how often may depend on various factors. It is essential that you consult with the Veterinarian or the pet shop owner with whom you bought your dog before indulging in any particular bathing practice.

What is the nature of your dog?

Dogs who spent more time outside the house may need frequent bath than the one staying inside the house. Most dogs tend to just sit on the couch in a room all day.

If a dog play outside in mud and soil, it may need regular wash with soap and brush. These dogs have tendency to carry alien parasites if not cleaned properly and can contaminate entire house indoors.

What type of coat does your dog has?

Bathing once a month works with almost all the dog, however,

• Dogs with oily coat like Basset Hounds may need a weekly wash.
• Dogs with short hair, like; Beagles and Weimaraners, may need less frequent baths.
• Dogs with water-repellant coats, like; Golden Retriever and Great Pyrenees may need less baths so as to preserve their natural skin oil.
• Dogs with thick, double coat such as Samoyeds, Malamutes and other northern breeds may need fewer baths and lot of scrubbing to get the dirt off their skin.

Does your dog have any skin related or dermatological condition?

As stated before, dogs with short fur and thin coat may need lesser bathe than the rest, however, the skin condition may remain a useful factor in deciding how often to bathe your dog.

Dogs with acute allergies, excess hair loss, bald or dry patches, lumps and bumps need special care. You must consult your veterinarian and only bathe with certain products or at a time prescribed by the expert.

In most cases, wrong shampoo or frequent baths can cause skin related problems. This can be eradicated by consulting with the Vet or when you first catch the sign of any problem.

What bathing products to use?

Soaps and shampoo used by humans mustn’t be used for dogs. Human skin has pH level of 5 while dogs have pH level of 7. The shampoo used by humans are more acidic in nature, which if used on dogs can cause irritation or skin rashes.

Bathing product must have a pH value that is especially formulated for a dog's delicate skin, between 6.5 to 7.5.

The Vets can recommend the right shampoo and technique of bathing to prevent any problem in the future. You should always stick to quality dog related bathing products.

How to bathe your Dog?

The process of bathing your dog is simpler. Here are few factors to remember,

Brush them before bath

It is essential to brush your dog before bath to prevent matted hair which soaks up lot of water and can cause irritations later.

Use lukewarm water

Do not use hot or warm water to bathe your dog, as they have sensitive skin. Hot water can burn the skin easily. Using cooler water for the most larger breed dogs is recommended as they tend to easily overheat.

Use dog shampoo

You must always use dog shampoo and products. The dog shampoo specifically comes with ph level of above 6 and up to 7.5 which is recommended for their skin. Shampoo with lesser pH level are acidic and can cause skin irritations.

Rinse well

You must rinse them well after bath to soak up the water. Water left in the ear or sensitive areas can cause irritation later.

Air-dry

Using natural air-dry or dryer specifically for dogs is essential to keep their fur in healthy condition.

Reward your dog

Do not forget to reward your dog after the bathe to encourage them to stay healthy and love occasional baths.

Check out Pet Grooming to learn more about your dog’s habits and grooming.

Unfortunately, Yes! Like Humans, pets are susceptible to cancer and other form skin related diseases. Many domesticated and wild animals suffer from some form of cancer too.

Skin tumors are the most common form of cancerous tumors found in Dogs.  However, if it’s caught during early onset, it can be treated effectively. The disease is generally classified into Benign and Malign cancers. The term ‘Benign’ is used for less harmful cancer tumors, while ‘Malign’ is used for harmful cancer tumors.

Dogs have certain sensitive areas in the body where there is less or none protection from hair, like nose and ears. Many dog breeds lack enough fur in their body making them more susceptible to skin related diseases. Too much unprotected sun exposure may cause cancer in dogs.

Photo © Dogs Naturally Magazine

Dog melanomas and mast cell tumors are two major types of cancer found in dogs. These are fatal and life-threatening if left treated.

Six Common Types of Cancer in Pets

Malignant melanoma

Malignant melanoma is a type of skin cancer in dogs that affects pigmented cells known as melanocytes. This tendency is common in humans too. Dogs often develop tumors in pigmented cells that do not metastasize (spread to other parts), which are called melanocytomas.

It mostly occurs in the empty spots, however, some may develop in the body part with hair too. Experts believe that it is mostly a Genetic factor which causes the development of melanoma.

Compulsive licking and unhealthy lifestyle must be prevented in the pets to stop spreading the cells to other body parts.

Squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma is a rare form of skin cancer prevalent in dogs. Pets with light-skin or hairless body are akin to this type of cancer. Dalmatians, Keeshonds, Standard Schnauzers, Basset Hounds, Collies, Bull Terriers and Beagles are few breeds mostly affected by it. Most squamous cell carcinomas appear as firm and raised or often ulcerated plaques and nodules.

As reported by PetMD.com, “Tumors can often grow outward into large masses and have a surface that resembles a wart. Treatment includes surgery to remove the primary tumor. Incompletely excised tumors should be treated with radiation therapy to prevent regrowth. These tumors infrequently spread to local lymph nodes and the lungs.”

Mast cell tumor

Mast cells tumor generally occur through allergic reactions. The immune cells contain chemicals or granules that are released upon stimulation by an allergen. These cells are located throughout the body and within the skin. This is a more slow-growing cancer in dogs, however, more aggressive mast cell tumors grow faster and may ulcerate.

Mast cell tumors are mostly found in Boxers, Boston Terriers, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Beagles, Pugs, Shar Peis, and Bulldogs.

As reported by Pets.WebMD.com, “Mast cell tumors most commonly occur on the trunk of the body, though they are found on the legs about 25% of the time.”

Melanomas

Melanomas or Benign melanoma in pets are less harmful. It occurs frequently in dogs with dark pigmented skin. Malignant melanoma is a type of Melanomas which is more aggressive. These tumors are usually solitary and appear as small brown/black masses. They can also appear as large, flat, or wrinkled tumors.

As reported by PetMD.com, “Most melanoma tumors are diagnosed after they are removed. Fine needle aspirates can be done on such tumors; however, they are less likely to exfoliate (distribute into the syringe during aspiration), so the sample obtained in this manner might not be diagnostic.”

Hair Follicle Tumor

Most hair follicle tumors are benign or less harmful and can be cured with surgical removal. They develop as a result of the disordered growth of the hair follicles in dogs. Malignant hair follicle tumors need special care and treatments.

Epitheliotropic lymphoma

Lymphoma is a type of blood-borne cancer of lymphocytes (white blood cells). They are found throughout the body, including the skin, where they offer protection against various pathogens that this organ can come into contact with.

According to PetMD.com, “While technically not a skin tumor, another common cancer that occurs in the superficial layers of the skin is Epitheliotropic lymphoma.”

There can be several forms of lymphoma in dogs. Epitheliotropic lymphoma occurs mostly on skin. Chemotherapy is a common form of treatment.

It is important that you provide proper care, diet and environment to your dog. Each breed of dog may have specific conditions, hence, you must consult your vet for medical guidance. To ensure that your pet is safe, get it checked from a reliable veterinarian today.

The mixed breed makes over 50% of all the canines found in United States and over 15 million around the world. According to HelpaMutt.com, almost 75% of all the canines who land up in animal shelters are mutts. Pet owners are preconceived with many misconceptions about mixed breeds, which makes them choose a pure bred over the other.

Also known as National Mixed Breed Dog Day, Mutt Day is celebrated to raise the awareness about Mutts’ plight in the animal shelters. It also highlights the important fact, potential pet owners should choose personality over the purity of the canine.

National Mutt Day was first organized in 2005 by pet expert and animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige. She instituted not just one but two different dates for the Mutts’ Day, July 31 and Dec 2, to achieve her goal of getting 10,000 shelter dogs into loving homes and among pet owners.

The Mutt Day campaign mostly works for eliminating the misconceptions about mutts and help save dogs from landing up in shelters.

Benefits of Choosing Mutts

• Mutts tend to have longer life than pure bred
• Mutts are generally healthier and tend to be immune to many breed-specific diseases.
• Every mutt has variety of coat and patterns, hence none of the mutts are alike. The mutt you choose will have unique features among all the available canine.
• Every mutt adopted from shelter means one less dog from the street.
• When pet owners choose mutts over pure bred, it will discourage the unnatural dog breeding in puppy farms.
• It helps to eliminate the prevalent status quo among most upper and upper-middle class pet owners.

As reported by American Kennel Club, Labrador Retriever remains the most popular choice among the pet owners for a pure breed, while German Shepherd makes up the most popular owned breed as both a pure breed and as a component of mixed breed.

The most popular mutts available in United States today are;

Tapeworms are flat, white worms that attach themselves to the wall of gut using hook-like suckers. They feed there and grow. They typically settle in the small intestine and can grow from 4 to 8 inches. Medical name for tapeworm infestation is 'Cestodiasis'. Tapeworm species that infect dogs are mainly Taenia, Diphylidium Caninum, Echinococcus and Mesocestoides. 

Cause

The primary reason of tapeworm infestation is the ingestion of immediate hosts containing larvae. Tapeworm eggs can also be transmitted through adult fleas. Our pets are fond of scavenging, which can result to tapeworm infestation. It can also be transmitted via other animals, such as rabbit and birds. 

Symptoms

Sometimes tapeworm breaks into segments and passes into the intestine. These come out with feces as dried, white to cream colored segments of tapeworms. Some of the segments might also be seen in the fur under the tail.

Some break off into small pieces that are hard to see. Some of these resemble to sesame or cucumber seeds in size and appearance. 

Pets bite or lick the anus and scoot in response to itching. 

Tapeworms, sporadically makes pets vomit. Long, 4 to 8 inch, worms can be seen in their vomit. 

Pets also lose weight in case of heavy infection.

Diagnosis

Veterinarians look for segments of tapeworms crawling on dog's body, specially under the fur. They also examine dog's feces for segments or eggs of tapeworms, under a microscope. Not every time the segments come out in feces, so several sample might be needed for examination.

Treatment

If the veterinarian diagnoses tapeworm infestation, she will prescribe medication. Medication can be oral and/or injection. It is curable. 

Prevention

Control flea around your pet keeping your home and around clean. You can use flea spray, powder, collars, oral medication or topical liquid. 

Do not allow unsupervised roaming to your pet.

Be careful about other animals' company with your pet. 

Always cleanup after your pet, yard and park. 

It's a new information for many pet parents, but skin cancer is quite common in both dogs and cats. Skin cancers are basically the tumor on skin or subcutaneous tissue (the tissue under the skin). 60 to 80% of tumors in pets are benign, meaning, they are just appear on the body but doesn't affect by any mean. Lipomas (fatty tumors, sebaceous adenomas, papillomas (mole-like growth) are benign tumors. Melanomas, Squamous cell carcinoma and Mast cell tumor are most common malignant tumors in pets that require medical attention. 

Types of Cancer in Pets

There are number of cancers that have been diagnosed in dogs and cats, among which Melanomas, Squamous cell carcinoma and Mast cell tumor are most common and fatal. 

Melanomas

It affects pigmented cells known as melanocytes. This tumor grows fast and and spreads to other organs such as lungs and liver. It is more frequent in dogs but much less in cats. 

Signs and Symptoms

Benign melanomas vary in sizes ranging from very small to 2.5 inches in diameter. It appears in the area of skin covered with hair. It may be black, brown, gray or red in color. In orange cats, freckles on lips and gums can appear which is very normal and harmless. It is known as letingo simplex.

Malignant melanomas appear on the body parts where is less or no hair, such as mouth, lips, toenail pads and/or pads of the feet. It is more common in black dogs. 

Treatment

First procedure of melanomas treatment is surgery. If surgery is unable to remove the tumor, radiation therapy is applied. 70% times it is successful but recurrence is common. Depending on the severity of the tumor, chemotherapy is also used combining with surgery and/or radiation therapy. In case of oral melanoma, vaccination is a popular practice.

Squamous Cell Carcinomas

The tumor affects thinly furred skin. It doesn't spread but can be aggressive and may lead to destruction of tissue around the tumor. Though the cause of this cancer is still unknown, most of the times it is induced by exposure to the sun. That is why, the best preventive measure for this is to limit the exposure of your pets to the sun. 

All the pets are prone to this tumor, yet pets with short coats, especially with light skin are likely to develop it much faster. It typically appears on the dogs of age 6 to 10 years. 

Signs and Symptoms

This tumor is firm and raised with a wart-like appearance. It appears on abdomen, around genitals and feet. 

Treatment

Surgical measures are used to remove squamous cell carcinomas. Photodynamic therapy is used to cure this tumor in inoperable locations. Use of a drug called Piroxicam has proven effective in developing immune system within the body of the animal to fight back the tumor cells. 

Mast Cell Tumors

It occurs in the mast cell of the immune system. It is common in both cats and dogs. It sometimes disappears and returns back in few days. This can be confusing for pet parents to predict the disease. Although it is common in most of the breeds, Labrador retrievers, Boxers, Pugs and Golden retrievers are predisposed to develop this tumor. 

Signs and Symptoms

Mast cell tumors are slow growing, rubber-like tumor. It is unusual skin masses, specially raised, hairless pinkish-yellow masses. These appear on trunk but 25% times it is on the legs. Itching, swelling and redness occurs in unbearable amount. 

Treatment

Like other tumors, first attempt of cure is through surgery for mast cell tumors, too. That may include radiation or may be not. Depending on the severity of the case, surgery might be accompanied by chemotherapy and/or steroids.

Diagnosis

Veterinarians diagnose pet cancer using either of the two methods: biopsy or needle aspirate cytology. Biopsy involves removing of small amount of tissue from the tumor and testing. Whereas, in Needle aspirate cytology, a needle is used to remove a microscopic amount of cells from the tumor in order to examine cell structure. 

Cancer is curable in pets if promptly identified. Take your pets to the veterinarian as soon as you seen any sign of cancer, do not ignore any. If it not cancer then it is a good news, but if it is, your pet will be cured in early stages.

Only a few pet owners realize that animals, alike humans, can suffer from heart disease. Since there have been less research and studies in animal health, many of the reasons and cure for animal heart disease are still unknown.

Statistics show that 10% of all dogs in the US have heart disease. Sometimes it can be mild but most of the time it is deadly. It's more common in small breed dogs of over 5 years of age. 13% of heart disease patients are suffering from heartworm disease.

Heart Disease and Heart Condition in Dogs

Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, is a common form of illness in canine. Though heart disease can include many different types of conditions, most or every form of heart disease can ultimately lead to heart failure.

Heartworm is one of the common heart diseases among most dogs. Known as Dirofilaria Immitis, the heartworm or dog heartworm is a parasitic roundworm that looks like a small thread-like creature. It spreads from the bite of an infected mosquito. There is no simple way to tell if the mosquito is infected, hence, every dog must be prevented from heartworm.

Heartworm disease causes 13% of heart disease even though it is entirely preventable.

There are mainly two main types of heart conditions in dogs.

Chronic Valvular Disease is caused by a leaking heart valve which reduces the quantity of blood supplied or pumped throughout the body.

Myocardial Disease is a condition leading to weakness or thickening of the heart muscle. A dog’s heart is less efficient to pump out blood.

What Causes Heart Disease in Dogs?

Heart disease in dogs can be caused by numerous physiological reasons. Nutrition, age, fitness, and breed type, all play an important role. The onset of heartworm can also lead to heart disease which can be cured by medication.

Some of the common factors of heart disease in dogs are;

Fitness: An overweight or obese dog is more likely to develop congestive heart failure (CHF) and other forms of heart disease.

Age: An aging dog is more likely to encounter heart conditions compared to a younger dog. Nutrition and fitness play an important role in aging dogs.

Breed: Chronic valvular disease is more common in small dog breeds such as miniature poodles, cocker spaniels, Pomeranians, and schnauzers. It makes up 70-75% of heart disease in dogs. The myocardial disease remains common in large and giant breeds like Great Danes and Irish wolfhounds. Also known as dilated cardiomyopathy, it makes up 8% of heart disease and primarily affects large breed dogs of all ages

What are the Symptoms of Heart Disease in Dogs?

The signs or symptoms may vary depending on the type of disease and severity in dogs. Eventually, heart disease progresses to congestive heart failure.

• Fatigue
• Fainting or collapsing
• Frequent coughing
• Difficulty in breathing, including shortness of breath
• Reduced ability to walk or exercise
• Reduced appetite and/or noticeable weight gain or loss
• A distended abdomen
• Trouble sleeping

What Breeds of dogs are More Prone to Heart Disease?

Some breeds are more prone to heart disease than others. The list includes;

1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
2. Dachshunds
3. Miniature and Toy Poodles
4. Doberman Pinschers
5. Boxers
6. Golden Retrievers
7. Miniature Schnauzers

How long can Dogs live with Enlarged Heart?

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease of the heart muscle that is characterized by an enlarged heart that does not function properly. In general, dogs with an enlarged heart can give for 6-24 months unless they are treated on time.

Can a dog live with heart disease?

If the disease is caught at an early stage, dogs with heart disease can be treated and often will live for many years after the diagnosis. If the disease is at a severe level that a pet's quality of life is no longer satisfactory, then they may not be able to survive a long time.

Stages of Heart Failure in Dogs

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a term that refers to the heart's inability to pump adequate blood to the body. The stages of heart failure in dogs begin from signs of early heart failure onset. The age, nutrition, and fitness will define the early stage. The other stage includes the onset of heart failure. The final stage includes the advancement of heart failure that may lead to the death of the dog.

Prevention from Heart Disease for Dogs

The prevention of heart disease basically includes

• Whole-body screening
• Checking nutritional value
• Regular exercise
• Checking for any heart-related diseases such as heartworm.

Diagnosis of Heart Disease in Dogs

The diagnosis will help to catch the chances of heart disease at its onset. It's mandatory that you take your dog to the Vet immediately.

The diagnosis of heart disease include;

• Auscultation or listening to the heart is the first step in diagnosing heart disease includes listening to an abnormality in the heart such as heart murmurs. The location of the murmur and heart rhythm is assessed followed by palpating or feeling the pulse to determine its strength and rhythm.
• An electrocardiogram (ECG) measures the electrical activity of the heart and allows accurate determination of both heart rate and rhythm.
• The lungs are checked to look for evidence of changes associated with heart failure.
• Next, the chest X-rays are taken to evaluate the size and shape of the heart and look for lung changes such as the presence of fluid.
• Blood and urine tests are performed to ascertain any other disorders in the body. Liver and kidney function is often impaired in patients with heart disease.
• Ultrasound examination (echocardiogram) uses ultrasound waves to evaluate the heart. The size and thickness of each heart chamber are evaluated, and the effectiveness of the heart's contractions is directly observed.

What are the cures for Heart Disease in Dogs?

Dogs with heart disease are treated in either of the two ways: Conventional therapy or Pimobendan. The method of treatment may depend on the practice of the vet.

A study, however, has shown that Pimobendan cures the heart better than conventional therapy. It is a veterinary medication, a calcium sensitizer and a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 3 with positive inotropic and vasodilator effects. Pimobendan is used in the management of heart failure in dogs

The treatments for heart failures include;

• Medications to help the heart work and correct irregular heartbeats
• Medications to slow fluid build-up in the lungs
• Surgery to correct a torn valve or to insert a pacemaker to correct the heartbeat
• A commercial or prescription low-salt diet to help decrease fluid build-up in your dog's body
• Limited activity or exercise to manage weight without putting too much strain on your dog's heart

 In fact, it is estimated that 7.8 million dogs in the United States have heart disease. That means approximately 10% of all dogs in the United States have heart disease.

Urban Pet Hospital & Resort is a premier pet hospital in Des Moines specializing in diagnosing and treating heart diseases in pets. If your dog or cat seems to show any sign of heart disease and heart failure, you must immediately consult with pet medical service in Des Moines.