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How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?
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It`s no secret—dogs like to eat some foul things. This can include things like earwax. As gross as it may sound, some dogs just like the taste and the saltiness of earwax. Your dog may like to lick your ears regardless of how clean they may actually be, because, for them, it`s delicious.
Pay attention to when your dog licks you. There may be something on you they want to taste. Your dog may just like the taste of your natural skin. Dogs use taste to explore and know their surroundings.
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Remember to never scold your puppy for grabbing these things. They are just curious little cuties, and they don’t chew things up to bother us.. Dogs do not have intentional thought, so they aren’t ever doing anything ON PURPOSE to us.. The most important thing you can do when your puppy is chewing something you don’t want her to be chewing is TRADE her the inappropriate item with a toy of hers, so she understands “no honey, that isn’t what puppies chew on… THIS is what puppies chew on!” and then begin playing with her using her toy to show her that TOYS ARE FUN.. Way more fun than a boring ol’ coat hanger.
Another helpful thing you can do is have two bags of toys. In each bag is many different kinds of toys. Lots of chew toys, lots of soft squeaky toys, lots of rope-type toys, a bunch of balls.. All kinds of things! For one week you have bag#1’s toys out for your puppy to play with.. At the end of the one week, you collect those toys, and you bring out bag#2! The toys will be more interesting/feel like new to your puppy, which will in-turn, make her chew less inappropriate things. Her toys are too fun to care about that dumb Wii-mote that you left laying around.
Hope this helps!
A treat or puzzle toy such as a Kong stuffed with yummy treats or even a portion of the day’s food can keep your dog occupied while you are away. Freezing the food in summer, or adding in treats that are only given when you are away can add to the challenge and help make the toy something special to look forward to.
Turning on a television or radio to a channel such as talk radio can also help by providing sounds that are familiar to your dog and may provide comfort while you are away. Many TV providers also now have “dog and cat” channels with programming designed just for pets that are home alone! Adding in a blanket or article of clothing that smells like you can also help to soothe your pet while you are away, making him feel more comfortable.
Other oils that are great for use in cracked foot pads include liquid vitamin E and coconut oil. These natural oils are great for softening up the skin and are safe for your dog to ingest in moderation. However, if the pads are cracked to the point of bleeding, pain, or peeling, they may require a bit more care from your veterinarian to prevent any infection from taking hold.
For plain dirty ears that do not have any odor, redness or leakage of discharge/debris, a simple over the counter canine ear cleaner can be used. Gently soak some cotton balls or a washcloth with the cleaner, and then use these to wipe out the flap of the ear and opening to the ear. Do NOT use Q-tips as these can become stuck or lodged in the curve of the ear canal and may cause injury to the ear drum.
If the ear is bright red or itchy without any dirt or debris in it, it may indicate an allergy. Sometimes an allergy medication can help provide relief in this situation. Your vet can give you the correct dosages of an over the counter allergy medication to use, or may recommend one specifically for dogs.
For infections and mites, changes to the ear such as bad smell or lots of debris and discharge, flecks of black or brown debris, or scabs and sores in the ear may be present. In these cases, it is best to have your vet take a sample of the ear debris to test for mites or infection. Your vet can then give you an ointment that is placed and left in the ear between ear cleanings. Most vets will then recommend cleaning the ears twice daily and then leaving in the ointment after for a period of ten days.
Ear mites ARE contagious to other pets, so if your dog does have them, it is best to treat any other pets in the house at the same time to prevent the mites from spreading around continuously.