Are Nutritional Supplements Good For Dogs?

Nutritional and dietary supplements in the United States do not need to meet with Food and Drug Administration approval before being marketed.  The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994 defined a dietary supplement as a product taken by mouth that contains a “dietary ingredient” intended to supplement the diet.  These ingredients may include vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and some other substances.  Under DSHEA, firms and companies are essentially self-regulating.  They have to determine that the dietary supplements they manufacture or distribute are safe and that their claims are backed up by some evidence.  These dietary supplements do not need FDA approval before they are marketed.

What this means is that there is very little oversight of nutritional supplements in the United States, for people or animals.

Many nutritional supplements are marketed for dogs and owners have been very pleased with their success.  Omega fatty acids are used for skin and coat problems, among other things; kelp and algae have been used to provide dogs with iron and minerals; glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate have been used to treat arthritis and joint problems.  Many different herbs have been recommended for various ailments, and, indeed, herbal medicine has been an effective way of treating many health issues for centuries.  However, when you buy nutritional supplements it’s important to be aware that the quality of the product can vary from one manufacturer to the next, and even from one batch to the next.

Nutritional supplements can be very beneficial to dogs but you should only buy from manufacturers and companies that have a solid reputation for producing a good product.  When you purchase nutritional supplements you should find out as much as possible about the manufacturer and the manufacturing process.  How is the supplement made? What quality controls are in place?  Where do the herbs or other ingredients come from?

Many nutritional supplements make extravagant claims.  When you consider purchasing a supplement you should read the labels.  What is actually in the product?  Do you know what each ingredient is supposed to do?  Is there anything in the product that your dog could be allergic to or which could be bad for your dog?  Remember that nutritional supplements have both active and inactive ingredients. Your dog might be able to benefit from the active ingredients, such as glucosamine sulfate and MSM, but how would he react to the Hydrolized White Fish and the Organic Garlic in the inactive ingredients?  Are those ingredients also acceptable to you?  There isn’t anything necessarily wrong with those ingredients, but you should be aware of their presence.  Read the label.  That particular label, for instance, says “Do not feed if your pet is pregnant or about to be bred.”  You don’t want to accidentally feed your dog something that could cause her to abort a litter.

Even something as seemingly harmless as garlic, when used as a supplement, can be controversial.  Some dog people swear that when you feed a clove to your dog each day it will repel fleas.  Other people claim that since garlic is in the same family as onions it can, like onions, contribute to hemolytic anemias which can be deadly to dogs.  Many people recommend rosemary as a good preservative and anti-oxidant.  Others claim that it can trigger epileptic seizures in dogs that are prone to them.  Vitamin E and flax seed have long been popular among dog lovers but now some people have concerns about whether they may have some negative affects.

It can be difficult to figure out whether your dog needs a nutritional supplement or not.  In general, if your dog is healthy and doing well on a good diet, then he probably doesn’t need a nutritional supplement.  However, if he has a specific problem, such as a coat problem or joint difficulties, you can talk to your veterinarian first.  He may or may not be encouraging about nutritional supplements.  He may suggest that you change dog foods to a better food for your dog, which is always a good place to begin.  Or, he may be able to point you in the right direction to choosing a good supplement.  Look for a supplement that is designed for your dog’s problems and which is made by a reputable manufacturer.  When you begin to give your dog a supplement be sure to observe him carefully in case there is any reaction.  With luck you will see some improvement, and certainly no worsening of his condition.

Many people go from one nutritional supplement to another, spending a great deal of money.  If possible, it’s usually best to see if your vet can diagnose and treat your dog’s problem.

Heart Disease In Dogs

Heart disease in dogs often goes unnoticed until a dog displays severe symptoms.  Early detection gives your dog a very good chance of living a long and happy life.

As with people, heart disease in dogs can either be congenital (from birth) or acquired during life.  Acquired heart disease, especially that which develops during middle age, is the most common.

There are two common types of heart disease in dogs.

In the first type, the dog’s heart valve can no longer close properly.  This causes abnormal blood flow.

In the second type, the muscular walls of the heart become thin and weak.

Each of these kinds of heart disease develop slowly over time.  They both result in heart failure which is an ongoing condition and a major threat to a dog’s health.  An estimated 3.2 million dogs in the United States have a form of acquired heart disease at any one time and may exhibit heart failure.  It’s important to know that when your dog has heart failure the heart is unable to pump blood sufficiently to meet the body’s needs.  The heart may work harder to pump the blood, but this can cause more heart damage.

The early signs of heart failure may produce no symptoms.  At this stage it has to be caught by a veterinarian.  As heart failure worsens the heart will enlarge, there may be coughing, lethargy and difficulty breathing.  If your dog has severe heart failure he will have trouble breathing even at rest, he may faint, he will have a great intolerance to exercise, loss of appetite and weight loss.

Heart failure can be detected during your dog’s regular check-up by his veterinarian. If your vet suspects heart disease he may need blood and urine tests, x-rays, an EKG or other tests to confirm the diagnosis.

There is no cure for heart disease but there are treatments.  The earlier the problem is detected the better your dog’s chances to avoid severe problems.  Keeping your dog on a good diet and making sure that he has regular moderate exercise are important.  Obesity can lead to heart disease.  If your dog has heart disease you should begin helping him to slowly lose weight.

Many dogs with heart disease live into old age.

Dogs do not develop plaque in the blood vesicles so they don’t get heart attacks.

Your veterinarian may treat your dog with a medication like those used for humans with similar conditions, such as diuretics like Lasix, ACE inhibitors like Enacard, Inodilators like Vetmedin, anti-arryhthmics such as propranolol.  Your dog may also be put on a low-sodium diet. Coenzyme-Q may also be suggested since it’s been helpful in people with some heart problems.  Omega-3 fatty acids, L-Carnitine and Taurine may also be suggested.

You and your veterinarian will work together to find what helps your dog and alleviates his symptoms.  Your dog’s behavior will always be one of the most important guides for you, in addition to check-ups with your veterinarian.  You may not be able to cure your dog’s heart disease but you can help him live a very long and happy life.

How To Stop Dogs Biting

Does your dog make you feel like a giant chew toy?  Chances are, if you have a puppy then there are times that he may take a nip at you.  Sometimes it happens when you’re playing together but it can happen at other times.  Maybe he chews on your toes and fingers.  Even some adult dogs continue this bad behavior if they haven’t been stopped as pupsters. 

The reason puppies and dogs engage in biting and chewing on people this way is because they haven’t properly learned “bite inhibition.”  This is a different behavior from aggression-motivated biting where your dog may growl at you or bite because you remove a toy from him or make him get off the couch.  That’s a guarding or dominance behavior.  With bite inhibition your puppy or dog has failed to learn something that he should have learned from his mother and from you.  Fortunately, you can still teach your puppy or dog to curb his biting and nipping problem. 

When a puppy is in the whelping box with his littermates and his mom and he’s getting his sharp little teeth, he engages in all kinds of rough biting and play.  However, his littermates and his mother quickly teach him that if he bites too hard or plays too rough that they won’t put up with him.  Littermates will get up and stop playing with him.  His mother may nip him to make him stop.  When he bites a brother or sister too hard they may bite back harder or walk away.  Your puppy is supposed to learn that if he bites too hard or plays too rough there will be no more play and he will be outside the group.  And that’s the last thing any puppy wants.  This is how a puppy learns bite inhibition in the litter. 

When your puppy comes to you you should continue these lessons — without biting your puppy, of course.  When your puppy plays too rough you should stop playing with him.  Call a time out.  If your puppy nips you the best way to handle it is the same way his brothers and sisters handle it.  You need to make a big fuss about it and stop playing with him.  Yell out loudly to let him know it HURT!  Then stop playing with your puppy for a minute until he has calmed down.  If he can continue playing calmly you can go back to playing with him.  But, if he is still playing too roughly, you should leave the room and stop playing with him for a while.  Let your puppy learn that if he nips or otherwise plays too roughly that there won’t be anymore fun. 

You should do this every time your puppy nips or tries to chew on you.  YELP!  Make sure that he knows it hurt.  Even if it doesn’t hurt much or not at all you need to make a big fuss about it so that he knows he went too far.  If your puppy even touches his teeth to your skin you should give a yelp.  Make sure that everyone in your household is doing the same thing so your puppy doesn’t single out someone that he thinks he can play with roughly. 

If you follow these suggestions your puppy will soon learn that it’s unacceptable for him to bite or chew on people.  As always, make sure that you provide your puppy with plenty of good things to chew on and toys to play with.  When he has good alternatives to play with he will be less tempted to chew on you.

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How To Stop Dogs Jumping

As much as we love them, dogs do lots of things that drive us crazy.  One of the things that people complain about most frequently is dogs jumping on them.  Have you come home from work, tired and irritable, only to be met by a frenzied, happy dog knocking you down at the door?  Or maybe you let your dog in the house and she jumps on your clean clothes with big muddy paws?  Or, how about you have company over and your dog is so excited that she goes from person to person leaping on them?  They are not amused.  They came for dinner.  They thought your dog was better trained. 

How embarrassing. You love your dog and you know that she is just very happy to see you and other people.  But you want her to stop jumping on everybody!  Luckily, there are things you can do to teach your dog, gently, to stop the jumping.

There are several approaches to teach your dog some better manners when it comes to greeting people.  They range from ignoring her to teaching her what she should do instead of jumping.

Ignore your dog

This first approach is just what it’s called:  ignore your dog.  It’s based on the idea that your dog jumps on you to get attention.  “See me!  See me!  See me!”  Whether you pet her or push her away, you are giving her attention.  So, when your dog jumps on you, you must ignore her completely.  Don’t speak to her, don’t pat her, don’t touch her.  Don’t push her away.  You must completely ignore her until she is calm and standing on the floor the way you want her to behave.

This approach only works if every single person in the household also ignores the dog when she jumps on them.  If your five-year-old daughter giggles when your dog jumps on her, it won’t work.  This approach doesn’t work for everyone because you can’t always control how other people in your house will react.  But, if you and everyone else can ignore your dog completely when she jumps on you, she will eventually stop jumping because she is not getting the feedback that she wants.  She is only getting feedback when she is calmly standing on the floor.

Hold Paws

This approach is good for big dogs.  When your big dog jumps on you, you grab hold of their front paws.  Keep them standing long after than want to get down.  The idea here is that jumping stops being very fun for them.  In fact, it gets boring.  Obviously, this doesn’t work for small dogs or some medium-sized dogs because you would have to bend down to hold their paws.

Step on leash

Some people suggest stepping on your dog’s leash when she jumps on you (you have to prepare for this exercise by having your dog wear her leash).  When your dog jumps up, just at the moment she is at her highest point, you step on the leash to bring her back down.  The important thing here is that she should connect the pull-back with the leash instead of with you (which is a little sneaky).  This is a version of leash correction.

Sitting

You can also teach your dog to greet people politely by sitting when they come to the door instead of jumping on them.  You need a friend to help you with this exercise and your dog needs to already know the “Sit” command.  Your friend will knock at the door or ring the bell.  Your dog may go bonkers, as usual.  When you let your friend in through the door you should tell your dog to “Sit.”  She may or may not obey you, even if she normally would, because she is very excited about someone entering the house.  If she obeys you, you should praise her lavishly and reward her.  Tell her what a wonderful dog she is!  If she doesn’t obey you and she jumps on your friend, don’t be surprised.  You should ignore her and repeat the exercise.  You may have to repeat several times until your dog actually sits when you ask her to do so.  If she knows “Sit” she will eventually sit when your friend comes in the house.  This exercise takes some practice because it’s very hard for your jumping dog to obey you under these circumstances.  Keep practicing and she will learn to sit when people come in the house.

These suggestions have helped people teach their dogs to stop jumping on people.  Choose one which you think will work in your situation.  If one doesn’t work, try another.  Your dog should soon get the idea that she gets more praise and rewards when she doesn’t jump on people.  Don’t skimp on the praise and rewards!

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Kidney Disease In Dogs

Kidney disease in dogs can be either acute or chronic.  With acute kidney disease the cause is usually an external toxin or poison, such as rat poison or anti-freeze.  Very often your dog will present other acute symptoms.  Getting your dog to the vet quickly can help save his life.

When chronic kidney disease occurs it is usually seen in older dogs.  Unfortunately, even with the most conscientious owners, as much as 75 percent of kidney function may have shut down before the symptoms are recognized.  Symptoms include: 

• increase in thirst
• increase in urination
• pale urine with little odor
• leaking urine
• vomiting
• weight loss
• anorexia
• lethargy
• muscle weakness
• elevated BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine
• elevated protein in the urine

Since chronic kidney disease is often found in older dogs, these symptoms are sometimes simply attributed to old age.  Owners may not be quick to seek out a veterinary opinion when their older dog begins to lose weight or becomes more lethargic.

Chronic kidney failure is a slow, progressive disease and often goes unnoticed.  The role of the kidneys in the body is to filter out and excrete toxins through the urine.  A healthy kidney takes the toxins and concentrates them into a small amount of liquid to be excreted.  When the kidneys are diseased they are not able to concentrate the urine.  The kidneys require more and more liquid to do their job.  This makes the dog drink more and more water, and urinate more and more often to get rid of the toxins in the body.  The kidneys are becoming less and less efficient.  The dog begins to lose weight, he may vomit, become constipated, suffer from low energy and fatigue and have a poor appetite.  He gets weaker and weaker.

If you suspect that your dog has chronic kidney disease your vet will need to perform a blood test and urinalysis.  Your vet may recommend IV fluids to correct any imbalances due to toxins in your dog’s body.  Kidney dialysis for dogs is available at several veterinary medical schools.  The University of California, Davis is performing kidney transplants but the transplants are usually rejected at this point in time.

Most vets will suggest a low-protein, low-phosphorus and low-sodium diet for your dog.  This kind of diet will help reduce the toxins that your dog’s kidneys have to eliminate.  It’s also very important to keep your dog well-hydrated.  Fresh water must be available at all times and you should encourage your dog to drink.

It’s also very important to reduce stress for any dog who has chronic kidney disease.

Although chronic kidney disease is a serious illness, when it is treated aggressively you and your vet can help your dog to live months or years after the diagnosis, depending on the stage at which the diagnosis was made.  Research continues and new medications are being tried on a continuing basis.

How To Look After Your Dog’s Nails

If there’s one thing that makes many dogs uncomfortable, it’s having their nails done.  That’s usually because somewhere along the way they’ve had a bad experience.  It only takes one or two slips with the nail clippers to make a dog shy about having his nails done forever. 

When puppies are born they are perfectly fine with having their toes and nails handled.  In fact, good breeders will play with a puppy’s toes and paw pads to help get him used to having them handled.  A breeder should be clipping a puppy’s sharp little nails from just a few days after birth so the puppy won’t scratch his mother and littermates.  Most breeders use a simple human finger nail clipper for this little job since the nails are small and easy to cut. 

By the time the puppy is eight weeks old, or ready to go to his new home, he may need to have his nails cut with a normal dog nail clipper, depending on the breed.  As you would expect, the bigger the breed, the bigger and thicker the nails even at this young age. If the puppy is already used to having his nails trimmed then there will be no problem with switching to a dog nail trimmer. 

As a puppy grows and his nails become harder the most important thing to remember when using a dog nail trimmer is to look for the quick of the nail when trimming.  With white or clear nails it’s easy to see the quick.  It’s the interior white portion of the nail that is shorter than the nail itself.  You can trim the nail back to near the quick, but never touching it.  The quick contains the nerve endings in the nail, as well as the blood vessels.  If you cut or nick it then your dog is going to be hurt and it will bleed. 

With dark or black nails you may not be able to see the quick.  In this case you should err on the side of caution and leave the nail just a little longer than normal.  If your dog has both clear/white and dark nails, try to cut the dark nails about the same length as the clear/white ones. 

It’s always better to trim just a little at any one time rather than trying to cut off a lot of nail at once.  You are less likely to cut the quick when you trim tiny portions of the nail and regular trimming is better for your dog than a trimming once in a blue moon.  Ideally you will trim your dog’s nails once a week.  This will provide him with the best possible paw care. 

If you allow your dog’s nails to grow too long and touch the floor for long periods of time it can alter the growth of his paw and change its shape.  Nails that are allowed to grow too long can even circle around and grow into the skin. 

If you hear the clacking of your dog’s nails on the floor it’s time to get out the nail clippers! 

There are two basic types of dog nail trimmers:  the scissors type and the guillotine type.  The scissors type is fine for small dogs with nails that are easily cut.  The guillotine type is often preferred for dogs with thicker nails.  There is one other style that can be used for dogs with thicker nails.  It’s a version of the scissors type that is designed more like pliers with sharp blades.  These work fine for many breeds. 

You can also choose to use a nail grinder.  These are very popular for pets thanks to some models that have been advertised on television but they have been used by pet groomers and dog show people for years.  Nail grinders are very efficient and work well.  They have a small sanding drum on a drill tool and sand the nails down.  You must use care that you don’t sand the nails down too far, but otherwise these are very good products.  Most dogs can learn to like them very well.  They rarely cause dogs to become foot shy. 

No matter which method you use to care for your dog’s nails you should handle each paw carefully.  Proceed slowly and reward your dog for being a good dog when you work on his nails.  Even for dogs that have never had a bad experience, having their nails done can be tedious.  Make it more fun for them with lots of praise and treats.  If you do have a set-back and nick the quick, stop the bleeding with styptic powder and reassure your dog quickly. 

Good nail care is important for your dog’s well-being.  Follow these tips and he should be prancing for years.

Skin Conditions That Affect Dogs

Since the skin is the largest organ of the body, it’s not surprising that it is prone to a wide variety of problems.  And when there is a skin problem it’s very noticeable.  There’s no escaping it.  Your dog’s skin is subject to everything from allergic reactions to warts.

One skin condition that can affect every dog is the damage done by fleas and other parasites.  Fleas and ticks can drive a dog wild and cause him to scratch and destroy his skin.  He can even develop bacterial infections from the scratching or he may have flea bite dermatitis.

Mites are another pest that can harm your pet’s skin.  These are microscopic organisms that may require a microscope to be confirmed.  The two most common mites found on dogs cause demodex mange and sarcoptic mange which lead to intense itching, scratching and hair loss.  Demodex mange is also known as “red mange” because it makes your dog’s skin inflamed.  Sarcoptic mange can be transmitted to humans.

Allergies are a common skin problem with dogs.  One of the most common allergies is an allergies to fleas.  You can often identify this allergy because the dog has chewed the based of his tail raw, as well as the area over his hips.  Your vet may have to treat your dog with steroids and antihistamines to help him.

Your dog can be allergic to many other things as well, including shampoos, cleaning products, grass, pollen, and ingredients in his dog food.  Dog food allergies have become more widespread in the last few years as more dogs seem to be allergic to corn, wheat and other common grains.

Dogs can also suffer from skin problems such as abscesses, bacterial infections and calluses.  Abscesses may be found anywhere but are usually associated with a puncture, bite or other cause.  A bacterial infection can develop when your dog’s immune system is weakened — bacteria is typically present at all times.  It’s only when the immune system is unable to fight off bacteria that an infection will gain the upper hand.  Calluses will develop when a dog lies on his elbows or some other body part, especially if he’s lying on concrete.

Dogs can also develop “hot spots,” so named because they are small, inflamed areas that develop rapidly.  They usually occur on long coated dogs, often if the dog has been exposed to moisture, such as dew on the grass or after lots of rain.  They seem to occur without rhyme or reason.  You can treat them by shaving the hair around the small hot spot and applying a medicinal powder.  It’s important to keep the area dry.  Hot spots are notoriously hard to heal because dogs want to lick them, which only aggravates them and makes them worse.

Hypothyroidism is a frequent cause of skin problems in dogs.  This is a disorder of the thyroid gland, often genetic in origin.  With hypothyroidism the thyroid gland doesn’t secrete enough thyroxin for the body.  This affects the body’s metabolic rate, which controls healing, among other things.  Dogs gain weight, become lethargic, and they can lose hair.  Their skin pigment may darken or even become scaly.  Dogs often become prone to bacterial and yeast ear infections.  Onset is usually around two years old.  There can even be personality changes, with dogs becoming more aggressive.  If you suspect that your dog may have hypothyroidism your vet can do some bloodwork to find out.  If your dog is hypothyroid this is an easily treatable condition.  Your vet can prescribe a simple, inexpensive thyroid pill for your dog to take daily.  You can see an improvement in your dog’s condition in as little as two to three weeks.  His coat can grow back in just a few months.

These are just a few of the many skin conditions that veterinarians see on a regular basis.  If you notice something wrong with your dog’s skin you should take your dog to the vet to find out what’s wrong.  Chances are that your vet has seen the problem before and can help you and your dog.

Teeth And Gum Disease In Dogs

Your dog may not smile as much as you do but he still has beautiful pearly whites that need regular attention.  Doggy dentists (yes, there are doggy dental specialists) say that dogs should have their teeth brushed daily.  At the very least you should brush your dog’s teeth on a weekly basis.

Brushing your dog’s teeth isn’t difficult.  It’s basically the same procedure that you follow for taking care of your own teeth.  Manufacturers make toothbrushes designed to fit a dog’s mouth.  They are long with angled handles to help you reach a dog’s back teeth.  Or, you may choose to use a small rubber finger that fits down over your own finger.  This little rubber finger has a small rubber brush on one side.  In either case you simply put a little dog toothpaste on the brush on brush your dog’s teeth.

Speaking of dog toothpaste, make sure that you don’t use your own toothpaste for your dog.  Human toothpaste has artificial sweeteners in it that can be harmful to dogs.  Instead, use specially-formulated dog toothpaste.  This toothpaste comes in flavors that dogs like such as chicken, beef and peanut butter.  Believe it or not, most dogs don’t object to having their teeth brushed.  Just put a little on the brush and let your dog taste the paste.  He will probably like it a lot.  Then you can start applying it to his teeth and brushing.  He may lick at the brush but that’s okay.  Most of the paste and the brush will go on the teeth.  It only takes a little regular brushing each week to keep the teeth looking nice.

When you’re brushing your dog’s teeth try to brush to the gum line.  Many dogs already have gum disease by the time they’re 3 years old.

When you’re brushing your dog’s teeth you should also check his mouth for any unusual lumps or bumps, broken or cracked teeth, and red or bleeding gums.  Look for tartar and notice if your dog has bad breath.  Any of these things would be important to talk to your veterinarian about.

Dogs rarely get cavities but they do get plaque and tartar which can lead to periodontal disease.  Periodontal disease can result in tooth loss, abscesses and infections.

Regular visits to your vet will include an oral exam for your dog.  You can remove the regular build up of plaque at home when you brush your dog’s teeth.  But tartar build-up will require cleaning by your vet from time to time.

Hard kibbles have been shown to be somewhat better for the teeth than soft canned foods.

You can also help your dog remove plaque by providing him with toys such as Plaque Attacker dental toys, rope toys and rawhide chips.  Avoid toys that can wear down the teeth.  If your dog is a very active chewer or likes to bite down on his toys and crack them, you should probably take that toy away from him.  Instead, give him a toy that he can’t get his whole mouth around.  Rawhide and other chews that get softer as your dog chews on them may be a good option.

With good care there is no reason why your dog shouldn’t have his teeth in good condition into old age.  He may have some wear on some of his teeth but he can have pretty white teeth without any disease for his entire life.

How To Stop Dogs Barking Excessively

Do you have a barker?  A dog that keeps the neighbors up at night, making you the most unpopular person in the neighborhood?  Or maybe a dog who barks his head off at squirrels or birds while you’re at work?  Or just a dog who won’t shut up sometimes?  It can be very frustrating.  It seems like your dog won’t listen to you at all.  However, there are some good ways to get your dog’s attention and teach him to be quiet.

It’s important to remember that barking is a normal way of communication for dogs.  Whether they are communicating with each other or communicating to us, barking is how they express themselves.  It’s only when it becomes excessive or when we don’t want to hear it that it becomes a problem.  So, it’s important to understand the reasons why a dog may bark.

Dogs bark for the following reasons: 

• To give a warning
• To get attention
• When they’re playing or excited
• To identify themselves
• Because they’re bored
• When they’re lonely or anxious
• When they’re startled

Some of these barking behaviors are very desirable.  If the house is on fire you definitely want your dog to bark to let you know!  It’s only when they are continued for too long that they can become a problem.  You probably don’t want to suppress all of your dog’s barking (and that’s not possible).  Instead, you would like your dog to listen to you and stop barking when you ask.

There are some general tips for dealing with barking dogs.

1.  Do all that you can to socialize your dog from the time he’s a puppy.  Well-socialized dogs are less apt to be startled by strange things.  They are more likely to take things in stride.  They are far less likely to suffer from separation anxiety when you have to leave them at home.  All of this means that your dog will be more relaxed and less likely to bark.  The more he knows about the world outside his home, the better adapted he will be.

2.  Always make sure that your dog has plenty of toys and things to chew on, whether you are home or away.  Dogs that have things to amuse them and keep them busy are less likely to bark.  When dogs are occupied and mentally stimulated they have less time to look for things to bark at.

3.  Make sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise and the proper food.  Dogs that get regular exercise — not just a trot around their backyard — are more likely to rest during the day.  They spend less time pacing the fence and barking at squirrels or birds.

The “proper” food doesn’t necessarily mean the food that has the highest protein content.  If you are feeding your dog like a racing Greyhound and he has no way to run off that energy, he will most likely spend the day on edge, looking for things to bark at.  Feed your dog a good food that is appropriate to his age, condition and level of activity.

4.  Sometimes dogs bark for a reason.  If your dog is barking incessantly you should see why he’s barking.  Is it possible that your neighbor’s cat is smugly sitting on the other side of the fence?  Has his favorite toy gotten stuck in a bush?  Very often dogs who bark repeatedly are barking out of frustration because they can’t reach something they want.  Sometimes a quick trip to see why your dog is barking will put an end to it.

You can also teach your dog to be quiet on command.  This is not as hard to do as you might thing.  First, though, you need to teach your dog to “Speak” which is easy to do.  When your dog barks, praise him and say “Speak.”  Reward him.  Do this until he gets the idea that when you say, “Speak” you want him to bark.  He should soon be barking on command.  Next, when your dog is barking, and he stops, say, ‘Quiet.”  Reward him and praise him for being quiet.  Your dog may be surprised to get treats for being quiet!  Alternate this exercise with the “Speak” exercise.  If you practice these two exercises together your dog should get the idea.  It will take patience and a lot of work to get your dog to obey the “Quiet” command when he’s in the midst of barking outside, but when he does stop barking you should give him a great reward and lots of praise.  Tell him what a great dog he is!  If you stick with this training your dog will stop barking on command.

Remember that barking is natural for a dog and that many times your dog has a good reason for barking.  Although excessive barking is annoying you shouldn’t always assume that your dog is just being a nuisance.  Once you have your dog’s barking under control you will probably find that he still barks at things.  Take his barks seriously.  They can give you important information.

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Spinal Conditions Affecting Dogs

Spinal conditions in dogs can be hard to diagnose.  Spinal problems can be related to a number of causes and the symptoms can be overlapping.  Treatment of spinal problems is often expensive and many treatments fail at first, especially if the problem has been misdiagnosed.  Spinal conditions can be age-related, due to injury, or the result of congenital spinal defects.

Degenerative Myelopathy typically occurs in mature dogs.  It usually shows itself with rear leg weakness.  The weakness may be in both legs or one side may be affected more than the other.  DM features difficulty moving rather than the inability to control movement.  This is a progressive condition that starts in the rear legs and moves forward, finally reaching the brain stem.  There is usually no pain.  Bladder and bowel function usually remain intact.  The dog may drag his feet.  DM is a genetic disease.

Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD) is a degenerative disease which may have a genetic-related predisposition to premature degeneration of the spinal elements which can lead to damage and injury.  The spinal disk becomes less flexible and sooner or later breaks down.  This compresses and inflames the spinal cord and its membranes and nerve roots.

Wobblers Syndrome can occur in multiple forms but all of them feature a misalignment of the cervical vertebrae (the neck vertebrae).  The symptoms include an unsteady or wobbly gait.  The two typical clinical forms of Wobblers are found in middle-aged to elderly dogs and in very young dogs.  Dobermans are inclined to get the form for older dogs; Great Danes are likely to get the form for juveniles.

Lumbosacral Disease describes disk problems with the lumbosacral space along the spine.  It can include misalignment or disk degeneration.

Spondylosis Deformans usually occurs in middle-aged or elderly dogs.  It is usually an age-related degenerative condition that features vertebral instability and damage.  It may be painful and cause problems in mobility.

Neoplasia refers to tumors that can develop anywhere along the spine.  Depending on their size and position the tumors can have different affects on a dog.  Some of them can be very serious.  Osteosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, chondrosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma are the most common.

If your dog has trouble walking, exhibits pain when he walks, when shifting position, trying to rise or lie down, or seems to have limited mobility, it’s a good idea to see your veterinarian.  He may be able to diagnose a spinal problem before it becomes worse.  Many therapies can help your dog and there are some holistic treatments that have proven successful.  Acupuncture is said to help some dogs while joint supplements have helped other dogs.  Some people have tried Chinese herbs with success.  Even using an holistic diet has been beneficial to some owners and their dogs.  Surgery is not the solution in every case.  Even reducing your dog’s weight can help in many cases.

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