yobyts Hot Blog - Understand Your Dog�s Senses � Smell...

yobyts Hot Blog - Understand Your Dog�s Senses � Smell... Understand Your Dog’s Senses – Smell A dog’s sense of smell is awesome. Based on studies and research, a dog’s sense of smell appears to be about 1,000 to 10,000,000 times more sensitive than a human. The wide disparity is due to the dog’s breed. When a dog smells something, they are absorbing information about the owner of the smell. They can smell pheromone which is found in urine, fecal, skin and fur. Pheromone is a secreted chemical factor that causes a reaction in members of the same species. There are different kinds of pheromones, such as food trail pheromones, sex pheromones, and many others that help identify certain aspects of the individual. From this, dogs are able to discern if the individual is another dog or human being, their gender, what they ate, where they have been, what they touched, and other types of information. Some tests show that certain breeds of dogs can even identify the specific different ingredients that went into a food. When you feed a dog, they sniff the food first. They are checking if the food is palatable and acceptable to them. If you are new to them, they will most probably sniff your hand and other parts of your body too. With proper training, some breeds of dogs can be taught to smell drugs, guns, bombs and other types of contraband. Some of them are used to locate victims of disasters, such as people who have been buried under ground or in fallen buildings. The St. Bernard dog has been used to rescue people lost in the alps. The nostrils of the dog can move independently and this allows them to determine what direction a smell is coming from. The mucus on a dog’s nose helps them capture scent particles. If their nose is dry, they lick it to aid in the scent. A normal nose is cool and moist but not wet. A dog’s nose has no sweat glands. The moisture is caused by the mucus lining. The nose is generally dark-colored. A runny nose indicates a possibility of an illness, allergy or tumor. Some diseases involve nasal discharge, such as distemper, bacterial rhinitis, and infected sinuses. Dogs do not catch colds like humans and if they do sneeze, it may be due to some irritation in the nose. If they sneeze persistently, have them checked at the veterinarian. If the dog has something in their nostril, they will try to paw it out or rub their muzzle against a hard surface. Such actions can normally dislodge any minor obstruction in their nostril. You can try looking In their nostril and if it is near the entrance, you might be able to pick it out with tweezers without harming the dog. Do not attempt to reach deep into the nostril as you might damage the lining and cause additional harm to the dog. If you have to attend to the dog temporarily, treat them with antibiotics to prevent tissue buildup, which lead to chronic breathing problems. Check with the veterinarian what medications can be applied and keep a stock ready in case of emergencies. A dog can smell and breathe through the nose. These are two different functions on one organ. They breathe through the nose for air. However if you see them sniff with short breaths, they are saving some scent that does not get exhaled. When puppies are newly born, their eyes and ears are close and they rely on heat sensors in the nose to help find their mother. These sensors disappear as they grow older. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS... Unique Membership Site on Training & Care of Dogs: Click Here!

yobyts Hot Blog - Understand Your Dog�s Senses � Hearing ...

yobyts Hot Blog - Understand Your Dog�s Senses � Hearing ... Understand Your Dog’s Senses – Hearing The sense of hearing may be considered as the second most powerful sense of a dog, albeit smell being the first. A dog has a very good sense of hearing and is far better than humans. They can hear about 4 times the range of humans and they can hear frequencies twice that of humans. A sound you hear at 20 meters can be detected by a dog at 80 meters. Dogs can hear higher pitched sounds that humans cannot hear. The frequency range that dogs can detect is about 6 67-45,000 hz as compared to humans with the range of 64-23,000 hz. Dogs can hear frequencies, such as ultrasounds which are beyond a human’s capabilities. When dogs bark with no apparent reasons, it is possible that they hear sounds which we are unaware of and their barking is meant to protect their territory from a foreign presence. We end up hushing the dogs without realizing their intentions. It is also possible that they are responding to an ultrasound that we cannot hear. Dog whistles are intended for the dog’s hearing. Its pitches cannot be heard by humans but it is audible and distinct to the dog. Trainers use dog whistles to teach the dog to perform certain actions. Dogs perceive the height and depth of the sounds and react accordingly. Trainers use this ability to teach dogs different commands based on the varying ultrasounds that the whistle emits. Dogs are capable of picking out specific sounds from other sounds that may be going on simultaneously. A dog can be sitting down in your living room and your stereo and television may be blaring out loud and they will still be able to detect unusual sounds from other distant locations around your house. They can synchronize what they want to hear. Dogs, like most wild animals, are sensitive to complete silence and they recognize this as a sign of impending disaster or major threat. The dog’s ears are especially designed, having about 17 or more muscles in their ears, as compared to our 6-9 muscles. The added muscle provides mobility to their ears and act similar to radar. They can pinpoint the exact source of the sound, identify the sound, make some judgment with regards to the sound and establish whether the sound is threatening. Dogs with perked straight ears can hear better than dogs with hanging drooping ears. Once they pick up a distant sound, you will notice their ears stand to attention and move around in different directions until they can locate where the sound is coming from and the nature of the sound. A dog’s hearing will start failing as they grow older. An old dog will have less hearing capabilities than a young one and given substantial age, can become deaf eventually. Some dogs can feel impending natural disasters, such as earthquakes, days before it happens. There appears to be no conclusive proof on how the dogs are able to sense it. Some speculate that it may be the high frequency waves coming from the earth or through the air, or even possibly vibrations from the ground. Keep a close observation on your dogs and they may help you predict and prepare for potential calamities. Click Here for More Doggie Details... Unique Membership Site on Training & Care of Dogs Click Here!

Infection Problems: Fungal Diseases...

Infection Problems: Fungal Diseases

Below are the various dog diseases that are caused by fungal infection.

Ringworm. Ringworm is a major fungal infection that troubles dogs. Ringworm fungi live in dead skin tissues, nails, and hairs of dogs, particularly younger dogs. Its symptoms include: hair loss which usually appears in circular patches, hair loss patches that displays a crusty, dry look, hair loss on the head and legs and continuous scratching of the patchy areas.

Ringworm is very contagious to both animals and humans especially to children. You should ensure that your dog that is infected with ringworm is kept away from your kids and other household pets until the infection is fully treated. You should also practice proper hygiene by washing your hands very well after handling your infected pet to avoid further contamination. Typically, ringworm is treated by trimming or shaving the hair around affected areas, using fungicidal shampoos for bathing the dog, applying a topical antifungal medication, and lime sulphur dips.

Valley Fever. It is caused by a fungus called Coccidioides immitis and affects both animals and humans. This fungus is found in dry, arid soil; when dust is raised from that soil, the fungus is inhaled. Dogs that spend time around construction areas, dig frequently, or are out in the wind, are more susceptible to this disease. Young dogs and dogs with weakened immune systems are also prone to develop Valley Fever.

Coccidioides immitis fungus is difficult to diagnose and is sometimes mistaken for other fungal diseases, cancer, pneumonia, or Lyme disease. Its symptoms include harsh cough, fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, and seizures. If your dog is suspected to have Valley Fever, your vet may perform x-rays, blood tests, or antibody testing to help diagnose the disease.

Blastomycosis. It is another fungal disease which is usually found in both dogs and humans. In most cases, Blastomycosis is mainly caused by contact to damp soil containing organic matter with growing fungus. The fungus penetrates your dog’s system through wounds, or through inhalation. As it begins to thrive in your dog's body, it spreads to the lungs, the vascular system, or to the lymph nodes. Roaming dogs, hunting dogs and other dogs that are frequently exposed to outdoor activities are particularly at risk of acquiring Blastomycosis.
Indications that your pet may be suffering from this disease are: weight loss, chronic coughing, shortness of breath, skin lesions, red eyes, swollen eyes, excessive tearing of the eyes, clouding of the corneas, and loss of muscle tone. If your pet manifests any of these symptoms, you should consult your veterinarian for immediate treatment. Infected dogs that are treated at the earlier stages of the disease have better chances for a healthy recovery. If blastomycosis is left untreated, this can result to blindness or other serious health problems. Treatment of this disease includes drug therapy, and may include required several short hospitalizations. During treatment, ensure that your dog is given a diet that consists of high-quality food, and limit his exercise until he is completely well.

Aspergillosis. Aspergillosis is a fungal disease that usually affects the nasal cavity and respiratory system, before attacking the rest of the body. Dogs with long noses are most susceptible. Symptoms aspergillosis includes open sores around the nostrils, bloody or puss-filled nasal discharge, lethargy, weight loss, fever, and vomiting.

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The Basics of Pet Water Safety...

The Basics of Pet Water Safety

It would be very fun to watch your adorable pooch having his time playing and swimming in the pool or in the beach. Bringing your pet to swimming pools, lakes or beaches and engaging yourselves in water sports and other water recreation is one way of bonding with your pet. Most dogs, if not all, enjoy having fun in cool and refreshing water, most especially during the summer season when the weather is very warm.

Being a mature dog owner, you should always ensure your pet’s safety when bringing him into this kind of environment. Never allow your pet to wander into the water without your supervision just because he seems to have a lot of fun waddling into the water. Always take notice of warning signs such “No Swimming Allowed,” “No Entry: Beach Closed,” or “Caution: Thin Ice” when getting into any body of water or frozen lakes during winter season. Warnings like these signify danger for you and your pet and should not be ignored.

Like people, dogs also love taking a dip in cold water to freshen up. Taking your pet for a swim can prevent him from suffering heat stroke during extremely hot summer months. But always test the temperature of the water before you let your dog to take a dip. If it is too cold for you then it is definitely too cold for your pet, fur or no fur. Bear in mind that too much cold water can quickly lower your dog’s body temperature and can lead to hypothermia.

It is a common misconception that all dogs are great swimmers. To think that your pet pooch can paddle gracefully like Lassie is a bad idea. The truth is, not all dogs are natural swimmers; some breeds have a hard time keeping up their noses in the water and surprisingly, some are even afraid of getting into the water. Dogs with short legs, dense body conditions, and cropped tails find difficulty staying afloat while dogs with flat noses have a more difficult time breathing when in the water. Aside from breed, age and physical attributes also contributes to your pet’s swimming capability. Overweight dogs as well as older dogs are easily tired out when swimming. Take proper precautions when taking your pet for a swim; make sure he is very capable of swimming beforehand.

Beaches, public pools and rivers may contain bacteria and chemical contaminants that may bring hazard to your pet’s health. Algae and other microorganism are almost always present at any body of water, especially still waters like lakes and ponds. These microorganism and chemicals can be ingested or contacted by your pet during swimming. Always check the body of water you will be swimming in; avoid those that emit a stinky smell and displays an unnatural water color. If you are near an industrial area, avoid going into beaches, lakes or rivers that receive runoff from industrial firms, farming activities or municipal sewage.

Always bring with you a fresh drinking water for your pet when swimming in pools and beaches. Chlorine and other chemicals as well as infectious organisms that are present in pool and beach waters may cause gastrointestinal upset if drank by your pet. Encourage your pet to drink from your fresh water supply and he will be less likely to drink water that may be harmful.





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