Ideally, you'll never need to utilize this data, however, it's great to be arranged for good measure. Dogs are chewers. Also, canines are coughers. Also, similar to felines, in some cases, it's hard to know whether they absolutely need to make a sound as if to speak or then again in the event that something has stalled out. When should hacking cause concern and alarm you to the way that your canine might be gagging? Also, when do you intercede to help your dog? It tends to be an extremely terrifying inclination watching your canine gag and not realize how to deal with assistance. "Luckily, it is generally extraordinary for a canine to gag," said Tristan Daugherty-Leiter, DVM, a veterinarian gaining practical experience in crisis medication and medical procedure at VCA Veterinary Emergency Service and Veterinary Specialty Center situated in Middleton, Wis. "For a significant number of the canines who present for conceivable aviation route or esophageal impediment, most wind up being determined to have another issue, for example, pet hotel hack." While that is consoling information for canine proprietors all over, realize what to search for and how to help your canine should stifling happen. Signs a Dog Is Choking As indicated by Daugherty-Leiter, canines frequently gag on rawhides, balls, and bite toys, particularly assuming that canines can gnaw off little bits of these toys. So assuming your canine has been participating in these exercises and starts hacking—dissimilar to in people, it's the most telling indication of stifling for canines—mediate immediately. Past hacking and gagging sounds, there might be…

Assuming you have a super drooly dog, you're in good company! You've presumably heard the old standard that "felines rule and canines slobber." While that is far from being obviously true, there might be some reality to it. Assuming that you will claim a canine, you're probably going to have drooled. In any case, what amount of salivation is typical for your puppy? This is what you want to know whether you notice your canine slobbering exorbitantly. For what reason Do Dogs Drool So Much? There are a few reasons canines slobber so a lot, including the state of the canine's head and the way his lips meet his cheeks. A few varieties have extra creases of skin around the gag so spit and water can get caught and trickle out, clarifies Michelle Bombard, DVM, a veterinarian at the Malta Animal Hospital in Malta, N.Y.   Signs Your Dog's Drooling Is Abnormal The initial step is knowing your pet. The volume of "typical" drool is distinctive for each little guy. For instance, enormous varieties like Saint Bernards, mastiffs, hound dogs, Newfoundlands, and Labrador retrievers are known for unnecessary slobbering, while it very well may be an indication of a medical problem for different sorts of canines. "Search for a change based on what is typical for that creature," Bombard says. "Assuming you are tidying up slobber all the more often or you see a puddle when they get up from the floor or their bed, there might be an issue." Besiege suggests that assuming your canine is giving indications of…

Most pet guardians realize that deer ticks convey Lyme illness, however, these aren't the main eight-legged frightening little animals out to suck your dog's blood. Ticks are members of the arachnid class along with spiders and scorpions. These tough customers have eight legs and a taste for blood. They like to hang out on top of grasses and other plants waiting to grab onto a passing human or animal and some species and life stages can survive up to two years waiting for a meal. All ticks go through four basic life stages: egg, larva or seed tick (looks like a tick but only has six legs), nymph, and adult. Some species go through multiple nymphal stages. Each transition requires a blood meal for the tick to molt into the next stage. As if all of that wasn't bad enough, ticks can also transmit diseases. When a tick bites a host (such as your dog), it remains attached for several days slowly sucking blood. During this time, blood-borne parasites can be transmitted from the tick to the host and vice versa. How Many Types of Ticks Are There in the U.S.? There are more than 90 species of ticks in the U.S. Thankfully, only a handful of these are frequently found on dogs. However, each species is found in different areas of the country and can effect a dog's health differently, so it's useful to be able to recognize the various types when you notice your dog developing a tick-borne health condition. What Are the Different Types of Ticks Typically Found…

Unfortunately, having fur won't save your fur babies when it comes to your friendly neighborhood blood-sucking bug. You go outside, and you're buzzed by mosquito after mosquito. Maybe you're that person who always gets swarmed. You're constantly slapping them away! So, how come your dog seems unfazed? Does that mean Buster's not getting bit? No way, say veterinary and parasitology experts. Your dog may not show it, but dogs do get bit by mosquitos right along with us. Can Dogs Get Mosquito Bites As We Do? The big difference between you and your dog in getting mosquito bites is you're more likely to notice them. For whatever reason, many dogs don't seem as bothered. They're not thinking about how these insects are sucking their blood and potentially leaving behind disease and ugly, raised welts. Your dog's fur isn't much of a deterrent either, says Cassan Pulaski, PhD, acting director of the Parasitology Diagnostic Lab at the University of Georgia Department of Infectious Diseases. A mosquito's proboscis (the pointy, blood-sucking part) can go right past a thick layer of fur. A mosquito may choose to go for more vulnerable parts of a dog, like the ears, nose, mouth, and belly, but bites can happen almost anywhere on a dog. Signs Your Dog Has a Mosquito Bite Because a mosquito can bite past your dog's fur, you may never see evidence of a bite. Some dogs, however, just like people, can have a more extreme reaction from their immune system. "Some can get tons of bites and have no reaction," Pulaski says. "Other dogs get itchy and may develop rashes…

With the right care, you can make sure your dog doesn't contract this scary tick-borne disease. Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, referred to as ehrlichiosis [pronounced ur·luh·kee·ow·suhs], can be caused when a dog is bitten by a tick carrying the Ehrlichia canis bacterium. This bacterium is generally carried by the brown-dog tick, a species of tick which can also spread a variation of the disease anaplasmosis. In the U.S., canine ehrlichiosis cases have been reported in all 50 states. The Companion Animal Parasite Council has interactive maps showing how cases are distributed across the U.S. and Canada. Signs and Symptoms of Ehrlichiosis in Dogs Ehrlichiosis in dogs has three main stages, including the acute, sub-clinical, and clinical or chronic stages. Acute Stage This stage can appear several weeks or months after being bitten by a tick. Dogs in the acute phase may have: Lethargy Poor appetite Discharge from eyes and nose Nose bleeds Bruising on the gums and belly Lameness Joint pain Fever Rash Or dogs in the acute stage may show no symptoms at all. This stage often lasts two to four weeks, after which your dog may eliminate the ehrlichiosis infection or may progress to the sub-clinical stage. Sub-Clinical Stage This is the stage in which the bacterium is present but not showing outside signs of the disease. Dogs can go through the acute stage without symptoms and then progress further into the sub-clinical stage still not showing symptoms. A dog may eliminate ehrlichiosis at this stage or progress to the clinical stage. Clinical or Chronic Stage This stage occurs when the dog does not eliminate…

Hookworms are a common intestinal parasite that affects dogs. Learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of hookworms in dogs so you can treat it quickly and prevent it from happening. Hookworms are a common intestinal parasite in dogs—especially puppies—that can cause serious problems due to blood loss. Thankfully, monthly preventative medications and regular testing can help stop these pests from harming your pet. What Are Hookworms? Hookworms are small (1-2 cm), white worms that can look similar to fishing hooks due to a slight bend at the front of their body. According to Jessica Nichols, DVM, chief veterinary officer of Spay and Neuter Kansas City in Kansas City, Mo., hookworms are particularly nasty parasites that can infect your dog. Unlike other worms that eat food and drink materials floating around the pet’s intestines, hookworms are bloodsuckers, she explains. If it sounds disgusting, it’s because it is. The parasites literally hook themselves to the walls of a dog’s intestines with their teeth, then release a substance that prevents the host animal’s blood from clotting, and begin to suck the animal’s blood. According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), an independent nonprofit led by veterinary professionals and parasite experts, Ancylostoma caninum is the most common species of canine hookworm found in the United States, though two other types are also present (Ancylostoma braziliense and Uncinaria stenocephala). How Do Dogs Get Hookworms? Adult hookworms that live in a dog’s intestines mate and deposit their eggs into the poop of the infected animal, Nichols explains. These eggs will later hatch, releasing baby hookworms into the soil. Dogs can then become infected…

Tetanus, sometimes referred to as "lockjaw," is when your dog's muscles are overreacting to any stimuli, making them tense up and become rigid with muscle spasms. It is caused by infection with the bacteria Clostridium tetani. When C. tetani gets into a wound in your dog's body (or yours, for that matter), it produces the neurotoxin tetanospasmin. This toxin targets the nerves in the area, and can spread to the spinal cord and brain. Any nerves that the toxin binds to overstimulate their associated muscles, causing them to contract over and over again. Dogs with tetanus are uncomfortable and will have trouble walking, and severe cases that impact the muscles of the throat and diaphragm can result in some pretty severe consequences. Can Dogs Get Tetanus? Yes, dogs can get tetanus, but thankfully they are fairly resistant to it. Horses and humans are much more susceptible to this infection. How does a dog get tetanus? The C. tetani bacteria are spread in feces and can survive in the environment for years. They are not harmful if swallowed or if they come in contact with intact, healthy skin. Where things get a little hairy is when C. tetani gets into a wound on your dog, even a small puncture from stepping on a nail or foxtail. Puncture wounds are moist, warm, and have low oxygen exposure—perfect conditions for a bacterial infection. Can Humans Get Tetanus from a Dog Bite? It is possible to get tetanus from a dog bite, but it is very rare. H. Cody Meissner, M.D., FAAP writes for the American Academy of Pediatrics, "Dog bites generally are…

It's important to first figure out what's causing your dog's rash in order to give your pup some much-needed relief. We aren't the only ones who get skin rashes. Though they can be more difficult to see under all that fur, our dogs can get rashes, too. A dog skin rash may be nothing more than a minor irritation. However, if left untreated, that rash can progress to serious skin problems. We're going to review common causes of dog rashes and help you learn how to treat them. Signs Your Dog Has a Rash Dog rashes on the belly are most common, where there's not much hair and the skin is sensitive. Though a dog rash can show up in other places as well, such as the groin, armpits, ears, neck, and back. Rashes can appear suddenly and sometimes disappear just as quickly. The typical signs of a rash in dogs include: Reddened skin Itchiness Red bumps Hair loss Scabs Sores Discharge Dry skin Scaly skin Crusts If you spot any of these signs of a rash, you'll need to partner up with your dog's veterinarian to figure out what's causing it in order to start treatment. 9 Most Common Causes of Dog Rashes Basically anything that irritates the skin can cause a rash, so sometimes it's tough to nail down the exact culprit, but these are some of the most common causes. 1. Heat Rash Dog heat rashes occur when a pup becomes overheated. As a result, the skin becomes itchy, red, and tender to the touch. Pimples and boils may…

Help your pup strut his stuff this summer and beyond by protecting his paw pads from hot pavement, beach sand, and potential burns. Like little pillows protecting your pup's feet, dog paw pads provide the support your pooch needs to get from Point A to Point B, even across tough terrain. Throw in a few beaming sun rays on a toasty day, though, and your dog's precious paw pads can burn on hot pavement. Burned paws prevent your good boy from living his best life, but thankfully, dog paw burns from pavement can be treated if owners are prepared for emergency situations and ready to consult with their dog's veterinarian if needed. Signs of Burned Dog Paw Pads Unfortunately, warm weather isn't the only thing to be wary of when it comes to your four-legged friend's feet. Cold temperatures present their own dangers, especially if ice is on the ground. Frostbite can occur, and cracked paw pads are possible during temperatures of either extreme. Chemicals not labeled for pet use, including those protecting you from a nasty spill on the ice, may also lead to burned paw pads. Fido may not come right out and say he's in pain, but veterinarians say that your dog's behavior is a major tell that something's wrong. "Often, a pet owner's first clue is that the dog begins licking at her feet or may limp after a walk outside," says Erin Katribe, DVM, MS, medical director at Best Friends Animal Society. "When the paw pad is examined, this may look like discoloration, or you may see lighter, pinker tissue exposed from underneath the…

It might be time to put some dog sunscreen in the bag with yours—just make sure you don’t get them mixed up. You'll certainly be packing sunscreen as summer arrives, whether that's in your beach bag, tote bag, or hiking pack. The thing is: You might need some for your dog, too. Just like us humans, pretty much all dogs can get sunburns. Thankfully, it's pretty easy to prevent and treat doggie sunburns. In some cases, you'll do the same things you do for your kiddos or yourself. But you probably shouldn't grab that human SPF 45 off the shelf and start rubbing it onto your dog. "There are treatments or remedies for sunburn that we use in people that aren't always safe or recommended for dogs," Randy Wheeler, DVM and executive director of the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association, tells Daily Paws. Do Dogs Get Sunburns Like Humans Do? Yup, pretty much any breed can get sunburned but some dogs are more at risk than others. Namely: dogs with shorter, lighter hair (or none at all) and pups with fairer skin, Wheeler says. It can take as little as 30-60 minutes on a sunny day for you to end up with a sunburned dog-and nobody wants that! Wheeler would often see sunburned dogs with irritation near the ears-and inside the ears for pointy-eared dogs-around the eyes, and around lighter-colored noses. Surprisingly, your poor dog can even end up with a belly sunburn. Wheeler says the sunlight will reflect up from pavement sometimes, victimizing dogs on a walk-particularly if their legs are short. (Looking at you corgis and dachshunds.)…