Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by the Leptospira bacteria, which can seriously injure the liver and kidney. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease(can spread from animals to humans), which are found in soil and water. The most common reservoirs of the disease are wild animals such as rodents.
Dogs can be infected by contact of their abraded skin and wounds with infected water and soil, through a bite from other animals, and by eating infected source.
Signs of Leptospirosis in dogs vary. Clinical signs usually show in the first week after infection. Some can show mild to no symptoms, while others may experience severe illnesses and even death.
Common symptoms are fever, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, Jaundice(yellowing of the skin), dehydration, or inflammation in the eyes. If not treated, the disease can lead to kidney and liver failure and severe lung disease.
Treatments for Leptospirosis are antibiotics and supportive care.
Rabies is a zoonotic disease caused by a virus of the Lyssavirus genus. This viral infection attacks the nervous system, causing inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. It’s said that domestic dogs are the most common reservoir of the rabies virus, although many countries, including the United States, have mostly eliminated the virus in domestic dogs. However, rabies can still be found in the wildlife in animals such as foxes, bats, and raccoons.
The disease is transmitted mainly through the saliva by direct exposure such as bites. Rabies can be preventable by vaccines.
Symptoms of rabies include lethargy(low energy), fever, excessive drooling, vomiting, and odd behavior such as aggression, disorientation, and hallucinations. There are two forms of rabies: furious form, also known as the mad dog, where dogs get vicious, and the paralytic form(dumb rabies), a non-vicious form, where paralysis of jaw muscles and throat are presence.
The diagnosis of rabies requires a laboratory test, and there is no particular treatment, just isolation to prevent from injuring others. The incubation period for dogs varies from two weeks to four months.
Crate training is all about teaching your pooch to accept a crate as a safe location for them to spend time in. Dogs are known to be a den-dwelling animal, which means that they need a place for themselves where they can feel secure.
When used properly, crate training can be useful in calming your pup and teaching them some responsibilities.
Some important aspects you need to consider before starting the training are:
- Choose the right crate for your beloved pup. Their crate needs to be comfortable and safe. Take consideration of the size of your doggy.
- Associate the crate with something positive. Use the positive reinforcement method.
- Crate training will take some time. Seek professional help if progress if time isn’t at your disposal.
It’s also crucial that you don’t use crates as a means of punishment. You don’t want your furry friend to be afraid of the crate.
Behavioral training, also known as behavior modification, is geared to tackle your pup’s many behavioral issues. This type of training is ideal for canines that already show behavioral problems but have the ability to unlearn them.
There are many approaches to behavioral training. It all depends on what bad behaviors your dog exhibits and what may be the causes. For example, if your puppy is biting at everything, you can train them by using chew toys and some exercises, as well as applying Crate Training.
Applying obedience training at a young age may decrease the chance of developing behavioral problems.
Dog grooming refers to any activities that involve cleaning, improving, and taking care of hygiene and appearance. These activities range from nail clipping, bathing, haircutting, cleaning the ears, brushing teeth, and fur to checking anal glands.
Besides creating a nicer appearance and better smell, dog grooming has other benefits such as early detection of skin and health issues.
Some dog grooming activities, such as bathing, can be done easily at home. However, other practices like nail clipping and haircutting may need professional help, especially if your pooch can’t stay still. A professional groomer can help get the job done efficiently and safely.
Separation anxiety is when your dog feels extremely stressed because of being separated from you and being alone. Separation anxiety can lead to more serious consequences, such as dog depression and other health problems.
Although symptoms may vary, signs of separation anxiety can include anxious behaviors (whining, trembling), destructive actions, barking or howling, and urinating or defecating.
Although separation anxiety is more common in young pups, older dogs can develop it too. Socialization, training classes, doggy daycare, and kennel boarding can help prevent this serious behavioral issue.
Obedience training focuses on teaching your pup basic commands such as “Sit, Come, Stop, Stay, and Leave it.” Obedience training aims to improve communication between you and your pooch. When your dog has mastered obedience training, they’ll listen to you and your instructions. This type of training can also prevent bad behavioral issues.
These basic commands can go a long way in keeping your furry friend safe from dangers. Imagine your pup starts running on a busy road or chasing another dog or animal. An obedient dog will listen to you when encountering different circumstances, preventing any accidents from happening.
Again, the best way to teach your canine obedience training is by applying the positive reinforcement method.
It’s almost that time of the year where you can dress up as your favorite superhero icon or a scary-looking character! Every dog owner should be excited when Halloween comes around because this is also the chance to dress up their little pooch! Besides dressing up, there are also so many fun activities to be done with your beloved furry friend.
However, keep in mind that during this Covid-19 pandemic, the activities mentioned below will be slightly different and should be done with health protocols in mind. But don’t worry, you’ll still have plenty of fun with your pup on this year’s Halloween celebration. Without further ado, here are our ideas.
Dress up your pup in a cute Halloween costume
First and foremost, there’s no Halloween party without dressing up! You can dress up as partners with your dog or something totally different! It doesn’t matter. Both are fun ideas as long as you consider that whatever you choose, the costume must be comfortable for your little Fido and of course, adorable!
Here are some ideas on what to wear for the upcoming Halloween celebration:
The Halloween celebration is also a great time to capture cool photos of you and your pooch together. It can be hard to get that perfect picture, but there are some tips to get that Instagram worthy shot!
Treat-or-tricking with your Fido
Halloween without the traditional treat-or-tricking doesn’t seem right. However, in desperate times, there’s a desperate measure.
During this unfortunate pandemic, the CDC strongly encourages families to avoid high-risk activities such as going door to door for treat-or-tricking. Therefore, you must take into consideration the safety of your family (including your pooch) and others.
This is not to say that you can’t hold any other treat-or-trick activities. You can create a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat in the safety of your home! This is no less fun than going around the neighborhood door to door. You can also talk to your neighbors about hosting a small scale treat-or-trick event with some of the people, families, and pets that you know are well and healthy.
Play some fun Halloween-themed games
If you’re staying safe and staying at home this Halloween, you can still create a fun atmosphere to enjoy.
Create fun games to play together, and don’t forget to get Halloween-themed rewards for your pooch! Yummy dog treats will surely make your canine’s Halloween night a happy one!
You can really transform your home by putting up some Halloween decorations. This is a once a year festivity, so why not go all out, right? Think about adding some skulls, carved pumpkins, or some DIY spooky dog toys!
If you’re looking for toys that you can incorporate in games and at the same time training your pup, here are some ideas.
Check out your local dog retail shop and pet stores around you for some more Halloween goodies.
Relax and watch some movies together
If you or your dog aren’t the party type, you can always celebrate Halloween comfortably snuggling on the couch and watching some scary or fun Halloween movies! Here are some of our recommendations for your Halloween movie night:
Although it isn’t the scariest movie out there, the film features all the iconic characters from the cartoon, including Scooby-Doo, the dog, and many dog treats! This quirky mystery movie classic is a must-watch movie that is fun to reserve for this Halloween!
A fun and adventurous movie that features cute talking puppies that will surely get your dog’s attention. This is a perfect movie to watch with the whole family as well.
One of the best stop-animation dog movies out there. It tells a story about a young boy searching for his dog following a canine flu outbreak. The movie has famous voice casts such as Scarlet Johansson, Edward Norton, and Bill Murray.
Halloween is coming up fast! Make sure you have everything ready for a fun and safe celebration! Be sure to pop into your local The Dog Stop location to look for some spooky toys and yummy treats.
Dog socialization means getting your dog comfortable with other fellow canines as well as with humans and their surroundings. Just like us humans, socializing is an integral part of a dog’s life. It’s a driving force to achieving a happy and healthy life.
Besides getting along with other dogs, socialization also has a lot to do with getting used to new environments. This includes new places, smells, and sights.
Dog socialization takes time and effort. Enrolling your dog in training classes is one effective way to help your dog get their socialization skills on point.
Positive reinforcement is one of the most effective methods of dog training. This particular method focuses on using rewards to help develop good behavior and promote progress.
The main idea of positive reinforcement is to let your pup associate good behavior with rewards such as food or letting them have some playtime with you or their favorite toys. An example of positive reinforcement in obedience training is when you tell your dog to come to you, and they listen, you give them a treat right after.
