Dog Health / Nutrition Articles - RSS Feedhttp://www.gundogsonline.comHealth / Nutrition Reference Room60Cold Weather Tipshttp://www.gundogsonline.com/Article/dog-health/Dog-Cold-Weather-Tips-Page1.htmExperts agree that preventative measures are the safest way to keep your gun dog from experiencing a cold weather illness or injury. Here are a few tips to keep your gun dog warm in the fowl weather: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 12:36:25 GMTHot Weather Tipshttp://www.gundogsonline.com/Article/dog-health/Dog-Hot-Weather-Safety-Page1.htmThe experts agree that preconditioning and preventative measures are the safest way to keep your gun dog from experiencing a heat-related illness. Here are a few more tips on avoiding problems by being proactive: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 12:34:34 GMT"Foxtails"http://www.gundogsonline.com/Article/dog-health/Dog-Foxtails-Page1.htmFoxtails are small tufted bristly seed heads that resemble a fox’s tail. Certain types of native grasses contain these hard seed-bearing structures often called &quot;foxtails&quot;. The bristles contain tiny barbs, which allow the seed head to travel through the animal’s fur and eventually penetrate the skin. Foxtails can pose as a serious hazard for dogs. Fri, 28 Sep 2001 12:32:26 GMTEar Miteshttp://www.gundogsonline.com/Article/dog-health/Dog-Ear-Mites-Page1.htmEar mites (Otodectes) are in the arachnid family as are spiders. Ear mites feed off of small capillaries (blood vessels) in the inner ear canal causing severe discomfort to the animal&#44; which results in constant itching. The dog may scratch at the ears intensely and constantly shake his head. Head shaking can be so intense that an affected dog may actually eject mites into the environment&#44; which can then infect other animals. Ear mites are very contagious&#44; and can spread between both dogs and cats very easily. <br><br>Fri, 28 Sep 2001 12:31:14 GMTEar Carehttp://www.gundogsonline.com/Article/dog-health/Dog-Ear-Care-Page1.htmCanine ear care is an area of hygiene that many dog owners usually ignore until there is a problem. Depending on several factors, including the geographical climate, breed of dog and the dog&rsquo;s acceptance to an ear cleaning regiment, common ear problems can almost always be prevented. As mentioned, some dogs, especially the pendant or &quot;floppy eared&quot; breeds, are more susceptible to ear problems. Geographic climates such as warm, humid areas of the country can also help to increase a dog&rsquo;s chance of developing ear problems. The dark, moist environment of the canine ear canal is the perfect breeding ground for many bacteria, funguses and parasites that can cause infections. Fri, 28 Sep 2001 12:30:25 GMTEar Infectionshttp://www.gundogsonline.com/Article/dog-health/Dog-Ear-Infections-Page1.htmA canine&rsquo;s ear canal is an elongated &quot;L&quot;-shaped passage. The elbow of the &quot;L&quot; acts as a trap collecting foreign debris, but can also be a collecting point for various organisms. This dark damp environment is also a perfect breeding ground for a variety of microbes. Parasites, especially mites, bacterial, fungal and yeast are the most common causes of ear infections in dogs. Fri, 28 Sep 2001 12:28:19 GMTCanine Tooth Losshttp://www.gundogsonline.com/Article/dog-health/Dog-Tool-Loss-Page1.htmA dog&rsquo;s age, physical condition, health, nutritional intake and the amount of dental hygiene it receives can all contribute to tooth loss. Physical activities and aggressive chewing on hard objects, such as bones, rocks or fencing can also lead to a cracked or broken tooth. <br><br>Fri, 28 Sep 2001 12:27:01 GMTCanine Dental Hygienehttp://www.gundogsonline.com/Article/dog-health/Canine-Dental-Care-Page1.htmAlthough dogs do not get cavities, they do benefit from a regular oral hygiene regiment. It is important to keep your dog&rsquo;s mouth as clean and bacteria free as possible. A healthy mouth includes regular brushing and cleaning to prevent the build-up of plaque and calculus on the teeth. Plaque is a combination of food particles, enzymes found in the saliva, and bacterial growth. Calculus is a hardening of plaque deposits, which over time have built up forming a hard sticky black, brown or yellowish-gray deposit. Calculus build-up is the major cause of periodontal disease in dogs. It causes the gums to become inflamed, which may also cause bleeding, and if left untreated could eventually lead to infection and tooth loss. A professional with the use of a dental tooth scaler or ultrasonic cleaner must remove built-up calculus. Fri, 28 Sep 2001 12:25:52 GMTGiardiahttp://www.gundogsonline.com/Article/dog-health/Dog-Giardia-Page1.htmGiardia (gee-ar-dee-ah) is a microscopic parasite that can infect all warm-blooded animals, including humans. Giardia was discovered in the 19th century, but was not classified as a pathogen (an organism capable of causing disease) until 1981 by the World Health Organization. Fri, 28 Sep 2001 12:22:07 GMTInternal Parasiteshttp://www.gundogsonline.com/Article/dog-health/Dog-Internal-Parasites-Page1.htmThere are many different internal parasites that may infest your dog. The most common are four parasitic worms that invade a canine’s gastrointestinal system (stomach, large and small intestine). They include roundworms (Toxocara canis and Toxiascaris leonina), whipworms (Trichuris vulpis), hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum, Ancylostoma brazilians and Uncinaria stenocephala) and tapeworms (Taenia). With the exception of tapeworms, most parasitic worms must be diagnosed by microscopic or laboratory examination of the dog’s stool. However, some of the larger roundworms and their eggs may be visible in the dog’s stool. Fri, 28 Sep 2001 12:18:58 GMTRingwormhttp://www.gundogsonline.com/Article/dog-health/Dog-Ringworm-Page1.htmRingworm is a highly contagious fungal infection caused by either the Microsporum cainis or Microsporum gypseum organisms. It is not a worm at all&#44; but rather a fungus that affects both animals and humans&#44; alike. Fri, 28 Sep 2001 12:15:36 GMTSkin Problemshttp://www.gundogsonline.com/Article/dog-health/Dog-Skin-Problems-Page1.htmDry skin is a common problem for canines. However, identifying the cause can be difficult as more than one condition can cause dry skin, flakes (pet dander) or a dull flat coat. Dry skin may actually be a secondary condition caused by skin allergies such as a contact dermatitis, internal parasitic worms or an allergy to several types of skin mites. Fri, 28 Sep 2001 12:14:24 GMTVaccinations for Dogshttp://www.gundogsonline.com/Article/dog-health/Dog-Vaccinations-Page1.htmA routine vaccination regiment will significantly increase your dog’s chances of living a normal&#44; healthy life. Some&#44; once life threatening&#44; canine diseases have all but been eliminated due to scientific advances and medical research. Keeping your dog’s vaccinations current and following your veterinarian’s advice can help to eliminate the risk of contracting most canine diseases. Annual booster shots&#44; monthly Heartworm pills and applications of flea and tick repellants will also help to reduce the chances of your dog contracting a more serious disease. Below is a list of the most common diseases to vaccinate against. Fri, 28 Sep 2001 12:11:12 GMT