Category Archives for "Health"

2018-07-24

Home Remedies for Hot Spots on Dogs

Hot Spot: A Dog's Skin Disease
Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /home/jeffreysnaturalpetfo423/public_html/prod/wp-content/plugins/wp-word-count/public/class-wpwc-public.php on line 123

A hot spot is an area on a dogs skin that becomes inflamed and infected. Other names for hot spots on dogs include moist dermatitis and acute moist dermatitis. What happens to make it a hot spot is a dog gets an itch from flea bites, mite bites or other external parasites and starts licking and biting at it. The more they lick and bite at it, the more infected and inflamed it will get. The signs of hot spots on dogs include redness, itchiness, oozing pus and pain. There are ways to treat hot spots from home and save you time and money.

Dog licking off hot spot.

Shave the Area

The very first thing a dog owner needs to do when treating hot spots is to shave the area. Although hair loss in one of the symptoms of hot spots, hair can grow over the area and will need to be removed to treat it. Shaving the area will dry the hot spots out and allow air to get to them.

Cleanse the Area

Once the area is free of fur, you will then want to cleanse the area with warm water and a gentle cleanser. You can use a water based cleanser, antiseptic spray or a special shampoo. Rinse the area well and pat dry.

Black Tea Bags

You can also use black tea bags on the area to treat the hot spots. Black tea contains tannic acids which will help dry out and heal the hot spot quickly. Steep the black tea bag in hot water and let it cool. Apply the black tea bag to the hot spot for at least 5 minutes. Use black tea bags on the hot spots every day, six times a day until the hot spots are gone. You can also apply witch hazel to the hot spots as it will cool and relieve the symptoms from them.

Salt Water Solution

Fill a bowl with water and a teaspoon of salt. Soak a wash cloth in this salt water solution and apply the salt water soaked wash cloth to the hot spots. Let this sit for a few minutes. The salt water solution will help reduce the swelling caused by the hot spot and remove the pus as well.

Prevention

Allow your dog to play.

Once getting rid of the hot spots, you will want to do everything you can to prevent them from coming back. A few tips to do this include providing your dog with enough activities to keep them from biting and licking any itches, trying out a special collar to prevent them from biting and licking, keep their nails trimmed as often as possible to keep them from digging and keep their skin relieved and cool with witch hazel.

Using the above mentioned home remedies will not only save you a trip to the vet and the cost of the vet but your dog will be happy too.

Source:

Home Remedies for Dog Hot Spot Treatment

2018-05-02

How To Introduce Your Dog To A New Bed


Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /home/jeffreysnaturalpetfo423/public_html/prod/wp-content/plugins/wp-word-count/public/class-wpwc-public.php on line 123

puppy bed

Dogs are considered man’s best friend and have been for thousands and thousands of years. Anyone who is a dog lover knows full well how important it is to provide them with a nice comfortable bed to sleep on however; introducing them to new bed is easier said than done.

 

Steps to introduce your dog to a new bed

As pointed out earlier, getting your dog to get used to their new bed is not a straight forward process because they will not curl up on it as soon as you bring it out for them. A little bit of encouragement is needed especially if it is their first bed. They might look at the bed and not understand what to do but below are a few strategies that will help you introduce your dog to their new bed.

Ensure that the new bed you bought for them smells a lot like home

Dogs are very sensitive to smell and will often recognize something they are used or accustomed to because of the way it smells. Anything that is new will smell foreign to them and as an owner, you can try rubbing the new bed with your hands or putting something that belongs to you on it like old pieces of clothing. If the dog has a blanket, that is even better because you can simply take their old blanket and put it on the new bed so that they know it belong to them.

dog bed

Ensure that the new bed is a place of happiness for your dog

This is a very straight process and simply adding treats and toys to the chew proof dog bed can do it. Giving your dog praise while they are on the bed will make them feel very much at home.

Place the bed in a location where your dog is familiar with

dog bedThe one thing that dogs enjoy doing is taking naps especially in the afternoon. Placing the new bed where your dog usually enjoys their naps does help them get used to it quickly even if you decide to change the location of the bed later on. Always let them get emotionally attached to the bed before you move it because it will not make sense moving it while they are still in the process of getting accustomed to it.

You can always trying removing the bed’s leg

If a bed has legs on it, it will be slight higher and your dog may become wary of that as well as the texture. If you notice that your dog appears confused about their new Kuranda bed, take the legs out. When your dogs gets used to it being close to the floor, you can reattach the legs again.

When your dog gets the hint that the new bed you bought for them is a comfortable place meant especially for them, they will make full use it at every available opportunity. Next time you buy a new bed or thinking of getting one for your dog, follow the tips above to help them fit in.