Tag: Dog Health

Did you miss any of BestBullySticks.com BARK-tastic blogs this week?  If you did miss any of the Health Checkup/War Dog Saving/PB&B Treating/Bouvier fun, catch up before Monday with all of this week's great BBS Blogs!

So snuggle up to your favorite pooch (or pooches) and read the BBS Healthy Dog Blog! Happy Weekend Reading! Click the links below to find out more about:

At Home Dog Exam • Puppy Rescue Mission • Peanut Butter & Banana Swirls • Breed Spotlight on the Bouvier

Also in your free time this weekend, check out our fun Pinterest Page! We've got TONS of great dog videos, adorable dog photos, funny dog photos, DIY dog project and more!

Chances are, you know your dog pretty well. You know when he’s not feeling well, when he needs to go out or even when he needs a cuddle. However, your dog’s body won’t always be on the same schedule as your yearly checkup. That’s why BestBullySticks.com is outlining easy ways to perform a physical exam on your dog from home. These simple steps will keep your dog’s wellbeing in check as well as make you aware of any problems that arise.

Starting at the nose and working to the tip of the tail, follow these simple ways to make sure your pup is in good shape.

Nose: Is your dog’s nose wet or dry? A normal nose will be moist and clean. Your dog’s nose can vary in wetness throughout the day depending on their activity level. An abnormal nose will be dry, cracked, bleeding or have a nasal discharge.

Eyes: Bright, clear and clean eyes are healthy eyes. When looking at the whites of the eye, make sure no red or yellow tint is present. Bloodshot eyes, unresponsive pupils or abnormal discharge should all be checked into further.

Ears: Clean, dry and pain and odor free ears are healthy. Watch for buildup in your dog’s ears as well as sores, bumps, smell or swelling. Some ear problems manifest themselves through irregular ear carriage, such as droopy ears when they should be erect. Cleaning out ears is as simple as a using a cotton ball with a little hydrogen peroxide and sweeping out the inside of the ear. Read more

Last week, Best Bully Sticks commemorated Memorial Day in our Dog Care 101 segment, but this week we’re back to the weird stuff! If you didn’t tune in two weeks ago, BBS Healthy Dog Blog talked about some strange doggy behaviors: where they come from and what they mean. This week we’ll continue with the funny dog behaviors and we’ll talk about actions like eating grass, sleep running, crazy tails and more!

1. Eating Grass: Chowing down on the green stuff could mean a couple of things for your dog. One of the reasons is a throwback to your dogs primal urges, all the way back to when his ancestors were wild. Dogs were once scavengers and would eat just about anything to fill their tummies including berries and other vegetation. So when your dog happens to go looking for an immediate answer to his growling stomach, grass might just be the first option.

You’ve probably also heard it said that dogs eat grass to help them throw up; to alleviate a hurting stomach. Usually grass only causes this reflux action when swallowed in gulps. The grass can cause a ticking sensation in the throat and stomach lining and help the dog vomit. This is usually sought out by a dog when they do have an upset or gassy stomach. The most important thing to remember when your dog eats grass is that is isn’t harmful in any way.  The only reason to be alarmed is if your dog really starts ramping up his grass consumption.

2. Sniffing Dogs or People: It’s something you’ve seen hundreds of times, dogs sniffing other dogs or people. What’s that all about? It seems really strange to us humans to get that close to a creature’s bum, but there are two coinciding reasons why dogs behave this way. One, a dog’s sense of smell is the biggest way they “see” the world. In other words, a dog’s sense of smell is their way of inputting important information about another animals. The place where dogs find that information just happens to be anther dog’s behind. That’s reason #2. Dogs have glands in their anus that store fluid which tells another dog everything they need to know about them; their gender, health, diet and even mood. Read more

Best Bully Sticks knows that you love spoiling your dog, but you might want to reconsider feeding Fido those table scraps during dinner. It seems that pet obesity is a growing problem in the U.S., a fact made clear by a recent article published by WebMD, which listed obesity among the top five issues facing pets. There are a number of reasons why owners may unintentionally allow their dog to plump up; dogs may not get daily exercise, they could overeat, or they could be eating food unsuitable for a healthy animal diet.

Pet obesity can cause complicated medical problems if left untreated. It’s proven to be a contributing factor to heart disease, diabetes, respiratory problems and bone and joint issues. An overweight dog is not a happy, healthy pet no matter how many treats you give him.

Unfortunately, many people remain ignorant about what their dogs can and cannot eat on a regular basis. This may simply be because dog obesity isn’t a widely covered issue and owners may not think twice about proper dietary and exercise for their four-legged friends. Let’s take some time to recognizing canine obesity and addressing basic preventative methods so you can enjoy your dog’s company for a long time.

How can you tell if your pet is overweight?
Too many owners confuse a fat dog for a healthy one. As stated before, pet obesity is serious business, so if you have any suspicion that your dog is overweight, check for these few key signs. Read more

Last week Best Bully Sticks covered how allergies affect our pooch pals and how a reaction will most likely look. (To find out more, read "Recognize Your Dog’s Allergic Reactions”) This week’s tip focuses in on how to treat your dog’s allergic reactions as they pertain to skin symptoms.

Allergy Testing
The first step may be figuring out exactly what is causing an allergic reaction. This usually entails a trip to the vet's office and a blood or skin test to determine the offending allergen. The next step, of course, will be limiting exposure to that allergen.

Preventative Measures
After you know how to recognize the reaction and exactly what it is, there are some avoidance measures you can take to help cut down on your pet’s reactions. For instance, keeping your dog out of the room for several hours while vacuuming and changing furnace filters will aid against house dust allergens. When treating a dog with sensitivity to pollen, keep them out of fields, keep your grass cut short, rinse your dog's feet after being outside and keep your dog inside when high pollen counts have been forecast. Read more