Why our dogs scratch themselves

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Itching and scratching in dogs is a nothing short of a nightmare for pet owners. It can keep the owners up all night, driving them crazy. If it can be so painful for the pet owners, then just think how the dog must be suffering. All the dog does the entire day is itch and scratch, bite and lick leading to a complicated and aggravating situation if not attended to at the earliest. If your dog is itchy and scratching all the time, it is important to find out the cause of the itch. This can be quite difficult.

These are the symptoms of severe pruritus (itching) according to veterinarians. There are a wide range of causes and severity of itching and scratching in dogs with skin and coat trouble. The top ten worst itching offenders are:

Fleas
Airborne allergens
Parasites, such as ear mites, scabies or cheyletiellosis
Skin infections caused by bacteria
Ticks and lice
Food allergies
Fungal infections, including yeast infections
Seborrhea
Contact allergies
Whole-body illnesses, such as liver disease, immune-system problems and some cancers.
There are several types of scratching and itching that can affect your dogs. They can be broadly grouped under General Itching, Persistent Itching, Chronic Localized Itching and Chronic/Severe Itching.

In General Itching, the dog scratches the skin regularly but hardly shows any visible signs of localized problem. The most common reason for this could be fleas and ticks.

In Persistent Itching, the itching is more localized and the dog scratches a particular area but the visible signs are negligible to non-existent. This type of itching results in thinning of fur and flaky skin and more or less associated with allergies.

In Chronic Localized Itching, the itching is chronic and extremely painful for the dog. The symptoms include skin rashes and infection. These spots emit pus are make the dog smelly, ultimately resulting in hair loss.

In Chronic/Severe Itching, the dog experiences intense itching. The most common reasons for these are mange or microscopic mites, which lead to crusty and scab-like skin.

There are some other severe itching problems such as fungal infections. They are less common, but also require a vet's attention.

The best possible ways of treating itching in dogs is a combination of proper medication and skin treatment. Persistence in treating the itchiness topically while you are addressing the underlying causes through diet, supplements and medication will greatly benefit your dogs’ ability to heal and reduce his or her stress as well

If your pet is suffering from Itch or Flea trouble I strongly recommend the
product Neem flea
spray

Which of these cat breeds is the right one for you

There are many cat breeds out there. If you are like most people, you don’t know much about them. In order to help you to make a choice about breeds, here is some useful information.

Do you want a cat that can entertain himself and not get into mischief? Then don’t consider the Sphynx, the Rex, the British Angora and the Siamese. These cats are energetic and seem to be looking for trouble. For those who are looking for a cat to provide them with entertainment, these are a good choice. The Rex is a silly cat as it will attempt to amuse you.

There are other important features to consider as well. For example, if you want a long haired or a short haired cat. Those who do not have the time to groom the pet daily should not choose a long haired cat. Those who choose a long hair need to realize the commitment in taking care of that coat. If you do not, it can tangle and matt up and need to be shaven. And, it can pose a health risk too.

Vocal cats are often something that many people either consider or want nothing to do with. They can be quite noisy. Many cat owners do not have a problem with them, others realize that communicating with them is necessary and that in some cases, it isn’t the right choice.

Vocal/Noisy Cat Breeds:

Siamese

Burmese

Korat

Quiet Cat Breeds:

American Curl

Scottish Fold

Somali

Attitude is your next determining factor. Some cats enjoy being held and cuddled while others want nothing to do with humans at all. Some cats want the attention while others do not. Choosing which the right one for you is a much is.

Affectionate Breeds are great for children:

Snowshoe

Maine Coon

Ragdoll

Abyssinian

Tonkinese

Himalayan Persian

Reserved Breeds:

Nebelung

Russian Shorthair

Norwegian Forest Cat

Lastly, choose if you would like to go with a kitten or an abandoned older cat. Remember that kittens need to be trained but that adult cats can already be set in their ways. You can find many breeds of kittens to choose from at the local cat show and you can look for them at your local humane society as well. These cats need homes and these organizations are usually full to the brim with them.

I hope that you find this information useful and that it helps you find the perfect cat.

The magnificent andalusian

The Andalusian lineage dates back to prehistoric times. Cave paintings, discovered on the Iberian Peninsula and dated 20000 to 30000 B. C., show the Iberian Horse clearly. It is thought that as time progressed, the breed was influenced by strains of horses from the French Celts, Carthaginians, Romans, several Germanic tribes, and the Moors.

This noble breed was cited by the Greek philosopher and commander of the army, Xenophon, as being a deciding element in his army's victory over Sparta. The noted commander, Hannibal, used Andalusians when he invaded Italy. Both of these esteemed warriors waxed eloquent in their praise of the Spanish Horse.

Richard de Belisme, Duke of Shrewsbury, is credited with importing Andalusians to Britain in 1188. During the reign of Richard I, the knights of his Court favored the steed for combat and tournaments. And the Duke of Newcastle wrote in 1667 of the great attributes of the breed.

In 1580, some of the finest specimens of the breed were imported to Lipizza (then Italy, now Slovenia) to be bred with native stock and form the foundation of the famous Lipizzaners. Periodically the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, Austria would re-introduce an Andalusian to the bloodline, in order to maintain the original qualities which were so desirable in the Lipizzaners. Their efforts helped to establish the school as a living monument to the art of classical equitation and the Andalusian breed was an important factor in this.

Many breeds of horses have been improved, through careful crossbreeding, by the introduction of the Andalusian strain to their bloodlines. In fact the Andalusian has been instrumental and the most influential strain in strengthening, creating, and improving breeds around the world. Not only the Lipizzaners, but most of the German warmbloods, the Connemara of Ireland, the Cleveland Bay of England, the American Quarter Horse, and the Paso Fino of South America have at their roots the blood of the Andalusian.

Andalusians are referred to, by their native country of Spain, as "Pura Raza Espanola" (Pure Spanish Horse, or PRE). About 60 years ago, the distinction was made between this breed and the Lusitano of Portugal, which is also referred to as an Iberian Horse. The Andalusians of today are registered in a separate stud book by the Spanish people. They take great pride in this old and noble breed. The Spanish government actively promotes the use of the Andalusian in Classical Dressage training, showing, and competition. Due to their exceptional agility, it is also encouraged that they be used by the government sanctioned bullfighting arenas.

Characteristics and Conformation

The Andalusian is commonly described as powerfully built, yet elegant. Its head is of medium length, rectangular, and lean. In profile it may seem slightly convex, or straight, with a wide forehead and well-spaced ears. The eyes are large, oval-shaped, and vibrant with life. The neck is of a reasonable length, thick without being disproportionate, yet elegant and well-crested in stallions. The shoulders are well-defined, the back is short, and the hindquarters are broad and muscular. The mane and tail are thick and abundant. The tail is set low, the tailbone is long, and lies close to the body.

The height ranges from 15.2 to 16.2 hands (152.9 50 164.6 cm., or 60.8 60 64.8 in.), making the Andalusian of average height. Around 80% of the horses are white, or shades of grey. About 15% are bay, and less than 5% are black, palomino, or dun. All of these colors are suitable for horses registered as purebred.

Their temperaments are docile, yet proud. The breed, by nature, is sensitive and highly intelligent. The Andalusian responds well, is cooperative, and learns quickly and easily under gentle care and handling.

The Andalusian horse is amazingly versatile and is used for jumping, pulling - both pleasure and competitive, trail riding, and Western and English saddle pleasure riding. It also excels for use in parades and exhibitions. Because it is gentle and docile, and naturally loves people, it is the quintessential family horse.

Are portuguese water dogs hypoallergenic

Portuguese Water Dogs have short hair that does not shed and is considered a working dog, meaning that it is a breed that needs to stay busy. This breed is considered a hypoallergenic dog. Traditionally used to assist in fishing expeditions, the Portuguese Water Dog is now kept as a house pet. While this breed is not as common as other breeds, if you want to dog that is hypoallergenic, lively, and enjoys companionship, then this breed may be the one for you.

Since the Portuguese Water Dog is not bred as often as other breeds of hypoallergenic dog, you will have to search for a breeder online, in the newspaper, or by calling breeders in your area until you find one. Generally happy dogs, the PWD needs to stay busy or it will get bored. You should have plenty of toys for it to play with and you may want to consider crate training when you are not at home. This means that the dog will stay in a crate when you go out so it does not destroy your home. When the PWD gets bored or lonely, it will chew on anything it finds.

Crate training should begin right after you bring the dog home. By placing a blanket, toys and water into the crate, you will make the dog comfortable while you are away. You should not use the crate when punishing the dog or it will not want to go in it when you leave for the day. After training the dog, you will have to keep up the routine. This will give the dog structure and will also salvage your possessions. Keeping the dog in a crate when you are not at home will also reduce allergens.

Portuguese Water Dogs need to be groomed every two months or so. There are two patterns that most groomers follow, the retriever cut and the lion cut. The retriever cut means that the hair is cut evenly on the body. The lion cut leaves that front half of the dog's body covered with hair, while hair on the hind legs is cut short. You should take the dog to have his hair groomed if you are not comfortable cutting it yourself.

If you are considering buying a PWD, you should be prepared to have constant companionship. These breeds need to be walked and they need to be entertained throughout the day. If you need to travel on vacation or for work, you should board the dog so it will not be lonely. Portuguese Water Dogs typically live between twelve and fifteen years.

Portuguese Water Dogs are easy going and get along with children and most adults. If you are looking for a breed that does not shed and will fit in with your family, then the PWD is the breed for you. While most Portuguese Water Dogs are black, some are white or a mix of both. Their hair is curly or wavy and similar to that of the standard poodle.

List of hypoallergenic dogs

While a hypoallergenic dog will not solve all of your allergy issues, you may notice that certain breeds of dog will not cause you as many problems as other breeds. Below is a list of hypoallergenic dogs that you can use when deciding which breed to buy.

Terriers - These dogs have short coats and are considered to be single-coated breeds, meaning that they do not have an undercoat. Undercoats are found on animals that have thick fur. The undercoat contains loose fur and dander, which can cause allergy attacks in both humans and other animals.

Originally used for hunting because they are small, fast, and enjoy finding their prey, terriers are now considered pets. They do not grow very large and do not spread allergens around the house like other dog breeds. Terriers should be groomed every few months to prevent allergens from building up on their coat.

Greyhounds - There are many varieties of greyhounds that you can buy. While greyhounds are considered fast, they do not like to run long distances and enjoy sitting with their owner's for long periods of time. Since greyhounds have short hair and no undercoat, they are a good choice for those with allergies.

Some greyhounds have allergies of their own, however. You will have to monitor the dog once you bring it home to see if it is allergic to anything. Great with children, this dog is a good pet for those who have allergies and who also have a family.

Poodles - These curly haired dogs do not have an undercoat, and do not shed. Perfect for those with allergies, the poodle is a friendly dog that enjoys the company of people. While some breeds of poodle are not that friendly to children, other breeds are.

While the poodle is a good pet for those with allergies, it will have health problems as it ages. Arthritis, loss of eye sight, and other issues may occur. These are common with smaller pure bred dogs.

Bichon Frise - Even though this breed of hypoallergenic dog has an undercoat, it is very springy and will not hold much dander and hair. These dogs are small and are usually very happy. They will need to be groomed in order to maintain their signature 'marshmallow' look.

These dogs will also have health problems as they age.

If you are considering buying a hypoallergenic dog, you should find a breed that you will enjoy spending time with. Smaller breeds are not for everyone. If you are looking for a dog that you can take on trips, take for long walks, or you just want a larger dog, you may need to take allergy medication or allergy shots. While these dogs are called hypoallergenic, this does not mean that you won't have allergy issues. If you have very bad allergies, then all animals will cause you to have an allergy attack every once in a while. Depending on the how bad your allergies are will determine the type of dog you should buy.

Bandaging your dog

Having a dog is a big responsibility. Some even compare taking care of a dog to that of a baby. The only advantage having dogs compared to having babies is that they won’t grow older and turn into stressful teenagers. Because dogs are like babies they sometimes also end up in harmful situations. They would sometimes get themselves trapped in a tight place or get hit by something that will injure one of their limbs. When that happens, we should learn how to bandage our dogs to prevent further damage. Here are some basic ways of how to bandage your injured dog.

1. When your pet has a bandage, it should always be clean and dry. So it’s pretty important to make sure your pet stays inside most of the time when it has a bandage. To prevent the bandage from getting wet when the pet goes to pee or poop, a trash bag or plastic covering should cover the bandaged leg. You may use empty bread bags. When your pet has wet or dirtied up the bandage, it would require changing. Make sure to check the bandage twice a day to see if it is clean and dry. Check also for foul odors or discharge and if there is any, call your veterinarian immediately.

2. After bringing home your pet from the veterinarian make sure that the bandage is still in place. Your pet might have been irritated by it and has chewed or tried to scratch it off. Look closely at the position and the location of the bandage when you do check. Look at the toes of the pet, the bandage might have slipped up making the toes stick out. Also look at the size, if the bandage has become loose. This should be taken into account when a dog has been bandaged in the abdomen or leg area. This is because one end will be bigger than the other and eventually become narrower. When the bandage telescopes down the limb of the dog it may bunch up and abrade the limb. When that happens, the bandage should be changed as well.

3. If the dog is bandaged up in the leg make sure it isn’t too tight. Observe how the toes will appear at the bottom of the bandage at least twice a day. This is done to check for sweating, swelling, or pain. Check for skin chaffing, redness, discharge or swelling before and after the bandage has been applied.

4. To prevent the pet from chewing the bandage because of the bothersome experience it gives, put an Elizabethan collar. If you have observed that the pet is chewing or scratching it excessively, ask the vet if there might be problems.

These are the times that you should already be taking the pet back to the veterinarian:

• Swelling above or below the bandage

• Chewing the bandage

• Bandage becomes wet

• Bleeding or discharge above, below or through

• Scheduled bandage changes