Whenever a dog goes through a medical procedure such as surgery, or has a bout with an illness, he or she needs a recovery time. This is the same with people and every other type of animal. However, unlike people, keeping a dog calm and stress free after surgery is entirely up to the owner. The pet doesn’t understand that they are not to run and play and they may end up causing further injury or complications if they are not calm and controlled for the specified period.

Educate yourself

The first step the owner needs to take is to talk to the vet and learn about the surgical procedure. The internet is a great place for information, just be sure you are reading from a reputable, knowledgeable site. You may want to avoid personal websites and general unmonitored forums and instead look for veterinary websites, University research sites or websites of breeders that you know and trust. Once you know about the condition or procedure you are then better equipped to deal with the recovery phase by anticipating what will be problematic for your pet.

Private space for your dog

If you have more than one pet, preparing a private area where your dog can rest immediately after returning home is essential. In surgical procedures the dog may still be feeling the effects of the anesthesia and most dogs will be very tired and somewhat disoriented for the first 12 hours or so after being released. Different breeds and dogs will have different reactions. Talk to you vet and know what to watch for in terms of side effects or complications as the anesthesia is wearing off.

Warmth and comfort

Keep the dog in a warm, dry and draft free location. Don’t place them directly in front of heating vents or air conditioning units to maintain a constant temperature for the pet. Avoid putting the bedding in direct sunlight as well in the summer months as this can increase the dog’s core temperature substantially. Since your dog is going to be a bit stressed and anxious, putting their bedding or crate where they can see you and you can monitor them is ideal. Placing them in a back room or away from the family may increase stress, which you definitely don’t want.

Other pets

Other pets should be allowed to “visit”, but monitor for any signs of aggression or play activity on the part of the other pet. They usually don’t understand that the dog is in recovery and just needs a few days of quiet. The other pet, including both cats and dogs, can be placed in another room away from the recovering dog if there are any concerns. Often with other dogs it is just the play and interaction that is the biggest concern for the first day or two after returning from the vet’s office.

Go easy

Put your dog’s exercise regime on hold until he or she is sufficiently recovered. If you run 5km on a daily basis, hold off on the activity until your dog gets better. There’s no rush – you’ll be back to your exercise routine in no time, but your dog needs to recover completely. Otherwise, you’ll be risking further injury or complications.

Provide easy access to fresh, clean water and food as per the instructions of the vet. The vet may also give you some medicine, such as antibiotics, to give to your dog. At this time allow the dog short, frequent trips outside and don’t punish for any accidents in the house. Slow walks and gentle play activities can be resumed based on the vet’s instructions and the dog’s recovery.

Surgery can be tough for both dogs and their people. By remembering that your dog won’t be back to 100% for a while after surgery and taking it easy, you can help ease the process for both your pet and yourself.

Article by Harry Keith, look for organic dog food delivery for Blue Buffalo pet food online!

Like many dog owners, I grew up with dogs and the only times I ever saw their teeth were when they play-bit each other racing across the yard. Like humans, though, dogs need their teeth brushed in order to have optimum health.

Does your pup have bad breath? Studies show that almost all dogs with bad breath suffer from periodontal disease. Take a look at your pup’s canines. Are they yellow or even brown by the gums? That’s plaque buildup. Left untreated, a bacterial infection there can enter the bloodstream and from there spread to your pup’s kidney, liver, heart, and brain.

To help ensure that your best friend has a long and fruitful life, take the time every day to brush his teeth, as you would yours. The process is very short and painless with the right tools and training.

What You Need

Never use your toothpaste or brush on your pup’s teeth. Dogs don’t spit and your Crest isn’t edible.
Go to a local pet store and find a suitable toothpaste and toothbrush. Most dogs aren’t terribly finicky about foods (unlike my cat, but that’s another story), so the flavor of the toothpaste shouldn’t matter.

Most importantly, your dog needs to trust you. This is especially difficult for dog owners who have not instilled discipline in their pups and for dogs that have been abused in the past. If my formerly bossy and aggressive pit bull rescue can do it, however, so can any dog!

What To Do

The following is a trust exercise you can do with your dog at any time and comes recommended by
many dog trainers. You may need to do this multiple times over a week or so before your dog becomes comfortable, and it is difficult to do without a healthy relationship with your pup.

Start out sitting on the floor with your legs spread. Have your dog come sit between your legs. Tell her to lie down.

When she’s on the ground, gently tip her over so she’s on her side, and then slide her closer to you so her head is kind of nestled on your lap. Bring your legs together to cradle her while you turn her slowly onto her back.

Squeeze your legs firmly (but gently) against your pup’s sides and squeeze her arms together if your dog begins to resist. Slowly push and pull her front two legs back and forth (the left one is back when the right is forward, etc) while squeezing your legs until she relaxes.

Many dogs have difficulty trusting people with their bellies. An unwillingness to perform this move indicates either physical pain of mistrust and/or dog dominance. Be very careful if you’re working with a dominant dog and practice putting her on her back until she is comfortable. My rescue pit, despite a history of neglect and abuse, got the hang of it in one day, so it shouldn’t be a problem for most patient dog owners.

Prepare the toothpaste on the toothbrush. Let your pup smell and lick it if she’s never had toothpaste before. Reapply as necessary.

Place the brush at a 45* angle to the gumline and gently brush back and forth, focusing on the back teeth and canines.

Since my pup likes to lick the toothbrush, I carefully close her mouth when brushing her canine teeth. Otherwise, it’s a difficult and ridiculously futile process. Generally, you don’t need to brush the inside surface of the teeth since movement of the tongue keeps most of the plaque at bay.

If your dog begins to resist, set aside the toothbrush and repeat the squeezing and arm-moving exercise.
When you’re done, release your pup calmly and reward her with a treat.

_{Bio: Lisa Shoreland is currently a resident blogger at Go College, where recently she’s been researching music scholarships as well as special education scholarships. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing, practicing martial arts, and taking weekend trips.}

Your dog’s physical fitness and health should be a priority. As a dog owner it is your responsibility to ensure your dog is in good health. You have to be the one to ensure that he is eating the right foods and getting the proper nutrition. It is also your job to ensure that he is getting the proper amount of exercise each day. Exercise is often misunderstood when it comes to dogs. Many people have heard things that can be misleading and that leads them to neglect their dog’s fitness needs.

Benefits of Exercise

Exercising your dog actually serves a couple of main purposes. The obvious benefit of exercise is that it helps to keep your dog fit and healthy. Exercise helps works your dogs cardiovascular system, gets his body burning calories and helps him to build muscles. There is another benefit of exercise, though, that is often overlooked.

Exercising your dog will also help keep his behavior under control. A dog that is not exercised will end up with a lot of pent of energy or he may get bored. Pent up energy or boredom often leads to behavior problems. When your dog gets proper exercise it will be more content and not have that built up energy.

Is Size Important?

Many people are led to believe that the amount of exercise should be based on the size of a dog. In some cases this may be true, but size is not the best way to decide how much energy your dog needs. The true indicator of your dog’s exercise needs is his breed and individual temperament.

Some breeds, like a Jack Russell Terrier, may not be big in size, but they have a great need for a large amount of exercise. If they do not get enough exercise then they may start to act up or gain weight easily. It is very important that you either talk to your vet or look up the recommendations for exercise based upon your dog’s breed in order to determine the amount of exercise that he needs.
One of the reasons why people may think smaller dogs need less exercise than larger dogs is that smaller dogs just do not need the large space as big breeds. A small dog can usually get the amount of exercise they need running around inside or in a small yard. A large breed dog, though, would not be able to move around and run in such a confined space, so they would need to be taken to a larger area to get exercise.

A Good General Exercise Routine

No matter what size your dog is, a good regular exercise program is important. A recommendation that is usually quite easy to follow is to take your dog for a walk every day. A walk will allow your dog to release some of its pent up energy while also allowing you to get some exercise and giving you a chance to bond with your dog. It is easy to walk your dog and almost everyone can do it without problems.

Exercising your dog is something that has to be done. You can’t leave exercise up to your dog because in most cases your dog won’t be able to get the exercise he needs on his own. Take charge of your dog’s fitness and health and start a regular dog exercise routine. Your dog will love you for it. He will feel better, look better and probably even behave better if you just ensure he is getting the exercise that he needs.

_{Thanks for the great article, Kelly. Oh My Dog Supplies is an online dog supplies store that stocks everything from dog bowls to designer dog beds.}

Joint and Bone Damage

Overweight and obese dogs put more strain and pressure onto their bones and joints than they were designed to carry. Having to carry this extra weight can wear away and damage bones and joints. This can cause your dog to have chronic bone and join pain and even develop arthritis. Obesity can also increase the risk injuries and illnesses which certain breeds are more prone to getting – intervertebral disc disease being one example.

Reduced Stamina

Overweight and obese dogs are likely to get worn out and tired much more quickly. Their endurance takes a hit from having to carry around all of the extra weight which they were never designed to have. Your dog may not be able to run, play, or go for walks for the same durations as a fit dog would. In the heat of summer especially, the dog may get fatigued quicker than fitter dogs would.

Heart Problems

An obese dog’s heart has to work harder than normal to pump blood into the dog’s body. This may lead to heart failure and other heart problems for your dog.

Immune System Problems

Dog obesity has been found to hinder the dog’s immune system when fighting off various infections. An obese dog will likely get ill more often than a healthy dog who gets plenty of exercise would.

Diabetes

Humans aren’t the only one who can get diabetes. Overweight and obese dogs are at a higher risk of developing diabetes than other dogs. Overweight dogs can require more insulin than their bodies can produce. When the dog’s body becomes unable to produce as much insulin as it requires diabetes develops.

Respiratory Problems

Overweight dogs can develop lung problems due to the extra fatty tissue in their chests. The excess fat which the dog has to carry also puts more demands on oxygen production in the lungs. This can cause serious breathing issues for overweight and obese dogs.

These are just a few of many problems that overweight and obese dogs could face. Our dogs’ health is just as important as our own. Our dogs rely on us to keep them healthy and happy – fitness is a huge part of helping your canine companion to live a long and happy life.