Thursday, March 27, 2014
Sometimes pet owners may shave their dog in the summer thinking it will make them cooler. Contrary to popular belief, dogs DO NOT have a large network of sweat glands designed to regulate the body temperature during hot weather (they only have them on the pads of their feet). Most of their cooling takes place through panting. However, there may be serious consequences from shaving your dog. Which dogs are most at risk for having problems with shaving? Double coated dogs. A double coated dog is any dog with an outer coat and a soft undercoat. The soft undercoat is what sheds. These two coats grow independently of one another and to different lengths. The outer coat is longer, and tends to grow slower. The undercoat is shorter and grows faster, and also turns over, or sheds, twice a year. Some examples of dogs with double coats are German Shepherds , Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Australian Shepherds, and Siberian Huskies.
You should consider not shaving these double coated dogs as they have sensitive skin. Skin can become irritated from razor burn and it is much more likely to be sunburned. The thick hair protects their skin from the sun and also bug bites. Also, the undercoat provides insulation in the winter and cools the dog in the summer. Shaved dogs get more sun exposure and are more prone to getting skin cancer. Also, if they have dry or skin issues already, you are just compounding the problem.
Shaving does NOT make dogs shed less. Your double coated dogs will shed their under coat twice a year, and shaving them does not prevent this from happening. It can also cause permanent damage to the dog's coat. There is no outer coat to protect the under coat and it will become brittle and break off. Also, the under coat is dull and dense and not visually appealing. Instead of having your dog shaved to get rid of unwanted hair, having the dog professionally groomed on a schedule will remove all the dead undercoat. Use Amazing Omegas fish oil to reduce shedding.
Sunday, March 23, 2014
In previous times, a veterinarian was more or less expected to do it all. This still holds true in many areas where specialty care is not readily available. What has changed is the increased availability of specialists, more and more speciality clinics are opening and the Internet has given you a world of information and specialist at your fingertips. It is important to remember that you must do your due diligence and make sure your sources of help are of the highest quality. Don't just believe everything you read!
There are so many great veterinarians and many may really be "good at it all", but most realize their strengths and weakness. Just as in human medicine, they understand when to allow a specialist to step in and help your pet. Respect and cooperation between referring veterinarian and specialist is key to the smooth and effective handling of your pet’s care. This is especially true since specialists are typically brought on to address only one area of concern, but will refer you back to your own veterinarian for routine care or when the situation is finally resolved.
We at AskAriel.com specialize in Holistic Pet Care and Nutrition services. Our nutritionist, Susan Blake Davis, provides expert advice about how holistic pet care can improve the health of your pet and can be used successfully along with conventional veterinary care. Based in Orange County, California, Ask Ariel offers holistic pet care and veterinary services for dogs and cats, including natural pet supplements and pet nutritional counseling. Our holistic pet care advice is backed by scientific research and our natural pet medications and supplements are third-party tested to guarantee the purity and effectiveness of the ingredients.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)," a veterinary specialist is a veterinarian who has completed additional training in a specific area of veterinary medicine and has passed an examination that evaluates their knowledge and skills in that specialty area." The most common area of specialist veterinarian medicine include:
- Behavior: veterinarians with additional training in animal behavior
- Dentistry: veterinarians who perform procedures on animals' teeth
- Dermatology: veterinarians who study diseases and conditions of the skin
- Emergency and Critical Care: the "ER docs" and intensive care specialists
- Cardiology: the study of diseases and conditions of the heart and circulatory system
- Neurology: the study of diseases of the brain, spinal cord and other parts of the nervous system Oncology: the study of tumors and cancer Microbiology: veterinarians who study viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc.
- Holistic Care and Nutrition: veterinarians working to make sure that animals' diets meet their body's needs for nutrients
- Oncology: specialist who deals with the treatment of cancer
- Ophthalmology: veterinarians studying diseases and conditions of the eye
- Radiology: veterinarians who focus on the study of x-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography (often called CAT scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and other imaging procedures that allow us to see "inside" an animal's body
- Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation: veterinarians who focus on returning animals to normal function after injury, lameness, illness or surgery
- Orthopedics: these surgeons focus on bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, etc. of the body's skeletal system
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Pumpkin a Miracle Food
Two Reasons to Add Pumpkin to Your Pet's Diet
- Digestive Health: It can help dogs and cats with indigestion or upset stomachs and can aid dogs and cats with both constipation and diarrhea as it helps to promote the natural wave action of the intestines.
- Weight Loss: Due to the high fiber content, their tummy will feel full longer, and they might even thank you for the additional flavor.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Rescue Dog Needs Your Help
This
is Kiara, a senior dog that never managed to get a stable home---in/out
of shelters her whole life. Rhonda Hallden of Husky Haven of LA www.huskyhavenofla.org
rescued her from euthanasia at a high kill shelter in the hopes of
finding someone who might adopt this senior girl. Well....Kiara finally
had her chance but the woman decided within a few hours that it wasn't a
"good fit" AFTER she managed to accidentally step on Kiara's tail
causing the poor dog to fall down a flight of stairs. She immediately
returned an injured Kiara the following day. Rhonda fortunately found a
sweet elderly couple Janet and Mac, (who have a tripod special needs
dog Maddie adopted from Rhonda) who offered to nurse Kiara back to
health temporarily. Ask Ariel provided supplements and we got acuscope
treatments (a wonderful physical therapy---please see picture of Kiara
with Gina Goulde giving her acuscope therapy) which helped her
immensely.
Then, Janet fell and broke her hip......but in spite of it all, the elderly
couple were determined to continue to foster Kiara because she and
Maddie (their tripod dog) were becoming good companions. By the time
Janet was able to get home and walk again, Kiara's health declined
considerably. Kiara was no longer able to walk and could not get up on
her own (had to use a towel to help her stand). Mac uses a walker and
is unable to walk either of the dogs although both Janet and Mac sure do
shower them with love and attention.
Please donate
This is a very tough situation and Husky Haven really needs donations. A donation in any amount will help! Husky Haven of LA is a 501 (c)(3) public charity and donations can be made directly on the website www.huskyhavenofla.org or mailed to: AskAriel P.O. Box 723 Dana Point, CA 92629 (and we will forward to Husky Haven). Husky Haven of LA's founder is Rhonda Hallden who has dedicated her life to serving animals and the community.
This is a very tough situation and Husky Haven really needs donations. A donation in any amount will help! Husky Haven of LA is a 501 (c)(3) public charity and donations can be made directly on the website www.huskyhavenofla.org or mailed to: AskAriel P.O. Box 723 Dana Point, CA 92629 (and we will forward to Husky Haven). Husky Haven of LA's founder is Rhonda Hallden who has dedicated her life to serving animals and the community.
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