THE  PAGE  FOR  INFORMATION  ABOUT

  AND  GENERAL  INFORMATION  FOR  ALL  DOGS

   

Dog Vaccinations:

• Vaccinations protect your dog from infectious diseases.
• They sttimulate your dog's system to develop immunities.
• They help prevent diseases, not cure them.
• Vaccinations must be administered before your dog is exposed to any infections.
• PUPPIES should be first vaccinated between 6 and 10 weeks of age.
• Puppy shots are not effective for life of the dog.  So it is important to keep up booster shots throughout the dog's life.
• Vaccinations are usually mixed so that a few shots takes care of several infections.   As an example,  DHLP-P refers to a mixture to protect against Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, and Parvo.

The Infectious Dieseases and Other Stuff:
 

• BORDETELLA
• is a bacterial infection often present when a dog has Kennel Cough.  Bordetella is not transmissible to humans or kittens.
• CORONA VIRUS
• is a very contagious disease of the intestinal tract.  Corona is not transmissible to humans or kittens.
• DISTEMPER
• is a highly contagious,often fatal disease.  It is especially dangerous to puppies.  Distemper is not transmissible to humans or kittens.
• HEARTWORM
• is transmitted by mosquitos.  An infected dog gets bitten by a mosquito, and then that mosquito bites a non-infected dog, and thus the disease is transmitted. Heartworms can be prevented by using oral medication which interrupts the life cycle of the heartworm after a dog is bitten by a "carrier" mosquito.  Every dog is susceptible to heartworm disease and should be tested on an annual basis.  Once the worms are in the dog's system the treatment process of four arsenic injections is expensive, risky and lengthy.  It is recommend to start puppies on preventatives before 8 weeks of age -- but if a puppy is 6 months old or older, it needs to be tested for heartworms before starting preventatives.  Heartworm is not generally transmissible to humans or kittens.
• HEPATITIS
• is an infectious viral disease of the liver.  Canine Hepatitis is not transmissible to humans or kittens.
• LEPTOSPIROSIS
• is a bacterial infection that causes kidney disease.  It is transmitted by rodents.  Canine Leptospirosis may be transmissible to humans.
• LYME DISEASE
• is a complex disease that affects the immune system.  This disease is transmitted by ticks.  Lyme Disease affects wild and domestic animals as well as humans.
• PARAINFLUENZA
• is an upper respiratory infection that causes "Kennel Cough".  Healthy adult dogs usually recover from it.  Puppies and older dogs are at greater risk of complications.  Parainfluenza is not transmissible to humans or kittens.
• PARVO
• is an often fatal viral disease of the instestinal tract.  Parvo is not transmissible to humans or kittens.
• RABIES
• is caused by a virus that attacks the brain.  It is prevalent in wildlife such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats.  Rabies is readily transmissible to humans and other pets by the bite of an infected animal.
• ALLERGIC DERMATITIS
• is an inflammation of the skin usually caused by the same pollens and house dust that cause allergic reactions in humans.  The causes can be most anything and need Vet care.   Typical causes are:  Flea saliva,   Tick secretions,  Poison Ivy,  Wandering Jew,  House Dust,  Ragweed,  and/or Dairy products
• FLEAS
• develop in 4 stage cycle:  egg, larva, pupa, and the adult flea.  The adult lives on the pet, where the females lay eggs.  These eggs fall off the pet and into your home.  There they hatch and pass through the stages of larva and pupa, and develoop into adults.  Then they jump onto your pet creating an endless cycle.  If not checked, two fleas can become 2,000 very quickly.  You should consult a Vet for a maintenance program.  Fleas carry disease and also jump onto humans and other pets.   Outdoor control measures should include spraying areas that are protected from direct sunlight.  Areas such as the doghouse, garages, under porches and other sleeping areas are warm moist soil ideal for flea development.  Flea collars may have a place in flea control but usually are not as effective as other means.
 
 
 

Since the puppy grows very rapidly during the fist year, the food you give this new arrival becomes very important.  The growing puppy requires nearly twice the amount of most nutrients per pound of body weight as adult dogs.

Usually when a brand name dog food is used, it eliminates the need to supplement the puppies diet with extra vitamins and minerals.  You should use a product that does not contain animal by-products.  These are usually feathers and other parts that do not contribute to the nutrient requirments of the dog.  They only act as fillers in the food and you usually have to give the dog more food in order to obtain the same amount of nutrients of a better grade of dog food.   Point to remember,  the more stuff you put in one end means the more stuff comes out the other end,  filler is filler.

FEEDING TIPS:

• Place food and water away from foot traffic and noise.
• Do not change the location unless necessary.
• Feed a very young puppy (weaned to 6 months old) his allowed proportions 3 times a day.  Reduce it to 2 times a day after it is 6 months old.
• Clean the dishes every day and maintain fresh water at all times.
• After the puppy is weaned, the food should be slightly moistened with water for a while until it gets acustom to the harder food.  Do not moisten with milk.  Excess milk can act as a laxative and cause digestive problems.
• Normally to obtain a regular feeding pattern is best.  Take up the food that the dog does not eat at feeding time and only give it more food at the next regular feeding time.  With a puppy, this usually will not occur.  Do not feed your dog anywhere but in its bowl, in its regular place, at its regular time.
• With large dogs (such as Akitas), try not to feed the animal one hour before active playing nor allow the animal to play activly one hour after eating (no it is not the swimming rule that your mother told you when you were a child).  With large dogs, as they get older, they can get Bloated and their intestines can become flipped.  This can be fatal to the dog if not caught early.
• Do not feed your pet chicken bones, fish bones, or pork bones.  These types of bones can splinter and become lodged in the throat or pierce the stomach walls.
• Contary to most, table scraps do not cause finicky eaters.  But, they may be high in calories and cause obesity.  Also this could cause "begging from the table".   A very anoying trait.  If you feed table scraps, place them in the pet's food bowl, not as you sit at the table.
• You can feed the dog "snacks" as obedience training rewards.

HOUSEBREAKING:

• Housebreaking requires consistency.
• Maintain a regular schedule for mealtimes , nap-times, exercise and play.  By being on a regular schedule, you learn the puppies natuaral habits.  Thus you also train the digestive system.
• Take the pup to the area for toilet training before and after play.  Never "just let out the dog".  You should never put it out and leave it out.  When you are toilet training, the puppy should associate going out with what is to be done, not to be going out to playing during this cruical time.   Always praise the puppy afterwards and you can even give it treats.  Positive reward is the key here.   Screamming and yelling does not accomplish anything but only creates a fear of you.  Carry it out and stay with the pup and talk to the pup.  Use phrases such as "hurry up".  After the pup is housebroken, then you can allow the pup to walk out on its own and play.  It will soon learn what is being done and begin to whine, scratch, or bark to be let out.  The pup should be vaccinated before you begin teaching it to use an outdoor toilet area.
• Expect accidents.  One would not hit a baby when they are being toilet trained, thus a puppy should be given the same treatments.  Use a metal pop bottle can filled with a few pennies.  When the puppy is caught doing whatever, GENTLY rattle the can and say NO in a stern voice. This will get the pup's attention and will  cause it to stop doing whatever.  Pick the dog up and take it outside to the area you want it to be going to the toilet.  Then praise the puppy afterwards.  The penny can metod can also work after the fact.  Take the puppy to the scene and gently rattle the can and saying no.  Lay the can down and carry the pup outside.  Of course it is too late but the puppy will remember the rattling as time goes on and will catch on to what it is to be doing.

Giving Medications To Your Dog

If your Vet prescribes oral medications for your dog, here are a few simple tricks that can be followed.

• Tablets:   Hide the pill inside a small amount of canned dog food.  Make large enough ball for the tablet to be swallowed but not tasted or chewed.
• Tablets By Hand:   If you have to administer by hand then cradle your dog in one arm, and place your thumb and forefinger on either side of it's face.  You can force the mouth open by applying gentle pressure at the space between the teeth.  This will allow you to place the tablet at the base of the toungue.  The dog then should have a natural reflex to swallow.  Be sure that your dog has a very friendly attitude and does not have a tendency to bite when you place your hands inside it's mouth.  You should have been training your dog as a puppy in being able to administer oral medications by placing your fingers within it's mouth and giving it treats as rewards.
• Liquid Medications:   Use the same method as the tablet by hand to open the dog's mouth.  Then insert an eyedropper between the teeth and cheek and, while tilting the chin upward, slowly dispense the medication.

These simple techniques are generally accepted and used by veterinarians for the administration of medications to all pets.  However, it is recommended you consult with your vet before applying them if you are uncertain on how to administer.  The vet will be glad to show you the proper methods of giving you animal medications.
 

Preventing Destructive Chewing

Basic rules:

• Supervise when the pup is running lose within the house.
• Confine the pup when you are not able to supervise.
• Confine the pup at night or when you leave the house.  This basic confinement helps the dog also.  The crate allows the pet a "den" that it can feel safe and have a place that it feels is all his own.  Do not force the puppy to go inside.  We want him to like this den.
• Corrections must be made in the act as the puppy is chewing improperly.
• The pup should have it's own proper toys to chew on (PLEASE not rawhide!!!!!!!!!!  Throw that Sh-- away!!!)  Use toys that are made from nylon.  Such as Nyla-Bone.  You may have to teach him at first to play with these types of toys, but they are much safer and helps remove tarter from thier teeth.  The next best type of toys are the hard rubber (Cressite) toys.  Always make sure the toy is sized correctly with the size of the dog.  When the Nyla-bone gets too small, remove so that the animal does not swallow this peice whole.
• Do not give the animal human articles to chew.  He will think that all human articles are fair game to chew.
• Correct the improper chewing by the following manner:
• Growl at the dog ("ERRHH") in a low, firm voice.  Do not use the puppy's name as a correction word.
• Walk to the pup, grab him by the scruff of the neck (not too harshly) and tap on the article he was chewing and sharply say NO!  in a firm LOW tone of voice.  Be consistant with this phrase each time you correct the pup.  Animals understand growls as means of communication from the Alpha animals as well as from it's former liter mates within the pack.  This was used to formulate it's hirearchy within the pack.  But, now you are the dominate Alpha.  Dont ever let the puppy think otherwise.
• move the animal away from the object he was chewing and give him one of his own toys and then praise him while giving him this toy.
• Do not play tug of war with the pup.

• Allowing too much unsupervised free time before the pup is trained.
• Relying too much on punisment rather than teaching good behavior.  Excessive punishment will make the animal fear you rather than respect you. Fear can lead to biteing and snapping at you.  Respect means you are Alpha to him. The provider, the leader.