Do Dogs Dream?

While humans extensively talk about their dreams-Martin Luther King Jr. being one of the more famous people to do so and Barack Obama being the most recent-a very interesting question has arisen over the years about our canine friends. It becomes interesting when we assume that they do. What do dogs dream about? New clothes? Piles of bones? A female dog? I'll leave the dream interpretation to you!

While the subject of the dream is perhaps specific to each dog's individual thought processes, researchers claim that dogs do in fact have dreams.

Dreaming While Sleeping

Of course not the 'dreams' which Obama or Martin Luther King were talking about. But dogs do experience some brain activity which leads to visual screenings within the canine mind while still asleep. The most common half a shred of evidence of the fact that dogs dream is how they sometimes tend to move their legs, whimper or moan or wag their tails while sleeping. This perhaps sparked off the question for the first time. And since then researchers and animal lovers have tried gaining an insight into whether your pet has dreams.

What makes us so sure that dogs dream? Scientists have propounded a theory which assumes that there are two kinds of sleep that humans experience. The first, Slow Wave Sleep (SWS) is when the mind is sleeping, but the body stays up and alert. The second type of sleep is known as Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, where the body is asleep, but the mind is quite active. If the mind is active-as is the case with REM sleep, it is assumed that perhaps the person who is asleep is having dreams.

Dogs too showcase these two very distinct types of sleep. During some naps the dogs displayed rapid eye movement and an involuntary body movement (mind you, the body is sleeping, so the movement is involuntary). Other things which people have noticed when their dog sleeps is whining and whimpering. Sometimes the dog even wags its tail, licks its lips and so on.

But just rapid eye movement is not conclusive enough to establish that the dog is having a dream. Hence, the researchers decided to take this experiment a step further. They decided to check the brain waves of the dog while sleeping to see if there is any activity in the brain of the dog. And there was! The electroencephalogram (EEG)-which monitors the level of activity in the brain, showed that there was indeed a heightened level of activity in the canine mind while in its REM sleep than in a slow wave sleep. This pattern has been successful to establish that a human was dreaming and hence the same is assumed to be true in case of a dog.

Dog Dreaming Facts

They say that puppies dream a lot more than adult dogs. Research has also shown that small dogs have a higher tendency to have dreams at night than bigger dogs. Like it is said that if a person is having a dream, he should not be woken up, the same applies to a dog. If you can see that your pooch dreaming, it is best left to itself and not woken up.

So I hope you have got your answer to the question: yes they indeed do. Now it is up to you to speculate what your canine's been up to in its last dream. Chasing rabbits or cars perhaps?

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Can Dogs Get Colds?

Dogs can contract a cold by being in proximity with a dog who is already infected. Along with this, stress, low immunity levels, and inhospitable weather conditions can be additional contributing factors.

But most pet owners usually have trouble discerning a common cold from a serious ailment. To make things a little easy for you, we have here a list of symptoms indicating that your dog has a cold.

Symptoms of Common Cold in Dogs -

• Coughing
• Runny eyes
• Yellowish-green discharge from the nose
• Frequent sneezing
• Lethargy

Can my dog catch a cold from me?
The answer is a resounding 'no'. Dogs can pass viruses among themselves, but a human-to-dog transmission is unlikely. This is because the virus that gets a dog down with a cold is different from the one that affects humans. Therefore, owners should not be concerned about either, passing this illness onto their pets, or contracting it from them.

Helping Your Dog Recover
Increasing Fluid Intake
If your dog has common cold, the simplest way to get rid of it is by feeding him/her lots of nutritious liquids. Chicken broth, for instance will work wonders for your dog too.

Steam Therapy
Try to get your dog to inhale steaming water which will unclog the sinuses. Bring over a tub of hot water, and gently lead the dog to inhale the vapors. Be careful not to allow the dog to go too close to the steaming water.

Boost Immunity
If your dog is prone to catching a cold, use preventive measures, like feeding him/her immunity-boosting food items. This in turn, will keep the germs and bacteria at bay, which can otherwise lead to a cold. A good immune system will ensure that the dog is better equipped to cope with fluctuations in the weather, which is also a common cause behind contracting a cold.

Vitamin Therapy
Vitamin therapies help in boosting a dog's immune system. Provide the dogs with vitamins A, C and E when he/she's suffering from a bout of cold. By including these vitamins in the diet, the immune system will become strong, enabling the dog to fight off most illnesses.

Cough Suppressant
If these home remedies don't work, call your vet about prescribing medication. Cough suppressants can be given to provide temporary relief. Although they may not be able to get rid of the symptoms entirely, they can be given to minimize the discomfort.

Preventive Measures
It would be a good idea to keep the dog indoors when the mercury dips. This is to protect the dog from getting out in an environment where it's easy to catch a cold. Cover your pet with a warm blanket to keep him/her warm during the winter months.
Other Respiratory Illnesses in Dogs
Canine Parainfluenza
This respiratory illness produces symptoms similar to common cold in humans. It is possible to treat canine parainfluenza with the use of home remedies in the early stages. If symptoms persist, you need to speak to the vet.

Kennel Cough
The symptoms of kennel cough include a harsh-sounding cough and discharge of phlegm. Kennel cough, in most cases, is caused by the Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria and Adenovirus type 2. Adenovirus type 2 is known to produce cold-like symptoms in dogs.

Pneumonia
Pneumonia in dogs occurs when the respiratory infection and cold do not resolve on their own, and are left untreated. Pneumonia causes an inflammation of the lungs and its symptoms include difficulty in breathing and chronic coughing. Dogs suffering from pneumonia need immediate medical care.

Canine Distemper
Canine distemper is a very grave illness, so ensure that your dog is vaccinated against this disease. It is highly infectious. Canine distemper produces symptoms such as coughing and sneezing along with gastrointestinal disturbance. It weakens the dog's immunity and can prove fatal.

Other Illnesses
In some rare cases, cold-like symptoms may be caused by certain parasites, which enter the heart and the lungs. Fungal infections, which occur when the fungal parasites get into the lungs, produce symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, etc.

If your dog's condition does not improve, and is accompanied by other symptoms such as dehydration, infrequent urination, poor appetite, vomiting, etc., and if the dog seems perpetually distressed, it is recommended you contact a veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment. Also, if the dog is very old or very young, it is best to consult a veterinarian, rather than attempting to cure him/her at home.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for the advice of a veterinarian.

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Canine Stroke Treatment

Stroke is a fatal medical condition that blocks blood supply to parts of the brain, as a result of blood vessel rupture or blockage. Deprivation of oxygen and nutrients result in the death of brain cells of the concerned area, resulting in permanent or temporary disabilities or even death. In fact, stroke is the second leading cause of death in humans. As compared to humans, stroke is rare in dogs. However, there are certain conditions that make these animals predisposed to stroke. These include old age and certain medical conditions. Canine stroke is classified into two types - ischemic and hemorrhagic. While, ischemic stroke is caused by lack of blood supply due to blocked artery, hemorrhagic stroke is caused by lack of blood supply due to ruptured artery.

What Causes Stroke in Dogs

As mentioned above, stroke is rare in dogs, but, this does not mean that these animals are fully free of this medical condition. There are various conditions that make a dog susceptible to stroke. This include diseases of the kidney, heart and liver, Cushing's disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disorders, brain tumor and diabetes. Even arterial inflammation, head trauma, ingestion of rodent poison, etc. can cause canine stroke. Other rare canine stroke causes include internal parasites and inherited blood clotting disorders. Dogs with abnormal brain development may also develop stroke. It has been observed that a speck of fat or dislodged spinal cartilage trapped inside the brain may also cause stroke in dogs. It may also happen that some dogs develop stroke with no apparent reason and such condition is called idiopathic stroke.

Canine Stroke Symptoms

Stroke symptoms in dogs may not be similar to that of humans. However, the most common symptom is a tilt in the head. Besides that, the dog may also develop the following symptoms.

• Loss of balance and weakness
• Moving in circles and falling over
• Sudden change in behavior
• Loss of bladder and bowel control
• Confusion and Depression
• Loss of vision and seizure
• Eating from one side of the bowl

The nature and severity of stroke symptoms in dogs may vary from one dog to other. Symptoms are found to develop as per the location of the stroke and its severity. Once you notice such symptoms in your dog, you have to take the animal to the vet, at the earliest. Even though the chances of recovery is much higher in dogs, as compared to humans, early diagnosis and treatment will be always beneficial.

Treatment for Canine Stroke

Diagnosis of canine stroke is done with the help of CT scan, MRI, blood tests and checking variations in blood pressure. Treatment options for stroke in dogs are very limited. If the underlying cause is detected, the doctor will start treating the same. Usually, anti-inflammatory drugs are administered to the affected dog, so as to reduce inflammation of the brain tissues. Even anti-seizure medication may be administered in some cases. Apart from these medication, the affected dog may need intravenous fluid therapy too.

However, recovery time is based on the extent and severity of the stroke, the damages occurred and how early treatment is provided. In general, most of the canines are found to survive stroke very fast and they regain their motor functions too. There are chances of recurrence of the disease, especially in cases where the underlying cause remains undetermined. In such cases, you have to take much care in providing the dog with special diet and a healthy lifestyle. You may also resort to natural remedies for preventing such recurrence. In some cases, some of the damage caused by the stroke can never be reversed. So, your love and support is very much necessary for the dog to get adjusted with the new life.

The above said is a brief overview about canine stroke. It is always better to prevent the condition by providing your dog with a healthy diet and lifestyle. Regular health checkups is a must as this helps in detecting and treating health problems. Otherwise, such health problems may lead to complications, like, stroke. If you notice any signs of stroke in your pet dog, take him/her to the vet at the earliest, so as to provide canine stroke treatment at the earliest. This Buzzle article is for informational purposes only and it should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice. So, if you have any doubts with regard to canine stroke, contact the vet.

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Developmental Stages of a Puppy

"There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face" - Ben Williams.

Puppies are such cute and friendly beings. Their wobbly walk, their innocent eyes and their timid little face makes you fall in love with them.

As a little puppy grows, it transforms into a fully-grown dog. It does not toddle any more. It walks with pride, with loyalty towards its master in its eyes and its astounding sense of smell that is its gift from nature. It is suggested that puppies, during their developmental stages, should be socialized with humans and other puppies for their healthy development.

The first stage in the life of a puppy is the neonatal period, which is of the first twelve days of its life. During this period, puppies are influenced by their mothers and remain in her close vicinity. Their vision and their power of hearing are not much developed at this stage. In this very stage, puppy petters are advised to expose puppies to mild physical stress for the development of their brain.

Their second stage of development is marked by the transitional period. It is between a puppy's ages of thirteen to twenty days. During this stage, the little eyes of a puppy open to see the world they have never seen. It begins to hear and respond to sound. It develops a sense of smell and taste. Teeth start showing their presence. Puppies at this stage walk with a stumble! Studies show that a puppy that is made to stay with the litter after the eighth week of its ages does not grow into an emotionally healthy dog.

During its socialization period, a puppy takes to its species-specific activities. It learns to play, socialize with others. It becomes inquisitive and starts exploring its surroundings. Puppies begin to develop skills that bring in refinement to their personalities. Studies say that anything that affrights a puppy during its ages of eight to eleven weeks leaves a long-lasting impact on its mind.

Twelve to sixteen weeks of age is the seniority classification stage in the life of a puppy. Biting, challenging and testing its master characterize this developmental stage. It tries to express dominance and seniority. This can be the time to train the puppy to respond to your commands.

Next stage in a puppy's growth is called the flight instinct period. During this period, puppies feel independent, unrestricted. They feel like remaining 'on their own'. Between its ages of six to fourteen months, feelings of timidity may newly appear in a puppy. Puppies mature sexually. Their so-called puppy coat is replaced by an adult coat. By now they have obtained their adult teeth, their growth in height has completed and they are almost adult dogs. A puppy that has grown to an age of one to four years is a fully-grown dog!

Puppies' growth to mature dogs needs attention and care. Their growth consists of physical as well as their emotional development. Puppies, like the offspring of human beings, require love and care for their healthy development. We, as puppy tamers must cater to the puppy's needs of security and socialization to expect well-developed dogs to emerge out of the young ones.

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Dog Care

Amongst all animals, a dog has always been considered as the best friend of human beings. With his pure unconditional love, affection, commitment, loyalty and friendship, a dog captures your mind immediately. If you consider your pet as your family member, then you should provide healthy food, shelter, medication and safety to your pet. Dog care also involves regular veterinary care like grooming and vaccination. Training and exercise also play an important role in dog health.

Dog Care Information

Lack of attention and due care may result in dog health problems. Those who are worried about how to take care of a dog, should first try to understand dog's daily needs: food, shelter and grooming.

Dog Foods
You have to be careful while feeding your pet. Excessive weight gain in pets may lead to various diseases like arthritis, heart and liver diseases. Dog diet may vary according to dog breeds and weight of the dogs. Following articles will help you know about healthy dog foods.

• Dog Dietary Needs
• Salmon Oil for Dogs
• Raw Food Diet for Dogs
• Food for Dogs with Allergies
• Dog Diets for Weight Loss

Dog Grooming
Dog grooming involves combing, brushing, cutting his hair, bathing him, trimming his nails, cleaning his teeth, ears, removing and preventing dog fleas, etc. You may bathe your dog once in a week or once in a month, according to your convenience. Excessive bathing may result in drying of his coat and in that case, the chances of skin infection will be more. If the dog looks dirty, you may rub his skin with a damp towel in between. You can regularly wash his paws if you find them dirty. For dog grooming tips, you may refer to following articles.

• Grooming Dogs at Home
• Dog Grooming Tools
• Dog Nail Trimming
• Oatmeal Bath for Dogs
• Dry Shampoo for Dogs
• How to Make Dog Beds
• Washable Dog Beds

Dog Vaccination and Health
Despite proper care, you may come across dog health problems. You should follow the instructions of your vet religiously. You should follow the tips, given by your vet, regarding dog sickness, dog dental care, dog wound care, pregnant dog care, etc. sincerely. Following articles contain important information regarding common dog illnesses and dog health. You should leaf through these articles for better understanding.

• Vaccination for Dogs
• Low Cost Dog Vaccinations
• Dog Health Insurance Cost
• Dry Skin on Dogs - Home Remedies
• Natural Pain Relief for Dogs
• Excessive Panting in Dogs
• Neutering Male Dogs
• Home Remedies for Dog Worms
• Dental Care for Dogs
• Mange in Dogs - Symptoms
• Symptoms and Causes of Seizures in Dogs
• Bone Cancer in Dogs
• Painkillers for Dogs

Dog Training and Dog Treats
Healthy food and proper medications won't help maintain the health of the dog if the dog sits lazily in one place for the whole day. Exercises play an important role in dog health. You are supposed to take the dog for walk at least twice everyday. Simple exercises like running, jumping are good for a dog. You should play with your pet everyday. You should understand from dog behavior, which are his favorite things. You need to train your dog properly. Wouldn't you like to show your friends how obedient your pet is? Here follows important information on dog treats and dog training.

• How to Potty Train a Dog
• Dog Training Whistles
• Diabetic Dog Treats
• Healthy Homemade Dog Treats
• Dog Training Treats
• How to House Train Your Dog
• Free Dog Training Tips
• Dog Grooming Training
• Aggressive Dog Training Tips
• Agility Training for Dogs
• How to Train a Dog
• How to Train a Dog to Fetch
• Leash Training a Dog
• Training Dogs Not to Bite
• Training Dogs Not to Bark
• Dog Training Tools

Make sure that your dog is not left alone for several hours at a time because dogs hate being alone. They earnestly need company. A dog recognizes immediately; whether you love him or hate him. Pat him, talk with him, love him and enjoy his unconditional love. After gathering so much information on dog care, I am sure, your dog is going to win first prize in all dog shows he participates in.

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Tips for House Training a Puppy or Dog

Having a house-training plan before bringing your new pet dog home will make this process much less stressful. However, even with the best of intentions some new dog owners find after living with a new dog that he is not house trained as promised or their training skills need improving. These steps to house training a puppy or dog can be implemented immediately. And with these steps, if you are consistent and use only rewards and absolutely no punishments, you should see some positive progress quickly.

Leash Up

Until your puppy, or even your adult dog, is 100 percent reliably house trained, he should never be left unsupervised in the house. This is for two important reasons. One is obvious. Left unsupervised and hell likely have an accident. He does not yet
know that eliminating in the house is not acceptable. Second, the most important aspect of any dog training is to develop communication with your dog. If you are not with your dog, then you are not learning to read his behavior that shows he needs to go. You are also not responding to those signs immediately so your dog can learn from you.

To ensure that you truly are supervising your dog at all times, attach your dog to you with a leash. Put his leash on and hold it or tie it to a belt loop and stay connected until you are ready to test your dogs ability to be left alone. Even easier is to get and use a hands-free leash such as The Buddy System Belt and Leash sold at Amazon.

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When to Take Your Dog Outside

Mostly through trial and error, you will learn on your own when to take your dog outside for a potty break. By staying connected to your pooch, youll quickly learn his signs of an impending elimination and know to take him outside. Keep in mind that puppies and small dogs have small bladders. You can also, and should, initiate potty breaks by taking your puppy out about once an hour and after he eats and drinks.

Teaching Your Dog

House training a puppy or dog is not about teaching a single behavior. When you break it down, there are several things you need to teach your dog. These include your dog coming to you and telling you its time to go outside, going to the appropriate spot, and doing the final act in that spot. All of these lessons are lessons you teach the dog. They are not expectations you should have of your untrained dog. The following breaks down each of the steps you need to teach and what your dog will learn from actions you take.

When its time to go outside, say outside and immediately take your dog outside. Your dog learns that a specific behavior of his (such as getting antsy, barking, or circling around) means its time to go outside. Eventually he will learn to show you this specific behavior when he wants outside. If youve missed the signs and your dog eliminates in front of you, the steps are the same. Just take him outside. You missed the signs and therefore it is not something to punish your dog for.

Take your dog to the potty spot and say potty. Wait for the elimination to happen and at the exact moment it does, say good potty! Then reward with lots of praise and food treats. From this, you are teaching your dog a cue and where to go potty. The cue is the word potty and eventually you will be able to get your dog to potty on command when using this word.

The third phase is working to put these steps together. Going outside and going potty are two different behaviors for your dog in the beginning. How long it takes for your dog to put the two behaviors together and finally be house trained will depend on both your own consistent training using only positive rewards and your dogs learning abilities. Some dogs just take longer than others to house train, just as some dog owners take longer than others to learn how to house train a puppy or dog.

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Use a Crate

Keeping leashed up to your dog obviously has some drawbacks and is not practical 24/7. When you cannot stay within six feet of your pooch, then put him into a crate. Crates are a practical and natural tool to use when training dogs. Wild canines sleep and raise their young in dens and they do not like to get them messy. A crate gives your dog a secure den and his instincts will take over so as not to eliminate in the den. A good crate is the Fistrax Port-A-Crate which can be used for indoors or travel.

Midnight Potty Breaks

If you are house training a puppy, you can expect to have to get up at least once a night to let your dog out. Because of his small bladder, this nightly bonding time may last for several months. If you put your puppy into a crate next to your bed, youll hear him circling around and getting anxious when its time to go outside.

The Test

When you feel you and your dog have this puppy house training thing down, then do a test. To test your dog you will need to set him free. He needs to have the freedom to go where he chooses and then the freedom to come to you when its time to go outside. If you want to confine him to a small space thats easy to clean up, like a kitchen, then you need to confine yourself inside that space with him. This way theres not a gate blocking him from getting to you when needed. If he doesnt pass the test, then you have not yet house trained your pup. Leash him up again and keep working at it. If he does pass the test, then throw him a party with lots of treats, praise, and playtime with you.

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Dog Incontinence Causes

Dog or canine incontinence is a condition wherein the dog loses the ability to control urination. It is a serious medical condition that mostly affects older dogs and is equally prevalent in both male and female dogs. Involuntary urine leakage is different to behavioral urinary issues such as submissive urination, neurogenic incontinence and others. To know when is your dog suffering from incontinence, you must know the symptoms of it. The first typical symptom is dribbling or leaking of urine. You'd notice this when the dog is sleeping or relaxing. Dribbling and leaking then leads to the next sign which is a prominent wet spot under the dog's sleeping area. The dogs with this condition also experience skin infection or skin irritation around the genitals and you'd find your dog excessively cleaning or licking the area and also the fur down there will seem to be stained or discolored due to the regular wetting of that area. Unlike other conditions, this condition or disease cannot be prevented, it can only be treated once it's identified.

Causes of Dog Incontinence
There are several causative factors but, mostly this ailment is caused due to the following factors:

• Urinary Tract Infection: This sort of an infection can affect any breed of dog and is not gender specific. Dogs affected with urinary tract infection strain to urinate or with a lot of difficulty and discomfort they manage to urinate a few drops.
• Hormonal Changes: Hormonal changes is a typical cause of this problem as hormones affect a dog's ability to control the urethral sphincter which is a band of muscular tissues located at the base of the bladder. The urethral sphincter or muscular tissues act as a control device that either allows to retain the urine or allow it to flow out through the urethra.
• Aging: You might think that aging anyway causes a lot of problems, which I don't deny but, mentioning it as one of the dog incontinence causes is really significant here as aging causes hormone deficiency and in the previous cause it is clearly stated what kind of a role do hormones play in controlling incontinence.
• Spayed or Neutered Dogs: A spayed or a neutered dog is more susceptible to this condition as its reproductive organs are responsible for the production of hormones. It has been observed that spayed female dogs between the ages of three and five are more prone to this condition.
• Bladder Over-Distension: In this case, a part of dog's bladder is blocked either due to a bladder stone, stricture or a tumor and only a little dribble of urine can pass through the partially blocked passage.
• Excessive Consumption of Water: Another common cause of urinary incontinence in dogs is excessive consumption of water and it often occurs due to bladder infection, diabetes, Cushing's disease in dogs or kidney failure.

Dog Incontinence Treatment
Canine incontinence can indeed be treated and treatment involves the following:

• To control the urine leakage the bladder sphincter muscle needs to be tightened. Medication that contains phenylpropanolamine has been proved to be very effective for the same.
• In addition to incontinence if your dog has a urinary tract infection, then your vet might prescribe antibiotics.
• A hormone replacement drug or a Diethylstilbestrol (DES) RX which is an estrogen supplement is what is usually prescribed for a female-spayed dog with this condition
• For neutered male dogs who are affected by incontinence due to hormonal changes, vets prescribe testosterone injections.
• Proper diet containing raw and home cooked food mixed with certain nutritional supplements also helps in controlling the condition to a certain extent
• A cream or a solution such as zymox topical cream is helpful to treat the skin irritation surrounding the genitals.
• Besides the regular medication and antibiotics, you could also try some natural remedies that include herbs such as saw palmetto, corn silk, oatstraw, plantain and wild yam.

You might wonder why are 'dog incontinence causes' being emphasized so much, why would one want to know them? Let me tell you something we often fail to realize; we assume that the dog has a behavioral issue or might be showing reluctance to pass urine either purposely or out of laziness. But sadly, it is not the case, it has nothing to do with dog behavior or dog obedience! While you are blaming them for being a bad dog, they are suffering. If you don't watch out for it, it might turn out be a chronic problem. So, please... if you see any of the symptoms such as wet bed, dribbling of urine or a puddle of urine after the dog gets up from a place, then hurry up and consult a vet.

Note: Although the above mentioned treatments have proven to be successful in treating canine incontinence, it is advisable that you don't resort to any of those treatments without a veterinarian's advise. Even if you wish to go the natural way, consult your vet.

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