Human Medications That Can Be Used on Dogs - First of all, before you give any animal any kind of medication or supplements, please consult with your veterinarian about dosages or any kind of side effects ahead of time. In fact, if I were you, I would talk with my veterinarian ahead of time and find out exactly what dosages would be needed for my own German Shepherd – before I needed to use them on him/her.

Human Medications Used With Dogs

1. Aveeno Shampoo – Oatmeal. Great to use if your GSD has itchy or inflamed skin.

2. Benadryl. Can also be used in treating allergies or itching in your GSD.

3. Betadine Skin Cleanser. This is an antiseptic skin cleanser which can be applied directly to skin.

4. Dramamine. Can be very effective in reducing motion sickness in your German Shepherd.

5. 3% Hydrogen Peroxide. Helpful in inducing vomiting if needed in dogs. Check with your vet for the proper amounts to use.

6. Imodium. Useful in to relieving diarrhea.

7. Ipecac Syrup. Used to induce vomiting as needed.

8. Kaopectate. Used to treat diarrhea.

9. Mineral Oil. Helpful to treat constipation.

10. Mylanta. This antacid can be used anytime your dog has an upset stomach.

11. Pepto-Bismol. Can be used to help relieve vomiting, gas or diarrhea.

12. Pedialyte. For dehydrated dogs. Mix with water (50/50) and give your GSD as much as your dog will drink.

13. Preparation H. Can be applied to a dogs anal area if irritated.

14. Regular Aspirin (non-enteric coated) can be used for pain relief or as an anti-inflammatory.

15. Robitussin. This cough suppressant can be safely used for dogs as needed.

Human medications that can be used on dogs can potentially be very useful in day to day minor health issues with your German Shepherd but remember, please ask your veterinarian about dosages based on your own individual dogs size and age before dosing them yourself. And if you’re unsure – WAIT!

Original Source of this articles: GSD

It’s true that bloat requires immediate veterinary care! But do you really know what bloat is?

It is known by many names: Gastric dilatation-volvulus, GDV, also commonly known as canine bloat.

It is also most important to note that it is an acute, life-threatening condition and as a dog owner it is imperative that you know the symptoms and what to do if you ever feel your own dog has bloated!

Bloat requires immediate veterinary care!

Let’s break the condition of bloat down further.

The word dilatation refers to the fact that the stomach swells from a rapid accumulation of air.

Now, the word volvulus which means that the stomach, spleen or other abdominal structures have twisted – kind of like when you wring out a wet cloth.

Neither of these conditions, dilatation or volvulus, are good for your dog and they rapidly progress on to blockage and strangulation of those organs. Immediate veterinary attention is now required to prevent your dog from dying if it has bloated.

Here are some staggering facts about bloat. Bloat is a terrible condition that now happens so often that it may now be considered the second leading cause of death, after cancer, among many of the large and giant breed dogs. “German Shepherd Dogs rank 12th highest of all breeds, excluding rare breeds, for developing bloat”, says Tony Cherubini, chairman of the Health and Genetics Committee of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America.

Comparatively speaking, concerning dogs and dog breeds that bloat, the German Shepherd may be up to 4 times more likely to develop bloat than most dog breeds while Labrador Retrievers are 2 times more likely. Golden Retrievers may be up to 1.2 times more likely to develop bloat than other breeds. Bloat requires immediate veterinary care at all times.

The overall winner in the bloat comparison stats has to be the Great Dane, however. It has been shown that the Great Dane may be up to 41 times more likely to develop bloat than any other dog breed – a stunning statistic by anyone’s standards!

Recognizing the signs of bloat are tremendously important for all owners and breeders of all large and giant breed dogs – including the German Shepherd. The sooner you can recognize a dog in distress and the quicker you get it veterinary attention, the better off the dog will be. Remember, bloat requires immediate veterinary care!

Bloat is a terribly frightening condition for GSD owners to deal with. It is true that many German Shepherds will survive bloat and go on to live normal lives – IF diagnosed, treated quickly and aggressively enough. Otherwise, it is very possible that the dog will die! There are surgical procedures to both take care of bloat once it has occurred but also to prevent it from happening in the first place. However, you always want to prevent surgery if at all possible with your German Shepherd.

What are the causes of bloat?

There are many theories including heredity and extreme activity before and after eating. No one still really knows exactly why bloat occurs, but research has discovered several risk factors that are associated with bloat. Here are a few of them:

• Eating large volumes of food once a day.
• Also, eating rapidly.
• Dogs with a narrow, deep chest have a 170% increase in risk.
• Having a first-degree relative that has bloated increases risk by about 65%.
• The typical onset of bloat in most giant dog breed dogs (that weigh more than 99 pounds) is 7 to 9 years old.
• It seems that the typical onset of bloat in most large breed dogs that weigh between 50 to 99 pounds happens usually around 8 to 11 years old of age.

As an owner of a dog breed predisposed to bloat, the German Shepherd, I highly suggest that you consider taking your GSD’s normal daily amount of food and dividing it into two separate feedings to prevent this from happening to your own GSD. There are also other things you can do to help prevent your dog from bloating, such as not exercising your dog for an hour or so, before or after, a meal, feeding your dog from an elevated feeding bowl and never breeding a dog that has previously bloated to prevent it from passing this trait along to other German Shepherds down the road.

Always remember, bloat requires immediate veterinary care!

Original Source of the article: GSD Articles

Just how old is your pet, really? More than likely you know the dogs age in years, or at least have an approximation of its age, but do you really have any idea how old it may really be- chronologically speaking?

I’m sure you’ve heard of the old “seven year theory”. You know, the system where each year of a dog or cats life is the equivalent of 7 of ours. An example of this thinking would be that a 1 year old dog would be the age and developmental equal of a 7 year old person.

Now just how many 7 year old kids do you know that are sexually mature – and able to reproduce? A cat or dog is much more likely to have a litter when it is one year or younger, or at the other extreme, ten years or older, than is a human who is under the age of seven or over the age of seventy!

This system was simple – but too simple. Many people today may still use these calculations when coming to some idea of their pets chronological age. Still, due to examples like the one above you can see why this most simple of systems is not accepted today.

Is my female GSD in heat? How will I know? What do I do? Intact female dogs (dogs that have not been surgically spayed), and that are sexually mature are said to be in estrus, “in heat”, or “in season”, during their occasional “cycle” in preparation to breed and reproduce.

Female German Shepherds, also called bitches, generally have their first heat cycle at around 6 to 12 months of age. Sometimes, a female GSD in heat may not have their first seasonal estrus cycle until they are 12 months of age or older, depending on that particular dog.

Remember, however, that this information is very general and not all female dogs will follow these exact patterns. On average, the complete canine reproductive heat cycle takes about 6 months in length which results in about 2 heat cycles each year for most female dogs.

Overall, each individual female dogs heat cycle pattern tends to be relatively close to the basic average, length wise, however lengths of heat cycles may differ from female to female when the female German Shepherd goes into heat.

In most cases, the average female German Shepherd Dogs heat cycle lasts about 3 to 4 weeks. Some female German Shepherds can come into

estrus

as early as every 4 months, while others may do so only once a year. Some canine heat cycles, just like in human females, may be shorter than average while other dogs may have longer ones (4 weeks or longer).

Remember these important points concerning your female GSD in heat and her yearly heat cycles and prepare accordingly.

First, assume your dog to be “in season” for at least 21 days, possibly longer, which will vary due to your own individual females heat cycle.

Second, and this is very important, keep in mind that conception is most likely to happen during the middle section of your GSD’s heat cycle – typically around 7 to 14 days after the heat cycles starts.

Third, you will need to confine your girl for the entire heat cycle - at least 21 days or more depending on your particular bitch, to make sure that accidental mating does not happen.

Whether you keep her indoors or out you will need to make sure that her environment is “Romeo proof”. And believe me, you will need to think of everything because an interested male can be very vigilant in getting into a females area if she is in heat. These boys can climb, dig or break into just about any area if so inclined. If your female is in an area that has any weaknesses of any kind, believe me, “Romeo” will find it, get in and breed your female if she is willing.

If you have any questions about your female GSD in heat, consult with your veterinarian or breeder – especially if your dogs heat cycles do not seem “normal”. Cycling problems in female dogs can often be an early indicator of other or more serious health problems.

Is my female German Shepherd in heat? How can I tell?

First Stage – Proestrus: begins with the appearance of

vaginal bleeding

, swelling of the vulva, and possible increase in urination (yes, females can mark their territory, especially when they are in heat).

The most noticeable thing of all when you have a female GSD in heat, even if you’re not sure your female GSD is in heat, is when male dogs begin to hang around the house. Your female German Shepherd will still reject the male during this first stage. Fertilization can not happen at this time. The length of proestrus on average is about 9 days.

Second Stage – Estrus: the time in which the female dog will allow the male to breed her. This time is also called “standing heat” and can last anywhere from 4 to 21 days depending on the individual German Shepherd Dog.

Concerning any female GSD in heat, the dark red, bloody vaginal discharge will eventually turn to a lighter shade of red over time. In most dogs, once this vaginal discharge becomes wheat or straw colored, the dog can be said to be most ready for accepting the male and breeding.

Third Stage – Metestrus: this is the stage that readies the uterus for pregnancy, and can easily last 4 to 14 days. False pregnancies frequently occur during this time. If fertilization does occur the fertilized eggs may take up to a week before they attach themselves to the uterine wall.

Overall this stage averages out as approximately 7 days. Keep in mind that this interval of time will stay the same even if the dog becomes pregnant. If fertilization does not occur then this stage will revert back to anestrus, which is stage four of this process.

Fourth Stage – Anestrus: the resting time between heats which normally lasts about 5 or 6 months. If you decide that you need to know exactly what stage of estrus you female GSD may be in, your veterinarian can easily assist you in figuring this out.

Most canine medications aren’t user friendly either, but there are some tricks you can use to try to medicate you dog when needed.

Of course, it all depends on what form the medications are in and the actual temperament of your dog – and whether or not your dog is an easy “medicine taker”.

The easiest form, when dealing with dogs or puppies, is when the medication can be given with their food. Just mix it in the feeding dish and it is done – sometimes. Personally, I’ve had a few dogs that wouldn’t take medicine that way. They didn’t want anything in their food except food.

Puppies can often be given their liquid medicine from a dropper. Just slide the dropper between their teeth and cheek and slowly give the medicine. Care has to be taken to make sure you don’t choke the animal by giving the medicine too quickly.

Tips for medicating dogs are very similiar as long as the dog will stay still. Stabbing a dropper into a dogs gums won’t make the dog willing to take liquid medicines in the future. If you are going to be giving your pet liquid medicines, ask the veterinarian if it comes with a dropper and be sure to get one.

Giving your dog medicine is supposed to make the dog feel better however fighting to get the dog to take medicine doesn’t help the dog or you. So, to make your life, and that of your dog, less stressful take the time to look for the easy tricks to get the job done. Sometimes it can be just as easy as using your dogs favorite food treat. Top tips for medicating dogs can be helpful in your life.

Original source of this article: GSD Articles

Dogs vomiting can be seen quite commonly and may happen because of many different reasons in your German Shepherd Dog. Please keep in mind that vomiting, in and of itself, is a symptom of many different diseases or problems.
Oftentimes bouts of vomiting are self-limiting and will stop on their own after a few days or so. Even so, it can be quite serious and may even lead to death if you allow fluid or nutrient losses to become severe enough.

Remember, proper hydration is key and if your dog is vomiting you want to keep it from becoming dehydrated too.

If your dog is really ill, sometimes it may also have:

1. High fever
2. Loss of appetite
3. Diarrhea
4. Bloody vomiting
5. Dehydration
6. Abdominal pain
7. Lethargy

How do I find the cause of my German Shepherds vomiting?

Sometimes, especially when vomiting is associated with several of the above symptoms, a series of diagnostic tests will need to be done such as: blood tests and maybe even exploratory surgery.

If your dog does not appear really sick from its bouts of vomiting, the actual problem causing the vomiting in the first place may be much less serious. Some things that may cause dog vomiting in the first place include viruses (stomach or intestinal), intestinal parasites, or things like eating garbage or many other kinds of irritating materials.

If this is the cause for the vomiting then drugs can be given to control the intestinal tract and relieve the inflammation inside the intestinal tract. Additionally, a special diet of bland foods may be encouraged for a few days until the problem has stopped on its own. In this way the German Shepherds own healing powers will kick in to help correct the problem as well.

Follow this process and you can usually expect improvement in your own German Shepherd within 2 to 4 days. If a positive change does not occur then a change in medication will need to be made and possibly even more tests will need to be performed as well.

Dogs vomiting can be corrected, it just takes time. Keep an eye on your German Shepherds progress throughout this process and keep your veterinarian informed to help you manage the situation from start to finish and things should work themselves out quickly.

Original source of this article: GSD Articles