The Portuguese water dog is as much of a miracle, as it is a treasured pet and skilled swimmer. Various texts from bible times shows this dog’s ancestors as being held to almost mythical standards. Modern technology left only slightly more than 50 Portuguese water dog puppies in existence, with few aging adults in existence at the time.
Luckily, some attention to details by careful breeders has brought this dog away from the brink of extinction and they’re here to stay. It’s a good thing to, as owners of this super-energetic pet say that they wouldn’t choose any other animal as an addition to their household.
Portuguese water dog puppies and their parents are amazing swimmers (hence their name) and have limitless amounts of energy that make them great play pals for children, adults or other pets. They are also very driven by owners: They love to learn directions and perform tasks. In their history they were used for diving to retrieve dropped equipment items and under-water corralling of fish into the waiting nets of their owners.
It’s this lineage that makes Portuguese water dog puppies so highly valued. Due to their near extinction and realization of their history and value — the breed is worth thousands. Most people who want a Portuguese know this going in though: Breeding a show quality litter of pups is exacting for breeders and “Obama Nation” has created a stir — since the Obama’s own a Portuguese Water Dog.
When you line up to buy your Portuguese water dog puppies from a reputable Breeders Club breeder; expect to be asked just as many questions as you ask yourself. There is a sense of pride and prestige that goes with owning one of these animals. They have specific diets, care needs, etc. and breeders want reassurance that they’re placing the dog into prepared hands.
When you finally have your puppy with you at home; all the work will be rewarded with one of the most intelligent, loyal creatures man has ever known.
Next to cancer; bloat in dogs is the second leading cause of death in dogs. Most symptoms can be hard to narrow down such as: general restlessness, lack of appetite, reduced bowel movements, dry-heaving (dog tries to vomit, but can’t), hunched appearance (visualize the dog trying to raise the middle part of their back high up in the air), or the dog simply will not sit or lie down.
Other symptoms of bloat in dogs will make you quite aware that immediate intervention is necessary such as: sudden collapse, thick foam on their mouth when the temperature is cool, bright red white or blue gums, or if your dog stands with it’s legs spread wide in obvious discomfort.
Causes
Just as people can become bloated for any number of reasons, so to can dogs. Unfortunately nature is far less forgiving to canines than us.
See the bullet points below for a list of common causes that can create bloat in dogs:
Stress — If there are no other physical or environmental factors that can cause your dog to become bloated, stress can cause problems for any dog of any breed, size, or eating habits.
Eating Habits — feeding your dog foods other than protein rich, low carbohydrate formulations can result in gas. Foods high in acid content like fruits, vegetables, sauces, etc. can all cause problematic bloat in dogs. Some dogs tend to eat and drink way too fast which doesn’t allow their food to move down to their stomach properly (elevating their food and watering dish 4 – 6 inches off the ground should help this problem).
Hereditary Predisposition and/or Physical Build — Dogs with a narrow build, overly large build, overweight/underweight: The list goes on and on…anything that could be considered abnormal including advanced age or dogs that don’t reach their breeds size potential are predisposed to gastrointestinal problems.
Dog allergies, like in humans, appear as a hypersensitivity to various causes and manifest as irritations, diarrhea and specific respiratory symptoms such as coughing and sneezing. Alleviating the condition through reduction of the symptoms helps but other permanent solutions are available.
Treatment Measures
Treatment strategies for dog allergies include the use of corticosteroids, allergy shots, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory agents and avoidance of the offending allergens. The discussion below outlines each of these modes of treatment:
Corticosteroids – Itchiness and inflammation usually accompanies dog allergies. Application of corticosteroids reduces itching thereby reducing inflammation. The drug should be used only as a last resort to relieve extreme discomfort and when allergy period is short since these medications also affect different organs in the body. The drug causes side effect, which include behavioral changes, frequent urination, increased thirst and appetite. Prolonged use may result to diabetes, susceptibility to infection and seizures. Corticosteroids include cortisone, dexamethasone and prednisone.
Allergy shots – Prior to administration of allergy shots, dogs are intradermally tested against 60 different substances. These substances include cat hair, feathers, molds, wool, dust, trees, insects, plants and pollens. Dogs must be free from steroids for a specific period for test results produce valid results. Allergy shots provide protection against common types of dog allergies but require six to twelve months before improvement becomes apparent.
Antihistamines – Examples of antihistamines commonly indicated for dog allergies include Benadryl, Atarax, Seldane, Chlortrimeton and Tavist. Dog owners indicated that best results usually produced using Atarax. These drugs are safe to use on dogs but have sedative effects on dogs. When administered at very low doses, the drug seems to be less effective.
Natural anti-inflammatory agents – Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty acids are natural anti-inflammatory substances helpful in 20% of allergic dogs. These are safe and virtually present no side effects when used as treatment for dog allergies. These products reduce inflammation, which may result to skin sores. It acts by effectively reducing itching and subsequently scratching. Products containing these fatty acids include Omega Pet, EFA-Z Plus and Derm Caps.
Symptomatic Treatment – Reduction of symptoms associated with dog allergies includes cool baths with medicated shampoos, Epsom salts and cool baths with or without oatmeal. Frequent bathing eases symptoms and provides temporary relief. Dermacool and Cortispray, a low dose nonsystemic cortisone spray, are safe to use for short period.
Avoidance of Offending Allergens – The best way to treat dog allergies, prevent complications and recurrence, is by avoiding the substances or allergens, which trigger allergic reactions. Activated charcoal or dehumidifier reduces mold population. Air cleaner with HEPA filter controls dusts and pollens while air conditioning units prevent entry of allergens from the outside environment.
Veterinarians agree that dog allergies are treatable and preventable. However, genes carrying natural tendency towards allergens pass down from the parents to their offspring. Hence, studying and recording allergic reaction of bred dogs help prevent and treat future generations of dogs.
Canine allergies are responsible for much of the chewing and itching of dogs everywhere. Just like people, dogs may be allergic to food ingredients, to pollens of grass, weeds and trees or to mold and dust mites in their environment. Although there are many shampoos and sprays advertised to stop skin itching of dogs, these commercial products have limited effectiveness. They may provide some short term relief but if the source of the allergen is still present, the itch will quickly return.
Atopic dermatitis is an environmental allergy that is quite similar to human allergies. Dust mites, grass and tree pollen and other airborne particles are the cause of atopic dermatitis that affects almost 10% of dogs. Symptoms of atopic dermatitis are paw licking and chewing, paws that appear reddened and tender, fur loss and an itch so persistent it interferes with the dog’s sleep. An effective medication is Atopica which can safely be used long term. Atopica does not contain steroids or cause drowsiness in the dog.
Flea allergy dermatitis is most often the cause when dogs are scratching their back or chewing on the inside of their legs. The saliva released by the flea when it bites the dog is the cause of flea allergy dermatitis. For dogs with this reaction you must break the flea life cycle so that fleas cannot hatch from eggs laid on your dog. Dogs with this allergy can’t tolerate flea bites at all.
A corticosteroid that may be prescribed by your vet to treat skin inflammation is Triamcinolone (the generic name of the drug). Sold by brand names such as Cortalone, Vetalog or TriAcet, this pet med provides fast relief for itching dogs and must be administered exactly as prescribed.
Itching in the anal area is a sign of food allergies in your pet. Food allergies are most often seen in dogs less than one year old but can appear at any age. Your dog may become allergic to a food he has eaten for months or even years. Anal itching may be accompanied by a rash, vomiting or diarrhea and flatulence is another unpleasant symptom of food allergies. Environmental causes of the allergic reaction will be eliminated your vet to make certain there are no secondary allergies to be treated.
Dexamethasone is a synthetic corticosteroid that can have beneficial effects but also may cause negative side effects. Dexamethasone is commonly used in veterinary medicine and is given by injection, inhalation or topically. When used as a topical treatment the solution may also include a miticide, antifungal or antibacterial to treat skin problems.
Used sparingly, corticosteroids can be life saving for your dog and will ease the symptoms caused by canine allergic reactions very quickly. Taken as a pill every other day, this pet medicine acts by depressing the body’s immune system. Corticosteroids are often the solution for owners of pets with seasonal allergies.
Temaril-P may be a solution for dogs requiring long term treatment for airborne allergies. This anti-inflammatory drug has a low dose of prednisone (a corticosteroid) and can be prescribed longer term with less risk than full dose corticosteroid medications. By reducing the dog’s need to scratch, Temaril-P prevents sores and bare spots from developing. This pet med is also used in treating kennel cough or asthma caused by canine allergies. You can use medicines to ease the allergic reaction and provide comfort for your dog even though you may not be able to eradicate the source of the allergy.
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