Hip Dysplasia:

Hip Dysplasia is a degenerating joint disease thought to be genetic, and is more often found among larger breeds. High risk breeds include:

German Shepard’s                    Golden Retrievers            Great Danes

Labrador Retrievers                  Saint Bernard’s             Rottweiler’s

Symptoms:

Stiffness

Limping/hoping

Loss of muscle tone

Diagnosis:

Hip Dysplasia requires x-rays and a physical exam preformed by a veterinarian.  There are other causes that often masquerade as hip dysplasia, the most common being a ruptured ACL ligament.

Treatment:

There are several options for treatment, but all include surgery.  The two most common procedures are:

1. Triple Pelvic Ostetomy (TPO)

Usually preformed on dogs less than 10 months old

2. Total Hip Replacement

Removal of effected joint and replacement with prosthesis

There is other at home care that can accompany surgery repair:

Weight: keeping your dog at a healthy and lean weight will reduce unnecessary strain on the joint.

Exercise: moderate/controlled exercise will keep the muscles strong, helping stabilize the joint. Most helpful exercises are swimming and slow walks, while making sure the leg is being used.

Supplements:

• Glucosamine
• Chondroitin
• Ester-C (studies have shown using Ester-C can be beneficial)
• Buffered Aspirin
• Omega-3 fatty acids

Heat is the equivalent of human menstruation, when women have their periods every month because the lining of the womb breaks down. In female dogs, heat is more correctly called the oestrous cycle. As in humans, heat can be a painful and stressful time for female dogs, so be sure to recognise the dog heat symptoms and deal with them as best you can.

As human females do during their periods, the first dog heat symptom that you will observe is that the dog bleeds from their vagina. This can also lead to swelling of the vulva and more urination, so brace yourself for cleaning up. However, although the dog will bleed, it will not be in amounts comparable to the bleeding of humans during their periods: there will only be a small amount of blood. If the dog is young, it may be harder to identify their dog heat symptoms so be really astute about watching for your puppies first oestrous cycle.

That said, a female dog normally doesn’t come into heat until at least six months of age. Like in humans, some start earlier and some start later, so don’t be shocked if it comes at four months or even fourteen months. However, if she reaches fourteen months and still hasn’t had an oestrous cycle, make sure you consult a veterinarian as this is akin to a female human reaching seventeen and still not having had a period.

While the heat cycle lasts, you will continue to see dog heat symptoms. The cycle lasts on average three weeks, although in some dogs it is two weeks and in others it is four. This cycle repeats every six to eight months, which means your dog will often be in heat twice a year.

Another symptom of the heat cycle is that male dogs hang around your front door more or try and reach your heat-suffering dog. The dog will also appear restless and will have a mood change, becoming more sombre.

Remember that just as in human periods, dogs do not enjoy their heat and so you must be sensitive. On walks, be gentle (and be sure to keep any male dogs at bay), and in the house, leave her alone. More often than not she will want to be left alone, and if not, she will seek attention on her own terms.

So, the main dog heat symptoms: bleeding from the vagina, increased urination, restlessness and a change in mood. You may well observe other symptoms, but these are the main ones to look out for in your dog. All good dog owners know their dogs well, and so it should be easy to tell when your dog is in heat.

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Your female dog is a living creature, specifically she is a mammal. And just like any other female mammals on earth, just like women, your dog also undergoes the so called ‘female dog heat symptoms‘ at some times in her life.

The heat cycle process is a way to send signal to male dogs around the block, that she is ready for the mating season. After noting it, you may react violently, or you may be happy for your female canine friend, because at last, she can give birth to more puppies that you wanted most.

You should be aware of the signs and symptoms of the heat cycle in order to take care of your female dog at this point of her life means. Knowing such will alert you in making a decision if you want your dog to bear puppies or not.

The heat cycle period happens every six months, and it will last for twenty-one days or for about three weeks. And within that time span, there will be only two to three days when she will actually be ready to have her eggs fertilized by a sperm.

The first set of symptoms that she will probably manifest includes licking her external reproductive organ, or the vulva. It is so frequent that oftentimes you will be annoyed why she does that. There will be swelling of her vagina, so you will notice that there is an increase in its size.

After which, she will experience bleeding from her vagina, similar to female persons undergoing their menstrual period. The bleeding sign is also called the ‘spotting,’ and there will be dark red bloody discharges noted. It will be quite profuse, but as the days go by, the amount will be lessened, and the color of the discharges will turn to a lighter shade of red.

As she is getting ready for the perfect time of mating, you will notice that her tail will not be in a normal angle. She will bend it to either left or right side in an unusual manner. Moreover, you will also detect that she empties her bladder or urinates frequently. This female dog heat symptom will alert you the most, especially if you don’t want her to bear puppies yet, because urinating from spot to spot means that she is giving a ‘Go’ signal for male dogs to mate with her. So if you took her out at the park and she urinated everywhere, expect a lot of male dogs to visit her more frequently at your home.

If you want to confirm the heat cycle of your dog, you should try to visit a veterinarian to confirm the changes taking place in her. The veterinarian can also assist you on what to expect during this time, and what you can do about it. He can even make some examinations that will tell you when is the best time for your dog to mate during the course heat cycle.

These are the most common female dog heat symptoms that you should be aware of. Don’t panic if your dog starts to scatter dark red spots around your home, because she is only undergoing a normal physiological process all female mammals are going through.

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