Dog Health and Care

If a dog regularly scratches itself, we initially think parasites are the cause. However, there are further reasons for itchiness, such as allergies. Even dogs are affected by allergies and the number of allergic illnesses is increasing.

Arthrosis is a widespread disease that very commonly affects humans and animals. It is a degenerative chronic joint alteration accompanied by pain and progressive restriction of the affected joint's mobility. Arthrosis is neither inflammatory nor infectious. It is a consequence of the ongoing decomposition of the joint cartilage beyond the usual level.

They are extremely tiny and absolutely everywhere – bacteria! They lurk outside in nature, in forests, in meadows and in fields. Many of them are completely harmless to our four-legged friends, but some bacteria can lead to serious diseases in our dogs. Here are five known bacterial infections and their treatment options.

Bad dog breath is very unpleasant and a sign for underlying diseases in the mouth cavity. So that you and your canine friend can breathe easily again, we have summarised the most important information on the subject of bad breath in dogs for you.

The joy surrounding a new puppy is huge and we animal lovers usually concern ourselves at the start of the new friendship with subjects like diet, great toys or the right training. It's often the case that we only ask ourselves whether and how puppies can be bathed when they first jump in a muddy puddle. All important information is summarised in the following article in order to answer this question for you:

The birth of new puppies is always a very special occasion even for experienced breeders. But how does the process of dogs giving birth actually work? What problems can emerge when breastfeeding the puppies and how can the owner support their female dog during this full-on phase?

Bladder infections affecting dogs (cystitis) mostly emerge in connection to the urethra being inflamed, so it should not be treated in isolation. The urethra and bladder are known together as the lower urinary tract.

Is your dog struggling to urinate? Then you should contact your vet as soon as possible! We will clarify how bladder stones in dogs can be dangerous and how to protect your dog from them.

 If your dog is blind, it will be more dependent than usual on your support and care. The following article will outline how your dog could go blind and what you have to pay attention to with a blind dog. 

In some cases as a dog owner, you can't avoid cleaning your four-legged friend's ears. Regular care is important especially with dogs that tend to suffer from ear infections. Our guide will explain what is the right way to clean your dog's ears and when it is necessary. 

Dog owners should give thought to contraception for their beloved pets at the very latest when females enter heat for the first time and males suddenly prey on females in the neighbourhood. But what methods actually prevent females from getting pregnant and what forms of contraception are there for males?

Cooling down dogs can be a challenge, especially when the sun beats down on the ground around midday, at its highest. With a few tips, however, you can find out what tricks help to keep your dog cool.

Canine coronavirus (CcoV) is spread globally and particularly affects dogs kept in kennels and puppies. If we compare human coronavirus to that affecting dogs, it causes respiratory problems in the former, whilst the latter predominantly leads to gastrointestinal complaints. Although coronavirus infections in dogs are usually mild, they can be severe with heavy diarrhoea and even lead to death in animals with weak immune systems.

Having their claws cut is no fun for most dogs. As soon as the claw clippers are taken out, many dogs hide and panic. Find out here the most important tips and tricks so that this doesn't happen and your dog learns to relax when having its claws cut.

Has your dog ever had bald patches in its fur although it is otherwise well? Demodex mites could be the cause. These small parasites populate the fur of dogs and trigger demodicosis when they reproduce heavily. Find out in this article how you can help your pet and what else you need to know about demodex mites with dogs.

Dogs are known for always being cheerful and a man's best friend. But what happens when the joy vanishes and your dog is depressed? Find out through this article the most important information on the subject of depression in dogs.

If you get a puppy from a breeder, they mostly know your dog's age to the very day. In contrast, animal shelters or animal welfare associations usually cannot give precise information about the dog's age. In such cases, it has to be estimated based on different indicators. We will show you how you can determine dog age.

Diabetes is the most common hormonal metabolic disease affecting dogs and is typically accompanied by increased fluid consumption and regular urination. Females and breeds like the Samoyed or Miniature Schnauzer show an increased risk of falling ill with diabetes. The disease is divided into diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus, since their development process is different.

Many dogs accompany their owner for a large part of their life and reach a ripe old age. Of course, age also leaves its mark on our furry friends. The following article reveals signs of senility in dogs and how you can make the ageing process easier. As well, we will confront the difficult question of when it is time to say goodbye.

Dogs love discovering the world with their mouth. Hence, it's very important that you take care of your dog's teeth properly. Find out more here about the right dental care for your dog.

Digestive disorders are a regularly occurring problem – and a rather unpleasant one at that. There can be many different reasons for diarrhoea. Poor nutrition, organ illnesses and infections caused by intestinal parasites or allergies must be considered possible causes of digestion problems. Initially the vet will treat them by conventional means, which will generally make “normal” diarrhoea disappear quickly. Things get complicated when it comes to regularly reoccurring problems, in which case a closer look needs to be taken at the causes.

It usually happens without any warning. A misplaced step on some broken glass, a wasp sting or a collision with a car, and suddenly your dog is yapping and bleeding, leaving its shocked owner wondering helplessly how to help man’s best friend. Here you can find out the best ways to prepare for such an incident, with first-aid measures you should learn and the recommended contents of a canine first aid kit.

Every dog’s coat should be combed and brushed regularly to keep it in top condition, but the way you should care for your dog’s fur varies according to breed, length and even time of year. Regular grooming is important for the following reasons:

1. Dogs feel better when they’re well-groomed. Itchy skin and tangled hair are uncomfortable for your dog, and can have a real effect on their quality of life.
2. Brushing stimulates the circulation and helps to encourage healthy hair growth.
3. When you brush your dog’s coat the old hairs and skin cells are removed, letting your dog’s coat breathe. Tangled, matted hair is an ideal breeding ground for ticks, fleas and mites, and can also lead to painful rashes and eczema.

Some breeds of dog shed their coats more noticeably in the spring and autumn, as their coats change according to the season. At these times you should groom your dog more often, and you may also need different grooming equipment.

There's no such thing as bad weather for true fresh air fans. Be it mud, snow or salt on pavements, dog and owner go for walks lasting several hours and enjoy the winter period. However, you shouldn't forget that these weather conditions can put intensive demands on your dog's paws. Cracks in the paw pads or adhesions to the paws that make walking difficult and can trigger injuries are no rarity. You can provide relief with a few simple tricks:

The thing that fascinates us humans about dogs is their enormous sensory capacity. Their senses are far better developed than those of humans, to the extent that they can orientate themselves, recognise everything and everyone by smells, and hear sounds and noises we cannot even comprehend.

There are several rumours circulating as to why dogs nibble at "tasty" grass on their daily walk like sheep. But is this actually normal or should you worry if your dog eats grass?

Although the heat period is an entirely natural process for female dogs, irritation at stains on the new carpet, fear of an unwanted pregnancy or their pet's strange behaviour can cause many dog owners to worry. Find out here everything you need to know about your female dog's heat period and how you can both overcome this without any stress.

More than 2,000 types of fleas parasitise mammals and birds. Dogs are most commonly inhabited by the Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea), more rarely by the Ctenocephalides canis (dog flea), and occasionally by the Pulex irritans and Pulex simulans (human flea), as well as by the Echidnophaga gallinacea (hen flea) and (hedgehog flea). Fleas are wingless, laterally flattened insects around 1-6mm in length with a strong talus and piercing-sucking mouth parts. They are light to dark brown in colour and feed off the blood of their host animal. The development of fleas progresses from the egg to three larva stages to the pupa and then the adult form. Female fleas take just a few minutes to inhabit the dog's blood and start to lay eggs after around 24-48 hours. During its lifespan of around 50-100 days, it lays on average 30 eggs per day. The eggs are mostly laid during the dog's rest period and fall out on its sleeping spot or other areas where it frequently rests. Within a few days, the eggs hatch and become larvae, developing over three stages into pupa. The larvae feed off cell material and flea excrement with undigested blood, which is released from the dog along with the eggs. The adult flea hatches from the pupa and seeks to inhabit the nearest dog as soon as possible. In unfavourable conditions, such as cooler temperatures, the pupa can survive in its cocoon for up to 50 weeks until hatching. In ideal conditions, the duration of the cycle from egg to adult flea is around two to four weeks. Adult fleas from C. felis and C. canis permanently live on their host; they occasionally cross over to other hosts, but don't stay in the surrounding area for a long time. The flea's youthful stages (egg, larva, pupa) live in the environment, the larvae hole up into hiding places such as under cushions and carpets, as well as gaps in the flooring. Dogs can bring fleas into the home through contact with other animals. The conditions in a living space are ideal for the development of fleas, and they multiply rapidly in this environment. C. felis, the most common type of flea, is not picky in its choice of host animal: it has been found on over 50 different types of animal all over the world, as well as on humans.

Does your dog have bad breath? If so, seeing a vet is advisable, because gum inflammation in dogs (gingivitis) can lead to bad breath. This article will tell you how this comes about and how you can treat your pet's gingivitis.

Hip dysplasia (HD) affecting dogs is a genetically caused joint development disorder. External influences like environmental factors, housing and diet can also have a negative effect on joint development. Hip dysplasia predominantly affects medium- to large-sized breeds, with smaller breeds less frequently affected. It often emerges with breeds like the Golden and Labrador Retriever, Bernese Mountain Dog, Boxer, Rottweiler, German Shepherd and St Bernard, rarely with Greyhounds or Borzois. Dogs aren’t born with hip dysplasia but have the genetic predisposition for it. At the age of around 12 months, affected puppies develop dislocated hips (subluxation). The femoral head isn’t fixed firmly enough in the hip socket and moves around instead. Changes resulting from this like hip joint arthrosis emerge from the age of four months. Many dogs with a mild form of hip dysplasia often only show symptoms such as lameness in old age. Factors such as a heavy body weight or quick growth can intensify HD, which is why a healthy diet with a moderate calorie and adapted mineral content is so important in the puppy phase. An excessively high provision of energy or minerals like calcium can have a negative influence on hip dysplasia.

Incontinence describes uncontrolled urination or defecation, which can be triggered by several diseases. In contrast, continence is the ability to retain urine or faeces. In most cases, we assume incontinence to be of the urinary form. Urination is made possible by numerous anatomical and functional characteristics of the system. It helps to take a look at the anatomy in order to understand this in more detail.

All dog owners fear intoxication. Although the police often warn of poisonous bait, innocent dogs die from rat poison and the like every year. Find out here which foods and substances can lead to intoxication in dogs and when you should go to the vet.

All dog owners are familiar with their dog scratching once in a while. Increased scratching can often occur during the moulting phase in particular. However, if you observe that this itching goes beyond a normal level and your dog is also licking and cleaning itself more often, you should urgently follow up on it. Itching can hugely limit a dog's wellbeing and reduce its quality of life. Sometimes itching is so bad that neither the dog nor the owner can sleep any more. Itching can manifest in very different ways. The owner usually notices the dog scratching different parts of its body with its front or rear paws. This can affect all parts of the dog's body. For instance, shaking its head means that the ears are itching. Dogs lick and also fiddle with the paws or legs, or even the back and croup. If dogs have limited or no access at all to certain areas of their body, they rub them against the wall or carpet to reduce their itching. In many cases, however, it doesn't just stop at itching. Cats can suffer from inflammations through constant scratching and bacteria, yeast fungi and other pathogens can pave the way for infections. Skin infections increase itching on top of everything, so the dog becomes trapped in a vicious circle of itching.

Is your dog coughing regularly and is listless? Then you should think about kennel cough for dogs (infectious tracheobronchitis). The following article tells you what this disease is about and how you can protect your dog from it.

There's nothing better than a massage for deep relaxation. Your dog will certainly agree! Read here how you can truly pamper your dog and why a dog massage is good for its health.

Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease transmitted by sandflies and can often prove fatal for dogs. Find out how you can protect your dog and how to recognise and treat the disease should it emerge.

If you can feel a lump in your dog's teat, alarm bells should ring. We have summarised for you how it could be breast cancer and how your vet can detect and treat mammary tumours in dogs.

Healthy bones, joints and muscles keep our pets free of pain when they're on the move. The first signs of illnesses are mainly linked to limited mobility: dogs avoid uncomfortable movements, such as climbing the stairs with spinal illnesses, or limp in order to protect the affected area. In the following article, we will offer a brief overview of possible diseases affecting the musculoskeletal system.

Many dogs accompany their owner for a large part of their lives and reach a ripe old age. Of course age leaves its mark on our furry friends too. The following article will reveal what the signs of senility in dogs are and how you can make ageing easier for them. Furthermore, we will tackle the difficult question of when it is time to say goodbye.

Painkillers are one of the most common groups of medication used by vets. It's not surprising – they take away pain from dogs and contribute to a significant improvement in their quality of life. But what painkillers are there available for dogs and what do you have to consider in terms of administration?

Ticks and fleas are the parasites that can affect our dogs. They feed off their blood and are real pests. Find out everything you need to know about ticks and fleas affecting dogs in the following article.

If your dog has digestion problems, then prebiotics and probiotics may be the solution. In this article, we explain how these substances can support your dog's intestinal health and what you should pay attention to.

Is your dog drinking more than normal or does it need to vomit? Then the problem could lie in its kidneys. Read here how the vet can help your dog and what you need to know about renal insufficiency in dogs.

Neutering has traditionally been a standard veterinary practice, but is it universally recommended? What distinguishes neutering from sterilisation and what expenses should a dog owner anticipate? Here, you can discover all the essential information concerning the advantages and disadvantages of neutering your dog.

Have you discovered that your dog has scales or is it scratching itself more often? Then you should take a closer look at its skin! Read here which skin diseases are common in dogs and how you can care for your dog's skin.

Summer means more enjoyable, light-filled walks with your dog. Unfortunately, this also means that sunburn in dogs becomes a danger that needs to be taken seriously. Often sun protection for dogs is not taken seriously enough: light dog skin in particular can easily get sunburned.

Puppies are as sweet as sugar and keep their new home nice and busy – especially when their first milk teeth are coming through. We will explain what you as a new dog owner should know about teething in dogs and how you can make this painful phase for your puppy as pleasant as possible.

No question about it – vaccinations help protect your dog from deadly infectious diseases. But which vaccinations should your dog have? What does your puppy actually receive in its initial immunisations, and how often should your dog have boosters to ensure life-long protection?

After a few days of letting your new dog settle in, it is advisable to introduce your newest little family member to the vet. This allows immediate detection of any possible infections or parasites, and allows you to instantly treat any issues.