Health Resources

Sarcoptic Mange – Causes, Identification, and Treatment Among the conditions that can trouble dogs, mange is one of the more unsavory and distressing conditions. The most prevalent form of mange – sarcoptic mange – is due to miniature mites that eat under the skin of the dog and feed on the base of the hair follicles.

It is this destruction by an excess of sarcoptic mites that is the root of the discomfort, and treatment needs to be applied to the cause in order to attack the problem. Discovering Sarcoptic Mites It is imperative that one is aware of the cause of sarcoptic mange, and to do so it is vital that as much as possible is recognized about the mites that cause the condition.

Sarcoptic mites live mostly on dogs, although they can exist on other animals – particularly cats – that come into contact with the troubled dog. The mites do not live for very long – a few days is the known life span – but they lay almost as soon as they are born, and do so by digging into the skin of the dog. The eggs are born in a short while and the process begins again, leading to more mites on the dog and a further increase of the infection.  Read more...

If dog fleas are ruining your life, and no doubt ruining the life of your dog, you need a plan to get rid of them and keep them from coming back. Flea infestations have to be one of the most stubborn and frustrating things to deal with, but it is possible to rid your home and dog of these annoying little animals. To get your plan off to a good start, lets talk about the steps you will need to perform to be effective in killing fleas.

Before you even start, it’s a good idea to get an idea of the scope of problem you are dealing with. Most people don’t realize that the fleas living on and biting your dog (and you), are only about 5% of the total population of fleas in their various life stages that are in your dogs living space. This living space includes all areas that he normally frequents, including your yard, patio, basement, garage, car etc. If you fail to rid fleas in these other areas, or in the other life stages, then you are going to fail at getting rid of the fleas.  Read more...

Being a responsible pet owner means that you must take your pet’s health and welfare seriously. One such aspect that must be taken very seriously is the inevitable experiences with dog fleas. Dog fleas can seriously affect your pet’s health. Your dog’s ability to get a good sleep will be hampered. In addition, the itching and biting can take a serious toll on your dog’s coat and skin.

The best way to deal with dog fleas is to prevent dog fleas. However, even with the best of intentions and discipline, our pets will at some time come into contact with fleas. The most effective way to deal with fleas is to take a multi-pronged approach. First, you must get rid of the fleas on your pet, Secondly, you must rid the immediate environment of fleas to prevent immediate re-infestation. Lastly, you must re-double your efforts towards flea prevention.

As recently as 10-15 years ago, getting rid of fleas was a tedious and arduous process that involved a lot of combing and picking. Thankfully, the pet health industry has made getting rid of fleas much easier. There are a number of commercially available flea medications that work quickly and effectively. Some of the better known brands include Advantage and Frontline. Your pet will have some relief from fleas within the first 36 hours after taking the medication and the fleas can be totally eliminated within 3-4 days. These solutions are applied topically and are non-toxic to your pet.  Read more...