Dog Medicine - What You Should Know
Dog medicine can be any of a number of things. It can refer to the many different health care options for your dog or it can refer to specific medications. You only want to do what's best for your dog, so it's good to have a solid understanding of both. The first types of dog medicine you should be aware of are the medications that you can get prescribed from your vet and they types that you can purchase over the counter. It is definitely not recommended that you purchase any without checking with your vet first.
If you do decide to purchase treatments or medications over the counter, made sure you read the instructions carefully. They will tell you the exact dosage, how often you need to use the medicine, and what kind of side effects want to occur.
If you want to avoid any risks though, you should go see your veterinarain and get their professional advice. With that said, here is a list of different health problems that dogs deal with and the types of medications that are available for getting rid of them.
Dog Medicine - Different Medications, Chews, and Sprays
For those that aren't interested in the holistic or alternative approaches, it's helpful to get an idea about the different types of dog medicine that your vet might prescribe.Flea Prevention
Some of the medications for getting rid of fleas include Frontline Plus, K9 Advantix II, Revolution, Sentinel, ProMeris for Dogs, Comfortis, and Advantage Multi. You can also try a medicated collar like the Preventic Tick Collar for dogs.
Shedding Problems
Is your dog shedding quite a bit? If so, your vet will prescribe oral medications like Brite Coat XS, Shed Terminator, Nordic Naturals Pet Cod Liver Oil and Omega-3 Pet. Super Pure Omega 3 is another common prescription. The FURminator deShedding dog tool is a great choice for those that want to see instant results. They should be used alongside the medication your vet prescribes.
Joint Problems
If your dog is dealing with joint problems and is having a hard time walking, lying down, or sitting, then your vet will probably prescribe something like Previcox, Adeguan, Phenylbutazone, Rimadyl, or Deramaxx. There are also joint supplements that you can give to your dog as they get older, and they include Cosequin for Dogs, Joint Chewys, Glyco-Flex III, Super Joint Enhancer, and Cosequin DS Plus MSM.
Hot Spots
If your dog has one or more hot spots that they constantly lick, then you'll probably want to do something about it! There are a couple good topical medications that you can apply that your vet might recommend. If you don't want to go to the vet you can try Bitter Apple spray. Dogs hate the taste and smell and will avoid licking or biting at any part of the body you have applied it to.
Some of the other medications for hot spots include types like Excel Hydrocortisone Shampoo or spray, Be Soothed Tea Tree Oil Skin Relief, and HomeoPet Hot Spots. They'll get your dog to leave their hot spot alone in no time so it will finally be able to heal.
Ear Infections
Ear infections are pretty common with dogs. They're constantly running around, eating things they shouldn't, sniffing odd smells, it shouldn't come as a surprise that they would get some type of infection. Fortunately, your vet can prescribe or recommend a number of medications, such as Mometamax, Otomax, Zymox Otic Enzymatic Solution with Hydrocortizsone (and without it), Animax, and Tresaderm.
Though you might not immediately know it when your dog has an ear infection, you can tell if you notice a strange smell. It won't be so strong that you can smell it from afar, but if you are careful to inspect the health of your dog each day and check their face, you'll pick up on these types of things.
Teeth and Breath
Your dog's health might not be at stake here, but sometimes their breath is too much to handle. Of course, you can do something about that by giving them some Be Fresh Dental Care Solution or C.E.T. AquaDent. They're both really good options for not only freshening up your dog's breath, but also helping to keep their mouths clean.
There are quite a few chews and treats that you can use to get this same effect as well. Greenies Dental Chews are recommended by a lot of poeple, as are the C.E.T Oral Hygiene and HEXtra Premium Chews. Chews are a nice way to freshen up your dog's breath because you can combine them into the training process. Your dog won't know that you're helping to keep their breath clean while teaching them obedience.
If your dog has really awful breath, you should check out the rinses and toothpaste options you can give them when you brush their teeth. Brushing is more important to a dog than a lot of people realize, so don't think it's going over the top to use these. Some of the options are C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste, Max's Super Dental Wipes, the Petrodex Finger Toothbrush, and the Nolvadent Oral Cleansing Solution. Whichever solution you do decide to start using, give it time. They won't immediately get rid of the bad breath.
Allergies
Does your dog deal with allergies as the seasons change? If they do, your vet will prescribe medications like Atopica, Hydroxyzine Pamoate, Yucca Intensive, Prednisone, Excel Hydrocortisone Spray, and Genesis Topical Spray. There are quite a few options really, and your veterinarian might prescribe one that's not listed here either.
Dog Medicine - Alternative Options
If you are someone that doesn't want to use dog medicine because you're concerned about side effects, you might want to check out the alternative options. These types of alternative medicine are still administered by vets (and you should not attempt them yourself).Did you know your dog can actually get acupuncture? While the idea of sticking a lot of needles into your dog's body (or your own) might make some people cringe, it is something that has proven to be effective in a lot of situations. Some of the main problems that acupuncture is used on in dogs includes liver disease, arthritis, constipation, allergies, kideny problems, and diabetes. It also helps for dogs that are dealing with things like muscle strains.
Another option for those that need dog medicine is homeopathy. There are homeopathic veterinarians that look into the diet, behavior, and lifestyle of your dog in order to determine what they can do to help with their health. The only goal of a homeopathic veterinarian isn't to get rid of illness in dogs, though. They are trained to help emotional and behavior problems.
One thing to be careful about with the use of herbs for dog medicine is that you are not doing anything without the supervision and advice of a veterinarian first. Many people mistakenly assume that because herbs are "natural," there can't be any adverse side effects. However, that's not necessarily true, and taking the wrong herbs in improper amounts can lead to real problems. A veterinarian will likley recommend herbs for things like skin conditions or flea infestations.
Does your dog have back problems? If they do, a chiropractic veterinarian might be able to help. Like with humans, dogs have musculoskeletal systems that need adjustments from time to time. This is definitely something you don't want to attempt on your own, as you could seriously harm your dog by moving their back in the wrong way.
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