When you own a Siberian Husky you need to be aware of possible issues as any dog owner should be aware of. Many of the Siberian Husky problems you will encounter are a result of their built in need to be busy and working and while that can lead to problems it can also be a good thing as well. All you need to do is keep track of your dog’s behavior and know what the warning signs are of prospective Siberian Husky problems and then you should be alright.

One of the things the Siberian Husky is known for is its love of running. It was bred as a working dog and cannot stand idle for very long. If you plan on using your Husky as a hunting dog or training it as a racing dog then that works, but for a family dog that is a problem. As long as you can give your Husky some running time every day then it can adapt to down time as well.

You are going to want to take the time to teach your Siberian Husky social skills with other people and animals because one of the big Siberian Husky problems is that the dog can get very protective of its human family and become a less that hospitable host to strangers.

One of the more surprising traits of the Siberian Husky, which for some people can become a Siberian Husky problem, is that your Husky will sometimes prefer not to bark but rather it will start to howl like a wolf. That is because the Siberian Husky is a direct relative to the wolf and at many times the Husky much prefers howling as its form of communication over barking and this can sometimes trigger other dogs to start howling and this can be bad.

The Husky is a direct relative to the wolf so, rather than spending their time and energy barking, the Husky likes to howl a lot. This can be especially troublesome when your Husky starts to get all the other dogs in the neighborhood howling as well. It is a built in behavior that you will never be able to completely suppress but obedience training can help get it under control.

Not all Siberian Husky problems are behavioral. You need to get your Husky to regular vet appointments because the Husky is prone to many health issues. They can get bone deterioration that causes their joints to become very painful.

They can also get digestive problems that can be an issue for everyone and they are also known to get eye infections every once in a while as well. Regular vet visits will keep your dog healthy and everyone happy.

A Siberian Husky is a hard working and active dog that is a direct relative to the wild wolf so you can imagine that their instincts can sometimes be a problem. But they are also very loyal dogs and if you take the time to develop a good relationship with your Husky then you can work out any Siberian Husky problems that may come up.

All dog owners want to be sure their pets are well cared for. To do this they must provide proper exercise and seek the opinion of a veterinarian to keep their dog healthy. This also includes making sure their pet is well fed. Many people think that purchasing the best food available is all that is necessary for their pet to live a long and healthy life. It only makes sense to believe that commercial dog food is better for our pets. Unfortunately, this isn’t always true.

Like all companies, pet food manufacturers want to make money. Because their regulations are not as strict as the ones that producers of human food follow, they often use ingredients that are not very good. These include items that most people would never feed their prized pets. Now that you are aware of the situation, here are some ideas on how to be sure your dog meeting its nutritional requirements.

Though it is more time consuming, a lot of pet owners have started making homemade dog food. It does take longer than purchasing ready made food at the store, but the advantages certainly make it worth while. Paying attention to prices will allow you to spend a similar amount to what you spent previously on commercial dog food. Here are some things to take into account when preparing homemade pet food.

Dogs are perfectly capable of living on a vegetarian diet. Although we grew up believing that it is necessary for dogs to eat meat to get the nutrition that they need, it really isn’t true. If given the right vegetables and if they are prepared properly your dog will have everything that it needs to live a full and happy life. Many times a dog will even live a longer life on home prepared food than it will on manufactured food. Imagine if you ate out at a fast food restaurant every day. You would certainly suffer from malnutrition even though your belly was full. The same is true with your dog. If you feed your dog homemade dog food they certainly will be healthier.

One thing that you will need to be careful of is that there are certain types of food that are not good for your dog to eat. Some of these include chocolate, macadamia nuts, milk and milk-based products, grapes, and raisins. You would also never want to give your dog an alcoholic beverage. Other than some restrictions on what you can feed your dog, you’ll find that you have a wide range of homemade dog foods to choose from. Just make sure that you know your restrictions.

You’ll always be taking care of your dog throughout it’s life. The extra nutrition found in homemade food may actually make your pet live longer. Your dog will love you for it and this will definitely make you happier too.

Knowing that you can give your dog homemade dog food can put you in a financial setback as far as food prices are concerned, but in reality, who can say that they don’t feed their dog human food scraps or care to?

So in the long run although a dog is generally catogorized as having a different diet requirement, it is perfectly fine to have homemade dog food as their body digests the same way that humans do and their is no scientific proof otherwise.

Treatment for Common Ear Problems in Dogs

There are many possible ear problems that your dog may have. Your dog can have ear problems that originate on the pinnae, the outer ear that you can see, or the external ear canal. This is referred to as Otitis externa. An infection or inflammation in the middle ear canal is otitis media and likewise, an infection of the inner ear canal is otitis interna.

You can usually tell when your dog has otitis externa, or outer ear infection because they do a lot of head shaking, persistent scratching of the ear, you smell an odor and/or see a discharge coming from the ear or you might see redness on some portion of the ear. If you see these signs, you can be pretty sure your dog has some type of external ear infection. To pinpoint exactly what type of infection your dog has, your vet will need to do an otoscopic exam and swab the ear to check for inflammatory cells, microorganisms, foreign bodies, masses and parasites.
It is harder to tell when your dog has a middle or inner ear infection. Again, an otoscopic exam will be performed so the eardrum can be checked for ruptures, discolorization, or any bulging due to fluid build-up or masses.

Below are the treatments of uncomplicated otitis:

Ear Mites: Treated by a thorough cleaning of the ear canal and then a topical treatment that kills the mites by suffocating them. If the infection is serious then a systemic treatment such as Fipronil (Frontline or Top Spot), Selamectin (Revolution), or Ivermectin (Ivomec) will be given.

Masses and Foreign Bodies: Barbed grasses can cause quite a bit of damage to the dog’s ear canal and are usually removed while the dog is under anesthesia. Masses in the ear are surgically removed when possible. The dog is usually given antibiotics and some form of a corticosteroid to help control swelling and pain. Remember, if you dog seems to be having problems hearing, it could be to a mass in his inner or middle ear canal that is causing blockage.

Ear Problems due to Skin Disorders: If the ear problem is due to a hormonal imbalance, your dog’s hormone level will be tested and they will be given trial treatments. Neutering or spaying is also an option. If the ear problem is due to allergies, elimination trials will be started to try to isolate the allergen and then eliminate it from his environment or diet. When the infection is due to bacteria, they are usually treated with a topical medication. If serious enough, a systemic treatment will be given.

If your dog has stenotic ear canals (narrow), you can keep infections at bay by frequently, but gently cleaning your dog’s ears. It is important that you thoroughly dry the ears each time. Excess moisture is a breeding ground for all types of bacteria thus inviting problems.

When you dog is repeatedly getting ear infections due to excessively hairy ear canals, the excess hair will need to be plucked. The excess hair does not let the earwax and oils be removed naturally, causing a build-up and an infection will result.

Dogs that swim regularly or have access to lakes, ponds, rivers etc, will need to have their ears checked regularly to make sure that their ears are drying properly after swimming so that they don’t get swimmer’s ear. If you notice that your dog’s ears are staying wet for long periods of time, you will have to take the time to dry the ears so that they don’t become infected.

Be sure to be alert to signs of head shaking, excessive scratching about the ears, odor or discharge from the ears, redness or even possible deafness. These are all signs that your dog could be having ear problems. The sooner you identify the problem and take proper action, the less complicated the problem will be and your best friend will love you for your love and attention.