Does Your Dog Suck Rocks?

Does your dog suck rocks? Not swallow them, just suck on them. I have been trying to figure out why Mulligan does this? It is so funny to watch him. He will find a small rock, kind of flat and roll it around in his mouth, shaking his head gently from side to side, up and down all the while working up a foam of saliva that drips out from the sides of his mouth.

When I am sitting out in my garden he will lay beside me with his rock and suck away. He can do this for what seems like hours, quite happy and content. When something else gets his attention he will drop the rock and come back to it again or go find a new one and resume the process.

I have been doing some research and it seems there a several theories. One is that a dog that sucks on rocks is lacking salt and minerals in their diet. Another is that it is a personality disorder and the dog is trying to get attention.

One article I read mentions the disease called “pica” which is when dogs EAT strange things due to a variety of reasons from attention getting, boredom to underlying diseases. Mulligan doesn’t eat the rocks he just sucks the rocks.

I think perhaps he could be lacking salt and other minerals…although he eats very well and gets a good healthy kibble. But he is so active that maybe he is replenishing his lost nutrients. What I really think is that he really just likes to suck rocks. I think it is his way to relax and chill, sucking rocks is his Zen. Like relaxing in my garden is my Zen.

I would love to hear from anyone who has a rock-sucking dog. What are your thoughts about this silly dog habit?

Does Your Dog Suck Rocks?

Canine Lyme Disease

Here in New Hampshire after a long snowy and wet winter the snow is finally melting and with that, brings the emergence of the blood-thirsty tick and the possibility that your dog could contract Lyme disease.

Canine Lyme disease affects thousands of pet dogs on a yearly basis, and is considered the most often reported tick borne disease in the country.  It is common within the Northeastern states from Maine to Maryland, along with Minnesota, Wisconsin, Oregon and Northern California.

It's brought on by a bacterial infection that is acquired through the bite of the tick.  It's typically transmitted through the deer tick or black-legged tick. The particular bacteria that triggers Lyme disease is Borrelia burgdorferi and can take many weeks for the illness to show itself in the dog following exposure.

It's a complex and generally perplexing disease and for that reason, screening for canine Lyme disease can serves as a sentinel for human Lyme disease infections.

The disease can result in complications in a variety of areas of your dog's system and may result in severe and in some cases fatal health conditions in most dogs.  Symptoms of the illness trigger serious joint pain and among the first warning signs of Lyme disease are often a limp, particularly one front leg. For successful transmission of the bacteria, the tick has to be in the dogs skin for a minimum of 1-2 days.

According to research carried out pertaining to Lyme disease in dogs, it's learned that the bacteria exists in the tick's saliva, which is then transferred to the dog's system during bites.  Currently, instances have already been documented in 44 states in North America and several other locations around the globe and the occurrence is growing.

 When Lyme disease goes undiscovered for long periods of time, it can wreak chaos on a dog's immunity process.   It's a disease that impacts thousands of dogs each year.

Decoding the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease can be a little bit complicated at times because they are typical to several other dog diseases.  And this is what makes the disease tougher to diagnose quickly and it is found that preventing the disease is less complicated than managing the disease.

Of the typical tick-borne diseases only canine Lyme disease has a distinct vaccine.

Doxycycline or amoxicillin are two of the most typically recommended prescription antibiotics to treat this disease. They are both effective. Dogs need to be on antibiotics for a minimum of 14 days, however, 30 days is recommended dosage.

 If you think your dog could possibly have Lyme disease, waste little time in seeing the vet. Early treatment will help protect against serious permanent damage.  Most dogs respond effectively to treatment and have no long-term problems or lasting damage from the disease.

Canine Lyme Disease

Epilepsy In Dogs

Dog epilepsy is among the most psychologically devastating issues confronting dog owners and dog breeders today.  Having a dog with epilepsy causes numerous feelings: anxiety, uncertainty, and fear are only a few.

Dog epilepsy is fairly typical. In truth, its thought that somewhere around 5% of most dogs endure epilepsy, defining it as one of the most prevalent neurological issues among dogs.   Epilepsy can be found most often in certain dog breeds, such as the Labrador retriever and Golden retriever, as they can be genetically susceptible to the condition.

Dog epilepsy is a chronic condition that affects the dog's brain and is characterized by recurrent seizures.  The problem is most significantly characterized by a number of seizures that dramatically restricts a dog's control over motor functions.  Typically recognized as an unchecked discharge of electrical release within the brain.

Seizures generally show up suddenly and finish spontaneously, and may last from a few moments to a matter of minutes.  Seizures are among the scariest situations that you might ever experience. They are usually recognized by violent shaking and trembling, falling down and disorientation.

The problem cannot be cured but it is often managed. Sadly, for dogs, epilepsy may either be inherited or it could even be attributable to the chemical preservatives in the food that they eat.

Seizures in young dogs might require treatment. When the main cause of seizures can't be identified or remedied or repeated seizures are anticipated, antiepileptic drug treatment is usually advised.

When managing canine epilepsy, it might be required to test a number of medications, or perhaps mixtures of medications and different dosage amounts to customize the right treatment method for the dog.   These drug treatments will not cure the dog; they simply manage the seizures and must be provided to the dog for the remainder of its life.

Epilepsy In Dogs