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My puppy has lots of tiny red spots on his tummy and seems forever scratching; the vet says he thinks it is an allergy to something. What does he mean?

An allergy means a sensitivity to something or other; usually a food of some kind. Heat bumps in children are an example. Perhaps your puppy has an allergy to eggs, or fish, or even milk with the cream on it. Perhaps you have bathed it in some kind of medicated shampoo to which its skin is sensitive.

Only by a process of elimination will you be able to find out what is causing this irritation. In the meantime, just to make sure the vet is right in his diagnosis, It is strongly advisable that you bathe the dog in a good anti-pesticide soap that the druggist can recommend for mange; when you have washed the puppy, dry it with the soap left in. This will make sure the spots you mention are not follicular mange, which has the same symptoms and which the soap will cure.

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Trying to predict what dog health symptoms that your dog might get is virtually impossible. You never know what can happen to your pet. And when your dog is injured or sick, then having a quick dog health symptom reference book on hand can be a life saver, literally.

It is best to be prepared for the most common injuries and dog health symptoms as well as having the appropriate necessary supplies that you can use at a moment’s notice.

Below is are a list of 10 items of importance to have on handy in case any dog health symptoms pop up all of a sudden:

1. Bandaging materials
2. Duct tape to help immobilize your pet in case of emergency
3. Commercial muzzle
4. Information card with your pet’s baseline temperature and weight
5. Antiseptic liquid
6. Ready made cold packs and hot packs
7. Bubble wrap for splinting
8. Rectal thermometer
9. Information card with your veterinary clinic contact information
10 Needle nose pliers to remove foreign objects

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Keep in mind that as your Labrador ages, she will need less food to maintain a consistent weight. With elderly dogs it is important to cut back on the amount of protein (particularly meat) that is ingested, because high levels of protein can put a strain on the kidneys.

Overweight dogs should be brought back into their ideal weight, primarily through gradually increasing the amount of their daily exercise. Reduce the number of calories in the dog’s diet by substituting low-calorie fillers such as grated carrot or apples, unsalted popcorn, or low-fat cottage cheese for a portion of their meal.

Underweight dogs can be brought up to a good weight by adding high-calorie boosters to their meals, such as an occasional raw egg, cheese, or hamburger. Such caloric supplementation may also be needed during the winter if your Labrador is kenneled or worked outside much of the time, and during peak working periods when extra calories are burned. A high-calorie supplement can be purchased from your vet, pet stores, and online catalogs.

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The most common injuries that happen to our dogs involve the head area. And it is the ears that are most frequently torn in dogfights. The ears also tend to bleed profusely. So if your dog comes back injured with an ear wound, then take the following three simple steps to bandaging the area:

1. First make sure that your dog is calm from whatever fight he got into. Then clean the wound with warm water and a light disinfectant. Be sure not to get any hair or other small particles inside the wounded area.

2. Next, wrap the ear with a bandage. You should have plenty of bandage material from your emergency first aid kit but a cloth or shirt will do just fine. Wind the bandage around the head to keep it secure and to prevent the ear from bleeding when the dog shakes his head.

3. Continue with bandaging his ear by wrapping it around his head over and over until it is secure. Avoid putting any unnecessary pressure on the windpipe. If need be, you want to use what is called an “Elizabethan Collar”. Now get your dog to the vet immediately for further medical attention.

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