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Very often a dog will suffer spinal damage from degenerative processes. This is usually referred to as “slipped discs,” but they are not really discs at all, and they have not really slipped. Essentially what has occurred is a loss of resiliency between the vertebrae, and so-called slipped disc can be the result of an accident or, more likely, a gradual degenerative progression that shows itself in one of the body’s weakened areas.

A contributory factor could be lack of exercise (a sedentary lifestyle in which the older dog very frequently indulges). Lack of exercise decreases blood flow to vital areas, slackening the muscles and allowing the intervertebral “shock absorbers” to become thinner and less resilient, thereby leading to possible perforation upon impact. Diet is also a factor, since the cells that make up the “shock absorbers” are being starved for nutrients, which impairs their vitality and regenerative ability.

Whether the origin lies in degeneration from lack of exercise and poor nutrition, or the slipped disc results from an auto accident or other acute calamity, rehabilitative factors remain the same. The dog needs to be put on an optimum diet containing ample amounts of vitamin C and its complex, the bioflavonoids. The dog needs to maximize his digestive potential with the use of enzyme therapy, taken both internally and by injection at the site of the ailing disc. Raw grated vegetables and sprouts should be added to the food as sources of additional live enzymes, vitamins, and minerals in a readily available form. The herb comfrey is a most valuable addition to the diet in all bone disorders. The entire matter of diagnosis, diet, and injection should be discussed thoroughly with your vet.

Exercise up and down the stairs should be stopped temporarily, as it will only serve to put more pressure on the already weakened spinal joint. The dog should remain on level ground, placing newspapers in the house if necessary, as it can be a toss-up, in severe cases, between temporary paper training and paralysis. As the dog begins to rise and walk on his own, then slow walks on level ground can be encouraged. When the dog is feeling much stronger, you can slowly reintroduce more vigorous exercise, including the resumption of climbing stairs.

Slipped discs do not suddenly appear mysteriously, and they will not subside mysteriously either. If you are taking proper precautions with diet and exercise, the chances of your older dog suffering slipped discs are happily minimized. Should you also take vital precautions and not allow your dog out without a leash, then you are eliminating the chances of his getting a slipped disc through his being struck by a car. Remember that a slipped disc can lead to paralysis and impairment of vital motor and excretory functions and this can most certainly lead to death.

Canine Diabetes, often referred to as “sugar diabetes” is generally speaking, quite a common ailment in dogs, it is not difficult to identify as a simple urine test will reveal the cause of the problem. It is the most common canine endocrine problem and is sometimes believed to be more prevalent in overweight dogs, but it doesn’t stop there, heredity and certain medication may also be the cause. It really is high sugar levels that the dog is not able to naturally break down. It can affect a dog of any sex or age and fortunately, as in humans, we can treat the condition and many dogs lead a completely normal life with treatment.

Symptoms of Canine Diabetes Mellitus include but are not exclusive to:
– A general appearance of being “off” perhaps accompanied with weight loss, appetite generally remains unchanged.
– The dog may be drinking more than normal and/or urinating more than usual
– Poor hair and skin condition
– Vomiting

Treatment involves:
– Visit to the vet and possible stay in the animal hospital to stabilize the condition
– Special Diet
– Blood/urine tests
– Insulin injections
– Regular check ups

There are two types of canine diabetes:
– Type 1- this is caused by the pancreas being unable to manufacture the hormone insulin
– Type 2- is caused by the dogs inability to respond to the manufacture if insulin in the body
– How To Identify Canine Diabetes

It is not a difficult process to identify Canine Diabetes in dogs and in many instances the dog owner, just knows that something is wrong! Being a dog owner myself it is pretty easy to know when your dog is feeling “off”. Any changes in eating or drinking patters immediately alert me. The first thing to do is take the dog to a vet! Common symptoms include drinking more than usual, vomiting, frequent urination, eating more but losing weight, and unexplained loss of condition of the skin and fur.

What Happens When My Dog Has Canine Diabetes?

We have found that canine diabetes is one of the more complicated kinds of endocrine problems in dogs, however it is certainly not a “death sentence”. The veterinarian will check your dog, do a couple of tests, including blood and urine. Once he knows that the problem is canine diabetes he going to ask you if you want to start treatment. The responsibility is with you to decide on treatment. It really is a serious commitment on the part of the owner, but treatment can have a dramatic effect in improving the dog’s quality of life.

What does Treatment Entail?

If your dog is found to have really high glucose levels, and you decide to opt for treatment, he may be kept in hospital for a couple of days to stabilize and establish a treatment protocol. This also applies if he is dehydrated. He will be put on a special diet such as Hills W/D and given insulin injections. Oral medication is available for humans and cats, but not dogs as this point in time. As soon as the dog has been stabilized they will be sent home with special instructions for feeding, testing and medication.

No matter how hard you try to keep your Basset Hound dog healthy, he is still susceptible to some diseases that could hinder his normal activities. The best armor every Basset Hound owner should have is the awareness of what these diseases are and how it can damage their dog’s healthy condition.

Knowing your enemies is the best way to fight them! Below are some of the diseases listed in order for you to know who your enemies are.

Arthritis – Arthritis is mostly suffered by most large dogs. Basset Hound dogs can acquire arthritis because of their odd bone structure. Activities such as too much running and prolonged up and down jumping can cause dogs to develop arthritis. Dogs with arthritis need a soft bed. An old mattress, a soft couch mattress or a 4 inch foam rubber is good. It also helps if you avoid letting your dog do strenuous activities, only gentle and regular exercise to meet their daily exercise requirement. Regular exercise prevents dog from becoming overweight thus decreasing the load their bone carries.

Torsion – Torsion is oftentimes described as a twist of the stomach or when the stomach’s end flips. This causes the stomach not to allow food in, and if not treated properly, the stomach dies causing the dog not to eat. Dogs suffering from torsion must seek veterinary help immediately for treatment and therapy. Not all animals with torsion are treated because this disease develops quickly causing the animal to die. So Basset Hound owner must focus their attention in preventing their dogs from acquiring this disease. Feed your dog at least twice instead of one large meal a day and he should not be allowed to drink large amount of water after eating. He should as well not be allowed to play and indulge in strenuous activity before and after eating.

Bloat – Dogs usually fed once daily are most likely to acquire this life-threatening condition. Factors of bloat can be gulping air, drinking large amount of water and doing vigorous activities after eating. See your veterinarian immediately once you bloat is suspected. Measures to prevent bloat are almost the same with torsion.

Basset hounds also referred as scent hounds, are short-legged breed of dogs that are bred to hunt by scent. Because their nose is close to the ground most of the time, it picks up parasites, bacteria and some viral diseases. Their long and floppy ears have a tendency to get odorous so cleaning them properly is necessary to prevent ear wax from building up and cause ear infection. Cleaning your dog’s ears 2 to 3 times a week with a mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide is recommended.

Now that you are aware of the diseases that could possibly affect your dog, all you need to do is make sure that they are protected against these diseases. That’s the least you can do for this breed whose main aim is to please you and other people around him.

Like so many other things, the rigging of a saddle is where it is today through evolution. The cowboy had a “working” saddle that did a little of everything on the ranch such as gathering cattle, rescuing cattle, breaking horses, etc. Different saddle types require different “rigging” for each specific use. The term “rigging” is used to refer to how the cinch strap attaches to the saddle to hold the saddle in place. The rigging hardware can be done with several different options. If you’re buying a quality saddle don’t worry too much about O-rings, D-rings or plates. Sit in the saddle and see if it’s comfortable and then decide if seven-eights or whatever is right for you.

There are basically two types of rigging: conventional in tree rigging and inskirt rigging. Conventional rigging places the bulk of the cinch strap under the rider’s leg. Inskirt rigging is just as secure. With it, the rigging hardware is built directly onto the saddle skirt, either built directly on the skirt or for extra security, built “in” the skirt, where the rigging is attached to an extra metal plate between two layers of leather on the skirt. Some will tell you they think the “in-tree” rigging is the stronger of the two, but both are proven sturdy.

The next differences in rigging are the “Single” or “Double” styles. In Single rigging the flank strap is not used. Instead, the rigging hugs the saddle toward a center point. Double rigging includes both the cinch and the flank strap. The double rigging is especially necessary with roping or any other event that may cause the saddle to want to tilt upwards. Double rigging adds stability for riding in very rough country with ups and downs. Otherwise, the back cinch is, according to some, just another piece of leather to worry about, so they will prefer single rigging.

The Position of the rigging on most saddles is dependant on what the saddle is being used for. Three-way rigging allows you the option of choosing a full double rig; 7/8 double rig; or 3/4 double rig. Rigging that sits under the mid-section of the saddle is called a “centerfire” rigging. Each position toward the horn is given a defferent measurement: 5/8, 3/4, or 7/8.

Most details of your saddle are all personal preference and the rigging is not different. Each detail depends on the use of the saddle and personal preference.

Itchy skin, hair loss, constant scratching, ear and anal gland problems are the most common indicators of a dog skin problem.

Although there are many canine skin disorders, the 5 following tips will help to identify some of the more common dog skin problems.

1. Fleas: The best way to identify a flea problem is to check your pets belly area and along the inside of the back legs. The hair is thinner in this area and easier to spot both fleas and flea dirt. The flea itself is brown or copper colored and roughly the size of a pin-head. Flea dirt looks like sprinkled pepper. Ruffling the fur on your dog’s back and along the base of the tail is also an easy way to find fleas and flea droppings. Often times dogs that develop Flea Allergy Dermatitis will show hair loss around the base (top) of the tail. There are many options available for flea and tick control.

2. Food Allergy Dermatitis: Although food allergies can appear in pups as early on as 5 or 6 months, they can also develop in adult dogs as late as 11 or 12 years old. Common symptoms of food allergy dermatitis are itching of the skin, excessive scratching, hot spots and even skin infections. Dog owners should realize that there is a distinct difference between Food Allergies and Food Intolerance. Like people, classic symptoms of a food intolerance would be an upset stomach and diarrhea. All foods do not agree with all dogs. Pink Bismuth is a safe remedy for stomach upset and diarrhea in dogs. Food allergies require slowly eliminating foods and changing the diet.

3. Atopic Dermatitis: A condition caused by environmental allergens. Dogs that suffer with airborne allergies will often rub their face along the side of a sofa or along the carpet. As with food allergies, dogs will also chew their feet. With Atopic Dermatitis, it’s common for dogs to develop ear infections due to a yeast overgrowth. Pollen, trees, grass, dust and wool fabric are just a few common airborne allergens that some dogs are sensitive to. Antihistimines are often prescribed.

4. Acral Lick Dermatitis (Lick Granuloma): This raised lesion will be red, hairless and is usually found on the leg of the dog. This neurological condition is self-induced due to continuous licking. Possible causes include anxiety, boredom and stress. Treatment will include identifying the source of the problem (anxiety, etc.), restricting licking of the area and often times medication for behavioral modification.

5. Hot Spots: Medically referred to as Acute Moist Dermatitis, these round lesions generally appear in warmer weather. Along the hip, the sides of the chest and around the head area are the most common locations for hot spots. These moist and hairless inflammations are painful causing the dog to fixate on the particular spot by licking, chewing and scratching at it. Continuous licking in one area is a large factor in the development of hot spots. These lesions can quickly become very large in size. The location of the hot spot will help determine what the underlying problem could be an; anal gland problem, ear problem or a flea problem. A Veterinarian will clip the hair around the spot, clean it with a medicated solution, prescribe antibiotics and pain medicine.

Determining the source of many dog skin problems can be difficult. Skin conditions can be uncomfortable and painful, so dog owners should not give up until they know where the problem stems from.