Unfortunately, dogs are not able to tell us outright that they are feeling something painful, so it is up to dog owners to observe and decipher their body language.  Generally, dogs who are in pain would exhibit the following conditions:

• Your dog’s heart rate and respiratory rate will increase.  As a reaction to pain, your dog’s body will produce a several hormones that will dull out the pain.  These hormones can cause your dog to breath excessively and have a heart rate that is above normal.  Normal respiratory rate of dogs are between 15-20 breaths per minute while normal heart rate is between 80-120 beats per minute.

• Whenever your dog would feel the onset of pain, he may moan and whimper.  Excessive pain will cause him to yelp if he cannot stand it.

• Your dog will assume a guarded position where he would crouch down and try to support the painful body part.  If a leg is painful, he would protect it by keeping it elevated.

• Your dog will also have the reduced desire to move or be active.  He is likely to just lie down on his bed and wait for the pain to go away.  If you observe him closely you will notice that he would occasionally look at the area from time to time and lick it in an attempt to soothe himself.

• He would also have that glassy eyed appearance as his concentration is centered on the pain and not on his surroundings.

• Behavioral changes can also happen.  Your dog may either become excessively affectionate for wanting comfort.  Or, he may be belligerent and snarl, growl, and bark at anyone that comes near for fear that the pain will be intensified due to contact.

• You will also observe that your dog will lack the desire to eat or drink.

• If the pain is intense, your dog will tremble and can stumble while walking.

• He may also sleep less as the pain keeps your dog awake.

There are some dogs that have such a low pain threshold that they will immediately make you aware that they are feeling something by constant whining and moaning.

Other dog breeds, on the other hand, have a higher tolerance to pain and will tolerate it as much as they can.  The only way for you to know that they are feeling something is by observing for any change in usual behavior.  Take note on when you noticed the change in behavior for your vet will need this to make a conclusive diagnosis of your dog’s condition.

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Consider first your lifestyle.  A dog needs constant attention as they are social animals.  Aside from that, they are not exactly capable of looking and cleaning up after themselves.  You must devote time, energy, and effort in feeding, grooming, and keeping your dog.

You must have free hours to spare to play with him, to visit the vet during routine checkups.  You may also need to come with him for an obedience class if you want to have a highly trained and disciplined dog.

Get your finances in order.  Dogs do not come cheap, no matter how you would look at it.  A good breed of dog can be highly expensive.  Saving does not bode well to dog breeds for it only encourages puppy mills to produce substandard puppies that have health issues.  If you want to save puppies from puppy mills, do not patronize them.

Buying from them only gives them power and resources to continue breeding substandard puppies in miserable conditions.  It is best that you report them to American Kennel Club (AKC) for appropriate action.  The cost does not necessarily end in buying a puppy.

You need to consider if you have a stable income to maintain your home and family while giving your dog kibbles, dog food, a leash, dog grooming necessities, shots, annual checkups and emergency visits to the vet.

Do you have kids or elderly people at home?  Dogs can be overwhelming for both, even the most behaved ones.  Some dog breeds are also dangerous to keep if you have those two types of people at home.  Even the most adoring dog can become the hound of Hades if your child pulls on its tail too roughly, or when your grandmother rolls over on his paw with her wheelchair.

Your place must be conducive for dogs.  He must have his own sleeping area that does not always have to be outside.  See if your apartment complex has a policy regarding pet ownership.  Make sure that you have enough space for the size of the breed you are wishing for.

Consider the health condition of each member of the family, including you.  Dogs are not advised for people with asthma, especially if it is triggered by animal down.  See if you have enough stamina to take your dog out for a walk or other activities needed to keep the dog happy and healthy.

Do your research on the breeder.  Get to know him and see if you can be invited inside where the dogs are kept.  Once you are allowed, see if the living conditions are acceptable and if the dogs are not being mistreated.

Do not be afraid to ask questions about the dog you’re going to buy.  A good breeder is always welcome to answering questions.  Be prepared to answer a few questions about you for concerned breeders also want to make sure that the potential owner is good for his dog before a sale is agreed on.

A dog requires a lot of attention, so consider carefully every little thing about yourself and your potential dog before making a decision.  Full responsibility is needed to take care of a dog, no matter what age, size, and breed they come.  Consider also rescuing a dog from your local shelter.  Sometimes, the perfect dog can be found in the most unusual conditions.

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Get to know your dog’s nail anatomy first before you proceed on grooming.  Unlike human nails, it has an extension of blood vessels in a part called the quick.  This nail part also has nerve endings.  Cutting through this part will cause bleeding and pain, so be very careful.

For dogs that have light colored nails, the quick is seen as a pale pink part.   Dogs with dark-colored nails need to be trimmed carefully for this part cannot be seen.

Buy a really sharp nail clipper that is specially made for dogs.  Ordinary nail cutters cannot cut through your dog’s nails effectively and comfortably.  Invest in a good one for you will be doing a lot of trimming.  It is best to start clipping away while your dog is still a puppy so he can get used to the ritual.

Do not cut the nails right away.  You must prepare your dog before you go through the procedure. Not doing so will cause some anxiety and your dog will resist your attempts every way possible.

Try to touch your dog’s paws first and talk to him in a soothing manner.  Introduce the nail clipper to him and tell him what it is designed to do.  Don’t cut away the entire paw of your dog.  Just start with a nail or two then proceed again the next day.

When you cut your dog’s nail, it is important that both you and your dog are comfortably positioned.   You may place your dog on top of the table either with him on his stomach or lying on his side.  Talk to him in a soothing, calming voice throughout the entire procedure to calm him down and to reassure him.

Grasp the clipper with your dominant hand and unsheathe the nail carefully.  If your dog has clear nails, cut up to 2mm of the nails, almost but not quite touching the quick.  For dogs with nails of darker color, chip away carefully.  Look in your dog’s nail after each small nip.  Stop when you see a large, pearly gray area at the top cross section of your dog’s nail.

There may be times when even though you are careful, you will still cut through the quick.  Your dog will yelp in pain and bleed. You can apply pressure on the nail with the use of a light tissue.  If you want to stop the bleeding immediately, a styptic pencil with silver nitrate seal the edge.  To stop the bleeding, you have to rotate the styptic pencil on the cut end of the nail.

Since the area is quite raw, your dog will not like it.  You may also wait for the bleeding to stop; generally 5 minutes is all it takes or less for the blood to clot.  If it continues to go beyond that time frame, go to the vet.  Remember to do the same procedure to your dog’s dew claw. It is attached at the side of your dog’s leg above the rest of the other toes.

You and your dog will do a lot of struggling during the first few cuts.  Keep up with the grooming, though, for it will keep your dog’s skin and fur safe from getting destroyed by sharp, overly long nails.

Research on why dogs eat grass is still inconclusive.  Some speculate that grass eating is a result from a gastrointestinal disorder.  Usually, dogs that eat grass are found to have gastric ulcers, worms, or just typically an upset stomach.

It seems that the grass acts as a binder for the toxins or worms that infest your dog’s digestive tract, and is purged along with the grass when your dog either vomits or has diarrhea.  It is still a mystery if your dog vomits or has diarrhea because of the grass, or he does so because he initially has stomach problems.

Pregnancy can also cause your dog to eat grass.  Usually, this happens when your dog is at the first stage of pregnancy.   You will notice that before your pregnant dog would eat grass she would show signs of being nauseated, but nothing comes out.   It seems to help calm her stomach after inducing her to vomit.  However, this is a case to case basis.  Some pregnant dogs will not eat grass during the duration of their pregnancy.

Dogs also seem to prefer eating grass that has been constantly urinated on by other dogs or animals.  The keenest senses of canines are their sense of smell and taste.  Once they have caught the scent of another canine that has urinated on a patch of grass, they would munch away.

It may be because the dog is gathering information about the dog that has marked its territory.  Or, it could be that the taste of that particular grass is much better compared to others.  Urine has urea, a component that is found to enrich plants and a common compound found in composts and commercial fertilizers.

Other dog owners theorize that dogs eat grass because it is a common part of a dog’s diet in the wild.  Even if wild dogs hunt game, grass and other vegetation are still found inside the intestines of these animals.  The preference has evolved because dogs cannot simply pick out grass from the inert parts of what they have killed.

Grass-eating is quite harmless to dogs.  Just make sure that the grass that they are eating are not prayed with harmful insecticides and maintained by use of commercial fertilizers.  These chemicals are harmful for dogs, and can create health complications. If you are concerned with your dog’s grass grazing habit, try to substitute some vegetables in the diet.

A lot of pet owners have found that supplementing their dog’s diet with raw vegetables such as carrots and lettuce lessens the grazing of dogs.  Excessive vomiting and diarrhea may or may not be brought about by grass eating and regardless of the cause, warrants an immediate visit with the vet.

Seizures are caused by a neurological disturbance in the brain.  These disturbances can cause a loss of consciousness on your dog, and can proceed to sending off series of uncontrolled electrical impulses from the brain to several parts of the body, particularly the limbs and facial muscles.  An attack can be quite disturbing and definitely exhausting for your pet.

Causes of seizures in dogs

Usually the cause of seizures is unknown.  Approximately around 5% of dogs suffer idiopathic seizures.  This means even in the absence of a known cause, your dog may still suffer from an attack when it is least expected.   However, some dogs suffer seizures because of the following:

• Genetics: certain dog breeds are more prone to suffering seizures compared to others.  These breeds can include but not excluding:
  • Cocker-Spaniels
  • Labrador
  • Golden retrievers
  • German shepherds
  • Beagles
  • Dachshunds.
• Blood sugar levels: a drop in blood sugar can cause loss of consciousness and seizure in dogs that have been given too much insulin.  High levels can also cause seizures.

• Hypocalcemia: usually seen in puppies with an acute infestation of worms.  It can also happen in lactating dogs for their calcium storage is being secreted in breast milk.

• Medical conditions: liver and kidney disease have been linked to seizure disorders.  Liver problems can cause the increase in ammonia in the blood, while kidney problems can cause electrolyte imbalances and build up of toxins that lead to seizures.

• Head Trauma: a dog that just had an accident or has been given a blow on the head is at high risk for having seizures.  Blood clots can form in the brain, as well as swelling that can cause an inflammatory response that can compromise blood circulation in the brain.  This can disrupt the flow of impulses in the brain as well as cause an imbalance in the neurotransmitters, causing seizure episodes.

• Infections: encephalitis is a common cause of seizures, as well as distemper and rabies to name a few.

• Toxins: lead toxicity is one of the major causes of seizure episodes in dogs for it is commonly found within the household (i.e. tarpaper, roofing materials, peeling oil-based paints, etc).  Certain foods can also cause seizure such as onions and chocolates.

General symptoms of Seizures

Dogs show different signs and symptoms of seizures depending on the degree of severity of an attack.

• Petit Mal: this type of seizure is often missed by dog owners because the signs and symptoms are somewhat similar to other medical conditions.  Signs and symptoms include:
  • Fine tremors
  • Excessive salivation/drooling
  • Whining
  • Spontaneous urination
  • Loss of balance
• Grand Mal: the most violent type of seizure.  Major muscle parts of the body are greatly affected, leading to more obvious manifestations.  Also known as tonic-clonic seizure, your dog will first show sudden rigidity of limbs that can be accompanied by a stop in breathing that can last for 30 seconds.  Los of consciousness may or may not ensue, followed by the excessive muscular stimulation.

• Status epilepticus: by far the most alarming type of seizure in dogs.  May present either petit mal or grand mal seizure that can last for more than five minutes.  This is the most life-threatening type of seizure, with the risk of cardio-pulmonary arrest, as well as oxygen deprivation of the brain.

Stages

Dogs exhibit an attack in several phases.  Knowing and understanding these phases can help you recognize an impending seizure and what to do as your dog pass each one.

• Pre-Ictal phase – dogs exhibit certain behaviors before an onset of an attack. Initially, they would be hyperactive and anxious, as if sensing that an attack would occur any moment.  The would seek out the owner and would often be highly affectionate, as if seeking help or reassurance.  Others would prefer to look for a dark, quiet place and wait for the seizure to take over.

• Ictal phase– this is the onset of the seizure itself.  Usual attacks can last between seconds to 5 minutes.  It is important that you do not touch or do anything to your dog for you may severely injure yourself in the process.  Countless owners have been hospitalized because of the attempt to prevent the dog from “swallowing its tongue” during an attack. All you have to do is stay with your dog and wait for the seizure to stop.  Do not panic, do not shout, and do not shake your dog.  Doing so would only prolong the episode.  Move your dog to a rug on the floor, turn off the lights or draw the shades.  You must also turn of any form of noise in the room such the TV or radio.  Keep the kids from the room for this can be severely distressing for them and can cause them to cry out and scream, making matters worse.

• Post-Ictal Phase – after an episode, your dog will be severely spent and exhausted.  He would also show some difficulty so it is highly imperative that you remain with your dog to comfort him in this phase.  Your dog may be will be blind for nearly an hour or so, deaf, uncoordinated and unbalanced, and can be highly frightened. You must sooth and comfort your dog as he recovers his senses.  If he did not defecate or urinate in the ictal phase, he would do so now.

Treatment

Medication for seizure is commonly directed on the cause of the seizure.  Medical conditions are properly treated, and external factors are eliminated as much as possible.  The modality of treatment for this condition is more palliative than curative.  Anti-seizure medications are given to prevent increased occurrence of seizure and lessen its duration, but not stop it from occurring totally.

Treatments include Phenobarbital, potassium bromide, as well as primidone.  The treatment takes about 1 to 2 weeks.  It is important that you bring your dog to the vet when seizure has occurred to fully diagnose the cause as well as give adequate and prompt treatment for the condition.