Useful, useless, little known and entertaining f.a.q. about dogs.
As we find them we will add them. Answers, scientific or just humorous, to age old questions like: Does 1 dog year = 7 human years, the history of a dog, why does a dog eat his own poo(uggggh!) or like to eat snow, does a dogs' paws get cold too, why does a dog chases his tail and many more. Enjoy!
Dog: Origin and evolution
Source: Wikipedia.
Based on DNA evidence, the wolf ancestors of modern dogs diverged from other wolves about 100,000 years ago, and dogs were domesticated from those wolf ancestors about 15,000 years ago. This date would make dogs the first species to be domesticated by humans.
Evidence suggests that dogs were first domesticated in East Asia, possibly China, and some of the peoples who entered North America took dogs with them from Asia.
As humans migrated around the planet, a variety of dog forms migrated with them. The agricultural revolution and subsequent urban revolution led to an increase in the dog population and a demand for specialization. These circumstances would provide the opportunity for selective breeding to create specialized working dogs and pets. View more of this history at Wikipedia.
Does one dog year = seven human years?
Source: Wikipedia.
No one formula for dog to human age conversion is scientifically agreed, although within fairly close limits they show great similarities. As a rough approximation, the human equivalent of a one-year-old dog is between about 10 and 15 years-a one-year-old dog or cat has generally reached its full growth and is sexually mature, although it might still be lanky and need to fill in a more mature musculature, similar to human teenagers. The second year is equivalent to about another 3 to 8 years in terms of physical and mental maturity, and each year thereafter is equivalent to only about 4 or 5 human years. To learn more about how to determine your dogs' equivalent in human years Go To Wikipedia and try out this dog age calculator.
Why Your Dog Gets Gas
His condition can have a number of causes:
1.Diet - certain diets may not agree with the digestive system, particularly those of lower quality. Try a premium brand. In humans, intake of beans on an irregular basis is a well-known trigger, and if the owner shares leftover beans with the dog, this can trigger gas in the dog also. Note that soyabeans are part of the bean family, and are sometimes present in commercial foods. Milk and cheese are not properly digested by dogs once weaned, so this is another potential trigger for the problem. Rapid dietary changes can also cause a phase of gassys while the system adjusts to the new components.
2.Parasites - can be gassy with some parasites such as roundworm, whipworm and giardia.
3.Eating habits - eating non-food items- intake of foreign material while unattended (dietary indiscretion such as eating spoiled plant or meat material)
4.Internal health problems - maldigestion or malabsorption, inflammation, infection, or other pathology of the gut lining that leads to change in the digestive process (change of acidity and degree of digestion of the contents at any point along the mid to lower tract). Pancreas disease can also trigger maldigestion and gas.
5.Normal level of gas perhaps
Things to try:
* Discuss trying a highly digestible, high quality diet with your veterinarian to see if this helps matters.
* Send a stool sample in to the clinic to rule out parasite infestations.
* Prevent intake of non-foods (garbage, cat feces etc.)
* Encourage regular exercise to help "move the bowels" regularly.
* Have a check up performed if any other digestive signs are present, weight loss occurs, or the frequency or intensity of episodes increases in order to rule out health problems.
* Medication may be a last resort: A recent report in the literature detailed research on three components (charcoal, Yucca and zinc acetate). These did seem to have some benefit, but this is only one preliminary (small) study, and your veterinarian should be consulted before trying any medication or other products for malodorous gas. Other agents that are sometimes prescribed include enzymes, anti-foaming agents, and protectant/anti-inflammatory agents.
Reprinted with permission from www.animalhealthcare.ca
Why Do Dogs Eat Strange Things?
When dogs ingest things that have no nutritional value such as stones, wood, plastic or dirt, the condition is referred to as pica. This type of conduct can be behavioral or medical in origin.
As a behavioral problem, pica can occur in dogs that were inclined to be very mouth-oriented as puppies. These dogs like to constantly chew on objects and are always biting, pulling and mouthing when interacting with people. It is thought that pica may simply be an extension of this mouthing behavior, which has progressed to the swallowing of unusual things.
Pica may also indicate an intestinal upset. Often, ingesting dirt or similar substances may be a way of relieving stomach or intestinal pain, whether from hyperacidity or cramps due to excessive gas. In some cases, a change to a high-quality commercial diet that may be less upsetting to the digestive system may be curative.
Your veterinarian should also investigate the possibility of a nutritional deficiency. For example, a deficiency in minerals such as sodium or iron can lead to pica in dogs. Your dog should also be tested for intestinal parasites
Reprinted with permission from www.animalhealthcare.ca
Why does my dog Chase my Tail?
Tail chasing is actually normal behaviour among dogs. In fact, behaviourists feel it is an integral part of a dog's play repertoire. It only becomes a problem when the tail chasing becomes excessive.
Reprinted with permission from www.animalhealthcare.ca
