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Importance of Canine Health Testing

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Health Testing Dogs

Yes, It’s That Important

Dog Health
KatPaws/iStock

That’s it, I’m taking a stand. I’m tired of seeing dogs affected with crippling and life-shortening inheritable diseases that can be prevented by health testing parents of puppies. I’m also tired of hearing some dog breeders say, “I don’t health test because I don’t have diseases in my lines.” Bologna!

I’ll explain why dog health testing is so important. Official forms are considered acceptable proof that a dog was health tested and had passed.

A Bit About Health Testing

If someone says his breeding lines are free of inheritable disease, he’s lying. I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true. People will lie to make money. Plus, dogs are so stoic and resilient. They seldom show diseases unless it’s really bad. The only way to know if a dog is free from an inheritable disease is to test for it. If a dog is not health tested, assume a dog has an inheritable disease. It’s that common among dogs.

 The only way to know if a dog is free from inheritable diseases is by testing for them.

Why Health Test Dogs?

Just like people, dogs contain genes that turn on or off specific traits. If a dog is not health tested and carries inheritable disease genes, there’s a chance greater than 50 percent these genes will be passed onto your puppy (using a Punnett Square). If both parents are not health tested, there’s a 75% or higher chance–this is scary stuff.

By health testing parents, grandparents and great grandparents, you’re decreasing the likelihood of your puppy developing preventable diseases. And trust me, inheritable diseases are ugly. It can cripple puppies and young dogs, and significantly shorten their lives. Now, there is a slight chance puppies can develop diseases even if parents are health tested, but it’s usually a mild case and can be managed without expensive surgeries.

RELATED: How Much Exercise Do Dogs Need?

Inheritable Diseases are Common

I’ve seen young dogs (under a year old) die of cardiac arrest while playing in the yard. Dogs lose one or both eyes due to an inheritable eye disease. Dogs can even bleed out and die within hours due to inheritable blood disorders. Yes, folks, it’s that serious. I’m not exaggerating one bit. If you don’t believe me, join a few Facebook groups of dog owners supporting each other through $5,000 surgeries and, worse yet, loss of a beloved dog, which could have been prevented.

To find a list of inheritable disease testing requirements for your specific breed, check out OFA’s database.

Ask for Documentation–Don’t Trust Verbal Promises

If a dog is free of an inheritable disease, Orthopedic Foundation of Animals (OFA) can verify by issuing  a registration number and certificate stating the outcome. Each certificate has the dog’s registered name, owner’s name, microchip or tattoo number and additional information about the dog. If a dog fails, OFA will still issue paperwork stating the dog didn’t pass and is affected with inheritable disease.

Better yet, view a dog’s OFA health testing results here. All you need is the dog’s registered name and search from there. Don’t trust verbal promises. Ask for documentation from the breeder. They can email you copies of OFA certificates for both parents, grandparents and great grandparents.

Check documents closely. Now, some unethical breeders play nasty games by showing you dog OFA certificates. However, these dogs are not the parents of your puppy. Yes, it happens more than you can imagine. These folks know how to deceive informed pet parents. The only way you can ensure this doesn’t happen is by locating a reputable breeder using recommended guidelines and ask for references from past puppy buyers.

What is Orthopedic Foundation of Animals (OFA)?

OFA is a non-profit organization, which sets standards and perimeters for health testing dogs. They collect and share testing results in an effort to decrease inheritable diseases in dogs. Yes, they are the authority for canine health testing and dogs are only considered free of these diseases if they’ve met OFA standards.

Local veterinarians complete most exams and fluid collections. However, vets must ensure these samples meet or exceed standards provided by OFA. If so, a vet signs and mails official OFA documents, then a registration number and certificate are issued. Local vets, on the other hand, capture X-rays and send films to OFA, which are evaluated by orthopedic specialists to determine presence of disease.

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How to Eliminate Dog Odor From Your Home

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Removing Dog Odor From Your Home

Dog Odor Eliminator
BernardaSv/iStock

You don’t have to live with dog odors anymore. It’s a new day with tons of products to choose from. Shoot, I remember when lighting a candle was our only choice, but not anymore! Check out my personal product review–this stuff really works!

Musky Dog Odors

Folks who share their homes with dogs notice a faint ole doggie odor when dogs have been playing outdoors. It’s almost a musky scent. Non-dog people refer to this aroma as wet dog smell. If your dog has chronic body odor issues (your relatives will tell you–that I can guarantee), seek veterinary advice. Regardless, life is too short to live with it so fill the room with freshness.

Natural Products That Really Work

If possible, I try to use natural home cleaning products as I have asthma. By far, essential oil diffusers work best. Just sprinkle a few drops of your favorite essential oil in water, turn on your diffuser and enjoy. Personally, I really like my Spa Vapor diffuser. It’s easy to use, looks great and diffuses scent throughout our home. Now, you can spend $100 or so on a diffuser. It’s your choice. However, I find our diffusor works just as well. My favorite essential oil is Peace & Calming by Young Living Essential Oils.

Now, diffusers won’t absorb unpleasant smells, but will certainly replace them with a pleasant scent. 🙂 It works for cooking smells too. I’m from South Louisiana and cook lots of roux. Our diffusers steps up to the challenge every time. Plus, essential oils are very calming for you and your dogs so they’re worth a try.

Maybe Not Natural, But This Product Really Gets The Job Done

Now, the mack daddy of odor eliminators is Febreze Set & Refresh air freshener. While this scent smells delicious, it absorbs odor instead of masking it. Place in a small room or on your AC unit for a continuous fresh scent.

Don’t Forgot

Bathe your dog weekly with an aromatherapy shampoo, and feed your dog a high quality diet. Yes, your dog’s diet can and will control your dog’s natural odors.

Urine Smell

If possible, remove stained carpet and area rugs. If this isn’t possible, clean carpets with an enzyme-based floor cleaner. Check out this article for recommendations, but do know, I’ve fallen in love with a new carpet cleaner and its name is Pet Trainer’s Choice Dog Odor & Stain Eliminator, which you can purchase at Amazon.com. Let me tell you, this stuff not only cleans new stains, it also removes old yellowed stains left behind by other cleaners plus it leaves an amazing scent behind. It’s amazing! Going forward, immediately clean potty accidents to keep odors at bay.

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Best Multivitamin for Dogs

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Best Dog Vitamin

Dog Vitamins
marekuliasz/iStock

Okay, I’ll admit it: I’m completely obsessed with uncovering the absolute best dog multivitamins out there. Seriously, I’ve scoured the Internet, read books and attended multiple nutrition classes for years. Well, I think I found them! Do know, due to my obsession, I will continue to research anything new that pops up.

Feed your dog a balanced and wholesome diet

that meets his specific nutritional requirements.

Criteria for Perfect Canine Multivitamins

Oh, I’m ever so picky. I want the best for my dogs, as I’m sure you do too. In my quest for perfection, I’m looking for real ingredients in vitamins and not synthetic ones. Plus, vitamins must be easily eaten and swallowed by dogs because who wants to hide nasty tasting supplements in your dog’s meals everyday–not this person!

Will a Multivitamin Balance My Dog’s Meals?

About 15 to 20 years ago, if a dog had chronic itchy skin or digestive issues, dog people overwhelmingly screamed, “Feed your dog a raw diet.” Home prepared meals were new back then and touted as a cure all. Well, guess what? Throwing raw chicken wings and turkey necks in your dog’s bowl didn’t fix the issue so what should you do now?

Will throwing a multivitamin on your dog’s food balance his diet? Probably not, but it’s better than nothing when feeding processed foods or unbalanced homemade diets. Better yet, balance your dog’s diet by adjusting individual vitamins and minerals, depending on the ingredients in your dog’s food. If this isn’t an option, I would recommend a multivitamin. Also, I believe seniors and dogs recovering from injury or illness greatly benefit from supplementation.

Balanced meals with novel ingredients your dog can digest (dog doesn’t negatively react to) works wonders. I’ve watched it work time and time again with my own dogs through the years and clients’ dogs. As with anything, take the time to do it right by following NRC’s nutritional guidelines for dogs. 🙂

My Pick: Whole Canine Support by Standard Process

By far, Whole Canine Support multivitamin exceeds my expectations and is highly recommended by the veterinary nutritionist world. While the ingredient list may cause a human “ick” reaction, remember vital organs are packed full of vitamins and minerals needed by all dogs. Now, some dog food marketers have bombarded pet parents with: “Byproducts are bad. You’re terrible if you feed them.” This makes me angry and it’s so far from the truth. Okay, back to my review.

Whole Canine Support vitamin is sprinkled over your dog’s food and, really, you’re only using a small amount (between 1/8- 1 teaspoon) per meal. My dogs gobble up the brownish colored vitamin powder and, trust me our Rottweiler is extremely picky about texture and taste.

Ask the Dog Trainer: How to Find an Excellent Dog Training Blog

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Finding a Dog Training Blog

Dog Blog

Blogs are a great thing. Who doesn’t enjoy the convenience of Googling an answer to your question? I don’t know how we lived without this option, honestly. But finding an excellent dog training blog can be challenging so follow these simple tips to keep you and your dog safe. 

Everyone Thinks She’s a Dog Trainer–Yikes!

Before diving knee-deep into a dog training blog, take a moment and research blog contributors. Are they dog trainers? If so, have they taught? Do they still teach group classes? Have they earned advanced dog training certifications? Earning advanced certifications is vital. This is the only way to differentiate between beginners/dabblers and dog trainers with proven knowledge of training all different types of dogs. Be careful about titles. Anyone can call herself a dog trainer or animal behaviorist, but unless it’s earned through testing councils, I would be very leery.

Take it a step further. Now, search the Internet to find more information about a dog trainer blog contributor. While doing a search, her advanced dog training certification should pop up along with any professional dog training memberships and maybe other blogs or videos.

RELATED: Dog Trainer Fanna Easter

Never Follow Harmful Training Methods

The most important tip is blog contributors should never recommend harmful training methods. I can’t say this enough. It’s much easier missing a “click and treat” opportunity than punishing your dog. If you’re not sure what you’re doing, you can certainly cause further frustration and possibly damage your relationship with your dog. Reading and watching videos are helpful, but nothing takes the place of having an expert watch and provide feedback while practicing.

Lastly, follow blogs with current and updated training methods, such as training principles founded by science. If someone recommends alpha or dominance training, run. This myth was dispelled over a decade ago. Check out my reasoning on why these methods don’t work.

Trust Your Gut

If something, or someone, sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Dogs aren’t like cars. You can’t fix them or guarantee results so ignore those promising too much. Trust your gut and do no harm. 🙂  When in doubt, find a professional and certified dog trainer in your area for best results.

You may also like: Ask the Dog Trainer: Resources for Dealing With Reactive Dogs

Help Your Dogs Adjust to Your New Home

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Adjusting to Your New Home

Moving With Dogs

You’ve made it safely to your new home. Congratulations! Before unleashing the hounds, take a few days and introduce your dogs slowly and carefully to your new home.

Many times, new homeowners or renters contact me within a week of moving into their new home. Most complaints include dogs making potty training mistakes, being nervous and escaping their yard. Here’s what’s worked for us in the past.

First 24 Hours

Maintain your dogs’ eating, sleeping and potty schedules when moving in your new home. Routine means predictability, meaning less stress for both you and your dogs.

Set up your sleeping area until movers deliver your furniture. I highly recommend crating your dogs next to your bedding overnight. This keeps them safe and secured instead of exploring or escaping. Set up soothing music before bedtime and toss in food stuffed Kongs in crates. This keeps dogs busy until they fall asleep.

RELATED: Calming Music for Dogs

For homes with a backyard, I highly recommend bringing your dog potty on leash until you can fully inspect the fence for holes, loose boards, protruding nails and escape routes. On leash walks inside your yard, provide plenty of sniffing opportunities, but slowly introduce your dogs to their new surroundings. Many times, unfamiliar sounds can startle dogs, sending them straight to any and all escape routes–yikes! Keep them on leash at least for the first 24-48 hours.

Keep bed and bathroom doors closed to prevent dogs from sneaking off, pottying on, or chewing new items. If needed, you can section off an area with baby gates.

Week One

Your furniture should have arrived by now. It’s amazing to see the difference in dogs once they smell their own stuff. Most will snuggle right in their favorite chair or snooze on their comfy rug. By now, your dog is romping through his new yard unleashed, but stay close just in case.

Week Two

Everything should be pretty normal by now. Both you and your dogs are familiar with new sounds and surroundings. If your dog should have a few potty accidents, I recommend starting back at square one with potty training. Usually, this issue will be resolved within a few days.

If something should crop up, take a few steps back and follow the tips for the first 24 hours for a few days. This usually resolves most issues. If not, I highly recommend seeking a professional dog trainer in your area to provide suggestions and answer any questions.

Enjoy your new home!

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Dog Training Nation is a dog training blog for pet owners and dog lovers. We cover a range of topics from puppy socialization tips to dog aggression to dog health. It is our hope you share our content to make the world a better place for dogs.

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