There's a great deal you can do to provide your dog with medical care at home. Don't expect to rival your veterinarian in expertise -- and don't try. Sometimes a sick dog has to go to the vet. But a broad knowledge of common dog illnesses and symptoms will make you a better dog owner, and it could mean a longer, happier life for your pooch. In this article, we cover a wide range of topics relating to dog care.
  • Evaluating a Dog's Health

    For a variety of reasons, it's useful to know how to assess the health of your dog. Should your ailing dog be taken to the vet? Or is it something that can be addressed at home? In this section, we offer a basic checklist of exams you can give your dog to help you recognize common maladies and know how to treat them or when to call the vet. For instance, we tell you how to check a dog's eyes, ears, and mouth. Every dog owner should be familiar with this information.

  • Home Remedies for Dogs With Fleas

    Fleas are a common problem for dogs, and it's easy to see why. Despite not having wings, they can leap from dog to dog. And that's when the trouble starts. Fleas are blood suckers, so they can do bad things to your dog's skin. In some cases, the fleas can cause harmful bacterial infections. Knowing how to deal with a dog that has fleas is of paramount importance. This page offers several basic flea guidelines, including ways to prevent your dog from getting them in the first place. It also tells you how to rid your dog of fleas without having to use chemical products.

  • Home Remedies for Dogs With Foxtails

    A foxtail is a type of grass that has a spiky bristle on top. Foxtails easily can attach themselves to the coat of a dog and then pierce the animal's skin. In a worst-case scenario, these cuts can lead to a dangerous infection. What to do? For one, inspect your dog's coat after the animal has been outside. If you find a foxtail, remove it immediately. If you're unable to remove it yourself, then you need to call your vet. Follow our guide for dealing with the prickly menace that is a foxtail.

  • Home Remedies for Dogs With Mange

    Everyone's heard the term "mangy dog," but what exactly does it mean? We have the answer in this section. Mange is a wide range of mites that can take up residence in your dog's coat and cause great harm. The best way to treat mange is to avoid it completely. This can be done by frequently bathing and brushing your dog. Sometimes, though, mange mites take up residence in your dog's fur no matter what you do. This section explains these dangerous critters and how you can rid your dog of them at home.

  • Home Remedies for Overweight Dogs

    Obesity has become a health crisis for we humans -- but we're not alone. Dogs can grow obese, too -- especially older dogs who do less running around. In this section, we tell you how to determine whether your dog falls into the overweight category. If your dog is indeed overweight, we can be of help. We provide useful tips on how to give it regular exercise and how to resist the urge to feed it too much. The advice in this section can help ensure that your dog leads a happier, healthier, and longer life.

  • Home Remedies for Dogs With Porcupine Quills

    A lapdog isn't likely to encounter a porcupine, but active outdoor dogs might, and some dogs never learn to avoid porcupines, even after a bad experience. If you happen to own a dog that just can't stay away from porcupine quills, you'll need to know how to remove them. The key is to not break the quill; otherwise it will be much more difficult to get out. Check out how you can extract porcupine quills -- or recognize when it's time to take the dog to the vet for treatment.

  • Home Remedies for Dogs With Sore Paws

    After a long day of walking around, your feet sometimes hurt. Believe it or not, dogs get sore feet, too -- especially dogs that love to run and play. Although a dog's paw pads are tough, they are are susceptible to scratches, scrapes, burns, and more. One home remedy is to apply a pine-tar paste to your dog's paws. Simple soap and water also can sometimes relieve the pain your dog is feeling. Check out these handy home remedies for a dog with sore paws.

  • Home Remedies for Dogs With Sunburn

    Nothing beats fun in the sun, but as we know, there's a downside to those ultraviolet rays. Even dogs can get sunburned, especially those with short fur that lie in the sun with their bellies exposed. We humans can simply apply a coat of suntan lotion to protect ourselves from the sun, and the same can be done for dogs. Just make sure your dog doesn't lick off the lotion. We offer ways of remedying sunburn on dogs, and ways of preventing the malady in the first place.

  • Home Remedies for Dogs With Worms

    Sure, your dog has worms but which type? Coccidia? Giardia? Heartworm? Hookworms? Roundworms? Tapeworms? Whipworms? The list seems endless. As you can see, worms are a wide range of parasites that pass among various animals -- including dogs, of course. They can be tiny organisms or full-sized worms, but the results can be dangerous regardless. Although different types of worms require different types of treatment, the affliction generally can be treated with medication. Read this section to learn important details on recognizing and treating worms in dogs.

  • How to Nurse an Ailing Dog

    No matter what the malady, you will want to do everything you can to speed your dog's recovery. There's a lot you can do at home. Here are some of the ways you can nurse your sick dog back to health: (1) You can warm its food, (2) you can take strides to limit its physical activity, and (3) you can make sure it gets its medicine regularly. It's not always necessary to run your dog into the vet when it's down and out. We provide guidelines for nursing it back to health in the comfort of its own home.