Tartar is also known as dental calculus. It consists of hardened bacteria. This hardened bacteria, or tartar, occurs when dental plaque gets stuck on your pet’s teeth and then comes in contact with their saliva. So what is tartar? There are two types and one of them is more harmful than the other: […]
Hip dysplasia is one of those conditions that all dog breeders are very well aware. Responsible breeders make considerable efforts to eliminate it from their dogs for decades. Almost every breed’s parent club recommends screening breeding stock for hip dysplasia (HD). Orthopedic Foundation For Animals (OFA) in the USA was founded for this very reason. […]
From puppies to senior dogs, let’s take a quick look at dog teeth problems and dog dental care through every stage of your fur buddy’s life. Dog teeth problems — they’re not something you want for your dog. So what can you do to prevent them? Dogs can suffer from a variety of dental diseases […]
Joint pain is part of the ageing process for both dogs and humans alike. Let’s look at some ways that could slow down and possibly prevent the onset of arthritis and other joint issues for your senior dog. Joint problems are a common problem of ageing dogs. Similarly, for people, the wear and tear of […]
Many of us assume that the condition of their dog’s dental health i.e. teeth and gums, has no influence on their overall health. Nothing could be further from the truth. “The toxins from periodontal disease are absorbed into the dog’s blood stream. As the kidneys, liver and brain filter the blood, small infections occur causing […]
Whether to spay or neuter a dog is always a “passionate” topic. In South Africa, we have a large population of dogs that remain free to roam unsupervised. This is a very real problem. For this reason, this article is specifically aimed at responsible pet owners, and owners of working, active and sports dogs (our […]
Let’s take a closer look at your fur buddy’s teeth – or canine dentition! The cuteness of puppy nibbling on your finger. This is a delight with a limited shelf life, but puppies’ teeth are sharp fraught with peril. As we know, puppies grow, develop and mature faster than humans. The same applies to dog […]
Puppy’s teething troubles have a nasty pointy end and can be quite sore. Caution: Puppy’s teething is like meeting Jurassic Park raptors – cleverly disguised as a ball of cuteness. Your puppy won’t hunt you down and eat you, but when you’re dealing with puppy teething, we all ask: “When will my puppy stop teething?” […]
This is a frequent question about probiotics: How to protect these beneficial bugs from harsh stomach acid as it passes through to the intestines? There is more to this question than meets the eye. Probiotics are live bacteria present in yoghurt, other dairy products and pills. The goal is to get these probiotic bacterias to […]
Arthritis may come in many forms for dogs and cats. The most common form however, is osteoarthritis (OA) or degenerative joint disease (DJD). As the name indicates, this type of arthritis is a long-term, continual damage and deterioration of the cartilage found around the joints. Osteoarthritis can manifest as a primary disease brought about through […]
EASTER – a time of delicious chocolatey celebration. But what about your fur buddies? Easter presents some hidden hazards for our dogs and cats. For many of us, Easter is a time to relax and take a well-deserved break from work or studies. The weather may be a little cooler as Autumn sets in. Families […]
I have been asked: How does Oligofructose enriched Inulin in Stomax compare to other soluble fibres such as psyllium? Psyllium is a very old and effective stool bulking agent, having been grown and used in India for over 1000 years. It does lower cholesterol. However, it is not a prebiotic fibre as defined by many […]
We would love to hear from you! May we ask you to answer two very quick and short questions? You are also welcome to add any more information at the end of survey or by simply popping us an email at info@dogsolutions.co.za and we would be happy to help. Just Click on the Picture below to access the […]
A Puppy is generally a ball of fun-filled energy. It is exactly this that makes them vulnerable to injury. Let’s take a look at the top two factors that put them at risk: #1: Growth Your puppy’s skeleton is made up of 320+ bones (+1 for the boys) and some bones have as many as five […]
A diagnosis of Hip Dysplasia is always a crushing blow to any pet owner. We received this story from Annemie and what she had to say about her fur buddy, Minky and their experience with Sashas Blend. We love this story: I would love to give a testimonial on how well this product works. My […]
Ehrlichia is a type of bacteria. It infects dogs, cats and other species worldwide, causing a disease called Ehrlichiosis. Other names include “tropical canine pancytopenia” (and several other names). Ehrlichia is commonly transmitted by ticks. What causes Ehrlichia? Ehrlichia bacteria infects white blood cells. There are many species of Ehrlichia, which infect a wide […]
Not all dogs howl in pain when they get a tooth infection. Do you know what symptoms to look for? What can one use to help your fur buddy and when must you see your vet? Like most people, dogs get tooth niggles like aches and infections. A common reason for tooth infections may be […]
Dental problems are exceeding common problems that veterinarians have to deal with. The majority of dental problems occur during adulthood and into old age of our pets. Bad breath, discoloured teeth, deposits on the surfaces of the teeth, or red and irritated gums; these are all signs of dental problems. All these conditions have a […]
We all know how active puppies can be! However, it is always the best option to protect their joints whenever you can. Nazreen uses Sashas Blend for her active puppies. We love hearing from our community and receiving pictures like these just make our day all the more special!! I’ve been using Sashas Blend on my […]
While some people believe that probiotics will bring the bacteria back into alignment, there are three aspects of probiotics to consider: No two people share the same microbiome; it is unique to you. Not all strains of bacteria will be harmonious to your unique digestive system. I’ve seen many clients who cannot tolerate many off-the-shelf […]
It’s wonderful how our pets are living longer! Thanks to better medical treatments, diagnostic tools and advanced nutrition our pets are are healthier and happier for longer. With longer lives comes more cases of dental diseases unfortunately. In fact, some of the severe medical problems reported in veterinary hospitals are dental problems. We are responsible to […]
Christmas isn’t too far off. This means a house full of people from family to visitors and potential pet hazards. Is this your first Christmas with your dog, puppy, cat or kitten? Don’t panic. We’re here to help with some handy Dog Safety Tips for Christmas to help you make it through. Preparing […]
Puppies should be exercised differently to adult dogs. Their bone growth plates have not fully formed (closed), and a puppy’s body cannot safely handle long periods or high intensity exercise. See our article on Puppy Exercise Growth Plates. A puppy who is over exercised is much more at risk of injury, with both short term […]
Puppies: lively, active bundles of cute! Always on the go and looking for something to do while exploring their world. Then the odd period of rest and deep sleep. Because puppies are so busy, many owners think that it’s impossible to provide too much exercise. Many think that it’s okay tire them out with exercise […]
If you’re like most health-conscious individuals, you know that not all medications or supplements are created equal. Just because a medication or supplement has the same active ingredients does not mean they have the same effects. Research has shown that brand name and generic prescription drugs with the same active ingredient may have different effects.(1,2) […]
Reviewing many studies shows that dry food (kibble) does not clean a cat’s teeth any better than eating pretzels cleans ours! At best: Dry food may tend to produce slightly less tartar than canned food. However, for cats the benefits of feeding canned food may outweigh possible dental problems that may result. After all, […]
