Snow Storm 2011 Dachshund Jack got to play in some deep snow and I was throwing a ball for him to chase. He got it one time but the second time he lost it in the snow.

Snow Storm 2011 Dachshund Jack got to play in some deep snow with is step brother DL.

Witnessing a dog or other pet having a seizure can be frightening, especially when it’s your pet that loses control, falls over, chomps its teeth, salivates, drools, whines, paddles its paws, and possibly loses bowel and urination control. Eyes can enlarge (dilate) and your pet is unresponsive. Seeing a seizure happen to your dog or pet, you might panic and feel helpless.

Hopefully, your dog will never have a seizure experience. But, this information will help you understand the possible causes of seizures, and what to do and why if your dog has one, and the various treatment options available.

Epilepsy in dogs is one of many causes of seizure.

Some dog breeds are more prone to epileptic seizure. However, causes for “hereditary” epilepsy are not known for certain. Included in this group are: Keeshond, Tervueren, Cocker Spaniel, Poodle, Collie, German Shepherd, Irish Setter, Golden Retriever, Dachshund, Labrador Retriever, Saint Bernard, Miniature Schnauzer, Siberian Husky and Wire-haired Terrier.

Dogs with allergies to dog foods with chemicals, preservatives and artificial flavors can have seizures.

Other causes include liver and kidney disease, tumors, poisoning, and low blood sugar.

If your dog is having a seizure, stay calm.

Although difficult to do, a calm, quiet, reassuring voice will comfort your dog. Remove objects that could be dangerous to or hurt the dog, or place pillows or wrap blankets between the pet and the object. Slide something soft under your pet’s head, keeping your hands and face away from its head so not to risk a possible bite. Gently stroke the dog’s hip or side, but be positioned on the opposite side of the feet and toenails. Muscle spasms can curl paws into claws that can rake your skin. Dim lights. Keep the environment as quiet as possible.

Write down observed details about the dog’s seizure to report to your veterinarian.

Your veterinarian will want to know the time of day seizure occurred, time length of the seizure, time between each seizure if recurrent, if your dog urinated or defecated, if seizure hit suddenly or progressed from body twitching, when your pet regained consciousness, how long before your dog appeared normal again, and whether anything occurred leading up to the dog’s seizure. Were there possible triggering events such as loud noises like fireworks, unusual items ingested or excessive activity or exercise?

Some veterinarians will want to see if your dog experiences a subsequent seizure.

Some will immediately perform blood tests, checking for anemia, liver and heart functions, calcium, glucose, and electrolyte levels. The veterinarian may run screens for toxins, take x-rays, or perform an electroencephalogram, although test results may not reveal reasons for the dog’s seizure. Your veterinarian might wait to see if the dog has another seizure and may suggest medications. If the diagnosis is epilepsy, the dog has an excellent chance for a normal life with proper medical care and follow-up.

After seizure, dogs often appear lost or drugged. This state can last a few minutes to several hours depending on the severity of the dog’s seizure. Your dog may respond to you, but react slowly. Seizures are exhausting. Your dog will probably want to sleep afterwards. Check your pet occasionally without disturbing its rest.

Eliminate the source of the seizures; you may be able to eliminate future seizures from occurring.

If your dog’s seizures are due to chemical toxins, eliminate those toxins as much as possible. In any case, feed a diet of human grade food and treats that are free from chemical preservatives, fillers and by-products.

Natural approaches can help some pets, either prior to stronger medications or in addition to them, so you may be able to use lower doses.

Varieties of treatment options include a natural diet, nutritional supplements, homeopathy, herbs, conventional medications and acupuncture. Sometimes, placing an ear acupuncture tack in a dog’s ear will stop seizures, and this requires only one acupuncture visit. Or, your pet can be treated with traditional Chinese acupuncture.

DIY a dog house is something quite easy to do if you have the ability of searching in the right place. Online there are hundreds of sites that give you the possibility to download some high quality schematics in just mere seconds.

After reading this article you will be informed about a few tips on how to choose the correct guide.

The size of the dog house

Having the right measurements is highly important. If the kennel is too small or too big the dog might get frighten and not use it. Then you will have done all the work for nothing. Measure the dog before starting the construction. Make sure the he has a lot of space to move around in the house and not be cramped up in a corner.

Usually, three types of dog houses are being built:

– the medium sized kennel destined for the small dog breeds, like the Terrier, the Jack Russells and the Dachshunds.
– the large kennel built for the big dogs like the Golden Retrievers, German Shepperd and Dobermans.
– the duplex-style kennel, is recommended if you have more than a single dog. The duplex style kennel has a removable wall. You take down the wall if you want the dogs to snuggle and keep each other warm.

Some House Tips

Besides the size and the house design, you also need to consider other facts. First of all, raise the floor of the house a few inches over the ground. If there is a rain, the dog will not get wet and also the floor keeps cold in the summer time.

Don’t use metal or plastic in building the house, especially if the climate in your town is warm. The dogs are very sensitive to the heat and the metal heats up fast.

Make the floor to be a small slope towards the opening. If any water gets in, it will drain outside. Provide the house with a protective roof in case of heavy rains and strong winds.