A good diet and plenty of exercise are important to a dog's health, but they can't make a dog totally immune to illness. Early detection is the key to helping your dog overcome any health problem. If your pet's stools become very loose, or you notice a marked decrease in your dog's appetite and/or that she is very lethargic, she may just have a short-term "bug." On the other hand, if any symptoms continue for more than a few days, you should have your veterinarian examine her for parasites and infections.
Diarrhea is a common symptom in dogs, especially puppies. It can be triggered by stress or a sudden change in food, but also by a virus, bacteria or parasites. Diarrhea causes dehydration, which can be deadly to dogs. It is extremely dangerous in puppies, because they dehydrate faster than mature dogs.
If your dog has diarrhea for more than a day, contact your veterinarian for further instructions. You will probably be asked to collect a sample and bring it in so they can examine it to determine the cause and proper treatment.
Coughing, sneezing, and discharge from your dog's nose and/or eyes often indicate a respiratory infection. A lethargic dog with no appetite is likely fighting an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI). URI, caused by airborne viruses and bacteria, is highly contagious among dogs, but is not transmitted between dogs and humans. Early detection of URI is important; ignored dogs suffer from severe dehydration and risk developing pneumonia.
Bortadella, also called 'kennel cough" is another contagious respiratory disease commonly contracted in animal shelters, boarding kennels, or anywhere groups of dogs have close contact with one another. It is a short-term disease, and most dogs get over it with a few days of rest and tender loving care from you. It is possible to have your dog vaccinated against Bortadella – a good idea if you plan on boarding her or placing her in "doggie daycare."
Vaccinations are also available to protect your dog against more deadly diseases such as rabies, distemper and parvovirus. Most municipalities require that all dogs are vaccinated against rabies; some include distemper and parvovirus as well. Making these vaccinations mandatory protects the health of all dogs, and, in the case of rabies, human health as well. If your dog was vaccinated as a puppy, she's off to a good start. However, without yearly booster shots, your dog is at risk of great suffering from one of these diseases.
Dogs serve as hosts to a number of parasites. You will probably be asked to bring a fecal sample to your dog's yearly vet appointment, so that the staff can check for the presence of internal parasites. If you notice small, rice-like granules on your pet's bedding or around her anus, she is suffering from an infestation of worms and needs to be seen by your vet to get proper treatment. Other parasites take up residence on the outside of your dog's body. Mange and sarcoptic mites live on the hair follicles and skin of dogs, while ear mites live on the inside of the ear. These parasites are so small you might not see them, but they cause your dog extreme discomfort. Head shaking and pawing at ears are signs of ear mites. Frequent scratching and skin-biting can indicate either skin mites or a dog's worst enemy: fleas.
© 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard. Would you like to learn more about caring for and training your adorable dog? Visit MyPetAnimals.com now!
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Symptoms of asthma in dogs include heavy breathing, panting, use of chest muscles to breathe, odd gum color and lethargy. Learn about treating an asthmatic dog withhelp from a staff veterinarian in this free video on dog health and pet care. Expert: Dr. James Talbott Bio: Dr. James R. Talbott is a staff veterinarian at Belle Forest Animal Hospital and Kennel in Nashville, Tenn. Filmmaker: Dimitri LaBarge
Find More Dog Disease Articles
Dog diseases are something that no pet owner wants to think about, but they do and can happen, even to your pet who has seemed to very healthy.
Dog diseases are, for a large part, preventable if you go to your veterinarian and have regular heck ups and have your dog routinely vaccinated and receive medication for any sort of health issues that he may have. If you do notice a behavioral change in your dog and you are sure that your dog is suffering from one of the many dog diseases, it's important to research the symptoms and to schedule an appointment with the veterinarian. Some of the most common dog diseases are listed below.
Kennel Cough
Kennel cough is very, very seldom fatal and is usually just that – a cough that may last for up to three whole weeks. Kennel cough is comparable to a human being having a really bad cold. Though it may sound awful, it is easily treatable and also preventable if you do have your dog get the kennel cough vaccine.
Ringworm Infections
Of all of the dog skin problems, ringworm fungal infections are one of the most common (though it is often mistaken as being a symptom of dog skin allergies). The skin will become infected with fungi, which results in scaly skin and hair loss. If noticed soon enough, which it tends to almost always be unless the affected skin is in a discrete area of the body, it is rather easily treated with ringworm medications.
Retinal Dysplasia
This is one of the dog diseases that affects the dog's eyes. This type of disease can either be very mild or quickly escalate to being very severe in a short period of time. If a dog is suffering from a mild case of retinal dysplasia, then owners may notice some folds in the retina. Slightly more serious forms may involve vision problems, though this can result in complete blindness or cataracts.
Rabies
The good news about rabies is that almost every dog across the world now is given a rabies vaccine, which has put an abrupt stop to the spread of this horrible dog health issue. Rabies is usually spread through saliva, and it can also be spread to human beings if they are bitten by an infected animal. It is a deadly disease for dogs and humans alike, which is why vaccinating your dog from this disease is so important.
To know more on dog diseases, dog skin allergies or other dog health related information you're welcome to visit Nil's blog at Dog-Health-24.info.
Related Dog Disease Articles
As your dog starts to age, it is important to start paying out more attention to their health needs. Just like humans, as dogs age, their bodies begin to wear down, and they can develop issues with their joints, vision, hearing, and so on. With correct care many of those issues can be simply treated, keeping your dog cheerful and comfy through his or her "golden years".
As dogs age, one highly frequent problem is joint discomfort. This is particularly true for bigger breed of dogs, and can affect them in their elbows, knees, hips, and other larger joints. In several cases, this is just because of the aging process and the development of dog arthritis, though dog joint pain can also come from joint injury.
When your dog has joint pain, the best plan of action is to treat the discomfort with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine. I have found Bounce Back to be useful in treating the pain and symptoms of dog arthritis.
Aspirin may be employed, if you are careful, although it is a better idea to use medicine especially for animals. This is safer for your dog, because these medicines are especially designed for the requirements of animals, and the doses don't need to be guessed. There are one or two different sources you can go to for getting medicine for dog joint pain.
If you think your dog is suffering from some sort of joint pain or other problem, it is important to see your veterinarian to discuss the symptoms for a proper diagnosis. If it is determined that dog joint pain is present, your veterinarian will likely prescribe your dog medication to alleviate the discomfort. From there, it is up to you how you continue to get the medication for your dog.
The most obvious option is your veterinarian's office, where you can continue to purchase your prescription assuming they carry the prescribed drug. After the primary trip to the veterinarian's office, you can select to purchase your dog's medicine either through your vet's office, or through another source. As an example, you can get dog join pain medicine through online animal drugstores as long as you can provide them with your prescription for the medication.
You may either begin doing this straight away, or purchase your dog's first prescription from your vet, and then see how your dog responds to it before continuing with that medication. Once you have found a good medicine, you can begin purchasing it from other sources according to your needs.
=>One good online source for your pet prescriptons is Petcare RX.
Dog joint pain due to growing older is more simply treatable, and should be done so as to make your older dog comfy. So if your older dog looks to be affected by joint discomfort, talk with your vet, and find the anti-inflammatory medicine that's appropriate to make your dog comfortable and cheerful.
About the author: The Pet Doctor Blog is dedicated to providing the most relevant and helpful advice possible for the care for your pet. The blog covers a wide range of topics, including topics on senior dog health such as dog joint pain. To learn more visit http://www.petdoctorblog.com/dog-joint-pain or visit us at http://www.youtube.com/my_videos?feature=mhum. Copyright (c) 2010 Dean Severidt.
Treatment of Arthritis in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and ...
Symptoms of Arthritis in Dogs. For dogs, arthritis can result in various clinical symptoms, most of which are related to the pain associated with the arthritic joint or joints. Potential symptoms are: limping; reluctance to walk or climb stairs ... occur in joints as a result of arthritis. Your veterinarian will probably also perform a routine blood screen to evaluate the overall health of your dog, allowing safe and effective treatment choices for your dog's arthritis. ...
Publish Date: 03/24/2009 23:20
http://www.suite101.com/content/treatment-of-arthritis-in-dogs-a104744
Managing Your Dog's Arthritis
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Publish Date: 09/16/2010 13:14
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Vet Advice Canine Arthritis Pain Relief | Glucosamine For Dogs
www.BestDogJointSupplement.com Learn what veterinarians are now recommending for Hip Dysplasia & Arthritis Pain Relief with Glucosamine For Dogs and how easy it is to stop your dogs arthritis joint pain fast with this new all natural dog arthritis jo...
Putting your dogs on wheels can change the quality of life for your pet dog, specifically if they have a condition that won't let them use their hind or front legs. There are wheel chairs for dogs, which are also called dog carts. They are particularly manufactured with the aim of giving a new found mobility to quadriplegic pets.
Your dog can benefit a lot from carts for dogs, if he has exhausted rehabilitation options and if he suffers from degenerative mylopathy, hip dysplasisa, spinal or vertebrae problems, cervical or disk disease, and also certain neurological concerns.
If you'd like to put your dogs on wheels, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. Generally, dog wheelchairs have 4 significant components - a light weight frame, aluminum or not, the wheels, the harness, and also the support saddle. Besides that, there are a few dog carts that include other features like stirrups and counterweights that will be a huge help for dogs who have lost a limb for achieving balance.
You can get a wheel chair for your loyal pet custom made to match your pet's specific requirements as far as measurements and health conditions are concerned. But if you want, you can also buy ready made and adjustable carts for dogs, that will fit to a particular dog of a certain size group.
The regular prices of dog wheelchairs range from $200 to $600, depending on the kind of chair that you buy and the features that your pet will require. The kind of wheel chair that you will purchase will be dependent on the advice of your veterinarian or the veterinary orthopedic surgeon who will evaluate your pet's particular needs and wheelchair design requirements.
Based on studies, most dogs easily adjust to their new mobility equipment in just a few days. But sometimes, it can take a while, and some training and rehabilitation might be required to help your dog adapt totally to his new equipment. However, a dog wheelchair should not be fit to a pet that doesn't have enough strength left in his legs. Neither is it advisable for pets who are difficult to deal with or are bull-headed.
About the author: Find out more about dogs on wheels and carts for dogs and how they can help your ailing pet. Check on this site for good options: http://www.dogwheelchairscenter.com/dogs-on-wheels/
Dog Wheelchairs Will Help To Improve Mobility | Pet Safety Blog
If you are a pet parent that takes care of their dog and over protects them and loves them for what they are to you, and makes sure they are safe and healthy,
Publish Date: 07/22/2010 12:14
http://www.petsafetyblog.com/pets/5115-dog-wheelchairs-will-help-to-improve-mobility/
Dog Wheelchairs That Let Your Dog Move Naturally | Easy Pet Care
Dog mobility can be hampered by injury, paralysis, or disease. While surgery and medication may alleviate this, some conditions may not be remedied. Dog.
Publish Date: 06/27/2010 2:01
http://easy-pet-care.com/dogs/dog-wheelchairs-that-let-your-dog-move-naturally
Dog Wheelchairs and Carts for Dogs
So if you are on the lookout for the best dog wheelchair, check out those with patented designs that have been in circulation for decades, which would only mean that people are really patronizing the said wheelchair proven by its ...
Publish Date: 07/19/2010 16:00
http://www.submityourarticle.com/articles/Sylvan-Newby-5616/dog-wheelchairs-109384.php
New Mobility for Boxer "Boy" in K-9Cart.com Dog Wheelchair
"Boy" is a boxer with degenerative myelopathy (DM) that is showing progressive weakness in his hind legs. With the aid of a K-9Cart.com dog wheelchair, this boxer is on the move again. Boxers are one of the top five breeds recognized with the genetic...
Most pet owners will have to deal with old dog arthritis at some point, if they own canines. Just as in humans, joint arthritis is extremely common in older dogs as they age.
Most dogs get arthritis to some degree, while larger breed dogs and overweight dogs exhibit more significant symptoms, than do smaller dogs. When osteoarthritis is suspected, the owner should seek a veterinarians advice on how to deal with the disease.
You should understand that there is no cure for old dog arthritis. Once the condition develops, it will continue to progress for the remainder of the dog's life. However, there are steps you can take to alleviate the symptoms and make the dog more comfortable with the disease as he or she ages. And help slow down progression of the disease.
The veterinarian may suggest several treatment options. One thing, she may suggest is using prescribed medications for dealing with the joint problems. Although these drugs act almost immediately to ease the dog's pain from arthritis, they often have significant side effects in many canines. Unfortunately, some of these problems even develop into life-threatening issues and may cause death in some pets.
If the vet suggests some of these prescribes medicines always consult with her about what side effects to watch for and what to do if they occur. We can't emphasize enough how important it is for the canine owner to be aware of the dangerous side effects that may occur when using prescribed medications to treat old dog arthritis.
Hopefully, the veterinarian may be more progressive in his thinking and suggest an all natural treatment, such as glucosamine, to initially treat the arthritic symptoms.
=>I recommend Pet Bounce, an all natural joint pain relief product.
Liquid glucosamine is an all-natural product that has virtually no side effects. This supplement does not act to rid the dog of pain initially. Instead, it aids in the rebuilding process of the tissues that have been damaged within the joints that causes the discomfort from the joint disease. Although these effects are not noticed immediately they can be long-lasting in the results, if the glucosamine is continuously provided to the dog suffering from arthritis.
All that's required is a simple daily dose of the supplement for over the dogs food during his meal. Dogs are not very picky about their food and generally will except the addition of the glucosamine product quite well.
Again, it's important for dog owners to understand that immediate effects will not be seen. It begins on how severe the arthritis is that it can take up to several months of daily treatments with the glucosamine in order to see significant benefits.
Not all old dogs with arthritis respond favorably to the supplements. However, there is a large enough number of successful results that it makes trying the supplementation for arthritic canines worthwhile.
Old dog arthritis is a significant problem in many canines, but can be dealt with successfully, making the older dogs' lives happier and healthier. In addition to providing supplements or even prescription medications, there are other steps had owners can take to alleviate some of the symptoms and problems associated with dog arthritis.
First and foremost it is extremely important that older dogs are not allowed to become overweight. The extra load on their joints, which are suffering from arthritis, simply aggravates the joint condition further. We realize it can be difficult to put your loved canine on a diet, but leaning toward the skinnier side is far healthier for your dog suffering from arthritis, than being on the heavy side.
Besides watching your pet's weight, it's also important to ensure he has comfortable sleeping conditions. In cold weather arthritis can be very painful to old dog joints. Always provide a very warm place for your pet who is suffering from osteoarthritis. Additionally that warm place should also include a soft and comfortable bed. See our post on contour beds.
Just as with human bones sleeping on a hard surface can be quite uncomfortable.
As with any disease it's important for canines with old dog arthritis to get adequate sleep and allow the supplement products such as glucosamine ample ability to help regenerate and make healthier joints.
=>And in conjunction with these methods, add Pet Bounce, an all natural joint pain relief product.
About the author: Need more info about osteoarthritis in canines? Check out Cactus Canyon's web site for more info about old dog arthritis: http://www.CactusCanyon.com
A Quick Review On Dog Arthritis Treatment | Health Ages Portal Of ...
These older dogs will likely also be suffering from vision and hearing impairment as well. Younger canines can also run the risk of obtaining arthritis when they sustain damage in their legs which was not properly treated. ...
Publish Date: 07/19/2010 12:24
http://www.healthages.com/2010/07/19/a-quick-review-on-dog-arthritis-treatment/
DOG ARTHRITIS PILLS | ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW | Show Me Now
DOG ARTHRITIS PILLS | ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW This will probably come as a shock to you but did you know that 8 million dogs in the United States.
Publish Date: 07/19/2010 13:34
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Dog Arthritis Treatments That Will Save Your Dog | DogNoProblem.com
Some of you may not know this but arthritis is a disease that not only attacks people but animals as well. It is actually one of the most common cases that veterinarians have to address. Canine arthritis is terribly distressing to the ...
Publish Date: 07/18/2010 11:22
http://dognoproblem.com/dog-arthritis-treatments-that-will-save-your-dog
Dog Arthritis - Arthritis in Dogs
www.doghealthproblemsadvice.com - This video discusses arthritis in dogs and the three treatment modalities used to treat dog arthritis.
