3 Major Health Problems in Dogs

Life with your dog can be fun and exciting. There are times when this excitement can take a turn in the wrong direction. This is when your dog gets sick. There will be times in your dog’s life that he will become ill. It is for this reason that it is important that you are aware of some of the common health problems in dogs. There are the big three that you should be aware of when it comes to taking care of your dog.

Heart Disease

Heart disease is not just a serious health problem for humans. Dogs can suffer from this health concern as well. Heart disease in a cat can be present at birth or it can acquire through his lifetime. There are two basic types of heart disease that your cat can have. One is where the walls of the arteries thin out. The other happens when the valves to properly close and affect the flow of blood through the heart.

Heart disease in a dog can lead to heart failure. Just like in a person, heart disease can be a precursor to a failure of your dog’s heart. This happens when the heart can not keep up with the blood needs of the body. There are few warning signs of heart failure in a dog. It is important to have your dog checked out often by your vet to keep tabs on this health problem.

Heartworm

Heartworm is one of the most well known health problems that a dog may have. Mosquitoes are the culprit that can cause your furry four legged friend to get heartworm. There is a greater risk of getting heartworm for dogs that spend time outdoors. It is not unheard of for an indoor dog to get heartworm.

When it comes to heartworm, the most important word is one of prevention. Treating heartworm in a dog can be very expensive. It is for this reason that vets concentrate on heartworm prevention. There are few different preventatives that are used. Many are oral pills that the dog will take daily or monthly.

 Canine Distemper

This is one of those health problems that a dog can get that is often tracked back to being around other dogs. This disease is spread through contact with other dogs’ secretions. There are a few symptoms of canine distemper to watch out for. They are pus coming out of the eye, loss of weight, and diarrhea. Distemper is usually prevented through a simple vaccine that your vet can give your dog.

Keeping your dog healthy and around for a long time lays firmly on your shoulders. It is up to you to know when something is wrong with your dog and to seek the proper medical attention that he needs. This is why it is so important for you to be aware of the many common health problems that your dog may face.

Originally posted 2009-03-03 02:51:03. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The Importance of Spaying & Neutering Your Dog

What is the importance of spaying and neutering your dog?  According to the Humane Society, approximately three millions dogs or more are euthanized each year.  Remanded to shelters because they have been abandoned or because their owners can no longer care for them, the over-population of dogs in animal shelters has reached major proportions. 

While the aforementioned statistic is hard to imagine, it is nonetheless true.  This is why animal advocates constantly remind the general population to have their dogs spayed or neutered.  There are other reasons why this method is recommended.

Dogs have an innate desire to breed.  It’s just a fact.  More importantly, however, it’s been proven that spaying and neutering can prevent cancer.  In addition, neutered male dogs will less likely want to run away or engage in rough-housing with other male dogs.  Male dogs are inherently territorial.  If he isn’t neutered, then he will use his dominance over other dogs particularly when a female is involved. 

Spaying and neutering your dog does not mean they will become lazy, gain weight, or have a personality change.  All the procedure does is to prevent your dog from seeking out other dogs to mate with.  According to the Humane Society, “…. in six short years, one female dog and her offspring can give birth to hundreds of puppies.”

Imagine if you will that there are millions of pet owners.  Now imagine if each pet were not spayed or neutered and the offspring were thrown in garbage bags, left by unscrupulous owners to fend for themselves, or bred in puppy mills to make a quick buck.  There have been countless incidents which bear out these facts.

Unless you are a breeder, there is no reason not to have your dog spayed or neutered.  The result would reduce the number of homeless dogs lying in wait for someone to adopt them, reduce the number of dogs roaming the streets for scraps, and reduce the likelihood that dogs will attack pets.

Owning a dog comes with a responsibility to ensure the pet is happy, safe, and lives in a welcoming and caring environment.  Conversely, a dog that is put to sleep due to over-population could have been someone’s life-long companion.  This is why adoption is preferred.

Although puppies are the first to be adopted in shelters, it is often the case that adult dogs can only be kept for a certain amount of time due to the over-population of dogs in this country.  Thus, they face a grim future.

In an effort to reduce the number of dogs, a spaying and neutering program has begun in some cities and has resulted in a 30%-60% decline in euthanasia.

Originally posted 2009-02-01 13:49:04. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Tips for Choosing the Right Diet for Dogs

If you were told that part of a dog’s diet should consist of spaghetti and meatballs (without the sauce), what would you think?  Would you be surprised to learn that it can be quite good for your dog?  Here are some tips for choosing the right diet for dogs.

While more and more dog owners are choosing to prepare homemade meals for their pets, others opt for high premium foods.  Still, others simply feed their dogs whatever is on sale.  The only problem with commercial dog food is that there is no set standard for what goes into the mix, except that it must contain the following: vitamins, minerals, protein, fat, and carbohydrates.

The only way to determine if the commercial food is high in quality is by reading the label and even then you need a degree to understand the ingredients. 

Choosing the right diet for dogs is similar to choosing the right diet for humans.  Depending on size, weight, allergies, etc., everyone is different.  Well, all breeds are different and choosing the right diet is based on assuring that it is well-balanced and offers the right amount of nutrients. 

The recent recall of pet food reasserts the fact that homemade food for dogs may be the only answer.  However, it takes time and preparation to ensure that the food is fresh, prepared properly, and is balanced.

There are foods which should never be given to dogs as part of their dietary regimen.  They include: dairy products, chocolate, and foods that contain sugar.

There are many experts who advise that dog owners should offer dietary meals which consist of protein such as: meat, chicken, and turkey.  The only meat not suitable for dogs is pork and pork products.  In addition, vegetables, fruits, fat, fiber, and Vitamin E in premium dog foods are a healthy alternative to commercial dog foods.

While there are those who consider premium dog foods to be more expensive, one has to put it in perspective.  The healthier the food, the less you will have to give to a dog in order for him to obtain the full benefits.  If you take a sub-standard product, you will have to give the dog more to obtain the same goal.

It’s all relative but more importantly, with premium foods and/or homemade foods, you know exactly what your dog is eating.  In addition, food that is commercially made can cause disease, infection, and other disorders.

The health of your dog is first and foremost.  So it seems that choosing the right diet for dogs becomes a valid issue to ensure that your dog stays healthy and happy.  Of course, as the dog ages so will his dietary needs.  That’s all part and parcel of a nutrition-based dietary program combined with exercise.

While homemade food preparation is on the rise, so too is holistic diets for dogs.  You can check on line to ascertain what recipes are available if you choose to go this route.

Originally posted 2009-02-01 14:24:33. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Secondhand Smoke Harms Your Pet – Would you stop smoking to save your dog’s health?

Would you quit smoking for your pet’s health? New survey findings suggest that 28% of adult pet owners would try. The study is from the Henry Ford Health System Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and appears in Tobacco Control.

Of interest to me were the cited studies that linked pet health and secondhand smoke. (Sorry, no word on pets who actually smoke.)

• Dogs: Nasal cancer, lung cancer, allergic reactions
• Cats: Lymphoma, oral cancer
• Birds: Eye disease, respiratory problems, dermatitis

I know, I know. This study was only a survey, and all these links between pets and diseases are association studies, but this is your pet we’re talking about.

When nonsmoking pet owners were asked if they would request that people who lived with them stop smoking, 16% said yes, and 24% said they would ask them to smoke outside. Get ready for some battles.

Will knowing the risks of secondhand smoke to your pets change your way of handling smokers in your house?

By James Hubbard, MD, MPH
My Family Doctor Blog

[Originally posted February 11, 2009, James Hubbard's My Family Doctor Web site.]

Originally posted 2009-11-15 18:22:16. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

What Causes Worms in Dogs?

There are a variety of worms that cause illness in your dogs such as: heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and whipworms.  What causes worms in dogs?

Let’s take a closer look.

Hookworms are predominately found in dog feces.  If your dog eats these feces they can develop this condition.  Look for the following signs: loose stool or blood in the stool, the dog seems bloated, gas, has an unusual appetite, and his coat seems to be on the dull side.

Roundworms come from dogs ingesting the egg of the roundworm.  In puppies, they may become infected through the mother.  Signs that your dog has roundworm may be exhibited as follows: vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, gas, and an unusual appetite.

Heartworms are usually developed from mosquitoes.  This condition can result during warm months when dogs are more exposed to these pests.  Signs your dog may have heartworm includes: lethargy, coughing, appetite loss, difficult breathing, and may become more tired than usual after exercise.  This condition requires immediate treatment from a vet.

Tapeworms are caused by dogs eating fleas.  A regular inspection of your dog’s rectum to detect if there are any white rice-like parasites will clearly indicate your dog has tapeworms.  Other signs may include: itching in the infected area, inability to digest food,
loss of weight, and stomach pain.

Whipworm is caused by dogs that eat other feces that have been infested with worms or if they happen to step in feces and lick their paw.  A dog with this condition will have a bloody stool, unusual appetite, will become bloated, experience cramps, and have a dull coat. 

There are other serious conditions which can affect a dog’s health, particularly puppies.  While these are not attributed to worms, they should nonetheless be noted.  Coccidia are parasites which are caused by digesting feces.  Signs of this condition includes: loose stool, vomiting, loss of weight, and bloating.  Coccidia infect the intestines of the pup.

Another parasite which can affect pups is called Giardia.  Found mostly in areas where water is abundant, the ingestion of these parasites can cause loose stool, loss of weight, and bloating.  These parasites feed on the small intestine.

Detection and early prevention can alleviate the symptoms affecting your dog or puppy. Regular check-ups will give a vet the opportunity to check for worms and other conditions by taking stool samples.  If you find that your dog’s behavior or habits have changed in any way, make an appointment with your vet to ascertain the problem so that treatment can commence immediately.

Note: Some parasites can affect small children.  To prevent this from occurring, ensure that your child does not come into contact with the dog’s feces.  After your child plays with the dog, make sure he or she washes his hands thoroughly each and every time.

Originally posted 2009-02-01 14:17:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter