Dog infections ” Signs and Treatments Explained

Dog infections ” Signs and Treatments Explained
There are a number of diseases a dog might suffer from in its lifetime. Being attentive of these illnesses and the proper way to care for them can assist you greatly in caring for your dog better. Dogs must be vaccinated and given booster at least once every 6 months to keep them safe. Some of the more common diseases your dog can be vaccinated against are hepatitis, distemper, rabies, corona, leptospirosis, kennel cough and parvo. At some point, he could suffer from internal or external parasites and there are several types of infections which a dog owner should know about.

You might consider getting Pet Insurance if you have one or more pets. A small occasional investment and decent care for your pet usually cost much less than running the risk of an infection and having to fork out hundreds of dollars to treat them later.

The Parvo virus is the most common and deadliest dog infection. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and eventually death.

Distemper is another common strain of viral infection. Symptoms usually include fever, loss of appetite, nasal and eye discharges.

Note that Canine hepatitis may cause like symptoms as Distemper and should be treated with IV fluid therapy, dietary, nutritional and antibiotics care(consult your vet before administering medication).

Rabies is often spread by the bite of another animal. If your dog has rabies, he will behave oddly. Your dog can be vaccinated against Rabies from 4 months of age. There is no cure, vaccination is crucial.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection which attacks the dog s liver and kidneys. Consuming contaminated liquids or infected urine from another dog may cause Leptospirosis. High Fevers, yellow gums, sadness, depression and blood in the dog s urine might mean leptospirosis.

Bordatella, or Kennel cough, is a respiratory tract disease. A loud and harsh cough, nasal and eye discharges are clear symptoms of Bordatella or kennel cough. The treatment is usually anti-inflammatory medication, cough suppressants and a medium dose of antibiotics.

Coronavirus is a contagious viral illness. Vomiting, weight loss and diarrhea are possible warning symptoms and should be looked into. IV fluids and Antibiotics are used in the treatment of Corona.

The ear of a dog is very infection prone and may often cause common infections like blood clots. Symptoms include pawing at the ears and shaking of the head constantly. Do a quick examination on your dog s ears every 2 weeks and take him to your local vet for treatment if you spot any signs, as soon as possible. Even the most common ear infections like blood clots may cause deafness and even lead to severe blindness if not treated appropriately.

Heat, swelling and sluggishness are a few more possible indications of an infection. Appearing to be in hurt or pain, fretfulness or listlessness are also some more obvious indications.

If the infection is intense, then the dog might have a high temperature and be swollen around it s neck, armpits or groin area. If you are unable to get to a vet straight away, you should keep the dog lying down to avoid any physical exertion that might pilot the infection to spread even more rapidly.

Dogs with infections might reject food and water so it is important to seek your vet s advice.

These common infections can pose a serious hazard anywhere in a dog s body but especially if the infections are around the body s wet regions like the mouth or nose as they could spread more easily to the blood stream and eventually to the vital organs. The most important thing is to get your dog immunized as soon as he is old enough. Also be sure to follow up with a bi-yearly infection booster.

Remember, your dog is part of the family and if you find your dog acting a little peculiar or a bit ill, call the vet and make an appointment straight away. Unlike human beings, infections in dogs can become severe very quickly and it is not a good idea to wait for the clouds to clear to see if the infection or illness heals itself.

<p>I&#8217;ve hoped you enjoyed reading this article as much as I&#8217;ve enjoyed writing it for you. Visit <a href="http://dognpuppies.com">dognpuppies.com</a> for more informative articles about <a href="http://dognpuppies.com/Dog-Health/Are-Vaccinations-for-Dogs-Really-Necessary.html">Dog infections</a> and <a href="http://dognpuppies.com/Dog-Health/index.html">Dog Health</a>. Warm Regards, Jeremy C.W</p>

Dog Hygiene Practises Bathing
Dog Hygiene Practises Bathing Parasitic shampoo is used on animals with fleas, ticks and lice and can be purchased from the vets or pet shops, the alternative shampoo is medicated shampoo and this is for specific skin conditions, and you can easily get it from a vet whom has prescribed it. Medicated shampoo needs to be left in the fur for a period of time then washed out, where as parasitic shampoo needs massaging deeply into the animals fur and then rinsed out and always insure you read the instructions on the container. The Water Temperature for bathing a dog should be of a medium heat. You should test the water temperature by putting your hand within the water. If the water is too hot or too cold it s wrong for the dog. Once you have cleaned the dog you will need to dry them there are three methods that can be used, blast drying, you use a blast dryer to get off excess water, making sure you don t blast dry down the ears. Cage drying, you place the animal in a cage on a towel and place a standing dryer over it. And also stand drying in which you place the animal on a table with a towel underneath it, and you use either a stand dryer or a hand held dyer to dry the dog. Written by http://www.diyconservatories-and-windows.co.uk/

DIY Conservatories http://www.diyconservatories-and-windows.co.uk/

Cat Discipline
Are you having problems with a cat that just won’t listen, or maybe one that leaves little unwanted presents if you go out of town for a night? Your cat may need some discipline. Cat discipline is a much harder process than dog discipline. Cats think they’re superior where as a dog knows your the boss. Get your cat on the way to doing what you want!
http://catdiscipline.blogspot.com

I am a stay at home mopther to a beautiful 1 year old boy.

The Historical Mandate for Dog Adoption
A headline in the Long Island Star, December 8, 1876, stated, “Two Bull Dogs Chew Each Other Up.” Cheered on by gamblers, the $1,000 dog fight continued for nearly four hours.

Throughout history, the inhumane treatment of dogs was scarcely noticed. Children and factory laborers were often subjected to physical and emotional abuse without scandal. So the fate of a dog was not even on the radar screen of the average person.

Unwanted or abandoned New York City dogs were frequently drowned in iron cages that had been lowered into a river.

But all that was to change with the arrival on the scene of Henry Bergh, a wealthy New Yorker. Bergh, a fierce defender of horses, dogs, and all animals against abuse he dedicated his life to the organization he founded in 1866, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA.

Henry and his ASPCA awakened the nations consciousness to the plight of dogs and animals everywhere, as ensuing years would find in the ASPCA a model for societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, (SPCAs) across the land.

Preventing animal cruelty soon demanded that a program be established for the adoption of unwanted dogs to new homes giving them a second chance at life. The SPCAs would lead the way in making this a reality and are a critical component in the current effort to save dogs from abandonment and death.

Why would anyone abandon their dog today?

There are many reasons why .some understandable ( I did not say acceptable), most not here s a few :

Dog Buyer s Remorse -: A weekend trip to the pet shop, a birthday or holiday gift, geez a dog is such a great idea ! But then the reality sets in that a dog is a living being that needs food, exercise, meeical care and affection. Too much trouble? Drop the dog off at the pound or just dump the poor puppy at a park or on the road.

Change in Lifestyle or Financial Hardship: If a pet owner loses his/her job or moves to a new home where dogs are not permitted, Fido often finds his love rewarded with a new address at the local animal shelter

Death of Owner: When a death occurs in a family, it is quite common to see Mom or Dad s best friend being dumped at the local pound by family members who either can t or won t provide home and sactuary to a beloved dog.

Run Away Dog- Fido the dog runs off to play and have fun. Perhaps, the dog runs away due to abuse. If the dog owner can not or does not try to find the dog, he may well end up caged in a pound until adopted or euthanized.

Failing Health: Certain serious health conditions may make dog care an impossibility or prohibited by a medical practitioner. These otherwise wonderful dogs may be dumped at a shelter or abandoned by the owner or a family member.

Long Distance Move- When people move to another city, state or to a foreign country, the responsibility of taking a dog along may be more work than the owner is willing to endure. And in the case of international moves, quarantine laws may make the transition difficult. The easy solution for many, sadly, is to dump the dog at the local dog pound and never look back.

Allergic Reactions- Some people complain of allergies to dog fur, dander and the like. When they sneeze, Fido is shuffled off to dog prison.

Loss of Interest- A puppy or dog is brought home and everyone agrees that this new dog will be the family pet for a lifetime. When the novelty of dog gurdianship wanes, the dog is surrendered to an animal shelter
Millions of wonderful dogs are euthanized in the United States and other countries each year. Until recently, unwanted dogs in Tijuana Mexico shelters were electrocuted.

For those of us who find all this dog abuse abhorent, there are ways to help.

Educate your friends and family about the wonderful dogs that can be found at shelters. Many people believe that no good dogs are to be found at a pound.

Volunteer at a dog rescue or animal shelter and help the organization find unwanted dogs and puppies a new home.

Support no-kill efforts in your area prohibiting the killing of dogs and puppies in shelters.

Dogs-4Life.com offers news, information and resources on dog adoption, dog rescue, dog nutrition and dog care.
This article may be reproduced unedited and provided the link to the author s site is displayed with the article.

Dogs-4Life.com offers information and resources on dog adoption, dog rescue, dog nutrition and dog health

Dealing with your hyperactive dog
About six years ago we brought home an adorable, sleepy, five-week old puppy. We knew it was too early for her to leave her mother, but the dam had stopped feeding the pups and walked away. She was done with them, so the humans took over. At that tender age, Kaylee was sleepy, darling and sweet. She s still darling and sweet, but rarely do her batteries run down. We describe her as having two speeds ” full and off. And off isn t often. If your dog is like Kaylee, whether because it s an active, fun-loving puppy, or because it s not quite wired right like ours, you need strategies for coping. You need a peaceful household where everyone knows the rules and plays fair. We get dogs for many reasons; primary among those reasons are companionship and fun. If your dog is constantly harassing you to play, the probability is that neither of you are having much fun. It may even have gotten to the point that you don t look forward to going home and spending time with your dog. You can change the situation, if you ll commit just a few minutes a day and your patience. Things won t change overnight, but over the course of just a few days your life will improve. In a few weeks, you may have the canine companion you hoped for. The first step is to realize that you are the boss in your household. Not your dog. You decide when to play. And you decide how long playtime will be. It s important to schedule a daily play time. It doesn t have to be long ” ten minutes will do. As long as during that time, all you do is play with your dog. That s it. Just play. As a first step: remove your dog s favorite toy. The one he constantly obsesses about and brings everywhere he goes. Put it up on a shelf. Kaylee s obsession is her little latex soccer ball. Other toys are fine, she ll carry them around, but her special toy is that particular ball. (To avoid complete meltdown, we do have a couple spares on hand. No toy lasts forever.) Next: get a brand new kitchen timer, with a ring or a beep that doesn t sound like any other timer in the house. This is your dog s timer ” he ll recognize it very quickly. To start playtime, ask your dog if she wants to play, get her timer, set it for however many minutes you choose, then get her special toy and start playtime. Let her recognize the ritual. Dogs love routine and quickly adjust to new ones. For as long as the timer s running ” have fun with your dog. Tug, toss, wrestle ” play intensely and focus on your dog. When the timer s bell goes off ” stop immediately. Tell your dog that s it! show him the timer and turn it off. Then say let s go get a drink and walk over to his water bowl. When he drops his toy, replace it on the shelf. It doesn t come down until the next session. If you need to trade a treat for the toy ” do so. You re not rigorously training your dog to perform a task ” you re teaching him the house rules so that everyone can relax and enjoy your time together. We always take Kaylee out for a quick potty break after a play session ” it s another part of our routine. She knows what to expect. When she comes back in the house, she finds a place to lie down. Sometimes she finds a chewie toy, sometimes she just lies down. She doesn t ever really relax, but she s now a dog we can live with. Dogs love ritual and routine. When you got your dog, chances are you pictured yourself at home, dog by your feet, relaxing and enjoying life. You can still make that happen, every evening, if you establish that routine for your dog.

Hope Saidel is the co-owner of <a href="http://www.gollygear.com">GollyGear.com</a>, a bricks-and-mortar and online small dog shop featuring fun, affordable and practical products for small dogs. She has trained and competed in Obedience with small dogs for over a decade and is Registrar of the North Shore Dog Training Club.

Filed under Pets |