Health
Found [447] Articles :: Page 23 of 30
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Another condition that seems to affect the German Shorthaired Pointer, though to a much lesser extent than others, is pannus (also known as chronic superficial keratitis), a corneal disease involving chronic inflammation, possibly brought on by an overly sensitive immune system. This disease mostly affects German Shepherds, though there are a handful of other breeds in which the condition occurs, the German Shorthaired Pointer being one of these. Exactly how the disease begins is unclear, though there is evidence that environmental factors may trigger its onset and influence how severe the disease gets; these factors include altitude and ultraviolet light. [...]
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One of the most devastating diseases that a dog can develop is canine hip dysplasia. Unfortunately, the German Shorthaired Pointer is susceptible to developing this disease. It seems as if the condition is caused by more than one gene acting together and it may be triggered by some environmental factor or factors, such as exercise, rate of growth and level of nutrition; this means that although a dog may be genetically predisposed to develop hip dysplasia, the condition may not pop up unless the right environmental factors are in place. [...]
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Hypothyroidism is the most common endocrine disorder in dogs and our canine companions seem to be the pets most often afflicted with this disorder; it's quite rare in cats. This disorder affects the thyroid gland, which is made of two small, connected lobes in the neck, on either side of the windpipe, that together are shaped like a butterfly. It is a very important gland because it has quite a number of functions, but one of its most important ones is the regulation of metabolism; it does this through a chemical messenger, or hormone, called thyroid hormone. The word hypo means below normal, and so hypothyroidism means a below normal activity of the thyroid, and more specifically, a below normal secretion level of thyroid hormone. [...]
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The Neapolitan Mastiff is an endearing breed of dog with a regal stature. With its massive head and droopy jowls, it has no problem catching the eye of all who see it. Obtaining a Neo can be quite costly; because if this, they are not as commonly seen compared to other types of dog. When out in public, a well socialized Neo is friendly, calm and very open to meeting new people. Many are fascinated with the breed and its delightful physique. While their weight and temperament are often at the center of conversation, there are a few other prudent traits of the Neo that frequently get left out. [...]
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As the Bedlington Terrier is not a particularly common breed, it can be rather difficult to tell what to look for when it comes time to pick one out. For the most part, the breed looks like a small lamb; but there are special traits that should and should not be found on a Bedlington. While determining these things can be very important if one is looking to breed their dog, they are also important to ensure that the dog will not have any severe health problems in the future. From stance, to head shape, to its curly coat, all have certain characteristics that make a Bedlington Terrier a Bedlington Terrier.
The most striking characteristic of the Bedlington Terrier is its distinctive head. Unlike other dog breeds that have a muzzle, the line from their nose to their forehead remains completely unbroken giving the Bedlington its lamblike appearance. Just as much, the head should remain uniform and slender with no heavy cheeks or jowls. [...]
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The Italian Greyhound is a small breed of dog similar to the Greyhound, only much smaller. Unlike the greyhound, however, they don't have the tolerance to inclement weather that the greyhound does. Most dogs have body coat and hair that adjust to the weather. Many dog owners will put their dogs outside year round with the belief that the dog gets a winter and summer coat to adjust to the temperature variances. This is not necessarily the case with the Italian Greyhound. [...]
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When looking into adding a Bernese mountain dog to your family, one of the things that you will need to take into account is its lifespan.
As with all large dogs, the Bernese is not expected to live a particularly long life. Usually their general lifespan is around 10 years. However, due to poor health, often the breed only lives until it is around 7 years old. So why is this and why does the Bernese have such a short lifespan?
[h]The Things That Affect the Bernese Mountain Dogs Lifespan[/h]
It is thought that the average age of the Bernese mountain dog has decreased as time has gone on. Whilst it used to be 10 years, now the average lifespan of the breed is 6-8 years.
Generally with larger dogs you expect that they will not live that long. However the Bernese mountain dog did usually used to live for 10 years. Some dogs still do and they are perfectly healthy. However there does seem to have been an increase in diseases such as cancer within the breed and that is why many are now dying earlier than they should. [...]
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Overall the Tibetan Terrier is a healthy dog with few health problems associated with their stock. Yet, there are a few that need to be monitored for including their eye problems. The dogs can develop cataracts and in fact these are sometimes common in the dogs as they age. The cataracts that they have are often the same as you would see in a human cataract situation. Yet, for dogs that can not tell you what is wrong, it is up to the owner to pay close attention to these dogs and the quality of eyesight that they have. There are also several other types of eye conditions that can affect your Tibetan Terrier and that you can monitor them for. [...]
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Beyond a doubt, one of the best resources for learning about a variety of issues with regards to different breeds of dogs is to talk to a reputable breeder. There are a lot of places to locate a breeder, either through breed registries, through your kennel club, or even through internet advertisements and websites. Remember that breeders will naturally be very partial to the breed or breeds of dogs that they raise, but they should also be very open to discussing the more challenging aspects of the breed as well. All breeds of dogs have qualities that are considered more positive or more difficult to deal with, and it is important to hear and understand as much about the breed as possible before deciding if it is the right breed for you and your family.
In addition, asking questions about the breed will also help you in deciding if the breeder is someone you feel confident in. Breeders that inspire confidence and are knowledgeable are great resources for information, as well as a good contact for purchasing a puppy. [...]
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Juvenile Kidney Disease, also known as Juvenile Renal Disease, is very common in many of the popular breeds of dogs. The list of breeds that is affected by the disease ranges from the tiny Yorkshire Terrier up to the large and giant breeds such as the Great Danes and the Irish Wolfhounds. Other breeds can include the Standard Poodle, Alaskan Malamute and the King Charles Spaniels to name just a few. It is largely believed that Juvenile Kidney Disease is somehow genetic in nature, but there are no tests or specific indicators to predetermine if a breeding male or female in any breed is carrying the gene that causes the condition. Often the biggest problems in diagnosing or correctly diagnosing Juvenile Kidney Disease is that it is wrongly grouped as part of other types of kidney diseases including renal dysplasia, which is common in many of these same breeds of dogs. The only way to completely confirm the death of the puppy or the presence of the condition of Juvenile Kidney Disease is by a biopsy of the kidney either after the second month or after the death of the puppy. [...]
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Follicular dermatitis is a skin condition where the actual hair follicle becomes inflamed and produces a swelling, often with a pus like discharge similar to an ingrown hair or a pimple that a human may have. While the condition is not usually serious; it is actually more unsightly and annoying than dangerous, if the bumps become infected or if the condition becomes widespread on the dog's body there is always the chance of hair loss, serious skin infections and the possibility of a weakened immunes system for the dog. [...]
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The first time that you take your puppy or dog to the vets there will be more information required than on subsequent visits so be sure to arrive to the appointment early enough to complete the questionnaire and information required. Typically this paperwork will include the name and age of the dog or puppy, the breed or breed cross if known, as well any medical history that the owner is aware of. This history should include past vaccinations so bring the dog's vaccination record, as well as any surgical procedures or drug treatments that the dog has been placed on at any time in the past. [...]
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Once your puppy is through the series of three puppy vaccinations and boosters it is absolutely critical to keep vaccinations up to date and current at all times. Many owners think that the puppy vaccinations provide permanent safety for the dog, but this is completely false. Dogs need yearly vaccinations for many conditions and other vaccinations at longer or shorter periods depending on the particular condition as well as the environment that the dog is going into.
Some dog owners stop vaccinating their dogs because the owners believe that their dogs are not exposed on a regular basis to other dogs. Unfortunately all it takes is drinking from another dog's water, being in the presence of a dog when it sneezes, or of course getting into a fight or even playing with another dog and breaking the skin or ingesting the other dogs body fluids to contract some of these diseases. [...]
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Dogs will naturally eat almost anything that they find including spoiled meat, and food items, other dog waste and even waste from other animals. In this diet of less than sanitary foods most dogs will routinely get worms, small parasites that live in the intestines and other parts of the body throughout their lifecycle. Worms are very bad for a dog as they tend to weaken the dog's overall health, immune system, and ability to recover from sickness and disease. Worms can also be passed from a pregnant female to her puppies before they are born.
While it is impossible to prevent your dog from ever getting worms, it is simple and easy to regularly treat your dog for worms. Over the counter worming tablets, pastes, powders and liquids are relatively ineffective and typically only treat roundworms, which are the least serious of all the types of worms that dogs may have. [...]
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It seems like no matter where you live, unless you are very lucky, fleas are a major problem for most pet owners. Fleas are particularly problematic because they are not species specific as some parasites, which means they are happy to feast on your dog, your cat, the rabbit or even on the family. Fleas are more than annoying; they can carry tapeworm eggs and other diseases as well as lead to severe allergic reactions in many dogs. Some breeds are particularly prone to flea allergies and controlling fleas will be essential in these breeds.
Most vets recommend a monthly flea treatment that works to disrupt the natural cycle of development, thereby reducing the number of adult fleas on the pet and in the environment to lay eggs to produce another generation. The key to using these topical applications is to be consistent and use them on the schedule, keeping all the pets in the house treated. It will not be as effective if you only treat the dogs and not the cats or vice versa. [...]
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