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Ticks, like fleas, are found in most areas of the world, particularly those that are well vegetated with lots of grasses, brushes and trees. Ticks are blood sucking insects that attach themselves to the skin of any mammal and can stay attached for several days or until they have finished feeding. Ticks can carry a condition known as Lyme disease that can have several different symptoms in dogs. The condition is actually caused by a bacteria found in the tick known by the scientific name of borrelia burgdorferi. Not all ticks can transmit the bacteria, but there are three different tick species that can, the most common being the Deer Tick that is found in most areas across North America and other areas of the world. [...]
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In case of emergency, most people have a well-stocked first aid kit available for their family but sometimes forget to have an emergency dog first aid kit for their pet. Regardless of how careful you are, there is always the possibility of an accident or injury to your dog or ending up in a situation where you need to assist someone else with his or her injured pet, so you should always be ready and prepared. Having a first aid dog emergency kit on hand could make the difference in a serious or life threatening situation.
You can purchase ready-made dog first aid kits or buy the items and make your own. It is best to keep a fully stocked dog first aid emergency kit at home and one or more portable dog first aid kits for traveling. Some of the places you should always take an emergency portable first aid kit with you [include: [...]
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Dogs bring their human families a great deal of happiness in their lives and love their owners unconditionally. Unfortunately even in the most controlled environments it is still possible for your pet to receive a severe or minor cut or wound that will need treatment to prevent infection. Owners should have a basic understanding of how to treat simple and more significant types of cuts and wounds to provide first aid until the dog can be examined more completely by a vet.
If your pet is injured or has an accident, assessing the severity of the wounds or cuts and knowing what to do could save your pets life. There are several common causes of injuries such as traffic accidents, stepping on a sharp object, dogfights, and running into something sharp. There are times when you can treat the animal's injuries yourself and other times when you need to seek immediate medical attention for your pet. [...]
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Foot injuries can be particularly problematic for dogs since it is so very hard to immobilize a dog or limit the movement and pressure on the pads of their feet when they walk. A dog's foot is designed to uniformly and evenly balance the weight when the dog moves, not like a human foot where we can voluntarily shift our weight from the front to the back or from side to side. Dogs can limp or they can just touch down on the tip of the pads for balance, but that is about all the movement options that they have. Responding to foot injuries and providing treatment as soon as possible is key to prevent long-term damage to the foot. [...]
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Although most owners will never be faced with the need to provide either artificial respiration or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to their dogs, it is still a good idea to understand how to implement the procedures should it be required. Many dogs that are in accidents or are hit by cars do need artificial respiration or CPR to stay alive and taking a pet first aid program or training is a great way to learn these techniques plus pet first aid.
The first thing to do when arriving on the scene where a dog has been hurt or injured is to check for safety issues rather than just racing over to the dog. It will do not good to the dog if you are hurt or injured and cannot perform the procedures. Stop and look around, is it safe, is there traffic, is there someone there to help? In addition check to make sure there are no power lines or electrical wires present if the dog has been in an accident that involves any type of power wires or construction areas. If the area is safe the next step will be to check the dog. [...]
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Dermoid sinus is a condition that occurs in several breeds but is most common in the Rhodesian Ridgeback, the Shih Tzu and the Boxer. The breed most highly affected by the condition is the Rhodesian Ridgeback, although it may also show up in mixed breeds with a history of Rhodesian Ridgeback breeding in their line. Dermoid sinus is caused by a recessive gene, which means that both the male and female must carry the gene for the condition in order for the offspring to have the condition. If any puppy in the litter is born with the condition, breeders know that both parents are carriers of the gene, even if they do not have any signs of dermoid sinus themselves. These dogs should not be bred again to prevent the possibility of producing puppies with the condition and stop puppies being born that will be carriers. It is important to note that not only should the affected puppy be neutered or spayed, but all littermates have the likelihood of being carriers so they should also be spayed or neutered and not allowed to be used in breeding programs. [...]
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Literally cancer can form anywhere in the body, and hemangiosarcomas are cancerous cells and tumors that form in the blood vessels throughout a dog's body. Any breed of dog can develop hemangiosarcomas although they are most common in breeds such as the German Shepherd, Boxer, English Setter and Golden Retriever. Since it is most common in these particular breeds of dogs there is likely a genetic factor that contributes to the development of the cancer, although the exact link or marker is not known. It is interesting to note that hemangiosarcomas are very rare in other species of pets with cats rarely if ever developing the condition. Humans also very rarely develop hemangiosarcomas, which means that research on this cancer is really specific to researchers working with canine cancers. [...]
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Mammary cancers can be either benign or malignant and are found almost exclusively in intact females that have had at least one litter or have come into heat at least once. Occasionally even very young intact females under two years of age will have tumors, but typically these can be removed with a very high success rate. Spayed females have a very low incidence of mammary cancer, and females spayed before their first litter have the lowest chance of developing the condition. Very occasionally males, usually those that have not been neutered, may also develop mammary cancer and this is usually very aggressive or malignant and the prognosis is very poor for recovery. [...]
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While most people call any type of hair loss, itching and sores or inflammation on the skin of a dog mange, there are actually three different types of mange that can be problematic for dogs and dog owners. Mange is actually caused by one of three types of mites that are so small they cannot be seen with the naked eye. These microscopic trouble makers can live either in the skin or the hair follicle of the dog, depending on the type of mite that they are. There are two types of mange mites, the sarcoptic mange mite and the demodex canis mite, that can pass between dogs or puppies to humans and other pets in the house. The sarcoptic mange mite is very contagious but the demodex mange mite is rarely transferred between dogs and humans, but it can occur under the right conditions. [...]
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Osteosarcoma is a form of bone cancer that tends to be most commonly diagnosed in middle aged to senior dogs. Any breed can develop osteosarcoma but the larger heavier boned breeds tend to be the most prone to the condition. The breeds most often associated with the condition include the giant and large breeds such as the Great Dane, Newfoundland, St. Bernard, Irish Wolfhound, Rottweiler, Labrador, Golden Retriever, Boxer and Weimaranar. The group of dogs that weigh over 80 pounds are the most commonly affected, with this weight range 60% are more likely to develop the cancer than any lighter breeds of dogs. Males of any breed are more commonly diagnosed with the condition than females, perhaps because the bones tend to be heavier and more developed in males of most breeds. [...]
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Protein Losing Enteropathy, also known more simply as PLE, is one of the most challenging of the metabolic disease to diagnose and understand. PLE occurs in many different breeds but is more common in the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier and the Basenji breeds. The condition is more common in small to medium breeds of dogs and is becoming more common in toy breeds. Both males and females are typically equally diagnosed and the condition can occur at any age. Often the symptoms are rather subtle and may simply be noted by the owner as a constant or chronic problem with diarrhea for the dog. In severe cases excessive weight loss and even swelling in the abdominal cavity can occur since the protein content of the body is so depleted that typical metabolic activity can occur. Once swelling or edema occurs in the chest, breathing will become labored and problematic and the dog may refuse to eat or want to exercise or move about. Lack of energy, fatigue and constant inactivity is considered to be the most common symptom noted in both advanced and early stages of the disease. [...]
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Like Protein Losing Enteropathy, which is a protein and plasma losing disease of the gastrointestinal system, protein losing nephropathy allows protein and plasma to be lost from the kidneys. The medical term for protein losing nephropathy is glomerulopathies, which covers the entire range of protein losing conditions of the kidneys. Over time this condition results in a lack of protein to fuel the body, resulting in a shutdown of the metabolic processes, build of up fluid in the abdomen and chest cavities, and eventual death from complications with edema if not treated. With the kidneys affected the eventual result of the disease is renal failure, which is fatal in dogs. Typically PLN is seen in the same breeds that are affected by PLE, however PLN is more common in females than males and can often occur in dogs that are between the ages of two to six years. Breeds that are more predisposed to the condition include Samoyeds, Soft-coated Wheaten Terriers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Rottweilers, Beagles, Dobermans and Greyhounds. [...]
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Skye Limp, also known as Puppy Limp, is most common in the Skye Terrier breed, hence the name. Skye Terriers are achondroplastic dogs, which means they are actually a full sized dog - just on dwarf limbs. The Skye Terrier is very long and rather sturdy and stocky throughout the body, but they do have the dwarf or very small legs. This means that the growing puppy has a lot of weight to carry on their short legs and often the distal radial growth plates close too soon, resulting in painful movement while the puppy is young and growing. The good news is that this condition is not life long and most puppies will grow out of Skye limp or puppy limp by the time they are 8 months to one year old. Other breeds of dogs, particularly large or giant breeds such as the Great Dane, St. Bernard, Mastiff, German Shepherd or even the Labrador may occasionally have the condition. Since this lameness is caused by lots of exercise and rapid weight gain, any puppy overfed or that is exercised very strenuously during its growth phase of 5-12 months is more prone to the condition than puppies from the same litter that have less strenuous exercise and a more balanced diet. [...]
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Yeast dermatitis or yeast infections, more formally known as Malessezia Dermatitis, can occur on almost any type, age or breed or dog. Most commonly it is found on dogs with double coats where the ideal warm, moist environments for the yeast to grow and spread are naturally more optimal. However, even short haired and single coated breeds of dogs do get yeast dermatitis under the right conditions.
All dogs have some yeast present on their skin at all times. During times of stress, during allergic reactions or even during different phases of the reproductive cycle the skin may produce additional oils, which lead to an ideal growth medium for the yeast. Dogs with naturally oily skin or with existing skin conditions such as seborrhea are the most likely candidates to develop yeast dermatitis. Since seborrhea may be caused by several factors it is very important to work closely with the vet to try to determine the cause of the excessive oil production. [...]
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There are numerous different factors that can lead mares to abort fetuses at any time during the pregnancy. In most cases fetuses are aborted in the first part of the pregnancy due to a variety genetic and health factors that would prevent the foal from developing normally. Some abortions are also caused by injury to the mare and these can occur regardless of the health of either the mare or the breeding stallion.
Equine herpes virus or EHV-1 is the viral infection most often associated with abortion in horses. This condition is particularly problematic in herds and stables as the mares and stallions can live as carriers showing no outwards signs of the disease for months and even years before the symptoms develop. During this time they may be exposing other horses to the virus, resulting in abortion problems in herds of mares or even in stallions that are pastured or have access to mares that are carrying the virus. [...]
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