posted by Tess on Aug 20
Kennel cough in canines is as common as head cold in humans. It is caused by a number of agents - viruses as well as bacteria. The most common agents that cause kennel cough are parainfuenza (viral) and bordetella bronchiseptica (bacterial).
Kennel cough is a respiratory infection of the bronchi and throat that causes a prolonged dry hoarse cough. The infection as such is neither serious nor painful to warrant panic but long spells of honking cough can be extremely frustrating for the owner and uncomfortable for the dog. Medically, kennel cough in dogs can potentially lead to weakening of the immune system and secondary infections like pneumonia.
Common symptoms of kennel cough include fever, listlessness, spasmodic and prolonged cough, lack of appetite and nasal or eye discharge. The severity of the infection determines the level of symptoms that are manifested. In most cases, your dog may behave normally with a dry cough as the only apparent symptom.
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posted by Tess on Aug 18
Bladder cancer in dogs is usually malignant and the most common type is transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). TCC is a cancer that originates in the bladder, kidney or ureters but the most common site for this type of cancer is the bladder. It arises in the transitional epithelium, the membranous tissue covering these organs.
The exact cause of TCC is not totally known but it is suspected that carcinogens that pass out through the urine lead to development of cancer in the lining of these organs. Since the carcinogens tend to be stored in the bladder along with urine, the bladder is the most affected organ.
Some drugs are also known to be metabolized by the liver to produce acrolein, a known human carcinogen. As acrolein is produced in the liver and passed out through the urine, it is also suspected to be one of the causes of urethra and liver cancer in dogs.
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posted by Tess on Aug 10
Spaying and neutering of dogs are highly wanted if you don’t want to breed the dogs and however, these activities need to be carried out by qualified veterinarians specialized in pet care and management. Anesthesia is required along with due surgical procedures for carrying out the spaying and neutering.
One has to understand first the terms like spaying or neutering. Both are related to the surgical approaches of sterilization in case of females and males respectively. However, the term neutering is also related to such procedures in both sexes. Accidental pregnancies that are not wanted can be highly minimized by these procedures.
Spaying and neutering helps to prevent occurrence of pyometra, which is a common reproductive disorder-giving problem to the dog owners. In male dogs, the neutering helps to prevent the occurrence of prostate enlargement or cancer. Hence, these help to minimize the incidences of reproductive disorders in dogs.
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posted by Tess on Aug 5
Kennel cough in dogs is a fairly common condition. It occurs when a dog comes in contact with or is near an infected dog. The most likely time when this can occur is when the dog has been kenneled for a period of time.
However, being kenneled is not the only manner in which dogs can contract kennel cough. Dogs may get infected even when they have not been recently boarded. This is because an infected dog can potentially pass on the infection to another by sneezing and coughing.
The most common viral agent that causes kennel cough is parainfluenza. The incubation period of the virus is three to four days. It is only after the incubation period that the dog shows any signs or symptoms of the infection. The duration of kennel cough in dogs is approximately six to ten days unless there is another bacterial agent that results in extending the normal period of the condition.
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posted by Tess on Aug 5
Many people will give different types of answers based on their experience with their dogs. However, the scientific facts related to the feeding aspects in case of dogs need to be given emphasis during the feeding activities maintained in case of dogs.
Usually the puppies should not be separated before they are eight weeks old. However, some times the orphaned puppies may exist. Usually about five percent of the body weight may be taken as criteria for the quantity of food to be given to the puppies. However, the amount that is consumed by the dog varies with size of the dogs also.
However, one can have a thumb rule of feeding the puppy goes until you see visible fullness of the abdomen to a moderate degree. If you are going on feeding the animal without giving emphasis to the animal’s stomach appearance, then the puppy may experience some kinds of digestive upsets and the diarrhea may occur in them.
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posted by Tess on Aug 3
Canine prostate cancer is different in some respects and similar in others when compared with prostate cancer in humans. Unlike prostate cancer in humans, which is a slow progressing condition, canine prostate cancer is a highly aggressive and invasive disease. In many cases the life expectancy is barely thirty days after diagnosis.
On the other hand, it produces symptoms that are similar to prostate cancer in humans and is detected just as late. Although, the basis of the disease is the same as in humans, treatment modalities are largely different and restricted in the case of canine prostate cancer.
Cancer cells in dogs that have prostate cancer metastasize (spread) to other parts of the body like bones, lungs and lymph nodes at a fast speed. An abnormal gait is common in dogs with prostate cancer due to the affect that it has on bones.
The prostate gland encircles the urethra and its enlargement causes difficulty in urination (dysuria). Some dogs may also show symptoms such as a difficulty in passing stools or an inclination to defecate without significant production of feces due to spasms in the anal sphincter.
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posted by Tess on Jul 30
Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer in dogs and in most cases, attacks the femur bone. Sarcoma is usually a malignant tumor that arises from the connective tissue of bones and muscles. Out of the three different types of primary bone cancers seen in dogs, osteosarcoma is not only the most malignant but also the most metastatic.
Primary signs of bone cancer start appearing with mild swelling that refuses to be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs. Later, some elements of lameness may be seen. The lameness becomes more pronounced as the disease progresses. Sometimes the bone is so weakened that the weight of the dog itself can cause fracture. Bone cancer is very painful and leads to a refusal to eat and consequently a significant weight loss is seen in almost all cases.
Bone cancers are relatively difficult to detect and require a host of tests that include X-Rays, complete blood profile, ultrasounds and bone scans. A number of other tests are also required to check the level of metastasis that has occurred.
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posted by Tess on Jul 21
The structure of the urinary tract in dogs is as simple as it can be. It consists of the following:
* Kidneys that filter the daily metabolic wastes from the blood and dissolve them in as little water as possible.
* A set of two tubes called ureters that transport liquid waste to a storage area.
* The urinary bladder which is the storage area for urine.
* Urethra, the tube through which this waste is eliminated during urination.
The simplicity, however, ends here because a lot can go wrong with this simple system that is responsible for eliminating wastes. To start with, Diet, water consumption, pH balance of the urine and Stress can cause urinary tract problems.
In addition to this, disease causing bacteria can enter the sterile tract through the urethral opening at the end of penis (in males) or just within the vaginal vestibule (in females) and cause canine and feline urinary infection.
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posted by Tess on Jul 8
A dog?s teeth and human teeth are different in structure and the use they are put to. At the same time, apart from the fact that dogs do not develop cavities and are more prone to develop tartar, dogs have to face nearly the same dental problems that humans have to struggle with.
Just as in humans, if you are not careful about dental care your dog may be at a higher risk of developing dental problems like:
-?? ?Canine bad breath.
-?? ?Gingivitis or inflammation of the gums.
-?? ?Bacterial infection in teeth.
-?? ?Abscesses, a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed gum tissue.
-?? ?A more serious disease that attacks the gum and the bone around the teeth, known as periodontitis. ?
Teeth and mouth infections can lead to tooth extraction. These infections can also enter the blood stream and attack vital organs elsewhere in the body. While a dog breath freshener may temporarily cure bad dog breath, only a proper dental care program can keep your dog?s teeth and gums in a fighting fit condition.
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posted by Tess on Jul 7
Bladder stones are fairly common in domestic pets and are linked with urinary tract infection in dogs and urinary tract infection in cats. Besides urinary infection in dogs, changes in the pH balance, over saturation of urine with crystals and water re-absorption by the kidney tubules are the other major causes behind the formation of bladder stones.
Diet, decreased water intake and frequency of urination and genetics are some of the factors that contribute to the formation of bladder stones.
Concentration and pH balance play an important role in the type of stone that is formed. Calcium oxalate and urate stones are formed when the urine is acidic to neutral. Struvite stones are generally formed in neutral to alkaline pH environments.
Cystine stones, calcium phosphate stones and silicate stones, on the other hand, although dependent upon pH of the urine are more breed specific and are caused due to a defect in renal tubules.
The extent of urea in the body is another factor that plays a significant role in the formation of calcium crystals that ultimately result in bladder stones.
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