How do I know if my pet has worms?

Cats: A number of intestinal parasites will produce no visible symptoms in your cat at all – or at least not at first. Other parasites such as the tapeworm will usually be visible in your cat’s feces and in the hair or on the skin around his anus.

Other symptoms of worms in cats may include:

* Vomiting
* Persistent dry cough
* Swollen abdomen
* Anemia
* Diarrhea
* Persistent scratching around the anus
* Weight loss
* Eating a great deal without putting on weight
* Breathing problems
* Bad breath

Dogs: In many cases you may not even know that your dog has worms without having a sample of his feces analyzed. Certain intestinal parasites such as tapeworm however are usually clearly visible either clinging to the skin or hair around the dog’s anus or in a fresh feces.

Other symptoms of worms in dogs may include:

* Weight loss
* Gastrointestinal disturbances
* Diarrhea
* Anemia
* Scratching, particularly around the base of the tail
* Vomiting
* Mild to severe coughing
* Eating a great deal without putting on weight
* Bad breath

Feline parasites, such as roundworms infest cats in almost the same way as worms in dogs. This process is usually completed in three ways.

* The cat can consume worm eggs from the soil. These roundworm eggs generally come into the environment from the excretion of other infected dogs and cats. The eggs have the capacity to withstand environmental changes and are immune to mild disinfectants. The sticky egg shells cling to the paws or to the fur of the pet. Cats generally ingest the eggs by licking the places where these eggs cling to.
* Most kittens are infected through their mothers. Roundworms have a long migrating lifecycle inside the body of a cat. Larvae get encysted in tissues and can remain there for years. The litter of an infected mother is already infected in utero. Larvae can also be passed on to the kittens through milk during the lactation period.
* A cat can ingest an infected host animal like a rodent. Larvae in the host develop into roundworms within the cat’s body.

The first stage of the roundworm lifecycle is while it is dormant in the environment. This is the period before it actually infects the host. This fact means that fresh feces are not infectious.

When your dog is having fun running around in nature’s great outdoors, there is always a good possibility that he will be bit by bugs or even a snake, as well as stung by creatures like scorpions and bees.

Most of these outdoor injuries are minor and although your dog may experience some discomfort, these small bites and stings will pass after a day or two. But if you are a little more concerned about your dog safety and the possibility that he may be suffering more pain than he lets on, the following information can help you prepare for these types of injuries:

When your dog is stung or bitten by insects

Most insect bites are just a minor annoyance to a dog, similar to how it feels when you or I get bit by a mosquito. There is just a small red spot with some swelling, but life goes on, and after a day or so, the bite mark subsides. On the other hand, if your dog is allergic to the bite or sting that he experiences, this may cause a severe reaction that is often proved to be life-threatening. You’ll know if your dog is allergic to specific types of insect bites and stings if he is showing such conditions as joint pain, vomiting, swelling, diarrhea, and fever.

About Parvovirus

Parvo is a viral disease that affects dogs. This illness can cause severe digestive symptoms, as well as fever and shock and may even prove fatal. Parvovirus attacks rapidly dividing cells like those in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract as well as developing white blood cells. In this way parvovirus leads to symptoms like bloody diarrhea, vomiting and loss of proper immune system functioning. Puppies are more commonly and more severely affected than adult dogs due to their still-developing immune system. Puppies can easily succumb to this disease, especially when the virus infects the muscle of the heart.

The first indications of Parvo in an infected dog are usually high fever, lethargy and loss of appetite. Later, vomiting and diarrhea develop. The stool is often bloody and may have a yellowish color and noticeably foul odor. Without effective treatment, dehydration, shock and even death may follow.

How do dogs contract Parvovirus?

Canine parvovirus is carried by dogs, many of whom show no symptoms themselves. The virus is also shed in the diarrhea of infected dogs and can subsequently survive in the ground and the outside environment for a very long time – even several months.

The Outcome of “Nickel” Nickel Symptoms: 1. Tiredness 2. Diarrhea Back in early March 2008 Following this: The horse did very well until May 14. 2008. May 14. 2008 Early in the morning Nickel wasn’t filling well, he did not want to eat his morning grain. His pulse was about 80′s bps, after a few trots at the ring (I thought he may have colic), I call the Vet and he arrive soon on the next half hour, he give a shot benamine and induce oil as a Colic procedure just in case, well later on the same day Nickel was bring in to the clinic there on that evening his pulse increased around 100′s, bps, next the Vet administered IV fluid, but Nickel did not recovered and he died after mid night. The Autopsy was done at the NC Med School, and the pathology results was, “A severe intestinal bacteria infection. He was a very friendly and outgoing horse We all missing him RIP “Nickel”

If you have a pet at home, you naturally want him to display best behavior and not harm humans or spoil indoor décor or create trouble outside. For this purpose you have to care for your pet in a manner that is conducive for the pet you have, whether it is a cat or a dog or any other pet that you may have chosen to keep.

When you bring home a pet it means you are adding a member to the family. Just like other members of the family, pets too require health care. Although sometimes you will see a veterinarian prescribe similar to human drugs for your pets, health care for pets is however pretty different from what we are used to in regards to humans.

One of the most common mistakes that we commit is with regard to feeding our pets. We usually tend to associate our own dietary habits on our pets without realizing that pets are animals and are structured differently. For example, dogs require to be fed according to their weight and that too only once or twice a day. On the other hand, some pets like cats and dogs need to be neutered to avoid strong urine and unwanted pregnancies.

Housetraining: The Link Between Medications & Your Dog’s House-Wetting Accidents

Some medications cause a dog to drink more and thus produce such copious amounts of urine that the dog can’t wait as long between outdoor breaks or leaks while relaxed. If wetting accidents occur shortly after a dog starts a new medicine, double-check with your veterinarian to see if increased thirst or urination are side effects.

Warning: Don’t abruptly halt the use of a medication without first consulting your dog’s veterinarian. Abrupt cessation could be dangerous.

The most commonly used medications that cause these side effects include:

1) Cortisone-type Medications

This includes prednisone. Veterinarians routinely use cortisones for their anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory effects in a wide variety of conditions. Injectable, oral and topical cortisones such as ear medications or eye drops can cause increased thirst and urination.

2) Phenobarbital

This is the most commonly used anti-seizure medication in veterinary medicine. Side effects may be either temporary or permanent. There has been almost a 90% decrease in urination problems once this medication was stopped. But if your dog must have it to stop seizures then the house-wetting is just something you will have to live with.

Swamp cancer is a relatively uncommon form of infection in dogs, horses, cats and humans. It is caused by a fungal infection known as phycomycosis due to pathogens that are present in stagnant water molds and fungi. The most common form of the disease is pythiosis that invades the body by contact and/or consumption of infected water. Although more common in dogs and horses, it can potentially occur in cats, cattle and even humans.

The most likely cause is the invasion of Pythium insidiosum. The organism needs stagnant water to reproduce and thrive. It can affect dogs swimming in swampy water or drinking contaminated water and also those coming in contact with grass that has been exposed to stagnant water. The organism, present in water molds, enters into wounds in the skin or the gastrointestinal tract. Gradually the disease grows in the stomach and small intestines and leads to symptoms similar to the symptoms of liver cancer in dogs and gastrointestinal cancer.

* Vomiting.
* Diarrhea.
* Lethargy.
* Loss in weight.
* A lump of mass in the abdomen.

Out of the numerous liver functions, filtering of blood is perhaps one of the most important and crucial to the health of your dog. After the food has been digested in the intestines it is absorbed into the portal blood stream and carried to the liver. The liver works upon it to:

* Store some of the food for energy.
* Filter bacteria, chemicals, toxins and nutritional byproducts.
* Produce proteins and other substances necessary for life.

A liver shunt is a condition where the portal blood vessel, instead of carrying blood through the liver, carries it around it. In dogs with a liver shunt the unfiltered blood is carried into the body and toxins accumulate in the blood stream and kidneys, a condition that ultimately causes serious problems.

There are reasonable indications that suggest that liver shunt is a congenital liver disease in dogs and mostly the young puppy dies within weeks after birth. Some dogs do survive for years before some of the symptoms of liver disease in dogs like seizures, abnormal behaviors and serious illnesses become noticeable. In certain cases, however, liver shunt is acquired later in life due to insult to the organ due to a disease or injury.

Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid used by many veterinarians to treat a wide variety of conditions in dogs including:

* Disorders of the central nervous system.
* Endocrinal disorders like Cushings disease and Addisons disease.
* Neoplastic conditions that is growth of tumors.
* Immune mediated diseases.
* Emergency situations like spinal chord trauma.
* Inflammation related respiratory and bowel disorders.

Side effects of prednisone depend directly on the quantum and duration of the drug administered. Short term use of prednisone is less likely to cause any damaging side effects. It is only when the dose reaches an immunosuppressive level when the side effects start causing concern.

Overdose of prednisone can cause suppression of normal adrenal functions, Cushing’s disease in dogs and destabilization of metabolism if withdrawn abruptly. Short term use can cause excessive urination abnormal hunger and an increase in the appetite for dogs. Prolonged use, even in recommended dosages may cause:

* Diarrhea.
* Gastrointestinal ulcers.
* Inflammation in the pancreas.
* Muscle degeneration.
* Vomiting.
* Weight gain.
* Diabetes.
* Behavioral changes.
* Skin and hair coat problems.