Archive for the ‘Diseases’ Category

posted by admin on Apr 14

When looking for a hypoallergenic dog, you will have to decide on a breed of dog and also how the dog will fit into your lifestyle. Many hypoallergenic dogs are small or medium breed dogs. This means that they are small sized or medium sized dogs that require more attention than larger breeds. Hypoallergenic dogs may cause you to have fewer allergy attacks because their hair does not shed, they don’t have an undercoat, or they do not shed a lot dead skin cells, or dander. The following breeds of hypoallergenic dogs are popular with those who suffer from allergies: Irish Water Spaniel, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, and Bedlington Terrier.

For those looking for a hypoallergenic dog that is larger than other breeds, the Irish Water Spaniel may be the dog for you. These dogs have very short human-like hair that will prevent shedding and allergens from entering the air. The coats of these dogs must be maintained through grooming every two months. The Irish Water Spaniel is a friendly dog that likes to exercise and swim during the warmer months of the year.

The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is available in four varieties, the Traditional Irish, Heavy Irish, English, and American. The main difference is the size of the dog. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier has a short coat that does not shed much during the day. The dogs will need to be groomed as often as other hypoallergenic breeds in order to prevent clumping or rashes on their skin.

The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is very friendly and will always welcome strangers. They enjoy getting their exercise and want to be around people as much as possible. These dogs should not be kept in an apartment. Having a backyard is a must as this dog loves to run and bark. If you are in need of a hypoallergenic dog that is a little larger than most, then this is a dog worth considering.

Bedlington Terriers are smaller than the Irish Water Spaniel and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, but they have short coats which need to be brushed a few times a week to prevent tangling. They will also need to be groomed every three or four months in order to maintain a healthy coat. These dogs are energetic and enjoy exercise. For those who are hypoallergenic and who live in apartment buildings or small homes, this dog is perfect.

These breeds of hypoallergenic dog are not the only ones you have to choose from. There are other varieties that may appeal to your lifestyle and allergy issues. Smaller dogs are better for apartment living as they tend to bark less and require less room to move around in. If you own or rent a home, then you may want to consider a larger breed that will be able to run around in the back yard. Hypoallergenic dogs require more grooming than other breeds because they do not shed most of their hair, it just continues to grow. Not grooming regularly will cause matting, which will have to be cut from the coat in order to prevent skin rashes and other problems.

posted by admin on Apr 9

? It is very important to maintain a good healthy body by regular exercise. Walking or swimming for 5-10 minutes is very important, you can increase the time period with passage of time.

? Essiac Tea in combination with different kind of herbs has been used as a natural remedy for cancer. Even though no one could vouch for its authenticity it can still be a good attempt in saving your pet from this disease. The herbs which are included with the tea are burdock root, sheep sorrel, Turkish rhubarb root, slippery elm bark and sometimes even red clover, kelp, watercress or blessed thistle.

? Chiropractic treatment is one of the alternative treatments you can use for your pets. Even though it is not the first methods you would be choosing but this could be one of the ways to treat your dogs. The treatment begins with correcting nutritional problems and deficiencies then trying to treat the musculoskeletal conditions.

? Treatment through flowers is another such process which helps with various emotional and psychological problems of the animals. The use of different flowers helps to bring positive effect on the diseased animal’s life. Many of the behavioral problems are being treated by using the flower remedy.

-Bleeding heart is a very useful treating any kind of grief. It comes handy when the mother separates from her kittens or puppies.
-Chamomile is very useful for soothing an irritation.
-Olive is used when a pet is exhausted and tired by any kind of strain or due to chronic illness. This makes him stronger and would be able to deal with problems in a better manner.

? Chinese herbs are present in the markets which are being used by many people to give the healing touch to your pets. Even though it is a lesser-known approach it has made quite an impact with many pet owners.

? The other approach is naturopathy which stresses on cleansing and cleaning the body, by fasting, drinking water, exercising and massages.

? Acupuncture is another way of treating this disease. It works by poking more than hundreds needles on the necessary area. This insertion of the needles is known as acupuncture. You have to be a professional to carry out such an important task.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

posted by admin on Mar 25

Even though the differences between non-hypoallergenic dogs and hypoallergenic dogs may not be huge, they are enough to reduce the amount of allergy attacks that people have when they are around certain breeds of dog. For those who want to own a dog, not being able to be in the same room with one for long periods of time, can be frustrating. Buying a hypoallergenic dog may be the only way they can have a dog in their home. While they may still experience allergy attacks, these attacks will be less frequent.

Non-hypoallergenic dogs tend to shed a lot. Their fur can be loose and dense, which means that it may contain a lot of dander as well. Dander is a collection of skin cells, dust, and other particles found in the air. As the dog sheds, these particles float around in the air and cause people to have allergy attacks. These dogs may also have an undercoat, which is a thick coat that protects them from harsh temperatures. This undercoat is what causes the dog to shed frequently. It can also trap dander and other allergens.

Some non-hypoallergenic dog breeds may also salivate more often than other breeds, which can also cause a person’s allergies to increase. Saliva contains bacteria that people are oftentimes allergic to. While these dogs cannot control the amount of saliva they expel, people who are allergic to dogs have a difficult time when these dogs are present. People with dog allergies may also be allergic to dog urine as it too can contain certain kinds of bacteria.

Hypoallergenic dogs have shorter coats. Some breeds do not have an undercoat. While this makes them unprepared for cold weather, they are perfect for those who have allergies. The hair on these dogs is more like human hair, which means it will not shed as frequently as non-hypoallergenic dogs. The hair will need to be trimmed every few weeks in order to prevent it from growing too long. Some hypoallergenic breeds do not have hair at all. They are considered hairless even if they have some hair on their paws and head.

Hypoallergenic dogs do not salivate as much as other breeds. This helps those who are allergic. This means that when the dog cleans itself, it will not leave as much bacteria behind. Urine from hypoallergenic dogs does not affect as many people either.

When looking for a hypoallergenic dog, you should research the following breeds to see if you are interested in any of them: Maltese, Terriers, Schnauzer, Bishon Frise, Portuguese Water Dog, Greyhounds, and Irish Water Spaniel. There are other breeds, but these are some of the more popular ones that people want to buy. This also means that you will have fewer problems finding a breeder in your area.

Learn as much as you can about grooming, brushing, and caring for your hypoallergenic dog. Most breeds are very friendly and will live to be at least twelve years of age. These dogs enjoy companionship and exercise.

posted by admin on Feb 23

Obesity in pets is common nowadays causing real problems. The obesity in pets is due to either over feeding or not providing any exercise to the pets or not providing the right diet. Obesity in pets is also attributed to the modern lifestyles of people, who leave their pets alone in their house, eating for themselves whatever they want and not providing any exercise. Obesity conditions of pets can lead to devastating state of their health like high blood pressure, skin problems, increased risk to diabetes mellitus and heat intolerance resulting in pets facing high risks of heat strokes during hot weathers, risk towards infections and towards anesthesia.

Obesity in cats:

Nearly 25 percent of cats are known to be clinically obese, meaning excess fat accumulation of the body. Not having a check on the cat’s obesity may lead them to the reduction of the cat’s life span. Obese cats are prone to heart diseases, arthritis, skin disorders, fatty liver disease, lower urinary tract diseases, diabetes and cancer. Obesity can lead to or can be a cause for diabetes.

The main reasons for obesity in cats:

Obesity in cats may be due to aging process or due to the breed, or due to genetics which can cause increase in body weight. Mixed breed cats suffer from obesity than pure breeds.

Neutering female and male cats’ bodily functions gets reduced up to 25 percent leading them into obesity. By eating extra calories too, they become obese. Low thyroid hormonal levels also cause obesity.

Obesity in dogs:

The incidence obesity is more when the dogs are owned by an obese person than the dogs owned by a physically fit person. The dog breeds, which are more prone to obesity, are small terriers, cocker spaniels, dachshunds, beagles etc. This does not mean that other dog breeds are not prone to obesity. Any dog, which is lethargic and lies down all the day, is obese. It has been found that around one third of people do not know that their dogs are obese.

The reasons for obesity in dogs:

When dogs are fed on table scraps they become obese as the food cannot be monitored for quality. The food with a good nutritional balance and value has to be provided for their well being rather than feeding scraps of food.

Spayed female dogs are more prone to obesity. Likewise castrated male dogs too are prone to obesity. A dog may be obese due to under active thyroid hormones making it overweight and sluggish. Also when dogs are not provided regular walks and exercise they tend to become obese.

Ways to overcome obesity in pets:

The pets should be provided with good nutritional food with rich protein content and make the weight loss procedure to take its toll gradually. They have to be supplemented with amino acids, vitamins and minerals for regaining their stamina.

Time should be spent with the pets to make them run, jump and do mild exercises to keep them fit. The valuable time spent with the pet can be very relaxing to both the pet and the owner.

posted by admin on Aug 22

We have two Italian Greyhounds (affectionately referred to as IG’s). Dixie was two when we brought Yankee home. I read that IG’s are happier with another animal and thought that another IG would be half as much trouble and twice as much fun. After a few days of establishing a pack order the two became great friends.

For those not familiar with IG’s, they are about ¼ scale of the famous racetrack breed. In their finest form they look half-starved, even though it may look cruel to most pet owners, that’s when they are the most active and truly happiest. A pound or two slows them down tremendously and even becomes dangerous.

They are fearless leapers. No matter how many times I try to explain to them Newton’s Laws of Gravity, it does no good. Heart-stopping stories abound over the internet chat rooms about their Superman like tendencies. The extra weight increases the risk of broken bones.

They are also tremendous jumpers. In her hey-day Dixie could jump straight up over 6 feet high to grab a snack. At will she could jump flat-footed on to the dining room table, landing as soft as a butterfly with sore feet.

But more than anything, those long thin legs were meant for speed. Unfortunately, they can run faster than they can think. IG’s become single focused when running. Twice I have nearly had a heart attack as they ran full speed into each other from opposite directions, tumbling like out of control race cars. Chasing after one another, they’d scrape the trees so close that bark literally flew off and misjudging turns, wiping-out in to brick walls and other immoveable objects was a common occurrence.

Well, one day the inevitable finally happened, Dixie went into a door facing and snapped her left leg. The break was clean through. Her little paw dangling 90 degrees from just below her knee told me everything I didn’t want to know.

I did the best I could to immobilize it as my wife called the vet. As soon as we got there they took her back for x-rays. She was obviously in a lot of pain but had quit yelping after I first picked her up. In fact, she was the calmest of any of us.

My wife was crying because of the dog. I was crying because of the bill. If I would’ve known how much it was going to cost in the lobby I would have cried a lot harder. This was going to be a big payday for the vet.

The choices were simple, they could try a cast, but it would probably not set right because of the very tiny, toothpick-thin fibula. The vet recommended a titanium plate and screws.

The surgery alone would run $1,000. The total bill would actually end up over $1,800. I could have bought 3 Dixies and a lifetime supply of dog food for that much. My wife got mad because she didn’t like my sense of humor, but I wasn’t joking. I know the power of the purse, and I have no intention of getting hit by hers again so I relented.

The next morning they put in the custom made plate and screws. It was really tricky because the screws had to be big enough to hold things together, but small enough not to interrupt blood flow.

More painful (if you can believe that) than the vet bill, was the care and attention Dixie would require for the next 3 to 4 months. For the next three months she would have to be kept in a crate at all times.

For the first three weeks when we took her out to go potty we would have to hold on to her. No walking was allowed. It is absolutely crucial for dogs to find the perfect spot to relieve themselves, not any spot will do. Humans cannot fully appreciate this until they miss an entire showing of Monday Night Football.

A few weeks after the surgery we got a bit of good news, the leg was healing fine. She would still have to be crated, but we could put her on a real tight lead and let her stand on her three good legs to go potty. In about two to three week intervals after that she was allowed a little more freedom.

Slowly things got back to normal. The first month after she got full clearance to run was rather tiring. Each jump, every full trot run brought held breaths in anticipation of another vet trip.

It has taken two full years to get to where she no longer yelps or pulls up after a full run or sharp turn. She has lost a noticeable amount of her initial burst. She can longer track down Yankee from behind, but they still love to chase each other in the backyard and that gives us great pleasure. If you’ve never seen these gracious runners play at full speed then you cannot fully appreciate why we went to all the trouble and expense.

My wife loves to show Dixie’s scar to anyone who comes by. She talks about the whole adventure like it was The Good Old Days. Out of fear that my wife will read this article I will state that if I had to do it again I would. But I won’t like it.