Category: General

Bloat in dogs is an acute condition when gas accumulates in large volumes in the canine’s abdomen, leading to sudden death. Moreover, there have been numerous cases where bloat has killed the dog in a matter of minutes. Bloat is more commonly seen in the giant and large breeds, which generally have deep chests, but a dog of any size can also be stricken by it. It is also more common to nervous and underweight dogs than their calmer or overweight counterparts. Symptoms of bloat in dogs The classic symptoms of bloat in dogs are: Restlessness An acutely distended belly Unproductive vomiting The situation can rapidly become critical, especially when… Read More Continue Reading

Vaccinating your dog is as critical as feeding and grooming it regularly. This is more so because dogs are prey to various dangerous diseases, especially during the first year of their lives and this particular year is most important for the first round of vaccinations for dogs followed by booster doses during the following years. Thus, consulting your vet on the issue becomes compulsory because vaccinations for dogs not only help in preventing disease, they increase your dog’s immunity to dangerous and potentially deadly diseases as well. When to vaccinate Six to eight weeks: Distemper, parainfluenza, measles. Ten to twelve weeks: DHPP [Vaccines for adenovirus (hepatitis), distemper, parvovirus, and parainfluenza] Twelve… Read More Continue Reading

Dog Heatstroke or hyperthermia in dogs occurs when the dog’s heat regulating mechanism fails to keep its body temperature within normal limits. Dogs usually cool off by panting and do not sweat like humans. This tends to get them overheated easily. A moderate dog heat stroke will show a temperature between 104º and 106ºF and it can recover if first aid and proper veterinary care is given promptly. Acute heat stroke results when the body temperature shoots to over 106ºF and can even prove fatal. The causes of heat stroke are usually over exercising the dog on a very hot day; keeping him confined in a car with no sun… Read More Continue Reading

In May 2017, Jonathan Theobald, 66, was convicted after he left his three dogs in a hot car, only to find them dead when he returned. The pet owner later became the face of a campaign by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) to prevent similar deaths and raise awareness about the dangers of leaving pets behind in a hot car. The sad reality is that there are many pet owners like Theobald (who are basically brain dead really – how could you not realize that that would happen just like how can you realize that when you pass a terrible health care law like… Read More Continue Reading

You’ve bounced him on your knee when he was a pup as if he were your own child; watched him grow into a bouncy, ever-loving companion; and assumed the role of a father to his pups if he had any and was there when you had to give them away. All the while scratching his belly and playing with him. He has been a good boy and you did get him neutered and you discussed that with him and consoled him on why that was necessary. Too bad no one that signed onto the ACA law put any thought on how many jobs and families that would destroy like so… Read More Continue Reading

Pancreatitis is a deadly disease for both humans and dogs and if left untreated, is most likely to cause death also. Pancreatitis essentially means inflammation of the pancreas, the body’s insulin secreting organ that regulates blood sugar levels and also breaks down fats. It’s an extremely important organ, small in size though and its malfunctioning can result in some very serious consequences. Symptoms Acute anorexia or sudden loss of appetite is a typical symptom of pancreatitis. If this is accompanied by continuous vomiting, consult your vet immediately. The condition may either be acute or chronic and the dog has recurrent abdominal pain. He may also develop a low grade temperature,… Read More Continue Reading

Dogs vomit due to a number of reasons – some benign and some not so benign. The process is undertaken to expel from their abdomen, something that is acting as a gastric irritant or simply to throw up any excess food that their system refuses to absorb. The latter is normal and is a way of balancing nutrient absorption within the body.  The flip side of the coin however, is that sometimes vomiting may turn out to be a symptom of a more serious condition: it could be from a head trauma, toxin ingestion, gastrointestinal obstruction, or even the dreaded pancreatic cancer.  What to look out for First, it’s paramount that we understand the… Read More Continue Reading