To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate?

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Vaccines in dogs has always been a hot topic. In the past, vaccines were not available, and dogs suffered and died in huge numbers from infectious diseases. In the 1970s, parvovirus roared onto the scene with multiple outbreaks, killing massive numbers of dogs. Fortunately, the parvo vaccine was developed, and many dogs were able to be protected from the disease. Today due to ignorance and anti-vaccine rhetoric, diseases like parvo and distemper, which are easily preventable, are making a comeback. In areas where there are large numbers of unvaccinated or undervaccinated pets, veterinarians see dogs come in sick with bloody diarrhea and vomiting, or neurological symptoms or worse, suffering from… Read More Continue Reading

How Can I Help a Rescue Dog that has Anxiety?

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Rescue dogs make wonderful pets. They are loving, devoted and grateful creatures that realize you have given them a second chance at life. Just like adopted children, these fur kids can come with mental and emotional baggage, associated either with their time in the shelter or their prior lives. Helping rescue dogs cope with and overcome their anxiety can be a rewarding experience, but it does require some patience, dedication, and know-how. With the proper tools, even the most scarred rescue dogs can become loving companions. The first step is to identify the type of anxiety your rescue dog may be suffering from. Dogs can develop anxiety to many things,… Read More Continue Reading

Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

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Hip Dysplasia is the veterinary term for ‘abnormal growth’ of the hip joint. The two most commonly affected joints are elbow and hip. In hip dysplasia, a malformation develops in the joint as a puppy grows. Dysplasias can range from mild (you don’t even know your dog has it) to severe, and a dog can develop problems with mobility at any age. Hip dysplasia is diagnosed with by your veterinarian with a physical exam and radiographs (x-ray). Dogs that have hip dysplasia have skinny back legs with less muscle, and often big barrel chests because they use their front legs to pull themselves up. They have a stiff, stilted hindlimb gait, and can cry out… Read More Continue Reading

How to Find and Remove Ticks

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Every year, tick bites are responsible for causing thousands of dogs becoming infected with serious diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis. If you live in a grassy or woody area, you need to check your pet for ticks every day. Although ticks are more prevalent in places like the Northeast, they can be found everywhere in the United States. A tick survives by feeding on blood. It takes 24 hours of the tick feeding to infect an animal. This is why it is crucial to find and remove them early, as this can actually stop your dog from getting sick in the first place.… Read More Continue Reading

How to Help an Arthritic Dog

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Arthritis is a frustrating condition that decreases the quality and quantity of a dog’s life, and can affect both young and old dogs. In the past, arthritis used to be difficult to manage, but fortunately, medical and surgical advancements in veterinary medicine give pet parents more options than ever to manage canine arthritis. The most important thing any pet parent can do for a dog diagnosed with arthritis is to make sure that dog is thin. Fat cells are very bad behaviored cells:  the bigger they get, the more of a bad hormone they give off, causing increased appetite, decreased metabolism, and the release of a painful enzyme into the… Read More Continue Reading

Heartworms in Dogs

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Easily prevented with medication, heartworms are difficult and costly to cure. Dogs contract heartworms in only one way- through the bite of an infected mosquito. All it takes is one mosquito bite. There is no way to tell if a mosquito is infected. This is why preventing heartworms in the first place is so critical. After a dog has been bitten by the infected mosquito, it takes about 7 months for the heartworms to develop. At this time, they begin lodging in the heart, lungs and surrounding blood vessels and they begin to reproduce. One worm can grow up to 12 inches long and can live 5 to 7 years.… Read More Continue Reading

Can Pets Be Depressed?

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Is Fido just not acting like himself? Does he spend more time lying around than he used to? The possibility exists that he may be suffering from depression. People who are depressed commonly report feelings of sadness, anxiety, irritability or hopelessness. Some lose interest in participating in activities that they normally enjoy. According to Dr. Wailani Sung, pets do not feel depression to a human degree, but they do experience depression in their own way. Some suspect that their pet may be suffering from depression, based on the way they are behaving around the house. Firstly, it is important to rule out any underlying medical condition. Secondly, look for changes… Read More Continue Reading

General Signs of Sick Dogs

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Dogs have evolved alongside humans for the past ten thousand years and accordingly are pretty good at communicating with us when they are not feeling well.  Dogs can get sick from many, many things – but generally speaking, the signs are pretty universal. Malaise When a dog is feeling sick, he will have less energy than normal. It’s where the phrase ‘looking hang dog’ came from: sick dogs will mope, flop around, not want to play, and sleep more than usual. Changes in Appetite and Weight A dog that is sick will usually eat less than normal and lose weight, but some diseases, such as cushings disease, will have an… Read More Continue Reading

Probiotics for Dogs

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Beneficial bacteria that live in the digestive tract, probiotics are found in many different varieties. Lactobacillus lives in the small intestine and Bifidobacteria live in the large intestine. Probiotics work to product short-chain fatty acids which stop the growth of harmful bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella. Probiotics, who are sold as supplements are living microorganisms which are very similar to a dog’s natural bacteria. When there aren’t enough natural probiotics in the body, this can cause these problems in dogs. When a dog is having gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea or constipation, probiotics can be rather helpful. According to Ann Wortinger program chair of veterinary technology at Sanford-Brown… Read More Continue Reading

Prednisone in dogs

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Prednisone is a medication that has a wide range of usages in dogs. Generally speaking, steroids are used to reduce inflammation, allergies, or suppress the immune system. Prednisone in dogs is prescribed for many different conditions, including atopy (skin allergies), inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune blood disorders, autoimmune disorder such as lupus, arthritis, allergic conjunctivitis, uveitis (inflammation inside the eye), asthma, specific muscular disorders, and more. Prednisone, if used properly, is a very useful drug and can cure many conditions, but must be used with caution because it has many side effects. Prednisone, if taken long enough and at high enough dosages, can weaken the immune system and cause problems with… Read More Continue Reading