Informative Information About Dogs

[darylseven07]

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thank you for this information!up ta ani

[Badme]

thank you for this information!up ta ani

Your very welcome and thanks for the up..

@ All

Everyone are welcome to post anything or any information about dogs para medyo daghan ta mahibaw-an about nila ug mas masabtan nato sila para nindot ato relasyon sato mga iro.

[Badme]

There are 5 different types of dog worms (internal parasites), which your dog can fall prey to. These are: heartworm, hookworm, roundworm, tapeworm and whipworm. As a dog owner, I recommend that you educate yourself on these worms in order to be able to recognize the symptoms if they should become evident in your dog.

Early worm detection is important because each type of dog worm requires a different form of treatment. You should also be aware of the fact that roundworm and hookworm are zoonotic, which means that these worms can be transmitted to humans. Some worm infestations may show little to no symptoms, whereas others can demonstrate severe symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss. Some dog worms can be seen by the naked eye while some cannot, therefore it is a good idea to ask your vet to perform a stool test for dog worms once a year.

Below you can find a list of common telltale symptoms of dog worm infestation, but keep in mind that these symptoms can also be a sign of a more serious problem. Either way, always consult a veterinarian whenever your dog is not "his usual self."

• Dull coat
• Weight loss
• Appetite loss
• Pot-bellied appearance
• Coughing
• Low energy level
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

ROUNDWORMS (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina)

There are two types of Roundworm: Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonine. This is the most common type of dog worm, which affects the intestines and causes a pot-bellied appearance, mostly in puppies. There are a few ways puppies can become infected. Puppies are often infected before birth through the mother’s uterus or through her milk. Puppies can also contract these worms through the ingestion of an infected animal (such as a rodent) or infected soil. Roundworm eggs can live in soil for many years. Once a puppy has ingested the infected soil, the eggs will hatch in his intestines, allowing the worms to live there and grow to adulthood. These adults will then produce more eggs.

Roundworms may be found in your dog’s stool or vomit. They can grow to about 7 inches in length and have a spaghetti-like appearance. If this type of infestation is not detected early and is allowed a chance to develop, a buildup of worms in the intestines can cause an obstruction which may result in death. The symptoms of a severe infestation are: pot-belly appearance, diarrhea, vomiting, dull coat and weight loss.

Puppies should be dewormed every 2 weeks between 2 and 12 weeks of age, then monthly until he is 6 months old. Once your puppy has reached 6 months of age, he is less susceptible to contracting these worms but should continue yearly exams (or more often if considered high-risk).

Because Roundworm can be transmitted to humans, it is important to promote good hygiene, such as washing your hands regularly. Transmission of this dog worm to humans is usually through infected soil, which may be in your backyard or front lawn. Because the eggs are sticky and can easily adhere to hands or clothing, make sure children (and adults) wash their hands after playing outside (especially at a park or playground), after playing with the dog and before it’s time to eat.

Treatment generally involves administering oral medication (dewormer) with follow-up fecal exams and a monthly heartworm medication. Try 1-800-PetMeds - America's Pet Health Resource

Prevent your dog from contracting roundworms by cleaning up fecal matter from the backyard as often as possible. Also, administering a heartworm medication such as HeartGard - Prescription Heartworm medication for Dogs & Cats is a good preventive. Do not mix wormers and consult your vet before giving your dog any medication. And last, but not least, always remember annual exams.

HOOKWORMS (Ancylostoma caninium)

Like Roundworm, Hookworm harbors in the intestines and can also be transmitted to humans. Hookworms can affect a dog at any age. It is a small, thin worm that hooks on to the intestinal wall and sucks the blood from its victim, which cause anemia and perhaps death. Due to their sharp teeth, they also cause bleeding in the intestines. Hookworms are not visible by the naked eye, therefore should be diagnosed by a vet. As with roundworm, hookworms also live and grow to adulthood in the intestines. They can also be transmitted to pups while in the mother’s uterus or through her breast milk. A dog infected with hookworm would experience bloody stool, anemia, weight loss, pale gums, diarrhea and low energy level. Skin irritation can be a sign of a severe infestation.

Hookworms can be transmitted to humans by penetration of the skin, making it is possible for people to become infected simply by walking barefoot on infected soil. Hookworms, when transmitted to humans, can cause bleeding in the intestines along with abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Treatment usually consists of oral medications (dewormer), follow-up fecal exams, intravenous therapy and, if necessary, a blood transfusion. Hookworm infestation can kill your pup before the worm is ever detected. This is why it is so important to keep up with veterinary visits and exams.

TAPEWORMS (Dipylidium caninum)

The tapeworm gets its name from its long, flat, tape-like appearance. It is yet another parasite that affects the intestines, and like the roundworm, can be seen by the naked eye. Broke pieces of this dog worm would be found in the dog’s fecal matter, which give it a rice-like appearance. These pieces of worm, although broken, can be found (still moving) around the dog’s anus, in his stool or in his bed. Common symptoms of severe tapeworm infestation are abdominal pain, nervousness, severe itching around the anus, vomiting and weight loss.

Transmission to dogs is often caused by the ingestion of infected fleas. Although, humans are susceptible to being infected, a dog cannot transmit the dog worm to a human directly.

Regular over-the-counter deworming medication is not effective in eliminating this type of dog worm. A prescription dewormer is administered orally or by injection (praziquantel or epsiprantel). Consult your vet. Try 1-800-PetMeds - America's Pet Health Resource

WHIPWORMS (Trichuris vulpis)

Whipworms are long, thin (whip-shaped) dog worms that live in the dog's colon and are not visible by the naked eye. They attach themselves to the intestinal walls and feed off of them which, in turn, causes intestinal bleeding. Common symptoms of whipworm infestation are anemia, weight loss, flatulence, diarrhea with blood or mucus in the stool and lack of energy.

Although whipworms are the most difficult to eliminate among the families of dog worms, there is effective treatment available.

Whipworm is most effectively treated with fenbendazole (panacur), but febantel can also be used. Prescription medications are usually more effective. The treatment lasts for up to 5 days and is repeated after 3 weeks. After this treatment is finished, consult your vet about recommending a heartworm medication (containing milbemycin oxime) as a prophylactic to future infestation. Try 1-800-PetMeds - America's Pet Health Resource

Along with administering heartworm medication regularly, here are other ways to prevent reinfection:

• Remove feces from backyard every few days
• Clean yard with a safe cleaning agent (which kills worms)
• Have feces tested every 6 months (more often if previously infected)

HEARTWORMS (Dirofilaria immitis)

Heartworm, although highly preventable, has the potential to be fatal, if contracted and left untreated.

Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes, mostly during the warm months when mosquitoes are most active. The mosquito becomes infected from biting dogs that carry the disease. These dog worms destroy the muscle and tissue of the heart, which can cause congestive heart failure and result in death. At this advanced stage, your dog would experience the typical signs of worms, such as pot-belly, coughing, lack of energy and dull coat.

Unfortunately, there are no symptoms of this disease until it has progressed to an advanced stage. For this reason, it is important to start your dog on a heartworm preventative such as HeartGard - Prescription Heartworm medication for Dogs & Cats at 6 months of age (after the first stage deworming process is complete. Check with your vet). Prevention is the best medicine.

General guidelines for dog worm prevention

• When walking your dog in a park, picking up his feces as a standard practice not only prevents soil contamination, but also prevents the spread of many other dog diseases.
• Regular visits to the vet and stool testing is a great way to prevent dog worms, as well as other illnesses. Twice-yearly worm testing is recommended. Make sure your dog is tested for worms before starting a heartworm preventative.
• High-risk dogs should be screened more often (check with your vet).
• Flea control is important because fleas are responsible for the spread of tapeworms.
• Most puppies find feces quite appetizing. Keep your dog away from feces: his own as well as others. This is the most common form of worm infestation.
• When cleaning your dog’s area, such as his bed or crate, spray it with a strong saltwater solution and let dry. This aids in the prevention of worms.
• Before traveling with your dog to obscure destinations, consult your vet of the potential risks to your dog.
• Avoid exposing your dog to stray animals, birds and dead rodents, which often harbor immature tapeworms that can mature inside your dog.
• Contact your vet if your dog displays any symptoms after receiving worm medication.

This information is NOT intended to replace the advice of a veterinarian, dog trainer or pet care professional.

By Nancy Settecasi

[Badme]

Poisons are substances that when taken into the body cause it harm and may result in death. They can be swallowed (solids or liquids), inhaled (gases) or absorbed through the skin (normally liquids). They are often products we use every day and are found in food, medications, and household substances. In dogs and cats snail baits and rat baits are the most common poisons.


Prevention is the best form of management.

• Keep all poisons out of reach of your pets (and your children).
• Destroy all unwanted medicines and poisons.
• When placing baits put them into containers that your dog or cat can't break into then put them out in your garden. Preferably use alternatives such as flat beer or companion planting for snails.
• Always take care walking your dog and be aware that your council may spray the grass where you walk your dog or place baits for rabbits or foxes.

SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
Every poison or toxin has different signs and your pet may show any or several on the list below. In general cats are less likely to be poisoned than dogs except for substances spilt on, or applied to, the coat.

• Your animal may appear uncomfortable or drowsy.
• Vomiting, voiding of the bowel and/or bladder.
• Salivation or drooling from the mouth.
• Your pet's breathing may appear altered or forced.
• Muscle tremors, twitching through to convulsions.
• Altered mental state. Your pet may appear disorientated, over-reactive to sound or light and may appear to be hallucinating.
• Wobbly gait (ataxia).
• Changes in gum colour to blue, pale or even very red.
• Odours either on the breath or from contamination on the skin.
• Bite marks. Remember a toxin can be induced from a bite or a sting.
• Burns to the mouth or the tongue.

MANAGEMENT

• Take care not to be contaminated with the poison. Remove the animal from the source if the atmosphere is contaminated. If CPR (see Resuscitation) is necessary do not inhale the animal's exhaled air.
• Once the animal is showing signs of the toxin do not attempt to make it vomit or drink anything but seek immediate veterinary care.
• For a swallowed acidic compound or petroleum based substance e.g. paints, toilet cleaner, petrol, turpentine:
  
  • Do not induce vomiting.
  • Wash the substance off the mouth and face with water.
  • Give milk or water if within 10 minutes after swallowing the substance.

• For a swallowed corrosive basic substance e.g. Draino, dishwasher powder:
  
  • Do not induce vomiting.
  • Wash the substance off the mouth and face with water.
  • Give diluted vinegar, milk or egg white if within 10 minutes after swallowing the substance.

• For a swallowed medicinal or general substance e.g. medicines, illegal drugs, snail pellets or rat baits.
  
  • If only just ingested induce vomiting. Give salty water, or Syrup of Ipecac or give washing soda.
  • Give as big a piece as you can get down the animal's throat. For a cat this is just a bit bigger than a pea while a dog may take a walnut sized chunk. You will need to place this over the back of your pet's tongue as your pet will spit it out if it can. Vomiting occurs within 5 minutes. If not successful repeat only once more.

• 
  
  • Seek urgent veterinary advice or ring the poisons information bureau in your state.
  • Remember to take the box the poison came in with you to the veterinarian.
  • Also take any other pets with you to your veterinarian that may have also eaten the substance.

• For an absorbed substance
  
  • Wash the animal under running water with a mild detergent such as dog shampoo or velvet laundry soap until the animal is clean and all the toxin is removed. Wear gloves to avoid contaminating yourself.
  • Seek veterinary aid if any symptoms develop.

As a general rule seek veterinary advice, at least over the telephone, and if in doubt see your veterinarian

[Badme]

HEAT STROKE

The normal body temperature of a dog or cat ranges between 38 - 39°C. Our pets maintain this temperature through panting however sometimes they are unable to lose enough heat. Dogs and cats probably do suffer from heat cramps and heat exhaustion like us humans but the symptoms are mild and we don't recognize them. The condition that we see, and may cause the death of a pet, is heat stroke.


PREVENTION

• Never leave your pet in a parked car in sunlight. The car heats up to be like a sauna even on mild days.
• Minimize exercise in the heat of the day.
• Avoid exercising your dog in unusually hot or humid conditions especially at the start of summer. Most heat stroke cases are seen at the start of summer.
• Make sure your pet has plenty of shade to escape into during the day.
• Make sure your pet has plenty of fresh cool water (the water should be placed in the shade) available at all times.
• Working dogs should be encouraged to take dips in dams etc.

SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS

• Your pet may feel very hot to touch.
• Vomiting or drooling may occur.
• Rapid breathing or panting. Your pet may be panting so hard that it has trouble swallowing and may look very distressed.
• Loss of coordination.
• Collapse.
• Coma.

MANAGEMENT

• Remove the animal from the hot environment.
• Run cold water over the back of your pet's head. Place cold packs wrapped in towels between the back legs, on the belly and in the arm pits. Wet towels can be used instead.
• If your pet is collapsed then transport your pet to your nearest veterinarian. While in transit it is important to continue to apply cool wet towels to the back of the neck.

• Our local emergency medicine specialists no longer recommend that you immerse your pet fully in a cold bath (this was the recommended treatment). This treatment does bring your pet's temperature down but tends to overcorrect it and then your pet may be seriously unwell, cold and wet. If you do have to use this technique it is important you dry your pet off well afterwards. It can be used for the pet who is hot but is not collapsed.
• Once your pet is comfortable again offer cool water in small amounts often until your pet has had its fill. If your pet drinks lots of water at once it is very likely to vomit. Once your pet is refusing water you can leave the bowl of water with it.

An animal who has suffered from heat stroke is more prone to heat stroke in the future.

HYPOTHERMIA

Hypothermia is rare in healthy pets and is usually secondary to injury or illness and then collapse, often in the rain. A typical case would be a cat hit by a car that is found in the gutter by the road on a rainy night. It is unable to escape the rain and is often in shock as well. The very young, the very old and small pets are also more prone to hypothermia. Puppies and kittens may be pushed away from their mothers and can become very cold.

PREVENTION

• Always provide a dry shelter for your pets where they can make a warm place for themselves.
• Ensure that young, old or unwell animals are given more care than normal.
• Keep a close check on puppies and kittens with their mother and make sure they are eating and appear well.
• Give adequate food. In cold weather pets need more food than in warm weather simply to keep warm.

SYMPTOMS AND SIGN

• A cold, and often, wet pet.
• Your pet may shiver but very cold pets generally don't.
• A slow pulse and shallow breathing
• Your pet may appear disorientated.
• Puppies and kittens may appear abnormally quiet and refuse the teat.
• Your pet may collapse and lose consciousness.

MANAGEMENT

• See your veterinarian if your pet is unconscious, if you are concerned, or if the hypothermia is due to another cause that requires treatment.
• The colder your pet the slower the warming process should be.
• If wet, dry your pet thoroughly.
• Place your pet in a warm draught free environment.
• Do not warm your pet in front of an open fire place or radiator.
• Hot water bottles can be wrapped and placed between the back legs on the stomach and chest. However the water in the bottles should not exceed 50°C, and if your pet is collapsed then they should be about blood heat (37°C).
• Cover with a blanket.
• Small pets, especially puppies and kittens can be placed under your shirt or sweater, against your skin.
• Once your pet is warm encourage it to eat. Heat the food slightly.

[mediaskare]

ehehehe. nlingaw ko basa thx au sa mga info bro, up sa mga doglovers

[jackyboy]

bay naa kay info how to cure and prevent mange?

[bullybreedlover]

Information regarding Mange taken from www.dogtime.com
There are two types of Mange: Sacroptic and Demodectic Mange. See below:

Sarcoptic mange (scabies)

What causes it
Sarcoptes scabiei mites set up camp on the dogs skin and mate, and the female mites burrow into the skin to lay eggs (say it with us: ewwww), setting off an allergic response in the dog and making him mighty itchy.

Symptoms
These mites prefer hairless skin and tend to burrow into ear flaps, elbows, and the belly. Check those areas for red, scaly skin. In later stages the ears may get a crusty edge. Eventually, the mites will burrow anywhere on the dog's skin and the whole body will be affected. The itching is intense and can make your dog really miserable.

Diagnosis
Skin scraping tests are used to diagnose sarcoptic mange, but they're not too reliable; in fact, vets are able to confirm the presence of mites in only about half the cases of sarcoptic mange. Often, a vet will treat a dog who has symptoms and just wait to see if he gets better.


Treatment

• Your vet will give your dog ivermectin injections and sometimes dips.
• Throw dog beds, collars, and harnesses in the washing machine or replace them.
• Sarcoptic mange is highly contagious, so if you have several dogs and one appears to have it, treat them all--otherwise they'll just keep passing it back and forth. Even after beginning treatment, dogs can be contagious for about a month.

Demodectic mange (demodicosis or red mange)

What causes it
The culprit here is the Demodex canis mite, which lives in hair follicles. Almost every adult dog (and human) has them without ever being bothered. Puppies catch this mite from their mother during the first few days after birth. Most pups suffer no ill effects, but some develop mange. Older dogs with depressed immune systems can also develop mange from these mites.
There are three forms: localized, generalized, and demodectic pododermatitis.


Symptoms

• Localized demodicosis causes hair loss (usually the first sign) and red, sometimes scabby spots on the face or front legs, and it affects puppies almost exclusively. Some cases--often in young dogs with a genetic predisposition to the disease--will turn into generalized demodicosis.
• Generalized demodicosis causes the same scaly skin and hair loss that you see in localized mange, but it can affect the whole body. Most sufferers are young dogs, although an older dog with a weakened immune system can also get it. Older dogs definitely need to be taken to the vet to find out why their immune system isn't handling the mites.
• Demodectic pododermatitis affects only the paws.

Diagnosis
Unlike sarcoptic mange, the mites that cause demodectic mange are easy to find with a skin scraping. Because all dogs have these mites, however, a skin scraping alone isn't enough for a diagnosis--the dog also needs to have symptoms.


Treatment

• Localized mange may go away on its own, but an insecticide cream or gel may speed up the process.
• Generalized mange may go away by itself, but the dogs are usually treated with oral medications or dips.
• If the mange is accompanied by a skin infection--which is likely--the dog will need antibiotics as well.
• Stress and poor health make dogs more vulnerable to the disease. Feed your dog a good diet, take him to the vet regularly, and keep up with flea, worm, and heartworm prevention. And spay girl dogs--pregnancy and heat cycles are stressful on the body.

Dogs with localized demodicosis have a good chance at a full recovery; some dogs with generalized demodicosis will recover, others may need treatment for the rest of their lives. The younger the dog, the better the chances of a total cure.

When it's time to see a vet


If your dog's scratching like crazy and you can't see any fleas, a visit to the vet is in order to check for mites. Like any condition, mange is easier to treat it in the early stages. Because symptoms can mimic other conditions, such as flea allergies, you'll need a vet to know for sure if mange is really the problem.

[Badme]

@ Bullybreelover

Thank you for the great information about mange.

[bullybreedlover]

@ Bullybreelover

Thank you for the great information about mange.

Your welcome. I just posted an article on the dangers of tying/tethering dogs in the IRO (Island Rescue Organization) thread. Do you want me to post it here also? Thanks.