Edie MacKenzie

Edie MacKenzie is a published author, traveler, dog lover, and tortoise enthusiast. Passionate about what she does, her books provide peopel a firm grounding in the dog breed and their unique characteristics with a nice touch of humor.

What You Has To Know About Parvovirus in Dogs

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Canine Parvovirus, also commonly called CPV or parvo, is the most prevalent, infectious canine disease in the United States. It is highly contagious and often deadly, particularly because current vaccines do not protect against all strains.

Dog owners should therefore arm themselves with knowledge about the disease, it’s symptoms, how it is spread and most importantly, what to do if you think your dog may be infected.

CPV infects mainly puppies and younger dogs, as their immature immune systems make them an easy target. But that’s not to say that adult dogs are not at risk. The disease is also more prevalent with certain breeds including, Labradors, Rottweilers and Dobermans.

Early symptoms of parvovirus infection include fever, lack of appetite, general lethargy, and a lack of interest in activities the dog usually enjoys. The dog may also start vomiting and develop chronic diarrhea which is usually yellow, with a particularly foul smell.

As the disease progresses, the dog becomes dehydrated, and may go into shock. The dog may also suffer heart failure if the virus moves into the heart. In some cases, heart failure can occur years after the initial parvo infection.

The most common form of parvovirus, called enteritis, targets the digestive system. It causes severe damage to the walls of the stomach and intestines, so that it becomes impossible for the dog to draw sustenance from food and fluids. This often results in bloody diarrhea, and unless it is treated the dog will die.

Even if the dog does recover he is likely to be weak and sickly for the rest of his life.

There is currently no known cure for parvo. Veterinary treatment will mainly be concerned with stabilizing the dog’s condition by delivering fluids and a balanced electrolyte solution intravenously. Antibiotics may also be prescribed to take care of secondary bacterial infections.

Depending on the severity of the infection additional medication may be given. If the dog is in shock corticosteroids may be administered, while an antiserum may also be prescribed.

The parvovirus is extremely resilient. It is transmitted through the faeces of an infected animal, and can live away from a host for up to six months.

It is impervious to most household and commercial disinfectants, although tests have shown that undiluted chlorine bleach can destroy it.

It is vital that your puppy is vaccinated against parvovirus. Modern vaccines may not provide complete immunity but they do at least provide protection against most known strains.

You should also not allow your puppy to play or otherwise interact with dogs you are not familiar with. In fact, keep your puppy confined to your premises until he has completed his course of puppy shots.

Want to discover more about parvovirus in dogs, dog care, dog anatomy and other helpful dog information? Drop in at http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com

Common Golden Retriever Health Problems

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Golden Retriever Health

There are many common health problems that your Golden Retriever will experience from time to time.  Most of these ailments are nothing serious, providing you know how they should be treated and prevented.  Below, we will take a look at the most common ailments, and tell you how to prevent your Golden from getting them.

Distemper virus
The distemper virus is an airborne disease that poses a high risk.  This virus can be prevented by getting your Golden 3 different vaccinations when he is between 6 and 16 weeks of age, along with his regular annual booster shot.  The symptoms from this virus include fever, cough, diarrhea, and vomiting.  If your Golden Retriever has these symptoms, you should immediately take him to see the vet.

Heartworms
Heartworms are among the most common ailment with all dog breeds.  They can reach lengths of up to 12 inches in the heart and the lung arteries, leading to heart failure, a decrease in blood circulation, and even death in some cases.  The symptoms with heartworms may not appear until it is too late, so you are better off preventing them with the correct heartworm medicines.

Heatstroke
During the summer months or hot days, your Golden Retriever can get a heatstroke.  You can prevent this from happening by giving your dog plenty of water, and never leaving him in direct sunlight.  If you are playing together on a hot day, you should give him plenty of time to rest so he doesn’t overdo it.  The symptoms indicating a heatstroke include a lot of panting or drooling, dark gums, a glazed expression, rapid pulse, and even vomiting.  If your dog starts to show any of these symptoms, you should immediately take him to the vet.

Rabies
Rabies is one of the more serious ailments that your Golden Retriever can get, as it has an adverse affect on your dog’s nervous system.  Normally, dogs get rabies through a bite of another animal that is infected with the disease.  There are rabies shots that helps to prevent the disease, and your dog should get them at least once a year.  The symptoms of rabies include seizures, aggression, and foaming at the mouth.  If you suspect your Golden has rabies, you should call the vet immediately.

Tapeworms
Tapeworms are normally caused by fleas, and affect your dog’s stomach.  The symptoms for tapeworms include a loss in weight, diarrhea, and even biting of the rectal area.  You can easily prevent your Golden from tapeworms by using a rigid flea control.  If your Golden Retriever exhibits symptoms for tapeworms, you should take him to the vet immediately.  If the vet catches them in time, he may be able to kill the tapeworms with an oral medicine.

Hookworms
Hookworms result from your Golden coming in contact with feces, his mother, or the worm simply burrowing under exposed skin.  You can prevent your dog from getting hookworms by cleaning his living area and keeping his skin clean.  The symptoms that accompany hookworms include a dry coat, weight loss, weakness, and blood in the stool.  As with all other ailments, you should immediately contact your vet if your Golden Retriever starts to show any of these symptoms.

Although these are just some of the most common ailments for Golden Retrievers, there are other ailments and health problems that your dog can get.  If your Golden starts to show any signs of ailment, disease, or health problem, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact your vet and set up an appointment.  Some of these diseases and ailments can be pretty serious – although they can be treated if you catch them in time.

Special Diets For Dogs: Your Veterinarian Has Something Very Important To Tell You

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Special diets for dogs are not only prescribed by veterinarians for the obese animal, but also for various health reasons.

For example, if your dog suffers from congestive heart failure, due to heartworm or other heart diseases, your veterinarian may want to put him on a low-sodium diet, along with the proper medications, which combined, may literally save your pet’s life. There used to be an old saying: “You are what you eat,” but your dog has no choice, “He is what you feed him” and his welfare is always in your hands.

A veterinarian once told me that over half of mature dogs alive have kidney disease. Your pet’s doctor may suggest that he be given a special diet that will not put a strain on his kidneys. This will often correct many problems and keep an animal from becoming seriously ill. All of the prescribed dietary foods must be given according to your veterinarian’s strict instructions.

What About The Puppy & The Pregnant Dog, Do They Need Diet Food?

This too is a question which must be left up to your veterinarian. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t, depending upon the physical condition of the animal. Physical and mental stress is sometimes a determining factor in the prescribing of a diet program for puppies or the mother dog.

Diarrhea & Loose Stools

If your dog has diarrhea, he may need a bland diet. The intestinal tract of a dog is similar to that of a human and when it is irritated, a change of food can sometimes correct the problem.

Allergies & Skin Problems

Does your dog have an allergy or dermatosis? It may be that he is being fed the wrong food. Many times the well-meaning dog owner will spray, bathe, or put ointments on their pet, when what the dog really needs is a special diet food. Your veterinarian is the person who can determine the cause of your dog’s itch, so don’t try to diagnose it yourself.

Take Responsibility For Your Dog

Animal nutrition has made giant strides during the past 30 years. Today it is said that most dogs who are fed regular commercial dog food have a better diet than an American child. However, I’m sure this is a debatable statement and a hot topic. But the day is long past when we threw the family dog a bone from the table and expected him to grow just fine on any scraps left over.

Whenever your dog is not eating properly or is overweight, consult your veterinarian. He may suggest that you put your dog on a diet and if he does, be sure to stick with it. Try not to overfeed your pet. If he gets more calories than his body size needs, based on how much he weighs and physical activity, you may become a fat pup. Our pets have a way of becoming part of the family circle, but we must remember that their dietary needs are not the same as that of the rest of the family.

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