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.

Degenerative Joint Disease

July 7, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

Noninfectious osteoarthritis is the most common form of joint disease in senior dogs, a situation not too different from that in humans. The disease is progressive and causes few, if any, noticeable symptoms in the early stages. It is not uncommon for a veterinarian to discover the existence of degenerative joint disease or its predisposing causes during a routine checkup.

Primary arthritis develops from the normal wear and tear of a joint with time and age. While seen occasionally in very old dogs, it is not the commonly observed arthritis that it is in people. The bulk of  arthritis in senior dogs are secondary to disorders which happened or started earlier in life.

The following are just a few of the many such disorders:

• Obesity in any breed but especially in the large and giant breeds.

• Mechanical trauma such as falls and jumping mishaps.

• Torn ligaments in any joint but especially the stifle joint in toy or miniature poodles.

• Chronic dislocating patella (slipped knee cap), most common in toy breeds.

• Osteochondritis dissecans, a disease of young dogs.

• Hip dysplasia.

Filed Under: Senior Dog Information Tagged With: Arthritis, Degenerative Joint Disease, Existence, Giant Breeds, Hip Dysplasia, Knee Cap, Mechanical Trauma, Miniature Poodles, Noticeable Symptoms, Obesity, Old Dogs, Osteoarthritis, Patella, Poodles, Progressive, Routine Checkup, Senior Dogs, Torn Ligaments, Toy Breeds, Veterinarian, Wear And Tear

Degenerative Joint Disease In An Aging Dog

June 15, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

Noninfectious osteoarthritis is the commonest form of joint disease in the aging dog, a situation not too different from that in humans.

The disease is progressive and causes few, if any, noticeable symptoms in the early stages.

It is not uncommon for a veterinarian to discover the existence of degenerative joint disease or its predisposing causes during a routine checkup even if you don’t have an aging dog.

Primary arthritis develops from the normal wear and tear of a joint with time and age.

While seen occasionally in very old dogs, it is not the commonly observed arthritis that it is in people.

The bulk of aging dog arthritis cases are secondary to disorders which happened or started earlier in life.

The following are just a few of the many such disorders:

• Obesity in any breed but especially in the large and giant breeds.

• Mechanical trauma such as falls and jumping mishaps.

• Torn ligaments in any joint but especially the stifle joint in toy or miniature poodles.

• Chronic dislocating patella (slipped knee cap), most common in toy breeds.

• Osteochondritis dissecans, a disease of young dogs.

• Hip dysplasia.

So look for any of these in your aging dog.

Filed Under: Senior Dog Information Tagged With: Arthritis, Degenerative Joint Disease, Dog Arthritis, Existence, Giant Breeds, Hip Dysplasia, Knee Cap, Mechanical Trauma, Miniature Poodles, Noticeable Symptoms, Obesity, Old Dogs, Osteoarthritis, Patella, Poodles, Routine Checkup, Torn Ligaments, Toy Breeds, Veterinarian, Wear And Tear

Pet Insurance ? Lower The Cost Of Veterinarian Visits With Pet Insurance

June 25, 2009 by admin Leave a Comment

Bringing home a new puppy is the equivalent to adding a new member to your family, literally. With this new edition comes lots of love and excitement, as well as new responsibilities, especially in his first few weeks at the house. These responsibilities include feeding him well and providing the pup with necessary supplies such as a crate, blanket, toys, etc. Most importantly, you need to make sure that he is healthy and will stay that way throughout his life.

Finding The Right Vet

A very important requirement that many new pet owners tend to overlook is finding the right veterinarian for their pets. Taking your puppy to the vet right away, preferably within the first two days of bringing him home, is a must. This is to ensure that he is in perfect health and that he is getting all of the preventive caring needed, like vaccinations and regular routine exams.

Your family and friends may be able to recommend you to a nearby vet clinic. You may also do your own research by calling several clinics and setting up an appointment to see the place and find out first hand if it is the right one for you and your pet.

Veterinarian Expenses

For many pet owners, finding the right vet is not the problem, but rather the costs of veterinary care. Visits to the vet can be pricey, even with minor cases such as getting his yearly vaccination or a routine checkup. In addition, an illness or severe injury can occur at any time, and many dog owners end up having to pay a lot of out-of-pocket expenses to the vet clinic. This is why it is highly recommended that you get pet insurance as soon as possible.

Having pet insurance is the best way to ensure that your puppy is getting the best health care possible. Pet insurance is a practical way to lessen the cost of veterinary expenses, whether it is related to routine care, accidents, or injuries. Pet insurance also covers the cost of minor surgeries, major surgeries, treatments for illnesses and diseases, and other medical procedures such as neutering or spaying.

Finding the right, affordable pet insurance is as easy as picking up the yellow pages or searching online. Most pet insurance plans offer a monthly premium that is less than what you typically pay for your cable bill.

Filed Under: Dog Information Tagged With: Best Health Care, Bringing Home A New Puppy, cost of veterinarian visits, Dog Owners, Necessary Supplies, New Edition, New Pet, Perfect Health, Pet Insurance, Pet Owners, Pocket Expenses, Pup, Puppy Health, Routine Care, Routine Checkup, Routine Exams, Vaccination, Vet Clinic, Veterinarian Visits, Veterinary Care, Veterinary Expenses

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