Dog health problems
The best
advice we can give if you have dog health problems, is go to your vet, to get professional advise. In some cases, these diseases and infestations are fatal unless caught
early and treated. Sometimes they sow the seeds of death or debilitation
years down the road by causing chronic illness or damaging organs. Fortunately, veterinary researchers have developed drugs and treatments
that reduce the occurrence and effects of many diseases and parasites, but
they do not eradicate the scoundrels – they only hold them at bay. Rabies, distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and coronavirus
are major viral diseases affecting dogs. Lyme disease, leptospirosis, and a
type of kennel cough are bacterial diseases. These infections are not
limited to dogs – all are found in other animal populations and rabies,
Lyme, and lepto also infect people. Each of these dog health problems can be prevented
by judicious vaccination of puppies and adult dogs.
There is much you can do to prevent dog health problems. Providing your dog with good
dog food,
every day is very important one. The question remains: "how do I know
what is good dog food". We will try to give you an honest answer
in the dog
food section
Another important thing to prevent dog health problems is that you use a good wormer. Dogs can be
wormed at 6 - 8 weeks of age. If you use a liquid wormer then it is easy to add a few drops to the
food of your dog.
Heartworms are parasites that can live in the heart of your pet.
Heartworms are passed to dogs by mosquitoes that infect the heartworm larvae
in the skin. The larvae ends up in the heart, where it matures and
reproduces. There is no approved cure for this disease and the infected
animal will eventually die. There are, however, effective
preventative treatments for heartworm available (prescription)!
Fleas are not only very annoying but they also can transmit
tapeworms. But with modern products like Advantage or Frontline it is much easier to
control. All you have to do is put some drops of a liquid in the neck (on
the skin) of your pet to end a flea infestation quickly.
Related links
1-800-PetMeds
- Supplies medications, vaccines, flea, health, and grooming products.
- Offering prescription and non-prescription treatments for flea and tick control, parasites, and heartworms.
- Featuring supplements, medication, vacines, dental care, grooming, dewormers, and flea and tick remedies. Has products for horses, dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, reptiles and fish.
- Holistic and homeopathic remedies, for cats and dogs.
Dog Temperature
When your dog is ill, you may have to determine
whether or not he has a fever. Learning how to take dog temperature
properly can help determine if immediate veterinary care is needed.
Your dog’s normal rectal temperature is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Higher temperatures may necessitate a trip to your veterinarian, depending
on other symptoms. Feeling the ears, nose or head is not considered a
reliable method; you have to determine the internal dog temperature to
find out for certain. This is done using an oral or rectal thermometer,
either digital or mercury. Ear thermometers can also be used in dogs. They
are generally fast and easy but it is essential to use a proper technique to
obtain an accurate temperature reading.
Instructions for Rectal Temperatures
Some dogs will allow you to take their temperature, but others don’t like it
at all. It might be easier if you get another person to assist by holding
your dog. Then do the following:
If using a mercury thermometer, remember to shake it with a
quick flick of the wrist until the mercury is below 94 degrees. Then
lubricate the thermometer with petroleum jelly, KY jelly or other
water-based lubricant.
Have your helper hold the head and front part of the body by
tightly hugging your dog.
Lift the tail and insert the thermometer slowly and carefully
into the rectum, located just below the base of the tail. Insert the
thermometer about 1 inch and hold in place – two minutes for mercury
thermometers or until the digital thermometer beeps.
Remove the thermometer and read the
temperature.
Instructions for Ear Temperatures
The normal ear temperature in dogs is between 100.0 degrees and 103.0
degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees and 39.4 degrees Celsius). The ear
thermometer works by measuring infrared heat waves that come from the ear
drum area. The ear drum is considered to be a good indicator of body
temperature as it measures brain blood temperature. It is important to place
the thermometer deep into the horizontal ear canal to obtain an accurate
reading. An ear thermometer such as the Pet-Temp® designed for cats and dogs
works best due to a longer arm that allows for the probe to be placed deeper
into the ear canal. The first few times you use it, take both an ear and
rectal temperature and compare. The results should be very close if you are
using the proper ear technique.
If your dog temperature is less than 99 degrees or over 104 degrees,
contact your veterinarian or local emergency facility immediately. A high
dog temperature could mean your dog has an infection or heat-related illness. A
dog temperature below normal can be just as serious, indicating other problems
such as shock.
First Aid
In case of an emergency, it is good to have the right supply at hand.
Remember: what is good for a human need not be the same as for your dog!
There are some good books on this subject:
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Dogs get sick from parasites, viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and fungus.
Dog diseases
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Dog diseases |
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Rabies
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