Dog Hospital

Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) is a congenital disease that mainly affects large breed dogs. The word “dysplasia” means improper growth. Hip dysplasia can be described as a faulty or abnormal development of the hip. In CHD, the hip becomes loose and wobbly, eventually leading to a form of arthritis which is commonly referred to Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD). The degree of lameness that occurs is usually dependent upon the extent of arthritic changes in the hip joint. So too do environmental conditions such as amount of physical exercise, and weight gain contribute to the disease, and bring out symptoms.

What Are the Symptoms of Canine Hip Dysplasia?

The symptoms of CHD depend on the severity of the dysplasia. Another factor is the whether or not degenerative joint disease (DJD) is present. Dogs less than 1 year old have a tendency to have periods of acute bilateral (or unilateral) lameness in their rear legs.

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The statistics are scary: Every 40 seconds someone seeks medical attention for a dog bite, and the majority of victims are children under the age of 15.

According to data tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 25 different dog breeds were involved in biting incidents in 2006, a statistic that shows that any dog can bite if provoked.

To keep pets and people safe, veterinary professionals have joined forces. The third full week in May is National Dog Bite Prevention Week, and doctors promote year-round education of pet owners and parents. Teaching children how to approach dogs slowly and carefully as well as how to recognize warning signs are critical components of dog bite prevention. Remember, not all dogs are friendly and not all dogs want to be touched.

“Any dog may bite, even your family pet,” said Marie Wheatley, president of American Humane, an organization that works to protect children and animals. “Adults should always supervise children when they play with any dog, and they should teach children the best ways to approach and treat animals to avoid being bitten.”

Some children, eager to play or touch an animal’s soft fur, move quickly or lunge at dogs. Such abrupt actions can be misinterpreted by dogs as an attack, and dogs may try to protect themselves by snarling or biting.

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What is diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus, the medical name for diabetes, is a disease caused by a lack of insulin, or the inability of the body to utilize the insulin properly, that affects the level of glucose, or sugar, in your dog or cat’s blood. The glucose comes from the food that your pet eats. The food is broken down into very small components by the pet’s digestive system so their bodies can use it for energy. Glucose is one of these components, and an important source of energy.

Glucose is absorbed from the intestines into the bloodstream where it travels to cells throughout the body. Insulin is required for the cells to absorb glucose. Insulin is produced by the pancreas in response to the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. Healthy pets produce insulin easily, but pets with diabetes don’t. In canine and feline diabetes, unused glucose builds up in the bloodstream.

Is diabetes in my pet the same as diabetes in people?

The two conditions are very similar. In fact, your veterinarian will be using medication, equipment, and monitoring systems that are similar to those used for diabetic people.

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One of the most common calls made to any animal hospital in America goes something like this: “Doctor, I’ve got to get this dog in right away. He’s driving us nuts. All he does is itch and scratch, bite and lick and he’s keeping us up all night!” My thought is that if the pet’s caretakers are being driven “nuts” by the dog’s scratching and licking, how awful must the poor dog feel? This kind of call to the veterinarian refers to a fairly serious case of pruritus (pruritus means itching). In reality there is a wide spectrum of causes and severity of pruritus in dogs with skin and coat trouble. Some dogs can spend hours romping through fields, digging holes, and rolling in the grass and still have no after-effects at all. Others, kept indoors and fed an excellent diet, may have severe skin disorders.

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Herbal medicine has been successfully used to treat many illnesses in dogs and people throughout the centuries and is basic to folk medicine in every culture. Wild animals are thought to instinctively select the proper herbs when ill. A system of cancer therapy, known as the Hoxsey Program was originated by a man who observed which herbs were eaten by animals under specific disease conditions.

Scientific research on the use of herbs is at about the same stage as vitamins were 10 years ago. Many companies, however, do not want to invest in expensive research because most herbs cannot be patented, nor are they regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, as drugs and other medications are.

Many of the modern pharmaceutical drugs are actually compounds considered to be the active principles in herbs. Herbalists, however, contend that the pharmaceutical derivatives and the whole plant from which they are derived are not the same due to the unique and complex properties of the original natural substance. As in many situations, the whole is more than the sum of (or one of) its parts, due to synergisms that may occur both within the plant and within the body.

It can be difficult to find fresh herbs, and fresh herbs often are not the most pleasant tasting to the dog. Herb combination products have been developed for certain syndromes and are distributed as tablets and capsules. They can be obtained from many of the herbal companies and are generally classified as Western Herbs or Chinese Herbs. Chinese herbal combinations have been around for thousands of years and have a long track record.

Always keep your veterinarian informed regarding what medications, herbs, and supplements your dog may be taking. Some of these therapies can interfere with the absorption or action of another. And, remember, just because herbs are natural, does not mean they cannot cause adverse or toxic effects if used inappropriately.

With winter comes snow, mud and dirty dogs! Take care of your pet’s skin and coat with the following winter care tips from the American Humane Association:

1. All dogs (except for the truly hairless breeds) require frequent brushing regardless of coat type. Brushing is very important to your dog’s health and happiness. Brushing stimulates the skin by removing dead skin flakes, encourages natural oil production, removes irritating debris and encourages blood flow to the skin. It also uncovers skin and
coat troubles, such as dandruff, parasites or dry or brittle fur, which may indicate an illness. Failing to brush your dog regularly may result in mats, which breed bacteria and infections and can be very painful for your dog.
2. Dogs should be bathed regularly. Brushing before a bath is recommended, as it breaks down dirt, grime and debris so the shampoo will clean more effectively (and it might also relax the dog). Don’t wash dogs outside; the frigid water from a garden hose is extremely uncomfortable and can make them sick.

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Perhaps your pet will never have intestinal parasites. But, unpleasant as it may seem, pet owners should be aware of worms and other parasites that can affect their animals’ health.

Cats and dogs are the favorite nesting grounds of four principal groups of worms and a few species of microscopic protozoa. The four worms are roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and whipworms. Among the protozoa are coccidia, toxoplasma, giardia, and ameba.

Proper identification is vital. Unfortunately, in the case of parasites, identification isn’t always easy because adult worms release their eggs sporadically. Knowing exactly what the problem is, is the first step in finding a solution.

It’s very important to bring your pet’s fecal sample (bowel movement) to your veterinarian as often as requested up to one year of age. Collect fresh fecal sample within 12 hours of an examination. It is also very important to keep the samples cool or refrigerated. A microscopic examination of the fecal sample will be performed to identify the worm’s eggs.

An annual fecal check is also good preventive medicine.

Treatment begins once the specific parasites are identified. It’s important to realize that different parasites will require different medications. Your veterinarian can administer the proper treatment for your pet. There are also some new preventive medicines on the market. Check with your veterinarian about whether these are appropriate for your pet.

Tapeworms are of special concern. Tapeworm segments resemble small pieces of rice. They are one of the few parasites that may be seen in a bowel movement or clinging to the hair near your pet’s tail. If you notice these segments, carefully place them in a small container and take them to your veterinarian for positive identification along with a fecal sample. Several types of worms may be involved, and it is important to identify all of them for proper treatment.

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Having spent years as an animal shelter volunteer and knowing many respectable breeders as well as many who are not, this is a very important issue to me. I strongly urge everyone to spay or neuter his or her pet (dogs, cats, rabbits, etc). Tens of thousands of unwanted pets of all ages and species are killed each year in shelters, abandoned, given to poor homes and dying deaths that are horrible. Packs of feral (domestic animals returned to a “wild” existence) cause damage to property, people, livestock and spread diseases such as rabies.

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Degenerative arthritis can creep up on your dog without you as the owner even realizing it

One of the most common conditions veterinarians note in older dogs, which may cause them to snap at their handlers, is degenerative arthritis. Degenerative arthritis is usually caused by the accumulated wear-and-tear on the dog’s joints, and the various structures within them, or as a result of a previous injury to a particular joint.

It can be extremely painful for the animal, particularly when the dog has had an unusually active period of exercise, laid down to rest, and attempts to get up again. Watch your dog carefully to see if it shows any signs of trouble getting up after a nap. Also, watch your pet’s gait and make a note of any stiffness or unusual sluggishness when first rising. Often, the stiffness of arthritis will disappear as muscles and joints warm up.

If you see any warning signs in your older dog, your vet may recommend X-rays to examine the internal structures of joints that may be causing the problem.

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For some, it may be funny even to think of having “homemade dog food”. Funny because in all these years we have been feeding our dogs canned foods that have been processed by commercial dog food manufacturers. Perhaps most of us have been led to believe that our dogs cannot survive without those packaged commercial dog foods.

The many years that we have been feeding our dogs commercial packaged food must have made us all feel that “quality” dog food are associated only with those dog foods which come in expensive packages.

Now, we might feel that giving our dogs food that is made from scratch from our own kitchen can be harmful to dogs. Many vets even make this suggestion in favor of feeding the so-called “complete nutrition” that can supposedly be served up from a can or bag.

Funny … Since when are the organic or other quality foods found in our own kitchen harmful?

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