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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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.

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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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- Wet cough

-Nasal Discharge

- Eye discharge

- Vomiting

- Sneezing

- Fever

- Labored breathing

- Lethargy

If not treated, the Canine Flu will progress to pneumonia and eventual death. If you see any of the above symptoms exhibited by your dog, do not wait it out, seek immediate professional advice, your dog’s life may be at stake!Dog

It was about two AM, when beneath our bed the new puppy we’d brought home from the pound just a month earlier began screaming.

Not yipping or whining — this was the kind of agonized screams that’ll stand your hair up on end. Our cute, playful new puppy was being eaten alive from inside.

He had worms, even though he’d received all the right shots just a few weeks before.

Now he was dying, right there under our bed, and we weren’t able to save him. The worms were just too advanced.

He had been a happy little guy, playful and filled with fun. So that night — and those screams — have stayed with me a very long time.

An experience like that will change your attitude fast. It sure changed mine. Up till then I’d been a bit cavalier about health care for my pets.

However, dog worms are serious business. They need to be treated as soon as possible. And even if you’re not sure, get your dog tested anyway, just to be safe. Being safe is far better than listening helplessly to your dog die in the night.

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If the dog vomits one or two times occasionally, this may not be taken as a serious sign of ill health but if the dog continues this vomiting, then this is something significant to be looked into.

If the dog has continuous itching, then one needs to check up the dog first by closer observation and examination of skin by separating the hair material especially in case of long haired breeds. You may also come across a lot of ticks or lice on skin, which may look apparently normal at a distance.

If the dog passes loose stool for one or two times, this need not be given more emphasis but if there is continuous passing of loose stool, then the dog is understood to suffer from bowel disorders. If the dog does not pass stool for two to three days, the digestive upsets needs to be ruled out carefully.

Just patiently observe the dog’s walking movements and rule out any abnormal movements in the dog. If the dog is limping, the animal may have foot lesions. Similarly, if the aged dog has reluctant walking and less feed intake along with repeated vomiting, then acute renal disorders like nephritis needs to be ruled out.

If there is whiteness in eyes, suspect the corneal opacity that may occur in diseases like trypanasomosis. When the dog becomes anemic, the mucous membrane of the eyes becomes paler and in severe cases, this may have wall white color. If the dog bites chain and owners or others, look for behavior disorders and rabies needs to be ruled out.

The obesity epidemic that we are experiencing in our society, is beginning to surge to the forefront of cause for concern for our pet population. Dogs world wide are overindulging thanks to their owners spoiling them with treats, and access food.

Killing our pets with sheer kindness is a statement that may sound humorous to some but is the truth. The growth of product sales relating to pet treats has quadrupled this decade compared to the last and as a result, we are seeing in influx in overweight pets.

Like Humans, pets that are overweight are prone to ill health and will be more susceptible to conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, stroke, etc.

Keeping our pet’s diet under control is simple. Put it this way, if your dog does not have access to it, then they will not miss it. Simply speaking, if you dont feed your dog access treats on a regular basis, then your dog will not beg for them frequently.

Exercise will also help keep your dog slim. Walking your dog daily is a great way for you to also get your daily exercise. By walking your dog regularly, both you and your dog will benefit, and although you may not see results immediately, overtime you will.

All swine are susceptible to the virus.  There are reported incidences throughout the country of pigs being infected with the virus. They have the risk of contracting the virus as they can host both avian and mammalian influenza viruses. It’s been theorized that pigs could actually allow avian influenza to adapt to mammalian species, and for flu viruses to change and mutate into completely different viruses, according to the Chronicle.

But dogs and cats are not at risk. “At this time, there is no data demonstrating any risk of dogs and cats contracting this strain of virus, “Dr. Louise Murray. Director of medicine at the American Veterinary Medical Association ( AVMA) said. “However, owners of pet pigs should monitor their animal’s health carefully.”

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It is suspected that increases in the temperature and humidity of the skin environment may play a role in the development of these skin infections. This is probably why hot spots tend to be more common in the summer than in the winter. Often, hot spots may occur after a dog has been swimming in a lake or river, likely because this changes the temperature and humidity of the skin microenvironment. Dogs that are prone to allergies also tend to get hot spots more readily than non-allergic dogs.

At one time, all hot spots were thought to be the same and, as a result, were all treated the same way. However, research has shown that there are actually two distinct forms of hot spots (also known as acute moist dermatitis), namely superficial hot spots and deep hot spots. Correctly identifying which type of hot spot your dog has helps the veterinarian to determine the correct treatment and possibly even the cause.

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