Archive for the ‘Health’ Category
|Saturday, November 14th, 2009
Diarrhea is one of the most common illnesses of puppies. It frequently occurs in pets housed in kennels and exposed to salmonella or parvo infections. Diarrhea is also common in pets that eat garbage, or poor quality dog foods, or food to which they are allergic. Diarrhea can be caused by pets drinking water contaminated with wild animal feces, which often contains giardia.
Causes
Diarrhea can be caused by problems from within the digestive system itself, or by problems from outside of the digestive system. The most common causes from within the digestive system include: ulcers, food allergies, infections, poisons, worms, foreign bodies and cancer. Your puppy can also get diarrhea if you switch his food too quickly. The most common causes from problems originating outside of the digestive system include: anxiety, Addison’s disease, liver disease, kidney disease, and a pancreatic disease called Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency.
Acute or Chronic Diarrhea in Puppies
Diarrhea can occur suddenly and resolve quickly (acute) or it can be chronic and last for months. Most cases of diarrhea are acute, isolated incidents that resolve easily.
Pets with acute diarrhea need medical attention if the diarrhea is bloody, or if it is accompanied by general signs of illness: fever, dehydration, abdominal pain, or weakness. All pets with chronic diarrhea need medical attention.
Bacteria within the Intestines
Bacteria and microorganisms (also called flora) within the intestines can be friendly, good microorganisms or pathogenic, disease-causing organisms. Friendly bacteria help make vitamins and fatty acids, and they help produce mucus that lines the digestive system and protects it from infection and physical damage.
Supplements that supply good microorganisms to colonize the intestines are called probiotics. Probiotics maintain healthy bacteria in the intestines and help to prevent diarrhea. Probiotics protect against inflammation, infection, diarrhea, and cancer. NaturVet Enzymes & Probiotics and Probiotics is an excellent source of gut-friendly probiotic microorganisms, such as Aspergillus Oryzae, Trichoderma Longibrachiatum, Aspergillus Niger, and Lactobacillus Acidophilus.
Home remedies
Treating your puppies diarrhea at home should be your first step prior to visiting a vet. Feeding your dog yogurt, canned pumpkin, or slippery elm can help the symptoms. Slippery Elm can be obtained at a health food store and it is very soothing for bowels. It is advisable to put your dog on a temporary fast from eating his or her normal food. Be certain to hydrate your dog by offering plenty of clean water and offering small amounts of broth or Pediolyte every few hours. After 24 hours, continue on Slippery Elm and introduce some bland chicken or hamburger and plain rice for fiber.
To maintain good gut bacteria, it’s helpful to feed prebiotics. Pre (before)-biotics, such as chicory and FOS (fermentable oligofructose fiber), are the nutrients that good microorganisms use to stay healthy. In pets fed FOS, intestinal cells are larger and healthier, have a thicker protective mucus layer, and are almost 100% more efficient at absorbing nutrients from food. Apple pomace and inulin, which are contained some dog food brands, are also excellent nutrient sources for good gut bacteria.
Tags: diarrhea, enzymes, Health, probiotics
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Monday, February 9th, 2009
A dog visit's the vet
It’s easy to overlook the family pet, when thinking about getting sick and catching the flu. We tend to believe our pets are invulnerable to catching the flu, because they so rarely get sick. But late last year, the first case of a dog becoming infected with the H1N1 Influenza Virus was reported by Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center in New York, on Sunday, December 13, 2009. The dog is reported to be doing very well at home, but it is believed that the dog’s owner passed the flu to his 13-year old mixed breed.
There is now evidence that the virus can in fact be passed between people and their animals. If you become infected with the flu, it is wise to follow the same precautions you do around your dog, that you do around people. For more information on what the CDC recommends for your pet check out this CDC Article
The more common flu strain, known as Canine Influenza or H3N8 has infected dogs before. This flu strain hasn’t been passed back from dog to human yet.
Canine Influenza facts
According to this post in Wikipedia, canine influenza A virus (H3N8) was first found to be the cause of deaths of Greyhound race dogs at a track in Florida in 2004. Wikipedia
How can you prevent your dog from contracting canine influenza or H1N1?
You can boost your dog’s immune system by feeding it healthy supplements and Omega 3 fatty acids found in Wild Alaskan Salmon Oils and with probiotics.
Limit your dog’s exposure to other animals during this time. Dog’s can come in contact with germs by playing with another dog’s toys or by drinking from another dog’s dog bowl. Because close contact in close environments favor transmission, you should consider avoiding dog parks, kennels and shelters. The virus is transmitted in droplets created by coughing or sneezing.
According to the CDC, transmission has been from infected humans to their companion animals. So keeping the members of your family from contracting the illness, should keep your family dog from getting it as well. Limit your exposure to people who have contracted the swine flu. Keeping your dog away from H1N1 carriers can drastically reduce their risk of getting infected.
Is there a vaccine available for my pet
In June 2009, the USDA approved the first canine influenza vaccine, though not specifically for the H1N1 strain. This “doggy flu shot” protects dogs from the H3N8 canine flu virus, costs about $20 and is given two to four weeks apart to dogs over the age of 6 weeks.
There is not an approved H1N1 vaccine for household animals.
Signs of influenza in your dog include coughing, a high fever and a green nasal discharge. If your dog shows signs of any of these symptoms, you are urged to contact your local veterinarian if you believe your dog is sick.
Most dogs will recover in several weeks, but complications in more severely infected dogs can lead to pneumonia and more severe bacterial infections and even death. Currently there is less than a 1% mortality rate.
Tags: Canine Influenza, Center's for Disease Control, dog flu, H1N1, H3N8, swine flu
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