Dog Physical Exams

Any concerned person can and should do the simple, straight forward home examination. First, consider how the dog appears in general. Is it gaining or losing weight? Is its fluid and food intake and out put normal? Are there any personality changes? Does it limp, cough, sneeze excessively, or have halitosis? Have there been any changes since its health was last evaluated?

If everything appears normal you have passed the first hurdle. Next make a closer examination of the dog's eyes, cars, nose, and mouth. Do the whites of its eyes look normal and not inflamed? Do they squint or have an ocular discharge? Look in the ears: Are they clean with a minimum of brown waxy substance and with no excess hair? Smell them. Any unusual odor? Then examine the nose, lips, gums, tongue, throat, and teeth. Are the membranes a normal pink? Look at the teeth for plaque or tartar. Fan the hair and look for blemishes and parasite such as ticks, fleas, and lice. Lice look like motorized dandruff of the biting variety.

Next check the nails, pads, and between the digits.

Dog Eye Problems

The most common problems of the eyelids that affect the eyes are tumors. Usually benign, they grow on the edges and often irritate the corneas by the constant blinking of the lids. Some tumors protrude away from the eyes and are only unsightly but those that irritate corneas should be removed surgically or blindness may result.

Small hairs growing in from the edges of the lids may also irritate the corneas, and this condition also necessitates surgery.

Some dog of the branchy (short-headed) breeds have folds of skin protruding so that hair constantly touches the corneas and this may be corrected by surgery or by matting the hair with Vaseline at least once daily.

An abnormal drooping of either eyelid or a turning in or out of a lid predisposes the eye to problems and should he surgically corrected.

Dog Euthanasia

The methods employed in euthanasia in the past - and, unfortunately, even today in some places - are largely responsible for the fact that so many people simply refused to consider ending a pet's life. They were shocking, inhumane, and often clumsy. Usually the animal was shot, gassed, or electrocuted. The drugs that were occasionally used were unsatisfactory: the injection of strychnine was certainly inferior even to shooting; ether and chloroform brought a kinder death but even with these there was considerable distress.

If your local humane society or dog warden is still using the methods of a decade or so ago, you will be doing a service to both the pets and pet owners in your community by talking with the proper authorities the possibilities of using pentobarbital.

There has been a heated debate over the use of the high altitude chamber for euthanasia and many states have seen fit to eliminate it by law. The animals do pass through at least an apprehensive period before unconsciousness.

Addison's Disease Dog

Addison's disease or syndrome is the counterpart of Cushing’s disease in that the body produces too little of a cortisone like substance. It appears to take some weeks or even months of insufficiency before a sudden attack of weakness, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting are observed. With Addison's disease the coat will be dry and straw like, with excess dandruff. A dog in this condition can progress quite suddenly from weakness to a coma and death. Hospitalization, tests, and treatment swill often save a dog's life if started soon enough.

Sterol cell tumor, which causes feminization in a male. He develops enlarged nipples and may not raise a leg to urinate.

In a small percent of females the loss of the estrogens from a spaying operation results in urinary incontinence. This is thought to be due to the pituitary gland's loss of influence on the sphincter muscles of the urinary bladder. The condition is corrected by administration of diethylstilbestrol (DES). Although this hormone has been incriminated in problems in humans, DES has to our knowledge caused no problems in dogs unless given in excess. An excess will produce heat signs even in the spayed female.

Information Addison's Disease Dog

The following information on addison’s disease dog would help you to know the symptoms and nature of the disorder in detail.

• The absence of mineralocorticoid steroids and glucocorticoids is quite fatal for your dog. Your dog may suffer from serious disease consequences if left untreated or not treated properly.


• A dog will be able to lead a normal life if the disease receives effective medical attention.


• The affected dog should be administered with blood work on a regular basis. Blood work is done to monitor the proper functioning of the electrolytes and the kidneys.


• In case of extreme trauma and stressful physical discomfort you may take your dog to a vet surgeon as many times under such conditions dogs are administered with Prednisone supplementation.


• Though not impossible but the incidence of the disease is quite rare in dogs and cats.


• The common symptoms of the incidence of the disease includes repeated spells of vomiting, weight loss, feeling of depression, lethargy, weakness, loss of appetite, increased rate of urination, dehydration and fast beating of heart.


• The affected dog may suffer from attacks of shock which can be quite scary and shocking to see.


• The blood work of an affected dog shows low level of sodium, increased potassium content and high kidney enzymes.


• The IV fluids are recommended by vet doctors in case kidney failure takes place. The IV fluids helps in controlling the electrolyte imbalance which ultimately makes the dog feel better.


• The addison’s disease is diagnosed when the Adrenocorticotropic hormone or the ACTH is tested to be positive.

The test of ACTH takes around two long hours. At first a sample of baseline reading is drawn and then the dog is then injected with synthetic ACTH hormone or Cortrosyn. After an hour a sample of blood is taken for testing. In case the dog is suffering from addison’s disease the reading would be unchanged as affected dogs have very low concentration of cortisol.

Babesiosis in Dog

Four species of babesia have been identified with the tick-borne protozoan disease, asbestosis: Babesia can is, B. gibson, B. vogel, an dB. Ellis. The first three affect dogs and the fourth, cats. These organ-isms are so tiny that they live in the red blood cells. From one dog to the next the transfer is made by ticks, especially the brown dog sickbays is more prevalent in some places than in others. There are places where dog owners have never heard of it because it apparently doesn't exist in that locality. There are other areas where it is present, though rare, and still dog owners have never heard of it. In the southern part of the United States especially in Florida it is a seri-o us disease. The British Isles have been virtually free of it. Some sec-t ions of South America report it. Wherever ticks are prevalent, the protozoan organism causing asbestosis may be present.

Asbestosis can be very serious when it is acute. When it is chronic it may simply keep a dog feeling miserable for a long while and afford splendid opportunity for ticks to replenish their supply of the infecting organism and spread it further. In other words, the chronic cases are carriers.

In the acute form it may be difficult to distinguish the outward symptoms from those of other diseases. The dog's temperature rises;the third eyelid looks redder than usual; the pulse and respiration both increase; the appetite diminishes; the urine may be reddish brown. But unlike dogs with distemper, and like dogs with explosions, about half the dogs afflicted with asbestosis develop jaundice. In the acute form,even with adequate treatment, mortality is high.

In chronic cases the mucous membranes, such as the third eyelid,gums, and lips, all become pale instead of a healthy pink; the temperature rises and falls intermittently; the dog's appetite is poor and picky.The dog refuses to play, preferring to lie about.

How can you be sure that your pet has this particular infection?First, your veterinarian, becoming suspicious because of the reddish brown urine, can detect the organism in the red cells from a small sample of blood.

Diagnosing the chronic form is not too easy, so in kennels the veterinarian draws a little blood from a suspected dog and injects it into one or two puppies known not to have been exposed previously to the disease. If the dog has the disease, the organism will show up in the blood of the puppies in from four to seven days. Then the veterinarian can cure both the adult dog arid the puppies.

PREVENTION: The best prevention is to keep the dog free of ticks.

TREATMENT: A series of injections of various drugs is used to rehabbers. Your veterinarian knows and will tell you what needs to be done and how you can cooperate. Even with blood transfusions and good supportive treatment mortality is high.

Best Dog Food Choices

Pet store aisles are lined with dozens of brands of dog food. There’s dry food, canned food, and semi-moist food. Then there are all the labels: natural, holistic, super-premium, organic. How do you know which one is right for your dog?

To help you find the best food for your furry companion, PHT (Pet Health Tips) went to the experts to get answers to eight common questions about dog food.

1. If a dog food is more expensive, does that mean it’s better?

Many dog owners these days splurge on expensive dog foods, thinking they are buying the best for their dog. But when it comes to quality, price isn’t a good guideline, says Joseph Wakshlag, DVM, PhD, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

“I’ve seen ‘all-natural, holistic’ dog foods that perform really poorly in dogs, and I’ve seen some dog foods that you might not want to feed your dog, that perform better,” Wakshlag says. “I don’t think you get what you pay for.”

DOG Health Information

DOG Health Information

"Woof, woof, woof! Ruff, Ruff!" ...DOG

DOG Medicine Information

Pilling your dog

The easiest way to give your dog a vitamin or pill is to hide it in food. Cheese, meat, or other favorite food items can be used to bury the pill. To ensure that the dog swallows the pill, the pill or food item should be placed as far back in the dog’s throat as possible. Hold the upper jaw by both sides with one hand, and lift it up, holding the lower jaw with the other hand, and using your first finger and thumb to place the pill quickly in the tongue's base. Keep his mouth close, lifting the head a bit, and rubbing the throat to encourage him to swallow.

Administering liquid medication

Liquid edication is generally easier to give to dogs than pills. Place the liquid into a paper cup and pull the dogs lip out to form a pocket to receive the liquid. Pour the liquid into the dog’s mouth in small amounts at a rate that allows the dog to swallow evenly. To prevent the liquid from entering the dog’s air passage, the nose of the dog should be elevated only slightly.

DOG Vaccinations

Information from The Humane Society

Distemper - an airborne viral disease of the lungs, intestines and brain.
Hepatitis - a viral disease of the liver.
Leptospirosis - a bacterial disease of the urinary system.
Parainfluenza - infectious bronchitis.
Parvovirus - a viral disease of the intestines.
Rabies - a viral disease fatal to humans and other animals.
Corona - a viral disease of the intestines.
Bordetella - a bacterial infection (kennel cough)

Puppies - 6 weeks to 1 year
6 to 8 weeks - First puppy shot (DHLPP) + Corona
11 to 12 weeks - Second puppy shot (DHLPP) + Corona
15 to 16 weeks - Third puppy shot (DHLPP) + Corona
Over 4 months - Rabies (repeat l year later)
7 to 9 months - First heartworm test

Adult Dogs - After 1 year
DHLPP - Yearly
Heartworm test - Yearly
Rabies - Every 3 years (after second Rabies shot)
Bordetella - Yearly
Note: Some states have their own laws regarding the frequency & requirement of certain vaccinations. When in doubt, always ask your veterinarian or local humane society.

DOG Emergencies

Pet First Aid

Injured dogs will react to pain by experiencing fear and panic. It is common for dogs to be uncooperative during treatment, even going so far as to try and bit or scratch the caretaker. When dealing with a frightened dog, it’s important to secure the dog so it calms down and doesn’t aggravate the existing wound or cause additional harm to itself. It may be necessary to muzzle the dog to protect the caretaker. To muzzle the dog, use tape or a cloth to loop around the dog’s mouth and then tie off the material behind the dog’s ears.

Treating injuries is done through basic first aid. A simple pet first-aid kit should consist of scissors, tape, bandages and basic medications such as milk of magnesia, antibiotics, mineral oil and a common antidiarrheal formula – milk of bismuth.

Poisoning

It is not uncommon for dogs to get into baits (such as rat poison) or chemicals that are harmful to their system. A dog exposed to a poison may react in various ways, including, but not limited to, paralysis. Veterinary help should be sought immediately. To purge the dog’s system of poisons, you will need to induce vomiting by feeding the dog small amounts of hydrogen peroxide. Give the dog about a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide about every 10 minutes for a maximum of 30 minutes.

Puncture wounds

From time to time dogs may encounter barbs, thorns or fish hooks that puncture and embed themselves in the dogs skin. If your dog gets a deep puncture wound, seek out a veterinarians help before attempting to remove the item. Veterinarians can provide the dog with pain relievers and anesthesia to relax your dog and provide the veterinarian with the best possible situation to remove the hook or barb.

If the hook or barb is only slightly embedded in the skin, be sure to cut off the sharp barb before attempting to slide it out. To remove a thorn use a needle and tweezers as you would for a sliver in your own hand or foot.

With any puncture wound, it is important to use a good antibiotic and to cover the wound with a bandage until it’s healed.

Broken bones

Bone fractures in dogs will require the help of a veterinarian. Before moving the dog, be sure to secure the broken area by wrapping the injured area with a towel or blanket. Use rope or some type of cloth to tie the wrap to hold it in place. In addition to wrapping the wound, cover the dog with blankets to keep the dog warm as such injuries generally induce shock.

Heat Stroke

A dog experiencing heat stroke will become disoriented and eventually lose consciousness. To treat heat stroke, immediately begin cooling the dog by running a hose over the dog – continue dousing the dog for several minutes. If after several minutes the dog does not revive, take the dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

To prevent heat stroke, make sure dogs can find shade and have adequate air circulation. In hot climates dogs should not be left outside in the sun during the heat of the day.

Bleeding

When a dog is cut and begins bleeding the wound should be immediately covered with gauze or cloth and moderate pressure should be applied. Hold the dressing over the wound for at least five minutes – do not pull the gauze or cloth back to peek and see if the bleeding has stopped. If after five minutes the bleeding has not stopped, take the dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Source: simplepetcare.com