FindAVet.us - How To
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
LAST WEEK: HOW TO Care for Your Senior Dog
Fido’s been shaking his head a lot lately. It could be he’s rocking out to doggie tunes, but more likely he’s suffering from an ear infection. Fido’s certainly not alone – ear infections were the No. 1 medical condition for dogs last year.
According to petplace.com, a dog’s ear canals have three sections: external, middle and internal. The external ear canal goes from the outer ear lobe to the eardrum. The middle section starts at the eardrum and extends to the ear’s bones and nerves. The inner section is close to the brain and contains organs that help your dog maintain his balance. (more…)
Tags: allergies, bacterial meningitis, Bichon Frise, Cocker Spaniel, Cushing's Disease, deafness, ear infection, hemangiosarcoma, hygiene, malignant melanoma, Miniature Schnauzer, Omega 3 with Green Tea, otitis interna, otitis media, Poodle, sarcoma, thyroid
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Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
Last Week: HOW TO Manage Your Dog’s Diabetes
Buddy doesn’t get up as quickly as he once did. It takes him a little bit longer and he seems stiff. He limps for the first few steps before he gets going. He doesn’t run after the ball with as much energy as he used to and after a long walk he likes to lay down.
You begin to notice other details about Buddy’s physical appearance, too. His muzzle has slowly been turning gray, his skin is beginning to sag a little and it looks like he is losing muscle mass.
Buddy’s getting older and the symptoms he’s experiencing aren’t all that different from the ones people go through as they age. The changes he’s going through are natural and, in and of themselves, nothing to worry about. But when dogs reach this stage in their lives, pet parents do need to take note of what’s happening and how they can accommodate their dogs’ new bodies. (more…)
Tags: American Veterinary Medical Association, arthritis, bladder stones, cancer, cataracts, dental disease, diabetes, epilepsy, gastrointestinal disease, hearing loss, heart disease, hypothyroidism, kidney disease, liver disease, mitral valve insufficiency, periodontal disease, senior dogs, urinary incontinence
Posted in How To | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
Last Week: HOW TO Give Your Dog Medication
Diabetes (Type II specifically) is a growing epidemic in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “As of 2007, 23.6 million people—7.8% of the population—have diabetes.”
Though it’s apparent that diabetes has significantly impacted numerous people and their families, many are surprised to find out that household pets can suffer the consequences of diabetes as well. In fact, “one in every 400 to 500 dogs develops diabetes mellitus,” writes Sara Jackson for Animal Wellness Magazine. With those numbers increasing because of pet obesity, one-third of all household dogs are obese according to ilovedogs.com, and diabetes is on the rise as well. (more…)
Tags: Animal Wellness Magazine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Diabetes Mellitus, dog blood glucose, dog diabetes, dog obesity, Dr. Mike Richards, DVM, ilovedogs.com, pet obesity, Sara Jackson
Posted in How To | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010
Last week: HOW TO Treat Your Dog’s Anemia
Next to expressing their anal glands, having to give dogs medication is probably one of the least-loved aspects of pet ownership. But you can put aside your fears of losing a finger or two, or poor Fido choking on a pill the size of a blimp. These tips will help make this challenging job easier.
When your veterinarian gives you a prescription, you should ask if it is available in a chewable form, which will make things much less stressful for both you and your pooch. If it isn’t, ask your vet to demonstrate how to administer the pill or liquid.
Veterinarian Janet Tobiassen-Crosby recommends that you also ask your vet if the pill can be given with food, if there are any restrictions on the types of food with which it can be given, and if the pill can be cut or crushed (some must be left whole).
If the pill can be taken with food, you can try one of the following methods. (more…)
Tags: how to give dogs liquid medication, how to give dogs medications, how to give dogs pills, medication, pill pockets, pills
Posted in How To | 5 Comments »
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Last Week: HOW TO Help Your Dog Give Birth
Max seems a little lethargic lately. He doesn’t want to play ball like he normally does. He lays down right away after his walk. Come to think of it, he seems a little weak in general. Poor thing—he didn’t finish his dinner. His gums aren’t as pink as they used to be, either. After watching him a little while, you decide to take him to the veterinarian for a checkup, just to be safe. After an examination with his veterinarian, you learn that Max has anemia.
But what is anemia?
Simply stated, anemia means the body has experienced a loss of red blood cells or hemoglobin or both. (In ancient Greek anemia means “lack of blood.”) The causes of anemia in dogs are numerous and the condition signifies an underlying, usually larger, problem. In fact, anemia isn’t a disease in and of itself, but rather a symptom of something else going on in the body.
(more…)
Tags: anemia, blood in feces, blood in urine, blood loss, blood transfusion, cancer, chemo therapy, decreased appetite, diet, drug reactions, external bleeding, fleas, genetic defects, hematocrit, hemoglobin, hemolytic anemia, hookworms, immune-mediated diseases, infectious diseases, internal bleeding, iron deficiency, kidney failure, lethargy, malnutrition, nutrition, pale gums, parasites, poisoning, red blood cells, supplements, toxin removal, trauma, ulcers, vitamin K, worms, wounds, yellow skin, zinc
Posted in How To | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
Last Week: HOW TO Treat Your Dog’s Seizure
Though here at Find A Vet we strongly advocate spaying or neutering your pets, we understand that from time to time accidental pregnancies do occur. We have also heard countless stories of rescued animals found pregnant or on the verge of giving birth. For that reason, we wanted to make the necessary information for helping a female dog give birth available to all pet parents. With the proper information, pet parents can avoid any unnecessary complications that could harm both the mother and offspring, and help deliver a healthy litter of puppies.
A dog’s pregnancy from conception until birth lasts about 63 days (about two months, give or take a few days). Determining whether or not your dog is pregnant is a tricky business. If you have some idea of the date of conception, do your best to keep track of that date to help you along. Besides the eventual belly bump, the best way to determine whether or not your dog is pregnant is to take her in to see a veterinarian that can perform an ultrasound around the 25th day of pregnancy.
(more…)
Tags: canine birth stages, dog birth, dog eclampsia, dog giving birth, dog hypoglycemia, dog metritis, Dr. Ron Hines, Mar Vista Animal Medical Center, Mastitis, puppies, puppies born
Posted in How To | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
Last week: HOW TO Keep Track of Your Puppy’s Vaccinations
Your dog Fido is dozing at your feet when suddenly he begins shaking violently, his glazed eyes wildly darting back and forth and his paws scratching at the air. You think he must be dreaming about chasing a squirrel, so you gently try to nudge him awake. But his convulsions get even stronger. He begins twisting his head back and contorting his body.
Fido is having a seizure, which can occur in all dog breeds and mixed breeds. According to the K9 Web, .5 to 5.7 percent of dogs have ideopathic epilepsy, the most common canine seizure disorder. The breeds for which a genetic factor is either proved or highly suspected are the Belgian Tervueren, Beagle, Dachshund, German Shepherd Dog and Keeshond. (more…)
Tags: brain tumor, cluster seizure, convulsions, distemper, epilepsy, grand mal seizure, head injury, kindling, liccencephay, lyme disease, seizures, skullcap, toxins
Posted in How To | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
Last Week: HOW TO Prevent Gastric Dilatation/Volvulus
Bringing home a new puppy is exciting for everyone in the family. In addition to having a new playmate to bond with, there is a certain excitement that comes along with puppy preparation. Purchasing toys, selecting the perfect food bowls that match the kitchen, picking out a cozy bed, and trying to figure out which collar and leash set best suits his personality are fun details when it comes to bringing the baby home.
(more…)
Tags: adenovirus, AVMA, bordetella, canine distemper, canine influenza, canine influenza virus, health, lyme disease, parvovirus, puppy, rabies, vaccination
Posted in How To | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, January 6th, 2010
Last Week: HOW TO Keep Your Dog Safe in Cold Weather
Bodie the Bassett Hound, the jolly Am-basset-dor for the Bassett Rescue Network, Inc. (BaRNi) in Acton, California, found himself in an awful state of pain right before the holidays. On December 18, Bodie, who has raised funds for BaRNi’s hundred Bassett Hounds as their official rescue spokesdog, fell victim to a very common silent killer that has affected nearly 60,000 dogs nationwide and has taken the lives of 20,000.
Commonly known as “Bloat,” Gastric Dilatation/Volvulus Syndrome (GDV) is a condition that gets dogs right where it hurts most, in the gut. The American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) says GDV is “commonly associated with large meals and causes the stomach to dilate because of food and gas and may get to a point where neither may be expelled. As the stomach begins to dilate and expand, the pressure in the stomach begins to increase.” (more…)
Tags: American College of Veterinary Surgeons, American Veterinary Medical Association, aspca, BaRNi, Bassett Hound, Bassett Rescue Network, Bloat, Bodie, Chat Oak Emergency Hospital, Dawn Smith, dog bloat, dog distended stomach, dog stomach, dog stress, Dr. Debra Primovic, Dr. Glickman, Dr. Lawrence T. Glickman, Gastric Dilatation/Volvulus, Great Dane, Inc., Journal of the American Veterminary Medical Association, PetPlace.com, prophylactic gastropexy, Purdue University, Saint Bernard, Weimaraner
Posted in How To | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009
Last Week: HOW TO Stop Your Dog from Choking
The winter months in California are far from below freezing, but dangers associated with cold weather still pose a threat to the physical well-being of your dog. Whether your pet resides on the sunny coast, or in the below freezing temperatures of Alaska, taking the proper precautions can prevent illness or injury to your pet due to cold weather.
Since most dogs give the impression of being hearty, sturdy, and indestructible, many pet parents neglect to take their safety into account when the winter months arrive. Yet, just like humans, dogs are in need of protection from ailments like hypothermia, frostbite, and more. (more…)
Tags: Alaska, antifreeze poisoning, aspca, California, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, dog frostbite, dog hypothermia, dogs cold weather, DOGWatch, HSUS, Humane Society of the United States, Stephanie Shain, tamar geller, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Posted in How To | 6 Comments »
