Dog Diarrhea | A Common Occurrence

Your beloved dog has diarrhea. He has the runs and you’re running too, to take him outside, to mop up… When do you need to run to the dog vet?

Causes of Dog Diarrhea

First off, diarrhea is not a disease, it’s a symptom. It can be something as simple as the result of something your canine has eaten or a change in his diet that you incorporated too quickly, not giving him a chance to adjust. Use your judgment. If your dog has had all his shots, been dewormed, and is not suffering, don’t panic. Watch closely while providing and encouraging the consumption of water. Hydration is the key for the majority of dog diarrhea cases.
Other potential causes:
Worms
Roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, and tapeworm can all cause dog diarrhea, if your dog is not dewormed regularly.
Viral Infections
Parvovirus (highly contagious and often fatal if not diagnosed early). Symptoms include vomiting and dark or bloody feces, and your dog will most likely act very ill and lethargic.
Distemper
Canine distemper is another highly contagious viral disease that can be fatal.
Bacterial Infections
Such as E. Coli and Salmonella varieties are often accompanied by bloody dog diarrhea and can cause severe abdominal pain.
Parasites
Coccidiosis.
Blood and mucous in the dog diarrhea is a common symptom. The vet will likely prescribe antibiotics
Giardia
The diarrhea is usually greenish/yellowish and surrounded by mucus. Your dog will start losing weight fast and will also be suffering from abdominal pain and vomiting
Cryptosporidia
A single cell parasite that can cause dog diarrhea

Symptoms of Dog Diarrhea

Bloody Stool
Aside from common diarrhea symptoms, the presence of blood in your canine’s stool is not always cause for alarm. It could be simply due to excessive straining. Do not panic. Assess the situation. Is your dog an adult up to date with his shots? If yes, take a moment and check out his demeanor. If he’s vibrant and alert, watch him closely and hopefully after a couple of days of home treatment and a bland diet he’ll be just fine. If your dog is still a puppy and/or not up to date with his shots, you should probably hurry to your vet’s (and ideally bring with you a fecal sample).

Acute vs. Chronic dog diarrhea

Acute diarrhea in dogs is a relatively mild condition that may last up to a couple of weeks and your dog must be carefully monitored. Most cases of acute dog diarrhea are caused by ingested bacteria.
Chronic dog diarrhea persists for over two weeks, is more severe than acute dog diarrhea, and you must pay a visit to your doctor. Chronic diarrhea may be caused by dog food allergies or pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, parasites in the intestines, bacterial infections and even fungi and protozoans. The stool is often coated with mucus and blood and sometimes this type of diarrhea can end only to recur in a day or two. Watch for dehydration (always first thing to check), weight loss, your dog’s coat for roughness, and overall listlessness. Chronic dog diarrhea should not be treated without professional help. Even in cases of food allergies, you will be given a list of hypoallergenic dog food. Your dog needs to be put on a special bland diet and oftentimes mineral, nutrient, and vitamin supplementation is necessary to replenish what is being discarded by the constant bowel movements. In most cases your vet is going to prescribe antibiotics coupled with corticosteroids to assist in the recovery. You need the help of an expert.

When to take your dog to the dog vet

When he’s acting very sick or lethargic, if his abdomen shows bloating, if there is fever present (rectal temperature about 103.5F), when there is persistent vomiting, and if there are large amounts of blood in the stool. If you have a puppy, it’s better to be safe and go for a stool check and blood work.

What the dog vet can do for your pooch

Fecal testing
Bring with you a stool sample in a sterile container, so the vet can check for parasites, roundworms, coccidia, and Giardia. Fecal cultures can indicate the presence of bacteria, such as salmonella.
Blood work
Those provide you with indications as to whether the major organs, such as the kidney and liver are functioning properly. It also helps rule out infection as a cause for the diarrhea.
Parvo test
For puppies not yet immunized, the parvovirus antigen test must be run. Results are available within minutes because the situation is grave. If your puppy is suffering from parvo, aggressive treatment is warranted as soon as possible
X-Rays
Those help your vet figure out if the diarrhea may be caused by intestinal obstructions or even a foreign object your dog “accidentally” swallowed.

Dog Diarrhea treatment at home

Isolate your dog at first until you are certain he’s not contagious.
Provide and encourage the consumption of water, and even use electrolytes ( some unflavored Pedialyte) to ensure better absorption. Lectade Liquid Concentrate is another choice. It is an oral re-hydration therapy for cats and dogs that replenishes the loss of electrolytes accompanying the diarrhea. This is of utmost importance especially if you own a small dog. Small dogs, like teacup chihuahuas, dehydrate really quickly and need to be rushed for IV fluids if they reach that point. Check for sticky pale gums around the clock.
Diet: You may withhold food for up to 24 hours in a mature dog, no more than 12 for a puppy or a small breed. Then start your canine on a bland diet of rice and meat. You can give him either half rice and half boiled chicken, or half rice and half boiled hamburger for a couple of days. Warning, if within a couple of days there is not improvement, head to your dog vet.
There are also a couple of over the counter human medications that help treat dog diarrhea and even vomiting. These include Pepto-Bismol, Imodium, and Kaopectate.
Consult your vet if your dog has diarrhea for more than two days, seems lethargic and low on energy, or had large amounts of blood in his stool.
An odd yet effective home remedy is canned pureed pumpkin (the natural kind with no additives). This is a well kept secret that given to a dog with diarrhea it firms up its stool while given to a dog suffering from constipation it loosens the stool. Give a couple of small teaspoons a day to a small dog and a couple of large tablespoons to a larger breed.

In most cases, dog diarrhea is nothing more than an annoyance. If you have any doubts though, trust your instincts and head to your dog’s vet. Just remember, if your dog whines during a bout with diarrhea, make sure you get him out as soon as possible, this way your dog can get immediate relief and you don’t have to clean up after him.

Twinkie

Common Dog Health Problems - Symptoms and Answers

Dog owners should know a bit about the various common dog health problems that their pet could get over the course of their lives. An old time belief, still held onto by many people, is that if their dog has a cold and damp nose, the dog is healthy. The truth is that there is no basis in science whatsoever that when a dog has a cold, wet nose, that they are healthy and have no problems such as heart problems, worms, mange mites or any other canine health condition.

Responsible owners should disregard such beliefs without scientific basis and focus on looking at the overall condition of the dog including scheduled physical checks of the eyes, teeth, ears, mouth and skin for any abnormalities that could be signs and symptoms of a particular disease. The dog owner should also be responsible to make sure their dog eats well, gets regular checkups and is groomed on a regular basis so that their dog will stay healthy for a long time to come.

In particular, there are certain dog health symptoms that mean your canine friend has particular diseases or health challenges. Dog owners should be familiarized with these likely signs of abnormalities in their pets so quick and specific action can be done directly to avoid any complications later on.

The dog’s coat should be shining, soft and full. With wiry coated dogs, like Australian terriers, you need to be sure that the coat is springy and has thick strands of fur. Types of dogs that have double coats need to show zero indication of thinning in the undercoats.

Redness or inflammation, open sores, scabs, flakes, lumps or cyst like growths on the skin can be signs of health issues. Your dog’s skin and fur should be free of parasitic infestation like ticks, fleas or mange mites. If your dog is itching or biting him or herself a lot this could mean they have skin parasites.

Just like us, bright, shining eyes in your dog means good health. In dogs, there is an area in the eyes particularly in the perimeter of the eyeballs that should always have a health pink color. This spot is called the conjunctiva and a pale color may mean some health problems. There should also be no abnormal discharges from the eyes, particular yellow or green colored fluids.

Bad odors and/or bloody discharge from the ears is good symptom that something is wrong. Your dog’s ears need to be kept clean and free of signs of parasites.

Dog gums that maintain a healthy rosy pink color and which might have a bit of black color as well is a pretty good indication of good health. wan colored gums can be a sign or symptom of anemia. Sore looking red gums that bleed could be sending you the signal that you dog has a periodontal problem while emphasizing that your dog has some health issues with really bad breath.

Going back to the age-old belief on the dog’s nose, a healthy dog normally has a cold and wet nose but this should be caused only by clear and watery discharges that are common in dogs. If your dog has a bad smelling discharge coming from the nose, this could be trouble and you need to get your dog examined. These kinds of discharges in young puppies could indicate canine distemper and may turn out to be fatal.

A few other things that indicate a healthy dog are the weight – normal for the breed, body temperature – dogs get fevers just like children, and how the urine and feces look and smell. Its very important to know and understand these health signals and symptoms so that you can help your dog right away if you see that something is wrong.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mason_Joseph

Dog symptoms | Diagnose common symptoms of dog

There’s a saying amongst veterinarians, and that is “common things occur commonly”. Most vets would agree that most of their time is spent diagnosing and treating routine problems such as sore legs, itchy skin, ear infections and upset stomachs.
Let’s have a look at some of the more common dog symptoms vets have to deal with on a daily basis, and what they may mean for your dog.
Choose your dog’s symptom from the list below – and discover your best course of action:
Sometimes dogs just don’t seem to want to do too much. They just want to lie around, and they don’t appear very interested in what’s going on around them. This is quite a vague dog symptom, and can be hard to work out what is causing your dog to feel this way. It can be associated with any number of physical conditions, such as fever, gastroenteritis, liver disease and hormonal disorders.
If your dog is lethargic, it means that there is something wrong. Make an appointment with your vet to find out what is causing it. Starting treatment early in the course of an illness often means less expense for you, and a quicker recovery for your dog.
Dogs can tremble for many reasons, both physical and emotional. They may tremble because they’re in pain, or because they feel anxious or afraid. It could even be something as simple as they’re cold!
Have a look around and see if you can identify what might be upsetting him. If the weather is bad, perhaps he’d appreciate a coat. A noisy environment can be scary to a sensitive dog, and you may want to move him somewhere a bit less stressful.
If there’s no obvious reason for your dog’s shaking, it may be that he’s sore somewhere, and your Vet is the best person to work out what’s happening with him.
At least one third of dogs who present to a vet are overweight and would benefit from a diet. However, dogs can also become excessively lean quite quickly, even though they’re eating well. This usually indicates that there’s a problem.
There’s no simple solution to this; in most cases these dogs need diagnostic tests such as blood tests and x-rays to reach a diagnosis. Common causes include diabetes, difficulty in absorbing nutrients in their food, and even cancer. If your dog starts to lose a lot of weight, take him to your Vet straight away. Early diagnosis and treatment of such illnesses have a much better chance of a good outcome.
It’s not unusual for dogs to go off their food on occasion. They may have eaten something that has made them feel a bit queasy, or they may have had too many between-meal snacks. If your dog isn’t interested in dinner, but is otherwise bright and active, you may want to just keep an eye on him for 24 hours to see if he feels better.
If he’s depressed and not acting normally, then a visit to your vet is in order. Loss of appetite is a very vague symptom and it can be associated with disease of the stomach or intestines, or problems in other organs such as liver or kidney disease. It’s not fun when your dog is vomiting. Not only are you concerned about his well-being, but you’ve got a bit of a mess to clean up. Vomiting is often caused by problems with the gastro-intestinal tract, but it can also be associated with diseases of other organs.
Common gastro-intestinal conditions which will make your dog vomit include stomach ulcers, pancreatitis, and dietary indiscretions – dogs seem to relish eating rotten scraps, compost or horse manure, and these can make them throw up. Sometimes things they eat get stuck in their intestines, and the first sign is vomiting.
Most dog owners are familiar with parvovirus, a viral infection of a dog’s intestines. Often the first sign of infection is vomiting, but these dogs are also very depressed and obviously unwell.
Liver and kidney disease are often the culprits when a dog is throwing up. These organs are involved in getting rid of toxins such as urea and ammonia from the body. If they’re not working as well as they should, these toxins can build up in the bloodstream and cause vomiting, lethargy and other signs of illness.
As we’ve already mentioned in relation to not eating, if your dog is vomiting but otherwise appears quite well, you can skip his meals and keep an eye on him for a few hours. If he’s out of sorts, or the vomiting doesn’t stop, he needs to see your vet. Having said that, you can certainly visit your vet sooner rather than later if it will put your mind at rest.
Diarrhea is another extremely common reason for dogs to visit the vet, and it is usually caused by intestinal disease. Worms are often involved, particularly in young pups.
Dogs with food allergies and inflammatory bowel disease can also present with loose stools.
Sometimes a bacterial infection will lead to diarrhea, and again, eating the wrong thing will cause your dog to have runny poos.
You can manage diarrhea in your dog in the same way you would if he was vomiting – withhold food, and providing he’s well, keep an eye on him. However if there is blood in his motions, take him to your vet immediately. We have already mentioned parvovirus, and one of the main symptoms of this deadly disease is foul smelling bloody diarrhea.
There is another condition called hemmorhagic gastro-enteritis, where a dog will have profuse watery diarrhea containing bright red blood. This is quite frightening to see, and an affected dog needs immediate veterinary care. This is one dog symptom that can’t be taken lightly.
This is the opposite of diarrhea. Affected dogs pass very few bowel motions and the ones they do pass are small and hard. They’re difficult to pass, and you’ll notice your dog straining to defecate.
Dogs that eat bones have very firm feces, and may at times have trouble passing them. Other causes of constipation include physical abnormalities of the rectum and anus, and internal organ disease such as prostate enlargement in male dogs.
One condition that can look like constipation is colitis. This inflammation of the large intestine causes frequent straining, but any feces that are passed are loose, and may contain traces of blood or mucus. This can also be related to diet, but can also be caused by worms or infection.
Don’t be tempted to treat your dog yourself, because without knowing why he is constipated, you’re not likely to completely solve his problem. Take him to your vet for an examination and you’ll be able to get started with the right treatment for him. How do you know if your dog has a tummy ache? He will be restless, and won’t be able to settle down comfortably. He may turn and look at his tummy. He may also lean on his elbows and stretch out with his rump in the air.
This is a very non-specific dog symptom and on its own it doesn’t give you much information. You’ll need to look at what else your dog is doing to get an idea of the cause. Is he drinking a lot of water? Is he vomiting? If his discomfort persists, have a chat to your Vet. Nobody, not even your dog, enjoys having a tummy ache.
Some dogs are very active, and they can inadvertently hurt themselves as they charge through life. If your dog suddenly becomes lame but can still put a little weight on his foot, he may have strained a muscle or sprained a ligament. Both of these injuries can wait a day or two to see if they improve with strict rest. If your dog isn’t using his leg at all, he will need to see your Vet straight away. He may have a broken bone or a torn ligament. An examination often reveals the likely cause of your dog’s sore leg, but your vet may suggest x-rays to get an accurate diagnosis.
If your dog has a chronic limp, he may have arthritis which is a painful inflammation of his joints. Again, x-rays may be needed to confirm the diagnosis, and pain relief medication will have him feeling more comfortable in no time.
Dogs cough for many reasons, usually associated with diseases of the lungs and airways. Bronchitis and pneumonia is often due to bacterial or viral infections, such as kennel cough, but may also be caused by allergies. In most cases, your vet can make an informed diagnosis without performing further tests, for example if your dog has been playing at the dog park and there has been an outbreak of kennel cough. If it’s not that easy to work out the cause of your dog’s cough, then chest x-rays and blood tests are next on the to-do list.
Heart failure can also cause coughing, because as this disease progresses, your dog’s heart becomes less efficient at pumping blood around his body. This means that blood moves slower as it flows through the lungs, and they become congested. This will make your dog cough.
Although some dogs only shed their hair at certain times of the year, others seem to lose hair constantly. If your dog’s skin is normal and his coat is healthy, this isn’t necessarily a problem. It’s more of a concern if there are large patches of hair loss which show bare skin underneath. There are times where this is to be expected; dogs that have recently had a litter of puppies often lose hair on their flanks, thought to be associated with the stress on their bodies.
There are genetic causes of hair loss, such as color dilution alopecia. This leads to bald patches on a dog’s blue or fawn coat, and occurs in many breeds including Doberman Pinschers and Whippets. There’s no cure, and in most cases, it doesn’t cause any problems.
Some young dogs have a problem with Demodex mites which lead to patchy hairloss, particularly around their head. Their skin can develop a secondary infection, and this often becomes quite itchy.
Other causes of hair loss that doesn’t seem to cause itching are hormonal problems such as hypothyroidism or high estrogen levels. If your dog is looking a bit bald, it’s a good idea to just have him checked by your vet to make sure there isn’t a medical reason for his hair loss. It will give you peace of mind.
It’s most annoying to sit on the couch cuddling your dog as you watch a movie together, and he’s chewing and scratching himself. Fleas are a major problem for most dogs, their bite will have your dog chewing his back, tail and down his hind legs. Although less common, sarcoptic mange causes severe itching, and it can spread to you!
Allergies are very common in our dogs – flea allergy, food allergy and atopy (allergy to dusts and pollens) will cause itching, scratching and chewing at their skin. When the skin is traumatized, it gives bacteria the opportunity to multiply and cause infection and this makes the itching worse.
Sometimes the itching can be caused by something as simple as overuse of a harsh shampoo which dries out your dog’s coat.
If you’re using reliable flea control and your dog is still scratching excessively, it’s time to visit your vet for an accurate diagnosis. Treatment may include corticosteroids, antibiotics, insecticides and medicated shampoos.
Both male and female dogs can have trouble urinating, and this indicates that there is a problem with either the bladder or the urethra – the tube carrying urine from the bladder to the outside. In female dogs, the urethra is relatively short, so bacteria can easily make their way into the bladder. This causes a bladder infection, or cystitis, which is very painful indeed. Symptoms include straining to urinate, trying to pass urine often and even drops of blood in the urine.
As they get older, male dogs can develop an enlarged prostate gland. As the gland grows, it presses on their rectum and makes it hard to pass feces, but it can also interfere with urination.
Minerals in the urine sometimes aggregate into little stones which irritate the bladder lining. This hurts, and if it isn’t treated, can lead to blood in the urine and even blockage of the urethra. This is life threatening, and you must get in touch with your vet as a matter of urgency.
Incontinence is a relatively common problem in spayed female dogs as they age. The sphincter which holds the urethra closed loses its tone, and becomes a bit loose. These old girls often urinate where they lie, and are unaware of it. Incontinence is not in itself painful, but it’s smelly, and the urine may cause scalding and irritation of their skin.
Any problems with urination need to be dealt with by your Vet and the sooner the better.
Every dog is different, and they all need different amounts of water. If your dog has always been quite thirsty, this isn’t necessarily a problem. However, if your dog suddenly starts spending all day at his water bowl and you have to refill it frequently, he may have a problem. Increased thirst usually indicates a hormonal condition such as diabetes or Cushings Disease, or an internal organ problem like kidney disease. The only way to deal with this is to take your dog to your vet and have blood tests done to see what may be making him so thirsty. Excess salivation is often related to pain or inflammation in your dog’s mouth. Perhaps he has dental disease or an ulcer on his tongue. Dogs with kidney disease can develop irritation along the edges of their tongue, and this can make them drool.
Like us, dogs salivate when they feel nauseous. If your dog is drooling saliva, he may be having difficulty swallowing it because of a problem with the back of his throat.
Your vet will need to have a good look inside your dog’s mouth and throat before they can do anything about it. Because your dog’s mouth may be sore, he may need a general anesthetic to allow a thorough examination. We sneeze if we are exposed to an irritating smell such as perfume or insect repellent, and our dogs are the same. They can also suffer from allergies which will make them sneeze, as well as cause itchy feet, itchy eyes and itchy ears.
A bacterial or viral infection can cause a snotty nose and sneezing, and is often accompanied by coughing. Dogs can also get a fungal infection up their nose and this initially shows up as a discharge from just one nostril.
If your dog has something up his nose, such as a blade of grass, he will sneeze frequently and may have a snotty discharge just from that one side. Another more serious reason for your dog to have a one-sided nasal discharge is cancer.
Have you ever seen a dog have a fit of loud snorting that just won’t stop? It’s quite spectacular! This is known as a reverse sneeze and suggests that there’s an irritation in the back of his nasal cavity. However, in many cases there’s no obvious reason for this behavior, and it doesn’t appear to cause the dog any problems.
Ear problems are a very common reason for dogs to visit their vet. Food allergies or allergies to dusts and pollens can make your dog’s ears red and itchy. You’d have heard of ear mites – little insects that live inside a dog’s ears. These are extremely irritating and will make your dog scratch his ears constantly.
When your dog has an ear problem such as those described, the changes inside the ear can allow bacteria to grow and multiply in there. This infection makes things worse, and his ears will become extremely painful. You’ll notice a discharge from his ears, and they’ll smell bad!
If his itchy ears aren’t treated promptly, his repeated head shaking and ear scratching can break a blood vessel in the flap of his ear, also known as the pinna. This forms a large blood blister or hematoma, which will need surgical drainage. This is one example of how early treatment can save you money in the long term.
Conjunctivitis can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or irritation by dust and wind. The discharge often starts out clear and watery but becomes thick and yellowish when a secondary bacterial infection develops.
Ulcers can occur on a dog’s cornea. These are extremely painful and can take some time to heal. These ulcers, depending on their severity, may leave scarring on the cornea, or even lead to rupture of the eye.
It’s absolutely vital that your dog’s eyes are checked by your vet straight away, to make sure there is no ulceration. Treatment of uncomplicated conjunctivitis usually consists of regular bathing and antibiotic eye ointment.
The causes of seizures in dogs are divided into two groups – those of cranial (inside the brain) and extra-cranial (outside the brain) origin. Cranial causes include a bump to the head, a brain tumor or an infection which causes inflammation of the brain.
Extra-cranial seizures are usually related to internal organ disease, and include low blood sugar and liver disease. In many cases, there is no obvious reason for a dog’s seizures, so the diagnosis is idiopathic epilepsy.
If your dog has a seizure, take him to your vet straight away for a check-up and blood tests. This isn’t something to be complacent about. If he does happen to have epilepsy, it’s important to start treatment early because the more seizures your dog has, the more likely he is to have more seizures.
You can get quite a fright when you find a lump on your dog, because in many people’s minds, a lump equals a tumor. This isn’t always the case.
Lumps on the body can be due to hematomas, or bruises, or they can be associated with allergic reactions. They can also be due to abscesses associated with foreign bodies such as grass seeds. Older dogs can develop fatty lumps called lipomas, and these can grow quite large. It’s often better to have them surgically removed while they are small.
Certainly some lumps are cancerous, and common cancers which develop into obvious lumps in dogs include mast cell tumors and breast cancer. Your vet can perform a fine needle biopsy of these lumps, and examine it under a microscope to get an idea of malignancy. Tumors are usually best removed before they become too large, or spread to other organs.
These symptoms are all a regular part of a veterinarian’s daily routine.
If your dog displays any of these signs, you’ll now have an understanding of what may be causing them. Your vet is your ally when it comes to keeping your dog healthy. Don’t be hesitant about taking him for a check-up if he’s not well. It’s important that you get a proper diagnosis and start treatment early, especially if he is uncomfortable or in pain.
For a full list of other health problems please visit – Dog Health Care.

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Dog Diabetes: Some Common Symptoms...

Recently one of our member’s dog has been diagnosed with diabetes. This made us realize that Diabetes in dogs & cats is one of the lesser known disease. This incident inspired this blog basically.  Although the diabetes is not curable yet it is treatable. Aside from older dogs, bigger dogs are more susceptible to dog diabetes than smaller breeds. Some other risk factors are gender, diet, age and weight. Also Diabetes in dogs is a hereditary disease. Even cats are susceptible to diabetes. We have tried to summarize some symptoms of diabetes in dogs & cats:

• Weakness or Fatigue – Diabetes can cause wasting of back muscles or weakness in the back legs of cats. With dogs there may just be a general sense of lethargy, being less active, or sleeping more.


• Increased thirst – Drinking more water than usual, known as polydipsia, is an early warning sign of diabetes.


• 
  Increased Urination – Urinating more frequently, producing more urine throughout the day, or having “accidents” in the house may mean your cat or dog has developed polyuria, another early warning sign of diabetes that goes hand in hand with polydipsia.


• Increased Hunger – If your cat or dog suddenly acts as if it is always starving, despite eating the usual amount (known as polyphagia), and maintains or loses weight despite increased food intake, this can be a sign of diabetes as well.


• Sudden weight loss – Though a diabetic pet may show signs of being hungrier than ever, sudden weight loss is a common occurrence because diabetes can cause an increased metabolism.


• Obesity – Obesity can actually cause diabetes to develop; therefore, if your pet is obese you should keep an eye on it to determine if it is developing any symptoms of diabetes.


• Thinning or dull hair – Thinning, dry, or dull hair, particularly along the back. Thinning hair is generally a symptom of some illness, diabetes included, so it is best to visit your veterinarian to determine the cause.


• Cloudy eyes – A common complication of diabetes in dogs is cataracts, or cloudy eyes. Cataracts can lead to blindness if not monitored.


• Depression – A later sign of diabetes in dogs and cats is ketoacidosis, metabolic acidosis caused by the breakdown of fat and proteins in the liver in response to insulin deficiency. Ketones in the body in high amounts are toxic, and this imbalance in the body of your pet can cause depression.


• Vomiting – Another side effect of ketoacidosis, if your pet’s diabetes has escalated to this point before it’s been recognized, is vomiting. Ketoacidosis is more commonly found in older pets and in females. Dachshunds and Miniature Poodles are also predisposed to it.

We strongly recommend you to take your pooch to the vet immediately if you notice any of these symptoms. And if in case your dog is suffering from diabetes then no need to get discouraged as there are many incidences when an early diagnosis has led to a relatively longer, normal life for the dog. With few extra precautions regarding the diet of the dog and medicines will help you and your best friend sail through this.

For other useful articles regarding Cat & Dog health please visit our website www.tailwaggers.in

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• http://www.thebark.com/content/preventing-and-treating-canine-diabetes

Prevent These Common Dog Health Symptoms Now - Keys to Your Dog"s Longevity

How will you know that your dog is not feeling well? Is he ill or just tired? Some dog health symptoms may already be showing but you still don’t know it. It is important as dog parents to pay attention to your dog’s health. A grunt, a whimper, or a whine from your dog can mean they are feeling something that you, the owner, may not recognize at first. Having a thorough understanding of the dog symptom checker and prevention guidelines are the keys to ensuring the safety of your beloved family addition. 1. The Wrong Foods- One of the most important steps you can take deals with every day eating habits. While some pet owners feel they are ‘treating’ their dog by giving them table scraps or a sweet nibble of human food, it is important to know the dangerous foods we humans enjoy but are harmful to dogs. Ensuring your pet never eats these foods may prevent it from illness, even death. Some of these foods include: Chocolate- Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, which is a stimulant that, when mixed with caffeine and theophylline, may result in rapid heart rate, hallucinations, epileptic seizures, internal bleeding, heart attack, and even death. Avocado- Persin, a fungicidal toxin contained in the seeds, leaves, bark and fruit, while safe for humans, can be toxic to your dog and cause vomiting and diarrhea. Fat trimmings- If you are tempted to offer up some juicy fat trimmings to your dog, stop. This innocent enough habit can result in your dog developing pancreatitis. Alcoholic Beverages- A drunken dog acts the same way as an intoxicated man. Beer is from a plant called hops that can cause malignant hyperthermia that is fatal to dogs. Macadamia Nuts- These nuts may be pleasing for humans but never for dogs. Dog health symptoms may be visible as soon as they’ve had some. Once eaten, dogs may suffer tremors, stiffness, hyperthermia, and abdominal pain. Onions- This contains thiosulfate that may result to hemolytic anemia in dogs. Besides dangerous foods, there are also harmful household substances you should be aware to keep the dogs away from it. A few of these are: Mouse and Rat Poison – These poisons are very attractive to dogs. These poisons contain cholecalciferol that causes hypercalcemia and hyperphostamia. Zinc – Ingestion causes severe hemolytic anemia. Antifreeze – Once ingested it affects the liver and often results in kidney failure. 2. Allergies- Allergies, such a flea allergies, often result in infections commonly seen on the dog’s ears, nose, mouth, and skin. Common allergy symptoms include: Shedding, dry/itchy skin Paw chewing Smelly ears Upset stomach Poor coat Hot spots Self-mutilation 3. Lack of Exercise- Just as humans require exercise for proper health maintenance, so do dogs. Remember, your dog is dependent on you to provide it with ample opportunities for exercise, whether it’s playing fetch in your backyard or going for a neighborhood stroll together. Don’t just assume because you have a big yard that your dog will get enough exercise on its own. Take time to exercise ‘with’ your dog. You will both reap the benefits. Common symptoms of lack of exercise include: Poor muscle tone Obesity Little or no energy Emotional problems If not addressed, your dog’s lack of exercise can lead to serious health conditions, such as heart problems and bone disorders, which can shorten the life of your family member. It is up to you, not your dog, to make sure he is getting enough exercise. Illnesses, like diabetes, which result from fatty and excess sugars, and obesity, which results from overeating are our responsibility as good dog parents to prevent.

Common Flea drops WILL quickly KILL your CAT !

Read more: http://tiny.cc/HelpCat

I didn’t know better but should have~ I picked up a single dose tube of Sargents Flea Drops .They were placed in a drawer that we keep pet products in. WE also had a 3 pack of Hartz Mountain that we were saving to use in August when more fleas are out around  here  since we already put new flea collars on each of our cats and dogs, but on that night my small grey cat started scratching like mad and even with the 3  week old flea collar,fleas were popping off her and onto the bedspread. I caught and killed those fleas and then went to the pet drawer and took out the already opened white tube  of drops and though I knew it was a single dose, I put only 2 drops on back of her neck and then ontop the other 2 cats thinking it would help if the flea collars weren’t.

I had no clue that using so little could do so much harm! Had I used a whole tube she would have died for sure.

 Well, I had also used them on the other cats so there were a couple of drops  for each  one and  I  squeezed out the last 2 drops to put them on the back  of  my little grey cat’s neck.

I could not read any of the microscopic fine print on the card anyway, as   the vial was attached to as it was too blurry for my eyes but thought it might not be enough so planned on buying more the next day. The card it came on had already been discarded.

IF YOU USE ANY FLEA PRODUCTS ON YOUR PET, SAVE THE WRAPPING AND RECEIPT IN CASE YOUR PET HAS A REACTION!THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL HELP YOU AND POSSIBLY PAY YOUR VET BILLS~!!!

I was only looking to give her some relief as her flea collar just didnt seem to work well enough. I assumed they were the small dog/puppy drops but also honestly didnt think there would have been much of a difference either way, since alot of meds  like worm meds have similar ingredients just larger amounts for dogs.

Still I knew my cat was about 6 lbs and she was scratching terribly from the fleas that the dogs & other 2 cats  brought into the house had  found their way to her.

She had been extremely itchy & when sitting on my bed several fleas had popped on my bedspread, so I caught & killed them quickly  and then looked for that open tube of  flea poison for her as I had already had put some on the other 2 cats since they were the ones going outside. I was only able to squeeze out 2 drops on my finger and rubbed them on the back of her head.

 3 hours later she suddenly was convulsing and writhing, foaming at the mouth and bursting into fits running and crashing into things. My son saw her first and called me saying he thought she had rabies .

My son caught her when she ran into a bathroom closet & we caged her. I told  him since she had never been outdoors that it was  impossible for her to have rabies & that she had a rabies shot last year anyway.

I said it had to  have something to do with the flea drops I used on her, so I began looking up online symptoms and found that the drops could cause those symptoms. 

We began calling vets , all closed ~ but the one located at Animal Crackers former building outside of Wellsboro was familiar with flea drop poisoning, so the Vet told us to come right down and a Vet Tech, Hillary met us there, took our cat and began treatment immediately.

There is a different flea killing ingredient in dog flea drops than in cat flea drops which when used on cats attacks their liver and central nervous system~ highly toxic to cats~but some are also toxic to dogs ! I wasn’t sure which one I had used as I had a tube for the puppies too and both were out of the cartons so I brought the tube that  I  used  and gave it to the tech so that it might help in diagnosing what meds to give her.

 So it isn’t size and weight issue, its an actual chemical poison used in flea drops that is the issue and my cat has almost died from it.Now I see dogs too are dying from it.

I just called the vet and she is still alive and may recover thankfully. She is still being treated. It will be a very expensive lesson on my part and is extremely traumatic and life threatening for my poor cat as she is less than 2 years old and trusted me to take good care of her!

Treatment includes bathing off all the residue of the drops immediately with a soap based shampoo.

Intravenous fluids are important to stop the dehydration and to admininster muscle relaxers since the poison attacks the cat’s central nervous system.

Other meds including sedatives and pain relief are also needed.

Although some cats/dogs can survive this poisoning , some owners decide to ‘ride it out’ without veterinary care, the cat/dog will most likely die~ the pain involved as well as the involuntary writhing and convulsing is extremely painful to the pet –

SO VETERINARY CARE IS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY~

DON’T WAIT IT OUT~Your pet is in excrutiating pain,convulsing,seizing,vomiting and running into things~!!

THERE IS NO HOME REMEDY TO SAVE YOUR PET~

YOU HAVE TO SEEK VETERINARY HELP IF YOU WISH TO SAVE YOUR PET~!

So an ignorant but well meaning action on my part, I caused my dear little cat to suffer horribly~ I called the vet today and she is responding to treatment since I got her there right away~ and she might be able to come home tomorrow~Thank God~! I didnt want her to die.

So I may be late with my rent this month, as the treatment is expensive, I am sure, as I have not received the billing yet~and will have to of course, pay for my mistake before bringing my cat home.

Included below is articles I found today, that explain what this poison does to cats~[since my cat was the one affected] so be aware that  Flea Drops instructions have to be carefully followed but looking for signs of a reaction is very important as the toxins build up in the animal and may work  one time but the next time could be the amount needed to be toxic.

Also it isnt merely a marketing issue that they mark some cards for puppies, dogs or cats as there can be other ingredient strengths that are not safe [none are actually "safe"] or that just because something is safe  on dogs or other animals doesnt make it safe for cats or puppies !! I just saw a video of a full grown labrador retriever dying 3 days after a flea bath~!!

I am so sorry that I put my poor cat through this and will always look to check safety of a product in the future.My Vet says none of the over the counter flea products are safe and since many outsource to other countries that they may even have some mixtures stronger than others so they can not be trusted~

Now why these flea drop companies do put a some small warnings like do not use on cats -[if you can find the warnings hidden in the fine print] it should of instead been emphatic “WILL KILL CATS“  Or Dogs~!

Or  better Warning  “Just  ONE DROP CAN KILL  YOUR  PET ” would have been more to the point- STRONGER WARNING LABELS ARE NEEDED~

Naturally then no one would buy them~! So they hide the danger in how they word things on their packaging , so most people assume they’re safe.

The Vet  & also blogs show this is  a common mistake many pet owners make. I am not the first fool to do this~

Safety of Flea Drops
As mentioned above because topical flea treatments utilize modern drugs targeting insect nervous systems or growth hormones they are much safer for your pet than older flea poisons, or so they claim!

There are endless amounts of  cases of side-effects but they are few and far between and usually extremely mild.

The most common form of side effect is an allergy to the non-active components in the flea drops. These are usually very mild vomiting or temporary hair loss at the site of administering the product. Animals with such allergies are obviously better treated with a different form of flea control in future.

The widespread fear of flea drops comes primarily from incorrect use of the products, according to those selling them, but the toxins used can affect each animal differntly so they should be banned.

For example giving a small animal a dose specified for a much larger one, or even more dangerous, giving dog medicine to a cat, but they dont know what to say to the person who used the medicine according to directions and the animal still dies~

 Cat’s are highly sensitive to one ingredient often used in dog flea control products so should never be given anything other than a cat flea treatment, but then again ones designated for cats specifically still can kill cats.Likewise ones made specifically for dogs are still killing dogs ~ so there is something else the manufacturer is not doing right. It’s easier for them to blame the grieving pet owner and try to confuse them by saying they had to be the ones who did something wrong, when a pet owner can not always recognize the signs of an allergic reaction or of a toxic reaction.

For some more information about your cat flea treatment click on the link.

 Some ingredients are meant to render female fleas unable to lay viable eggs. If an insect is affected it is unable to reproduce so drug-resistant offspring should not be a problem, according to those manufacturing it, but this ingredient also enters a cat and dogs sebaceous glands through the skin, so as a poison will have some sort  of accumulative effect and while one dog or cat may be more resisitant to side effects another one may not as is the case in all those who have reactions and all those who die from the flea products.

Longer Lasting Flea Control
With most flea killing products there is also opportunity for a residual effect. Because flea drops are actually absorbed in the animal’s oil gland network the active ingredients remain at the surface of the skin for a relatively long time.

All the leading topical cat flea treatments will remain effective for at least a month. In practice some such as Frontline will actually carry on providing complete flea protection for six weeks and while Frontline and Advantage are more expensive to use, they are safer than Hartz or Sargents, since they use cheaper ingredients which are more dangerous.

Safety of Flea Drops
As mentioned above because topical flea treatments utilise modern drugs targeting insect nervous system or growth hormones they are much safer for you pet than older flea poisons.

There are cases of side-effects but they are few and far between and usually extremely mild to severe and to fatalities that often go unreported.

 The most common form of side effect is ‘said to be an allergy’ to the non-active components in the flea drops, but some reactions are to the toxins in them and not allergic but actually  lethal to many pets.

Manufacturers dont want the bad publicity so sometimes pay off victims as it is still cheaper than changing their product ingredients to something safer.

The manufacturers say reactions are usually very mild vomiting or temporary hair loss at the site of administering the product, as they downplay the danger of their products  and exploit the owners need to be rid of the fleas.

 Animals with such ‘allergies’, they will concede,  are obviously better treated with a different form of flea control in future, should the owner be lucky enough to recognizze the milder reactions.Or if the pet survives ~

They claim that the  widespread fear of flea drops comes primarily from incorrect use of the products according to the manufacturers, but thats a lie since  many die from correct usage as well !

 For example giving a small animal a dose specified for a much larger one, or even more dangerous, giving dog medicine to a cat, are their obvious arguments , but what about the larger dogs who die suddenly from accurate dosing? What chances do the smaller dogs and cats have when big dogs also die from it?

How many pet owners who are not doctors, vets or scientists, rely on and  trust the manufacturers to supply a safe effective product?

It is already known and admitted that cats are highly sensitive to an ingredient often used in dog flea control products so should never be given anything other than a cat flea treatment, but they are also sensitive to other ingredients and so there is still a problem with keeping these products available for public use.

 Ingredients that are toxic to animals should not be used~!There are many nontoxic ingredients available but Hartz & Sargents are too greedy to use them and rather let pets die.

Toxic ingredients need to be banned and made illegal.

They should be removed from the shelves of stores.

For more information about your cat flea treatment click on the link which has some info but may be jaded by the special interest groups .

I wish I read this  and other articles before applying those drops to my cat~! I never would have used them at all and now will only use what the Vet recommends~

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/understanding-topical-cat-flea-treatments.html

Here is another case & people also trying to raise awareness:

http://www.hartzvictims.org/2004/07/27/flea-medicine-poisoning/

Symptoms  of one ingredient in many flea drop remedies: http://pethealth101.com/poison/PoisonSigns&Symptoms.shtml

Permethrin poisoning Cats is another one for example: http://www.petalia.com.au/templates/storytemplate_process.cfm?specie=Cats&story_no=2147&pafid=2349

Flea poison ingredient for dogs is different than for cats but both can still kill your pets~ http://www.nearlydrferox.blogging4life.com/?p=436

Cat owners accidentally poisoning their cats ~!http://www.cats.com.au/articles/486/catownerspoisoningtheirpets.shtml

while many products do say not to use on cats, many owners assume the ingredients to kill the fleas wont kill their cats but that it is merely stronger medicine, so think applying smaller amounts would be safe ~ when in fact it isnt safe and can often be deadly~

BEFORE YOU CAN FIND A VET : IMMEDIATE FIRST AID FOR CATS and Dogs is to wash them thoroughly with Dawn dishwashing detergent to remove the oily base holding the poison in the fur and on the skin of the animal [not to be instead of vet care ,only if a vet is unavailable]http://www.bigcatrescue.org/poisons.htm

Even some flea collars can kill your cat~! http://www.getipm.com/articles/letters/flea-collar.htm

Manufacturers need to stop using ingredients that are toxic to animals and meanwhile make stronger stated warnings on their products and not simple benign statements such as ‘DO NOT USE ON CATS’ – because buyers are not aware of how deadly these products are  and assume they are safe since they are sold over the counter in supermakets and pet stores.

My cat is expected to recover. The bill is going to be very high and I can not afford it , living myself on disability~  All I can do is hope to raise awareness to prevent this from happening to others.

Ave Hurley

Http://AveHurleyIllustrations.ning.com

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