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2013年9月21日星期六

Dog"s health, dog health care the symptoms should not be underestimated

Dog’s health, dog health care the symptoms should not be underestimated

Our dog is healthy? How to recognize the symptoms of ailments and diseases that could worsen if not treated in time? Dog health care We meet a small but useful guide written by Petplace vets who explains what symptoms should never be overlooked and ignored in our dog.


First of all you should know that by nature, dogs as well as cats, hiding very well the ongoing illnesses. A weak animal in the wild is more vulnerable and therefore, in the course of their evolution, many species have learned to not make the physical discomforts posters to avoid being attacked by predators or rivals in a moment of weakness. Often, therefore, the early symptoms of many diseases are hidden and we realize that your dog is sick only when the disease is at an advanced stage and now the symptoms are posters and violent.


We know very well our dog, his habits, his biological cycles to notice even the most subtle changes and notify your veterinarian. Recognize the symptoms of an illness in time means having more chance of healing, avoid the worst and save money on treatments and surgical operations. Experts advise us to never underestimate these symptoms not in our dog:


Loss of appetite. When the dog does not eat or eat too little might be sick. Many diseases are among the main symptoms just loss of apetite. Don’t let the Bowl always full otherwise you will notice when the dog won’t eat.
Laziness. Often we think that the dog tends to stir less because it is aging, but if the dog is always less active may depend on from a disease, and we know that older dogs need more care and attention in order to diagnose the diseases associated with advancing age. Please notify your veterinarian.
Weakness. If the dog is no longer able to perform activities and movements that first played with fluency and ease and if you view often fatigued and weak is good not to ignore this symptom and talking with your veterinarian immediately. The weakness is a spy many heart disease and chronic degenerative diseases.
Lethargy. As for laziness and weakness, when the dog is apathetic and does not show more interest in activities that before was very stimulating and exciting, definitely something amiss. Lethargy is a common symptom of many diseases of the dog and may occur both in the early stages of the disease, both in a later stage. Even in this case you should talk to your veterinarian.



Dog Health Symptoms Everything you should know about dog health care ย The phrase “health is wealth” applies not only to humans, but pets. Owning and caring for a dog is not only immensely rewarding and a lot of fun, but it is a long-term commitment and a great responsibility as regards both the care and finances. A dog only depends on its master for his daily needs, including food, water, shelter, love and care. Just like humans, canines too need an equal amount of healthcare. They too are subject to diseases like canine cough, heartworms, emotional depression, arthritis, diabetes, and cancer to name a few. It is the primary responsibility of every dog owner be a watchful observer of both physical movements and changes in the behavior of their furry friend to ensure the health care of the dog. One must always keep in mind that a dog can always exercise his functions well only if it is in the pink of health. As a result, dog owners must follow reasonable steps to ensure that their needs are met and that dogs can do the same thing with buying pet products necessary for their beautiful friend from an animal renowned online store. ย tips to follow to keep the dogs healthy and abundant ย always give dog foods that are made from natural ingredients. Take the right food that contains a balanced combination of calories, proteins, minerals and vitamins. Often packages of dog food contains calories and excess nutrients that can be harmful to the health of the canine. Be cautious of nutritional content, while the power of the dog. This is essential to ensure proper dog health care. Always try to be updated with regard to vaccinations as they are very important for dogs. Take them to a veterinary clinic for regular checkups. Adopting effective measures for the protection of dogs against attacks of fleas and ticks. In severe cases, consult a veterinarian may suggest items for pets as effective as Frontline Plus to keep fleas and ticks at Bay. Avoid the use of flea collars as it may cause damage to the dog’s health. Canines are more prone to heat. Provide them with a cool place to relax especially during summers. Do not force them to walk or run or perform exercises if you are willing to do that. Provide them with sufficient clean water and consult a veterinarian immediately in case of heat stroke, as it can become life-threatening. Give much attention to the dog to get it close. This is a must especially for big dogs as it will help to increase attachment between the dog and his master, otherwise abnormal behavioral alterations are probably to be expected from the dog. This is essential to maintain the health care of the dog. ย you can buy pet products to keep your dog healthy and happy at discount prices from a trusted online pet store and give it a new life. ย indiana Pet Store is the India’s largest and fast growing online pet shop. Indian ย ย Pet Store seeks to serve pet owners, with a wide range of pet products. Resource Link: Pet Products Dog Grooming Tips India ย

2013年9月14日星期六

Should I use chemotherapy on my dog with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder?

Posted on by tccdoctorcerf



     This is a very good question and I will confess that as little as a few years ago I  was not a big fan of chemotherapy in dogs.  Likewise, though I discussed this option with families faced with having to treat TCC in their dogs, many would not consider the chemotherapy either because of personal experiences with chemotherapy or because their pets were doing so well following our Ultrasound Guided Endoscopic Laser Ablation (UGELAB) procedure that they did not feel any need to pursue chemotherapy.   Since the prognosis for a patient with TCC was so poor, in the beginning  of our developement of the UGEALB procedure,  we were happy to “knock the tumor for a loop” using the laser and to buy a little extra time without “heavy-duty” medicines.  Traditional surgery provides a median survival time of about 80-129 days for TCC patients.  UGELAB was providing a median survival time of approximately 380 days even when faced with obstructive tumors in the urethra that were considered inoperable before UGELAB.  We were delighted with these results and with repeated laser treatments some dogs were now living years instead of months. 


      Then  ”the hammer fell”.   Dogs that had lived much longer than expected as a result of our laser procedure where now  dying not because of the  obstructive nature of transitional cell carcinoma but rather because we had kept them alive long enough to die of metastasis and/or extension into the body cavity around the bladder.    It became obvious that the only way to overcome this frustration was to consider chemotherapy.  Statistically, the longest median survival  time  studied was a combination of mitoxantrone and piroxicam.   Still considering quality of life for  my patients as a primary concern, I consulted with several board certified veterinary oncologists to learn about their experiences with this combination of drugs and what we might expect for our TCC patients.  Surprisingly, the oncologists I spoke with had all had good experiences in administering these drugs in combination without significant side effects.   We had already been using piroxicam for years with minimal side effects, most of which could be handled by adjusting doses or providing protective stomach preparations along with the piroxicam.   Faced with the certainty that our wonderful successes with endoscopic diode laser surgery would eventually be terminated by the development of metastasis,  it seems like a “no brainer”  to give the mitoxantrone and see how we made out.  We had nothing to lose and everything to gain. 


     The first few patients we treated with mitoxantrone could not have gone smoother.   The side effects were minimal and certainly justified considering that we were fighting a cancer that will eventually kill.    Two of our TCC  patients “parents”   reported that their furry kids actually  felt better for a few days after the chemo than they had felt before the treatment.   Difficult to explain,  but no complaints here.  I do not mean to imply that this chemotherapy regimen will not have any side effects.  Some dogs are a little quite for a few days or have a poor appetite.  One of our patients has continued to have a poor appetite long-term and he ( Charlie) insists on having his Mom cook for him but to me, if due to the chemo, this is a small price to pay for a longer and happy life.  Almost all dogs  will develop a very low white blood cell count at 10-14 days and this most be monitored so that the treatment can be adjusted as needed.  We have had no “horror stories” in this regard and every dog has had their blood counts return to normal.  While I am a VERY positive person and attack TCC with a “will win” attitude  we need to recognize that serious side effects are possible  including death.  Faced with the certainty of dying from TCC  my personal belief, given our experiences,  is that proceeding with chemotherapy after  palliative laser therapy (UGELAB) is simply the right thing to do in most cases.


   During initial consultations with clients trying to learn more about treating transitional cell carcinoma in dogs using diode laser through a cystoscope,  I always try to emphasize point out that I am a very positive person, unwilling to simply “roll over” for this bladder cancer.  We have had some wonderful results and a few heart aches, but overall we have met with what I consider to be tremendous successes.  Recognizing that my positive attitude might influence my perception  of what it is like to undergo the UGELAB treatment, I also feel it is important to understand the process from the perspective of the moms and dads and furry kids who have experienced the UGELAB procedure and , in some cases, the mitoxantrone/piroxicam treatment.  This TCC BLOG is a wonderful venue for an appropriate exchange of experiences at Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital.  I encourage those families to contribute to this blog and to help me create a realistic environment wherein others facing this deadly canine bladder cancer can decide on a treatment plan best suited to them and their pets.   Please join our conversation so we can all help,  when appropriate,   to create a longer, healthier, happy life  for these wonderful furry family members.   If you have  joined us in the battle against TCC at Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital please share your story with us.  If you elected to treat with mitoxantrone, what was this like for you and your dog?   If you are struggling to decide on an appropriate treatment for you dog, please post your questions.  Want to stay in touch with the conversation as it progresses?   Sign up for an RSS subscription at www. RidgewoodVet.com under the TCC BLOG link.      


     Let’s help each other  learn more about how to “just do the right thing” for our kids!!!


 Dean J. Cerf, D.V.M.