Pet-Rx - A Healthy Pet is a Happy Pet 

How to Nurse Your Dog When it is Sick

by Ariyo Akinlosotu

 As a pet owner, nursing a sick dog is something you will need to learn. When a dog becomes sick, it needs extra attention from its owners. Nursing a sick animal is often considered an art and this should not be treated lightly at all as your dog's health is involved.

Dogs need extra care when they are sick just like humans. If your pet has high fever, it needs to be given only some bread pieces and bulky non-vegetarian items may be avoided. The pet should be kept in a quiet environment after medications have been taken and should not be disturbed. The pet needs constantly stroking by its owner. Don't raise the dog's head too much to avoid the passing of drugs given by the mouth directly into the respiratory organs like lungs. Also endeavor to provide the dog with warm fluids.

If the dog has severe diarrhea, the pet will obviously start showing signs of dehydration. Small doses of salt and glucose solution should be given to the dog to help relieve symptoms. Then again, because of the diarrhea, the dog needs proper nursing care.

Today,we have in the market a non-contact based infrared thermometer that can be used to measure a dog's temperature. It is stress free. If you notice that your dog has a high temperature, place the dog in a shaded place with good ventilation.

If the dog is suffering from hypothermia, provide the pet with warm blankets so as to keep the body warm. Also locate a warm place for your dog.

Discover The Latest Vet Techniques You Can Do At Home That Will Save You Hundreds of Dollars on Vet Bills!

1 in 5 Dogs Will Suffer from Arthritis

Is your dog one of them?

Joint and hip problems can stop an active dog in his tracks. Studies show that 1 in every 5 dogs will develop painful arthritis causing joint and hip problems, lameness, swollen joints and muscle atrophy.

And if you have a Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Rottweiler, Newfoundland or St. Bernard the risk for arthritis skyrockets to 70 or 80 percent – that's 4 out of every 5 dogs!

If your dog seems to be "slowing down," don't assume it's just because he's getting older. There's a good chance it could be arthritis. And if your dog has arthritis, he's probably in a lot of pain – even if he doesn't show it.

Arthritis pain will make your dog less active. He'll slow down and stop doing the things that make him happy. But a good glucosamine supplement like Nutri-Vet Hip & Joint can make a world of difference – and the sooner he starts taking it, the better.

Dogs are good at "hiding" their pain

When dogs are ill or injured, they are very good at hiding their pain. It’s a survival mechanism. In the wild, a sick dog becomes easy prey for other predatory animals. So dogs have become quite skilled at masking their pain.

If your dog has painful arthritis, he may show it … but chances are he may not. It’s up to you to be on the lookout for symptoms and to also understand your dog’s risk factors so this disease can be diagnosed as early as possible.

If your dog is symptomatic, you may notice that he is less active. He may move slower. He may have trouble climbing, jumping or running. Maybe he can’t jump up on the sofa or get into the car as easily as he did before. You may also notice a dry crackling sound when your dog’s joints move.

Risk factors for arthritis and joint problems
Certain risk factors increase a dog's likelihood for painful joint conditions. They include:

Genetics / breed
Obesity
Joint abnormalities like hip dysplasia
Trauma / injury
Excessive joint stress in highly active dogs
Infection
Age (problems develop from years of wear and tear on cartilage and joints)
Diet (Dogs eat primarily red meat. It is high in uric acid, which has been shown to cause arthritic-type conditions.)

If your dog is at risk for arthritis, a good glucosamine supplement can make a world of difference. Glucosamine is a natural compound found in healthy cartilage. Recent studies prove that glucosamine supplements have an anti-inflammatory effect and can be a very beneficial treatment for arthritic conditions in humans and animals. This daily supplement can help keep your dog’s joints and bones healthy and strong.

Even if your dog is not symptomatic, if he has any of the risk factors for arthritis, he could already have the disease or he is quite likely to develop it. The sooner he begins taking glucosamine the better. It will give his bones and joints the healthy support they need to stay healthy longer so he can enjoy a full active life without pain and mobility problems.

Veterinarians recommend Nutri-Vet Hip & Joint Chewables. They have the tasty liver flavor dogs love and they give your dog the healthy joint support he needs to live a happy, active pain-free life.

Painful arthritis ... what you can do to help

Extra weight puts extra stress on your dog's bones and joints. If your dog is overweight, put him on a healthy weight loss program. Cut back on food portions or switch to a food that is designed for weight management. Cut out unhealthy treats. Help your dog burn more calories by making sure he gets plenty of healthy exercise.

If your dog's weight, age or breed put him at risk for developing arthritis, be on the lookout for the earliest sign of problems.

If your dog has arthritis, get him a soft comfy bed. If you have slippery tile or wood floors,

cover them with carpet. Ramps and soft modular cubes can help your dog get into the car and climb stairs more easily. A good massage can help increase your dog's flexibility and circulation while helping to relieve the pain of aching joints.

Start your dog on Nutri-Vet Hip & Joint as soon as possible. This healthy glucosamine supplement will support healthy joints and help ease your dog's pain so he can enjoy a full active life.

Nutri-Vet Hip & Joint supplements can help improve your dog's joint function – whether he is at risk for developing arthritis, mildly symptomatic or already suffering from this painful joint condition.

Choose the formula that's right for your dog based on the severity of his symptoms, or ask your veterinarian to recommend the correct dosage for your dog.

Nutri-Vet Hip & Joint Supplements:

Powerful support for canine joints

Nutri-Vet Hip & Joint chewable glucosamine tablets help support healthy joints and connective tissue, so your dog stay active longer and continue to do the things that make him happy. Made right here in the USA, Nutri-Vet Hip & Joint tablets have the tasty liver flavor dogs love and they come in 3 different formulas.

Choose the right support for your dog.

You should select the right formula for your dog based on the severity of his condition and follow the dosage instructions. When in doubt, check with your veterinarian.

All 3 Nutri-Vet Hip & Joint formulas contain 500 mg of glucosamine to support healthy joints and connective tissue – and 2 formulas contain additional joint support ingredients (like chondroitin) to treat more advanced conditions. Find the one that’s right for your dog.

Nutri-Vet Hip & Joint supplements  

Worming Cats & Dogs – Reasons for doing so and tips on how to do it!

　Article from Pet-Supermarket.com (Article provided from our Fully Qualified Vet)

 Dogs and cats need to be regularly wormed against both tapeworms and roundworms. These worms live in the intestines of your pet and can cause diarrhoea, vomiting and weight loss. In some severe cases, especially in very young animals, the worms can cause lethargy and even death.

 Many people that own pets also have young children, it is important to remember that roundworm larvae and tapeworms can infect people. Although health problems in people e.g. eye damage or blindness from worms is uncommon, worming your pets regularly and keeping it free from fleas will help keep it healthy and minimise any potential risks to the family.

 As puppies and kittens can get roundworm from their mother, you should assume all young kittens and puppies have worms. Worming should be carried out using a veterinary recommended product. The worming regime can vary but as an idea, young should be wormed every 2-3 weeks until around 3-4 months and then monthly until they are 6months. After 6 months of age, worming should be carried out every 3-4 months. Worming medication comes in different shapes and sizes from tablets to spot-on preparations to palatable pastes. Which preparation you use depends on a number of factors and you should consult a veterinary surgeon if in any doubt.

 At some stage in the course of owning a cat you are likely to need to give it tablets. For some cat owners the thought of trying to give the cat a tablet can bring them out into a cold sweat. We offer the following tips…

1. If your cat is likely to wriggle, sit them on a towel and then use this to wrap them in ensuring all four feet are enclosed.

2. Sit your cat either on your lap or hold them between your knees. Getting someone else to hold the cat for you, taking hold of both elbows can be very useful to prevent them scratching with their front legs.

3. Place your left hand (if right handed) over the top of the cats head with the thumb and forefinger resting on either cheekbone.

4. Tilt the head backwards until the nose is pointing to the ceiling.

5. The mouth should drop open slightly. Using the middle finger of the other hand depress the lower jaw whilst holding the pill between the thumb and forefinger

6. Place the pill as far back as possible into the center of the mouth; shut the cats’ mouth immediately and hold closed in a natural head position.

7. Rub the cats’ neck gently to encourage it to swallow; blowing gently on the nose can help.

8. Pill poppers are available from most veterinary practices to enable you to put the tablet as far back into the cats throat as possible without the use of (or losing) fingers.

 If you are finding it difficult to give your cat a tablet, ask your vet or vet nurse to show you how to do it. Some medications can be hidden in a tasty treat or smothering the tablet in butter can help your cat to swallow. If you really struggle, it is always best to consult a veterinary surgeon as there may be alternatives to tablets that can be used instead.  

Ticks, Mosquitoes and Fleas - Pest Problems For Your Dog

(Tue Jun 2nd, 2009, by Joseph Sabol)

 Summer is here and we all love to be outside as much as possible. Our dogs love to play outside too. Along with beautiful weather, summer brings outdoor barbecues, vacation and the pests that like to snack on us and our canine companions. These blood sucking creatures are everywhere we like be. Ticks, mosquitoes and fleas can cause serious health problems for our us and especially for our dogs.

 The deer tick, also known as the black legged tick can infect your dog with Lyme disease. The tick carries a bacteria that infects the dog when it bites and starts feeding. Although Lyme disease was first diagnosed in 1975 and named for the town of Lyme, Connecticut, it was first documented in a medical journal in 1847. Although Lyme disease has been found in all 50 states, it is most prevalent in the Northeast along the coastal states. The deer tick is so small, it is almost impossible to see on your dog. So, how do you know if your dog has this bacterial illness? The symptoms of the disease in dogs are the same as they are in humans. This first shows itself as joint pain. You will notice you dog going from his usual active self one day, to limping a day or two later. He will most likely be favoring one of his front paws. This joint pain can involve the whole body. Your dog may have a fever and lose his appetite. The sooner you get him to the vet the better. If not treated, Lyme disease can cause kidney damage, nerve damage or heart problems. Lyme disease can be detected by a blood test and is treated with a long course of antibiotics. You can protect your dog from this tick borne illness with vaccines and prevention medications available from your veterinarian.

 Another common summertime pest that can make your pooch sick is the mosquito. Mosquitoes carry larvae of the heart worm, which they pick up when they bite an infected animal. The mosquito then bites your dog and transfers the larvae him (or her). It takes about 3 months for the larvae or microfilaraie to get through the bloodstream to the heart where they mature and then mate. This process can take 6-7 months. Dogs can have several hundred of the heart worms in their heart and blood vessels if they do not receive treatment. The worms obstruct the blood flow through the heart and vessels to the lungs. Dogs may not show symptoms of infection, but if they do, they will have decreased appetite and weight loss, and have no energy. As the infection becomes worse, you may notice the dog will have decreased endurance during play or exercise. The dog could also show a pot bellied look from fluid in the abdomen. There are blood tests available to test for heart worms and if the test is positive, there is a medication that must be injected several times over several months. There is a chance of blood clots so there is some risk in the treatment. If the infection is severe, the worms may need to be removed by surgery. The best thing you can do for your dog is to give him a regular heartworm prevention medication. After your dog is tested and determined to be negative, he should be started on a year round monthly dose of the preventative prescribed by your vet.

 Another common pest that we are all familiar with is the flea. Fleas become very active in the summer months and it is almost certain your pooch will end up bringing these nasty pests into your home. The only way to protect your dog and your family from these biting blood suckers is to treat your dog with a flea control product. There are several types of flea control products available. The most common and longest lasting is the topical liquid applied monthly. There are also, sprays, powders, dips and shampoos. When you check your dog for fleas, you may not see any, but you will probably see the flea dirt. Fleas will make your dog uncomfortable, but if the dog is allergic to the flea saliva, he can have severe itching, hair loss, red lesions or even ulcers. Severely infected dogs can become anemic from the blood loss and young puppies can die from severe, untreated flea infestation.

 There are many good products available from your veterinarian to protect your dog and your family from these common summer pests. Prevention is the absolute best thing you can do to care for your canine family member during these fun filled summer day. 

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Vet Vocabulary

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