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Vision Problems in Dogs

Monday, April 2nd, 2012

Vision problems can be painful or disorienting to a dog. Eyeglasses, although sometimes prescribed for dogs, is something very few dogs can ever get used to.

Symptoms of vision problems in dogs can include the following:
* Excessive tearing or redness
* Closed or partially closed eyes most of the time
* Rubbing the eyes or face
* Cloudiness in the eyes
* Discharges from the eyes

When dogs have difficulty with their vision it’s usually the result of eye problems ranging from ingrown eyelids to corneal ulcers which are open sores on the cornea, the clear structure covering the iris (the colored part of the eye). Many eye problems in dogs can be treated with medication and surgery, and others can easily be prevented.

Eye and eyelid diseases are divided into specialized categories: hereditary, trauma, inflammatory, eye and eyelid tumors, and congenital. The difference in the anatomy of a dog’s eyes in different breeds of dogs can predispose certain breeds to eye and eyelid diseases. Giant and large breeds for example, have deep, large eyes which can predispose them to chronic conjunctivitis.

Conjunctivitis, or “dog pink-eye” is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eye and is the most common eye disease in all domestic animals. Dogs with allergies are often prone to developing conjunctivitis. Viruses or bacteria can also cause conjunctivitis, while allergies are a less common cause.

Conjunctivis can make your dog’s eyes inflamed, itchy, and sensitive to light. Your dog may avoid light, rub its eyes excessively, or the eyes may begin to water.

Symptoms of conjunctivitis include abnormal eye discharges limiting your dog’s ability to blink or close its eyes, and pink inflammation of the eyes. Conjunctivitis usually itches, so if your dog develops this disease, you’ll need to keep its eyes clean and eliminate the cause of the pink eye with input from your veterinarian.

Chronic superficial keratitis, another eye disease occurring primarily in German Shepherds, causes pigmentation and superficial blood vessels on the eye. It’s not very painful but it can reduce your dog’s vision if left untreated.

Keratitis also occurs in chronic cases of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). KCS occurs when there is not enough moisture in the tear film. A thick mucus discharge is usually present with this common eye disorder. Treatment for the disease involves the application of tear stimulants and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Corneal ulcers occur when your dog experiences an eye injury or gets a foreign object in its eye. The injury may become infected and require antibiotics. If a foreign object becomes stuck in your dog’s eye, surgery may be necessary to remove it. A corneal ulcer usually causes your dog’s eye to water excessively.

In the case of external eye diseases such as conjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) and superficial corneal ulcers, eye drops with an antibacterial agent are usually prescribed. The drops need to be administered several times a day over a period of several days for successful treatment.

There are several disadvantages to eye drops however, the most prominent one being the natural rapid removal of the eye drops from the corneal surface.

Cataracts cause the clear lenses of your dog’s eyes to become cloudy over time. This condition is usually genetic and occurs when your dog is elderly. As in humans, surgery is recommended for cataracts and the procedure has a very high success rate; about 90% of dogs who undergo cataract surgery experience complete recovery of their vision.

In-grown eyelids can be hereditary, or can occur as a result of chronic, untreated inflammation of the eyes. In this condition, the eyelids turn in, causing the eyelashes to rub against the eye. This can give your dog a large, often white corneal ulcer. You can examine your dog to see if it is suffering from in-grown eyelids by gently pulling the lid away from the eye, then letting it drop. If it curls back on itself, your dog is probably suffering from in-grown eyelids, and will need corrective surgery.

Diagnosing vision problems in dogs can be difficult. For example, if your dog’s eyes are red, it could be a symptom of an eye problem requiring treatment as simple as eye drops or as complicated as emergency eye surgery. Red eye in dogs can also be a sign of inflammatory conditions or an infectious disease. If you notice any of the symptoms of these diseases in your dog, it is best to schedule an appointment with your vet to have your dog examined professionally.

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Tags: Breeds Of Dogs, Chronic Superficial Keratitis, Conjunctivitis, Corneal Ulcers in Dogs, Different Breeds Of Dogs, Dog Conjunctivitis, Dog Eye Problems, Dog Pink Eye, Dogs Allergies, Dogs and Cataracts, Dogs and Cloudy Eyes, Dogs and Eye Surgery, Dogs Health, Eyelid Diseases, Eyelid Tumors, German Shepherds, Keratitis in Dogs, Pink Eye, Vision Problems in Dogs
Posted in Dog Diseases, Dogs Diet and Health, Eye Problems in Dogs, Man's Best Friend, Puppy Tips and Tricks, Senior Dogs, Veterinary Pet Care | No Comments »

History of Rimadyl

Monday, March 19th, 2012

The history of Rimadyl dates back to January of 1997 when Pfizer Pharmaceuticals first introduced the drug to veterinarians. The generic for Rimadyl, Carprofen, was marketed much later. Many dog owners whose pets suffer from arthritis or hip dysplasia believe that Rimadyl has improved the quality of their dogs’ lives. However, as a responsible dog owner, you need to be aware that there is sufficient evidence proving that Rimadyl can have very serious side effects for an animal.

Some dogs have died after being prescribed Rimadyl. Most of these cases have been attributed to the unexpected and swift onset of the well-known side effects of Rimadyl.

Labrador Retrievers, as well as their cousins, the Golden Retrievers, are more prone than most breeds to developing hip dysplasia, arthritis and other debilitating joint diseases. Pfizer first reported that Labradors were particularly at risk from Rimadyl’s toxicity. Pfizer’s report on side effects that occurred during the drug’s initial post-approval phase states, “. . . approximately one fourth of all hepatic reports were in Labrador Retrievers.”

This is an alarmingly high rate of incidence and if you are the owner of a Labrador who suffers from a debilitating joint disease and your vet has prescribed Rimadyl, you need to exercise extreme caution so you are not putting your dog’s health or its life at risk. Besides Labrador Retrievers, many breeds who have been prescribed Rimadyl have experienced side effects or death from Rimadyl.

Your veterinarian should pre-screen your dog before prescribing Rimadyl. Follow-up testing and close monitoring of the dog for possible toxic reactions is equally important.

Rimadyl or its generic Carprofen are not recommended for dogs who have bleeding disorders, liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or are inclined to suffer from gastrointestinal ulceration.

Rimadyl should never be given along with any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin, or any corticosteroids such as prednisone, prednisolone, or dexamethasone. It is also not advisable to give the drug to pregnant or nursing female dogs because it has not been tested as being safe for the mother or the unborn puppies.

Before agreeing with your vet that Rimadyl is the best solution for your dog’s joint problems, discuss the benefits of the drug against the risks. It has been widely reported that many veterinarians are not completely informed about the serious side-effects of Rimadyl.

If you decide your dog might benefit from Rimadyl and you believe that it’s worth the risks involved, ask your veterinarian to start by prescribing the lowest possible dosage that can be used to obtain relief, and then increase the dosage if necessary. The recommended dosage is one mg per pound of a dog’s weight, given twice a day. It’s possible that your dog may obtain relief at a lower dosage which might possibly help in avoiding toxicity. Some vets recommend that Rimadyl be used only for a period of several weeks, followed by several weeks off the drug to give the dog’s liver time to recover from the toxic effects of the drug.

As soon as your dog begins taking Rimadyl you need to carefully watch for the following symptoms which are signs of potential life-threatening reactions to the drug:

• loss of appetite
• refusal to drink water or an increased thirst
• vomiting – occasionally with flecks of blood in the vomit
• diarrhea
• black, tarry stools
• lethargy or unusual drowsiness
• hyperactivity or constant restlessness
• sudden aggressiveness when none was evident before
• weakness or partial paralysis
• seizures or loss of balance

If any of these symptoms occur, IMMEDIATELY STOP giving your pet the drug and take it to the vet. The earlier you discover the problem, the better the chances your dog will have a complete recovery.

Is Rimadyl a “miracle drug” for dogs or are the potential side effects too dangerous? The history of Rimadyl has been plagued with several serious problems; (1) a lack of adequate warnings about the potential serious and deadly side effects of the drug, (2) the large and unacceptable number of veterinarians who are unaware of Rimadyl’s serious side effects, and (3) the severity and sometimes sudden onset of the side effects which can result in the death of the dog being given Rimadyl.

A safer and more effective treatment for arthritis and hip dysplasia is Winston’s Joint System, an all-natural formula developed by a Naturopathic Doctor to heal his own beloved dog. For over 20 years, this long-proven formula has been providing relief from the pain and stiffness of arthritis and hip dysplasia to all breeds and ages of dogs.

If your pet suffers from any of the following joint problems, you should place it on a daily regimen of Winston’s Joint System to give your pet welcome relief from its pain:
* Hip Dysplasia
* Arthritis
* Osteochondritis (OCD)
* Stiffness/Inflammation
* Ligament Tears
* Growing Pains
* Mobility Problems
* Joint Pains

With the information presented here, and a consultation with your vet, you should be able to decide whether the risks of administering Rimadyl are worth the possible benefits. For myself, I’d rather be safe using Winston’s Joint System than be sorry and endanger my loving dog’s health or even worse, contribute to its death.

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Tags: arthritis treatment for dogs, Breeds Of Dogs, Canine Hip Dysplasia, Dog Arthritis, Dog Owners, dogs, Dogs Health, Dysplasia In Canines, Golden Retrievers, Hip Dysplasia, Hip Dysplasia In Dogs, Large Dog Breeds, Naturopathic Doctor, osteoarthritis, Pain, Pain And Suffering, Rimadyl, Severe Dysplasia, Vet, Veterinarians, Veterinary Pet Care, Winston's Joint Formula
Posted in Arthritis and Dogs, Arthritis In Dogs, Dog Behavior, Dog Diseases, Dog Medicine, Dog Pain | Discover Ways To Minimize Your Dogs Pain, Dogs Exercise and Health, Dysplasia In Canines, Hip Dysplasia in Dogs, Large Dog Breeds, Osteochondritis (OCD), Puppy Tips and Tricks, Rimadyl, Senior Dogs, Veterinary Pet Care | No Comments »

Living With a Blind Dog

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Living with a blind dog can be a difficult but rewarding experience. No matter how concerned you are when your pet is diagnosed as blind or with seriously impaired vision, your dog’s blindness is going to be much harder on you than it is for your dog.

Are you the owner of a dog that has recently become blind, or have you adopted a blind or visually impaired dog?

A visually impaired or blind dog is really not a lot different than a sighted one. When a dog loses its sight it comes to rely on its other senses and often these senses will become even sharper over time.

A dog’s eye sight is just the third most important sense after smell and hearing. This is not intended to demean or downplay the seriousness of your dog losing its sight, but rather to assure you that blindness will be compensated for by your dog’s other primary senses.

Our tendency is to feel sad for our dog when blindness occurs, but what your dog needs at this time is for you to act as normal as possible because it will easily pick up on your feelings. Even though you’re feeling sadness for your dog, it’s important that you act as if nothing has changed. This will give your dog confidence in adjusting to a new way of life.

Try not to rearrange your furniture since your dog has grown accustomed to the layout of your home. As time progresses and you choose to make a few changes in your home, you can help your dog adjust to a new layout after it has adapted to being blind. If you have small children, be sure they don’t leave large toys or playthings lying around where your dog can trip over them.

If there are sharp corners on any of your furniture or cabinets, try padding them with bubble wrap or foam pipe insulation from the hardware store.

Until your dog gets used to moving around the house without its sight, you can use textured rugs to help your dog recognize certain areas of your house. Sample squares of carpet are inexpensive and can be placed in the doorway of every room to make it easier for your dog to find the opening.

If your dog uses a crate, turn the crate on its side and use a bungee cord to hold the door in an open position. That way your dog doesn’t need to worry whether the door is open or closed.

In the beginning you should avoid picking up a blind dog to take it to its food bowl to eat. This can be confusing and your dog needs to learn where things are on its own. Plastic place mats placed under the food and water bowls will let your dog know when it’s up close to the bowls.

Talk to your blind dog often to comfort and guide it with positive encouragement. Start teaching your dog new words like Stop, Step up, Step down, Easy, Careful, Danger, and right or left. Hearing your voice is very soothing, so talk to your blind dog often and let it know when you are walking out of a room by a soft pat and word of encouragement.

Be careful not to startle your pet when you approach it and instruct guests and small children to be cautious when walking up to the dog because it may snap at anyone who startles it when awakened from sleep or if approached from behind.

Instruct strangers to let your dog smell their hand before trying to pet it, and always use a leash when taking your dog outside. You can also buy bandanas imprinted with the words ‘I’m blind’ for your dog to wear when you go on walks. If your dog has always worn a collar on walks, you might want to try a harness. You’ll have more control if your dog recoils or yanks on the leash, and there will be less stress on its neck.

Establish a home base as your dog learns to memorize the location of everything in your house and around your yard. Your dog’s bed, crate, or food bowl makes a good home base, and in the event it becomes disoriented at any time, all it needs to do is find the home base and it will be able to start out again and find its way around the house.

Socialization is important for adult dogs who’ve recently become blind. Take your dog on visits to pet stores, dog parks, or any other places where it can socialize with other animals and people.

If your dog is extremely anxious in public, give it Calming Soft Chews which have high potency natural ingredients formulated to help mellow or calm your dog.

Many owners of blind dogs say their dog sometimes seems to be deaf as well as blind. What’s really happening is that your dog is just very involved in listening to everything going on around it and may not hear you when you first speak to it.

Some owners living with a blind dog feel sad, believing that their dog won’t be able to romp and play as it used to, but with patience and training, you can help your dog “see” again by using its other senses. What will be most important to your pet is to let it know every day that you love him or her and you will find yourself rewarded in return by all the love your dog has to give, which often is more than humans give to each other.

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Tags: Bind Dog Care, Blind Dog, Blind Dogs, Blindness in Dogs, Dog Eye Problems, Dogs Eyesight, Dogs Health, living with a blind dog, Senses
Posted in Dog Diseases, Dogs Exercise and Health, Man's Best Friend, Senior Dogs, Veterinary Pet Care | No Comments »

How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Need?

Monday, January 16th, 2012

How much exercise does your dog need in order to stay healthy and avoid dog pain? Humans need to exercise regularly and so do dogs. Exercise is just one of your dog’s basic needs.

Most dogs need one to two hours of exercise every day to help keep them healthy. Depending on your dog’s age and breed, it may need more or less exercise than that. If your dog is a senior, it may be content to lounge around on your floor or sofa all day long, and if you own an active, younger dog, you may find yourself going for walks 3 or 4 hours a day and your dog will still want more exercise.

Even within the same breed and age group, no two dogs are the same, so determining how much exercise your dog needs could take some trial and error. Start by giving your dog as much exercise as it wants without overdoing it. You may have to work up your own stamina to keep up with your dog if you’re not used to walking or jogging.

Beautiful weather should be inviting for both you and your dog to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. But if it’s a very hot and humid day, avoid strenuous outdoor activities and be sure your dog has fresh, cool water at all times.

While walking , running, or playing, watch closely for signs of exhaustion in your dog such as heavy panting, wheezing, or any lameness in the legs – especially the rear legs if your dog has arthritis or hip dysplasia. Hopefully, if this is the case, you already have your dog on a regimen of Winston’s Joint System if it suffers from a debilitating joint disease like arthritis, hip dysplasia or OCD.

Exercising your dog offers many opportunities for training it to obey your commands. You can use the exercise time to teach your dog obedience and how to react when meeting other humans and animals.

Exercising your dog can entail many different activities including walking, running or hiking. Not only will your dog be getting its exercise but you’ll be getting a good workout at the same time. I have many friends who say they’ve managed to lose stubborn weight after adopting their dog and starting on a regular walking and running routine. If you have a large yard or access to a nearby dog park, you can play fetch with a ball or Frisbee which will give both of you a good workout.

Just how much exercise does your dog need? Start slow and work into a good routine that both you and your dog can handle and will be satisfied with. If you live in an area where it frequently rains in the summer, you may need to devise some indoor games on those days to give your dog some exercise. After a few months of regular activities, both you and your dog should be in better condition than you were before you began your exercise routine.

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Tags: Arthritis In Dogs, arthritis treatment for dogs, Dog Arthritis, Dog Exercise, Dog Obedience, Dog Walking, Dogs Health, Dysplasia In Canines, Exercise Time, Hip Dysplasia, Hip Dysplasia In Dogs, hip joint pain, Hip Joints, Lameness, Ocd, osteoarthritis, Pain And Suffering, Severe Dysplasia, Two Dogs, Veterinarians, Veterinary Pet Care, Winston's Joint Formula
Posted in Arthritis and Dogs, Arthritis In Dogs, Canine Dog Obedience, Dog Pain | Discover Ways To Minimize Your Dogs Pain, Dogs Exercise and Health, Dysplasia In Canines, Hip Dysplasia, Hip Dysplasia in Dogs, Senior Dogs, Small Dogs Breed | No Comments »

Diseases in Older Dogs

Monday, December 19th, 2011

Diseases that affect older dogs can be more serious simply because the dog is older.

Our pet dogs are susceptible to many of the same diseases that we as humans have to deal with. Here is a list of the most common diseases that can affect your pet and the symptoms or warning signs to guide you in knowing when to contact your vet. Some are serious and require immediate attention while others may have slow onsets and can be more difficult to diagnose. Many of these diseases affect older dogs more than younger ones, but a dog’s age does not render it immune to any of these debilitating diseases. When deciding whether any of these symptoms affecting your dog are serious enough to warrant a visit to the vet, you should always err on the side of caution and contact your vet when any of these symptoms persist in your pet.

Cancer

Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow
Sores that do not heal
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Bleeding or discharge from any opening in the body
Unusually strong stinky odor
Difficulty eating or swallowing
Hesitant to exercise or suffers from a loss of stamina
Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating

Dental disease

Bad breath
Difficulty eating or swallowing
Weight loss

Arthritis

Difficulty getting up from prone position
Difficulty climbing steps and/or jumping
Behavior changes – irritable, reclusive
Urinating or defecating inside the house
Loss of muscle

Kidney disease/failure

Increased urination and thirst
Weight loss
Vomiting
Loss of appetite
Weakness
Pale gums
Diarrhea
Blood in vomit or black, tarry stool
Bad breath and oral ulcers
Behavior change

Prostate disease

Urinating or defecating inside the house
Dribbling urine
Blood in urine

Cataracts

Cloudy appearance to the eyes
Bumping into objects large enough to be avoided
Not retrieving objects when thrown

Hypothyroidism

Weight gain
Dry, thin coat
Lethargy and/or depression

Cushing’s disease

Thin coat and thin skin
Increased thirst and urination
Pot-bellied appearance
Abnormally increased appetite

Urinary incontinence

Urinating in the bed or the area where the dog was sleeping

Gastrointestinal disease

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Loss of weight
Blood in stool
Black and/or tarry stool

Inflammatory bowel disease

Diarrhea
Vomiting
Mucous or blood in stool
Increased frequency of defecation

Diabetes mellitus

Increased thirst and urination
Weight loss

Anemia

Exercise intolerance
Very light-colored gums

Liver disease

Vomiting
Loss of appetite
Behavior changes
Yellow or pale gums

As you can see from this list of symptoms, it would be nearly impossible to self-diagnose your pet with any of these diseases that can affect older dogs. If you notice that one or more of the above symptoms persist for any length of time, make an appointment with your vet and have your dog thoroughly checked for these serious diseases. You owe your faithful companion the best care you can afford.

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Tags: Cancer in Dogs, Cancer Signs, Disease Signs, Dog Cataracts, Dog Eye Problems, Dogs Health, Hypothyroidism Signs And Symptoms, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Kidney Disease, Kidney Problems in Dogs, Liver Disease in Dogs, Loss Of Appetite, Oral Ulcers, Pet Cancer, Pet Dogs, Prostate Disease, Prostate Problems in Dogs, Urine Blood
Posted in Arthritis and Dogs, Arthritis In Dogs, Asthma and Dogs, Asthma in Dogs, Cancer in Dogs, Diabetes in Dogs, Dog Diseases, Dog Medicine, Dog Vaccines, Dogs Diet and Health, Dogs Digestion, Dogs Exercise and Health, Dysplasia In Canines, Hip Dysplasia, Hip Dysplasia in Dogs, Nutrition for Dogs, Osteochondritis (OCD), Senior Dogs, Skin and Coat Problems, Veterinary Pet Care | No Comments »

Archive for the ‘Senior Dogs’ Category

Vision Problems in Dogs

History of Rimadyl

Living With a Blind Dog

How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Need?

Diseases in Older Dogs

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Archive for the ‘Senior Dogs’ Category

Vision Problems in Dogs

History of Rimadyl

Living With a Blind Dog

How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Need?

Diseases in Older Dogs

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