WHAT IS A PARASITE?

External parasites are pretty common among dogs. A parasite is an organism that lives off the resources your dog has to offer: namely, fresh blood (which most parasites drink) and a warm place to stay (in and on the skin and fur).

What are the common parasites that might affect my dog?

There are a wide range of parasites that affect dogs:

- Fleas
- Ticks
- Mites
- Lice

All of these parasites cause adverse reactions in your dog: typically, itching and inflamed skin, a dull coat, and bald spots. In advanced cases, your dog may develop anemia (blood loss) and become generally debilitated (particularly if he or she is very young, very old, or suffering from another condition).

In addition to this, many parasites convey secondary and internal parasites to your dog – for example, fleas usually carry the common tapeworm (which causes constipation and flatulence), and ticks can cause a variety of much more serious problems like Lyme’s disease and paralysis.

I’m going to be looking at fleas: what they are, how to tell if your dog’s affected, and how to get rid of them.

A CLOSER LOOK AT FLEAS

Fleas are without question the number-one most common external parasite affecting dogs. They’re small, jumping insects that are light brown in color, although humans generally can’t see them – they move much too quickly for that!

Fleas live off your dog’s blood. The life cycle of a flea moves very rapidly from stage one (egg) to stage four (adult flea), which means they’re capable of multiplying with staggering rapidity.

An adult flea lays hundreds of eggs per day. Each egg will then become an adult flea, which lay hundreds more eggs of its own. One flea becomes a major problem very quickly!

HOW TO TELL IF YOUR DOG HAS FLEAS

The symptoms of a flea infestation are unmistakable.

A dog with a flea infestation will scratch almost constantly, often at areas that fleas seem to favor: the ears, the base of the tail, the belly, and the stifle (the webbing of soft skin between the thigh and the abdomen).

It’s actually the saliva of the flea that causes the irritation, not the bite itself, and some dogs have a genuine allergy to this saliva (as opposed to a standard irritation). Dogs with allergies suffer much more significant negative reactions to a flea infestation, and usually develop “hot spots”.

These hot spots are areas of sore, inflamed, flaking, bleeding, and infected skin, caused by the flea saliva and your dog’s own reaction to it. Bald patches will sometimes develop too, from repeated scratching and ongoing inflammation.

If you think your dog has fleas, you can confirm your suspicions by taking a closer look at his skin: you probably won’t be able to see the fleas themselves, but you should be able to see what looks like ground pepper (a thin sprinkling of fine black grains) on his skin. This is flea dirt (poop).

If you groom him with a flea comb (which is like a fine-tooth comb), try wiping it on a paper towel: if red blotches show up on the towel, you know that your dog has fleas (on a white background like a paper towel, flea poop shows up red: since fleas subsist on blood, their poop is colored accordingly).

TREATMENT FOR FLEAS

Because fleas only spend a small amount of time actually on your dog, and the rest of their time leaping through your house laying eggs and feeding on human blood, it’s not enough to just treat the dog: you also have to target his bedding, the entire house, all human bedding, and the yard (yes, fleas lay eggs all through the yard, too. Even if it’s cold outside, you’re not necessarily off the hook: cold weather doesn’t kill flea eggs, it just puts them into a state of hibernation. The eggs will hatch as soon as it gets warm enough outside.)

You’ll need a broad-spectrum treatment which kills not only the adult fleas (which are the ones that bite), but also any developing fleas, and the eggs.

PREVENTION IS THE BEST (AND THE EASIEST!)

Prevention is definitely the best cure – you should keep your dog’s flea treatments up to date with the use of a calendar, and use a treatment that’s prescribed by the vet. Off-the-shelf treatments aren’t recommended, since different dogs require different strengths depending on their size, age, and activity levels. A particular benefit of prescribed flea treatment is that most are also designed to prevent other parasites (like mites, ticks, and heartworm) from affecting your dog.

FOR AN EXISTING INFESTATION

If your dog already has fleas, you have two options:

1. You can ‘bomb’ the house and yard with a flea-pesticide. These come as foggers (which coat each room, and the yard, in a fine mist of pesticide) and sprays (which are applied manually to each surface throughout the house and yard), and although they’re very effective in killing fleas and eggs, there’s one major drawback: they’re highly toxic to humans, dogs, and the environment. Depending on your priorities, this is probably the quickest solution to a flea problem (and will effectively wipe out the eggs, too) but if you have anyone in the house with allergies or a health condition – including pets! – you might want to think again.

2. A more health-friendly alternative is to target the dog with a topical anti-flea solution prescribed by the vet (like Advantage or Revolution), and to rigorously clean the house on a regular basis until the flea problem has gone. This means vacuuming each room thoroughly each day – put a flea collar in with the vacuum bag to kill any fleas that get sucked up – and wash all human and dog bedding in hot water as often as you can (once every day or every two days is recommended). You’ll be able to tell when the problem’s gone because your dog won’t be scratching, and his coat will be clear of flea dirt when you inspect it.

WHAT NOT TO DO ABOUT FLEAS

- Don’t use multiple products on your dog – it’ll make him sick, since you’ll be overloading his system with toxins.
- Don’t forget to treat all the animals in the house at the same time: cat and dog fleas are interchangeable, and if one animal has fleas, they all will have them, even if some are not displaying the symptoms.
- Flea collars are no longer recommended as a safe option for flea prevention, since the collars are highly toxic – vets have realized that placing a toxic material directly against your pet’s skin for long periods of time (flea collars have to be worn 24/7 to be effective) is detrimental to your dog’s health.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PARASITES AND THEIR TREATMENT…

Fleas are just one of the many, many types of parasites that affect your dog. To find out more about the complete prevention and treatment of all types of parasites (external and internal), as well as a comprehensive guide to all aspects of dog health, take a look at The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health.

This book is an invaluable resource for the responsible dog owner, and will help you to ensure that your dog remains happy and healthy – just the way you want him (or her) to be!

A dog bladder problem can have multiple causes. Problems may result from infection, bladder stones, physical deformities, abnormalities, or simply old age.

Urinary tract and bladder issues are slightly more common in female dogs and in older dogs.

Symptoms of Dog Bladder Problems

Dog bladder symptoms may be demonstrated in a number of ways.

A previously housebroken dog may suddenly begin having “accidents” in the house. He may be experiencing the need to urinate more frequently, or he may be having sudden strong urges to urinate and find himself unable to “hold it.”

Or, a dog may show signs of incontinence. He may dribble urine either constantly or intermittently. This can happen while awake or while sleeping.

Dogs with dog bladder problems may show other signs of illness, such as loss of appetite or lethargy.

Diagnosis of a Dog Bladder Problem

If your dog experiences changes in his urination habits, you should take him to the vet for a diagnosis and treatment. A complete physical examination and history will give your vet needed information about your dog’s health. Your vet will want to know about any urination problems, but will look for other symptoms as well.

Your vet will want to test a sample of your dog’s urine for infection. Take a sample with you when you take your dog to the vet if you can. X-rays may be taken to look for bladder stones and other signs of bladder problems. A special dye may be injected for some of these x-rays. An ultrasound may also be done. Blood tests are used to look for signs of kidney disease or other diseases.

Treatment of Dog Bladder Problems

The proper treatment for a dog bladder problem depends, of course, on type and cause of the problem. Bladder infections are not uncommon, especially in female dogs. They are treated with antibiotic medication.

Female dogs also suffer from a condition called USMI (urethral sphincter mechanism incontinence). This is a condition that occurs in female dogs within 1 year after being spayed. The depleted estrogen causes the muscles of the urinary sphincter to weaken and the dog may leak urine when resting. This condition is treated with estrogen supplements.

Bladder stones can also occur. These can sometimes be treated with medication or dissolved through dietary change depending on the type of stone your dog is suffering from. If it cannot be dissolved, then it might require surgical removal.

Puppies can be born with anatomical abnormalities in the urinary tract system. In some cases, the ureters, tubes that are supposed to lead from the kidneys to the bladder, lead instead to the urethra (the tube that leads from the bladder to the outside) or to the vagina. These puppies will dribble urine almost constantly. The problem can usually be corrected surgically.

Older dogs may develop age-related dog bladder problems. With age, the muscles of the urinary sphincter may weaken, leading to incontinence. This problem can often be treated with medication, but in some cases the dog may remain incontinent. In that case, there are doggy diapers that can be worn.

You might want to consider a natural approaches for a dog bladder problem. Homeopathic supplements are available which are designed to help the entire urinary system. Natural herbs such as Arctostaphylos uva ursi and Berberis vulgaris are well known urinary tonics. Even providing your dog something as simple as cranberry juice in the morning can naturally prevent problems such as bacteria clinging to the walls of the bladder.

About the author

Jeff Grill is an editor of the Dog Health Handbook and has written on many canine health problems. See this site for more information on treatment options for a dog bladder problem.

Dogs suffer from diabetes as well. In fact, diabetes insipidus or drinking diabetes is a rare form of illness and can only be determined after specific blood and urine tests. In some cases diabetes insipidus can be controlled by giving the dog shots of antidiuretic hormone.

Content: Diabetes is a medical term that refers to a range of disorders that are characterized by abnormal thirst and frequent weak urination. One of the dog health issues by breed, diabetes in canines comes in of two forms:

F Diabetes Insipidus or drinking diabetes
F Diabetes Mellis or sugar diabetes

Diabetes Insipidus
Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a condition caused due to trouble maintaining water balance in the body. When affected by DI your dog will not be able to concentrate urine because of which he’ll urinate more frequently. The term “insipid” refers to dilute urine.

A rare form of dog health issues by breed, DI, a permanent condition, can only be diagnosed once blood and urine tests are carefully studied. In this form of disease, dogs generally drink more than normal water and urinate more often. However, pet owners mustn’t conclude that their pet has diabetes insipidus based on these symptoms alone. Lack of proper treatment can lead to dehydration, coma, and even death.

Most often pet owners ask pet health questions such as, “my dog has started drinking and urination more than normal, does he have diabetes insipidus?” There can be many reasons why your dog may have increased his intake of water or “polydipsia” and increased urination or ‘polyuria,’ such as diabetes mellis and some other kidney problems. It’s imperative that you get the dog checked by a good veterinarian as well as ask him/her pet health questions to ascertain the actual cause of these dog health issues.

Types Of Diabetes Insipidus
There are two main types of diabetes insipidus:

1. Central Diabetes Insipidus: Central DI is caused due to lack of adequate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) by the pituitary gland. Pet health questions are important to understand the other causes and effects of central diabetes insipidus and some of these include congenital defect, one or more tumors on the pituitary gland, trauma, or other causes.
2. Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus: Nephrogenic DI is caused due to lack of response by the kidneys to the antidiuretic hormone, which is secreted by the pituitary gland. Some causes of nephrogenic DI include congenital defect, metabolic disorders, or drugs.

Diagnosis of Diabetes Insipidus
A vet would typically, try to rule out other diseases with similar symptoms such as ‘Hyperadrenocorticism’ or Cushing’s disease, diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), hyperthyroidism in felines, renal failure, and liver disease among other dog health issues by breed.

Treatment of Diabetes Insipidus
Central DI can be treated with a drug called ‘Desmopressin’ that fulfills the lack of antidiuretic hormone. Available as DDAVP, its formulations include nasal spray pump; liquid to be used rhinal tube; liquid injection for subcutaneous penetration; and in tablet form for oral penetration.

Nephrogenic DI can be controlled with ‘Thiazide diuretics.’ The main purpose of these medications is to allow concentration of urine. Oral medicine such as ‘chlorothiazide’ works with the kidneys to ensure that urine can be concentrated.

About the author

Thierry Babineaux
If you think your dog may have diabetes and your worried about dog health you should see your vet.You could visit our forum if you want to ask any questions on pet health.

The dietary regimen is an important aspect of survival. The objective of dietary management is to meet the basic nutritional requirements of the individual dog with proper portions of protein, carbohydrates and fat in a well-balanced diet that will promote optimal body weight.

Generally, these dietary regimens are employed to human beings. However, with the growing fondness to dogs, most dog owners and veterinarians recommed that dietary regimen should likewise be implemented on dogs.

Like humans, dogs need the right combination of the basic food groups in order to have a healthy life span. Dogs also need to be regulated on the kinds of foods that they eat or else they would end up being obese as well.

Included in the dog’s dietary regimen are the proper minerals and vitamins. These essential health items should be well incorporated into the dogs daily needs in order to have a healthy body. With poper minerals, and vitamins, dogs will be abel to maintain shiny, healthy-looking coat. For people who want to know how to prepare the right diet for their dogs, here are some tips to guide you through them.

*Meat should not only be the only food incorporated in the dog’s diet.

*Dogs need minerals and vitamins. These are needed to maintain the luster and shine in their coats and to provide them with healthy gums and teeth.

*Real Meal Treats. It is best for the dog owners to include their dogs in their meal planning. With real food, dogs will be able to generate the needed nutrients their body’s need.

*Mixed Foods. Giving a dog a variety of foods, nutritional value, and texture are the real diet meal dogs really need. So, go ahead and mix the dry food along with the moist food.

*Greens. A well balanced diet for dogs includes green leafy vegtables. Even if dogs are carnivours by nature, they also need the right amount of greens to provide them with additional nutrients that are only available in green leafy foods.

Best of all, dog owners should always consult their dog’s veterinarians especially on things like health and diet supplements for their dogs.

Dogs like humans, should not be fed with junk foods like sugary, sweet, soda. These will only make them fat without the needed nutrients. Stay away from CHOCOLATE, it is considered as poison to your dog as well as your cat.

About The Author

Michelle Johnson is highly respected in her community for her knowledge along with her experience in properly taking care of dogs. She owns http://www.tailwaggingprices.com for quality items for your pet.