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Category: Health

EWWW! Urine Samples, Anal glands, and Dandruff

When most people get a dog, they think of the fun times they will have with their new furry companion. But there are many things that aren't so pleasant that we as dog owners must consider to keep our friends happy and healthy... (Read more...)

Basic Care and Maintenance for Your Pup's Pearly Whites

Many people do not realize the importance of caring for their dog?s teeth. As dogs age, the need for dental care increases. The best way to ensure proper dental health... (Read more...)

Chill Out: Keeping Your Dog Cool in the Hot Summer Sun

Summer is typically a time of great family fun and activity. The days are long and warm, the kids are on vacation, and the sun worshipers are out in full force. Unfortunately, the season also brings with it some very specific hazards... (Read more...)

Did You Just Eat That?

Did you just eat that? 10 things found in your home that can kill your dog. Dogs are very curious animals and as omnivores and natural scavengers, can get into and eat just about anything. However, there are many toxic substances found in your home... (Read more...)

Does This Collar Make my Butt Look Big?

any owners think their pudgy dogs are adorable, when in fact they are extremely unhealthy. Overweight dogs can develop the same kinds of problems that overweight humans can... (Read more...)

Stages of Whelphing a Litter of Puppies

Your dog being pregnant can be a nerve racking time for owners who have not had the experience before. Just like with human babies the first is the most challenging and if you intend on doing this often � don't worry it gets easier with practice... (Read more...)

ORTHOPEDIC PROBLEMS IN HOCKS - Revised 2007

Osteochondrosis is a term applied to a number of similar disorders of the joints where bone (osteo-) and cartilage (chondro-) are involved. If they are inflamed we use the term osteochondritis. It is now a fairly common diagnosis in young limping dogs, the defects being found in one or more of those joints... (Read more...)

Treating Ear Crud

This article deals with ear problems in dogs (and, I�ve been told, in some cats) in which redness, tenderness, and possibly swelling accompany a build-up of smelly, dark crud in the canal. (Read more...)

Natural Treatments to Rid Your Dog of Ticks and Fleas

Not only are ticks and fleas an annoyance for your dog and for you, unfortunately they can cause health problems. There are many different powders and sprays out there, but with their chemical-based formulas, they could be harmful to the pet�s health or to yours. (Read more...)

Make Sure You Take Care Of Your Dog's Teeth

Of course your dog has become a very important and loved member of your family. He provides companionship and devotion to you without asking for very much in return. Like me you want your dog to stay around for as long as possible, so keeping him healthy is important isn�t it? (Read more...)

Why Does A Dog Get Arthritis?

It comes as a surprise to many people to discover that dogs are not immune to the arthritis problems which so many humans are familiar with. However, when you think about it, dogs have almost the same muscular and tissue structure in their joint areas as humans do, so arthritis can rear its ugly head for them as well. (Read more...)

Anal-sac Disease - How To Deal With Anal-sac Disease At Home

Is you dog or cat scooting, licking and smelling their rear exit? If they are exhibiting such weird behavior then there must be something wrong with their anus or their anal sac. An animal's anal sacs are strategically located on both sides of the anus cheeks, just under the skin in the opening. (Read more...)

How To Help Your Dog's Painful Joints

Dogs are a man's best friend because they simply make excellent companions and remain constantly loyal. They share many of our joys and can alleviate our sorrows. However, that is not all they share with humans. Just like humans, dog's can have arthritis too and it is just as painful and as debilitating for dogs as it is for humans. (Read more...)

Choosing The Right Joint Supplements For Your Pet

The muscles in human body weaken due to age. This is the reason some people have a hard time holding things or standing up straight. Such symptoms are also seen in dogs and cats so those who own one should know how to choose the right joint supplements for your pet. (Read more...)

Got Fleas? 7 Easy Ways To Get Rid Of Them

Fleas are pesky critters that can transmit a variety of diseases and illnesses and make life miserable for your pet as well. Getting rid of these pests is essential for a healthy, happy home for all of its two-legged and four-legged inhabitants. Here are seven easy ways to prevent and control the flea population around your house. (Read more...)

How To Help Your Dog When It Has Had A Stroke

It may come as a shock to you to find out that your dog has suffered from a stroke. Unlike humans, when a dog has a stroke, he often won't become paralyzed or display any of the human signs of stroke. In fact, with the right care and attention, chances are he will bounce right back within a short period after suffering from a stroke, especially if he has a little help. (Read more...)

How To Treat Eye Infections In Pets

Pet owners want the best for the pets and that includes keeping their pets healthy by trying to prevent diseases and illnesses and treating them when they occur. Unfortunately eye infections are fairly common in pets. They can crop up on their own or occur when something lodges in the eye. They can also occur when the surface of the eye, called the cornea, gets scratched. (Read more...)

Resolve Your Dog Separation Anxiety

Dogs do misconduct when they are going through separation anxiety. Some of this misbehavior can be very negative and unsafe to the dog or even the public around them. Behavior problem connected to separation anxiety includes, excessive barking, chewing, destroying things, scratching, out of place urination, defecation, and other self damaging behavior. (Read more...)

Immune System Problems in the GSD and Other Breeds

The German Shepherd Dog is a very popular breed. In fact, it is Number One worldwide although in the U.S. it ranks much lower partly because of AKC clubs' non-adherence to the international Standards - usually in the AKC top ten, though. As a result of there being so many GSDs, veterinarians and others typically see more cases of most disorders than they do in other breeds. Popularity has its drawbacks, and undeserved notoriety is one of them. (Read more...)

Hip Dysplasia, the LMX Formula

Many German Shepherd lovers have seen, known, or loved a dog that suffered great pain, even had to be put down at a young age due to Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD). Though we love this huge breed, the question begs to be asked-Is it worth the risk to purchase and fall in love with a dog only to watch is struggle to stand up when it should be in the prime of its life? (Read more...)

Canine massage & stretching

Massage is an enjoyable way of strengthening the bond with your family dog. Apart from the physical and psychological effects, you familiarise the dog with being handled and this can be of great value in other situations.

As a dog owner you can massage and stretch your dog�s muscles regularly. This enables your dog to maintain good health longer through life and improves the quality of your dog�s life. The risk of injury is substantially reduced and you may be able to detect changes in your dog�s health before they can be seen.

Massage and stretching will give you a happy and healthy canine friend. Your dog will want a massage and will no longer be content with random rubbing and neither will you.

(Read more...)

Ear Infection In Dogs - Symptoms and Causes

Brian Kilcommons relates a terrible story about a beautiful golden retriever dog who was usually very gentle and kind with children. It's owners had a girl aged 3 1/2, and they normally got along very well. (Read more...)

Bones for Your Dog - Delicious Treat or A Deadly Snack?

Lets face it, dogs love bones, they always have and always will. But, could they spell disaster for your best friend? (Read more...)

Pugs: Diet Do's and Don'ts

Be careful what you feed your family member the Pug. They have a lot of gastric type upset so you should know what to feed and also the manner in which your Pug is fed. This can make all the difference on how your Pug feels. (Read more...)

HD in the German Shepherd Dog � a Statistical Study

HD in the German Shepherd Dog � a Statistical Study. Jan Demeyere study & presentation of H�ftgelenksdysplasie (HD) in German Shepherd Dogs. Translation by Fred Lanting, approved by Jan Demeyere, and Fred�s own notes were then added: (Read more...)

Lung Worms

Outdoor pets in certain geographic areas of North America and elsewhere are predisposed to respiratory parasites. Infection typically occurs from exposure to the hosts that carry the parasite. The lung fluke (Paragonimus) is found near lakes that harbor the intermediate host (crayfish and snails) or the racoons that eat them. Dogs that hunt and eat raccoon meat may be at risk. (Read more...)

The Shoulder in the Working Dog

When we speak of a shoulder in a dog, we usually include a lot more than just the scapula (shoulder blade) � although the flat, broad bone is often the center of attention. No part of a dog exists alone, not even those �floating� bones such as... (Read more...)

Options in Treatment for the Dysplastic Dog

I am frequently approached by people who have bought �the love of their lives� or a show or working-prospect puppy, only to find out it does not have what most responsible fanciers would call �breedable� hips. (Read more...)

HEART DIAGNOSTICS

Murmurs are described as gentle, blowing auscultatory sounds. They are caused by changes in the way blood flows through the heart and are by far the most common sign of heart disease. (Read more...)

WOBBLER SYNDROME (CVI) IN DOGS

There is a disorder (it may actually be two or three) in the canine similar to the �wobbles� in thoroughbred horses. Much has been written on this, with various descriptions such as cervical vertebral instability (CVI), cervical spondylopathy, stenosis of the cervical vertebral canal, caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy, and even the mouthful, caudal cervical vertebral malformation/malarticulation. (Read more...)

STRESS INFERTILITY AND HERPES INFECTION

Our most frequent discussions about Herpes in dogs occur because of neonatal puppy death. Herpes causes puppies to die in the first two to three weeks of life, when puppies cannot regulate their body temperature. (Read more...)

The Effects of Jumping on Forelimb Injuries

When jumping over obstacles, dogs land with significant force applied to their forelimbs. If this is an infrequent event, then the impact is usually of little concern, but repetitive jumping over many years may have significant consequences. Repeated impact loading has been documented to cause some overuse injuries in human athletes. (Read more...)

THE CASE FOR PENICILLIN PROPHYLAXIS OF CANINE STREPTOCOCCAL TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME

There is no question that if this were a human disease penicillin prophylaxis would be near universal. Imagine sending a healthy child to school in the morning, being called because of collapse and high fever around noon, and having the child die on the way to the emergency room or shortly after arrival. (Read more...)

The Nature of Genetic Disease

Many people label any problem that appears to be inherited a "genetic disease." However... (Read more...)

NUTRITIONAL APPROACHES FOR A HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEM

Wholesome nutrition is a key component for maintaining a healthy immune system and resistance to disease. (Read more...)

Guide to Hereditary and Congenital Diseases in Dogs Part 2

(Read more...)

Guide to Hereditary and Congenital Diseases in Dogs

A list of 148 purebred dog breeds, each of which is accompanied by a number or series of numbers that correspond to the genetic diseases identified and described in Section II. (Read more...)

TREATMENTS FOR ELBOW DISORDERS

Often, the dog that is diagnosed with mild ED of one sort or another belongs to someone active in the sport end of the dog game, having no plans to breed but wanting to do obedience or schutzhund work. (Read more...)

Dog Eat Dog - The Grisly Truth

There 's a retail boom going on in in North America. While consumer spending is down in many areas, savvy companies have learned that there is very little the doting owner can deny their pet. (Read more...)

Cryptorchidism in the German Shepherd Dog

The most common congenital anomaly of the scrotum and testicles is the apparent absence of one or both gonads. I use the word �apparent� because the missing testicle(s) usually are actually present inside the body cavity of the dog. (Read more...)

Birth Defects: Cleft Palate Why and When

Hope that you never have a litter with cleft palates. But if you do, this may explain the cause of at least some cases. (Read more...)

Calcinosis Cutis, Calcium Circumscripta, Canine Gout

The subject ailment is an imbalance in mineral assimilation resulting in abnormal deposits, sometimes between bones, often in layers of the skin or integument. Calcium deposits in the skin can be the result of injury, of metabolic changes, or of unknown factors. (Read more...)

CANINE STREPTOCOCCAL TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME

New more invasive strains of streptococci have recently appeared, resulting in frightening new diseases in both humans and dogs.� Both humans and dogs can develop streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, with the rapid development of symptoms of shock, high fever (104 to 107 degrees Fahrenheit), cough, abnormalities of coagulation and rapid death. (Read more...)

Purebred Dog Breeds into the Twenty-First Century: Achieving Genetic Health for Our Dogs Part 2

The difference between the fittest genotype of a population and the average fitness of that population is known as genetic load. [Muller, 1950] It is, of course, caused by the presence of lethal, sublethal and subvital alleles. (Read more...)

Purebred Dog Breeds into the Twenty-First Century: Achieving Genetic Health for Our Dogs

A correct and full understanding of these simple truisms is vital to the proper functioning of the entire canine fancy and to the health and well being of the animals which are the object of that fancy. (Read more...)

Back Pain in Dogs

Disorders of the spinal vertebrae and their associated backaches belong therefore to any list of most frequent illnesses in many breeds, particularly the German Shepherd Dog. (Read more...)

Canine Autoimmune Thyroid Disease And Symptoms Of

Most of the confusion about the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease in purebred or mixed breed dogs today stems from the expectation that affected animals must show clinical signs of inadequate thyroid hormonal production (i.e. hypothyroidism) in order to have the disease. The term hypothyroidism has been loosely applied to describe all stages of this disease process whereas strictly speaking it should be reserved for the end-stages when the animal's thyroid gland is no longer capable of producing sufficient hormone(s) to sustain clinical health. At this point, the dog can express any number of the non-specific multisystem signs of thyroid dysfunction. But let's start at the beginning. (Read more...)

Autoimmune Diseases

The term "Autoimmune disease" is currently making the rounds among dog breeders and exhibitors and in the veterinary community. Diseases caused by a defective immune system are of particular concern among many purebred fanciers. (Some people use the abbreviation AID for (A)uto (I)mmune (D)isease. Due to possible confusion with AIDS,(acquired immune deficiency syndrome), a completely different disease, I have not used this acronym.) (Read more...)

Anatomy of the German Shepherd

For breed judges, Koermeister and breeders the evaluation of the German Shepherd dog is a daily activity. For all others, it is likely of interest to know how a dog - especially your own - is evaluated. (Read more...)

Conditioning for the Ausdauerpr�fung (AD)

This article outlines an example program and provides some tips for preparing for and participating in the AD (Ausdauerpr�fung)with your schutzhund dog. (Read more...)

The New Knowledge of DM (�GSD Myelopathy�)

Chronic degenerative radiculomyelopathy (CDRM) is a well-recognised neuro-degenerative disease of unknown aetiology which affected large breed dogs, primarily the German Shepherd Dog (GSD). (Read more...)

HERPES MORE THAN A NEONATAL RISK?

Until relatively recently, canine herpes seemed to be a problem only in the whelping boxes maintained by rank novices in breeding dogs. (Read more...)

"Swimmers"

An infrequent, puzzling phenomenon is the litter in which many, if not all, of the whelps become strangely deformed sometime in the first two weeks of life. (Read more...)

Mad Cow Disease is Killing Europe's Pets

In 1985, the world began to hear about a disease that was affecting cattle in the UK - bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease. (Read more...)

Panosteitis

When I was about 5 1/2 months old, I started to limp a lot. The limping was always worse after walks and play sessions. (Read more...)

LEGG CALV� PERTHES DISEASE

A disorder sometimes easily mistaken for hip dysplasia is Legg Calv� Perthes disease, perhaps more frequently referred to by the dog fancier as Legg Perthes. (Read more...)

Dog Food May Carry "Mad Cow Disease"

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that a Canadian cow that tested positive for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, also known as �mad cow disease�) may have been used to manufacture dry dog food, some of which was reported to have been shipped to the United States. (Read more...)

Another Look at Dewclaws

Some breed magazines a few years ago carried a short article by Doctors Foster and Smith on dewclaws. (Read more...)

Changes in Behavior Associated With Aging in Dogs

An old dog is a special friend. We remember the times we shared and are often saddened by the changes we see. As our companions age, they undergo both physical and metabolic changes that affect our interaction with them. These physical and metabolic changes can often manifest themselves as behavioral changes. Understanding these changes can help increase our enjoyment of the "golden years." (Read more...)

Update on North American Hip Registries 2002

This article is slightly more than an update on the hip registries operating in the U.S. (and Canada, to a great extent). (Read more...)

PET FOODS' INSIDIOUS CONSEQUENCES PART 1

A recurring theme is that both content and form of the pro-pet food argument is flawed, making invalid conclusions the rule. (Read more...)

The Enemy Within

One woman's fight against GSD Myelopathy and the apathy of the GSDCA. (Read more...)

PET VACCINE MYTHS

Catherine O'Driscoll discusses many of the myths regarding vaccinations of our pets. (Read more...)

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a common and serious genetic problem in purebred dogs.There is virtually no breed of dog unaffected. (Read more...)

HYPERTROPHIC OSTEODYSTROPHY (HOD)

The pup the Smiths bought was a very promising individual with a great pedigree. Here, they hoped, was the foundation of their successful showing and breeding future. But in a matter of a couple of weeks, a previously unnoticed cowhocked condition developed and worsened. (Read more...)

Canine Digestive Tract Disorders Polyps Megaesophagus Torsion Bloat (Volvulus) Pancreatic Insufficiency
Part3

Intussusception � In very young pups (and other animals including humans) the intestine can invaginate (one part slips inside another). The condition, also referred to as �telescoping intestines�. (Read more...)

Canine Digestive Tract Disorders Polyps Megaesophagus Torsion Bloat (Volvulus) Pancreatic Insufficiency Part 2

Torsion, commonly called bloat, sometimes described as gastric dilation/volvulus (GDV), this is a terrifying and frequently fatal disorder that German Shepherds and many other deep chested dogs experience. (Read more...)

Canine Digestive Tract Disorders Polyps Megaesophagus Torsion Bloat (Volvulus) Pancreatic Insufficiency PART 1

After skin problems, the next most common and next most frustrating set of disorders to the dog owner and the diagnostician are those of the alimentary canal. (Read more...)

The Ins and Outs of Pedigree Analysis, Genetic Diversity, and Genetic Disease Control

As dog breeders, we engage in genetic "experiments" each time we plan a mating. The type of mating selected should coincide with your goals. To some breeders, determining which traits will appear in the offspring of a mating is like rolling the dice - a combination of luck and chance. (Read more...)

Is your dog hypothyroid?

Here is a list of symptoms that may mean your dog is hypothyroid. (Read more...)

ORTHOPEDIC PROBLEMS IN HOCKS

Osteochondrosis is a term applied to a number of similar disorders of the joints where bone (osteo-) and cartilage (chondro-) are involved. (Read more...)

THE BIG SCAM--RABIES VACCINATION

I would like to give you, the reader, the truth about the so called required vaccinations, particularly rabies. (Read more...)

Ceroid Lipofuscinosis in The Border Collie inherited

Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (C.L.)in the Border Collie is a rare disease which affects... (Read more...)

IN SUMMER'S HEAT, PREVENT CANINE HEAT EXHAUSTION

It's not just the canine athletes -- the Frisbee leapers, the runners and jumpers -- that are susceptible to heat exhaustion. Every dog is a potential victim of summer's heat. (Read more...)

Special to the Swiss SENNtinel

Better progress can be expected when leaders of various major breed clubs take their blinders off and encourage selection for control of these disorders of the elbow. (Read more...)

Looking at Hips � How Various Organizations Do It

Since the 1950s, there has been a growing awareness of the genetic nature of HD (hip dysplasia, often called CHD or canine HD by vets in order to distinguish it from HD in man and other species, although very little difference exists). (Read more...)

Ehrlichiosis � Not Just for German Shepherds

It�s been around a long time, and it�s not going to go away. Once considered an exotic or tropical disease, later associated specifically with German Shepherd Dogs but not your little Fifi, Ehrlichiosis is a disease that can range from stubbornly persistent to downright fatal. (Read more...)

BREED VALUE and the GSD - The SV Zuchtwert Program Part 3

The application is very simple for the breeder. For his bitch, whose HD breed value he knows, the breeder can select from a broad offering of dogs that are qualified to breed � suitable stud dogs that also complement his wishes in reference to form and performance. (Read more...)

BREED VALUE and the GSD - The SV Zuchtwert Program Part 2

Wide implementation of the method of Breed Value Assessment has been effective in the commercial animal breeds (food and textile). (Read more...)

BREED VALUE and the GSD - The SV Zuchtwert Program Part 1

Many GSD fanciers (yes, unfortunately even breeders) have either not heard of the Zuchtwert program or have almost no idea of what it is. (Read more...)

VACCINE PROTOCOLS FOR DOGS

The challenge to produce effective and safe vaccines for the prevalent infectious diseases of humans and animals has become increasingly difficult. In veterinary medicine, evidence implicating vaccines in triggering immune-mediated and other chronic disorders (vaccinosis) is compelling. (Read more...)

TVS, CAUDA EQUINA SYNDROME, AND SPONDYLOSIS

There has been a flurry of questions in recent years about conditions known as TVS and APA (asymmetrical pelvic attachment), which makes me wonder if it is the incidence or the diagnosis that is on the rise. (Read more...)

Thyroid Testing In Dogs

Hypothyroidism is a relatively common endocrine disease of dogs which results from progressive loss of functioning thyroid tissue. (Read more...)

SPONDYLOSIS DEFORMANS

Spondylosis deformans is a condition in which bridges are formed along the ventral (bottom)parts of the vertebrae. (Read more...)

Rabies Law in Ontario

This article is is for the benefit of those residing in Ontario, Canada. I hope to inform residents of what the law actually states in regard to rabies vaccinations, as opposed to what popular (mis?)conception may be. (Read more...)

Summary of PennHIP Research

The following is a summary of PennHIP-related research published by Smith and colleagues. References to the actual publications are given at the end of each section. (Read more...)

PANOSTEITIS

One of the main reasons for a young dog to be �pulled� from a show, or excused from the ring, is the sudden lameness of a condition known as panosteitis. (Read more...)

Dogs able to sniff out cancerous melanoma

Specially trained dogs can detect melanoma in moles on people. Dogs can detect by scent changes in moles. (Read more...)

Lyme Disease

LYME DISEASE has been recognized in Europe for almost 100 years but was not described in humans in the United States until 1975. (Read more...)

Dealing With Wrong Ideas about Hip Dysplasia

The important thing about hip-joint laxity that the people of Schnelles day knew intuitively in the 1930s, the OFA proclaimed via deductive reasoning... (Read more...)

Elbow Disease In Growing Dogs

Elbow disease is the preferred term to be used when talking about elbow problems in growing dogs. Unfortunately "elbow displaysia" was the name given to the condition of ununited anconeal process and this term is closely linked in this way in the minds of most veterinarians and some dog breeders. (Read more...)

ETHOXYQUIN AND OTHER ANTI-OXIDANTS

Anti-oxidants are added to pet foods to protect fats from rancidity. (Read more...)

Canine Hip Dysplasia Part VIII Surgical Management of Canine Hip Dysplasia-Part II

This is the eighth and final article in a series on canine hip dysplasia. What follows is written from the perspective that the readers of the series are serious and conscientious breeders who are the guardians of the genetic pools that constitute their breeds. (Read more...)

Canine Hip Dysplasia Part VII Surgical Management of Canine Hip Dysplasia

Surgery may be recommended for suitable candidates, taking into account expected activity level, longevity and use and value of the dog. (Read more...)

Canine Hip Dysplasia Part VI

Treatment of this disease must be tailored specifically to the needs of your pet, whether using conventional or alternative medicine. (Read more...)

Canine Hip Dysplasia Part V

An evaluation method is needed that is not only diagnostic but which can predict the probability of canine hip dysplasia. (Read more...)

Canine Hip Dysplasia Part IV

The Role of Orthopedic Registries in Fighting Canine Hip Dysplasia; Registries, although essential in documenting CHD, have not been used to their full potential. (Read more...)

Canine Hip Dysplasia Part III

The authors assess the pros and cons of standard diagnostic methods for hip dysplasia. (Read more...)

Canine Hip Dysplasia Part II - Causative Factors of Canine Hip Dysplasia

Owners must separate fact from myth when examining theories on genetic, nutritional and environmental factors that influence CHD. (Read more...)

Canine Hip Dysplasia Part I

To understand this genetically transmitted disease, we must first understand the workings of the normal canine hip. (Read more...)

BEHAVIORAL CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH THYROID DYSFUNCTION IN DOGS

In North America, the principal reason for pet euthanasia stems not from disease, but undesirable behavior.� While this abnormal behavior in dogs and cats can have a variety of medical causes, it also can reflect underlying problems of a psychological nature. (Read more...)

RABIES REVACCINATION
FOR COMPANION ANIMALS:
CANADIAN DATA

Rabies is widespread in Canada, although, traditionally, the majority of reported cases have occurred in Ontario (85%), and to a lesser extent, in Saskatchewan (10%). (Read more...)

PATELLA LUXATIONS

The knee is an engineering marvel, extremely complicated and concise, able to move in multiple combinations of direction, and normally able to withstand considerable torque forces. (Read more...)

Milk Thistle:The Herbal Wonder

I would like to tell you about a wonderful herb and a must for every pet owner's natural medicine chest. (Read more...)

The Canine Immune System and Disease Resistance B-Cell Immunity T-cell Autoimmune Immune-Suppressant Viruses Thyroid Genetic Screening Hormonal Modified Live Vaccines Cancer and Immunity Tumor

This article discusses the essential role of the canine immune system in maintaining the body's overall general health and resistance to disease.� The focus will be on environmental factors or events which may cause or trigger immune dysfunction leading to either immune deficiency or immune stimulation (reactive or autoimmunity). (Read more...)

Diseases of Puppyhood

Breeders� responses to early puppy deaths vary. Some expend a great deal of effort, while others �let nature take its course� and stoically hope the next breeding will be more successful. (Read more...)

Introduction to Vaccinations

To vaccinate or not to vaccinate has certainly become the question in many pet owner circles. With so much information around regarding yearly boosters, it is hard to tell what is the best program for your particular animal and situation. (Read more...)

Introduction to Essential Fatty Acids

Essential fatty acids are an important part of a human or pet's diet. (Read more...)

Introduction to Ears

Ear problems are unfortunately very common among our furry friends. While others may suggest using a chemical solution or immune-suppressive drugs, I prefer to try to treat ear problems in a more natural way. (Read more...)

Introduction to Allergies

Have you ever been told your animal companion has allergies, or maybe suspected she did? (Read more...)

Constancy and Repeatability in Hip Evaluations

Some questions have been raised about how long the PennHIP reading, and the two-year-old OFA (or one-year old "a" stamp, OVC, or GDC) results are good for. (Read more...)

You be the Judge.

PennHIP: Misconceptions and Misinformation, OFA Update: The Issue of Joint Laxity and Stress Radiography. (Read more...)

DETOXIFICATION

Detoxify means to rid of poisons or the effects of poison. Poison is defined as any substance that has an inherent tendency to destroy life or impair health. (Read more...)

Degenerative Myelopathy of German Shepherd

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) was first described as a specific degenerative neurologic disease in 1973. Since then, much has been done to understand the processes involved in the disease and into the treatment of DM. (Read more...)

Use of Dairy Products for Dogs and Cats

This post is designed to give you facts about feeding dairy products of all kinds to your carnivore (cat/dog). I do not advocate feeding dairy products at all, and you may find the same for your own diet as well. (Read more...)

BREEDING CULTURE PROGRAMS AND PROBLEMATIC INFECTIONS FOR DAMS SIRES AND PUPPIES.

The problem first became apparent when a champion bitch, 55 days into whelp, started producing green vaginal discharge. The bitch was rushed to the vet for a caesarian section; two of three puppies survived. (Read more...)

What is Limber Tail Syndrome?

Limber tail syndrome is a condition known to people who work with hunting dogs, but most veterinarians are not familiar with this disease. We first became aware of limber tail from trainers of English Pointers, but other working breeds such as English Setters, Foxhounds, and Beagles can be affected. (Read more...)

Hearing in Working Dogs

The hearing range and sensitivity of an animal can best be depicted with an audiogram, which is a graph indicating both sensitivity (vertical axis) and frequency (horizontal axis). (Read more...)

Introduction to Worming

Most animals get worms at some point in their lives. The key to successfully getting rid of worms and preventing their return is a healthy immune system. (Read more...)

Introduction to Hotspots

Hotspots are common in every breed - and in mixed breeds of dogs. (Read more...)

Introduction to Fleas and Ticks

Fleas are such a pain! In some parts of the country, they are a horrible menace, and in others hardly a flea is around. Here in Kansas, we aren't overrun but we do get our fair share. (Read more...)

Introduction To Canine Hip Dysplasia

Canine hip dysplasia is a terrible, painful disease. I wish that no dog would have to go through it, but we can make them more comfortable by diet, supplement, and lifestyle changes, with or without surgery. (Read more...)

WOBBLER SYNDROME

There is a disorder (it may actually be two) in the canine similar to the �wobbles� in thoroughbred horses. Much has been written on this, with various descriptions such as... (Read more...)

Treatment of Snakebites in Field Dogs

Rattlesnakes account for 80 percent of dog envenomations, while cottonmouth, water moccasin and copperheads are responsible for the remaining 20 percent. (Read more...)

ETHOXYQUIN

In the US there has recently been a controversy brewing over the use of ethoxyquin as a preservative in pet foods. This is an ingredient which used as a fat stabilizer and preservative and is found primarily in the premium pet foods which have high fat levels although there are other pet foods which contain it as well. (Read more...)

Purebred Dog Breeds into the Twenty-First Century: Achieving Genetic Health for Our Dogs Part 3

The foregoing prescriptions may sound like a canine revolution. If so, the revolution would consist mainly of integrating many facets of the fancy which now exist in ghetto isolation, or of importing good ideas from other parts of the cynological world. (Read more...)

Limber Tail Syndrome in Hunting Dogs

Typically, young adult Pointers temporarily lose control of their tail to the extent that they have a lower than normal tail set, thereby eliminating the dog from competition. Just as there are multiple causes of lameness in a limb, there probably is more than one cause of tail dysfunction. (Read more...)

BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO GENETICS

Nature prevails enormously over nurture ...English scientist Francis Galton in the late 19th Century. (Read more...)

Eliminating Genetic Diseases in Dogs: A Buyer's Perspective

This article is intended to be an objective exposition on the subject of genetic diseases in domestic dogs. (Read more...)

THYROID CAN ALTER BEHAVIOR
BIZARRE BEHAVIORAL CHANGES?
CHECK YOUR DOG FOR HYPOTHYROIDISM

Abnormal behavior in dogs can have a variety of medical causes; it also can reflect underlying problems of a psychological nature. (Read more...)