Diarrhoea and vomiting are common occurrences among pooches. However, a single episode of diarrhoea or vomiting isn't something to be overly concerned about. You usually discover that your hungry hound has just wolfed down something that he shouldn't have eaten and now he's paying the price by regurgitating. Diarrhoea occurs when your dog’s body attempts to process the food quickly just to be rid of it.
However, you do need to be concerned when these symptoms persist for more than a day. Diarrhoea and vomiting could be signs or symptoms of an underlying illness or worms. Your dog could have ingested toxic food such as rodent bait, resulting in food poisoning.
You will need to check your dog for any signs that his physical condition has changed. A good place to start would be checking to see if his eyes are still bright and alert. Verify that your dog isn’t listless or running a temperature, as veterinary attention should be given in these cases. Do take some time to observe what your dog has vomited or defecated to check for unusual materials and odd colour. If your dog shows signs of discomfort and strains himself as he defecates, check to see if the stools contain traces of blood or appears to be full of mucus, as these would need a vet’s advice.
Your dog might still appear perky, but it is unusual for symptoms to persist beyond a day, so do get your vet to check him over to see what's ailing the dog. This would also help prevent the symptoms from worsening. If it is simply something he shouldn't have eaten then the vet can prescribe some medication to help stop the diarrhoea and vomiting. You will also be advised on your dog’s water and food intake to compensate for the loss of mineral salts and possible loss of hydration in your dog. Dietary restrictions on your dog are usually implemented for the next two or three days. Food that is low in fat and easily digestible is usually advised to avoid undue pressure put on a already weakened digestive system.
On the other hand, if your dog is plagued by worms or other internal parasites, your vet will prescribe treatment to expel them and set up a treatment routine to help to prevent their recurrence. Dogs tend to love to explore and can pick up these parasites from other dogs’ or from other dogs’ faecal matter. Another possible reason for diarrhoea or vomiting could be due to an allergic reaction. The vet would also be able to determine if your dog developed an allergy to something he's eaten or come into contact with, resulting in an adverse violent reaction.
Should your dog be suffering from a serious ailment; investigation, treatment and good nursing care will be necessary. If your dog is very weak due to repeated purging, he will be placed in overnight care at the surgery for intravenous therapy to maintain hydration. Tests will be conducted to establish whether your dog is harbouring viruses or bacteria that may affect his liver or his digestive system.
The longer your dog suffers, the greater the possibility there will be for the situation to worsen. When in doubt, always get veterinary advice as soon as possible.
Moses Wright is the webmaster of DogCustomer.com. He provides more information on Dog Health, Dog Health Care and Dog Veterinary Diseases that you can learn in the comfort of your home. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.
Canine Diabetes – The Warning Signs and Treatments
Dogs are known to suffer from illnesses such as diabetes as well. The pancreas is an abdominal organ that produces digestive enzymes for the metabolism of food. Occasionally, due to illness or trauma, the pancreas either produces less insulin or none at all and the body then becomes inefficient in dealing with high volumes of glucose in the blood. As the glucose is not being converted into energy, the body then starts to draw on its reserves of fat which does not serve the body's need for energy.
This can result in diabetes mellitus, or sugar diabetes, and is most common in middle aged to older dogs although it can occur in younger animals. As the treatment consists in replenishment of the body's supplies of insulin this form of the disease is otherwise known as Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) (Type II diabetes mellitus).
Diabetes, if managed properly managed and controlled, will have little effect on your dog quality of life although there will be some changes in terms of treatment schedules and feeding regimes. Your dog’s diabetes can be controlled with either daily insulin injections or oral diabetic medication alone if his symptoms aren't too severe or he has a bad reaction to injections. Insulin injections are simple procedures and painless as your vet would demonstrate and teach you how to administer them.
Some of the symptoms that indicate that your dog is developing IDDM are a vastly increased level of thirst and urination levels, and an enormous increase in appetite. This is because he's trying to take in enough calories to make up for the deficit in available energy as glucose is not being converted as energy. You may notice that your dog is losing a weight drastically despite his increase in appetite, as his body weight is being compromised to in light of the low insulin levels.
Your dog may grow increasingly listless if these symptoms are not picked up, with the increased likelihood of internal organ damage over time. A prolonged absence of insulin may lead to high levels of ketones in the body, which can result in a scent of sweet peardrops on his breath. This is a dangerous signal and is indicative of ketoacidosis which raises the pH level of the blood and this can cause serious damage within your dog’s body.
Ongoing management of diabetes will include testing of his blood or urine for glucose in the morning, and giving him the appropriate insulin dosage for that reading. Approximately five minutes after your dog receives his insulin dosage, he can be given his morning meal. Later in the day, you will need to feed your dog when his blood glucose levels are low, and again this will require you to test his blood or urine to determine insulin levels present. Once you have established a good routine this should be adhered to until your vet suggests a review.
Moses Wright is the webmaster of DogCustomer.com. He provides more information on Dog Health, Dog Health Care and Dog Veterinary Diseases that you can learn in the comfort of your home. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.
Doberman Pinscher - The facts every owner of this dog breed should know
The Doberman Pinscher is a relatively 'young' breed of dog. This mixed breed dog (Doberman Pinscher have Rottweilers, Thuringian Shepherds, Greyhound, Great Dane, Weimaraner and German Shorthaired Pointer in them) was created by German tax collector Louis Dobermann in the 1860s after his many travels to crime-infested towns. He wanted to breed a watchdog that could easily handle any situation that might arise. The resulting breeding produced a dog that has strength, stamina and boundless energy.
Average Doberman Pinscher males will stand 26 to 28 inches tall and females 24 to 26 inches. Their weight will average 66 to 68 pounds and Doberman Pinschers will live about 13 years. Most Doberman Pinscher coats are black with rust and markings of red. Some Doberman Pinschers are born all white (albino). There is some disagreement if this indicates future medical problems. The hair is short and smooth, needing minimal grooming other than the occasional brushing and bath.
Doberman Pinschers shed less than other breeds, thanks to this coat. Doberman Pinschers are intelligent and like to please their masters. They develop close relationships with their family, but can be stubborn. Firm and consistent training and correction is a must with this breed, and not just from the master.
All people who come in contact with a Doberman Pinscher regularly must not be afraid to assert their position as the alpha. Doberman Pinschers make excellent watchdogs and guard dogs, and are often times used in law enforcement. Their desire to please their master and loyalty makes them a good family pet. However, they are not always the best choice with children. While Doberman Pinschers enjoy playing with and protecting children, some of the boisterous yelling and sudden movements children make can be interpreted as a threat by a Doberman Pinscher and it may attempt to defend itself.
Doberman Pinschers have a lot of energy and need to exercise at least once a day, but not in the cold, as they cannot tolerate it well. If given sufficient time to exercise, they may do all right in an apartment setting. Doberman Pinschers do have medical concerns. Some Doberman Pinschers can develop cervical spondylitis (wobbler syndrome) due to fusion of neck vertebrae and compression of spinal cord, Von Willebrands disease (an inherited blood disorder), obesity in middle age, bloat, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and congenital heart disorders.
There is a website that has great information on Doberman Pinschers and most other breeds of dogs. It has details that pertain to a dog breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:
http://www.dogandcatfacts.com
By Robert W. Benjamin
Copyright © 2006
You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.
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Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970's-80's.
RB59 Software
http://www.rb59.com/software