Vaccinations Cause Vaccinosis - Your Pet is Being Harmed

Annual Vaccinations for Your Dog?

Are they really necessary? - In a word, NO!

You probably receive an annual reminder from your vet that your dog is due for his/her annual checkup and vaccinations. I do.

But I don't have my dogs vaccinated any more.

For years I was hoodwinked into believing that vaccinations were essential to my dogs' health. Why else would my vet tell me my dogs needed an annual booster vaccination shot?

Why indeed.

I learned the answer when, after careful research, I decided not to expose my dogs to what I believe is unnecessary, and potentially dangerous, toxins, any more.

I received the letter from my vet as usual, advising that my dogs' annual checkup and vaccinations were due.

I made an appointment and arrived ready to do battle. I advised the vet that I had decided not to have my dogs vaccinated any more. She said "Fine."

That's right - after years of leading me to believe that these vaccinations were essential to my dogs' wellbeing, the vet agreed that they were not in fact necessary at all! She went on to stress the importance of still bringing the dogs in for their annual physical checkup (which was what I was doing, and certainly intended to continue to do).

So that's why we're all told that our dogs need annual vaccinations - it's simply a ploy to get us in so our dogs can be given a physical. Why not just tell us how important these annual checkups are instead of slowly but surely poisoning our dogs with these vaccines?

I don't have the answer to that, but I can tell you I was speechless.

I've now found out that all across America a new protocol for vaccinating dogs has now been issued and is slowly making its way to vets. (I haven't been able to locate a similar protocol for Australia, but I'm sure it's in the pipeline). This protocol does not recommend any vaccinations for dogs beyond 1 year of age!
Make sure you ask your vet next time a vaccination has been recommended for your dog - it this really necessary? And if you're not satisfied with the answer, consider getting a second opinion from another vet.

Side effects of this appalling over-vaccination which has been going on for years can be significant and severe.

You can clear your dog's system from all toxins by Removing Toxins Naturally - Click Here: http://www.HealthyHappyDogs.com/RemoveToxinsNaturally
(c) 2005, Brigitte Smith

Brigitte Smith is a dog lover with a special interest in holistic dog health. Her site, Healthy Happy Dogs, has pages and pages of information on improving your dog's health naturally. Brigitte is the author of a number of reports, articles, and the Healthy Happy Dogs newsletter.

For your special FREE report - "How to Improve Your Dog's Health Within 30 Days - Maybe Even Lengthen Your Dog's Life!", Click Here for Your Free Dog Health Report! - http://www.HealthyHappyDogs.com

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Dog Vaccination Schedule - A Guide

In this article we will provide you with a guide to the appropriate Dog Vaccination Schedule that you should follow with your pooch. It is very important to follow your Vet's advice as dogs and specifically puppies are more prone to certain diseases if the are not treated with the most effective and appropriate vaccine and at the right age. Anyway lets get started with some basic information for you to follow.

Distemper - This is one of the most deadly diseases out there and needs to be vaccinated against at the earliest opportunity. Puppies need to be vaccinated at the age of about 9 weeks. Although there can be some side effects these are rare and will normally only appear if your puppy is vaccinated below the recommended age. A booster is not needed as vaccines will last for about 7 1/2 years.

Rabies - This is another deadly disease that needs to be vaccinated against. Vets recommend that puppies are given the vaccine at 9 weeks of age. A one year booster is advised and this will need to be repeated at intervals of three to four weeks. In some States in the USA dogs are expected to be vaccinated again in 3 years. It is vital that dogs are vaccinated against this disease as they can infect other dogs and even people.

Bordetella - This is highly recommended by medical professionals as dogs and puppies may be exposed to it when they are placed in Kennels as the disease is highly prevalent in that environment. This vaccine should be given to your pooch about three days before he goes into the Kennels. It will last about six months but will only protect against three out of eight of the causes of Kennel Cough.

As you can see, an effective dog vaccination schedule is vital for your pooch to remain healthy. For more information on when your dog or puppy should be vaccinated and the possible side effects that your pooch may experience you should speak to your local vet.

Tobias Charles writes on all aspects of dog obedience training, puppy training and dog health care. For more information visit his website for the best dog obedience training tips, health care advice and recipes for homemade dog foods for more great tips and information.

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Dog Vaccination - Current Recommendations

The custom of yearly vaccination took hold back in the 1950's. It wasn't based on scientific research and, at the time, it was believed there were no risks.

But there are risks with vaccines. In fact there can be serious adverse reactions. Every Veterinary school in North America as well US and World industry associations have updated their recommendations based on more current science.

Current recommendations for re-vaccination range from "3 or more years" to "7 or more years" to never...

Dr Ronald Schultz, expert in immunology and member of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Vaccination Guidelines Group and American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Task Force: If a puppy is immunized for parvovirus, distemper virus and adenovirus "there is every reason to believe the vaccinated animal will have up to life-long immunity".

Adverse Reactions To Vaccines

Vets generally only see immediate reactions while the dog is still in their office. The range of symptoms that develop later - perhaps an hour, a week, or even years are often not linked to the vaccine.

Ideally, the vaccine virus is destroyed by the pets' immune response. That doesn't always happen - particularly with repeated vaccines. These toxins and foreign substances can remain and accumulate in organs, muscle and joints, creating low-grade inflammation and weakened immune system.

Reactions can be immediate, or they may not be obvious for some time. They can be minor, but they can also be a severe as death.

Reactions include:

Allergies, chronic skin problems, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, pancreatitis, kidney failure, liver failure, arthritis, thyroid disease, epilepsy, seizures, paralysis, auto-immune disease, cancer.

Also behavior problems such as aggression, suspiciousness, restlessness, aloofness, separation anxiety, excessive barking, destructive behavior, tail chewing.

Vaccine Protocol

A vaccine protocol should be individualized for each dog and include:
-Which vaccines
-How often

Common dog vaccines are: Distemper, Parvovirus, Hepatitis (Adenovirus), Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza. Bordatella, Coronavirus and Lyme disease are less often given.

Parvovirus can kill puppies but rarely effects adult dogs.
Distemper is rare, but can kill.

The Hepatitis vaccine (Adenovirus) only protects against some causes and hepatitis isn't common.

Leptospirosis is rare and there are hundreds of strains. The vaccine is for only a few strains and lasts only 3-6 months. The Leptospirosis vaccine is also prone to side effects.

The Parainfluenza vaccine doesn't protect against all causes and the flu rarely is serious.

Bordatella vaccine is for kennel cough which is not serious and not likely if your dog isn't in close contact with other dogs such as would be the case in a kennel.

Corona results in mild diarrhea. The vaccine isn't fully protective.

The risk of Lyme disease is location and lifestyle dependent.

Vaccine schedule

Maternal antibodies protect a puppy for 16-22 weeks. So the earliest you want to start vaccinating is 16 weeks.

Dr Pitcairn's recommends a conservative approach:

- First Distemper shot at 16 weeks
- First Parvovirus shot at 20 weeks
- Second Distemper shot at 24 weeks
- Second Parvovirus shot at 28 weeks
- Rabies shot a month later.

If your municipality requires a rabies shot sooner than 8 months, he recommends you start with the rabies shot and then begin the rest of the schedule 4 weeks later.

It's best to get a single vaccination at a time.

You can for rabies; however, most of the other vaccines come as a combination.

For dogs you'll likely get DH - Distemper and Hepatitis. At least limit the vaccine schedule to one shot at a time.

Additional recommendations:

• Don't vaccinate if your dog is sick or immune compromised.
• Don't vaccinate if your dog is receiving pharmaceuticals, especially steroids.
• Don't vaccinate near or at the same time as surgery such as spaying/neutering.
• If there's any adverse reaction at all stop or at least slow down the schedule.

Are you concerned about providing the best care for your dog or cat?

Dog and cat nutrition - what you feed your companions - matters to their health.

Learn about pet vaccines, nutrition and safe herbal solutions for pet health and behavioral problems at DogAndCatZone.com. They depend on you.

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The Dangers of Dog Vaccines You Need to Know Now

There is a lot of conflicting information about the benefits or dangers of dog vaccines. This short article will help shed some light on what the World's top veterinarians think about vaccines for dogs. You'll also learn of an easy test, called a titer test, your dog could take to minimize the chances of bad reactions. There are many different types of dog vaccinations. They include dog vaccines for parovirus, canine distemper virus, rabies, canine adenovirus, lyme disease, canine parainfluenza virus, leptospirosis, giardiasis, canine coronavirus, bordetella bronchiseptica and a few others.

The simple fact is that many of these vaccinations for dogs are unneeded. Over-vaccinating your canine is very common today. Its most likely that vaccinating your dog does not have to be a yearly ritual. That's probably too much. After vaccinating your dog for the first time ever, they should probably be given a "booster" vaccination about a year later. After that, dog vaccinations should probably only be given about once every three years.

Dog vaccination dangers, bad reactions and side effects include neurological disorders, allergic reactions, autoimmune diseases, skin disorders and disease, thyroid problems, seizures and overly aggressive behavior. The most important dog vaccines that should be given to your dog are for rabies, canine distemper and parovirus. Parovirous is a particularly nasty disease that could be fatal. When vaccinating your dog, try to spread the vaccinations out over a period of a few weeks instead of giving them to your furry friend all at once.

This will allow your dog's immune system to not get overwhelmed and decrease the chances of a bad reaction. Another great thing to do is to have your canine buddy take a "Titer Test" before getting any dog vaccination. A titer test is a test that reveals whether or not your dog has enough antibodies to the disease that the dog vaccine is supposed to prevent. If the titer test shows that your dog does have enough antibodies to the disease, then you don't have to vaccinate your dog that year. Whats more important than not over vaccinating your dog is making sure to feed him or her a truly healthy dog food everyday, but that's a whole other article.

Robert Riley is an investigative dog health researcher and the Author of the most downloaded pet health PDF in history, The Dog Food Doctrine. The Dog Food Doctrine reveals the exact reasons why the health of the dogs we love has declined so much since the 1960's. For a limited time, Ezine Article readers can get a copy of The Dog Food Doctrine absolutely FREE by visiting: http://www.DogFoodDoctrine.com

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Importance and Side Effects of Dog Vaccines

For any new pet owner, and the owners of new dogs, vaccines are often a matter of some confusion. Which vaccines is the dog supposed to get? What are the vaccines for? Will my dog react badly to them? These are all questions frequently asked.

Most veterinarians will advise dog owners to give the DHLPP vaccination once their puppies are weened off their mother's milk. This vaccine covers a number of fairly common canine conditions: distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Depending on the veterinarian and the geographical location, your dog may be given only some of these vaccinations. Typically, all five, or a combination of them, are lumped together in a single shot that is administered subcutaneously, or under the skin, once every two or three weeks for about two months.

Each of these diseases can be very difficult to manage, and a vaccination is your best bet to avoid them all together. Unfortunately, some dogs do experience adverse reactions to some of these vaccines. For that reason, many vets have moved from giving this shot yearly, to giving it every three years. All of the vaccines have been shown in limited studies to last more than a year with the exception of the leptospirosis vaccine, which may last less than a year. But unless this bacterial disease is prevalent in your area, it may not be necessary.

Kennels and Vaccines

Many boarding facilities have very strict policies when it comes to admitting dogs. These policies nearly always state that if your dog has not been vaccinated,it will not be boarded. Unfortunately, each kennel may have slightly different rules when it comes to which vaccines your pup will need. Beyond the DHLPP shot, your dog may need to be vaccinated against adenovirus or bordatella.

Because of the great number of dogs coming from a great number of different backgrounds, the likelihood that the animals at the kennel would be exposed to at least one type of communicable canine disease is fairly high. Some viruses, like parvovirus, are very tough and will not die easily. The disease is transmitted through dog poo, which is usually all over the place in a kennel environment. For this reason it is very important that you not only have your pet vaccinated, but that the kennel require vaccinations.

When is the vaccine effective?

If you planned to put your dog in a kennel or start exposing him to other dogs, it is important that you give the necessary vaccination early. It can take several weeks for a puppy or dog to build up immunity after a full course of vaccine.

Rabies

Rabies is a particular worrisome disease that unfortunately has no cure for dogs. A dog that is infected with rabid will have to be euthanize without any doubt. Vaccination should be a high priority for a dog owner. This vaccine should be administered once between three and six months of age, and again at one year old to ensure immunity. It should also be given yearly. Vaccinating your pup against rabies will also protect you, your family, and neighbors from this deadly disease.

Adverse Reactions

Occasionally, a dog will have an adverse reaction to a vaccine it has received. You need to take extra care to monitor your pet condition after every vaccination, making sure that there is no change in his activity level, diet pattern or personality. If you notice these symptoms and they persist, get in contact with your veterinarian right away.

When toilet training your puppy, take note that she is not able to control her bladder overnight before she reaches four months old. To learn more about canine dog health and canine dog care, visit us at CanineTouch.com.

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Dog Vaccinations Defined

Knowing what to vaccinate your dog for and how often to give your dog a vaccination are two very important issues. Regular vaccinations can prevent your dog from contracting many different types of diseases. Vaccinating your dog is a very important part of your total dog health care program. Overall, two of the most important viruses to vaccinate your dog for are parvovirus and distemper.

Most vets agree that it is vital to vaccinate puppies at 6 weeks of age and again at 8, 12, and 16 weeks for Distemper, Canine Infectious Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus, and Coronavirus (DHLPPC). It is also suggested that puppies are vaccinated for rabies at six months of age and then to repeat it annually.

Although your new puppy may squirm or even cry when getting his vaccinations, it is just as important for your dog as it is for your children to receive these "annual shots". In fact, by keeping up to date on your dog's vaccinations, you could be saving his life. Basically, dog vaccinations are injections of a small dose of a specific disease, which should prevent your puppy from developing that very disease later in life by creating the necessary antibodies to fight it off.

Some dog owners have concerns whether the repeated dog vaccinations are really necessary and whether they are doing more harm than good. Vaccinations work by stimulating the dog's immune system, encouraging it to readily produce antibodies to fight against many specific types of bacterias and viruses.

Stimulating the dogs immune system this way does come at a price when the actual introduction of the offending agent in some form to the dog's system leads to illness. Once vaccinations are given, your dog's immune system will recognize the presence of a disease and will then create antibodies to fight it off. These antibodies only last from six months to a year, which makes regular vaccinations extremely important for your puppy or dog.

The question on the minds of many pet owners is usually - "is it dangerous to repeatedly vaccinate my dog each year"? Fortunately the experts do agree that the answer to this question is a resounding "no."
While there are rare cases of dogs that have become very ill or even died as a result of receiving a vaccination, there is no evidence to suggest that this practice poses any real danger generally speaking. Oftentimes, the dogs that are adversely affected to vaccines may have already been sick or have some form of allergy to a specific part of the vaccine.

When using a vaccine that must be mixed first, there are four simple steps to follow. First: mix the vaccine by withdrawing all of the liquid from the one vial and then injecting it iback into the vial containing the dried portion of the vaccine. Remove the syringe, shake the vial to mix up the vaccination, re-insert the needle and then withdraw the entire 1 ml contents of the mixed vaccination.

Two different types of vaccinations exist which are a Killed Vaccine and a Modified Live Vaccine. A Modified Live Vaccine is the live disease being injected, while having been altered by the drug company to be unable to cause the disease it is protecting against. A Killed Vaccine is when the virus itself has been killed before any injection occurs.

Most vaccinations are administered subcutaneously (by injecting the vaccine just under the skin). One of the best areas is located in the shoulder or neck area. Simply lift a tent of skin into a triangle with one hand, and inject the vaccine with the other hand. Note: always use a different sterile needle and syringe for each dog and also for each individual injection, and then dispose of all used needles and syringes in a safe location.

I feel that the best advice I can offer is that dog owners continue vaccinating their dogs according to local laws and the recommendations of their veterinarians. Since the annual vaccines are not seemingly harming dogs in any way, there is no cause for alarm and no harm in continuing the same routine until the veterinary community makes up its mind that a real change is needed in regard to dog vaccinations. In the mean time, a little prevention can go a long way to keep your dog healthy.

Copyright 2007 Debbie Ray All Rights Reserved.

Debbie Ray, owner of http://www.pedigreedpups.com and http://www.total-german-shepherd.com is a lifelong animal lover and dog enthusiast. Interested in more dog information? Training and health tips? Thinking about getting a purebred dog? Interested in the German Shepherd Dog in particular? Need to promote your dog related website and get additional in bound links? Check out pedigreedpups.com, total-german-shepherd.com or canine-hotline.com (dog only products store) for more information.

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Natural Heartworm Treatment or Conventional Heartworm Treatment?

Heartworm is parasitic worm that can grow to be twelve inches or longer, and left untreated, will kill your pet. Heartworm is primarily a canine disease but cats can be infected as well. Heartworm is a serious, life-threatening disease requiring painful conventional treatment once infection has occurred. Herbal heartworm treatments and other natural heartworm treatments are certainly available, though less well known. Although these natural heartworm treatment regimes are nowhere near as painful or risky as conventional heartworm treatments, recovery from well established heartworm can be very uncomfortable for your pet.

Infected mosquitoes transmit heartworm. And once a mosquito is infected, whenever the mosquito bites another animal, heartworm is spread. Although heartworm is not contagious, it is certainly possible, and relatively common, that more than one animal in the household can contract heartworm. This is obviously because an infected mosquito is likely to bite more than one of your pets, and/or if there is one infected mosquito in or around your yard, there are very likely to be more of them. There is no risk, however, to housing a heartworm positive dog with an uninfected animal, as there is no risk of direct infection from the infected dog to an uninfected animal.

Heartworm is a parasitic problem common to dogs (and other pets) in warmer climates. Heartworm is therefore prevalent in southern France, Spain, Italy and the Mediterranean, as well as to a greater or lesser extent in every State in the U.S., and countries as far flung as Australia and Hong Kong. In fact, some experts believe that heartworm is now present on every continent of this planet, with the exception of Antarctica. While that may be, heartworm is as yet relatively unknown in the U.K. and some other cooler climactic areas. There does appear to be a growing awareness of the problem, but many people have very little knowledge of how heartworm is spread, and why preventative medications are so important.

Heartworm is caused by the bite of a mosquito and the adult heartworm is found in the right ventricle and the nearby blood vessels of the dog's heart. Heartworm is a disease that every dog that is ever exposed to mosquitoes is susceptible to.

Symptoms of heartworm disease usually include coughing, weight loss, lack of energy and breathing difficulties. However, during the early stages of infestation, there may be few, if any, symptoms. Indeed, heartworm can develop to a very advanced stage before your pet shows any symptoms at all. This is one of the reasons why a heartworm diagnosis is such a serious matter - by the time your pet is diagnosed, he or she is likely to have a mass of heartworm clogging up his/her heart and surrounding blood vessels.

Heartworm can be diagnosed with blood tests, and/or X-rays, as well as various other types of tests. Heartworm testing will only be carried out as a matter of course in areas where heartworm is prevalent. However, you have every right to request that your pet be tested for heartworm, and to expect your vet to adhere to your wishes in this regard.

Heartworm is a completely preventable disease. Do not ignore your vet when he or she tells you that heartworm prevention is important for your dog. It IS. In fact, it can literally save your dog's life, or at the very least, save your dog from an expensive and painful treatment regime.

The heartworm prevention your vet will recommend will likely be one of the well known brands such as Heartgard. Such preventative medications do work very well, but then again, so do natural alternatives such as herbs.

Healthy Happy Dogs is a resource containing a wealth of information on keeping your dog healthy. If your dog has existing heartworm, click here for information on the very best herbal heartworm treatment available: http://www.HealthyHappyDogs.com/heartworm
And for your dog health report, sign up here - http://www.HealthyHappyDogs.com.

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Heartworm Medication For Dogs - Simple Prevention Avoids Costly Treatments

Monthly use of heartworm medications for dogs can prevent this disease for the life of your pet. Effective preventive medications are available as spot on products (Revolution), tasty wafers (Heartgard), or flavored tablets (Sentinel and Interceptor). Some, like Heartgard, focus only on prevention of heartworm disease while other products have added benefits of killing roundworms, hookworms and fleas.

Treatment is available for dogs suffering heartworm disease but is an expensive option that is easily avoided. The treatment is straightforward with the goal of destroying the parasites living in the animal but treating dogs with severe cases of the disease or with other health problems can be challenging.

The number of worms present in the animal indicates the severity of the disease but the activity level of the dog also plays an important role. As the heartworms die they decompose and the fragments can lodge in pulmonary arteries and block blood flow. This blood flow increases during period of physical activity which can increase the chances of clogged arteries that potentially can cause heart failure. Dogs undergoing treatment must be restricted or confined to prevent high levels of activity that could increase blood flow.

The only approved heartworm disease treatment for dogs is Melarsomine. For years the treatment protocol consisted of two injections 24 hours apart. Results of recent studies have led to changes in the way Melarsomine is administered.

The three dose system currently recommended is composed of one injection followed at least one month later by two more injections 24 hours apart. This is the treatment recommended by the American Heartworm Society and a recent development in treatment of the problem.

One shortfall with the previous two dose treatment is that Melarsomine may not kill heartworms that are less than four months old. A dog testing positive for this parasitic disease probably has worms that range from less than one month to seven years old in his body.

When a dog tests positive your veterinarian may advise the use of Heartgard medication for 2-3 months prior to administering Melasaromine. The goal is to prevent development of young heartworms so that the aggressive treatment will be more effective.

Your veterinarian will assess the overall health of your canine before administering treatment for heartworm disease. Melasaromine acts as a poison (arsenic) to kill the parasites in your dog's body and any additional health problems could endanger your pet. Treatment for dogs is similar to chemotherapy for humans. Clearly you don't want to expose your dog to aggressive treatment if you can prevent the disease with a monthly medication.

Dogs with other health complications may not be able to tolerate the standard treatment for dogs. An alternative therapy of ivermectin and doxycycline weekly for 36 weeks greatly reduces the number of heartworms in the animal. Administering doxycycline for a four week period every four months keeps heartworm at low levels in the animal.

In extreme cases the diagnosis is not made until the dog suffers a life threatening heart problem. This may be indicated by sudden onset of severe weakness and lethargy. The cause is heartworms obstructing blood flow through a heart valve and interfering with the closing of that valve. The only course of treatment is surgery to remove the majority of worms from the dog's heart. This is accomplished using a tool inserted in the jugular vein. If the surgery is successful, the standard heartworm treatment will eliminate any remaining heartworms.

There is no reason your pet should need to undergo drastic surgery or suffer the side effects of chemotherapy for heartworm disease. Heartworm medication for dogs is readily available through your veterinarian and can also be purchased at a cost effective online site specializing in canine medicines.

Twelve doses of Heartgard, Sentinel, Revolution or Interceptor each year will fully protect your best friend from heartworm disease the damage it can cause. Ask your vet to test your dog for heartworm and buy preventive heartworm medicine for dogs at a reputable online pet pharmacy.

Heartworm medication for dogs is part of your pet's routine health care. Buy recommended heartworm prevention products from a licensed veterinarian at http://www.petscriptsdirect.com.

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Common Dog Diseases - Help For Owners of Older Dogs

All reputable rescue shelters provide their wards with proper veterinarian care. Diseases such as distemper, parvo, rabies, leptospirosis, are detected and treatment administered if treatment exists and does not come too late to offer a cure. The mission of these shelters is to find loving, caring homes for these unfortunate creatures; and, delivering an unhealthy animal serves no one. But, it is advisable for the perspective adopting family to be aware of the signs and the prognosis of the most common ailments in the event that something was overlooked at the shelter. The sooner detection occurs, the better chance for a full recovery.

So, here is a brief primer that will help you screen for any unhealthy condition your new family member could possibly be harboring. Please understand that this is in no way a substitute for veterinarian care. I try to cover a very broad range of maladies so all have been given only cursory coverage. Hopefully enough that will enable you to at least suspect your dog may require treatment and what that treatment might entail and how serious the infirmity is.

Distemper 

Look for symptoms similar to the common cold - like runny nose and eyes, coughing, high temperature, and diarrhea. These are early symptoms. If the disease has progressed, you may observe nervous twitching, convulsions and even paralysis. This is a very serious disease for which no treatment or cure exists. Canine distemper is caused by a very contagious virus transmitted by air. Dogs are normally vaccinated against distemper. So, a neglected rescue dog may not have had such treatment.

Parvovirus

If your pup or dog is lethargic, feverish, exhibits vomiting, bloody diarrhea and rapid dehydration, he could be suffering from canine parvovirus. It is spread by contact with infected stools. It is deadly and highly contagious. Treatment will entail rigorous intravenous fluids to combat the diarrhea and resulting dehydration. Supportive therapy may also be required. Like distemper, cared for animals are vaccinated against parvo.

Tracheobronchitis (aka Kennel Cough)

This ailment is caused by a variety of viruses and bacteria. It attacks the respiratory system and inflicts a chronic, dry, hacking cough. Its very transmittable but generally remains a mild infection. However, in young pups and older dogs, if untreated, it could develop into pneumonia. There is treatment and recovery is the norm. Shots can be administered as a prevention.

Leptospirosis 

Infects the kidneys and is caused by bacteria and spread through contact with mucous, urine or saliva of infected animals. Leptospirosis is of particular concern since it can infect humans. Symptoms in dogs include vomiting, diarrhea, and jaundice (detected by yellow color to gums, whites of the eyes and skin, excessive drinking, and extension of the dog's abdomen).   Intensive care treatment requires antibiotics and intravenous fluids. Animals that do recover are often left with permanent kidney damage. Vaccinations do exist, but the multitude of strains of this disease often thwart the effectiveness of preventive measures.

Canine Infectious Hepatitis (Adenovirus) 

Transmitted through most animal excretions - urine, feces, saliva. Look for fever, depression, loss of appetite, coughing, and a tender abdomen. It affects the liver and kidney as well as the blood vessels. Intensive care will most likely be required which may include blood transfusions. A complete recovery is not at all certain.

Corona (Canine coronavirus)

This disease is far more prevalent in puppies since older dogs have built up immunity. Very similar in symptoms to parvovirus, except it is normally milder and more treatable. It's highly contagious and attacks the gastrointestinal tract. It causes moderate to severe vomiting and diarrhea and will lead to dehydration if not treated. Loss of appetite and depression and blood in the stool are also signs of the disease. It may even mimic poisoning. Treatment generally attempts to prevent the symptoms from worsening. Specifically, dehydration needs to be prevented through IV fluids, or even force-fed water.

Rabies 

A well-known viral infection of all mammals, including man, transmitted by the bite of an in­fected animal. Rabies attacks the central nervous system and causes encephalitis, and infection of the brain. It's a slow moving disease that causes the animal to go through several stages of varying symptoms, starting with nervousness, anxiety, and solitude. Next comes restlessness, irritability and extra sensitivity to noise and light. Then over salivation and difficulty swallowing. Finally, deep labored breathing, paralysis, and respiratory failure. If a dog isn't vaccinated and contracts rabies, death is certain.

A primary responsibility of a conscientious owner of a rescue dog is to maintain your new dog's health. While many of viral and bacterial diseases are fatal if left untreated - and several cannot be treated at all after contraction - early detection certainly increases the chances of a successful cure, if one exists. Knowing the symptoms will help you with this early detection. I strongly recommend you immediately take your dog to the vet should you observe any unusual behavior or any of the aforementioned symptoms. Best of luck.
 

To reach and encourage others who may be considering bringing a rescue dog - or any dog or pup - into their home, I created a blog -- DogsRpeople2. In it, I provide visitors with useful information, wonderful stories about successful adoptions, resources that will enable them to help others; and, even the opportunity to post pictures and a story of their own dog. I invite you to visit and join the conversation - http://butdogsrpeople2.blogspot.com

If you have adopted, or soon will be adopting an older dog - or even a pup - you'll want to make sure the experience is a positive one for both you and your dog. Having adopted several rescue dogs myself, I've found an excellent resource that will enable you to provide your dog with all the training required to make them a happy, devoted and enjoyable member of your family.
To learn more about this very affordable, comprehensive manual of dog training techniques click the following link: http://butdogsrpeople2.blogspot.com/2009/05/easy-dyi-dog-training-for-well-behaved.html And, if you'd like to order, it's available for immediate download. The Gold Membership is currently being offered at a 58% discount for a limited time. So act now before regular pricing goes into effect.

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Natural Remedies For Dogs - Why Should I Consider Natural Remedies For Dogs?

In order to better understand why natural remedies for dogs should be considered one should first take a look at the philosophy behind naturopathic medicine along with some its benefits. It is important to recognize that a natural approach may not be the best solution in all cases and this style of treatment tends to be slower to show results. It is basically a way of thinking about dog health that is different from conventional veterinary medicine. Let's get started by looking at the five time tested principles which guide naturopathic medicine:

* Do no harm: A very important rule that is often missed by conventional medicine, with the myriad of side effects often seen the cure is sometimes worse than the ailment.

* Nature is the most effective way of healing: Naturopathic physicians believe that the body has considerable power to heal itself. It is the job of the doctor to do everything in his/her power to assist in helping this process along.

* Identify the root of the problem: Most natural remedies for dogs seek to treat the underlying cause of the disease rather than to simply suppress the symptoms. An important concept that produces long term results rather than temporary results.

* See the big picture: Natural health remedies use a broad spectrum approach rather than focusing in on one symptom or disease.

* Prevention is the best cure: Most natural remedies for dogs contain at least one ingredient which boosts immune system function or works in some other way to decrease the chances of future or recurring illness.

Complementary aspects of natural remedies for dogs

Perhaps one of the most compelling advantages of dog natural remedies is their ability to be used both as a primary treatment and a secondary complimentary treatment. This is especially true with more severe illnesses such as urinary tract blockage, cancer or tumors, or any other condition which may require surgery. While things are changing it is still sometimes difficult for veterinarians to see the value in using natural remedies for dogs as a compliment to their extensive life saving skills.

Prevention may be the most valuable attribute

Ultimately dog natural remedies may prove most valuable in the prevention of disease. The broad spectrum approach encompasses such aspect of a healthy lifestyle as exercise, diet and risk of disease combined forward looking action designed to reduce controllable risk factors.

Exploring two examples of canine diseases, and how natural remedies for dogs are applied.

* Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is known as degenerative joint disease. Conventional treatment consists of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and inflammation. Corticosteroids or surgery are also options. Surgery is invasive and the prescription drugs designed to reduce pain and inflammation are only temporary fixes. On the other hand the natural health approach would be to combine supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin with moderate hydrotherapy to both rebuild lost cartilage and strengthen the supporting muscles; a much more permanent or lasting solution.

* Cancer: Your veterinarian will have three options for treating dogs with cancer; surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Despite the best efforts of your veterinarian normally a complete cure is not possible. Natural remedies can't make the claim they cure cancer. Nevertheless there are cancer supplements containing ingredients which have shown promising results in clinical trials. This is an example where using natural dog remedies as a supportive therapy to maintain overall health and vitality is a viable option to consider.

In summary, there are many other examples which mimic the ones above and ultimately as pet parents it up to your to make the best decision for both you and your beloved dog. In the quest for treating and preventing disease natural remedies for dogs are excellent options to consider, especially when used as compliment to existing conventional treatment.

R.D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate of alternative natural health products and supplements with over 10 years experience. To learn more about natural remedies for better pet health visit Purchase Remedies.com

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Alternative Cancer Treatments For Dogs - Are They Effective?

Dog cancers are primarily found on the skin or internal organs such as canine liver cancer, spleen or in the digestive tract. The problem with internal cancers is that the related symptoms are generalized, meaning, they don't necessarily indicate the presence of cancer. Unfortunately the key to treatment is early detection.

As most of you might be probably aware of, cancer in dogs is usually treated with chemotherapy, surgery, cryosurgery (freezing) and radiation. The problem, however, with these treatments is that there are potential side effects involved with them. This is why a lot of people these days opt for alternative cancer treatments for dog with the hope that the quality of life can be sustained for as long as possible.

o Nausea and bleeding problems are some of the side effects of chemotherapy.

o Radiation might damage not only the cancerous cells, but the healthy cells as well. It might also cause some skin problems.

o Both chemotherapy and radiation tend to weaken the immune system of the affected dog. This makes it vulnerable to a wide range of health problems.

o In case of surgery, the affected dog might not be able to recover from the trauma of surgery in some cases. Moreover, your dog will be in a lot of pain during the recuperation period.

o Last but not least, they are pretty expensive.

This is not to discourage any owner from pursuing treatment, but to have an informed conversation with the veterinarian regarding the quality of life the dog will have, and the prognosis or lifespan after treatment. This is why a lot of people these days have started looking beyond conventional treatment methods to help a dog with cancer.

Canine Cancer Diet

Diet has been shown in studies to help control canine cancer. These diets tend to minimize simple sugar, limit carbohydrates, and to include digestible proteins. The idea is to limit food components that help cancerous cell growth. Commercial foods made with this formulation include Hill's Prescription Diet n/d.

Natural Homeopathic Supplements as a Supportive Therapy

Homeopathic supplements contain a mixture of powerful herbs and natural ingredients that can boost the affected dog's immune system and hopefully slow down the growth of cancerous tumors. Many contain antioxidants which can help strengthen healthy cells. It is debated regarding their effect on unhealthy or cancerous cells.

Only your vet can help you decide the right treatment for your dog depending on its health condition and the extent of the disease. The important thing you need to remember is that irrespective of the treatment given to your dog - surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy - or alternatives, its the dogs quality of life that matters.

You should not expect alternative cancer treatments for dog to cure canine cancer. They can, however, reduce your dog's pain and suffering to a great extent and increase its lifespan. So, consider the pros and cons of various treatment options available to treat dog cancer and do what is best for your dog.

Jeff Grill is an editor of the Dog Health Handbook which has additional information on alternative cancer treatments for dog. See this site for additional information on natural and alternative dog treatment options.

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Spaying of the Changeable Dog

Female Spaying of the dog is undertaken to order the pregnancy non desired by the crossing of some unknown or country or indefinable dogs. Spaying of the dog reduces the aggressiveness of the dog. By spaying, one can reduce the incidences of the reproductive diseases generally produced like the pyometry.

Spaying also assistance to order the population in the event of parasitic animals and much of nations make these operations by removing the ovaries of the animals females. Experienced veterinary surgeons are necessary to make spaying in the event of dogs females and the postoperative care must be attached more importance. So suitable control measures are not taken after surgical operation for the displacement of the ovary, then the infections can start to place inside and the animal can finish to the top with the study of peritonitis and then the toxemia place inside, posing non desired problems of health.

The death of the dog can finally occur, if the dog is not provided an effective and adapted veterinary care. A dog female which spayed before the occurrence of the first heat has almost a possibility zero of the development of the cancer mammaire, which is more common with the dogs which not spayed.

A dog female generally comes to heat once in eight month or thus. During the occurrence of heat, there bleeds of the vagina and the dog can cross with the non desired male and the spaying activity prevents all the latter. In the event of old dogs, the dog can often obtain signs of thirst, anorexia increased, vomiting etc which are so common with the pyometry.
The pyometry means the presence of the pus in the uterus. Once the pyometry occurs, it implies many faintnesses to the animal in addition to the factor of cost implied for the therapy also. Such a pyometry is completely prevented by spaying because in the case of spaying, you remove the ovaries and the uterus.

Spaying and to change dogs is strongly desired if you do not want to multiply the dogs and however, these activities must be carried out by the qualified veterinary surgeons specialized in the care and the management of familiar animal. The anaesthesia is required with surgical procedures due to carry out spaying and change.

One must include/understand the limits like spaying initially or change. Both are related to the surgical approaches of sterilization in the event of females and males respectively. However, the limit changing is also related to such procedures in the two sexes.ý Accidental pregnancies which are not desired can be strongly to the minimum reduced by these procedures.

Spaying and changing assistances to prevent the occurrence of the pyometry, which is a problem disorder-giving reproductive common run to the owners of dog. In the male dogs, to change assistance to prevent the occurrence of the enlarging or cancer of prostate.ý Consequently, these assistance to the minimum to reduce the incidences of the disorders of the reproduction in the dogs.

By the latter which spaying and which change, the desire of the male dog to the female research of the dog in heat is strongly at least reduced and consequently, to wander of the male dog is reduced. The animal also becomes calm by these surgical remedies. The territorial behavior of these animals is also strongly at least reduced by the latter in the event of male dogs.

Spaying of your dog before the occurrence of the first heat is the best to avoid the incidence of breast cancer. If the dog spayed after the first heat, the possibilities of the occurrence of breast cancer in them is more and were proven by research. The lower group of dogs must be subjected to these operations to avoid complications in the future.

Many veterinary surgeons prefer spaying and to change dogs only at the age from five to six years. However, those can be carried out even at the age from three to five years. The postoperative care must be followed to avoid the occurrence of the infections of the microbial organizations.

Max Young is an information researcher whom presents working information to be used for every day experiences. To get the inside word on preventing and dealing with problem behaviors like aggression and dominance in your dog, click now on the following link.
http://www.squidoo.com/dog-life

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