What You Need To Know About Lyme Disease In Dogs

Lyme Disease is a zoonotic, bacterial, vector borne disease of the Borrelia burgdorferi group. It got its name from the towns of Lyme and Old Lyme, Connecticut, because in 1975, numerous cases with similar symptoms suddenly emerged in that region. In 1982, the bacterium was isolated and named. It was also recognized to be transmitted when the bacteria found in the saliva of an infected blood-sucking insect, such as nymph and/or adult deer ticks, fleas, and lice, is injected into a host, while the parasite is feeding.

It causes painful inflammation in one or more of your dog's joints. It can be reoccurring.

Even though the disease has expanded worldwide, in the United States, the Atlantic Coast, Northern Midwestern states and the Pacific Coast are where it is most prevalent.

Checking for ticks

Some believe the seriousness of the disease can be reduced, or avoided, if the tick is extracted within the first 50 hours of affixing to the host. That's why it is so important to regularly check your dog. Run your hands over their entire body to feel for, and remove ticks before they attach and start feeding.

Even check in your dog's mouth.

All dogs could be potential candidates for Lyme Disease. However, young, senior and dogs with suppressed immune systems are more vulnerable.

Additional complications, although not common, are the risks of pulmonary, cardiac, renal, and neurological problems. Kidney failure is rare, but sometimes found in Bernese Mountain Dogs, Labrador Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers, suffering from severe or prolonged cases.

Signs & Symptoms

The sooner there is a diagnosis and it is treated with antibiotics, the greater the likelihood of minimizing or eliminating the debilitating effects of the disease. The longer the symptoms are ignored or are left untreated, the greater the possibility of cardiac, neurological, pulmonary, renal problems.

The most common early signs and symptoms of Lyme Disease in dogs include, fever, breathing difficulties, depression, bull's-eye rash, lack of appetite, fatigue, sensitive to touch, arched back, swollen lymph nodes nearest the site of the bite, painful joints, stiff walking and lameness.

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will review your dog's medical history, perform a physical, concentrating on the site of the bite, and order a complete blood profile, and urinalysis. They may also suggest x-rays of the infected joints. They may also draw and test fluids from the inflamed joints.

Snap Test

There are a group of tests known as the SNAP Tests. They are accurate, can check for other parasitic problems too. Your veterinarian can perform these tests, in their office, with immediate results.

Treatment

Unless your dog's case is extremely severe, he or she will be treated with antibiotics as an out-patient. Treatment commonly lasts 3-4 weeks. Re-occurrences can happen, so be mindful and continue to monitor your dog.

Prevention

Avoid wooded areas and fields of tall grass, as much as possible.

Applying a spot -on preventative treatment

You can find over-the-counter products, such as collars, spot-on, and topical treatments for repelling and killing ticks.

Although not recommended for all dogs, there are vaccines available to help prevent disease. Speak to your veterinarian, to see if using a vaccine would put your dog at any risk. Two to four weeks after initial vaccination, immunization would be followed up by a booster shot. Many veterinarians recommend annual booster shots, especial for dogs that go regularly go camping, attend sporting events and/or go hunting in fields or wooded areas, known for the possibility of tick infestation.

Manually inspecting your dog following field trips to tick-infested areas is strongly recommended. Preventing, finding, and destroying a tick before it has a chance to infect your dog is always the best option.

Bottom line: By being informed and perceptive, you will do your dog a great service, and spare them unnecessary pain.

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What to Expect From a Service Dog

A Service Dog is a dog that is specifically trained to help people with disabilities such as visual, hearing impairments, seizures, post traumatic stress disorders autism, mental illness and ambulatory issues.

The service dog must have desirable character traits including good temperament, psychological makeup such as trainability and must be in good health. They must be physically fit and have sufficient stamina. Many of the service dogs are bred and trained by an organization. The most common breeds that are easy to train include Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds. However, it is worth noting that any breed or mix of breeds is capable of being trained as a service dog depending on the temperament qualities and health status.

In the US, service animals are defined as dogs that are trained to perform a myriad of tasks including guiding people who are blind, deaf or those pulling the wheelchair. It may also alert people who are having seizure or individuals who are mentally ill so that they may take medication. The dog is also responsible for calming people with Post Traumatic Stress disorder when they are under attack. Ideally, service animals are considered as working dogs and not pets. The dog must be trained to provide the service to persons with disabilities. They provide comfort, emotional support and other duties.

Well trained service dogs are expected to do the following when in public:

• Focus on its handler at all times unless it is doing the task that is trained to do

• Be stable, not be anxious or react aggressively.

• Walk nicely without pulling, lunging, straining, circling, lagging or forging

• Remain quiet and walk by the handlers' side. When the handler stops, the dog should not wander or lose focus.

• It should lie quietly besides the handlers chair and should not get up and move excessively.

• It should ignore distractions and remain quiet unless performing a specific task it is trained to perform. If it is not performing its work, the dog should not grumble, bark, whimper or make unnecessary noise.

• The dog should appear professional, should be well groomed and should be well taken care of.

• The dog should keep to herself and should not sniff people or objects even when there is food or exciting and interesting things within its visibility.

• It should respond fast to the handler's command, direction and cue. They should be obedient, be of average manners, and should be of god demeanor.

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Understanding Canine Hip Dysplasia

It is an unfortunate truth that dogs of all different age groups can fall victim to hip dysplasia. In more severe cases, puppies that are as young as only five months old will start to show discomfort and pain either during exercise or shortly after. This is a condition that can and will worsen until some of the most normal daily activities become painful. If not taken care of, these dogs may end up with an inability to walk, which calls for an understanding from dog owners as to the causes, symptoms and treatment options for this condition.

Hip dysplasia is a condition that can take place in dogs, but also in cats and humans as well. Within the canine world, this is usually a condition that impacts the larger breeds, including Great Danes, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds and so on. However, this is a condition that can impact all different breeds and sizes of dogs.

This condition is caused by what is known as a subluxation in the joints of the hips. When this happens, there is wear and erosion of the joint that can cause pain and arthritis. There have been studies done that have tried to determine if the number of calories that a dog has taken in throughout their daily life has been a factor as well as any predisposed factors in their genetics. Of course, obesity in any animal can lead to a problem of the joints and make it very difficult for them to get around, such as hip dysplasia can.

Liquid Dog Vitamins

It is very important that your dog is able to get just the right amount of calcium as well as other valuable minerals in his or her diet so that they have less of a chance of developing issues with their hip joints. If you are still unsure if your dog is getting the right nutrition or if you own a breed that is highly susceptible to dysplasia, it is important that you talk to your veterinarian about nutrition as well as supplementation that can be helpful to your dog's joints and bones.

Liquid Glucosamine for DogsVegetarian

The right amount of exercise, without overexertion, can have a lot to do with how your dog progresses once diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Again, working closely with your veterinarian will be the best way to ensure that you are doing all that you can to improve the quality of life and range of motion that your dog has.

Liquid Glucosamine for Small Dogs

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Simple Dog Grooming Basics

Every dog needs to be groomed. Whether you have a shorthaired dog that simply needs to have a brush rubbed over him or a Maltese with a long, flowing coat that requires continual care, your dog needs for you to attend to his grooming needs.

If you have a shorthaired dog then your dog's grooming requirements will be much simpler than those of a longhaired dog. For most shorthaired dogs all that is required is that the dog be brushed regularly. Brushing your dog once a week is usually sufficient. However, there are some shorthaired breeds that can be notorious shedders. Labrador Retrievers, for instance, are, perhaps, the worst shedding dogs of all breeds. They may require daily brushing during some parts of the year to keep their shedding hair from piling up in the house. Other shorthaired dogs, such as the

German Shorthaired Pointer

German Shorthaired Pointer and the Beagle, also shed profusely. So, just because you have a shorthaired dog it doesn't mean that you are off the hook as far as grooming goes.

Collie

If you have a longhaired dog or a dog with a medium length coat you can count on a great deal more grooming. Some dogs with medium length coats, such as the Collie or the Sheltie, nevertheless have a thick double coat so the coat needs frequent grooming to avoid tangles and mats. Many of the Nordic or Spitz breeds also fall into this category.

Dogs with genuinely long coats, such as the

Yorkshire Terrier, the Maltese, the Setters and Spaniels, Afghan Hounds and other dogs, need to be brushed several times per week or even daily.

Boar Bristle Brush

If you're brushing a medium or long coat you can begin with a good brush, such as a boar bristle brush or boar bristles and nylon bristles mixed. (Boar bristles are good for spreading around the natural oils in the coat.) Brush the coat with the texture of the hair in the direction it naturally grows. For dogs with thick double coats you can brush a second time against the grain and then brush back the natural way the hair lies.

Pin Brush for Dogs

For dogs with long, flowing coats you can next use a pin brush to separate out the dog's furnishings and make sure they're free of tangles. The pin brush is a brush set with metal pins that separates the long hair. It should not be used on the dog's body since it will scratch the skin.

Next you can use your comb to gently comb out the long hair.

Dog Comb

All dogs will need to have their ears cleaned, their teeth brushed and their nails trimmed weekly. You can use a good ear cleaner from your vet or find one at your pet supply store. There are good products for brushing your dog's teeth at your pet supply store, too. Most dogs don't mind having their teeth brushed if you use one of the dog toothpastes that has chicken, peanut butter or beef flavor.

Nail Clipper

To trim your dog's nails you can use nail clippers or a rotary nail trimmer. There are several good rotary nail trimmers available to pet owners. They work by sanding the nails down a little at a time. If you introduce the trimmer to your dog in easy stages your dog shouldn't object.

Rotary Nail Trimmer

These are the basics of grooming your dog. Remember that your dog's appearance is a direct reflection on you. Your dog can't do these things for himself. It's entirely up to you how your dog looks. Make him look good.

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Best Dog Breeds For Families With Young Children

There are many wonderful, lovable dogs that are perfect for families with young children. Kid-friendly dogs will tolerate hair pulling, continually play and being laid on, rode on and stepped on. The following list of dogs will tolerate the rough and tumble lifestyle of a family with small children.

Golden Retriever

The golden retriever is one of the favorite breeds for families. This breed of dog is one of the most playful breed out there. A golden retriever does not bark excessively, enjoys spending time with people and is very loyal to every family member.

Labrador Retrievers

Labs are listed as one of the most popular dog breeds by the American Kennel Club. A Labrador Retriever can quickly learn the rules of your house. These fun loving dogs are full of energy and will play for hours. They are easy to housetrain and love learning new things.

Basset Hounds

If you want a more laid back dog for your family, look at the Basset Hound. This dog does not get excited easily, which makes it the perfect choice for families who have docile children. This breed loves being with the family; however, it will not get under your feet the way other dogs will.

Collie

If you want a dog that will play with your kids and protect them from danger, look no further than a Collie. These dogs are independent, yet are easy to train. A collie is a larger dog, yet it is a very gentle pooch.

Beagles

Beagles make wonderful family members and are great with children. These smaller dogs are very intelligent and are super easy to train. Beagles are gentle dogs are very protective, which can be great for families with small children.

Bichon Frise

If you are looking for a small dog, a Bichon Frise may be the perfect choice for a family with small children. This fun loving dog loves to play and sheds very little. This intelligent pup loves to spend time with the family and enjoys playing lively games of fetch.

Poodle

The Poodle is a great choice for children with allergies because it doesn't shed. This intelligent pooch can become a kid's best friend. The dog's friendly nature and patience make it the perfect partner for your child.

There are many breeds that do well with young children. Introduce your children to your new pup and teach your children the proper way to handle a dog to help prevent injuries from occurring. Soon, your child and your pup will be the best of friends.


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