Dog Has Diarrhea

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Dog Has Diarrhea

Filed Under : dog has diarrhea by core vet
Jul.19,2010

dog has diarrhea

So, your dog has diarrhea.

Dogs commonly develop severe diarrhea. Since we are all anxious on the subject of our dog’s well being, when a dog has diarrhea we typically run them in to see the veterinarian at the first indications of diarrhea. This is generally not necessary, and often will end up being adverse to the dog if antibiotics are unnecessarily given. Chronic diarrhea is less common, but is more serious and will need more effort to fix. First, lets look at acute diarrhea.


Acute: dog has diarrhea

Acute diarrhea begins out of the blue and continues for a few days to a week or two. Most instances of acute diarrhea can be taken care of at home when a dog has diarrhea .

When your dog has diarrhea do you need to take it to see the vet? Look at how they are acting. Dogs that can be watched at home will act fairly fine the entire time. They eat, drink, play, and possess fairly standard energy. Of course, everyone with diarrhea will not feel 100% normal, so expect your dog to be a bit “off” until eventually the diarrhea resolves.

Let’s start off by understanding what we imply when we say that a dog has diarrhea. Diarrhea, in the thoughts of many people, implies a watery stool. In fact, the explanation is much larger, and includes any unusual stool that is much softer than ordinary. This comprises watery stools, tensing and trying to defecate and only passing gas, soft-formed stools, soft stools with unnatural color or odor, and “cow pie” type stools.

In our canine friends, consumption of items located about their “world” is common. It is in the nature of a dog to eat many things we would never try to eat. Dogs are omnivores that are mainly carnivorous… with a touch of scavenger thrown in! This makes them prone to eat some things, both digestible and indigestible (for example, sticks and stones) that don’t agree with them. The result: dog has diarrhea .

They will commonly vomit a few times as well as have diarrhea, again, to clear the body of the undesired toxins. Diarrhea purges the body of unhealthy or unwanted toxins, not a true “illness”.

Acute diarrhea is a procedure the body employs to cure itself, not a disease. Do not be alarmed if your dog is acting moderately well. This healing reaction should be reinforced, using our suggestions, not inhibited by the use of medications or over the counter drugs made to halt diarrhea.

Dogs will normally develop diarrhea as a means to return them selves to well being. Acute diarrhea is normally a wholesome, therapeutic progression, not a disease. So, now that we know that this isn’t a dilemma, and in reality it is a healthful reaction to help them cure themselves, what must we do?

Most cases are easy to treat at home and don’t require a visit to the veterinarian. After all, we don’t run to the doctor every time we have a touch of diarrhea.

If your dog has diarrhea and would seem to be moderately robust, happy and active, simply follow these guidelines:

Reduce the quantity of food you are serving in half
Feed home prepared bland meal plans; they are quite superior to the commercial bland diets promoted by many vets

Bland foods include things like:

  • 1/3 meat
    Prepared lean meats which are quite low in fat such as chicken (you can as well boil hamburger, which usually will remove all the fat)
  • 2/3 rice or other bland grain )
    Cottage Cheese
    White Rice (a few will do better on prepared oatmeal)
    Do not add any oils or fats to the diet at this point

To the Bland Food, add:

  • Yogurt 1-3 tablespoons every meal (yogurt is soothing but will not really offer any essential worthwhile bacteria…. see our information about Lactobacillus sporogenes or Healthy Flora
  • Supply a probiotic. We recommend Performance Pet Probiotics
    Boiled Sweet Potato: 2-4 tablespoons

Continue giving this bland diet for no less than a couple days right after the diarrhea clears up.

When should you take your dog to the veterinarian? If your dog has diarrhea and:

•Act very sick
•Be fatigued
•Show bloating or tummy suffering
•Be feverish (Rectal temperature ranges above 103.5 degrees F)
•Be dehydrated (one way to attempt to determine if a dog is dehydrated is to feel his or her gums… if they feel dry or tacky, there may be dehydration present)
•Have persistent vomiting
•Be moving significant concentrations of blood in the stool

Chronic: dog has diarrhea

Chronic diarrhea suggests:

Dog has diarrhea , with one or more of these indications:

Watery stools
Soft-Formed Stools
Mucus coated stools
Blood coated stools
A typical stool followed by a soft stool
The diarrhea could be continual
The diarrhea can also be off and on, with some good days followed by some poor days
Your dog may well act sick during the worst bouts of diarrhea, whilst some other dogs may act normal the whole time period
As the situation continues, dogs can lose body weight, develop a rough coat, become lethargic, or lack the zest for life they used to possess
Long-standing diarrhea can become a severely incapacitating condition. Over time, the body loses valuable vitamins and minerals (maldigestion), gets depleted of immune system capabilities, and becomes contaminated (25% of the body’s detoxification system exists in the intestinal lining). This circuit of occurrences damages the body’s capability to fix itself. Secondary disorders frequently grow which aggravate the prognosis. Because of the persistent damage to the remainder of the system, there are not sufficient immune function and metabolic solutions to heal the intestinal tract. Hence we have a cycle of deterioration that can be extremely hard to change.

Traditional medication often is not able to heal chronic diarrhea. Its approach is inclined to follow along a couple lines. First, the dog is fed foods that are particularly mundane and easy to break down, often called “hypoallergenic diets”.

Dogs with healthy digestive systems ought to be able to eat a large range of foods, including raw foods, without developing diarrhea. Dogs that will need to eat specific foods to keep from getting diarrhea are not healthy. Don’t ignore the symptoms by feeding hypoallergenic or bland diets. Discover why the dog has diarrhea and fix it.

This may help for a brief time, but the body requires complex nutrients for optimal health – nutrients that are destroyed by the intense refinement employed in making commercial diets.

Secondly, conventional veterinary medicine relies on multiple courses of antibiotics, often combined with immune suppressive drugs (corticosteroids, for example). Unfortunately, many cases are only palliated, not cured, and over time the dog will worsen. This is an excellent example where holistic therapies can help cure your dog.

The causes of persistent diarrhea consist of:

1.Leaky Gut Syndrome
2.Intestinal parasites, especially whipworms (tapeworms are usually harmless) and more rarely roundworms and coccidia.
3.Giardia, Clostridium, bacteria
4.Food Allergies (this is usually secondary to the Leaky Gut Syndrome)
5.Inflammatory Bowel Disease
6.Irritable Bowel Syndrome
7.Chronic digestion of foods and indigestible objects such as rocks and sticks
8.Organic diseases such as liver disease, thyroid disease and kidney disease
9.Dysbiosis (a relatively permanent alteration from a normal intestinal microbial flora to an abnormal bacterial, fungal or protozoal population)

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Dog has diarrhea |Information on Kennel Cough

Filed Under : Kennel Cough Treatment by core vet
Sep.3,2010

Information on Kennel Cough

Kennel cough (canine infectious tracheobronchitis) is a disease that affects the trachea lining, thereby causing minor irritation. A dog with this disease coughs frequently, usually every few minutes and all throughout the day. Although kennel cough is one of the most common infectious diseases among dogs, most cases of kennel cough are minor. Kennel cough tends to disappear on its own after a week or two. An airborne virus or bacteria is what causes kennel cough, the most common of which is a bacteria known as bordatella bronchiseptica.


The term “Kennel Cough” is the common name used for Canine Infectious Tracheobronchitis. This grand title relates to the prime sign – coughing localized to the trachea (wind pipe) and bronchi (within the lungs). It is also known as Bordetellosis, or Bordetella. Kennel Cough a worldwide upper respiratory disease caused by several different viruses and bacteria. A high percentage of dogs contract Kennel Cough during their lifetime. In the majority of cases the disease is not serious in itself but it can lead to some dogs developing life- threatening complications.


The most common factor of canine bordetellosis is the presence of the bacterium known as bordetella bronchispetica, though conditions such as parainfluenza, canine adenovirus and the canine herpes virus may also contribute. In most cases, the kennel cough is multifaceted and involves a mixture of virus and bacterium though, fortunately, the condition is easy to diagnose. Roughly one week after exposure, the symptoms of kennel cough usually begin to appear in those who are infected. If caught soon enough, canine bordetellosis is fairly easy to treat.


All dogs are at risk if they are in close contact with other dogs. With a high morbidity rate, clinical signs of kennel cough can be more severe in puppies, older dogs or debilitated individuals, including fatal bronchopneumonia. Any dog which comes into contact with other dogs is at risk. The disease is also not restricted to dogs, other species can become infected.


Your dog is coughing, sounding like it has something caught in its throat. This upper respiratory infection is essentially a “dog cold.” Coughing in spurts your dog rests and then coughs again. Yes, Kennel Cough is often worse at night + laying down. If your pet keeps coughing up food or phlegm and becomes listless, this is the time to see the vet. Otherwise you can manage Kennel Cough treatment simply and safely at home.


Canines often contract this bug after a stay in a kennel-hence, the name-where they come into close contact with other dogs who may be carrying the virus. Nowadays, most kennels won’t let your pet board without proof of a bordatella vaccination, but your dog can get it if he comes into contact with any other infected animal. This might happen at a dog run, for example, or even while greeting another canine on the street.


The symptoms of kennel cough are very noticeable – mainly a dry, hacking cough, where the dog will hang his head, quite often making choking and retching sounds from his throat. This cough is brought about by an inflammation of the trachea, or windpipe, and the bronchi inside your dog’s lungs. Sometimes, the intensity of these coughing fits can be so intense that it will cause nausea and vomiting.

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Dog has diarrhea |Food Intolerances in Dogs

Filed Under : Dog Upset Stomach by core vet
Sep.2,2010

Food Intolerances in Dogs

Food intolerances, defined as a dog inability to digest a certain kind of dog food, are far more common in dogs than food allergies. Compare dog food intolerances to allergies: only 10% to 12% of the canine population has allergies while up to 50% could suffer from an intolerance. Nearly half of all dogs are unable to stomach a certain kind of food and could become sick within half an hour of consuming it.

There is a distinction that needs to be made between food allergies and food intolerances. Food allergies are true allergies and show the characteristic symptoms of itching and skin problems associated with canine and feline allergies. Food intolerances can result in diarrhea or vomiting and do not create a typical allergic response. Food intolerances in pets would be similar to people that get diarrhea or an upset stomach from eating spicy or fried foods. Fortunately, both food intolerances and allergies can be eliminated with a diet free from offending agents.

While milk is not necessary to a dog diet, it can be a treat if given from time to time. However, some dogs cannot tolerate milk because they do not produce an enzyme called lactase. Lactase helps with the digestion of lactose, which is found in milk. After weaning, the level of lactase activity falls to about 10 per cent of its peak activity. In some animals, diarrhea will occur if more lactose (i.e. milk) is consumed than the pet can digest. This is called “lactose intolerance”. On the contrary, in dogs that are able to tolerate it, milk can be an excellent source of protein and calcium.

A dog may develop intolerance to foods that they have been eating for years. Closely monitoring your dog diet is the best way to manage an intolerance. Vitamins and minerals are essential in maintaining tissue and are required for energy. Every time you feed your dog food that he or she cannot stomach, your dog is missing out on these necessary nutrients.

Most dogs do best with a varied diet. Variety helps keep immune systems strong and maintain good health. It also may help prevent food intolerance, obesity, allergies and other problems. Variety may also protect a dog from nutrient deficiencies not yet discovered by science. Many people provide variety by first feeding a dry food that matches the dietary requirements of the breed, age, activity level and overall health. Then they rotate high quality canned or raw foods for protein from a variety of sources.

It is important to identify an intolerance as soon as possible. There are several ingredients in commercial and natural dog food and any one of them could be the cause of the problem. Often there is information in the latest dog food reviews that can help you find a healthy alternative for your dog.

If your dog intolerance is caused by a common ingredient, then you will need to read labels extra carefully before feeding your dog anything. Management of dog food intolerances is relatively simple once the root of the problem is identified.

I have studied the topic of dog allergies for about ten years. My goal is to help the dog owners to have better understanding of the treatment options in treating dog allergies. Find out more information about food allergies in dogs at my site.

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Dog has diarrhea |Canine Cushings Disease

Filed Under : Cushings Disease Dogs by core vet
Sep.1,2010

Canine Cushings Disease

Cushing’s Disease is a common condition in older dogs which can often be mistaken for the onset of old age. A well housetrained dog can have “little accidents” and urinate in the house as well as show signs of hair loss. There are however other diseases with these symptoms which are also not attributed to old age so it is important the diagnosis is correct.

Classic symptoms of Cushing’s Disease are frequent urination, hair loss and weight gain, which is similar to those of Canine Diabetes with the exception of weight loss rather than weight gain.

The treatments for both diseases however are very different.

Canine Diabetes is beyond the scope of this article so for more information on canine diabetes search on this article directory for Canine or Dog Diabetes or contact me direct from my author bio.

In order to understand Cushing’s disease is necessary to have a basic knowledge of what should happen in a healthy dog. The pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain, produces ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone), as directed by the hypothalamus (another part of the brain). This hormone is released into the bloodstream and stimulates the body’s two adrenal glands, located near the kidneys, to secrete glucocorticoid (cortisone-like or cortisol) hormones into the bloodstream. Cortisol helps the body respond to stress and impacts a wide variety of bodily functions.

These include blood sugar levels, kidney function, fat metabolism, skeletal muscles, nervous system, cardiovascular system, and immune response.

ACTH/cortisol secretion is increased due to stress, including infection, pain, surgery, trauma and cold temperatures. When the blood cortisol levels are high enough, the pituitary stops secreting ACTH. When the blood cortisol levels dip low enough, the pituitary secretes more ACTH. The adrenals respond by secreting glucocorticoid hormones in response to the pituitary, just as the pituitary responds by secreting ACTH in response to the adrenals. The net effect is that a mildly fluctuating balance is achieved. This is an oversimplified picture of cortisol homeostasis in the healthy dog.

In Cushing’s Disease: The response loop fails to function correctly for one of three reasons:

a pituitary tumor

an adrenal tumor

or veterinary interference.

The result is a chronic excess of blood cortisol. In effect, the dog is being poisoned with too much cortisol and cannot rely on its own regulation to correct the blood cortisol level.

Pituitary Dependant Hyperadrenocorticism: The most common cause of Cushing’s disease is a microscopic benign pituitary tumor which over secretes ACTH and ignores the adrenals’ response.
The dog’s pituitary continues secreting ACTH causing the adrenals to produce cortisol, yet the pituitary does not respond to the elevated blood cortisol levels by stopping its release of ACTH.

Most cases of Cushing’s disease are pituitary dependent and dogs with pituitary dependent hyperadrenocorticism tend to have two very large adrenal glands; Both are constantly working to keep up production of cortisol.

These pituitary tumors are usually quite small (3mm or less) but occasionally they can be larger and their size presents challenges of their own. Larger pituitary tumors over 10mm centimeter in diameter can place pressure on brain tissue and nerves, causing blindness, circling, seizures, or other neurological problems not directly related to hyperadrenocorticism. Some of these symptoms can resemble side-effects of medications used to treat Cushing’s disease, further complicating diagnosis and treatment.

Adrenal-based Hyperadrenocorticism: An adrenal tumor is responsible for secreting too much cortisol.

These can be benign (adenomas) or malignant (adenocarcinomas) and are inclined to spread to the lungs and liver. The tumor keeps secreting too much cortisol irrespective of what the brain is telling it and about 15% of Cushing’s cases are adrenal-based. In these dogs, one adrenal gland tends to be extremely enlarged (due to the tumor and the overproduction of cortisol that goes with it), and the other tends to be extremely small (to try to compensate for the overactive larger one).

Iatrogenic Hyperadrenocorticism: This is a cause which we can create ourselves if we give a dog too much external glucocorticoid, especially for chronic conditions like allergies.

In doing so we do what the adrenal tumor would do by flooding the dog’s body with an excess of corticosteroid. Although both the adrenals and pituitary will attempt to respond to our interference by cutting ACTH and cortisol secretion, if we continue to bombard the dog’s body with too much glucocorticoid, symptoms of Cushing’s disease will result.

The reason dogs are given irregular doses of steroids like prednisone is to avoid this consequence. Dogs with this form of Cushing’s tend to have two very small, atrophied adrenal glands. Nonetheless, if iatrogenic (veterinary-induced) hyperadrenocorticism develops, it is fully reversible. The external source of steroid is slowly withdrawn to allow the adrenals to “wake up” and resume functioning.

Causes: Given that tumor incidence increases with age and those tumors are the cause of Cushing’s disease, it is generally a problem seen most frequently in dogs aged 8 to 10 years and can affect males or females alike.

Spayed or neutered dogs can sometimes have a slightly greater incidence of Cushing’s Disease.

Although all breeds are at risk, Pituitary-dependent Cushing’s is more common in small dogs, with 75% of cases being in dogs weighing less than 44 pounds (20 Kg). Adrenal-based Cushing’s cases on the other hand occur 45-50% of the time in dogs weighing more than 44 pounds (20 Kg).

Symptoms: Symptoms of Cushing’s disease can be vague and varied and tend to appear gradually and progressively so it is all too easy to mistake Cushing’s disease for normal aging. Additionally, many of the clinical symptoms are not unique to Cushing’s and could reflect a number of other health concerns.

The most common symptoms include:

Increased urination (polyuria)

Increased water consumption (polydipsia)

Urinary accidents in previously housetrained dogs

Increased appetite (polyphagia)

Sagging, bloated or pot-bellied appearance

Appearance of weight gain due to fat redistribution

Exercise intolerance or general lethargy

It is generally the increased water intake and urination or the coat changes which are most noticeable although other indirect symptoms to consider are the disappearance of previous inflammatory conditions. Dogs with chronic allergies or arthritis may appear considerably better when they develop Cushing’s Disease, due to the heavy doses of cortisone they are giving themselves.

Diagnosis: A urinalysis may reflect high levels of protein and low specific gravity (dilute urine). X-rays or ultrasound may show an enlarged liver or either enlarged or atrophied adrenals with half of adrenal tumors appearing mineralized. A CT scan could also be used to search for a pituitary tumor but specific lab tests are more common to pinpoint a diagnosis.

These tests include a urine cortisol and creatinine ratio test, an ACTH stimulation test, and low and high dose dexamethasone suppression tests.

NOTE: There is no single test to diagnose Cushing’s, and Cushing’s Disease is often difficult to accurately diagnose.

Treatment: Treatment depends on the type of Cushing’s disease, as well as on the overall health of the canine patient.

Many dogs with Cushing’s are elderly and may have other health problems; treatment can be complicated with no “one size fits all” remedy. The comfort of the patient should be the ultimate goal and a dog with severe arthritis may be more humane not to elect for treatment.

Surgery may be indicated for adrenal tumors and chemotherapy in the form of Lysodren or Ketaconazole may be used to treat pituitary-dependent or adrenal-based Cushing’s Disease. Anipryl may also be tried to combat pituitary-dependent Cushing’s. Treatment is best viewed as a means to improve quality of life, rather than increase lifespan.

Surgery: If Cushing’s disease is caused by an adrenal tumor, the logical approach is to surgically remove the tumor AND the affected adrenal gland. These tumors tend not to recur on the remaining adrenal gland and the prognosis is very good for dogs with benign adrenal tumors however most owners opt for non-surgical treatment.

Pituitary tumors are not removed surgically in veterinary medicine. These tumors tend to be very small and slow-growing and cause little or no damage on their own, aside from over stimulating the adrenal glands. With these canine patients, the symptoms themselves are treated and not the root cause.

Prognosis: Left untreated, Cushing’s disease will progress. As excess cortisol is immunosuppressive, it causes dogs to become prone to various infections. They are also predisposed to developing other complications such as hypothyroidism, pancreatitis, diabetes, seizures, hypertension, congestive heart failure, blood clots and liver and kidney failure.

The short-term prognosis is very good. Treated, one would expect symptoms of Cushing’s to fully resolve over the course of 4-6 months. Excess drinking and urinating abate quickly. It may take several months for hair and coat improvement to be observed. Dogs generally are more comfortable after the disease is under control and may live happily for years.

Alternatively, some dogs become very uncomfortable if arthritis, allergies, or other inflammatory conditions are unmasked once the excess cortisol is removed, paradoxically reducing the animal’s quality of life. Another consideration relates to pituitary tumors themselves. These tumors continue to be somewhat responsive to blood cortisol levels, so it is possible that controlling cortisol release at the adrenal level may hasten the growth of a pituitary tumor, as the pituitary tumor is no longer kept in partial check by excess cortisol levels. Neurologic signs from a pituitary macroadenoma may then present themselves.

The goal of treatment is to improve quality of life and perhaps lengthen life, but except in situations where an adrenal tumor can be completely removed or where a dog can be weaned off external sources of cortisone, Cushing’s disease is not something from which a dog recovers.

Cushing’s disease is managed, not cured.

Noel Dundas is the author of several publications, including The Canine Diabetes Management Guide and the Canine First-Aid Handbook.

PetDoctorBlog.com Dr. Kane discusses cushings disease in pets and what you should do if you see signs of cushings disease in your pet. Dr. Kris Kane is a veterinarian with Pet Doctors of America in Jacksonville, FL. Pet Doctors of America offers Jacksonville Veterinary, Boarding and Grooming care 7 days a week with no appointment needed, ever!
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Dog has diarrhea |Give Special Attention to the Diet of Your Sick Pet Dog

Filed Under : Dog Has Fever by core vet
Aug.31,2010

Give Special Attention to the Diet of Your Sick Pet Dog

When the body temperature of the dog rises above normal, the dog requires extra energy to cope with the illness. As you would know, the diet of the dog plays a very important role in the regulation of its health. The diet of the dog should be regulated accordingly.

If the diet of the dog is not improved, the extra energy requirement of the dog shall be met by the utilization of the reserves of the body. To prevent such a scenario, make changes to the diet of the dog immediately upon the discovery of the fact that the dog is ill.

The change in the diet can be calculated by estimating the additional calorie requirement of the sick dog. The general rule is that for every degree of temperature above normal, the dog should be given three calories per pound of body weight.

If the temperature is 1 unit above normal and the body weight of the dog is 25 pounds, the normal diet of the dog should be supplemented to provide for 75 calories of extra energy. The easiest way to enhance the calories supplied to the dog is to add corn oil to the diet.

A single tea- spoon of corn oil provides 45 calories of energy. Further, corn oil enhances the taste of the food and will also help the dog eat more despite its poor appetite due to the illness.

Fevers of prolonged duration result in a loss of body protein as well as energy consumption. The protein being lost can be replaced by adding three ounces of cottage cheese or one hard-boiled egg to every pound of canned food or every tour ounces of dry food.

A body of a sick dog not only requires extra energy to cope with the illness but also extra protein to restore the body protein lost due to the illness. The best way to replace protein is to add:

• 3 ounces of cottage cheese, or
• one hard boiled egg to
• every pound of canned food or
• every four ounces of dry food.

No changes need to be made to the diet on account of the illness except for the additions mentioned above. The supplements should begin as the illness begins and ends only when the fever subsides. Begin the protein supplement if the fever persists for more than 3 days.

If the fever is caused by an infection, the vet usually prescribes a course of antibiotics to cure the illness. The prescription of antibiotics for the dog will also lead to changes in the diet.

Humans are more vulnerable to bacteria as compared to other living beings including dogs. In fact, many beneficial bacteria living in the intestine of the dog produce essential vitamins like Vitamin B- complex. This vitamin is very important for the health of the dog

Antibiotic therapy, as the name suggests, destroys the bacterium causing the illness in the dog. However, the therapy will also result in the removal of many beneficial bacteria residing in the dog. This deficiency may lead to a fall in the production of vitamins.

Add water-soluble vitamins to the diet of the dog to enhance its vitamin intake. Further, add a gram of brewer’s yeast per ten pounds of the weight of the dog. This will not only restore Vitamin B- complex in the body but also improve the appetite of the dog.

Authored by Kelly Marshall from Oh My Dog Supplies – the place to go for dog steps in all shapes and sizes

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Dog has diarrhea |Natural Kennel Cough Treatment Can be as Effective as Conventional Medications

Filed Under : Kennel Cough Treatment by core vet
Aug.29,2010

Natural Kennel Cough Treatment Can be as Effective as Conventional Medications

Treating Kennel Cough is a must. Kennel cough is a term to explain a respiratory ailment in dogs. This is a highly contagious and infectious disease known to affect a very high percentage of dogs all over the world. Dogs are known to face this ailment at least once in their entire lifetime.

Tracheobronchitis is more commonly known as kennel cough ,this is an airborne infection which can be caused by bacteria known as Bordetella bronchiseptic , or a virus known as canine parainfluenza or a mycoplasma( organism between virus and bacteria).

Dogs are more or less likely to be attacked by any of the above disease carriers.

Dogs that stay at kennels are more likely to be infected by this ailment ,being an airborne contagious disease dogs that are put together in one kennel are more likely to spread it among each other. Sometimes while traveling or while attending dog shows ,dogs are more open to this viral and bacterial attack ,especially those dogs who travel frequently or attend dog shows more often. Kennel cough is a viral or bacterial infection which affect the lungs and the throat of the canine.

In rare cases canines are infected seriously and kennel cough can become a life threatening ailment ,so it is advisable to give proper treatment to the dogs at the earlier stage itself.

Symptoms of canine kennel cough are same as regular cough-

Dry Cough with hacking sound is the most common symptom for kennel cough .Dry hacking cough followed by retching is also very commonly seen.Most dogs are known to cough making a sound as though honking.

Sneezing and coughing are the first symptoms of kennel cough in almost all the dogs.

In mild case of kennel cough ,dogs are known to be as active as before and there is no mention of loss of appetite.Many a times dogs are known to be as alert and as active as before.

In severe cases of kennel cough ,dogs are known to sneeze with passage of yellowish nasal discharge with fever loss of appetite and lethargy.

There are 2 kinds of treatments for kennel cough

In mild and moderate case of kennel cough antibiotics need not be given ,as the dog is still active and eating well ,in this case the ailment is left to heal on its own and at its own gradual time .For relief from cough the dog can be given a dose of prednisone a cough suppressant ,this will help put the dog at ease and hasten the process of healing.

In more severe cases of kennel cough, the dogs are put on full dose of antibiotic. The most often used for healing kennel cough is tetracycline .in case of severe kennel cough steroids or cough suppressants are avoided .Sometimes the use of bronchodilators along with aerosol therapy can also prove to be useful.

Kennel cough needs proper care and medication as any negligence on our part can lead to pneumonia even canine distemper both of which can be very dangerous for the life of the dogs.

Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Coughs for Years. For More Information on Treating Kennel Cough, Visit His Site at TREATING KENNEL COUGH

Related Kennel Cough Treatment Articles

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Dog has diarrhea |Can I Catch A Disease Or Worms From My Puppy?

Filed Under : Puppy Has Diarrhea by core vet
Aug.28,2010

Can I Catch A Disease Or Worms From My Puppy?

Dogs and puppies can pass germs, diseases and worms on to people, but it does not occur often. There are certain precautions that you can take to help prevent this from happening. First and foremost, make sure that the dog or puppy you are playing with looks healthy. Do not touch or contact an obviously sick dog. Make sure that your personal dog has regular check ups and is checked for worms by your veterinarian. Look for obvious signs of disease such as spots missing fur on your dog. Hot spots or places that your dog keeps chewing or biting at can be another sign of infection.

One of the best lines of defense from getting sick from contact with a dog is to wash your hands well, especially with anti-bacterial soap. After dog or puppy contact, keep your hands away from your face, especially your mouth. Do not eat finger foods after dog contact until you can wash. Do not let your dog lick you on your face. Try not to have contact with dog saliva, urine or dog feces.

Dogs and puppies can carry a fair variety of bacteria, parasites, fungus and worms. Some of these are fairly common in dogs and others are quite rare. Some people are more likely than others to catch these diseases. Some of the factors associated with catching the diseases depend upon the persons age and status of their health. People who are more likely to get diseases from dogs include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS, and people being treated for cancer.

The following diseases may be carried by dogs:

Brucella canis Infection (brucellosis): A bacterial disease rarely associated with dogs.

Campylobacter Infection (campylobacteriosis): A bacterial disease associated with dogs, cats, and farm animals. If your dog has diarrhea, you may want to consult with your veterinarian, as this disease may be the culprit and it is passable to humans. If you develop symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and/or nausea, contact your physician. Be sure to inform him or her of your pet and if it is ill.

Cryptosporidium (cryptosporidiosis): A parasitic disease associated with dogs, especially puppies, cats, and farm animals. Animals can carry this parasite in their feces and pass it to people. Animals do not have to be ill to pass Cryptosporidium to humans, they may just carry the disease. This disease usually causes a mild to severe infection of the gastrointestinal system, including watery diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting.

Dipylidium Infection (tapeworm): A parasitic disease associated with dogs, cats and fleas. Fleas carry the tapeworm and the dog must swallow the flea (which may easily happen during grooming) to allow the tapeworms to hatch and grown in the dog. For a person to become infected with Dipylidium, or tapeworm, he or she must accidentally swallow an infected flea. Most reported cases involve children. The risk of infection with this tapeworm in humans is low.

Giardia Infection (giardiasis): A parasitic disease associated with various animals, including dogs and their environment (including water). The Giardia parasite lives in the intestine of infected humans or animals. Millions of germs can be released in a bowel movement from an infected human or animal. Giardia is found in soil, food, water, or surfaces that have been contaminated with the feces from infected humans or animals.

Hookworm Infection: A parasitic disease associated with dogs and cats and their environment. Puppies and kittens are especially likely to have hookworm infections. Animals that are infected pass hookworm eggs in their stools. The eggs can hatch into larvae, and both eggs and larvae may be found in dirt where animals have been. Eggs or larvae can get into your body when you accidentally eat or have direct contact with contaminated dirt. For example, this can happen if a child is walking barefoot or playing in an area where dogs or cats have been.

Leishmania Infection (leishaniasis): A parasitic disease associated with dogs and sand flies outside the United States.

Leptospira Infection (leptospirosis): A bacterial disease associated with wild and domestic animals, including dogs. In people, the symptoms are often like the flu, but sometimes leptospirosis can develop into a more severe, life-threatening illness with infections in the kidney, liver, brain, lung, and heart.

Lyme Disease: A bacterial disease that can affect dogs and ticks. People get Lyme disease when they are bitten by ticks carrying B. burgdorferi, and this is in certain parts of the country.

Q Fever (Coxiella burnettii): A bacterial disease occasionally associated with dogs, but more often associated with sheep, cattle and goats, especially their birth products.

Rabies: A viral disease associated with various animals, including dogs. This is fairly rare in the US.
Ringworm: A fungal disease associated with dogs. Ringworm is transmitted from direct contact with an infected animal’s skin or hair. Dogs and cats, especially kittens or puppies, can have ringworm that can be passed to people.

Mitch Endick is a short article writer, editor and website developer for the popular pet site petpages.com.
www.petpages.com is a pet information site with free pet ads, dog classifieds, and puppy for sale info Petpages.com also offeres information on cats, fish, reptiles, birds, ferrets, rabbits, mice and even pet bugs.

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Dog has diarrhea |Equine Cushings Disease- Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Filed Under : Cushings Disease Dogs by core vet
Aug.27,2010

Equine Cushings Disease- Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Cushing’s disease occurs in various animals (e.g. dogs, horses, people), although the symptoms in horses are different than the symptoms in other animals (e.g. in dogs it results in hair loss whereas in horses it results in greater hair growth). When the disease occurs in horses, it is known as Equine Cushings Disease (or ECD).

ECD is an illness caused by excessive hormone production. The pituitary gland produces too much hormone, which over-stimulates the adrenal glands, which in turn produce too much steroids. It is the excessive quantity of steroids which causes the symptoms associated with ECD. The over-production of the pituitary can be caused various changes, such as the growth of benign tumors, enlargement of the pituitary due to age-related changes, or a decline in the regulatory chemical dopamine due to age-related changes in the brain. All of these factors tend to be age related, so the disease is much more common in older horses (over 15 years) although it has been found in horses as young as seven years.

The nature and cause of the disease itself was first explained by Harvey Cushing, an American brain surgeon, in 1921. Consequently, the disease is named after him.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

The symptoms of cushings disease vary somewhat from horse to horse, with the more common symptoms including:

- Changes to the coat. It may become longer and curly. It may not be shed in Spring. In some cases the color becomes lighter.
- Increased sweating. This is often due to the coat become longer and thicker, and retention of the winter coat into summer.
- Weight loss despite increased appetite and food consumption. Changes to the body shape, with loss of muscle in back and neck, and development of pendulous abdomen.
- General depression, loss of coat shine, horse looks ill. Development of diabetes and a resulting increase in water consumption. This can be difficult to detect with pastured horses, but with stabled horses one may notice an abnormal amount of urine (or soiled bedding) in its box.
- Development of laminitis. The most common cause of normal laminitis is carbohydrate overload due to eating spring grass, whereas ECD-caused laminitis is more frequent in autumn and winter since ECD is worse when the days are shorter (this is because the pineal gland is light-sensitive and as daylight decreases it stimulates the pituitary gland).
- Immune system declines, leaving the horse more prone to infections and slower to heal from external injuries.
- The depressions above the eyes fill in. These depressions are most evident when a horse is chewing, but gradually fill in with fat in ECD horses.

Any of these symptoms can be caused by a variety of illnesses other than ECD. Consequently, blood and urine tests are normally used to confirm that the cause is ECD (e.g. by measuring hormone levels and hormone response levels) and to rule out other possible diseases. Studies have shown that many horses with ECD are either not diagnosed or incorrectly diagnosed (the symptoms are incorrectly attributed to a different disease), with the result that they do not receive appropriate treatment.

Treatment

ECD cannot be cured. However, the hormone levels can be reduced to more normal levels through medication, slowing the progress of the disease. As some of the medications can have serious side effects (e.g. liver disease), one needs to monitor for any such side effects and change the medication accordingly.

As cushings disease can result in the development of secondary diseases (e.g. laminitis, diabetes), the horse needs to be closely monitored for any symptoms of these, with appropriate and prompt treatment.

Management of the symptoms can make the horse more comfortable and increase its quality of life. For example, if the horse cannot shed its winter fur and consequently over-heats in summer, the coat should be clipped.

This Equine Cushings Disease article was written by Dr. Douglas Stewart, the owner of the website Horse Care

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Dog has diarrhea |Dog Training – Dog Bites

Filed Under : Dog Has Fever by core vet
Aug.26,2010

Dog Training – Dog Bites

So you’re either in the unfortunate situation where you, some one you know, or a family member has received a dog bite or maybe you’re just curious of what steps to take in the case of this kind of situation. Well there are different types of dog bites, some are really bad, some are just minor injuries, and then there’s everything in-between.

The first thing you need to do is assess the situation and see what step needs to be taken next, you will most probably be able to assess whether the dog wound is serious enough for hospital straight away, or if you are the stubborn sort then if bleeding doesn’t stop within 15 minutes or so then you will need the hospitals help.

Other situations when you may need to see a doctor or go to hospital are if you think the bone may be broken, if the dogs bite is deep or gaping, if signs of infection are starting to appear like fever or wound puss, or if you have not received your tetanus injection in the last 5 years.

All the cases above could lead to much more serious problems than you might think and are all seriously recommended procedures for dog bites.

If your dog bite is serious enough to warrant hospital, then on your way to the hospital or until you get to see a trained professional about your wound you should keep firm pressure on the wound to stop any bleeding, and trying to clean out the wound of any dirt may be a good idea.

When you get to the hospital or medical department, they will need to know current medication and must know of any allergies that may affect the patient’s condition. Along with this they may need or you may want to tell a figure of authority where this attack happened, if the dog was provoked and if anyone else may be in danger so local authorities and laws may be contacted.

For more information visit our dog training website at this link… Dog Training

Glandular Fever (or infectious mononucleosis) is an infection caused by a virus — the Epstein Barr virus. It is sometimes known as the “kissing disease” because the virus can be passed on via saliva. Coughs and sneezes and sharing food utensils can also pass it on. It’s harder to catch than a cold. It is not a sexually transmitted disease. It generally affects teenagers and younger people. A full and quick recovery, without the need to see a doctor is the usual course of events. Some can carry the virus in their body without developing infection. This is harmless. Normally it’s not possible to work out who gave the infection to who. However it is known that the virus is most likely to be passed on whilst the temperature is high, so very close contact, such as kissing, should be avoided at this time. Symptoms develop between 4 and 8 weeks after infection and start with a very severe, sore throat, swollen tonsils, a high temperature and difficulty swallowing. Other symptoms can include: – Tiredness – Loss of appetite – Muscle aches and headaches – Swollen tender glands in the neck and armpits – Skin rash (sometimes associated with antibiotics) – Abdominal pain – No response to antibiotics (given for presumed bacterial throat infection) makes glandular fever more likely. Glandular fever is very difficult to diagnose from other causes of sore throats and tonsillitis. In most cases this does not matter, as symptoms will resolve quickly. There is no treatment that will work …
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Dog has diarrhea |Causes, symptoms and treatment of Distemper in dogs

Filed Under : Dog Has Fever by core vet
Aug.25,2010

Causes, symptoms and treatment of Distemper in dogs

Canine distemper is an infectious disease of dogs, which is prevalent worldwide.

Causes and symptoms:

Distemper is caused by a virus and is certainly one of the most dangerous diseases pertaining to dogs. The distemper virus is discharged in various secretions and excretions by an affected dog, specially during the acute stage of his illness. The virus contaminates the atmosphere, thus making distemper an airborne disease, which can be transferred among dogs even without actual body contact. Even if some affected dogs survive, they are often left with a permanent twitching of a group of muscles or gradual paralysis. Sometimes the paralysis may cause the dog to lose control over the bladder and bowels. Even at this stage the dog may often have a normal appetite. At this stage, however, recovery is very rare.

Symptoms start within two weeks of getting the infection. Initially the dog is dull and listless and there is lack of appetite. Along with this the dog develops fever around 40 or 104 F. these symptoms may detract on their own with the fever returning to normal, only to recur after a few days. This fluctuating elevation of temperature followed by loses of appetite watery eyes and nasal discharge later develops into a discharge thick with puss. A cough, lose, black, fowl swelling motions are other characteristics of this disease. In the later stages the virus often attacks the nervous system.

Treatment and prevention:

There is no specific treatment for the distemper virus infection. Symptomatic treatment with antibiotics for secondary bacterial infections n other drugs, along with fluid therapy as considered suitable by the veterinarian, form the best course of action along with good nursing, simple food and cleaning of the eyes and the nose frequently. Tender loving care along with treatment by the veterinarian play a great part in recovery.

For prevention of this awful disease, vaccination is almost foolproof, provided a reliable vaccine is used and the course of injection is given as per recommendations of experts. The pup should be kept inside the house on in a totally enclosed yard before he is vaccinated. Booster injections should preferably be given every year after the initial course of vaccination.

annmaryliz@gmail.com

My dog has bieber fever!(as a joke)

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Dog has diarrhea |Your New Puppy – what to expect when you bring him home

Filed Under : Puppy Has Diarrhea by core vet
Aug.23,2010

Your New Puppy – what to expect when you bring him home

Puppies often leave their canine family and go to their new homes when they’re still babies. A medium to large breed puppy should be at least 8 weeks old, and a tiny/toy breed needs to be 10 – 12 weeks.

At this age your puppy is just a baby, and the stress of leaving his familiar family and surroundings, perhaps coupled with a long car ride, or airplane journey, and topped off with a sea of new faces/experiences and possibly even a change in diet, is a LOT OF STRESS for him to handle.

When you first met your new pup, he was probably feeling safe and secure with his momma and siblings. He may have been the boldest in the litter then, but once you get him home he’s likely to act much more like a anxious and homesick baby – and that’s okay, because that’s what he is!

It’s natural for that confident, happy little pup you first met to be affected by the stress of these big changes in his life. Anxiety, sadness and withdrawal are not surprising, but they can be worrying and upsetting for his new parents.

What to expect during the first few days

Your new pup may seem happy and lively when you first get him home, running around and greeting everyone with that little tail wagging nineteen-to-the-dozen. However, most puppies tend to gradually become quieter and more subdued. All puppies are different, and you may only notice one of these behaviors – or all of them…

A loss of appetite

He seems ‘lazy’ or extra sleepy

Diarrhea

A lessening of interest in toys/treats/attention

Apparent ‘depression’ or sadness

General anxiety

Your puppy’s little body is trying to adjust to many new things, and he may react to this by ‘shutting it all out’ – simply withdrawing from activity and going to sleep.

Like babies, puppies need to sleep a lot anyway, but for the first few days they may seem to be taking one marathon nap! He’s feeling scared, and a bit homesick, and it’s not surprising that he may not feel much like playing or eating.

As the days pass though, and he starts to feel more ‘at home’ with his new family and surroundings, he will start to ‘perk up’, his appetite will come back (often with a vengeance!and he will suddenly be the bright, active little pup you first met. When that starts to happen, you know he’s settled in.

How to tell if your new puppy is just homesick…. or really is SICK

Although in most cases, the above symptoms last only a couple of days and are nothing to worry about, it’s important to know that the same symptoms CAN SOMETIMES INDICATE TRUE ILLNESS.

There are many serious, contagious canine diseases that cause loss of appetite, diarrhea, lethargy (excessive sleepiness) and so on. One of the difficult things for new puppy owners is knowing when there’s nothing to worry about – and when to seek veterinary help.

Although it’s not possible for me to tell you how to know for sure whether your puppy is homesick or really sick, there are some tips that can help you figure it out.

Your puppy may be suffering from an illness if -

His diarrhea is frequent, and is getting worse. Or if it is watery or contains blood/mucus

He is vomiting repeatedly and is unable to keep food/water down

He seems totally exhausted – too tired to lift his head or care about toys/treats

A puppy who is just homesick may seem sleepy and sad, but can generally be enticed with a game of fetch or a tasty treat. Most times there will be short periods of happy activity during the day, even though he isn’t quite ‘himself’. However, if your puppy is truly sick, he will usually be unwilling/unable to run around and play – even for short periods. He will look and act as if he feels terrible.

What to do if you’re worried

Young puppies are very vulnerable, and can get sick very fast. It’s best not to take any chances with a young puppy. If you are worried or concerned, always err on the side of caution and take him to see your veterinarian.

Whenever you bring a new puppy home it’s a good idea to have him checked over by your veterinarian within a day or two anyway. This way you can be certain that he’s current on all his puppy shots, de-worming and other routine care. It also gives you a chance to make sure there are no underlying health issues that you need to be aware of.

If you’re not certain whether your puppy’s behavior means he’s just going through the normal ‘adjustment period’, or whether he’s not feeling well, take him to your vet just as soon as you can. That way you can put your mind at rest, and be certain that you are doing the very best you can for your new puppy.

The author has spent years owning, breeding, raising and training puppies and is a long-time dog-lover. To read the full article entitled ‘Bringing Home A New Puppy’, and get all the tips, advice and information you need to raise a happy, healthy puppy, visit http://www.the-puppy-dog-place.com

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