What Is Von Willebrand Disease?

Von Willebrand Disease (wVD) is a disease that affects the ability to stop bleeding. Dogs inherit this disease and it makes it difficult for blood to clot once the flow starts after an injury. Although this disease can be life threatening it is a rare occurrence.

There is a protein that is in a dogs blood called von Willebrand factor and when the disease is inherited this protein is either at low levels or is not working properly to do the job it is meant to do, which is to help the blood clot. When an injury occurs that results in blood flow the platelates in the blood will form together to fill the hole the blood is coming from. Von Willebrand factor is what helps these platelates to stick together and clot the blood.

This disease is the most common blood disorder that is inherited, more so then hemophilia. About 1 out of every 100 to 1,000 dogs inherit this disease and it can affect both males and females.  Doberman Pinschers, Welsh corgis, German shepherds, and Scottish terriers are breeds most at risk of developing wVD.

There are 3 types of von Willebrand Disease. About 3 out of 4 dogs who have this disease have type 1, which is the mildest form of the disease. With type 1 there are low levels of the von Willebrand factor and the factor 8 proteins in the blood. Factor 8 is another agent in the blood that helps to clot.

Type 2 of the von Willebrand disease, is when the von Willebrand factor is not working properly. This type is broken up into categories to determine what needs to be done to help and this makes finding out the exact type of the disease very important so the treatment is correct.

Type 3 is when there are not any of the von Willebrand factor in the dogs blood and a low level of factor 8. This type is the most dangerous to have but it is rare that this type is found.

Diagnosis And Treatment

Veterinarians have a new blood test that measures very small and very large amounts of von Willebrand Disease with greater accuracy (and in less time) than the old test. Accurately measuring the disease helps predict if a dog will be affected by vWD or will merely be a carrier - unaffected by the disease but with the potential to pass along the defect to its offspring.

Getting an early diagnosis of this disease is important as it can help those who have it live a normal life.

This condition cannot be cured but it can be managed. Your veterinarian will discuss this with you when the diagnosis is made.

Applying pressure can usually stop mild cases of bleeding.  For more severe cases, cautery or sutures may be required.

Thyroid supplements may help to control bleeding, if your veterinarian determines that your dog is hypothyroid.

The debate is on for humans’ best loved companions, their dogs and the food they consume. Do these owners really know what they are feeding their best friends? And if they do, would they want to eat what they’re feeding their pets? The difference is between whether they’re feeding them commercial or premium dog food.

Commercial dog food is all that in itself. It’s commercial. The companies are focused on business and appealing to the owners instead of any nutritional health supplements for the animals. By simply adding colors and cutting the morsels into shapes, it looks better to the owner. No matter if the morsel is cut into the shape of a bone or square, your dog will eat it.

But it is cheaper to make a dog food with a high percentage of corn or wheat gluten than more protein. Almost every commercial dog food has two forms of corn within the first three ingredients. Corn is extremely hard for canines to digest leaving it as a supplement that passes through the body without any nutritional aspect other than filling their hungry need.

And what about the small amount of protein that’s in commercial dog food? This so called protein is found in animals by products and other parts of the animals found to be too rancid for human consumption. Rendering plants all over the US render chicken heads, hooves, intestines, etc. Very little of what commercial companies call protein is actually a supplement with very little protein packed into it.

Premium dog food on the other hand offers a much more complete meal for your pet. It offers an array of actual cuts of meat and vegetables in which are consumable and digestible for your pet. Artificial flavorings and colors are not added to the morsels, but needed vitamins of a varying array are. Thus, your dog will not need to eat as much to achieve the nutritional benefits of the commercial dog food.

While price often times can be a determining factor, make sure you ask yourself if you would want to eat what’s in the bag and how much poop you want to clean up. Commercial dog food causes for more to clean up whereas the pet needs to eat significantly more to gain little in nutritional value.

We all know how much puppies and adult dogs love to chew on things- your slippers, your favorite shoes, furniture, etc. So, like any good pet owner, a lot of us have given our dogs rawhide chew “toys.” What exactly is rawhide? And why is it so dangerous to your pet?

Rawhide is quite literally the outside skin of an animal, usually a cow or a pig. Rawhide is usually inexpensive, and can give your pet hours of chewing satisfaction. So what’s the big deal? Rawhide can quite literally KILL your beloved canine friend! There have been reports of rawhide that is manufactured in other countries containing arsenic- yes, arsenic. Why? Because some countries and manufacturers use preservatives which contain arsenic.

Still thinking you might give Fluffy that piece of rawhide?

Rawhide chews pose a choking hazard to your pet. Large pieces of rawhide can cause an obstruction in the throat, cutting off your pet’s air supply. Or, if large pieces of rawhide are swallowed, they can scrape and cut the throat and cause hemorrhaging in your pets throat or esophagus.

Supposedly, rawhide chews are made of digestible animal materials. But did you know they digest extremely slow? Also, if chewed and eaten rapidly, rawhide can cause vomiting or diarrhea in your pet due to undigested pieces of rawhide still in his/her stomach. Undigested pieces of rawhide can also cause physical obstructions in your pets intestinal tract and stomach.

So, is rawhide worth the risk to your pet’s life? Likely not. But if you still feel safe about giving your pet rawhide, make sure he/she is supervised with it at all times. Your pet’s life may depend on it.

The health of our beloved dog’s eyes can be greatly affected by many different conditions, some of which are treatable with medication or surgery, while others are progressive diseases that simply worsen with time. Dog eye health is a serious concern for pet owners, and it’s important that we familiarize ourselves with the common issues that may arise in order to protect our most loyal of friends.

Here are some of the most common dog eye health problems:

- Canine Cherry Eye: While not necessarily painful as much as irritating, canine cherry eye, occurring more frequently in some breeds, is corrected with surgery to reposition the displaced tear gland behind the third eyelid.

- Cataracts: Cataracts occur frequently in certain dog breeds, or as a result of conditions such as diabetes, or simply due to age. In most healthy animals, the clouded lens can successfully be removed during surgery.

- Distichiasis: Some breeds are more prone than others to the condition known as distichiasis, which occurs when the eyelashes are abnormally located on the eyelid causing irritation and infection to the eye.

- Glaucoma: Glaucoma is caused by increased pressure within the eye due to a build up of fluids that do not drain properly. Dog glaucoma is the leading cause of canine blindness, which can occur within as little as 24 hours, or slowly and painfully over a period of weeks or month.

- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): This genetic condition affects dog eye health in that it damages the retina and causes a loss of vision particularly at night, with limited vision during the daytime. There is no cure or treatment for PRA, although most dogs will adjust well as the condition is either seen first at birth, or progresses slowly after the dog is several years old.

Just like people, dogs have a wide variety of skin types that can be prone to certain problems.

These skin problems could be due to many factors including the natural skin type of the dog and the region you live in.

You should make sure to check your dog’s skin health at various times throughout the year in addition to checking when you notice your dog licking and biting itself in certain spots.

It’s a good idea to give your dog a good skin check just before summer and winter as their coats are adapting for the season change. Let’s take a quick look at some common issues that may effect your dog’s skin health.

Parasites

The two most common parasites that can irritate your dog’s skin are fleas and scabies. Fleas are fairly easy to detect and eliminate but scabies may be hard to notice.

Scabies on your dog’s skin will cause your dog to itch a certain spot constantly and odds are you will notice it after a few days. You can usually avoid an expensive vet bill by describing the problem at your local pet shop and buying a special cream.

Inherited Conditions

Genetics plays a large role in the skin health of your dog. Certain breeds such as Lhasa Apso’s are prone to have a form of canine dermatitis but it can occur in dogs of any breed and size.

Canine dermatitis is the dog equivalent of dry skin in people. They will have flaky, dry skin that may require special baths frequently or even special cream applications.

The best way to ensure that your dog has healthy skin is to take it to the vet once a year or when it’s time for shots and ask the vet to check your dog’s skin health.

What Is Ringworm?

Ringworm is a fairly common, yet often misunderstood, parasite in dogs and cats.

Ringworm is not a worm at all, but actually a fungal infection. There are three main types, two that affect animals and one that only usually causes problems in humans (such as athlete’s foot). Unfortunately, the most common form, called Microsporum, can be spread from animals to humans. It is spread through direct or indirect contact, such as a brush or blanket that touched the affected areas. Though most healthy dogs don’t carry ringworm spores on their skin or fur, spores from an infected pet can attach to the animal’s environment and live for more than a year and a half.

What Are The Symptoms Of Ringworm?

Symptoms of ringworm in dogs include scaly bald patches, mainly around the head, ears and tail, which can also appear red and raised. Though they may appear to be so, the patches are usually not actually itchy, but they will “expand” as the innermost area heals and the outermost areas become infected.

A vet will probably diagnose ringworm by using a special black light called a “wood’s lamp.” Certain species of the virus will glow a fluorescent color under this lamp. Another common way to diagnose ringworm is to do a culture on a sample of the scaly, bald skin.

What Is The Treatment For Ringworm?

Luckily, most small, isolated ringworm spots on dogs will heal themselves within several months. To expedite the process, make sure the infected area is constantly dry, cool and clean. You can even wrap the area with gauze to make sure sunlight doesn’t help aid the fungi’s growth. For more severe cases, daily anti-fungal creams can help alleive irritation. For the most serious cases, an anti-fungal shampoo or dip is recommended.

A dog can get the Canine Influenza with symptoms similar to that that people have when they get the flu.

Symptoms of Canine Influenza

Symptoms associated with the Canine Influenza include: a nasal discharge, a discharge from the dog’s eyes, coughing, fever, vomiting, sneezing, and trouble breathing.

What Causes Canine Influenza?

Experts agree that some similar symptoms can be caused by allergies instead. If that is the case, the treatment can be as simple as keeping the dog away from whatever he is allergic to. It is also possible to mistake a cough a dog can get in a kennel, known as a Kennel Cough, with the flu. Kennel Flu is a form of bacteria; dog flu is a form of virus. The cough with dog flu is moist, while the cough caused by the Kennel Flu is dry and persistent. The cough with Kennel Flu can last for 10-21 days, and can include a low fever and nasal discharge.

How To Prevent Canine Influenza

The experts agree there are things you can do to lessen the chance of your dog catching the Canine Influenza, including avoiding kennels, keeping your dog away from strays at all costs, and avoiding grooming shops and other high contact with other dogs. If you think your dog may have Canine Influenza, you should take him to the vet immediately.

Treatment For Canine Influenza

Treatment can consist of antibiotics and IV fluids.

Some five percent of dogs will catch an acute form of Canine Influenza from a dog kennel. Many will not have symptoms but will carry the disease for up to a week. Almost every dog in contact with a carrier will be affected to some extent. The disease is in the air, and a dog will not need direct contact to catch the flu.

Contact your vet with questions about the Canine Influenza.

Dog insurance is as important for your pet as it is for you and your family. Dog insurance is available at just about any stage of your dog’s life.

You should have dog insurance for many reasons; however the primary reasons would be to protect against high medical expenses in the event your dog becomes ill, diagnosed with cancer, or injured in an accident.

When you consider the insurance that you have for you and your family, a pet such as your dog, naturally becomes part of your family. Any type of insurance that you would have for coverage for you and your family should always be considered and perhaps purchased for you dog.

The insurance available for your dog, gives you peace of mind in the fact that you will not be burdened with perhaps the choice of an expensive medical procedure or not having the procedure in the event of a diagnosed disease, or injury.

Dog insurance is not only a must have for peace of mind, it is a must have for the simple fact that your dog does actually become a part of your family and you would of course take care of your family the best you could.

So to be able to take longer walks with your dog, have a healthier live style for your dog, insurance for your dog is one way to ensure such a life style of happiness, health and well being. Dog insurance affords you the opportunity to grow with your pet and enjoy many years of happy companionship.

What is Canine Distemper?

Canine Distemper most commonly affects dogs and domestic ferrets of all ages, but puppies, up to six months of age are especially susceptible because their immune system has not yet fully developed.  Canine distemper is a virus, which is referred to by the acronym CDV, which stand for Canine Distemper Virus.

The virus, first documented in 1905 was originally thought to be a form of the plague but was later found to be closely related to the Measles as well as the viral infection known as Rinderpest, a word of German origin which means cattle-plague. Attacking tonsils and bronchial lymph nodes first, the virus then enters the blood stream and causes fevers as well as a number of often fatal gastrointestinal, respiratory and neurological symptoms.

How can the Virus spread?

CDV spreads through the contact of infected bodily fluids, such as nasal droppings, feces and urine, for example but can also spread with contact of contaminated food and water. The virus usually settles in and duplicates itself within the lymphoid and nervous tissues from which it will eventually enter the bloodstream, normally within 6 to 22 days of initial exposure.

What are the symptoms of Canine Distemp?

Symptoms may include, but aren’t limited to vomiting, diarrhea, involuntary urination and bowel movements, coughing, labored breathing, weight loss, followed by neurological symptoms like seizures ranging from mild all the way to grand-mal convulsions and an overall deterioration of motor capabilities.

What is the treatment for Canine Distemper?

Infected dogs and ferrets should be quarantined for several months to avoid spreading the virus. In 1985, the virus is believed to have caused the extinction of the last wild black-footed ferret population and is believed to contribute to a high mortality rate in several other wild animal species.. Without prior vaccinations or treatment after infection, the virus has almost always fatal results for those infected with it.

Can I prevent Canine Distemper?

The best way to prevent CHD is to have your dog vaccinated at six weeks of age and then every year after that.