If you’re a new dog owner and you’ve noticed something strange (maybe even wiggling) in your pup’s poop, been concerned about your dog’s potbelly, or reached out to your dog’s veterinarian about bloody diarrhea, you aren’t alone. The majority of the time, the answer to these questions points to a group of nutrient-depleting and blood-sucking culprits: intestinal parasites.

Intestinal parasites can range in size, shape, route of transmission, and how they affect the host. However, not all pet owners, especially those who just got a new puppy or kitten for the first time, are well informed about parasitic infections. If you are that new pet owner, congratulations on your new family member! Here is some important information about intestinal parasites and your pup’s (or cat’s) pooping habits.

What is a Parasite?

In general, a parasite is an organism that feeds and lives on (or in) a host animal (such as a dog or a cat). In the case of intestinal parasites, the host is usually harmed in one way or another by the parasite. In some cases, parasites can even be fatal. As the name suggests, intestinal parasites, in both dogs and cats, can be found somewhere along the pet’s gastrointestinal tract, usually being the stomach or small and large intestines. In the case of puppies and kittens, they are more likely to have more severe symptoms because things like blood and nutrients are being taken away during a crucial time of growth and development.

But how do pets get these parasites? There isn’t a simple answer to that question. There are different routes of transmission and infection for the different kinds of intestinal parasites. Your pet may get a parasite by doing something as simple as standing on grass that has parasitic larvae on it or through a flea bite. A great majority of puppies and kittens are actually born with at least one intestinal parasite.

How do puppies and kittens get parasites when they haven’t explored the outdoors yet? It all goes back to mom. If a pregnant mom gets infected with an intestinal parasite, the parasites may transmit while they are still in utero. Another possible route from mom to puppies is during nursing, where the parasite is transmitted through mom’s milk. But let’s say that while pregnant, the puppy’s mom tested negative for any and all possible intestinal parasites. However, a few months ago, she tested positive and completed the entire deworming process. During the initial infection, it is possible that some of the parasitic larvae migrated into muscle tissues where they laid dormant until the perfect opportunity, in this case, pregnancy, arose.

Common Intestinal Parasites in Dogs and Cats

Now that you’re aware of the problem, it’s time to dive into the nitty-gritty of intestinal parasites. Below you’ll find a list of the most common intestinal parasites your pet can get, how they are transmitted, symptoms to look for, and different treatment options and preventative measures that should be considered when owning a dog, cat, or both!

Hookworm

Ancylostoma caninum (Canine hookworm), Ancylostoma tubaeforme (Feline hookworm)

There are several ways a pet might be infected with hookworm, including: through ingestion of contaminated fecal matter or soil, when a parasite larvae burrows through the skin when standing or laying on contaminated ground, prenatal infection (from mom to offspring in utero), and transmammary infection (from mom to offspring while nursing). Important: it should be noted that hookworms can be transmitted to humans.

Hookworm Symptoms:

• Dry or dull haircoat
• Anemia
• Pale gums
• Lethargy
• Bloody diarrhea
• Significant weight loss or inability to gain weight

Treatment: Treatment for hookworms is usually oral dewormers (anthelmintics), which only kill adult worms. Infected dogs or cats have to repeat treatment about two to four weeks after the first treatment.

Roundworm

Toxocara canis (Canine hookworm), Toxocara cati (Feline hookworm), Toxocara leonina (infectious to Canine and Feline)

Pets can get infected with roundworms by sniffing or licking infected feces from another animal. Dogs and cats can also get roundworms if they ingest a paratenic host (accidental host), like rodents, earthworms, and birds. Similar to hookworm, transmission is possible through both prenatal and transmammary infection. Roundworms can be transmitted to humans too.

Roundworm Symptoms:

• “Spaghetti” in pet’s fecal sample or vomit
• Recurrent diarrhea
• Potbelly (puppies)
• Lethargy
• Stunted growth (puppies)

Treatment: When treating Roundworms, oral dewormers (anthelmintics) are used. Oral dewormers only kill adult worms. Infected dogs or cats have to be retreated about two to four weeks after the first treatment.

Giardia

Giardia duodenalis (can be found in both Canines and Felines)

A dog or cat may be infected by giardia by drinking water that has been contaminated by feces from an infected animal or eating something contaminated by infected feces like grass or dirt. Not all pets show symptoms of giardia.

Giardia Symptoms:

• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Dehydration
• Weight loss
• Inability to gain weight

Treatment: To treat giardia in pets, doctors will typically prescribe a combination of fenbendazole (dewormer) and metronidazole (antibiotic) for about ten days. After that, the pet’s feces should be retested two to four weeks after finishing the medication.

Whipworm

Trichuris vulpis (Canine whipworm), Trichuris serrata (Feline whipworm)

Pets may be infected with Whipworm when ingesting eggs from a contaminated piece of soil, grass, or feces.

Whipworm Symptoms:

• Chronic watery, bloody diarrhea
• Significant weight loss
• General debilitation (inability to conserve salt, leading to chronic dehydration)

Treatment: Whipworms rarely pass eggs, so fecal samples often come back false negative. The most common dewormers used to treat whipworms are fenbendazole and febantel.

Tapeworm

Dipylidium caninum (Canine and Feline tapeworm), Taenia tapeworm species, Echinococcus hookworm species

Pets can be infected with tapeworm if they eat an infected flea (Dipylidium caninum), undercooked or raw meats (various Taenia species), or contaminated feces (various Echinococcus species). Unfortunately, some forms of the Taenia and Echinococcus species of tapeworms can be transmitted to humans.

Tapeworm Symptoms:

• Moving “rice-like” segments found around pet’s rectum or in their feces
• Weight loss
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Distended abdomen

Treatment: Tapeworms often don’t show up on fecal screenings but can be seen without a microscope (wiggling stuff in your pup’s poop). Treatment of tapeworm in pets consists of one or two rounds of praziquantel dewormer, which generally covers all tapeworms types. Alternatively, pets may be treated with fenbendazole, which does not kill Dipylidium caninum.

Parasite Prevention:

If all this information has you thinking about the last time you had your pet tested for intestinal parasites, this is your sign to get your pet’s poop checked. Intestinal parasites can be very scary—while treatment is usually easier than you might think—prevention is always best.

• Make sure your new pup or kitten is up-to-date on their immunizations.
• Pick up your pet’s poop to prevent the spread, transmission, and reinfection of the parasite.
• Practice good hygiene, like washing your hands after picking up feces. Especially those families with younger children.
• Make sure your pet has clean water accessible at all times to avoid drinking from puddles.
• Limit exposure to areas where dog feces will be.
• Many heartworm preventatives contain deworming medication that will kill intestinal parasites.

If your pet is experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned, do your pup and yourself a favor and get their poop tested for possible parasites. It’s easy! To test their poop, simply bring in the freshest poop sample you can find, and the clinic staff will do the rest. Veterinarians typically will have results generally within the next 24-48 hours.

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Dog owners do not need to be veterinarians to know that a healthy heart is as important for our furry friends as it is for humans. Yet there can be a lot of confusion surrounding cardiac issues in animals, especially when it comes to heart murmurs.

Dr. Sonya Wesselowski, an assistant professor of cardiology at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, offers insight on murmurs, given her expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease in animals.

Wesselowski describes a heart murmur as “an extra whooshing sound” heard during a heartbeat that is typically caused by turbulent or rapid blood flow inside the heart. Some murmurs are considered to be harmless, or “physiologic,” while other murmurs are considered “pathologic,” or disease-related. In dogs, common reasons for a disease-related heart murmur include leaky or narrowed heart valves.

Not all heart murmurs are dangerous, though.

“Some soft heart murmurs can be normal in young puppies under 4-6 months of age,” Wesselowski said. “The majority of heart murmurs, however, do indicate that some sort of heart abnormality is present.

“This might be a congenital abnormality that a dog was born with or an ‘acquired’ heart disease that developed later in life, with these diseases ranging from mild to severe,” she said.

Luckily, if your pup is found to have a heart murmur, there are likely some good treatment options to keep their heart healthy and pumping for as long as possible.

Step one, however, is confirming a diagnosis.

“If your veterinarian identifies a heart murmur in your dog, additional testing should be pursued to determine the type and severity of any underlying heart problems,” Wesselowski said. “The heart murmur itself should be thought of as a red flag that possible heart disease is present, but it can’t speak to the severity of any underlying heart problems, so additional testing is needed to sort out the next best steps.

“Some types of heart disease can remain mild for the life of a pet without ever requiring treatment, while others may result in symptoms of heart disease that require cardiac medications, lifestyle changes, and/or diet modifications to combat,” she said. “Additional testing can help sort out which of these scenarios may be the case for your dog.”

The heart is one of the hardest-working organs in the body. Depending on the results of diagnostic tests, your veterinarian will discuss the prognosis and treatment options available for your dog.

In all cases in which heart disease is identified, it will also be necessary to monitor the condition on a regular basis and to perform periodic diagnostic testing to guide future care.

It is important for owners to not lose heart when it comes to cardiac disease in dogs. With the right treatments, monitoring, and veterinary team working together, owners can keep their beloved dogs active and happy, even in the face of heart disease.

The post Heart Murmurs in Dogs: Canine Cardiac Murmurs appeared first on My Doggy Blog.

When I first noticed Gus, my beloved white Boxer, dragging his back foot, I teased him about being lazy. At age 10, Gus was finally mellowing out after a decade of careening through life like a rodeo bull. Soon, though, he was dragging that foot on our walks, and because we live in an urban (read: paved) area, all that friction began to wear down his nails and scrape the skin from his knuckles.

This was my first indication that Gus had degenerative myelopathy.

An insidious disease, degenerative myelopathy in dogs is a slowly progressing condition that affects the nerves of the spinal cord, cutting off communication between the brain and limbs. Over time, the affected dog will become paraplegic and eventually will be unable to stand.

Symptoms of degenerative myelopathy in dogs are often missed because they look similar to other conditions such as hip dysplasia. The most apparent sign of degenerative myelopathy is wobbly rear legs and paw dragging. The deterioration often progresses over several months. During that time, dogs with degenerative myelopathy will experience ataxia (impaired balance and coordination) in their rear legs, ultimately losing the ability to walk.

Older dogs, typically large breeds dogs, are most affected by degenerative myelopathy in dogs. Dogs breeds affected by degenerative myelopathy include German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Boxers, Corgis, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Mastiffs, and Ridgebacks.

Currently, there is no scientifically proven effective treatment for degenerative myelopathy. Veterinarians may be able to treat some of the symptoms related to the condition to relieve discomfort. A healthy diet and plenty of exercise, including walking and swimming, are essential tools for dogs affected by degenerative myelopathy. Best Friends rescue adds, “Intensive physical rehabilitation and selected assistive equipment…can extend a dog’s survival time by up to three years, versus six months to a year for dogs who do not receive therapy.”

While this sounds like very bad news—and it is—there are some silver linings. The first is that, as the disease progresses, your dog will experience very little pain. The second is that you likely have time left together—possibly even years.

To make the best of it, you’ll need a strategy, as well as some new gear to compensate for your pup’s declining mobility. Here’s what helped Gus (and me).

1. Give ’Em the Boot(s) …

Search for “dog boots” on Amazon and you’ll be presented with nearly 800 choices. If that sounds overwhelming, wait until you read the reviews. One man’s “god-send” of a boot is another’s (and I quote) “stupid piece of junk.” After many failed attempts (and a lot of wasted money), I finally figured out that for a dog with degenerative myelopathy, only two things matter: that the boot will stay on despite the repetitive dragging motion, and that it is durable enough to withstand the friction. A boot with a high, adjustable ankle section takes care of the first requirement; flipping the boot upside down is my best advice for the second. I found that placing the boots sole-side-up didn’t affect Gus’s ability to walk in them and meant they weren’t a shredded mess after just a walk or two. 

2. …And the Ol’ Heave Ho

If he doesn’t already, your dog will need rear-end support. Many people use a simple beach towel as a support sling for stairs and slippery flooring. After a few false starts, I found a full-body harness (I settled on this one, but there are lots of others) with a front handle near the shoulder and another near the hips. At first, this allowed me to assist Gus every now and then. Near the end of his life, his “butt handle” as I took to calling it, was essential for helping him use the bathroom and picking him up quickly when he fell.

3. Find a Community

Studies show that physical therapy can more than quadruple the survival time in dogs with DM. I can attest that after his weekly underwater treadmill sessions, Gus seemed a little stronger and more dexterous. But those appointments provided us with something even better—a team. Talking to the physical therapists each week made me feel less alone dealing with the challenges of DM, which can sometimes feel like a lot.

Another unexpected bonus of physical therapy was the veritable lending library of gear at our fingertips. After dogs with DM pass, their owners often donate the cabinet full of boots and harnesses they’ve accumulated. Because of their generosity, we were able to try out different boots and slings, as well as borrow a wheelchair, which can cost hundreds of dollars for larger dogs like Gus.

4. Take Care of Yourself

In the last few months of Gus’s life, when his back legs had all but given out, I carried him up the stairs every night like a wheelbarrow. In the morning, I would hoist him out of bed and ease him down the stairs using that trusty butt handle, which seemed to be in my hands for most of the day. I am not ashamed to admit that facilitating nearly every movement of my 80-pound dog was physically exhausting. Caring for a dog with canine degenerative myelopathy will require your strength, so make sure you’re getting your own exercise in, too.

5. Write It Down

Gus’s DM progressed in stops and starts. One day he crossed the hardwood floor with confidence, and the next, he looked to me for help. Sometimes weeks and months would go by with little sign of deterioration. This made it difficult for me to accurately assess his quality of life, which is an essential factor in the hardest part of this disease: deciding when it’s time to let your dog go. My best and cheapest piece of degenerative myelopathy-related gear was a notebook in which I jotted a few notes each night detailing Gus’s challenges that day, as well as the things he was able to do well. Most importantly, I kept track of his mood and temperament. Not only did these pages help me feel more certain about when it was time to say goodbye, they now serve as a reminder of our time together, and just how much I loved him.

The post 5 Tips for Helping Your Dog with Degenerative Myelopathy appeared first on My Doggy Blog.

Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD), sometimes known as “cognitive dysfunction syndrome,” is similar to dementia in humans. While there is no cure for CCD, there are plenty of ways to improve your elderly dog’s well-being, happiness, and sense of security in their twilight years.

Here are six of the best tips for caring for dogs with canine cognitive disorder.

1. Stick to a Regular Routine

All dogs benefit from a consistent routine. Knowing when they go out, when you’re at home and when it’s time to settle for the night is reassuring. However, routines are especially important for dogs suffering from CCD. An inconsistent schedule can raise anxiety and may make CCD symptoms worse.

While it can be challenging to stick to an exact schedule, try to ensure that your dog’s waking and sleeping hours are kept as consistent as possible. This helps to reduce night-time confusion.

Potty breaks and walks should also be done at the same times each day or at least performed in the same order if you struggle to keep to a set time every day. Factoring more supervised potty breaks into your routine can also help to decrease the number of accidents inside.

2. Avoid Changing Your Home Environment

Unfortunately, aside from the confusion brought about by CCD, your aging dog is also likely to suffer some blindness. Vision loss may make it more difficult for your pet to move around the home. For this reason, you should keep your dog’s food, water, and bed in easily accessible positions and avoid moving them. Similarly, try to keep furniture in a consistent location.

It’s also important to minimize clutter as this can present a trip hazard. If your dog is becoming unstable on their paws, place non-slip mats on slippery surfaces so your pooch will feel more secure.

3. Plenty of Patience

You’ll need plenty of patience to look after a dog with canine dementia. Even when maintaining a consistent schedule, frequent indoor accidents and forgotten training are commonplace occurrences. Frustrating as it may be, this isn’t your dog’s fault, so practice plenty of patience.

Dogs with CCD may also forget familiar people or react undesirably towards new ones. Make sure that you explain the situation to any guests at your home, asking them to remain calm and quiet. Allow your dog to greet them in their own time, rather than having a lot of new faces crowding around their dog bed.

4. Talk with your Veterinarian

Although there is no cure for CCD, it is still worth speaking to your veterinarian about medication or nutritional supplements. While your dog will never revert to their younger self, there are ways to treat the symptoms. Simple changes to diet, medications, and supplements can help keep your dog happier and calmer in their final years.

Veterinary Partner recommends supplements rich in antioxidants or medium-chain triglycerides, noting that the latter “provides energy to the dog’s brain, which is helpful because the brain is less able to use glucose for energy in CCD.” According to one scientific study, a change of diet has been shown to make significant improvements in CDS signs after 90 days.

5. Gentle Exercise

While your dog is no longer going to be running energetically around the park, exercise is still essential. Physical and mental stimulation can slow down cognitive decline and reduce anxiety.

Take short walks at a slow pace, letting your dog move at a comfortable gait. Allow your dog to sniff and take their time exploring new smells, as this is great stimulation for their mind. If possible, try to take your dog for a walk during the day rather than early morning or evening. Walks during sunlight hours can help to reduce the occurrence of nocturnal barking and daytime sleepiness that are commonly associated with CCD.

6. Mental Stimulation

Strenuous exercise may not be suitable for your elderly dog, but that doesn’t mean the end of playtime!

Mental stimulation is essential for senior dogs and slowing down CCD symptoms. Simple games such as hiding treats, stuffing Kongs or snuffle mats with treats, or playing with a favorite squeaky toy can all help activate your dog’s brain and make them feel less anxious.

While your dog may not play like in the past, games are still important – even if they are shorter and less intense. Not only are you helping to keep your pet mentally active, but you’re also strengthening the bond between you, which is vital for your dog’s happiness.

Make sure that you take things at your dog’s pace. Don’t forget lots of caresses and praise can do wonders for reassuring your dog. As the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois recommends:

“Make changes gradually and introduce activities that are within the physical and mental capabilities of your dog or cat. For example, while there are many food puzzle toys available for dogs and cats, offer toys that are fairly simple to manipulate (such as a Kong) unless your dog or cat is already a food puzzle pro.”

So, keep it simple, choose simple toys, and, above all, take time to maintain a strong bond with your dog.

If you suspect that your dog is suffering from CCD, make sure that you get the advice of a qualified veterinarian who can help you both to make the most of life together in the coming years. While having a dog with CCD can be emotionally distressing and tiring, these tips will help you to improve your dog’s quality of life in their twilight years.

The post 6 Tips for Caring for Dogs With Canine Cognitive Dysfunction appeared first on My Doggy Blog.

I have always been a dog lover, but it wasn’t until I met my partner, Melanie, and her chihuahua, Emma, during graduate school that a dog became permanently part of my life. Emma is the boss. She is known for being immensely loyal to her people and often skeptical of newcomers, especially men; it took Emma and me all of five minutes to become the best of friends, so much so that Emma is credited with completing one-quarter of my PhD thesis.

Upon moving back to Toronto to start work at SCIEX, a company that assists scientists with complex data, Melanie and I knew that we needed another set of paws in the house. With the help of Texas Chihuahua Rescue, we adopted Angela. Calm, submissive, and a little shy, Angela has become the perfect complement and partner to our excitable, passionate and assertive Emma.

As any dog lover, Melanie and I were distressed and concerned to read about the canine and other pet deaths that occurred at the end of last year because of food poisoned by mycotoxins. This hit particularly close to home because my work at SCIEX involves the development of new technologies and methods to screen foodstuffs for contaminants such as mycotoxins.

What are Mycotoxins?

Mycotoxins are naturally occurring poisonous chemicals produced by certain molds and fungi. They can grow on various crops and foodstuffs, including cereals, nuts, spices, dried fruits, apples, and coffee beans, especially when conditions are warm and humid. Contamination can happen at several points during food production because molds can grow on living crop plants, harvested fruits and grains, and stored processed food products. Most mycotoxins are chemically stable enough to survive food processing. They remain toxic even after breakdown into byproduct metabolites that can be found in the milk of animals that have been fed contaminated feed.

Eating mycotoxin-contaminated food can make humans and animals severely ill and even be lethal when certain mycotoxins, like aflatoxins, are ingested in large doses. Aflatoxins are relatively common mycotoxins, which can damage the liver.

Mycotoxins can also have long-term impacts on health, such as inducing cancers and immune deficiency. There are several hundreds of mycotoxins known, but many remain unidentified, sometimes because these mycotoxins are difficult to detect. These “masked mycotoxins” and other newly “emerging mycotoxins” are causing growing concern within the food safety and security industry.

How are foods screened for them?

Final food products and raw ingredients are routinely screened for mycotoxin contamination using advanced analytical chemistry methods involving liquid chromatography (LC) combined with mass spectrometry (MS). The LC technique is used to separate out the different component compounds in the food based on the other physical properties of each of the components. These compounds are then detected, identified, and quantified based on their chemical properties, namely their mass to charge ratio, using MS technologies. Spurred on by the emergence of masked and other newly discovered mycotoxins and the growing need of scientists to better detect these toxins, SCIEX developed detection methods using LC-MS, the latest of which can detect 530 mycotoxins at a time, quickly and precisely.

How do you protect yourself and your dog from mycotoxin threats?

Although a dog’s super-sense of smell is able to detect molds, that doesn’t necessarily mean they will steer clear of them. As any pupper’s person can attest, dogs will eat, sniff or lick (almost) anything resembling food – moldy or not. To try and minimize their risk of getting sick, stay vigilant.

• Deter them from rooting around compost heaps, piles of moldy leaves, wild mushrooms, or trash cans containing rotting food.
• You can also minimize the risks at home by ensuring food is properly dried and stored.
• Avoid keeping food in warm and humid conditions, which are perfect for mold growth.
• Check foods such as whole grains, dried fruits, and nuts regularly and discard any that look moldy, discolored, or shriveled.
• Buy grains and nuts as fresh as possible and store them properly in dry and cool conditions, away from insects.
• Avoid damaging grains before drying and storing, and minimize the amount of time that foods are stored before being eaten.
• Check out the FDA’s health notices for dog food recalls and advisories.

It is important to note that molds that produce mycotoxins can penetrate deep into food and do not just grow on the surface.

Watch out for symptoms that they may be sick, including confusion, vomiting, and loss of appetite. They may also have neurological symptoms such as tremors, seizures, or ataxia (which will look like they are drunk or having trouble walking). If your best friend displays any neurological symptoms or any of these symptoms in combination, take them to your vet for a check-up.

By taking these measures, we can do our best to keep our best friends and ourselves safe and protected while making the most of our de facto “colleagues” as we work from home.

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As anyone who has ever lived with a dog will know, it often feels like we don’t get enough time with our furry friends. Most dogs only live around ten to 14 years on average – though some may naturally live longer, while others may be predisposed to certain diseases that can limit their lifespan.

But what many people don’t know is that humans and dogs share many genetic similarities – including a predisposition to age-related cancer. This means that many of the things humans can do to be healthier and longer lived may also work for dogs.

Here are just a few ways that you might help your dog live a longer, healthier life.

1. Watch their waistline

One factor that’s repeatedly linked with longevity across a range of species is maintaining a healthy bodyweight. That means ensuring dogs aren’t carrying excess weight, and managing their calorie intake carefully. Not only will a lean, healthy bodyweight be better for your dog in the long term, it can also help to limit the impact of certain health conditions, such as osteoarthritis.

Carefully monitor and manage your dog’s bodyweight through regular weighing or body condition scoring – where you look at your dog’s physical shape and “score” them on a scale to check whether they’re overweight, or at a healthy weight. Using both of these methods together will allow you to identify weight changes and alter their diet as needed.

Use feeding guidelines as a starting point for how much to feed your dog, but you might need to change food type or the amount you feed to maintain a healthy weight as your dog gets older, or depending on how much activity they get. Knowing exactly how much you are feeding your dog is also a crucial weight-management tool – so weigh their food rather than scooping it in by eye.

More generally, good nutrition can be linked to a healthy ageing process, suggesting that what you feed can be as important as how much you feed. “Good” nutrition will vary for each dog, but be sure to look for foods that are safe, tasty and provide all the nutrients your dog needs.

2. Plenty of walks

Exercise has many physiological and psychological benefits, both for our dogs (and us). Physical activity can help to manage a dog’s bodyweight, and is also associated with anti-ageing effects in other genetically similar species.

While exercise alone won’t increase your dog’s lifespan, it might help protect you both from carrying excess bodyweight. And indeed, research suggests that “happy” dog walks lead to both happy dogs and people.

3. Teach them new tricks

Ageing isn’t just physical. Keeping your dog’s mind active is also helpful. Contrary to the popular adage, you can teach old dogs new tricks – and you might just keep their brain and body younger as a result.

Even when physical activity might be limited, explore alternative low-impact games and pursuits, such as scentwork that you and your dog can do together. Using their nose is an inherently rewarding and fun thing for dogs to do, so training dogs to find items by scent will exercise them both mentally and physically.

Other exercise such as hydrotherapy – a type of swimming exercise – might be a good option – especially for dogs who have conditions which affect their ability to exercise as normal.

4. Bonding

Like many companion animals, dogs develop a clear attachment to their caregivers. The human-dog bond likely provides companionship – and often, dog lovers describe them as a family member.

A stable caregiver-dog bond can help maintain a happy and mutually beneficial partnership between you and your dog. It can also help you recognise subtle changes in your dog’s behaviour or movement that might signal potential concerns.

Where there is compatability between caregiver and dog, this leads to a better relationship – and even benefits for owners, too, including stress relief and exercise. Sharing positive, fun experiences with your dog, including playing with them, are great for cementing your bond.

5. Don’t skip vet visits

Modern veterinary medicine has seen substantial improvements in preventing and managing health concerns in dogs. Successful vaccination and parasite management programmes have effectively reduced the incidence of disease in both dogs and humans – including toxocariasis, which can be transmitted from dog faeces to humans, and rabies, which can be transmitted dog-to-dog or dog-to-human.

Having a good relationship with your vet will allow you to tailor treatments and discuss your dog’s needs. Regular health checks can also be useful in identifying any potential problems at a treatable stage – such as dental issues or osteoarthritis – which can cause pain and negatively impact the dog’s wellbeing.

At the end of the day, it’s a combination of our dog’s genetics and the environment they live in that impacts their longevity. So while we can’t change their genetics, there are many things we can do to improve their health that may just help them live a longer, healthier life.

The post 5 Ways to Help Your Dog Live a Longer, Healthier Life appeared first on My Doggy Blog.

While there are many diseases, illnesses, and threats to your dog’s health for dog parents in the southwest, there’s another hidden danger—Valley Fever. According to Veterinary Information Network it’s estimated that 60% of those infected with Valley Fever don’t show any symptoms. But for that other 40 %, it’s another story.

Valley Fever is a fungal disease that is most common in humans and frequently affects dogs and other species. Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis) is caused by a fungus called Coccidiodes immitis. Other common names for the disease are California disease, San Joaquin Valley Fever, and desert rheumatism.

The fungus that causes Valley Fever in dogs lives in dry soil. There are many areas in the United States where the fungus has been found in the dirt, including Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Washington. The climate is an important factor in fungus transmission, as the spores will be found in arid, dry areas.

Valley Fever is unique in the fact that it can affect a wide range of species. The condition has been diagnosed in humans, dogs, cows, horses, deer, llamas, mules, apes, monkeys, tigers, kangaroos, wallabies, bears, otters, fish, and dolphins.

Of all the animal species that can be affected by Valley Fever, dogs tend to be the most susceptible. It is normal for dogs to sniff the ground and dig in the dirt, but these behaviors result in them inhaling the coccidiodes spores. Inhalation of the spores leads to a high rate of Valley Fever.

Symptoms of Valley Fever in Dogs

Initially, the spores are inhaled into the dog’s nasal passages and lungs. Here they become spherules. If the dog is a healthy adult with a well-functioning immune system, the spherules will be walled off, and the body will rid itself of them. These dogs rarely show any signs of illness.

In other cases, when a dog is very young, very old, or has a compromised immune system, the spherules grow larger and larger until they burst. When this occurs, they release large amounts of spherules that move on to infect other areas of the body. This cycle is how the disease progresses unchecked in dogs with weak immune systems.

There are two forms of Valley Fever, localized and disseminated.

Localized infections are limited to the dog’s lungs. Signs include:

• Cough
• Fever
• Lack of Appetite
• Tiredness

Disseminated infections occur when the fungus spreads from the respiratory tract to other areas of the body. Often, the skeletal system is affected, and the fungus attacks the bones and the joints. Signs include:

• Lameness
• Swollen Joints
• Heat in the Joints
• Loss of Appetite
• Tiredness
• Fever
• Weight Loss

Any dog living in, or with travel history to, the regions where Valley Fever is common that exhibits these signs should be examined by a veterinarian as promptly as possible.

Transmission of Valley Fever

Coccidiodes immitis is a unique fungus in that it has the ability to survive dry weather by entering a spore phase. When the conditions are not dry, the fungus exists as a mold in the environment. Dry weather forces the fungus to sporulate, and it may stay in this form for years. When the dirt is disturbed by a dog through sniffing or digging, the spores are inhaled. Wind and rain can also cause the spores to become airborne, enabling them to be inhaled. Once inhaled into the dog, the spores change into the spherules that infect the dog as their host.

Because the inhalation of fungal spores causes this disease, there is no danger of human-to-human or dog-to-dog transmission. This means that Valley Fever is not a contagious disease.

Diagnosing

Valley Fever should be suspected in all dogs that are exhibiting clinical signs and that live, or have traveled to, areas where the disease is common. A dog that may be infected should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Diagnosis of Valley Fever will be made via a titer test which will determine if the dog possesses antibodies to the coccidiodes fungus. Dogs should also have complete blood work, a urinalysis, and chest x-rays to determine the extent of the disease.

Treatment of Valley Fever in Dogs

Treatment of Valley Fever in dogs consists of long-term oral antifungal medications. These medications are necessary for months to years, and the duration will be determined by the severity of the dog’s infection and the response to treatment. Because the drugs needed to treat this condition can have side effects affecting the liver and other organs, routine bloodwork will be necessary throughout treatment.

The most commonly prescribed medications for Valley Fever include ketoconazole, itraconazole, and fluconazole. The treating veterinarian will choose the most appropriate medication for the dog. Most dogs started on antifungal medications show improvement in the first 14 days of treatment.

The prognosis for most dogs with Valley Fever is good, and it has been reported that more than 90% of dogs diagnosed with and treated for Valley Fever will survive. In general, the earlier the disease is diagnosed, and treatment is begun, the better the prognosis. Sadly, some dogs affected by the disseminated form, especially if they are severely immunocompromised, have a poor prognosis and will succumb to the disease. It is essential to continue the antifungal medications as long as necessary, or many dogs will relapse. Periodic blood tests to evaluate organ function, as well as fungal titers to determine the efficacy of the medication, are vital.

As always, if you are concerned about the health of your pet, please contact your veterinarian. The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not meant as a substitute for professional advice from a veterinarian or other professional.

The post Valley Fever in Dogs (Coccidioidomycosis) — Signs and Treatments appeared first on My Doggy Blog.

Happy tail syndrome is a bit of a misnomer. This frustrating problem is a challenge to treat and makes both owner and dog feel rather unhappy. So, what gives this unhappy condition the happy name? It’s all in the tail wag. You’ve probably experienced the strong whip of a dog’s tail before and that’s the problem. A dog with expressive wagging can get themselves in a pickle if they wag too much and too hard. The good news is you can stop happy tail syndrome from escalating if caught early. There are several treatment options available, but it requires a bit of patience and teamwork with your veterinarian.

What Is Happy Tail Syndrome?

We love to see dogs happy—floppy tongues, wiggle bottoms, and tails wagging—but for some dogs, these overjoyed moments result in excessive wagging, with the dog’s tail whacking so hard that the tip gets injured in the process. The repeated slaps of the tail in contact with walls, doorways, and other hard surfaces result in an open wound for these dogs. In some cases, the tail damage may even include broken vertebrae or damaged tendons.

Over at Veterinary Information Network, Tony Johnson, DVM uses a humorous analogy to describe happy tail saying it’s as “if you went into a grocery store with a sock, grabbed a tomato and put it inside the sock and just started whacking random things and innocent grocery shoppers with it.” You can imagine what your home might look like after an experience like that—a bloody mess.

Happy tail syndrome is more often seen in large short-haired dogs with muscular tails like Labrador Retrievers, Pit Bulls, Great Danes, Greyhounds, Dobermans, and similar breeds.

The (other) problem with happy tail syndrome is that it is incredibly difficult for vets to treat. The tip of the tail where injuries most often occur is, as Dr. Johnson says, “an amazingly difficult” spot to bandage—it tends to fall off easily. These dogs are likely over-exuberant, excitable, and happy tail waggers—regardless of the pain they are experiencing—which makes it almost impossible to keep the wound covered and clean.

Because of all these difficulties, happy tail syndrome is often a recurring challenge. In the worst scenarios, a dog may even require tail amputation.

So, what’s a caring pet owner to do? Getting a dog to wag less is a perplexing dilemma for pet owners. Dr. Johnson quips, “Plenty [of dog tails] stop bleeding on their own, or the dog gets less happy and maybe watches a Nicholas Sparks movie or something… Something sad and wagless, maybe with a Sarah McLachlan soundtrack.”

Happy Tail Syndrome Treatment

Happy tail syndrome rapidly escalates, so if you see raw, reddened, or irritated tail skin, contact your veterinarian to discuss the situation before it worsens. Your veterinarian will likely recommend that the wound be cleaned and wrapped in a bandage as a first step. A soft recovery collar (cone) will be helpful to keep your dog from licking or pulling off the bandage.

If you’re unable to manage treatment at home or the bandages just won’t stay put, talk to your vet again about other options. Your vet may need to get creative in keeping the wound clean and wrapped—some vets have used pool noodles and different types of padding to get the job done.

Some potential treatment options might include minor stitching, K-laser treatments, and even surgical amputation if the happy tail worsens.

Happy tail is messy and complicated. While we can’t bubblewrap the whole house, we can keep a vigilant eye out. With a bit of patience and love, we can keep enjoying those goofy tail wags without worry.

The post What is Happy Tail Syndrome in Dogs? appeared first on My Doggy Blog.

This article explores the topics of seizures and epilepsy in dogs. In particular, it looks at some of the research on the natural compound cannabidiol, also known as CBD oil, and its anticonvulsant properties. Finally, it covers the state of research in veterinary medicine regarding CBD for dog seizures.

According to theAKC Health Foundation, seizures in dogs can have a variety of causes, including exposure to toxins, illness, injury, a specific stimulus (such as a loud noise) or problems with metabolism. Three basic categories of seizures in dogs have been identified:

• Idiopathic Epilepsy: The most common type of seizure activity in dogs, particularly dogs between six months and six years of age. “Idiopathic” means that after using diagnostic testing to rule out possible conditions, there is no identifiable cause for the seizures. It is thought that at least some of these idiopathic seizures are inherited conditions, as some breeds, including Boxers and other Bully types, seem to have them more frequently.

Although a single epileptic seizure may not cause any lasting harm, multiple seizures over a short period of time, or seizures lasting more than a few minutes, can damage a dog’s brain and predispose the dog to more frequent and severe seizure activity in the future.

• Structural Epilepsy: Damage to the brain, from either illness or injury. An example would be brain damage after a head injury, stroke or inflammatory disease. In many, but not all, cases, other behavioral or motor-coordination changes may also be present. Dogs who are less than one year or more than five years old at the time seizures begin are more likely to have structural epilepsy or reactive seizures than to have idiopathic epilepsy. Diagnostic tests, such as blood work and an MRI of the brain, are often needed to identify the underlying cause of the seizure activity.

• Reactive Seizures: Seizures in response to a known trigger, such as a certain type of food or a poison. While not considered a marker for epilepsy, this type of seizure can be a sign of a serious underlying medical condition such as hypoglycemia, electrolyte imbalances or hepatic encephalopathy. Reactive seizures can sometimes be cured if the underlying problem can be identified and corrected.

While some seizures may be relatively benign (for example, idiopathic head tremors common to Bully breeds), in other cases, they may be a sign of a serious medical condition such as acute poisoning, injury or an illness that needs immediate medical care. If your dog experiences a seizure, consult your veterinarian, who will perform the diagnostic tests necessary to rule out a serious problem and to suggest a course of treatment.

Traditional Medications for Seizures in Dogs

Treatment of canine seizures varies depending on their root cause. This may include dietary changes; treating an underlying cause (such as a metabolic disorder); and/or the use of anticonvulsants such as phenobarbital, potassium bromide, zonisamide and levetiracetam.

One of the things to keep in mind about anticonvulsant pharmaceuticals is that once a dog goes on them, most veterinarians are likely to recommend that they stay on them for life. In cases of idiopathic epilepsy, where the seizures are short and infrequent and more serious causes have been ruled out, you and your vet may decide not to put your dog on an anticonvulsant medication and instead, deal with occasional seizures when they occur.

Research on CBD and Epilepsy

TheFDA approved the first pharmaceutical drug based on CBD oil in 2018 under the brand name Epidiolex. This drug is now being used to treat rare forms of drug-resistant childhood epilepsy. Unlike other drugs that use synthetic versions of the compounds found in the cannabis family of plants, this medication for seizures is the first to be based on an extract from the hemp plant itself: cannabidiol (CBD).

The move came as no surprise. In fact, robust scientific research has repeatedly demonstrated the anticonvulsant properties of this natural compound, which were known as long ago as 1973. CBD shares this property with several other cannabinoids naturally found in the cannabis family, although, unlike its cousin THC, cannabidiol has no psychoactive effect. That is, it doesn’t cause a high or have a euphoric effect. As a result, over the last few decades, it has been the subject of dozens of medical studies concerning its antiseizure properties.

Research into cannabis-based medicine has been hindered by legal issues surrounding cannabis. However, when the2018 Farm Bill reinstated the agricultural production of hemp in the United States, the door was opened for scientists to finally investigate the medicinal properties of this special strain of cannabis, which is very high in CBD and very low in THC.

Research on CBD Oil for Dog Seizures

It’s common for research in veterinary medicine to fall several years behind human medicine. In the case of cannabis, the same issues that limited research in human medicine—funding and the legal status of cannabis use—have also affected the veterinary community.

However, because the anticonvulsant properties of CBD have been known by the scientific community for quite some time, the change in the legal status of hemp and the FDA approval of Epidiolex encouraged veterinary researchers to investigate the safety of CBD oil for dog seizures, as well as its potential in veterinary medicine.

Leaders in this area include researchers at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Colorado State University. In June 2019, they released thefindings of the first clinical trial on the effects of hemp oil for seizures in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy who were also undergoing traditional anticonvulsant therapies.

Although the sample size was relatively small (n=26), the results were encouraging. The CBD group was administered 2.5 mg/kg twice daily for 12 weeks in addition to their antiseizure medication, while the control group stayed on antiseizure medication alone. Although both groups showed response to treatment (defined as a 50 percent or more reduction in seizures), those who received the CBD oil in addition to the traditional anticonvulsant showed a 33 percent median reduction in the frequency of seizures over the dogs who received only traditional anticonvulsant drugs.

To put it more simply, this study showed that CBD enhanced the antiseizure effects of traditional medications. The researchers also noted a positive correlation between the plasma concentration of CBD and a proportionate reduction in seizures, suggesting that more research needs to be done on how CBD is metabolized in canines to establish the best dosing guidelines.

Thanks to a grant from the AKC Health Foundation, the same group of researchers aims to start a new clinical trial with a larger sample of epileptic dogs, and is currently seeking participants. This 12-week trial should result in new insights into the effectiveness of CBD oil for dog epilepsy.

What to Look for in a High-Quality CBD Oil for Dogs

If you’re considering CBD oil for your dog, work with your veterinarian to make sure you have a proper diagnosis and an approved treatment plan first. If you and your vet decide to try CBD as part of a treatment plan for your dog’s seizures, do your research to find a high-quality CBD oil made especially for pets.

The CBD market is a rapidly growing and largely unregulated industry. That being said, there are some great products out there. To ensure that you’re getting the highest-quality pet CBD products, look for companies that:

• Source their CBD from sustainable hemp farmers who make sure their soil is free of harmful toxins, which can make a dog very sick.

• Carefully and safely extract CBD using high-quality CO2 extraction. This extraction method uses low temperatures and pressures that preserve the therapeutic nutrients of the hemp plant. It’s also an eco-friendly method that’s better for the planet.

• List all the active and inactive ingredients found in each of their CBD pet products. This includes flavors, carrier oils and the exact milligrams (mg) of CBD.

• Have their products thoroughly tested by an accredited third party to ensure that the final product is accurately labeled, effectively potent and safe for your dog to consume.

• Provide all lab test results and additional testing information about their CBD pet products on their website.

• Offer outstanding customer service. Providing a well-trained and well-informed support team should outweigh product profitability.

• Has a commitment to animal welfare. Look for a charitable company that partners with animal rescue organizations by donating both a portion of their sales as well as products to rescue groups working to help abandoned, neglected and abused companion animals find their forever homes.

The post CBD Oil and Dog Seizures appeared first on My Doggy Blog.

If your mixed-breed pup has really unique markings, curious behavioral tendencies, or chronic health issues, you can’t help but wonder where those traits came from. Are Poodle-like curls a sign that your dog could be hypoallergenic? Is your puppy nipping your ankles and herding your kids because they’re part Cattle Dog? Does your fluffy, escape artist have husky genes? Are those Dalmatian spots? What type of dog do I have?

Guessing a mixed-breed dog’s ancestry is a lot harder than it looks — studies show that identifying a dog’s breed by their physical appearance is only correct 25% of the time. Enter: Dog DNA tests. Thanks to this technology, it is incredibly easy (and fun) to dig into your dog’s genetics and discover their origins. But not all tests are created equal: Some dog DNA tests offer more in-depth breed detection and on-point genetic information than others. Why does that matter? Many dog breeds are predisposed to certain inherited health and behavioral characteristics. For example, Labrador Retrievers are prone to proopiomelanocortin (POMC) deficiency, which causes severe obesity that begins at an early age, and herding dog breeds often test positive for the Multidrug Resistance Mutation (MDR1) gene, which puts them at a higher risk for medical complications during otherwise common procedures due to medication sensitivities.

But with your lovable mutt’s genetic information at your fingertips, you can not only be aware of potential genetic conditions to keep an eye out for, but you can also be a proactive pet parent and schedule annual tests to get ahead of the game. Think of it this way — if there was a particular health issue in your own family history, you would take the steps to prevent yourself from inheriting it, right? Well, pets are family too!

Dog DNA test kits are generally affordable and simple to use — you are just a cheek swab away from getting to know all about your pup. But which DNA test should you choose? We did some recon and found that the Wisdom Panel dog DNA test was by far the best in class because it boasts the world’s largest breed database, ensuring its results are over 98% accurate. Below, we break down more reasons why it beats the competition…

1. Wisdom Panel PremiumThe Bark’s Top Pick!

With the Wisdom Panel dog DNA test, you’re getting a superior product at a reasonable price. The science behind it was developed by world-class geneticists and veterinarians. And as of 2021, Wisdom Panel tracks over 40x more genetic points per sample, making it the most comprehensive and most accurate dog DNA test on the market. Their breed library (more than 350 breeds and counting) is larger than any other DNA tests, so the rarest of breeds won’t slip through the cracks. Then their easy-to-use interface makes it effortless to view your dog’s breed breakdown — listing each breed in the mix all the way down to 1% — with over 98% accuracy. 

You can even trace your pup’s ancestry back to their great-grandparents! But the best part? With more than 210 genetic health tests, from drug sensitivities to vision disorders to mobility problems, you’ll be better prepared when it comes to your pet’s health. And if you still have questions, Wisdom Panel offers a free consultation with a licensed vet to explain your dog’s health results. 

• Over 98% accurate
• Screens for 350+ breeds
• 210+ genetic health tests
• 35+ trait tests including coat type, color, and ideal weight
• Multi-generational family tree
• Veterinarian consultation available
• $159

wisdompanel.com

2. Embark Health & Breed ID

The Embark Dog DNA test also helps dog owners learn more about their dog’s breed makeup and health risks. Their Relative Finder feature will notify you if other dogs who have taken the test share a common ancestor with your pup. Embark also shares photos of dogs who have similar breed mixes so you can see other cute pups like yours.

• Screens for 350+ breeds
• 200+ genetic health tests
• Canine Relative Finder feature
• Veterinarian consultation available
• $199

embarkvet.com

3. DNA My Dog

The DNA My Dog test is a good option for budget shoppers just curious about their dog’s breed mix. While it doesn’t screen for nearly as many breeds or offer insights into your pet’s health, this bare-bones pet dna test is easy to use and requires no technical (iPhone app) skills. After swabbing your dog, you simply mail the sample and wait for results to arrive 2-3 weeks later by email as a PDF.

• Screens for 100+ breeds
• Easy to use, no login required
• Shows DNA breakdown of breeds by level, rather than a percentage
•  Limited health information
• $68.99

dnamydog.com

4. Orivet Mixed-Breed Identification

Orivet has DNA-profiled over 150,000 dogs and cats since it launched in October 2010, but in that time, the interface for the Orivet Mixed-Breed Identification remains less intuitive than that of its competitors. Orivet dog DNA test kit provides adult weight prediction for puppies, nutritional suggestions, and can give you alerts and advice on routine health care.

• Screens for 350+ breeds
• Weight prediction (for pets under 12 months)
• Shows DNA breakdown of breeds percentage
• Targeted for breeders and vets
•  Limited health information
• $109.00

orivet.com

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