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Dog Ear Infection Symptoms

Jun 082012

You must have noticed foul smell from your dog’s ears or shaking of head frequently, this means that your dog is probably suffering from ear infection. Dog Ear Infection Symptoms are caused due to several reasons like increase in bacteria and yeast inside the ear. This increase is stimulated by presence of moisture in the ears and humid climate which is a very favorable condition for yeast. Dogs that are more prone to allergies are at higher risk of suffering from Ear Infection. Allergy can cause inflammation in the ear which causes changes in the level of bacteria and yeast present inside the ear. Breeds of dogs that have more hair in their ear show Dog Ear Infection Symptoms because the hairs block the flow of air and leads to growth in bacteria. Improper hygienic conditions can also cause Infection in the ears. You may observe several other Dog Ear Infection Symptoms in your pet as listed below.

Dog Ear Infection Symptoms

Increase In Ear Wax

You will notice excessive accumulation of dark colored ear wax inside your dog’s ear. Ear wax provides the perfect moist condition for the development of yeast and bacteria.

Smelly Ears

An unpleasant odor from the ear is a very common Dog Ear Infection Symptom. This unusual smell is due to the increase in yeasts inside the ear.

Redness

If you observe properly then you may notice Redness and Inflammation of the ear canal of your pet. This is mainly caused due to the allergens.

Dizziness

The dog may feel dizzy. He will face difficulty in maintaining balance and may show unusual walking movements. He may walk around in circles and sometimes may not follow your instructions.

Unusual Head Movements

The dog will shake his head excessively. Your dog will often scratch ears with his paw. The infection causes excessive irritation in the ears so in order to soothe himself he scratches his ears. Sometimes the dog tilts his head to one side.

Ear Discharge

Black or yellow color discharge is a common symptom of the infections. Often, you may notice blood discharge along with other discharges.

Oversensitive Ears

The dog may react and bark out of pain if you touch its ears. Ears become oversensitive due to the infection.

Abnormal Eye Movement

The dogs look from left to right frequently and are unable to look in one direction for long. This Dog Ear Infection Symptom is referred to as Nystagmus.

If you observe Dog Ear Infection Symptoms and have any doubt that your dog may be suffering from infection then you must take him to a veterinarian immediately because delay may increase the complications. The Vet will mainly prescribe antihistamines for the itching, solutions to loosen the wax deposits inside the ear and medications to curb the growth of bacteria and yeast. On your part as a pet owner, you must take ample care of his hygiene. Take proper care to keep the ears dry especially in humid conditions and keep your dog away from allergens which may cause infections.

Diabetes Insipidus In Dogs

Pet Health No Responses »

Jun 012012

Diabetes Insipidus In Dogs is a disease which affects the water metabolism of the body, preventing the body from conserving water in the body. Kidney is unable to reabsorb water from the fluids which is excreted as urine. As a result of it the dog urinates excessively. Dogs that have central DI show symptoms after 5 yrs however, those suffering from nephrogenic DI may show the symptoms as early as 5 to 12 month of age. It is a very rare and chronic disease. The main causes of Insipidus disease are

Causes of Diabetes Insipidus In Dogs:

Heredity

It is found that Insipidus Diabetes is passed on from one generation to the other. So if the parents of the dog were suffering from diabetes Insipidus then the risk increases for the dog.

Central Diabetes Insipidus

DI is a metabolic disorder, caused due to limited production of a specific hormone called ADH (Anti-Diuretic Hormone) by the pituitary gland.

Nephrogenic Diabetes Disorder

Kidney does not respond to the ADH levels in the body. Congenital defects and drugs are the major reason of this disorder.

Major Symptoms Of Diabetes Insipidus In Dogs

Polyuria

You will notice that your dog is urinating excessively. This is the characteristic symptom of the disease. ADH controls the amount of water to be absorbed by the kidney but when the kidney stops to respond to ADH or there is limited production of ADH then water is not absorbed which leads to frequent and excessive urination?

Polydipsia

When the dog is urinating too much then it is obvious that the dog will feel thirsty more often because of decreased level of water in the body. This condition is also called polydipsia. Both the symptoms are interdependent.

Other symptoms includes:

Loss Of coordination
Dull Coat
Seizures
Collapse
Tremors

Diagnosis

There are various procedures in the diagnosis of Diabetes Insipidus In Dogs which are listed below

Reviewing the medical history
Blood count Examination
Urine Culture
Imaging Tests
Adrenal Gland Test
Water deprivation Test

Treatment forDiabetes Insipidus In Dogs:

The treatment of Diabetes Insipidus In Dogs requires a proper combination of therapies and medications. Desmopressin is very effective in the treatment as it performs the job of the ADH in the body. Chlorothiazide helps to concentrate the urine in the kidney thus increasing the absorption of water in the kidney. Ensure that the dog gets sufficient supply of water otherwise it may suffer from dehydration.

Symptoms Of Diabetes In Dogs

Pet Health No Responses »

May 312012

Diabetes is a very common disease among dogs. It is very important to notice the early Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs which can help in preventing further complications and even the dog can be treated more easily. As in humans, there are three types of diabetes in dogs. It is more common in bitches than the dogs. It mostly occurs in the age group of 6 to 8 years. Diabetes is caused due to low level of insulin production or the body does not utilize the insulin properly due to which the sugar level increases. Most of the cases of Diabetes in dogs are treated successfully. German shepherd, Poodles, Miniature Schnauzers, and Golden Retrievers are the breeds who are frequently diagnosed with diabetes.

Symptoms Of Diabetes In Dogs

Frequent Urination

The dog suffering from diabetes frequently urinates because the glucose levels in the body are high. The body tries to get rid of excess glucose through urination. This is an easily noticeable Symptom of Diabetes in Dogs. Immediately contact a veterinarian if you notice unusual rate of urination of the dog.

Excessive Water Consumption

Because of overproduction of glucose, the body can’t metabolize it properly. Due to this the dog is likely to be very thirsty because of excessive urination. In fact both the symptoms are interrelated.

Cataract

You will notice this Symptom of Diabetes in Dogs in the final stage of the disease. Cloudy eyes of the dog are clearly visible. It is caused due to excessive glucose in the body. If not treated, it may lead to complete blindness. However, it can easily be removed by cataract operation.

Lethargy

Dog feels very lethargic and you will notice less physical activities by the dog, also it will sleep more than usual. The glucose is not properly utilized by the tissues due to which there is lack of energy in the body.

Weight Loss

To overcome the lack of energy, the system burns the fat cells to generate energy for the body. This leads to rapid Weight Loss even if the dog is eating properly.

Weight Gain

Due to lack of physical activities it is obvious that the dog slowly gains weight. Also the body can not burn the excessive sugar due to insulin deficiency which leads to weight gain.

Infection

The risk of infection increases if a dog is suffering from diabetes. You may notice different types of infections like gum infection, fungal infection and urinary infection.

Other general Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs include breathing problem, odor in the mouth, vomiting, increased heart rate weakness and dehydration.

It is very difficult for any pet owner to diagnose the Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs as it is difficult to communicate with the dog. So it is better to take precaution and go for regular checkup, take your dog to a veterinarian regularly even if you do not notice any symptoms. Dogs are insulin dependent so oral drugs are not effective for them, instead insulin replacement therapy is a better choice for treatment of diabetes. Make necessary changes in the lifestyle and diet if the dog is diagnosed with diabetes for early and fast recovery.

Feline AIDS Symptoms

Pet Health No Responses »

May 302012

Feline AIDS is a disease in cats which affects the immune system of cat and makes it ineffective. Feline Aids Symptoms may show up several years after a cat is affected by the virus. Due to weak immune system cats can easily fall sick and are prone to diseases. It affects about two to three percent of cats. The diseases generally spreads when an infected cat bites another cat and another reason is when a infected cat gives birth then the kittens too are infected. The symptoms vary with the different phases of the disease. The major symptoms of the disease are:

Feline AIDS Symptoms

Anemia

It is caused due to inadequate red blood cell production hemoglobin in the body. It is one of the initial Feline Aids Symptoms and you may observe that the cat is very weak and inactive.

Fever

Cat has mild fever when the virus first enters the body of the cat. When it affects the immune system then the temperature of the body increases as a result of it.

Enlarged Lymph Node

Lymph nodes are an integral part of the immune system consequently the first symptoms of disease are shown by it. The enlarged Lymph node is caused due to inflammation of the tissues in response to the increase in white blood cells and plasma cells.

Asymptomatic

In the second stage the cats do not show any symptoms. After the initial symptoms the virus becomes inactive but stays in the body and infected can affect other cats even now. This condition can continue for even ten years after which the major Feline Aids Symptoms show up.

Recurring Infections

In the final stage when the virus has badly weakened the immune system of the body then cat can easily get infected by external agents which affects areas like urinary tract, skin and respiratory tract.

Gingivitis

You may observe that the gums of the cats are red and swollen up, a condition known as gingivitis. It is very painful for the cat. Also the cat may suffer from other mouth diseases and infections.

No Healing

Due to weak immune system of the body any wound, sores or cut does not heal. This leads to infection in the wounded region.

Poor Appetite and Weight Loss

Infected cat loses weight rapidly and becomes because of poor appetite. This makes the cat very weak and even more prone of diseases.

Hair Loss

The cat will shed its hairs and the coat will turn dull and loose its shine when it is affected by the Feline Aids.

Unfortunately, the treatment of Feline Aids has not yet been found, however we have vaccines for the virus. Prevention is the best way to protect your cat from suffering with Feline Aids Symptoms. Once your cat is infected you can hardly to anything beside reducing the intensity of the symptoms. Few precautionary measures are keep your cat indoors and avoid its contact with other cats. Frequently, take it to a veterinarian and check if your cat is infected by the virus. You must assure that your cat is vaccinated against the virus.