Dog Secrets

Many people own dogs, they are the most popular pet in US as well as any other countries. Generally speaking, taking care of a dog is regarded as a simple task. You feed it, give it a bath if it gets dirty, walk it and let it get exercise and love it as you would any other member of your family. Most dog owners regularly take their pet to the veterinarian, clip their claws, brush their coats and provide them with a warm bed to sleep in at night. These things seem so simple – but there are other dog secrets that are really important to know. These things can lengthen the life of your pet as well as keeping them healthier and happier.

The first important dog secret is that dog food is not always the healthiest thing to feed your dog. Many dog food manufacturers cover up for the fact that the things that they list as the ingredients of the food are not the most accurate. The main reason that they can get away with these lies is because the manufacturer only is obligated to list the ingredients that they themselves added to the food. The chemicals and antibiotics that have been fed to the meat prior to its purchase by the dog food companies are not required to be disclosed in the ingredient list. Additionally, the animals that the meat comes from can come from a very questionable origin – euthanized animals, dead, dying and disease zoo and farm animals, just to name a few. A dog should eat the same healthy food that you feed your family, something that the dog food companies do not want people to know, a big dog food secret.

The other big secret is that when you kiss your dog on the lips, your dog is at a much greater risk of catching something from you than you are from him/her! Although dogs do frequently sniff other dogs’ behinds and their feces, your chances of catching a bacteria of some kind from kissing your dog’s lips is very slim. On the other hand, dogs can be very susceptible to many human ailments – especially tuberculosis. So next time you think about kissing your dog on the lips, reconsider, remembering this important dog secret!

? About the author The author is an expert? F r dog and the dog food secrets secret.

Be aware of Lyme disease

Lyme disease is rearing its head in Western Pennsylvania.  Veterinarians are seeing more cases this year than in recent years.  Lyme disease is a potentially fatal disease transmitted from ticks to both animals and humans.  Antibiotics can be used to treat the disease.  There is a vaccination that can protect your pets, but can cause serious adverse reactions.  Your veterinarian can tell you what course of action is best for your pet.

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Beware of Tetanus

Tetanus is a disease caused by a bacterial infection.  It is very rare in both humans and pets, but that didn’t stop Buddy the Labrador from contracting the disease.  He was apparently infected when a rusty part of his home kennel poked a wound on his paw.  The infection caused the tetanus which is a potentially fatal disease of the nervous system.  Tell tale signs in a dog are an appearance of a surprised look on its face and exposure of the whites of its eyes.  Tetanus is treatable with antibiotics if diagnosed soon enough.

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Tick Transmitted Diseases – Babesiosis

Babesia infection or babesiosis refers to infection with a protozoal parasite from the species Babesia. These small parasites infect the red blood cells of mammals causing anemias and blood clotting problems in our pets. Babesia species are found worldwide, although in North America, most cases found in dogs occur in the southern United States. Pockets of the disease also exist in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. My first confirmed case was accidentally discovered in a routine dog neuter that turned out not to be so routine. After the surgery, the dog continued to have bleeding problems from the surgical area. A blood sample was sent to the lab and with a special tick panel, the babesia organism was discovered. It took weeks on special antibiotics for the dog to recover.Lyme Disease 150x118 Tick Transmitted Diseases   Babesiosis

How does the dog get Babesia?

The dog must be bitten by a tick infected with the parasite. The species Ixodes is the common tick capable of transmitting the disease but other ticks may also spread Babesia. The disease may also be spread from animal to animal through bite wounds or abrasions. It is also possible for an infected mother dog to pass the parasite to her unborn puppies through the placenta. I have also seen this occur in dogs infected with other tick bourne diseases such as Ehrlichia Canis.

Special blood panels are used to diagnose Babesia in pets and if a tick bourne disease is suspected, it is wise to test for the other tick diseases at the same time which include Erhlichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme disease.

Best prevention is to monitor your pet frequently for ticks and use tick control products if you  are in a tick infested area or take your dog to an area where he may pick up ticks.