As our dogs age, they can become more susceptible to developing health problems. Some of these health concerns are more common in senior dogs than in younger dogs. Here is a list of some of the most common health concerns in senior dogs:
Arthritis is one of the most common health problems in senior dogs. It can cause pain and stiffness, and make it difficult for your dog to move around. Senior dogs are more likely to develop arthritis because their joints are not as strong as they used to be. Arthritis can also be caused by injuries, infections, or other health problems.
Symptoms of arthritis include:
Luckily, CBD oil has been shown to be effective in reducing inflammation and pain associated with arthritis. CBD oil is a natural, safe, and effective way to help your senior dog manage arthritis pain.
As our furry friends age, they may start to experience cognitive decline. Just like humans, senior dogs can begin to forget things, have trouble learning new things, and become more confused or disoriented. While it's normal for dogs to experience some cognitive changes as they age, cognitive decline can be a sign of an underlying health condition.
Some of the symptoms are:
If you notice your senior dog is having trouble with his or her cognition, it's important to talk to your veterinarian.
Kidney disease is a common condition in senior dogs. While it can be effectively managed with treatment, it can also be fatal. Here's what you need to know about this serious condition.
Symptoms of Kidney disease in dogs include:
Liver disease is a common condition that affects senior dogs. The liver is a vital organ that helps to filter the blood and remove toxins from the body. When the liver is diseased, it can no longer perform its functions properly. This can lead to a build-up of toxins in the blood, which can be fatal.
Symptoms of liver disease include:
Cancer is a leading cause of death in senior dogs. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, approximately one in four dogs will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their lifetime. While many types of cancer can be treated effectively, others are more difficult to manage and may eventually prove fatal.
Symptoms of cancer include:
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in senior dogs. While there are many different types of heart disease, they all have one thing in common: they can be extremely dangerous, and even deadly.
If you think your dog may be suffering from heart disease, it's important to get them to a vet as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for giving your dog the best chance possible at a long and happy life.
Symptoms of heart disease in dogs include:
Senior dogs are also more susceptible to developing other health problems, such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, and dental problems. If you think your dog may be suffering from any of these conditions, it is important to take them to the vet for an evaluation. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for managing these conditions and maintaining your dog's quality of life.
]]>Our furry friends are like a part of the family. They are special and have their own unique personalities and needs. If your furry pal is experiencing a significant weight gain, it is easy to understand why you may be concerned. A significant weight gain that is happening with no major changes in eating habits or exercise habits can be an indicator of hypothyroidism in dogs.
Hypothyroidism in dogs is even more likely if your pet is more tired than usual and is urinating more frequently. These symptoms can be slightly alarming for pet parents and it is possible that your dog has hypothyroidism. We will go over the symptoms of dogs with hypothyroidism and various other general information that can help you with pet health.
Hypothyroidism in dogs is when they have an underactive thyroid function. The thyroid is not acting in the way that it should be and it is not performing the way it needs to for a healthy metabolism and body function. Many people have heard of human beings having hypothyroidism. Unfortunately, our dogs can have it as well.
The science behind hypothyroidism all starts in the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is found in the throat and is regulated by the pituitary gland in the brain. The pituitary gland instructs the body on how to regulate the hormones and essential body functions controlled by the thyroid. The importance of the thyroid gland and its functions is vast. It regulates how the body runs metabolically and also controls growth as thyroid hormones help with the development of the body.
As you can see, it is an essential gland in the body and a dog that has a thyroid gland that is not performing properly may not have enough energy. They may not be converting calories correctly and may not be growing or developing properly.
This is the opposite of hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is when the body is overly producing the thyroid hormones that it is responsible for, and one of the most common side effects is weight loss that is significant. Indeed, it produces the opposite effect of hypothyroidism. In summation, hypothyroidism is the lack of production of thyroid hormones and hyperthyroidism is when the body is producing more thyroid hormones than it should.
The most common reason for hypothyroidism in dogs is a disease called lymphocytic thyroiditis. This is a disorder that causes the body to attack the thyroid gland. Inflammation of the thyroid can also cause hypothyroidism. In addition, it is possible that a tumor is affecting the thyroid gland. There are also other reasons that are congenital in nature that can cause this health condition in dogs.
For example, this can be caused by having a spayed or neutered pet. Also, dogs that are older are susceptible to having an under-performing thyroid gland. As you can see, your dog could develop hypothyroidism for a number of reasons. The good news is that your veterinarian can likely diagnose this condition quite easily. Pet parents will be glad to know that there are treatment options that are quite effective in correcting or improving hypothyroidism in dogs. That will be gone over in detail further along in the article.
There is truth to the statement that certain breeds of dogs are more prone to hypothyroidism.
The breed most susceptible to hypothyroidism in dogs is retrievers. Interestingly, a very high percentage of this breed develops hypothyroidism. Pet parents of retrievers should keep an eye out for signs and symptoms of this thyroid condition.
Some of the causes of hypothyroidism in dogs are not things that can be controlled. It is often from a health condition that can originate in many ways. There is often no particular reason a dog develops hypothyroidism.
However, there is the chance that environmental factors could be causing your pooch to develop this thyroid disease. It is possible that if you smoke cigarettes around your pet or if they have a lack of selenium in their diets, they could be more prone to hypothyroidism. Highly processed and low-quality foods can also have an effect on their thyroid gland and production. Corticosteroids can cause problems with the thyroid and disrupt the body's normal function and metabolism. These environmental issues could be causing your pet to suffer from hypothyroidism.
Usually, the cause of hypothyroidism is from an underlying health condition.
Sometimes these conditions are congenital or genetic, and this cannot be helped. Other times, it is breed-specific and very common. Additionally, some cancers and health conditions that arise can cause this to occur. It is a metabolic disorder that can affect the entire body.
The Clinical signs of hypothyroidism vary. They can also mimic the symptoms of other health problems. The good news is that the veterinarian of your choice can help with the diagnosis of hypothyroidism underlying problem. One dog may not experience the same symptoms that another dog does. We have a short hypothyroidism symptoms checklist below for pet parents to check.
The most noticeable symptom is usually rapid weight gain. For example, a dog that hasn't increased their food intake and yet is gaining weight quickly could have hypothyroidism. Some dogs may begin to have thickening of the skin. Sometimes, thyroid problems in dogs can occur due to cancer or tumor growth. Tumors or cancers that affect the thyroid are usually near the thyroid gland in the throat.
Pet parents may notice a lump around the throat. However, there are some internal tumors and cancers that cannot be seen by merely glancing.
Clinical Signs that a pet could have thyroid cancer or tumors are a dog that is experiencing a much lower appetite, hoarseness, coughing, or a weak bark.
If you suspect that your dog has a tumor or cancer, it is vital to take them immediately to your trusted veterinarian. They will be able to assess them and run any tests that they deem necessary. An emergency visit to the veterinarian may be necessary to speed up any diagnosis and treatment for your dog's best chance at health if indeed they do have cancer or a tumor.
Initially, hypothyroidism in dogs may not be noticeable to the pet parent. It can progress slowly at the beginning and take time to truly manifest itself in a way that makes it apparent. However, it may get worse over time and symptoms may begin to get worse. For example, you may notice mood changes, hair loss, bloating in the face, hormonal imbalance, infections, and more.
Getting a diagnosis of hypothyroidism in dogs starts off by reporting the relevant symptoms to your veterinarian. Let your trusted vet know the signs and symptoms of thyroid disease issues that you have noticed. They will likely want to give your pet a thorough examination. Blood tests for total thyroxin hormone (T4) is the most common test for low thyroid problems in dogs. The total thyroxin level measures this thyroid hormone as a blood sample. They will look for low levels of thyroxin in the blood. For a definitive diagnosis, a free T4 test will be conducted. Low results on the free T4 thyroid hormone levels will confirm a diagnosis of hypothyroidism. It is possible that your veterinarian will want to conduct further testing. It is vital to listen to the advice of your veterinarian.
The good news is that hypothyroidism is treatable. Dogs are given a replacement thyroid hormone prescription by their vet. The vet will recommend an amount to be given daily. When a month has passed, the thyroid hormones will be tested again to determine if the amount has been working well enough to help the dog's thyroid function get to normal. The vet will determine if their dosage needs to be changed based on the results of the blood tests. After the initial month, a follow-up visit every six months is recommended to ensure that the treatment is still working. At times, the dog's body may adjust to the thyroid hormone replacement medication and need to be changed to compensate for that. This is why testing is repeated on a bi-annual basis.
Also, too much thyroid hormone medication for dogs can affect them negatively. Too high of a dose can cause hyperthyroidism in dogs. Hyperthyroidism in dogs will result in weight loss, insomnia, and excessive thirst. This is why there are visits to check their thyroid levels every six months. If you notice that your dog is showing signs of hyperthyroidism, then you should get them to the vet right away.
Hypothyroidism in dogs can be treated effectively with the correct dosage of thyroid hormone replacement medication. Thyroid replacement medication should be given as directed. This is to protect the health of your pet and ensure that they get better. Dogs that are taking thyroid replacement medication should start to see some improvements within four to six weeks. For example, you may notice that your dog's fur will begin to look healthier and their hair will start to grow back. They may start to get more energy, and that is a good sign that the medication is doing its job.
Pet parents that have been distressed at seeing their normally active pet become lethargic will be relieved to notice a return to energy in their canine. They should be more interested in outdoor activity, exercise, and playing. Another sign of improvement is that their weight may start to go back down. If your pet has been overweight as a result of hypothyroidism, this will be a big relief. Their weight should slowly begin to go down. At the very least, the rapid weight gain should have stopped, and their weight should be steady. Overweight pets can begin to have other health conditions, and this is another big reason why pet parents should get canine hypothyroidism treated right away. Dogs that have a high BMI could start to have health problems like diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease. Thyroid hormone replacement medication can help lower their weight and lessen the chances that they could develop some of the serious health problems that accompany being overweight. So, the proper medication and dosage can help with normalizing their thyroid hormone function and assist in bringing their weight down to an acceptable level for optimum health.
If your dog is a big treat fan, you may want to consider giving them Hemp Dog Treats. They are made in various flavors so that you can pick one that you know your dog will love. This way, your furry pal will get a tasty treat and the benefit of amazing health benefits that have zero side effects. It is an all-natural option that can really improve a pet's overall health and well-being. The fact that there are no known side effects can give pet parents peace of mind. Hypothyroidism in dogs is a stressful health condition for the pet and the pet parent. Seeing your furry friend struggling with their health is a tough process to go through. Many pet parents want to do whatever they can to make their precious dog more comfortable. Natural treatments are a smart choice for pet parents that want to limit the number of chemicals in their pet's body and reduce the number of side effects that could potentially distress your canine. A natural treatment for hypothyroidism in dogs may be CBD Oil For Dogs. CBD is derived from hemp extract and is entirely organic. It contains zero THC so that there is no psychoactive component to it. Pets won't be experiencing a high at all. In clinical research, it has proven to be effective in helping people with a variety of common ailments. Relief of symptoms in health conditions such as inflammation, anxiety, nausea, pain, and more have been shown in scientific studies and clinical research. Cancer patients have seen a relief of some of the common symptoms as well. Dogs can enjoy the same benefits that we can. Your dog can feel better in a short period of time when utilizing this natural treatment for hypothyroidism and give them much-needed relief.
Giving your dog higher quality dog food can also help with their hypothyroidism. Make sure to look for dog foods that are as organic and natural as possible. Added chemicals are not something that a dog's body needs. Therefore, natural dog foods that are high in minerals and vitamins are an excellent choice to help your pooch.
Dogs may benefit from seaweed as it is a natural source of iodine. Iodine is good for the body and can help with hypothyroidism. It is important to give them iodine in moderation as too much iodine can cause other problems. Cod liver oil is also an excellent natural supplement to provide a dog with hypothyroidism. Omega fatty acids can also be beneficial to canines, and that can be given in the form of a pet supplement or food source that contains it. Omega fatty acids are essential fats for the body and can help in reducing cholesterol. Parsley, oats, and fennel are also great foods that you can give your pet as they contain high levels of vitamins that are necessary for bodies to function well. They can be added to the food that you already feed your dog and many are organic and natural. B vitamins are excellent for canine hypothyroidism and for overall general health and well-being as the body needs B vitamins to thrive. Low levels can contribute to low energy levels and make canine thyroid issues even worse. The importance of good vitamin and mineral levels is vital in canines just as it is in humans. Higher quality pet food along with natural supplements and foods that contain these essential vitamins can contribute to your pet getting healthier.
Pet parents that have a dog that has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism often wonder what else they can do to help their dog beside give them medication and natural alternatives. You can do a variety of things to make their lives easier and more comfortable.
One of the best things that a pet parent can do is ensure that their dog is eating high-quality food. You can ask the veterinarian for suggestions on types of dog foods that are good for their thyroid function. Also, taking your dog out for walks is a great method to help them feel better. Adding an additional fifteen or twenty minutes a day of exercise can boost their moods and increase their metabolic function.
Exercising has been shown to release endorphins, and these endorphins naturally boost moods and help with metabolism. Spending time with them to make sure that they know they are loved is also something you can do to help your pet feel better. At Innovetpet, we know that pets are precious, and spending time with them when you can is special for both of you and is one of the best natural medicines around.
CBD in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series
Hypothyroidism in Dogs
Canine Hypothyroidism
Having a dog that isn't feeling well is never fun. It's upsetting for the dog, and it's stressful for pet parents. Pancreatitis is an especially worrisome disease of the pancreas that usually affects older dogs. There are two classes of pancreatitis in dogs: chronic pancreatitis and acute pancreatitis. Each variation has its own individualized course of treatment.
For pet parents that want to understand more, we've created this comprehensive guide to what causes pancreatitis, the clinical signs that pancreatic conditions manifest, and courses of treatment.
The pancreas of a dog is located in its upper abdominal wall. It is a V-shaped organ near the duodenum. The pancreas contains two ducts and works with the bile duct of the liver. It is an essential part of the canine digestive system, helping dogs to perform at optimum capacity.
The pancreas has both an endocrine function and an exocrine function. The exocrine function of the pancreas is for digestion and allows digestive enzymes into the small intestine. The pancreas assists in breaking down carbs, low fat foods, high fat foods, and other materials that the body processes for energy and function.
Endocrine function within the pancreas is for secreting hormones that are important to biological function. This function can affect mood as well as the overall health of canines. One role endocrine function is responsible for is handling glucose in the body.
Pancreatitis in dogs occurs when digestive enzymes are activated within the pancreas before they get to the lower intestine. This causes inflammation of the pancreas. Mild cases can produce clinical signs of pancreatitis such as irritability, diarrhea, and vomiting, leading to acute pancreatitis. In scientific terms we are looking at exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.
Chronic pancreatitis results from severe cases, whose clinical signs may include abdominal pain and acute inflammation of the pancreas. In chronic cases, those digestive enzymes may cause the dog to become very sick, even leading to septic shock. This is a severe situation that requires immediate veterinary care. Dogs with clinical signs such as abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and severe cases of pancreatic inflammation will need more care and treatment.
Any dog of any age could wind up with a diagnosis of pancreatitis after a routine blood test. However, there are some breeds that are more prone to this condition.
Breeds like spaniels, boxers, collies, mini schnauzers, and schnauzers are more prone to developing acute pancreatitis. Also, dogs that are older are more likely to acquire pancreatic-related conditions than puppies, such as Diabetes Mellitus.
It is not always easy to diagnose the clinical cause of pancreatitis. However, there are risk factors that pancreatitis may result from more easily. A significant risk factor that can be a cause of pancreatitis is obesity. This is due to the condition of hyperlipidemia that is common in obese dogs. Dogs that are of the breeds more likely to get pancreatitis should be monitored closely, especially if they are obese.
Dogs that have diabetes are at more severe risk for developing pancreatitis. Unstable fluctuations in blood sugar levels may exacerbate latent pancreatitis in dogs.
Diet is another leading cause of associated pancreatic conditions in dogs. Giving your dog higher quality food, putting them on a low fat diet, and taking them out for exercise more often can cut that risk factor enormously. Even making sure they get more fluid in their diet can help get their weight under control.
Losing body fat can make a big difference in the pancreatic health of your dog. Losing weight can help lower the risk of obesity-related diseases that manifest in the blood, like Diabetes Mellitus. The blood sugar abnormality caused by diabetes can lead to all sorts of abdominal abnormalities, such as vomiting, dehydration, and blood disease, so it's best to track the signs of the condition before it becomes severe pancreatitis.
Switching your dog's high fat diet over to a low fat diet is a perfect place to start.
There are many symptoms present in diagnosing pancreatitis. A veterinarian can spot the condition earlier through blood, pancreatic tissue, and behavior tests, but you can start watching for the warning signs early.
If your pet has some of these symptoms, it would be prudent to get them checked out by your trusted vet. Dogs may develop anorexia or anorectic behaviors if they have pancreatitis. They will suddenly lose most or all interest in food, or they may suddenly begin regurgitating their food.
Ultimately, it is up to a veterinarian to diagnose pancreatitis in dogs. Most veterinarians will look for indications of acute pancreatitis in blood tests as a first step. If the blood test looks normal, they may order an ultrasound or a radiography test to look at your dog's internal organs.
Beyond an ultrasound, the vet may want to perform a medical biopsy or remove a small portion of pancreatic tissue. Analyzing this tissue with a microscope will turn up any abnormalities that were hidden in the blood. This can give a more definitive medical diagnosis of what is wrong.
The diagnosis for pancreatitis conditions used to rely on testing for high enzyme levels for serum lipase and serum amylase. Canine pancreatic lipase only increases when there is inflammation in the pancreas, and if there's pancreatic inflammation, there's a chance of pancreatitis.
It is vital to try and remain calm throughout this process. Pets can sense when their pet parents are anxious or worried, and vets can sense when their patients are abnormally stressed. Overly stressed patients make it harder for vets to administer a clinical test of an organ like the pancreas, such as an ultrasound.
Canine pancreatitis can be treated. The options for treatment of chronic and acute pancreatitis will be based on the health of your dog, the severity of the disease, and what the veterinarian thinks will be best for your dog.
Many veterinarians choose to treat their patients with a therapeutic dose of intravenous fluids. There is a particular intravenous fluids treatment that will help to restore health in your pet's body in a way that is necessary for recovery from severe dehydration and maintain normal fluid levels. In some cases, the vet may prescribe anti-emetic medications. This is to prevent vomiting, nausea, and other associated abdominal issues.
Decreasing high fat foods and overall diet change factor into most treatment plans. Your veterinarian can guide you toward certain brands or types of low fat food that will be good for the small intestine of your furry friend.
Your veterinarian may prescribe medicines for the treatment of pancreatitis in dogs. A prescription will be given if the vet feels that it will benefit your dog's health. It depends on the severity, but the pain of pancreatitis can be greatly relieved by medication. Request a veterinary consultation if you have any questions about the prescribed course of treatment, whether pills, intravenous fluid infusion, or otherwise.
Knowledge is power. Here at Innovet Pet, we encourage dog owners to be as informed as possible. Most vets will answer your questions freely and give you the answers that you need and want.
Famotidine helps with excessive acid production in the stomach. Dogs that have pancreatitis may benefit from this. It is also a treatment for pets that have certain gastrointestinal diseases. Dogs with pancreatitis can take Famotidine. The Famotidine dog dosage will depend on their size and weight. The recommended dosage is between .25 and .5 mg of the medication for every pound of body weight.
It would be best to consult with a veterinary expert about what dosage of Famotidine they normally recommend for their patients. It can be purchased at an over-the-counter store without a clinical prescription.
Metronidazole is an antibiotic medication not often prescribed after a test reveals a pancreatitis prognosis. Metronidazole is given for certain infections and should only be provided under the advisement of a veterinarian or associated medical expert for pancreatitis in dogs.
In any case, it is vital to listen to the advice of your trusted vet. Keep an eye on your dog whenever you are giving them new medication. Some medications may not agree with your dog, so look out for any adverse side effects.
Parents of dogs are becoming more and more aware of what they put in their dog's bodies. Giving your dog a lot of chemicals and medications can be hard to stomach, literally. Most medications and chemicals come with a laundry list of unpleasant side effects. Some side effects are even worse than what the medication is supposed to treat.
One amazing natural option for mild to severe pancreatic pain is CBD Oil for dogs. CBD has recently become more popular and recognized as an all-natural alternative to the management of a variety of ailments. There are studies that show the efficacy and safety of THC-free CBD. It can help animals as much as it helps people that have health issues. It can aid the management of inflammation, chronic pain, vomiting, dehydration, epilepsy, and cancer.
Only a small number of cases of pancreatic disease will necessitate surgery. The body cannot regulate glucose without the pancreas. Your pet's quality of life would be drastically reduced, and it would be difficult for them to survive long-term.
In the case of acute pancreatitis, removal will almost never be required. Some dogs with chronic pancreatitis, however, may require partial removal. This is a fairly common surgery that licensed veterinarians perform on their patients all the time.
Total removal of the pancreas will not happen. Partial removal of the pancreas is sometimes done if the chronic pancreatitis is severe in critically ill patients that the vet feels it would be their best chance. The good news is that most canines with acute pancreatitis will simply need their pancreatitis treated and don't require surgery.
With the right treatment, your dog will begin to improve, showing fewer and fewer clinical signs of pancreatitis. Working with your trusted vet and following their guidelines and instructions will make a huge difference in how well your furry friend does.
Pancreatic conditions can range from acute pancreatitis to chronic pancreatitis. Chronic pancreatitis means that it will be an ongoing condition that must be treated on a long-term basis. Acute pancreatitis is often a short-term disease that will not become chronic.
The prognosis will depend on their overall health, age, and the type of pancreatitis they are diagnosed with. This is a discussion you will have with your vet. The best thing that you can do for them is to stay optimistic and supportive. Treatment will give you more time with your dog whereas not treating or waiting to treat too long can end up with multiple organ failure in your beloved pet. Please visit your vet as soon as you notice the signs so you can help your dog.
A diagnosis of pancreatitis in dogs can be difficult to hear. It is a lot of work to take care of an animal that is healthy, but it is much more work to take care of one that is sick.
Parents whose dogs show signs of pancreatitis should try and be optimistic. Many pets with this disease can get better and see improvements. Even those with chronic pancreatic conditions can learn management techniques to live a full and happy life. Making sure to work with a vet will always be essential in helping dogs with pancreatitis live their best possible lives.
Diagnosing canine pancreatitis
Approved by:
Dr. Ivana Vukasinovic
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade
Ivana Vukasinovic grew up in Serbia and attended the University of Belgrade where she received a degree in Veterinary medicine in 2012 and later completed surgical residency working mostly with livestock. Her first year of practice was split between busy small animal practice and emergency clinic, and after two more years of treating many different species of animals, she opened her own veterinary pharmacy where an interest in canine and feline nutrition emerged with an accent on fighting animal obesity. In her free time, she acts as a foster parent for stray animals before their adoption, likes to read SF books and making salted caramel cookies.
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Sincerely,
The Innovet Team
Please do not ask for emergency or specific medical questions about your pets in the comments. Innovet Pet Products is unable to provide you with specific medical advice or counseling. A detailed physical exam, patient history, and an established veterinarian are required to provide specific medical advice. If you are worried that your pet requires emergency attention or if you have specific medical questions related to your pet’s current or chronic health conditions, please contact or visit your local/preferred veterinarian, an animal-specific poison control hotline, or your local emergency veterinary care center.
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Ever notice that your dog's nose is as dry as the bones they love? Unfortunately, there are several causes of a dry and crusty dog nose. However, there's almost always a viable solution. Today, we'll cover why this happens and a few things you can do to treat it.
You'll learn about all the different causes, treatment options, and a few natural remedies to help make their snout healthy again. That said, if you feel like your dog has a serious medical condition, like nasal hyperkeratosis, please take them to see a vet right away. Your vet can provide them with the necessary medication they need to fully recover.
You may notice that when the weather's hot, your dog's nose will sweat in an attempt to cool off. However, extremely hot weather can cause a crusty nose. In this case, all your dog needs to do is find some shade or spend time indoors under the air conditioner and their skin should become wet again.
Cold weather can also cause a dry nose. That said, a dry nose as a result of the weather isn't usually a major concern. The only time you should be alarmed is if their body temperature doesn't regulate when the conditions change.
Keeping your pooch in moist humid weather should prevent your dog's nose from drying up.
While a dry and crusty nose is a common thing for most dogs, canine nasal hyperkeratosis is a more severe condition that requires extensive care. Nasal hyperkeratosis is a condition where keratin (a protein that makes up skin, hair, nails, etc.) builds up around the nose.
Although nasal hyperkeratosis isn't life-threatening, it can cause a great deal of discomfort for your dog and hinder their appearance. What's more, nasal hyperkeratosis could potentially weaken your dog's sense of smell, making it more difficult to interact with the world.
Nasal hyperkeratosis can develop in almost all dogs, but it's most prevalent in:
Fortunately, there are a few easy remedies for nasal hyperkeratosis you can try to help reduce the dryness of your pooch's snout (see below). Dealing with nasal hyperkeratosis can be daunting, so make sure you put in the effort to find an easy and effective solution.
A dry nose can also be the result of dehydration, especially if your dog is running around under the hot sun all day. While it's important to give your dog plenty of exercise, you should also make sure they have plenty of water to drink. Hydration will help bring moisture back to their nose and prevent any discomfort.
Like humans, dogs can also have allergic reactions. When a dog has allergies, a dry nose is often one of the symptoms. Many pet owners mistake allergies with nasal hyperkeratosis. If you suspect your dog is struggling with allergies, take them to see the vet. Your veterinarian can provide them with the necessary prescription medication to help control allergic reactions.
Many people don't realize, but dogs can get a sunburn just like humans can. Imagine if you were constantly outside under the hot sun without any protection from UV rays. Since the skin around the nose is exposed, it's often one of the first places to get sunburned. Protecting your pup's skin from the sun's UV rays is vital for preventing skin cancer.
You can use pet-safe sunblock around the nose area to help reduce the chance of sunburn. It will also keep their nose nice and moist and reduce cracking.
Does your dog's nose dry up in the summer? Or perhaps their snout becomes crusty during the chilly winter months? Do they have nasal hyperkeratosis? Whichever one it may be, you must identify what's causing the crusty nose to determine what the best treatment will be.
You can start by tracking whenever your dog experiences a crusty and dry nose to try and notice a pattern. Once you have a solid idea of what the cause is, you can start to seek a viable treatment option.
Above, we mention that allergic reactions can be the cause of a dry snout. Like humans, dogs are commonly allergic to dust, mold, and pollen. If any of these compounds of floating around your property, your dog can experience a crusty nose and numerous other symptoms. As a result, you should try and remove any allergens from your home right away.
If you can't remove them easily, you can check with your vet to see if there are any effective allergy medications for your pup.
Unfortunately, there isn't a cure for nasal hyperkeratosis in dogs. Therefore, you'll need to treat the condition for the remainder of your puppy's life. While there isn't a do-all end-all solution for canine nasal hyperkeratosis, that doesn't mean you and your pooch need to feel helpless.
One easy way to reduce the discomfort from nasal hyperkeratosis is to soak your dog's skin in warm water regularly. Doing so will keep their nose hydrated and reduce painful cracking. There are also some other natural remedies that have promising results (see below).
No matter the cause of the dry snout, keeping your dog's nose clean will help make whichever treatment you do more effective. Wiping their nose regularly will remove dust, debris, or any other compounds that might be reducing moisture around the nose.
Taking your beloved pet to the vet for a health check can be a stressful event. The last thing you want is to discover your dog has a severe health condition. However, detecting health problems is the only way to treat them properly. If you've tried all the solutions within your power, you may need to seek professional help from your vet. They can diagnose whatever's causing the crusty nose and recommend the best treatment possible.
Today, there are several natural and safe ingredients you can use to keep your dog's nose nice and moist.
Olive oil is something we all usually have in our kitchens. We love it in our food, and so does your dog! Putting a teaspoon into their meal will help keep their snout, ears, and paws nice and moist.
Both humans and canines can benefit from a little cocoa seed butter on their skin. This ingredient is used to treat dry skin, sunburns, and more. While you may appear hesitant to use this with your dog since cocoa is the main ingredient in chocolate, it doesn't have any of the toxic ingredients that make chocolate dangerous.
If you're on the internet looking for natural treatments for your dog's nose, chances are you've come across CBD oil. CBD has a wide range of health benefits for humans and canines. For starters, it's an all-natural ingredient that derives from hemp. You can find several nourishing balms that will help reduce dryness and combat nasal hyperkeratosis — including our very own Innovet pet-safe hemp balm.
There's no doubt that treating a dry nose for your puppy can be exhausting. Since there are so many causes, it can be challenging to find the right solution. We recommend trying all the above until you find the perfect treatment option to keep their snout moist and free of cracking.
Remember, always consult with your vet if you believe your dog has nasal hyperkeratosis or a severe medical condition that's causing your dog's nose to dry up.
Connect with us at InnovetPet if your pet has a health condition to see how we can help. Feel free to share this post with anyone you know that has a puppy with a crusty dry snout!
Canine vestibular disease is a problem with the inner ear that impacts the dog's balance.
Vestibular comes from the word vestibule, a hallway or anteroom. This is a very descriptive name for the complex parts of the ear. There is a whole vestibular system in dogs, and humans, that is located in the brain and the inner and middle ear. This very delicate system detects subtle changes in atmosphere and the dog's body and has a powerful impact on their balance.
Have you ever been dizzy or had a stopped-up ear? You couldn't move normally, or even stand or sit normally if it was bad enough. You felt weird and nauseated, maybe even anxious and irritable. This same thing happens to your dog. With dogs, it impacts their balance and the rhythm of their paws.
Canine vestibular disease is more likely to impact older dogs because things just don't work like they used to anymore, but it can impact dogs of any age.
It is not dangerous in itself. The causes, such as an infection, may be dangerous. The biggest threat to your dog with canine vestibular disease is injury as they are likely to hurt themselves. While you don't want to overly alarm yourself, you should always take symptoms of this disease very seriously and get the dog emergency care because these symptoms are shared by very serious diseases and immediate diagnosis is needed. Also, even though vestibular disease is not dangerous, you need to know how to care for them to keep them calm and safe and ensure that they eat and drink normally.
Vestibular problems can be caused by infections, toxins, or other factors influencing the ear. Many times, there is no identifiable cause of the vestibular problem, the dog just clearly has it. This is known as canine idiopathic vestibular syndrome and it is quite common, particularly in older dogs. If your dog has vestibular disease, rather than another condition causing a vestibular problem, the dog will probably be diagnosed with canine idiopathic vestibular syndrome.
While it's most common in older dogs, vestibular disease in young dogs is possible and it can even be a congenital thing with puppies. It is very rare in puppies, only appearing online in scattered scientific cases.
Always take a dog to the vet for symptoms of vestibular disease to rule out other diseases and to learn how to care for your dog.
Thankfully, vestibular disease, the idiopathic kind that isn't caused by another factor, is mainly episodic. The dog has acute symptoms for a while and then the problem corrects itself. The downside is that it will likely come back. Some dogs never fully recover, keeping a slight head tilt or always being slightly unstable. Allowances may have to be made for them to remain safe and active and there may be some things they can't do anymore. The latter is more common in older dogs.
Vestibular disease caused by another factor should go away when the factor is addressed.
590 people per month search for dog vestibular disease panting. If your dog is experiencing noteworthy panting while suffering these other symptoms, it is probably from their anxiety. You should include it in your description of the symptoms for the vet, just so they have a perfectly clear image of the dog's case. It is not a direct symptom of the disease but can accompany it because of the stress the disease causes.
Symptoms of vestibular disease will have rapid onset. There isn't any warning and there is no gradual progression, they'll just suddenly act like they're going haywire. They may wake up one morning that way, suddenly act crazy, or get increasingly unstable over a matter of a few hours.
These symptoms sound really scary. So try not to freak out. You don't want to make the dog more upset than they probably already are or put yourself through excessive stress.
That being said, you should still always get them emergency care because these symptoms are shared with dangerous diseases. It probably isn't the dangerous disease, but you need to be sure because they require immediate treatment. You also need to know how to care for your dog properly to keep them safe, calm, and healthy.
Most vestibular disease is the idiopathic kind where the cause is never identified. Their poor vestibular system just doesn't want to act right.
The connection is unclear, but experts report that it seems to be more common for larger dogs to have vestibular problems.
While there is no evidence that they can cause vestibular disease, allergies impacting nasal function may bring about or exacerbate a vestibular episode. Barometric changes while traveling or during weather events may also bring about or exacerbate an episode.
The vet will need to hear both your account of symptoms and the dog's history.
They may ask you other questions to rule out symptoms or potential events that may indicate another disease like a tumor or stroke.
The vet will observe the dog for symptoms and check their ears for signs of inflammation. While the vet is checking their ear, they may get stressed. Try to calm them by speaking to them in soft, loving tones and maybe even petting them soothingly.
They will probably lift the dog's paw and flip it over to see if the dog can turn their paw back to its normal position. Inability to do this is an indicator of stroke.
They can run blood tests and other tests to detect infections or other diseases. MRIs and other tests for problems in the brain may be run, but the vet may wait to see if the vestibular disease can clear itself up before moving on to this step. It depends on how likely one or the other seems.
If the vestibular symptoms are caused by an underlying factor or disease, then that will be treated and the symptoms should go away. While the dog is being treated, you will probably have to follow some of the advice below to manage their symptoms.
If the dog has idiopathic canine vestibular disease and they can't eat or drink or are dehydrated from vomiting, they will be kept at the vet's office to be fed and hydrated until they can eat and drink on their own.
If they can eat and drink, they will be sent home. Time is the best cure for an episode of idiopathic canine vestibular disease. but that doesn't mean your dog just has to suffer and there is nothing you can do. The vet will probably send them home with anti-nausea medication and maybe something for dizziness and/or a sedative if they are too unstable or too stressed. You will also want to protect the dog by making the home as safe as you can for them to move around in and to keep them off furniture and not let them use stairs by themselves. You may need to carry them outside to go to the bathroom or give them potty pads. Placing their food and water near where they are staying will make it easier and safer for them to make use of it.
Corticosteroids have been prescribed in the past, but it is not a popular treatment at this time because the scientific evidence shows little indication that it really helps.
We mentioned making the home safe. You will also want to keep them as stress-free as possible. Love them, if they don't want to hide. If they do want to be alone, provide them a good place to do so. You might keep them in the crate a lot, if they like their crate, so they feel secure. Provide as many of the things they are used to as possible, like their favorite toys and blankets. Try to eliminate or minimize stressors like the doorbell, visitors, changes in the home, etc.
Don't be surprised if they are jumpy or even irritable. Having your balance messed up is like losing one of your senses, this makes the animal feel frightened and they may act out.
Dogs with idiopathic canine vestibular disease should see some relief in as little as 72 hours, but it is not surprising if it takes anywhere from a few days to 30 days for the episode to resolve completely. With some dogs, usually older ones, some residual effect may be permanent.
Vestibular disease is not contagious, so they can't give it to another pet or you, but whether they can be around other pets or children depends on how well they can still fend for themselves. They may accidentally hurt a small pet or child or be hurt by another pet or child if they can't get around normally. Irritability may also make them unsafe to be around other pets and children. You can help them maintain some sense of normalcy by letting them spend time with the rest of their family, but only with supervision.
If you have multiple pets in the house displaying similar symptoms, they were likely all exposed to something like a toxin. Or you're unlucky enough to have multiple pets with vestibular disease and an allergen or storm is wreaking havoc on them all at once.
If your dog doesn't show marked improvement in a few days to a week, the vet will probably tell you how long to expect. Call the vet back up for advice. The problem may not be vestibular disease.
If the dog has improved but is not 100% after a month, call the vet back up. You should ask if they need to see the dog again.
Remember that unless the problem was caused by another factor, the dog will probably suffer from vestibular episodes again. How often and how severe they will be is unknown and depends on too many factors, but as long as you know that is the cause of the problem, you can just focus on making your dog comfortable and safe while they recuperate. It is not a sign that your dog was not treated properly or didn't recover because they have another episode. It's just the nature of the illness.
CBD oil shows promise and gains a lot of attention for potentially helping with a vast array of pet ailments.
The most dangerous aspect of a vestibular episode in dogs is the risk of them not being able to eat or drink. Vets may prescribe anti-nausea medication to help with this, but if you weren't given one or the dog can't take it, CBD oil may serve the same purpose.
If you've ever had inner ear troubles, you can understand why your dog gets anxious during a vestibular episode. If not, imagine being dizzy, perhaps so dizzy you can't stand or even sit, for days or weeks on end. Your dog can't do what they normally do and feels completely disoriented. This is frightening to them as they can't take care of themselves. CBD oil is commonly used to address anxiety in humans and pets.
Vets sometimes prescribe sedatives to help with the anxiety and make the dog more relaxed so they are less likely to want to run around and potentially hurt themselves. if you weren't given one or the dog can't take it, you might try CBD oil in its place. Just make sure you give them an amount intended to relax the dog. Different doses can give them a subtle energy boost instead.
Should the dog injure themselves, CBD oil can be given orally or topically to potentially reduce pain and inflammation.
If the dog lays down too much because they can't get around normally, they may get bed sores. These are painful and dangerous because they may get infected. A topical CBD balm might soothe the pain, reduce inflammation, and serve as a barrier to prevent infection. If the sore is already infected, CBD oil shows promise at killing infections. Should the dog not be able to take antibiotics, CBD oil could be used in their place as long as you watch for signs that it isn't working and get immediate medical help should that happen.
While CBD oil hasn't been studied and tested long enough to gain FDA approval, it is exciting scientists with all of the ailments it shows promise at addressing. Scientists have discovered that humans and many animals have an endocannabinoid system that creates and uses its own cannabinoids to maintain the body's homeostasis. External cannabinoids like cannabidiol in CBD oil interact in the body much like its own cannabinoids, addressing deficiencies or providing a boost.
We create scientifically-backed natural and eco-friendly products to address pet problems. If you're dealing with a vestibular attack in dogs, you might be interested in our CBD oil tinctures, treats, capsules, and balm.
If you encounter a pet-related problem or pet ailment that no traditional or alternative method addresses, let us know. We love to innovate for pets and pet owners.
If you own a pet cat, any sign of rapid breathing or your cat is breathing heavily should be cause for concern. Dyspnea (or heavy breathing) in cats can be very scary to see, and often signifies that there is a deeper respiratory, heart, or lung problem.
This condition that results in rapid breathing can be attributed to a variety of things and maybe noticeable from some external indicators.
If you are ever concerned about your cat’s health, reaching out to a veterinarian is the safest bet. It is important that you make some fast moves to ensure that your cat has the best chance at a full recovery.
Today, we will define some of the more common signs of dyspnea and breathing problems in cats, as well as how you can treat it or prevent it from happening altogether.
As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to spot and care for any illnesses or conditions, so read on to inform yourself of the proper steps to take if your cat is breathing heavily.
One possible cause for heavy breathing (and potentially wheezing) is that their heart may have been weakened from previous cardiovascular disease due to age or other factors which could lead them into congestive heart failure; this will usually present itself through labored breathing and eventually respiratory distress when they get too tired out muscling up enough oxygen while still trying to keep up circulation at the same rate because demand outweighs supply. Wheezing can also be a sign of asthma and can be caused by allergies or an infection such as feline pneumonia.
The first thing to know is that there are many warning signs that may point to dyspnea or other breathing conditions in cats. Rapid breathing or labored breathing is a more common sign, though it is not the only thing to be on the lookout for.
Cats are no strangers to labored breathing, but what is the cause? Experts say that it could be a reaction to certain types of foods or irritants in your cat's environment. It can even exist as an allergy symptom.
First, there are many reasons for labored breathing in cats and some even lead to death if left untreated; so it's important to get answers right away. Some causes include asthma, cancerous tumors on the lungs or other organs (like kidneys), blood clots forming inside vessels around the lung area which may break off and travel up into an artery where they block flow- this leads to high pressure because oxygen has nowhere else go but back out through veins until your cat starts coughing.
The most prevalent cause however originates from allergies - when pets with hypersensitive immune systems react strongly against foreign objects such as pollen particles released by plants like grasses or trees during pollination season.
If your cat is showing signs of a decreased appetite, a decreased level of energy, or other strange composure that is against the norm, there is a good chance that they are feeling ill.
Whenever a cat, or any animal for that matter, avoids their food and water bowls, it almost always means something is wrong and should be cause for concern. If this is the symptom that you are most alarmed by, a quick trip to the veterinarian can help to clear up your concerns and ensure that your cat gets the help it needs. Veterinarians will be able to properly diagnose the issue and can get to treating it.
Heavy and rapid breathing are conditions that result from extra fluid in the chest. This extra fluid in the chest typically causes labored breathing and can interfere with the cat’s lungs. This, in turn, can impact the respiratory rate and how much oxygen is getting to your cat’s heart with each breath.
Dyspnea, however, is not the only condition that may be present if your cat is having breathing difficulties. If you notice any indication of rapid breathing, make sure to check the animal’s mouth and throat for signs of airway obstruction. This could happen if they swallowed a toy or a large amount of food at once and can make it look like they are in respiratory distress.
Another chest condition that may reveal itself through breathing problems is asthma in cats. This is a condition that impacts the lungs and needs to be diagnosed by a veterinarian. It will often require regular medication and monitoring to treat as the cat’s lungs can grow tired from the labored breathing.
If you are seeing any signs of labored breathing, or if your cat is having difficulty breathing altogether, seek out veterinary care immediately. This is a symptom that you cannot ignore and can even lead to congestive heart failure or lung failure if it is left untreated.
Depending on the cause of the rapid or labored breathing, there are certain things that you can do to help alleviate their symptoms immediately.
For example, if you noticed the cause of the heavy breathing issue, is something obstructing their airway, do your best to remove it on your own as quickly as possible. After your pet has had enough time to calm down, its breathing should return to normal if this is the cause of the problem.
If, however, you think your cat may have dyspnea or asthma, it is important that you take a trip to the vet. With any severe respiratory rate, you cannot waste any time and must seek the attention of an expert as soon as possible. Labored breathing is not only miserable for the animal, but it can also be very dangerous and could be the cause of a lack of oxygen to the heart or even death if it is not addressed in a timely manner.
If you are unable to take your cat to the vet right away, make sure to keep your animal as calm as possible and remove any other stressors from the area. This may help your cat's breathing issue temporarily while you wait for your opportunity to get to the Vet.
Respiratory distress and respiratory infections require immediate medical attention and will necessitate medication and, in some cases, surgery to cure. It is important that you take any breathing problems very seriously and do everything in your power to get your cat the medical attention it needs.
In severe cases, the fluid that can accumulate in the chest will need to be removed. This requires surgery in order to drain the excess fluid out of the chest so that the cat will not have to work so hard to breathe.
Excess fluid cannot be treated through any other means than surgery and can cause a lot of issues if left untouched. If the vet notices signs of fluid or any other abnormalities through chest x-rays, it is very likely that surgery will be the only viable treatment option.
To be prepared, look into local vets that are open 24/7 in your area so that you know where to go in case you need emergency veterinary care.
While certain health conditions, like heavy breathing and asthma, are unpreventable, there are things that you can do to keep your cat as healthy as possible.
Make sure to keep your cat nourished with a healthy, well-rounded diet that supplies it with all the proper nutrients. If you worry that they’re not getting all the necessary nutrients from their diet, check out our supplement range to boost your pet’s overall health.
This will not prevent dyspnea, per se, but it will give your animal a strong and healthy foundation if it were to be diagnosed with any breathing condition.
Additionally, keep your cat’s lungs, chest, and heart strong by maintaining a clean and well-ventilated environment. Ensure that your pet has adequate exposure to fresh air and oxygen and monitor their breathing from time to time to see if there are any signs of your cat breathing heavily.
Lyme disease is a severe issue that can affect people as well as our furry friends. This disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is spread by infected ticks. There are currently four known species of tick that are capable of spreading Lyme disease - Ixodes pacificus, Ixodes scapularis, Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus. However, most tick borne infections are distributed through a type that is colloquially known as the black-legged tick or deer ticks.
These arachnids carry a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi that they transmit to the bloodstream of their victims by biting them. It is essential to recognize that Borrelia burgdorferi causes Lyme disease rather than the deer tick themselves. The condition got its name after many cases were found in 1975 in Lyme, Connecticut.
One of the first symptoms of potential Lyme disease in dogs is a circular rash around the site of a bite. If you notice this, the infection can usually quickly be diagnosed. However, this rash does not always develop, and it is not always easily visible, so there are other clinical signs of Lyme disease to watch out for as the infection progresses.
If you notice the following common signs of Lyme disease in your dog, you should get them tested right away.
One of the best ways to spot these clinical signs of disease "lyme" is to pay close attention to your dog’s behavior and act on any changes you notice by taking them to the vet.
When Lyme disease isn’t treated early, it may progress and lead to kidney failure. This form of the disease is rare; however, it can be fatal. Therefore, it is imperative that you take your pet to the vet if you notice these common symptoms and clinical signs of Lyme disease.
Ticks are the slowest of all living creatures, so it's no wonder that Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete (bacteria) called Borrelia burgdorferi. This microorganism thrives on deer ticks because they feed for days at a time and their sharp mouthparts make them hard to dislodge after attacking you. But when these two factors come together with your dog, who has been acting as bait or otherwise in close proximity to said tick-infested animal - well then you've got yourself some trouble brewing! Tick borne diseases typically occur anywhere from 24 hours up until 48 hours after the ticks have started feasting away unnoticed on our beloved dogs.
Veterinarians can diagnose Lyme disease through a combination of symptom analysis, medical history, and diagnostic tests. Veterinarians are trained to recognize the symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs. Once they suspect that a pet has the disease, they will attempt to see if it was recently in a position where it could have contracted it.
To be sure that a dog’s symptoms are of Lyme disease, a veterinarian will likely administer two blood tests:
The C6 test is used to determine if your dog has produced antibodies to protect itself from a protein called C6. If they have created these antibodies, then it is indicative of an active Lyme disease infection.
The animal does not necessarily need to be showing symptoms to receive a positive C6 test. It generally takes three to five weeks after a bite causing infection for the test to be accurate because it takes time to build up the antibody levels necessary to trigger a positive test. If you administer the tests too early, your dog may have the infection but not the required antibody levels to make the test come back positive yet.
After the C6 test comes back positive, the next test is the Quant C6 test. This second test, along with an analysis of its urine, will allow the veterinarian to determine what kind of treatment your dog will need.
Arthritis is one of the most common signs that your dog has Lyme disease. Sudden lameness or swollen joints can become a clinical sign that your dog has acquired the tick borne disease. This is a sign that the disease has been untreated for some time and you will need to get your dog to the vet. You may also see signs such as weight loss, fever, lack of appetite and swollen lymph nodes which can be very alarming. If this goes untreated for too long it can lead to severe consequences including a very poor quality of life and even kidney failure. If you notice any of these issues it's very important that you get your dogs to the vet ASAP for a round of antibiotic treatment.
Lyme disease is most commonly treated with antibiotics. Sometimes your dog must take this treatment for upwards of thirty days or more. The three types of antibiotics that are widely used in the treatment of Lyme disease are as follows:
Usually, this will do the trick, but in some cases, your dog may also need to undergo treatments to target specific symptoms of the infection. One such treatment may be anti-inflammatory medication to help them have an easier time getting around. This medication can help with the common symptoms of lameness and joint swelling.
Treatment usually takes at least 4 weeks, but it may take longer depending on the severity of your dog's condition. Your veterinarian may also prescribe an anti-inflammatory if they feel that this will help with any discomfort and pain you pup might be experiencing during treatment. Antibiotics are not always successful in eliminating Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria from the body; symptoms can improve for a while before returning again later on down the road. Kidney disease is another major concern when treating Lyme Disease because there isn't currently enough information to know what effects long-term antibiotic use could have over time.
The following Lyme disease prevention methods are helpful to follow to keep your dog safe, happy, and healthy.
One of the best ways to prevent canine Lyme disease is to avoid areas where ticks are prevalent. Deer ticks tend to call tall grasses, marshes, woods, and thick brush home. When walking your dog, try to keep it on the trail to avoid coming in contact with these places.
While every state has experienced Lyme disease cases, they are more common in the Pacific Coast, Upper Midwest, and Northeast, where infected deer ticks are common. If you live in any of these areas, you should be especially aware of this problem.
In your yard, ensure that your grass is always mowed as short as possible to reduce the likelihood of an infected tick being able to crawl from a tall blade of grass onto your dog. They cannot fly or jump, so this measure is more effective than you might think in preventing Lyme disease.
If you visit an area where ticks are commonly found, you must search your dog for them when you get home. The quicker you can remove them from your dog, the less likely they will spread disease. Most of the time, it takes the infected arachnid 24-48 hours of being attached to your dog to transmit the illness.
Ticks are gray or brown, and may look like skin lumps until you look closer and can see their legs. They can range from the size of a pin head to an average of 1cm diameter.
When you search your dog for these nefarious bugs, these are all the places you should look:
If you spot one, you should take a pair of fine tweezers and remove it. To do so, grasp it by its head and pull it cleanly off. Make sure to grab the head, NOT the body, so that you remove the entire thing. It would be best if you considered wearing gloves while you do this and washing your hands promptly afterward to protect yourself. Consult this guide for safe removal techniques.
If you do not feel confident that you can successfully check your dog for insect intruders, you can request your veterinarian to conduct a check when you go in for an exam. As veterinarians have experience in this field, they will be able to find any that you have missed.
If you do remove one from your dog, it is important not to panic. Just because a tick bit your dog does not mean that your dog will contract Lyme disease. Not every tick carries the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi that causes the disease; however, the infection rate is as high as 50% in some areas. Therefore, research shows that your dog has between a 0 and 50 percent chance of getting Lyme disease after a single bite.
Make sure you cover your fingers with a tissue or disposable glove when removing ticks on dogs. You may need to enlist the help of another person for restraint so that both hands can be free and clear from exposure contact. Removing them quickly is important because it's not until 12 hours after they've fed, which means there are no risks involved in this process unless we're talking about crushing them (don't).
While vaccines may not be the perfect solution for every dog, if Lyme disease is of particular concern for your pet, vaccination may be the right choice for tick control. Please consult your veterinarian if you would like to consider a vaccination for your pet. However, you should be aware that there is no consensus among veterinarians about the Lyme disease vaccine’s effectiveness. Most dog owners only choose to go with vaccination if Lyme disease is prevalent where they live.
Veterinarians recommend that dog owners routinely apply flea and tick medication to their dogs to prevent infection. Doing this can prevent them from making their way onto your dog in the first place. If you do not currently use one of these medications, speak to your veterinarian to see which formula would be best for your pet.
The answer to this question is no. There is no evidence that dogs can spread Lyme disease to their owners. However, your dog could bring an unattached, infected tick into your home where it may then bite you or another pet and spread tick borne Lyme disease. Being diligent about finding these arachnids on your dog and disposing of them will help to keep you safe as well as your pet.
Many dogs enjoy a very active outdoorsy lifestyle with their owners. You probably take pride in the fact that you keep your dog strong and healthy by engaging in exercise with him.
You were out hiking with Fido earlier. He was having so much fun running through the trees and tall grass. It was a beautiful day.
After dinner, however, you reach down to pet him while you get ready for bed and notice a strange lump in his fur.
A TICK. It is partially embedded in your dog’s skin and already looks big and swollen.
You recently heard about Lyme disease on the news and start to panic a little. A million questions start running through your mind.
Could your dog get sick? How long has it been there? And how do you get the tick OUT?
Dog ticks are tiny external parasites that attach to a host and make a meal of its blood. They tend to be easily identifiable once you know what you are looking for (and pictures are readily available online if you do not).
Ticks are classified as arachnids (like spiders). There are around 800 species; they first appeared in the fossil record around 90 million years ago.
Ticks have four main life stages that run in a cycle which takes about two months to complete: egg, larvae (which are as small as 1/32 of an inch), nymph, and adult.
Females lay around five thousand eggs on the ground after every feeding cycle. Males generally die after mating.
Some ticks latch on and feed for only about an hour. Then they drop off and go about their reproduction cycle.
Some male ticks can stay stuck to their hosts for up to five years without mating. They will simply engorge themselves at the all-you-can-eat buffet that is a human or pet, then sleep, then wake to feed again.
Some ticks can live for up to a year without a meal. Some must eat every few hours during certain stages of their life (such as when they are nymphs).
Ticks can temporarily halt their reproductive cycle if food is scarce, but they are biologically driven to have babies and so are opportunistic eaters. Most ticks are not concerned with which animal they feed on as long as it has blood.
Unfortunately for their hosts, tick bites are mostly painless but can spell big trouble for humans and their pets. Ticks transmit a number of dangerous diseases through their saliva.
The ticks themselves only pose a minor threat to dogs. They are gross to have to deal with, and their bite may cause some skin irritation and itchiness, but that is about it.
It is the pathogens and organisms living inside the tick that are the problem.
There are some serious illnesses that ticks carry that transmit readily to humans and pets.
Fewer than five percent of tick bites result in any major complications or diseases, however, so if you find a tick on your dog DO NOT PANIC.
Remove it as quickly as you can, clean the site, and watch your dog carefully.
Lyme disease has become a household buzzword, but it is also one of the easier tick-borne illnesses to treat. A quick round of antibiotics and your dog will be as good as new!
Signs of Lyme disease can include fever, joint stiffness and pain (called acute arthritis), and extreme fatigue. Your pet may be reluctant to eat or move if he has developed Lyme disease. During an examination, your vet may find seriously enlarged lymph nodes.
It is transmitted primarily by common deer ticks carrying a spiral-shaped bacteria and is found all over the world. Lyme disease can take up to six months to express itself with symptoms so it generally cannot be caught early, but luckily it tends to respond very well to a course of antibiotics.
There is a Lyme disease vaccination undergoing laboratory testing, but it is currently only available in some areas and to some breeds of dog with no other chronic health conditions.
Canine Ehrlichiosis is spread by dog ticks. The body does not develop a natural immunity to it so a dog infected once can be infected again.
It is characterized by swollen limbs and an unusual inflammation of and discharge from the nose and eyes. Abnormal bruising and bleeding can also be a symptom, but primarily in later stages.
Ehrlichiosis responds quickly to antibiotics (although treatments can include blood transfusions if the infection is severe) but can be fatal if not treated.
Ehrlichiosis is part of a series of tick-borne illnesses caused by the rickettsia bacteria family. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and anaplasmosis are all part of the same series.
Anaplasmosis is also called dog tick fever. It infects white blood cells and makes them unable to fight off infections, so secondary infections are common (hence the ‘fever’ name).
Visible symptoms include recurrent vomiting or diarrhea and lethargy. It is very rare, but in the later stages, neurological problems can develop and may include seizures, tremors, or loss of gross motor function (like walking).
Anaplasmosis is only fatal in less than one percent of cases.
A Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) diagnosis involves debilitating neurological symptoms and oozing skin lesions. Swelling of the face or legs, a chronic cough, and severe abdominal pain are often signs as well.
RMSF is fatal in around ten percent of canine cases so immediate treatment is needed (even if the blood work results are not back from the lab yet!) if your vet suspects it.
Ticks can carry Protozoa that can invade your dog’s body and live and reproduce in his red blood cells. These diseases are harder to treat than bacterial illnesses.
Babesiosis is caused by an intracellular Protozoa transmitted by the black-legged tick. Symptoms include pale gums and vomiting. Babesiosis will eventually result in collapse and lead to death.
It is important to note that babesiosis can also be transmitted by other infected dogs, particularly if they bite yours.
Dogs commonly groom themselves and remove ticks by licking and gnawing them off their skin. Sometimes the tick gets eaten. Unfortunately, this is another common way dogs are infected with pathogen-carrying Protozoa.
Hepatazoonosis can be caused this way, or by eating infected prey like birds or squirrels. Runny eyes and nose, severe muscle pain and fatigue, and bloody mucousy diarrhea are all signs of hepatozoonosis.
Ticks are not the only pest that can make your dog sick. Lice, fleas, sandflies, and mites can all carry disease as well.
One example of illness with multiple vectors is bartonellosis, commonly known as cat-scratch fever. Intermittent lameness, cardiac problems, and high fever are all signs of bartonellosis.
Obviously, it makes good sense to try and safeguard your dog against ticks and disease as much as possible. There are a number of safe and effective things you can do at home to minimize his chances of becoming a host.
It is essential that you have your dog on some sort of tick prevention product year-round. There are many types to choose from so you are sure to find one that fits your needs.
Ticks are active in various stages of their life cycle in every month of the year, but are at their worst from April to September.
Contrary to popular belief, ticks can not jump, fly, or drop from overhead tree limbs. They must crawl up on to their host from the ground or cling to passing animals walking through tall grass. This is called questing.
For that reason, your plan for avoiding tick-related dog problems should begin in your yard.
Checking your dog for ticks every day and grooming him several times a week is also an effective and important aspect to limiting his potential for contact.
A tick generally tends to transmit disease toward the end of his feeding cycle; catching the problem early results in a lessened chance of your dog getting sick.
Ticks like to hide in warm, moist areas, particularly ones covered in hair or where skin rubs on skin.
If you find a tick while grooming your dog, it is imperative that you remove it immediately.
Do not attempt to remove the tick with petroleum jelly, a match, or nail polish remover. Nothing like this - often called ‘hacks’ online - is a safe tool to remove an embedded tick.
If you cannot remove the tick on your own, call your veterinarian. He will likely have a fool-proof method of quickly removing ticks. A quick office visit will ensure your pet is bug-free.
If you find a tick, make sure to watch your dog for signs of illness. Disease transmission is rare, but possible.
Early detection and treatment of any illness is CRITICAL to keeping your dog healthy.
If you find a tick on your dog, you may choose to keep the tick in a jar of alcohol or a zip-top sandwich bag. If your dog develops a fever or shows any signs of illness, call your vet immediately. He may ask to pass the tick to a pathologist for testing.
Your vet will have a standard course of treatment that likely includes broad-spectrum antibiotics. Doxycycline is a popular choice and treats the three most common tick-borne illnesses (Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Ehrlichiosis, and Lyme disease). Doses are calculated by your dog’s body weight.
The prognosis for most diseases are good if they are caught early. Few dogs experience life-threatening reactions to tick bites.
Doberman pinschers and German shepherds are slightly more likely to develop a bad case of Ehrlichiosis, so their prognosis is often not as good as some other breeds.
Your dog’s yearly physical will probably include a complete blood count panel that screens for all tick-borne illnesses. Ask your veterinarian for more information.
If you live in an area where ticks and tick-borne illnesses are prevalent, it may be a good idea to keep track of your dog’s overall health with a journal.
Note on each day the type and size of a tick found, if any. Keep track of how it was removed and where the body is kept. Make sure to jot down any symptoms of illness your dog may be displaying - it could be linked to a tick and could provide a valuable timeline of disease progression for treatment.
It is easy to let your worries get the best of you if you happen to find a tick on your pet.
Overall your dog has a very small chance of getting sick from a bug bite, and the chances decrease the faster you remove the tick.
Good daily grooming habits, a clean yard with short grass, and properly-used preventative treatment can all help ensure your dog stays healthy and bug-free outside.
Taking your dog out to play should not be stressful, so ask your vet for more information on getting rid of ticks.
Canine hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar in dogs, is a life-threatening but often preventable condition. It can also be a symptom of other diseases. You should know the canine hypoglycemia symptoms as well as prevention tips for hypoglycemia in dogs to keep your dog safe.
Hypoglycemia is low blood sugar as opposed to hyperglycemia which is high blood sugar. There is a healthy range of fluctuating blood levels for dogs that impacts many of their crucial bodily functions.
A healthy dog's blood glucose level should be within 80 to 120 mg/dl. Less is hypoglycemia, more is hyperglycemia, and the farther the numbers are from normal, the more serious the condition. Slightly low blood glucose impairs bodily functions, and a blood glucose level of 40 or less is fatal.
It is normal for their blood glucose to fluctuate to the extremes of the normal range, from 80 to 120 in a day. Their bodies are supposed to deplete and build glucose depending on their activities. Blood glucose should be lowest when the dog has been sleeping for a long time and highest while eating and playing.
Poor health due to circumstances or a disease can lead to hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia where the dog's body can't create enough blood glucose to maintain bodily functions or creates too much and impacts how other bodily systems operate.
Puppies have a particular susceptibility for developing hypoglycemia because their bodies aren't well developed. The things that could make an adult dog suffer hypoglycemia are more likely to cause it in puppies, particularly in the case of cold weather.
Hypoglycemia in dogs with diabetes is quite common because their owners don't taper the amount of insulin as the dog's weight and needs change or because someone accidentally double doses them.
Hypoglycemia from exertion is particularly likely with hunting dogs (which is why many people search online every month for hunting dog hypoglycemia) or dogs heavily engaged in sports.
It is not uncommon to see hypoglycemia in pregnant dogs. Their bodies use a lot of glucose, so any additional stress like not eating enough at the end of their pregnancy could lead to hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia in dogs may be mild or severe, but it is important to recognize the signs while it is still mild so you can keep it from becoming severe.
Mild hypoglycemia symptoms in dogs include the following.
Lethargy is one of the most common signs of hypoglycemia. If the dog appears weak or exhausted, cuts out of activities early, or naps an excessive amount, they may be suffering from low blood sugar. Consider whether there are any other reasons you can think of for why the dog would be tired and compare it to potential reasons why they may have low blood sugar as well as whether there are other symptoms.
Loss of appetite in dogs may appear as the dog not eating as much, not being as eager for food, or not eating at all. They may not even eat their favorite foods. You can catch this earlier if you have a strong feeding routine and ensure you are giving them the same amount of food each time.
Twitching is small, repetitive muscle contractions. But dogs can do this simply when they are anxious or dreaming. To determine if twitching is likely to be caused by hypoglycemia, consider whether they do it when awake and if there is any reason for them to be anxious or fearful at the moment.
Then there are moderate hypoglycemic symptoms in dogs.
Lack of coordination like poor balance, stumbling, and inability to walk or stand normally could be caused by hypoglycemia.
Odd behavior is a broad term meant for pet owners to acknowledge that they know their dog and can recognize when they are acting out of character. If your dog just doesn't act right, there is something serious wrong with them and hypoglycemia may be it.
Trembling is more constant than twitching. It can be caused by pain, cold, or anxiety, but if you aren't aware your dog has reason to be any of those things, then their trembling could be hypoglycemia.
These symptoms of dog hypoglycemia are severe.
Loss of vision may range from blurred vision to reduced vision to blindness. You can tell if your dog is suffering any of these because they don't react to things as quickly or accurately as they normally would, they run into things, or they don't react to visual stimulation at all. They will likely be stressed by their inability to see well.
Seizures are a very serious symptom of a higher degree of hypoglycemia. Seizures may involve convulsions or simply strange behavior. If you see your dog having what you suspect is a seizure, try to keep them from hurting themselves by moving things away from them that may fall on them, or moving them if need be, such as if they are near stairs, but don't try to hold them down or restrict them. When they have stopped or if they don't stop within 3 to 5 minutes, get them to the vet immediately, even if it is afterhours.
Unconsciousness is a symptom of severe hypoglycemia. Rub a sugary liquid on their gums to see if you can revive them. If not, call the vet, even if it is afterhours, so they can tell you what to do to revive the dog and get the dog to their office. You may have to do CPR, should they have stopped breathing or their heartbeat stopped.
If your dog is conscious and not having a seizure, the first thing you should do is try to feed them. Depending on how poorly the dog is acting, you might try regular food or one of their favorite foods first. If the dog can't or won't eat even their favorite food, grab some honey, corn syrup, Karo syrup, fruit juice, or water mixed with sugar and rub it on their gums.
Get the dog to the vet as quickly as possible. If it is after-hours, call your vet's office or an emergency vet number you already have on hand to discover where to take your dog, or if they have some advice for you before leaving home.
When you get to the vet's office, they will want as detailed information on the dog's symptoms, what they've eaten, what they've taken, and what they've done recently as you can give them. If you did things like give them food or sugar water and it revived them some or at all, the vet will also want to know that.
The vet will be observing the dog and performing blood chemistry, blood count, and urinalysis tests to determine if the dog has hypoglycemia and how it has impacted their organs.
If they suspect the hypoglycemia may be a side effect of another disease, they will run diagnostic checks for the one(s) that it appears it may be. This may require an ultrasound, cortisol test, electrolyte test, serum biochemistry, or thyroid test.
Treatment depends on whether the hypoglycemia is primary or secondary.
The hypoglycemia itself will be treated with oral or intravenous fluids containing glucose.
If caused by an external factor, the vet will then need to help you devise a plan to ensure this doesn't happen again. This will probably include informing you of potential factors causing hypoglycemia and advice for adapting the dog's diet, insulin dose, or lifestyle to prevent a recurrence.
Otherwise, the hypoglycemia must be coming from another disease or condition and that underlying factor must be treated to keep low blood sugar from being a perpetual problem as well as to stop the other risks of the disease or condition. This may include treatments or surgeries, or lifelong management strategies, depending on the underlying cause.
You can't foresee or control all the external factors that may cause hypoglycemia, and you certainly can't keep your dog from developing a disease or condition that leads to hypoglycemia, but the following list can make it much less likely that it will happen to your dog.
Like puppies, small dog breeds have small bodies and they may not be able to deal with the cold as well as a large dog. Puppies of small breeds are most susceptible to hypoglycemia. So, when you have a puppy or a small breed dog or a small breed puppy, be particularly vigilant to prevent and detect hypoglycemia.
Because diet is important in maintaining healthy blood levels, it makes sense that you want to ensure you are feeding your dog correctly to prevent and control it.
The most important thing is to make sure your dog is eating enough. Simply not getting enough nutrition or fasting is enough to cause hypoglycemia.
Feed them high-quality canned and dry foods at routine intervals based on your dog's weight, age, and energy demands. Your dog should be able to be as energetic as they want to be and maintain a healthy weight, neither being bony or too round on their food schedule. The quality of the food is important because, sadly, many pet food companies sell products that contain more unnecessary or even unhealthy ingredients than they do the nutrients your dog actually needs. It's a way to keep producing the food cheaply so they can sell it cheaply.
Limit their human food intake. Dogs can get full eating unhealthy things and not really want their food or simply get tired of their food when they eat a lot of table scraps.
Chronically hypoglycemic dogs may need a sugary liquid like honey or Karo syrup rubbed on their gums daily or added to their food.
If your dog is diabetic, you probably already know how to test your dog's blood sugar. But, if your dog is at an increased risk of suffering hypoglycemia from diabetes or any other reason, you may take comfort in being able to check their blood sugar when you suspect there may be a problem.
You can use a glucose meter for humans and test the dog's ear like you would a human's finger. If their ear is cold or not warm, rub it to make it warm as it will help the blood drop form.
Do not use a home test to rule out hypoglycemia unless you have experienced this with your dog before and are quite familiar with it, they are not experiencing significant symptoms, and the symptoms go away. There is the possibility that the meter may be wrong or that your dog may have another problem that needs to be addressed.
CBD oil is gaining popularity as a natural option to address a dizzying array of human and pet ailments, but can it help with hypoglycemia?
That's complicated. CBD oil is probably not the best bet for addressing hypoglycemia itself because it shows some evidence of potentially lowering blood sugar.
But it could be an excellent way to help prevent hypoglycemia from occurring or addressing the underlying cause of the hypoglycemia.
You could talk to your vet about the risks versus benefits of using CBD oil to help address hard-to-treat ailments that may cause your dog to develop hypoglycemia or to supplement or replace medications that are too harsh for the dog to take. Many vets are supportive of and knowledgeable about CBD oil for pets and can help.
If you discover CBD oil is right for your dog, you might choose one of our CBD oil tinctures, capsules, crunchy treats, or soft treats. Our products are scientifically backed, and proven by third-party lab tests to contain only the ingredients you think are in there and none of the ones you think aren't.
We also create new products for pets with so far untreatable ailments. If no traditional or natural option has helped your dog or solved another pet problem you have, let us know and we might be able to come up with a solution.
As a cat owner, you keep your feline friend healthy in every way you can. You attend regular checkups with your veterinarian, get your feline’s vaccinations, and give him deworming pills.
These are all well-understood veterinary practices that are easy enough to follow. However, not every pet owner takes the risk of Lyme disease seriously.
In cats, Lyme diseases is very rare but can still have severe consequences if you don’t handle it properly.
You may be wondering:
Read on to learn everything you need to know about this condition in felines.
Lyme disease is a condition that affects animals and humans. If left untreated, it can affect the host’s joints and central nervous system.
At least four different species of ticks can transmit Lyme disease. However, the most common one is by far the deer tick, also known as the black-legged tick.
Deer ticks themselves don’t cause Lyme diseases. Rather, they transmit the bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi that causes it when become infected. If a deer tick doesn’t carry these bacteria, it cannot pass Lyme disease to an animal or human.
However, as many as half of all adult ticks carry this bacteria in some areas in the U.S. This is why you must implement preventative measures for both yourself and your pets.
Start by knowing common facts about ticks:
If they are infected with the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, cats normally don’t show Lyme disease symptoms. Unlike humans, they normally do not present a rash at the site of the tick bite.
With this in mind, there are some other symptoms and signs of Lyme disease that your cats may display:
Seek medical attention immediately if you notice any of these signs, especially if your cat has difficulty breathing. Your veterinarian will determine if the issue is Lyme disease or something else.
While you can watch for signs and symptoms, the only way to know if your cats may has this condition is through laboratory tests.
The CatWatch Newsletter reports that Lyme disease can be diagnosed by examining blood samples. You will have to get a SNAP-4DxPlus test for your cat. If your feline has Lyme disease, laboratory tests will show the presence of a certain antibody.
According to the CDC, felines cannot spread Lyme disease to humans. So, the good news is that you don’t have to worry about your feline transmitting the disease directly to you during the treatment process.
Here are a couple of the most common practices used to treat Lyme disease in cats:
If you happen to find a tick on your cat, follow these steps to remove it:
Removing these arachnids promptly will greatly reduce your cat’s chances of acquiring Lyme disease. You will prevent inflammation of the joints and other serious problems down the line.
After monitoring your cat’s symptoms and performing lab testing, your veterinarian may find your cat has Lyme disease.
If this is the case, your cat will need to be treated with an antibiotic. This will combat inflammation of the joints and other symptoms of Lyme disease. He should show signs of a quick recovery if treated promptly.
If you don’t get your feline started on antibiotics soon after becoming infected, they may require prolonged veterinary care.
Even though Lyme disease is rare in felines, you shouldn’t take any chances. Here are some simple precautionary steps to prevent your cat from getting Lyme disease:
Whenever you or your feline returns from spending time outdoors, check for ticks. They are big enough to see and feel with your hands. Check your clothing for signs of these pesky arachnids and run your hand through your feline’s fur to ensure they don’t bring any inside.
To aid with the preventative process, apply a topical treatment once a month. Spot-on treatments like Frontline or Advantage will kill adult ticks and prevent new ones from causing an infection.
If you prefer, there are also oral treatments available to prevent infections. Talk to your veterinarian to determine the one that’s best for your feline friend.
Outdoor cats, even those who split their time indoors and outdoors, are much more likely to get Lyme disease than strictly indoor cats. Because ticks transmit this condition, felines usually acquire it from roaming around outside.
With this in mind, you should know that indoor felines are not immune to the disease. Other pets may bring ticks into your yard or home. You and your family can also inadvertently track these arachnids indoors via your clothing.
If you can’t stand the thought of your feline being inside all day, you can make him an outdoor cat and still prevent ticks from biting him.
Invest in a tick repellent collar. This accessory will kill and repel fleas for up to 8 months. The collar doesn’t have an odor and isn’t greasy, so your cat won’t be bothered by it.
The thought of your cat developing rabies scares all pet owners. The virus is super contagious, putting you and others at risk of rabies infection.
The virus also puts your cat’s life in danger. Once symptoms set in, rabies is almost always fatal.
As a cat owner, you should be informed about the rabies virus. Many people don’t realize what exactly it is or how their pet can contract. They may also not be aware of the symptoms or diagnosis process.
Perhaps most importantly, not many pet owners know how to prevent rabies or what to do if their cat is bitten by a rabid animal.
That’s why we’re here to help. This article addresses all of these points and more. Read on to become a more informed cat owner and keep your feline friend safe!
Rabies is a virus that impacts the nervous system. It can infect any mammal (humans, dogs, cats, etc.). Once symptoms set in, the disease is almost always fatal.
The rabies virus is also highly contagious. Most commonly, an infected animal gives the virus to another creature, which could be your cat. The virus can also transmit if an animal’s mucous membranes or open wound comes into contact with an infected animal's saliva.
Typically, cats contract rabies when they are exposed to wild animals. They may be bitten by foxes, skunks, raccoons, etc. They may also be bitten by stray animals that were not vaccinated.
When a rabid animal bites your pet, it will not show symptoms immediately. The typical incubation period (the time between the initial bite by a wild animal and the development of symptoms) is a few weeks to two months. However, it can be up to a year before the symptoms appear.
The length of incubation depends on factors, including:
Once incubation is over, your pet shows symptoms throughout the following three stages:
The prodromal stage occurs within the first 2 to 3 days of symptoms. During this stage, the animal experiences a sudden, severe change in personality. If it was previously outgoing, it might become timid. If it was previously shy, it might become energetic or agitated.
Other notable symptoms during the prodromal stage include:
The furious stage takes place during the next 1 to 7 days. is when a cat presents the biggest threat to others. The animal becomes increasingly aggressive and hyper-responsive to stimuli. It appears disoriented and may experience hallucinations. If enclosed, it will attack the bars of the cage.
During the furious stage, a cat may also show the following symptoms:
During this final stage, paralysis will set it. The cat will be unable to swallow because of a paralyzed larynx. This leads to the drooling and foaming at the mouth that we often associate with rabies. The muscles that control breathing will also become paralyzed, leading to death.
The direct fluorescent antibody test is the most effective method for diagnosing rabies. However, veterinarians can only do this test once the animal is dead.
Currently, there is no way for your cat to be rabies diagnosed accurately. One might argue that you can look for symptoms, but the problem with this is that:
Unfortunately, once an animal shows symptoms, the rabies virus is almost always fatal.
If your cat was exposed, it’s important to act fast. Start by calling your local animal control. They will come get the wild animal and advise you what to do next.
Animal control will likely tell you to take your cat to the vet ASAP. They should tell you how to use caution to prevent contracting the virus yourself.
The vet will evaluate your cat and decide on the best course of action. Their plan will largely depend on whether your cat has had a rabies vaccine and its vaccination status:
If at any point your cat develops signs of rabies after a bite, it should be euthanized immediately. Your vet will alert the appropriate local authorities and test the body to deliver an accurate diagnosis.
Seeing as there is no cure, you should strive to prevent rabies in your cat in the first place. This will save you much trouble and heartache later on.
One of the most important things you can do as a cat owner is vaccinating your cat against rabies. Cats can get their rabies shots as young as two months old. Depending on individual circumstances, they will need booster shots every 1-3 years.
To further prevent rabies, make your cat an indoor cat. This will decrease the chances of it coming across a rabid animal. If you take it outside, consider using a leash. And, if you let it use the backyard, build a fence to keep out wild animals.
Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious disease that affects various dog populations. Puppies most often contract parvovirus by coming in contact with fecal waste from an infected dog.
Parvovirus can spread in any age group, but unvaccinated young puppies are among the most at-risk groups. Shelter puppies also have a higher chance of contracting parvovirus due to their proximity to other dogs.
CPV attacks a dog’s gastrointestinal tract, which leads to a wide range of gastrointestinal issues, such as severe vomiting, diarrhea, and unwillingness to eat. Canine parvovirus is tricky to eradicate and can live outside of a host for long periods, making it particularly dangerous.
For those that want to protect their dogs from parvovirus by learning how to prevent and treat it, we’ve compiled everything you need to know.
Main thing to know about parvo is the symptoms. Dog owners need to learn the symptoms of CPV. Once clinical signs of a parvovirus infection manifest, the next step is speedy testing and immediate treatment.
The most common symptoms of parvovirus in infected dogs include:
Pet Owners who have noticed any of these changes in their puppies should immediately contact their vet and inform them of these symptoms. Fast and effective treatment will increase a dog’s chances of a full recovery.
Parvovirus infection is most easily identifiable by the clinical signs. From there, a veterinarian can confirm the diagnosis through testing.
The three primary tests used in diagnosing parvovirus are:
PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is effective when clinical signs of parvo are present. However, a vet cannot conduct this type of test in a shelter environment.
ELISA is an antigen test that is easy and quick to perform. It usually takes 10 to 15 minutes. This test involves a fecal swab and is prevalent in shelter environments.
Lastly, there is the CBC (Complete Blood Count). The vet can send this test to a lab or perform it in-house, depending on available resources. A CBC test determines if a dog has a low white blood cell count. It may also require a bone marrow biopsy. When used alone, CBC tests do not offer a definitive diagnosis. Instead, it supports other tests. CBCs also give professionals more insight into the infected dog’s health.
With most CPV cases, an infected puppy or dog can make a full recovery if they have access to prompt treatment. There is no antiviral treatment currently available for this disease in dogs. Instead, the treatment process for this disease focuses on correcting symptoms and supporting the dog’s natural recovery.
There are a few different ways to support an infected dog through its recovery. Treatment may include:
Early intervention is critical to a successful recovery. Once a puppy starts to display symptoms, it should receive testing to confirm a diagnosis. A diagnosis can lead to a plan to start treatment immediately and aggressively. In severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary.
One thing to know about parvo is that the disease takes a lot of owners by surprise. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to protect your puppy from a CPV infection.
To reduce your dog’s exposure to canine parvovirus, keep your dog and your home clean. Because the virus spreads through fecal matter, make an effort to keep your pet away from fecal waste. Do this while playing outside or going for walks with your dog.
Always clean up after your dog and dispose of its waste promptly. Bathe your dog regularly, especially if it spends a lot of time outdoors.
It’s also crucial to note that CPV can live independently for some time both indoors and outdoors. Owners should take care to thoroughly disinfect any spaces where they suspect contact with an infected material to be present.
The canine parvovirus vaccine plays another significant role in preventing this disease. Unvaccinated dogs are rare, as most receive the parvovirus vaccine between 14 and 16 weeks of age. Young puppies are much more susceptible to the disease than adult dogs.
Nursing puppies gain temporary immunity from their mother’s milk. However, if they get exposed to parvo in the gap between this immunity and their own, they may fall ill. Sometimes, the mother’s given immunity interferes with the effectiveness of a vaccine if not administered strategically.
If you have a new puppy, diligence in parvovirus vaccination is a must. To defend against potential gaps in the early stages, most young puppies require a series of vaccinations for parvovirus.
Pet Owners should also keep vaccination on their radar for their adult dogs, ensuring all vaccinations are up-to-date.
Besides keeping a dog’s environment clean and getting them vaccinated, dog owners should understand the risk posed by infected dogs. Even dog parks can be a risk as your dog may come into contact with unvaccinated dogs.
The disease is highly contagious. If you have not vaccinated your dog against parvovirus, be cautious when bringing your dog around large groups of other dogs that are close in proximity.
Parvo can be a frightening threat to your puppy or dog’s health, but there are ways to protect against it. Practice hygiene, get all the vaccinations and keep away from infected animals. It’s the best way to protect your dog from any virus. If your dog does become infected, contact your veterinarian immediately! Best practice is to have your puppy fully vaccinated early on in life to prevent them to ever become infected from this life threatening virus as the survival rate is much greater when all precautions are taken.
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Canine distemper is a dangerous disease for dogs that can have lasting consequences. It often manifests in puppies and other adolescent dogs, making your otherwise cheerful four-legged friend start to act lethargic and feverish. Other signs of canine distemper are sneezing, diarrhea, and seeming to cry because of the appearance of fluid discharge through the eye, but that’s not all distemper does. If left untreated it can cause severe neurological problems for your pet, like seizures and permanent shaking.
Diagnosing your pet with distemper can be done with the help of a vet. Once the signs of distemper present themselves you should make an appointment with a vet and try to limit your dog’s exposure to other canines. Distemper in dogs is contagious, so you’ll want to clean all the items your animal interacts with like their food bowl and bed. Then, isolate your pup while you wait for them to get tested. Once you get your results, your vet will help you come up with the best treatment plan for your dog’s case.
Now, let’s break down the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments for this disease.
The symptoms of canine distemper in dogs vary as the condition progresses.
The initial signs of canine distemper virus include:
As this virus worsens your pet may also suffer from secondary infections that lead to:
Distemper is a viral disease that often presents similarly to kennel cough in domestic dogs. However, the two should be treated entirely differently, as canine distemper virus can be deadly if left alone to fester, because of the risk of secondary bacterial infections for dogs.
If you see signs of distemper in your pup, like vomiting or sudden weight loss, you should have your pet examined immediately – especially if they are one of the hundreds of unvaccinated dogs in the country that are at a much higher risk for the disease.
It’s important to note that canine distemper can live on surfaces and be transferred when your dog interacts with that contaminated surface. If you have multiple dogs in your house, isolate your sick pup, disinfect your home, and keep them away from other dogs until you receive a diagnosis.
If you suspect your dog is showing signs of distemper, they need the assistance of a vet immediately. A vet can run tests to check your pet for the disease. However, in the early stages of the virus, there is a possibility that you may receive a false negative. If symptoms persist, revisit the vet for another test.
Because of this risk of a false negative your vet will examine your dog alongside administering the test. They should also ask you questions that assess the risk factors for your puppy or adult dog. Typically, these questions will include points about, what other animals your dog has come in contact with (including other dogs in your area or other pets in the household), and when signs of the disease began. A good vet will also ask if your animal has experienced any other large changes in their life, like a move or shift in schedule recently. Additionally, they will take into account your pet’s medical history, as there is a distemper vaccine that puppies can get that would greatly minimize the risk of contracting the disease.
After assessing all of these points, as well as the animal’s physical condition and the test results, your vet will hopefully be able to say whether your pet has the disease or not.
Treating distemper in adult dogs is no easy task. There is no cure – only prevention, or management of symptoms.
For an animal suffering from gastroenterological issues like vomiting and diarrhea as a result of the virus, one of the most common treatments is intravenous fluids. This can help address the symptoms of canine distemper your pet is experiencing while giving them an immune boost to help them fight the virus.
Alternatively, if your pet is suffering from long-term complications to their central nervous system like seizures or shakiness while walking, other treatment will be offered. Often ensuring they rest in a padded crate or other soft bed will be the solution to help with symptom management when problems with the central nervous system arise.
Lastly, your vet may suggest various broad-spectrum antibiotics, analgesics, CBD, and electrolyte solutions alongside more intensive therapies to prevent the worsening of the effects of canine distemper. Essentially, the more support your pet receives after being diagnosed, the better the chance they have of fighting off any secondary complications that will arise.
The only way to prevent canine distemper is through vaccination. The vaccine for canine distemper is often administered as part of the DAPP or DA2PP vaccine which addresses the distemper virus, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus all at once. Your dog should receive this vaccination at six to eight weeks old for the best chance at prevention. Be sure to book your pup in for their vaccine.
This vaccination and set of boosters is especially important for animals whose parents suffered from the disease. In this case, the puppies may have an initial set of antibodies from their mother’s placenta, but without the booster shots, those antibodies will become inactive putting your pet at risk for distemper once again.
Once your dog has been given the vaccine, the chance of contracting distemper decreases. But to support the efficacy of this shot, you should ensure your dog is given their boosters regularly. They should have boosters:
You should keep an eye out for any signs of the disease as your pet’s immunity develops. After the first injection, most puppies develop initial immunity to the disease after a period of three to five days.
Until your puppy receives either the DAPP or DA2PP you should keep them away from other dogs and ideally limit their contact with the outside world until your vet advises it’s safe.
To prevent canine distemper, it’s important that your puppy gets its vaccine at six to eight weeks, and then their boosters thereafter. If you’re concerned that your pet is unwell, take them to the vet immediately – the sooner they’re treated, the better their chance of recovery.
Sometimes, our pups do things that frustrate and worry us, such as drinking stagnant water. It might be water in the gutters, puddles in the alley, or muddied pools in the wild. In all these situations, the biggest concern for a dog owner is the pet's health.
Stagnant or contaminated water can cause myriad health problems. These sources can be breeding grounds for bacteria, disease, and all sorts of things that can make your dog feel sick or put its life in danger.
One of the main concerns is a condition called leptospirosis, which happens after a canine has consumed street water. It can affect the kidneys, liver, and overall health.
What is this disease? We'll cover what leptospirosis is and more in this guide. Stick around to learn about the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and ways to prevent this disease from infecting your animal.
This zoonotic disease results from leptospiras serovars bacteria. It affects dogs and other animals around the world. This type of bacteria grows in standing water, damp conditions, and muddy areas. It can also come from carriers, such as rats, wildlife, and livestock cattle.
Because the bacteria prefer warmer climates, most canine leptospirosis cases occur during the warmer months of the year. If animals or humans have a diagnosis for it, it can cause kidney failure, liver damage, and sometimes even death.
Canine leptospirosis transmitted through contact with infected animals or their infected urine. The contact could be direct or indirect.
If your dog drinks street water, they could be lapping up the leptospira interrogans. Ingesting the bacteria could make them sick. They could also contract the disease by swimming in stagnant pools.
The leptospiras bacteria slip in through the mucus membranes, the mouth, nose, and eyelids, of your canine or from open cuts/abraded skin. Unfortunately, the infectious disease adapts to each carrier, meaning that it can transmit between species.
Leptospirosis in dogs can come from contact with various infected animals. Infected dogs can also spread the condition to humans.
Once the bacteria is inside your puppy, it spreads through the bloodstream. The concentrated leptospiras reside in the organs. The canine's body will try to eliminate it by urinating, but it can reside for weeks to months.
In mild cases, your dog will recover but still carry the leptospiras in their tissues, making them a carrier.
If you delay treatment too long, your pet could suffer from kidney failure, liver damage, or death. This zoonotic disease could cause permanent damage to your pet and ruin its quality of life.
If you notice any signs of leptospirosis in your dog, you should seek medical help immediately. A veterinarian will be able to help get them treatment and back on the right track. Infected dogs do not have a high survival rate if they severely exhibit signs of leptospirosis.
Here are the clinical signs you want to be on the lookout for:
If left untreated, leptospirosis can transform into leptospiremia. At this stage, the bacteria spread to many organs through the bloodstream.
Your dog can also get chronic kidney disease or have their kidneys shut down. In some cases, a pulmonary hemorrhage can kill your infected puppy. Some strains can induce chronic hepatitis.
Your vet will tell you which specific strain of the leptospiras has affected your furry friend.
It's essential to get dogs with leptospirosis to the vet right away as it is an infectious disease. Otherwise, other animals in the area could be at risk of contracting the condition.
Your doctor will see the clinical signs of the leptospiras in your animal's tissues. They can help come up with a treatment plan.
Before going into the office, consider the following questions:
The vet will record the answers to your questions and check your dog for any of the physical symptoms they might be exhibiting.
Finally, they'll perform a microscopic agglutination test. This exam tests the blood of the animal to reveal the number of leptospiras in the stream.
Once you have a diagnosis of leptospirosis, you can discuss a treatment plan with your doctor.
Your doctor will tell you which treatments can cure the clinical signs of leptospirosis.
For immediate treatment, the vet will prescribe a 5 mg/kg dosage of doxycycline. You'll need to give your dog this medicine every day for two weeks.
If your animal is allergic to the doxycycline, the vet will put it on penicillin to start. Afterward, a two-week period of orally feeding your dog doxy is necessary to help their organs.
After curing the initial case of canine leptospirosis, your vet will work on a recovery plan with you and your pet.
If damage has occurred in the dog's organs, the vet will focus on fluid therapy to restore its health. The doctor also will use other boosting serums to keep their electrolyte and acid-base balances. Other support measures include antiemetic, GI protectants, phosphate binders, and hepatic support medications.
In some situations, supportive therapy isn't enough, and your furry friend will still experience renal failure. The vet will place the animal on replacement therapy with occasional hemodialysis.
If you happen to catch leptospirosis early on, antibiotic therapy could be a potential solution. However, this area needs more research.
As a responsible pet owner, you want to keep leptospirosis from infecting your animal. Prevention is key to keeping your puppy healthy, happy, and playful.
A vaccine is the most effective way to prevent canine leptospirosis. Four of the types of leptospira serovars have vaccines.
People have been getting their animals vaccinated for leptospirosis for years. Schedule an appointment to get the leptospirosis vaccine for your animal. That way, you can prevent your pet from unnecessary suffering.
If you think your pet can't become infected with leptospirosis, think again! Knowing what signs to look for and how to prevent this infectious disease is a step in the right direction. If you notice any of the severe symptoms mentioned above, give your pet's doctor a call.
Cats are one of the most popular house pets that people have. Their independence and companionship make for a great addition to any family.
As with any pets, cats present a rather large responsibility, and you should be prepared to handle health issues that felines develop.
Feline distemper (feline panleukopenia virus) is a species of feline parvovirus. It is more common than you may think. At one point in time, it was the leading cause of death in cats.
Distemper is a highly contagious viral disease that is passed from animal to animal. Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) damages white blood cell count in the animal’s system and can harm muscles and other vital organs. It’s found worldwide, so it’s possible your cat could be exposed to the virus during its lifetime.
Read on to learn more about the warning signs of feline distemper so you can recognize symptoms in your pet.
You can spot distemper in cats through a variety of symptoms that range in severity. Infected cats will usually show these signs.
Fever is one of the easiest to spot on the outside and is usually a good indicator that something is wrong. If a high temperature persists, there is a chance your cat could have the highly contagious virus, and you should take them to the vet immediately. Vomiting and diarrhea might be soon to follow.
You should take vomiting and diarrhea very seriously. If either of these symptoms persists for even a couple of days, your cat can become very dehydrated, and their immune system will weaken as it tries to keep up with the loss of fluids.
These two signs are tell-tale signs that something is wrong and are some of the more common indicators of FPV, so do not hesitate to take your pet in for an exam! Infected cats will typically show signs of infection within a couple of days, so as soon as notice something may be off, take them to a vet for the best chance of a full recovery.
There are also some behavioral changes that you should keep an eye out for. If your cat seems fatigued, depressed, or is just acting strangely, you should take them to the vet. They may show a disinterest in food, which could point to nausea associated with Feline distemper.
Once an expert has had a chance to look at the animal and fully assess the symptoms, they will diagnose the infected cat properly and move on to the correct treatment plan.
Feline distemper is dangerous, and there is a relatively high mortality rate, especially in young kittens. However, an early diagnosis and treatment can help in the long run.
Once you have taken your cat to the vet, they will ask you a list of questions, usually relating to the prevalent signs of Feline distemper. They may also ask about any behavioral issues that may have been going on. Keep in mind that distemper is common in three to five-month-old cats, so the vet may ask more questions if your pet falls within this age range.
After they gather this information, they will perform some basic lab tests. Usually, this is in the form of a blood test, which will show whether you have an infected cat. The vet will also rule out any other viruses that could have been the cause.
Lab results are processed relatively quickly so that you and the vet can discuss what the best course of action to take will be.
Distemper in cats is a severe condition that will affect the cat’s health quite seriously. The virus can quickly infect the body and often attack white blood cell counts and the bone marrow of the cat.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for FPV. However, there are ways to handle the most dangerous parts of the illness.
The veterinarian can prescribe basic medications that will combat the loss of liquids and things that will support the immune system while they try to heal.
While there may not be a true way to cure feline distemper, you can prevent your cat from contact with FPV through a vaccination.
Feline distemper has been around for a long time, and experts have developed and distributed an effective vaccine that prevents most, if not all, cases.
FPV is most lethal and dangerous to young kittens, so it is best to have a vaccination completed at the earliest possible time. This is traditionally around the age of 6 weeks – if you are bringing home a young kitten, make sure to get a record of all of their examinations and vaccinations to take care of them and schedule any necessary appointments properly. You should also quarantine your cat from others if you suspect any symptoms.
FPV vaccinations are inexpensive and easy to come by, so you should make sure that this is one of the first things you do before bringing your new pet home!
Feline distemper is quite common in that most cats are exposed to it at some point in their life. The good news is that once they have had this virus once, they are immune to a second infection.
Completing vaccinations for your pet to protect against FPV and other common viruses is your responsibility as a pet owner. It is the best way to ensure that they do not have to go through easily preventable illnesses, and they will be much happier because of it.
Do your research before getting a new animal to understand what you are getting into and what your responsibilities will be. The feline distemper virus is just one of the many things you should be aware of before bringing a new cat home.
Rabies is usually associated with rabid, cartoonish raccoons frothing at the mouth. However, this is a highly serious disease that’s common in dogs. It has the potential to seriously harm, from ferrets to humans, and even your beloved pet.
The rabies virus can result in damage to the nervous system, resulting in paralytic rabies. At present, there is no known cure for the rabies virus, which is why vaccination is vitally important.
This is especially true if you are traveling to a different country with your dog in the coming months. Some countries are entirely free from rabies infection, but others have active rabid cases. You need to do your research before crossing the border to ensure your dog's safety, as this virus is highly contagious.
In this post, we’ll talk about the rabies virus in dogs so you’re aware of what this disease looks like. Knowing how to identify this disease in your pet could prevent serious damage to both their brain and spinal cord.
This disease spreads through the saliva of an infected animal. Pair this with the fact that the rabies virus can infect any warm-blooded animal, and you have an incredibly contagious virus on your hands. The most common way for the virus to spread is through an infected animal’s wound, though it can also spread through scratches or existing open wounds.
The incubation period of the virus varies enormously depending on a number of factors. These include:
Because this is a virus that predominantly attacks an animal's brain, the incubation period usually correlates with the wound proximity to the brain.
The clinical signs of rabies in dogs are not always easy to spot, especially if they take a long time to surface. It can be several weeks after the immediate infection for your dog to show any symptoms at all.
In rare instances, it can even be years until your dog shows any symptoms. This is why it’s imperative to contact a vet as soon as possible if you have concerns.
The following are clinical signs of rabies in dogs:
You know your dog better than anyone, so it should be easy for you to notice when your dog behaves a little strangely. If you notice anything odd behavior, even if it is not listed above, trust your instinct and visit your local vet. This is especially important when dealing with a virus as dangerous as rabies.
There is no accurate test to diagnose the virus in an animal. Rabies diagnosis is generally provided via a simple examination of the symptoms available. Your vet is trained to know what to look for when your dog is behaving oddly. Don’t hesitate to bring your pet in for an expert assessment if you have any suspicions.
If your dog must be euthanized due to its rabies, your vet may administer a direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test post-mortem. This test helps to identify the disease by locating the presence of rabies virus antigens in brain tissue. By identifying the presence of antigens, doctors prevent the spread to any other pets or people.
Sadly, there is no known treatment available for animals, and this illness is always fatal. If your pet has already contracted the virus, then they will need to be euthanized. In certain circumstances, the dog will need to be quarantined for a total of ten days to prevent them from further spreading the virus.
Due to the inevitably fatal nature of rabies, it is vital that you take preventative measures seriously. This is the only way you can protect both your pets and your family from the disease.
Thankfully, there are a variety of measures you can take to make contracting rabies less likely.
The rabies vaccine eliminates the risk of contraction entirely. Each time you visit your vet, make sure that your vaccinations are up to date. You will know your dog is sufficiently protected and you can rest assured. All of your pets should receive the rabies vaccine if possible.
In certain states, it is actually against the law to own a pet that isn’t vaccinated. This is because of the danger the virus presents to themselves and the humans they come into contact with. As it spreads via saliva, it’s highly contagious, meaning it’s very easy to cause an outbreak.
Remember: Even if your dog has been vaccinated, it may still need a booster shot if it has been in contact with a potentially rabid animal. Always contact your vet as soon as possible if you have any concerns or suspicions.
You don’t need to keep your dog on a leash at all times. Sometimes, it’s okay to let them roam free. However, if you let your dog run wild with little intervention from yourself, you put them at a higher risk of becoming exposed to rabies. All it takes is one bite or scratch for the virus to be transferred, and you won’t even know your dog has it until it’s too late.
As tempting as it may be to attempt to rescue a stray dog or cat, the best thing you can do is contact an animal control professional. If a stray is newly infected with rabies, they may show no discernible symptoms to warn you.
Some symptoms are so hard to detect that the stray may be fully contagious when you approach, and you would be none the wiser. This could transfer the virus to you or your pet.
With the rise of social media, the number of cute animal videos has increased in their millions. Many of these videos lead to the adoption of pets no one would ordinarily own, including raccoons and skunks.
Sure, they can be cute, but they’re still wild animals. They aren’t meant to share a home with you, and it’s highly likely that they are carrying the rabies virus.
One of the most common ways for your dog to become infected is through contact with a rabid animal. If you feed your pets outside, notably in your backyard, then you greatly increase the risk of them meeting a rabid animal.
This rabid animal might want the exposed food and may attack your dog to get their share. These wounds can then become infected by rabies.
We know, your pup loves to chase wild animals on their daily walk, but this could actually put them at heightened risk of contracting rabies via an infected animal. Those rabbits and squirrels may seem harmless, but if they're rabid, they will demonstrate a higher aggression level. This could lead to them lashing out at your dog, resulting in an infected injury.
Rabies is a terrible, highly contagious, and always fatal disease. There is no treatment currently available, so it is of utmost importance that you take prevention seriously and identify the clinical signs of rabies in dogs.
No one wants to put their pet in danger. A dog is a part of the family, so protect them like you would any other family member. Get them vaccinated and stay responsible for your pup!
You don't want your pup to get bit by an infected mosquito, nor do you want them to carry parasites for the rest of their life. Fortunately, veterinarians can detect signs of heartworm disease early on. However, it's important to be informed so that you know when to take your dog to the doctors.
The article will cover everything you need to know about heartworm infection in dogs and treating this condition. You'll learn about what signs to look for, heartworm testing, and how to prevent this condition in your dog.
Before going into what heartworm disease looks like in dogs, we'll dive into how your pup can get the condition.
The scientific name for this disease is dirofilariasis, the infected mosquito's name from which the illness originates. The bugs pick up heartworm larvae from canid animals (i.e., dogs, foxes, wolves) and spread them to new hosts.
The parasites live on the mouth of the mosquitos and go from one animal to the next. Within 10 to 14 days, the larvae reach an infectious stage. When the mosquito bites your puppy's skin, the young larvae enter the blood vessels. These parasites take about six months to become adult heartworms.
These worms are commonly found throughout the continental United States and in various places around the world. Wherever mosquitos could potentially grow, your dog is at risk of contracting the disease. Fortunately, heartworm disease is not contagious. If an animal has been infected, the only way they can spread the condition is if a mosquito eats their blood and then bites another dog.
In infected dogs, the lifespan of adult heartworms is 5 to 7 years. Unfortunately, if you don't treat your dog for this disease quickly, they could get reinfected the next year. But, how can you spot the signs of the parasites in your animal?
You'll only notice symptoms of heartworm disease if you pay close attention to any changes in your infected dog's behavior. In most cases, they won't show heartworm disease symptoms until the later stages of the illness.
The worms grow and develop in the lungs, heart, and surrounding blood vessels. Among other things, you'll see:
If you leave the heartworm infection untreated, your dog's stomach will swell, and they could suffer from heart failure. Though it’s possible for an animal to survive heart failure, most cases end up in unfortunate death.
Many adult heartworms in an infected dog lead to blocked blood vessels and then caval syndrome.
Symptoms of caval syndrome include:
When infected dogs do not receive heartworm treatment, their chances of survival are extremely slim. They'll most likely die from the adult heartworms blocking their blood vessels and causing heart failure.
Fortunately, your vet can treat the condition once you bring your dog in. Plus, if your pet has the condition, they won't infect you or your other animals unless a mosquito transfers the bugs from one host to another.
If you see signs of the condition in your animal, it's time to take them to the vet. When you go to the appointment, you'll learn more information about the procedures necessary for treatment.
Heartworm disease is a progressive illness that only gets worse the longer you leave it untreated. You should take your dog in to be tested once a year. Since adult heartworms circulate in the bloodstream, your pup will need to have blood drawn.
When you go to the vet's office, make sure that your dog is ready to have their blood taken:
When getting your pet tested for heartworm disease, you want to make the process as simple as possible for the doctor.
The vet will perform an antigen test on the blood sample. The test detects the specific proteins in these worms, which are also called antigens. The proteins are released into the bloodstream by adult heartworms that are living inside your dog. The professional level tests can pick up antigens from 5 months after the mosquito bites your pup.
Another test on the blood sample will detect whether microfilariae are present in the bloodstream. Fully grown worms only produce microfilariae. These creatures mate and produce the cells that the blood test picks up.
Because it takes six months for small heartworms to grow, this is the earliest that the second blood test can detect the creatures.
When it comes to heartworm disease, you'll want to get your dog tested and medicated right away. If you wait too long, your dog could suffer and potentially die. Keep in mind a few factors when taking your animal in to see a vet:
If your dog is diagnosed with heartworm disease, it's not the end of the world. Drugs are available to cure your animal. The trade names of the two commonly used medications are Immiticide and Diroban. Both drugs contain arsenic and are FDA-approved to kill heartworms in dogs.
You'll want to make sure that your dog is resting before they go in to start stabilization. If they move around too much, the worms will go more quickly through the blood vessels and could hurt your animal. The stabilization process is critical before treatment can start. Otherwise, the worms will continue to grow and multiply until they overwhelm and kill your puppy.
Here's the general procedure when taking your dog to the vet to get treated:
One downside of getting heartworm disease treatment for your dog is it's expensive. You'll be spending money on multiple vet visits, blood tests, x-rays, and a series of injections. Plus, the arsenic in the drugs could potentially poison your animal. Side effects of the solutions include serious blood clots developing in your dog's lungs.
However, the process is worth investing in to save your pet's life.
If your pup requires the medicine, you'll want to make sure that you're careful with them afterward:
Once you've tested your dog for heartworm disease and cured the symptoms, it's essential to continue preventive care so that they don't become infected again.
When your dog is infected with heartworms, you'll want to seek immediate medical attention. If you have to wait or don't have access to a veterinarian, consider getting heartworm treatment at a drugstore.
Heartworm prevention requires diligence and dedication from dog owners. The most reliable way to keep your dog safe is to utilize medication and stay consistent with the schedule. Set a day during the month when you know you'll have time to give your animal the medicine. Consider which day you're most available, and then administer the medicine on the same day every month.
Depending on the dog's age, your procedure guidelines will vary slightly:
Under six months:
6+ months without prior heartworm preventive medication:
6+ months with prior heartworm preventative medication:
The surrounding area could put your dog at a higher risk for contracting the heartworm parasites. Try to keep your dog away from areas where there might be an infected mosquito. Unfortunately, it's hard to determine which places will have insects and whether they carry the infectious larvae.
From Texas to Florida, the southern United States has a higher concentration of the worms than other areas. Plus, if you live in an area affected by a storm, the winds could have pushed insects and pests that carry the heartworm disease to your home. Your best bet is to continue giving your dog heartworm disease medicine.
In most cases, the heartworm prevention medicine will be effective in killing the parasites. In some rare cases, your dog can still become infected. Missing a month of medicine or giving the dosage after a delay could lead to an infection. Some dogs won't make it easy for you to give them medicine. They'll spit or vomit the pill out. For those that use a topical cream, then your dog could lick it off.
If you delay taking heartworm preventive measures, then your pup could be at risk. The heartworms take six months to develop, meaning that getting back on track after a monthly dosage could save your pup. However, if you've forgotten to give your dog medicine for a month or more, schedule a vet appointment right away. You don't want to risk your animal getting infected and becoming sick.
If you notice your dog exhibiting heartworm disease symptoms, don't hesitate to call a veterinary professional. A vet will take in your animal and get them onto the recovery track. The sooner you bring in your pet, the sooner their suffering will go away. You can also ask your vet questions about potential relief for your puppy as they recover from the intensive and invasive treatment.
Among other things, you can ask your doctor about CBD oil and treats for your pet to help ease their suffering. Because of the arsenic in the medicine, your animal could feel sick for a while after treatment. However, if you don't seek treatment, your pet will suffer greatly and could potentially die.
Taking your furry friend to the vet for heartworms is sometimes unstoppable. Be supportive and take care of your animal during the process, and you both will get through the hard times.
Don't wait until your puppy is intensely suffering. As soon as you start to notice symptoms, schedule an appointment with the vet.
The article above was put together by going through a variety of sources to check facts and statistics. The links below will lead to more information about the condition.
Tapeworms are a common feline ailment that most cats will experience at least once in their lifetime. They are not life-threatening and don’t usually cause lasting harm. However, it’s essential to know how to recognize that your pet has an infection. That way, you know how to proceed with treatment.
Tapeworms are intestinal parasites that live inside of a host body and absorb nutrients from it. Flat and segmented, these parasites have hook-like anatomical features in their mouths. They use these hooks to attach to the intestinal wall.
There are several different types of tapeworms, such as Taenia and Echinococcus. The most common tapeworm in cats is the Dipylidium caninum. This species is unrelated to other intestinal parasites that commonly affect felines, such as hookworms and roundworms. The adult parasites can be anywhere between 6 and 23 inches in length.
So how do you know if your cat has a tapeworm infection? The only sign of an infection that is certain is the presence of proglottids.
Proglottids are tapeworm segments, about one half of an inch in length. These pieces break off from the parasite’s main body as it grows and passes through the animal’s feces.
If you want to diagnose an infection, you may notice these signs of proglottids:
The above symptoms are the only characteristics that can determine the presence of a parasitic infection without question.
There are some other secondary symptoms. These could always be the result of other ailments or conditions. However, they can also sometimes be an indicator that a cat has tapeworms:
Tapeworms can cause quite a bit of discomfort for your pets. Luckily, they are easy to treat. You can eliminate tapeworms in cats using various deworming treatments, all of which have very high success rates.
The most common of these treatments is Anthelmintic, which is available in the form of a tablet or an injection.
Anthelmintic causes the worm to die and become digested inside the intestine. As a result of this, the parasite will not release proglottids, and there will be no tapeworm segments in the animal’s stool.
Another recommended option for treatment is the medication Praziquantel. This medication is effective against all tapeworms species and is available as a tablet, injection, and even a topical cream.
Praziquantel works within hours of administering the medication. For effective treatment, the cat must receive one dose to kill the adult tapeworm and a second dose after two weeks to kill any remaining parasites.
Another medication that is effective against Dipylidium caninum is fenbendazole.
If your cat has an infection of taenia, a tapeworm species which uses mice, birds, and rabbits as its intermediate host, a prescription for Epsiprantel may be more suitable.
After treatment, it is crucial to take precautions to prevent reinfection. Take care to properly dispose of pet feces and keep your pet’s environment free of fleas. You can also observe these steps regularly as a preventative measure against infection.
While there is no vaccine for tapeworms in cats, some preventative measures can reduce the likelihood of an infection.
The most critical of these preventative measures by far is flea control.
What do fleas have to do with tapeworms? A lot more than you’d think. They are a vital component to the life cycle of the Dipylidium caninum species of tapeworm:
Ingestion by the intermediate host is crucial in this parasite’s developmental cycle that allows it to become infectious. Therefore, eradicating the immediate host—the flea—is an effective way of preventing a parasitic infection.
Treating your pet and their environment for fleas is the best way to reduce the risk of infection.
A human can also become a host for a tapeworm by accidentally ingesting a flea, so clearly, it is in everyone’s best interest to make sure that their home is a flea-free environment.
But fleas only function as the intermediate host for the Dipylidium caninum. Other species of tapeworm use different organisms to carry their eggs onward to a permanent host.
The Taenia taeniaeformis species use small animals such as mice, birds, and rabbits. Therefore, cats that enjoy hunting have a greater risk of getting this kind of tapeworm.
If your feline hunts regularly, it will need to undergo routine deworming treatments. Otherwise, you may have to switch it to an indoor lifestyle to eliminate the risk of infection.
The Echinococcus species uses large animals such as coyotes, foxes, and rodents. However, this species can also infect a host by ingesting eggs alone and can be fatal to humans.
The most crucial thing to do to reduce your cat’s risk of infection is to treat the cat and its environment for fleas. It would be best to dispose of an infected animal’s feces properly as well. That way, another creature won’t ingest the eggs from the proglottids and spread the infection.
Your cat’s intestinal health is a vital part of its overall comfort and well-being. Take all precautions and preventive measures to ensure that your pet is living a happy and healthy life.
Cats are incredibly independent household pets who put on a show of being nonchalant and fine all the time, which is why it can hit extra close to home when they fall ill. Heartworm disease in cats is especially scary, but what exactly is it?
Heartworms, also known for their scientific name Dirofilaria immitis, are parasitic worms that grow up to a foot long and make their homes in the lungs, blood vessels, pulmonary arteries, and heart of affected pets. This disease is largely spread by infected mosquitoes and can cause heart failure, lung disease, organ failure, and even death.
A variety of mammals, aside from cats, can fall victim to this disease, including dogs, wolves, ferrets, otters, and even humans in rare cases. Knowing the symptoms and signs of heartworm disease is a good start to preventing this illness.
No region is exempt from the concern of feline heartworm disease – in fact, heartworm diagnosis occurs in every state. This is why knowing the symptoms of this disease is relevant information to familiarize yourself with.
Unfortunately, a cat can have adult heartworms, but that doesn’t mean they will show symptoms. Some lucky felines are able to spontaneously rid themselves of these parasites and heartworm larvae from their pulmonary arteries without ever having shown symptoms.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, others may have heartworm infections that cause unexpected, sudden death – again, without the display of any symptoms.
Signs of heartworm disease can appear nonspecific and even mimic one of the many other feline diseases. Some of these obscure, nonspecific symptoms include loss of appetite, decreased activity, vomiting, and weight loss. Heart failure symptoms are less common, but there are rare cases of it.
Symptoms of heartworm in cats can vary depending on the stage of the worms themselves. An immature worm parasite might resemble feline asthma and include these signs:
More mature, adult heartworms may present themselves with these signs:
Immature heartworm larvae can arrive in the heart and lung pulmonary arteries within 3-4 months following a bite from an infected mosquito. A lot of these immature parasites die, which causes the cat’s lungs to have a strong inflammatory response. This is known as HARD, or heartworm associated respiratory disease, due to the respiratory symptoms (such as coughing, increased respiratory rate, and trouble breathing) being the most obvious. However, feline bronchitis and feline asthma present quite similarly to HARD, making them difficult to distinguish.
If adult heartworms die, they attack the blood vessels. Toxins are released into the bloodstream that causes damage to the lungs, which can lead to dangerous respiratory problems and even death. Even just one worm dying can be fatal.
Cats keep their issues to themselves, unlike dogs. This makes it harder to detect and subsequently diagnose heartworm disease in felines. Cats are not the best of hosts to these parasites, but they are still susceptible. In cases of feline heartworm infections, the actual worm count is much smaller compared to the canine infection counterparts, however, just one or two worms can be fatal due to the smaller body size of cats.
Another factor that contributes to the difficulty of diagnosing heartworm disease in cats is that they are significantly less likely to contract adult heartworms. This means that feline heartworm infections are often limited to single-sex infections, where female worms may not even be present and are, therefore undetectable.
Veterinarians utilize both antibody tests and antigen tests to successfully diagnose feline heartworm disease. The antibody test reveals whether or not your cat has had an immune response to the parasite while also checking for heartworm larvae exposure. Antigen tests are used to detect specific types of worm proteins that are released into the bloodstream by adult female heartworms.
If the vet receives results that indicate a positive infection, an ultrasound, radiograph, or X-ray may be elected as the final step before confirming the diagnosis. A good cardiologist might even be able to see heartworms during an ultrasound, in some cases.
It is possible for the condition to spontaneously resolve itself, so some cats diagnosed with heartworm infection that don’t display serious clinical symptoms may simply be monitored to see if that is the case. In cases where blood vessels associated with the lungs, or even the lungs themselves, show evidence of disease, X-rays are used periodically to monitor the progression.
There are medications that can be used to manage symptoms, although there is, unfortunately, no drug approved by the FDA for heartworm disease treatment. If adult heartworms are spotted during an ultrasound, they could then be surgically removed as a treatment option. This surgery can be risky, and if, for some reason, the parasites are not removed in one piece and get broken up, there can be some very serious surgical complications that include shock and death.
If a cat has obviously clear signs and symptoms of this disease, additional support can be given to help them power through it. Oxygen therapy, antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs, and intravenous fluids are all alternative treatment options a veterinarian may decide to go within these circumstances.
A widely accepted natural treatment to help manage the symptoms of heart disease in cats is the use of CBD oil. Some veterinarians have been known to administer both traditional medications and CBD oil as a method of minimizing the negative side effects of their disease. Some of the known benefits of administering CBD oil for cats are:
This disease is most common along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, so pet owners in those regions should be especially aware of how to protect their kitties. The key to keeping your cats safe from this infection all year round, especially in the more tropical, muggy regions of the US where mosquitoes run rampant, is to routinely administer heartworm preventatives such as ivermectin, selamectin, or milbemycin to your household felines. According to fda.gov, the best way to keep your beloved cat safe from heartworms is by focusing on prevention methods.
Pre-testing for heartworms in cats is not as helpful as it is for dogs, but it is still always a good thing to do before starting on heartworm prevention medicines. Again, this is not a one and done medication – your cat will need year-round heartworm prevention. Check with your veterinarian to find out which heartworm preventive medication is best for your furry friend.
Another good way to keep your cat protected is to stay educated yourself. It is normal to have a lot of questions regarding heartworms and potential treatments, but make sure you don’t get yourself confused about the myths and facts. Be on the lookout for misinformation and use the internet to get to the bottom of things. For example, a common myth is that someone may believe that their area is free of heartworms, so they do not opt to put their cat on heartworm prevention medicine.
Here are a few of the more frequently asked questions and answers on the topic:
No, this infection cannot be transferred from one cat to another. Because cats are not the ideal hosts for these parasites, they do not reproduce within cats. Dogs, on the other hand, are much better hosts that can pass along baby worms thanks to the help of infected mosquitoes.
Products for heartworm prevention are safe to be given to kittens as young as 6 weeks old, so you are good to start administering them as soon as possible following the formal test for the disease by your veterinarian. Continue giving these products to your cat year-round throughout the rest of their lives.
While feline heartworm disease is certainly less common in cats than in dogs, it is still something that occurs in every state in the country.
The surefire way to know whether or not your cat has heartworms is by taking them in for testing at your veterinarian’s office. The signs of feline heartworm disease can be misleading and match the symptoms of a number of other medical conditions, or your kitty may not show any symptoms at all.
The only “natural” home remedy you can really do is to consider anything that may ward off or prevent mosquito bites. Otherwise, just make sure you are aware of the signs of this disease so that you can try to catch it as soon as possible.
Indoor cat, outdoor cat, doesn’t matter – both are at risk for this disease. Outdoor cats are more at risk as they have a greater chance of getting bit by an infected mosquito, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still get your indoor cat tested. Trust us, they’ll thank you!
Hyperthyroidism is one of the most common diseases in cats. In fact, it’s the most prevalent glandular disease to affect our feline friends.
All cats have two thyroid glands located in their neck, and these play an essential part in regulating their metabolic rate. Hyperthyroidism, also known as thyrotoxicosis, is characterized by an increase in thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), which causes an increase in metabolic rate.
Because these hormones affect many other organs in the body, hyperthyroidism is often the cause of felines’ health problems.
Here, we’ll outline everything you need to know about this condition, including signs of hyperthyroidism, symptoms, and treatments.
The most common symptom of hyperthyroidism is weight loss, and increased thyroid hormones cause it. Between 95 and 98% of cats with hyperthyroidism display weight loss, most often due to muscle wasting.
Note that weight loss does not necessarily mean that your pet will be underweight, but will have lost a significant amount of weight relative to their normal weight.
Alongside weight loss and an increase in appetite, other signs of hyperthyroidism include:
Due to the fact that cats with hyperthyroidism tend to be older, they often have concurrent illnesses such as inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, and kidney failure. These can be caused or exacerbated by increased levels of thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland.
Many of the signs of hyperthyroidism overlap with these diseases' symptoms, making diagnosis complicated. This means that a number of tests and examinations are generally needed to diagnose a hyperthyroid cat.
Here’s how veterinarians typically conduct the diagnosis:
When a feline with suspected high thyroid hormone levels is taken to the vet, a veterinarian will start by conducting a physical examination. This involves palpating the neck area to see whether an enlarged thyroid gland or any abnormal thyroid tissue can be detected. They may also check the cat’s blood pressure and heart rate.
If the veterinarian believes there may be a problem with the cat’s thyroid gland, they’ll likely order an analysis of T3 and T4 hormone levels, as well as blood tests.
While most cats with hyperthyroidism will have a higher than normal level of thyroid hormone T4, a small number of cats with hyperthyroidism will still be within the normal range for T4.
A feline with a suspected thyroid problem that displays normal levels of T4 may need additional testing.
Because hyperthyroidism can cause other conditions, it’s important that the cat’s general health is checked when there is a problem with the thyroid glands and/or high thyroid hormone levels.
A urinalysis and complete blood test set should provide the veterinarian with enough information to build a picture of your pet’s overall health. Particular attention should be paid to the kidneys and heart, as the high levels of thyroid hormones caused by hyperthyroidism often predispose them to issues with these organs.
There are a number of different treatments for hyperthyroidism available. The most appropriate treatment depends on individual circumstances involving both the cat and the owner.
Their overall health is the main factor in determining the best treatment path. Meanwhile, the financial situation and ability to medicate the feline regularly are important considerations, too.
Feline thyroid problems can be treated in the following ways:
In this section, we’ll take a look at each treatment option in more detail, including information about which kind of treatment is most appropriate in different situations, and whether radioactive iodine therapy could be the best solution for targeting abnormal thyroid cells without impacting the cat’s overall health.
Hyperthyroid cats can undergo surgical removal of their thyroid glands. This is known as thyroidectomy and is a relatively simple surgical procedure to remove all thyroid tissue. It has a strong success rate, with more than 90% of felines achieving euthyroidism (normal thyroid function) after the operation.
One of the big advantages of surgery is that, if successful, it results in a permanent cure for the majority of felines. It thus eliminates the need for lifelong medication, and the animal can go on to have a normal, happy life.
As with all surgery, there are risks associated with the thyroidectomy operation. One of the biggest risks is accidental damage to the parathyroid glands during surgery to remove thyroid cells, which are extremely close to the thyroid glands and essential in keeping blood calcium levels stable.
This surgery also requires your pet to have general anesthesia, and there could be additional associated risks if the feline has other health issues with their heart or kidneys.
It’s also worth noting that other treatments, such as radioactive iodine therapy and medication, effectively treat the disease. We’ll go on to look at these below, but since they’re less invasive forms of treatment, they tend to be better for older animals.
Due to the fact that the majority of hyperthyroid cats are elderly, surgery is not often chosen as a treatment for this condition.
Medications for hyperthyroidism do not ‘cure’ hyperthyroidism, but manage the symptoms and provide long-term control of the disease.
Anti-thyroid medications work by lessening the production and release of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 from the thyroid gland. They are available as oral medications or a gel that can be applied directly to the skin.
Medication is a good option for dealing with high thyroid hormone levels in felines because it’s straightforward, and the medication is usually inexpensive and readily available. It’s also suitable for the vast majority of patients, so it’s one of the more popular treatment options.
The disadvantages are the side effects that your pet may experience. These include fever, vomiting, lethargy, and anorexia. Treatment is also generally for the rest of the cat’s life, and owners may struggle to keep up with the twice-daily dosage schedule.
Regardless of whether the cat is treated with a gel or oral medication, their health should be regularly reviewed with blood tests by a veterinarian to make sure the treatment is proving effective. This also provides an opportunity to check thyroid hormone levels and any negative side effects of the medication and monitor kidney function in at-risk animals.
During radioactive iodine therapy, the feline receives radioactive iodine injection, which is quickly absorbed into the cat’s bloodstream.
Iodine is required by the thyroid cells to produce thyroid hormones T3 and T4, so when the radioactive iodine is taken up by the thyroid from the cat’s blood, the radiation kills any abnormal thyroid tissue. It does not destroy any healthy thyroid tissue and avoids damaging the parathyroid glands.
Because radioactive iodine therapy can effectively cure hyperthyroidism without running the risk of surgery, it’s widely considered the best option available. Most cats treated in this way achieve normal hormone levels and a reduction in abnormal thyroid cells within just a few weeks of treatment. There are no known side effects of radioactive iodine treatment, and it doesn’t require anesthesia.
This therapy is not as widely available as other options because it requires the injection of a radioactive substance.
Radioactive iodine therapy can only be carried out in accredited facilities with a license to use radioisotopes. And, while the radioactivity is not through the cat's effect, anyone in contact with the cat needs to take precautions during the time after treatment.
A cat treated with radioactive iodine therapy will be kept in the facility until its radiation levels return to a normal range – this could take between three and five days.
The last treatment for hyperthyroidism that we’ll cover is dietary therapy.
Feeding your feline an iodine limited diet can help control hyperthyroidism's clinical signs and lower thyroid hormones concentrations in the cat’s blood. This is not medicated food, nor is it a totally iodine-free diet. Rather, it’s a diet with a precisely limited content of iodine.
This kind of prescription diet only works when your pet eats only the prescribed food. This means they cannot have additional treats or snacks at any time.
This option is best suited to cases where no other treatment option is possible, due to age, frailty, or other medications being taken.
It’s also thought that there may be long-term effects of restricting iodine on the overall health of felines, which could ultimately make hyperthyroidism worse.
However, research into the success and viability of iodine-restricted diets for felines is ongoing, so it’s something you could discuss with your animal care provider if no other option is suitable.
The thyroid glands are important in controlling many functions in the body, as thyroid cells secrete hormones. So, when a cat has hyperthyroidism, they may also develop secondary health problems. Two of the most common are high blood pressure and heart disease.
High blood pressure, commonly referred to as hypertension, can damage a number of organs, including the heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes. When it is concurrent with hyperthyroidism, the cat will likely need additional medication to control blood pressure. However, when hyperthyroidism is successfully treated, hypertension is often also resolved.
Heart disease often occurs with hyperthyroidism. When there are elevated levels of thyroid hormones T3 and T4 in the bloodstream, it can increase the heart rate and thickening of the left ventricle when left untreated. This may result in heart failure, as the normal function of the heart is compromised.
Therefore, hyperthyroid cats sometimes need additional medication and/or treatment for secondary heart disease. As with hypertension, heart problems often improve- and are sometimes even fixed - when the underlying high thyroid hormone levels are controlled and treated.
Unfortunately, hyperthyroidism can affect felines of any breed and sex.
The biggest risk factor for hyperthyroidism in cats is age, with older cats much more likely to be affected. It’s less common for younger cats, and according to the ASPCA, less than 6% of cats diagnosed with hyperthyroidism are younger than ten years of age. The average age of cats at diagnosis is 12-13 years.
While not considered risk factors in the diagnosis of high thyroid hormone levels in felines, it’s interesting to note that factors other than age may be linked to the disease. According to one recent study, longhaired cats and those of non-purebred descent are at greater risk of hyperthyroidism.
Unfortunately, there are no known methods of preventing hyperthyroidism in felines at this time. However, early diagnosis has been shown to improve the treatment options available as well as the overall prognosis, and it can decrease the effects of any secondary health issues such as heart disease.
For this reason, all older cats (or cats considered middle-aged to senior age) should have regular check-ups with their veterinarian. 6-monthly check-ups for a physical examination are a good method of detecting any thyroid tissue abnormalities early.
Additionally, annual blood tests and urinalysis will highlight high thyroid hormone levels as well as any other health problems, and help you get them treated before serious health conditions arise.
Our pets are a part of our families. They are with us through it all, often for many years at a time, and they love us unconditionally. The least we can do to repay them is to keep them happy, safe, and healthy.
So, when they fall ill, it can be scary for both us owners and our pets, especially if they’re young. Unfortunately, the Feline Infectious Peritonitis virus, FIP for short, is most likely to be found in younger house cats, usually under two years of age. It does not start out as exceptionally dangerous, but it can develop into a larger—even fatal—problem if not taken seriously.
Our furry friends count on us to keep them in check, and that makes it important to stay informed about potential threats they may face. For that reason, we’ll be going over what exactly this illness is, how to treat it, forms of FIP, and how to prevent it.
The Feline Infectious Peritonitis virus (FIP) derives from a certain type of feline coronavirus (which is a broad term used to describe a type of virus and not to be confused with the more recently identified COVID-19). While many of these strains are a mild feline enteric coronavirus, there’s a 10% chance of it developing into FIPV, and soon after that, FIP.
The initial feline enteric coronavirus (or FeCV) does not warrant concern upon its discovery, but it is important to be aware that it could develop further. Healthy cats one day may be FIP cats the next, which is why it’s crucial to know how that process unfolds.
Vet bills are not cheap, and being able to identify this disease (as well as the different strains of the virus) on your own is going to be a big help when it comes to determining whether your cat’s symptoms are a problem or not. For starters, identifying a standard feline coronavirus is easier said than done, as these symptoms resemble the common cold—sneezing, nasal discharge, and in the more extreme cases, diarrhea and/or respiratory complications. There are, however, also symptoms such as weight loss which is almost always a cause for alarm.
There are two major directions the symptoms can go in, depending on the form of FIP your pet has: a dry form of FIP or a wet form of FIP.
In the dry form of FIP, the clinical signs are neurological and generally a slower development. This can be very difficult to identify, both by the lack of anything visually wrong with your pet, and the gradual process by which neurological symptoms are exhibited. When it's hard to determine the clinical signs of the dry form, it will take longer to get a diagnosis of FIP so we recommend you pay attention to your cat's behavior if you feel there is an issue.
When symptoms are exhibited for this form of FIP, it is a much quicker symptom than its dry counterpart and one that festers physically. Infected cats with this type of symptom develop a fluid accumulation in the chest cavity to such a degree that it could make breathing difficult. They might also have a swollen abdomen or chest due to that accumulation of fluid collecting there.
It’s thought that a cat’s susceptibility to the Feline Infectious Peritonitis virus may depend on its breed. It seems to be less a case of purebred cats vs. multi-bred cats, but instead, it’s about the susceptibility that specific breeds have to develop FIP. It’s thought that some breeds including Bengal, Himalayan, and Ragdoll cats are more susceptible.
Other conclusions have stated that purebred cats are more susceptible to developing FIP, but this may be because the susceptible breeds are the most likely to be purebred. Sadly, this is a disease that there is very little known about.
Additionally, younger cats are seen to be the most at-risk. Specifically, kittens that are one and a half to two years old are more susceptible to developing FIP. Pets that live in multi-cat households are also at greater risk of getting FIP.
Diagnosis of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is still a bit tentative, as the testing cannot differentiate among the full spectrum of FeCV to FIPV to FIP, making it not ideal or reliable to know anything other than the immune response to a common cat coronavirus. There is also little known about a cat’s immune response to an antibody test and the antibody levels themselves.
There are tests that attempt to identify the virus itself as opposed to its antibodies, but they have not proven to have a great success rate. Depending on the virus strain in question, x-rays may be able to identify excess fluid for cats experiencing “wet form” symptoms, but that is not all-encompassing.
The best way to ensure a fully accurate diagnostic test is by examining the cat’s affected tissue, but this is expensive and invasive for the animal.
As there is still a lot about FIP that we don’t know, treatments are sadly lacking. It is unfortunately common that a cat with this feline coronavirus will not recover. There is no current reliable cure for FIP cats, but they can and do undergo various treatments to keep it at bay.
Sometimes, treatments can be found that can help. For instance, anti-inflammatory drugs can lessen pain and irritation within a cat’s tissue, and some patients that experience clinical signs such as fluid accumulation in the body can be released of that build-up in phases.
Attempting to prevent your pet from contracting a feline coronavirus is challenging and not a perfect science, but there are certainly ways to lessen the chances. For instance, boarding your furry friend at a vet, letting them outside frequently, or having numerous cats in one household can heighten the possibility of exposure simply due to an expanded statistical likelihood. So, preventing illness, keeping them indoors, and having only one cat will reduce the risk that yours contracts a coronavirus.
The feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIP) has a better chance of being avoided if your cat is inoculated against other threats, such as leukemia. This contributes to your pet’s overall immune system and thus combats the possibility of developing FIP.
Pets are a significant source of our happiness. They are every bit as a part of our family as our relatives, and we owe them the responsibility of keeping their health in check. Cats can’t medicate themselves against disease, so it is up to us to try to inoculate them and identify and treat any illness they get as best as we can.
This illness can seem like a daunting possibility—it is a typically fatal disease that derives from a hard-to-prevent feline coronavirus. However, studying up on clinical signs of diseases like this one can prepare you for action if your cat exhibits any signs.
On a positive note, all forms of FIP are fairly uncommon, and more research is done into animal disease every day. Discuss how best to prevent illness in your pets with your vet, and they should be as protected as possible.
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If you are a pet owner, you have probably heard of tapeworms in dogs at some point. If you are not familiar, they are tiny parasites that make a home in your dog’s gut and intestines.
The most common tapeworm species found in dogs is called Dipylidium caninum. Adult tapeworms can grow to quite a sizable length and be seen in dog’s feces, vomit, and bedding. These parasites can cause many symptoms regarding your dog’s weight loss, energy, and digestion.
If you’re repulsed while reading this, you’ll be happy to know that when dogs get tapeworms it sounds concerning, they are relatively common and easily diagnosed and treated by your veterinarian. Thankfully, none of the symptoms are lasting or very serious. However, it is important to get a diagnosis as soon as you suspect an infection is present.
Below, we’ll cover some helpful information on tapeworms, like how you can recognize the signs and prevent your dog from dealing with this parasite in the future.
It is possible, but very unlikely, for a human to get tapeworms from pets. In order for Dipylidium caninum, they would need to accidentally swallow a flea that’s hosting parasitic eggs. This isn’t too common of intestinal parasites in adults.
Children make up most of the cases transferred this way. Thus, it is incredibly important to make sure children are executing good hygiene when playing with any pets, or outside in general.
If children have been infected, you will see similar segments called proglottids (small grains of rice-sized segments) in their bowel movements or near their skin around the rectum. See their health care provider for effective diagnosis and treatment if you suspect they’ve been infected.
Tapeworms in dogs occur due to the following cycle:
There are many signs that may be present when dogs get tapeworms. As the worm grows, some parts of its body will break apart. You’ll see these tapeworm segments in the dog’s feces or in the hair near their bottom. They may look like grains of rice.
If the tapeworm has died and dried out before the dog passes it, the pieces will be more yellow and hard. When the tapeworm segments are in the dog’s stomach, they will throw up, possibly showing a piece of tapeworm as well.
Because an adult tapeworm can irritate a dog’s bottom, one of the more common signs that a dog is dealing with intestinal parasites is a habit of scooting their backside along the floor.
Other common symptoms and indicators that your dog is dealing with a tapeworm are:
Tapeworms in dogs are common occurrences, therefore there are many treatment options available. Your veterinarian will decide on the best treatment option.
One popular prescription drug to treat tapeworms is called praziquantel. This drug is administered orally or through an injection. Praziquantel causes the worm to dissolve within the canine’s intestine. It doesn’t have any negative side effects.
Other medicinal options are tablets, granules that can be sprinkled on the pet’s food, and chewables. Some medications effectively treat other worms such as hookworm, whipworm, and roundworm, in addition to tapeworm.
Once your dog has successfully received their full treatment, you should take preventative measures to reduce any risk of tapeworms returning.
Simply put, the most effective way to reduce the risk of tapeworm infestation in your furry friend is to avoid flea infestation. Flea control prevents your pet from coming in contact from potential hosts of tapeworm eggs. To avoid an adult tapeworm infestation, follow these steps:
Tapeworms in dogs are a common nuisance for pets and their owners. Although they cause many symptoms, such as weight loss, distended abdomens, and lethargy, they aren’t the most harmful parasite your pet can catch.
Don’t stress out too much if you notice these signs in your pet. A quick trip to your veterinarian can diagnose if your pet is dealing with a tapeworm infection. By following some preventative measures, you can heal your dog and keep them safe from this worm in the future.
Humans often spread viruses to each other, but they aren’t the only species to do so. Cats are another type of animal with this ability. One virus that affects felines across the world is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). As scientists continue to learn about this virus, they discover ways to help FIV positive cats.
To fully understand FIV cats, we’ll take a look at how it is transmitted, its symptoms, how it is diagnosed, and options for treatment and prevention.
FIV is a lentivirus. Lentiviruses include any retroviruses with a long delay/incubation period. This virus, which is a feline lentivirus, works similarly to HIV in humans. Other species with lentiviruses include goats, apes, cows, sheep, and horses.
An FIV cat’s immune system is slow acting. Symptoms of the disease may not appear in an infected cat for many years after the cat is infected.
Only cats can become infected with this virus and spread it to other felines not male cats. Male cats that exhibit aggressive behavior are the most common transmitters. If an FIV positive cat is fighting with another non infected cats and leaves bite wounds, this may result in an exposure. The virus is transferred through saliva. Exposure may also occur if a wound is contaminated with the infected cats’ blood.
Mothers can also transmit it to their kittens, but this is rare. Current research does not indicate that the virus is spread commonly through feline sexual encounters.
FIV positive cats exist around the globe. The virus was identified in the late 1980s by Niels Pederson and Janet Yamamoto. Research suggests that the origins of the virus are linked to African felines.
The virus is relatively rare and is only found in approximately 1-5% of cats around the world. Non infected cats who live outdoors or are involved in aggressive behaviors are at a higher risk of exposure.
It is usually difficult to identify the FIV virus in a cat by its symptoms alone. Symptoms might not emerge for several years. The FIV virus weakens the immune system response over time, eventually leading to complications and increasing the likelihood of other diseases.
If an FIV positive cat does start to present clinical signs, signs of illness may include the following:
The virus reproduces in and spreads to the lymph nodes throughout the body. This causes them to increase in size. This may be temporary or last for some time.
As the virus spreads it will cause an initial fever in FIV positive cats. It may also cause a more persistent fever later on as the body fights the virus.
The virus can also cause gastrointestinal distress in infected cats. Diarrhea is a common clinical signs in cats with FIV.
FIV positive cats may lose interest in their food and lose weight quickly as a result. Weight loss may also occur from digestive issues.
This is an inflammation of the mouth that is common with FIV positive cats.
This condition is characterized by inflammation of the gums. They may suffer from other dental diseases as well.
FIV positive cats may have irritated skin or fur loss. They may be less inclined to self-groom, which leads to a poor coat.
FIV positive cats may have excessive discharge, most commonly from the eyes and the nose. Infected cats may also be prone to sneezing.
An inflammation or build-up in the eye area is common in FIV cat. This typically affects the eye membrane.
FIV positive cats may experience issues with their kidneys and urinary tract. This may lead to urination outside of the litter box, difficulty urinating, and more.
FIV positive cats may show behavioral changes. They may become more aggressive or lethargic, for example.
Cats may experience neurological disorders such as seizures.
FIV positive cats have a weakened immune system, which means they are more prone to infections. Other viruses and bacteria in their environment pose a threat to their compromised systems. Various cancers and blood diseases, especially conditions like feline leukemia, are common in felines who have a weakened immune system from FIV.
Like HIV in humans, FIV has different stages. Below are brief descriptions of the different phases of the virus in FIV positive cats:
FIV is diagnosed through blood work. A technician will carefully examine the blood sample. The technician will look for the presence of antibodies, which is an immune response to the virus. If the animal has the virus but its immune system has not yet been affected, it may not have any FIV antibodies yet.
These antibodies can be detected using a variety of techniques, including:
This test may be performed at a vet clinic with the help of a kit or be sent to special diagnostic labs. Most vets will confirm one positive results by using another type of test.
When testing a cat, the vet or technician will also determine the virus subtype (there are five). The specific subtype a cat possesses may determine its treatment options. Different vaccines also work against different subtypes of the virus.
Because FIV is a slow-acting disease, it may not produce an immune response in infected cats for a considerable amount of time, understanding timelines for testing is important. There are also situations in which a test will produce a false negative or a false positive result. For this reason, multiple tests may be necessary to confirm the presence of FIV in a cat.
If a cat has been exposed to the virus, it takes approximately 8 to 12 weeks for enough antibodies to show up for testing purposes. False negatives may occur during this interval if enough FIV antibodies have not been produced. It is usually advised that cats be tested a minimum of 60 days after it is believed they were exposed to the virus.
If a cat has advanced stage FIV, it may also test negative during a test. This is rare, however, and only occurs when the system is so compromised that the infected cats don’t produce enough antibodies.
Cat mothers with FIV infection and their kittens present a unique phenomenon when it comes to testing. Kittens with FIV-positive mothers may test positive for FIV. While mothers with FIV infection can pass the virus on to their young, the opposite may also be true.
Kittens receive their mother’s antibodies through her milk. The presence of these antibodies may cause the kitten to test positive, even if the young cat hasn’t contracted the FIV infection. They are likely to grow up to be healthy cats with a quality of life.
This false-positive related to the mother’s antibodies may last for several months but usually stops after 6 months of age. For this reason, young FIV positive cats should be retested every 60 days or so until they are 6 months old. The transmission of the virus to kittens from their mother is rare.
A cat that has been vaccinated for FIV may also test positive. When a cat is given the FIV vaccine, it prompts the body to produce antibodies. During an antibody test, these antibodies may be confused for a natural antibody response. When testing a FIV infected cat, it is important to have their full vaccination record on hand if possible.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for FIV and the immune complications that result from it. An FIV positive cat will have it for the rest of its life.
Because the virus is slow acting, it can take years for symptoms to arise in cats infected with FIV.
An FIV positive cat may live normally for many years before its health starts to deteriorate. It is also possible for FIV infected cats to experience periods of health interspersed with sickness.
There are few potential treatment options for infected cats with FIV. Humans treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with special medications, some of which have been used on cats infected with FIV with limited success. Some of the semi-successful medications include AZT and interferon. There is also some anecdotal evidence that suggests primrose oil is helpful in the early stages for FIV infected cats.
Although the treatment options of FIV are limited, there are ways to prevent the disease in cats. Vaccination is one key component.
Vaccines that help cats fight against FIV are currently available, however, there are some risks associated with this vaccine. Cats who receive this vaccine, for example, have a higher risk of developing vaccine-associated-sarcoma (a type of cancer). Cat owners should discuss the advantages and disadvantages of vaccinating their cats with their vet.
Vaccines do not protect all cats against the virus, so taking other preventative measures is important. This is the only way to fully protect cats from FIV. Below are some of the precautions cat owners can take:
Keeping cat indoors: The primary mode of transmission for FIV is bite wounds from cats infected with FIV. This usually means outdoor cats with aggressive behaviors. Cat indoors generally have a longer lifespan than cats that live outdoors.
Only bringing FIV-negative cats into the home: If an uninfected cat is living alone or with other uninfected cats, owners should be careful when introducing new cats into the home. New cats should be tested for FIV before moving in with other cats.
Separating FIV positive cats from negative cats: If an owner does choose to home infected cats and uninfected cats, they should not be sharing food bowls and keep them in separate living areas. .
Cleaning spaces where an FIV positive cat has occupied
FIV cannot survive longer than a few hours on its own. However, it is still a good idea for cat owners to thoroughly clean any space that FIV infected cats have occupied. FIV positive cats may carry other infectious agents that could be dangerous to additional cats in the space. When cleaning a space, owners should:
Although FIV is rare for most cats, all cat owners or animal specialists should be knowledgeable on the subject. They should also take the proper steps to prevent exposures.
Lastly, owners of infected cats should remember that most FIV cats are capable of living long, happy quality of life.
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A shockingly new and powerful therapy for IBS in cats is cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabidiol is a hemp plant extract. Cannabidiol from hemp is highly effective, safe, and natural!
IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome) is a linical condition that’s caused by chronic inflammation inside the GI (gastrointestinal) tract of mammals. It’s the main cause of GI tract problems in felines and is a pretty severe condition.
If left neglected, it may progress to full-blown IBD (irritable bowel disease). In some instances, the words IBD and IBS are interchangeably used, even though they’re two different diseases. IBD is the more severe of the two.
Generally, IBS basically is a “sensitive stomach”. That means your cat simply has a difficult time in digesting their food and has sickly, frequent bowel movements. It also might result in your cat being a “picky eater” as they might not have a healthy appetite because of their IBS.
Untreated, chronic IBS may result in a number of other problems for cats. IBS cats is a digestive system malfunctioning, it’ll mean that the feline might not be correctly absorbing nutrients from their food. It may lead to cat malnutrition. Malnutrition may lead to an entire variety of medical issues.
Furthermore, IBS also can cause a compromised immune system. More than 50% of your pet’s immune function is inside their gastrointestinal tract. A dysfunctional gastrointestinal tract results in a weakened immune system.
My cat has IBS, now what?
IBS is a general word for a broad condition, which means that it’s possible that the condition is the result of a mixture of the above causes. Taking your pet to the vet will permit you to determine the cause of the cat’s IBS in order for you to more effectively treat it.
IBS is prevalent in felines and may cause a number of symptoms which may be extremely distressing for your cat.
Those symptoms may range from mild to debilitating. It also can be a nightmare for a dog owner since the disorder may cause the feline to have very little control over her bowels. Thereby, in many instances, they aren’t able to make it to the litter box before they defecate.
It has symptoms which are similar to a number of additional cat IBS diet disorders and only can be diagnosed as those get ruled out.
Once those additional conditions are ruled out, your vet may make an accurate diagnosis. That’s why it’s important that you get your pet checked out if she exhibits any of the above symptoms.
CBD is a wellness and health supplement that comes from the cannabis plant. The kinds of plants they utilize to manufacture legal cannabidiol specifically is industrial cannabis (more typically called hemp). CBD oil is made by using the stalks, leaves, and flowers of the hemp plant.
It has become among the most promising, innovative, and thrilling new developments in treating numerous diseases inside the mammalian body.
CBD is a cannabinoid, a group of compounds which play a critical part in the mammalian body. Their main action mode is binding to cannabinoid receptors situated throughout the cat’s body. It’ll result in a broad array of beneficial attributes. Those receptors are a part of the ECS (endocannabinoid system) that’s present inside the bodies of every mammal.
Your pet easily can metabolize CBD and will suffer virtually no side effects! What’s more, unlike additional cannabis plant derivatives, CBD isn’t psychoactive. That just means it won’t make your pet high. While being high might be fun for some, it usually results in aggression, confusion, and agitation in your pet.
CBD is amazing at helping manage IBS due to its numerous medicinal properties.
As a consequence, CBD and/or hemp oil for IBS helps manage both IBS symptoms (vomiting, nausea, and/or pain) as well as all underlying disease causes (stress and/or chronic inflammation inside the GI tract). It provides twice the effectiveness, which makes a powerful and potent tool without any adverse side effects. It’ll pack a punch while still being delicate on your cat’s body.
Let’s talk about some natural remedies for IBD in cats. Anxiety in cats is a very common issue. An array of factors contributes to this disorder, yet the core cause often is the kitty’s past experiences. There are several prescription medications which have the goal of treating anxiety in cats. But most cat owners like to use natural remedies such as CBD oil for feline anxiety.
Also, there are many herbs which may generate calming effects in cats, yet most cat owners agree that cannabidiol works the most efficiently. The reason for that being the presence of the ECS inside the body of every mammal (which includes felines). The system of channels and receptors flows cannabinoids throughout all major organ system, aiding well-being in a number of ways. CBD is a non-toxic, natural compound with several therapeutic effects, one of which includes calming anxiety.
If you have been wondering how you can use CBD oil for feline anxiety, below we list some critical things you ought to know:
Anxiety is the body’s natural reaction to stress or fear. It’s what gets the body ready to take evasive action if needed. It’s referred to as fight or flight response. This response is a crucial part of what assists in keeping animals and humans from danger. However, when this response is routinely triggered by an imagined hazard, it’ll become what’s referred to as an anxiety disorder.
When we, or felines, are anxious, our bodies get ready for fight or flight. It’ll produce adrenaline, increase the heart rate, and gets the muscles prepared for action. As we’re in danger, those reactions assist in getting us out of trouble quickly. When we aren’t, it affects our capability of living a normal life. Serious anxiety disorders may be extremely debilitating, both for humans and for cats.
Unfortunately, a feline can’t tell us it’s feeling anxious. But, a cat that has anxiety will show some visible behavioral symptoms.
Separation anxiety is the most typical kind of anxiety in felines. Feline separation anxiety is a situation in which cats exhibit anxiety symptoms as they’re separated from their owners. This type of anxiety is more typically related to dogs. Humans usually think that felines are independent creatures. They do not worry if their pet parents are there or not. The fact is that felines do form an extremely close bond with their pet parents. They also are highly aware of environmental changes.
When a feline’s attachment to its pet parent becomes dysfunctional, separation anxiety may become serious. It may lead to behavioral issues. A feline that has separation anxiety might become extremely clingy.
Besides showing common anxiety behavioral characteristics, a feline that has separation anxiety also may exhibit indications of distress as the owner is leaving or getting ready to leave. They’ll want to be with their pet parent all of the time and will oftentimes follow their pet parent from one room to another. They might attempt to get between the door and the owner if they think the pet parent is about to leave.
Over exuberant greetings on their pet parent returning home might be one other tell-tale sign of a feline experiencing separation anxiety. Feline separation anxiety isn’t pleasant for the cat, and it may cause issues at home for the pet parent, as well. Though, there are a few preventative steps to assist in decreasing the onset of a feline’s separation anxiety.
There’ve been several studies on the anti-anxiety impact of CBD. One study discovered that CBD decreases anxiety in those who have generalized social anxiety. Also, the research explains that CBD exhibits “a comparable efficacy to a 5-HT1AR agonist (ipsapirone) or diazepam” for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Both of those are typical anti-anxiety prescriptions.While recreational usage of cannabis may lead to anxiety, the anxiety stems from an additional cannabinoid referred to as THC. THC additionally causes a high feeling related to cannabis. It’s now a fact that cannabidiol has the opposite impact of THC and decreases anxiety. CBD does not have any mind-altering effects and doesn’t get you or your pet “high”.
Scientists think that the use of CBD may initiate a temporary boost of serotonin in a feline’s brain. Serotonin is an essential hormone that balances our happiness, sense of well-being, and mood. An increase in serotonin may assist in improving your pet’s mood which, as a result, should relieve anxious behaviors.
The advantages of CBD for feline anxiety have been proven in clinical studies on animals and humans alike. Studies are ongoing into the multiple therapeutic effects of CBD. CBD’s effectiveness for cats also has been confirmed by the great quantity of anecdotal proof given by pet owners. If you own a cat, utilizing CBD for her anxiety might be the best method of calming your cat and giving her a higher quality of life.
The traditional IBS treatments are mainly outpatient procedures. But if the IBS progressed to a point that your pet is seriously malnourished and/or dehydrated, they must be admitted into a vet clinic. Cats typically will be there for a couple of days while they nurse the cats back to a suitable health level. They’ll likely suggest a dietary routine that helps manage the pet’s IBS.
Unfortunately, IBS isn’t a curable disorder. It effectively can be managed, even though there isn’t any single treatment and your vet will likely require a mixture of numerous therapies.
Cats with IBS what to feed? If your feline has IBS, your vet might require a hypoallergenic food trial. Basically, this is a process of elimination in figuring out what type of food is leading to the GI distress. You’ll need to feed the cat a protein (like duck, venison, or rabbit) and carb diet. They want to restrict their food consumption to only these sources.
If your pet’s condition improves, you know they’re able to tolerate that particular food well. Other diet changes might involve foods which are low in fat, high in fiber, and easily digestible. Additional factors which influence this diet might involve your cat’s age, level of activity, breed, and/or any other clinical conditions.
Keep in mind that IBS mainly derives from chronic inflammation inside the GI tract. As a consequence, a commonly prescribed medication is a corticosteroid referred to as prednisone. Your vet also may prescribe immunosuppressive drugs or antibiotics. They’re used in the treatment of infections and chronic auto-inflammatory reactions inside the GI tract, respectively.
Recent studies also have indicated that prebiotics and probiotics are helpful in creating healthy gut flora. It’s the word for the numerous beneficial bacteria which reside in the mammalian digestive system, as well as aids your cat in food digestion.
Stress is a huge IBS trigger. As the mammalian body gets stressed out, it’ll release a number of hormones needed for survival responses. But, if this stress is chronic, these hormones may begin to have deleterious effects on a body.
Anti-anxiety meds might be prescribed to assist your cat in better handling their stressful environment. Routine human interaction, as well as healthy stimulation through play, toys, and consistent exercise also will redcue the levels of those stress hormones in your pet’s body.
The most efficient maintenance for IBS in felines typically comprises of a blend of these different approaches. CBD is especially useful because you easily can supplement in all or any of those treatments without having to cause any sort of negative interactions. As a matter of fact, it only will increase the efficacy of additional treatments or drugs.
Absolutely! As a matter of fact, it’s very safe for your pet. It’s impossible for your pet to overdose on and if you administer too high of a dose, your pet will just sleep it off.
Furthermore, you ought to consider businesses that routinely test their products like Innovet Pet Products.
It’ll ensure that the correct CBD concentration is present in every product sold, therefore resulting in precise dosage amounts. What’s more, it’ll ensure that it’s possible to effectively and safely treat your cat. Every batch is tested further for numerous cannabinoids and their amounts, which includes cannabinol, cannabidiolic acid, cannabigerol, cannabichromene and tetrahydrocannabinol.
The hemp utilized for CBD generation has to be grown then harvested like any additional plant. All of the CBD products that are sold by Innovet are 100 percent pesticide free and organic. That means during no point in the process of harvesting are there any pesticides being used.
Innovet uses carbon dioxide extraction for the making of their CBD products. It’s a green technique that’s eco-friendly. In this process, extractors filter out all dangerous toxins and/or chemicals from the end CBD product.
All these tests are undertaken by 3rd-party entities for Innovet Pet products to obtain COAs (certificates of analysis).
Approved by:
Dr. Sara Ochoa
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, St. Georges University
Sara Redding Ochoa, DVM was raised in north Louisiana. She graduated from LA Tech in 2011 with a degree in animal science. She then moved to Grenada West Indies for veterinary school. She completed her clinical year at Louisiana State University and graduated in 2015 from St. George’s University. Since veterinary school she has been working at a small animal and exotic veterinary clinic in east Texas, where she has experience treating all species that walk in the hospital. In her free time, she likes to travel with her husband Greg, bake yummy desserts and spend time with her 4-legged fur kids, a dog Ruby, a cat Oliver James “OJ”, a rabbit BamBam and a tortoise MonkeyMan.
Thanks for stopping by!
P.S. We Love You!
Sincerely,
The Innovet Team
]]>Please do not ask for emergency or specific medical questions about your pets in the comments. Innovet Pet Products is unable to provide you with specific medical advice or counseling. A detailed physical exam, patient history, and an established veterinarian are required to provide specific medical advice. If you are worried that your pet requires emergency attention or if you have specific medical questions related to your pet’s current or chronic health conditions, please contact or visit your local/preferred veterinarian, an animal-specific poison control hotline, or your local emergency veterinary care center.
Please share your experiences and stories, your opinions and feedback about this blog, or what you've learned that you'd like to share with others.
Kidney disease is a severe condition which is fairly prevalent among dogs. As a matter of fact, kidney disease dogs is the most common health condition affecting dogs over age 8! Even worse, it has a variety of serious symptoms. Thankfully, pet owners effectively can manage these dog with kidney failure symptoms through the use of CBD (cannabidiol). It’s a natural hemp plant extract. CBD has a high effectiveness and safety profile.
A stringent diet in along with a CBD Oil kidney failure routine may offer excellent results for treating symptoms of canines that have kidney disease.
They’re treats for dogs with kidney problems which contain a cannabis extract referred to as CBD (cannabidiol). These days you easily can find these natural remedies for kidney failure in dogs treats on the internet or within specific areas in which CBD is available like the Innovet Pet Products website. CBD belongs to a class of compounds called cannabinoids that attach themselves to cannabinoid receptors all throughout a dog’s body.
Collectively, the receptors comprise the ECS (endocannabinoid system) which has multiple positive effects.
CBD rapidly is becoming the preferred cannabinoid in the treatment of various ailments (which includes kidney disease) in dogs. It’ll metabolize easily and virtually has no side effects for your pet. CBD isn’t psychoactive like THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).Therefore, whether you offer your dog CBD capsules, CBD oil, or CBD dog treats it won’t confuse or intoxicate your pet. Also, CBD has a stellar “safety profile” because it’s impossible to overdose on.
Innovet’s dog hemp package is specifically put together to encourage the general well-being and health of your dog. This blend is ideal for daily health maintenance and offering enjoyable treats for dogs with kidney failure on the go or at home. Shopping for all your dog’s needs may be overwhelming because of the numerous possible products you can purchase, which is the reason why we developed this all-in-one care CBD and kidney function package. If we have the ability to make life easier for you while assisting your dog in enjoying better health, we have done our job!
Our first product in the package is a 750 milligrams proprietary PurCBD oil bottle. Our CBD exclusively is sourced from hemp that is grown on organic farms and regularly test it through a 3rd-party to ensure that no undesired additives make their way inside your dog’s supplement. Innovet uses the purest ingredients and just sell products they use on their own pets.
The second product in Innovet’s package is a bag of Maple Bacon and Berries hemp hard treats. These were especially made for medium to larger dog breeds. They are ideal for dogs requiring a bit more. Your dog will like these!
CBD Oil and Kidney Disease
So, what are the symptoms of kidney disease in dogs? The following list is a part of what conditions CBD may be able to effectively help manage in both humans and pets. CBD provides various positive effects on canines. As you’ll see most of those symptoms are the same as the CKD symptoms, meaning CBD makes an outstanding natural candidate for aiding in the relief of symptoms of canines that have kidney disease.
Kidney disease is a severe dog condition. It either can be AKD (acute kidney disease) or CKD (chronic kidney disease).
CKD also is referred to as “renal failure”. It’s a condition which happens over an extended time period, typically with a deteriorating prognosis. Acute kidney disease is a result of one situation which causes the kidney failure. Canines may develop acute kidney disease after they consume toxic substances like poisonous foods, antifreeze, and medications.
As a loving pet owner, it’s important to pay attention to your pet’s usual behavioral patterns. If you see your pet veering away from their usual happy behavior it might indicate that something is wrong. If you notice any one or more of these kidney failure in dogs symptoms in your pet you should take him to a vet.
As you can see, CBD effectively can help manage various symptoms for canines that have kidney disease. The most remarkable element of this CBD and kidney disease supplement is that it’s delicate on your pup’s metabolism. That means it’ll efficiently manage the condition and overlying symptoms without taking a toll upon your pup’s body.
Keep in mind, if your pooch experiences some type of kidney disease, their general system already is compromised and weakened. As a consequence, you only should offer them a medical supplement which doesn’t place extra pressure on their physiology, metabolism or general health.
Healthy kidneys are critical to your pup living a healthy life. The responsibility of a canine’s kidney includes helping him effectively expel waste from his body in the form of urine. Imagine the kidneys as huge filtration devices which take all of the fluids in your pup’s body, aids them then keeps the stuff the body requires while dumping the waste and/or toxins it doesn’t need.
A healthy diet is such a vital aspect of maintaining your pup’s kidney. But if the kidney degrades, the importance of a managed diet is necessary. There isn’t any cure for kidney disease in canines; therefore, the next solution includes managing the symptoms as best as you can.
Maintaining correct nutrition fulfills all these goals. It’s vital to craft a diet which takes into consideration the changes in your pet’s metabolism because of the weakened state of the kidneys. Think about the following changes and additions to your pet’s general diet to keep the disease under control.
The protein that is found in eggs is the simplest form for canines to digest. It’s better to primarily use egg whites with around one yolk per each three eggs.
Think about administering vitamin A supplements as they help to lubricate the kidneys. The suggested dosage for dogs is 100 to 200 IU for every kg of body weight a day.
Due to their incapability of breaking down a variety of waste product and toxins, canines with kidney disease have alkaline blood. The use of vitamin C in acidic form (from cranberries, juniper berries, or parsley) or from supplements will assist in balancing the pH.
There are various herbs which boost the function of your pet’s weakened kidneys, which includes gluten-free brewer’s yeast, kelp, alfalfa, and green tea.
It’s the most critical addition; make certain that your pet gets as much water as possible. Also, it includes changing from dry dog food to canned, moist food (which has a high water content level).
If you stick with these dietary limitations while using CBD as an additional supplement in the overlying kidney disease symptoms, your dog ought to show significant improvement in their condition.
It’s important that a canine with kidney disease be given a diet that won’t place more undue stress on their kidneys.
Some of those have to be decreased in higher levels than other ones, and it’s always better to confer with your vet to figure out how better to structure your pet’s new diet.
Thankfully, peanuts are a type of nut that’s extremely low in phosphorous, which means that it additionally has low levels of that particular mineral. In addition, peanut butter has moderate protein levels which may easily be more metabolized by your pup’s weakened kidneys. The best type of peanut butter is a low-sodium, additive-free, and organic product.
It’s especially vital that you avoid any peanut butter brands which have been artificially sweetened using xylitol. The ingredient is among the most poisonous to canines, and in some instances even may lead to death. Check the product’s label in question and be certain that it doesn’t have xylitol!
There are several different foods to be avoided by all canines, yet particularly so in dogs that have kidney disease. If consumed it might mean dire consequences for our pet. As a matter of fact, grapes, nutmeg, xylitol, dark chocolate, and raisins are considered to be the most harmful common food sources that poison canines.
Because the kidneys play such an important part in the general metabolism of your pooch, if they aren’t properly functioning, it’ll become essential to restrict the types of food that your furry friend can consume. There are numerous foods which essentially become off-limits for canines that have kidney disease, which includes:
Dark chocolate always is toxic to all canines due to the existence of calcium, potassium, and theobromine. Furthermore, the rawer and darker the chocolate is, the greater the levels of theobromine are. The chemical compound may cause seizures, muscle tremors, irregular heartbeat, internal bleeding, and a possibly deadly heart attack.
Lentils and beans both have high potassium levels. If your pup suffers from kidney disease, the productivity of the organ gets decreased and metabolizing potassium places undue strain on the animal’s metabolic system. As a consequence, the mineral starts building up in your pet’s blood and eventually leads to possibly irreversible heart damage.
Due to their reduction in productivity, your pet’s diseased kidneys will have a hard time filtering the high phosphorous levels which are present in egg yolks. Phosphorous takes calcium from the bones; therefore, if it reaches a high concentration in your pet’s blood, it’ll lead to a weakened skeletal system.
The ham curing process comprises of injecting the ham with either sodium nitrite or potassium nitrate. They’re both antioxidants and kinds of salt which are utilized to preserve the ham, prevent it from spoiling, and give it a characteristic color and taste. But potassium nitrate might lead to kidney stones, particularly if the kidneys aren’t functioning correctly. Moreover, the usage of sodium nitrite results in high sodium levels, therefore elevating blood pressure and further damaging the kidneys.
If your pet suffers from kidney disease, their odds of getting pancreatitis are a lot greater if they consume foods which are excessive in fat (like bacon, for instance). Don’t entirely cut out fat out, as it’s an important aspect of a healthy diet. It only is necessary to avoid excessively fatty food sources.
Milk is extremely rich in phosphorous, potassium, calcium, and protein. The kidneys have the job of filtering those minerals, as well as stabilizing their levels in your pet’s circulatory system. You don’t want your pet’s kidney to work harder than it needs to.
All these meats are especially high in phosphorous. However, there are meats which are low in phosphorous, like minced pork, lamb, as well as beef.
All these fruits are very high in potassium. Again, the mineral will require healthy kidneys to sustain proper levels within your pup’s metabolic system.
It’s obvious that alcohol always is toxic to canines, yet if they suffer from kidney disease, it’s especially harmful. The majority of dogs don’t touch alcohol except for toothpaste and a variety of dental products which are sold and designed for dogs. Avoid all alcohol if your pup suffers from kidney disease.
Walnuts are very toxic for your pet, even if they’re in excellent health. Consumption of any part of a walnut is harmful, which includes the wood, shells, nuts, and husks.
If your pet spends a good amount of time in the woods, they might tend to root around inside the ground for wild mushrooms because they have the odor of fish to a dog. It’s extremely risky as some mushrooms already are very toxic, even if your pet has healthy kidneys.
Xylitol an artificial sweetener that’s toxic to healthy canines and possibly deadly to dogs that have kidney disease.
Raisins and grapes are very poisonous for dogs and may lead to acute kidney failure! It’s a fact even if your pet isn’t suffering with kidney disease. The APCC (Animal Poison Control Center), in 2004, assessed one year’s worth of information and came to the conclusion that of 140 cases of raisin/grape poisoning in canines, 50 developed severe symptoms of acute kidney failure and seven died.
Nutmeg is a household spice that’s extremely toxic and possibly deadly for all dogs, particularly the ones that have kidney disease. Scientists don’t really know why it’s so harmful.
Using CBD treats may help pet owners with the underlying kidney disease and the overlying symptoms which cause so much distress and pain to our furry friends. It is also possible to use CBD capsules, CBD Oil (tincture), to administer CBD to your pet.
Each of those CBD products are going to supply your pet’s system with the CBD it requires. But, for the best results, the majority of dog owners utilize a CBD oil tincture for routine dosing and CBD treats intermittently between doses.
If you need to try CBD treats, it is possible to use them not just as a medical supplement yet as an incentive for proper behavioral modification and training. Also check out our new botanical supplement chews for great nutrition!
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Antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like effects of cannabidiol
Is the cardiovascular system a therapeutic target for cannabidiol?
Approved by:
Dr. Sara Ochoa
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, St. Georges University
Sara Redding Ochoa, DVM was raised in north Louisiana. She graduated from LA Tech in 2011 with a degree in animal science. She then moved to Grenada West Indies for veterinary school. She completed her clinical year at Louisiana State University and graduated in 2015 from St. George’s University. Since veterinary school she has been working at a small animal and exotic veterinary clinic in east Texas, where she has experience treating all species that walk in the hospital. In her free time, she likes to travel with her husband Greg, bake yummy desserts and spend time with her 4-legged fur kids, a dog Ruby, a cat Oliver James “OJ”, a rabbit BamBam and a tortoise MonkeyMan.
Thanks for stopping by!
P.S. We Love You!
Sincerely,
The Innovet Team
]]>Please do not ask for emergency or specific medical questions about your pets in the comments. Innovet Pet Products is unable to provide you with specific medical advice or counseling. A detailed physical exam, patient history, and an established veterinarian are required to provide specific medical advice. If you are worried that your pet requires emergency attention or if you have specific medical questions related to your pet’s current or chronic health conditions, please contact or visit your local/preferred veterinarian, an animal-specific poison control hotline, or your local emergency veterinary care center.
Please share your experiences and stories, your opinions and feedback about this blog, or what you've learned that you'd like to share with others.
Like people, cats are susceptible to a health condition known as diabetes. Roughly one hundred million people have diabetes, and that's in the United States alone. There are various situations that cause diabetes in the body, but for now, we are going to focus more on how diabetes affects cats and how you should go about helping a cat with diabetes.
Diabetes Mellitus in cats is not as uncommon as you may think. In fact, approximately 2% of all cats have feline diabetes. The percentage is small but when you think about it, there are roughly six hundred million cats in the world, which equates to an estimated twelve million cats that have diabetes. When put into perspective, it is easier to realize that 2% of cats with diabetes is an incredibly high number of cats.
But what exactly is diabetes? And how does it impact the lives of cats that have the condition? Let’s define diabetes in cats, and then we’ll talk about the implications and symptoms of feline diabetes.
Diabetes is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a health condition denoted by improper processing and use of insulin in the body. Insulin is a main factor from the consumption of carbohydrates, and it is completely natural to produce a decent amount of insulin on a daily basis.
But the problem arises when the body does not take insulin and store it in the appropriate place, this is called insulin resistance. In the body, insulin is derived from the pancreas, which is an internal organ situated very close to the stomach. The pancreas produces insulin at normal and regulated rates in the bodies of healthy cats, but sometimes, the body struggles to produce insulin on its own.
Other times, the body has a hard time regulating insulin that comes from food sources. The latter two examples are indicative of type I and type II diabetes, respectively. When your body improperly regulates insulin, there is an absurd concentration of sugar in the bloodstream, and this leads to an imbalance in the blood glucose levels in your cat's body.
Sometimes diabetes arises from variables in the environment, like a virus that is circulating and causing damage to the beta cells that produce insulin in the bodies of cats. Other times, diabetes has nothing to do with external factors, but rather, the diabetes stems from their genetic makeup.
This is probably the most unfortunate way of developing diabetes because there aren't any preventative measures that you can take. Not all cats with genes that lead to diabetes actually develop the health condition if the genes are not triggered or if they are recessive to the point of staying benign. No matter what causes diabetes, the most important part is to be proactive and learn about how to move on from there.
Your cat can still lead a fulfilling and active life while being diabetic, especially if you do your very best as a pet owner and help your feline friend stay as healthy as possible!
Diabetes has everything to do with the levels of insulin that your cat does -- or does not -- produce on its own. Insulin is a naturally-occurring hormone in the body and it enables the body to break down carbohydrates.
Often shortened to carbs, carbohydrates are the main source of energy for any moving body. While a select few are able to survive off of a low carbohydrate diet, high-fat nutrition intake, the majority of people and animals thrive best when more carbohydrates than fats are being consumed.
But this can be dangerous for some cats when their bodies are either receiving too many carbohydrates for comfort, or when the carbohydrate count is fine but the insulin levels are not adequate enough to compensate for the amount of sugar entering the body. Situations like this are signs of diabetes.
For people and cats alike, diabetes presents itself in two ways. Diabetes is categorized in two ways, and the diagnosis is based on how your cat’s body relates to the insulin being released throughout. Once diagnosed with diabetes, your cat will either be categorized as Type I or Type II.
The differences between Type I and Type II is related to the severity of the condition. For diabetic cats, Type I is far worse than Type II. The main cause of Type I diabetes is that your cat's body is not receiving enough insulin, and subsequently, your cat's body is low blood glucose levels or low blood sugar.
While it is important that you regulate your cat's sugar intake, there is a happy medium that your cat's body needs to maintain. With low blood sugar, your cat will feel lightheaded, shaky, and not at his or her normal energy levels. Your cat's vet will recommend that insulin therapy shots become part of your cat's daily routine, and the shots will bring your cat's insulin levels back up over time.
Feline Diabetes is often present before you are even aware that it's a problem. The symptoms of diabetic cats stay dormant and relatively undetectable for a little while, but when they do start to surface the symptoms of cats with diabetes will show clinical signs listed below.
The only way you can know for sure that your cat has diabetes is by taking your feline to the vet. As with nearly every medical condition known to man, diabetes has symptoms that are very similar to those of other health concerns and illnesses.
A veterinarian can take blood samples and have tests run by a lab as a way of determining the blood sugar level of your cat. There is more to diagnosing a cat than simply identifying the symptoms and seeing if they align with diabetes, especially when the symptoms of diabetes include such vague side effects like depression, nausea, and lethargy, to name a few.
If you suspect your cat might have diabetes, that’s very intuitive and it’s totally fine to bring your concerns to the veterinarian. But we encourage you to not take any steps regarding treatment of diabetes until your cat’s vet determines that diabetes is the issue and advises you on what to do next. We know your heart is in the right place, but if you act on symptoms and treat them like they are resulting from diabetes when they aren’t, you could potentially cause harm to your cat.
Once you schedule the appointment and take your cat to the vet, you will receive instructions on how to treat diabetes cat symptoms. If your cat has Type I diabetes and you are sent home with insulin shots, pay close attention to the directions. It can be scary to poke your cat with insulin shots but just remember that you are doing something that will make your cat feel better over time, and on top of that, as long as you adhere to the instructions, nothing can really go wrong.
Insulin shots are only one of many treatment options for feline diabetes symptoms. Let’s explore the different forms of treatment for symptoms of feline diabetes.
Before you add anything into your diabetic cat's life, it is actually wiser to take a few things away. Your cat's diet is a main player in a diabetes diagnosis. The nutritional content of the foods that your cat is consuming might be affecting the insulin production and concentration in your cat's system.
Sometimes, cats eat foods that amount to more calories than they burn, and as a result, they gain weight. Over time, consistent weight gain will lead to obesity in cats, and with obesity comes a resistance to insulin. There is a high probability that your cat is simply consuming far more calories than his or her body needs to survive, so your veterinarian might prescribe nothing more than a caloric deficit.
Weight loss is a slow-moving process, but try your best not to worry if your cat isn't losing noticeable weight at the beginning. It is healthy to lose weight slowly, not to mention more sustainable and safer. And cats with diabetes might not even need to lose pound after pound before they experience an adjustment with their insulin levels.
Sometimes, a few pounds is all it takes to offset the body's regulation of insulin, so trust your cat's vet if they mention a weight loss program. The two types of diets that vets place diabetic cats on are a low carb diet or a high complex carb diet, which tends to go hand-in-hand with higher levels of fiber in the diet.
Once diets are adjusted, insulin therapy is used as the next step in the process of treating feline diabetes. The typical treatment plan is for a cat to receive insulin injections twice a day, but the actual dose of insulin will depend on your cat's specific situation. The same goes for doses and the time of day that your cat's vet will suggest you administer injections to your cat.
Your vet can guide you through the process and give you tips on how to successfully administer insulin injections to your kitty, so don't hesitate to ask for guidance or to have your questions answered. Veterinarians know that not many pet parents are comfortable with the idea of injecting needles of insulin into their pets, so they can be there for you every step of the way.
If dietary adjustments are not enough to reverse the onset of diabetes, then your cat's veterinarian may prescribe an oral medication for your feline friend. The purpose of oral medicine is to stop the body from being so resistant and tolerant to insulin in the blood.
By lowering the levels of insulin resistance, your cat's body will be able to properly regulate insulin again. You can keep tabs on the medication and figure out if it is working properly by checking your cat's insulin levels every now and again. Medication is more hands-on than any other type of diabetes treatment method because you constantly have to measure your cat's blood sugar levels.
On top of having to monitor your pet's blood sugar ratios, you also have to force your cat to swallow medicine every day. This treatment option is certainly not the preferred method, but it is nice to know that it is an option if the other treatment methods don't end up working.
Diabetes is not a curable condition. As long as your cat’s health remains a top priority, you shouldn’t have to worry about anything becoming fatal. Diabetes is a health issue that cats can live with quite comfortably. Of course, their symptoms will change their lives to a certain degree, but it’s nothing that you and your cat’s vets cannot control.
Since you cannot get rid of the insulin-dependent condition, you might as well seek out solutions that make pain management simpler and more efficient. One of the most helpful supplements you can add into your diabetic cat’s lifestyle. The health benefits of CBD on its own are impeccable, and when cannabidiol is paired with a cat that has diabetes, the improvements you’ll see in your cat might just blow your mind.
The most important step that you can take as the parent of a cat with diabetes is to constantly keep an eye on them. The reason for monitoring your cat's movements is so you can control how much water, food, and exercise that they receive daily.
Also, since diabetes affects your cat's urinary tract and the frequency at which they need to use the bathroom, taking the time to count how often your diabetic cat urinates will help you figure out if your cat is making progress. If you have to leave the house during the daytime, and your cat ends up spending a while on their own, you might even want to consider installing a camera to monitor your cat throughout the day.
Getting your cat accustomed to eating at the same time every day, if they are not already on a schedule, will help you stay on track with monitoring your cat's behavior, too!
The most common form of CBD for pets is cannabidiol oil. Safe for dogs and cats alike, cannabidiol oil from Innovet is a dietary supplement that delivers about one hundred twenty-five milligrams of CBD per thirty milliliters of oil. This is only one of five options regarding CBD potency and quantity. Innovet also offers containers of 250mg CBD, 750mg CBD, and 1,500mg CBD, as well as a CBD oil that contains only cannabidiol derived from hemp plants, not cannabis.
The hemp extracts originate in the state of Oregon, and hemp oils used in Innovet pet products are European-based. By using the cold CO2 extraction method for processing their full-spectrum CBD oil, you can rest assured that CBD for cats is as pure as CBD can be. Innovet swears by the promise to only offer CBD oil that is natural in every way, shape, and form. There are no pesticides, contaminants, preservatives, chemicals, or anything of this nature in the CBD itself, nor do the hemp or cannabis plants come into contact with dangerous substances either. The price point of CBD oil from Innovet for diabetic cats is very affordable, and if anything, it falls on the lower end of the spectrum when compared to companies that offer similar products. Made with organic phytocannabinoids, the CBD from Innovet is sourced from the US state of Colorado. The quality control is above and beyond, with every ounce of CBD oil checked by third party labs that ensure everything is labeled and dosed correctly.
Cannabidiol oil varies in tincture, so if you haven't ever administered CBD to your cat with diabetes before, start out with 125mg and adjust accordingly from there. Whether you choose CBD from cannabis with minimal THC, or pure CBD in isolate form, which is derived from hemp plants, your cat will be safe with CBD in his or her system.
Even if you elect to order full-spectrum CBD, your cat will never feel high. CBD does not cause mind-bending or perception-altering effects like all cannabis products are thought of as doing. THC is the cannabinoid responsible for these effects, and with that information, you may be wondering why CBD for cats contains any THC at all. Well, as long as the THC concentration is below the legal limit of 0.03% then the THC actually enhances the effects of CBD without contributing any psychoactive effects.
Innovet offers other CBD products as well, so you don’t necessarily have to stick to CBD oils for cats with diabetes. Check out the inventory available at Innovet. CBD snacks, treats, capsules, and lotions for cats in need of pain and inflammation relief as a result of their diabetes. Your cat doesn’t have to be uncomfortable! Let CBD work its magic today.
Diabetes In Cats: Symptoms, Treatments, Prevention, and Diet Tips
Managing Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus in Your Cat
Plant-Derived Cannabinoids in Diabetes and Diabetic Complications
Approved by:
Dr. Sara Ochoa
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, St. Georges University
Sara Redding Ochoa, DVM was raised in north Louisiana. She graduated from LA Tech in 2011 with a degree in animal science. She then moved to Grenada West Indies for veterinary school. She completed her clinical year at Louisiana State University and graduated in 2015 from St. George’s University. Since veterinary school she has been working at a small animal and exotic veterinary clinic in east Texas, where she has experience treating all species that walk in the hospital. In her free time, she likes to travel with her husband Greg, bake yummy desserts and spend time with her 4-legged fur kids, a dog Ruby, a cat Oliver James “OJ”, a rabbit BamBam and a tortoise MonkeyMan.
Thanks for stopping by!
P.S. We Love You!
Sincerely,
The Innovet Team
Please do not ask for emergency or specific medical questions about your pets in the comments. Innovet Pet Products is unable to provide you with specific medical advice or counseling. A detailed physical exam, patient history, and an established veterinarian are required to provide specific medical advice. If you are worried that your pet requires emergency attention or if you have specific medical questions related to your pet’s current or chronic health conditions, please contact or visit your local/preferred veterinarian, an animal-specific poison control hotline, or your local emergency veterinary care center.
Please share your experiences and stories, your opinions and feedback about this blog, or what you've learned that you'd like to share with others.
Maybe your kitty is sneezing or coughing and just acts like they don't feel good. This is when many cat owners start asking, "can cats get a cold?" Yes, they can, though they're not exactly like human colds and humans and cats can't share colds. Read on to learn everything you need to know about a cat cold.
Technically, cat colds are usually feline upper respiratory infections, but they are called colds and they usually resolve on their own like a human cold. Sometimes, they can become serious.
Cats get viral or bacterial infections in their upper respiratory system, almost always coming from the calicivirus or the herpesvirus, though there are many others that can cause it.
They contract the disease from other cats and are therefore more likely to catch it when around large numbers of cats such as in a pet store, shelter, breeding facility, or daycare.
The disease is highly contagious, spreading through the saliva and eye and nasal discharge, so it is important to keep healthy cats away from sick cats and to sanitize the area where sick cats have been.
A cat with a strong immune system will usually need to come into direct contact with the sick cat to contract the disease, but weaker immunity makes it easier for a cat to contract it from just encountering contaminated fluids on objects. You should wash the bedding, bowls, toys, and washable surfaces the sick cat has used with soap.
Humans cannot get colds from cats or vice versa, though you could get an eye infection if a cat sneezes or coughs in your face, and the H1N1 virus has been transmitted between humans and cats.
It is always a good practice to wash your hands when handling a sick cat and to wash its belongings and living space to protect yourself and the rest of your family from the few potential illnesses that can spread between humans and cats and to keep from spreading the disease from cat to cat.
Many people ask, "how do indoor cats catch colds," implying that their cat has had no contact with another cat and yet they still got a cold. It is possible for cats to encounter a bacteria or virus that causes an upper respiratory infection even if they did not have direct contact with a cat. The fluids just have to be present, so it could come in on the air, your shoes, or the dog. Again, the stronger your cat's immunity, the less likely it is that they could contract the disease without direct contact.
Upper Respiratory infections in Cats are similar in this respect to human colds. They typically last around 7 to 10 days but can persist as long as 21 days.
The incubation period, the time it takes before symptoms develop, is 2 to 10 days, and it is during this time that the cat is the most contagious. This means that if you suspect your cat has been exposed to a cat with an upper respiratory infection, you should keep them away from other cats even before symptoms appear.
When your cat catches a cold, it will usually not be a big deal.
All discharge should be clear.
More serious symptoms may not mean that your cat is very ill, yet, but their body is struggling to deal with the infection and you should get them veterinary care to ensure they don't become sicker because of a lack of water or nutrition or that they don't develop pneumonia.
If the feline cold lasts longer than 7 to 10 days or progresses to more severe symptoms, you should take them to the vet promptly.
The vet can usually diagnose that your cat has a cold because of their symptoms and visible signs. They may want to perform diagnostic tests to determine the cause and type of infection and to rule out severe cases like feline herpesvirus, immunodeficiency or leukemia.
When your cat has an upper respiratory infection, you might run a humidifier, boil water, or get them to spend time in a steamy bathroom to keep their nasal passages more clear.
Make sure they have constant access to clean water. You might increase their interest in it by cooling it with ice, if it is hot, get them one of those cat fountains, or adding something to it that is healthy for them to drink that they'll like. You might also feed them more canned food or add water to it.
You can tell if your cat is becoming dehydrated by doing the pinch test, pinching the skin on the cat's neck just above their shoulders. It should spring back immediately. If not, they are becoming dehydrated. You can also check their gums to see if they are pale or red, rather than pink. Their gums may also feel sticky if you touch them when they are dehydrated.
With loss of appetite, try giving them their favorite foods, warming their cat food, or feeding them meat-based baby foods. If that doesn't work, take them to the vet.
You can wipe discharge from their face with a soft, damp cloth with warm water.
If a cat common cold doesn't go away on its own, the vet may prescribe antibiotics for bacterial infections, decongestants, or appetite stimulants to get them to eat on their own. They may also prescribe treatments to boost the cat's immune system.
If they are badly dehydrated or not eating, they may be kept at the vet's office for fluid therapy and feeding support before being safe to go back home.
The herpesvirus may have to be treated with special medications.
You can NOT get feline cold medicine over the counter. There is no such thing for cats, and human cold medications are not suitable for them.
There are vaccinations for the two most common causes of feline upper respiratory infections, so you could speak to your vet about those.
Prevent contact between sick and healthy cats. That may mean keeping your healthy ones away from ones who may be ill that belong to others or no one or isolating your sick feline.
If your cat is sick, wash their belongings and the areas they stay in.
If you manage to know or suspect that your cat came into contact with a sick one, start isolating them before the symptoms appear.
Take new cats to the vet for a checkup before bringing them home to mingle with cats you already have. You might also want to limit their contact with other cats for a week or two in case it was just too soon to tell.
Once a cat has had an FVR upper respiratory infection, the illness may recur later in life when they are sick or stressed.
Other cats may suffer from chronic colds due to other health issues and a vet may do x-rays and cell cultures to discover the route of the problem.
CBD oil for cats shows promise as a safe alternative to appetite stimulants should your cat be unable to take prescribed appetite stimulants. Or the cat may only be suffering from the earliest stages of low appetite and you already have some CBD oil on hand, so you could give them a little and see if it can quickly get them eating normally again.
CBD oil is also frequently used to give a subtle energy boost, just the thing for gently helping your feline friend act more like their normal self.
Medications that your vet prescribes for a sick cat may cause side effects that make them feel terrible and may be serious enough to make it so the cat can't keep taking the medication.
This means CBD oil could allow your pet to continue taking a life-saving medication that otherwise would be intolerable to their system.
CBD oil, or cannabidiol, comes from hemp and marijuana. Hemp is a particularly great source of cannabidiol because it contains much more of it than marijuana and virtually none of the THC that gives marijuana its characteristic "high".
Scientists have discovered that human and cat bodies have an endocannabinoid system, a group of receptors involved with many vital life functions that creates and responds to its own cannabinoids to achieve homeostasis and the normal functioning of the body. External cannabinoids like cannabidiol interact in the body much like our own cannabinoids, helping to regulate deficiencies and provide helpful boosts.
Extract concentrates, as the name suggests, are a concentrated form of cannabidiol that come out in little beads for dosing. This is the most cost-effective and purest (only one ingredient) form of CBD oil. It has no flavoring, so if your cat doesn't like the distinctive hemp taste, the concentrate will have to be masked in a strong-tasting food or beverage. We also have a Catnip CBD spray that may do the trick!
Oil tinctures are cannabidiol mixed with a carrier oil, and often a flavoring, to make it easier and more enjoyable to take. It comes with a dropper or sprayer so it can be dosed by measuring the number of drops or sprays.
Capsules eliminate any taste issue and are great options for cats who don't mind taking pills.
Treats make taking CBD oil the most fun it can be. It's a treat after all! They even come in crunchy and chewy forms to be the most like the treats your cat already loves.
Capsules and treats tell you on the package what dose each capsule or treat contains and how many you should give your cat to reach the intended dose. These are simpler to dose than concentrates and tinctures, but they also don't allow you as much flexibility.
Recommended doses are calculated for the average cat. This means a very small, young, old, large, or sick cat will need different dosing. You should probably contact your vet for personalized advice.
Concentrates and tinctures allow you to achieve any dose, small or large, your cat needs. They're also great to have on hand for multiple pet households so you can vary doses for different pets.
CBD oil is pretty risk free. That's why it's growing in popularity as a primary and secondary option to manage many ailments. What concerns there are we will share with you to keep your cat 100% safe.
While there is no known instance of an overdose of CBD oil, excessive dosing of CBD oil can cause loss of appetite, diarrhea, or sedation.
CBD oil alters the way the liver absorbs medications so that doses don't work as expected. This means your vet will need to know about any CBD oil use so they can calculate doses and treatments accordingly.
CBD oil is not FDA approved at this time. While cannabidiol is exciting scientists with all the ailments it shows promise at managing, there haven't been enough tests yet to make FDA approval. So, right now it's still kind of experimental. Don't use CBD oil to treat a life-threatening illness unless traditional treatments are ineffective or unsuitable for your cat and you have vet approval. It may provide amazing results for your cat as it does with many, but it isn't guaranteed and you shouldn't assume that it will with something threatening.
More vets are discovering all the time that CBD oil can help in ways that traditional medications cannot, but that doesn't mean your vet is one of them. If you are interested in giving your cat CBD oil and your vet isn't onboard, call around. Some of your other local vets may be, and you may be able to find a holistic vet in or near your area.
Read the following information before purchasing CBD oil to ensure you are buying the safest products for your cat.
CBD Isolate versus Full-spectrum
CBD isolate, as the name implies, is just cannabidiol while full-spectrum CBD is cannabidiol along with other cannabinoids(not THC), terpenes, and nutrients found in the hemp plant. Full-spectrum is actually the most popular choice, but other people swear that CBD isolate is actually more effective for them. So, the choice is up to you. If you try one and it doesn't work, you should try the other before giving up on CBD oil altogether. Do bear in mind that cats with nutritional issues may benefit from the additional calories and nutrients in full-spectrum CBD.
Disreputable CBD oil manufacturers sell products with poor-quality cannabidiol, less cannabidiol than promised, or no cannabidiol at all. For this reason, reputable CBD oil manufacturers prove to customers that their products are as promised by having their products tested by an outside lab and then publishing the results on their website. You can view an example of ours, demonstrating how we show you the test results from each batch of PurCBD+ 125mg.
Reputable CBD oil manufacturers will tell you were they acquired their cannabidiol. Some grow their hemp and extract the cannabidiol from it themselves while others get the hemp or the cannabidiol from someone else. Either is fine as long as you ensure the hemp was grown in a country with safe growing regulations.
Check the website for mention of the CO2 extraction method as it is the safest and purest option.
You should read the ingredients list on any CBD oil product you intend to buy. First, look at the number of ingredients to try to see if they appear to be putting a lot of unnecessary or unsafe things in your CBD oil. Then, research anything you don't recognize to ensure it isn't unsafe or something your cat is allergic to.
You might want to make your first CBD oil purchase at Innovet as we meet or exceed each criteria mentioned here.
We love to find creative and eco-friendly solutions to pet problems. If you're researching "my cat has a cold," you've probably got a sneezy, coughing, or sluggish cat on your hands. Our CBD oil can make them more willing to eat and more active, and it may help them deal with side effects from medications they need because of their cat cold.
You can also write to us about any ailments or pet problems you have that are not able to be addressed with current traditional treatments or natural alternatives. We specialize in finding innovative solutions for hard to address pet issues.
Home Remedies for Cats With Colds
Sara Redding Ochoa, DVM was raised in north Louisiana. She graduated from LA Tech in 2011 with a degree in animal science. She then moved to Grenada West Indies for veterinary school. She completed her clinical year at Louisiana State University and graduated in 2015 from St. George’s University. Since veterinary school she has been working at a small animal and exotic veterinary clinic in east Texas, where she has experience treating all species that walk in the hospital. In her free time, she likes to travel with her husband Greg, bake yummy desserts and spend time with her 4-legged fur kids, a dog Ruby, a cat Oliver James “OJ”, a rabbit BamBam and a tortoise MonkeyMan.
Thanks for stopping by!
P.S. We Love You!
Sincerely,
The Innovet Team
Please do not ask for emergency or specific medical questions about your pets in the comments. Innovet Pet Products is unable to provide you with specific medical advice or counseling. A detailed physical exam, patient history, and an established veterinarian are required to provide specific medical advice. If you are worried that your pet requires emergency attention or if you have specific medical questions related to your pet’s current or chronic health conditions, please contact or visit your local/preferred veterinarian, an animal-specific poison control hotline, or your local emergency veterinary care center.
Please share your experiences and stories, your opinions and feedback about this blog, or what you've learned that you'd like to share with others.
My dog has a fever, now what? As a pet parent, among the worst feelings it is possible to experience is seeing your dog or cat in pain and feeling unable to help him or her. Fevers are a very common occurrence in humans and animals alike and often are a symptom of an underlying illness or condition.
If your dog has fever symptoms, you might be tempted to try and treat him yourself to assist in reducing the fever, as well as nurse the pet’s health back to normal. But it’s vital that you be educated about what’s safe to offer your pup for a fever before you take any actions. Here’s a guide on how to tell if a dog has a fever, what causes a fever in dogs, and what it’s possible to do to aid in abating the symptoms of the dog fever.
Is your dog running a fever? Fever's have several different causes, symptoms, and treatments and depending upon how high the dog's body temperature is, you might have to take him to the hospital. If you are worried that your dog’s temperature is too elevated, it’s possible to get a thermometer at the local pet store. Remember, a human thermometer won’t work!
Have you ever noticed that your furry friend has not been feeling well lately? How do you know if your dog has a fever? You know he has to be sick because he’s coughing, you have noticed he has been a little lethargic, and despite the warm ears, he’s shivering. Your dog has a fever, or in clinical terms, pyrexia.
Canines normal body temperature ranges from 99.5 to 102.5℉, and our thermometers oftentimes struggle reading temperatures which exceed 103℉. If your dog’s temperature reads above 106℉, it’s considered a clinical emergency, and you ought to take him to the hospital as soon as you can.
A few of the causes of dog’s fever are simple to diagnose, while other ones are more challenging. Some causes involve infection or inflammation, like an infected bite or cut, ear infection (more on that later), urinary tract infection (more on that later), abscessed or infected tooth, as well as infected organs.
Diseases which may cause a fever involves a continuous viral or bacterial disease, metabolic diseases, and endocrine diseases. Fevers also may come about because of what your pup is placing into his body. If you vaccinated your dog recently, it’s vital that you know that they’re able to get a fever for a couple of days afterward. Try and keep him comfortable as he endures the fever. It ought to be gone in no time.
A few dog medicines also can lead to fevers; therefore, if you have placed your dog on a new medicine, check out the side effects to see if it’s where his fever derived from. Also, an allergic reaction may cause the dog’s temperature to increase. Try and give consideration to any new plants or additional items you might’ve purchased recently that might be upsetting his immune system.
If your pet tends to get into human things, he might’ve consumed something which made his temperature increase. Look to see if your pet has gotten into toxic plants, antifreeze, human foods, or human medicines. Dogs, at times, may catch a fever from unknown sources, which may be the case if your pup has immune system irregularities, bone marrow or blood disorders, as well as cancer.
How do you tell if your dog has a fever? There are a multitude of tell-tale signs that your dog is suffering with a fever.
Seeing your pup endure a fever may be uncomfortable, yet you’re able to make him feel better. Contacting a vet to check if your dog has a fever and see if there is a more severe problem is an excellent first step. The next thing it’s possible to do to make your dog more comfortable is to apply cold water around his ears, as well as paws to help him cool down.
In addition, you should ensure that his bowl of water is close to him to make it simpler for him to consume his water. Be certain that you closely observe him when he feels this way. Search for signs that he’s getting worse or getting better. Other measures to take to keep the dog cool involve wrapping ice packs inside a towel and putting it on his abdomen and chest then blowing a fan within his direction.
The most critical thing to remember at this time is that your dog isn’t feeling well and the more comfortable the dog is, the better he’ll begin to feel.
It’s vital that before you attempt to treat the dog, you speak with a licensed vet to ensure that the measures you’re taking won’t do more harm than good. Most dog parents jump to wanting to offer their pup human medicine to decrease fever, yet most human medicines may be toxic to canines, especially if given in improper dosages.
Some vets might suggest giving your pet a low dose of a human being over-the-counter medicine to assist in bringing the fever down, while other ones might want to do a physical exam before starting any type of fever reducers or medicine so that the symptoms aren’t hidden.
Always contact the vet before you administer any kind of medicine to your pet to check that it’s safe and determine the proper dosage. While you might not have the ability to give the dog anything for his fever, there are a variety of steps to take to assist in bringing the fever down without OTC meds.
To assist in reducing the dog's fever, apply cold water to the ears and paws using a soaked cloth or towel. If you can, try and coax the dog into drinking cool water to assist in ensuring hydration is maintained.
If you suspect that your dog has a fever and has many of the symptoms mentioned above, please don't panic. Be sure to try and keep your dog hydrated and watch over them like you would watch over a child. There is a good chance the fever will pass but it's important to keep an eye on your fur-baby to make sure they are doing ok. Find a dog thermometer and take your dog's temperature on a regular basis until you know their fever has passed and they are running a normal temperature. Lastly, Never Give your dog Human Medicines!
Uncovering the Cause of Fever in Dogs
Fever of Unknown Origin in Dogs
Sara Redding Ochoa, DVM was raised in north Louisiana. She graduated from LA Tech in 2011 with a degree in animal science. She then moved to Grenada West Indies for veterinary school. She completed her clinical year at Louisiana State University and graduated in 2015 from St. George’s University. Since veterinary school she has been working at a small animal and exotic veterinary clinic in east Texas, where she has experience treating all species that walk in the hospital. In her free time, she likes to travel with her husband Greg, bake yummy desserts and spend time with her 4-legged fur kids, a dog Ruby, a cat Oliver James “OJ”, a rabbit BamBam and a tortoise MonkeyMan.
Thanks for stopping by!
P.S. We Love You!
Sincerely,
The Innovet Team
Please do not ask for emergency or specific medical questions about your pets in the comments. Innovet Pet Products is unable to provide you with specific medical advice or counseling. A detailed physical exam, patient history, and an established veterinarian are required to provide specific medical advice. If you are worried that your pet requires emergency attention or if you have specific medical questions related to your pet’s current or chronic health conditions, please contact or visit your local/preferred veterinarian, an animal-specific poison control hotline, or your local emergency veterinary care center.
Please share your experiences and stories, your opinions and feedback about this blog, or what you've learned that you'd like to share with others.
Did you know puppies can have urinary tract infections, or UTIs? If you aren't prepared for it, you may not suspect a puppy bladder infection and may wonder why your puppy is struggling so hard to be house trained. In fact, many people file away puppy frequent urination as a behavior problem, miss the signs of a serious illness, and make house training an upsetting experience. Read all about UTI in puppies here.
Puppy urinary tract infections are pretty common. In fact, we are discovering that there are more instances of them than we previously knew.
As the name suggests, a puppy urinary tract infection is an infection in their urinary tract that makes them lose control of their bladder and need to pee more frequently. If your puppy is having accidents in the home, it may not be by choice or lack of training, they may not physically have any control over it. Trying to train this out of them will be impossible and hurtful to the puppy and you may be missing signs of a more serious disease.
The urinary tract is a system involving the processing and removal of waste through urine, water handling, salt handling, the production of multiple hormones, and the processing of Vitamin D.
It is made up of several parts, the kidneys, the bladder, ureters that connect the kidneys to the bladder, and the urethra that moves the pee from the bladder to outside the puppy.
A puppy UTI can impact the entire urinary tract.
Puppy urinary tract infections usually come from a bacterial infection caused by holding their pee too long.
Puppies need to pee very often. As frequently as 1 or 2 hours when they are little to as long as the same number of hours as their age in months. That means a 6-month-old puppy may be able to go 6 hours between peeing. You may want to tweak this a little according to your individual puppy. Smaller breeds will need to pee even more frequently than larger breed puppies. Their bladders are literally smaller and their metabolisms faster.
Frequently taking your puppy out to pee is so important that many shelters and breeders ask potential new pet owners if their schedule will permit as many walks as the puppy will need before allowing them to take the puppy.
There are also fungal and viral infections that can cause a puppy urinary tract infection, so don't rule out a bladder infection because you feel sure you've been taking your puppy out often enough.
Fungal infections typically strike dogs with other illnesses like diabetes or who have been treated for other diseases with surgeries or many antibiotics.
Parasites cause puppy viral bladder infections.
For instance, the Giant Kidney Worm infection causes similar symptoms to a puppy UTI caused by bacteria such as frequent urination and blood in the urine, and it can cause kidney failure, liver damage, and affect other abdominal organs. It is rare, but dogs can be infected by the parasite by simply eating infected raw fish, frogs, or earthworms.
Sometimes a puppy shows no signs of a bladder infection, or the symptoms may be hard to notice.
You will usually notice that the puppy is reluctant to pee or acts like they are uncomfortable while peeing.
Take your puppy to the vet if they show any of the symptoms mentioned above.
But don't forget that all puppies pee more frequently than adult dogs and that smaller puppies pee more frequently than larger puppies. Consider what is normal for the individual puppy, whether there are other symptoms, and if the puppy is responding normally to house training before assuming that any frequent peeing is a symptom of an infection.
If the puppy does show symptoms, don't hesitate to take them to the vet. The puppy is probably in pain, and their symptoms may be a sign of another, more serious disease. It is also possible that if a puppy UTI is left untreated, it could do permanent damage to their kidneys.
The vet will perform a urinalysis to detect signs of an infection and evaluate the puppy's kidney function. They may also do cultures, bloodwork, and x-rays to further evaluate the bladder infection and rule out other problems.
A little note about urinalysis. The first morning's pee, or urine extracted with a needle, is the best sample for a urinalysis.
If you don't agree with the vet's diagnosis or you take the puppy home and do whatever the vet suggests but the puppy continues to show signs of a urinary tract infection, then go back to the vet or take them to someone else. They may have been misdiagnosed or the puppy may have a recurrent UTI.
The primary treatment for urinary infections in puppies is antibiotics. When given correctly, they provide pretty quick relief and rid the puppy of infection. Pain medications are also pretty common, unless the puppy doesn't seem to be in much pain. Some vets will always prescribe pain medication to be on the safe side.
Fluid therapy may be needed to clean out the puppy's urinary tract, and bladder stones may require surgery.
Tell the vet if the antibiotics or pain medication seem to be causing the puppy side effects detrimental to the puppy's well-being or the ability to continue taking the medication.
Give the puppy the full course of antibiotics, even if they act well again, or the infection can come back even stronger than before. If the puppy can't take the antibiotic anymore, tell the vet before stopping the medication so they can quickly suggest another treatment.
Puppy fungal urinary tract infections will be treated with antifungal medications rather than antibiotics, and they may require long-term treatment.
Viral infections like the Giant Kidney Worm must be surgically removed. Sometimes one of the kidneys must also be removed.
As with most diseases, it's better to prevent a urinary tract infection than treat one.
If the puppy has an increased tendency to develop urinary tract infections, you might speak to your vet about probiotics or a special diet.
CBD oil is showing promise as a safe, natural way to manage many ailments. CBD stands for cannabidiol, a natural chemical found in marijuana and hemp plants with promising healing properties. Most CBD oil manufacturers derive their cannabidiol from hemp because hemp contains a great deal of cannabidiol and virtually no THC, that high-causing chemical that makes marijuana so popular.
This may help alleviate the pain and inflammation-causing puppy discomfort. It may also help with anxiety or depression that is causing house training issues. And if your puppy has cancer, CBD oil can be a secondary or alternative method of addressing cancer.
Scientists have discovered that human and dog bodies have an endocannabinoid system, a set of receptors in our bodies that create and use their own cannabinoids. These impact the homeostasis, or natural balance our bodies need to be healthy. An external cannabinoid works very similarly in the body to our natural cannabinoids, potentially increasing our health and wellbeing.
CBD oil manufacturers supply a wide range of products to suit dogs' taste and needs.
But because puppies are small and young, you should probably stick to products that can be dosed in small amounts or broken apart such as:
Extract concentrates are just cannabidiol. This is the most cost-effective CBD oil form and it eliminates the potential for other ingredients to cause a problem for your puppy. It doesn't have any flavoring, and hemp has a strong taste that many puppies may not like, so you may have to mask it in a strong-tasting food or beverage. It can be given by mouth or added to their food.
Oil tinctures are cannabidiol plus a carrier oil and often flavorings. This makes it easier and more enjoyable for the puppy to take cannabidiol. It will come with a dropper or sprayer and can be applied directly to their mouth or in their food. Droppers provide the most control over the dose and may be better for dosing the small amounts puppies need.
CBD Dog Treats are fun, but dosing is limited. Buy the smallest dose of treat and break it apart, if necessary to reach the desired dose. Ensure the treats you buy mix the cannabidiol thoroughly into the treat so breaking it apart yields an even dose.
Because puppies are both young and small, they need very small doses of cannabidiol, if they can take it at all. Discuss dosing with your vet so they can consider your puppy's individual weight, age, and health.
The youngest puppies may not be able to take CBD oil at all while the likelihood and the amount increases as they get older.
CBD oil is a popular way of safely and naturally managing symptoms of many ailments and side effects of medications. That being said, there are some things to be aware of to keep the puppy safe.
The only known "side effects" of CBD oil are loss of appetite, diarrhea, or sedation, and these occur with excessively large doses. Your puppy may have an increased risk of suffering these side effects because they are so little. Should any of these symptoms occur, stop giving the puppy CBD oil.
CBD oil impacts how the liver absorbs medications, so any medication processed through the liver may require different dosing than normal. This simply means your vet needs to know your puppy is taking CBD oil so they can dose medications and treatments accordingly.
At this time, CBD oil has not received FDA approval. This is because it is simply too soon for all the testing and trials that the FDA requires to have been completed. Consider CBD oil an experimental treatment, to be used for non-life-threatening ailments, as a secondary treatment, or when traditional medications can't be used.
Many vets are supportive and knowledgeable about the use of CBD oil, but not all. If you really think CBD oil is the best choice for your puppy but your vet doesn't agree, you could consult another vet and maybe even a holistic vet.
Make the best CBD oil purchase for your puppy by considering the following information.
There are two kinds of CBD oil. CBD isolate is just cannabidiol while full-spectrum CBD oil contains cannabidiol as well as other cannabinoids, terpenes, and nutrients from the hemp plant. It is not known whether one is really more effective than the other, but customers certainly report that one works better for them or their dog than the other.
Because we're discussing a puppy, it may be safer to stick with CBD isolate simply because it is just cannabidiol and that has had more testing and is therefore better understood than the other cannabinoids in full-spectrum CBD oil. If CBD isolate doesn't work for your puppy, you could speak to your vet about trying full-spectrum before giving up on CBD oil altogether.
Third-party testing is required because some CBD oil manufacturers have sold products with poor-quality cannabidiol, less cannabidiol than advertised, or no cannabidiol at all.
Make sure you buy your puppy CBD oil that has gone through third-party lab testing. You can do this by checking the manufacturer's website. As an example, we'll show you ours. Each batch is tested by a lab outside of our influence and the results are displayed online. Look for and read the test results for any CBD oil product you consider purchasing to protect your puppy.
The manufacturer should also tell you where they acquired their cannabidiol. Some manufacturers grow their own hemp while others purchase hemp or cannabidiol from someone else. The important thing is for you to know that the hemp was grown in a country with safe growing regulations.
CBD oil can be extracted in several ways, but the CO2 extraction method is the safest and purest one, so look for mention of this on the manufacturer's website as well.
Consider the ingredients in any CBD oil product you consider buying to ensure it doesn't contain unnecessary, unsafe, or allergenic ingredients. The first thing to look for is the number of ingredients. Less is usually always better. If you don't know what something else is, research it to discover if it is really safe for your puppy.
Many CBD oil manufacturers extract their CBD oil from the hemp plant, which is naturally low in THC. But not all. Some use marijuana plants. This is not suitable for puppies, so check the label and the lab test results to ensure there is no THC in the product you are purchasing for your puppy.
Some test results will say something like ND to say no THC is detected while some will show you a very infinitesimal amount of THC. Infinitesimal amounts are still considered no THC because they are too low to have an impact. ND is just an easy, non-confusing way of saying there is too little THC to count. In other words: it's the same thing. If you are concerned about any THC in the product, you could speak to the vet about whether the amount is of concern for your individual puppy.
Consider Innovet when starting your CBD oil journey. We meet or exceed all of the criteria mentioned in this post.
We like to find creative and eco-friendly solutions to pet problems. If puppy bladder infection is becoming a chronic issue in your home or your puppy is struggling with house training and nothing seems to fix it, reach out to us to see if we can't find an answer.
Approved by:
Dr. Sara Ochoa
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, St. Georges University
Sara Redding Ochoa, DVM was raised in north Louisiana. She graduated from LA Tech in 2011 with a degree in animal science. She then moved to Grenada West Indies for veterinary school. She completed her clinical year at Louisiana State University and graduated in 2015 from St. George’s University. Since veterinary school, she has been working at a small animal and exotic veterinary clinic in east Texas, where she has experience treating all species that walk in the hospital. In her free time, she likes to travel with her husband Greg, bake yummy desserts and spend time with her 4-legged fur kids, a dog Ruby, a cat Oliver James “OJ”, a rabbit BamBam and a tortoise MonkeyMan.
Thanks for stopping by!
P.S. We Love You!
Sincerely,
The Innovet Team
]]>Please do not ask for emergency or specific medical questions about your pets in the comments. Innovet Pet Products is unable to provide you with specific medical advice or counseling. A detailed physical exam, patient history, and an established veterinarian are required to provide specific medical advice. If you are worried that your pet requires emergency attention or if you have specific medical questions related to your pet’s current or chronic health conditions, please contact or visit your local/preferred veterinarian, an animal-specific poison control hotline, or your local emergency veterinary care center.
Please share your experiences and stories, your opinions and feedback about this blog, or what you've learned that you'd like to share with others.
Ringworm is a condition that usually does not resolve itself, so medical attention from a professional is needed to relieve the problem. Ringworm is caused by the build-up of fungus in certain ways, and it takes the shape of a circle or a ring. The skin condition is not often a filled-in circle, though it can be in more severe cases.
Most commonly, ringworm presents as a red outline, which is the worm part of the name. It really truly does look like a worm curled up into a circle. Don't let the name of the skin infection fool you, though. There aren't any real worms involved. Rather, the name ringworm came about because of the way the rash looks on the skin.
Another term for ringworm is dermatophytosis. The fungus that causes ringworm feeds off of keratin. As a protein naturally found in skin, keratin is most densely located in nails, at the origin of hair follicles, and in skin. For this reason, ringworm most often presents itself in these parts of the body.
Ringworm is also very commonly found in places that hair, nails, or infected skin come in contact with, such as a leg that is scratched by a ringworm-affected fingernail or parts of the back that are often touched by hair stemming from scalp ringworm.
Now that we know the background information on ringworm, let’s focus on how ringworm can potentially affect your dog. For starters, can dogs get ringworm? The short answer is yes, dogs are susceptible to ringworm.
Just like dogs, cats can get ringworm very easily. In fact, there is nothing stopping a cat from getting a diagnosis of ringworm after coming in contact with a dog that has the same skin condition. Ringworm is not specific to one species, and the idea that dogs can only contract ringworm from other dogs is not true. The same goes for cats. Felines are capable of coming down with a case of ringworm after playing with an infected dog, and the same goes for healthy dogs and infected cats.
The symptoms of ringworm are not terribly hard to spot, but if you don’t know what to look for, you might not even recognize the symptoms as being signs of ringworm in dogs.
A few symptoms of ringworm in dogs include:
Alopecia on faces and paws
Ringworm thrives in warmer temperatures, and this doesn't only apply to the weather conditions in your area. It can also relate to warmer parts of your body, like your legs when wearing pants or underneath your arms. For dogs and cats, the warmer parts of their bodies tend to be their underbellies and near their joints, as well as around the neck, especially if they wear a collar.
Ringworm spreads through direct contact very quickly, and there aren't many limitations when it comes to what can and cannot be affected by ringworm.
The eight main instances where ringworm will spread from one person, place, animal, or object to another are:
Ringworm from dog to person, environment, or another pet is a very common occurrence. The reason for such rapid and easy transmission of ringworm from one person, place, animal, or object to the next is due to the contagiousness of ringworm and how easy it is for transmission when you come in contact with an infected person, animal or object. Ringworm remains contagious until the moment it disappears, so please do not think that the treatment process automatically makes your pet all better. You should still keep your dog away from other canines, felines, and people until every bit of ringworm fungal infection is gone.
It's important to gently wash your dog's skin and fur when they have ringworm, but it's even more important that you don't leave the area damp. Pat the infected space using a soft towel until it is dry. Leaving behind traces of moisture will contribute to the ringworm problem rather than lessen the severity. Damp surfaces in warm environments never result in anything beneficial, and that fact remains true in the case of dogs with ringworm.
Do your best to keep the infected area exposed to the open air, if possible, but if that poses more of a risk, then a clean bandage, wrap, or any sort of covering can help protect your dog's skin until the ringworm issue is fully healed. Also, another tip for treating dogs with ringworm is to treat other parts of the body that often come in contact with the infected region. For example, let's say the back of your dog's neck is the location of ringworm.
Try to walk yourself through the motions your dog makes throughout the day and figure out what other parts of your dog's body touches the back of his or her neck daily. Your dog likely scratches the back of their neck with a back foot or front paw. Even if your dog's paws do not show signs of the presence of ringworm, they could potentially still have very miniscule traces of keratin embedded between the hair or skin, toes, pads, or claws.
In order to keep your dog's feet from making the ringworm on their neck that much worse, treat your dog's feet the same way you do the ringworm on their neck. That way, it's impossible for ringworm to travel from feet to neck, or from neck to feet, because you are covering all the bases by treating both locations. On a related note, your dog is less likely to transmit the skin condition to other dogs, cats, or people because you are making sure to fight ringworm at every possible spot.
Other attributes that heighten the risk of ringworm include...
While you should certainly take your dog to the vet so that your canine companion can be evaluated by a professional, the great news about ringworm in dogs is that it can be relieved from the comfort of your home.
Your dog’s veterinarian will likely request that you schedule a follow-up appointment just to make sure the treatment is working and your dog is on the path to healing. But for the most part, the treatment of dog ringworm just requires that you stay consistent with the treatment method your dog’s vet prescribes.
There are three major ways to treat ringworm in dogs, and all of them can be supplemented with cannabidiol. We will dive into the benefits of CBD for ringworm shortly, but first, here are the three most common ways of ringworm treatment for dogs.
Another common treatment of ringworm for dogs involves oral medication. In more serious cases of dog ringworm, veterinarians look into systemic treatment options for dogs. While topical treatments are noninvasive, this medicinal treatment of ringworm requires that your pet swallow a pill or a capsule.
There are three widely recommended forms of systemic treatment of ringworm for dogs.
These three medications are:
Griseofulvin is not for puppies under the age of six weeks old, and this fact brings up an important point. Some medicinal remedies for ringworm have very potent ingredients that the bodies of both young pups and old dogs cannot withstand. While Griseofulvin is on par with a miracle worker for ringworm in dogs, it is not a medication that should ever be administered to cats. It reacts in a fatal way with cats, and in the worst-case scenario, a cat that consumes Griseofulvin is likely to end up with blood disorders and dysfunction.
Itraconazole is perfectly safe for both cats and dogs. The list of potential side effects resulting from Itraconazole is very slim, with the three symptoms being constant nausea, persistent diarrhea, or rapid weight loss as a result of little to no appetite. That said, side effects are very rare and Itraconazole is the least likely to upset your pet during the recovery process.
Ketoconazole works fairly well, though it is not always a 100% effective treatment of ringworm in dogs, nor is it easy on the stomach of canines. Make another note that this medication is not a systemic treatment option for cats with ringworm. The potency is far too intense for cats to handle, and there are endless worrisome side effects that are beyond safety measures for cats. Ketoconazole is used in very desperate situations for very dire cases of dog ringworm, so this is not a remedy that you reach for if there are other options available.
Applying ointments to the external part of the infected skin is a method of treatment that has proven to be quite effective. Before you apply topical treatments to your dog's infected skin, your veterinarian will emphasize the importance of getting your dog's fur clipped. By doing so, you will ensure that the location of your dog's ringworm will be clear of further contamination. Since ringworm is caused by excessive keratin, clipping back the fur in the vicinity of the ringworm will prevent the possibility of additional keratin touching the skin and making the problem worse.
After following through with the clipping process, it is then possible to start applying topical treatment to the area. There are a few different options when it comes to the type of topical applications that work as remedies for ringworm in dogs. An antifungal is the most applicable type of topical medication because its intended purpose is to fight and kill fungus infections.
For dogs ringworm, an antifungal treatment called a lime-sulfur dip is a very common prescription given out by veterinarians. Another route that your vet might take is to suggest that your dog receive regular baths using a shampoo that is specifically designed to fend off the fungus and relieve ringworm in dogs. These shampoos often contain a combination of chlorhexidine and miconazole, which are chemicals proven to work wonders when seeking relief from ringworm.
Your dog’s environment plays a part in whether or not the ringworm is treated, healed, and eventually eradicated from your dog’s skin. We do not always realize just how important and impactful our environments are, but this does not diminish its influence on our health. Changing the environment so that your dog is not exposed to the contributing factors of the skin condition is the third method of ringworm treatment for dogs.
CBD can act as a supplement and make the healing process more bearable for dogs with ringworm. As a substance that is derived from the cannabis plant, cannabidiol is an incredible pain reliever. CBD can be extracted from both hemp plants and marijuana plants, and the origin of the cannabidiol is what dictates the THC content of the CBD oils.
Now, in order for a product to be on the market as a CBD product, it cannot contain more than 0.03% of THC. This is the limit that is set because cannabidiol with more than 0.03% of a THC concentration will produce psychoactive effects, which happen to be the number one deterrent for people who do not want to give CBD to their pets.
We understand, too. It can be nerve-wracking and daunting to think about giving CBD to your pets, especially if you think of CBD as weed or mind-altering. It’s important to understand that even though CBD stems from cannabis and hemp plants, CBD does not induce the same behaviors, mindset changes, or effects on the body as THC.
Cannabis is not the culprit that is responsible for the feeling of being high. Instead, THC creates these perceptual changes and sensations. And even when CBD has a slight concentration of THC, the CBD products are incapable of getting you or your pets high. It’s scientifically not possible. If you there is still a little bit of worry in your mind when you think about giving even the slightest amount of THC to your pet for ringworm in dogs, that’s okay! It doesn’t take CBD off the table for your pet, either. There are two forms of CBD, one of them being full-spectrum CBD and the other being CBD isolates.
Full-spectrum CBD is a category of CBD that does contain very minimal percentages of THC per serving of CBD. But CBD isolates are completely void of any and all THC. They are the purest form of cannabidiol, and they are the better option for pet owners who feel nervous about THC in their pet’s CBD products.
Now, you might be wondering why anyone would willingly opt for full-spectrum CBD for pets when CBD isolates exist. That is a very valid point, and the answer to the question has a lot to do with a phenomenon known as the entourage effect. The trace amounts of THC amplify the effects of the CBD slightly more than CBD can achieve on its own.
Innovet has an array of CBD products for dogs with ringworm. CBD can help alleviate pain, calm nervous dogs, and give your puppy some relief while dealing with the side effects of this skin condition. CBD is great to pair with systemic and topical treatment methods as well because the CBD will combat any negative side effects that these medicinal remedies cause. Check out Innovet’s CBD inventory today!
Ringworm (Dermatophytosis) in Dogs
Ringworm - Signs, Diagnosis, and Treatment
The Role of Cannabinoids in Dermatology
Approved by:
Dr. Ivana Vukasinovic
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade
Ivana Vukasinovic grew up in Serbia and attended the University of Belgrade where she received a degree in Veterinary medicine in 2012 and later completed surgical residency working mostly with livestock. Her first year of practice was split between busy small animal practice and emergency clinic, and after two more years of treating many different species of animals, she opened her own veterinary pharmacy where an interest in canine and feline nutrition emerged with an accent on fighting animal obesity. In her free time, she acts as a foster parent for stray animals before their adoption, likes to read SF books and making salted caramel cookies.
Thanks for stopping by!
P.S. We Love You!
Sincerely,
The Innovet Team
Please do not ask for emergency or specific medical questions about your pets in the comments. Innovet Pet Products is unable to provide you with specific medical advice or counseling. A detailed physical exam, patient history, and an established veterinarian are required to provide specific medical advice. If you are worried that your pet requires emergency attention or if you have specific medical questions related to your pet’s current or chronic health conditions, please contact or visit your local/preferred veterinarian, an animal-specific poison control hotline, or your local emergency veterinary care center.
Please share your experiences and stories, your opinions and feedback about this blog, or what you've learned that you'd like to share with others.