Skin Problems in Dogs

I've had several people ask me to Post about skin problems so here it is. This will be my last post until after my finals on Dec. 16th.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy!


Your dogs skin indicates your dogs overall health. When a skin problem arises your pet may respond with itching, scratching, licking and chewing. They cause of these symptoms may be external parasites, infections, allergies, metabolic problems and stress, or a combination of these may be affecting your dog’s skin.

Most Common Symptoms

• Scratching, Licking, Chewing
• Redness or Inflammation
• Scabs
• Round scaly patches on face and paws
• Rubbing face on carpet or furniture
• Dry flaky skin
• Hair loss / bald spots
• Rashes
• Lesions
• Drainage of blood or pus
• Swelling

Causes of Skin Problems

• Fleas: Bites and dropping for these insects can irritate your dogs skin, some dogs can have an allergic reaction to the fleas saliva following a bite.

• Ringworm: This is a highly contagious fungal infection that can cause inflammation, scaly skin and hair loss. Ringworm needs to be treated immediately to avoid other pets and people in the household from becoming infected.

• Seasonal Allergies: Scratching may be due to sensitivity to allergens from common substances like pollen, weeds, dust, mites, trees, mold or grasses.

• Food Allergies: dogs develop allergies to common ingredients in dog foods, such as beef, chicken, wheat, corn or soy. Even fillers and colorings can be seen as foreign by your dog’s immune system and lead to itching and rashes.

• Skin Infections: Dogs can develop bacterial or yeast infections when the skin is damaged due to the presence of another skin disorder.

• Sarcoptic Mange: This skin disease caused by infection from the Sarcoptes scabei mite results in extreme itching and skin inflammation similar to an allergic response.

• Grooming Products: Certain shampoos and grooming products can irritate your dog’s skin. Be sure to only use grooming products that are meant for use on dogs.

• Stress or Boredom: A dog may lick her skin excessively for many reasons. Some lick when not given adequate opportunity for activity or mental stimulation.

• Hormonal Problems: Several common hormonal problems can cause change in skin color, coat consistency, thickness and distribution.

• Seasonal Changes: Many dogs, like people, get dry, flaky skin in the winter.

When is it Time to See the Vet

There are many causes of skin abnormalities in dogs, and identifying the underlying cause is not always simple. Therefore, you should visit your vet for an exam as soon as you notice any abnormality in your pet’s skin or hair, or if your pet begins to excessively scratch, lick and/or bite areas on his fur.

Diagnosing Skin Problems


After obtaining a history and performing a thorough physical exam, your vet may perform diagnostic tests in order to find the cause of your dog’s symptoms. These include:

•  Skin biopsy
• Testing for Ringworm
• Microscopic examination of the hair and skin for presence of parasites or infection
• Allergy testing, which may include a diet change
• Blood tests to assess your dog’s overall health

How Can Skin Problems Be Prevented?

• Use natural, hypoallergenic soaps and shampoos recommended for use in dogs.

• Brush your dog regularly to prevent matting of hair.

• Feed your dog a healthy, balanced diet without fillers or artificial ingredients.

• Use parasite-prevention or a flea-treatment program as recommended by your veterinarian.

• Regularly clean and vacuum your home (and remember to always throw away the bag).

• Provide calm living conditions for your dog.

• Your vet may prescribe certain shampoos and oral supplements to prevent skin problems.

How Can Skin Problems Be Treated?

Ask your vet about the following treatments:

• Topical products including shampoos, dips or spot-on products to prevent and treat parasites

• A balanced diet to help maintain healthy skin and coat

• A dietary supplement containing essential fatty acids

• Antibiotic, anti-fungal or anti-itching medications

• Corticosteroids and antihistamines may be prescribed to control itching.

• Hypoallergenic diet for food allergies

• Injections to decrease dog’s reaction to allergens

 

Why Not to Buy from a Pet Store!!!

People often get tired of me talking about the cruelty of Puppy Mills. In my opinion we can't talk enough about them. So here we go!!!

WARNING VIDEOS CONTAIN SENSITIVE MATERIAL!!!

Do Not Buy a Puppy From a Pet Store or from a

Back Yard Breeder!!

____________________________________________________________

First thing we need to remember is that pet stores view dogs and cats as merchandise and not living creatures. Most if not all pet stores get their puppies from a retail distributor. That distributor is either a puppy broker, that buys entire litters from a breeder or from a puppymill, where large numbers of puppies are produced and sold each day. Puppymills do not care about the health of their adult dogs all they care about is the bottom line....How much money will each dog bring. These dogs are nothing but "Cash Cows" to them.

Some of their practices include:

• Breeding females each heat cycle, as early as 6 months old, and not allowing enough healing time in between each litter.

• Breeding unhealthy dogs with known hereditary genetic flaws or breeding until they can't produce anymore or just die from complications

• feed the dogs the cheapest foods, many times just the dust remnants from produced dog foods.

• Bowls are usually full of maggots, bacteria, dirty or just simply empty, which causes dogs to fight for food when it is available.

• Dogs are kept in metal cages barely big enough for 1 dog, much less a litter of puppies. Those cages are usually stacked on top of each other 10 high and are so old and worn that they are hazardous to the dogs causing cuts on legs and paws which leads to infection and sometimes amputation.

• Puppymillers even practice de-barking techniques, this is where the miller takes a rod, pipe or something of the like and ram it down the puppies throat to damage the vocal cords, so the puppy or dog can no longer bark, so the neighbors won't be alarmed by the constant barking and report the mill.

• Most dogs and puppies are unhealthy and sick from being left in urine and feces which exposes them to disease. Most do not get proper vaccines or vet care.

• Long-haired breeds never see a comb or brush. Ulcers will form under the solid mats of fur matted to the skin, sometimes maggots can be found in these ulcers.The validity of being a purebred is always in question.

• Most of the time dogs are not registered to any association and if they are it's ussualy with one that doesn't care about ancestry. If the puppy is registered with the AKC the puppy may have been registered under a number of a different dog.

• Puppymills may sometimes have actions. If you have ever been to one as I have you know how cruel they are. Hundreds sometimes even thousands of dogs are crated and stacked and bid on for the purpose of continuing the cycle.

• When the dogs are auctioned off or sold it's usually to another breeder who plan on doing the same thing . many times the dogs are pregnant or even delivering during the auction. Other reasons for auctions are because the females have become too old and non productive. This is mostly by the age of 5. If an auction is not an option, they are just shot, drowned, or just dumped somewhere to fend for their selves.

• Below are some video clips that are not for the light-hearted. I have seen this treatment first hand. I have been to the auctions and waited untill it was over and rescued the dogs that were going to be killed at the end of the day, had them vetted and found living homes for them.

Video Clips Of PuppyMills

*Warning....some of this video is very disturbing.

1	http://video.aol.com/video-detail/puppy-mill-crueltydont-buy-from-petstores/3592199110
2	http://video.aol.com/video-detail/im-alive-puppy-mill-documentary-full-version/4050537848
3	http://video.aol.com/video-detail/spca-officers-rescued-the-pup-on-christmas-eve/1055854811/?icid=vidurvpet01
4	http://video.aol.com/video-detail/puppymill/751658526
5	http://video.yahoo.com/watch/228191/1810923
6	http://video.aol.com/video-detail/wthr-indianas-puppy-pipeline-part-2/1098075394
7	http://video.aol.com/video-detail/the-truth-behind-licensed-breeders/4236447418
8	http://video.aol.com/video-detail/the-usda-and-puppy-mills/844514934
9	http://video.aol.com/video-detail/pets-of-bel-air-peddling-puppy-mill-pups/1608690119
10	http://video.aol.com/video-detail/tribute/2138610886

Pancreatitis In Dogs

With the holiday season coming up I would like to discuss a very common aliment our beloved pets can suffer from. It called Pancreatitis. I'm sure most dog and some cat owner has had their battle with Pancreatitis. Here is a brief description of what it is and what causes this disease and most importantly what steps we should take to prevent it.

Pancreatitis In Dogs


Pancreatitis is simply an inflammation of the pancreas.

So what's a pancreas?


It's a little gland located near the stomach.

The pancreas has two main jobs.

Its first job is to produce enzymes that help digest food. Its other job is to produce insulin, which regulates the blood sugar level.

Pancreatitis can be acute and only occur once in a dog's lifetime or it can become chronic and keep returning over and over again. It can be a rapidly life threatening illness or a mild attack of pain that resolves in a few hours or a day or so. There's another very severe form of this condition called necrotizing pancreatitis, in which the damage is so severe that portions of the pancreas are actually destroyed. Some authors refer to this as hemorrhagic pancreatitis. This form of pancreatitis can be fatal and requires early intervention and aggressivereatment.

Causes of Pancreatitis in Dogs

Multiple factors can contribute to the development of pancreatitis. Certain medications, infections; metabolic disorders including hyperlipidemia (high amounts of lipid in the blood) and hypercalcemia (high amounts of calcium in the blood); and trauma and shock can be associated with the development of pancreatitis. Middle-aged dogs appear to be at increased risk of developing pancreatitis; as a breed, Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers appear to be more prone to pancreatitis. Nutrition also plays a role. Dogs with diets high in fat, or dogs who 'steal' or are fed greasy 'people food' seem to have a high incidence of the disease. Going to places where there is an open water source that may be contaminated with bacteria may also play a role.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of the acute form of pancreatitis in dogs include a very painful abdomen, abdominal distention, lack of appetite, depression, dehydration, a 'hunched up' posture, vomiting, diarrhea and yellow, greasy stool. Fever often accompanies these symptoms. Animals with more severe disease can develop heart arrhythmias, sepsis (body-wide infection), difficulty breathing, and a life-threatening condition called disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which results in multiple hemorrhages. If the inflammation is severe, organs surrounding the pancreas could be 'autodigested' by pancreatic enzymes released from the damaged pancreas and become permanently damaged.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of pancreatitis is made through information obtained from the history, the physical exam, and laboratory testing. Dogs with pancreatitis generally have an increased blood levels of the pancreatic enzymes called amylase and lipase. If the liver also becomes inflamed, liver enzymes as measured in the blood may be increased. A rather new test, serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity, may prove to be a valuable diagnostic aid. The white blood cell count is generally increased in acute pancreatitis. Radiography (x-rays) and ultrasound can also help in making the diagnosis. Biopsy can result in a conclusive diagnosis, but is not commonly performed.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to rest the pancreas, provide supportive care and control complications. Treatment always begins with a withholding of food, water, and oral medications for at least 24 hours. The lack of oral intake stops the stimulation of the pancreas to produce digestive enzymes. Depending upon the animal's response, food intake can be started again after a few days. The dog is generally fed small meals of a bland, easily digestible, low-fat food. Over the course of a week or more, the size of meals and quantity of food fed are increased. The dog may need to stay on the special diet for life, or it may be possible to gradually reintroduce the former diet.

The second major component of treatment is fluid therapy. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances are common in dogs with acute pancreatitis, and water intake is often restricted so fluid therapy is usually needed. Fluids are either given subcutaneously or intravenous.

Dogs who are experiencing severe pain can be treated with pain relievers such as meperidine or butorphanol. Antibiotics are often administered prophylactically to protect against infection.

If the pancreatitis was caused by a medication, the medication should be stopped. If it was caused by a toxin, infection, or other condition, appropriate therapy for the underlying condition should be started.

In rare instances, where there are intestinal complications or the development of a pancreatic abscess, surgery may be necessary.

Long-Term Management and Prognosis

Pancreatitis can be a very unpredictable disease. In most cases, if the pancreatitis was mild and the pet only had one episode, chances of recovery are good, and avoiding high fat foods may be all that is necessary to prevent recurrence or complications. In other cases, what appears to be a mild case may progress, or may be treated successfully only to have recurrences, sometimes severe.

Dogs with severe pancreatitis can recover, but may also develop fatal complications. The risk of developing fatal pancreatitis is increased in dogs who are overweight, or have diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenocorticism, hypothyroidism, gastrointestinal tract disease, and epilepsy. Pets who have repeated bouts of pancreatitis may need to be fed low-fat diets to prevent recurrence. Even so, some animals develop chronic pancreatitis, which can lead to diabetes mellitus and/or pancreatic insufficiency, also called 'maldigestion syndrome.'

In pancreatic insufficiency, the nutrients in food are passed out in the feces undigested. An animal with this disease often has a ravenous appetite, diarrhea, and weight loss. Even though he is eating, he could literally starve to death. Treatment for pancreatic insufficiency is lifelong and expensive, but is possible. The pet's digestive enzymes are replaced through a product processed from pancreases of hogs and cattle which contain large quantities of the digestive enzymes. A change in diet with added nutritional supplements may also be necessary.

Summary

Acute pancreatitis can be a life-threatening condition, and early recognition and treatment can improve chances of recovery. In dogs, fever, lack of appetite, depression, and vomiting are the most common signs. Treatment is based upon stopping all oral intake to rest the pancreas, correcting the dehydration and maintaining proper fluid and electrolyte balances, and treating any complications or underlying conditions.

References

Hess, RS; Kass, PH; Shofer, FS; Van Winkle, TJ; Washabau, RJ. Evaluation of risk factors for fatal acute pancreatitis in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Association. 1999;214(1):46-51.

Stewart, AF. Pancreatitis in dogs and cats: Cause, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. The Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian. 1994;16(11):1423-1431.

Williams, DA. Exocrine pancreatic disease. In Ettinger, SJ; Feldman EC (eds): Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. W.B. Saunders Co. Philadelphia, PA; 2000;1347-1355.

Early Detection Is The Key!

Siberian Husky, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever and other breeders and dog fanciers: On November 8, 2010, Veterinary Diagnostics Institute (VDxI), Inc., announced a highly specific blood test to detect canine LYMPHOMA and HEMANGIOSARCOMA. "VDxI-TK" is now positioned to become the standard of care for two common forms of cancer in dogs." THIS IS GREAT NEWS FOR THE CANINE COMMUNITY.

Holiday Pet Safety Tips

Holiday Pet Safety Tips



Holidays provide great opportunities for friends and family to gather together and reminisce about the past, celebrate the present and plan the future.  Although most people enjoy the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can become quite stressful on the family pet regardless of whether that pet has fur, feathers or scales. 

Routine is important to all pets, but especially cats and anxious or geriatric dogs. Sudden, dramatic changes in routine can cause pets to act out of character.  Even pets that usually are “party animals” and happily jump into the action greeting visitors and opening presents can become stressed from the ongoing stream of activities that seem to begin at Halloween and don’t end until New Year’s Day.  Remember, times change and so do pets:  animals that once enjoyed celebrations as youngsters might have had a change of heart in their senior years.   

Signs of stress can manifest themselves through sudden changes in behavior such as; hiding, restlessness, vocalization, anorexia, vomiting, panting, house soiling and, in some cases, snapping at guests or other defensive behavior. Vigilant owners monitor their pets carefully and are prepared to intercede at the first signs of their best friend’s anxiety.  Some steps owners can take to decrease the effects of stress include:

• Crating or confining your furry friend in a safe, quiet part of the house. Avoid making it seem like punishment by including your pet’s favorite blanket and toy. Anxious pets often benefit from a radio in the room, with the volume set low, playing easy listening or classical music.

• Bird owners can set up a separate cage in a quiet room several weeks prior to any visitors arriving.
Use the cage as a nighttime sleeping area so the bird becomes comfortable spending time there.  

• Maintain your pet’s regular feeding and medication schedules as much as possible during this time.

• Discourage guests from sharing their holiday meal with your pet. Sudden changes in diet can result in digestive problems, and some people food is actually dangerous for your pet. 

• Do not force your pet into any interaction with people or other animals. Let your pet decide about the relationship.

• Set aside time to spend with your pet alone in a quiet area, especially if your house is usually very tranquil.
This time can be devoted to petting, brushing and providing your pet with some individualized attention.

• Supervise all interactions between your pet and guests.
You know your pet better than any one else and can intercede if necessary.

Following these guidelines can help make the holiday season a positive experience for you and your pets.

 
 

Leather Ear

Leather Ear is considered a fungus that causes the ears of dogs and cats become hairless and apear as slick black leather...I have found a remady for this though it may not work in every situation but is completly save...

Take apple cider vinager and hydrogen peroxide mix it 50/50 in small amounts...clean out side of ears with solution every day with cotton ball...Then take Lotramin a foot fungus cream and lightly apply to outside of ears...this is to be done every other day for 1 -2 weeks. If....

While cleaning with the vinager and peroxide mixture you will see the black fungus being removed on your cotton ball....

If redness or irritation is noted discontinue the Lotramin...(use only the regular stregnth).

I've used this method on several rescues with great success...

The Begining

Let's start from the beginning. My name is Lilly, I'm a "PUPPY MILL' Rescue!! Living in a puppy mill is not an easy life. No one can tell me my real age. I'm anywhere between 4 and 7 years old...and weigh only 2.5lbs, I'm very small. Any way I think I'm getting ahead of myself.



I was probably born at the mill and at 5 weeks old or as soon as I started eating on my own I was taken away from my mom. At that time I was put into a tiny cage to live out my time..The only human contact I had was when I was fed and that may not have been everyday...When I was old enough to have babies I would have a male thrown in with me until the humans thought I was with puppies, then they would remove the male and I would be alone again...When It was time for me to have my puppies I wasn't allowed to give birth naturally instead the humans would take me from my cage bring me to a dirty cold room and without anesthesia maybe just a local if I was lucky they would take the babies from my tummy and stitch me up with dental floss....Now understand There was never a dogtor present when this was happening.



As a mill pup we never seen a dogtor or a groomer....for example at some point in my life my little paw got caught in the bottom grate of my cage and it resulted in a very bad break...No one cared!!! Never had it tended to...Now my front right paw is badly deformed....but I do ok with it. All the dogtors say there is no need for amputation at this time...



As a mill pup we live in our own waste for weeks on end...we don't have warm clean bedding...we don't have someone to love us...and many of us will die before we are saved....



Now for some good news!! Thanks to the St. Louis Humane Society and all their efforts they helped bust 3 puppy mills in 3 months.....I was rescued on February 13, 2009...I was a mess.



Keep in mind I'm a Yorkshire Terrier...My hair grows very long if groomed properly if not I'm one big matted mess....Well, I was one big matted mess.....so first things first They had to shave me....Then I got to see a dogtor....Had x-rays of my foot....I was spayed so I can't have anymore puppies....I had to have all but 2 teeth pulled....and then I had to wait in a cage some more until I was released by the state for adoption.....At least these humans were nice we were talked to, pet, got to go outside to potty and play...Wow Play I never did that before!! Things were looking up!



Now in comes my new mommy and daddy....My new humans already had two rescue Yorkies of their own and my mommy is a veterinarian emergency technician....She also belongs to a Yorkie Rescue group and has failed fostering 101 several times.....Anyway, I was very scared when I was first brought home..It was so over whelming for such a little girl as myself...When we first walked into the house the other two yorkies were barking up a storm..WOW were they loud...Then I met my new daddy I was afraid of him for several weeks...but now I sleep on his pillow at night with him...sometimes he gives me the whole thing...



Ok Lets see where was I...Oh Yes my new home....The first full day I was at my new home I had to go to the dogtor again....my new mommy wanted a second opinion on my health status and to fix any problems that I may have had....All was good except for a case of leather ear...The dogtor told my new mommy that I would never have hair on my ears like all her other yorkies....Well she put some stinky stuff on my ears and I now have hair...My mommy said She will post some of her remedies on here also but she wants me to get my story out first.....After the dogtor we went home and I had to get a bath "yuck" mommy said I smelled like the bad place...now I smell like green apples...After my bath I was given toys a bed some blankets and a nice warm lap I spend most my time on....It is now a good life...I am no longer a baby maker I am now someones baby...

Just remember not all rescue pups have the luck I do some have to be euthanized because they are in such bad health....or they never make it to be rescued...

I'm going to end here for now...but stay tuned for more updates on me and other rescue efforts, We will also be posting grooming and other tips...Questions are always welcome...

Lilly