Lyme disease, or borreliosis, is a tick-transmitted infectious disease caused by the spirochaete bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. It got the name, Lyme, after the place in Connecticut where the condition first occurred.  Lyme disease are wider spread throughout United States, especially in Midwestern states, states is Pacific coastal and also Atlantic seaboard.  It is also common in Europe.  There are actually three species of ticks that can be possible carriers of Lyme disease, but it is the Ixodes scapularis (formerly called Ixodes dammini), or deer tick, that is found to be its primary carrier, especially in the Northeast and upper Midwest.

In the United States, the risk of getting tick bites is high particularly between the months of April and November. Lyme disease is usually passed on to dogs, and even to humans, through a bite by the slow-feeding, hard-shelled black-legged deer tick, which clings onto the dog’s skin for at least a day or two before transmitting the bacteria to the host, and it then affects many organs of the body. However, its symptoms manifest only two to five months after the dog gets a bite.

Studies reveal that young dogs are more susceptible to Lyme disease than the adults. Infected dogs suffering from Lyme disease would usually exhibit lameness due to the inflammation on the joints, loss of appetite, depression, fever that rises from 103 to 105ºF, swollen lymph nodes, lethargy, arched back and walking stiffly, sensitivity to touch, and difficulty in breathing. In rare cases, the dogs may develop irregularities in the heart, including complete heart block; complications in their nervous system, and; kidney problem. The latter condition is found to be more prevalent among Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, and Bernese Mountain dogs.  If left without treatment, this kidney condition may eventually results in glomerulonephritis, which can cause infection and blood filters dysfunction and kidney failure, and even death.

Aside from dogs Lyme disease may also affect other domestic animals, although it is a rarity in cats and causes no significant problem in horses.

It is highly recommended that as soon as symptoms start to manifest, the infected dog should immediately be brought to the veterinarian for appropriate treatment. During check up, the veterinarian would usually base his diagnosis of Lyme disease according to symptoms presented, result of physical examination, and on the medical history of the dog. He may even do a blood test on the dog to verify the bacterium presence that causes the disease. Initial treatment would normally include administration of antibiotics, like doxycycline or amoxicillin, which course may stretch for 14 days or longer, depending on the dog’s progress.  Unless its Lyme disease normally is chronic in nature, dogs are likely to exhibit improvement within 48 hours of treatment, and symptoms would normally subside three to four days after receiving antibiotic treatment.  Aside from antibiotics, an antimicrobial therapy may also be applied to the infected animal, and a pain reliever may be administered should the dog exhibit severe pain.

Chronic Lyme disease, on the other hand, is difficult to treat and requires several weeks or longer periods of antibiotic treatments to completely rid of the bacteria since the Lyme organism has already contaminated the body for extended period. In some cases, the infected dog may suffer from joint or organ damage that could last for the duration of its life.

Nevertheless, there are certain measures to prevent Lyme disease in dogs.  As a basic rule, it is advisable to avoid woods, brush, tall grass, and other possible tick-infiltrated areas as much as possible.  But since the tick carrier of Lyme disease is so tiny that it can easily go unnoticed and it does not even make the dog to itch, it would be difficult to determine the presence of these creatures. Therefore, it is better to have your dog vaccinated against Lyme disease.  You may also consider getting preventive tick collars for your pet, and bathe it regularly with an appropriate tick shampoo, especially right after walking your dog through bushy or woody areas. Other ways to avoid ticks in your dogs are to check them for ticks around the neck and around the armpit, and brush your pet regularly to remove excess hair.  It should be noted that ticks adhere to warm fur.

Lyme disease is generally curable without complications if it is diagnosed and treated promptly.

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As mild influenza is to humans, kennel cough is to dogs.

Kennel cough

Kennel cough, also known as canine tracheobronchitis, is a highly communicable dog ailment that inflames the upper respiratory system.  Though seldom critical when it inflicts, kennel cough may lead to a deeper health problem, like pneumonia, if left untreated.  It is caused by both viral (canine distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, or respiratory coronavirus), and bacterial infections (Bordetella bronchiseptica); and so named kennel cough because of its capability to be transmitted very quickly.

Both the viral and bacterial contagions are spread through direct interaction with the infected animal; contact from one dog to another in close quarters, such as kennels and veterinary office; in the air through the droplets emitted in sneezing and coughing of infected dogs, and; through contaminated objects and surfaces.

Symptoms of kennel cough

Symptoms of kennel cough range from persistent honking, dry, and harsh cough; sneezing, gagging, or snorting after an exercise; to belching out considerable quantity of white discharges after a coughing blow.  Vomiting may also occur, albeit very seldom and only when there is acute infection.

Unless the dog is very young and vulnerable, kennel cough is generally an ordinary and unthreatening occurrence in a dog’s life, and may just go away within a short period.  But in case it is deemed necessary, oral antibiotics would be a remedy.  However, if coughing persists longer than three to four weeks, it is no longer advisable to let the cough run its course because it might harm the animal’s trachea.  It is recommended to bring your pet dog to the veterinarian or animal hospital for appropriate treatment and x-ray.

On the other hand, a pet owner should be alert for infection or ailment in the neighbourhood or even in his own household, and make sure that his healthy pets be kept away from infected ones.  If the infection, however, is in his own pets, he should be quick to isolate the sick pets from the rest.  Likewise, it is very important and necessary to observe proper hygiene in and around your pet’s area.

Nevertheless, there is no better way to prevent your pets from ailment than to get them vaccinated.  There are two types of vaccines for kennel cough that your pets can avail of: one is the intranasal vaccine, and the other is the injectable antibody.

The intranasal bordetella vaccine, which is sprayed directly into the dog’s nose, brings immediate immunity from the ailment since it goes straight away into the mucus membranes inside the nose.  Pets as young as three weeks old are already eligible for vaccination, which should cover your dog safe for the next ten to twelve months before a booster shot is administered.  This vaccine may result to only a minor and negligible side effect, like sneezing and runny nose.

Some dogs, however, are not comfortable with, and even resistant, to nasal spray; and so, the injectable antibody can be an alternative.  The injectable bordetella vaccine contains a weakened strain of the bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria, which, by introducing it into the dog’s immune system, can boost its immunity to the microorganisms.  This vaccine comes in two shots; each administered two to four weeks apart to booster as well as to maintain its efficiency.  Dogs below four months old are not eligible for this type of vaccine.

The injectable vaccine for kennel cough, however, brings along side effects that include pain or soreness at the injection site, which may linger for a few days.  It may also cause dog diarrhea and nausea.

But the popular saying goes: Prevention is better than cure.  And, stress-free, too! So always watch out for your beloved pet and also kennel cough symptoms.

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Studies reveal that of the total dog population, approximately twenty percent of which are more likely to or have acquired dog ear infection, medically known as otitis externa.

Otitis externa is an infection of the outer ear canal caused by fungus, parasites, or bacteria in the dog’s ear.  The infection may either occur suddenly and briefly, or it may develop gradually over time and persist as a recurring condition. Dogs with large floppy ears, like Cocker Spaniels, poodles, and Shar-Peis, are more prone to ear infection than others for some reasons.

Cocker Spaniels are inclined to acquire ear infection due to its abundant secretory glands.  While the poodle’s thick hair in the ear canal keeps moisture in and, therefore, invites microorganisms to breed inside.  Shar-Peis, on the other hand, are characterized by very small ears, small ear canal, and tightly closed ear flaps that make them susceptible to ear infection.

If you suspect that your pet dog is suffering from dog ear infection, look out for these signs: waxy discharges from the ears, intense scratching or rubbing of ears and head, strong foul odour, shaking of head, pain around the ears, redness and swelling of ear flap, and irritable behaviour.

As soon as you realize any of these signs is evident, it is recommended that you notify and consult with your veterinarian immediately.  Request him for a medical evaluation on your dog so that treatment can be applied right away. Otherwise, the extent of infection may get to the point where your dog loses its sense of hearing.

Likewise, you may also do some home remedy to help ease the discomfort your dog goes through, by cleaning or disinfecting the ears regularly and applying the medication prescribed by its veterinarian.  Cleaning the ears may involve flushing out the bacteria or fungus from your dog’s ears with warm wash cloth or cotton ball.  Before applying medications at home, however, you should ask the veterinarian on the proper procedures of treatment.  In addition, refrain from using cotton swabs in applying medication on your dog because it can only worsen ear infection.

However, in case of chronic ear problems, the veterinarian may well suggest that the dog’s waxy discharges be cultured to identify the exact organism that affects it, and consequently apply the appropriate medications.

Moreover, three major factors have been identified as causes of otitis externa, namely: primary, predisposing, and perpetuating factors.

Primary factors refer to certain elements or afflictions that actually initiate ear infections, such as parasites, foreign bodies, allergies, tumours, hypersensitivity, hypothyroidism, autoimmune ailment, juvenile cellulitis, and irritants.

Predisposing factors refer to circumstances by which animals – in this particular case, dogs – are exposed to the risk of acquiring dog ear infection.  These circumstantial factors include inborn anatomy of the animal’s ears (as in the case of Shar-Peis), softening of the ear canal due to systemic ailment, and alteration in the atmospheric condition.

Perpetuating factors are those that pave the way for the disease to persist.  These are similar to the primary factors, except that they seldom initiate the inflammatory process.  Examples include bacteria, yeasts, inflammation of the middle ear, and chronic changes.

To wrap it all up, pet owners can tremendously help avoid dog ear infection in their dogs by making proper hygiene a regular habit.  Likewise, if your dogs have to be involved in water activities like swimming, you have to dry them off completely and see to it that their ears are dry.

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Inflammatory bowel disease in dogs, or canine IBD, is an affliction that hits a dog’s small and large intestines and stomach where its gastrointestinal lining is perpetually attacked by inflammatory cells or white blood cells; thus, remarkably altering its normal course of movement.  Such attack eventually renders the intestines impotent in the processing of food and elimination of wastes.

Canine IBD comes in varied types, depending on the particular area of the gastrointestinal lining where the white blood cells attack.

Nevertheless, all of these types are manageable albeit rarely curable. The disease usually occur in dogs that are 8 years old or over, although the likelihood of younger ones contracting it is not ruled out; and based on the cases of affliction, canine IBD tends to attack particular breeds, such as the Basenj, German Shepherd, Chinese Shar-Pei, and the soft-coated Wheaten Terrier.

To this date, veterinarians are yet to pinpoint specific clinical causes of inflammatory bowel disease.  There is even speculation that it might not be a disease at all, but only a body’s typical reaction to certain health conditions caused by different factors that may include genetics, diet or nutrition, food allergies, intestinal infections, parasites, and abnormalities of the dog’s immune system.

Symptoms of canine IBD such as constant, or intermittent vomiting, diarrhoea, and weight loss are the most common evidence of inflammatory bowel disease in dogs.  Intermittence may occur over weeks or even years.  In more serious or advanced cases, dogs may lose appetite and shy away from food, anorexic, develop fever and flatulence, and get depressed. These evidences, however, vary according to the area where inflammation invades; and its pace of occurrence can be gradual, or quick, as the disease becomes serious. Attacks in the stomach or the upper part of the intestines, usually result in the loss of appetite and chronic vomiting, which, most often, contain undigested or moderately digested food, brownish liquid, or tinge of blood.

On the other hand, an inflammation that attacks the colon, or colitis, usually results in the dog having diarrhoea. The infected dog often experiences very frequent defecation with mucus or some blood in the stool.  However, dogs with colitis remain active, and do not lose their appetite.

There is no known cure for inflammatory bowel disease in dogs yet.  It has also been observed that although these symptoms may positively respond to antibiotics or modifications in diet, the disease usually come again. Nevertheless, pet owners are advised to be patient and attentive to each prescribed diet alteration and anti-inflammatory medication to enable them to identify which ones work well for their pets.  In other words, treating inflammatory bowel disease in dogs is a sort of trial-and-error exercise. Usually, veterinarians advise an initial food trial of hypoallergenic diets of protein and carbohydrate sources that the dog has not tried in the past.

According to studies, a number of dogs have eventually adapted well to particular medications and diet, so much so that their antibiotics were administered only during bad episodes.  Medications for IBD in dogs is usually composed of corticosteroids, metronidazole, antacid, anti-nausea, and anti-diarrhoea therapy.  Studies also suggest that feeding of omega-3 fatty acids used in humans may also lessen infection in the gastrointestinal lining.

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Chocolates are quite poisonous for dogs, and your pet dog might suffer chocolate poisoning in dogs if they consume lots of it. Seeing how rapid they consume those chocolates you just had tossed to them and that pathetic ‘begging for more’ look from your pet dogs might give you an impression that these four-legged friends must have been sharing the same love for chocolates as you do. But then, you should never make a mistake of giving in to pity, otherwise, you will be doing more harm to them than good.

Chocolates may be a delight to humans, but it is toxic, and even fatal to animals, particularly dogs, because of its theobromine content that dogs cannot readily digest.  Theobromine, a term derived from the Greek word Theobroma, which means “food for the gods”, is a bitter alkaloid substance that belongs to the methylxanthines found abundantly in cocoa beans and in chocolate. It is also found in tea plant, guarana berry, and kola nut.

Chocolate Poisoning In Dogs

Dogs eat rapidly like gluttons but they metabolize very slowly. So, if they are allowed to consume too much chocolate, there is a tendency for theobromine, and of course, the toxins that come with it, to accumulate in no time in their body until it reaches to a poisonous level.  Though the level and effects of toxins may vary according to age, size, health and weight of the dog, one thing is certain: too much concentration of theobromine in the body leads to a fatal cardiac arrest. Aside from dogs, other animals are vulnerable to chocolate poisoning, too.

The amount of theobromine content varies in different chocolate preparations, but baking chocolate ranks the highest alkaloid content, and therefore, it is the most potent in putting down dogs to serious ailment. Other highly concentrated preparations include the semi-sweet chocolate, milk chocolate, and hot chocolate.

Chocolate Poisoning Symptoms

A small amount of chocolate intake takes two to four hours to process within the dog’s body before it exhibits symptoms of chocolate poisoning, like vomiting and diarrhoea. But high quantity dosage may show immediate signs that include hyperactivity, trembling, muscle twitching, excessive thirst, and frequent urination. Progressive signs of stiffness, seizures, and oversensitivity to noise, light and touch may also ensue. Ultimately, chocolate poisoning results in cardiac arrest, hyperthermia that progresses into coma, and eventually, death in 12 to 36 hours after ingestion.

As soon as you notice that your pet dog shows any of these signs of poisoning, or as soon as you realized you have inadvertently fed it with potentially lethal chocolate amount – whatever may come first – the first thing to do is to bring your pet immediately to the veterinarian within two hours.  But if it were not possible, you may have to apply first aid by inducing vomiting. To do this, you have to prepare a one-to-one solution which consist of 3% of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and normal water, and administer one tablespoon of this solution for every 4.5 KG of your pet’s body weight.  Or, you may also give one-fourth teaspoon of the syrup of ipecac as an alternative to peroxide water solution.

Using a syringe or turkey baster, squirt the solution onto your dog’s mouth to force it to vomit.  If your pet dog does not vomit within five minutes after giving peroxide water solution, wait for another five minutes before repeating the same procedure. If, however, your dog still does not vomit, never give the third dosage of ipecac or peroxide water solution anymore, as it will be dangerous. Instead, call a veterinarian or your local animal poison centre for assistance.

If available, you may give your dog one to three grams of activated charcoal per kilogram of his body weight. Activated carbon, a black, odourless, and tasteless non-toxic powder, is common and effective antidote for chocolate poisoning because it sucks up the theobromine toxins and prevents the toxic compound from further pushing into the dog’s bloodstream.  Among the varied dosage forms of activated charcoal, its powder form is much easier to administer to dogs.

However, induced vomiting and activated charcoal are not recommended if your pet dog is unable to swallow, having a seizure, depressed or comatose. Instead, it should already be brought to the veterinarian for appropriate treatment.

Just as humans keep a first aid kit at home, so do pet owners need to maintain an emergency kit for their pets. Remember, chocolate taste nice and sometimes is good for human, but will be deadly for dogs as they causes chocolate poisoning in dogs.

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Deciding to acquire a puppy or dog deserves careful planning and discernment because owning a pet goes beyond self-pleasure.  Rather, it entails responsibility to love and care for the animal and, of course, additional budget for its maintenance.

Health maintenance of pets can be costly and stressful if you are living on barely enough financial means.  But certainly, these extra costs are avoidable, since there are ways by which a pet owner can limit the circumstances of spending more.

Just as humans get vaccinations to protect themselves from some serious ailment, so do pets require booster shots for immunity to serious health conditions.

Here are five most common puppy diseases to which your pets can avoid, by getting proper vaccination.

Canine distemper. Caused by paramyxovirus, the group of viruses responsible for measles in humans, canine distemper is a highly communicable, airborne, and fatal viral disease that usually attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems altogether so much so that it makes ailment very grave.

Since the virus is airborne, it can spread widely through direct and indirect contact with an infected animal. An infected dog can spread the virus through droplets that come with breathing, saliva and other bodily fluids.  The virus can also be passed on through exposure to an infected animal’s excretions, such as urine and faeces.

Moreover, the canine distemper virus, which can cling and linger onto human’s skin, clothing, and shoes for at least eight hours, can be passed on to other animals through these contaminated “carriers.”

Aside from dogs of any age, canine distemper may also infect cats, skunks, and other animals. Symptoms of the disease include coughing, nasal and eye discharges, vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures, and intermittent fever.

Canine Hepatitis.  Characterized by an inflammation of the liver, infectious canine hepatitis, or ICH, is an acute, communicable, and fatal viral disease caused by the Canine Adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1) that progresses very quickly, sometimes leading to death within hours of becoming ill.  Aside from the liver, canine hepatitis also strikes on the dog’s kidneys, eyes, and lungs.

Infectious canine hepatitis can be passed on through direct contact with the infected animal’s urine, saliva, faeces, nasal discharges, and other bodily fluids.  Kennels and contaminated food are also possible sources from where healthy dogs may pick up their infection. Likewise, dogs that have been cured of ICH can still contaminate other dogs even after six months since they have recovered.

Following an incubation period of between four to seven days, a range of clinical signs and symptoms begin to manifest on infected dogs through loss of appetite, pale gums, fever, abdominal pain, cough, vomiting, diarrhoea, and jaundice, among many other symptoms.

Canine Leptospirosis.  Shaped like a question mark, canine leptospirosis is caused by the bacteria called Leptospira interrogans, a communicable bacterial infection that attacks both animals and humans and causes fatal ailment in dogs, like incessant liver and kidney failure.

Bacteria can gain entry into a healthy dog when its skin abrasion or open wound is exposed to the infected animal’s urine; and once the bacteria is absorbed into the dog’s bloodstream, the new host starts to exhibit symptoms like fever, joint pain, and nausea.

Canine Parvovirus type 2.  “Parvo”, as it is commonly called, is one of the most fatal diseases that can affect dogs, particularly puppies that are un-immunized or unprotected by maternal antibodies, because it causes death as quickly as within 24 hours of infection.

Parvo is particularly presented in two distinct forms: intestinal and cardiac.  Intestinal parvovirus is usually manifested by loss of energy and appetite, insuppressible vomiting, diarrhoea, and high fever that rises beyond 103°F.

Cardiac parvovirus, on the other hand, hits young puppies. Its symptoms are distinctly exhibited in the puppies’ constant crying, gasping, depression, weakness, irregular heartbeat, difficulty in breathing, and sudden death. If left untreated, mortality rate of puppies affected by cardiac parvo usually points to an alarming 90 percent.

Canine Parainfluenza. Frequently confused for kennel cough, canine parainfluenza is an extremely communicable respiratory disease that can be aggravated by environmental factors, such as high humidity, wind, and cold.  It is normally exhibited by dry cough, nasal discharges, difficulty in breathing, sluggishness, pneumonia, and low-grade fever.

Recognizing the severity of these diseases should prompt us to immediately obtain vaccination for our pets.  After all, as the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure.

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Is your dog having congestion? A persistent cough despite the antibiotics you gave, and exerting extra effort to breathe?  Perhaps, it has contracted the canine influenza virus.

Canine Influenza

Canine influenza is a highly contagious airborne disease, which is said to be associated with the same strain that affects horses. Reports have it that after a dog race held at a Florida horse racing tracks in January 2004, an incident happened where an influenza A virus, subtype H3N8, which has infected horses for more than four decades, was found to have mutated and created a new strain that  claimed the lives of Greyhound race dogs.

Since that first outbreak, reports of respiratory ailment among racing and shelter dogs have spread and detected in 30 states of the US and in the District of Columbia. There is no reported evidence that the disease has spread in other countries, though.

All dogs exposed to the virus are certain to contract the canine influenza virus, 80 percent of which may develop clinical signs, while the rest may not come down with the disease at all. The canine influenza virus is easily passed on from one dog to another through their respiratory secretions. Although there is no proof that the virus can infect humans and other species, like cats and birds, humans can be its potential carrier, passing it to another dog through their hands and clothing.

There are two general clinical syndromes infected dogs may come down with, namely, the milder syndrome, and the acute pneumonia syndrome.

After exposure to the virus followed by two to five days of incubation period, infected dogs usually exhibit mild and low grade fever with a rectal temperature of 102.5 to 103.5°F accompanied by soft, moist or dry cough that could go on for ten days, or even longer, without relief from antibiotics and cough medications. They would also produce bad-smelling yellow nasal discharges that correspond to secondary bacterial infection, and; most often they lose their energy and appetite. These symptoms are particular to the milder syndrome.

These symptoms may step up to a higher level, and more serious   form of infections can occur when the infected dogs’ fever soar between 104 to 106°F, accompanied by viral and bacterial pneumonia.  The dog may also exhibit rapid and difficult breathing patterns, and a coagulation of its lung lobes.

Despite these severe conditions, however, statistics record a death rate for canine influenza between 1 to 5 percent only. Besides, infected dogs rarely suffer beyond the milder syndrome.

In June 2009, the United States Department of Agriculture disclosed its issuance of a conditional license to Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health for the first canine influenza virus vaccine it produced.  The vaccine, which is made from killed virus, is meant to control or decrease the clinical signs and severity of the disease related to canine influenza A virus, subtype H3N8. This vaccine, though, has not been proven to prevent infections.

Since canine influenza is a new type of ailment, dogs have not established natural immunity to it yet; therefore, pet owners should be very careful in taking them to places where dogs usually gather together, such as dog parks, training facilities or kennels because they might be exposed to the risk of catching the virus.

As a general rule, it is most recommended to bring your pet dog to the veterinarian when it starts to exhibit symptoms of ailment, so proper treatment can be administered.  It is also important to isolate sick dog from the rest of the pets to avoid contact with its respiratory secretions, and, in addition, water should be readily available close to where your sick dog rests, because, just like humans, sick dogs, too, need to drink plenty of water to wash their flu away.

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Dog Constipation

Dog constipation is one of the most common digestive ailments in dogs. This is one of the ailments that dog owners have to deal with. Dogs that suffer from constipation may find it extremely painful to defecate and may produce hard and dry feces.

Constipation can be a very unpleasant experience to our dogs. This could affect their appetite and activeness because of the pains they are feeling.

Causes of Constipation

The type of food you give your dog can be a major cause of your dog’s constipation. Unlike humans, dogs do not normally chew their food. Chewing is the most important step in food digestion. During digestion, food is broken down to smaller pieces to make food easier to process in the stomach. Large chunks of food are therefore more difficult to digest. Refrain from giving your dog processed food for they contain hardly any fiber.  A high fiber diet has been shown to prevent constipation. Fiber absorbs large amounts of water which makes stool softer and easier to pass.

Another cause of dog constipation is dehydration or inadequate water intake. So be sure to provide your dog water. Constipation could also be a side effect of a certain medication that your dog is undergoing. Always check the label of the medicine and see its side effects.

Treatment and Prevention

To prevent dog constipation, make sure that your dog always has plenty of clean water. This could help flush his intestinal tract. To achieve a high fiber diet, include vegetables in your dog’s diet. You could also give him plenty of exercise to help stimulate his bowels. You can walk your dog around everyday to keep his digestive system in tip top shape

To relieve the uneasy and bloated feeling, try increasing the amount of fluid your dog is taking and apply light pressure on his stomach while rubbing downward toward the anus to encourage him to eliminate the waste.

You can also try adding a couple of teaspoons of mineral oil or even olive oil to your dog’s food. If not necessary, do not give your dog any medication as this may complicate the situation.

If after doing these home remedies and adjusting the dog’s diet your dog still displays dog constipation symptom, it is high time to visit your veterinarian for a consultation.

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Dogs commonly develop diarrhea. There are two types of diarrhea; acute and chronic. Acute diarrhea is the type that is manageable and can be treated through first aid. Chronic dog diarrhea, on the other hand, is more serious than acute diarrhea and will entail more effort to cure.

Blood in the stool also comes in two colors. The first is very evident because of its bright red color. The bright red blood in diarrhea is called hematochezia. Hematochezia usually happens when there is bleeding in the lower intestines. The second is the black stool that has a similar color as tar but with the presence of blood. The blood that is seen in this type of stool is called melena. Melena is the old, digested blood that has gone through the digestive tract.

Dog Diarrhea with blood

Diarrhea in dogs can be handled at home; however, if blood is present in the stool, it is necessary to bring it to the attention of medical experts and have your dog diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian.

Blood in the stool can be a cause of alarm but varies in severity. Any irritation of the stomach linings can cause dogs to pass blood in their stool. This also happens when a dog has had several bowel movements.

The presence of blood in the dog’s stool may either be a minor problem or a serious problem.  One occurrence of this symptom might just be passing but repeated and frequent occurrences are serious and should not be disregarded.

Causes of bloody dog diarrhea

For younger pets, diarrhea with blood is often caused by parasites or bacteria. Older pets may have this because of cancer. Diarrhea with blood could also be traced from clotting disorders, polyps in the colon or rectum, or food allergy and intolerance.

Dog Diarrhea Home Care

At home, follow the prescribed medications as advised by your dog’s veterinarian and monitor your dog’s diet closely.

Some of the treatments that you may need to administer are fluid therapy, motility modifying drugs, and antibiotics for bacterial infections.

Also, you may be asked to observe the dog’s activity and appetite as well as the presence of blood in the stool, or any signs that make the dog’s condition worst. If any changes take place, whether good or bad, the veterinarian should be informed.

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What is Gardia

Giardia refers to Giardiasis which is a name given to the state in which a dog gets after getting infected with a Giardia parasite. It is a short term to the particular parasite that causes Giardia in dogs. Similar to many parasitic infections Giardia is also typified as a living organism that survives through the infiltration in the system of a dog. It does so to survive inside the dog. The reaction to this characteristic of the parasite the dogs experience adverse health conditions and accordingly symptoms are evident.

The main reason of Giardia in dogs in due to a Protozoa that enters the dog’s body usually through drinking of pond, stream or unfiltered water. Though not recognizable in the early stages, symptoms begin to show as the Protozoa starts to multiply and absorb the nutrients entering the body hindering the dog’s body from benefiting from it. Nutrients are stopped from being absorbed in the body and the most common of symptoms is diarrhea. Diarrhea in Giardia is accompanied with a foul odor and mucus present in the stool. As Giardia progresses the dog loses weight and acts lethargic. Giardia can be treated through prescribed medicines and a speedy recovery can be made possible through the use of herbal remedies.

As mentioned before the main cause of Giardia is drinking from ponds or streams as they contain traces of animal feces. These contain small sacs or cysts who when enter the dog’s gastrointestinal tracts it begins to create problems.

These cysts further change to Protozoa and multiply rapidly; they attach themselves to the small intestines of the dog and feed on the vital nutrients depriving the dog from them. The Protozoa not only feed on the nutrients rather they also excrete harmful substances that damage the intestine of the dog and if left untreated it can damage the small intestines linings and can also result in scaring.

Giardia is also often referred to as the Beaver fever as beavers are the most known and common carriers of Protozoa. Not only in dogs but even in humans it is a known Protozoa.

Another similar kind of parasite is the coccidian, it too affects the intestinal tracts of the dog but unlike Protozoa which infects through stream water coccidiosis is received through directly consuming animal feces.

Initially Giardia in dogs is not dangerous to a dog’s health but if left untreated it can develop into a serious situation. The main danger is malnutrition since Giardia organisms survive through feeding on the nutrients received through diet to the dog your dog suffers from lack of nutrition resulting in serious health issues including weight loss. Also many dogs experience getting severely dehydrated after getting exposed to Giardia.

Since Giardia is responsible for interfering with the nutrients absorption in the body the body is left deprived and apparent losing of weight and low energy in dogs is experienced.

There are also cases where giardisis in dogs carry no symptoms not even diarrhea. Dog diarrhea is characterized by bad odor and watery texture and it may occur in a bad situation or light one. Also this diarrhea can occur frequently or with timings far apart.

Giardia parasite has a one to a couple of week’s incubation period. Since many dogs are naturally asymptomatic they tend to release cysts for months even sometimes for years. In young aged dogs clinical symptoms can be easily seen as compared to grownups and also they are easily diagnosable in multi-dogs environment or houses.

In case your dogs develops large number of trophozoites began to form in the dog’s body, the symptoms that develop are

• Flatulence
• Weight loss in dogs
• Bad odor stool, with often a foamy or yellowish texture
• Vomiting
• Distension in the abdomen

The detection of these cysts in the dog can be diagnosed through Zinc Sulphate solution or Fecal flotation. These cysts may not be present or detected in the dog’s stool or diarrhea. Active trophozoites may be found through fecal smears. Trophozoites can be seen in motion in diarrhea whereas cysts can be seen in hard stools. To diagnose at least three samples of stools taken over a period of 7 to 10 days to exactly diagnose.

Another way to diagnose Giardia in dogs is through ELIZA which is a test that can be performed either in your vet’s office or sent to a laboratory for testing.

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