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AUSTIN
Austin is beautiful with a personality to match. He is also young, strong, bright eyed and has a beautifully, shiny coat…and….he was seriously ill…. His illness could have been avoided IF he had been given a chance by receiving one tablet a month for Heartworms. Just one tablet a month — sad — he did not receive it. You see, Austin had advanced heartworms. The treatment was extremely long, painful and costly. What a shame he had to go through this, but once it was over, he was healthy and ready for adoption. As a result he'll have to be on the Heartworm preventive year round the rest of his life. Lucky for Austin, is truly a love and a joy for his newly adopted family. (IF you live in the southern states - every dog should be on preventive year round.)
So many times we have had people tell us —‘the Vet never told me about it’ - This is something every Vet knows about and they are not asking you to purchase the preventive so they can line their pockets — it is necessary for the very life of your dog. Or they'll say — ‘our dog is a house dog, he/she is not outside very long’. This is not a reason either — it only takes one mosquito to infect. How many times has there been a mosquito in your home? This happens — all it takes is one bite.
The mosquito is known as an “intermediate host” for the heartworm — Without a mosquito, the microfilaria (babies) do not develop further. However some can remain alive in the dogs circulatory system for more than a year. Adult heartworms can live for up to seven years in dogs! Once in the heart vessels, the worms interfere with blood flow and cause the organ to fail.
Prevention of heartworm is much easier on your dog than cure — ensure you treat your pet with an effective preventative throughout the entire mosquito season. Consult your veterinarian for when this occurs in your area — it varies from state to state.
Symptoms of a dog suffering from heartworms can include:
- a cough
- exercise intolerance
- lethargy
- difficulty breathing
- weight loss
- loss of appetite
- fluid accumulation in the abdomen — a “pot belly”
- sudden collapse or brown urine in severe cases
- death
For more information on the cause, diagnosis, prevention & treatment of heartworm disease visit the
That Darn Kennel Cough
Your dog spent three days in a Kennel, and now he’s sick. What’s wrong with him? It might be Kennel Cough, also known as Infectious Canine Tracheobronchitis. This highly contagious disease is characterized by lots of coughing, and is one of the most common infections in dogs. Let’s take a look at the signs and treatments for Kennel Cough.
The Signs
Most dogs who have this condition simply show signs of excessive coughing. However, any of the following signs can appear in an infected dog:
- Dry hacking cough
- Gagging, especially after a coughing episode
- Fever
These symptoms can be further provoked by exercise, pressure on the trachea or throat, and overexcitement.
The Infection
Kennel Cough is highly contagious among dogs. This disease can spread through coughing, sneezing or even coming into contact with infected items. The infection is characterized by the inflammation of the upper airways, especially the windpipe (trachea). The cause can be viral or bacterial.
This infection usually lasts between 10-14 days, although severe cases can last up to 6 weeks. A dog can remain contagious for several weeks - particularly those who are severely affected.
The Treatment
Because this infection can lead to pneumonia, it's important to begin treatment as soon as it is diagnosed.
The following are some possible treatments for Kennel Cough:
- Antibiotics: If your dog has a bacterial infection, your veterinarian
 is likely to prescribe antibiotics.
- Cough Suppressants: If your dog is suffering from a severe dry cough, he is likely to be prescribed cough suppressants.
- Strict Rest: Affected dogs should rest for at least 14-21 days. The use of collars around the neck should be avoided during that time and a harness can be used instead.
Prevention
- Vaccination: If your dog is in constant contact with other dogs through kennels, playgroups, dog shows or doggy daycares then it would be a good idea to have him get the Kennel Cough vaccines (Bordatella bronchiseptica and Canine parainfluenza). While these don't protect against all causes of Kennel Cough, they do provide immunity against the most common ones.
The Thunder Phobic Pooch
What's a Phobia?
A phobia is a severe fear of something. Phobias can cause so much anxiety that a dog will refuse to go outside, eat or even sleep. If not treated, a phobia can continue to escalate over time.
What Happens During a Storm?
Research shows that during a thunderstorm,much like fireworks, a dog with thunder anxiety has an increase in his cortisol level. Cortisol is the hormone that's tied to stress.
During a storm a dog can become quite scared. In mild cases of thunderstorm phobia a dog will pace, quiver, and hide. In more severe cases, a dog may urinate in the home, chew and scratch on furniture, or even break walls and windows. How Can You Help?
It's important to get to the core of your dog's phobia immediately. The more you prolong dealing with his fear, the worse it can get. The following are some suggested ways to help your dog lose his fear of storms.
- Conditioning/Desensitization: This form of 'treatment' involves allowing your dog to slowly become comfortable with the sound of thunder. One suggestion is to use a CD or tape of thunderstorms. Put the CD on low volume and encourage your dog to relax. Once he does, reward him and turn the CD a bit higher. Continue to do this until your dog is able to remain relaxed when the CD is loud.
- Music Therapy: Animal behaviorists have found a connection between music and a calming effect in dogs. Perhaps putting on soothing harp music during a storm will calm your dog down and prevent him from reacting in such an extreme way.
- Prescribed Medication: In some cases a phobia is so severe that prescription medication such as sedatives are needed to get the dog to relax. This is necessary only in extreme cases and must be discussed thoroughly with your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist.
- Crate Training: Dogs with noise phobias will often look for a place to hide. A crate provides a comforting "den" for the dog to retreat to. Consider placing the crate in an interior room where the thunder is not as loud.
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