Top Veterinary Articles of the Week: Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs, Laryngeal Paralysis and more ...
5 Signs of Lyme Disease in Dogs
Ticks seem to be everywhere these days, though we've been quite lucky. Haven't found many on our dogs up here, only a couple over time. There were more ticks down South at the friends' horse farm.
The first one we found on Jasmine we had tested for Lyme. It came back positive. The tick was carrying the disease but didn't transfer it to Jasmine who later tested negative. But it could have.
We've always been vigilant checking our dogs daily, as well as testing them annually. We did try Advantix for Cookie but she had a reaction to it. Because we haven't been founding many, we decided to stick with natural protection only.
Infection can happen, though. It is important what the signs of Lyme disease are. The hallmark sign is shifting lameness and mobility issues. Lethargy, increased drinking and lack of appetite can be caused by about any illness but Lyme disease is certainly one of them. Like with most infections, fever can be present. All these things are telling you that your dog's body is battling with something.
Untreated Lyme disease can damage the kidneys, liver and other organs.
The Trouble With Treats (and a Perfect Pet Recipe For Summer)
What dog doesn't like treats? There are people who believe that dogs don't need treats and never use them. That wouldn't go over well with our guys. And what about training? Food rewards are so easy and effective to use.
I believe that dogs do need and do deserve treats.
We used to buy them. Yes, it was in the old days when I had very little clue. We were buying her Begging Strips. She loved them and they kind of looked and smelled like bacon. And then they must have changed something in the formula. Suddenly the batch we bought looked different, felt different and smelled nothing like bacon. Wondering what has happened to the product, I turned the package around and read the ingredients. I was shocked. Is this what we've been feeding her the whole time?
We've been making our own treats ever since and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Check out Dr. Khuly's take on it and her recipe for summer treats.
Incidentalomas, ultrasound and diagnostic errors
Any diagnostic tool is only as good as the one using it. Sometimes things get missed, and sometimes people can read too much into things. Figuring out what it all means is the key. When it comes to finding lesions on imaging, the only way to make sure what it is is a biopsy.
There are different kinds of errors that can take place. Missing something all together, wrong interpretation, equipment issues ...
Should one lose faith in diagnostic tools? Check out Dr. Fawcett's take on the subject.
Laryngeal Paralysis in Dogs – A Common Voice Box Problem
The larynx is the box-like structure between the back of the mouth and throat that regulates the passage of air into and out of the trachea and allows vocalization. The muscles control the air flow and keep the food out of the windpipe.
In dogs with laryngeal paralysis, as the term suggests, these muscles don't work properly. They block the airways and can even shut completely.
The first symptoms include change in the bark sounds, increased or harsh-sounding panting. Affected dogs develop a characteristic breathing noise, which is called stridor.
Recognizing and understanding early signs is important. As with everything, when something seems off about your dog, do have it checked.
Ticks seem to be everywhere these days, though we've been quite lucky. Haven't found many on our dogs up here, only a couple over time. There were more ticks down South at the friends' horse farm.
The first one we found on Jasmine we had tested for Lyme. It came back positive. The tick was carrying the disease but didn't transfer it to Jasmine who later tested negative. But it could have.
We've always been vigilant checking our dogs daily, as well as testing them annually. We did try Advantix for Cookie but she had a reaction to it. Because we haven't been founding many, we decided to stick with natural protection only.
Infection can happen, though. It is important what the signs of Lyme disease are. The hallmark sign is shifting lameness and mobility issues. Lethargy, increased drinking and lack of appetite can be caused by about any illness but Lyme disease is certainly one of them. Like with most infections, fever can be present. All these things are telling you that your dog's body is battling with something.
Untreated Lyme disease can damage the kidneys, liver and other organs.
The Trouble With Treats (and a Perfect Pet Recipe For Summer)
What dog doesn't like treats? There are people who believe that dogs don't need treats and never use them. That wouldn't go over well with our guys. And what about training? Food rewards are so easy and effective to use.
I believe that dogs do need and do deserve treats.
We used to buy them. Yes, it was in the old days when I had very little clue. We were buying her Begging Strips. She loved them and they kind of looked and smelled like bacon. And then they must have changed something in the formula. Suddenly the batch we bought looked different, felt different and smelled nothing like bacon. Wondering what has happened to the product, I turned the package around and read the ingredients. I was shocked. Is this what we've been feeding her the whole time?
We've been making our own treats ever since and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Check out Dr. Khuly's take on it and her recipe for summer treats.
Incidentalomas, ultrasound and diagnostic errors
Any diagnostic tool is only as good as the one using it. Sometimes things get missed, and sometimes people can read too much into things. Figuring out what it all means is the key. When it comes to finding lesions on imaging, the only way to make sure what it is is a biopsy.
There are different kinds of errors that can take place. Missing something all together, wrong interpretation, equipment issues ...
Should one lose faith in diagnostic tools? Check out Dr. Fawcett's take on the subject.
Laryngeal Paralysis in Dogs – A Common Voice Box Problem
The larynx is the box-like structure between the back of the mouth and throat that regulates the passage of air into and out of the trachea and allows vocalization. The muscles control the air flow and keep the food out of the windpipe.
In dogs with laryngeal paralysis, as the term suggests, these muscles don't work properly. They block the airways and can even shut completely.
The first symptoms include change in the bark sounds, increased or harsh-sounding panting. Affected dogs develop a characteristic breathing noise, which is called stridor.
Recognizing and understanding early signs is important. As with everything, when something seems off about your dog, do have it checked.
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