The Exotic Pet Care Blog

Excess thirst is a common condition in dogs. They may become thirsty for any number of natural reasons. They pant to keep cool, losing water from their lungs in the form of vapor. This fluid should et replaced, so it is not surprising that thirst increases on a hot day, especially in heavy coated dogs.

Other Causes

1. Infection- You can see vomiting/diarrhea along with excess thirst. In case of burns, bleeding, tumors, and uterine infection.

2. Organs Dysfunction - Uterus infection, diabetes mellitus

3. Atmosphere- High rise of atmospheric temperature.  Change in diet salt.

Signs of Excess Thirst

• Frequent Urination
• The dog may drink from unusual places, such the bird bath, rain puddles, or the toilet bowl.
• The dog water bowl is always empty and needs frequent refilling.
• Drinking takes longer
• Frequent visits to the water bowl.

Tick borne diseases in dogs are to be given much significance in these days because of the two reasons namely the increased frequency of occurrences and the increased worries had by both the dog and the owner because of the tick borne disease of dogs.

Babesiosis is one of the tick borne diseases in dogs. Brown dog tick is the main tick causing problem in these dogs.

The affected animals have often the bloody colored urination and the examination of the blood smear help to diagnose this problem.

In the veterinary clinical pathology laboratory, the tick borne diseases in dogs may be found out easily. In case of acute disease, the symptoms may be more evident.

If no therapy is initiated, then the dog affected may succumbed to death. However, there are cases that enter into the sub clinical cases also.

These sub clinical cases may not reveal the typical signs but the dullness may be pronounced in them.

In some instances, these cases may have an entry into the chronic phase. In chronic phase of this disease, the affected dogs may have vomiting, enlargement of spleen, intermittent Fever etc.

During the year 2003, among the tick borne diseases in dogs, it is the ehrlichiosis that has gained significance and is caused by brown dog ticks.

Unlike the deer ticks that cause the lyme disease, the incidence of infestation with the brown dog ticks is more and most of the times, about ten to twenty per cent of the blood smears examined in microscope reveal often this kind of protozoan problems.

Rickettsia organisms and neorickettsia organisms lead to the diseases since they are caused by ticks in dogs.

Among these tick borne diseases in dogs, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is one of the important diseases caused by rickettsia organisms. Hence, tick borne diseases should not be viewed in a casual manner and they need immediate attention.

Periodontal disease in dogs is gaining more significance in the current periods because of the variable feeding habits maintained among various breeds of dogs. Periodontal disease in dogs is to be treated immediately for a speedy recovery.

First you need to understand on what is the periodontal disease in dogs? This means the diseases present in some or more of the dental structures in the mouth region.

Often the cementum, alveolar bone, periodontal ligament and gingival tissues are affected. It is to be understood that more than eighty per cent of the dogs that have crossed four years of age.

However, the term periodontal disease associates with the periodontitis and the swelling of the mucosa has to be tackled by the right kind of drugs.

Vitamin C is always given to the affected dogs if the animals especially revealing the symptom like the presence of ulcers in the gum.

Yeah… Vitamins also have a good role in the healing effects of the periodontal problems associated with the mucous membranes.

Generally the bacterial organisms like streptococci or actinomyces organisms gain an entry into the small damage found on clean teeth.

These bacterial organisms get multiplied in few days and finally there may be occurrence of many plaques. In these plaques, subsequently there may be occurrence of many anaerobic motile rods and spirochetes that complicate the clinical problem.

Periodontal disease in dogs needs therapy with non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs for reduction of swelling.

Further, the dogs with these problems need to be provided with soft food materials only. Care is to be given in order to provide the fiber material in an adequate manner to keep the satisfactory bowel movements.

Application of reverse bevel flap and gingivectomy may be the useful therapy in this periodontal disease in dogs. Yeah… Periodontal disease in dogs has to be attended with application of antiseptic like chlorhexidine solution for prevention of this problem.

Pug diseases are to be more significance like in any other dog breed. Yeah. If the protection is given in right time against the pug diseases, then these dogs will be more healthy.

The alert pug may become depressed and dull in case of diseases. Yeah. This is true. The animal may either have reduced movements or anorexia.

In kennel cough, the respiration becomes difficult. This is seen in pug kennels and shelters. The animals become more dull in appearance.

When the pug has fever due to some bacterial diseases like Escherichia coli organisms, the affected pugs may have dehydration and fever in addition to diarrhea.

In case of viral diseases like rabies, one has to be aware of the clinical symptoms. The pug might have been bitten earlier by some stray dog or a bandicoot.

The affected animals have symptom like vacant look, biting of chains or other nearby persons.

Similarly, every disease has its unique symptoms. In infectious canine hepatitis, the animal becomes dull and may not eat properly.

Tick infestation may lead to the protozoa based diseases in pug. Itching pugs have to be checked for presence of problems due to mites or fungus.

Fungal diseases may lead to an intense degree of itching. Lyme disease affected pugs reveal dullness, joint pain etc. Pug diseases are to be taken care of immediately.

In case of leptospirosis, the affected pugs may have icterus and fever. There may be reduced movements of the dog in addition to the bloody urine.

When the pug passes red colored urine,  suspect for the acute nephritis. Some times, the injury to the penile urethra also may lead such red colored urination.

If the pug starts to present symptom of dysuria, then suspect for the presence of acute nephritis especially in case of adult male pug dogs. Pug diseases are to be checked periodically. Pug diseases need instant therapy.

Labrador diseases are to be taken care of at the initial stage itself in order to have a complete recovery. Yeah. This is true. Labrador diseases need to be given more significance by the owners or the breeders.

If the Labrador reveals constipation, surgical neutering may be carried out because these dogs are more prone for the development of prostate cancer.

Hence, the adult male dogs may be subjected to the surgical neutering because this leads to the shrinkage of prostate.

If the dogs of this breed are affected by disease like   parvo viral disease, the affected ones reveal foul smelling diarrhea.

More over, the dogs may be dull and depressed. Dehydration may be present to a greater degree and the animal may encounter the death if it is not treated with fluids.

Hip dysplasia is another problem to which the Labrador is more prone for. However, you can check up thoroughly only after the achievement of age of two years.

Adult male dogs are highly prone for the development of renal diseases like any other breed. They become common among Labrador diseases.

Some times, red colored urine may occur. However, rule out the urinary bladder diseases also among Labrador diseases.

Canine distemper is another viral disease that is to be taken care of in case of Labradors. The affected animals may often reveal the pulmonary form of this disease.

There may be difficulty in breathing and twitching of few muscles in the fore head may be noticed often, in this viral disease.

In case of rabies, vacant look and the history of biting by stray dogs in earlier days might be present. However vaccination against this protects the Labradors.

Progressive retinal atrophy is an inherited disease among many breeds including Labrador. Diseases like this have to be taken care of properly. Labrador diseases are to be studied in detail before starting to own these breeds of dogs.

Parvo dog disease affects the dogs of any breeds and more commonly notice in case of the younger dogs. In United States of America, this Parvo dog disease is seen affecting many dogs with serious problems.

From the year 1980, this viral strain has got mutated to different forms and the currently encountered strain causing the Parvo dog disease is CPV-2B.

The symptoms of Parvo dog disease are occurrence of bloody diarrhea and anorexia, in addition to the dullness and the dehydration. Yeah. The affected dogs may reveal the severe degree of dehydration frequently.

The dehydration may be examined by lifting the skin and again leaving it to its original position.

If the skin is still in elevated position, it indicates the presence of dehydration. The diarrhea is a characteristic feature in the animals affected and often there is reddish appearance and also foul smell.

The affected animals have to be examined for the presence of anemic status. Often, there may be a life threatening anemia. Hence, blood transfusion may be thought of in many cases.

Though many dogs become highly ill due to this viral disease, particularly the breeds like Doberman Pinschers, Pit Bull Terriers etc. may reveal clinical symptoms to a very severe degree.

The treatment for parvo viral infections is associated with the administration of broad spectrum of antibiotics in order to reduce the secondary bacterial infections that are probably expected to occur along with this viral enteritis.

The vaccine for parvo virus is given at eight, twelve and sixteen weeks of age and the immunity given by the vaccine helps to provide a good degree of protection.

For Parvo dog disease, metaclopromide like drugs may be given for reducing the spasms of gastrointestinal tract. In Parvo dog disease, you have to rule out the parasitic infection side by side. Most of the times, you may have concurrent infection in dogs.

Dog vestibular disease is one of the important diseases to be tackled intellectually to have a speedy recovery. Dog vestibular disease has to be given always priority among the diseases that commonly occur in various breeds of dogs in this world.

The clinical symptoms occurring in dogs are often variable. The symptoms that occur in dogs vary because of the extent of affection and the severity of affection in case of vestibular apparatus which is a organ of balance situated in the middle ear cavity.

Yeah… The symptoms may comprise often the head tilting. Some dogs may get affected by vomiting. If the attending veterinarian is casual in approach to these cases, there are chances for missing of this.

You need to explain clearly to the veterinarian attending the dog vestibular disease and often the affected dogs have tilting of head, adaptation of unusual posture, shaking of head region or frequent tremors in the ear region etc.

Some times, there may be a loss of equilibrium and hence the affected dogs may not have a proper gait and often there is derangement in the walking activities.

Some animals may have the very pronounced degree of in coordination in addition to the abnormal eye movements.

Yeah… These signs are occurring because of the affection of the major organ of balance in the body and it is nothing but the vestibular apparatus in dogs.

Usage of some drugs like Streptomycin and Gentamicin may lead to this kind of disease in dogs.

Similarly, even the ear mite problem may lead to the clinical signs that may totally resemble the dog vestibular disease.

Broad spectrum antibiotics and prednisolone may be of helpful in the timely therapy of the condition involving the vestibular apparatus in general.

Dog vestibular disease has to be treated well with suitable drugs and the therapy for the dog vestibular disease has to be carried out for a long time.

Boxer diseases are the unique ones that need to be treated immediately. Yeah. This is true. If you are negligent, then the boxer diseases may end up in complications.

Hip dysplasia are found more in cases of Boxer. This breed is more prone for the development of hip dysplasia. Hence, always have an eye on the occurrence of this problem in case of boxers.

The orthopedic foundation of animals also expect the dogs to be tested for the presence of such hip dysplasia only in dogs that are having an age of about two years or more than two years.

If there is a constant itching in the boxer, diseases due to external parasites have to be checked.

If the condition is not coming round well to the therapy adapted in the boxers, then suspect the fungal diseases.

These dogs may have boxer diseases like cardiomyopathy and aortic or sub aortic stenosis. Yeah… These two disease conditions are highly noticed as hereditary diseases. If the breeders are not much careful, the boxers may die suddenly due to these disease conditions.

Hence, in live dogs, the dogs may be frequently examined for the presence of heart diseases by radiographs and ECG. The auscultations need to be carried out by the concerned canine specialists.

Thyroid diseases in boxers are so unique ones. The boxers are more prone for these diseases. There is development of antibodies against its own thyroid gland and finally there is reduction in the thyroxine secretion. The animals get affected immediately by the hypothyroidism.

In the boxers with deranged thyroid function like the hypothyroidism, the coat may be dull and hair loss is more pronounced in nature. Obesity may occur in them in addition to the lethargic movements.

Boxer diseases like cardiomyopathy need to be taken care of in the beginning itself and the boxer diseases are to be treated in the early stage itself.

Dog seizures are commonly encountered now a day because of the various etiological factors. Dog seizures have to be attended in order to prevent unpleasant scenery.

No doubt that any dog may get affected by seizures. However, certain breeds like Golden retrievers, Collies etc. may be prone for dog seizures.

The dog with psychomotor seizures gets affection in the parts of brain that controls the consciousness. Yeah… These animals show the imaginary snapping of insects, aggression, hyper activity etc.

Grand Mal seizure in dogs may lead to the excessive salivation in addition to the reduced senses of consciousness. Some times, there may be a loss of bowel movements and the animal may have diarrhea.

The whole event may be present for thirty seconds. But, this may be lasting for about few minutes. This may often be followed by anorexia, dullness, depression, derangement in behavior in the affected dogs.

Prodome, Aura, Ictus and Postictus are the major four stages of seizures. Prodome means the changes in behavior and often precedes hours or days before seizures. The beginning of the seizure is marked by the stage of seizure termed as Aura.

This stage is characterized by the occurrence of restlessness, apprehension, affection, salivation etc. Then this may get followed by the occurrence of Ictus or actual seizure lasting for forty five seconds to three minutes.

In this stage, teeth biting, loss of urination and defecation etc. may be noticed along with the occurrence of seizures with paddling of limbs and frequent champing of jaws, biting of teeth etc.

This stage is followed by the post ictus that is characterized by its appearance as if it is blind and deaf. Idiopathic causes are there that cause seizures. Sodium valproate or dilantin may be used but needs a consultation with a pet practitioner.

Dog seizures may be treated with Primidone also. Similarly, Valium may be used in some cases of dog seizures.

Autoimmune disease in dogs is the problem that needs a specialized technique and method to diagnose. Wondering? Autoimmune disease in dogs is something more different from the most of the commonly occurring diseases.

Autoimmune disease in dogs is the one that occurs due to the production of antibody against the own cells in the body.

For example, the dewormers, environmental allergens, pollen grains in the air etc. may lead to the occurrence of autoimmune diseases.

Certain autoimmune disease in dogs is similar to that occurring in human beings. Yeah… For example, the dogs may get affected by the autoimmune state of degenerative myelopathy.

In this condition the symptoms occurring in dogs are more or less similar to the ones that occur in case of human beings.

In the affected species, there may be progressive lameness and limb paralysis. Dog breeds like German shepherds, Old English Sheep dogs and Boxers are more susceptible to these kinds of diseases.

Thyroid disease especially the hypothyroidism affect the selected dog breeds due to the derangement in the immunity levels.

Even anemia, arthritis and seizures are said to be the autoimmune diseases in dogs. There are multiple reasons for the occurrence of these diseases in dogs.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy is one of the autoimmune disease in dogs and is difficult to treat in general. Dehydration is to be taken care of immediately to avoid the death in the affected animals. Pemphigus disorders, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura etc. are the other diseases in this regard.

Myasthenia gravis, lupus, autoimmune hemolytic anemia etc. also can be quoted as the ones that are similar to those diseases occurring in man. Integrationist approach with corticosteroid therapy, change in the daily activity patterns etc. can be said to be the remedies that can be done in tackling the autoimmune disease in dogs. The autoimmune disease in dogs may be treated with change in diet for dogs also.