Health and Exercise
Kennel Cough
Kennel cough (infectious tracheobronchitis) is a contagious, upper-respiratory disease transmitted by an airborne virus and often complicated by secondary bacterial infection. Kennel cough occurs more commonly in puppies and young adult dogs and is often caught at kennels or shelters where dogs are exposed to many other dogs. Because the virus is airborne, normal cleaning and disinfecting of kennel surfaces cannot eliminate it. Dogs with kennel cough are usually alert and eat well but have a dry, hacking cough or bouts of deep, harsh coughing often followed by gagging motions. The gagging sometimes produces foamy mucous. Most dogs with kennel cough do not have a fever.
If your dog has these symptoms, consult your veterinarian for treatment. Antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent or cure a secondary infection. Your dog should be in a relatively warm environment and be sure they are rested to help prevent the development of pneumonia. Not every cough is "kennel cough." Some dogs bark almost continuously while sheltered, which can lead to a sore throat or many other upper-respiratory diseases. If your dog has a fever, is less active than normal, has a decreased appetite, discharge from the eyes or nose, difficulty breathing, or is older than three years, it may be a more serious problem. Consult your veterinarian.
Fleas and Ticks
Daily inspections of your dog for fleas and ticks during the warm seasons are important. Use a flea comb to find and remove fleas. There are several new methods of flea and tick control. Speak to your veterinarian about these and other options.
Heartworm
This parasite lives in the heart and is passed from dog to dog by mosquitoes. Heartworm infections can be fatal. Your dog should have a blood test for heartworm every spring—this is crucial for detecting infections from the previous year. A once-a-month pill given during mosquito season will protect your dog.
Medicines and Poisons
Never give your dog medication that has not been prescribed by a veterinarian. One regular-strength ibuprofen tablet can cause stomach ulcers in a ten-pound dog. Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your pet. If you suspect that your animal has ingested a poisonous substance, call your veterinarian.
Worms
Dogs are commonly exposed to worms and possible infestation—even in urban areas. Microscopic eggs produced by intestinal worms are passed in an infected dog’s feces. Most puppies, even from healthy mothers in good homes, carry roundworms or hookworms.
The key to treatment is correct diagnosis. This will ensure that the medication is effective against the parasite your pet has. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, will not kill tapeworms. Your veterinarian will determine and prescribe the appropriate medication
Exercise
Dogs need exercise to burn calories, stimulate their minds, and keep healthy. Exercise also tends to help dogs avoid boredom, which can lead to destructive behaviors. Supervised fun and games will satisfy many of your pet's instinctual urges to dig, herd, chew, retrieve and chase.
Individual exercise needs vary based on breed, sex, age and level of health—but a couple of walks around the block every day and ten minutes in the backyard probably won’t cut it. If your dog is a 6- to 18-month adolescent, or if it is an active breed from the sporting, herding, hound or terrier groups, its requirements will be relatively high.
Grooming
You can help keep your dog clean and reduce shedding with frequent brushing. Check for fleas and ticks daily during warm weather. Most dogs don't need to be bathed more than a few times a year. Before bathing, comb or cut out all mats from the coat.
Housing
Your pet needs a warm, quiet place to rest, away from all drafts and off the floor. A training crate is ideal. You may wish to buy a dog bed, or make one out of a wooden box. Place a clean blanket or pillow inside the bed. Wash the dog's bedding often. If your dog will be spending a lot of time outdoors, be sure she has access to shade and plenty of cool water in hot weather, and a warm, dry, covered shelter when it's cold.
Training
A well-behaved companion canine is a joy. But left untrained, your dog can cause nothing but trouble. Teaching your dog the basics—"Sit," "Stay," "Come," "Down," "Heel," "Off" and "Leave it"—will improve your relationship with both your dog and your neighbors. If you have a puppy, start teaching him his manners as soon as possible! Use little bits of food as a lure and reward. Puppies can be enrolled in obedience courses when they have been adequately vaccinated.
You should always keep your puppy or dog on a leash in public. Be sure your pet will come to you at all times whenever you call. A dog who is disobedient or aggressive is not ready to play with others.
Dental Health
While many of us may object to our pet's bad breath, we should pay attention to what it may be telling us. Bad breath is most commonly an indication that your dog is in need of a dental check up. Dental plaque caused by bacteria results in a foul smell that requires professional treatment. After a professional cleaning, the teeth and gums may be maintained in a healthy state by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and avoiding table scraps. Your veterinarian can give you more tips on minimizing dental disease and bad breath.
You can clean your canine’s teeth with a dog toothpaste or a baking-soda-and-water paste once or twice a week. Use a child's soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger.
Some dogs are prone to periodontal disease, a pocket of infection between the tooth and the gum. This painful condition can result in tooth loss and spread infection to the rest of the body. Veterinarians can clean the teeth as a regular part of your dog's health program.
Bad Breath
While bad breath caused by dental disease may not be too serious if caught early enough, some odors may be indicative of fairly serious, chronic problems. Liver or intestinal diseases may cause foul breath, whereas a sweet, fruity smell may be indicative of diabetes. If your dog’s breath smells like ammonia or urine, kidney disease is a possibility. Any time you notice your pet has bad breath accompanied by other signs of ill health, such as loss of appetite, vomiting, weight loss, depression, excessive drinking or urinating, schedule a visit to the veterinarian.
What's Valley Fever?
Valley Fever (VF), or Coccidioidomycosis, is reaching epidemic proportions in Arizona, affecting both people and dogs. Dogs, in fact, are even more susceptible than humans, by virtue of their closer proximity to the ground where Valley Fever spores live.
VF is a fungal infection contracted by inhaling soil-dwelling spores. When soils containing the fungus are disturbed and dust is raised, spores may be inhaled with the dust. Soil is disturbed by things like construction, digging (by dogs or humans), and wind. Dogs, known to dig and to stick their noses right into the dirt, have potential to breathe in many, many spores at a time. The microscopically small spores are found in the arid soils of the low desert regions of the southwestern U.S. In recent years, we've seen explosive population growth in Arizona and an associated increase in new home construction and extreme disturbance of the soil. The increase in the number of cases of VF seems to closely correspond to the increase in population. VF infections are more likely to occur during certain seasons. In Arizona, the highest prevalence of infections occurs June through July and from October through November.
Many dogs in this part of the country become infected with VF, but do not become visibly ill. In most cases, only a mild respiratory inflammation occurs as the dogs’ defense mechanisms wall off the organisms. However, very young puppies, older dogs, or dogs with weakened immune systems are at much higher risk to develop a more serious case of VF. In severe cases, the disease can spread throughout the lungs and invade other organs with the fungal infection. Once the spore has been breathed into the lungs, the spore transforms itself into a larger, multi-cellular structure called a spherule. The spherule grows and will eventually burst, releasing lots of small endospores. These develop into new spherules, and the cycle repeats again and again. This is how the fungus can be spread from the lungs through the bloodstream to other organs.
Valley Fever is not contagious to other pets or family members!
A person with VF cannot infect another person or a dog;
a dog with VF cannot infect another dog or a person!
VF is classified as either Primary or Disseminated disease. Primary disease, or the initial infection, is limited to the lungs and may go away on its own, or the dog may become sick enough to require medication. Early symptoms often seen in the initial stages of Valley Fever are dry, harsh cough, fever (anything over 102 is considered a fever), depression, and lack of appetite. Symptoms typically occur about 3 weeks after infection. In dogs, VF commonly spreads to other parts of the body. When this happens, the dog has what is referred to as Disseminated disease, which means that there are fungus cocci throughout the body. These dogs will almost certainly die without treatment. In disseminated disease in dogs, the bones and joints are the most frequent targets and lameness is the most common symptom. Other symptoms of disseminated disease include lack of appetite, lethargy, persistent fever, and weight loss. Occasionally, the fungal infection may reach the brain, and seizures can result.
The diagnosis of Canine Valley Fever is made by the history you give your vet, the symptoms the dog is having, and results of blood tests which measure the levels of VF antibodies produced by the dog’s immune system. Other diagnostic testing may be required, including but not limited to other blood tests, x-rays of the chest and/or any painful or swollen bones or joints, repeat antibody testing, etc. What Can Be Done?
In most cases, dogs that develop symptomatic VF will require treatment with an anti-fungal medication. It’s a lengthy treatment, depending on the severity of the infection, but usually lasts 6-12 months, and sometimes longer. Dogs with infection that’s invaded the brain or spine may require medication for life to keep symptoms from returning. Anti-fungal medications are very expensive, but are the only way to treat the cause of this disease.
One of the most commonly prescribed antifungal medicines is ketoconazole (Nizoral) and is the least expensive of the group. It’s given orally, with food, and our most recent experiences are that cost of treatment with this medicine is running $30/month. A typical dose is 1 pill, twice a day. The common side effects to Nizoral include loss of appetite and vomiting, and rarely liver problems can develop. Newer antifungal drugs are itraconazole (Sporanox) and fluconazole (Diflucan). Both drugs are reported to have fewer side effects, but they can cost significantly more. Sometimes, if a dog is experiencing uncomfortable side effects on ketoconazole, the veterinarian will prescribe one of these newer drugs. Many people travel to Mexico to obtain these drugs at a lower cost. (In the Phoenix area, there are a few Veterinary Pharmacies that offer these medications at a significant discount such as Pet Health Pharmacy, 12012 N. 111th Ave, Youngtown, AZ 85363, 1-800-742-0516. They have quoted prices over the phone. Consult with your veterinarian.)
The good news is that most dogs, with the appropriate medication and treatment, do recover from this disease. In fact, most dogs are acting normally, and have a very good quality of life after the first week or so of treatment with the medication. Antibody tests, also called serologies or titers, will be repeated periodically, and the results will determine the point at which the medication can be stopped.
Once a dog has been diagnosed with and treated for VF, they are probably immune for the rest of their lives from a new infection. A small percentage of dogs will die of Valley Fever, despite aggressive anti-fungal medications. These are usually dogs with severe, disseminated disease.
The information contained here is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice or a veterinary exam. Should you have any questions about your pet's health, please call or see your veterinarian immediately.
