The condition commonly known as Kennel Cough is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases that dogs can contract. The disease is not serious in most cases, however, and often resolves itself after one to two weeks. The accepted medical term for kennel cough is tracheobronchitis, indicating a form of bronchitis that affects the dogs trachea.
Kennel cough can be caused by several airborne bacteria and viruses. It is generally accepted that most cases of kennel cough are caused by the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica but it has also been associated with the canine distemper virus (CDV) and canine parainfluenza. It is the general consensus of the veterinary medical community that in order to cause the illness, an animal must be virtually bombarded by multiple versions of these pathogens at one time. For this reason it is dogs that spend a lot of time around other dogs that are most at risk for the disease. Dogs that participate in dog shows or spend a lot of time in kennels are the highest risks for kennel cough.
The primary symptom of kennel cough is a dry, spasmodic cough which is caused by the inflammation of the dogs trachea and bronchi. Coughing spells will often result in the dog coughing up a white and foamy discharge. Some dogs will also develop conjunctivitis an inflammation of the membrane that lines the eyelids. Nasal discharge may also be present. In effect, the dog appears to have a very nasty cold or flu. As stated above, the disease is rarely serious and almost never life-threatening. Still, if you have seen any of these symptoms or have reason to believe that your dog has or has been exposed to kennel cough, you should consult your vet immediately.
Your vet will be able to diagnose kennel cough with a physical examination and medical history. The cough associated with the ailment is very characteristic and a simple massage of the dogs throat can usually cause it to cough on cue. In some cases, such as if the dog is depressed or feverish or expelling a yellow or green discharge, the doctor may require additional diagnostic tests such as a complete blood count (CBC) and laboratory testing of microorganisms in the dogs airway. These tests will help the doctor rule out other infectious diseases such as influenza, pneumonia, or canine distemper.
Immunization can help prevent kennel cough and is recommended. When kenneling your dog or traveling it may be required before your dog will be admitted. Effective immunization can be difficult, however, because the disease can be caused by so many different pathogens. Active prevention on your part can be accomplished by not allowing your dogs toys or water and food bowls to be accessed by unfamiliar dogs. If participating in dog shows make sure that the area is well ventilated to assist with the expulsion of airborne pathogens.
Kennel cough is treated with antibiotics in most cases. Antibiotics will help prevent any secondary illnesses from developing while the dog gets over its case of kennel cough.
Tags:
Ailment,
Airborne Bacteria,
Bordetella Bronchiseptica,
Bronchi,
Canine Distemper Virus,
Canine Parainfluenza,
Cdv,
Conjunctivitis,
Dog Shows,
Dry Cough,
Eyelids,
Infectious Diseases,
Kennel Cough In Dogs,
Medical Community,
Medical Term,
Nasal Discharge,
Nasty Cold,
Physical Examination,
Spasmodic Cough,
Trachea
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May 13, 2010 | | Dogs
Eye disease is very common with Golden Retrievers. Most Goldens will generally have hereditary cataracts, which is a common eye problem. At an early age, with affected Goldens, one type of hereditary cataract will appear. Even though it may not cause interference with the vision of the Golden Retriever, some dogs will progress into total and quite possibly severe loss of vision.
Sometimes, Golden Retrievers can get affected by non hereditary cataracts, although an examination by a board certified veterinarian can determine just how bad the cataracts really are. If cataracts are indeed suspected with a Golden Retriever, then breeding wont be recommended. Breeding a Golden who has this condition can lead to serious problems, such as passing it on to the pups.
Several families of the Golden Retriever breed have been known to carry genes for CPRA (Central Progressive Retinal Atrophy), which affects the retina, and can result in permanent blindness for Goldens at a young age. There are other types of eye defects as well, such as retinal dysplasia, which prevents a Golden from breeding.
Trouble with both the eyelid and eyelashes are also a possibility with Golden Retrievers, with some being the result of hereditary factors. The eyelids rotating in or out, or the eyelashes rubbing on or in the eye are both common problems with the breed. Even though surgery can help to fix these types of problems, dogs that are experiencing this type of problem shouldnt be allowed to breed nor compete in shows under any type of AKC rules.
You should always have your Golden Retriever checked annually for eye disease, as it can develop during any age. When you take your Golden to have him examined for eye disease, you should have a veterinary ophthalmologist do the exam. He has all of the necessary equipment, and the proper training needed to make sure that your dog gets the best examination possible.
Heart disease
SAS (Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis) is the most common and widespread form of heart disease within the entire Golden Retriever species. Before you breed your Golden Retriever, you should always have him examined for heart disease by a certified veterinary cardiologist. If the cardiologist detects a heart murmur, he will recommend additional tests for your dog.
In the event that the results prove negative, it doesnt necessarily rule heart disease out, as some milder forms may still be present, although undetectable. If a Golden Retriever is diagnosed to have any type of heart disease, he should not breed. Breeding Golden Retrievers who have heart disease can lead to serious and sometimes fatal results. To be on the safe side, you should always have your Golden tested for his disease before you plan on breeding.
Tags:
Akc Rules,
Aortic Stenosis,
Cataract,
Cataracts,
Eye Defects,
Eye Disease,
Eye Problem,
Eyelashes,
Eyelids,
Golden Retriever,
Golden Retriever Breed,
Golden Retrievers,
Goldens,
Heart Disease,
Hereditary Factors,
Loss Of Vision,
Necessary Equipment,
Progressive Retinal Atrophy,
Retinal Dysplasia,
Veterinary Ophthalmologist
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Apr 09, 2010 | | Golden Retriever
Dog Trick To Cure A Nuisance Barker: Training Buddy to ‘Speak’ on Command
All breeds and sizes of dogs can be taught easily to speak, and the way to go about it is to call your dog, show him a treat and say Speak. He will not understand what you mean and will probably at first jump for it, and then sit down and eye it attentively; finally, he will get impatient and utter a sharp bark, which is what you have been waiting for, and the instant he does so reward him with the treat.
A dog which is slow in barking can be encouraged to do so by your imitating a bark, as the chances are he will reply to it, and if you reward him he will learn to bark as soon as he hears the word speak.
After a dog has been taught to bark once, you can teach him to bark any number of times, for when he has learned to expect a reward after barking once and you do not give it to him he is apt to bark again or until you give him a signal to stop.
Dogs are very observing and the signal to stop barking can be so slight that your friends will not detect it, such as a movement of the foot or hand, a dropping of the eyelids or a shifting of your gaze, and if you keep up a running fire of conversation and address your dog as if he were a human being his performance will be much more impressive and perplexing.
As an illustration, if you are exhibiting your dog to an audience and want him to speak, dont simply say speak, but address him something like this: Now, Buddy, all the ladies and gentlemen present are very anxious to hear you speak. Put a slight emphasis on the word speak and your dog will catch it, but it will appear to the audience as if the dog understood the entire sentence and not only the one word speak. Of course, when training the young dog you should use only the word speak and that distinctly and free from other words, so as not to confuse him.
If your dog knows how to speck on command, you can try to teach singing which is to teach him to howl on command. It is not expected that your dog will produce any melody but only repeat in a mechanical way a series of whines and barks.
Teach him to sing in the following manner. Try to imitate a whine yourself and try to get him to imitate the noise you make and to a certain degree, reach the pitch and style of noise make by you, be it a howl, whine or bark and with constant practice, a dog can and will learn to follow your tone quite accurately.
As your dog learn to follow your barking, say sing instinctively to associate this action. Praise and treat plentifully during training to encourage him further. Exercise him on a regular basis will help him to learn to sing in no time on your command.
Speak and Sing are useful lessons in curbing a nuisance barking dog. Let your dog understand that barking and whining is only allowed on command. Simply ignore your dog whenever he barks and whine for your attention. Vice versa, give him lots of praise or treats when he barks on command. If your dog understands this lesson, he will no longer be a nuisance barker and be a good quiet boy for a long time to go.
Tags:
Address,
Audience,
Buddy Dog,
Dog Show,
Dog Treat,
Dogs,
Eyelids,
First Jump,
Gaze,
Illustration,
Ladies And Gentlemen,
Nuisance Barker,
Running Fire,
Sharp,
Speck,
Training Dog
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Mar 02, 2010 | | Dogs