Tag Archives: health
Kennel Cough – The facts!
Kennel Cough is a very common and contagious disease mostly contracted by dogs, but can also be transferred to other pets such as: cats, birds, and bunnies. Kennel cough is an airborne virus which means it can be contracted anywhere from your local park to a veterinary practice.
Your pet will be constantly hacking and coughing, sometimes spitting up bits of phlegm. Over exertion can trigger it and make it much worse, so limiting your dog’s amount of exercise is recommended while suffering from kennel cough. An immediate vet check-up followed by rest and relaxation is the best course of action to take.
Kennel cough in dogs can be compared to the human flu, and generally caused when your dog is bombarded by a mix of bacteria and viruses at the same time, similar to influenza in humans.
In most cases Kennel Cough is not serious, and will only last up to a week or two. However, in more serious cases it can last up to several months, and can be extremely uncomfortable for your dog (and extremely annoying for the dog owner). It’s important to have your dog checked out as soon as it begins showing signs of kennel cough as it may be symptoms of another more serious condition your dog is suffering from.
Kennel cough is not usually a serious condition, but can be very irritating for your dog and in some cases can develop into a more serious disease.
Kennel cough symptoms can range from the obvious honking cough, to a lack of exercise, to hacking up foamy liquid. Prevention is the best cure for kennel cough, so it is important to monitor your dog for strange symptoms, especially if you visit dog parks on a regular basis.
In many cases dog owners do not bring their pets in to see an animal doctor because they are told that kennel cough is not a serious issue, and only lasts a week or two. While this is usually true, it is very common for the kennel cough symptoms to mask a more serious underlying condition.
While the cough itself is certainly nothing be afraid of, it’s always best to be on the safe side when it comes to the health of our furry friends.
There are several ways of treating a dog that has contracted kennel cough. While some pet owners prefer prescribed medication for quick relief, others prefer to let the cough run its course and give their dog’s natural home remedies to treat the condition. It’s important to remember that what works for one dog may not work for another, so it’s important to bring your dog in to get properly assessed. Animal doctors may recommend different types of treatment depending on a variety of factors such as the dog’s size, age, and condition.
Kennel cough typically only lasts for 1-2 weeks, however if your dog has been coughing for longer than 3-4 weeks it is highly recommended that you bring it in to an animal hospital for x-rays to be on the safe side. Constant hacking is tough on the dog’s throat, especially for puppies, and can cause damage their trachea if it goes on for too long.
Vaccinations and anti-biotics are not for everyone, and that goes for our dogs as well. Pet owners who do not believe in treating their dogs with drugs have plenty of natural alternatives when it comes to remedying kennel cough.
Pet owners do not need to spend a lot of money to cure their dog of this disease. There are several home remedies available to help your dog feel better; the majority only requiring simple household items and ingredients. For pet owners who prefer to let the cough run its course, the kennel cough home remedies have been found to be effective in curing, and providing dog’s relief over the span of the condition.
*Please note that if the cough lasts longer than 2-3 weeks, or you notice the colour of the phlem change from clear/cream to a dark gold/green it can signify that a subsidiary bacteria/infection has set in. In this case it is important to take your dog in to get looked at by an animal doctor for a professional opinion right away to ensure it receives the proper care.
Seasonal Canine Illness (SCI) – Harvest Mites
Seasonal Canine Illness (SCI) is associated with animals which have been walked in wooded areas or parkland in the autumn months.
Cases are characterised by lethargy, vomiting and rapid unconsciousness.
The Animal Health Trust (AHT) has asked owners to treat dogs with a Fipronil-based insecticidal spray before walks.
First reported in 2010, SCI still has no proven cause or cure.
More than 300 cases have been reported to the AHT study with 16 deaths. However vets admit many more cases are likely to have gone unrecorded.
Researchers at AHT said they now believed previous possible sources, such as fungi, algae or agricultural chemicals, were unlikely.
Attention was now focused on harvest mites, which many ill dogs had been bitten by.
The charity’s Head of Disease Surveillance and Epidemiology, Dr Richard Newton, said: “It could be coincidence or it could be part of the cause.
“We are coming at it from the other end to see if we can prevent the harvest mites causing a problem and see if that prevents SCI.”
Dr Newton said owners should spray the underside of the dog before walks. Treatments which applied drops to a single area were not thought to be effective.
Despite there being no known cure, Janice Dixon from McPherson and Partners vets at Rainworth, Nottinghamshire, said progress had been made.
“In 2010 when it was first reported on, 20% of the cases recorded died. Last year we had less than 2% died.
“Because the awareness is out there, people are bringing them in earlier and it makes our job so much easier to treat them,” she said.
AHT is studying the illness at five sites; Sandringham Estate and Thetford Forest in Norfolk, Sherwood Forest and Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire and Rendlesham Forest in Suffolk.
Each cat has their own purr
Why cats purr:
The deep, throaty sound of a contented cat’s purr is more than just music to our ears. It speaks to us on many levels, often triggering precious childhood memories of our much-loved family cat or our first kitten, little paws kneading away and eyes closed in bliss as we snuggle up to the tiny, warm body and breathe in its sweet, furry smell.
Although the cat is almost unique in its ability to produce a purr, it doesn’t have any special mechanism to create the sound. There is no ‘purr button’ hard-wired to a cat’s ears or chin, despite the immediate response when you touch there! The noise appears to be caused by using a combination of its vocal folds and larynx to make air vibrate when it breathes in and out.
There are quiet ones and there are veritable little engines that we swear could almost be heard in the next room or even the next street! Some cats add little extra noises when they purr, some drool, some alternate purring with tiny mews, depending on what they want.
Reasons to Purr:
Any observant and insightful cat owner knows that cats don’t just purr to show pleasure. They also make the sound when hungry, giving birth, sick or fearful. We don’t fully understand why cats purr (another of the wonderful enigmas that make us love them so much) but one theory is that the sound serves as a kind of comfort mechanism to help the cat calm itself in stressful situations.
This means that a purring cat sitting in a corner of the cattery may not be super-delighted to be there, but quite the opposite and trying to comfort itself. Food for thought, isn’t it?
Healing Purrs and Purring Heals!
Many studies have shown that stroking a cat can lower blood pressure and that people who own a cat tend to be healthier and live longer than those who don’t. But what about the healing effect of that powerful purr?
We all know that cats have an uncanny ability to know that you are in pain and wrap themselves around the sore bit, even if that means maneuvering themselves on top of your head! Some cat owners swear that the sound of their cat purring helps cure a headache or a migraine.
Therefore it was only a matter of time before researchers turned their attention to a cat’s purr to see if the healing and comforting effect we experience has any scientific foundation.
Certain sounds at particular frequencies can aid healing in our bodies, helping bones heal more quickly, swelling to subside and tissue to regenerate faster. Scientists have conducted experiments to prove that a sound range of between 25 and 50 Hz improved healing of bone by 20%.
Bioacoustics expert Elizabeth von Muggenthaler recorded the purrs of many different kinds of cats (including the big cats) and concluded that domestic cats generally purr in the same 25 to 50 Hz range. It isn’t rocket science to make the connection! Cats purring really does help us heal.
Lungworm and Parasite Control
Written by our Vet (Simon Hayes)
I’ve been in small animal practice for nearly 20 years now. In large animal practice there is an understanding of the necessity for parasite control. Without it, productivity takes a hit, but I believe there has been to lax an attitude to parasite control in our nation’s pets for too long. Now with cases of lungworm (Angiostrongylus vasorum) being diagnosed more and more frequently, this has to change. If I see one more dog dying acutely from lungworm, it will be one too many. Slugs and snails are the reservoir of lungworm. Larval stages develop in them and then dogs, being dogs eat the slug or snail intentionally or accidentally. The dog is then infected and the larvae migrate to the pulmonary artery (near the lungs and heart) where the adult worms develop and lay eggs which move to the lungs. Little nodules form in the lungs containing eggs and larvae. Most infected dogs will cough and it can become a low grade chronic disease, but in a few dogs it can be rapidly fatal. Some just show very non-specific illness, like tiredness or vomiting and diarrhea but in others their blood stops clotting and they can die very quickly. Sorry to be so graphic, but I have sadly seen this happen.
I’m sure like many vets out there, I have often not pushed the issue of worm and flea control. We regularly hear “He’s very well, I’m sure he doesn’t need worming,” or, “I would know if she had a problem.” During a long, busy day, who can be bothered arguing that prescription wormers or flea products are more effective than pet shop or supermarket products? If I ever find Bob Martin, I won’t be held responsible for my actions! If I’m honest most people are concerned over the costs and as a profession we haven’t educated them well enough to see the importance of spending just a little bit more to get the right products. Generally it works out at £10-12 a month.
Owner compliance is poor when vets strongly recommend products, imagine what its like when we make it sound like its not that important. Those days should be over. In the UK, certainly in the South East, we now have a potentially fatal parasite out there that can easily be controlled with a monthly preventative treatment. Surely it is every veterinary surgeon’s responsibility to advise this. I would question whether it should be advice or whether, as with heartworm in other countries, it is seen as importantly as vaccination.
Its not only lungworm; there are human health issues with pet parasites as well and cats are just as important. There are at least 10 cases per year in the UK of Toxocariasis in children, with a high risk of blindness. Many people are allergic to flea bites. Sarcoptic mange can be transmitted to people. I have a client who caught worms off of her cat and became extremely ill. Why are we taking a risk with pet and human health? I am very strongly advising the use of monthly Advocate for every dog and cat that I see. As I said, I cannot watch another dog die from lungworm and I see it as my responsibility to make pet owners aware of how serious parasites can be for them and their pets.