AllVetMed Blog

Thyroid problems in dogs can have a negative effect on their health, particularly with metabolism. Most often, thyroid symptoms in dogs are inherited,which makes them difficult to treat. Sometimes these symptoms are a side effect of medications. It is imperative that canines get early treatment to alleviate symptoms.

Thyroid problems can be traced to too much or too little thyroid function. Hypothyrodism, indicating inadequate secretion of thyroid, and heperthyroidism, referring to too much thyroid hormone in the body, are the two conditions that dogs experience on a frequent basis. While hypothyroidism is rare in canines, hyperthyroidism is found in middle-aged canines and big-sized breeds like Golden Retrievers, Doberman Pinshers,and Irish Setters.

Treatment of Hypothroidsm

The prevalent condition in dogs is hypothyroidism, which eventually destroys the dog’s immunity. In such cases, supplementary hormones to tackle a deficiency in hormone secretion are required. In hyperthyroidism, Tapzol, also known asmethimazole, is a thyroid pill categorized as a generic medication. Surgery is also considered to be a first line of treatment. Alternative medicines include soloxine, which functions like thyroxine, because it contains levothyroxine. Other alternative methods of treatment include nutritional supplements like denamarin and welactin (omega-3 fatty acids).

Urinary tract infections are a result of bacteria infiltrating the host’s urethra – in this case your pet. This is also a cause for painful symptoms. Bladder infections may occur from a previous history of illness and is found commonly in dogs in the first couple of months and from the age of two to ten years.

At the onset of infection, symptoms surface in the form of lethargy, fever, difficulty urinating, blood in urine, strong urine odor, loss of appetite, frequent urination, pain while urinating, dark colored urine, withdrawn showing lack of enthusiasm and interest in walks or play, urinating inside the home, frequent licking of infected areas and sometimes there is no apparent symptoms at all.

The first line of treatment for urinary tract infections or bladder infections is antibiotics like Clavamox, which is a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanate. Zeniquin is another popular antibiotic used to treat the same condition. The semi-synthetic drug, Amoxi-tabs containing amoxicillin offers a broad spectrum advantage in combating urinary infections.

One of the side effects to using antibiotics frequently is that your pet can develop immunity to antibiotics. For instance, when dogs are exposed to numerous antibiotic treatments, they can develop a resistance to these drugs.

For the general welfare of your pet, vaccinations offer protection from a variety of disease conditions. However, in some cases, like the yeast skin infections, medicines such as ketoconazole can have some side effects. However, the benefits of vaccination for serious diseases far outweigh the side effects that are mostly temporary.

In some cases, side effects can be more serious and carry more risk than the vaccinated disease that it protects against. Vaccine failures can also prove to be detrimental to your pet.

Side effects to vaccinations may include sleepiness, depression, irritability, nasal discharge, excessive bleeding, tenderness at site of injection, fever, hives, facial swelling, vomiting, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes, and sometimes acute kidney and liver failure.

Vaccinations against canine parvovirus, canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus or hepatitis virus, feline panleukopenia, feline leukemia, and feline immunodeficiency virus can give rise to allergies, bowel inflammation, hypo or hyperthyroidism.

Side effects can be alleviated with medications like Metacam for pain, immunosuppressants like Cyclosporine, and Temaril-P for allergies and relief from cough, itching and inflammation. Apart from vaccination injects, even flea and tick medications have risks associated with them since some of them are known to have adverse reactions particularly in small dogs and cats.

It is also important to keep your pet free of infectious disease, improving its chances of a healthier and longer lifespan.

Get rid of fleas and ticks with quality products like Advantix, Advantage, Frontline, Revolution and Comfortis.

The next thing to take care of is heartworm prevention, using chewable tablets, daily or monthly tablets, spot-on formulas or yearly injections. Parasitic infections can be eliminated by using Advantage Multi, Trifexis, Revolution and Advantage multi.

You can use extra chews to improve dental health in your pet. Aquadent is an additive used in water for oral hygiene management in dogs and cats above six months and Nolvadent is an oral rinse. Greenies are dental chews that improve dental hygiene. Chlorhex rinse works well in cases of gingivitis.

Arthritis may be prevented in your pet by using joint supplements like Synovial Flex, in the form of chewable tablets. Cosequin also helps joint and hip problems and Dasuquin is the most subscribed drug for joint problems in dogs.

Monitoring your dog for thyroid problems is also important. In cases of hypothyroidism, pets get lethargic and demonstrate general weaknesses. After a diagnosis is confirmed by your vet, you may use thyroid hormone to bring your pet back to normalcy. In addition, antioxidants like Welactin, containing omega-3 fatty acids, assist in maintenance of vision, coat and skin.

Urinary infections in dogs are a result of infection of the bladder and in some cases the infection is isolated to the kindneys, urethra or ureter. Proin is a chewable tablet that is used to tighten sphincter muscles in dogs to provide better control of the bladder.

Ear infections result from an infection from bacteria and yeast. You can use an ear cleaning solution to remove wax and dirt once a week. Bathe your pet at least once a week. Etiderm shampoo works well since it is an antiseptic shampoo and allergroom is a hypo-allergenic shampoo with spherulites. Epi-soothe shampoo is also good for pets with dry and sensitive skin, while Allermil shampoo contains anti-inflammatory components.

Dogs and cats have retinas with rods and cones, just like humans. However, they can only see a muted version of colors and hues because the proportion of rods and cones are different. Dogs are not capable of viewing long distances with clarity.

Vetericyn ophthalmic may be used irritation in your pets eyes. It will also prevent burning, itching, stinging, and keep out foreign materials and pollutants. Eye hygiene in dogs and cats is important. Ocucan eye cleaner is great for their eyes well hydrated and clean and takes care of daily requirements for your pet’s eyes.

Pet tinic is a daily supplement containing iron. Pet Vision ophthalmic nutraceutical eye drops fights various types of cataracts in pets. Pet Vision eye drops lubricates your pet’s eyes for relief from cataracts in dogs and cats. Conjunctivitis is common among pets and is caused by bacteria that are inflamed by viruses, allergies, bacteria and household chemical cleaners.

Ocular infection in pets may be treated by Neo Poly Dex, an eye antibiotic for cats and dogs. It also reduced swelling around the eyes. Another good ointment for treating bacterial infections and inflammation covering the eye is Neo Poly Bac. Optimmune is another eye lubricant that can be used in dogs and cats.

In general, vomiting in dogs and cats stem from irritability in the gastro-intestinal tract. However, many cases of vomiting in pets go undiagnosed. In cats, it is usually caused by ingesting hairballs. Sometimes, it may be caused by ingesting food too fast or from eating a new food source. Conditions such as obstruction in the intestine and parvoviral enteritis need to be diagnosed by a vet. Vomiting in dogs and cats may be diagnosed by using X-rays, biopsies, and fluoroscopies.

Vomiting may be treated by changing the diet and preventing dehydration by adding fluids, antibiotics, getting rid of worms and ulcers and elevating bowls. Corticosteroids may be administered to alleviate irritable bowel syndrome.

Cerenia relieves motion sickness, which is another factor contributing to vomiting. Sucralfate treats peptic ulcers, ulcers and GERD. It works by providing a coat over the ulcer.  Fortiflora prevents diarrhea in cats and dogs and supports digestion and a strong immune system. Metoclopramide is a short term remedy for heartburn resulting from gastroesophageal reflux. In cases of poor digestion of protein, carbohydrates and fats, panakare is used as an enzyme replacement therapy. The product also contains Vitamins D, E and A. This treatment works well in pets with poor pancreatic exocrine function.

It is always a good idea to monitor your dog for signs of poor health. Check to see if your dog has a warm, dry nose or a mucus-like discharge from the eyes, nose or any other place.

Your dog might also feel lethargic and has no interest in eating. Look out for signs of limping or lumps on the body. Excessive scratching, biting or licking a particular spot, sores, dark colouring on teeth, bad breath, dry skin, and a dirty coat are also signs of illness. Your dog may also experience a problem with getting up the morning. Your dog may also have trouble lying down.

Losing weight or gaining weight could also present problems. Diseases that cause weight loss include Lyme disease, valley fever and blastomycosis. It can also be caused by hormonal problems.

Enzymatic dog toothpaste and Nylabone dental chews are essential for preventing plaque build-up in your canine companion. To prevent iron deficiency in dogs, pet tinic may be used while pet tabs provide a broader spectrum of multi-vitamins.

Dasuquin and Cosequin take care of your dog’s joint health and Denamarin is a vitamin for liver function enhancement. Panakare aids digestion in cases where dogs have trouble with protein, carbohydrate and fat breakdown. If diarrhea is a problem, Diagel removes bacteria in the intestines, while fortiflora addresses acute and chronic diarrhea in dogs.

If your dog or horse is injured on a farm, the first thing to do would be to locate internal injuries and wounds to the best of your ability. If there is a serious injury like bleeding or a wound that cannot be fixed, it is best to take the animal to a vet. In the case of joint injuries and if your dog is unable to walk, this would also call for medical intervention from the veterinarian.

In terms of first aid, Vetericyn is an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral broad spectrum drug that works well for horses and companion animals like dogs. It works well as a wound infection treatment that is non-irritating. For pain relief, it is best to use anti-inflammatory drugs like Rimadyl. If you have identified a leg injury, your pet animal will need lots of rest.

External wounds require Ichon which contains Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan (100mg/mL). Hytryl is comprised of Sodium Hyaluronate and may be used on horses and dogs to normalize joints. Vetericyn is also an effective, one-step management for wound and skin care.

Pain medication for internal wounds can be addressed with Metacam and Deramaxx. Both drugs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs. Metacam regulates pain and inflammation in dogs and Deramaxx is utilized to control inflammation and pain.

While your pet animal is getting lots of rest, you can introduce supplements and vitamins to speed up the healing in your dog. Synovial Flex come in the form of chewable tablets and maintains efficient joint care in dogs. Cosequin also helps joint and hip problems. Dasuquin is the most subscribed drug for joint problems in dogs.

Hookworms, roundworms, whipworms and tapeworms are the four worm parasites that infect canines. Parasites are transmitted through dog feces, so keeping your dog away from places where other dogs may have pooped is one way of preventing an infection of this kind. Keeping your dog’s environment clean is absolutely essential. Although you might enjoy walking your dog, giving up trips to the park would also prevent parasitic infections.

The heartworm presents the highest risk to a dog and is transmitted through mosquitoes that inject larva into the dog and it is then circulated to the heart. Here, the parasite feeds on cardiac tissue and multiplies at a high rate. It is possible for roundworms inhabiting the intestines, such as Toxocare to infect humans as well, giving rise to blindness and epilepsy.

When it comes to treatment, there are a plethora of options including Drontal, a wormer for dogs that also gets rid of tapeworms. A broad spectrum drug that attacks most worms is Drontal Plus, which combines the treatment power of three drugs. Advantage Multi is topical treatment that can be applied to dogs for keeping heartworms away.

Panacur C is a worm remover that may be added to food for convenience while Revolution is a potent drug that protects against fleas and heartworms. Revolution has the advantage of combating both internal and external infections from parasites. Cestex fights tapeworms and can be taken as a tablet. HomeoPet WRM Clear is a homeopathic medicine in liquid form and offers fast action for the removal of Hook, Tape and Roundworms.

Hookworms

In case you’re wondering why your dog is losing hair, there may be a couple of reasons for it. Most vets describe hair loss as a thinning of hair, or the loss of hair in its entirety: alopecia. It is one of the main reasons for taking dogs to the veterinarian. Often, it is indicative of a medical issue, for instance suggesting a reaction to flea saliva.

In general, dogs are expected to have soft hair that is neither oily nor dry. Dogs on vitamin supplements are likely to have fewer problems with hair loss or dry skin. In addition, dogs, such as Poodles, that have very fine hair, do not have much shine in comparison to Labrador Retrievers, which have a coarser coat.

Dogs need vitamins and supplements not just for nutritional health, but also to keep their skin and hair healthy. These include omega-3 fatty acids found in some types of fish, and omega-6 fatty acids. These supplements are sometimes called essential fatty acids, and it is a good idea to include these components in the dog’s diet, if it is possible. When these are missing, the cell membrane’s function is compromised.

As a second line of treatment, you can use a furminatorto get rid of shedding hair. The furminator is a top-notch shedding solution and decreases hair losses by as much as 90%.