Lyme disease can afflict dogs as well as humans

A few weeks after a short stay at a dog kennel more than two years ago, Kathleen Drew’s 6-year-old golden retriever Cody stopped eating. The dog’s veterinarian suggested changing her diet and adding hamburgers into the mix to entice her.

As the dog started to lose weight, the vet suspected a urinary tract infection, treating that with an antibiotic. Vets at a local animal hospital who were consulted suggested problems with Cody’s kidneys. But tests and ultrasounds weren’t conclusive.

When Cody suddenly became very ill two months later, the family rushed the dog to the animal hospital, where vets hooked her up to IVs, ran more tests and injected her with antibiotics. None of it helped. The dog had developed severe kidney failure and soon died.

Only after an autopsy did the vets identify the culprit: Lyme disease, which can be particularly deadly to some dogs.

“The vets were as surprised as can be,” Drew said in a recent interview. “At the time, Lyme disease was just not something people thought about.”

Most recover, but some don’t

With its bull’s-eye rash, achy joints and flulike symptoms, Lyme is a concern for humans. Most dogs exposed to the disease show no signs of infection and recover on their own. But a small percentage run fevers, become lame, lose their appetite or, in rare instances, die. And some of America’s favorite breeds — golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers — seem to be particularly at risk.

“Lyme disease can b

Natural Remedies to Relieve Dog Constipation

Like humans, our dog companions can and do, get constipated at times. Constipation in dogs can have a number of causes. It can also be treated by several different natural remedies. Please note that I am not a veterinarian and it is always best to check with your pet's veterinarian before using any type of natural remedy on your canine to ensure it's appropriateness and safety.

You can tell if your dog is constipated if he or she exhibits any of these symptoms: your dog produces small, hard, and/or dry fecal matter, experiences abdominal pain, strains when having a bowel movement with no results, experiences a loss of appetite, and there are long time stretches between bowel movements. More specifically, if your furry friend has not defecated in two days, he or she is most likely constipated, according to Organic Pet Digest.

According to Dog Pro, constipation in canines is typically caused by something your pet is or is not eating. However, constipation can have several other causes as well. It may also be caused by a lack of fiber in your pet's diet, not getting enough exercise, not having enough fresh water to drink, ingesting foreign objects, which cannot pass through the intestines, an underlying medical condition, and worm infestation in your pet's body.

There are several natural remedies for canine constipation you may try at home. However, please check with your vet before you give your dog any type of natural remedy to ensure its safety and appropriateness for your dog's situation. Furthermore, if you do not see improvement when using these natural remedies for dog constipation, please take your dog to a veterinarian who can check for ingested foreign objects, worms, and underlying medical conditions.

How to Help Your Dog with Cataracts

It is not uncommon for dogs to develop cataracts over time. Most dogs are not affected until they get up there in years and it begins gradually. However, not all dogs with a cloudy-looking eye has cataracts. In fact, the geriatric eye is a hardening of the lens of the eye, known as Nuclear Sclerosis and not a cataract. You as the pet parent may have concerns and wonder how you can help your dog with cataracts. This is the first sign of vision loss in our pets but it does not mean that your dog cannot see. So, what exactly is a cataract and how does it affect your dog?

According to the Pet Place, the lens that covers the eye is normally clear but when a cataract develops, the lens becomes cloudy, blocking transmission of light to the retina. The eyes will appear to have a bluish, gray or white covering on the eye itself. A dog with problem cataracts may have a tendency to bump into things, reluctant to do normal activities like jumping, climbing stairs and so forth, may seem withdrawn in unfamiliar circumstances and is constantly squinting. In advanced cases, the dog may experience pain, inflammation and redness of the eyes.

Animaleyecare.net states that the causes of cataracts is usually genetic although a specific trauma to the eye can definitely be a factor. Dogs with diabetes are predisposed to cataracts. In puppies, cataracts can be the result of nutritional disorders. Dogs with an ocular type disease may develop cataracts as well as rare cases of birth defects, side effects to radiation and infections or toxic drugs.

If you have concerns about your dog's eyes, your veterinarian can perform a thorough physical examination to recognize cataracts and exclude any underlying medical issues. Some tests may be performed in order to do so, such as blood tests, ultrasound of the eye and an electroretinogram to evaluate the function of the retina.

Be sure to contact your veterinarian to find out any known treatment for cataracts in dogs. The condition cannot be reversed. Cataract surgery can be performed in more advanced cases but is not always recommended or necessary for your dog to live a long happy life. If the cataracts are due to an underlying condition such as diabetes, that condition needs to be treated. The cataracts will not clear up but will progress as long as underlying issues are addressed and remedied.

There is little that you can do to prevent cataracts. To provide a good life for your dog, be sure to keep the home in consistent order as most dogs have things memorized so as not to run into something. For his/her safety, be sure the yard is fenced in or is on a leash and monitored.