7 Ways Dogs Can Help Your Health

Dogs may be good at more than fetching sticks and greeting you after a long day at work. As it turns out, simply having them around may lessen your kids' chances of getting the common cold.

Owning a dog may improve the health of children in that household, according to new research from the University of California, San Francisco. In a study of mice, researchers found that the house dust from homes with dogs worked to protect against a common cold strain, the respiratory syncytial virus.

"Mice aren't identical to humans. There are obvious differences," explains Dr. Susan Lynch, co-investigator of the study and a professor at UCSF. "But we can do things in the animals that we could not possibly do in humans, and we can get samples to examine disease that would be very difficult to assess in humans."

Animals fed house dust from dog-owning homes did not exhibit the usual symptoms of RSV, including mucus production and lung inflammation. In fact, their symptoms were comparable to animals that weren't exposed to the virus in the first place.

The Advantages of Owning a Dog

Fitter, happier, more productive... If you want to be all that and more, get a dog.

A friend indeed

There's a reason dogs have long been called a man's best friend. Their loyalty, intelligence, devotion and affection are incredibly rewarding. From taking a long walk together on a beautiful spring morning, being greeted by a happily wagging tail at the end of a long day to relaxing at home in each other's company, owning a dog can raise spirits and engender a sense of wellbeing like almost nothing else.

And of course for all the love you put in, a dog will give you it back tenfold.

Do Animals Have Souls?

Question: Do Animals Have Souls?

Will We See Our Pets in Heaven?One of life’s greatest joys is having a pet. They bring so much happiness, companionship and enjoyment that we can’t imagine life without them. Many Christians wonder, "Do animals have souls? Will I see my pet in heaven?"

Answer:

In the past few decades, scientists have proven beyond any doubt that some species of animals possess intelligence. Porpoises and whales can communicate with other members of their species through audible language. Dogs can be trained to do relatively complex tasks. Gorillas have even been taught to form simple sentences using sign language.

Dog's Belly Buttons

Ask dog owners whether or not their pet has a belly button and most will probably say no. That is because most canine belly buttons are not readily visible.

However, the answer to the question is that dogs definitely do have belly buttons. The main reason for many people thinking that dogs do not have a belly button is that canine belly buttons are very different from those of humans. While human navels are easily visible, canine belly buttons are often nothing more than a faint scar. They do not resemble a hole in the stomach. They are usually flat (unless there is a medical problem such as a hernia) and hairless.

Consider a dog’s navel, which is also known as the umbilicus. This is where the blood vessels from the placenta attach to the puppy before it is born. These blood vessels are vital to life because they provide nutrition and help with oxygen and waste product removal.

Once a puppy is born, it no longer relies on the blood vessel or umbilical cord. The mother will often eat the umbilical cord. It does not take a long time for the spot where the umbilical cord was attached to heal. In a day or so, the area scabs over and it soon becomes difficult to tell where the blood vessel was attached.

tonsillitisin dogs

Dogs have two tonsils located in the back of the throat, where they act much like lymph nodes to combat throat infections. When the tonsils become inflamed, the condition is called tonsillitis. It is most common in small breeds of dogs. 

Tonsillitis can be caused by any infection or irritation of the mouth that allows bacteria to multiply and enter the throat. The most common cause is probably build up of bacterial tartar on the teeth and associated inflammation of the gums. Most cases of tonsillitis are caused by overgrowth of bacteria that are normally found in the mouth, which means that it is not usually contagious to other pets or people. 

Dogs with tonsillitis tend to gag, as if something is in the throat, or to make exaggerated swallowing motions. Some dogs lick their lips repeatedly. Most dogs with tonsillitis are reluctant to eat because swallowing is painful. They may be hungry and go to their food bowl but then eat nothing or very little. Activity level may be decreased, although tonsillitis does not usually cause a fever. 

CANINE SEIZURES - AN OVERVIEW, CAUSES AND TREATMENTS

AN OVERVIEW

What is Canine Epilepsy?

Canine Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent seizures. Although seizures are always abnormal events, not all seizures in dogs are caused by canine epilepsy.

Canine Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain where abnormal electrical activity triggers further uncoordinated nerve transmission. This uncoordinated and haphazard nerve tissue activity scrambles messages to the muscles of your dog's body and the coordinated use of the muscles is then inhibited.

Because there are many causes of chronic recurrent seizures in dogs, canine epilepsy is not a specific disease or even a single syndrome, but rather a diverse category of disorders. Canine Epilepsy is broadly divided into idiopathic and symptomatic disorders. Idiopathic Epilepsy, also called primary epilepsy, means that there is no identifiable brain abnormality other than seizures. Symptomatic epilepsy (also called secondary epilepsy) is seizures that are the consequence of an identifiable lesion or other specific cause.

Why Does My Dog Have Seizures

A dog may seizure for any number of reasons. Just because a dog has a seizure does not mean that the dog has epilepsy. Just because I have a running nose does not mean that I have a cold. I could have a reaction to someone's perfume, I could have a sinus infection, I could have allergies, I could have ... . There are many tests to determine what exactly I have that is causing my running nose. However, there is no test in the medical industry for the existence of epilepsy (primary, inherited or idiopathic). To determine whether a dog has epilepsy or something else, a veterinarian or neurologist arrives at their diagnosis by a process of elimination. They determine what is not and then, hopefully, come to a logical conclusion as to what it is. The following is a list of conditions which can cause seizures in dogs. Each condition is discussed in the following sections: 

1. Brain tumor, Head injury 

2. Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever 

3. Distemper 

4. Environment - toxins 

5. Epilepsy 

6. hyper' and 'hypo' Conditions

• Hyperglycemia
• Hypoglycemia
• Hypoxia or Hypoxemia
• Hepatic Encephalopathy or Liver Disease
• Renal (kidney) disease
• Hyperkalemia
• Hyperlipoproteinemia
• "garbage" poisoning)
• Tick Bites
• Toxoplamosis (Toxo)

 7. Lissencephay 

The above list is not all-encompassing, but close, these items are the major causes for seizures in dogs.

1. Brain Tumor, Head Injury. 

A brain tumor is an abnormal growth in the brain. There are two types of tumors: primary and metastases. Primary tumors grow from tissues in the brain and their cause is unknown. Metastases are spread via the bloodstream from tumors in other places in the body. A tumor may be malignant. A tumor in the brain may also put pressure on the brain as it grows. Pressure on the brain tissue in the area of the tumor may cause: 

loss of vision 

motor coordination 

Care of Mother Dogs and Puppies

This information leaflet is provided as a method of communication between veterinarians and clients whose dogs are about to give birth. It is designed to explain the signs of labor, normal birth process and follow-up care of the mother and her puppies. Your role in preparing for and assisting in the birth is discussed along with problems which require special and/or emergency veterinary care. If you have any questions, be sure to ask your veterinarian to answer them for you.

Preparing for Birth

A couple of weeks before your dog gives birth (whelping), supply the expectant mother with a box for her to have her pups in. The box must be large enough for the mother to stretch out in and allow enough room for a brood of new puppies. The mother dog should be able to enter and leave the box easily. Make sure the sides of the box are several inches high in order to keep the puppies in, box dry, and chilly drafts out. Place the whelping box in a warm area which is free from distractions but familiar to the mother dog. She needs a quiet and secure place to rest.

Mange in Dogs

Demodicosis in Dogs

Mange (demodicosis) is an inflammatory disease in dogs caused by various types of the Demodex mite. When the number of mites inhabiting the hair follicles and skin of the dog become exorbitant, it can lead to skin lesions, genetic disorders, problems with the immune system and hair loss (alopecia). The severity of symptoms depends upon the type of mite inhabiting the dog.

The condition or disease described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects cats, please visit this page in the petMD health library. You can also learn more about the other common type of mange: sarcoptic mange in dogs.

Symptoms and Types

Demodectic mange may either be localized and affect specific areas of the body, or generalized, where it affects the entire body. If localized, symptoms are usually mild, with lesions occurring in patches, especially on the face, trunk, or legs. If generalized, symptoms will be more widespread and appear across the body. These symptoms include alopecia, a redness of the skin (erythema), and the appearance of scales and lesions.

How Long Does A Dog Stay In Heat?

So, you’ve got yourself the cute puppy that you and your family have been yearning for. The kids love her … and they are actually helping out!

She’s a beautiful female, the most adorable thing in the world.

Then, last night, you recall that the neighbor down the road had one of those “nightmare” problems — her pet had an unwanted pregnancy. And you wonder, “how long does a dog stay in heat?”.

Well, the short answer is: about two and a half weeks.

Basics of the Estrous Cycle