What are ear mites?

What are ear mites? Ear mites can affect a dog at any age, however they're more common in puppies because puppies haven't built up immunity to them. Ear mites are tiny crab-like parasites that live in the ear canals, and sometimes on the body, of dogs. They feed on earwax and other secretions in the ear canal. They rarely bite but they can cause a severe inflammation in affected dog's ears. Excessive shaking of the head or scratching of the ears or an odor coming from your puppy's ears may be signs that ear mites have moved into his ear canal. You can check for ear mites by looking inside your puppy's ear. If you see a thick crusty substance that looks similar to ground coffee this is usually a sign that ear mites are there. Treating ear mites Ear mites are one of the most common causes of canine ear troubles and can be persistent, however they're easy to diagnose and you can treat them at home. If you suspect your puppy is suffering from ear mites visit your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will check to make sure your puppy's ear irritation is a result of ear mites and not an infection of some kind. Because the signs indicating ear mites are similar to other ear problems it's important to check with your veterinarian. If you misdiagnosed your puppy's problem and treated an infection with ear mite medication it could make the infection worse. Your veterinarian will clean out your puppy's ears and prescribe anti- mite eardrops. It usually takes 4-6 weeks of treatment to get rid of the mites. Once treatment starts the mites may decide to move somewhere else on your puppy's body, usually to the base of his tail. To prevent this use a flea powder or spray on your puppy's whole body at the same time treatment of his ears is going on. Ear mites are very contagious and can be passed from any furry animal to your puppy. Because of this it's necessary to treat all furry animals that share a home with the affected puppy.

Vaccinating the Young

Vaccinating the Young

Newly born animals' immune systems are not yet developed enough to fight off invading diseases. The mother's body, therefore, responds to this need by producing a special type of milk during the first few days after she gives birth. Called colostrum, this milk contains all of the antibodies to diseases that the mother has retained over her lifetime and passes them on to her offspring, which then acquire immunity against many different diseases. The first two days after birth, thus, are extremely important in the determination of what degree of immunity newborn animals receive. Maternal antibodies to numerous diseases can make the difference between life and death for newborns. By the time they are 15-20 weeks old, young animals will need to establish their own immunity. Unfortunately, however, maternal antibodies wear off after a certain time, and vaccines cannot take effect until maternal antibody levels have dropped enough. So as long as maternal immunity is retained in the young animal's system, any vaccines that are given to it will be ineffectual. It is at this critical juncture that a young pet should be vaccinated at multiple intervals, to ensure the greatest likelihood of preventing disease. Veterinarians need to vaccinate young pets several times over the course of their adolescence, until the vaccines can take full effect. Even with adult animals, it is often best to administer a vaccine twice, to ensure a more effective immune response.

How Expensive Is Vaccination?

Although vaccination is vital to your pet's health, it can also be expensive. The expense of going to your veterinarian for pets' vaccinations can accumulate, especially if you have more than one pet. As a cheaper alternative, in most states you can obtain over-the-counter vaccines at significant savings over what you would pay at the veterinarian's office. You will have to administer the actual vaccination yourself, however, so you should be sure to educate yourself thoroughly on the use of a hypodermic needle. You should feel comfortable with the whole process. If you choose to do this, PetCareRx.com can provide you with cheap, effective vaccines that are conveniently shipped to you in a carefully temperature-controlled box. Alternatively, you may be able to find a vaccination clinic in your surrounding area that can provide your pet with all of the vaccines it needs, at steeply discounted prices. You should make sure that it is clean, safe and reputable.

Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is an uncommon but extremely dangerous allergic reaction to something a pet may have ingested or been injected with, resulting in respiratory and cardiac failure, shock and/or death. Vaccines, antibiotics, stinging insects, hormones, medications and foods have all been known to cause anaphylaxis in certain animals. It is an extremely urgent situation requiring immediate emergency veterinary assistance. It can be difficult to predict whether or not an animal will develop an anaphylactic reaction to something, but if your pet has already had a severe reaction to a certain substance, that substance should definitely be avoided. If your pet has ever developed a reaction to a specific vaccine or medication, have your veterinarian make a note of this in your pet's medical file. If you vaccinate your pet yourself, be sure to have epinephrine available, in case a reaction occurs. If your pet experiences an anaphylactic reaction, you should inject it with epinephrine immediately and obtain emergency veterinary assistance. Furthermore, vaccines often contain antibiotics as preservatives, so if you know your pet is allergic to a specific antibiotic, you should monitor which vaccines contain that antibiotic. Some animals are allergic to bites from bees and other insects, so obtain a prescription for epinephrine and take it with you when you go on extended outdoor trips.

Allergic Reactions in Your Pet

Much like humans, many animals develop allergies to airborne substances, like pollen, mold, dust, feathers and wool. The signs of allergies in pets are quite different from those in humans. While people contract respiratory symptoms, like runny nose, sneezing and itchy eyes, animals exhibit allergies through frequent scratching. To alleviate some of these symptoms, you should try some of the following therapies. Try adding colloidal oatmeal to the water you bathe your pet in. This will maximize the soothing effect of the bath on the skin and fur. Also, be sure to keep your pets indoors, particularly in the warmer months, when pollen is often present in the air. Cat owners should carefully examine the ingredients of your cat's litter, which may contain specific chemicals, dyes or perfumes which may affect both cats and dogs alike.

Rabbit Viral Hemorrhagic Disease Outbreak in Iowa

Otherwise known as Rabbit Calicivirus Disease (RCD), Viral Hemorrhagic Disease (VHD) is a rabbit disease, which has not been seen in the United States or Canada until recently. It is a major, potentially deadly disease, which is native to parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In early April 2000, VHD was identified in a group of 27 rabbits in Iowa. The origin of the outbreak remains a mystery, although the outbreak has been officially contained. The first case of VHD was reported in China in 1984. Since then, the disease has spread from China to Europe to Mexico and elsewhere. This virus is extremely contagious and can be transferred through contact with other rabbits, rabbit products, infected objects and through the air. Symptoms may include fever, lethargy, trembling, excitement and lack of coordination.

Donations aided in pug's surgery

Donations aided in pug's surgery

06:44 AM CST on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 Associated Press

FOREST LAKE, Minn. - A little pug named Buck has been saved, thanks to a group of dog lovers who bonded through the Internet.

After the 2-year-old pug was hit by a car last week and broke three legs, its owners, Colleen and Jim Bighley, were faced with a $3,000 surgery bill they couldn't afford.

Colleen Bighley shared her grief on a pug-lovers' Web site and wrote about her plans to give the dog one night at home before putting it to sleep.

But 14 minutes after Bighley's post, a pug owner in Australia offered to donate money for the surgery. Others followed, and more than 200 donations totaling about $2,000 came in, from as far away as France and Alaska.

Buck is home recuperating now, and Bighley has a new appreciation for Web ties.

"Some people think I'm weird because I go on the Internet to talk about my dog," Bighley said. "My sister-in-law told me she can't call me a geek anymore, because all these people saved my dog's life."