Article: Beagle Dog Health

It was around 2,000 years ago when Beagle dogs first came into existence. In fact it has been depicted in various literature and paintings during the time of Queen Elizabeth. Even today, Beagle dogs are popular subject on televisions, film and comic books. Just like other breed of dogs, Beagle dogs can also develop canine influenza, a newly identified disease affecting dogs.

Canine influenza, also called canine flu appears to be similar to Kennel Cough or Canine Tracheobronchitis. This disease was a common infection in horses and has transferred to dogs because of the exposure at greyhound track wherein horse racing and dog racing occurs. This disease is spread easily if dogs are kept together, but could also be passed on the street or in kennels. This airborne disease is spread by infected dogs through sneezing or coughing on another. This is also spread through direct contact with a contaminated surface.

After a dog is exposed to the virus, symptoms usually appear two to five days. These symptoms include sneezing, coughing and fever. The severity of this disease is categorized into two; mild infection and severe infection. Dogs with mild infection of canine influenza experience soft, moist cough that lasts for around ten to thirty days, some dogs however have dry cough. Low-grade fever as well as thick nasal discharge is also present in this condition. On the other hand, symptoms of severe infection include fever, increased respiratory rates with difficulty in breathing and other clinical signs of pneumonia. Fever ranges from 104 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mild infection is accompanied with nasal discharge that represents a secondary bacterial infection. This condition can be treated with a broad-spectrum bactericidal antimicrobial. Administration of antibiotics is also used in treating this disease. Severe infection of canine influenza is often accompanied with pneumonia caused by bacterial superinfection. This condition is best treated with hydration, done through intravenous administration of fluids. Severe infection of canine influenza is also treated with bactericidal antimicrobial. If your pet is showing any or all of these signs, consult your veterinarian at once for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Unfortunately, vaccines can not protect dogs from this disease. Vaccination against canine influenza is not yet available today. Owners should take necessary caution in order to protect their beloved dogs.

Richard Cussons creates facts articles about dogs. To learn more about Beagle training, check out beaglesavvy.com and get as much facts as you want about Beagle dogs.

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Dog Ailments

Dogs can suffer from similar ailments that we get as we age, including arthritis and pain in the joints.

Some breeds of dogs are more prone than others to getting certain ailments and you need to be aware of the possible problems that your particular breed of dog might get as it grows older.

By giving your dog a warm place to lie when it sleeps you might be able to ward off arthritic pain.

By keeping the body weight down to acceptable levels for dogs that are prone to overeating and weight gain might stop your dog from developing other symptoms that can affect the quality of life.

It is far better to control things that can affect the dogs health during the course of their life than to make them, and you, pay for ill health as they age.

According to many dog experts our pets should be living for a lot longer than the current life expectancies that we have come to accept.

With good medication we can expect to enjoy more years with our dogs but it is just as easy to add many quality years to their life by ensuring that they get the optimum nutrition and suitable living standards during the course of their life.

Most dogs are very hardy but even they will benefit from additional comforts and care.

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There are two types of worms that you are likely to have to contend with in keeping your dog healthy, and they are the round worms and the tapeworms.

Round worms are the ones most prevalent in puppies and they generally look like small white pieces of string of about three inches in length.
They can grow up to twice this size in a full-grown dog.

Round worms live in the small intestine of the dog and can become so concentrated that they will block the passage.
They can be passed by the bowel and this can obviously affect other dogs that are in contact with dogs that have round worms.

It only takes a matter of days for the worms to become fully developed and it is easy for them to spread quickly from one dog to another.

The speed by which they can breed and multiply has been one of the reasons why many people originally assumed that puppies were always born with round worms although it has since been proven that this is not the case.

More often than not the puppies have got the worms from their mother in the confines of their kennel.

There are so many different symptoms that can appear when a dog has worms that anything you notice outside of the ordinary behavior of your pet should be addressed by a visit to your vet as a worm infested dog can become a very unhealthy, unhappy dog very fast.

Left untreated worms can kill a dog so it is better to be safe than sorry if you suspect your pet might have worms or have been in contact with other dogs that might have worms.
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By: Douglas Black,

We all know about the risks and dangers of skin cancer. We are careful to cover our children with a high SPF sun block before they go out to play in the sun, and we understand that we need to protect our own adult skin as well. Should we protect our pets as well?

Can animals develop skin cancer, as humans can? They absolutely can. Many pet owners are surprised to learn that the family dog or cat is very susceptible to the damaging rays of the sun, and care must be taken for their welfare as well as ours. Common sense tells us to provide plenty of shade and limit our pets’ exposure to direct sunlight during peak hours.

Direct sunlight is not the sole cause of skin cancer in pets, but it is certainly a major contributor. Hormones, previous burns, viruses and inoculations are among the other factors that can cause animals to acquire skin cancer. Pets, like humans, have a genetic predisposition to the development of skin cancer. It’s a disease that can run in your pet’s family, the same way it can run in yours.

Like their fair-skinned human counterparts, light colored dogs and cats are at greater risk of developing skin cancer. Pets with white fur are, of course, at the higher end of the risk scale. Any parts of the body where the coat is thin are at greatest risk. These include the stomach, inside of a dog’s hind legs, and the ear tips, pink noses, and outer eye areas on cats.

Hairless breeds of dogs and cats have no natural protection from the sun’s rays. Dalmatians, pit bulls, pointers and bull terriers are among the breeds of dogs most at risk. It’s interesting to note that when a Dalmatian develops skin cancer, the disease strikes only the white areas and misses the black spots.

Like humans, skin cancer strikes pets later in life. When your dog or cat reaches about nine years of age, you should schedule veterinary checkups every six months. With early detection, your pet will have a better chance of surviving skin cancer.

Early detection, however, is not always enough. The disease can progress quickly in six months, so it’s important that you are aware of how he or she normally behaves. If your pet is experiencing pain or discomfort, his or her normal behavior will change. As your pet’s caregiver, be aware of this natural sign that dictates it’s time for a thorough physical check-up.

Look for weight loss, changes in eating habits or a disinterest in taking part in everyday activities like playing and going for a walk.

Be on the lookout for physical changes to your pet. If you note changes to moles, or newly developed sores on your pet, get him or her to the vet quickly.

Your pet may his or her discomfort to avoid disappointing you. Dogs and cats are keenly in tune to the moods of their owners and they naturally want to please. Sometimes, animals will follow an innate instinct to hide symptoms out of fear. In the natural world, illness equates weakness, and weakness brings death. Therefore, it can be a natural response for your beloved pet to hide his or her illness.

Pets, like humans, can develop skin cancer from excessive exposure to the sun. Your pet naturally loves to spend time outdoors, and you need to be the protector. Provide a cool, shady resting spot or simply limit the time spent outdoors to early morning or late afternoon and evening hours.

Essayist Sterling Ostin is a freelancer for numerous popular web sites, and you can read more articles by him if you click here or visit this site.

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