When you hear about the subject of internal parasites, the most common worm that comes to mind are heartworms. Heartworms are nasty little creatures that can prove to be fatal if left unchecked. However, there are other parasites to look out for which are equally dangerous to your dog or puppy.

Roundworms: Roundworms spend their time floating inside the liver, heart, and the lungs of your dog's body. When they mature, they make their home inside the small intestines where they continually feed on the food that your dog eats. Signs that your dog may be infested with roundworms include gas, enormous surges in appetite, diarrhea, and bloating.

Whipworms: Whipworms can be found living inside the large intestine of your dog, which is where they also reproduce. Dogs can become infected with whipworms by eating the stools of other dogs that contain the parasite. Sometimes a dog can easily become infested with whipworms after stepping in dog feces when walking outside and then lick their paws. These little creatures can cause your dog to have diarrhea, bloody stools, dry fur, and an increase in appetite.

Tapeworms: Like other internal parasites, tapeworms can cause your dog to have increased appetite levels, weight loss, rectal inflammation/itching, and visible signs of the worms from the orifices of your dog's body. Tapeworms look like little pieces of white rice which can easily be seen on his stools and even sometimes coming out of areas like the ears.

Hookworms: Your dog or puppy can pick up this parasite from eating the stools of other animals that have been infected. Hookworms can cause symptoms in your dog such as gas, loose stools, increased appetite, and dry brittle fur. These parasites spend most of their time feeding off of the food your dog eats, as well as sucking the blood from your pet.

Giardia: These internal parasites, called Giardia, are typically picked up from areas of water such as a small pond or lake. Your adult dog or puppy can accidentally pick up this creature from swimming, and once they are ingested, they live and eat at the inner lining of your dog's small intestine. This causes inflammation, mucus covered stools, weight loss, and bloating.

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Dogs, especially puppies, are naturally curious creatures. It is very easy for them to get hurt or injured just by being themselves and going about their normal business. You may catch them trying to swallow a big object, jump on and off high places, getting exposed to toxic household chemicals, or just bump into things that causes bodily injury.

Some of the most common pet injuries and accidents that can occur in your home are choking, electrical shock, household chemical poisoning, puncture wounds,and fractures - all of which can be prevented by applying simple, common-sense actions. Below is a list of ways to prevent injuries to your pets.

First and foremost, it is important to keep in mind that in an event of an emergency, even minor situations, you should always call your veterinarian and have your dog examined to ensure that you didn't miss a serious problem. In addition, make sure that he is getting his yearly check-up so the vet can check for any problems to take care of it before it gets worse.

Electrical Hazards - Puppies and dogs are attracted to electrical wires and may chew on them, causing a severe burn in their mouths. Make sure that all wires are safely put away, secured with a duct tape, or out of your dog's sight.

Food And Exercise - Table scraps are usually loaded with fat and should not be given to any dog. The best diet for your dog is homemade foods that are recommended by your veterinarian or a high-quality commercial dog food. In addition, make sure that his bowl is always filled with fresh water. Wait at least one hour after this meal before taking him out for exercise. Also, do not exercise him for too long or too hard. Depending on his breed, a 15 minute walk each day may be all that his body needs. Consult your vet if you are unsure about the amount of exercise your dog requires.

Toxic Chemicals And Poisons - Keep your dog away bleaches, detergents, cleaners, polishers, and all household chemicals. Houseplants should also be out of your dog's reach. Several plants can make your pet sick, severely ill, or even lead to death. In addition, keep all medicines out of reach.

Below is a list of some of the foods that should not be given to your dog:

1. Alcoholic beverages and caffeinated foods and drinks such as coffee, tea, and chocolate.
2. Dairy products such as milk and cheese.
3. Raw fish and raw eggs.
4. Tobacco.
5. Raisins and grapes.
6. Vitamin supplements for human that contains iron or too much liver.
7. Vegetables such as mushroom, onion, garlic, and potato.

Trash - Keep the garbage tightly closed both inside and outside your house.

Restraint - Keep your dog on leash when you take him out in public.

Traveling In The Car - Have a carrier or a kennel that is securely placed in the car. Do not put him in the back of a pickup truck and do not let him stick his head outside the windows.

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More often, pet poisoning is the result of someone's ignorance or carelessness. For example, your pet can get lead poisoning if he is allowed to chew on painted objects or to lick old paint cans laying around the garage.

Perhaps you are cleaning and have been spraying for insects or small rodents with an agent that contains phosphorous. Several sniffs of this and your dog can develop serious phosphorous poisoning. If you are trying to get rid of rats and mice with a rodent poison, there is a fair chance that your pet might try a sample.

When playing outside, your dog can nip the leaves of bushes that have been sprayed. Or, your cat may lick his paws and feet after running over an area that has been sprayed with insecticide.

The family garbage can, an attractive nuisance to dogs, must also share a major load of the blame for pet poisoning. Usually, this is where a dog finds old pills, powders, medicines, and decaying meat (most common form of sickness from garbage cans).

When Poisoning Is Suspected

When you think your dog or other pet has been poisoned, call your veterinarian immediately. If he asks you to induce vomiting, the usual emetics are hydrogen peroxide mixed with an equal amount of water; common table salt mixed with 2 teaspoons to a cup of warm water.

Caution: Family remedies from home medicine cabinets are not suited for pets. Tonics that contain an amount of strychnine that has been proven beneficial to human beings are often extremely dangerous since dogs are highly sensitive to this drug.

Pet poisoning can have a sudden, devastating effect on your pet when large doses are taken. Or, if ingested over a period of time, in small amounts, the poison will gradually weaken him.

It is not difficult to tell when your dog has been poisoned. The signs are quite definite. He may be either nervous and excited or depressed. His symptoms may include trembling, vomiting, and convulsions. Your dog may also develop blue gums, cloudiness in the eyes, and blood-streaked diarrhea. Depending upon the kind of poison ingested, one or more of these signs may be seen.

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Is your dog facing the possibility of having one of his limbs amputated due to an accident or a disease? Such a surgery is not uncommon, especially when dog owners have pets that experience a terrible car accident or bone cancer, which typically calls for an amputation process. We call these amputated canines "tripods" which is a lovable description known throughout dog lovers for these animals that have to live with three limbs.

Should You Get Your Dog A Prosthetic?

If you feel upset and confused about making such a big decision for your dog, do not be worried. It is quite understandable to feel at a loss when facing a decision that will clearly change your dog's life forever. The good news is that he will be okay, the same as new, once the surgery is over.

The first thing you must decide on is whether to have your dog amputated at the leg, shoulder, or the hip. This of course depends on a few factors, such as the reason for the surgery or whether or not the dog will have a prosthetic limb mounted to replace the missing one.

If your dog has cancer which is cause for the amputation, it is typically best to remove the entire leg. However, if there is no medical reason for the surgery and you have a choice of leaving a stump, then this would be the ideal situation for a prosthetic. A stump will help the prosthetic to remain secured tightly.

Having a stump will make attaching the prosthetic replacement limb much easier. If the amputation is done below the knee, a prosthetic will allow your dog to have full function of the leg. The bottom of the stump must be healthy. The surgeon may even add a pad to the bottom or pull excess muscle from the bone to place at the end of the stump. This is for protection, as well as to further aid in the attachment of the prosthetic leg.

If your dog needs to have the leg completely amputated, as with many bone cancer cases, unfortunately there really is no proper way to have a prosthetic installed. And forced replacement would be extremely rigid and quite uncomfortable for your dog. The only option is to leave it alone and allow the animal to get used to life with three limbs, which all dogs can accomplish quite easily and without pain.

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As a responsible pet owner, you need to be aware of your dog's growth progress, from puppyhood to adulthood, to make sure that he stays in the best shape for the rest of his life. One of the things that you should do is to keep a weekly record of his weight until he reaches his 1st birthday. This is important in order to determine whether or not you have to modify his diet.

A chubby puppy may look cute and cuddly, but he is at great risk of developing joint problems or a bone disease. On the other hand, a puppy who is not eating his required daily meal may be experiencing an illness by type of food he is eating. If you have a large-breed puppy, he should be at least 2 years old before you can see a dramatic growth in his size.

Determining The Size Of Your Puppy

Obese puppies lead to obese dogs. The best way to find out if your puppy is overweight or underweight is to feel his ribs. The correct way to do this is to position your puppy on the table. Place one hand on his right shoulder and the other on his left shoulder.

Next, feel his ribs by applying a gentle press using the palm of your hand. You should be able to feel his ribs with just a little bit of fat and muscle. If you are having difficulty locating his ribs, then your puppy may need to shed some pounds. On the other hand, if you have no trouble finding every single rib in his body, you may have to add a little bit more calorie to his diet.

Check With Your Veterinarian

If your puppy needs to lose some weight, the best way to handle the situation is to make an appointment with your vet. Your vet will give you specific instructions that you must implement on a day-to-day basis. Your puppy will probably be given a special diet designed specifically for weight loss, one that is going to satisfy his appetite and contain required nutrients that his body needs while helping him lose weight at the same time. Your vet may also recommend regular exercise to help those extra calories. These include walking, occasional running, and lots of playing.

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Canine hip dysplasia is a developmental malformation of the hip joint in dogs. The same condition was recognized in humans by Hippocrates in the year 370 B.C. In the past six decades, a lot of money, effort, and time have been used in the study and research of canine hip dysplasia. This calls for all of us who are interested in, and have a deep love for dogs, to pause and determine our course of action toward the control of this condition.

What we knew about hip dysplasia back in the 30's was limited to only what could be read in the medical press which, summed up briefly: "It constituted faulty growth and development of all tissues in and around the hip joint, that it was not uncommon in a tribe of Canadian Indian children and Italian children and, if not corrected in its early stage, could lead to very painful, arthritic hips in human at middle age or beyond."

Additional Knowledge Of Canine Hip Dysplasia

As knowledge and experience with this condition in dogs had increased, we learned that there was an acute stage during the period of rapid growth of the dog. During this stage, the canine, usually one of a large breed, would have difficulty getting up, particularly on a slippery floor.

The dog would flop down instead of easing itself to the ground, and would, in different ways, show pain in the area of the hip joints. As our understanding of canine hip dysplasia further increased, we learned that canines recovered from the acute phase and by the time they were matured physically, the hip joint symptoms not only lessened, but very often disappeared completely.

The Connection Between Canine Hip Dysplasia & Human Hip Problems

The later phase of arthritis that occurred in humans might or might not be evident during middle age or later in life depending on race, lifestyle, activity, sensitivity, and weight of the person. We found out that some dogs were able to live long lives with this condition, experiencing only minimal discomfort or malfunction.

There are two main factors that account for the clear difference between the course of hip dysplasia in human and in dogs. First, man walks entirely on his "hind legs" and for many more years than do dogs. Second, diagnoses of this condition in dogs were being made on the basis of joint laxity (looseness) in the young dog.

As to the first factor, we can say that dogs with dysfunction or pain in both hind legs can and do shift a considerable part of their weight-bearing function to their forelegs. The second factor, we can say that hip joint laxity has been reported to be present in all large breeds of dogs, except racing Greyhounds, at some phase of their growth period.

The same has been reported to be present in children. It is established that hip joint laxity may be a precursor to hip dysplasia but it should be realized that it very often does not lead to the later-life arthritic changes that complete the cycle and define the disease.

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If your dog gets diagnosed with a common heart murmur problem, it may be a sign of canine cardiac disease.

According to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, a heart murmur results from blood flow running through the heart that is abnormal. Some heart murmurs are perfectly normal while others, similar to those heard in aging dogs, may be a sign that some type of heart disease is prevalent. The most common cardiac diseases in dogs include:

1. Congenital birth defects that show up when a puppy is young.
2. Degenerative valve disease (heart valve leaks) that mostly affect older or middle-aged dogs.
3. Loss of heart muscle tissue that is typically seen in young dogs or middle-aged larger dog breeds.

Detecting The Disease

Heart disease may not show up or be detected until it has reached a point where your dog experiences heart failure, collapse, or even sudden death. Your veterinarian can certainly check your dog out for heart murmurs by using a stethoscope. However, as the dog owner, your responsibility is to be on alert for certain signs such as difficulty in breathing, coughing, intolerance to exercise, or a swollen abdomen (caused by fluid retention).

Canine cardiac disease can further be checked for by specific information regarding your dog's breed type, age, chest x-rays, blood pressure measurements, and EKG readings. For a definitive diagnosis, an ultrasound of your dog's heart is required.

Treatment

Treating your dog back to good health will depend entirely upon the stage of the disease and how severely it has affected other parts of the body. If your puppy is young and has a congenital defect, it may be surgically removed.

Heart disease that is acquired later in your dog's life requires heavy lifestyle management and changes in living. Such changes include maintaining a healthy body weight, additional exercise (or reduced activity depending upon your dog's condition), special cardiac diets, and specific medications that can be used to reduce stress put on your dog's heart from his condition.

The prognosis for dogs that have canine heart disease will vary. Some dogs may be fortunate enough to have successful long-term care. Others may have a shorter lifespan ranging from a few weeks to a few years. It is important to keep in mind that the earlier your dog's condition is assessed, the easier it will be to treat and the odds will be greater that your dog or puppy will enjoy a long, healthy life.

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The most common of all accidents involving dogs is the one in which the dog is struck by a car. To help you prepare as best possible should, you run into this type of scenario with a hurt canine, please read along and take notes of the following steps. And please, take these steps to heart as it can save your dog someday, or someone else's family pet.

Approaching A Hurt Dog

When approaching a dog that has been struck by a car, care must be taken that you aren't bitten by the dog you're trying to help. An injured dog knows only that it hurts and probably won't be aware that you are on the scene in an attempt to help. Slowly approach the animal and see what his injuries might be.

While you evaluate the extent of the dog's injuries, prepare an emergency muzzle using a necktie, belt, gauze bandage - or anything else from which such a muzzle can be fashioned. Affix it around the dog's mouth and tie it behind the head. If the dog is bleeding severely, quickly apply a pressure bandage, tie off the exposed artery, or apply a tourniquet between the wound and the dog's heart.

Broken Limbs

In the event of a broken limb, immobilize the limb to prevent bone-grating action, or the possibility of the bone protruding through the skin. Use cardboard, wood, chicken wire - whatever is immediately available. Even a couple of sticks of wood, with the aid of a belt, can be secured to a dog's limb to help immobilize it.

Creating A Stretcher

A coat can be placed on the ground to double as a stretcher and as a means of keeping the dog warm while he's being transported to the nearest veterinary clinic. Please lift the dog as gently as possible. This is extremely important in the event that internal injuries are present.

The primary concern in the event of an auto accident should be the presence of shock and internal injuries; therefore, speed, and an absolute minimum of lost motion is essential if a dog's life is to be saved. Broken legs and external injuries are relatively unimportant in the beginning, and saving the dog's life comes first.

No Food Or Water

One of the first things a person usually wants to do when aiding an injured animal is to give it food or water - perhaps as a way of reassuring the dog. This, however, should not be done since it could aggravate any possible internal injuries. A chain reaction of vomiting and further internal bleeding from severe vomiting spasms could then be brought on.

Every dog owner should become aware of the necessary steps in administering first aid. First aid - promptly administered - can save a dog's life... and who knows, it may just be your own dog! But always remember, first aid, by itself, is no substitute for professional veterinary care. First aid is emergency aid, and does not replace the need for professional attention.

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Another important concern to worry about when it comes to these types of worms is if you have children. You should take the extra precaution necessary because certain types of parasites that are found inside puppies and dogs can be transmitted to your kids. As a good rule of thumb, always walk your dog or puppy through clean areas outside and do not let him sniff at any dog poop that is laying around as this can cause transmission of parasites.

Preventing heartworms

Heartworms are nasty little creatures and are transmitted by insects such as mosquitoes. This means that there is more of a danger of heartworms during hotter climates with high levels of humidity. Heartworms make their home within the confines of the heart and lungs of an animal. If this parasitic condition goes unnoticed by a dog owner, the little puppy or adult dog can die.

As you can clearly understand by now, it is better to take preventative measures against heartworms rather than discover them after they have already infested your dog. Fortunately, preventative action against heartworms is a very simple procedure. Below are two options that you can choose from:

1. You can supply your dog with a daily pill that will prevent heartworms. Your veterinarian can prescribe your dog with a daily heartworm-fighting pill that comes in the form of hard tablets or chewable tablets which are made for easier ingestion. The only downside of this preventative tablet form is that you must feed it to your dog every day without fail. And the medication is not as strong as the once per month tablet, which is described next.

2. Your second option, which is a bit more expensive than the daily tablet, is to give your dog a heartworm pill only once per month. Your veterinarian can offer you this monthly heartworm tablet to feed your dog which is a lot easier to maintain than trying to keep up with medication everyday. The vet will prescribe the spill based on how much your dog weighs.

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Besides giving your dog love and attention, another great gift that you can give is a soothing pet massage. A pet massage, just as the name suggests, is a type of physical therapy that is similar to acupressure or chiropractic care.

This type of pet bodywork gives your dog an instant gratification of comfort, relaxation, and the feeling of being loved. When given to your dog on a regular basis, a pet massage helps minimize his sensitivity to touch, either by you or a stranger. This makes him easier to groom, handle, and also makes it faster and easier for the vet to examine and treat him.

The growing popularity of pet massage makes it widely available all over the country, especially if you live in a major city. However, you can learn the basic technique of this type of bodywork and give it to your dog, making the experience more enjoyable for the both of you.

Treating your dog to a relaxing pet massage is an excellent way to bond with him. Not only will he love the way it feels, but he will appreciate the time and attention that you are giving him, a true treat that will make your dog's heart melt with joy.

Below is a simple step-by-step procedure to giving your dog a relaxing massage, starting from the top of his head down to his muzzle.

1. Call your dog and tell him to sit.

2. Ease your way into the massage. Start by giving him a light caress the way you would normally do. This way, he won't think that you are about to do something different that might probably scare him away.

3. Give him an overall petting, from head to toe. Apply firm but gentle long strokes. The stroking prepares his muscles for more intense work and makes your dog feel more relaxed. Do this for about two more minutes.

4. Put your hands over his head, moving one hand gently underneath his muzzle while your other hand is stroking the top of his head.

5. Next, massage his ears, one ear at a time. Your dog's ears contain a lot of nerve endings and massaging them will feel very good to him. Do this for at least one minute per ear.

6. Lightly massage his forehead for about 30 seconds, sliding down to his cheeks also for 30 seconds, and then to his muzzle for another 30 seconds.

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