Posts Tagged ‘Dogs’
Dog's Health: Lymphosarcoma Cancer
January 31st, 2010 
admin Lymphosarcoma is one of the most common types of cancers seen. It is also referred to as lymphoma or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In dogs, many different species develop Lymphosarcoma. Like any other cancer, this one can “metastasize”, which means it can spread and affect other organs and tissues.
Most dogs get a type of Lymphosarcoma that originates the lymph nodes and usually the nodes under the jaw get swollen. Sometimes this is the only symptom your dog will have. But the jaw is not the only place where this disease can begin. Some forms of Lymphosarcoma begin in the bone marrow, the chest, abdomen, or even the skin.
DIAGNOSIS
It is difficult to detect the Lymphosarcoma because it can spread to many places in the body. So full analysis is essential to determine this disease and also establish the stage of disease. It is very important to determine the stage of the disease and decide the kind of treatment and the right dosage. Vets usually do the following tests in order to detect the stages:
* Cytology – checking the lymph node cells
* Blood work
* Abdominal radiographs
* Abdominal ultrasound
* Bone marrow analysis
Most of the times, the vets do just a few of the tests listed above. Even a few of the tests alone can determine the stage and if the dog can be submitted to the treatment.
DISEASE STAGES OF EVOLUTION
Lymphosarcoma has 4 stages.
In state I the cancer exists in just one lymph node. This stage is rarely diagnosed in pets.
In stage II the disease has spread to more than one node and has occupied a body region.
In stage III the cancer is in the nodes but has spread in the body.
In stage IV the Lymphosarcoma has reached the liver or the spleen.
There is also a stage V and it refers to all the stages above but with cancer spread to the bone marrow or the blood or any other organ.
The main stages have sub stages: “A” and “B”.
“A” means the patient doesn’t have the illness. “B” means the patient displays clinical symptoms like fluid in the lungs, vomiting or diarrhea.
Stage IIIA is the earliest detected and it can be treated.
MEANS OF TREATMENT
Many people have heard of chemotherapy. This means treatment with chemicals. The dog anti-cancer drugs, orally, intravenously, or subcutaneously. The good fact is that animals have a high tolerance to anti-cancer drugs, far better than humans. Also, side effects because of the treatment appear only in 5 cases out of 100.
Some of the most common questions a dog owner has are:
Is the dog going to lose the hair? Usually, they don’t. But poodles and old English Sheepdogs are predisposed to lose their hair after chemotherapy. But don’t worry. It will grow back. Keep in mind that Lymphosarcoma treatable but not curable.
Will the disease come back and how long will it last? This depends on the type of Lymphosarcoma the dog has. But with the latest medical advances, approximately 90% of dogs achieve a complete remission. The average remission is between 8 and 12 months.
What happens after the dog comes out of remission? It can be treated just like the first time. Also, the second and third remissions are treatable.
The whole cost of the treatment begins at about $500 and can go up to $2,000 in case of a large pet.
Feeding This Diabetic Dog Food Could Cure Your Dog's Diabetes
January 31st, 2010 admin Diabetes is no fun for humans or animals, with the desire for sweet things, the copious urine output and the huge thirst, to mention just a few of the common symptoms.
And it’s on the increase in humans as well as dogs and cats. Why should this be happening now?
Leaving the human cause aside for the purposes of this article, lets look at a typical diet for dogs in the western world, those who are not fed a quality diabetic dog food, that is.
Most people feed their dog a commercial brand of pet food. You’re lured by the manufacturers claims, which are mostly untrue, and by smiling vets and dog breeders on the colourful packets.
Health depends hugely on diet. Arguably, it could be considered the major cause of ill health in all animals, you included.
I want you to imagine, for a moment, that you are the owner of a dog food manufacturing business. You have to pay
- rent on the premises
- services to the premises – electricity, telephone
- equipment purchase and upkeep
- wages for your workers, including tax, health, sick and holiday pay
- packaging for the end product
- storage for the end product
- advertising and marketing the end product
All this costs money. And you haven’t even bought in the raw ingredients, the food, yet.
Would you be a bit tempted to buy in low quality, low cost raw ingredients? After all, with the price of meat going up all the time, you have to consider whether your potential customers would pay the higher price your product would be? There’s plenty of competition about and customers are generally lured by low prices.
And they probably say – it’s only for dogs.
(I don’t know about you, but my dogs aren’t ‘only’.)
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want you to sympathise with the commercial pet food manufacturers. But if you can understand where they’re coming from, you’ll understand why it would be a good idea to make your own diabetic dog food.
I’m not suggesting all commercial pet food manufacturers are the same. But they do all face the same problems.
So not only is the meat low quality, it’s also bulked out with a filler.
Fillers can be anything from sawdust, to melamine (remember Chinese pet food?), to a market glut of any carbohydrate.
For the past few decades, the production of sugar has soared with its huge demand. This has resulted in a world glut.
Now, whenever there’s a world glut, the price drops. So buying sugar for bulking out commercial pet food is cheap.
I’m sure you’ve now made the connection between your dog getting diabetes and feeding him a commercial pet food. After all, no dog evolved eating processed sugar even in small amounts, let alone the huge amounts that go into pet food.
So the best diabetic dog food is to make it yourself. Then you know what goes into it.
I am offering you the chance to make a huge impact on the health of your beloved dog, simply by switching to the diabetic dog food I recommend.
It’s easy, it’s quick, you probably have most of the ingredients already. And it won’t cost you any more.
Are you ready to make a commitment, to feed your dog my diabetic dog food, to see his health change almost overnight?
Posted in Health & Safety 
Tags: Could, Cure, Diabetes, Diabetic, Dogs, Feeding, Food, This 
No Comments »Types of Cancer in Dogs
January 30th, 2010 admin Lymphosarcoma is one of the most common types of cancers seen. It is also referred to as lymphoma or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In dogs, many different species develop Lymphosarcoma. Like any other cancer, this one can “metastasize”, which means it can spread and affect other organs and tissues.
Most dogs get a type of Lymphosarcoma that originates the lymph nodes and usually the nodes under the jaw get swollen. Sometimes this is the only symptom your dog will have. But the jaw is not the only place where this disease can begin. Some forms of Lymphosarcoma begin in the bone marrow, the chest, abdomen, or even the skin.
RENAL LYMPHOSARCOMA
When the disease attacks the kidney first, the illness is called Renal Lymphosarcoma. The symptoms include drinking a lot of fluids and urinating a lot. Also vomiting can appear and also loss of appetite. The pet can even get depressed.
MEDIASTINAL LYMPHOSARCOMA
The Mediastinum is the tissue near the heart and lungs. The cancer creates a tumor there and the pet has hard time breathing and the lung accumulate fluid.
BONE MARROW LYMPHOSARCOMA: LEUKEMIA
When the cancer has started or reaches the bone marrow, then it is called Leukemia. The cancer affects the blood. The bone marrow’s role is to create red blood cells that carry oxygen, white blood cells that destroy infection and platelets that help blood to clot. The cancer causes these types of cells to drop in numbers and it causes: infections, anemia and bleeding disorders.
DIAGNOSIS
The vets do a tissue biopsy to determine the disease. Is the microscopic analysis of the tissue reveals that the disease is present, a detailed exam follows. This exam will show if the disease has spread in other body areas. The vets call this “STAGING”.
The diagnostic Procedures used to “STAGE” include:
- Different blood tests
- Cytology – analyzing cells in the large lymph nodes and taking a look at them under the microscope.
- X-Rays
- Ultrasound
- Bone Marrow Analysis
Staging helps the doctors figuring out the best way of treatment.
TREATMENT
More than 90 perfect of the dogs that get chemotherapy go into remission. This is not a cure but just a stage when quality of life is assured. A dog will normally have a stage of remission of about eight to ten months. Also, the dogs don’t get as many side effects as humans do. Less than 5% of the dogs get side effects like diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weakness and lethargy.
The dogs don’t lose their hair after chemo, like people do. Only a few breeds get these side effects: Poodles and Old English Sheepdogs). Usually even they only lose their whiskers.
CANCER DIETS
When a dog undergoes a cancer treatment, it must have a good diet with lots of vitamins.
Diabetes in Dogs: Four Factors to Determine If Your Dog is at Risk
January 29th, 2010 admin Most dog owners do not really think of the possibility that their dog will acquire diabetes. Thus, they do not take any preventive measures, only to realize too late that their dog already has one. The number of dogs diagnosed with such disease is increasing and this should already be a wakeup call for dog owners to make sure they do something before it happens to their dogs.
Canine diabetes not only causes insulin deficiency, it will also bring about many complications such as cataracts (which will eventually result to blindness), infections, ketoacidosis, and pancreatitis.
So, who are at risk? Below are some factors that will help to determine if your dog is at risk or not.
Obesity
This is the biggest factor to consider. If your dog overeats and becomes overweight, this will eventually lead to diabetes. This also holds true for dogs that are often given plenty of treats. You may be rewarding and keeping your dog happy for the time being but after a period of time, this will lead to serious problems on his health.
If you truly care for your dog, feed him nutritious foods such as those rich in carbohydrates and fiber.
Old Age and Gender
Studies show that female dogs are three times more prone to become diabetic than their male counterparts. Estrogen can affect the production of insulin and this could be the cause. Moreover, older dogs have higher likelihood of diabetes.
Drug Intake
There are certain types of drugs that can trigger the occurrence of canine diabetes. Among these would be glucocortisones, which increase estrogen-production. As mentioned earlier, this particular hormone affects the production of insulin.
Breed
Some breeds are more likely to become diabetic than others. Among these breeds are: Golden Retrievers, Schnauzers, Poodles, Miniature Pinchers, Beagles, and German Shepherds.
Now that you know who are high-risk, you probably want to find out if this condition can be cured. Well, there is no cure for canine diabetes at the moment, BUT it can be managed. There are natural remedies such as diet and exercise which you can provide for your dog. You can also make use of herbal remedies and insulin injectibles to make sure that insulin production remains normal, or at least close to normal range.
But of course, the best thing to do is to prevent your dog from becoming diabetic. As a dog owner, the welfare of your pet is your responsibility. So, while you still can, make sure you keep your dog healthy and well through exercise, diet, and good grooming.