Dogs

Think your dog may have a bad case of Infectious Tracheobronchitis? You may not be dealing with a run-of-the-mill kennel cough. Canine Influenza 1 virus, or CIV, has become an important emerging infectious disease in dogs. The virus responsible for the condition is H3N8 influenza A virus.

Remember those not so distant days spent studying American history? It was always tough to keep all of the early explorers straight. It seems like they were always on the hunt for gold, with a few notable exceptions: Ponce de Leon trampled all over the state of Florida looking for what the Indians told him was the “Fountain of Youth.” Obviously that wasn’t the case, but today we may have the first nutritional supplements that just might help us keep a youthful appearance and vigor in the form of antioxidants.

The Labrador retriever is again the top breed in the United States, having maintained that coveted spot for most of the last two decades. The German shepherd has, however, replaced the Yorkshire terrier for the number two spot, moving the Yorkie to number three.

Rounding out the top ten are golden retrievers in the number 4 spot, followed by beagles, boxers, bulldogs, dachshunds, poodles, and the Shih Tzu.

When is the best age to have your pet spayed or neutered?  Should you even get your dog spayed or neutered?  Does having your dog or cat spayed or neutered enhance their life and prevent the onset of disease?   The answer may be more complicated than you think.  Do you think there are only advantages to having your pet altered?  Guess again.  There may be a larger downside than you expected. 

Have you noticed recently that one of your dog’s testicles looks larger than the other or does a portion of the testicle appear swollen? Is your dog middle-aged or older? If so, your dog may be suffering from a testicular tumor.

Is your cat or dog constantly scratching at its ears or shaking its head? Do the ears contain a dark brown to black crusty discharge that resembles coffee grounds, yet has a waxy consistency? Does your pet have a hot spot below one of its ears? Then your cat or dog could be suffering from an infestation secondary to an infectious mite called Otodectes cynotis, more commonly referred to as ear mites.

Has your dog suddenly developed a soft swelling to the side of the rectum? Has your dog been straining to defecate? Is your dog a male that hasn’t been neutered? Then that swelling may not be your dog’s anal glands, but rather a perineal hernia.

Christmas holly, or English Holly is a commonly prized holiday ornamental that may prove to be irresistible to your pets. Although there are two genera of holly, the Ilex genus, with its 29 species, are all toxic. The technical name for the Christmas holly is Ilex aquifolium.

It is just a few short weeks before the Christmas holidays. Your best friend sends you a beautiful Christmas cactus to accent the season. Unfortunately your pets decide that the colorful flowers of your holiday plant are truly irresistible. Your dog, with the help of the family cat, uses the plant as a newly acquired play toy and disassembles the Christmas cactus while you are at work. Should you be concerned that some of the flat segments which comprise the Christmas cactus found their way into your pet’s stomach? Probably not!

The Chesapeake Bay retriever is a native of Maryland in the United States. This water dog evolved with the breeding of Newfoundlands and English Otter Hounds with local retrievers, including curly-coated and flat-coated retrievers, back in the early 1800’s.

The breed was developed for its keen intelligence and a willingness to retrieve no matter how harsh the weather or how icy the water. This breed is considered to be the toughest of the water retrievers. They are named for the Chesapeake Bay area from which they hail.