Pet Ringworm News

Scratching is a very common symptom in dogs, and you as an owner should aim to nip it in the bud early before self trauma causes secondary injuries to your dog. However, before wondering whether your dog could have an allergy, you must rule out the common parasitic (fleas and mites), bacterial (hot spots) and fungal (ringworm and yeast) infections. See my article Is your Dog Scratching to explore these in greater detail.

Just as allergies have become more common in children these days compared to several generations ago, veterinarians are seeing far more allergies in pets too. It is difficult to explain this phenomenon, theories range from alterations in the content of pet foods to the use of modern day household cleaning products or simply genetic evolution. One thing is certain, whatever the cause, allergic dogs benefit hugely from avoiding the offending allergen or, if that is impossible, appropriate treatment to minimize the itchiness.

Lets start with the presenting signs of an allergy in dogs. Itchiness can manifest itself not only as obvious scratching at the neck and flanks, but also as face rubbing, foot licking or chewing and over grooming. Foot licking, for example, is often perceived by owners as normal, when in fact the dog is responding to itchy feet in the only way it can, by licking them. The skin between the toes may turn red and sore due to the compulsive licking, and in white dogs such as West Highland White Terriers and Bichon Frises, the fur is stained brown by saliva.

Ear infections are another common sign of an underlying allergy. Though general waxiness, hair in the ear canals, lack of ventilation, bacteria and yeast may trigger the infection, an underlying allergy is often the root cause of the itchiness. If your dog gets recurrent ear infections, by eliminating an underlying allergy you may prevent your dog from going over the itchiness threshold and developing full blown ear infections.

So, what are the common allergies in dogs?

For convenience they are best separated into 4 categories.

1)Flea bite hypersensitivity
2)Adverse food reaction
3)Atopic dermatitis
4)Contact dermatitis

Flea bite hypersensitivity is relatively straight forward to cure. It is a simple case of eliminating every single flea on the dog and, crucially, in his/her environment. The itchiness is caused by an allergic reaction to the flea saliva, and so even a solitary flea can trigger a scratching frenzy. To rule out flea bite hypersensitivity, all animals in the house (dogs and cats) should be treated with a reputable veterinary spot on medication monthly without fail, and the house should be thoroughly sprayed with an insecticidal spray.

Adverse food reactions are more difficult to treat as it can be difficult to isolate the precise ingredient responsible for causing itchiness in your dog. Not only that, treating adverse food reactions requires owners to be exceptionally disciplined and motivated in preventing their pet having even a single treat unless the exact ingredients are known to be safe.

There are two ways of diagnosing an adverse food reaction (also known as a food allergy). For those readers for whom cost is not an issue, a blood test can be done to measure for ingredient specific antibodies in the bloodstream. The blood test is quite costly, and if combined with a blood test for environmental allergens is usually upwards of $400 (£200). The company performing the blood test then provides a list of ingredients (chicken, beef, pork, rice, wheat etc) and a score next to them, suggesting which ingredients are best avoided. The owner then picks a commercial diet which does not include any of these ingredients, or indeed a special home cooked diet. The second way to diagnose an adverse food reaction is to conduct a dietary trial. This involves picking a very bland hypoallergenic diet and feeding your dog exclusively that for at least a month, preferably 6 weeks. The author usually suggests turkey and rice, as less dogs are allergic to turkey than chicken. Of course if your dog happened to be allergic to rice or turkey, which is rare but nevertheless possible, you would be none the wiser as the itchiness would continue and you would assume you had ruled out a food allergy having done the turkey and rice dietary trial. Remember if you are doing one of these trials, then your dog must not be given any treats, especially not pigs ears, chews, boneos, dental sticks or any rawhide products. Literally nothing must be swallowed other than turkey and rice (and water!) for the entire trial period.

If you have ruled out flea bite hypersensitivity and ruled out an adverse food reaction, the next step is to consider an environmental allergy, also known as atopic dermatitis. Symptoms of atopic dermatitis usually begin between 1 and 3 years of age, though any age is possible. The itchiness is often seasonal, which is consistent with a pollen allergy, though some dogs are itchy all year round. There are certain breeds which are predisposed to this condition: Boxers, Bull Terriers, Dalmations, English Bulldogs, German Shepherd Dogs, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Shar Peis, Shih Tzus and West Highland White Terriers being the most commonly affected. Diagnosis is usually made based on the history and ruling out all the other causes of itchiness, and many vets will treat the condition on these presumptions. However, definitive diagnosis can be achieved via a panel of injections into a patch of skin, or blood tests. Neither of these are particularly effective and generally not performed unless the owner is prepared to attempt a desensitization programme. This involves a long term course of injections given by your vet on, say, a monthly basis to desensitize your dog to the offending allergen, and so make the allergic reaction much smaller when he/she does come into contact with it.

Contact dermatitis is a skin reaction caused by your dog coming into contact with a chemical that is an irritant. It therefore only tends to affect the stomach, groin and feet of the dog, and is characterized by reddening and drying of the skin in these areas. It can also be seen when owners shampoo their dogs with a product that is not intended for use in dogs. Contact dermatitis is rare, but easily ruled out by careful use of cleaning products around the household. Just think, did the itchiness coincide with the introduction of a new carpet cleaner, washing powder or fabric softener?

By far the best treatment for any allergy is avoidance of the cause. By careful investigation and following the steps above this is often possible, especially for flea bite hypersensitivity, adverse food reactions and contact dermatitis. If avoidance is impossible though, as is the case for many cases of atopic dermatitis, then seasonal or lifelong treatment may be indicated. Steroids are very effective at stopping itchiness caused by allergies, but long term use can lead to undesirable side effects, such as adrenal gland disease. Long term steroid use should only be used as a last resort, when other medications have been tried and failed. These other medications include antihistamines, essential fatty acids and medicated shampoos.

Matthew Homfray

http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/the-itchy-dog-is-it-an-allergy-69692.html

To find out more information to kill ringworm, click here.

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The skin: why your dog is itching

The skin is the largest organ of your pets’ body and reflective of what is going on in the body. Regularly brush your pet looking for fleas, lice or ticks. The hair coat should be soft and shiny.

If you are seeing areas of excessive shedding in your pet then you may be dealing with certain skin conditions such as mange, ringworm, hypothyroid disease or allergies; treatments for these are discussed in detail in my book, Veterinary Secrets Revealed.

If your pet has areas of hair missing around the face that are not itchy, then he may have a type of mange called demodex. This small parasite shows up in pets with depressed immune systems.

One very safe effective treatment is Vitamin E given at 400IU per 40lbs once daily for 3-4 weeks.

If your pet has an excess of flaky skin (dandruff), then she may be in need of a essential fatty acid supplement. Flax is the best source for dogs at a dose of 1 teaspoon per cup of dog food. For cats use the liquid supplement (such as fish oil).

Take note of any palpable lumps or bumps.

Lipomas (benign fatty tumors) commonly occur on the chest wall. If your dog has a soft moveable lump on her chest, then it is probably a fatty tumor.

Sebaceous cysts are another common lump; they can often be distinguished by squeezing out a cheesy substance. They are also very soft. Lumps and bumps become more prevalent as your pet ages and their immune system weakens.

The most important thing in helping your pet is having them on a premium quality diet and supplementing with additional antioxidants. The ones I suggest using are Vitamin E, Vitamin C and specific flavonoids.

Any lumps that are firm, rapidly growing, not easily moveable should be considered serious and examined by your veterinarian.

Allergies are one of the most common reasons that I see pets. There are a huge number of allergens. The 3 main classes are Food, Fleas and Environmental. The most common signs are excessive scratching, paw and anal licking, hair shedding and excess dandruff.

If you suspect that your pet has an allergy, then the first 2 things that I suggest are to eliminate external parasites as a cause, and to feed a hypo-allergenic diet for 4-6 weeks (there are many available).

Some very helpful at home remedies that I often use are:

TO THE BATH. An oatmeal shampoo with cool water will ease the itchiest skin. Leave the shampoo on for 10 minutes then rinse well. With the most severe allergies, bathe your pet twice weekly.

SOOTHE IT TOPICALLY. Calendula ointment is a herbal medication that has been successfully used to relieve the itch. Apply a thin coat twice daily to affected areas.

THE SUPPLEMENT CONNECTION. Fatty Acid supplements are very helpful in decreasing the level of inflammation. Omega 3 fatty acids are most important. A great, inexpensive source is ground Flax Seeds; I give 1 tsp per cup of dog food. Cats are unable to metabolize Flax, so I only recommend the liquid supplement for them. Other sources include fish oil, primrose oil and specific veterinary supplements.

Evaluation of the Genital and Urinary system – cat bladder infections…

In male dogs look at the sheath of the penis to ensure there is no abnormal discharge. This is more common in intact males, so an easy remedy is to have your dog neutered. In female dogs examine the vulva. A common problem is skin fold infections.

These can be treated by washing the skin folds twice daily with an antiseptic such as Hibitane and applying a soothing cream such as Aloe Vera.

The urinary system is more difficult to evaluate, but there are some things you can do at home. Signs of a bladder infection are frequently urination, which may have blood and may be painful.

There are a number of home remedies for bladder infections, the most effective are Vitamin C and Cranberry juice. The Vitamin C acidifies the urine making it more difficult for the bacteria to grow, as well as dissolving the more common type of crystal, struvite. The Vitamin C dose is 250mg per 20lbs daily.

If you have a male cat, then it is imperative to determine that he is not completely blocked up. Using your thumb and other four fingers, palpate the entire lower abdomen. An obstructed bladder will feel like a firm distended balloon. If your male cat has this condition, it is an emergency and he must be treated by a veterinarian!

I discuss ways to prevent your cat from getting obstructed in my book; the most important thing is to feed a diet higher in moisture. This is accomplished with canned food. Then depending on the type of crystal he has it is important to either acidify the urine (with struvite) or make the urine more alkaline (oxalate crystals). An easy way to acidify the urine is to raise the meat protein level. Making the urine more alkaline involves decreasing the protein level and adding a supplement, potassium citrate.

If some of these tips and treatments have helped you, then get your copy of my book, Veterinary Secrets Revealed, today.

Dr. Andrew Jones

http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/natural-treatments-for-dog-itching-and-cat-bladder-infections-123211.html

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Wouldn’t you want a product that could eliminate your pets fungus in 72 hours if caught soon enough? Why not try PetsBestRx it is a non toxic and easy to use formula that can heal the worst ringworm cases. If it doesn’t get rid of your  ringworm it is practically risk free because we do offer a 30 day money back guarantee. It helps to stop the itching ,and stop spreading  the rash to eliminate the rash all together.

We offer the PetsBestRx Sulfinex Cream which is a Sulfur base product which is non staining and a non smelling product. Our PetsBestRx Sulfinex Cream will kill the fungus by dry up the fungus and help to sooth the skin to eliminate the itching. PetsBestRx Healing Gel will provide a barrier against the ringworm and kill bacteria and infection on the skin. We also suggest the PetsBestRx Medicated Body Wash this an antifungal antibacterial formula and can be used in place of regular Pet wash after the fungus is cleared. It will help sooth to help eliminate the itching and will kill bacteria and infection.

We also offer products for your pets skin as well as for your home to avoid re-infestation. The PuraCleenRx Disinfection Spray is non toxic and easy to use. It also is a hospital graded disinfectant that has a pleasant order.  The PuraCleenRx Disinfectant Spray is a on contact killer that can be used on just about anything to kill the fungus and spores on contact. Please visit this site for pet ringworm treatments for more information.

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There are several types of fungal infections which can infect the scalp. One of these is the ringworm commonly referred to as Tinea capitis. Ringworm infection of the scalp is extremely common world wide. It is predominantly an infection of toddlers and young children. The infection is quite obvious because it presents with constant itching, redden scalp and patches of hair loss. Despite the alarming symptoms, ringworm of the scalp is not life threatening. The most difficult problem is the treatment. When it is not adequately treated, it can be easily transmitted to friends and family.

Symptoms: Most children who have a ring worm infection will have some symptoms, but on rare occasions they will not have any. Constant and intense itching around the scalp is the most obvious sign. Other features of the infection include loss of hair in circular patches. Often the skin is red and tender. The hair loss is quite significant. Even the hair that remains can be easily pulled out without any tension. In almost all cases, ringworm infections of the scalp tend to increase in size if it is not treated. A small patch will generally infect other areas of the scalp. Besides infection of other areas of the scalp, ringworms can easily be transmitted to others: person to person transmission is quite common. Other modes of transmission include sharing personal care items, bed linen pillows and combs. Sometimes pets acquire the infection and can transmit it to humans.

Risk factors

Ringworm is most common in children who attend day care and kindergarten. Outbreaks of ringworm infections are quite common in North America and difficult to control. Even inanimate objects like pencils, door handles, chairs and tables can transmit this fungus. The risk of ringworm infection is also increased if:

- one has poor hygiene

- lives in overcrowded conditions

- has problems with excessive sweating

- shares personal care items in a large family

Once a ringworm infection of the scalp is suspected, it is important to seek help from a health care professional. This fungus is quite hardy and is easily transmitted to others in the home.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of tinea capitis is relatively simple. In most cases the dermatologist will be able to make a diagnosis based on the history and physical examination. If there is any doubt about the diagnosis, scrapings of the skin or hair can be examine underneath a microscope. In rare cases, the hair and skin are sent for culture.

Fungus of the scalp is not serious but can have social and health implications. If not treated, the fungus can causes a severe infection known as kerion. Kerion is basically collection of pus underneath the scalp. When the fungus has reached the stage of a kerion, most people are left with permanent hair loss and even scars.

Treatment

Once the diagnosis of tinea capitis is made, treatment of scalp infection includes a variety anti fungal medications. The most common medications are Griseofulvin and Terbinafine.

Griseofulvin is available as liquid and tablet whereas terbinafine is an oral capsule. These medications have to be taken for at least 4-6 weeks. Topical medications are not useful in the treatment of tinea capitis because they are not able to penetrate deep into the scalp and enter hair follicles. There is no shampoo or gel that is useful in the treatment of tinea capitis.

The medications work slowly and changes are gradual. In most cases, the pills must be taken for several weeks to notice a change in the condition of the scalp.

Prevention

Tinea capitis is best prevented, but prevention of this infection is quite difficult. The fungus is very easily transmitted. The majority of people acquire the fungus long before they have any symptoms. The only way to prevent the fungus is with the following approach:

Maintain decent hygiene. Clean or shampoos the scalp regularly. Regularly wash your hands and teach your children the same principles.

Do not share personal care items, especially in school or in any type of social gathering.

Teach your child to keep his/her personal locker/desk clean at school. After any outdoor activity, the clothes should be changed and personal items should not be shared.

Examine your child’s scalp every now and then so that you can identify the infection at an early stage.

If you have pets, examine them and if they appear sick, take them to a veterinarian. If your pet is sick, do not touch the pet with bare hands.

If you suspect that your pet or child has an infection, buy selenium sulfide shampoo and use it regularly. If the infection appears to be getting worse, go to your health care worker or veterinarian.

Bren Fisher

http://www.articlesbase.com/hair-loss-articles/fungus-infection-of-the-scalp-tinea-capitis-719899.html

To treat ringworm successfully and fast, click here.

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Ringworm is a contagious disease that affects the skin and scalp usually. It can also affect only the skin on the feet, in which case it’s called athlete’s foot, or the groin, when it’s named jock itch. It is caused by a fungus that can grow directly on the skin. Different forms of fungal skin infections are very spread especially in warm climates. More children then adults have ringworm but adults can get it as easy as children if they involve in physical contact with an infected person, or with an infected animal, because animals can carry it too, especially cats.

Among the ringworm symptoms the most common is the appearance of several red itchy patches on the skin. The color intensity of the patches can vary from a lighter red to a brighter red and they take the form of rings, hence the name ringworm. The affected areas are itchy.

If the infected zone is covered by hair then that hair will fall down and bald patches will appear.

Ringworm can be diagnosed by doctors simply by looking at the infected areas, but they usually take a tissue sample from the skin surface to make sure.

The treatment for ringworm is done with the help of certain medication called anti-fungal drugs. These usually come in the form of ointments, and must be administered strictly, in order to eliminate the infection and prevent it from returning. When the ringworm has spread to many areas of the skin the doctors prescribe anti-fungal pills that are much stronger. If the rash is left untreated and eats through the skin and reaches the blood you may have to take antibiotics.

The complications that ring worm can cause are skin infections when it starts to spread to other places.

If the area where you work or live is infected with the ringworm bacteria then you can prevent getting an infection by washing your skin often, avoiding to touch things that are touched by many other people and wear loose clothing.

In conclusion ring worm is a disease that must be prevented and treated as soon as it shows its first signs and before it spreads to other areas of the body and infects them too, or especially before reaching the blood. So consult your doctor for the appropriate ointments as soon as you suspect that you have ringworm or when your friends or relatives have it.

So, if you want to find out more about ringworm treatment or even about cure for ringworm, please click this website http://www.ringworm-center.com

Groshan Fabiola

http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/facts-about-ringworm-88477.html

To find a successful pet ringworm treatment, look here.

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There are several types of fungal infections which can infect the scalp. One of these is the ringworm commonly referred to as Tinea capitis. Ringworm infection of the scalp is extremely common world wide. It is predominantly an infection of toddlers and young children. The infection is quite obvious because it presents with constant itching, redden scalp and patches of hair loss. Despite the alarming symptoms, ringworm of the scalp is not life threatening. The most difficult problem is the treatment. When it is not adequately treated, it can be easily transmitted to friends and family.

Symptoms: Most children who have a ring worm infection will have some symptoms, but on rare occasions they will not have any. Constant and intense itching around the scalp is the most obvious sign. Other features of the infection include loss of hair in circular patches. Often the skin is red and tender. The hair loss is quite significant. Even the hair that remains can be easily pulled out without any tension. In almost all cases, ringworm infections of the scalp tend to increase in size if it is not treated. A small patch will generally infect other areas of the scalp. Besides infection of other areas of the scalp, ringworms can easily be transmitted to others: person to person transmission is quite common. Other modes of transmission include sharing personal care items, bed linen pillows and combs. Sometimes pets acquire the infection and can transmit it to humans.

Risk factors

Ringworm is most common in children who attend day care and kindergarten. Outbreaks of ringworm infections are quite common in North America and difficult to control. Even inanimate objects like pencils, door handles, chairs and tables can transmit this fungus. The risk of ringworm infection is also increased if:

- one has poor hygiene

- lives in overcrowded conditions

- has problems with excessive sweating

- shares personal care items in a large family

Once a ringworm infection of the scalp is suspected, it is important to seek help from a health care professional. This fungus is quite hardy and is easily transmitted to others in the home.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of tinea capitis is relatively simple. In most cases the dermatologist will be able to make a diagnosis based on the history and physical examination. If there is any doubt about the diagnosis, scrapings of the skin or hair can be examine underneath a microscope. In rare cases, the hair and skin are sent for culture.

Fungus of the scalp is not serious but can have social and health implications. If not treated, the fungus can causes a severe infection known as kerion. Kerion is basically collection of pus underneath the scalp. When the fungus has reached the stage of a kerion, most people are left with permanent hair loss and even scars.

Treatment

Once the diagnosis of tinea capitis is made, treatment of scalp infection includes a variety anti fungal medications. The most common medications are Griseofulvin and Terbinafine.

Griseofulvin is available as liquid and tablet whereas terbinafine is an oral capsule. These medications have to be taken for at least 4-6 weeks. Topical medications are not useful in the treatment of tinea capitis because they are not able to penetrate deep into the scalp and enter hair follicles. There is no shampoo or gel that is useful in the treatment of tinea capitis.

The medications work slowly and changes are gradual. In most cases, the pills must be taken for several weeks to notice a change in the condition of the scalp.

Prevention

Tinea capitis is best prevented, but prevention of this infection is quite difficult. The fungus is very easily transmitted. The majority of people acquire the fungus long before they have any symptoms. The only way to prevent the fungus is with the following approach:

Maintain decent hygiene. Clean or shampoos the scalp regularly. Regularly wash your hands and teach your children the same principles.

Do not share personal care items, especially in school or in any type of social gathering.

Teach your child to keep his/her personal locker/desk clean at school. After any outdoor activity, the clothes should be changed and personal items should not be shared.

Examine your child’s scalp every now and then so that you can identify the infection at an early stage.

If you have pets, examine them and if they appear sick, take them to a veterinarian. If your pet is sick, do not touch the pet with bare hands.

If you suspect that your pet or child has an infection, buy selenium sulfide shampoo and use it regularly. If the infection appears to be getting worse, go to your health care worker or veterinarian.

Bren Fisher

http://www.articlesbase.com/hair-loss-articles/fungus-infection-of-the-scalp-tinea-capitis-719899.html

To find a good ringworm shampoo, look here.

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Ringworm is the name of a common skin infection that is caused by fungi. It doesn’t have anything to do with worms, the name ringworm comes from the fact that the infected areas have the shape of a ring, they are circular, more colored towards the edge and less colored in the center.

The areas where ringworm appears are itchy and irritated, so the skin from the margins of the circle is a little irritated, so it resembles a worm.

Ringworm is very contagious and it spreads quickly in a warm climate, because warm and humid areas are the ringworm’s fungi favorite places. It can be taken if you touch the skin of an infected person or if you touch an infected animal, for animals can carry it too. Cats are known to be the most common carriers of ringworm.

You can prevent being infected if you live in an area where ringworm has started spreading by always washing your skin, avoiding to touch things that might have been touched by infected people, and finally by wearing loose clothes that do not touch and press against the skin like tight clothing.

The symptoms of ringworm are the red itchy worm-shaped patches of skin that appear where the fungi develops but if they are not treated the infection can eat through the skin and reach the blood, infecting it too. In this case antibiotics are needed to kill the foreign organisms from the blood.

Ringworm has an incubation period of 4-5 days, after which the symptoms start to show up. You must visit a doctor as soon as you discover that you have ringworm, in order to avoid its spreading to other areas of the skin and to other people. The most common medication that can treat ringworm are special ointments and antifungal pills. The ointments must be applied to the infected areas of the skin until the ringworm goes away and afterwards, because some of the bacteria can re-appear.

It is very ease to diagnose ringworm, doctors usually do it by simply looking at the infected areas, sometimes a sample from the skin surface is taken and analyzed, but not too often. Since it’s easy to put the ringworm diagnose most of the ointments are available without prescription. However asking for a doctor’s opinion is recommended.

The pills are prescribed when the infection has spread to many places and something stronger is required. These should be taken only when the doctor advises you to do so.

If it’s treated properly ringworm will disappear in a few days, and if it’s not it will spread and irritate more and more areas of the skin, reaching deeper and deeper, so if you have ringworm start treating it right away.

So, if you want to find out more about ringworm of the scalp or even about ringworm, please click this website http://www.ringworm-center.com

Groshan Fabiola

http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/what-is-the-best-treatment-for-ringworm-87730.html

To see some cat ringworm pictures, look here.

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Obedience training can be done no matter what the age of the dog is. However, aged dogs must be handled carefully. Training is not only physically but also mentally demanding. Differentiate between the aged and the seriously infirm dogs when training them. As a norm, the training process of dogs requires a lot of patience. However, training aged dogs requires an even more patient and calm approach.

As such, the training procedure is not affected by the age of the dog. Irrespective of whether the dog is young or old, the training techniques remain the same. However, you may have to modify certain aspects of your training to accommodate the less than perfect eyesight and hearing abilities of the dog. Your hand signals should be distinct and your verbal commands should be extra clear. These minor changes should be made to the training process. However, just because an aged dog is being trained does not mean that the training need not be perfect. If necessary, extend the training period by a week but do not leave the dog half trained.

One area where persons training aged dogs must be very patient is the reaction time of the dog. Many a times, the trainer feels that the dog is purposely reacting in a slow manner. If the dog is aged, the slow reactions may be due to the overall slowing down of the movement of the dog. The dog may suffer from arthritis and this may hamper the movement. Be flexible while training the dog. If the dog finds it difficult to sit, then simply dispense with the ‘sit’ command. The dog will resist training if it causes pain to him. If there is no pain, then you can train the dog to not only sit but also to sit and stay.

If your dog finds it difficult to walk or find it difficult to get up after being ordered to lie down, try training the dog for a longer period of time on a soft surface. This will reduce the discomfort of the dog. Most dogs take a bit of time to get up after a ‘down and stay’ command. Give your dog that extra second after you command the dog to heel.

Other important points:

? Older dogs do develop cataracts. However, this condition can be found in young dogs as well.

? Despite what self appointed experts tell you, there is no evidence of mixed breeds living longer than pure breed dogs.

? If you have an older dog, watch out for hookworms as they are found more in aged dogs than young dogs. However, the susceptibility of the dog depends on the well being of the dog.

? Organ transplants are being performed on an experimental basis. However, they are very expensive operations.

? Generally older dogs shed less than younger dogs.

Notable, too, is that humans are at risk of rabies, ringworms, sarcoptic mange and ticks as these can be communicated to humans from dogs. Ringworm is a fungus and not a disease although it is popularly termed as a disease.

Kelly Marshall

http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/obedience-training-of-older-dog-may-require-minor-tweaks-in-procedure-703793.html

To find a quality ringworm cream for cats, look here.

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There are lots of veterinary and pet medication websites to be found on the Internet nowadays, and all claim to be the foremost authority and source for your pet’s needs. Buying medication for your pet is okay, as long as you know exactly what you’re buying and the proper amounts to administer to your pet. Thus, the professional advice of a registered veterinarian is invaluable. The information to be found in this article does not intend to replace the care of a professional; its purpose is to be used as an educational guide to your pet’s medications only.

Adequan
In treating arthritis, injections are given twice a week for 4 weeks for a maximum of eight injections. Injections are given intramuscularly. Dogs, cats, and horses are the usual patients.

Buspirone Hydrochloride
In veterinary medicine, buspirone has been especially helpful in the treatment of phobias (such as fear of thunder, people in uniform, etc.) and in the treatment of urine marking in cats.

Carprofen
Carprofen is a member of the class of drugs known as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), the same class as such common over-the-counter remedies as Advil (ibuprofen), Orudis (ketoprofen), and aspirin. The chief use for such drugs in the dog has been pain relief, usually joint pain or post-surgical pain relief.

Cephalexin
Cephalexin is a good broad spectrum antibiotic, which means it is useful in most common and uncomplicated infections.

Chlorpheniramine Maleate
It’s an antihistamine and it’s used for acute inflammatory and allergic conditions such as snake bites, vaccination reactions, blood transfusion reactions, bee stings and insect bites, and to manage itchy skin.

Clemastine fumarate
Clemastine fumarate is one of the more effective antihistamines albeit relatively expensive. Its efficacy makes it a common first choice for itchy skin. It has found to be helpful in 30% of itchy dogs and 50% of itchy cats.

Diazepam
There are many uses for this medication since it is effective as an anti-anxiety medication, a muscle relaxant, an appetite stimulant, and a seizure control drug.

Diphenhydramine
Most obviously, diphenhydramine is an antihistamine and it’s used for acute inflammatory and allergic conditions such as snake bites, vaccination reactions, blood transfusion reactions, bee stings and insect bites.

Enrofloxacin
This medication may be used in either dogs or cats to combat different types of infections, especially those involving Pseudomonas.

Fenbendazole
In dogs, it is useful against roundworms, hookworms, and the more difficult to treat whipworms.

Griseofulvin
This medication is used to treat ringworm, a fungal infection of the skin involving fungi.

Meclizine hydrochloride
An excellent product for people that can also be used for car-sick pets, meclizine hydrochloride is generally used for nausea relief due to motion sickness.

Metoclopramide
Motility disorders are common and may be chronic or of sudden onset. When motility is reduced in the stomach, food pools there and creates a sensation of nausea and bloating.

Orbifloxacin
Orbifloxacin may be used in dogs and cats to combat different types of infections, especially those involving Pseudomonas. This medication is also active against Staphylococci, and thus is commonly used for skin infections.

Phenobarbital
In dogs and cats, phenobarbital is probably the first choice for seizure suppression. It is effective, safe if used responsibly, and is one of the least expensive medications in all of veterinary practice.

Phenylpropanolamine
Phenylpropanolaminecan be used to help control appetite or as a decongestant, but in veterinary medicine it is used almost exclusively for the control of urinary incontinance in the female dog.

Pyrantel pamoate is effective against numerous parasitic worms, such as roundworms, hookworms, and stomach worms. When a new puppy or kitten is adopted and has been said to have been dewormed, the chances are it is this product that was used.

Ranitidine
Ranitidine is useful in any situation where stomach irritation is an issue and ulceration is a concern.

Terbinafine
Terbinafine has activity against other types of fungi but at this time it is mostly used against ringworm.

Trimethoprim Sulfa
Trimethoprim sulfa is known by many names as it’s a commonly used antibiotic in both human and veterinary medicine. It’s become a popular choice thanks to its broad spectrum and inexpensive cost.

Chiun Master

http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/common-pet-medications-135142.html

For information on pet ringworm medications, click here.

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Ringworm is a common infection of the skin that can be found both at humans and animals, especially cats, which are the most common ringworm carriers.

Although its name suggests that it is caused by a worm, in fact it is caused by a fungus. This fungus grows on the skin and feeds with the dead skin and hair cells there. The areas of skin that are infected with ringworm are usually round, and they have a red color at their edges, but in their center the skin looks almost normal. The red areas are shaped like a ring and they are also swollen because the fungus irritates the skin, so the place looks like a red round worm. This is where the name ringworm comes from.

The symptoms of ringworm can be seen on the skin surface. A doctor can diagnose ringworm just by taking a look at the infected areas. In some cases a more thorough analysis needs to be made to determine the nature of the fungus, so the doctor may take a small sample of skin tissue from the places where the fungus grows.

In the beginning ringworm looks like a small pimple or mosquito bite. Then it starts to grow as the fungus begins to evolve and spread. If hair grows in the area then the infected place will lose it, so red bald patches of skin will appear. Some patients also have a yellow crust over the infection.

As ringworm progresses the areas get bigger and they begin to be shaped like a ring. The skin in those areas in always itchy and soon more red patches will appear if it is not treated.

Depending on where the symptoms appears ringworm is called ringworm of the scalp, ringworm of the groin, or athlete’s foot if it appears on the feet.

The treatment for ringworm is easy, especially if the doctors discover it early.

If there are only a few places with the fungus on them then the doctor will prescribe you an antifungal cream. These ointments can be purchased without a prescription but it’s best to ask the doctor before deciding to use one. The cream must be applied directly on the infected skin for as long as it takes to for ringworm to go away and some time afterwards to make sure all the fungus cells are dead.

However if ringworm has spread to too any areas then antifungal pills are required to cure it. They are usually taken once a day and they are pretty strong so the effect should be seen in a few days.

IT’s easy to cure ringworm, but first you must recognize it from its symptoms and go to a doctor for an accurate diagnosis as soon as you see any signs of it. If you want to prevent it, always wash and clean yourself and avoid using items that are regularly used by many people.

So, if you want to find out more about ringworm or even about ringworm of the scalp, please click this website http://www.ringworm-center.com

Groshan Fabiola

http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/all-about-the-ringworm-symptoms-and-treatment-87094.html

For more information on a ringworm cream for dogs, look here.

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