This 'n that...just good things about dog health to know in case you ever need them
Hookworms
Hookworms are a very opportunistic intestinal parasite. The adults live in the animal's intestine, securely attached by their mouth to the inner wall of the animal's intestine. There, they constantly suck blood from their host. In a weak or young animal, this can be fatal. Dogs can get them in three ways. While still in the uterus, larval hooks cross the pacenta and enter the embryo's body. While nursing, larval hooks can also pass in the milk to the newborn's body. And as youngsters or adults, free living larval hookworms from the environment and soil can burrow through the skin into the animal. Hookworms are easy to eliminate using wormers prescribed by a veterinarian. Do not try and "guess" which parasite your dog has - a stool check is necessary to prescribe the correct wormer. Wormers are a type of poison and the wrong one can do more damage than good. A diagnosis is made by checking a stool sample with a microscope. Many of today's heartworm preventatives eliminate and control hookworms. Contact your veterinarian if you suspect worms of any kind and all dogs should have a stool sample checked twice a year.
Skin Ailments - Mange
a skin disease in which the dog has a small, microscopic mite actually living within it's skin. Dogs can have several kinds of mange depending on the species of mite.Puppy Mange - Caused by the Demodex mite, the condition usually first appears around the eyes and then may spread to the rest of the body. They are characterized by loss of hair, cracking of the skin and weeping of a pink tinged fluid.Scabies or Scarcoptic Mange - caused by the Sarcoptic mite and can be found in people. It occurs anywhere on the body but the head and chest are most commonly affected. Scabies causes a severe itching sometimes leading to self-mutilation through scratching and chewing.Dandruff - caused by the Cheyletiosis mite and affects dogs, but has been isolated from cats and people. Usually raw areas are on the head and neck.Nose Mites - Pneumonyssus mites live in the nose and sinuses and cause chronic nasal discharge and sneezing.Ear mange/Otodectic Mange - Otodectes or ear mites cause chronic ear infections characterized by extreme itching and reddish brown discharge.Ringworm - is a fungus caused disease affecting the skin of dogs and cats. It does not always cause a circular lesion, however many animals lose all of the hair over most of their bodies. In others, the lesions are moist and bright red. Often the feet and areas between the toes are infected and the entire foot becomes swollen.
Prostate Disease
The prostate gland is found in male dogs as part of the reproductive system. In older males, it frequently causes medical problems. While in man, it's a common site of cancer, this is not generally true of dogs. Rather, in old age it undergoes enlargement caused by the development of cysts and bacterial infections. The most common signs associated with these changes in the dog are constipation and straining to deficate. The enlarged gland puts pressure on and constricts the rectum. Treatement usually involves antibotics and neutering. Neutering is done because without the male hormone testosterone the prostate shrinks to less than it's original size.
Heartworms
The mosquito transmits heartworm larvae to the dog who is the host for adult heartworms. The cycle is continuous from mosquito to dog and back to mosquito again when a mosquito bites an infected dog. Once the dog is infected with larve that burrow into the skin, they find their way to the heart through the bloodstream. This takes about 6 months from the time of an infected bite. The adults live in thhe heart and multiply by producing microfilaria which are presennt in the blood and are detedted by a Difil test. This test only detects the microfilaria. If the dog is on preventative, has single sex heartworms or the heartworms are sterile the Difil test is inaccurate. A newer test, the "Occult" is more accurate - 99%. This test should be given to dogs even if they are on preventative. It costs to have the dog tested, but is more expensive if the dog gets adult heartworms. This should be given annually since preventative can be skipped, not injested, or ineffective due to age or exposure to extreme temperatures. Heartworm treatment is expensive and lengthy - usually lasting 6 weeks with a 3 month recovery period. It consists of 2 steps...Microfilaria re eliminated orally by administering a high dose of Ivermectin. After 2 weeks, the adult heartworms are then killed by four intravenous injections of arsenic over a two day period. Although this is risky, there is currently no other way. If the dog has a healthy liver, he probably will survive treatment. There is a critical period following the arsenic treatment on the 7th thru 10th day when the adult heartworms die and decompose in the blood. To help eliminate the chance of clots, the dog is given Ascriptin which thins the blood and allows the heartworms to pass. The first 10 days it is absolutely imperative that the dog has no strenuous activity and only limited activity for 3 weeks after that. At the end of 30 days they will test again to determine if microfilaria are present. If negative, the treatment was successful. Avoid the expense and danger of treatment and put your dog on heartworm preventative for the suggested amount of time for where you live! It may save your dog's life.
Unhealthy Puppy Signs
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Puppy Schedule
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Puppy Teeth & Bites
Puppies will sometimes fail to lose their baby or first set of teeth. Often this is the large canines. If these teeth are not lost before 5-7 month of age they prevent the adult teeth from coming in correctly. Crowding occurs pushing the adult teeth too far forward. Improper bite not only affects chewing, but it also affects the natural cleaning action of the teeth as they are used chewing rawhides and (safe) bones. In malamutes, a correct bite is where the front teeth fit tightly over and in front of the bottom teeth - they should mesh together perfectly. Common problems are "overshot" or buck teeth, and "undershot" where the lower teeth are in front of the top teeth. Neither is correct. If baby teeth do not come out on their own by 6 months of age, it is best if they are removed by your veterinarian.
Lipomas
Lipomas are the most common tumor found in dogs. It is a benign growth of fat that is usually found under the skin. Lipomas typically have a flat or dome shap and are not firmly attached to deeper structures. They can therefore be moved around through the skin. A common location for them to be found is over the rib cage, however, they can occur on the back, neck and legs. There is a slightly higher incidence of lipomas in females. They are not painful and usually should cause little concern. When combing your Malamute, if you find one of these growths, have it checked by a veterinarian. If this is all it is, there is no harm in doing nothing. You may want to be a bit more careful when combing through the coat so you don't catch the comb on them, however. If they begin to grow or bleed they may need to be removed. The exact cause is unknown.
False Pregnancies
Some female dogs display all the physical and behavioral signs of pregnancy even though they have not been bred. A hormonal abnormality causes the dog's body and mind to prepare for whelping. They may show abdominal distention and milk production in mammary glands. Behaviorally, they make nests, carry and guard toys, and may even try and get the toys to nurse. Although in most cases, these signs will pass, in severe cases medication may be needed to cure the hormone imbalance. Dogs that repeatedly display these signs should be spayed as they often develope more serious problems affecting the uterus and mammary glands. Often they are more difficult to breed successfully as well.
Coccidiosis
This parasite lives within the intestines of both dogs and cats causing severe diarrhea that is often bloody. It also has a peculiar smell you'll never forget and the feces look like they have a mucus coating. Young puppies can get the parasite from their mother in the first weeks of life. Older dogs can pick it up from infected feces. It is believed that adults often carry it but show no signs and typically do not pass the infective systs in their stool. However, if stressed, the parasite becomes more active which increases the number of active cysts in the stool. If these cysts are ingested (even by sniffing around infected stools) it can produce diarrhea up to 3 weeks later. Coccidiosis is treated with sulfadimethoxine which eliminates all clincial signs, however, some vets feel it is never completely eliminated and stays in the dog. That is, until the dog is stressed and the cycle repeats.
A very good detailed article about Coccidia is here. and another good article is here.
Arthritis & the Older Dog
The best thing you can do for your older dog is keep him trim and fit. Excess weight puts stress on joints and bones and can make a small problem worse. Though there are many kinds of medications available for treatment, most are fairly expensive and are reserved for severe cases. Bufferin - or buffered aspirin - it is tolerated well and can be given for years. The buffering makes it easier on the stomach and it's recommended it's given with food. Orthopedic pet beds also can be helpful in providing comfort for an older pet.
Bladder Infections
Bladder Infections (cystitis) is very common in dogs. It is usually caused by bacterial organisms that somehow get into the bladder and colonize it. Affected animals strain to urinate and may pass small quantities of urine that contains blood. The urine of the animal is typically more alkaline (as opposed to acid). Bacteria will grow fast in an alkaline environment. These infections are treated with antibiotics and urinary acidifiers such as Vitamin C or d-I methionine.Bladder infections are more common in females because the uretha is shorter. Also, younger dogs are more likely to be affected than older dogs. Therefore, if you notice your pet straining or urinating more frequently, have them checked immediately.
Fatty Acid Supplements
Fatty acid supplements have been found to be necessary to many breeds, but we feel Malamutes more so than others. If you consider what they ate in the prehistoric arctic - seal, walrus, fish - you'll agree. Dogs deficient in these supplements can develop poor hair coats, hot spots, ear infections and even reproductive failures. Dry foods are often lacking in these essential fatty acids. Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids play a vital role in maintaining healthy coats. If you prefer to not buy store-bought supplements - safflower oil and fish oil are good sources. Give the liquid from a can of tuna or salmon you open for lunch. The best store-bought supplements contain antioxidants to maintain stability and digestibility.
Grape & Raisin Toxicity in Dogs
Grapes and raisins have been linked to kidney failure and therefore, if your dog shows any symptoms after eating them, contact your vet immediately.
Raisin Toxicity |
Emergency care link |
Pet Health Insurance and Prescriptions
You can save a bundle by having your vet write the Rx for heartworm or anything else that isn't urgent such as Thyroid or Epilepsy meds and ordering online.