Natural Pet Health

All cells in the body need glucose for energy. There is a typical method by which glucose enters the cells. Insulin is a hormone secreted by the Pancreas that signals the opening of a ‘door’ so that glucose can enter the cell. Any disruption in this mechanism means that cells do not get the energizing glucose that they need and excess glucose remains in the blood stream. This results in high blood glucose levels.

Inflammation of the Pancreas is a primary cause of Diabetes in cats , dogs and humans as well. Type 1 Diabetes is the inability of the Pancreas to produce sufficient insulin. Type 2 Diabetes is a combination of a similar problem as in type 1 diabetes accompanied by a condition known as insulin resistance.

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A liver shunt is a blood vessel that carries blood around the liver instead of carrying blood through the liver. A liver shunt problem is mostly congenital. A dog may also acquire multiple small shunts from a severe liver disease, such as cirrhosis. There are basically two kinds of liver shunt conditions that are possible – congenital liver shunt and acquired liver shunt.

Congenital Liver Shunts

The Liver Function is not needed in the fetus. The mother’s liver performs functions like filtering, production of proteins and storage of sugar for the unborn baby. There is a large shunt in mammalian fetuses that carries blood from the fetal liver to the heart. This shunt (duct) usually closes once the baby’s liver becomes operational before or after birth. In rare cases this shunt does not close leading to what is known as a congenital ‘intra hepatic’ shunt. In certain cases, a blood vessel outside the liver grows abnormally and remains open while the fetal shunt closes. This condition is known as congenital ‘extra-hepatic’ shunt.

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There is a difference between liver disease and liver failure. Liver disease is a general term applied to any disorder that is affecting liver. The blood tests in this case show higher levels of liver enzymes. Apart from fatty liver disease, which is a more common in cats, other types of feline liver diseases are caused by toxins from food and drugs, trauma, heatstroke and infections.

A liver shunt, where the blood bypasses the liver instead of going through it, is a genetic defect in the portal vein but may be acquired in certain cases.

Liver disease is usually difficult to diagnose. The symptoms of liver disease in dogs and cats normally have to be observed carefully as they often duplicate symptoms of other diseases. Till the definite results from blood tests, imaging procedures or histology are not available, even veterinarians are wary of confirming a diagnosis of liver disease. Before a definite diagnosis, the typical sequence of events occurs as follows.

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The trend toward natural health consciousness in humans is gaining popularity in the animal world too. Many veterinarians are beginning to introduce natural therapies in their practice, including osteopathy, Homeopathy, acupuncture, flower essences and more recently Aromatherapy. It’s just been a few years since aroma therapists and vets have begun to recognize how animals can benefit from this wonderful natural therapy.

For humans and animals alike, Essential Oils are powerfully antiseptic, detoxifying and revitalizing, thus increasing resistance to disease while strengthening the Immune System.

Essential Oils can also be used to control pet odors and to purify the air from dust, dander and allergens. For example, mix 50 drops of lemon Essential Oil in a 2-oz spray bottle filled with water. Shake very well several times and spray the room. You’ll notice immediately that it refreshes and cleanses the air!

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To understand the causes of liver disease in dogs it is important to have a look at its physiology. The liver is involved in multiple functions and therefore its health can affect numerous organs. Conversely, the health of various other organs can negatively affect the health of the liver too. A summary of liver functions is presented here:

* Metabolism - The liver regulates the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and proteins.
* Detoxification - It is a multi phased process that involves deactivating an offending drug for easy elimination and converting an inactive compound into an active form so that it can circulate through the blood stream and have an affect on the body.
* Bile Metabolism - Bile is produced by liver cells and secreted by them into channels in the liver and stored in the bladder. Inactive compounds are eliminated in the bile, red blood cells are re-circulated through the bile system, and bile helps in absorption of fats from the intestines to the blood stream.
* Coagulation - The liver plans and directs the complex synthesis of proteins that initiate and maintain clotting of blood.

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It is a mad jungle out there when it comes to selling dog food. Seeing the number of brands, the different types of sales pitches adopted by marketers and the fancy names with tongue twisting ingredients printed on labels, it appears the focus is on attracting buyers and grabbing a share of the whopping $ 11 billion pie..

In addition, each manufacturer launches numerous types of pet food under one brand. There are moist, semi moist and dry dog foods. Their use of terminology, like ‘premium’, ‘super-premium’, and ‘Gourmet’ are mere nomenclatures since they hardly mean any thing. Even though the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) regulates what must be printed on the labels. The warnings are all mentioned in small print and therefore do not serve to warn the consumers adequately.

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Dog Biting makes up for almost half the claims made under homeowner’s insurance policies. Nearly two thirds of the cases relate to Biting incidents that occur with an acquainted dog. At the same time, healthy and well trained dogs are not aggressive and they normally do not Bite.

There is evidence of a genetic disposition of dog Aggression in certain breeds. However, that is not the only cause of aggressive dog behavior. There are other factors that influence Aggressive Behavior in dogs and the best way to guard against such a situation is to start dog training when you purchase or accept a puppy.

Select a puppy that suits your family. Puppies that are too shy need large amounts of coaxing in various situations. Shy puppies will need more time in each activity. Before selecting a shy puppy, make sure that you are ready to spend some time with for him.

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The liver performs important functions like detoxification of the blood, production of bile for Digestion and the removal of waste from the body. It is structured with six lobes and is one of the most complex organs in the body of the dog.

An early detection of a liver infection in a dog can help in improving the prognosis of pet liver diseases including feline liver disease . The unusually vast capacity of the liver to continue to function even when afflicted is mostly responsible for late detection of liver disease in dogs. Early detection is also tough since the symptoms of liver disease tend to surface only after the disease has progressed. Symptoms of liver disease in dogs may be gradual or sudden and symptomatic of certain conditions like indigestion and Anxiety.

There are multiple causes of liver disease and a specific diagnosis is not always possible. Some of the major causes include:

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While inefficient or over active immune systems can cause diseases, other diseases can also compromise the Immune System’s ability to combat diseases. Many times a certain drug used during the course of a treatment negatively affects the Immune System, which in turn can be a cause behind the occurrence of another condition.

A dog’s body is capable of fighting minor diseases on its own. Frequent occurrences of skin disorders, allergies, respiratory and eye disorders and other general problems are sure signs of dysfunction of the Immune System in pets. It is important to be on guard rather than letting the situation go out of hand. Maintaining the health of the immune system of your pet will not only restrict frequent occurrences of disease but also help in improving chances of survival in the event of a serious disease.

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Although Diabetes in cats is manageable, it requires constant observation of symptoms and close monitoring of Blood Sugar Levels. The amount, quality and timing of meals should be decided based on the type of insulin that you are injecting.

The diet should be regulated based on the frequency with which the insulin is administered. The difference lies in the fact that some types of insulin are slow acting and others have a pronounced peak action. Switching the type of insulin requires a compensatory change in diet.

Cats and dogs are usually treated with animal based insulin (beef based insulin being the most similar to a cat’s natural insulin) or with synthetic human insulin. The veterinarian will suggest the most suitable type of insulin for your cat after considering the results of a series of blood tests for determining the effect of each type on Blood Sugar Levels.

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