Natural Pet Health

Practically all conventional medications have side effects. Some side effects are self limiting and mild but others can be severe. Prednisone is often projected as a wonder drug that is used to treat numerous conditions in dogs.

The drug affects almost all parts of the body and is instrumental in remission of autoimmune diseases in cases where the fundamental cause cannot be treated. It is used as a standalone drug or as a supplementary treatment for conditions like allergies, respiratory disorders, Cushings disease in dogs, Addison’s disease and various types of cancers.

The bladder is an organ in the body that stores urine. Bladder infection in dogs is commonly caused by bacteria. However, a recurrent or persistent infection may indicate other conditions such as bladder stones, bladder cancer, Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism), diabetes mellitus and anatomical defects.

Bacteria infection

The urinary bladder and urine are normally sterile. Infection occurs when bacteria enters the bladder via the urethra from outside the body. This type of infection can simply be treated with a course of antibiotics.

Canine bladder stones

There are various types of bladder stones. Oxalate stones are the type that cause dog bladder infection.

The substance that inhibits the formation of calcium oxalate stones is nephrocalcin. Due to some genetic disorder, this substance is defective in dogs that develop this type of bladder stones.

Cushing’s disease (also known as hyperadrenocorticism) is a condition precipitated either a pituitary brain tumor or an adrenal gland tumor which causes your pet to produce too much of the hormone cortisol. While much more common in dogs than in cats, in recent years it has been diagnosed as a complication of feline diabetes. � Cushing’s disease generally strikes middle-aged pets (dogs, between ages 6-9; cats, usually 8 years or older.)

Symptoms of Cushing’s disease may include any of following:

Addison’s disease in dogs is an endocrinal disease that is caused by a reduction of the steroid hormones. It is also referred as hypoadrenocorticism, a term that implies adrenal insufficiency. It is entirely the opposite of Cushing’s syndrome in dogs, which is caused by hyper-function of the adrenal glands or an increase in the production of hormones.

The adrenal glands are triangle shaped glands that sit on top of the kidneys. The glands are made up of two layers – the outer layer is the cortex and the inner layer is the medulla. The cortex secretes corticosteroid hormones. The medulla is part of the sympathetic nervous system and secretes epinephrine in response to stress.

Most diseases that strike your dog as he gets older are basically diseases of captivity. What this means is that these are the health conditions that are caused due to the fact that your dog has been kept in captivity as against the wild and has been exposed to environmental toxins that he would otherwise have been a stranger to.

With better medical facilities our pets live longer than ever before. This is definitely much longer than they would have lived in the wild. However, this comes at a price that they have to pay with serious illness like Cushing’s disease and cancer. While cancer is a dreaded disease, Cushing’s is equally frightening in terms of the problems it creates for the pet and the owner.

Stroke Signs, Symptoms, And Causes Of Strokes In Dogs

Everybody is familiar with the fact that humans have strokes. It is a serious medical issue that people must be aware of when it comes to their own health. However, most of us do not realize that our pets can also suffer a stroke and receive severe brain damage. Experts use to claim that dog strokes were very rare, however during recent MRI scanning documentation, it appears that strokes in dogs is a lot more prevalent than we think.

What Exactly Is A Stroke?

A mammal’s body is very complex. It involves a series of preset and complicated actions, reactions and reciprocal actions. These processes are carried out between the various body systems that work together to keep the body functioning properly.

Overall health can be maintained only by ensuring a fine balance between the enzymes, hormones, and various other chemical compounds that are responsible for metabolic activity. Though the mammalian body has been designed to maintain this fine balance, some external or internal factors can disturb the balance causing ailments, diseases, and other conditions. These factors include trauma, disease, age, diet, or a change in the internal chemical environment.

Cushings disease is a glandular disorder caused by excessive corticosteroids. The process of the production of these corticosteroids is such that:

* The pituitary gland produces a hormone called ACTH
* The ACTH stimulates the adrenalin glands
* The adrenalin gland produces corticosteroids
* A more than required amount of corticosteroid can cause Cushings disease, so it is also called hyperadrenocorticism (hyper-adreno-corticism).

The overproduction of corticosteroids which causes Cushings disease in dogs can occur due to two types of conditions. In 85% of the cases, the excessive production of ACTH is caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland that produces high levels of ACTH.

This causes the adrenalin glands to make more than required levels of corticosteroids. Hyperadrenocorticism in a dog can also be caused by a corticosteroid-producing tumor in one or both of the adrenalin glands.

The Dachshund was officially recognized by the AKC in the early 1900s, and according the the current AKC registration list, this dog has become one of the top five registered breeds of today. This small sized member of the hound group has an unforgettable appearance, with a short, long body, small legs, and a handsome pointed face.

The origin of the Dachshund goes back to the 1500’s in which their main function was to flush out badgers. Today, however, the Dachshund has become an everyday family house pet as well as retained the sharp edge to compete in Earthdog trials and Dachshund field trials.

The Bichon Frise dog b reed is a member of the non-sporting group and its roots are originally from the Mediterranean. This dog breed came the United States sometime around the 1950s but did not become popular with dog owners until the mid 1960s. And it was not until the year 1971 that the AKC (American Kennel Club) recognized the Bichon Frise as an official breed.

These cute animals are considered to be bouncy, playful, and extremely perky with character. Some dog enthusiasts say that the Bichon Frise manages a happy-go-lucky outlook towards life. These dogs are so friendly that strangers can come up to them and pet the dogs with no worry of aggression. And suffice to say, the Bichon Frise gets along very well with young children.