Canine Neurological Disorders

There are so many different canine neurological disorders that dogs and puppies can experience it would be almost impossible to cover them all on this page. Having said that we will aim to cover the most common canine neurological disorders, starting with a list compiled below and then going into more detail covering each disorder. Remember that the illnesses listed below do not always display noticeable symptoms until the disease has progressed.

Please do not use this information as a diagnostic tool - we are not Vet's and this is for information only.

If you have any concerns we advise you to take your dog to the Vet asap as canine neurological disorders can be progressive, degenerative and lead to death if not treated fast.

1. Canine Vestibular Disease


2. (leading to seizures) - Epilepsy


3. Degenerative Myelopathy


4. CDS - Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome


5. Parkinsons


6. Rabies


7. Hepatic Encephalopathy


8. Acquired Myasthenia Gravis


9. Distemper


10. Strokes

Now lets discuss all of the canine neurological disorders listed above in a little more detail.

Canine Vestibular Disease - This illness is also a serious issue if it affects your dog (as is any illness). Canine Vestibular disease has very similar symptoms to the symptoms of a stroke.

The main causes of Canine Vestibular disease include congenital factors - this is when it is transmitted to the puppy before it is even born. The most common age for dogs to be affected by this disease is when they are middle aged or older (around 13 years of age).

Another cause of the disease is through tick bites causing a nasty infection known as Rocky Mountain Fever. It can also be caused by lesions affecting (on) the brain. If your dog has recently suffered an ear infection (middle ear infection) this has also been known to cause the disease.

The symptoms of Canine Vestibular disease can include...

• Coordination problems - this can include your dog walking around in circles.


• Watch for problems with your dog's face. The disease is known to cause your dog to have problems being able to control the muscles in his face/head.


• Watch for sickness in your dog - motion sickness is another symptom of the disease.


• The nervous system is also affected by the disease sometimes causing a dog's eyes to roll backwards and forwards in the socket - this is called Nystagmus.

Epilepsy - This condition is actually more common in dogs and puppies than you might think. Epilepsy normally starts when your puppy is very young (as early as 2 years of age). Fortunately Epilepsy can be controlled quite well with appropriate medication - so your puppy is quite capable (even with the illness) of living a full and active life.

Seizures can come in a variety of types including....

• Tonic Clonic Seizures


• Petit Mal Seizures


• Partial Seizures


• Complex Partial Seizures


• Status Epilepticus


• Cluster Seizures

Your dog will go through three stages when having a seizure including the...

1. Pre-Ictal Phase - this is just before the seizure starts - you may notice that your dog has sudden behavior changes.


2. Ictal Phase - This is when the seizure starts - your dog's muscles may go into an uncontrollable condition that leaves their legs straight and stiff - your dog may also be paralyzed when suffering the seizure. The seizure may last anywhere from several seconds to a few minutes. Your dog may lose control of his bowels during the seizure and may also salivate.


3. Post-Ictal Phase - This is the period after the seizure has ended.

Degenerative Myelopathy - This disease is also referred to as Chronic Degenerative Radiculomyelopathy. This illness normally affects dogs between the age of 7 years of age and 14 years of age. The main cause of the disease is thought to be due to the sheath that surrounds the neurons in the spinal chord is attacked by dog's immune system which leads to a progressive and degenerative loss of coordination in the back legs (Ataxia) and eventually paralysis. Basically the brain and the back legs stop communicating effectively.

Below are some of the symptoms that you should look out for.

• Dogs with this disease will often stand with their back legs very close together with the feet also pointing in different directions due to the lack of coordination.


• Your dog may appear to stagger when he walks around the House or when outside.


• You may notice that your dog is actually not capable of walking as the disease progresses - this may leave your dog trying to drag his feet along the floor - causing problems with the paws and nails.


• As the disease continues to progress your dog's back legs may become completely paralyzed.


• Balance will be affected.


• You may notice that your dog is unable to control his bladder and/or bowels.


• The disease can progress quite quickly (in months) or it can take a few years.


• Eventually the nerves in the cranium and respiratory system will be affected which will lead to you making the very upsetting decision to have your dog put to sleep. Follow your Vets advice throughout the disease as you don't want your dog to suffer any more than you would want to suffer.

CDS - Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome - This refers to dementia (as dogs can get this degenerative disease too). Always watch for sudden behavior changes in your dog as this is normally a good indication that something untoward may be happening.

The signs and symptoms of CDS can include the following...

• Your dog may not respond to you when he is called.


• Watch for signs of disorientation.


• Does your dog seem confused and even walk around in circles?


• Watch for changes in your dog's personality - normally you as the owner will be the first to notice any things that 'just don't seem right' about your beloved pooch.


• Memory loss is another symptom.

Parkinsons- This is one of those canine neurological disorders that many owners don't realize can actually affect dogs as well as humans with very similar signs and symptoms. This disease is hereditary and will normally affect younger dogs.

The signs and symptoms of Parkinsons in dogs can include...

• Muscle jerks and twitches.


• Your dog may suffer from the onset of tremors


• Muscle stiffness


• Problems walking and a difficulty in balancing

Hepatic Encephalopathy-Also referred to as Portosystemic Encephalopathy. This disease is caused by renal failure in dogs or to put this is into an easy language that is more understandable, this disease is caused when the liver stops working properly and adequately removing toxins from your dogs blood. Due to the livers failure to work properly these toxins eventually build up in your dog's blood stream leading to Hepatic Encephalopathy. This disease can be treated but if it is left to progress it can lead to....

• Confusion


• Constipation


• Coma


• It can even be fatal if not treated.

Rabies - This disease is one of the more serious illnesses that a dog (or human) can suffer from. The disease is transmitted via saliva and can be fatal. The incubation period for the disease can vary with signs and symptoms of Rabies sometimes taking several months to appear. Due to the fact that most bites which transfer the saliva and disease occur around the head and facial area the disease can affect the brain quite quickly - with incubation being as short as 2-3 weeks.

As previously mentioned the disease is normally transmitted via a bite. The infected saliva carrying the Rabies virus will then travel via the nerves in your dogs body and then directly to the brain. The virus will then return through the nervous system again and start affecting the glands and other organs within your dog's body.

The signs and symptoms of Rabies depend on the form that your dog is infected with as there are two types - Dumb and Furious. Both types will lead to massive personality changes in your dog. If for example your dog is quite aggressive without being infected - after infection he may become affectionate and want to be around humans. If however your dog is quite quiet before infection after he is infected he may become furious, savage and very unpredictable.

Other symptoms can include...

• An inability to control the facial muscles with the facial expressions changing.


• You may notice that your dog is salivating and drooling massively.


• Alongside the salivating the jaw will be fixed (paralyzed) with the eyes staring in a fixed manner.


• Dogs with rabies also shy away from bright lights.


• Do NOT approach a dog if you fear it has Rabies - they are VERY dangerous.


• Paralysis, coma and death will normally occur approximately 15 days after the first signs and symptoms of the disease have been exhibited.

Acquired Myasthenia Gravis - This nasty disease is classed as a Autoimmune condition (disease) - basically this means that the immune system actually turns on itself and starts attacking it's own immune system. The cause of this disease is due to the neurons and interconnecting muscles being damaged - which will then lead to...

• Muscle weakness


• Tiredness after exercise


• The muscles in the eyes may also be affected


• The muscles in the face may become affected which will cause changes to your dog's facial expressions.


• You may also notice that there are some changes in your dogs voice.


• Problems with the esophagus can also occur which will then lead to a difficulty in swallowing.

This is another of those canine neurological disorders that can be congenital and affect certain breeds including...

1. Dachshunds (Miniature)


2. Springer Spaniels (all types of this breed)


3. Fox Terriers (smooth variety)


4. Jack Russell.

Distemper - This is another particularly nasty disease. Distemper is actually a virus which can be transmitted from dog to dog normally by your dog inhaling particles which have been infected by the discharges from another dog that is carrying the disease. The incubation period for the disease is anywhere between 7-21 days.

The early signs and symptoms of Distemper will include some of the following...

• A cough


• High temperature


• Tiredness and lethargy


• Eyes that have become reddened


• Loss of appetite


• Runny nose


• Your dog may also make a noise when he breaths


• Vomiting


• Diarrhea

Later symptoms (normally after a few weeks) of Distemper may include...

• Nervous twitches


• Fits


• Paralysis


• The pads of the nose may become thickened.

Dog Strokes - This is a problem that can cause quite severe behavioral changes in your dog. The symptoms of a stroke can also leave your dog with mobility problems too. There are two types of Strokes - one which is caused by hemorrhaging in the brain and the other which is caused by a blocked artery which blocks blood flow to the brain.

The major symptoms of a stroke in dogs can include the following...

• Your dog may find it difficult to balance.


• You may notice that your dog becomes more tired and seems lethargic.


• Watch your dog when he eats - by supervising your dog closely you may notice that your dog eats out of one side of the bowl - this a common symptom of a stroke in dogs.


• You may notice that your dog has difficulty seeing and may even become blind through having a stroke.


• Try calling your dog - this is important - if you suspect your dog has had a stroke watch for his reaction when he is called. A symptom of suffering a stroke can sometimes lead to dog's turning the wrong way when his name is called.


• Watch how your dog holds his head - tilting of the head is another symptom of a stroke in dogs.


• Of course sudden behavior changes should always be explored by the owner to make sure that they are not caused by an undiagnosed illness. Sudden changes in behavior is another symptom of your dog having suffered a stroke.

As we have previously mentioned please don't use the information above regarding common and less common canine neurological disorders as a diagnostic tool. Please always get paid or free vet advice if you are at all concerned that your dog has any of the conditions on this page

Salmonella and Turtles

There are many people who want to adopt these cute little pets but want to know what the link is between Salmonella and turtles. Most are probably already aware of the Salmonella threat that lies in turtles. The same people may wonder if there is a way to find a turtle without it, or possibly rid them of it by cleaning.

Unfortunately, most turtle lovers will find themselves out of luck as turtles carry non-typhoid Salmonella (the leading cause of food infection) on their shells and skin as a part of their natural bacterial make-up. It's something that they're born with. Most cases of Salmonella caused by turtles were more often those with weakened immune systems, such as the ill or elderly, and children.

When you understand the connection between Salmonella and turtles and you still wish to adopt a turtle as a pet, the most you can do is to handle it carefully. Wash your hands after touching it, keep it out of the kitchen and away from food, do not bathe it in a kitchen or bathroom sink or a bathtub, and keep it in its cage most of the time. Also, try to keep smaller children away from it, as they may try to kiss it, or if young enough, even eat the turtle.

If you manage to follow those simple guidelines and have done your research, you can still choose to adopt one. Just remember that the risk of Salmonella and turtles will always be there. If you have a pet turtle already and feel you may have it, here are some commonly reported symptoms of Salmonella poisoning:

Nausea and Vomiting
Diarrhea (in some cases, bloody)
Stomach and Abdominal Cramping
Fever and Headache

These are signs that should begin to appear a few days after infection. Though your immune system can kill it, check in with a doctor when the symptoms emerge, especially if it worsens or feels prolonged.

On a more encouraging note, there are turtles that carry less Salmonella than others. Just be selective about which one you get. And the majority of cases reported of Salmonella and turtles were concerning young children. If you are old enough and capable, and do not have a young child living with you, you have a better chance of not getting infected. Just continue to do your best to follow the safety tips.

Colon Hydrotherapy Cleansing - Why Your Health Depends On It

Colon Hydrotherapy, Colon Irrigation or Colonic is a process of cleaning the large intestine using around 60 litres of low pressure water to flush out toxins, wastes and recondition weak intestinal muscles. This process makes many people as the tube that is used needs to be inserted into the rectum to allow for the water to flow. This is an alternative therapy which is gaining popularity for maintaining colon health and even weight loss. Many Hollywood actors practice in regular colonic irrigation such as Demi Moore, Ben Affleck and Goldie Hawn.

Why do you need to have a Colonic?

Our liver has a function to dump all of its toxins into the colon for elimination. Our colon is usually a host to many toxins, waste materials and parasites that may have accumulated for many years. The collection of these things, such as impacted feces, dead tissues, yeast overgrowth, mucus and worms is toxic to our system and is usually re-circulated if not expelled from the body.

Material built-up on the colon wall can weaken the muscles and cause constipation, sluggish bowel movement and even difficulty in weight loss. Parasite in the colon or intestine such as hookworm and tapeworms (various types) can breed and spread into other parts of the body, causing ailments like malnutrition, diarrhea, bloody stools, pain in lower abdomen, weight loss, nausea and anemia., stomach cramp, heart attack, asthma, eye pain, insomnia, rashes, blindness, paralysis or even death.

How does Colonic help in reconditioning weak intestinal muscles? When low pressure water is introduced in the colon in large amounts (40-80 liters), it expands and contracts the muscle in a rhythmic fashion, therefore exercising them. This is one body part that we can't exercise on our own! Usually, the patient is required to introduce more fruits and vegetables into the diet, as well as fiber and water to help flush it regularly and relieve constipation caused by hardened stool and weak muscles.

Another benefit of Colonics is the improvement of our skin health. Because the toxins have been eliminated from our bodies, our skin now receives nutrients and clean oxygen. Any blemishes or pimples will clear up and we will get back the healthy glow we had as children. Other organs are also relieved from the extra work of cleaning out the toxins such as our liver, lungs and kidneys.

How does cleansing the colon help with weight loss? Many people are not aware of this fact. Our body has its own detoxification system but we are ingesting more toxins than we can expel. This is causing toxic built-up in our bodies. The body reacts by accumulating fat around the organs to protect them against these invaders. In this instant, regular exercise and diet alone will not be enough to help eliminate the fats, especially in the stomach and lower body region, especially for women. Stomach fat is dangerous to our health and should be the first priority in fat loss. Once our colon has been cleansed, it makes the body easier to lose the organ fat (intramuscular) because our system is efficient and healthy once again.

Besides Colon Hydrotherapy Cleansing, you can get herbal treatments in the form of supplements and herbal teas which have their own kit for detoxification. However, not everyone will benefit from one source of treatment. We need to cleanse our liver and gallbladder as well. There are products that have a comprehensive cleansing kit but as everyone is different, what works for one person may not work for another. If you don't have any idea on which products to buy, you might be interested to look at this site by The Health News Journal. This page compares 21 different colon cleansers and rates them in different categories. It is very useful. Find the best one that suits your needs and budget and try them for the duration advised. If one doesn't work, you may need to try another until you find one that's comfortable for regular use.

If this is a new awareness for you, take your time to study the benefits of cleansing and make the necessary changes in your lifestyle, including changing your eating habits slowly and introducing exercise to strengthen your overall body.

How to Control Ecoli 0157:H7 in Ready-To-Eat Foods?

What is Escherichia coli 0157:H7?

E. coli 0157:H7 belongs to one of hundreds of stains of bacteria know as Escherichia coli. These bacteria live in the intestines of animals and humans and are found in their feces. E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria are normally transmitted via the fecal-oral route under unsanitary conditions, poor hygienic practices and other cross contamination practices. While most of these bacteria are harmless, E coli 0157: H7 produces a powerful toxin that can cause severe food poisoning. E coli 0157:H7 and are now becoming a public health concern because of its high prevalence as a possible cause of contamination of meat and poultry products. The Centers for Disease Control has reported approximately 73,000 cases of infection with E. coli 0157:H7 resulting in 61 deaths per year. There is therefore an eminent need to prevent, reduce and if possible eliminate E. coli by adopting stringent proactive measures as discussed in this present article.

Symptoms caused by E. coli 0157:H7

o Appear 3-4 days after exposure and may last several days.

o Bloody diarrhea.

o Abdominal cramps.

o Occasional vomiting.

o Low grade fever or absent.

o Kidney damage.

o Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) in 2-7% of infections involving children under five of age and the elderly.

Diagnosis of illness caused by E. coli 0157:H7

o Clinical history of patient.

o Medical examination by a physician.

o Stool culture specific for E. coli 0157:H7.

o Tests used to confirm HUS include, but not limited to kidney function test, blood clotting factors, blood counts.

Treatment of illness caused by E. coli 0157:H7

o Most persons recover within a few days without any specific treatment.

o Antibiotics may or may not be used. Antibiotics may precipitate kidney complications.

o Drink plenty of fluids.

o Use of oral rehydration solution.

o Blood transfusion and kidney dialysis for HUS.

How is E. coli 0157:H7 spread?

o Eating raw or undercooked meat.

o Using poorly sanitized equipment or utensils.

o Poor hygienic practices.

o Poor agricultural practices.

o Unhygienic and unsanitary slaughtering practices.

o Improper hand washing techniques.

o Other sources of cross-contamination.

How to avoid or prevent the spread of E. coli 0157:H7

What can consumers do?

o Become more knowledge in food safety.

o Cook all food especially ground beef, steak and hamburger thoroughly. Use a digital instant read thermometer to ensure thorough cooking. The thickest part of the steak or hamburger should be at least 160°F. The middle of steaks and beef patties should not be pink and bloody, but should be brown and fluids should be clear.

o Wash hands with hot soapy water for at least 20 sec. after contact with raw meat and before and after changing tasks.

o Use separate cutting boards for raw and processed foods or thoroughly wash and sanitize cutting boards between use and after use.

o Ensure good hygienic practices are followed after using the toilet and when changing diapers, assisting young children or handling pets.

o Clean and sanitize food contact surfaces before, during and after food preparation.

o Wash raw fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water, soak in chlorine water for 2 minutes and rinse with clean water. Avoid the use of bruised and rotting fruits and vegetables.

o Be sure to use clean plates and utensils for cooked meats - don't use the same ones that were used for raw meat.

o Always thaw food in the refrigerator. If thawed in the microwave, continue the cooking process immediately.

o Buy food and drink from reputable sources only.

o Use only pasteurized milk, juice, nectar, or cider.

o When shopping, pick up cold and refrigerated foods last. Separate and pack raw meats from ready-to-eat foods (lunch meats, produce, bakery items, etc). Transport promptly cold and refrigerated foods on ice or in a cooler. Do not leave these foods in a hot car for more than two hours.

o Promptly refrigerate or freeze these products at home. Refrigerators should be maintained at 40°F or below. Use refrigerated ground meat within 1-2 days; frozen meat should be used within 3-4 months for best quality. Store raw meats at the bottom shelve of the refrigerator/freezer so that juices cannot drip contaminate onto other foods.

o Do not store raw and ready to eat foods in the same compartment of the freezer or refrigerator. Cross contamination may occur if this practice is done.

What can regulatory agencies do?

o Develop and implement easy accessible educational programs on food safety and safe food handling practices to address the concerns of the entire population at all levels.

o Improve and increase the frequency of inspections of food processing plants.

o Enforce or enact existing laws to reduce the burden of non-compliance and public health risks.
o Increase sampling of meat and meat products at food processing plans to ensure stringent adherence to microbiological standards, chemical standards and other regulatory requirements.

o Develop and implement a data base for surveillance data and corrective actions on all meat and poultry processing plants.

o Develop links to laboratories for fast and efficient detection of pathogens.

o Engage in research into microtechnologies such as nanotechnology that would lead to the development of microdetectors thereby increasing the accuracy and detection time of common food pathogens.

Resources

o United States Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Inspection Service, Consumer Education and Information - Focus on Ground Beef.

o Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, - Escherichia coli 0157:H7.

o University of Minnesota Extension Service - Preventing Illness from E. coli.

o Minnesota Department of Health, Acute Disease Epidemiology Section - HUS and E. coli 0157:H7 Infection

The Causes of Hemorrhoids - What Causes Piles?

Hemorrhoids affects millions of people worldwide today. Even with all the achievements of modern medicine, many people still fail to find a solution that is effective and permanent to rid themselves of this painful affliction. This is mainly due to the fact that most people do not really know how they had gotten hemorrhoids in the first place.

In order to find a proper effective hemorrhoids cure that will provide a permanent solution, the first step to take is to know the causes of hemorrhoids and what had caused yours. Knowing this, you will not only help your body speed up the healing process but also prevent further recurrence in the future.

Hemorrhoids is also known by many other names, most commonly hemroids or piles. This is a condition where the rectal veins swell, causing a weakening of the muscles of the anal walls and sagging into sacs of tissue which protrude from the anal walls. Hemorrhoids can occur either internally within the confines of the anal cavity or externally around the anus.

The two major causes of hemorrhoids are over straining in the toilet or excessive pressure to the rectal veins.

Over straining during bowel movement is noted to be the main cause of hemorrhoids for most people. Over straining causes excess blood to be pumped into the rectal arteries and veins, causing them to swell. The swollen veins will then push against the anal walls, causing the muscles to weaken and protrude out of the walls.

People tend to over strain because of constipation, when the stool is too hard to be ejected out of the anus. After the hemorrhoids have formed, any more over straining will cause it to swell even more and even rupture. Ruptured hemorrhoids will begin to bleed especially where internal hemorrhoids are concerned.

As internal hemorrhoids grow larger, they will protrude out of the anus, a condition also known as prolapsed hemorrhoids.

The excessive blood in external hemorrhoids will begin to clot after some time and harden. This condition is also known as thrombosed external hemorrhoids and is extremely painful, making it difficult to sit down comfortably.

Apart from constipation, diarrhea can also cause hemorrhoids due to over straining of the anal muscles from passing motion too much.

Sitting on the toilet bowl too long is also another cause of hemorrhoids. This is a habit for those who love to read in the toilet, which causes too much blood to be pumped to the rectal veins and arteries, which in turn causes them to enlarge.

Similar to sitting in the toilet, sitting down on a chair too long will also cause hemorrhoids, as too much pressure is being placed on the buttocks. This mainly happens to people who have to work at a desk and spend hours sitting without getting off the chair.

Standing for prolonged periods of time might also cause hemorrhoids because the gravity will draw blood down to the lower regions of your body. This happens mainly to people who have to work on their feet a lot such as working at a counter or in restaurants.

Obesity causes numerous health problems, hemorrhoids being one of them. Each year more and more people suffer from obesity because of lack of proper nutritional food and quick meals from fast food diners. The excess fat and increase weight causes unnecessary pressure to the muscles of the anal walls, causing them to sag and protrude.

Being pregnant might also lead to hemorrhoids. This is not only because of the extra weight gained but also because the fetus actually places more pressure on the rectal veins. Changes in a pregnant woman's diet, lifestyle (such as not getting enough exercise and sitting too much) and also toilet habits (sitting too long at the toilet) will all contribute to the formation of hemorrhoids.

These are some of the most common causes of hemorrhoids for most people today. Knowing what caused your hemorrhoids will enable you to isolate the factors, heal much faster and prevent it from recurring. Looking for a cure without putting an end to more hemorrhoids developing again is a big waste of time and effort.

Useful Information on Dog Parvovirus Symptoms and Signs

The dog parvovirus is a DNA virus, very contagious, manifesting mostly in dogs at their younger stages of life. This virus is known to appear in two versions: cardiac and intestinal. The first form will affect puppies until they will reach 1 year old or they can be affected while still being in the uterus.

The virus can attack the heart muscle for after that to cause a heart failure. As to the other type, the intestinal parvovirus, both puppies and older dogs can be affected. The virus installs in the intestine area as the environment from down there is appropriate for rapidly dividing. Because the cells of the intestines are attacked, this will lead to diarrhea and vomiting outburst.

How can one dog pet owner know if his dog is suffering from this viral disease? There are some symptoms and signs that you can observe leading you to the thought that your pet might carry this contagious dog parvovirus infection. This disease is not new, since it has been firstly discovered in the 70s and slowly but surely started to spread all over the world as there have been many cases of this disease seen with various dog pet breeds and ages.

Unfortunately, nowadays this infection is quite often met with puppies and even adult dogs that can carry the virus and transmitting it to other dog pets. This infection is not completely showing off unless it is already completely installed, this is why it can be hardly detectable in its incipient stages.

The symptoms will however show within 3 up to 10 days before this infection installs totally in the intestines. Once these symptoms are noticed, you should immediately take your dog pet to the vet as death will be on the watch right behind the corner.

There are some other symptoms to appear with your pet suffering from dog parvovirus infection: lethargic and depressive states. They will tend to sleep more showing less interest in the activities happening around them. Besides, no appetite will be present and as if these are not enough, your dog will feel more fearful as well.

As mentioned before, vomiting violently is another symptom that should be monitored along with the diarrhea which comes more often in a bloody stool. All these come with dehydration as it is expected in the cases of diarrhea.

Dog parvovirus symptoms are mostly associated with those specified above, but it seems that the more obvious ones and more alarming as well, are bloody diarrhea and violent vomiting. These are due to the fact that this virus attacks the intestines making it feel weak resulting from here those tendencies of oversleeping and depression.

After these symptoms show up, even in the first 2 days of their manifestation, make sure that you consult with a vet who will further prevail some blood samples and say whether or not your dog suffers from dog parvovirus infection.

Food Poisoning

According to the Food Standards Agency, it is estimated that up to 5.5 million people in the UK are affected from food poisoning each year but only a small number of these visit their family doctor or get medical advice. Because of this less than 100,000 cases a year are tested for the exact cause of food poisoning. Nevertheless there are more than 200 known diseases that are transmitted through food.

Some food poisoning can produce symptoms within 30 minutes to a few hours but most cases take between 12-48 hours. However if the food poisoning is due to an infection with Campylobacter, it may take a week or longer to develop symptoms.

So what are the symptoms?

These can vary, depending on the cause but most common symptoms are vomiting,, abdominal pain and diarrhea. However symptoms may also include fevers and chills, be as non descript as weakness and exhaustion. or as tangible as bloody stools, dehydration and muscle aches.

The Causes?

We can split food poisoning into two groups

Infective Agents

Includes viruses, bacteria and parasites.

• Campylobacter, which is found in raw poultry, unpasteurised milk, red meat and untreated water.

• Salmonella is the next most common type and is found in unpasteurised milk, eggs and raw egg products, raw meat and poultry

• Listeria, Shigella (Travellers diarrhoea) and clostridia.

• Staphylococcus Aureus, Clostridium Perfringens and Bacillus Cereus. These bacteria cause vomiting and mild to moderate diarrhoea.

• Normal intestinal bacteria can cause food poisoning eg E. Coli E157 can cause severe illness, kidney failure or blood damage.

Toxic Agents

• Poisonous mushrooms

• Improperly prepared exotic food

• Pesticides on fruits and vegetables.

Normally food poisoning will clear up within a few days without medical intervention but the recovery period depends upon the type of infection, age and fitness of the person and whether he/she have any other medical conditions...

Prevention

Good hygiene practices will reduce your risk of food poisoning.. Not storing cooked food with raw food, throwing away any food that is past its sell by date or that you are unsure of, keeping all types of food and drink away from any household chemicals, such as cleaning products and bleach, checking that your fridge and freezer are in good working order and set to the correct temperature. The fridge should be 0-4°C (33.8F - 39.2F) and the freezer should be less than -18°C (-0.4F).

Most importantly washing your hands after visiting the toilet, before handling food or touching ready to eat food.

During times of stress, travel, illness, changes in the diet (including going out to dinner), and taking antibiotics, the unfriendly, pathogenic bacteria sometimes overwhelm the friendly bacteria in our digestive system. In these situations, I would recommend the use of Probiotics [http://www.vidasana.co.uk/digestion.html] (capsules containing beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum). Many of you will already eat probiotic bacteria in yogurt but in the above conditions you need billions more bacteria to come to your rescue. With a high strength capsule you will be taking the equivalent of 20 full pots of yogurt in a way that is much easier to cope with. This will also strengthen your immune system

Treatment

You may be given a course of antibiotics depending on the cause but do not eat any food while feeling sick or vomiting. Rest your stomach for one hour after being sick and then try small sips of water. If weak and exhausted then sleep.

Once the vomiting has stopped then you would hasten your recovery by taking the probiotic bacteria mentioned above.

You may be dehydrated so gradually build up the amounts of fluids like water, or use rehydration powders available from pharmacies. Make sure you drink regularly.

Avoid alcohol as it will make you more dehydrated.

Avoid sports drinks or sugary drinks as the sugar content may increase diarrhea.

Keep good personal hygiene to prevent passing the illness to other people.

Only try eating again once you have been free of sickness and diarrhea for several hours. Eat small amounts of plain foods that are easy on the stomach (such as rice, bread, potatoes and low sugar cereals)

Are there adverse effects from taking Probiotics?

Probiotics are well tolerated and safe. There are no reported drug interactions or adverse effects, and no known risk of overdose. Probiotics can be taken by pregnant , lactating women and can be given to young children as early as is practical.

Antibiotics For Parasites in Humans

Antibiotics for parasites in humans are the most common type of treatment that medics all over the world use in treatment of parasitic infections. This is especially the case in treatment of diseases caused by unicellular parasites, which spread disease by biting the host. The nature of bites treatable with antibiotics includes minor cetaceous lesions to major visceral wounds.

Antibiotics for parasites in humans are best administered by a qualified medic based on blood and stool screening. This is because over the counter medicines may not wipe out all the parasites in the body. Studies have also shown that use of antibiotics for the wrong reasons provide the parasites with a better thriving environment in the body. For parasites that thrive in the stomach cavity, where oxygen is limited, different antibiotics are available for flushing out the same. However, this requires the doctor to observe the parasitic infection that one has, determine the area most affected and issuing the most appropriate drugs.

Some of the parasitic symptoms treatable with antibiotics include liver abscesses, fallopian tubes and ovary abscesses and bacterial peritonitis. Giardia lamblia is common intestinal parasite that causes diarrhea and abdominal pain. Luckily for most people, the parasite can be treated with antibiotics. Also in this category is trichomonas, which is a parasite affecting the vaginal area causing vaginitis. Antibiotics used in the treatment of such usually block the functions of the parasite thus leading to its death.

Giardia infections occur in the small intestines, and can occur in the colon, the liver and vagina. When such happens on the colon, the patient may present with symptoms of bloody diarrhea commonly known as amoebic dysentery. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, doctors are able to prescribe a combination of antibiotics for parasites in humans for the treatment of the same. Trichomonas parasitic infections are sexually transmitted and effective treatment of the same must include sexual partners.

Like other antibiotics, doctors recommend that a patient finishes the recommended dose in order to render the treatment effective. Skipping treatment doses usually leads to the body developing a resistance towards the continued use of antibiotics to treat the parasites. Though antibiotics can be administered intravenously, the most common forms are in tablet form. This therefore calls for disciplined drug taking at the specified time and in the right doses.

Parents whose children are undergoing antibiotic treatment for parasitic infections are advised to ensure that their children take the medication religiously. Parasitic pneumonia may also be treated with antibiotics but this also largely depends on the type of parasite responsible for causing pneumonia. The most common pneumonia causing parasites include Ascariasis, Schistosoma, and Toxoplasma gondii. Such parasites cause cellular destruction in the lungs thus disrupting the oxygen flow in and out of the lungs.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Noninfectious inflammatory intestinal disease is distinguished from infectious entities by exclusion: recurrent episodes of mucopurulent (ie, containing mucus and white cells) bloody diarrhea characterized by lack of good cultures for infectious organisms and failure to respond to antibiotics alone.

Simply because inflammatory bowel illness is characterized by exacerbations and remissions, favorable responses to treatment are hard to distinguish from spontaneous remissions occurring as component from the organic background of the disease. The trigger of noninfectious inflammatory intestinal disease is unknown in spite of development in knowing its pathogenesis.

There are two forms of chronic inflammatory bowel disease: Crohn's disease, which is transmural and granulomatous in character, occurring anywhere along the GI tract, and ulcerative colitis, which is superficial and restricted towards the colonic mucosa. The causes of inflammatory intestinal illness are unknown despite progress in understanding its pathogenesis.

A combination of genetic chance and environmental factors are acknowledged crucial elements in the pathogenesis of inflammatory intestinal illness. An explosion of newly acknowledged susceptibility genes for each Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are already discovered via genome-wide associations.

These studies evaluated thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in thousands of sufferers with inflammatory intestinal illness and compared them to people without having the illness. These studies have found that a number of groups of susceptibility genes that consist of modulators of immune function and interaction with microorganisms.

Numerous environmental factors are already speculated to lead to the improvement of Crohn's disease, such as microorganisms (bacteria and viruses), nutritional elements, genetic elements, defective immune responses, and psychosocial elements. The typical gut is able to modulate frank inflammatory responses to its constant bombardment with dietary and microbial antigens within the lumen.

This modulation might be defective in Crohn's illness, resulting in uncontrolled inflammation. There has been considerable interest in the role of cytokines, this kind of as interleukins and tumor necrosis aspect, in Crohn's disease. Cytokine profiles of TH1 and TH17 groups have been implicated in Crohn's illness.

Mice lacking the TH1-inhibiting cytokine interleukin-10 have a TH1 cytokine profile and produce a Crohn's disease-like irritation of the intestine. Monoclonal antibodies to tumor necrosis aspect (TNF) reduce inflammation in these animals and patients.

Similar elements might lead towards the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis, such as infections, allergies to dietary components, immune responses to bacteria and self-antigens, and psychosocial elements. In mice, targeted disruption of the genes for that T-cell receptor and also the cytokine IL-2 results in GI tract illness resembling ulcerative colitis.

The two types of inflammatory bowel illness have feature differences and in many instances considerable overlap in manner of presentation. The features common to all forms of inflammatory intestinal disease are mucosal ulceration and inflammation from the GI tract, indistinguishable, in fact, from that which can occur acutely during invasive infectious diarrhea.

Other factors besides the presence of crucial gene items, such as infectious agents, altered host immune responses, immune-mediated intestinal damage, psychologic elements, and nutritional and environmental elements, may contribute to a final common pathway of disordered immune response.

Clinical Manifestations:
1) Crohn's Illness: Crohn's disease most usually occurs in the distal ileum. Nevertheless, the distribution of the disease may also involve the colon or less commonly any other region from the GI tract (such as the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, and proximal small intestine).

A characteristic feature is that places of ulceration and inflammation occur in a discontinuous fashion and include the whole thickness from the intestinal wall. Recurrence of disease can happen in previously uninvolved regions of the intestine and can even involve adjacent mesentery and lymph nodes.

The combination of deep mucosal ulceration and submucosal thickening gives the included mucosa a characteristic "cobblestone" look. Perforation, fistula formation, abscess formation, and little intestinal obstruction are frequent issues of Crohn's disease, although an indolent course happens in most sufferers. The full-thickness involvement from the intestinal wall may predispose to these complications.

Frank bleeding from the mucosal ulcerations can be either insidious or massive, as can protein-losing enteropathy. Another essential complication is a possible increased incidence of intestinal cancer. Sufferers with Crohn's disease often manifest symptoms outside of the GI tract.

Most generally, inflammatory disorders from the joints (arthritis), skin (erythema nodosum), eye (uveitis, iritis), mucous membranes (aphthous ulcers of the buccal mucosa) bile ducts (sclerosing cholangitis), and liver (autoimmune chronic energetic hepatitis) are also observed in these sufferers. Renal disorders, particularly nephrolithiasis, are observed in a single third of patients with Crohn's disease, probably related to increased oxalate absorption associated with steatorrhea.

Amyloidosis is really a serious complication of Crohn's disease, as is thromboembolic illness. Each of these complications are probably reflections of the systemic character of the inflammatory procedure. Sufferers are frequently malnourished and display evidence of nutrient deficiency states.

2) Ulcerative Colitis: In contrast to Crohn's illness, irritation in ulcerative colitis is restricted to the mucosa from the colon and rectum. It usually begins at the anorectal junction and extends proximally. At a single time it was believed that ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease had been distinct entities.

This view was based on the observation of characteristic necrotic lesions from the colonic crypts of Lieberkuhn, termed "crypt abscesses" in sufferers with ulcerative colitis. However, it's now recognized that in 10% of patients, regions characteristic of both Crohn's illness and ulcerative colitis are present.

The diseases are comparable in presentation (eg, bloody diarrhea and malabsorption) and in at least some of the complications (eg, protein-losing enteropathy and malnutrition), reflecting widespread involvement from the mucosa in both entities.

Nevertheless, because ulcerative colitis usually is restricted to the mucosa, obstruction, perforation, and fistula formation aren't standard complications. Most sufferers have mild disease, and, as with Crohn's illness, some sufferers will have only a single or two episodes throughout their lifetimes.

For unfamiliar reasons, the chance of carcinoma seems even greater in ulcerative colitis than in Crohn's disease. Toxic megacolon may be the a single complication of ulcerative colitis that carries a high chance of perforation. Its cause is unfamiliar. Both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's illness can go into remission after treatment with first-line anti-inflammatory agents such as sulfasalazine and glucocorticoids.

Crohn's illness also responds to therapy that utilizes monoclonal antibodies against the inflammatory cytokine, TNF. These antibodies bind to and inhibit this cytokine. Lately, therapy with anti-TNF monoclonal antibodies may be utilized in patients with ulcerative colitis too. As a result of potential complication of serious, even life-threatening infection, these drugs are utilized only for severe instances.

The natural background of both diseases is of periods of remission interrupted by energetic disease; medical therapy throughout exacerbations is directed toward supportive measures and attempts at inducing remission. Because these illnesses can recur right after resection of involved regions of the GI tract, operative management is usually restricted to relief of life-threatening intestinal obstruction or bleeding.

As a result of the variable response rate and also the high risk of side outcomes, therapy with immunosuppressive agents this kind of as mercaptopurine and azathioprine are limited to cases that have failed to respond to sulfasalazine and glucocorticoids.

My Dog Is Sick, When Do I Transport It To The Dog Vet?

When a puppy gets sick, it is the responsibility of the dog owner to haul your pet to the veterinarian. However, there will be some circumstances when you need to do some examination before you take the dog to the dog vet.

When You would have to See the Local vet - bring your pet to the dog vet if it starts to show signs and symptoms of severe sickness. You also need to take immediate action is your pet collapses or if it starts to show indicators of neurologic issues. You would also need to take your family pet to the local vet when it begins to show indications of diarrhea, be it bloody diarrhea or watery diarrhea coupled with anorexia. These might be very unsafe because it can lead to dehydration.

Dehydration is really life threatening in dogs and it might be a cause of death if it is not treated appropriately and instantly. NGTs remedy and Intravenous fluids can help to treat dehydration in dogs. If 3 days have passed without your family pet eating anything, it could be time to bring it to the dog vet. You also must take injuries to a puppy's limbs and seizures gravely. These should not be treated at home because it can cause the dog a whole lot of harm.

Observe Your Dog for a While When - These are certain motives when it is better to monitor your dog for a bit while to determine where things go. If your pet weimaraner has refused to eat or if it has no hunger, give it some time. There can be many motives why your weimaraner would refuse to have a meal. Observe the dog's condition for day or two to find out if it is likely to get any better.

There were some concerns about dog healthiness in a forum that discussed weimaraner crate training. There were many owners who were asking about when they should go to the doctor and when they should wait things out. It is certainly a all important thing to know because the healthiness of your family pet could very well depend on it.

If your pet weimaraner shows weakness, you also should give it some more examination. If your family pet show indicators of weakness, wait a bit and see if there is a change or if your family pet gets worse. In the weimaraner crate training forums, it was also focused on how some owners must wait before heading to the doctor when their pet has a dry nose. It doesn't always mean that a pet dog is unwell when it has a dry nose and it could just be because of weather and other factors.

Gas and Acid Reflux

Talking about having gas may be politically incorrect, but in extreme cases of gas and acid reflux you may want to visit your physician to rule out some more serious ailment like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

What Is Flatulence (gas)?

Let's talk about gas and acid reflux a bit or to be more politically correct, flatulation and acid reflux. First of all, if you have a human body, you are blessed with a digestive tract and you will have gas (flatulation). You are born with it and you will die with it. It may be politically incorrect to talk about it and it is certainly the butt of a host of jokes. Everyone has it and everyone does it, even kings and queens.

On the average we pass gas fifteen to twenty times a day depending on our diet, sometimes in our sleep. The gas is a combination of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen, most of the time it is odorless. When it isn't, it smells like rotten eggs.

As embarrassing as it is, it is natural. The large intestine creates hydrogen sulfide (the rotten egg smell) when bacteria in the colon break down carbohydrates left over and passed from the small intestine. The smell is the result of fermenting carbohydrates. A small amount of methane, hydrogen and another sulfide gas are also created.

Surprisingly, the unmistakably foul smelling odor produced is a very small amount, about one percent of the total gas our digestive system produces. When it becomes excessive, such as with gas and acid reflux, and is accompanied by constipation, vomiting or weight loss you should consult your physician.

As for the sound the gas produces, it depends on the force with which it is expelled. The pressure with which the gas is expelled causes the anal sphincter to vibrate which creates that unmistakable sound. Not being a socially acceptable bodily function you can hold it, remove yourself from the scene or suffer the consequences.

Gas and Acid Reflux

I realize this may all seem a little on the comical side, but that is only because of our conditioning. Flatulence is a symptom of acid reflux and GERD. Excessive flatulence may be cause for concern and you should consult with your physician.

Gas and acid reflux go hand-in-hand. Most all foods contribute to the making of gas in the intestines. Just chewing your food, drinking soda water, or smoking can create gas in the digestive tract. Wearing tight clothing hinders food digestion and contributes to gas and acid reflux.

If the gas is not released through belching or flatulence, it can cause bloating. The bloating can be more than uncomfortable and can cause mild or severe pain.

The Mayo Clinic suggests that you eat less fatty foods, identify those foods that cause the gas and limit or eliminate them from your diet, eat slowly, and maybe take a walk after you eat.

If you experience bloody stool, diarrhea or constipation, weight loss, nausea or vomiting with excessive flatulence seek out a physician. It could well be symptoms of severe acid reflux or GERD.

As the Mayo Clinic notes, "Intestinal symptoms can be embarrassing - but don't let embarrassment keep you from seeking help."

These symptoms can be treated holistically without over the counter drugs or expensive prescriptions. If you are a victim of excessive flatulence, consider the fact that your body has the capacity to heal itself and you have a lot to say about how that is accomplished.

Sometimes it takes small changes in our daily routines and habits to rid ourselves of annoying and sometimes painful symptoms.

My Dog Has Diarrhea and Is Vomiting - What Happened

Diarrhea and vomiting are common occurrences among pooches. However, a single episode of diarrhea or vomiting isn't something to be overly concerned about. You usually discover that your hungry hound has just wolfed down something that he shouldn't have eaten and now he's paying the price by regurgitating. Diarrhea occurs when your dog's body attempts to process the food quickly just to be rid of it.

However, you do need to be concerned when these symptoms persist for more than a day. Diarrhea and vomiting could be signs or symptoms of an underlying illness or worms. Your dog could have ingested toxic food such as rodent bait, resulting in food poisoning.

You will need to check your dog for any signs that his physical condition has changed. A good place to start would be checking to see if his eyes are still bright and alert. Verify that your dog isn't listless or running a temperature, as veterinary attention should be given in these cases. Do take some time to observe what your dog has vomited or defecated to check for unusual materials and odd color. If your dog shows signs of discomfort and strains himself as he defecates, check to see if the stools contain traces of blood or appears to be full of mucus, as these would need a vet's advice.

Your dog might still appear perky, but it is unusual for symptoms to persist beyond a day, so do get your vet to check him over to see what's ailing the dog. This would also help prevent the symptoms from worsening. If it is simply something he shouldn't have eaten then the vet can prescribe some medication to help stop the diarrhea and vomiting. You will also be advised on your dog's water and food intake to compensate for the loss of mineral salts and possible loss of hydration in your dog. Dietary restrictions on your dog are usually implemented for the next two or three days. Food that is low in fat and easily digestible is usually advised to avoid undue pressure put on a already weakened digestive system.

On the other hand, if your dog is plagued by worms or other internal parasites, your vet will prescribe treatment to expel them and set up a treatment routine to help to prevent their recurrence. Dogs tend to love to explore and can pick up these parasites from other dogs' or from other dogs' fecal matter. Another possible reason for diarrhea or vomiting could be due to an allergic reaction. The vet would also be able to determine if your dog developed an allergy to something he's eaten or come into contact with, resulting in an adverse violent reaction.

Should your dog be suffering from a serious ailment; investigation, treatment and good nursing care will be necessary. If your dog is very weak due to repeated purging, he will be placed in overnight care at the surgery for intravenous therapy to maintain hydration. Tests will be conducted to establish whether your dog is harboring viruses or bacteria that may affect his liver or his digestive system.

The longer your dog suffers, the greater the possibility there will be for the situation to worsen. When in doubt, always get veterinary advice as soon as possible.

Check Your Labrador For Worms

It could be alarming knowing that your Labrador is infested with worms. What we are talking here are worms, meaning to say, different types of worms. Maybe some thinks that worms are all just the same but, no they're not. Worms vary and are different from one another.

Roundworms

Roundworms, as the name implies, have round bodies of about three to five inches long. They live in the dog's intestines but they do not attach to the intestinal wall like hookworms. Also called ascarids, they consume partially digested foods. Dogs pick up roundworms by sniffing the ground, especially sniffing other dog's feces. They can also pick it up through their coat, paws and muzzle and ingest them while grooming. Infected mother dogs can also pass roundworms to their puppies through nursing. Symptoms of roundworm infestation in dogs include vomiting, diarrhea, pot-bellied appearance, dehydration, weight loss and loss of condition. Some cases may show no symptom but severe infestation may lead to lung damage causing breathing problems.

Hookworms

Hookworm, just like in roundworm, is named based on its characteristic. They feed by hooking onto the wall of the intestine. These parasites can cause the dog's intestines to bleed because of their sharp teeth. Hookworms can be picked up by your dog from the ground or from an infected nursing mother. Severe infestation of hookworms can be life-threatening to puppies. Symptoms of hookworm infestation include dermatitis, pneumonia, enteritis, bloody diarrhea, blood loss, weight loss and anemia.

Whipworms

Whipworms are about ¼ of an inch long, smaller compared to other intestinal parasites. Whipworms, as the name implies, are whip-shaped with skinny head and enlarged tail. The head is its digestive end and the enlarged one is its reproductive end. Large number of whipworms in a dog can inflame the intestine tissue and may result to bloody diarrhea. Whipworms can be picked up from the ground or from feces of other dogs. Symptoms of whipworm infestation include watery and bloody diarrhea, weight loss and general debilitation.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms have long, ribbon tape appearance, that's why they are called tapeworms. They live and lay eggs in your Labrador's guts and these eggs are then released with the fogs feces. Adult tapeworms are about eight inches long and are made up of small segments of about 1/8 of an inch long. Itchy anus and crawling segments in the surrounding area may indicate tapeworm infestation. Severe infestation of this intestinal parasite may cause debilitation and weight loss.

Infestation of these intestinal parasites can be very much treated. Ask your veterinarian for suggestions on the proper deworming of your puppy.

What Are the Main Salmonella Poisoning Symptoms?

Salmonella is commonly known as a food-born infection as it is commonly found in contaminated food items. If a person has ingested too much of the bacteria that the body cannot destroy, salmonella poisoning symptoms soon occur.

Salmonella often produces salmonella poisoning symptoms of the gastrointestinal type as salmonella is transmitted via oral-fecal route. When the bacteria attach to the intestinal linings and multiply, they destroy the epithelium, causing a disturbance in food absorption. This problem with food absorption is also due to the presence of motility problems in the intestine, which the person would feel as an upset, grumbling stomach. If you will listen closely, the grumbling can even be audible without the use of a stethoscope.

These changes in the intestines will result to salmonella poisoning symptoms of either constipation or diarrhea. There will also be fever, nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, bloody diarrhea may show because of epithelial lining damage. Headache, anorexia, as well as abdominal distention because of spleen and liver enlargement can also occur later as the bacteria spread throughout the body.

Salmonella poisoning symptoms occur 6-72 hours after ingestion of contaminated food. These are usually undercooked meat and poultry, as well as eggs. Currently, there are several salmonella outbreaks that were traced from peppers on salami or other meat products that come from Daniele International Inc. Other known salmonella outbreaks have also come from peanut butter. There are other sources of Salmonella other than food: pet amphibians and reptiles can harbor the bacteria, and can produce salmonella symptoms if not handled properly. As long as there is water, right temperature, and food, there will always be the risk of Salmonella.

Salmonella poisoning symptoms usually resolve themselves after several hours. In other instances, the salmonella symptoms can last from 4-7 days. Children, the elderly and immunocompromised patients suffer more severe manifestations and must be treated promptly. There are some reported fatalities due to salmonella infection because of massive fluid loss that often result to severe dehydration. Fluid replacement antibiotics, and anti-diarrheal medications help fight the infection as well as resolve the salmonella poisoning symptoms.

Irritable Bowel Solutions Available Now

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Cause

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is described as a gastrointestinal disorder identified by symptoms such as stomach pain, altered bowel function and varying complaints of flatulence, bloating, constipation or diarrhea. Eating healthy and making sure you avoid foods that upset your tummy may help manage these symptoms.

IBS is believed to be due to the unbalanced function of the muscles of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract or the nerves controlling the organs. The nervous control of the gastrointestinal tract, however, is complicated. A particular cause may be diagnosed as Crohn's disease which is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract. Most commonly it affects the lower part of the small intestine. It can occur in people of all age groups. Like ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease can be both painful and incapacitating, causing severe bouts of watery or bloody diarrhea and tummy pain.

For many people, managing your food intake reduces IBS symptoms. Before changing your diet, keep journals noting the foods that seem to cause distress. Then discuss your findings with your doctor. You may want to consult a dietician who can help you make changes to your diet. For example, if dairy products cause your symptoms to flare up, you can try eliminating those foods. You might be able to tolerate some dairy products such as yoghurt better than others because it may contains bacteria that supply the enzyme needed to digest lactose. If you need to avoid dairy products, be sure to get sufficient nutrients in the foods you substitute, or take oral supplements.

IBS symptoms may be controlled by making some changes in your diet. Keeping a food and fluid record is a practical way to keep an eye on symptoms. You can also note of other factors, such as stress, that have an effect on the symptoms.

Drinking plenty of water (six to eight glasses) a day is important, especially if you have diarrhea. Drinking fizzy beverages may result in gas and cause tenderness. Chewing gum and eating too quickly can lead to the digesting of air, which could lead to gas. Large meals can cause cramping and diarrhea, so eating smaller meals more often, may help irritable bowel symptoms. Eating meals that are low in fat and high in carbs such as pasta, rice, whole-grain breads and cereals, fruits, and vegetables may help.

As its name indicates, IBS is -a combination of signs and symptoms. It has been shown to lead to a serious disease, including cancer. Through the years, IBS has been called by many names, among them colitis, mucous colitis, spastic colon, or spastic bowel. However, no link has been established between IBS and inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

Researchers argue that the cause of this disease is abnormalities in the function of the motor nerves. For example, uneven commands through the motor nerves might create a painful spasm of the gut muscles. Still others argue that unusually functioning processing centres are responsible for irritable bowel diseases because they misread the normal sensations or send unreliable commands to the organ.

Research has established that individuals can produce larger amounts of gas than individuals without IBS, and the gas may be retained longer in the small intestine. Among patients with IBS, abdominal size can increase increases over the day causing extreme discomfort, and reaching a maximum in the evening before returning to normal levels overnight. In individuals without IBS, there is no increase in abdominal size during the day.

Controversy exists over the influence of dietary sugars and poor digestion and/or poor absorption. Poor digestion of lactose is very common as is poor absorption of fructose, due to the production of gas from the increased formation of gas.

Although these abnormalities in production and transport of gas could give rise to some of the symptoms of IBS, much more work will need to be done before the role of intestinal gas in IBS is clear.

It has been researched that dietary fat in healthy individuals can and does aggravate the symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome as food and gas moves more slowly than normal through the stomach and small intestines. So if individuals suffer from this condition they may respond to a reduced intake of Dietary fat.

10 Tips For Keeping Your Pets Safe in the Summer

Ah, yes. It's summertime. That means barbecues and picnics, trips to the local park and beach, and lots of time spent out-of-doors for both you and your pets. Although it's wonderful to take your furry friend outside when the temperature rises, there are numerous perils that can occur. Here is a list of 10 great tips to follow so that your pet can have a fun and safe summer!

1. Always provide fresh, cool water to keep your pet well hydrated. Take water with you if you're on-the-go.

2. Provide your animal with plenty of shade. Since the sun moves across the sky during the day, the shady areas will change. Therefore, keep an eye on your furry friends.

3. On hot days, make sure your pet doesn't overdo the exercising, running around, playing, or other activities.

4. Consider keeping your pets indoors on humid days. High humidity interferes with your animal's ability to cool itself.

5. Keep your dog off fertilized lawns and away from insecticides and dangerous, toxic plants.

6. Swimming in a lake, pond, or even a pool is a great way for your pet to stay cool. Just make sure you supervise your dog in the water. A doggy life jacket is an important safety item.

7. Traveling with your pet can be lots of fun. Just make sure you spend the time preparing the travel plans including car or airplane arrangements.

8. Never, ever, ever leave your pet in a parked car. Even if you park in the shade and leave the windows down somewhat, the temperature inside your car will rise so quickly, your pet can be dead in minutes. Don't ignore an animal in distress even if it's inside someone else's car.

9. Just like humans, pets can get sunburned, too. So, don't forget to apply sunscreen on your animal's nose and ear tips. Pets with light colored noses or fur are more susceptible to sunburns and skin cancer.

10. Watch for signs of heat stroke. Heat stroke can be fatal and can occur quite quickly. Signs include (but are not limited to): body temperature of 104-110F degrees, excessive panting, dark or bright red tongue and gums, staggering, stupor, seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomiting. These can lead to coma and death. Dogs with the highest risk are short snout, elderly, or heavy-coated breeds as well as those with predisposing illnesses. If your dog is suffering from heat stroke, seek veterinary attention immediately! Remember, prevention is key.

Poisonous Plants - Knowing Them Can Save Your Dog's Life

Some of the most poisonous plants for dogs (and cats) are also some of the most common that people keep around their homes and in their gardens. They might be beautiful and even smell fragrant, but if our furry friends get a hold of them, they can cause a frightening array of toxic side effects, including death. The best way to protect your pet is to be aware of the most poisonous plants, flowers and trees, and to rid your home and yard of them.

Remember, like children, pets are very curious. In addition, they are often drawn to the scent of these poisonous plants, which makes tasting them irresistible -- and possibly deadly.

19 Common Poisonous Plants

Amaryllis (also known as the Belladonna Lily or naked ladies)
Can cause stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, appetite loss, abdominal pain, lethargy, tremors, drooling and, shock and death.

Azalea
Part of the genus Rhododendron. Can cause weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, heart failure, depression of the central nervous system and possible coma.

Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale)
Can cause in oral irritation, bloody vomiting, diarrhea, shock, multi-organ damage and bone marrow suppression.

Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis)
Contains ricin, a highly toxic protein. Can cause severe abdominal pain, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, weakness and loss of appetite. Severe cases of poisoning can result in dehydration, muscle twitching, tremors, seizures, coma and death. Raw castor beans are highly toxic. One bean can kill a human and four could kill a horse.

Christmas tree pine needles
Can produce oral irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, trembling and posterior weakness.

Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums contain compounds called pyrethrins, which are used to make insecticide. Can cause vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, depression and loss of appetite.

Cocoa Bean Mulch
Although not a plant, mulch with cocoa beans is important to mention, as it is highly toxic. Dogs are attracted to eating it due to its chocolate scent. Can restlessness, hyperactivity, muscle twitching, increased urination, excessive panting, increased heart rate and blood pressure levels, seizures and death.

Cyclamen
Can cause significant gastrointestinal irritation, intense vomiting and can be fatal.

Daffodil
Can cause severe gastrointestinal illness, convulsions, seizures, low blood pressure, tremors, heart failure an death.

Easter Cactus
Can cause vomiting, diarrhea and depression. Can cause staggering in cats.

English Ivy (Hdera helix)
Also called branching Ivy, Common Ivy, English Ivy, Glacier Ivy, Needlepoint Ivy, Sweetheart Ivy and California Ivy. Can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, drooling and diarrhea.

Holly
Commonly found during the Christmas season. Can cause intense vomiting, diarrhea and depression.

Kalanchoe
Can cause gastrointestinal irritation, toxicity to the heart, and can seriously affect cardiac rhythm and rate.

Lilies
Even very small amounts can cause vomiting, diarrhea, depression and severe kidney damage or failure. Even one leaf from any variety of lily is fatal to cats.

Mistletoe
People might like to kiss under it at Christmas, but for pets it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, collapse, erratic behavior, hallucinations and death.

Oleander
All parts of Nerium oleander are considered to be toxic. Can cause vomiting, heart failure, hypothermia and possible death.

Poinsettia
Can cause irritation to the mouth and stomach and vomiting.

Sago Palm (Cycas Revoluta)
Cycad Sago Palm is extremely poisonous to both humans and animals if ingested. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center estimates a fatality rate of 50 to 75 percent when ingestion of the Sago Palm is involved. The incidence of Sago Palm ingestion by pets has risen by over 200% in the last five years. If any quantity of the plant is ingested, a poison control center or doctor should be contacted immediately. Just one or two seeds can cause very serious toxic effects, including vomiting, diarrhea, depression, seizures, liver failure, and death.

Tulip/Narcissus Bulbs
Can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting, drooling, loss of appetite, diarrhea, depression of the central nervous system, convulsions and cardiac abnormalities.

This is only a partial list of poisonous plants for pets. If you would like to check the possible toxicity of a particular plant, The ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center Web Site http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_toxicplants has an alphabetical list of the most common plants, with information about their safety..

Sources:
The ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center
VPI Pet Insurance

Anal Fissure - The Tearing of Anus Lining

Anal fissure may sound like the name of some flora-fauna but it is actually a medical term for the small split or tear in the thin moist tissue lining the anus (lower rectum). This fissure is also known as fissure-in-ano and it can cause pain, bleeding and itching.

Anal fissures are common in infants and its rate decreases gradually with school-aged children and adults. In adults, it may be caused by constipation, the passing of large, hard stools, or by prolonged diarrhea. In older adults, anal fissures may be caused by decreased blood flow to the area. Anal fissures are also common in women after childbirth and persons with Crohn's disease. Other causes may be digital insertion (during examination), foreign body insertion, or anal intercourse, health conditions such as Vitamin B-6 deficiency, abdominal pain, fever, weight loss, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes bloody diarrhea, syphilis, a suppressed immune system, tuberculosis, HIV infection, anal cancer. A low fiber diet may also contribute to the development of a fissure.

The fistula symptoms are sharp, burning pain during bowel movements, malodorous discharge, constipation or crack in the skin in the middle when the area is stretched and bleeding. This blood is separate from the stool. Blood mixed with the stool indicates some other conditions (like colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease).

Generally, anal fissures heal themselves and do not need treatment, aside from good diaper hygiene in babies. Usually home care methods are successful like, avoiding constipation by high fiber diet and substances that absorb water while in the intestinal tract, more fluid intake, using stool softeners, cleansing gently, sitz bath (soaking anal area in plain warm water), muscle relaxants applied to the skin, numbing cream, if pain interferes with normal bowel movement, petroleum jelly applied to the area and avoiding sharp, hard-to-digest foods.

Usually, acute fistula symptoms take few days or weeks while chronic anal fissure may take more than 6 weeks, by the home treatment method. Natural anal fissure treatment prevents bleeding and helps to heal damaged tissue. When it does not prove to be successful, it is re-examined by a rectal exam and a sample of the rectal (anal) tissue. The treatments may be Botox injections into muscle in the anus (anal sphincter) or a minor surgery to relax the anal muscle.

As goes the saying, prevention is better than cure, it is wise to be aware of the pointers which can prevent anal fissures at any age. Keeping the anal area dry, wiping with soft materials or a moistened cloth or cotton pad, promptly treating any constipation or diarrhea and avoiding irritating the rectum are some of the prevention techniques. Children's diapers should be changed frequently to prevent anal fissures in infants.

Pet Disease and Vaccination Guide

Many serious pet diseases can be prevented by vaccination. Even if always kept indoors, your pet can be exposed to viruses carried in the air, dust, or on clothing. Vaccination at a veterinarian clinic is inexpensive protection for your pet against serious disease, costly treatment, and premature death. Remember also that booster immunizations are necessary to continue protection.

In this article we will be focusing on dogs and cats. Please note that when the word "contagious" is used below, it usually means spreading from cat to cat, from dog to dog, or between dogs and cats. However, a couple of diseases can be spread from animal to human, and these type of diseases are called "zoonoses." The majority of animal diseases pose no threat to or cause only minor inconvenience and sickness in humans, and can be easily treated by your doctor. In fact, many pet owners have probably had zoonotic illnesses without even noticing the symptoms.

But like any other disease, some of these diseases can be more hazardous to those with poor immune systems, the very young, the very elderly, and pregnant women. A very small minority are of course unquestionably dangerous, e.g. rabies. Prevention - generally simple and easy to practice - will be discussed at the end of this article. First, let us look at some of the diseases that dogs and cats can get.

For Dogs

Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis (collectively referred to as DHL) are widespread, contagious and deadly diseases. Nearly every dog will be exposed during its lifetime, making vaccination a must.

Canine Cough, or Tracheobronchitis, is an upper respiratory infection that causes a persistent, dry, hacking cough. The disease may last several weeks and is highly contagious, especially if showing or boarding.

Parvovirus and coronavirus are intestinal infections resulting in viral diarrhea, fever, vomiting and depression. Transmitted through direct contact with an infected dog's feces or urine, both are highly contagious and life-threatening.

Heartworm is a life-threatening disease wherever mosquitoes are present. Preventive medication is a must here. However, your pet must be tested prior to starting on preventive medication because use of preventive medication in an infected dog could result in death. Annual testing is recommended even with year-round use of the preventive medication.

For Cats

Feline Leukemia, or FeLV, is now considered the leading cause of cat deaths. FeLV breaks down the cat's ability to fight off infection. The cat usually dies of a disease it would normally be able to resist. Effective FeLV vaccines are available to protect uninfected kittens but they must be given by 12 weeks of age.

Rhinotracheitis, Calici, and Chlamydia are feline respiratory diseases that are highly contagious and widespread. These diseases are easily spread from cat to cat. Even another cat that seems healthy can infect your cat. Chances are high that your cat will be exposed.

Feline Panleukopenia, also known as distemper, is highly contagious and can be fatal. Symptoms include depression, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Nine in ten cats with distemper may die from it. Since the disease is easily transmitted from cat to cat, chances are also very high that your cat will be exposed.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is an incurable, usually fatal viral disease. Vaccination is your pet's only protection.

For Both Dogs and Cats

Rabies is an incurable and fatal infection of the nervous system that attacks all warm blooded animals including humans. It is a public health hazard and risk to all pet owners. Therefore vaccination is your and your pet's only protection. Your pet should be vaccinated at 4 months of age.

Intestinal parasites, such as the parvovirus and coronavirus mentioned above, threaten your pet's health by causing intestinal blockage, bloody diarrhea and even premature death. Microscopic examination of your pet's stool should be done regularly, at least as part of the annual checkup, for early detection and treatment.

Dental examinations should be done at least annually as well. Periodontal disease does not only threaten the well-being of teeth and gums, but can also lead to infection in the liver, kidneys and heart. Regular examination of the teeth and gums as part of annual checkups, as well as following proper dental home care advice from your vet, are necessary for good pet health.

Prevention and Control

Geriatric workshops for elderly pets help detect many of the problems caused by aging (kidney, liver, heart, joints, dental, etc.). Early detection and proper treatment can lengthen and improve your pet's life. Spaying and neutering is recommended for all pets not intended for breeding. This surgery has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of many animal cancers and certain undesirable behavior. You can also protect dogs and cats from infection (and reinfection) by preventing access to birds, rodents, uncooked meat, and unpasteurized dairy products.

Fleas can transmit blood borne diseases from any other potential animal source to your pet. If swallowed, fleas can transmit tapeworms to your pet. Flea bites also can cause allergic reactions resulting in a painful, difficult to cure skin disease. Ticks are another common parasite that can carry and transmit Lyme Disease, which can pose a serious health risk to you and your pet. A flea and tick control program is needed on pets and in the home at the same time. Your veterinarian is best qualified to prescribe the proper products for you to prevent and control these parasites, and most of these products are carried at your local pet shop.

Lastly, general cleanliness (besides vaccination) is you best weapon for preventing pet-to-owner disease transmission. The following are some useful tips:

1. It may be cute and pet owners are often extremely indulgent of their pets, but pets should not be allowed on food preparation or serving areas! This is especially true if you let your pet outdoors. In fact, it is also highly recommended that you keep your pet off the beds.


2. Promptly disinfect areas which have become contaminated.


3. Wash hands after handling contaminated pets and items.


4. Do not share your ice cream, or any other human food, with your pet. Its mouth may contain viruses and bacteria. That tongue may have been cleaning its bottom shortly before licking your ice cream. Your pet may be also carrying all manner of germs on its paws, particularly if it has access to outdoors. In addition, remember that many human foods may be harmful to your pet's health.


5. Clean out litter trays regularly, daily if needed. Wear rubber gloves for this task. Preferably, disinfect litter tray with very hot or even boiling water, but not chemical agents. Chemical disinfection is actually not very reliable, and the smell can discourage cats from litter boxes. It is best to wash hands after handling litter trays, even if you have worn gloves.


6. Young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems should make a special effort to avoid handling free-roaming and outdoor pets as their fur or paws have a greater risk of being contaminated than home/indoor pets.

Bare Truths - NSAIDs Use For Dog Arthritis May Lead to Dog Diarrhea

As your dog grows older, you will have to give him a more specialized care and attention just like what we do with old people. If you have an old dog in the family, then it is essential that you learn the proper and the basic elements of caring of senior dogs. Your dog is expected to reach the age of 15 if he is properly cared for and critical health issues are immediately acted upon.

It would serve you and your dog well if you develop the eye at identifying the health issues which are critical especially for a senior dog. Typical health issues confronting old dogs usually involve dog arthritis. It is important for you to recognize the onset of this health issue and appropriate intervention must be done to avoid further deterioration of your dog's health and prevent complications.

The most popular prescription drug used to manage the pain caused by arthritis in animals is the NSAIDs or the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. What is causing a lot concern for those who are aware of the side effects of this drug types is the unregulated use of NSAIDs to manage pain especially in senior dogs. Dog health experts stress the importance of blood work up before prescribing NSAIDs to treat canine arthritis.

Safety Profile of NSAIDs

The efficacy of NSAIDs to treat arthritis is highly recognized, however, the documented side effects require us to take a careful look at the continued use of the drugs to manage the pain attributed to canine arthritis. Some quarters claim that the drug reactions far outweigh whatever benefits it provides.

Some owners of dogs prescribed with NSAIDs agree that the quality of life of their old dogs have immensely improved and even extended the lives of their senior dogs. On the other hand, some owners claim that NSAIDs actually aggravated the medical condition of their dogs and led to early mortality caused by liver failure attributed to the side effects of NSAIDs. The failure of some veterinarians to recognize the drug's side effects of NSAIDs also contributed to the problem. Owners of senior dogs must be able to determine the signs of reaction in the use of NSAIDs in order to prevent further aggravation of the problem. You should check for possible onset of vomiting, diarrhea and generalized lethargy in our senior dogs. Dogs can also manifest distinct behavioral changes and constipation which is an indication of toxic reaction to the use of NSAIDs.

Before any prescription of NSAIDs, request for a thorough blood work up and examination of liver enzymes. Dog owners should also remember that NSAIDs is not recommended for dogs with history of bleeding disorders and should not be administered to dogs with confirmed liver dysfunction. It is also important not to use NSAIDs in tandem with other anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, prednisolone or prednisone.

In managing the pain experienced by senior dogs as a result of arthritis, you must explore other alternative treatment intervention beyond the use of NSAIDs. There are other alternative drugs known to deliver good results without the attendant adverse reactions normally associated to the use of NSAIDs.