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The Dog Cancer Survival Guide

July 11, 2010 by  
Filed under All about dogs

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Cancer – a word we all loathe to hear. Unfortunately, it is a very real situation that we encounter not only with people, but also with our pets. While not a lot of people are knowledgeable about dog cancer, studies are underway to help us find effective methods on how to better deal with this disease.

Around half of all reported cases of canine cancer are of the skin, twenty percent are of the mammary glands, and the others are of the lymphatic, alimentary, reproductive, etc. Cure for the animal varies depending on his specifics like breed, age, weight, and other health related concerns. Listed here are some alternative cancer treatments for dog that will guide you in making the best decision for your pet.

Cancers are generally defined by a growth of an abnormal tumor in a particular area of the animal. As you may have already known, there are two kinds of tumors: benign and malignant. Benign tumors are growths that have clear edges. As such, these tumors can be fairly easily removed through surgery. Malignant tumors have no defined edges and usually spread; therefore taking it out entirely through means of surgery is a lot more difficult, if not impossible.

Radiotherapy is the treatment wherein radiation is used to destroy the cancer cells in damaged tissues so they will not reproduce. The challenge is to give the correct dosage so that the radiation will only affect the cancer cells and not harm the normal cells. To manage this, radiation is given in lower quantities at regular intervals. This will ensure that the cancer cells are dealt with while the normal cells are allowed to recover effectively.

Unlike when done with people, radiation does not give the dog harmful side effects like nausea and vomiting; primarily because of the smaller quantity used. It is estimated to prolong the life of the animal for months instead of just weeks as previously believed. Hyperthermia, another treatment done to kill cancer cells through the employment of high temperature, is used alongside radiation.

Chemotherapy uses drug therapy to disrupt the growth and spread of cancer cells and is frequently used for widespread forms of dog cancer. The levels of the drugs have to be closely monitored because the toxicity it contains may cause infection, heart and bladder problems – generally complicating your dog’s health.

More and more veterinarians are also promoting use of several supplements to prevent and cure cancer. Flaxseed oil and fish oil are potent anti-tumor supplements that not only have shown to reduce tumor size by fifty percent – it has accounted for improved appearance, increased energy and performance for the animal.

Before you undertake any form of alternative cancer treatments for dog – it is imperative that you consult your vet first for correct diagnosis of the problem. Observe for behavioral and physical changes in your pet. Have him tested often so that any form of sickness may be arrested in the beginning stages. Maintain a nutritional diet, regular exercise and a clean environment to ensure optimal health.

Did you know that there are alternative cancer treatments for dogs now being made available for pet owners everywhere? Find some of the most valuable information on dog cancer at HealthyHappyDogs.com.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brigitte_Smith

Visit link: The Dog Cancer Survival Guide

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Bathing a dog

May 9, 2010 by  
Filed under Dog Care Tips

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lab bathBathing a dog needs to be given more emphasis.

This is because of the fact that if you are careless in bathing a dog, the animal may end up having some infections.  For example, if you do ít to close the ears , the water may enter into ear canals and may cause some ear infections with signs like constant discharge from the ears and shaking of head.

How often should i be bathing a dog.

Frequency of bathing actually depends on the breed of the dog. If the dog is of a hairy type like the cocker spaniel, then the bathing is to be carried out once in six to eight weeks. If these breeds are bathed too frequently, then the skin and coat loose the protective characters.  However, when the dog has defecated on the skin due to the frequent digestive upsets leading to diarrhea, to avoid the bad smell, the dog may be subjected to frequent bathing some times by the owners.

Take more care in avoiding some irritant soaps or human soaps. The soap materials used for human beings are not suitable for dogs.  Similarly, many human shampoo products are having some ingredients that are not suitable in the proportions that are to be used in dogs. Hence, always try to use the shampoo products that are mentioned mainly for use in dogs. Take more care in using any new product.

Be prepared before bathing a dog.

Always allow enough time before you start bathing a dog,give your dog a good brush down,this will help do get rid of any loose fur and knots,take out any matting,because no amount of shampoo or conditioner will help to remove them,in fact this could lead to skin problems later,try doing this outside as the fur flies every where.  Dogs love the sprinkling of water, rivers, and oceans.  Even when you are using a bathtub, have everything in one place and then start bathing your dog.Start by wetting him down,avoid the head for the moment,now shampoo his chest working your way down to his tail,pay special attention to his bottom and back legs.Here comes another very important part RINSE,RINSE,RINSE,and again rinse,this can not be stressed enough, by leaving any shampoo in the coat can cause itching,and skin problems.

The finishing touch to bathing a dog.

When you have finished the above wrap a towel around him,this will stop him shaking every where.Start drying him down with the towel,you will probably need more than one towel depending on the size of your dog,a good toweling down can save a lot of time and stop your dog from getting cold.At this stage if you wanted to speed up the drying time you could use a hair dryer,be careful,do not hold the dryer to close to the skin put it on the lowest heat setting if possible.

TIP:-Try to have a leash, conditioner,a lot of towels, and shampoo in the bath place.

Conditioner can be a help to make the combing activity easier later. Bathing a dog should be a convenient activity to both the dog and the owner,try getting your dog used to being brushed and bathed at an early age. Have fun and remember bathing a dog should not be a burden.

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Removing a tick from a pet requires grabbing the tick by the head, using fingers or tweezers, and pulling it out firmly, careful not to separate the body from the head. Treat a pet with flea and tick prevention, as ticks can spread to humans, withhealth information from a veterinarian in this free video on pet care. Expert: Dr. Aimee Beger Bio: Dr. Aimee Beger works for McClintock Animal Care Center in Tempe, Ariz. Filmmaker: Ryan Quinn

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