So it appears to me that it is fair to say that we have a partial outbreak of Dog Flu in the United States, the question is, how do we put a stop to it? Aside from prophylaxis (prevention) which we are not even sure we can say we know how to properly administer, what do we do in order to keep ourselves safe from the condition? “There is no evidence that it can infect people,” said Dr. Ruben Donis of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who has published a report on the new virus in the journal Science. This said, how can he be sure of this based on the short time that the Canine strain has been prevalent?”

Health experts in the animal field know this strain of virus as an equine strain of flu that has been in circulation for the last 40 years. The troubling question that nobody knows the answer to as of yet is how this flu strain mutated in dogs being what was originally thought of as a specific horse flu?

Being that this is a relatively new strain of flu, health experts can not say for sure if we humans are at risk due to the lack of exposure that we have had to this specific flu strain: however the odds are very unlikely due to the fact that throughout time, not one person has become infected while handling a horse that had the virus.

As a dog owner it is hard to know what to do. Do we shelter our dogs remanding them to a life of indoor living, or do we continue on treating them the same way we do now? Health experts will say to do the latter, however is that their way of trying to defuse the situation, I can not say for sure.

Just like arthritis in humans, arthritis in dogs can be incredibly painful and, at times, crippling. Unfortunately, the condition can be made worse by negative side effects, such as nausea and diarrhea, caused by medication. However, there are natural treatments that can be beneficial in easing the symptoms of arthritis and do not have the negative side effects of prescription medication.

Typically, veterinarians will prescribe a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAI). However, although these drugs will help manage pain, they can also provide unpleasant side effects. In the past, if NSAI were ineffective or resulted in other problems, there were only two medical alternatives: pain killers and, when these were no longer effective, euthanasia.

However, there are some natural methods of treatment that are becoming increasingly popular and have been proven to be effective in dealing with arthritis.

Physical Therapy for Canine Arthritis

There are several physical therapy options and a dog’s treatment will depend on his, or her, individual condition and circumstances. Typically, however, the treatment methods include:

Massage – Increases circulation and relieves muscle tension to alleviate pain. Heat Therapy – Reduces inflammation thereby reducing pain and increasing mobility. Acupuncture – Is thought to improve neurological function as well as relieve pain. Therapeutic Exercises – Designed to improve overall strength and mobility. Water Therapy – Allows exercise of the muscles and joints without pain, improves mobility and strength. Chiropractic – Relieves pain and improves mobility. Passive Range of Motion – Gentle exercises to stimulate nerve endings and increase mobility. Neuromuscular Stimulation – Used for muscles that have become, or are becoming, atrophied.For some of these treatments, such as massage and therapeutic exercises, a dog owner may be instructed on the correct procedure in order to provide the animal with daily treatment.

The Use of Laser Therapy

Laser therapy involves using photon beams to penetrate the cells and alleviate pain. It results in a warm feeling at the cite of the laser, but is not at all painful. This treatment is now widely used among some veterinarians. However, the length of treatment, the wavelength and power of the laser will all depend upon your dog’s individual needs.

The Use of Magnetic Therapy

Although it may seem like a far-fetched therapy, the use of magnets has been proven to be effective in the treatment of arthritic pain. The science of this is not fully understood, but it is clear that placing magnets on the body can increase circulation, reduce inflammation and, therefore, alleviate pain. However, the benefits of this treatment may depend on the severity of your dog’s condition and his, or her, age.

Diet and Supplements

Of course, ensuring that your dog has all of its nutritional requirements is key to overall health as well as the health of his, or her, joints. Therefore, it is advisable to provide a good quality, nutritionally balanced food for your pet. If you are in any doubt over which pet foods offer the correct nutrition, seek the advice of a vet.

Additionally, joint care products and supplements can be effective. You may like to consider, glucosamine or chondrioten, which are used in the treatment of human arthritis, too. However, it is important to provide a dog-specific product, which is usually flavored with liver.

Alternatively, you may like to consider a herbal remedy, such as ginger, licorice, yucca, skullcap or feverfew. These can be mixed into your dog’s food. However, it is advisable to speak to a veterinarian before placing your dog on any holistic medication or supplements.

As you can see, there are a number of treatment options available. So, if you think your dog may be suffering with arthritis, seek the advice of a veterinarian as soon as possible.

It can be a devastating and disgusting diagnosis when a Veterinarian tells you that your dog has Worms. Even worse, you may actually see the Worms coming out of your dog or in their stool, if they have Roundworms or Tapeworms. Trust me when I say that that can be a nearly traumatic experience. Also disturbing, some of these Worms can even be transmitted from your dog to you, which is called zoonosis. These include Roundworms and Hookworms, so you should take extra precautions and follow your veterinarians advice to the letter, if you dog has one of these parasites.

Each type of wormy parasite requires a different treatment or medication, and will display different symptoms. Every dog owner should at least have a working knowledge about the warning signs of a Worm infestation and the treatments involved. Here are the five types of Worms that may infect your dog.

Roundworms – There are two types of Roundworms and they are the most common Worm infestation in dogs. The symptoms of Roundworms include: pot-belly appearance, diarrhea, vomiting, dull coat and weight loss. You may even see this type of Worm in your dogs vomit or feces. They look like pieces of spaghetti up to 6 inches long or longer. This type of Worm is usually treated with oral medication, with follow-up fecal screenings. This is one of the types of Worms that can be transferred to humans, but good hygiene will usually eliminate this threat. Hookworms – Hookworms can not be seen with the naked eye, so they are usually diagnosed by your Vet with a test. The symptoms of Hookworms include: bloody stool, anemia, weight loss, pale gums, diarrhea and low energy level. This parasite is usually treated with oral medication, follow-up fecal screenings, and in the worst case, a blood transfusion. This is the other type of Worm that can be transmitted to humans. Good hygiene and cleaning up after your infected dog can prevent a human infection. Tapeworms – Common Tapeworm symptoms include abdominal pain, nervousness, severe itching around the anus, vomiting and weight loss. You may also see this Worm in your dogs feces. The broken sections, which may still be moving, will give the dogs stool a rice like appearance. Tapeworms must usually be treated with a prescription oral or injection dewormer medication. Over-the-counter dewormer medication is usually not strong enough to clear this kind of Worm infestation. Whipworms – This Worm can not be seen by the naked eye, and must be diagnosed through testing. Symptoms of a Whipworm infestation include anemia, weight loss, flatulence, diarrhea with blood or mucus in the stool and lack of energy. These Worms can be difficult to treat with over-the-counter medication, but there are very effective prescription treatments. Heartworms – Although easily preventable, untreated Heartworm infections are potential fatal. The symptoms usually do not show up until the last stage of the disease, and include pot-belly, coughing, lack of energy and dull coat. Because symptoms do not appear until its too late, it is best to use a over-the-counter preventative medication to stop these Worms before they endanger your pets health.

Having a Wormy dog can be an unpleasant experience, but in almost all cases there is an effective treatment available to help your favorite dog live a healthy and Worm free life.