We Are The Cure Blog | Canine Cancer Information

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) or ‘dry eye’ is a disease that affects the tear production system in a dog’s eye. It can either result from allergy to sulfa medications, trauma, distemper infection or abnormal degradation of the lacrimal glands. The reduction of the aqueous layer of the tear film leads to tissue damage which if left untreated may cause blindness.

KCS is generally asymptomatic until tear production is less than 10 millimeters in 60 seconds. Some of the noticeable signs may be yellow green mucoid discharge, cloudy surface of the eye, redness in or around the eye, pigment or conspicuous blood vessels across the clear portion of the eye, squinting, eye pain, inflammation of certain parts of the eye like the cornea, eyelids, and sensitivity to light. Sometimes this disease also aggravates to ulcers of the cornea which if not treated properly may inflict permanent damage to vision.

Breeds like Bloodhounds, Boston Terriers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Chihuahuas, Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, English Bulldogs, English Springer Spaniels, Lhasa Apsos, Miniature Schnauzers, Pekingese, Pugs, Samoyeds, Shih Tzus, West Highland White Terriers and Yorkshire Terriers are predisposed to KCS.

Early detection is important for preserving the vision and the most reliable diagnostic work-up for KCS is a Schirmer tear test. It is a very simple method in which a small strip of absorbent paper is placed on the lower eyelid for 60 seconds. It is expected that the paper would soak up 20 millimeters of tears during that time. However, if the paper remains dry for most part of the time, the presence of KCS is confirmed. However, if the amount of tears is found between 12-18 millimeters, the chances of recovery are greater.

Artificial tear replacement eye-drops and topical application of cyclosporin are recommended for treating KCS. However in case of further deterioration like eye infections, corneal damage, or glaucoma additional treatment may be required.

At the Ninth Rutland County Council dog show held in Rutland, UK on September 20th, our dear pooches pranced around and strutted their stuff accompanied by their owners.

The organizers were absolutely overwhelmed by the response that the show received. It was a complete entertainer infused with advice and information for pet owners, said the sponsors of the event.

The top draw was Treo, part of the 104 Military Working Dog Support Unit at St George’s Barracks in North Luffenham who won a military award organized by the Sun newspaper lat year. Other items included dog dancing and ring displays.

However, that’s not all. There were also free health check-ups organized for dog owners by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, called PDSA charity.

The winner of the pedigree novelty dog show was Sue Wheatley, with her dog Ellie and the reserve champion was Kirsty Kent, with dog Ash.

Fashion is something that never fades away. Be it you, your neighbor or your pet, slightest bit of ornamentation makes you feel a little more special in eyes of others. If you have ever owned a pet, you couldn’t afford to miss the glitters sparkling in the eyes of your doggie when you adorn him with a sensational garment.

Dog garments vary from casual to formal wears. Designers with their skill are committed to revamp the wardrobe of your pooch that could range from a simple casual shirt to a flamboyant frilled skirt. Most dog designer cloths are customized and tailor made to commensurate the size and appearance of your dog. When it comes to selecting the fashion garment for your dog, one can’t possibly overlook the functional pursuits. Most garments are designed in a way that it doesn’t interfere with normal living of your dog and so that he is comfortable wearing it. Moreover it should be easy for you to make him wear it and take it off when necessary.

The plethora of dog clothing include coats, jackets, sweatshirts and also footwear compatible with each set of clothing. What’s more, you can make your pet look special with set of accessories. Fashionable dog collars and leashes further accentuate the grace of your pooch and also speak highly of its owner. Adorning your dog with the right set of garments and accessories is no more a fancy of a pet owner; it simply shows that you care.

‘Organic food’ has become quite a rage in the backdrop of ‘green revolution’. A growing number of people are turning to organic food because of its multifarious health benefits. So, in this kind of a scenario how can our canine friends be left far behind? You would be amazed to know that there is a variety of organic dog foods available in the market.

The advantages of organic food are galore. Here’s a quick look at some of them.

1. It reduces the risk of heart diseases in dogs.

2. It reduces the risk of diabetes in dogs.

3. It reduces the risk of skin diseases and allergies in dogs.

4. It prevents diarrhea in dogs.

5. It prevents accumulation of gas in dogs.

6. Unlike other dog foods, organic food items are very high on the nutritional quotient. They also act as a high source of energy and protein as they are mostly made from simple grain extracts.

7. Quality of nutritional constituents present in organic foods strengthens the immunity system. This in turn helps in combating infections.

If you want to ensure your pet’s health and well being in this chemical riddled world, switching over to organic food is the best possible way of doing that.

There are many diseases affecting our canine friends. So, far we’ve dealt with a handful of them. But there are still quite a few that deserve mention. Not all of them are preventable, but there are a good number of viral and bacterial infections which can be prevented with vaccine. So, being a responsible owner you should do all that is required to safeguard your pet against the onslaught of diseases.

Here’s a list of some of the most common ailments that can pose threat to your pet’s life but can be easily averted by exercising little caution:

Rabies:
Do you know how many people die of rabies each year? An alarming 55,000. However, this shocking estimate can be reduced considerably if you vaccinate your dogs. Rabies is a highly contagious disease that can spread from animals to humans. It can prove fatal once symptoms occur. Other ways to prevent the disease is by not allowing children and pets to come into direct contact with stray animals.

Canine distemper:
Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory and   gastrointestinal tracts. More often than not it also affects the central nervous system. Puppies between 3-6 months are highly predisposed. Canine distemper spreads through coughing. However, the virus can be shed through urine also.

Hepatitis:
Hepatitis affects the liver. Also known as canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1), it spreads  by coming into contact with an infected dog. Hepatitis can also be transmitted by parasites like fleas, mosquitoes, and ticks. The clinical signs may include vomiting, fever, diarrhoea, swollen lymph nodes, pale gums, and yellowish eyes. Although it is mostly administered to young pups, unvaccinated adult dogs can also be safeguarded with vaccine.

Leptospirosis:
The bacteria can be transmitted through the urine of infected animals. The bacteria usually enters the body through skin, eyes, nose, or mouth. The clinical signs may include fever, vomiting abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, general debilitation, depression, stiffness and pain in the muscle.

From my last post you got an idea about the kind of problems one might come across while traveling with pets and also the ways of countering them. I tried to cover all the areas but dealt with each one of them rather briefly. So, in this one I am going to elaborate on air travel in detail.

As you know that the options of commuting with a dog by bus, train, or ship, are limited you have to opt for air travel.

So, what are the steps you should follow:

1. All dogs are not fit to fly – Short-nosed breeds like boxers and bulldogs, dogs with respiratory and heart diseases, young pups, senior dogs and frightened dogs are considered unfit for traveling.

2. Consult your vet - Before traveling get your doggy examined by a vet and discuss natural stress-relief remedies. Also find out if you can put him on light sedation in case of too much stress.

3. Crate should have a true identifier - It is always likely that two crates might look alike. So, what you should do is attach a piece of paper mentioning all your details on the crate. For making it unique you can also take time off and write something like ‘I’m Molly and I’m a good doggy!’ on the crate so that the crew don’t manhandle the crate.

4. Make your pet comfortable – As he would have to spend quite some time inside a crate you should make the ambience as cosy and familiar as possible. Provide him with a soft cushion so that he can be at ease. Also give him chewable toys to play with.

5. Keep water inside the crate - Always keep a fresh supply of water inside the crate and in order to do that you can fill up the plate with water the previous night and freeze it. You can carry the plate to the airport and put it inside the crate before flying.

6. Always use a nylon collar - If you write any information on the nylon collar it won’t go missing. But tags suspended from chain collars can get stuck in the wires of the kennel door and get damaged.

7. Acquaint your doggy to the crate – Never put your doggy into the crate immediately before traveling. Allow him to be himself for some time. Provide him with a light meal and also give him sufficient amount of water. He should also relieve himself before leaving for the airport.

8. Be polite to the crew – Leave a photo of your pet and other details with the crew in case of any emergency and always be very polite in your dealings with them.

By following these simple steps you can make your pet’s journey a safe and enjoyable one!

We all love to travel with our pets. But this happy experience can turn into a nightmare at the slightest laxity on our parts. So, before going on board get you should keep some important facts in mind.

Here’s a quick look at some of the simple guidelines:

1. Board plane with soft carrier bags - Most airlines around the world allow pets to travel in the cabin for a one-way fee of $50. But make sure that you carry soft carrier bags with you. While traveling never carry more than 1 pet.
2. Plan accommodation judiciously - If you think of putting up in a lodge never travel with a pet which is beyond 20 pounds because most of the lodges don’t allow bigger pets. But if you contemplate staying in some of the most luxurious hotels of the world like Four Seasons, Starwood, Hilton, Loews, Sheraton, Marriott, Holiday Inn and Ramada you might be in for a surprise as these accommodations have special facilities for your paw pals. Apart from these there are many other inns and B&Bs that allow pets. But before booking you must make sure that all the facilities are in place.
3. Know your pet well - You have to know your pet’s personality. So if you have a pet which barks a lot, or one which tends to run away, abandon plans of traveling with him.
4. Check on pet travel guidelines - Before traveling with your pet don’t forget to check the pet travel guidelines posted by the Air Transport Association.
5. Exercise caution while traveling in car- If you are traveling by car never leave your pet alone inside the car. Halt the car from time to time and also keep sufficient amount of food and water as reserves.
6. Select dining place - You can dine with your puppy either in the open or in your room.
7. Carry your pet’s belongings- Always remember to bring his favorite food, bowl, packaged drinking water and pooper-scooper.
8. Carry a newspaper spread - Also carry a newspaper spread whenever you go out because they are quite likely to defecate at odd places and cause embarrassment.
9. Examine your pet- Before traveling get your pet examined thoroughly.

These tidbits of information can actually make traveling with your pet easy and fun filled.

I was absolutely taken aback by this stunning revelation that even dogs can contract venereal diseases. Also called TVTs (Transmissible venereal tumors), sticker tumors or infectious sarcomas they usually spread by normal contact during the process of sexual intercourse. However, they can also be transferred through sniffing or contact with the tumor.

Although it can affect any dog, the unsprayed ones are more susceptible. The clinical signs may include genital bleeding in case of females and bleeding from the penis in case of males. The tumors usually develop around the genitals. But other areas that may come under attack include nose, mouth and anus. Initially, these lesions appear as fleshy edematous growths. But they aggravate quickly and the surface soon gets eroded. The tumor then comes out as dark red genital discharge. Bleeding due to the onset of tumor growth can also occur in a spayed female which is very often mistaken for normal bleeding of the heat cycle. In some animals the discharge also has a foul odor.

The physical examinations consist of visual inspection, cytology and biopsy. Due to the locally aggressive nature of these tumors, doctors opt for surgery. After the success of the surgery, vets go for chemotherapy in which vincristine is administered intravenously. The tumor is also responsive to radiation therapy in which a beam of light is projected on the tumor. This results in the local remission of the tumor.

The tumors behave well prognostically. Even in the case of metastasis the cure rate is 90%.

To adorn is to accessorize. It is needless to mention how important accessories are in our day to day livelihood. Accessories are not only an essential part of our life, if done properly it can make a dashing style statement. While accessories rampage the human wardrobe; the pets do not lag far behind in keeping up with the trends. The most popular dog accessories include dog collars, fashionable dog beds, jewelries and more. However off late I got a glimpse of one more that could be added to the family.

Sometimes it is really hard to carry an umbrella that could simultaneously protect you and your pet while it is raining. In such a case, a pet umbrella can comes as a handy option that can add some relief to your situation. A pet umbrella is made up of waterproof fabric and has a handle that is hooked to a pet’s collar which you need to hold in our hand. The handle is specifically designed so that it is easy to grip. The umbrella is so designed so that it does not obstruct the view of your pet and is comfortably placed much above its body. This keeps your pet comfortable in rain and you really don’t buy more worries. This would protect him in blizzards, rain and snow and keep him dry and warm. A pet umbrella is a convenient option if you want to keep your dog from getting suffocated under scorching sunrays. Most umbrellas made of cool fabric provide a serene and shady spot that ensures your pet a cool and convenient environment.

With the growing number of puppy snatching cases in the US, many state like Texas, California and Delaware have decided to pass a legislation that would address the menace. Although California and Delaware have considered regulating the illegal sell of roadside animals, the Texas legislature is contemplating making pet theft a felony.

However, in case you are thinking why would someone steal a pet after all let me tell you that these doggies can fetch up to $10,000. The snatchers make money either through ransom or by simply selling them off to unquestioning, gullible customers at exorbitant rates.

Take a look at some of the ways that can prevent you from falling prey to pet snatchers:

1. You shouldn’t leave your pet outside for a long time without supervision.
2. Be careful while taking your dog out for walks. Avoid divulging too much information about him to strangers.
3. It’s not advisable to leave him alone in a car because apart from posing serious health hazards a parked car can also draw the attention of snatchers.
4. Some of us are into the habit of tying them outside stores when we go shopping. We should avoid doing this as it can give invitation to snatchers waiting for the prowl.

But despite taking all the precautions, if you still lose your pet what are the ways in which you will can recover him:

1. Equip your dog with a microchip collar and always keep your contact information updated with your microchip recovery service provider.
2. If you think your pet has been stolen call the police and immediately register a missing complaint. You may also contact the animal control officer in the area. In case your pet has a microchip fitted to his collar you should post the unique serial number along with his description in the ‘stolen article’ section of the National Crime Information Center for better results.
3. You should carry recent photographs of your doggy with you. Also have an accessible web account through which you can distribute information and photographs of your pet in case of emergency.
4. You can also ask the TV and radio stations to air information about your missing doggy.

However, all these factors notwithstanding, you should exercise adequate caution while purchasing pets.

1. Check on the breeders before purchasing the pets.
2. Never buy pets from roadside sellers, newspaper ads or the internet. Chances are that they might be stolen dogs.

A little bit of awareness on our part can not only save us the hassle but also give our pets a safe and secured life.