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13 Must-Read Factoids About Canine Parvovirus

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1. 80% of dogs that are infected by Canine Parvovirus that are not treated die in four or five days - with the older 2a and 2b strains of the virus.

2. Fully-vaccinated adult dogs, as well as puppies, are being infected by and dying from the most recent 2c strain of the Canine Parvovirus.

3. Some breeds, such as Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Black & Tan Coonhounds, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers are more susceptible to the Parvo virus for reasons nobody yet understands.

4. Although the Canine Parvovirus is particularly prevalent in the southern states, with California, Texas, Arizona and Florida being the four worst hit, every state in the US, including Hawaii and even Alaska, are suffering outbreaks.

5. The Parvovirus can survive extremes of temperature, including both frost and desert climates, and can live in the ground for up to twenty years, making it incredibly hard to kill.

6. Vet costs to treat the Parvo virus are very expensive - you could easily pay $500 to over $6,000 per dog.

7. You can only expect a 50% - 80% chance of survival if you take your dog to the vet.

8. Although the Parvo virus has historically been transmitted through contact with infected vomit and feces, it is now suspected that the latest 2c strain may be airborne.

9. It has always been suspected that Canine Parvovirus evolved from a similar feline virus, feline distemper, so it is ironic that cats can now be infected by the latest 2c strain of Parvovirus.

10. Dogs that are infected by the latest 2c strain of Parvo can die within one day of symptoms first appearing, with some dogs dying within just six hours.

11. Canine Parvo can incubate for anywhere from three days to 15 days, although five to seven days is the average. This means that your dog could be sick for up to two weeks and you would not even know it, as there would be no visible symptoms. However during this time, the virus is building up its attack force, ready to cause massive damage to your dog’s body.

12. Ironically, administering a Canine Parvovirus vaccine, especially the very first shot, can actually increase the chance of your puppy contracting this virus. This is because the maternal antibodies in the puppy’s body can kill off the modified live virus that is in the vaccine, but as shots work in part by lowering the body’s natural immune system, this actually opens up the puppy to infection by the full, live virus (not to mention other infections too).

13. A few breeds of dogs, particularly Cocker Spaniels and Poodles, appear to be at a reduced risk of contracting the Parvo virus, although this does not mean that they will not be infected.

13 Must-Read Facts About Parvo Virus

1. 80% of dogs that are infected by Canine Parvovirus that are untreated die in four to five days - with the older 2a and 2b strains of the virus.

2. Fully-vaccinated adult dogs, as well as puppies, are being infected by and dying from the most recent 2c strain of the Parvo virus.

3. For reasons nobody yet understands, some breeds, such as Rottweilers, Black & Tan Coonhounds, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers and Pit Bulls are more prone to the Canine Parvovirus.

4. Although the Canine Parvovirus is particularly prevalent in the southern states, with California, Texas, Arizona and Florida being the four worst hit, every state in the US, including Hawaii and even Alaska, are suffering outbreaks.

5. The Parvovirus can survive extremes of temperature, including both snow and desert climates, and can live in the ground for up to 20 years, making it incredibly hard to eradicate.

6. Vet costs to treat the Canine Parvovirus are ridiculously expensive - you could easily pay $500 to over $6,000 per dog.

7. Most vets will only give your dog a 50% - 80% chance of a full recovery, in spite of their expensive treatments.

8. Although the Canine Parvo virus has historically been transmitted through contact with infected vomit and feces, it is now suspected that the latest 2c strain may be airborne.

9. It has always been suspected that Canine Parvovirus evolved from a similar feline virus, feline distemper, so it is ironic that cats can now be infected by the latest 2c strain of Parvovirus.

10. The latest 2c strain of the Parvo virus can kill your dog within one day of symptoms first appearing, with some dogs dying in only six hours.

11. The Canine Parvovirus incubates, on average, for five to seven days, although it can be as few as three and as many as 15. This means that your dog could be sick for up to two weeks and you would not even know it, as there would be no visible symptoms. However during this time, the virus is growing in strength, ready to wreak havoc on your dog’s body.

12. Ironically, administering a Canine Parvovirus vaccine, especially the very first shot, can actually increase the chance of your puppy contracting this virus. This is because the maternal antibodies in the puppy’s body can kill off the modified live virus that is in the vaccine, but as shots work in part by lowering the body’s natural immune system, this actually opens up the puppy to infection by the full, live virus (not to mention other infections too).

13. A few breeds of dogs, especially Poodles and Cocker Spaniels, appear to be at a lower risk of contracting Parvo, although this does not mean that they will not be infected.

3 Major Types of Intestinal Worms in Cats

Worms in cats are a common occurrence, especially in kittens, and your vet will test for them once per year. Testing is done by way of a stool sample.

Worms are intestinal parasites and may or may not cause visible signs of illness. Worms use your cat as a host in order to get nourishment, reproduce, and complete their lifecycle. There are a number of cat parasites, including a few major classes of worms.

Roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms, are the main types of worms found in cats. During annual check ups, your vet should do a fecal exam for diagnosis.

Cats in the same household are also nice enough to share worm infestations with each other. Normally, if a fecal sample from one of the cats tests positive, your vet will want to treat the whole crowd.

Below is a description on each of the major types of worms found in cats.

Roundworms - Roundworms (Toxocara Cati) look kind of like spaghetti, and you usually won’t see them unless your cat vomits them up. Mother cats may show no symptoms, but can still pass roundworm on to their kittens. which lies dormant. Kittens will normally be wormed 2 - 3 times, whether they test positive or not.

Mature cats often develop a natural immunity against roundworm. Adult cats, therefore, do not usually exhibit symptoms due to this parasite.

Hookworms - Hookworms hook themselves to the inside wall of your cat’s intestines and hang on. Since they’re tissue feeders, hookworms can cause blood loss, resulting in anemia. In addition, you may observe weight loss, intestinal illness, and poor hair coat. Most of the roundworm treatments used today will kill hookworms as well. Two or more treatments are required to eradicate this worm.

Tapeworms - Tapeworms consist of a series of segments. The segments contain eggs and as they drop off the worm they are passed in the stool. You’ll sometimes notice them around a cat’s anus or in a high traffic area. They look like grains of rice. They sometimes cause your cat to lick excessively or create anal irritation.

Since these worms are transmitted by fleas, flea control is essential. Your cat eats the flea after the flea eats the tapeworm egg. The tapeworm then lives in the intestinal tract of your cat, and is able to start the process over.

Usually these worms do not cause any visible symptoms of illness in your cat. You cannot properly address the tapeworm issue without also addressing the flea problem, or you risk the possibility that your cat will get them again.

Your cat may have intestinal worms, but show no signs of illness. Cat parasites, like any illness, put undue stress on your cat. Keeping your cat’s immune system up to speed is therefore vital. That includes not only regular vet visits, but also exercise, high quality cat food, and the room to play.

8 Things You Should Know When Learning How To Train A Dog To Sit

Learning how to train a dog to sit is an important task for any new dog owner. Training can begin as soon as the puppy is in his new home. While it may not seem important to teach this to your puppy right off the bat, it is a cornerstone to developing a relationship with your dog. Here are some steps on how to train a dog to sit.

1. The first step is to get your puppy to sit on his own. Be observant and whenever you see him about to sit, say the word ’sit’; eventually he will come to associate the word with his action. This method is also useful in other areas of training.

2. Next you want to reward him with a treat. You should use his favorite but be sure to break it into small pieces so he can eat them quickly.

3. Get down to your puppies level. You will appear less threatening to the dog if you are on his level. More importantly, you can reward him faster if you’re sitting on the floor.

4. Bring the treat over your puppy’s head gradually. Remember that your dog has a keen sense of smell and his nose will naturally follow the path of the treat. As the treat is moving from the front of him to the back, he can do one of two things to keep following it. He will either back up while still on his feet or he’ll sit down. Sitting down is easier and this is what most dogs will do.

5. It is important in training that a correct response be followed immediately by a reward. As the dog begins to sit, say the word ’sit’, and quickly give him his treat.

6. Sometimes rewards can be more than just treats so the next step is to praise him. Show joy with your voice and your body language.

7. Repeat these steps not more than 5 times in a row, but you can repeat the steps multiple times each day.

8. Now try the same thing but standing up. See if you can get the dog to sit without the aid of a treat. When he does, heap on the praise. Be sure that you never punish him if he does not sit, but wait patiently for him to sit and then praise him.

It is important that the dog understands that the sit command is not optional. Regardless of distractions in the surrounding environment he must respond. To reinforce the command use it often and require that the dog comply 100% of the time. Socialize your dog by exposing him to a variety of other people, pets and locations. Teaching him to obey the sit command in a variety of situations will enhance his training and help confirm his understanding and compliance.

Learning how to train a dog to sit on command is not that difficult. Start when your dog is a puppy and, not only will you teach it to sit, but you will find that they love to do other tricks with you as well. By training your dog as a puppy, you will get the dog used to hearing its own name, acting on your command, and being an active participant for other activities. This will get your dog use to having you in charge and make the dog more secure in being part of your family!

A Guide To Bulldog Allergies

The Bulldog is one of the most popular breeds of dog in the world, and it is really no surprise. They are loyal, friendly and affectionate, and feature a very unique appearance, which sets them apart from other breeds of dog. Although in general this breed does not usually pose many problems, there are a few aspects of the Bulldog that should be understood by anyone interested in getting one for themselves.

There are five major types of allergies that your Bulldog may develop such as food allergies, flea allergies, bacteria allergies, contact allergies and atopy. Each of these different types of allergies has its own characteristics and associated symptoms, and so you should be aware of the ins and outs of each one. Food allergies are the most common, and may be the result of either the dog food you giving your dog or human food if you feed him scraps from the table.

There are a few symptoms to all the different types of Bulldog allergies that tend to develop at the onset of the condition. For food allergies in particular the most common symptom is scratching, due to a skin irritation. A few of the foods that may cause allergies in your dog include beef, chicken, lamb, fish, grains and corn.

Avoidance is obviously the best way to keep your dog from having an allergic reaction, however it can be difficult to determine which specific ingredient in the food is causing the dog problems.

It is important that you isolate the allergen, and you can try doing this with an elimination diet, which basically involves you slowly adding one ingredient to their diet at a time in order to determine which one specific ingredient in the food is causing the dog to react.

Flea allergies are also very common when it comes to Bulldog allergies, and one of the biggest mistakes on the part of owners here is that they think that the flea itself causes the allergy. This is actually not true and instead, it is the flea’s saliva that causes problems.

Flea allergies are also very common Bulldog allergies, and you should know that allergies to fleas are actually not caused by the flea itself but rather is caused by the flea’s saliva.

If you ever notice any unusual symptoms in your dog it is a good idea to get them in to the veterinarian so they can perform a few routine tests and determine whether anything is actually wrong with the dog.

About Foster Care for Dogs

When a national rescue society calls you for a support of an abandoned canine, consider yourself lucky to have found a new foster dog. Whether he looks like a gem or some normal dog, he is yours and yours alone for care. Like any other loving parent, you are now assigned to a special task ahead.

Once you agree to the dog on your protection, you will turn out to be the one and only special person to the dog. Part of the foster stay will be dealt with by teaching him, training him and in particular loving the pet like your own. However, time will pass when the dog needs to be reassigned to another permanent owner; and your tears might just come welling in your eyes if the ideal family comes along.

Care for dogs is measured not only by the tasks you do for the little pooch. Rather, it’s measured through the amount of time you give to the dog; it is also about taking care of him whether he is or is not your own. But before thinking of saying goodbye to your “adopted” canine, remember that you have a heap of responsibilities on hand. You are now facing a new life with an additional member of the family.

Foster Care for Dogs: The First Steps - Fostering a dog may seem like a formidable task, but it is a very tangible way to make a differences. Initial steps are the most crucial and the foremost step is to assess if the canine is housetrained. If he is not, then start teaching him with the basics plus supervise him constantly. On the other hand, if the dog is not in good health, nurturing and treating would be the topmost of your priorities. It normally takes few weeks to months before the dog can finally recover from the trauma.

In the first few weeks of your care, let the dog start working with the basic commands. Together with that, reward your dog by strolling him from time to time. Make the care for dogs an enjoyable and lasting experience for you and your canine.

Aggression In Cats

Cats are usually viewed as relatively peaceful creatures. Most people assume that if a cat is given food, water, and a suitable place to rest then it will remain docile and loving toward its owners while also displaying the usual feline independence.

While many cats are just that, the truth is that cats can have as many different personality traits as a human. Some cats prefer to spend their life on the couch in a zen kind of way, other cats are constantly on the go, bouncing off the walls,high strung and energetic. Some cats are very independent and may not want to be cuddled while yet others can cuddle for hours, purring contentedly.

The one personality trait that most cat owners aren’t willing to deal with, however, is aggressive tendencies within cats. Dogs can sometimes get away with aggressive personalities because some owners actually want a dog that is mean and able to scare people away. Cats, on the other hand, are generally brought into a home in order to protect the family. For this reason, aggressiveness is not really a trait that most cat owners look for.

Aggressive cats can inflict a lot of damage. While a cat can’t compare to the damage that can be done by a large dog, their speed and agility can cause some great pain. Aggressive cats should never be around young children with supervision.

Some cats are aggressive by nature, but other cats become aggressive after dealing with abusive owners or other unfortunate situations. It’s no wonder that a cat dealing with a sadistic owner would become aggressive, no matter what its natural demeanor once was. Some people refer to aggressive cats as “feral,” but this isn’t entirely accurate because an aggressive cat might be quite domesticated in terms of using a litter box and eating from a bowl. By the same token, not every undomesticated cat is aggressive.

What should you do if your cat is aggressive? First, get some books about cat behavior. Learn to see the signs if kitty is getting agitated. Cats will give off signs that will give you time to back off. Feliway is a product used to calm anxious cats and to lower aggression. Also be gentle and demonstrate tenderness towards your cat so she learns to trust you, and include some quality playing time to increase your bond.

Now, there may be some cats that are just aggressive by nature, or may be aggressive around children. (No doubt have been hurt by a child in the past) and it may not be something that can be trained away. In the case of your cat being aggressive towards your children or babies, finding your cat a new home without children may be an option to consider.

Air Purifiers - Increase The Air Quality In Your Home By 50%.

Air Purifier: Air purifiers are best described as appliances designed to remove impurities from the surrounding air. Hygienically treated air has been scientifically proven to be of value to asthmatics and those inclined to allergies. If you are in the market for a good quality air purifier then you should find the following information invaluable in your decision making.

The Benefits of Using Air Purifiers?

Relief for those who are susceptible to air-borne allergens - including dust, pet hair, pollens, mould, dust mites and smoke particles. House cleaning is reduced due the amount of dust it will remove from the air. Low energy use and electromagnetic emissions mean a safer environment. Which Type of Air Purifier is Right for Me?

What Type of Air Purifier do You Recommend?

Different air filters do different jobs so it’s paramount that you understand your personal air purifying needs. Where you need to filter out large particles in the air, then a HEPA filter would be your first choice. These can remove over 99% of 0.01 to 0.3 micro-metre particles. They are, however, unsuitable for particles less than 0.01 micro-metres. Use a pre-filter before the HEPA filter for when you need to eliminate very fine particles.

Air particulates of 0.3 micro-metres or more are best extracted with an HVAC at MERV 13 or larger. If you are wanting to extract powerful chemicals and strong odours then it is suggested you use activated carbon filters and then follow this up with a HEPA filter to remove the smallest particles. Moulds, bacteria and viruses should be removed with photo-catalytic oxidation (PCO) - this is quite often incorporated with HVAC systems.

Ionizer air purifiers operate with charged electrical surfaces to bond to air impurities. These are very effective for large size homes, however, they do emit small amounts of ozone which is environmentally unfriendly so they are much less popular. A further suggestion for larger full size houses are Ozone Generators - these are excellent for removing strong odours that are not easy to remove with other types of air filters. They generate large amounts of ozone gas and are only suitable in unoccupied properties.

What to Look for When Shopping for an Air Purifier?

Check to ensure that the air filter does not emit any hazardous gas by-products, listen to how quietly it operates, check how regularly you need to replace the filters, monitor power consumption and make sure the unit is visually appealing. Most air purifiers generate very low levels of ozone gas and, with excluding Ozone Generator filters, are reliably safe to use. Do not buy an air filter that is described as HEPA-type, HEPA-like or 99% HEPA as these are not the genuine article.

U S Consumer Reports unreservedly recommends air purifiers, air cleaners or air filters for indoor use - especially where there are allergy or asthma sufferers. If you are seeking further information regarding this topic then I recommend The U S Environmental Protection Agency and its Science Advisory Board publication Indoor Air Quality.

All About Blood Banks For Dogs And Cats

With advances in veterinary medicine, more complex surgical procedures are being performed on our beloved pets. Thus, there is an increased need for blood bank programs to supply life-saving blood components. In the past, Veterinarians had to use their own dogs, dogs owned by their staff, or even dogs borrowed from their clients as blood donors in the absence of animal blood banks.

Animal blood banks depend solely on animal blood donors. Animal blood is specific to certain specie, dogs can receive dog blood only, and similarly, cats can only receive cat blood. Moreover, dogs have blood types just like humans. Among the eleven different blood groups of dogs, the most important one is the A1/A2 system. Canines with A negative blood types are considered universal donors.

Although dogs rarely have isoantibodies against other blood types, it is still recommended that all recipients be cross matched prior to receiving a blood transfusion, especially dogs which have received a previous blood transfusion to make sure that your donor and recipient are compatible.

The major and minor cross matching is the two types of cross-matching tests. If major cross matching is done, red cells from the donor are mixed with serum from the recipient, then it is observed to see if there is a reaction. The recipient cells may attack donor cells and reject them. In the event that there is a major cross-match incompatibility, transfusion shouldn’t be done. For a minor cross-match test, the red cells of the recipient are compared with the serum of the donor. If there is a minor cross-match incompatibility, only parts of the donor’s blood can be given to the recipient.

Qualities for canine donors are: healthy, no history of metabolic or heart disease or seizures, lean body weight of greater than 50 kg, and 1-7 years of age. They should not be on any medication, except heartworm and parasite preventatives. Potential donors should have a good temperament, have been neutered and nulliparous, and have jugular veins that are easily visualized and palpated. They should also be current on vaccines. Greyhounds have been promoted as ideal blood donors because of their amenable disposition and high PCV.

Once a canine’s blood type is determined and is acceptable, screening is done for metabolic and infectious diseases: CBC, biochemical profile, U/A, fecal exam, von Willebrand’s factor, and testing for Dirofilaria immiti, Ehrlichia canis, Babesia canis, B. gibsoni, Brucella canis (in intact or previously bred dogs), and Bartonella.

No preparation such as fasting is needed before going to the donation center. Canine donors are not sedated and the procedure takes only less than 30 minutes. Upon arrival, the dog is welcomed in and lifted onto a table. Shaving is done to a small patch of hair on the neck to expose the skin right over the jugular vein where the blood is taken. Then, the area is cleansed with alcohol and a needle is inserted into the vein. Upon insertion, blood goes into the needle, through a tube. Then it goes into the collection bag. Pressure is then applied to stop any bleeding after the procedure is done. Mild bruising may be present at the site where blood is collected.

To replenish fluids and nutrients, water and food are given. Right after the donation, the dog’s system starts to replace the blood immediately by producing new red blood cells. As with human blood donors, it is advised that strenuous activities should be avoided for the next 24 hours after donating. A waiting period of at least two months is needed before the next blood donation. By that time, blood volume and red blood cell count is back to normal.

Dogs are compensated as soon as they have made their donation. In addition to hugs and belly rubs, they’re rewarded with gifts and treats that vary from program to program. After the first donation, a dog often gets a tag, which identifies him or her as a blood donor. Edible rewards might include dog biscuits and bottled water, a jar of baby food, or a can of dog food. Some donors may even get brand new toys. At some blood banks, dogs go home wearing cool donor bandanas. In a number of programs, they also receive a large bag of dog food with each donation. This is obviously a great benefit for their owners as well.

The blood donations will then be separated into the different blood components - red blood cells, platelets and plasma to be used for both emergency and pre-planned transfusions. The red blood cells are given to recipients suffering from anemia that may be due to trauma or a treatable disease. When the animal is not producing the right amount or is losing too much protein, plasma helps increase blood volume. Platelet-rich plasma is for those recipients with decreased or dysfunctional platelets.

There are now several world animal blood banks that supply blood products to Veterinary hospitals. Most have been opened for business within the past decade. Dog owners have responded with enthusiasm to the plea for blood donations and every year, the blood bank processes roughly 2,000 units of blood donated by dogs brought in to the bank at the Veterinary hospital and to the bank’s bloodmobile, which visits Veterinary clinics and kennel clubs.

Some animal blood banks depend solely on the generosity of pet owners who enroll their dogs in canine blood donor programs and take them to their scheduled appointments. Animal blood banks hold drives to encourage animal blood donations, just like what the Red Cross and other health organizations do.

If you think your dog could be a blood donor, you can check the location of regional blood banks or the list of Veterinary Hospitals and University Veterinary Medical Centers that manage their own blood donor/blood bank programs. Or you can contact the animal blood banks for dogs and cats nearest you, or ask your Veterinarian if there’s an animal blood donor program with a donation site in your area.

All About Boston Terrier Grooming

Now that you are an owner of a dog, it is important that you understand everything that is expected of you. There is a lot to do when it comes to properly caring for a dog but if you truly love the animal, you will not have to think twice about it. Being the owner of the dog, it is up to you to make sure that he is seen by the vet on a regular basis and that you give them plenty of good food and water. There needs to be a lot of love and grooming as these are just as important as other parts of dog care.

When it comes to Boston Terrier grooming, the owners have it made because this breed does not have the long hair that would require haircuts by a professional. This not only means that the owner can save a lot of money by doing the Boston Terrier grooming at home but that they can take advantage of this opportunity and use it for bonding time. Teach your pet from an early age that grooming is fun and enjoyable and it will be a relaxing time for both of you.

The owner of the Boston Terrier really lucks out when grooming is concerned and is able to get through it a lot faster then with other breeds. The Boston Terrier grooming job is pretty simple and done very fast but should not be overlooked because of these factors. Make sure that your dog is given baths when needed but at least has its faced wiped down each day. Also, clipping of the nails is important and should never be overlooked.

Brushing is needed every once in a while and the best brush to use for this would be a bristle brush that is firm. Bathing is required every once in a while too but a daily washing of the face is needed.

Now that you know that it is cost effective for you to do the Boston Terrier grooming and that it is a great way to bond with your pet, you want to make sure that you do not forget about actually doing it.

All in all, if you make sure to make time for your pet and its Boston Terrier grooming needs, you will have one very happy dog. When you set aside a little time and make sure that you have all of the Boston Terrier grooming supplies on hand, your job will run smooth and it will be a blissful time for not only the dog but for you as well. Try not to consider it a job or a chore but more like a fun bonding time that is set aside for just the two of you.

Remember, there is more to grooming your pet yourself then just saving a few bucks. By taking a little bit of time out of your schedule, you are giving your pet the time he or she really needs from you. Speaking of time, you may very well want to consider marking your calendar or memo pad as to when the next grooming session is so that you do not miss out on it.

If you are enjoying the moment then your dog will too and there is a lot of good that can come from all of that.