| Fact: Did you know
that estrogen (the hormone responsible for
a female dog's heat cycle) is virtually removed
when the female dog is spayed. This can lead
to some problems as the female dog ages such
as urinary
incontinence, and obesity, as estrogen
hormone is responsible for maintaining urinary
bladder sphincter tone as well as depressing
the appetite. |
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Fact: Fleas
aside from being a nuisance to your pet, can carry tapeworm
infection. Small white rice-like worms seen on
the stool or around your pets rectum are tapeworms.
If you have a tapeworm problem, you must treat both
for the tapeworm and the flea, otherwise re-infection
with tapeworm by the fleas will occur.
Fact: Female dogs do not go through menopause.
Instead their hormonal cycle changes as they age, which
can lead to infection
in their uterus. Having your female dog spayed
before 8 years of age usually can prevent this from
occurring.
Fact: Heartworm
disease usually affects the dog, but did you know
your cat could become infected as well? Although
not as common, in areas of the country where heartworm
infection is high, protecting your cat with a monthly
preventative is recommended.
Fact: Dogs do not have sweat glands in
their skin. Instead, they have what's called sebaceous
glands, which contain oils that feed the hair follicles
and give the coat its shine. Omega 3 fatty acids
when given to the dog, actually replenish the skin glands
with the essential oils. This can help with excessive
shedding, as well as preventing dry skin.
Fact: Dry, itchy skin, with or without
sores or hair loss, may be a sign of allergies
in your pet. Our pets can be allergic to many different
things. Fleas, pollen, food, and even things that
come into contact with the pet, can induce allergies
(such as wool, plastics, topically applied products,
etc.)
Fact: Obesity in the dog and cat can definitely
shorten their lives. Conditions as pancreatitis
and diabetes can more readily develop in an overweight
dog or cat. Feeding your pet appropriate amounts
of food made for the pet (and not from the table), can
significantly affect their weight, and maintain it in
the normal range. Sometimes weight gain
in your dog can relate to an under-active thyroid gland,
resulting in a condition known as hypothyroidism.
This condition does not affect cats.
Fact: Determining pregnancy in a female
dog until recently has been by X-ray, manual palpation,
or ultrasound. Now, there is a blood test which
can be done by your veterinarian, which can be sent
out to a laboratory. The hormone measured is known
as Relaxin. Levels of Relaxin should be measured
at least 30 days after breeding. Results are available
within 2-4 days.
Fact: Scooting or dragging the rear end
along the floor or ground, can be a signal of a number
of factors. Normally this indicates that something
is irritating the area under the tail of your pet,
and the act of scooting or dragging the rear end along
the floor serves to soothe this irritation. Click
here for more information on this topic.
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