The Three Types Of Allergic Reactions In Dog

Title: The Three Types Of Allergic Reactions In Dog
Author: Syahrul Azlan Idris

Allergic reactions in dogs are hard to control and are usually
chronic in nature. This is why the right diagnosis and therapy
has to be started early to minimize the allergic reaction. The
most common symptom for allergic reaction in dogs is excessive
itching, or pruritis. It is the high strung dogs that tend to
itch more than placid dogs while chewing, licking and rubbing of
the skin are all manifestations of pruritis.

The common areas on the dog's body that are the hardest hit for
pruritis are its face, feet and armpit. However, due to some
extent of excessive pruritis, it might cover the whole body of
the animal. Scratching is normal for them and sometimes not a
sign of any irregularities on their skin. But when tiny blood
spots appear, it's already a sign of an allergic reaction. The
reason for this is, flea dirt comprises more of blood and they
usually appear as small blood spots in any place that they are
left behind.

Basically, there are three types of allergic reactions in dogs
where the dog may suffer from one of these reactions or a
combination of all three conditions. First is food allergy in
where a dog is allergic to ingredients or preservatives found in
food like beef, wheat, dairy products which are most common food
allergens. In addition, even premium dog foods have a tendency
to contain these products.

For some dog owners, the best way to stop allergic reactions is
to immediately "haul" their pets off to a pet store or a
veterinarian's clinic. Usually, the people running the
establishment would recommend some of their dog food to stop
these allergic reactions thinking that this is the best way to
stop excessive scratching or biting. However, they have to bear
in mind that food allergies are the least cause of allergic
problems in dogs.

With flea allergy dermatitis, it is the allergens found in the
saliva of flea that bites the dog. The flea inserts a coagulant
in the dog through the saliva to prevent the clotting of the
dog's blood, and this is what induces an allergic reaction in
dogs.

However, because of the intensive research and never-ending
"crusade" to discover a cure for allergic reactions in dogs,
many treatments were administered thus diminishing the
occurrence of flea allergy dermatitis.

The last type of allergic reactions found in dogs is what they
call allergic inhaled dermatitis or atopy, a pre-inclination in
the animal to produce IgE antibodies on exposure to an allergen.

Allergic reactions will then be evident when there is a
re-exposure to the same allergen. Common causes are usually
pollen, grasses, animal wastes or animal dander, molds, mites,
house dust and feathers which can be either pass through
inhalation or through or in-between the pads of its paws.

An insect bite is something that practically everyone
experiences. It usually brings about some minor discomfort,
especially in the summer months. Though most people don't have
any problems with insect bites apart from some pain and
irritation, there are some people who suffer allergic reactions
to insect bites. This allergic reaction to insect bites is
called hymenoptera, and to people suffering from it, bites and
stings prove to be very dangerous.

About The Author: Syahrul Azlan has some great suggestion on
curing your allergic reactions. For allergic reactions help get
his free report on allergic reactions at his website at
http://www.firstaid-secrets.com

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Dog Health - Why Your Dog Needs an Annual Checkup

Title: Dog Health - Why Your Dog Needs an Annual Checkup
Author: Douglas Hanna

A once a year visit to the vet is a must for a healthy dog.
During this annual visit your vet will check your dog's heart
rate, overall body health, perform a fecal and blood check to
diagnose parasites, and keep your dog up to date on
vaccinations. A simple annual visit to the vet may not seem like
a very important aspect to your dog's health, but it is.

Early diagnosis of diseases like cancer, early detection of any
abnormalities like heart murmurs, and vaccines which prevent
fatal diseases will all help your dog to live a longer life.
Many cancers today, which dogs suffer from, are now treatable if
they are diagnosed early, and dogs with heart problems can take
medication to help their heart function well for many years. The
key is 'early diagnosis', and without an annual veterinarian
examination a life threatening illness could be missed until it
is too late to
treat.

Identifying illnesses

An annual veterinarian check-up will also help your
veterinarian to identify any illnesses in your dog such as ear
infections, eye infections, parasitic infections, bladder
infections, or teeth problems. Missed infections can cause wear
and tear on a dog's body, and if they progress serious damage to
the body can occur. While these conditions are not always life
threatening, they can stress the overall health of your dog and
overtime harm your dog's health, immune system, and organ
function. Continual stress from constant infections, or severe
infections that are not treated, can reduce the longevity of a
dog's life.

As comprehensive as you choose

A visit to the veterinarian can be as comprehensive as you want
it to be. You can have the choice of just a short physical and
vaccines, or you can have all the necessary tests performed to
check the status of your dog's health. In order for your dog to
remain healthy, it is highly recommended that you have a
comprehensive physical performed each year in addition to blood,
fecal, and urine tests.

Don't forget parasite control

Deaths caused by parasites are probably one of the most
preventable causes of death in dogs. A high parasite load of
worms and fleas can lead to malnutrition, reduced immune
function, anemia, and poor health; the damage that these
parasites can cause may reduce the longevity of a dog's lifespan
overtime. In addition, parasites such as ticks and mosquitoes
can transmit deadly diseases. The parasites that you will need
to protect your dog from include: ticks, fleas, worms, and
mosquitoes.

Mosquitos and Heartworms

Many pet owners do not realize that mosquitoes can infect dogs
with deadly heartworms. When a mosquito bites a dog that carries
heartworms the mosquito can then transmit those worms to another
dog. More and more heartworm infections are a leading cause of
early death in dogs throughout the states.

Heartworm disease can be treated in dogs, but the treatments
are not without risks; some dogs have deadly reactions to
heartworm treatment. In addition, a heartworm infection that has
continued for a long period of time may have caused too much
damage to the dog's health to treat. To protect your dog from
the dangers of heartworms, always have a yearly test performed
on your dog and keep your dog on a strict heartworm preventative
regimen.

While tick diseases in some areas are rare, dogs that are
exposed to ticks are still in danger of becoming infected with
potentially lethal tick diseases. If you are in an area where
your dog will be exposed to ticks, or you live in an area that
has reported tick disease occurrences in dogs and people, it is
essential that you keep ticks off of your dogs. There are
products on the market today that will help to repel ticks from
your dog, or that will kill the ticks once the ticks latch on to
your dog's skin.

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Dog Worms - Has Your Dog Been Infected?

Title: Dog Worms - Has Your Dog Been Infected?
Author: Douglas Hanna

Here's the thing about dogs. First, they forage for food - just
like many animals. Second, they'll eat just about anything,
including feces.

Because of these two traits, dogs are very prone to developing
worms - worms which can make them sick and even kill them. This
includes heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and
tapeworms.

So how can you tell if your dog is suffering from any of these
worms?

Here are the worms that are most likely to infest your dog and
their symptoms.

Hookworms

Hookworms are usually found in dog feces. If your dog has a
habit of eating feces, watch for this illness. The symptoms of
hookworms include loose stool or blood in the stool, bloating,
gas, and an unusual appetite. Also, the dog's coat may become
duller.

Roundworms

Roundworms are caused when the dog ingests the egg of the
roundworm. Also puppies can become infected through their
mother. Signs to look for that your dog has roundworms include
vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, gas, and an unusual appetite.

Heartworms

Heartworms most often come from mosquitoes. This usually occurs
during the warmer months when dogs are exposed to these pests.
Heartworms are very dangerous and, if left untreated, can
actually kill your dog. Symptoms to watch out for include
lethargy, coughing, loss of appetite, and difficulty breathing.
You might also notice that your dog is becoming more tired than
usual after exercise. This condition needs to be treated
immediately by a vet.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms occur when dogs eat fleas. While this may not be a
pleasant exercise, you should regularly check the dog's rectum
to see if there are any white, rice-like parasites in the area.
If you, the dog is almost sure to have tapeworms. Symptoms of
these worms include an inability to digest food, weight loss,
and stomach pain.

Whipworm

Whipworm occurs when dogs eat worm-infested feces or when they
step in feces and then lick their paws. A dog with whipworm will
often have a bloody stool, an unusual appetite, and will become
bloated, experience cramps, and have a dull coat.

Other conditions that can affect your dog's health include
Coccidia which are parasites caused by ingesting feces. Symptoms
of this disease include loose stool, vomiting, loss of weight,
and bloating.

Another parasite which can affect pups is called Giardia. These
parasites are found mostly in areas where there is a lot of
water. The ingestion of Giardia can cause loose stool, loss of
weight, and bloating.

The key is early detection

Early detection is the key to treating these illnesses. If your
dog displays any of the symptoms listed in this article, be sure
to get it to your vet for a checkup. Also, make sure your dog
receives regular check-ups as this gives your vet the
opportunity to check for worms and other conditions by taking
stool samples.

It is always better to err on the side of caution and carefully
watch your dog's behavior and habits. If they
change in any way, make an appointment with your vet to get the
problem diagnosed and treatment started immediately.

About The Author: Does your dog need its own house? There's a
popular website that has a lot of good information about dog
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