Health And Wellness

Internal Parasites: Hookworms are common in puppies, though dogs of any age can be infested. Hookworms are acquired by puppies from their mother by nursing and by adult dogs by swallowing the parasite's eggs or having the hookworm burrow into the skin. Infection can be prevented by keeping your dog's environment clean. Roundworms are also common in puppies and can infect other dogs and children. They look like white, firm, rounded strips of spaghetti, one to three inches long. Your veterinarian will look for signs of roundworms in the stool sample. Again, keep your dog's environment clean. Tapeworms will cause your dog to lose weight and have occasional diarrhea. You'll know if your dog's got these because you'll see segments of the worms around his anus or on his stool. The segments look like grains of rice.

Whipworms are acquired by licking or sniffing contaminated ground. They live in the dog's intestine and are only detectable in a stool sample.

Heartworms enter a dog's bloodstream from the bite of an infected mosquito. The worms mature in the dog's heart, growing to twelve inches in length and effectively clogging the heart—a very serious condition. Heartworm infection occurs throughout the United States but is particularly common in warm, mosquito-infested areas. Treatment is expensive and can be dangerous. Fortunately, you can keep your dog free from infestation by administering heartworm preventive pills.

GIARDIASIS (Giardia species)

Giardiasis seems to be an ever-increasing parasitic problem in domestic dogs and will also easily infect humans. The parasite has a unique shape and attaches to the lining of the intestine. There it disrupts the digestive process and causes irritation of the bowel. Infection occurs as a result of ingesting infected food and water sources that contain an encysted form of the parasite or the actual live organism. Crowding and stress increases the spread of the infection. Infected animals may or may not exhibit signs of illness and some may harbor and even spread the disease without being ill themselves. Some dogs may carry the cysts, which can later become active in times of stress or other illness and then cause symptoms. Even with treatment, some dogs will continue to carry the organism, having recurrent bouts of the disease. Clinical signs include acute, chronic, or intermittent diarrhea, often with hea vy mucus
production, weight l, poor appetite and weakness.

• Ten Tips for a Poison-Safe Household
  
• 1. Be aware of the plants you have in your house and in your dog's yard. The ingestion of azalea, oleander, mistletoe, sago palm, or yew plant material, by a dog, could be fatal. (A list of poisonous plants appears below).
• 2. When cleaning your house, never allow your dog access to the area where cleaning agents are used or stored. Cleaning agents have a variety of properties. Some may only cause a mild stomach upset, while others could cause severe burns of the tongue, mouth, and stomach.
• 3. When using rat or mouse baits, ant or roach traps, or snail and slug baits, place the products in areas that are inaccessible to your animals. Most baits contain sweet smelling inert ingredients, such as jelly, peanut butter, and sugars, which can be very attracting to your dog.
• 4. Never give your dog ANY medications unless under the directions of veterinarian. Many medications that are used safely in humans can be deadly when used inappropriately. One extra strength acetominophen tablet (500mg) can cause severe liver damage to a 10lbs dog. One half of a regular strength naproxen (200mg) could cause stomach ulcers in the same size dog.
• 5. Keep all prescription an over the counter drugs out of reach of your dogs, preferably in closed cabinets. Pain killers, cold medicines, anti-cancer drugs, antidepressants, vitamins, and diet pills are common examples of human medication that could be potentially lethal even in small dosages. Less than one regular strength ibuprofen (200mg) could cause stomach ulcers in a 10lb dog, and about six could cause kidney failure.
  Never throw medications away in the trash can. The trash can is like a gourmet restaurant to most dogs! Instead, flush all unwanted medications away in the toilet.
• 6. Never leave CHOCOLATES unattended. Approximately one half ounce or less of chocolate per pound body weight can cause problems. Even small amounts can cause pancreatic problems.
• 7. Many common household items have been shown to be lethal in certain species. Miscellaneous items that are highly toxic even in low quantities include pennies (high concentration of zinc), mothballs (one or two balls can be life threatening in most species), potpourri oils, fabric softener sheets, automatic dish detergents (contain cationic detergents which could cause corrosive lesions), batteries (contain acids or alkali which can also cause corrosive lesions), homemade play dough (contains high quantity of salt), winter heat source agents like hand or foot warmers (contain high levels of iron), cigarettes, coffee grounds, and alcoholic drinks.
• 8. All automotive products such as oil, gasoline, and antifreeze, should be stored in areas away from pet access. As little as one tablespoon of antifreeze could be lethal to a 10lb dog.
  If a leakage of such products is discovered, you should remove all pets from the area before cleaning the spill.
• 9. Before buying or using flea products on your dog or in your household, contact your veterinarian to discuss what types of flea products are recommended for your pet.
  Read ALL information before using a product on your dogs or in your home. Always follow label instructions.
  When a product is labeled "for household use only" this means that the product should NEVER be applied to your dog. Also be aware of animal size and age restrictions of products used on your dogs.
  When using a flea fogger or a house spray, make sure to remove all pets from the area for the time period specified on the container.
  If you are uncertain about the usage of any product, contact the manufacturer or your veterinarian to clarify the directions BEFORE use of the product.
• 10. When treating your lawn or garden with liquid fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides, always keep your animals away from the area until the area dries completely. Before application, you should discuss usage of products around pets with the manufacturer of the products. Always store such products in an area that will ensure no possible animal exposure, preferably, in a secured cabinet.

by Jill A. Richardson, DVM
Veterinary Poison Information Specialist
ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center
-November 12, 1997

• List Of Poisonous Plants:
• Aloe Vera Foxglove Red Emerald
  Amaryllis Fruit Salad Plant Red Princess
  Apple (seeds) Geranium Red-Margined Dracaena
  Apple Leaf Croton German Ivy Rhododendron
  Apricot (pit) Giant Dumb Cane Ribbon Plant
  Asparagus Fern Glacier Ivy Saddle Leaf Philodendron
  Autumn Crocus Gold Dust Dracaena Sago Palm
  Azalea Golden Pothos Satin Pothos
  Baby's Breath Hahn's Self-Branching Ivy Schefflera
  Bird of Paradise Heartland Philodendron Sago Palm
  Branching Ivy Hurricane Plant Satin Pothos
  Buckeye Indian Rubber Plant Schefflera
  Buddhist Pine Janet Craig Dracaena Silver Pothos
  Caladium Japanese Show Lily (especially cats !!!) Spotted Dumb Cane
  Calla Lily Jerusalem Cherry String of Pearls
  Castor Bean Kalanchoe (Panda Bear Plant) Striped Dracaena
  Ceriman Lacy Tree Philodendron Sweetheart Ivy
  Charming Dieffenbachia Lily of the Valley Swiss Cheese Plant
  Cherry (seeds and wilting leaves) Madagascar Dragon Tree Taro Vine
  Chinese Evergreen Marble Queen Tiger Lily (especially cats!!!)
  Christmas Rose
  Cineraria Marijuana Tomato Plant (green fruit, stem and leaves)
  Clematis Mexican Breadfruit Tree Philodendron
  Cordatum Miniature Croton Tropic Snow Dieffenbachia
  Corn Plant Mistletoe Weeping Fig
  Cornstalk Plant Morning Glory Yew
  Croton Mother-in Law's Tongue
  Cuban Laurel Narcissus
  Cutleaf Philodendron Needlepoint Ivy
  Cycads Nephthytis
  Cyclamen Nightshade
  Daffodil Oleander
  Devil's Ivy Onions
  Dieffenbachia Oriental Lily (especially in cats!!!)
  Dracaena Palm Peace Lily
  Dragon Tree Peach (wilting leaves and pits)
  Dumb Cane Pencil Cactus
  Easter Lily (especially in cats!!!!) Plumosa Fern
  Elaine Poinsettia (low toxicity)
  Elephant Ears Poison Ivy
  Emerald Feather Poison Oak
  English Ivy Pothos
  Eucalyptus
  Fiddle-leaf fig Precatory Bean
  Florida Beauty Primrose