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Did you know that cancer is the leading cause of death in American dogs; 1 in 4 dogs die of cancer here in the United States. News of your dog’s cancer diagnosis can be as devastating as any other family member’s diagnosis.  First, of course, is the thought of potentially losing your loved one.  Next, you worry about the efficacy – and expense – of the treatment options available.  The good news is that veterinary medicine continues to research canine cancers, both from a treatment and prevention standpoint and great strides are being made on both fronts.  Of course, these treatments (which often involve chemotherapy and radiation) can be costly, which is why a good veterinary pet insurance policy that covers cancer treatments is a wise investment.

One of the most common cancers in American dogs is canine lymphoma (lymphosarcoma.) Fortunately, it is a very treatable canine cancer; roughly 50% of dogs with lymphoma can be put into remission.

Cancer is an immune dysfunction disease, regardless of the species. The lymph system circulates the white blood cells and most importantly, lymphocytes, which are specialized cells involved in immune function found throughout the body. In normal healthy dogs, these cells are manufactured in the bone marrow, with a life span of about one month.  Then, they die off and are re-absorbed into the body or eliminated through waste. With lymphoma, there is an overproduction of these cells, or the “old cells” live on, monopolizing the other blood cells. High white blood cell count and swollen lymph glands are the characteristic signs of this disease, followed by lethargy, loss of appetite and leading eventually to death unless treated.

Chemotherapy is the first line treatment for dog lymphoma, and because lymphoma generally affects young to middle-aged, otherwise healthy dogs, it is well tolerated. Sometimes the effected lymph glands are surgically removed as well. After surgery, some type of chemotherapy drug (again, generally covered by a good pet insurance policy) is usually recommended to clean up any remaining cancer cell not removed by the surgery.

As is the case with any cancer, the earlier the lymphoma is diagnosed the better the outcome.  Just as the human members of the family should have a physical every year, so should your pets…and their annual visits are also covered under most veterinary pet insurance plans, so the early detection of lymphoma is possible!  Treatment success is dependent upon a myriad of factors, including your dog’s age, diet, medical history, the location of the cancer, and how extensive it is and what major systems are involved.

So, you have wanted a horse all your life, but you can’t seem to get your parents to agree to get you one. Well, what you need is a plan, a parent friendly plan that shows your parents just how a horse will affect your life.

Start off by getting a job. I know, everyone says that, but it is really important. By getting a job you will show your parents that you are responsible enough to manage money. You will need at least $500-600 a month to care for a horse, so show your parents that you can earn that much money. Start a savings with your income and set aside enough money to pay for at least two months of board.

Next, find a barn that is local where you could keep your horse. Find out what the costs of keeping a horse there are. Be sure to include vet and farrier costs in your cost estimate. Get all these numbers on paper so that you can show your parents the actual costs.

Now consider what you could be doing if you did not have a horse. Are you currently spending a lot of time out partying or hanging out with friends? Be prepared to lose much of that time to your horse. Show your parents that these things are less important to you than your horse would be. Explain to them that you would be more concerned about paying your horse’s upkeep and working with your horse than going out late to parties or getting into things your parents would prefer you avoid (after all, who can afford drugs or alcohol if all the money is going to the horse).

With this information in hand, sit down with your parents and have a long talk. Discuss doing a trial run of horse ownership. You can either take on a part board situation or a lease of a horse. This way you avoid the initial cost of buying a horse, but still get the chance to show your parents how you will handle horse ownership.

If your parents agree to the trial, be sure to keep up your side of the bargain. Pay your horse’s expenses. Your parents should not have to foot the bill unless there is an unforeseen emergency. Go out to the barn as often as you can, and avoid going out and partying late. If you can keep this up for a year’s lease or part-board, your parents might actually start to see things your way.

Owning a horse is a huge responsibility, and you will need to do everything in your ability to prove that you are up for the challenge. Many kids just can’t manage the stress of having a job and paying for their own horse. On the other hand, parents are stressed enough just paying for the general bills. If you can prove that you will be self sufficient, you will give your parents the chance to accept your proposal without fretting that you will leave them in the lurch.

Lyme disease in dogs is a condition that can cause a wide range of problems with your dog.  It can damage the heart, kidneys, or joints if left unchecked.  This disease usually occurs in southern states, northeastern states, California, and Mississippi.  However, it can occur in virtually any part of the United States.

Cause

You may be wondering what causes this disease.  Dog Lyme disease is transmitted via tick bite.  The tick that carries this illness is infected with a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi.  The bacterium can’t be transferred immediately though, as the tick has to stay attached to your dog for one or two days.

Symptoms

If your dog is affected by this illness, he will show a range of symptoms.  Most dogs developing limping, especially in one of the forelegs.  Although this limping will be hard to detect at first, it will become much more noticeable as the disease progresses.  Other symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, loss of appetite, and fever.

Diagnosis

The veterinarian’s first step in diagnosing Lyme disease in dogs is to take a medical history and discuss your dog’s symptoms.  These symptoms will appear suddenly, which points to Lyme disease.  The condition can be definitely diagnosed through a blood test to detect the presence of the aforementioned bacterium.  

Treatment

Dog Lyme disease should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.  If not, permanent damage can be done to your dog’s joints and nerves.  The preferred method of treatment is through the use of antibiotics.  These drugs must be taken for at least three weeks.  If your dog is experiencing a lot of pain, your veterinarian may also prescribe aspirin.

Prognosis

Although treatment lasts for about three weeks, most dogs will start feeling better within a couple of days.  However, the disease may recur in months or even weeks.  This will require another round of antibiotics.

Dog Addison’s disease or Canine Hypoadrenocorticism is caused by a lower than normal production of hormones by the adrenal glands (a small gland located near the kidney that secretes several different substances such as salt, sugar and water that help regulate normal body functions) that results from the reduction in corticosteroid. Adrenal gland responsible for producing cortisones (glucocorticoids), hormones that helps your pet’s body deal with stress, and mineral corticoids that regulate the quantity of potassium and sodium in the bloodstream. Addison’s Disease can cause many serious health complications, and has a high probability of being mis-diagnosed as another disease. This is because the symptoms of Addison’s disease in dogs are relatively general, including fatigue, diarrhea, sweating, and muscle pain. The most difficult aspect of dealing with Addison’s disease in your dog is receiving a positive diagnosis for the disease.

Certain dog breeds are suspected to be more prone to develop Addison’s disease. These breeds include Portuguese Water Dogs, Bearded Collies, Standard Poodles, Great Danes, and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. Dogs that have had surgery near the pituitary gland or hypothalamus may also develop Addison’s disease. It is not a common disease but when it does occur it is primarily in young or middle-aged female dogs averaging on 4-7 years of age although any age or gender may be affected. Usually, it is only the outer portion of the glands that are affected. There are two different classifications for Addison’s disease, which depend largely on the underlying cause of the adrenal insufficiency. In primary Addison’s disease, the adrenal insufficiency is directly caused by improper function or damage to the adrenal glands. In secondary Addison’s disease, the adrenal insufficiency is not because of malfunctioning adrenal glands. Secondary Addison’s disease is caused by the improper transmission of the hormone ACTH from the pituitary gland, or a reduced production of corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) by the hypothalamus. In secondary Addison’s disease, the adrenal gland is still functioning normally.

Common causes of dog Hypoadrenocorticism are: 1) Adrenal Dysgenesis is a rare genetic condition in which the adrenal gland has not formed properly during a dog’s early development.; 2) Adrenal Destruction, the adrenal gland is progressively damaged by disease, and is subsequently unable to function.; 3) Impaired Steriodogenesis, the adrenal gland is unable to produce cortisol on a biochemical level.; 4) Damaged Pituitary Gland; 5) Prolong use of steroid hormones; and 6) Lack of Aldosterone that causes drop in blood pressure and severe dehydration. Genetic continuity between dogs and humans helps to explain the occurrence of Addison’s disease in both species.

Blood drawn from dogs with Addison’s disease is deficient in cortisol. Sick dogs often show a pattern of changes in their white blood cells (WBCs) called a stress leukogram. This pattern of changes in the WBCs is caused by cortisol. The absence of a stress leukogram in a sick dog may be a clue to consider Addison’s disease. The urine is often dilute.

The standard treatment involves replacing the mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids in the body. There are two stages of treatment for Addison’s disease; in-hospital treatment and long term treatment. Very sick dogs with Addison’s disease require intravenous fluids, cortisol-like drugs and drugs to neutralize the effects of potassium on the heart. Long-term treatment involves the administration of hormones in one of two forms; either a daily pill or a shot that is given about every 25 days. Because dogs with Addison’s disease cannot produce more cortisol in response to stress, stress should be minimized whenever possible. It may be necessary to increase the amount of hormones given during periods of stress (e.g. boarding, surgery, travel, etc.). Most of the medications used in the therapy of hypoadrenocorticism cause excessive thirst and urination. It is absolutely vital to provide fresh drinking water for the canine sufferer. A newer option in the treatment of Addison’s disease is a drug called DOCP. The injection is long acting and only needs to be given once every 25 days. DOCP has been intensively tested and been shown to provide better electrolyte regulation than Florinef. Some animals on DOCP may also need to be placed on a low maintenance dose of prednisone.

The Beagle is a very intelligent, loving, food-motivated dog. This make the breed highly trainable and has helped the Beagle successfully enter and dominate the work force. The real reason Beagles excel as working dogs, however, is their impeccably accurate sense of smell. For this reason, Beagles are often used as detection and tracking dogs in rescue operations and law enforcement. They are used to track and locate missing persons, and they are used as both rescue and cadaver dogs, helping seek out living victims and bodies in the wreckage from buildings collapsing, fires, or natural disasters.

Though Beagles were originally developed as high-powered game detectors for hunters, its role in modern-day society has expanded vastly. The Beagle’s sense of smell is so accurate that they are employed by the United States Department of Agriculture to detect contraband fruits and vegetables that may be smuggled into the country. They even have a name for this Beagle-based team: The USDA Beagle Brigade! Beagles are also used to detect things as strange as termites in homes and as common as drugs in airports. They are a favorite choice of law enforcement agents because of their obedient nature and high intelligence. They also have one of the most sensitive noses of any of the hounds.

It is said that the Beagle’s floppy ears and moderately long snout help the breed when following scents by gathering the molecules from whatever smell it is that they are following. Beagles are more successful at tracking a scent from the ground than they are from an arbitrary place in the air, but they still excel at both skills. Most beagles can even track scents across water. It’s very hard to outsmart a beagle when he has a good whiff of a subjects scent.

The Beagle’s excessively effective sense of smell is a huge benefit and asset to a working dog, but can turn into a significant obstacle when dealing with a household pet. With such accurate noses, the Beagle will always know when you are eating and what you are eating, or if there is something they might want to get at inside the garbage can! This can be difficult to deal with, being that Beagles are notoriously food-motivated animals. The easiest way to counteract this behavior is to train against garbage digging or begging for people food, starting from puppyhood. If your dog knows he will never get to eat the bacon he smells on your breath, he will be less likely to go digging for the wrapper in your trash bin.

Another problem with household pet Beagles and their sense of sent is their innate desire to always track a smell that makes them curious. If you live in a rural area, this can mean your dog wandering miles away in search of a rabbit that could have bounced through your back yard two days ago. Invisible fences or shock collars are virtually useless against Beagles, as they just don’t care about something giving them a light shock when they are following something they could eat, play with, or even just follow!