Thursday, September 17, 2009

Things to know on Pet Care, Dog Training, and Pet Health Insurance

There is nothing comparable to the joy, protection, and companionship that you get with a pet dog at home. And a pet dog doesn’t take a lot of time for becoming a party of the family. However, there are some sad occasions when your pet may get ill or meet with an accident. This is when you are expected to give proper medical care, as you would with any other member of your family. But we are not always prepared for such situations. That is why you need to get medical insurance for your pets too.

There are countless ways a pet can get injured or go sick. It may be due to a fall from the first floor, skin allergies, road accidents, or any other thing for that matter. And while you are eager to approach a pet doctor in your locality, you may not always be ready with the cash. With pet care insurance programs, you can make sure that such risks to your pets can be managed effectively and affordably.

Pet health care insurance helps by avoiding the need to buy expensive dog vaccines. With insurance, you will be able to get your pet’s health care bills reimbursed through the pet insurance company, with assistance from a qualified dog training guide. However, before booking a pet trainer for your dog, it is vital to check their professional experience, and whether they hold insurance for dog training. An insured dog trainer is more likely to be professional and experienced in various new dog training techniques.

To hire an insured dog trainer, you can do a search on Google right away. Most insured professionals know their value and proudly display their insurance details on their ad materials and websites. You can start your search for a professional and insured dog trainer right now by getting info from specialized pet groups such as the International Association of Canine Professionals, Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors.

About the Author

Joel is a freelance writer specializing in articles on pet care, dog training, pet care insurance etc. Apart from pet related topics, he also writes about web designing, custom icons, brochures and other web products.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Hookworms in Dogs

Hookworms is one of the many worm diseases that can affect dogs. In most cases, dogs with hookworm are infected as puppies. They are internal parasites that can cause the death of puppies in some cases, although older dogs are rarely infected with hookworms. In older dogs, a hookworm infection is less severe. Dog owners need to protect dogs from parasites that will enter the body and can cause a serious debilitation in the dog.



Causes of hookworms in dogs



Like many other worms that affect dogs such as roundworms, tapeworms, and whipworms, hookworms are caused by soil infested with worms. The dog may eat the worm eggs that will end up hatching in their intestines as larvae. The larvae then make their way to the lungs as well as the bloodstream of the dog.



After they have infested the body, the larvae then go back into the intestines and hatch into adults. The hookworms will then make the same course through the body again, only this time, as adults. Causing more damage.



Symptoms



It is important for any dog owner to know the signs of hookworms as well as other parasites that can infect their dogs. Some of the symptoms of hookworms include the following:



Diarrhea

Loss of weight

Anemia

Weakness that continues to progress



Hookworm symptoms usually present when the dogs are infested by the adult worms. The larvae can cause no symptoms. Often, they will remain dormant and in bitches, they can end up infesting the litter of puppies. A chronic hookworm infection does not present a serious health injury to older dogs and is easily treated. In puppies, however, this disease can be fatal.



Treatment of hookworms in dogs



The diagnosis of hookworms must be made by a vet. They will be able to examine the feces of the dog under a microscope and make the diagnosis. Vets will usually prescribe a de-wormer medication for the dog that needs to be ingested. This will poison the worms but, if not administered in the proper doses, can end up making the dog sick as well. A vet can prescribe the right dosage based upon the size of the dog and the type of infestation. It is not uncommon for dogs to get hookworms several times in their lives, especially dogs who are in the field often. It is best for the dog owner to check the stool for any evidence of blood or worms and consult with a vet if hookworms or other parasites are suspected.



Prevention of hookworms in dogs



An annual physical for your dog is important in the prevention of hookworms. Pregnant dogs should be checked carefully for any sign of the parasite. If treated early, there is usually no problem. Checking the feces of the dog in the backyard or wherever he goes is important and dog owners should do this once a week. Before giving the dog a de-wormer, the owner should talk to the vet, especially if the dog is on medication for heartworm, a more life threatening condition that also effects dogs and has a poor prognosis. While hookworms are not usually life threatening in older dogs, they can also infect humans, so making sure that dogs do not have worms is essential for any dog owner.



About the Author: Geoffrey A. English is the Founder of GundogsOnline.com, the internet's premiere online magazine dedicated to hunting dogs. Visit their site if you are in need of hunting dog supplies such as Innotech Collars like the Innotek ADV-300 and Innotek IUT-1000.



Source: www.isnare.com

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