Article brought to you from Pet Alive.

Being the largest and the most exposed organ of the body, pet skin is likely to be affected with mild to severe conditions. One of the major dog skin problems arise from allergies. Allergies can cause canine or feline acne. Allergies may arise from contact with an allergen or from food that does not suit your pet.

Before starting treatment for any type of allergy it is of paramount importance that you establish the cause of allergy. It is wrong to assume that only new foods cause allergies and consequent itching in your dog. The truth is that any food can cause an allergic reaction in dogs - new or old. The commonly known skin condition of ‘hot spots’ can develop if your dog becomes allergic to his routine diet that he is no longer able to digest.

Food allergy often forms a typical distribution pattern and your veterinarian is the best guide in this matter. You can suspect food allergy in your dog in conditions where:

* there has been poor response to treatment for mange
* there is little or no improvement on administration of steroidal treatment - or much better yet, on administration of natural dog hot spot remedies that remove toxins
* the dog has not previously experienced any seasonal allergies

Dogs are often fed various commercial diets that contain processed proteins, fillers and artificial colorings. These undergo a further change inside the body. The auto immune system may recognize them as foreign substances and respond accordingly. In such an eventuality the most commonly affected organ in dogs and cats is the skin.

The only method to arrive at what is causing food allergy in a dog is through putting him on a trial diet. A trial diet can be one that is based on a protein source the dog has never eaten before. Through a method of elimination by trial and error the allergen can be identified. The latest approach to the problem is through the use of hydrolyzed proteins. A conventional source of protein is broken down with the aid of water into molecules so small that the immune system cannot recognize it.

During the trial period it is important to avoid all unnecessary medication and chewable treats not compatible with the trial diet.

Pets are exposed to external and internal risks. Attacks by external parasites cause mild conditions like dog or cat dandruff and canine or feline hair loss and other dog skin problems. Food allergy is a condition that has its roots in what your pet is eating, which can potentially damage the skin of your pet to a great extent. Lesions caused by food allergies result in skin problems that can be extremely uncomfortable and may distort the very appearance of the pet.

Traditionally, home cooking has been the best non-allergic diet for pets. In many cases home cooked food for your dog may still be the only choice to avoid food allergy.

References:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Dog-Skin-Care&id=222254

http://www.superk9.com/article-doghealthcare06.asp

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_food_allergies.html

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Norm Lanier wrote the following article with that very provocative title.

But don't be alarmed, the article is for people with disabilities and explains how they can AVOID being scammed. The long and the short of the message is if you're disabled and you have a service dog, you do NOT need to hand over ANY cash to a so-called registration company for service dogs. Service dogs do NOT need to be registered.

Here's Norm's informative article containing your protections under the Americans With Disabilities Act:

I'm often asked how you register or certify your service dog, the answer is "You Don't". Companies that claim to register or certify your animal without training are simply taking advantage of the handicapped to make a dollar. In 1990 the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) went into effect which gives handicapped persons with service animals legal protection to be accompanied by the animal in public places.

Understanding the ADA

So lets first define what a service animal is, According to the ADA, an animal is considered a service animal" if it has been "individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability." As you see, the word certify or registered doesn't appear in the law. As a matter fact the US government does not register, certify, license or approve any animal.

The ADA Catch 22

Because the definition of a disability is so broad it would be impossible for the government to create any sort of testing criteria other then the vague definition above. Also, since many disabled people live on fixed incomes requiring professional animal training would be an added financial burden that many disabled people could not afford. Unlike a person with a handicap license plate or ID, there is no official identification and service dogs without some form of ID are often assumed to be pets. The ADA also states that a handicapped person is not required to show proof of their disability. So that's what the law says, but the reality is that having your service animal identified with an ID, vest, cape or bandanna helps identify the dog as a working partner and not a pet.

The Registration Scam

It wasn't long after the ADA went into effect that companies started popping up offering to register or certify your animal. Now please understand that we are not talking about trainers that teach dogs to perform tasks for the disabled. What we are talking about are companies that use official sounding names that in exchange for your money will certify or register your service dog. In exchange they often provide you with a registration number, certificate, patch and maybe a cheap laminated tag. Some shameless companies charge as much as $250 for "registration".

So What's a Service Dog Owner to do?

First, make sure you meet the definition of a disabled person and that your dog is specially trained to perform tasks related to your disability. Trying to pass off your pet as a service animal is a federal offense and comes with severe penalties. Outside of the two requirements spelled out in the ADA you don't have to do anything. If you feel identifying your service dog will make your life easier then purchase a quality photo service dog tag, vest with patches or a cape.

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A yeast infection is a typical example of a beneficial organism revolting and causing harm if other systems of the body are not functioning properly. Yeast, a single-celled fungus that reproduces asexually by budding or division is present in the body and intestinal tracts of a dog. In a healthy dog, yeast identifies and destroys harmful bacteria and is controlled by the immune system.

A weakened immune system drastically reduces the number of friendly bacteria in your dog's body. Without the active support of these friendly bacteria, yeast undergoes a dramatic change from a non-invasive and sugar fermenting organism to an invasive and mucus damaging organism. This is the start of a primary yeast infection. Secondary yeast infection occurs when yeast penetrate skin that has already been damaged by scratching or injury.

Skin problems in dogs and other pets produce symptoms that can bring about significant changes to the look of your pet. Conditions like canine and feline acne, dog and cat dandruff, dog ear mites, pet intestinal parasites, imbalanced diet and eczema can cause an itchy skin. The resultant scratching can lead to skin damage and this increases the risk of penetration by yeast. Yeast infection mostly affects moist parts but can prevail in almost any part of the skin.

Giving frequent baths to dogs, which they actually do not require, leads to depletion of essential oils in the skin rendering it dry and vulnerable to yeast infection.

Major symptoms of yeast infection surface in the shape of skin rashes, itching, redness, pimples and sometimes greasiness. A veterinarian will take the help of a microscopic examination or culture of skin scrapings or conduct a smear test to confirm the diagnosis. Itching induced by yeast infection further leads to skin damage. If not attended to in time this may lead to canine or feline hair loss and further complications that may become difficult to handle.

More often than not, yeast infection is caused by some medical condition that has rendered the immune system incapable of functioning properly. Treatment of the underlying immune problem will effectively cure your dog of yeast infection. Topical treatments are not very effective as the dog is prone to lick them off. Shampoos containing antifungal agents in the form of a nitrate can help in treatment but only to a certain extent.

A natural approach to health is any time better than going in for medication and treatment. A healthy, balanced and nutritional diet, avoiding commercial dog foods and keeping the dog dry whenever he gets wet are effective ways of preventing yeast infection.

References:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_
yeast_infection_of_the_skin.html

http://www.priory.com/vet/vetatop1.htm

http://www.doggiesparadise.com/dog-
skin-disorders-yeast-infection.shtml

Article brought to you by Pet Alive.

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Lyme disease as a condition has only identified in the past thirty or so years, as formerly it was probably misdiagnosed as Rheumatoid Arthritis.  In 1975, when there were an unusually high number of cases of Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosed in children in Lyme, Connecticut, further research was carried out, and a discrete condition was identified, and named "Lyme Disease".

Lyme Disease in dogs can be a very nasty, very debilitating condition.  If you're a dog owner and live in an area where Lyme Disease is known to occur, it is therefore important to recognize Lyme Disease symptoms so you can act quickly if your dog shows symptoms of Lyme Disease.

Lyme Disease in dogs is transmitted as it is in humans, through the bite of a tick that carries certain bacteria.  It is the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease.  Tick bites from ticks not carrying these bacteria cannot transmit Lyme Disease to the dog or person being bitten.  At least three known types of ticks can carry the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease in dogs, but by far the majority of ticks that carry the bacteria are the Deer Tick, also called the Black-Legged Tick.  A Deer Tick bite, therefore, has a relatively high likelihood of transmitting the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease.

This tick is known as the Deer Tick, because Deer are it's primary host (ticks being a parasite).  But these ticks will also feed on other types of animals, including both people and dogs.

How to Remove a Tick from a Dog: Place the tips of tweezers or edges of other removal devices around the area where the mouthparts and head enter the skin. With steady slow motion, pull the tick away from the skin or slide the removal device along the skin. Under no circumstances should a flame be applied to the tick - this is an old wives' tale, and would be counterproductive, and be extremely likely to burn your dog.

Canine Lyme Disease is prevalent in the Northeastern states from Maine to Maryland, as well as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Oregon and Northern California.  It is also found in most parts of Australia, particularly bush and country areas, as well as in parts of Europe, China and Japan. This is because in these areas, ticks more commonly carry the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease.

Early symptoms of Lyme Disease in your dog are likely to include what might appear to be a sore foot or leg.  Certainly one of the first symptoms of Lyme Disease will be limping.  Further investigation will then be likely to reveal lymph node swelling in your dog's affected leg, and your dog is very likely to have an elevated temperature.

If you fail to seek treatment for Lyme Disease very promptly, your dog may suffer paralysis  Even if treated at this stage, your dog may well suffer recurrent, or chronic Lyme Disease.  This may also include permanent joint or nerve damage and damage to the heart muscle.

The good news is that there is a 100% natural, safe effective herbal and homeopathic remedy that assists in the effective treatment of Lyme Disease and other tick borne illnesses in pets. It will also help to strengthen immune system functioning to help your pet fight against the infection. - click here for more info.

And for further detail on Lyme Disease in dogs, how to remove a tick from a dog, and treatment for Lyme Disease, go to the site considered by many to be the premier dog health site - HealthyHappyDogs.com !

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Dear Brigitte,

I would like to share with you a funny story about Linus, my maltese cross poodle.

Even though he was diagnosed with a heart murmer, it does not stop him from being so frisky and playful.

He would go into his bedroom and bring back his stuffed teddy bear and place it on my feet. As he backs away, he would like me to throw it for him.

Doctor’s order, we can’t get him too excited because of his condition. I would just throw it in the air and then he will catch it and hold it in his mouth and lay down with it and make baby sounds.

When I try to take it away from him, the bear is all soppy with his saliva and insists on me throwing it again down the hall so he can play fetch. If I ignore him, then he will walk away and pout in a corner somewhere. I will go look for him, and apologize to him for not playing.

What can I do? I want him to play, but due to his heart condition, Linus is extremely active and wants to play…play….and more play and then he will go and rest. What can I do for him?

This morning, Linus brought out his other favourite stuffed shoe toe with puckered red lips and walk around with it. I wonder if dogs think that these stuffed toys are their security blankets?

Even though Linus is our life for the last eleven years, I want him to enjoy the remaining few he has left! He has won many contests for the best looking dog and still win more because he is our sunshine that came into our lives!!

Tony & Ginger

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There are many cultures that hold animals in high esteem. Many ancient religions were based on the worship of animals. In the United States people spend millions of dollars annually on the care and pampering of their pets. Over the past several years many exotic animals are being taken as pets; however the dog and cat are still the favorite pets. Selling supplies for pets is a multi million dollar industry.

A friend of mine has remained single. She lives a full life, working, golfing, volunteering and recently she bought a town home. Now that she is a home owner she also bought herself a small house dog. This is a huge change for her because she has spent her entire adult life not having to care for anyone or anything but herself, now she needs to plan her schedule around the care of the dog. This friend has a very generous spirit. She has given many shower and wedding gifts as well as baby gifts to friends.

I decided that a group of us should get together and give her a house warming party as well as a shower for the adoption of her new pet. It would be a way for us to give back to her. I suggested different things that are needed when owning a home for the first time as well as items for dog gift baskets.

Marley's Deluxe Doggy Gift Box - $ 49.99 See what Marley, a chocolate lab, has chosen as her favorite products. Includes supplements, toys, treats, and her favorite shampoo!

I had seen her with the new dog and she treats him like a baby. I decided that dog gift baskets would be the way to go.Several of us decided that we would do the dog gift baskets together. In one we put several different kinds of dog treats. In another we placed several collars and leashes as well as a doggy rain coat, sweater, and sun glasses for when she takes him on a walk. In the third dog gift basket we placed several chew toys and raw hides so that the dog would have something to do during the day when his owner was at work.

Our friend was delighted with the house warming gifts as well as the dog gift baskets. We had told her that we were coming over and that she needed to have coffee on and paper plates set out. We brought appetizers, wine and several different desserts to share while she opened her gifts. She is so excited about her new home and the new stage of her life.

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