Pet Guide

Keep your companion healthy and happy with helpful hints...

No matter what color coat your k-9 may be, the condition of his hair mirrors the general state of his health. Thyroid problems, insufficient dietaryfats, poor nutrition, hormone imbalances, seborrhea, ringworm, pore  infections, hot spots, inhalant allergies and external parasites can directly affect hair health and growth. Coat condition is, therefore, as important to monitor as appetite, and temperature when assessing your pets well being. A dull, dry, brittle, or greasy coat is a clue to the internal workings of the canine system.

 "Thumper is scratching herself raw and the stuff I bought at the pet store doesn't help. "Major is limping and has trouble getting up in the morning". "Venus cries when she urinates and doesn't have a good appetite."

      Most pet owners face these or similiar symptoms during the life of a dog. The more dogs a family owns, the more opportunities for confronting a host of medical problems, minor and major, that can affect your family pet. Dog illnesses run the gamut from crippling hip dysplacia to heartworm infestations,from mild digestive upset to deadly cancer;and from minor muscle injuries to deafness,heart disease and allergies.

  When dealing with canine problems, a dog owner's best friend is a veterinarian. Animal doctors help pet owners through a mryiad of of mandaneand catastrophic pet diseases and injuries,and they do so with modern medicine at their fingertips.

 A dogs blood often tells the story of his illness. A complete blood count, or hemogram, includes a look at the number of red and white blood cells and tells the veterinarian whether a dog is anemic, has infections, or has clotting factor disease.