By Jon Dunkerley

Norwich, located in the UK is in the midst of a Parvo crisis

Parvo is a very serious virus that dogs can contract. The virus is spread from dog to dog by ingestion of fecal matter, and can leave a dog very sick resulting in possible death. Puppies are more prone to contracting this virus than are older dogs due to the fact that their immune systems are not as strong as an adult dog's is.

The disease involves the inability of a dog's body to break down nutrients, a vital bodily function that if not intact, results in the intestinal tract of the dog mis-firing, leading to a host of very serious complications.

Norwich, located in the UK is in the midst of a Parvo crisis. Since last month, 67 Norwich dogs have contracted the virus, with 43 of them dying. Officials believe that the biggest reason for the spreading of the virus, is the fact that dog owners are not picking up after their dogs, leading to the virus being spread when a healthy dog comes in contact with an infected dog's feces. Adding to the fact that the virus can remain alive in a dog's stool for up to 9 months, and some dogs can even carry the virus but appear healthy, figuring out the best way of knocking back the virus is something that officials are having trouble doing.

“I am sure people that leave their dog's mess there would not want their dog to catch the virus so they should clear it up. My little boy would be devastated if we lost Spot because other people did not clear up their dog's mess,” said the owner of a little Jack Russell dog.

The council is doing what they can to encourage responsible dog ownership. Garbage cans, and fines have been put in place to try to deter people from leaving their dog's mess behind. “There has been a significant reduction in the levels of dog fouling reported by our cleansing contractors and the public following the campaign by the Street Scene and Pollution teams to reduce dog fouling with a combination of dog bins, cleansing and 'bag it and bin it' spray on signs," stated a council spokeswoman.

Source: Norwich Evening News, UK

By Sarah Morgan

Dogs that are exposed to heat for a period of time can develop heat stroke just like humans can

Although we are entering into the last full month of summer, dog health can still be compromised greatly by the heat, thus looking out for the safety of your pet should still also include keeping them cool and out of the sun.

For a dog's health to be compromised by the heat, they do not have to be out in it for very long at all. Depending on where you live, will usually depend on how much heat your dog has the opportunity of being exposed too. That said, just because you live in a hot climate state or country, does not mean that your dog can fend off the heat better than a dog from a cooler climated location.

Heat stroke is more commonly found in dogs than one might think. To often, families will be so wrapped up with making sure that they themselves are protected from the sun that they simply forget about their dog. How many times have you been at the beach and seen families having a great time, with the family dog racing after the ball or jumping into and over waves in the water? I'll bet you anything that if you check that dog out for sun protection, you would find not an ounce of sun screen on that dog's nose. Yes I said nose, as it is this part of a dog's body that lacks any sort of protection due to it being clear of any hair that might offer protection if it was there, leaving it vulnerable to severe sunburn.

Heat stroke can creep up on a dog without the dog owner even knowing it. This statement is even more pronounced when you take into account that the average dog owner does not even know; A that dogs can contract heat stroke, and B even if they did know, they surely do not know what symptoms to look for.

Symptoms that might be exhibited by a dog entering into heat stroke include but or not limited to; weakness, difficulty breathing, red tongue, thurst, vomiting, shivering, loss of appetite, etc. In most cases, removing the dog to a cool environment, wrapping them in a cool towel, and giving them measured drinking opportunities as to not cool him down to quickly is recommended.

Despite huge television and media exposure regarding this unsettling trend, the number one cause of a dog's heat stroke remains, being left in a hot locked car. Don't do it. Trust me if you feel the heat, then your pet feels it also.

By Jon Dunkerley

Pet health can be compromised during the months of summer

During the busy summer months, pet owners can without meaning to, become negligent of their pets. It is very important however to stress that this is a situation that needs to be addressed due to the fact that for the average pet owner, they will not see the teltail signs and symptoms displayed by their sickening dog or cat.

Dog health is a facet of dog ownership that only the owner can provide. Your dog is not going to brush his own teeth and comb out his own hair every morning is he?

“It was oral melanoma. The worst of the worst. I didn't know they could get melanoma," stated one dog owner upon finding out that her dog had oral cancer.

This is an extreme case, however there are much less cases of one's pet becoming sick and the owner of that pet not even realizing that something is wrong until it is too late. Changes in energy levels, mental behavior and maybe even physical appearance can be subtle during the onset of a disease or condition. For a busy person who does not spend a lot of time with their house pet, these are little changes that they might not pick up on. Few months down the road, they finally realize something is wrong, seek medical advice, only to be told that their beloved pet is dying of Dog Flu and has little chance of survival.

Spending time with your pet during the summer is just as important as spending time with your pet in winter. Both seasons offer challenges for your pet, and if you are not looking out for their safety, then you are asking for trouble, and putting the life of your pet in danger.

By Jon Dunkerley

Heat stroke can creep up on dogs very quickly and quietly

Along with summer, comes blistering heat that can compromise dog health considerably if steps are not taken by dog owners to insure that their dogs are properly looked after. Dog health is not something that dogs can knowingly look after themselves, thus it is dog owners like you and I that must do this vital service for our 4-legged friends.

Taking care of ourselves during hot weather is not always on the top of our own priority list, however our dogs need our attention during these times due to the fact that they can go down hill quite quickly if the atmosphere is right and their basic needs are not met.

Dogs can succumb to heat stroke at temps equal or over 110 degrees. Most areas do not get this hot usually, but prolonged exposure to hot weather can have the same effect as a shorter exposure to an unbearable heat over the 110 degree mark.

For a dog owner that is unfamiliar with signs and symptims of heat stroke, they may not even realize that their dog is exhibiting the prime symptims. The symptims commonly associated with heat stroke include; restlessness, excessive thirst, heavy panting, lethargy, lack of appetite, a dark tongue, vomiting and a lack of coordination.

Steps to take to insure that your dog does not become sick due to heat exposure include; keeping your dog inside during hot days, limiting dog walks to dawn or dusk, always make sure your dog has access to cold water, if your dog is outside during the day make sure they have shade (put them in the shade as some dogs may not even realize that the shade is available for them.)

By Lennox Bradly

Experts want to know the likelyhood of bird flu being transmitted from pets to people

More and more health officials are beginning to take into account the fact that our beloved pets may be possibly carrying infectious diseases that can be passed on to their human owners. Currently, experts in the field are calling for a study to be conducted to determine the likelyhood of the deadly H5N1 Bird Flu virus being passed to a human from a dog or a cat that becomes infected.

With migration a part of life, it is possible that sooner or later, an infected bird will make its way to the United States. That bird has the potential to infect thousands more birds and if one of those infected birds happens to become a cat's breakfast, then that cat is also infected.

Currently world wide, there has not been a reported case of H5N1 dog or cat to human transmission, however this does not mean that it is not a possibility.

Walter Boyce at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine states that "Cats can serve as an intermediary to move the virus from essentially a wild bird environment into people's houses." Experts do admit that the possibility of the zoonotic spread is very unlikely but needs to be examined in more detail.

By Jon Dunkerley

Pets do not do well on really hot days

Summer is here, and along with it, comes the sometimes unbearable heat that forces us to resort to endure it, or hide away, air conditioner blasting.

Pets, the warm blooded ones anyway also feel the heat. The difference between them and us, is we can do something to cool ourselves off, pets can not. That said, we as pet owners are responsible for helping our beloved family members if the need-be arises.

Keeping your pet cool is manditory on hot days. Acts such as locking your dog in the car while you do the shopping, or lieving your pet in the back yard for long periods of time are just irresponsible and can result in your pet becoming quite sick.

Always have fresh water available for your dog to drink. If your dog is of the outdoors loving breed, then an outdoor water bowl should be purchased and placed somewhere in your yard so your dog can gain access to it when it wants. Dogs will not tell you if they are too hot, so knowing some of the hot signs are also helpful:

If your dog is panting heavily, weak, vomiting, has uncontrolable shaking, etc. these are symptoms of heat stroke, and a trip to your veterinarian might be in order.

Dogs can not think for themselves, so as the responsible dog owner, do yourself and your pet a favor and act in their best interest this summer.

By Jon Dunkerley

More and more pets are becoming obese

Fat pets maybe cute, but are they healthy? The answer is a resounding no!

We as a pet owning society, do not factor in to the equation of life, the fact that pets can not think for themselves and rely on us to do the majority of the decision making that involves them. Knowing this, deciding to let your pet become grossly overweight is shameful and leads to the question, should you or are you capable of even owning a pet?

Taking care of a pet is not that hard to do, if you know what your doing. Knowing when enough is enough regarding the amount of food that you give your pet, is also not so hard to do. Labels on the bag of pet food that you buy for your pet, have explicit feeding instructions making it easy to determine the amount of food that is suggested for your pet to maintain his/her suggested weight. Personally, I will adjust this measurement depending on the daily activity of my dog, a little more food after an active day, a little less after a not so active day.

Exercise is a must for any pet, and no matter how much food your pet eats, if the food is not given a chance to be broken down, it will eventually translate to fat. Exercise sparks the metabolism of pets and humans, thus burning fat, and using the nutrients that the body derives from the food that has been consumed.

It is not as if pets do not want to get outside and have fun, it is simply the lazy pet owner who shirks their responsibilities, that is the main backbone behind the problem of obese pets. That said, pets are not going to come up to you begging to be exercised. By getting into a routine, one that sees you take your pet for a half hour walk every day, you will benefit two ways; you will benefit personally health wize, and so will your dog. If you can not find the time to do it, then find some one who can.

By Jon Dunkerley

Rabies outbreak has health officials nervous

A Parvo Outbreak has prompted POCATELLO Idaho vets to warn dog owners to get their pets vaccinated if not already. According to two local vets that work in the area, they have seen 10 cases of the very serious virus in the last two weeks.

There is a vaccine available for dogs in order to keep them safe from the dangerous virus, meaning that there is no excuse for any dog to get it. The vaccine is usually given once a year, when dogs are brought into their veterinarians for their annual chek up.

By Jon Dunkerley

Pets can become very ill if exposed to heat for a prolonged length of time

The summer is almost upon us, and although it officially does not commence for another 3 weeks, the temperatures have rocketed up to astoundingly hot numbers, making it impairitive for pet owners to look after their pets.

Pets unlike humans, will not tell us if they are thirsty. They will simply drink if water is available and not drink if water is not available. A conscious dog owner will always make sure that their dog's water bowl is full of cold water, so that if their pet is thirsty, they can drink freely whenever they need too. Some dogs will simply drink for the sake of drinking and it is important for you to try to distinguish the difference between your dog simply drinking for the sake of it, or drinking due to the need to quench his/her thirst.

If your dog is of the outdoors loving type, making sure to provide water to him/her while it is outside is very important. Having an outdoor water bowl can come in very handy, as it will save you from bringing the inside bowl outside every so often. Changing the water multiple times daily, insures that your dog is getting fresh water that is cool and appealing to him/her.

Another helpful suggestion for you to consider for the outdoors dog, is to put a dab of sunscreen on your dog's nose. Your dog's nose is the only part of its body that when upright, is bare of dog hair, making it very susceptible to the sun's penetrating rays.

Finally, dogs like humans can develop sun stroke if left outside for prolonged periods of time. Signs to watch for include; weakness, panting, tongue hanging out of mouth, rapid pulse, shivering, 0 interest in what's going on around them, etc. Dogs that do have sun stroke may not even opt to drink water, thus if your dog is displaying any of these symptoms, contacting your vet to discuss a plan of action might not be a bad idea.

By Jon Dunkerley

Dogs will not likely be returned to owner

harford county Maryland, is home to a woman who is demanding that the dozens of pets that were removed from her 2 residences due to the horrific living conditions that they were faced with, be returned to her at once. The 59-year-old woman, alleges that her pets were illegally removed thus she wants them back.

Officials earlier this month, raided the two homes, finding tons of dead dogs in cages, and others simply wondering around amidst piles of fecal matter.

The animals that were living when removed from her residences, were taken to the humane society and homes are being found for them. June 23, is the date of the woman's court hearing.