Yeast infection

Yeast infection - One of the most common cause of canine ear problems is yeasts.
Owners will notice the dog shaking its head or scratching at its ears. Certain bacteria i.e. Staphylococci, Streptococci, E coli, and Pseudomonas spp also can cause infections in the dog's ear, and in many cases both bacteria and yeast are present. If the infection persists, the ear canal will become inflamed and often discharge a purulent exudate.
Veterinarian usually take an ear swab and examine it under a microscope to find out the exact cause of the infection as it will help in specific treatment plan to resolve the problem.

It is important to know that recurring ear infections in a dog are manifestations of other concurring diseases. Systemic allergies often cause dermatitis and itching in the ear canal, which predispose self-trauma and ear infection. Dogs with floppy ears are much more susceptible to yeast infection in dog ear than dogs with erect ears, because their ears provide a warm, dark place for yeast to grow.
Yeast infections (Malassezia otitis) may be the result of an adverse food reaction or as a reaction to ear mites. In middle age dogs, allergy (atopy) or a problem with the endocrine gland (endocrinopathy) should be considered as well as reactions to food.
Symptoms of yeast infection in dog ear include increased production of ear wax and other secretions. Ear wax may appear to be pinkish-brown and often the ear will have a bad smell.
You won’t be able to see it without magnification, but your vet will notice upon examination with a magnifying device that the ear tissue has changed to become thicker and spongier.
Your dog’s ears will itch. He will probably scratch or paw at them. He may also rub his nose with his paws, another a sign of allergies. Another sign of allergy is recurring ear infections during certain times of the year and no problems at other times.
Yeast Infection in Dog Ear DiagnosisYour veterinarian may suspect a yeast infection based on the amount and color of the ear wax and other secretions. They will look at the ear tissue of your dog when examined with a magnifying device. An ear wax sample will be taken with a swab for examination under a microscope.
The testing process will allow your veterinarian to rule out other types of infections. Secretions collected will be cultured for yeast, a test that takes 10 – 14 days in order for a diagnosis to be made. In the meantime, your vet will probably go ahead and begin treatment for a yeast infection.
Yeast Infection in Dog Ear Treatment Yeast infection in dog ear is treated first by cleaning out the ears with a gentle cleansing solution. When using a ear cleansing solution or wash a few drops should be applied to the inside of the ear flap and then the tip of the ear wash bottle should be inserted a few millimeters into the ear canal. Do not tightly force the tip of the bottle into the ear canal as forceful squeezing of the bottle with the bottle wedged into the ear canal could rupture the ear drum.
Most Dogs will shake their head after the wash is inserted into the ear, shaking out much of the solution. massaging the wash solution into the dogs ear. A tip is to massage the base of the ear which distributes the wash throughout the ear canal.
They are then treated with a medicated solution such as chlorhexidine. This will kill the yeast. Oral antibiotics are generally given at the same time. These will not help with the yeast infection, but there is often a bacterial infection present along with the yeast infection. Ear cleaning solutions are sold over the counter. Antibiotic ear ointments are only available with a prescription.
To control the inflammation and itching, an antihistamine such as benadryl may be recommended. Alternatively, a steroid such as prednisone may be prescribed, particularly in severe cases.
Since yeast infections are often related to allergies, the allergen(s) must be identified and dealt with. Often it is a food allergy. Switching your dog to a special diet for allergic dogs may help. Iams makes a lamb and rice food especially for dogs with allergy problems. Hills Science Diet has a formula for allergic dogs as well.
Treating a yeast infection can take up to three weeks, and if allergies are the main cause and if they are not dealt with, the infection usually returns. Talk to your vet about allergies and your dog.
Home Remedies Dog Ear Yeast InfectionHome use of an acetic acid/boric acid solution (Malacetic Otic, DermaPet) can be effective in treating yeast infection. The ear cleaner or flush is used daily for 7-10 days by filling the ear canal to overflowing, massaging the base of the ear, and allowing the solution to remain in the ear canal for 5 minutes. Loosened debris is wiped off of the concave pinnal surface with a dry cotton ball. This procedure is repeated once daily. When the ear canal is clean, the cotton ball will remain fairly white when the solution is wiped away. At that time, home ear cleaning is reduced to once weekly.
If the problem happens often, you might want to consider a dietary supplement designed for ear conditions. Dog ears contain wax and a variety of flora (e.g. yeast and certain bacteria). This can be healthy and helps to keep ears clean and free of infection. Herbal products help to maintain the natural balance of flora and healthy organisms in the ear. A solution worth trying are ear drops made by Pet Alive Ear Dr. which contains a blend of herbs selected for ear health.

Canine Ear Checklist
You may need to take your dog to the vet for a thorough examination if it:
Shakes its head or scratches its ears
Lives with other pets with parasitic infestations
Exudes a pungent odor from its ears
Has long, pendulous ears
Lives in a humid environment
Loves to swim or bathe
Has a history of recurring ear infections

Krishna Ashram - A Home for stray animals

Krishna Ashram is an organization dedicated to proving a safe refuge to animals suffering from neglect and cruelty. Started with the individual effort of Mrs. Rita Singh, Krishna Ashram in the last 30 years has rescued and cared for thousands of sick and injured stray animals. Funded through individual contribution, the shelter houses around 400 dogs and 200 other animals like cattle monkeys, horses and Mules. Her love and compassion for animals has turned so strong that “While observing animals, she easily find, which one is sick or sad, which dog will fall sick tomorrow. She understand their actions and gestures”.

Now we want to make it a fully furnished veterinary hospital to help the sick and disressed animals, so that they can get all type of advanced treatment.

Portuguese Water Dog -- White House Ist Dog

The Portuguese Water Dog is obedient, robust, functional conformation; and able to do a full day's work in and out of the water.

General Appearance

It is a swimmer and diver of exceptional ability and stamina. This highly intelligent breed has two coat types - curly or wavy and has a powerful, thickly based tail.
Height--Males, 20 to 23 inches. The ideal is 22 inches.

Females, 17 to 21 inches. The ideal is 19 inches.

Weight--For males, 19 to 27 Kg and for females, 16 to 22 Kg.

Head - An essential characteristic; distinctively large, well proportioned

Expression--Steady, penetrating, and attentive.

Eyes-- Medium in size; set well apart, and a bit obliquely. Darker eyes are preferred. Haws are dark and not apparent.

Ears--Set well above the line of the eye, except for a small opening at the back, ears are held against the head. Tips should not reach below the lower jaw.
Skull--It is slightly longer than the muzzle, when viewed head-on, the top of the skull is very broad and appears domed, with a slight depression in the middle. The forehead is prominent, and has a central furrow.

Jaws--Strong.

Nose--Broad, well flared nostrils. Fully pigmented; black in dogs with black, black and white, or white coats.

Teeth--Not visible when the mouth is closed. Canines strongly developed.

Body--Chest is broad and deep, reaching down to the elbow. Ribs are long.

Tail--Not docked; thick at the base and tapering; set on slightly below the line of the back; should not reach below the hock. The tail is of great help when swimming and diving.
Feet are round and rather flat. Webbing between the toes is of soft skin, well covered with hair, and reaches the toe tips. Central pad is very thick.

Nails held up slightly off the ground. Black, brown, white, and striped nails are allowed.
Coat - A profuse, thickly planted coat of strong, healthy hair, covering the whole body evenly. No undercoat or ruff. There are two varieties of coat:
Curly--Compact, cylindrical curls, somewhat lusterless.
Wavy--in waves, not curls
Color - Black, white, and various tones of brown and also combinations of black or brown with white.

Portuguese Water Dogs have a multi-octave voice. They are quiet dogs although they warn when the home is approached, and they communicate their desires vocally and behaviorally to their owner. Their bark is loud and distinctive. They sometimes whine.

Types of Dog Collars

Dog Collar Types

Buckle collars - these are adjustable and do not tighten on your dog's neck once fastened.

Leather collar - It is very strong, water proof and comfortable for your dog. There are flat collars for short hair dogs, and rounded collars for longer haired dogs. A rolled leather collar avoids the hair breaking that can occur using flat collars. Try to keep the dog collar as thin as you can while maintaining the strength for your dogs comfort.

Elizabethan collar - This type of collar is for dogs recovering from surgery. Basically it is the funnel shaped and keeps them from biting stitched wounds or surgery incisions.

Electronic collars or remote collars or shock collars - The idea behind these collars is to deliver an electric shock to the dog as a correction. A low-level shock is given at first but if the dog continues to disobey the intensity is increased. Electronic collars should only be used for training and should never be used without a professional trainers guidance.

Head collar - It is important to learn proper instructions about its use from a qualified trainer.

Pinch collar - It should be used as a last resort and only for very short periods of time.

One of the essential and most important thing about a dog collar is to make sure that it's personalized and has your dogs name and your contact details on it. This will make it easy for someone to get in touch with you if your dog gets lost or strays.

Finally pick a collar that suits your dogs personality and size. For small dogs a simple flat collar will suffice. For larger dogs you might try a prong collar with a wide leather band.If your dog loves water you should buy a nylon collar. Leather is OK but it can crack quickly unless it's dried and polished after each dipping.

CARE OF YOUR CAT'S TEETH

Cats can get a lot of teeth and gums problems. These diseases are not harmless but eventually can lead to serious problems for your cat.
There are two main methods to help your cats’ teeth and gums to stay healthy. Firstly, cats must have a regular dental cleaning, every six months. Most important thing is home care which lead to less frequent veterinary cleanings.
Veterinary dental care includes annual examining of the cats’ teeth and gums. Cat may have bad breath, reddened gums, yellowish-brown tartar on teeth, which indicate gingivitis. When severe, cats may refuse eating. Pay attention to signs like excessive salivation, bleeding from the mouth and reluctance to chew food.

You should train your cat to accept daily brushing or wiping of the teeth. The easiest way to do that is by starting the training while the cat is very small. With the help of a special toothbrush, apply the bristles to the teeth at a 45-degree angle to the gums, reaching both the tooth surface and the area just beneath the gum margin. The toothpaste meant for human is not good for cats, as it can be harmful if swallowed. There are special types of toothpaste for cat, as they are flavored appropriately and are harmless if swallowed. These toothpastes contain enzymes and do not require rinsing.

Try making it pleasant to your cat, and will start enjoying teeth brushing. It is the only way of having a healthy cat without teeth problem.

shona in a happy mood

shona enjoy to be with me always. some time she plays with her toys and some other times she want to use what ever i am using. she want every thing and want to explore it. its so funny to see her like this. but that's why the babies are called babies.HUM BHI AGAR BACHHE HOTE, KHANE KO MILTE LADDOO.........nice to be a baby again......

6 essential elements necessary for your dog

Feeding your dog the wrong diet will affect their health and behavior, and may make them more susceptible to diseases or infection.
All dog foods have certain things in common and they require the following elements:
1. Protein
Excess protein is not better. High protein diets are used for show or working dogs and a normal dog could become hyper on this diet.
Price is not any criteria about protein content, you must read the label. Many dog foods use vegetable proteins which are harder to digest than animal proteins. Find a dog food that uses more animal protein and requires smaller portions to meet the minimum daily requirements.
Many dogs are allergic to grains like corn, wheat and soy. If your dog refuses to eat their food or their digestion seems abnormal, consult your vet to identify the problem.
2. Carbohydrate
Vegetable sources of protein also contain high levels of carbohydrates which can be a problem for your dog to digest. This causes digestive problems such as bloating, upset stomach, constipation, and too much stool. You can select a food that has two or more animal sources of protein listed in the first five ingredients to overcome this problem.
3. Fats
Dogs need fat to keep their skin and coat healthy and it gives your dog energy and keeps him cool when it’s warm and warm when it’s cool. If you feed your dog a natural diet, make sure to watch the expiration date.
4. Vitamins
There are two types of vitamins, fat soluble (Vitamins A, D, E and K) and water soluble (Vitamins B and C). The need for vitamins depends on your dog and his lifestyle.
The minimum daily requirements for vitamins is averaged for all dogs, because vitamin deficiencies can lead to poor growth, digestive disorders, weak immune system, thyroid malfunction.
5. Minerals
Minerals help the body in its normal daily activities like circulation and energy production. Though mineral deficiencies are more common than vitamin deficiencies, do not supplement your dogs diet unless directed by your vet as adding minerals to your dog’s diet can cause an imbalance that can harmful to his health.
6. Water
Water requirement of your dog needs depends on the level of physical activity and type of food he eats. Dry food encourages thirst because it only contains 10 percent moisture. Canned dog foods or home-cooked diets will require less rinse to wash down.

Feeding tips for your dog

Following are the some of the feeding tips for your dog -

1: A dog should be fed by the same person, if possible, at every feeding as dogs that have become accustomed to one person may exhibit erratic eating behavior if the person is changed.

2: Dog should have its own food and water container. This is not only good for sound behavioral psychology but is also beneficial for good hygiene. Besides improved feeding technique, feeding instructions can be written on the bottom or the side of each dog's feeding container.

3: A dog should be fed in the same place every time. A change can disrupt his life and can create cause for insecurity.

4: The feeding time should be fixed as per the schedule. once their routine is set, it is not advisable to change it as it may lead to other behavioral problems.

5: Do not change the food quite often. Always try to stick to same schedule. often change can lead to eating problems and can cause loss of appetite.

Bloat in dogs

Bloat is a serious life-threatening condition. Even though diagnosis of bloat is fairly simple, its treatment can be complicated and not always successful.
Deep chested dog such as a Labrador Retriever, Doberman, Great Dane, Bull Mastiff etc. are more prone to this problem.
Bloat is caused by too much gas or fluid in the stomach. If the stomach partially rotates it is called gastric torsion. If it fully rotates its called gastric volvolus.
FACTS:
Dogs with bloat nearly always are between four and seven years of age. Two-thirds are males.
It usually affects dogs of the larger, deeper-chested breeds and rarely occurs in small breeds.
The affected dogs exercise vigorously after eating and tend to drink water in large amounts after meals, may have a history of digestive upsets.
SIGNS OF GASTRIC DILATION
Signs are excessive salivation, extreme restlessness, attempts to vomit and defecate, abdominal pain and abdominal distention. History of the dog is important like - has it eaten recently, drunk water or been running or exercising within 2-3 hours of eating?

PREVENTION
Feed small meals throughout the day instead of one big meal. Keep the dog quiet at least one hour before and at least 2 hours after a meal. This means no running or playing. Monitor and restrict the water intake of the dog before and especially after a meal.
The dog should not drink after eating dry kibble. Try not to feed a kibble which expands greatly when wet.

Ear infection in your dog

For ear infection, the vet should always be consulted so that the right treatment therapy is provided to your pet. The cure of ear infection start the moment it is diagnosed. Otherwise, the condition may worsen. Ear infection is one major health concern and all dog owners should be well-informed about this.
The infection can be outer, middle, and inner ear infections. The primary symptoms are foul-smelling wax discharges, swelling, redness, pain, and inflammation. Affected dog will be either shaking or cocking its head frequently and at an unusual angle. It may also rub its ear because of irritation. In worse cases, dogs may develop balance problems and hearing impairment due to the disease.
Causes of ear infection -

it is due to either bacteria or yeasts or both. Mites may cause this disease as well. if your dog has some external parasites, be sure that you do what it takes to eliminate them from your pet's body. Allergies, underlying diseases, and foreign objects may trigger the problem as well.
it is strongly advised that you don't just buy over-the-counter medications as they may not necessarily help your pets. Instead, take your dog to the vet and follow his advice.

Dog owners should be more concerned on how to prevent ear infections. Regular grooming and proper hygiene can help a lot.

If left untreated, ear infection could lead to a complex health concerns for your dog. The bottom line is that simple ear infection can develop into diseases with complications are next to impossible to reverse. And these diseases shouldn't have occurred in your beloved pets, if you were only there to give them the necessary medical attention.
So the next time you see your pet irritable, scratching its ears often, and has abnormally high ear wax excretion, better be ready to take it to the vet.

Motion Sickness in dogs

Car sickness or Motion sickness is related to stress rather than the motion of your car. Like humans, dogs can also suffer from motion sickness. It can be caused by a number of factors, but primarily it is by movement in the inner ear. Receptors in the ear called the vestibular apparatus help an animal process position and movements. The dog will experience motion sickness if the signals coming in are excessive. Signs of motion or carsickness include drooling, and vomiting.
Management

1. Take very short trips. Start with just sitting in the car. Do this for a week and then start to do very short journey's (5-10 mins) with a really positive experience at the end and gradually increase the length of the car trip as the dog builds tolerance.

When your dog is able to do 30 minute journeys without stress, anxiety or sickness, you are pretty much close to your goal.

2. Allow the pet to see outside the vehicle. It's a good idea to have someone else in the car during these initial journeys as this person can sooth and distract your dog during the journey.

3. Provide lots of room to get up and move around.

4. Keep the vehicle cool and well ventilated.

5. Provide short breaks every 1-2 hours so that the dog has an opportunity to experience absence of car motion regularly. At the end of the return journey, create just as much fuss and play a short game.

You may want to make sure your dog has an empty stomach before getting in the car. Don't give him any food 3 to 4 hours prior to travel. Some vets also recommend limiting water intake just before travelling.
Allow your dog to relieve itself before travelling.