- Be sure that all vaccinations are up to date, including kennel cough for dogs being boarded.
- For people traveling east of the Rockies and south of the border to the States, a rabies vaccination needs to be done within the last year.
- If traveling to the States, Oceanian, Winnipeg or any other heartworm-infested area, arrange for your dog to be tested for heartworm. If negative, you can put your pet on a preventative before you leave. Don’t leave home without it. Heartworm is spread during mosquito season.
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The Chinese Shar-pei, famous for its wrinkles, has gone from the rarest dog breed listed by the Guinness Book of World Records to its current status of popularity. This breed is famous for its aloof temperament and its medical issues; still, most Shar-pei owners would not trade their breed for any less controversial one.
The following discussion is meant to assist people who are considering adoption of a Shar-pei. The Shar-pei is a unique animal with unique needs and may not be suited for the first time dog owner or for a family that requires a low maintenance dog. The Shar-pei is not a breed to adopt lightly; one must be prepared for an extra time commitment and even extra veterinary expenses. (more…)
Canine parvoviral enteritis, caused by the canine parvovirus, is a highly contagious disease in dogs that affects their digestive system. Before the late 1970’s, parvoviral enteritis did not even exist and most of what we now know of this disease has been discovered since then. It is now known that the diseases is transmitted via the oral/fecal route. Huge numbers of virus are shed in the stools of infected dogs for up to two weeks after infection. Since the virus is extremely hardy, it can survive and remain infectious for months in the environment and is extremely difficult to kill with disinfectants.
Symptoms
Once an unprotected dog is exposed to the virus, it only takes about 5 days to show signs of the disease. These signs can include loss of appetite, lethargy, fever, vomiting, and profuse and usually bloody diarrhea. Death occurs in severe cases, usually as a result of dehydration, overwhelming infection, or shock. This is especially true in young unprotected dogs (especially puppies between weaning and six months of age), although dogs of any age can become infected. Certain breeds such as Rottweiler and Doberman pinschers are at higher risk. (more…)
