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By David Hensley
 Like all pet animals, dogs too are prone to lots of diseases. To keep the dogs free from the diseases, they should be understood first and accordingly treated well with the assistance of the veterinarian. Some of the common dog diseases are discussed below:
Rabies: Rabies is a very common dog disease caused by a virus affecting the central nervous system of the dog. Rabies is known to be spread through saliva. There are several stages observed in the dogs. In the first stage the dogs are seen with a behavior change, in the second stage the dogs become very violent and in the third stage body parts of the dogs stop coordinating with each other. There is no cure till now for this deadly disease.
Bloat: This is a serious condition of the dog. The stomach of the dog gets twisted, which is due to over eating. The symptoms of bloat are restlessness and depression combined with dry heaves.
Distemper: It is considered to be the worst dog
disease worldwide. This leads to fatal condition of the puppies up to 80 percent and adult dogs up to 50 percent. The common symptoms of this disease are congestion in the chest, coughing, diarrhea, gunky eyes, nasal discharge etc. At later stages it affects the nervous system of the dogs leading to paralysis. It is a highly contagious dog disease. It can be transmitted from the feces of the infected dog. This dog disease too does not have any cure.
Parvovirus: It is a very contagious disease affecting the intestinal tract of the dogs. It is also said to affect the heart of the dogs. The symptoms of this disease are severe diarrhea, depression, decrease of appetite. The feacel matter of the dog is found to be in a different color with blood stains. The symptoms appear within hours of the infestation and can even kill the dog within 2 to 3 days of infection. Hence, it is considered as a deadly disease.
Kennel Cough: It is very common among dogs. It is a kind of respiratory disease. This can be easily treated.
Canine Viral Hepatitis. This disease affects the liver, kidney and the blood vessels of the dogs. The common symptoms are profuse thirst, vomiting, hemorrhages, loss of appetite etc. This virus too spreads through the faeces of the dogs.
Leptospirosis: This disease is caused by bacteria and, even human beings get affected by the bacteria. There are several species of bacteria found to produce the disease in dogs. The common symptoms include lethargy, fever, kidney inflammation, clotting of blood and conjunctivitis. In more chronic conditions it can produce pneumonia, intestinal inflammation and jaundice.
Heartworm: Heartworms are a kind of parasites which multiply and grow, causing infection in the chambers of the heart and arteries of the lungs. The symptoms may start with mild cough, fatigue and lethargy. If it is not treated properly it can lead to congestive heart failure.
Retinal Dysplasia: Abnormal development of the retina is the disorder. This is very common in most of the dog breeds. The minor forms lead to vision problems and the acute forms leads to total blindness in dogs. Cataract can also accompany with this disorder.
David Hensley contributes several informative articles regularly to http://www.petsmixonline.com and http://www.petsmanners.info which have exhaustive resources for pets health, training and their manners. Search and Rescue Dogs
By Gerry Ronson
 Did you know that there are a lot of private owners of search and rescue dogs? Well there are. Many people find they need to do something during catastrophes and because they love dogs they decide to adopt and have a dog trained for search and rescue. If you are interested in adopting a search and rescue dog or just in knowing how to care for one you will want to read the below article.
Search and rescue dogs are very hard working heroes. They can work in earthquake aftermaths, hurricane rescues, and even as water rescue dogs. They are very loyal, lovable, and determined dogs. They also require special training, handling and care above other dogs. You will find that most often a search and rescue dog will go through training on a daily basis to make sure they have not forgotten any skills and to keep the dogs minds active. In some cases new training is added. As a private owner of a search and rescue dog you have to keep them in tune. This means you need to go through the class with them, and provide as much support and skill to the session as they do. You should also know that a search and rescue dog usually thinks of the training and actual rescue situations as play. This means that if they arent having a little fun, and being useful they will want to quite- in other words it is too much like work.
There are certain dogs that work really well as search and rescue dogs. First the dog have to be a good tracker, hunter, hound, and good swimmers. Since dogs often have to smell for blood, or human scent they have to have great noses. This means that bloodhounds, Labradors, German shepherds, Old English sheepdogs, and St. Bernards are usually the best. Golden retrievers are also really great at working as search and rescue dogs. Keep in mind that the dog thinks it is a game; for the owners you have to be sure you can handle the issues you will be dealing with. Most people are great in rescue situations, but some individuals may have lasting problems of the death and destruction they have had to deal with. So it is not just find a dog to go with the owner, but making sure the owner can handle the job required as well.
Most of the time search and rescue handlers are volunteers, like the private dog owners we have been discussing. This means they show up when they can and must also be physically fit. They are going to be training with the dogs, working a lot of hours at a seen, and of course need to have a handle on rescue criteria for survival as well.
Training as mentioned above is very important. You can not just watch a video and say I have a search and rescue dog. In fact what you need is a training facility that will help you learn how to be a handler as well as how to train the dog. You must have certification as well as rescue equipment. Training will last for the dogs lifetime in the service. This means that you must keep up with the training on a daily basis and be extremely committed. Search and rescue dogs are heroes and so are their handlers, but remember you should be fully prepared for the tasks at hand.
Gerry Ronson is a writer for Kong Dog Toys and Accessories for Dogs. The Jack Russell Terrier
By Gerry Ronson
 The Jack Russell Terrier is one of the most popular dog breeds to have in a home. They are full of life and one of the cutest pets. The Jack Russell is a small dog only growing to fourteen inches and seventeen pounds. Their characteristics include small floppy ears, a short tail, and short legs with oversized paws. They are typically white with tan or black. They usually have a brown spot on the side or back, near the neck, and their ears and head are usually a mask of tan. The snout is short, with narrow set eyes. They are constant shedders despite the short hair.
The Jack Russell began its life in England in the 19th century. They were used for hunting, digging, and burrowing into foxholes and dens. Today they are still popular for the hunts as well as for pets. You will find that even though they are small they are hardy and loyal. They tend to be fearless, with their big heart. You will find that they can be quite vocal with their bark, but it is more the large bark than a yappy sound. In fact theyre bark is much stronger than their size. They are very loyal dogs and therefore they make excellent guard dogs. You will find they are better with older children as they like the well behaved over the harsh treatment of younger children. They are amusing as well as very active dogs. You will find that they have strong hunting instincts, which makes them difficult for smaller pet households. They do need a lot of attention from their owners so beware.
Training of the Jack Russell Terrier can be difficult. They tend to display determination, stubbornness and dominance. You will need to have a consistent hand, be firm, and provide a lot of different activities. They can become bored rather easily. They also need to know who is master. If they feel they can be master you will have obedience issues. Training should begin as a puppy and continue on through adulthood. They do need a little socialization, but are relatively friendly dogs on the whole. Keep in mind training should use the agility they can display.
For care you will find a protein diet is essential to keep their energy up. You will also find that despite the energy they can have weight issues. They should be fed three times a day, with small meals. You should always give them plenty of water. They need minimal grooming, such as a weekly brushing, and should not be bathed unless necessary. Jack Russells need to have their nails trimmed on a regular basis. They are prone to deafness, glaucoma, epilepsy, allergies, and skin problems. You should also provide plenty of exercise. They need to have constant stimulation indoors and out. This means long walks, plenty of toys, and preferably a home with a yard. They can be destructive if left alone with nothing to do.
If you wish to have a Jack Russell Terrier in your life you need to be prepared for the attention they need. They do best in homes that have at least one person home for most of the day. They also need to be walked at least twice a day and they thrive on chasing balls and catching sticks. You will find that any mentally stimulating activity will keep them happy. Care of any dog is important and understanding the commitment you need to make is very important. Many find that the Jack Russell becomes too much to handle for a two career family. Make sure you have thought this over before seeking a breeder for a puppy.
Gerry Ronson works for the website dog toys and accessories, which sells dog coats. Share Your Opinion. (0 posts)
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