The dog parvo virus is probably the most common viral illness of dogs at the moment. The virus is extremely small (the Latin word for small is “parvo”) - just a few grams of stool can contain millions of virus particles. The dog parvo virus has been known and identifiable since the late 70’s and can be transmitted by direct or indirect contact with vomit or diarrhea from an infected dog.

The Canine parvovirus (CPV), also refered to as “the dog parvo”, attacks the intestinal tract, white blood cells, and in some rare cases the heart muscle. The common form of the dog parvo has a predilection for rapidly dividing cells (similar to cancer) such as the cells of intestinal lining and that is why it causes diarrhea and ulcerative enteritis. When the virus lashes out and attacks this type of cells, it makes dogs and puppies not being able to assimilate or absorb nutrients or liquids.

Symptoms of the dog parvo can take anywhere between 7 to 10 days before they are visible. In the early stages, symptoms that are likely to be noticed by the dog owner are a lack of energy and a loss of appetite. As a result, dogs infected with the parvo virus will soon show clear symptoms of dehydration and malnutrition. As the virus spreads, the dog parbo symptoms are characterized by high fever, severe diarrhea, quite often bloody, vomiting, lethargy and severe dehydration. If your dog, but especially your new puppy, begins exhibiting any of these symptoms, see a veterinarian right away. Because even though the dog parvo virus can also infect adult dogs, it is more often found in small puppies because of their low immune system. Parvovirus requires swift action to help an infected dog survive as when parvo is involved, every hour counts.

The severity of the disease depends upon the age of the dog, presence of maternal antibody, size of the virus dose and the breed of the infected dog. Though many dogs become highly ill due to this viral disease, breeds like Doberman Pinschers and Pit Bull Terriers may reveal clinical symptoms to a very severe degree.

According to conventional veterinarians, there is no known cure for the dog parvo. Conventional treatment is, therefore, mostly supportive and consists of maintaining the dog’s body fluids, balancing electrolyte levels and maintaining body temperature. But even if a dog survives the initial bout of dog parvo, there is still a high risk of collapsing during the recovery period. You should get your dog immunized to protect them in case they come into contact with dogs that have the illness. Most veterinarians recommend that young puppies to be vaccinated every 3 to 4 weeks beginning when the pup is 6 weeks of age and continuing until it is 20 weeks old.

The dog parvo virus is most common in places where dogs congregate, such as parks, animal shelters or even at dog shows. Dogs may take in the virus from sniffing or consuming contaminated fecal matter, from cleansing himself, or from consuming food off the ground or flooring. That is why dogs that spend their time confined to a house or a yard and are not in contact with other dogs have much less chance of exposure to the canine parvo virus. You must also be aware of the fact that the dog parvo virus may be even brought home to your dog on shoes and even automobile tires. If you allow your dog to live outside, then remember to alter drinking water on a regular basis because there is a chance that the water can contain parvo virus (carried by birds on their feets or feathers or in their feces).

CPV is very resistant and can remain in feces-contaminated ground for five months or more if conditions are favorable.

Be aware of the fact that the dog parvo symptoms resemble other diseases (like poisoning or worms) and are often misdiagnosed. The only way to know if a dog has the Parvo virus is through a positive diagnostic test.

Training your dog not to bark unnecessarily is part and parcel of training him to be a good and obedient companion. In this regard, obedience training and socialization from an early age is all that more important, providing a foundation to head off and/or deal with any potential problems that may arise in the future. Train your dog well, stay on top of his behavior, and be considerate of your neighbors; but accept the fact that your dog needs to bark as much as your cat needs to scratch.

Barking and growling serve to alert other pack or family members to danger. If your dog barks because it is startled by a noise outside and you immediately come to see what it is barking at, it will associate barking with the reward of seeing you next time it barks. Barking is sometimes a symptom of another problem-for example, fear, boredom, or stress. If you fix the problem, the symptom will likely go away.

Dogs don’t really do well alone in the yard, they are better off being with you, and the neighbors can’t complain that way. Crate him if need be. Dogs may also bark or growl when they see prey, such as squirrels, and they may bark for attention, food or if they are anxious. Dogs also bark more than their evolutionary ancestor, the wolf, which seldom barks after it is no longer a pup.

The key is to identify why the barking is occurring, and going from there. Remember, your dog just wants to please you and you just need to help him or her understand how to do that.

When we need a service performed (on anything), the first port of call is usually the Yellow Pages (or their equivalent). Pick up the book and find someone who is close to you. Right? But would you take your kids to a Doctor you don’t know? Perhaps if you have just moved to a new town and you don’t know anyone you might. Here are some tips and helping you choose a vet for your dog, who is after all, part of the family.

The best idea is to ask people what they do with their pets. Even if you are new to the neighborhood, you are bound to see fellow dog owners out and about walking their pet, so stop and ask. People are usually keen to share information, especially where dogs are concerned, so don’t be shy.

Some of the questions you should be asking are how does the vet handle animals. Are they gentle or not? Do they explain in detail about the health of the animal that they are looking at. Do they answer your questions in a way that you can understand? A vet that is great with animals but who doesn’t explain anything to you is no good at all. The dog cannot come home and tell you what the vet said after all.

Once you have got a recommendation, visit the vet and trust your own judgment. Don’t feel pressurised into sticking with a vet, just because everyone else says that they are good. Taking peoples opinions into account is a great way to get started and narrow the field, but it is not the end of the process.

Vets will belong to a Board of Practice. This may differ where you live, but they shouldn’t be hard to find. Check and see if any complains have been lodged against the vet.See if you can find local vet hospitals to visit. These types of places will hold great store by reputation, and will also be very well equipped. Make sure that the Pet Hospital is affiliated with national associations too, just in case.

If you are thinking of looking at a Pet Hospital, ask for a tour of the facility. I am sure that they would be very pleased to help you out. Make sure that the facilities are clean and that they appear to be in good shape. If things are messy, especially where the dogs are housed for example, it may not bode well for your pet. If the facility is short of staff, they may not be able to care properly for your pet.

You could also pay an unauthorised visit, and see how the staff treat their customers and how the vets treat their staff. Both will give you an idea as to how your dog will be likely to be treated.

Ask questions about the vet’s accreditation. Any genuine vet will have studied and qualified. Normally you would expect to see a vets qualifications displayed openly, but if they are not, ask about them. And make sure that the licence displayed is current as well.

Ask what the Practice’s policy is for emergency care. Your dog may not always need treatment at convenient times, so out of hours care is very important. What happens if your dog requires overnight treatment? Will the facility be manned at all times?

Check whether your pet insurance (if you have any) is valid. If not, find out how you pay for the fees, and if they have plans that can help you, especially in the case of emergencies.

Above all, take your time in researching a good vet. If you make an informed choice now, you will have peace of mind knowing that if something does happen to your dog, you are in a position to offer it the best treatment that you can afford.

All dogs will at some time in their lifetime exhibit some symptoms of sick dog. If you have had your dog properly vaccinated including yearly or bi annual rabies vaccinations you vet will normally do a good complete exam to assure there are no obvious symptoms of dog diseases. Most of the time this will include examining a stool sample and blood work. This is the time to bring up any concerns or observed problems that you have about your dog’s health. It is wise to write down any observations that you have made prior to the exam. If you follow these procedures the chances of your dog having a serious problem will be greatly diminished. However even a properly cared for canine can develop serious symptoms of sick dog.

Symptoms of sick Dog may include some of the following:

· Strong Ear smell, shaking of the head, discharge: Mites, Yeast infection or Mites.
· Coughing: Heartworms, Kennel cough, Heart disease or pneumonia.
· Passing Blood in Urine: Internal injury, Kidney disease or Urinary tract infection.
· Bad Breath/Bleeding Gums: Periodontal disease.
· Constipation/Problems defecating: Change of diet, intestinal blockage.
· High Temperature (over 102): Viral or bacterial infection
· Increase Drinking and Urination: Diabetes, Kidney Disease or Liver Disease.
· Problems Urinating: Kidney stones or Kidney Disease.
· Blood or Worms in feces: Bowel infection, Worms or other parasites.
· Vomiting/ ingesting grass or other vegetation: Worms, Poison or gastrointestinal problems.

It should be understood that most pets will show one or more symptoms of sick dog at the same time. Make sure you keep notes of the symptoms you have observed including the time of each incident. All will assist your vet in making a proper diagnosis of your dog’s illness. Many times these symptoms will pass without further complications. If symptoms of dog diseases persist for more than 24 hours or you dog shows signs of obvious stress then it is time to act. Any time you feel that you have a valid concern you should call your vet for a consultation or appointment. Dogs deserve that same amount of respect and health care as any other member of your family.

First, you must understand that there are different types of dog aggression. There is aggression towards strangers and aggression towards family members. Let’s explain each type.

Aggression toward strangers

When a dog is aggressive towards strangers, it is mostly because he is nervous. He might fidget, leap around like a maniac, bark or whine/wimper, or try to bite. He does this because he is frightened and hasn’t been properly socialized. He sees the world, or strangers, as a threat to his safety and is acting aggressively out of fear.

To handle this type of aggression, you must socialize him properly. You must take your dog into different environments and expose him to new people, animals and experiences. You must teach him that he doesn’t have to act aggressively out of fear. In fact, you should probably place him in a dog obedience course or dog playgroup. Then, he will learn better social skills and how to interact with other dogs and people too. In addition, you should take him for walks at parks and car rides also. For the protection of others, you may need to muzzle him if he bites out of fear.

Aggression towards family members

When a dog is aggressive toward family members, he is possessive of his toys or food. When family members approach him, he stares or attempts to bite them. In essence, your dog is trying to prove that he is the “leader of the pack” and wants to keep all the family members in line. Your pooch mistakenly sees himself as the leader and that you, and other family members must obey.

To squash this thought pattern, you must consistently prove that your dog is not in control. You must teach him to become obedient. You must put him in an obedience course and teach him basic commands. In fact, you must always make him “sit or stay” before he eats or receives a treat. You must always eat first and never feed him before you eat. He must never be allowed to lead during a walk. In addition, you must only award him when he obeys. And, if he disobeys, your dog must receive an immediate “time-outs”. By doing this, you will demonstrate that you’re in control and that he is not the “head pooch in control.”

In conclusion, you can correct stranger or family aggression by working diligently and being persistent with your dog. If you do, in no time at all, you’ll teach your aggressive dog that his place in the world is secure and that he has no need to act aggressively. Instead, he can be a happy being a lower pack member and can enjoy you taking the lead.

You’ll want to know a few things before you start training your dog. If you approach training with confidence, and act as if you know what you’re doing, it will make your dog feel secure and eager to try what you’re asking him to do.

Because dogs are so intelligent, it’s never too late to teach them a trick or two. The best age for training, however, is between six and eight months of age. At that age, a puppy is very eager to learn new things. He’s just generally more receptive then, and will cooperate enthusiastically with you.

If your dog is to learn the tricks you’re teaching him in the easiest way possible, you need to understand the use of reinforcements. It is best to use positive reinforcements in training dogs. Just as most people want some recognition and praise when they’ve done an especially good job, dogs appreciate praise, along with a few dog treats. When your dog is able to respond to your commands correctly and precisely, it’s time to give him a dog training treat.

Dogs are wonderful companions, and very trainable. Because their nature is so gregarious, they love to interact with their owners, and will make a strong emotional attachment if the owner is kind, affectionate, and firm. You’ll soon appreciate the connection you and your dog have made, when you see how he responds to your teaching.

Be firm but friendly when you’re dealing with your dog. Training a dog is very much like training a toddler: you need to be firm in stating what you want, but use a very positive voice. Don’t try to intimidate your dog. You’ll get much better results if you’re friendly and calm when giving commands.

Your voice is important in giving commands. Learn when to use a high-pitched voice and when a low-pitched voice would be preferable. Your dog will become familiar with your usual voice tone, and with the tone you use when you’re asking him to do something.

Although positive reinforcement leads to success in training, negative reinforcement, or punishment, is not a good idea. It is imperative that you as a dog trainer do not punish your dog in any way. If you punish him for not obeying a command correctly, he will become fearful and unable to focus on the training. All your commands should be consistent. Consistent training techniques make training your dog easier and faster, because he becomes familiar with the sounds and words used in the commands. It’s best that only one person be involved in training a dog. That way, the dog will associate the commands with that person. It is important that the dog not be confused in any way.

A study on 25 commercial raw diets for dogs and cats detected Salmonella in 20% and Escherichia coli in 64% of the diets. However, the E. coli strain that can cause severe illness H157:O7 was not tested for. Raw feeders, however, believe that the risk of bacterial infection can be greatly reduced with safe handling and trusted meat sources that offer fresh and organic meats. Statistically speaking, human quality, raw foods that are properly handled and stored are generally be considered to be safe. If this were true, millions of pets consuming raw foods on a daily basis across the globe would not be alive and barking today, but they are! However, it’s fair to acknowledge that there is always potential for any type of food, whether it be cooked or raw, to to contain bacteria. Bacteria exist everywhere, including in processed dry or canned pet foods.

While taking proper precaution to reduce the risks off bacteria and parasites is indeed the right thing to do for a raw feeder, one should note that most dogs are infested with parasites at some point or other in their lives. It is a natural occurrence within the span of a dog’s life. Many pet owners believe that if a dog is unobserved with parasites in his stool, then he must be in a disease condition. This is not necessarily the case. Some dogs are born with parasites and others acquire them later in life. After they recover, the dogs develop a certain amount of immunity. This helps to keep the worms in check throughout their lifetimes without having to rely upon chemical medicines to do so. Just remember, everything living on you, or in you, that takes its food from you fits the definition of a parasite. Whether it is the size a long worm or microscopic in size, if it feeds off of you then it is a parasite. That means whether you feed your dog commercial kibble or a raw diet, your dog probably has one sort of parasite or another. It seems to me the concern about parasites is more of a knee jerk fear reaction about mentally accepting the idea of feeding your dog raw dog food than with any thing that proper food handling techniques will prevent.

Furthermore, most of the commercially available raw food items are frozen and are intended to remain so until shortly before feeding and many raw diet recipes call for freezing of the final product, which almost entirely reduces the potential for parasites. According to European Union regulations, freezing fish at -20°C (-4°F) for 24 hours kills parasites. The FDA recommends freezing at -35°C (-31°F) for 15 hours, or at -20°C (-4°F) for 7 days.

So, while the concern of parasite and bacteria is indeed a valid one that people exploring on a raw dog food diet plan for their dogs should be educated about, I see no reason why one can’t follow these few simple handling and preparation techniques to make the diet safe for her dog. The overall health benefits greatly outweigh the risk of bacterial or parasitic infection when I know that through these few simple precautions that I can serve my dog food that will increase his lifespan and overall health. One of the few studies on raw food diets on animal was conducted over a period of 10 years (1932 to 1942…well before the fad!) by Francis M. Pottenger, Jr.’s study of 900 cats . His results showed that the cats fed a raw food diet were disease free and healthy. Those cats who were fed the same food cooked developed degenerative diseases. After a few generations, many cats lost their reproductive capabilities (!!!) while some were born blind and weak and had much shorter lifespans.

I think the choice is clear based on this study, at least in my mind it is. I want my dog with me, healthy and happy, for as many years as possible so I can truly call him OLD Faithful.

Each breed of dog has its own different set of characteristics, pros and cons and you need to take the time to research these to determine both how your dog or puppy will act and how you will deal with each of these traits.

For example some dog breeds may be prone to certain medical problems while others may not be suitable if there are young children in the house. Some dogs require a whole lot more exercise than others while other breeds are happy to just be in your company.

For many people a dog is more than just a pet, they’re family members, confidants and companions who will be in your life for hopefully many years, so you owe it to yourself and your new dog or puppy to make sure you’re compatible with each other.

Hopefully, your dog will never have a seizure experience. But, this information will help you understand the possible causes of seizures, and what to do and why if your dog has one, and the various treatment options available.

Epilepsy in dogs is one of many causes of seizure.

Some dog breeds are more prone to epileptic seizure. However, causes for “hereditary” epilepsy are not known for certain. Included in this group are: Keeshond, Tervueren, Cocker Spaniel, Poodle, Collie, German Shepherd, Irish Setter, Golden Retriever, Dachshund, Labrador Retriever, Saint Bernard, Miniature Schnauzer, Siberian Husky and Wire-haired Terrier.

Dogs with allergies to dog foods with chemicals, preservatives and artificial flavors can have seizures.

Other causes include liver and kidney disease, tumors, poisoning, and low blood sugar.

If your dog is having a seizure, stay calm.

Although difficult to do, a calm, quiet, reassuring voice will comfort your dog. Remove objects that could be dangerous to or hurt the dog, or place pillows or wrap blankets between the pet and the object. Slide something soft under your pet’s head, keeping your hands and face away from its head so not to risk a possible bite. Gently stroke the dog’s hip or side, but be positioned on the opposite side of the feet and toenails. Muscle spasms can curl paws into claws that can rake your skin. Dim lights. Keep the environment as quiet as possible.

Write down observed details about the dog’s seizure to report to your veterinarian.

Your veterinarian will want to know the time of day seizure occurred, time length of the seizure, time between each seizure if recurrent, if your dog urinated or defecated, if seizure hit suddenly or progressed from body twitching, when your pet regained consciousness, how long before your dog appeared normal again, and whether anything occurred leading up to the dog’s seizure. Were there possible triggering events such as loud noises like fireworks, unusual items ingested or excessive activity or exercise?

Some veterinarians will want to see if your dog experiences a subsequent seizure.

Some will immediately perform blood tests, checking for anemia, liver and heart functions, calcium, glucose, and electrolyte levels. The veterinarian may run screens for toxins, take x-rays, or perform an electroencephalogram, although test results may not reveal reasons for the dog’s seizure. Your veterinarian might wait to see if the dog has another seizure and may suggest medications. If the diagnosis is epilepsy, the dog has an excellent chance for a normal life with proper medical care and follow-up.

After seizure, dogs often appear lost or drugged. This state can last a few minutes to several hours depending on the severity of the dog’s seizure. Your dog may respond to you, but react slowly. Seizures are exhausting. Your dog will probably want to sleep afterwards. Check your pet occasionally without disturbing its rest.

Eliminate the source of the seizures; you may be able to eliminate future seizures from occurring.

If your dog’s seizures are due to chemical toxins, eliminate those toxins as much as possible. In any case, feed a diet of human grade food and treats that are free from chemical preservatives, fillers and by-products.

Natural approaches can help some pets, either prior to stronger medications or in addition to them, so you may be able to use lower doses.

Varieties of treatment options include a natural diet, nutritional supplements, homeopathy, herbs, conventional medications and acupuncture. Sometimes, placing an ear acupuncture tack in a dog’s ear will stop seizures, and this requires only one acupuncture visit. Or, your pet can be treated with traditional Chinese acupuncture.

Minimize stress to your dog.

Avoid sudden changes in its environment, loud noises, and stressful situations. There are herbs that act as sedatives such as valerian root (relieves stress, anxiety and nervousness), passionflower (calms an over-stimulated nervous system), kava (not recommended for pets who are depressed), skullcap (calms tension, eases spasms and induces sleep) and oatstraw (for heart and nerves, high in calcium, phosphorus, vitamins B1, B2, A and E). Note that when using herbs and supplements, you may need to lower the dosage of other anticonvulsants.

Some products may lower your pet’s seizure threshold making seizures more difficult to control.

Clean your house with chemical-free products; use more natural flea, tick, and heartworm prevention products. For safer heartworm prevention, use products containing interceptor and filaribits. Avoid products containing organophosphate insecticides. There are many natural approaches to treating seizures that should help your beloved dog live a normal and comfortable life.

Before looking to buy a German Shepherd make sure you’ve done your research and prepared your family. Take the time to check out the local breeders, visit with them and look at the puppies parents etc if possible: find out what type of paperwork you will receive with your purchase. Discuss any health concerns and what treatments they’ve had so far (worming, vaccinations etc).

Make sure members of the family are prepared to look after and train a busy and active dog, while they will always have their lazy moments they also like to doing things on a regular basis.

While German Shepherds are great family guard dogs they are also a wonderful addition to any family, loyal to their owner(s) and eager to please.

For more information on Training German Shepherds or other breeds of dog please visit the World Of Dogs