Educational Articles
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Dogs do so much more than entertain us with tricks or accompany us on walks. Their abilities as service dogs are astounding. Gaining in popularity, dogs that assist people who have seizures play an important role in the lives of their owners.
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Seizures and syncope are commonly confused with one another due to similarities in the appearance of these episodes. Both present with collapse but there are several details, explained in this handout, that can differentiate between them, which is important for determining treatment. The prognosis for each condition varies depending on the underlying causes.
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Seizures are one of the most frequently reported neurological conditions in dogs. A seizure may also be referred to as a convulsion or fit and is characterized by a temporary involuntary disturbance of normal brain function, usually accompanied by uncontrollable muscle tremors or spasms. There are many causes of seizures. Once anticonvulsant medication is started, it must be given for life.
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Senior dogs are in the stage of life where aging begins to affect every organ system. Some organs wear out faster or are more susceptible to cumulative damage than others, so certain observations are critical. While it is true that old age is not a disease, older dogs do merit special attention, including routine health exams twice yearly. This is important so that if your dog develops a disease, it can be recognized and treated as early as possible, thereby maintaining his quality of life for as long as possible.
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Separation anxiety describes dogs that usually are overly attached or dependent on family members. They become extremely anxious and show distress behaviors such as vocalization, destruction, or house-soiling when separated from the owners.
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Serum contains a large number of proteins that perform diverse functions which include providing cellular nutrition, defending against infections, playing a role in inflammation, and acting as hormones or enzymes. Protein electrophoresis is a specialized test that analyzes specific groups of proteins in the blood serum and measures how much of each group of protein is present. The results of the analysis help diagnose specific diseases, such as infection and some types of cancer.
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Shaker syndrome is a condition involving generalized head and body tremors in dogs. The condition is often seen in small-breed, white dogs, although dogs of any size and color may be affected. The cause is unknown but thought to be autoimmune due to its response to treatment with steroids.
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Children and Shelties often go well together. Both like to run around and make lots of noise. Don't be surprised, though, if you find your Sheltie attempting to herd your children into a tight little circle. When tapping into his heritage, the Sheltie does not distinguish between a herd of sheep and a herd of kids.
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The dignified, independent Shiba Inu may seem more like a cat than a dog - particularly to those whom he does not know. However, those who are privileged to be part of the pack know that this ancient Japanese breed bonds strongly to his human family - and can be surprisingly fun-loving.
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The Shih Tzu is among the world's most loving, attentive, affectionate, sweet, and mild-mannered breeds. Content to sit on your lap, in your handbag, or at your feet for hours, Shih Tzu want nothing in life other than to love and be loved by a favorite person.