Heartworm preventative is on the must-have list for many pet owners. Commonly found in tropical and subtropical climates, along with the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and Ohio and Mississippi river basins, no dog is totally safe from this parasitic infestation. Prove how much you know about the disease, and take this quiz.
I grew up in a household that never kept a salt shaker on the dinner table, because high blood pressure runs rampant in my family. Even I suffered from it in high school and all the way through college. My parents and grandparents succumbed to popping prescription pills, but I didn't want to be medicated for my entire life. To get my numbers under control, I started eating healthier and exercising regularly (something my parents didn't do or encourage). I'm happy to say my blood pressure is at a normal level, and I'm trying to motivate my parents to move more so they can stop taking pills.
It's important to know what conditions and diseases run in your family, because some can be avoided with a healthy lifestyle. Tell me, what diseases run in your family, and how are you living your life to prevent what you may be predisposed to?
The idea that a beloved pet could make us sick is a scary thought but, thankfully, not that common. With the first H1N1 cat case popping up last week, I've gotten many questions about which illnesses people could catch from animals (like rabies) and which are only for the dogs (like the H3N8 flu, parvo, or bordetella. To help out, I've rounded up 12 diseases that people could get from pets, wild animals, or flying insects, with a short explanation of them. Brush up!
Just because the weather's getting colder in many parts of the country, doesn't mean dog owners can be less concerned with skin cancer. Luckily many cases can be treated successfully when caught early enough so brush up on the facts about the various types of this disease in the quiz below.
If you're not familiar with it already, MRSA is a bacteria resistant to certain antibiotics, dangerous because of, well, its drug resistance. The first cases in pets popped up about five years ago in therapy dogs exposed to patients or healthcare workers, but the tables could turn, putting humans in more danger any day.
Typically, humans usually infect pets (and not vice versa), but animals can serve as a reservoir for the bacteria and pass it back to humans. Healthy animals rid themselves of bacteria in a matter of weeks.
According to a study this Summer, Elizabeth A. Scott and colleagues at the Center For Hygiene and Health in Home and Community at Simmons College in Boston swabbed household surfaces and found that one variable that overwhelmingly predicted the presence of the germ was the presence of a cat — they were eight times more likely than others to have MRSA at home.
To learn some tips to keep your human (and furry) family safe, read more
Since this isn't YumSugar, I'm not referring to an icy cold one, I'm talking about another virus you may recognize from your dog's shot records. The Canine Coronavirus (CCV) is significantly less enjoyable than a Corona beverage so find out all about this disease in a quick quiz!
We've tackled parvo, distemper, and rabies, so let's see what you know about another dangerous doggie disease. Find out all about canine hepatitis when you test yourself on its origins, symptoms, and more. Are your pups vaccinated?
You may recognize "distemper" from your pup's shot records. Think you know what it is — and reasons why you should still protect him against it? Find out in this slideshow.
