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6 Vaccinations You Should Know Something About

PetSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:20:22 -0800

Shots, shots, shots. It seems like doggies require endless vaccinations, but do you know what they're being safeguarded against? Take these quizzes about six diseases that pups get protected for to see if you're a shot-recognizing expert.

Quiz: Coronavirus	Quiz: Rabies	Quiz: Parvovirus
Quiz: Hepatitis	Quiz: Distemper	Quiz: H3N8

What Do You Know About Rabies?

PetSugar — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 07:00:40 -0700

Today's World Rabies Day to raise awareness about the impact of human and animal rabies . . . so I've gathered some facts on this issue. Check yourself in this quiz – you may learn something!

Source

Take the quiz

Do You Always Go to Your Vet for Vaccinations?

PetSugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 08:00:39 -0700

Even though North loves his vet – and I make sure to take him to necessary evaluations – he also spends time around other pups both at daycare or Pet Camp while I'm away. Several boarding facilities require Bordetella vaccinations performed every six months . . . which is more often than he needs to go in for a checkup. Now, North doesn't get that much QT with a vet, and many docs also charge an exam fee per visit (in addition to this shot). When my pooch needs his Bordetella updates, I often take him to a mobile service that will just administer it on a per-shot basis. Do you ever use services like this to get your pets vaccinated?

Source

To the Rescue: Bordetella Basics

PetSugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 03:00:49 -0700

Ever wonder why it seems nearly impossible (for me, anyway) to get off a long plane ride and not come down with a sniffle the following week? I've heard that it's in part because of the close quarters, shared air, and low cabin humidity that makes germ transmission all too easy. But what does this have to do with pets, you may wonder? Turns out, like the common cold, the same factors can come into play with the canine cough, too.

Sometimes called "kennel cough," this is a complex of infections usually consisting of the bacteria called Bordetella bronchiseptica and two viruses called Parainfluenza virus and Adenovirus and even an organism called Mycoplasma.. And, like the human version of the common cold, the organisms that cause canine cough are airborne and can spread quickly and easily in any closed environment. If you board your dog, you'll see Bordetella on the list of required vaccinations, but not all vets will standardly suggest this shot. Learn more about it when you read more.

While there is a risk of transmission anywhere pooches congregate, kennels, daycare, and boarding facilities often have a similar environment to the airplane – a large number of dogs, or people, in one enclosed spot makes it a germy danger zone! This vaccination can be administered either as a shot or drops in the nose – with the intra-nasal Bordetella vaccine producing immunity slightly faster than the injectable version and lasting between six and 12 months. If your unlucky pup happens to come down with this illness, it's not usually a life-threatening disease but, like reverse sneezing, it's a noisy problem that sounds like something is caught in your pup's throat. The dry, hacking cough can last from 7 to 21 days but the majority of dogs with the ailment continue to eat, sleep, play, and act normally . . . except for that persistent, annoying coughing that is.

Source

What You Need to Know About the H3N8 Dog Flu

PetSugar — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:00:06 -0700

Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture announced that it had approved the first vaccine for the H3N8 flu (not to be confused with the H1N1 flu). What should you know about this dangerous doggie disease? Test yourself and see!

Take the quiz

Patrick Swayze's Animal Magnetism: In the LINK of an Eye!

PetSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:00:03 -0700

Take a look at some furry pals that touched Patrick Swayze's life - People Pets
Top groomers share horror stories and successful secrets - Paw Nation
Is your cat a night owl? - PetMD
Check out Whisker Studio's new birch product line - moderncat
Windee Chewies may pose choking hazard - Dogster
Risks of the rabies vaccine?! - Dolittler
Spotlight on Pittsburgh's Animal Friends rescue organization - Dogtime
Francesca checks the "Barkberry," no new messages - The Daily Wag

What Else Do You Know About the H3N8 Dog Flu?

PetSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:20:48 -0700

No one wants the term "sick as a dog" to ring true in their household and there's one disease all over the puppy news these days: the dog flu. I already shared some facts about this disease back in June when the vaccine was announced, but, with the growing number of cases and questions I've received, I've gathered up some more facts about the canine influenza virus. Test yourself on the facts and fiction about this illness by taking this quiz.

Take the quiz

What Do You Know About Canine Hepatitis?

PetSugar — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:00:15 -0700

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?

Take the quiz

One of Oprah’s Dogs Killed by Virus, Sadie Seeking Treatment

PetSugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:00:00 -0700

A spokesperson for Oprah Winfrey confirmed to People Pets that one of the puppies Oprah showcased on her show, Ivan, died over the weekend. Apparently Sadie, Oprah's newly adopted cocker spaniel who the world met last week, is also being treated for the virus and “is getting stronger.”

According to veterinarians, puppies around the country are suffering from a new strain of the disease called Canine Parvovirus Type 2c. Little Sadie was exposed to Ivan before her second shot so she is being treated with "plasma from hyperimmunized healthy dogs” (as you can see from the picture Oprah shared on her show) as a precaution.

As you may already know, Parvo is a highly contagious viral illness, that can attack your pups intestines (which is characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and lack of appetite) and cardiac system (which affects heart muscles of very young puppies), and often leads to death. The majority of cases are seen in puppies that are between six weeks and six months old, so be sure to get all your pups vaccinations before introducing them to the outside world. Check out PetMD for details of symptoms and precautionary tips.

We know all dogs go to heaven, but we are sure little Ivan will be missed!

The Scoop: Feed Shelter Pets Just By Clicking

PetSugar — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 08:00:34 -0700

Have you ever walked into an animal shelter and wanted to take every single one of those little guys home with you? It's so sad knowing that a lot of them won't make it to a forever home. Becoming a foster parent can help by taking the animals out of the shelter and increasing their chances of survival but, because of monetary constraints, it's just a fact of life that shelters can't always get the food and vaccinations they need. So what can we do to help? In addition to donating money to your local shelters or volunteering to be a foster parent to an animal until they can find a permanent family, now all you have to do is click.

The Animal Rescue Site has set up a totally cool and easy way to get involved. Just by clicking a button on their main page, you can help shelter animals get the food they need to survive. To see how, just read more.

Charity sponsors get ad space on the page, and for each click of the button, donate bowls of food to animals in need. Plus, when you purchase goods from their online store, the sponsors donate even more! One hundred percent of sponsors' advertising fees goes to the charitable partners – one of which is the North Shore Animal League who Mýa has partnered up with during the Tour for Life – so you know your clicking is well spent, and going to all the right places.

Plus, you can also:

Send pet e-cards to friends and family. Each time the card is opened, more funds are donated to Animal Rescue Site's charitable partners.
Buy vaccinations, spaying and neutering services, as well as funding shelters, caring for rescued animals, and help in wildlife habitat preservation.

It doesn't take much, so head to The Animal Rescue Site and see what kind of a difference you can make.