Flu - Its Symptoms and Diseases Confused With the Common Flu

The shortened word for the disease 'influenza' is known as the 'flu.' Other than man, it also affects birds and mammals. It can be identified by common symptoms like fever, sore throat, pain in muscles, headache, coughing, irritation in the eyes and fatigue. Generally confused with the common cold, flu can also be dangerous and cause death if the condition worsens. Children affected mostly suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea and pain in the abdomen. It must be understood that flu cannot be distinguished from common cold or other viral and bacterial disease only on the basis of symptoms which the patient exhibits. Only a thorough medical checkup and tests can help distinguish the type of flu and the suitable remedy can be administered by a medical professional. There are antiviral influenza drugs that are used to treat flu.



The virus is divided into three types, designated A, B and C. The first two are associated with respiratory illness and may cause death. Type C causes mild respiratory problems and can be easily cured with vaccines. The majority of health reports point at curing the health problems caused by the A and B virus.



In the early stages of infection, it is usually confused with common cold but influenza is identified with high fever and extreme fatigue. In cases of humans affected with bird flu, diarrhea can be the symptom. It can also easily affect persons (especially sick children and elderly as they have low immune power and even pregnant women) and persons suffering from asthma, heart disease and diabetes. It can be life threatening in cases of persons affected with HIV or patients whose immune power is medically suppressed to help transplants. Persons who have chronic problems can develop further complications like sinus, infections in the ear, worsening of pulmonary diseases like bronchitis and dehydration. Other symptoms include a running nose, burning sensation in chest etc. If proper treatment is not given, they can contract bacterial or viral pneumonia can prove fatal.



Seasonal flu usually occurs in the winter season as there are more chances of spreading infection. Measles and pertussis or whooping cough, may help in the transfer of flu among children. The other diseases that are confused with the flu and can cause similar type of symptoms include the respiratory syncytial virus, which causes illness in young children and elderly people above 85 years. The other type of complication that occurs mostly in children is called as the 'Reye's syndrome' when patients develop symptoms such as severe vomiting, confusion, loss of consciousness and dehydration which may cause swelling of brain.

Feline Diseases That All New Cat Owners Should Know About

Cat health problems can either be hereditary or brought about by other infections. In either case, your ability to care for your pet will depend on how much you are informed about these ailments, their causes and possible treatments. This article examines some common health problems usually found in cats.



Genetic Feline Diseases



There are some health problems observed in cats that are hereditary and knowing what these are will better equip you to cater to your pet's need should it be affected. Let's take a look at three of them.



- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: This heart condition is one of the most common genetic diseases that cats can get affected with. In this case, the left vertical heart tissues become thickened.



- Diabetes: This is a health disorder where both gene and environmental changes can be termed as culprits. However, your cat can be cured with proper medical attention and treatment.



- Polydactyly: This is another genetic disorder observed in cats where the cat may have more than eighteen toes.



Common Feline Diseases



Common cat health problems can range from flu and allergies to skin rashes and more. Here are some common ailments that may plague your pet:



- Hairballs: This is one of the most common feline diseases that is observed. A cat often grooms itself and in the process, swallows lots of hair. These hair forms a round or sausage shaped growth in the stomach which the cat vomits out later.



- Cat Flu: When the upper respiratory tract gets infected by a virus, you kitty might get the cat flu. This is a common infection and you should be able to cure it easily with proper medical care.



- FIV: This is AIDS in cats. When a cat is infected with FIV, it may not show any symptoms of its own. However, since this virus affects the immune system, your cat may succumb to FIV infection in the case where it already has some other chronic health disorders.



- Feline Stress: It's a fact that cats are often easily affected by stress and other related health disorders. Stress related health troubles in cats include loss of appetite, shaking, spraying, sudden behavioral changes and more.



Treating cat health problems is part and parcel of caring for your kitty. Should you observe unusual behavior in your cat, it's important to stay calm and try to consult a vet to get your feline friend treated as soon as possible.

Three Common Feline Skin Diseases

Feline skin diseases are some of the most common health problems that can affect your cat. The condition of your cat's skin and coat of hair is an important indicator of your cat's overall health, so it's important to be aware of it. Let's take a look at a few common feline skin diseases.



Acne



One of the most common feline skin diseases is acne. The most noticeable symptom of this condition is the formation of blackheads on your cat's chin. Although an exact cause is known, dermatitis, food allergies, and poor grooming can play a role. The veterinarian may not choose to treat feline acne is the case is mild enough.



If treatment of the acne is necessary, it usually comes in three forms. Your may have to bath your cat in a special shampoo that helps get rid of excess oil on your cat's skin. You may also have the option of using an antibiotic twice a day to get rid of the condition. If your cat is experiencing excessive inflammation, the veterinarian may choose to use corticosteroids.



Ringworm



Ringworm is also one of the most common feline skin diseases. This skin fungus frequently affects young, old, and long-haired cats although any cat can be affected. Symptoms include crusting, redness on the skin, and scaling. Some cats react to the fungus by over-grooming themselves which can cause hair loss. Treatment methods of ringworm include oral medication, shampoo, or clipping the cat's coat. You may also need to get rid of the fungus in the surrounding environment.



Cheyletiella Dermatitis



One of the last common feline skin diseases is Cheyletiella Dermatitis. This condition is caused by parasitic mites that can also be transmitted to humans. Your cat will likely experience various symptoms such as redness of the skin, small swelling spots, and dandruff. You may also notice large numbers of the white mites moving around on the surface of your cat's skin. Treatment for Cheyletiella Dermatitis includes dips in pyrethrin, lime sulfur, or selenium sulphide based shampoos. You will also need to get rid of the mites in the environment through spraying and vacuuming.



These are some of the most common feline skin diseases that can affect your cat. You should always pay attention to your cat's hair and skin as they can indicate how healthy your cat is.

An Overview of the Most Common Old Dog Diseases

When discussing old dog diseases, it is always good to ask the question, "What exactly is an old dog?" After all, some ailments are far more commonly known as old dog diseases than others.



Depending on the breed, the meaning of "old" can vary, but it usually starts around 10 years of age. As a dog gets older, its behavior changes too. The signs of aging in a dog are very similar to those of humans. For example, old dogs have reduced energy levels. They sleep longer, they have less enthusiasm for energetic activities, and just don't play like they used to. Older dogs also experience changes in fur and skin (fur becomes matted more frequently, it takes longer for wounds to heal, and old dogs generally become more sensitive to extremes in temperature). And of course, older dogs experience changes in vision and hearing, making it tough sometimes to navigate the house.



Now, there are other, more serious diseases that old dogs are prone to. These include cancer, arthritis, gastrointestinal disorders and diabetes. Let's look at each one in more detail.



Cancer is a tragic disease that can move surprisingly quickly, both in people and in pets. Symptoms include abnormal growths under the skin, as well as swellings that don't go away. Cancer may also manifest itself through bleeding or bloody discharge (from the eyes, mouth, ears, or any other opening). This, combined with difficulty eating, breathing, urinating or pooping, can be symptoms of cancer in old dogs.



Another common ailment is arthritis. Though not as life-threatening as cancer, arthritis in old dogs can be a debilitating disease that robs your pet of much of the enjoyment of life. Symptoms include difficulty rising, stiffness, irritability or reclusiveness. You may also notice that your old dog's muscles are atrophying as his activity level declines.



Kidney disease is also common among old dogs. If you notice increased thirst, urination, coupled with weight loss, your dog may be suffering form kidney malfunction. Vomiting and blood in urine or poop are serious symptoms, and if you notice them, contact your vet immediately. Of course, these symptoms could be caused by one of many old dog diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease or bladder stones. Again, see a vet right away.



Diabetes is common among people, but it is also common among dogs. You may notice increased thirst and urination, weight loss, weakness, and increasing levels of lethargy and depression in a diabetic dog. Diabetes, if left untreated, can be fatal. There is no cure for canine diabetes, but it can be controlled with insulin injections.



Finally, cataracts are also common in older dogs. The eyes become cloudy, the dog is unable to navigate around objects, and stops retrieving objects. Note, however, that all old dogs develop a graying of the eyes which is due to a hardening of the lens. Generally, this does not affect the old dog's ability to see. However, cataracts are a more serious condition that can eventually lead to vision loss. As in humans, canine cataracts can be treated with surgery



An old dog normally suffers some loss in energy and mobility, just like an elderly human. Helping your companion through as he gets older means treating him with extra patience and kindness. Give him more time to sleep, and more time to wake up in the morning. Understand that long walks may not be so long
anymore. Make it easier for him to reach his food, get outside when nature calls, and provide comfortable resting places.



And keep an eye out for symptoms of the more old dog diseases, such as cancer and diabetes, that your pet can be more susceptible to. Your dog will live longer and provide you with more years of loving companionship.

Age-Related Canine Diseases

Our senior dogs are living longer and healthier lives due to better nutrition, owner care and advances in veterinary medicine. However, as our dogs get older, they become subject to a number of age-related canine diseases. What is "old" for a dog? Probably the best definition is the last 25% of your dog's life. Our aging dogs have been our loving companions for many years and we have learned to appreciate their good, or at least predictable, behavior and calm demeanor. However you recently may have started to notice changes in your dog's appearance, activity level and disposition. In two earlier articles I discussed the symptoms and treatments for the two most common age-related diseases - Canine Arthritis and Dog Diabetes. These are two diseases that can be managed if you recognize the symptoms early enough to seek help from your veterinarian. However, there are a number of other diseases that dog owners should be watching for.



As always, when you observe any significant changes in your dogs diet, activity level, temperament and/or weight loss, then consult with your veterinarian. Treatment costs can be expensive and the early purchase of pet health insurance may be a good decision. Some other common age-related diseases such as Deafness, Blindness, Glaucoma, Cataracts, Dental Disease and Cancer are discussed below.



Deafness or hearing loss in older dogs is fairly common. As dogs age their internal hearing structures often start to deteriorate. Behavior changes and symptoms include: continued sleeping when you arrive home, ignoring voice commands, startling easily and even snapping when woken. You will have to adapt and train your pet to recognize hand signals. In order to get your dogs attention, you will have to resort to stamping your feet or flicking a flashlight on and off or even purchasing a remote control vibrating collar. Some attempts have been made to use hearing aids with deaf dogs with poor success as many dogs won't tolerate them.



Cataracts cause some loss of vision and can be inherited or develop with age. Most cataracts develop slowly with age and cause cloudiness in the clear eye lens. If cataracts are allowed to develop, they will eventually cause blindness and become quite difficult to correct. Early symptoms are cloudiness in the clear eye lens and impaired vision resulting in clumsy behavior or cautious movements in unfamiliar locations. If you notice your dog bumping into furniture, then it is time to have your vet examine him for vision problems. Cataracts can be removed but the treatment is quite expensive.



Glaucoma is a very painful disease in which fluid pressure increases inside the eyeball. The tendency to develop glaucoma can be inherited or it can develop in older dogs or dogs with untreated cataracts. Glaucoma can occur very suddenly and needs to be treated immediately to prevent blindness. Symptoms include pawing at a painful eye, excessive tearing, cloudy eye lens, bloodshot eye, enlarged eyeball and tipping of head to one side to try and relieve the pressure. Take your dog to the vet immediately, who, upon diagnosing glaucoma, will prescribe eye drops to be given to your dog several times per day.



Blindness or partial blindness tends to develop more often in elderly dogs as a result of cataracts, glaucoma or more often progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). Unlike the first two causes, there is no cure for PRA, in which the retina progressively deteriorates over time. The tendency for PRA can be inherited and it is why breeders test the breeding parents for the disease before selling their pure-bred puppies. Symptoms include clumsiness, reluctance to go outside at night, moving more cautiously and permanently dilated pupils. Your dog can still have a good quality of life as a blind dog but you will have to adapt to meet his needs. Always keep his food and toys in the same place and don't rearrange furniture. Pick up objects that he may trip over. Expect your dog to always be near you as he will be dependant on you. If your dog has partial sight, then keep the lights on at night so he can find his way around.



Cancer is the major cause of death in senior dogs. Early diagnosis of cancer can result in successful treatment. There are a wide range of symptoms that can alert you to problems that may be caused by cancer. These include: difficulty in eating or swallowing, weight loss, loss of appetite, sores that won't heal, abnormal growths or swellings, and bleeding or discharge from body openings. Your vet will look for external and internal cancerous growths and then do a biopsy. If the growth is cancerous then he may suggest surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Your veterinarian will discuss the cost and probability of success of the various alternative treatments.



Dental Disease or periodontal disease is very prevalent in middle-aged and older dogs. Just like in people, the bacteria on a dog's teeth turn into plaque and tartar deposits. Unless the plaque is removed, the bacteria can attack the gums and cause pain and inflammation, gum recession and loose teeth. Symptoms include receding gums, bleeding gums, loose teeth and bad breath odor. Your vet can recommend the best treatment. Brushing your dog's teeth needs to be started when they are puppies, otherwise your dog will refuse to tolerate it and you will have to have your vet regularly clean your dog's teeth under anesthetic. A number of products will help control plaque. These include rawhide chews, dental chew toys such as Hercules bones and Greenies. However if the dental disease is advanced then don't give your dog hard chew toys which may result in broken teeth.

Yorkshire Terrier Health Problems - The Most Common Diseases And Illnesses In Yorkies

A Yorkie has a life expectancy of fourteen to sixteen years. They don't suffer any major health problems if they maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, this breed of dog can suffer from the following health issues:



Canine Diabetes in Yorkies



Just like humans, Yorkies can become diabetic. In most cases this is the result of a lack of exercise or a poor diet. The main symptoms of canine diabetes include excessive drinking and urinating. This disease has the potential to shorten your dog's life and lower its quality of life.



However, if Yorkshire Terrier diabetes is diagnosed early, it can be treated successfully with the proper medication and help from your veterinarian. Once this health problem is addressed, your pet stands a much better chance of living a relatively normal life when this disease is treated in time.



Yorkie Eye problems



A number of Yorkie eye problems are common amongst this breed of canine. A Yorkie can suffer from a range of eye disorders including cataracts, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) degeneration, Keratoconjuctivitis Sicca and Entropion. Some of these problems are hereditary, while others can be acquired as your dog gets older. In most cases blindness can be prevented, so long as the problem is treated early.



If your pet develops diabetes, this can also cause loss of vision because of cataracts. When this condition is left untreated, it eventually leads to blindness.



Liver Shunt



This illness is also known as Portosystemic Shunt (PSS) and is a disorder associated with the blood flow in a Yorkshire Terrier. Your pets blood gets diverted away from its liver. This leads to a build-up of toxins in the blood, and can result in serious illness for your dog. Liver Shunt is a canine health problem that can be acquired or present in Yorkies when they are born.



Luxated Patella



Many Yorkies suffer from a kneecap problem called Luxated Patella or Trick Knee. You're pet may have this health issue, and you as an owner, may not realize it exists. If you believe your dog has this health problem, you should pay a visit to your veterinarian as soon as possible. It does not sound like a serious condition, but Yorkshire Terrier Luxated Patella can become a serious health problem and restriction to you dog, if it's not treated early.



These are just some of the Yorkshire Terrier health problems that can occur, but most can be treated and even avoided by keeping an eye on, and taking care of your Yorkies health.