Heart of a dog

 A dog's feces are a remarkable insight into the general overall health of a dog. All dog owners should familiarize themselves with the "normal" appearance of their dog's feces and should inspect them regularly for any unusual features. The presence of blood or mucus, a substantial change in consistency, or unusual colour can all indicate that the dog may be unwell. However, the appearance of your dog's stools is also subject to his diet and any medication he is on.

Any abrupt change in diet or various prescription drugs can radically change the appearance of a dog's feces. If your dog has recently been put on a new medication, consult with your vet or the manufacturer as to the possible side effects and if you should discontinue use. White, chalky stools are often an indication of a high level of calcium in the diet, such as eating bones or having a wholly raw diet. In these cases, the white feces are not a cause for concern. If you are not sure, you can adjust his diet and see if this helps solve the problem. If you are sure that your dog's diet or medication is not responsible, it is worth having your dog thoroughly examined by a vet to rule out any underlying health problems. Feces do not normally turn white in response to a worm infection – normally dog owners will notice a little blood or mucus instead – but you can give your dog an affordable over-the-counter worming treatment to be sure.

Common side effects of vaccination include: 

-sleepy, depressed puppies

-moodiness

-non-painful lump at the site of injection

-Nasal or ocular discharge

These symptoms usually clear up themselves however if the nasal discharge thickens or becomes greenish or yellowish, it may be a sign of a bacterial infection. This may require antibiotic medication. However, you need to be careful about an anaphylactic attack. In case of an attack, your dog must be immediately taken to a vet. Often the reaction occurs in the vet clinic (sometimes within seconds of vaccination) or soon after the animal has left the clinic, although it can take up to 24 hours to manifest (so you should keep a close eye on the animal at home). The vet will usually rush the dog straight out to a treatment room, where it will receive oxygen, IV fluids, anti-histamines, adrenaline, anti-inflammatories and sometimes other drugs to aid in the treating of low blood pressure.

Never give more than one vaccine at a time. I know of dogs that have died after getting more than one.

Brachycephalic breeds (short faced breeds such as bulldogs and Boston terriers) are predisposed to upper airway problems, such as narrowed nostrils, laryngeal paralysis, and elongated soft palate, where they have trouble getting air into their airways. Of course, brachycephalic breeds often have noisy breathing because of the shape of their face and neck, but respiratory difficulty may be exacerbated and become serious when the animal is exposed to the stress of hot or humid weather, undergoes anesthesia, has a fever and/or is excessively excited.

Boxer and bracycephalic breed dogs are predisposed to tumors that arise near the heart (called heart base tumors) and lung tumors.  Large and giant breed dogs (e.g. Doberman pinschers, Great Danes) are predisposed to acquired cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure (CHF).  Small breed dogs are predisposed to tracheal collapse, chronic bronchitis and chronic mitral valve disease, which is a condition in which the heart valves do not function normally. Toy breeds are predisposed to tracheal collapse. 

You need to watch out for : 

· Coughing

· Shortness of breath

· Difficulty breathing

· Weight loss

· Fatigue

Do not expose any of these breeds to long walks, lots of exercise, great excitement, jumping up. Make sure their weight does not increase to the point they become fat. Keep them away from excessive heat.

Lead poisoning. You need to get a vet out to them immediately and start treatment.  They should be shifted from this site immediately.