Aug 02

How could you tell if your dog might possibly have diabetes? In the wide majority of cases, it is not very common for younger dogs to contract diabetes, but if your pet is older than 4 years old and is exhibiting other symptoms, then the possibility for diabetes could be a real one. Diabetes in dogs is quite a bit more common in females. Many of a dog’s symptoms are much like those of diabetes in humans.

Symptoms for Dogs that have Diabetes

* Canine diabetes can begin with an out of shape, obese dog. This is not always true though; in some breeds it can be in the gene pool. Being obese can be a dangerous sign though.

* Diabetes typically occurs in dogs around the ages of 7 to 9.

* With larger dogs there is more of a possibility to contract diabetes than there is with a littler breed.

* Watch for unquenchable thirst. If this happens, do not try to limit your dog’s water intake. This is necessary because your dog will require all the water it wants to help keep from becoming dehydrated.

* Drinking so often means he/she will need to use the bathroom more often. Your pet, the one you’ve worked so hard to house train so well could start having accidents more often on your carpet. Why? They are not used to carrying around so much liquid in their bladder. Much like the chicken and the egg, and the debate of which came first, the need for water or the need to urinate has been discussed both ways.

* Your dog may begin dropping weight quickly and unusually, even though she is eating more and could start moving slowly and showing signs of being worn out, acting very fatigued.

* Your dog may start losing their eyesight, having issues seeing.

Preventing dog diabetes:

1. If you notice your dog beginning to put on weight, or if they are already overweight, lower the number of carbohydrates they take in. Yes, much like humans, a large number of carbohydrates add to to weight gain, which adds to the probability of diabetes. Many common dog foods have ingredients that include as much as 98% carbohydrates. Read the food labels and gather as much information as you can about your dog breed to make sure that he is receiving the correct amount of nutrients. Making the switch to a healthier dog food can be an great step towards the right direction.

2. Get plenty of exercise! A lot of dogs get diabetes that could be completely avoided if they had kept exercising and not gotten out of shape. This is where you and your family can pitch in, as the dog owners. If your dog stays lazy and out of shape, he can contract diabetes even if he is not a breed that is typically at risk.

As of this writing there is not a cure for diabetes. Work together with your vet to ensure that your dog gets the correct treatment and the correct medication to continue to have a happy life. Sometimes diabetes will remain all the way through your dog’s life span. To prevent diabetes symptoms in your dog, do your best to keep your dog’s weight appropriate, get him adequate exercise, and give the dog its medication on a regular basis along with enough water.

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Aug 14

There are several terms for a yeast infection, Thrush, Candidiasis, Candida. They are all the same thing, caused by the multiplying of a fungus, Candida Albicans. Anyone can be affected, both genders and any age.

The genital area and in particular the vagina, is a perfect breeding ground for the fungus and that is why vaginal yeast infections are the most frequent type to occur. This means that though not limited to women, it is more usual for it to happen to a woman. There are several causes or triggers that lead to the overgrowth, a few mentioned here are clothing, medication, pregnancy, improper drying after bathing, incorrect wiping after a bowel movement, not changing out of wet clothing, diabetes and diet. If you have a yeast infection you should treat it as quickly as you can, as ignoring it will not help, things can get worse. In extremely rare situations if the fungus was to enter the blood and attack internal organs it can even prove fatal.

Here are just three things you can easily do yourself that will help prevent yeast infections.

What you wear: The clothes and materials you wear can have a very large impact on raising or lowering your risk of yeast infection. Cotton or bamboo makes the ideal material for underwear as it allows the skin to breathe, keeping the vagina drier. Tight clothing like jeans, tight pants, panty hose and so on should be avoided or worn less often as it generates the perfect environment for the infection, warm, dark and wet.

Keep yourself dry: An easy and simple way to help prevent a yeast infection is to keep yourself dry. If the weather is hot and your underwear gets damp change it throughout the day. Do not sunbathe in a wet swimming costume, and after a workout get straight out of those sweaty exercise clothes. After your bath or shower dry the vagina thoroughly and after using the toilet make sure to wipe correctly.

Watch what you eat: Avoid certain foods like yeast such as in beer and bread. Particularly cut out sugar as it feeds the fungus. Eat more healthily i.e a diet low in processed and junk foods and high in vegetables. To help out your immune system give it plenty of Vitamin C whether in what you eat or as a supplement. Cranberry juice is a great drink to add to your diet and drink plenty of water each day.

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