If you have noticed fluid coming out of Fido’s eyes, you might have assumed that you’re your dog is crying. However, technically speaking, dogs cannot cry in the way that humans do. If a dog’s eyes are discharging liquid it is an indication that something is wrong.

Just about every creature with eyes has tear ducts of some sort, as fluid is critical to keeping the eye functioning. A dog’s tear ducts drain the liquid back into the dog’s nose and throat area. However, if these tear ducts become blocked in some way, tears may begin flowing out of the eyes. This eye discharge is referred to as epiphora in dogs. If you notice this condition in your dog, a veterinarian should be consulted.

Epiphora

While epiphora is not a disease or condition in itself, it is a sign of an issue with the dog’s eyes. Epiphora is not hard to spot, as the area around the dog’s eyes will likely be damp to fluid leaking out of the eye. Prolonged epiphora can cause issues such as skin irritation, typically resulting in reddish or brown patches of fur. If a dog’s face is constantly damp, it is possible that epiphora is the cause.

It is very important that you do not let this type of situation go untreated. There are many different causes for epiphora. Corneal ulcers, conjunctivitis, abnormal eyelashes, allergies, eye infections, and glaucoma are all conditions that can cause issues with your dog’s tear ducts. Each of these issues can in turn cause the fluid to leak from your pet’s eye. Treatment of the condition depends on which issue is causing the problem.

Certain breeds of dogs are at greater risk for epiphora then others, for instance the Papillion is very susceptible to epiphora. The anatomical design of a dog’s face can also play a role in how the fluid stays in puppy’s eye. Dogs that have squished in or flat faces may typically experience more leakage than other dogs. This is especially true in dogs that have lots of hair around the eyes.

In certain cases, your vet may need to intervene in order to re-open your pup’s tear ducts, thus hopefully allowing things to function properly once again. In this case, your veterinarian will first anesthetize your dog and flush out its eyes using a special instrument. Usually this is enough to open up the ducts and get things working properly again. In some cases the dog may need surgery to help correct the issue, but it just depends on the dog and his or her particular situation.

Until recently, it was thought that dogs didn’t get the flu, but now researchers have learned that this is not the case.

What Are The Symptoms Of Dog Flu?

Diagnosing dog flu can be difficult since many of the symptoms are the same as common respiratory diseases. A test is needed in order to confirm diagnosis. The following are symptoms of dog flu:

• Low fever
• Persistent cough
• Run1ny nose

Can Dogs Catch The Flu From Humans And Vice Versa?

Although people and dogs can both catch influenza viruses, they are susceptible to different strains of the virus. What this means is that you don’t need to worry about catching the flu from your dog. Researchers continue to keep an eye on this, but so far there has not been any evidence proving that humans can contract the virus from their pets. There has been some evidence that dogs might be able to catch the flu from people but there is still not enough data on the subject to either confirm or deny anything.

What Happens If A Dog Has The Flu?

The influenza virus in dogs is not highly contagious, so pet owners shouldn’t panic. However there is the possibility of dog flu leading to secondary infections that could develop into life threatening pneumonia. The good news is that with proper veterinarian care, your dog is most likely to make a full recovery. Experts have estimated that the fatality rate in dog influenza is only between 1-5%.

Most dogs that die from the flu have not been previously exposed to the virus and had no immunity. Therefore, nearly 100% of dogs exposed to the flu catch it, and 80% will show symptoms within 4 days.

Your dog is more likely to catch the flu if he or she has been to a boarding kennel, shelter, doggy daycare, dog park, or something along those lines. People who attend dog shows should also be on the look out for the virus.

How Is The Flu Treated In Dogs?

Treatment for the flu in dogs is very similar to that for humans. Since antibiotics do not work on the virus, the usual advice most veterinarians give pet owners is plenty of rest and fluids. However sometimes antibiotics may still be prescribed for secondary infections.

Is There A Flu Vaccine For Dogs?

A dog flu vaccine was approved in 2009 and is now available at most veterinary offices. Pet owners should know that the vaccine will not prevent a dog from getting the influenza virus, however it will lessen the severity and the duration of the virus. Whether or not you should vaccine your canine is entirely up to you. The vaccine consists of two shots and is given three weeks apart. These vaccines contain the killed virus and help build a dog’s immunity to the virus. So far there have not been any reported adverse reactions to the virus in dogs.

All species have been known to exhibit the occasional sexual preference to their own sex. Furthermore, homosexuality has been specifically well documented in animals and it is definitely a possibility that your dog and many other types of animals could be homosexual.

In fact, two male penguins (Roy and Silo) from the Central Park Zoo in New York City become well known for having a long lasting and monogamous homosexual relationship with each other for a number of years. Most members of the animal kingdom have been known to have relations with members of the same sex at any time.

Many dogs love apples and that’s okay because they are safe to eat. While they are a tasty and sugary treat, they are also very healthy and beneficial to dogs. That is because apples contain calcium, vitamin C, vitamin K, and pectin. There are many different ways that pet owners can feed an apple to dogs. They taste great when served as a frozen slice or wedged into puppy’s Kong. Some pet owner have served grated apples as a dinner topping or just given slices of apples to puppy as a small treat.

It is very important to note that while apples are generally safe for your dog to consume, apple seeds are not, as they contain cyanogenic glycosides which cause stomach upset and more serious problems in canines.

In addition, apple stems should also never be consumed. Dehydrated apples are also probably best left unfed to dogs as they contain all of the same nutrients as the hydrated ones, but contain no water.

While the types of viruses that affect humans and dogs are different, the symptoms are basically the same. When you put things that way, technically it is possible for a dog to exhibit cold like symptoms.

• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Runny or Stuffy nose
• Watery eyes

Since the type of cold that canines suffer from is different from the type of cold that we humans suffer from, the illness is not communicable between species, so there is no need to worry about catching your dog’s cold, or vice versa.

It is important however to take your dog to the vet if he or she is showing symptoms of a cold. Not only is this important so that your veterinarian can treat it, but also to differentiate from more serious health issues such as kennel cough which can be fatal.

It is true that bananas are safe for dogs to eat and in fact, many dogs love the sweet taste of bananas. This fruit will provide your dog with all kinds of nutrients that are beneficial to him or her.

When monitored closely, certain table foods such as bananas are fine to give to your dog every now and then as a small treat, but these types of food should never become a substitute for other foods your dog needs. As a general rule of thumb, no one food item, especially bananas and/or other table scraps should consist of more than 5% of your dog’s daily diet.

Generally, eggs are safe for dogs to eat as long as they are cooked. However, it should be noted that there is the possibility of doggy poo having a few side effects, the two biggest being weight gain and flatulence.

The Pros Of Eggs

Eggs are high in both fat and protein. It is for this reason that pet owners must be extremely careful with portion control when it comes to feeding your canine companion eggs. Most of the fat in an egg is stored in the yolk. One way to help keep fat down is to only give your dog the egg whites. In addition to being high in protein, one another pro to dogs eating eggs is that it helps keep their coats nice and shiny. Never feed your dog raw or undercooked eggs as they contain bacteria and your dog could get salmonella poisoning, food poisoning, or disease. Eggs can either be cooked or hard boiled and then given to doggy, but it is best to make sure that they have cooled down before handing them over to your pup. Eggs are great for dogs as a treat every now and then but should never be given to dogs on a regular basis. Only give your dog eggs in smaller portions and in moderation and he should be fine.