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Three Forms of Canine Arthritis
By D Swain

Canine arthritis is a condition in which there is inflammation in a joint. This inflammation can damage cartilage, fluid, or surrounding bones. There are three types of canine arthritis. They include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid, and septic. Let's take a look at these three types.

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of canine arthritis. This condition results in deterioration of cartilage and bone. This deterioration can occur over long periods of time with your dog displaying few symptoms. However, this form of canine arthritis gets worse as your dog ages and starts to cause extreme discomfort and pain.

Osteoarthritis is usually treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids. However, if this form of canine arthritis starts causing your dog extreme pain, surgery may be necessary. Other treatment options include daily exercise, healthy diet, and weight loss.

Rheumatoid

The next form of canine arthritis is rheumatoid. This condition occurs when your dog's immune system produces antibodies that attack protein in the body. Rheumatoid arthritis causes severe inflammation and pain. It can damage cartilage as well as tissues surrounding the area. This form of canine arthritis can affect any of your dog's joints. If it isn't treated quickly, your dog will suffer extreme pain. The condition is treated with cancer drugs and steroids.

Septic
The final form of arthritis that can affect your dog is the septic variety. This form of canine arthritis is caused by a fungal, viral, or bacterial infection that occurs in one of your dog's joints. This is commonly caused by a wound such as a dog bite. The organism travels through the bloodstream until it reaches a joint which it infects. Septic canine arthritis can be treated effectively with antibiotics if the infection is caused by bacteria.

As your dog gets older, his risk for developing serious health conditions increases dramatically. As a responsible owner, you may want to learn about some of the common dog illnesses that can affect your dog. So stop by today to read all about conditions such as canine seizures.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=D_Swain

Moosie & Simon
by robrob - SF Gate

Unpacking And Acclimatizing Your New Discus Fish
By Rob

I often get a knock on the door and am welcomed by a currier holding a polystyrene box covered in 'Fragile' and 'this way up' stuck all over it. My face will instantly light up and my hands rub together.

I'm sure you have or will be wanting to order discus fish from the internet or over the phone. If so, there are a couple of important factor you must first take into consideration. The main one is that you need to be sure you are getting quality fish, this may require looking at pictures of those fish and talking to the breeder or importer.

What I want to tell you about today is how to unpack and acclimatize your new fish.

Unpacking
You need to unpack one box at a time, don't go and open every box if you have 4 or 5. I know you want to look at your discus fish but please take your time. Take the lid off the first box and take one bag at a time out. Then open the bag, roll down the bag and float it in the water. Do this for the first box and then move onto the next stage.

Acclimatizing
Now the bags of discus are floating in the water, you need to use a little jug or something similar to gently pour tank water into the bag. You need to do this every five minutes for the next 30 minutes. This helps the fish get used to the difference in ph and water hardness. Then one bag at a time, tip the bag on its side and let the discus fish swim out in its own time.

Once you've done this for the first box then move on to the next.

You can also add some 'stress coat' or 'melafix' type product into your tank. I sometimes do this and have had positive results with discus settling a little quicker.

Leave dim lights on and don't feed for 24 hours.

Your discus should then be settled in fine within a week

About the Author: Rob owns Discus Fish Secrets website helping beginners and advanced fish keepers with discus problems including keeping and breeding them. Please visit the site for more information on discus and breeding discus.
Source: www.isnare.com

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin pets Labrador dog Tonik during his meeting with Russian rescue workers in his Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow June 6, 2008.
REUTERS/Pool