What You Should Know About A Dog's Kidney Disease

Both older dogs and puppies can get canine kidney disease. However, it is most common - and sometimes unavoidable - for older dogs. The bad news is that most of this diseases do not have any noticeable symptoms. This makes it very hard for pet owners to recognize. Usually, when kidney failure does get noticed, the damage has already been done. Symptoms only become noticeable when the case has turned severe.

Kidney disease in dogs can be caused by a lot of things. However, dogs are most likely to get it because of age more than anything. It is the kidney's function to screen out any toxins in the dog's bodies. As time goes by, the organ wears down. The same amount of toxins the dog usually ingests may be too much for the old kidney. It is not able to function as well. Underlying diseases may also bring on dog's kidney disease. Cancer, for example, will lower your dog's resistance to toxins, making him prone to kidney diseases. Cancer-related medicine will also affect your dog's system. Some autoimmune disorders can cause kidney disease. Fungal infections, viruses and parasites can also cause kidney problems. Furthermore, if your dog has any genetic predispositions to the disease, he will be more likely to develop it.

Knowing your dog's behavioral patterns is the best way to diagnose this disease early on. This way, you'll notice when there is a break in the regular routine. Keep a close eye on your dog, especially if he has been around for quite some time. If your dog becomes abnormally thirsty, while he doesn't urinate frequently, it might be time to visit a vet. Other indicators that he might have this disease include: uncontrollable bladder, sudden weight loss, and vomiting. Dogs with kidney disease also aren't very energetic.

Treatment for kidney disease in dogs can vary, depending on how severe your dog's case might be. Fluid therapy is often prescribed to dogs with the disease. This allows him to flush out the toxins in his system that may be causing the disease. Furthermore, it replenishes the hydration in his body. A strict diet is also recommended for the dog. If your dog has chronic kidney disease, he may need maintenance. When kidney disease stays untreated, it could lead to hazardous and lethal results. Kidney failure can cause the dog's whole body to go into shock, shutting down his other major organs.

Kidney problems in dogs can certainly prevent, it is the owner's responsibility to keep their dogs safe from the disease. Instead of feeding your dog large meals, try breaking them up into smaller, more frequent meals. Cottage cheese, eggs and yoghurt are all great for a dog's kidneys. Also, if he is not eating, you might want to give him some appetite stimulant so that he does not lose nourishment. Prevention is always the best weapon against kidney problems in dogs. Regular check-ups with the vet are recommended, so kidney disease can be diagnosed early on.

Piriformis Syndrome Treatment by Physiotherapists

Physiotherapists and other manual therapists recognise piriformis syndrome as a cause of buttock and leg pain which sometimes simulates sciatic symptoms. The piriformis muscle is very close to the sciatic nerve as it traverses the buttock and nerve compression or irritation have been put forward as reasons for the pain. Piriformis syndrome is not recognised universally outside physiotherapy and other therapy professions but the diagnosis is gaining credence.

The piriformis muscle is flat and small, lying in the centre of the buttock, taking its origin from the sacral area and inserting on to the top of the greater trochanter of the thigh, the bony prominence easily felt on the side of the leg below the hip. It either turns the leg outwards or moves the thigh away from the body, depending on the position of the hip. The sciatic nerve and the piriformis muscle vary in their structure and position in the buttock. Typically the muscle lies behind the nerve but in some cases the piriformis is divided into two parts with the sciatic nerve passing between them.

There are no clear causative factors for piriformis syndrome which seems to accompany other lumbar or pelvic pains. Direct trauma to the area can cause bleeding and scarring around the nerve and the muscles, with consistent pressure to the buttock perhaps affecting the nerve's function. The syndrome can also be associated with an increased lordotic posture, hip replacement or vigorous activity and mimics back pain syndromes such as sciatica. Physiotherapists diagnose and treat piriformis syndrome on purely clinical grounds as there are no agreed diagnostic criteria, imaging or other tests.

Piriformis syndrome is often not considered as a cause of low back and leg pain but can mimic sciatic nerve compression, giving symptoms similar to back pain with L5 or S1 nerve compression from disc or joint changes. Cases of trochanteric bursitis may be connected to this syndrome as the muscle inserts onto the trochanter. Physio clinical examination will find intense pain over the piriformis trigger point in the buttock, reduced lateral rotation of the hip, pain and weakness on resisted hip abduction and lateral rotation and a difficulty sitting on the affected buttock.

Physiotherapists use many treatment modalities to improve piriformis symptoms but partly due to the lack of a clear diagnosis there is no agreed scientific treatment approach. Physios check the findings such as tightness in the piriformis, hip external rotator and adductor muscles, hip abductor weakness, sacro-iliac and lumbar dysfunction, externally rotated hip in walking, apparent leg shortening and a shorter stride length.

If the physiotherapist finds that the piriformis and other muscles are tight then treatment consists of loosening up the hip joint followed by stretches of the muscle. Stretching the muscle is performed in lying with the hip flexed, pulling the hip into adduction and internal rotation. A home stretching programme is important, with regular stretching every two or three hours in the acute phase. If the piriformis is looser than expected the Physio may exercise the muscle to tighten it up and stretch out the tight structures which oppose this tendency.

Local manipulation is a common treatment directly over the most painful point in the buttock, which can be very tender indeed. Transverse or longitudinal mobilisations over the muscle is the technique used, maintaining the pressure steadily for up to 10 minutes initially. Treatment of the back and sacro-iliac joints is important to address any dysfunction which might contribute. Modifying posture and activity, muscle injections, mobilisations and stretching are commonly successful in reducing symptoms. In resistant cases surgery to the muscle or the tendon at the greater trochanter may be contemplated.

Joint Pain Relief - Herbal Medications

Aside from over-the-counter medications, there are also herbal alternatives that are best suited for joint pain relief. Herbal medicines have been tried and tested by the majority of cultures and countries and at times, deemed more effective compared to the chemically concocted drugs. The foremost advantage of using herbal medications is that they are considered safer to use, cheaper, and readily accessible. You might be surprised that solutions for your aching joints can be easily located in your kitchen, garden, or from local groceries.

Joint pain is considered natural for all individuals since its one of the side-effects of aging. All solutions therefore can only target the elimination or reduction of its inflammatory symptoms. Among the widely used herbs for joint pain include the following:

Ginger

Ginger is a very common ingredient used in cooking, but a lot of people are not familiar with the healing benefits of this herb. Ginger can be used to help improve several throat and stomach problems through its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. For joint pain relief, ginger works by inhibiting the production of leukotrienes, prostaglandin, and thromboxane, natural body chemicals that cause inflammation around the joints and other body parts that are injured. If you can't bear chewing or eating ginger on itself, it can be added to your regular drink like tea, warm beverages, etc.

White Willow Bark

Before aspirins came, the bark of white willow tree is already a standard in treating joint pains. White willow natively grows in Asia and parts of Europe. Its bark is known to contain salicin or acetylsalicylic acid, one of the active ingredients of most aspirin today. Compared to the regular aspirin tablets or capsules sold in the market, the white willow bark provides longer anti-inflammatory effects and don't produce irritating side-effects on the stomach. This herb can be bought in bark form which can be added to your drink, or in capsulated form.

Cayenne

Cayenne is a topical solution for the symptoms of arthritis or for joint pain relief. The herb is a type of pepper that produces heating effects when applied on the joints or the surface of the skin. Among its components is capsicum, one of the ingredients commonly used in the production of ointments, liniments, or topical cream solutions.

Turmeric

Turmeric is also one of the popular herbal medicines traditionally known to possess anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric is also termed as curcumin in several countries. The herb is effective in prevention and cure of certain conditions like arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis pain, and certain liver concerns.

Alfalfa Leaf

The leaf of the alfalfa plant is also effective for joint pain relief. Instead of inhibiting or counteracting the causes of inflammation, the leaf primarily ensures the health or provision of nutrition around the joints to prevent swelling and pain. The leaf can be prepared and taken together with your hot or cold beverages or regular drinks.

Cherry Juice or Extract

If you love eating fruits, why not try adding up cherry juice or extract in your diet if you suffer from chronic joint pains. Cherry is noted for its relaxing and anti-inflammatory properties by producing certain active alkaloids like anthrocyanadins. The fruit also contains antioxidants that help in reducing known toxins like nitric oxide that contribute to arthritic pain.

Part 1: The Best Bed For Back Pain

A comfortable bed is one of the greatest things a person with back pain can have. A good bed should be firm enough to support the body in alignment but not so firm as to apply pressure to the hips, shoulders and other points of contact.

Frames

Box springs accompanied by sparse metal frames have been the most common type of bed for some time in the U.S. The metal frame outlines the box spring; some have extra bars to provide additional support. The box spring itself is relied upon for most of the structural support of the bed. Box springs consist of a wooden and/or metal frame which houses rows of springs. The springs allow for cushioning and movement while the frame provides structural support. Box spring mattresses are bed bases and are meant to be used with another mattress on top.

Recently, box springs have begun to fall out of favor. Over time they warp, sag and fail to provide proper support to the body. This is especially of note to people with back pain. Warped or sagging beds cause the spinal and hip joints to fall out of alignment. This can lead to joint and muscle pain as the muscles are relied upon to maintain alignment.

The West is just coming around to the type of sleeping accommodations other cultures have been using throughout history. There is no conclusive research on the best type of bed for people with back pain, but plenty of anecdotal evidence exists that a firm, flat sleeping surface is advantageous. A quick internet search will reveal a number of forum posts from people whose back pain has been diminished or reduced by sleeping on the floor, for example.

Yet the answer may be different for everyone. The floor is not an ideal bed for many. Sleeping on the floor without a mattress may apply too much pressure to your hips and shoulders and cause joint pain, for example. Placing the mattress of your choice directly on the floor may solve that problem, however, the lack of ventilation between the mattress and the floor can cause mold and mildew issues. Also, getting in and out of bed is more difficult when it is at floor level.

Platform bed frames are meant to mimic the structural benefits of sleeping on the floor but eliminate the mold and elevation concerns around it. Platform frames are very low to the ground, however. They are usually constructed of a flat wooden slab that is raised slightly from the floor. Platform frames provide a stable base for the mattress of your choice without the risk of warping or sagging.

Panel frames are similar to platform frames, but instead of one solid slab, panel beds have a number of wooden panels that fit together to form a base. These bed frames have the advantage of extra height, a footboard and a head board, but they generally require extra support in the form of a box spring or bunkie board to prevent the mattress from sagging in between panels. A bunkie board is simply a thin piece of plywood coated in fabric that provides extra support to your bed. While this eliminates the need for a box spring, it adds an extra component to your bed configuration, which means an extra cost.

Cost

Panel and platform beds have clear advantages over typical box spring frames. Platform beds have the advantage of simplicity and cost over panel beds. Platform beds are simpler in design; some have drawers built into them which raises the price, but a basic queen-size platform frame can be purchased for under $150. Panel designs are more ornate and tend to cost over $300, depending on size. Bunkie boards tend to cost at least $50, and the price varies by size.

If you're a do-it-yourself type, consider building your own frame or bunkie board. Instructions for building your own platform bed frame can be found at
http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/modern-platform-bed/index.html. To learn how to make your own bunkie board, see http://www.ehow.com/how_5103896_make-bunkie-board.html.

When choosing between a platform and panel bed frame, consider the cost and decorative comparisons. Platform frames can be purchased inexpensively if simplicity is your goal. Panel beds are more decorative but also more expensive and require an extra component for support. Next, let's look at the best mattress options for these types of frames.

What Causes Joint Pain? - What You Need to Know About Inflammation

When your body is pain-free, you probably don't think much about your joints. It's only when you wake up with stiff knees, sore knuckles or swollen ankles that you're suddenly aware you even have joints.
 
But even then, some of us don't heed the wake-up call, thinking the pain will go away soon. Sometimes it does. Unfortunately, once your joints become inflamed and troublesome, the spiral of worsening arthritis is often already in motion. Suddenly you  don't have any choice other than to take your joints seriously.
 
It's amazing how a little bout of pain can suddenly compel you to seek whatever it takes to manage the deteriorating joint and its soreness. Your goal now is to reverse the arthritis spiral so you can return to a mobile and pain-free life.
That's why it's important to pay attention to the first signs of inflammation.
 
Watch for Early Signs of Inflammation

Many common problems we experience including arthritis, the gum disease known as gingivitis, heart disease and the skin complaint called psoriasis have something in common, even though they effect very different parts of us. The common denominator is inflammation. And it doesn't end there for researchers now believe that inflammation, especially when it goes into a chronic and  long term phase, is also associated with many other conditions ranging from asthma and eczema through to diseases of the bowel.

Inflammation is your immune system's first reaction against infection, and it's a very effective one. When a pin pricks your skin, it damages cells and allows invader-like bacteria into your body.
 
Specialized Cell Help Kicks In Immediately

When strange bacteria enter the body, your immune system goes to work immediately, calling in assistance from different types of specialized cells, each with their own task. Mast cells -  special immune cells - release histamine, along with other immune messengers known as cytokines, to alert your body to the problem. Histamine encourages more blood flow to the injured area, hence the redness and swelling.
 
Even before the histamine reinforcements arrive, macrophages, which are the "large gobbling cells" found mostly in connective tissue and the skin, enter into the action; these also attack the bacteria and clean up damaged cells. It's a bit like sending in the cleaning crew after a wild street fracas. Other immune cells speed to the area, intensifying the fray, and as the area is cleared, and pathogens eliminated, a new group of cells called platelets arrive to begin the healing process.

Truly, the body is a remarkable machine.
 
Your Body's Response: Hot, Red, Swollen and Painful

With so much happening in the injured area, it's natural for it to become hot, red, swollen and painful. The heat is produced by the extra blood flow to the injured area. Redness occurs because the battle and repair processes are underway. And the area usually becomes swollen because of all the fluid and immune cells at the site. This all happens quite quickly, and pain is often the first indicator of inflammation.
 
Pain makes you take notice and stop moving the affected area to prevent further injury. Think about the last time you got bitten by a mosquito or flossed too vigorously and ruptured your gum: your tissues becomes inflamed, swollen and sensitive to touch.  
 
How Chronic Inflammation Can Lead to Arthritis

Inflammation is your body's way to ensure that invaders don't get in and create more damage. However, when inflammation becomes low-grade and chronic, your immune system stays revved up and this "fighting mode" damages healthy tissues in the crossfire. Scientists now realize that this life-saving process, designed to ward off bacteria and viruses, can go on to actually create  disease when left unchecked. It leads to the painful and damaging inflammation that attacks our arteries and organs as well as our joints. 
 
If the inflammation refuses to die down, and continues for prolonged periods, permanent damage may result. Which is often happens with Rheumatoid arthritis, a common type of chronic arthritis where you notice swelling and pain in both small and large joints.
 
The fact that we are living a lot longer than our ancestors did may also be contributing to inflammation for as we age, our ability to shut off the inflammatory process often weakens. And many lifestyle and environmental factors can make the process even worse as they promote inflammation. So for example getting overstressed, smoking, having high insulin levels or even contracting a virus or a parasite can all promote the inflammatory process within our body.
 
So if you want to take a pre-emptive approach and stave off chronic inflammation and possible arthritis, watch your lifestyle habits. Simple things like weight control, exercise and modifications to your diet can help in the treatment of many types of arthritis.

The Condition Called Arthritis

There are hundreds of thousands of people who suffer from a condition commonly called arthritis. Arthritis in the literal sense means inflammation of the joints. In fact it is not a single disease, rather it refers to a whole cluster of over a 100 rheumatic diseases and conditions. In earlier days certain conditions that were generalized into the category of rheumatic diseases were rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lupus, Fibromyalgia, and tendonitis.

Typically a part of your body can become inflamed due to arthritis at any age and some of these conditions can really be crippling by putting you in life threatening predicaments. If left undiagnosed or unattended it can affect other parts of your body like the bones, muscles and sometimes even some of your internal organs. Arthritis is a condition that can even affect children. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis which is also called degenerative joint disease is the consequence of wear and tear, meaning that the pressure exerted brings on physical injury to the joints and the tissues around that joint. As a result of this you suffer pain, inflammation and reduced movements. In the early stages of this condition this ailment is not inflammatory and you hardly realize you have it as its progress is very slow and causes pain only in some joints like the knees, hips, spine and hands. But as you grow older the risk increases.

On the other hand rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that starts off when your own immunity system fights the synovial fluid in the joints. This condition is chronic and far more debilitating causing pain in the joints, stiffness, swelling and in more severe cases loss of joint functioning. Though the causes for the ailment are not very clear, it can to a great extent be attributed to genetic factors.

Gout is another terribly painful form of arthritis that brings on severe and sudden attacks of pain, redness, tenderness, swelling, etc to the joints particularly to the big toe. It is believed that the inflammation related to gout is caused by the crystals of uric acid that get accumulated in the joints from the blood.

There is no cure for this condition but there are many different ways you can get relief from the symptoms of various types of arthritis. You can relieve pain and attempt to arrest deterioration with allopathic, Ayurvedic and homeopathic medications.

Causes of Back Pain - Osteoarthritis

Dubbed "the wear-and-tear arthritis," osteoarthritis causes the breakdown of the joint's cartilage, which is the part of the joint that cushions the ends of bones. Cartilage breakdown causes bones to rub against each other, causing pain and loss of movement. One of the most common types of arthritis, affecting one in seven Americans (mostly after age forty-five and more often women than men), OA is also called degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease, or hypertrophic arthritis, and it particularly affects hands and weight-bearing joints such as those found in the back, knees, hips, and feet.

Although the exact cause is not known, genetics play a role in who is more susceptible to early cartilage breakdown. Other risk factors include obesity, previous joint injuries, and jobs that put stress on joints. Although age is a risk factor, doctors now know that OA is a disease, rather than part of "natural aging." Most people over sixty reveal the disease on X-ray, but only about one-third of those with positive X-rays have actual symptoms in the form of lower back pain.

Effects range from very mild to severe joint stiffness and pain and can include limited movement and loss of dexterity, sometimes swelling of affected joints, and cracking or grating sounds with joint movement. Weather changes, especially to cold, damp weather, may increase the ache.

Back pain treatment for osteoarthritis focuses on decreasing pain and improving joint movement. Acetaminophen can help reduce mild pain without inflammation; and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin, are recommended if there is inflammation or the acetaminophen doesn't help.

Other treatments include use of heat or cold for temporary pain relief; exercises to keep joints flexible; and weight control to prevent extra stress on joints. Recently, the National Institutes of Health concluded that acupuncture can be an alternative or addition to conventional osteoarthritis care. In severe cases, surgery is another option.

Osteoarthritis should not be confused with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a disease of the autoimmune system that attacks many joints throughout the body simultaneously and often begins between the ages of twenty-five and fifty but can occur in children as early as infancy.

Developing within weeks or months, rheumatoid arthritis usually affects small joints of the hands and feet, causing redness, warmth and swelling. Symptoms can include general feelings of sickness and fatigue, as well as weight loss and fever; and prolonged morning stillness. An antibody called a rheumatoid factor may be found in the blood. For this, and all types of arthritis, a rheumatologist is the medical professional to see.