In compiling these 12 real-life tales of pups rescuing people from life-threatening situations, I’m in awe of what incredible heroes they are. Their acts of valor show why dogs deserve our gratitude and respect every day.

1. A Puppy Survivor Saves A Little Girl

Peanut, an abused rescue pup adopted by a loving family, returned the kindness he received. One day, his dad discovered a naked, shivering 3-year-old girl near their home. She had wandered from an abusive situation and only uttered one word: “doggie.” Thanks to Peanut, both children were removed from that dangerous household.

2. A PTSD Service Dog Calls 9-1-1 For His Veteran

Terry McGlade relies on his service pit bull, Major, to get through each day due to debilitating PTSD after being wounded in Afghanistan. When Terry suffered a seizure one day, Major grabbed his cell phone, pawed at the screen to dial 9-1-1, and refused to hang up until help arrived. Major then waited out front to guide responders to his unconscious owner.

3. A Golden Takes A Rattlesnake Bite For His Human

While hiking with his owner, Paula Godwin, in Arizona, sweet golden retriever Todd leapt between her and a sudden rattlesnake attack. He took the venomous bite so she wouldn’t have to. Godwin later posted online that Todd is her “hero puppy.” That’s true love from a dog!

4. A War Dog Loses A Limb But Keeps Fighting

Layka, a military Belgian Malinois, was shot 4 times at close range by an enemy combatant while on a mission. The courageous dog kept working to protect her team until she received emergency treatment. Vets had to amputate Layka’s front leg, but this setback didn’t stop her valor. She was adopted by the soldier whose life she saved.

5. A Tiny Yorkie Saves Her Diabetic Dad

When Christine Brewer’s son, Michael, lost consciousness from low blood sugar, his little Yorkie, Jazzy, sprang into action. She barked persistently to get attention, kept pawing at her diabetic owner, and refused to leave his side until help arrived. If not for this pint-sized hero, Michael might not have survived.

6. A Loyal Dog Fends Off Predators After A Car Crash

Teenager Joseph Phillips-Garcia owes his life to his dog Sako. After their vehicle plunged over 100 yards into a Canadian forest, the resilient pup fought off coyotes in the remote area while Joseph awaited rescue with broken bones. The pair survived 40 dire hours in the wilderness thanks to Sako’s protection.

7. A New Puppy Gives A Suicidal Veteran Hope

Airman David Sharpe sat on his kitchen floor, ready to take his own life due to PTSD and depression. Suddenly, his new pit bull puppy Cheyenne plopped down next to him, licking his ear until he laughed. That sweet gesture reminded David he still had reasons to live. Cheyenne now serves as his unofficial therapy dog.

8. A War Dog Sacrifices Herself To Save Marines

Lucca, a decorated military German Shepherd/Malinois, served 6 years detecting IEDs and leading patrols, saving countless soldiers. While checking for explosives in Afghanistan, she ran ahead of her unit and located a hidden IED. When it detonated, Lucca shielded the troops, sacrificing herself. She survived and kept serving with her trademark resilience.

9. A Guide Dog Leads Her Blind Owner Down From The 78th Floor On 9/11

When the first plane hit the North Tower on September 11th, Yellow Lab guide dog Roselle remained focused getting her blind owner, Michael Hingson, and 30 others to safety. As they descended over 1,000 stairs through smoke and debris, Roselle guided perfectly until they all escaped minutes before the tower collapsed.

10. A Dog Rescues A Boy Clinging To A Pole In Rising Floodwaters

During devastating floods, Great Pyrenees-Lab mix Cooper got swept downstream yet still managed to offer lifesaving support to a terrified autistic boy clinging to a pole. Rescue boats saved both, and the grateful boy credited his survival to Cooper staying by his side.

11. A Family Pet Stops Traffic To Save Her Seizing Owner

When Clover the Maremma mix saw her owner having a seizure, she raced into the road to halt oncoming cars. The protective dog made sure help arrived for her mom, who now feels safer knowing Clover will always be there for her.

12. A Stray Dog Finds An Abandoned Newborn On Christmas Eve

In the Philippines, a stray dog selflessly spent Christmas Eve guiding people to an abandoned newborn in danger of dying. If not for the dog named Blacky alerting a passing motorcyclist who then alerted authorities, the helpless baby likely would not have survived the night.

What’s even more heartwarming than these stories is knowing that there are so many other dogs out there who are also heroes, yet their stories remain untold. Dogs give everything to protect us, and all they want in return is our love and care. We really don’t deserve such loyalty, but I will always be grateful for it.

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Common Poodle Eye Diseases

Poodles are predisposed to several inherited eye conditions including progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts and glaucoma. These diseases can lead to vision loss and blindness if left untreated. Being aware of the signs of eye disease allows early veterinary intervention which gives the best chance of preserving vision or slowing disease progression.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is an inherited, degenerative disease of the retina causing progressive vision loss leading to blindness. There are several forms of PRA that affect poodles. The most common form shows initial symptoms around 3-5 years old. Affected dogs lose sight in dim light and darkness first before eventually progressing to total blindness.

Signs of PRA include

• Reluctance to go out at night
• Difficulty navigating in dim light
• Dilated pupils
• Bumping into objects/walls

There is no treatment for PRA but animal health studies are working on gene therapy research to potentially restore partial vision loss from this disease in the future.

Cataracts

A cataract is an opacity in the lens of the eye that can cause blurry vision and eventual blindness if untreated. Cataracts are common in senior poodles over 6 years old but can develop at any age from inherited genetic conditions, diabetes, eye injury, or inflammation. Signs of cataracts include cloudy pupil color, clumsiness in dim light, excessive blinking or eye squinting and reluctance to go out at night.

Cataract surgery to remove the lens is an option to restore vision loss. After surgery, dogs require prescription eye drops multiple times per day for the rest of their lives. Recent advances in cataract surgery for dogs including phacoemulsification and artificial lens implantation are providing improved surgical outcomes.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma refers to increased pressure within the eye caused by inadequate drainage of intraocular fluid. Pressure on the retina and optic nerve eventually leads to blindness. Glaucoma is a painful condition and the eye often appears red due to inflammation and additional blood vessels on the white of the eye. Breeds with shallow eye sockets like poodles have an increased risk.

Middle to older aged dogs are most commonly diagnosed though it can occur at any age. Signs include:

• Squinting
• Redness
• Cloudy eye
• Enlarged eye
• Reluctance to go out at night
• Pawing at the eyes

Glaucoma requires immediate veterinary treatment to decrease pressure and save vision. This may include eye medications like beta blockers as well as surgery when needed. Even with aggressive treatment, damage cannot be reversed once nerve cells in the retina die from high pressure. Lifelong monitoring and medication are necessary once a dog develops glaucoma.

Other Poodle Eye Problems

In addition to major diseases, poodles can be affected by numerous other eye conditions including:

• Eyelid abnormalities – abnormal growth of eyelashes causing eye irritation. Often requires corrective surgery.
• Dry eye – insufficient tear production leading to eye redness and discomfort
• Eye infections – bacteria, viruses and fungi can cause conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• Eye injuries – foreign objects, scratches, blunt trauma. Can lead to infection, inflammation and vision loss. Requires rapid veterinary care.
• Allergies – environmental allergies to pollen or chemicals irritate the eyes

Protecting Your Poodle’s Eyes

While poodles are prone to inherited eye diseases later in life, there are several things you can do to keep their eyes healthy:

Get thorough ophthalmic exams
Starting as a puppy, regular eye exams by your veterinarian are important to evaluate for early signs of inherited diseases. Based on exam findings, genetic testing may be recommended for conditions like PRA. Annual exams after age 5 are especially crucial to identify age-related eye diseases early.

Feed a healthy diet
High quality dog foods support eye health. In particular, foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, vitamins E and C, zinc, beta carotene and lutein provide antioxidants to reduce cell damage in eye tissues. Avoid obesity which increases risk of diabetes and subsequent cataracts.

Control environment
Use harnesses instead of collars, keep floors free of clutter, supervise play with other pets and avoid activities where foreign material could enter eyes. These steps reduce injury risk. Also avoid exposing your poodle to secondhand cigarette smoke which contributes to eye disease.

Monitor for symptoms
Check your poodle’s eyes daily for redness, swelling, discharge or other abnormalities and see your vet promptly if you observe signs of eye discomfort or vision issues. Catching problems early is key to effective treatment.

Consider preventatives
Discuss using anti-inflammatory eye drops or glaucoma medications with your vet for at-risk dogs. Though eye diseases cannot always be prevented, these drugs may delay onset or slow progression in some cases.

In addition to watching for eye disease, good general health supports ocular wellness too. Grooming face and head hair regularly prevents hairs around the eyes that could scratch the cornea. Keeping ears clean reduces spread of bacteria and yeast that could travel to the eyes. And maintaining parasite prevention prevents organisms that can migrate into tissues surrounding the eyes.

Though poodles are prone to serious eye diseases, many dogs retain excellent vision well into their senior years. Close monitoring paired with prompt veterinary care when eye abnormalities appear gives your poodle the best chance of healthy eyes and clear sight throughout life. Committing to regular eye health evaluations and strict follow up when problems are found makes preserving vision possible. With extra attention to eye care, your poodle can continue enjoying everything the world has to see even as they grow older. I sincerely hope you find this “Poodle Eye Problems-Protecting Your Poodle’s Vision” article helpful.

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What is a Heart Murmur?

A heart murmur is an abnormal sound heard when listening to the heart with a stethoscope. It occurs due to turbulent blood flow within the heart. Normal blood flow between heart chambers makes a “lub-dub” sound. An extra sound like a whooshing or swishing noise in addition to the “lub-dub” indicates a murmur.

Heart murmurs are graded on a scale from I to VI, with grade I being the mildest and grade VI being the most severe. The loudness of the murmur does not necessarily correlate with its severity though. Some mild murmurs can be quite loud.

Causes of Heart Murmurs

There are two main categories of heart murmurs, systolic and diastolic. Systolic murmurs happen when the heart contracts. Diastolic murmurs occur when the heart relaxes between beats. The cause determines which type of murmur and where the abnormal sound occurs.

Congenital heart defects present from birth lead to abnormal blood flow and turbulence. This turbulence produces heart murmurs. Common congenital defects leading to murmurs in chihuahuas include:

• Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) – Failure of a fetal blood vessel to properly close after birth causes blood to abnormally flow between the aorta and pulmonary artery. This results in a continuous murmur.
• Pulmonic stenosis – Narrowing of the pulmonic valve causes a crescendo-decrescendo systolic murmur heard on the left side of the chest.

Acquired heart diseases can also cause murmurs in chihuahuas:

• Mitral valve disease is extremely common. The mitral valve separates the left atrium and left ventricle. As it deteriorates with age or infection, backflow and turbulence create a murmur during ventricular contraction.
• Dilated cardiomyopathy stretches the heart muscle leading to inefficient contractions and leakage between chambers. It produces soft murmurs.
• Endocarditis, an infection of the heart valves or lining, creates turbulent flow from inflamed, damaged tissue.

How Are Heart Murmurs Diagnosed?

Veterinarians detect heart murmurs with a stethoscope during a wellness exam or physical. However, further testing is needed to determine the cause and severity. Diagnostic options include:

• Chest x-rays check heart size and shape for signs of enlargement or fluid in the lungs suggesting heart failure.
• ECG records the heart’s electrical activity to evaluate rhythm and rate.
• Echocardiogram uses soundwaves to create images of the beating heart allowing thorough evaluation of structure and function.

Blood tests check for signs of infection or heart muscle damage. Oxygen saturation monitors can also be used. These noninvasive tests detect worsening function over time.

Managing Chihuahua Heart Murmurs

How a heart murmur is managed depends on the cause and severity. Mild murmurs may just require continued monitoring for progression. But treatment usually involves:

Lifestyle Changes – Restricting exercise and managing environmental temperatures prevents overexertion and heat stress on the cardiovascular system.

Medications – Drugs like ACE-inhibitors, diuretics, and vasodilators treat congestive heart failure and high blood pressure associated with some murmurs. Antibiotics treat bacterial endocarditis. Blood thinners help prevent clots with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Surgery – Procedures can repair structural defects like PDA. Metal implants can rebuild deteriorating mitral valves.

All cases require consistent veterinary follow-ups to monitor murmur grade, cardiac enlargement, fluid accumulation in lungs, and quality of life. Catching progression early allows rapid intervention.

Promoting Cardiovascular Health

You can help support your chihuahua’s cardiovascular system at any age through:

• Proper nutrition with dog food for heart health
• Achieving ideal body condition score to avoid obesity
• Regular exercise that avoids overheating
• Preventative care including heartworm, flea and tick medications
• Annual vet exams to screen for illness and establish baselines
• Learning CPR signs of canine cardiac distress
• Avoiding toxins like tobacco smoke
• Managing anxiety that raises heart rate/blood pressure

A heart murmur diagnosis can be scary. But being an educated and proactive chihuahua owner will give your dog the best chance at a high quality of life. Monitoring cardiovascular function is essential for early intervention if problems develop. With proper treatment and management, many dogs live happily for years after a murmur is detected. Stay in tune with your chihuahua’s health and you’ll be prepared if a concerning heart sound is ever heard. I sincerely hope you find this “Chihuahua Heart Murmurs-Monitoring Cardiovascular Health” article helpful.

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