The symptoms discussed here are only a selection of the more common types of thing that can cause your dog problems. If you notice these symptoms or anything else you are unsure of you should contact your vet immediately, early detection of problems will save your pet more discomfort in the long run and it is often quite astounding how quickly some diseases can take hold and cause other health problems for your dog

The Respiratory Tract: The most common problem that affects the respiratory tract is some kind of obstruction that occurs.

Watch for: Mouth breathing, Persistent sneezing accompanied by nasal discharge, Gagging, Snoring, Hacking cough, Nasal discharge, Retching, Vomiting, and Rapid and Shallow respiration.

The Urogenital System: Watch for the following symptoms and consult your veterinarian if symptoms persist.

Trouble Signs: Depression, Vomiting, Diarrhoea, Rise in temperature, Pain in the kidney region, Scanty Urine Flow, Foul Breath, Weight Loss, Digestive upsets, Nervousness, Lumbar Pain, Straining to urinate, Frequent urination becoming uncontrollable, Blood in the urine, and walking in a crouched position.
General Infection: Dogs are susceptible to a wide range of bacterial and viral infection. The best way to prevent these types of infections is to vaccinate your dog. Puppies should be fully vaccinated by 12 weeks of age, and should receive their rabies vaccination at 6 months of age, and every year thereafter. Many infections can be extremely serious and life threatening. If you see any of these warning signs, you should consult your veterinarian immediately!

Trouble Signs: Runny eyes, Runny Nose with white discharge, Coughing, Red Throat, Fever, Loss of appetite, listlessness, Enlarged Tonsils, Intense thirst, Diarrhoea, Blood in the stool, Muscle stiffness, Rigidity of the tail, Stiffness in gaiting, and Vomiting.

Please do not let this list of symptoms and problems put you off owning and loving a dog, they are a great addition to any loving family and the purpose of this article is not to scare you, it is just you are going to be spending a lot of time in close contact with a member of the family who can not tell you if they are feeling unwell. We hope that if you are able to recognise the signs of a problem then you will be able to give the dog the help he needs.

http://www.tall-indoor-dog-gates.com Tall indoor dog gates is a site dedicated to dog training and healthcare - give us a visit.

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Healthcare professionals are under pressure to remember, utilize and absorb vast amounts of new or changing information in increasing volume. This surge has led to new and improved computer-based tools for many healthcare activities and to an explosion in the marketplace of tools used in instruction and education of healthcare workers. This article explains the use of interactive technology in healthcare and how this benefits instruction and education of healthcare professionals.

Digital systems that capture images from documents, 35-mm slides, physical samples or specimens, or virtually anything that the camera lens can see, is found in interactive technology. In healthcare, transmitting these images to computers with simple devices or software that will allow the display and integration of educational material into the training environment is easily accommodated.

The method for delivering these images or documents, usually via PowerPoint presentations, photography, videotape or audio presentations can turn a standard Windows PC into a dynamic, interactive, teaching tool. Depending on the type of training environment needed, interactive presentations can be found in the use of liquid crystal displays, large plasma displays, rear projection systems or even whiteboards. Educators can now tailor their courses to their audience’s expectations and needs using any number of these presentation forms.

Effectiveness of interactive learning systems is largely dependent upon the type or form of delivery used in combination with software that is easily used by both novice and expert users. Smaller systems will use a pen or stylus vs. a computer and a mouse where larger systems may use elaborate videoconferencing systems where many participants can be in the virtual classroom at the same time. Many healthcare organizations already utilize small and large types of communication systems routinely in the delivery of quality, high-tech healthcare to patients and their community. Adapting this equipment or having it serve dual purposes is an easy and cost-effective transition.

The era of the blackboards and chalk dust is now a memory for most of us. Interactive technology tools permit the educator to draw on, write on, and annotate data right on the screen as part of their dynamic presentation. In addition, the educator can now annotate their presentation and then save, print and even distribute by email, the contents of the class session to all participants.

The mobility that interactive technology gives the educator in the virtual classroom lends itself to unlimited types of uses and methods for delivery of high quality, interactive, sessions. Participants, too, benefit from easy access to the sessions, improved and more accurate note-taking that can be used later for study and reference. This all leads to greater retention of the learning objectives and enhanced or improved application in the field once the participant returns to the office or department.

Healthcare professionals should look for educators and learning systems that combine ergonomics with interactive technologies that integrate use the user of free text, annotation, images and video clips with the traditional printed materials. Transitions between screens or programs, linking to the Internet and class sessions, downloading or printing of the course materials and saving of files or information for future classes or reference use should be easy and simple to use. The presentation and delivery of the educational material should be efficient and easy to use and tailored to use by both healthcare professionals that have varying levels of technological skills.

Regardless of whether healthcare workers are new to the workplace or seasoned professionals, the learning systems used should assist them with learning new skills, procedures, diagnostic techniques and terminology. Communication between healthcare workers in both local and distant communities is on the rise and the use of interactive technology enables the participants to collaborate and share critical data and information.

Interactive technology can also benefit the bottom line and reduce costs formerly associated with travel or staffing and resources to send workers to local, regional or national meetings. Interactive presentations and systems can also attract and hold the participants interest and attention, enhancing their learning and retention gained from the course(s).

It is no wonder, then, that interactive technology has gained such a strong and prominent position in the education of healthcare workers. Healthcare workers looking for either online, distance or local training should evaluate the presentation and delivery systems used in order to maximize their learning experience.

PUBLISHING RIGHTS:
You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your e-book or on your website, free of charge, as long as the author’s information and web link are included at the bottom of the article and the article is not changed, modified or altered in any way. The web link should be active when the article is reprinted on a web site or in an email. The author would appreciate an email indicating you wish to post this article to a website, and the link to where it is posted.

Copyright 2005, M. A. Webb. All Rights Reserved

Michele has 20+ years experience in oncology healthcare, including Cancer Registry management. You can learn more about cutting-edge learning tools and opportunities by visiting her WeTrainU blog, Cancer Registry and online training site (eStudy4U).

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My grandmother died last year. She passed away after an eight month stay in a nursing home, following a stroke that had taken her speech and much of her mobility. In the last months that she was alive, I witnessed my family scrambling to figure out what to do in case she would live that way for many years, while at the same time, hastily throwing together plans in preparation for her eventual death. In retrospect, much of the stress and disagreements that ensued might have been avoided if we had held a mediation session beforehand.

Before the stroke, my grandmother had also begun to exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, and I watched as this once spunky woman became troubled by her increasing inability to remember the simplest of things. She had never had to rely on anyone, having been the one to take care of everyone else, and my grandfather found himself becoming more and more her caretaker as the time went by. For the three years we knew the diagnosis, there was no coordinated sit-down among the family members to determine her feelings about what was happening to her, nor were there any proactive decisions as to what the future might hold regarding her care, although the family did check in regularly and monitor her progress. It took something exigent before any firm action was taken, and at that point it became a tremendous dilemma to solve.

Due to advances in medicine, heightened attention to diet, and desire to maintain an active lifestyle, people are now living longer than ever. (My grandmother, at 87, was still walking several miles a day just prior to her unexpected stroke.) But, in the blink of an eye, our lives can drastically change, and it is imperative that our wishes are made known to the people around us, so that they aren’t left guessing what to do if a life-changing event should occur. Mediation is a growing field of alternative conflict resolution that allows families to come up with their own solutions to their problems. Both sides meet with a neutral third party, called a mediator, who helps them to focus and spell out their agreements in a document termed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This document would be used in the future to execute necessary plans.

Elder mediation, in addition to a core mediator, often utilizes the services of trained professionals such as nurses and family therapists. Their presence helps to inform family members of options available and assists with the emotions that may arise. This collaborative environment, unlike an informal gathering at home where there may not be focus, allows for cooperative and deliberate decision-making, and, at the conclusion, ensures that delicate circumstances, should they occur in the future, will be handled with ease.

Whether you are an elder or the family of an elder, here are some of the things that are important to sort out through a mediation session:

If you are an elder, do you have a specific view about the way things currently are, and possibly know things about which your child/children may not be aware? If you are the child of an elder, do you have specific concerns about the health/mental state of your parent that you feel you need to address?

Are there any directives for a living will? If your life is being supported by a machine, is there a finite time period during which you would want to remain on that support? If you were to lose consciousness, do you want to be resuscitated?

If you are currently sick, do you have a vision for your treatment, and are there options that you do not wish to consider under any circumstance?

If you become incapacitated, what services would you need in order to live? Is there a desired nursing care facility you would want? Would you access private care? Would you move to the home of a child, sibling, or other friend/relative for care? Would you designate someone specific to make decisions for you on your behalf in the event that you were unable?

Who is responsible for payment of essential services? Would a portion be paid by Medicare, private insurance, personal savings, or the savings of the children, siblings or other friend/relatives?

If you should pass away, what are your wishes regarding funeral arrangements? Would you want to be buried, cremated, or possibly donated to science? It is crucial for those left behind to know now so that your desires may be followed.

Once an MOU is drafted, it can also be the starting point for legal documents such as a will or a living will; however, it is important to check the requirements for your specific state, either by investigating on your own or by obtaining the advice of an attorney, to make sure that all requirements are met to make your agreement legal and valid.

The time to devise solutions to the challenges you might face later in your life, or for the life of a loved one, is now. It is optimistic to think that families bond more strongly during times of crisis, but, unfortunately, chaotic events can often turn essential discussions into something contentious. Therefore, seize control of your destiny and make an appointment for mediation today.

Jennifer D. Grassini is the Executive Assistant for IADR - The Institute for Advanced Dispute Resolution (http://www.advanced-resolution.com), a school which provides in-depth specialized training in mediation, including specific instruction in healthcare mediation techniques. IADR also offers mediation services for the community through their practicum program. She is passionate about the mediation process, and speaks to various groups regarding the benefits of alternative dispute resolution.

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