Bark n Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk

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Through the telling of stories crafted to inspire love, understanding, and advocacy for wildlife, veterinarian and conservation photographer Rick LeCouteur’s journey has evolved beyond clinics and teaching, into the enchanting realm of children's literature, including his upcoming children’s book Nasty Names Are Hurtful: An Australian White Ibis in the City [November 12th, 2024]. Through his stories about animals, Rick seeks to cultivate in young readers a sense of curiosity, empathy, and responsibility toward the natural world. Rick brings a unique perspective, blending expertise in conservation photography, digital art, wildlife expeditions, and a career as a veterinary neurosurgeon to create captivating stories that educate and inspire young readers. In interviews, articles, and expert commentary. About Dr. Rick LeCouteur Based on a childhood spent immersed in the rustic charm of rural Australia, Rick’s love for animals blossomed into a lifelong career as a veterinary educator, conservation photographer, and advocate for animal well-being. Currently, as director of education for a company dedicated to introducing people to the wonders of wildlife in remote locations, Rick shares his love and knowledge of animals with enthusiasts of all ages. Through the telling of stories crafted to inspire love, understanding, and advocacy for wildlife, Rick’s journey has evolved beyond clinics and teaching, into the enchanting realm of children's literature. Through his stories about animals, Rick seeks to cultivate in young readers a sense of curiosity, empathy, and responsibility toward the natural world. Moreover, Rick’s narratives serve as a clarion call for environmental stewardship in the face of climate challenges. Rick believes that by nurturing young minds with the mystery and fascination of animals, we can sow the seeds of compassion and a deep reverence for the delicate balance of life on our planet. Through his stories and illustrations, Rick hopes to kindle imagination in young hearts and to inspire a new generation of animal lovers and conservationists. Richard A. LeCouteur, DVSc, PhD, Diplomate ACVIM(Neurology), Diplomate ECVN, FANZCVS (Hon. Causa), MRCVS Professor Emeritus, Neurology & Neurosurgery, University of California, Davis Author/Illustrator Website https://www.ricklecouteur.com Vet-Ex https://www.facebook.com/Veterinary-Expeditions-LLC-491712164350575/ https://www.veterinaryexpeditions.com Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-le-couteur-61294218/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ricklecouteur/

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You're listening to Bark and Wag's 15 Minute Vet Talk. Each week your host Polly Requa interviews veterinarians and individuals in the pet industry from across the nation answering pet questions. Bark and Wag podcast is produced weekly for your enjoyment and show notes can be found at barkandwag. com under the podcast tab.

That's B A R K N W A G. com. Please remember to subscribe to Bark and Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk. Thank you for listening to Bark and Wag 15 minute vet talk. Bark and Wag is dedicated to protecting our dogs through advocacy, education, and supporting like minded dog lovers by selling custom pet products. Bark and Wag is excited to announce our new partnership with a Colorado hemp farm to produce a line of CBD products for your pets.

Bark and Wag has CBD pet tincture available in 300, 750, 1200, and 2400 milligrams. Bark and Wag CBD is pet safe, no THC. It's made in the USA and is CO2 extracted. Please check out Bark and Wag's website, barkinwag. com, that is B A R K the letter N W A G. com to see our line of CBD and awesome merchandise.

We love pooch ideas for podcasts and merchandise, so anytime send an email to polly at barkinwag. com with your suggestions. Welcome to Bark and Wag 15 minute vet talk. I'm your host, Polly Requa. Today we're talking to Shelby, executive director of Texas Humane Legislation Network. We're going to talk about registering to vote, looking up animal voting records in your state, scorecards. Welcome Shelby. Hi, Polly.

Thanks for being on the podcast. So tell us what should we be doing before November 5th? Excellent question. I know that a lot of animal lovers out there don't really think tying their legislators to To animal issues is important, but it is incredibly important and I urge anybody that cares about animals, whether you are volunteering in the shelter all the time, whether you have your own 501 C3, your own rescue, whether you're a shelter professional.

To get political for animals. And that means looking at your candidates and seeing what kind of voting history they have on animal welfare legislation. So how do people do that? You know, Polly, it's really simple. So many States, I believe over 30 have C4 organizations dedicated to promoting the humane treatment of animals.

through legislation and advocacy and it might be, it's, Texas Humane Legislation is a perfect example, but in Missouri, in Minnesota, in Georgia, they all might have different names, but they essentially are telling you how previous legislative scorecards came out. And so all you have to Google is Legislation, animals, voters, and usually your state organization pops up.

But in addition to that, Polly, Humane Society Legislative Fund, HSLF, has a wonderful scorecard and Track record of congressional members that have voted on congressional bills, but I urge everyone to look at your own states as well. And so what is on a scorecard? I don't think I know about that. Sure.

Well, and it's different in every state, right? For example, we don't call them scorecards. We just call them voting records, but it usually has the bills that relate to animal welfare in the previous legislative session, and it shows you how your legislator voted. And it's also a really good way to keep your elected officials honest.

You know, when we were passing the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act here in Texas in 2023, I had a couple of C3s in a district say to me, Oh, we just thanked our legislator who came to one of our adoption events. And I said, Oh, who is that? They told me his name. I said, he did not vote for our bill. And they were shocked.

And they said, well, his office told us he did. And I sent them the legislative record and they could not believe it. And they definitely called him out and, you know, had some words with him because of that. mistaken identity on a vote. So not only does it keep your legislators honest because they know that you are looking at their record on animal welfare bills.

Wow. Okay. And is there, are there any other tips that you can give the voters? You know, it's just so important not only to look up, a legislative, uh, record from a certain elected official, but let's say you don't have that. Let's say you have a race where you have no incumbents and that means, you know, any kind of previous voting history to review.

Everybody right now wants your vote. So there are town halls, there are public forums, whether it's in Zoom or any other manner, and you can ask them really important questions. For example, if you have an overpopulation situation in your town, and you have a potential city council member that's being elected, You can ask them, what do you think if our city passed a mandatory spay neuter ordinance?

Or what do you think about making those who do not get their animal spayed or neutered to purchase a breeding permit, right? So this can go all the way up to your congressional, uh, elected officials and legislators like your senators and your congressmen. But most importantly, so many animal issues happen at the local level so it can go all the way down even to your city council members and your County commissioners.

So again, if they don't have that background, feel free to start following them on Facebook. You know, do they have a pet? And guess what? Where did they get their pet from? Did they go ahead and adopt their animal from the local shelter? That would be something very attractive to me, right? Uh, does the person own, um, a breeding facility?

Do they own a pet store that sells puppies? You know, all of these simple, um, kind of research tools can be done in five minutes to learn more about your candidate. So I urge everyone to take that time. If you are willing to spend hundreds of hours volunteering at your local shelter. Um, or you're in the sheltering profession.

You definitely want to research these candidates. And so you brought up a good, um, point. Are there certain questions if people are going to go to a town hall meeting to ask? I mean, obviously one is how do you feel about puppy mills? Like that needs to end. Are there other questions? I mean, I know you just said a few, but, um, are there any ones that should be brought up so that People would just automatically know, I'm not going to vote for you, or I will vote for you.

Yeah, it's, it's a great question, Polly, and it really depends on where you are, but I'll give some more examples. How about, hey, do you own any pets? Where'd you, where, oh, you have three dogs? Where'd you get your dogs from? You know, um, well, I got all three at Petland. Okay. That might give your answer, um, you know, to your idea, right?

But in addition to that, I will give a quick example in a city here in Texas, what they have started to do is not pick up stray animals. And I definitely would ask a candidate for a city council position on that. How do you feel about that? Are you okay with dogs? that are roaming around? Or do you think that that violates our stray law?

Um, another example, you know, what do you think? There was a recent dog fighting bust in East Texas. I would certainly ask that candidate. Do you think we need to strengthen? The dog fighting law, you know, so it really depends on the issues that your city, your County, your state face. But in Texas overpopulation is a crisis that is nonstop and it feel like it feels like there's no way out.

So I definitely want to know if our elected officials are willing to put funding behind spay and neuter, um, programs and so forth. So again, look to your own. local issues, but it could be as easy as, you know, do you own a pet and where'd you get that pet from? Okay, great. Well, this is, this is a great topic.

And um, I appreciate you being on the podcast and I look forward to having you back. Thank you so much, Polly. And just remember to always think that you can get political for animals. It is not intimidating. And just a couple of minutes, you can learn so much about your candidates and elected officials.

Great.

Thank you for listening to Bark and Wag's 15 Minute Vet Talk. If you like what you just heard, we hope you'll pass along our web address www. barkandwag. com to your friends and other pet owners. Have a pressing question for a veterinarian?

Ask your question at barkandwag. com under the podcast tab. This has been a KFR production. Join us next time for another edition of Bark and Wag's 15 Minute Vet Talk.

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Cow Hug Therapy

How The Animals at the Gentle Barn Taught Me about Life, Death, and Everything In Between.

Autographed copy of the inspirational story of the compassionate and wise animals of the Gentle Barn and how they became a therapeutic salve for countless guests — and mentors for all of us in how to live and die In Cow Hug Therapy, Ellie Laks, founder of the Gentle Barn Foundation, shares the extraordinary journey that started with her first teacher, Buddha — not the religious figure, but a rescued miniature Hereford cow. One evening Buddha wrapped her neck around an exhausted and upset Laks and transferred a singular form of healing and comfort with an incredible impact. Understanding that this was something to be shared with others, Laks developed Cow Hug Therapy, a groundbreaking approach to emotional healing that has proved effective for trauma, illness, disabilities, addiction, grief, and stress. Cow Hug Therapy is a colorful and compelling narrative of the healing mavens of the barnyard through the years and their individual stories of being rescued from trauma and treated with love and respect. These animals have transformed lives and ignited breakthroughs, newfound purpose, and freedom, including for a young mother who lost her baby, a suicidal teenager, a wounded serviceman, an open-heart surgery patient, and many more. Media outlets including ABC’s Good Morning America, NBC’s TODAY show, and The Atlantic magazine have featured numerous stories of the hopeless beginning to thrive at the Gentle Barn. A testament to empathy and the mission to heal animals, people, and the planet, Cow Hug Therapy captures a remarkable journey of transformation and serves as a beacon of hope for all seeking healing and connection.

https://store.gentlebarn.org/products/autographed-copy-of-cow-hug-therapy-how-the-animals-at-the-gentle-barn-taught-me-about-life-death-and-everything-in-between

Make sure you buy this amazing book!

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“Putting animals and people together in a way that is healing for both” is the core mission of Shepherd’s Rest Goat and Sheep Rescue. Through the Animal Assisted Therapy Program, we believe we can create an impact that echoes in the lives of our clients far beyond the boundaries of the rescue.

Please visit https://www.shepherdsrestrescue.com

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Cancer in dogs, the warning signs Cancer is a heart-breaking condition that affects too many people around the world. Unfortunately, it also impacts our beloved canine companions.

As a dog owner, it’s very important to be aware of some of the signs of cancer in dogs – just as it’s essential to take heart from the fact that treatments for this disease are improving all the time.

Let’s take a closer look…

Cancer in dogs Unfortunately, cancer is one of the most common illnesses in dogs. 50% of all dogs over the age of 10 are expected to be diagnosed with some form of cancer. This means that recognizing the warning signs is even more important when you have an aging hound on your hands.

By being vigilant, and providing age-appropriate exercise, a nutritious diet, and mental stimulation, you’re giving your dog the best shot at a long, active, and healthy life.

The most common types of dog cancer Dogs and humans can actually develop the same forms of cancer. This list isn’t exhaustive, but it should give you a rough idea of the types of cancer that often affect our canine companions:

Skin cancer
Blood cancer
Bone cancer
Cancers of the immune system – such as lymphoma
Abdominal cancers
Cancer of the uterus
Mammary (breast) cancer – mainly found in female dogs
Testicular cancer
Anal cancer

The causes of canine cancer The causes of cancer are complex, and that applies to both humans and dogs. For this reason, there isn’t one definite cause. Cancer can be triggered by genetics, age, nutrition, and environmental factors.

Fortunately, animal experts agree that canine cancer isn’t caused by things like bumps and scrapes.

Here’s a look at some of the common causes of canine cancer:

Genetics As with humans, genes that cause cancer can be inherited. This means if your dog’s parents developed cancer, your dog is at higher risk. Certain dog breeds are also more generically prone to certain illnesses, including cancer. Golden Retrievers, Boxers, and Rottweilers are considered at higher risk of developing cancer (and specific types of cancer) than other breeds,
Carcinogens Carcinogens are harmful substances or features of the environment that can cause cancer. They include second-hand smoke, insecticides used in agriculture, certain viruses, air pollution, and UV rays from the sun.

Researchers have found that sun exposure is a significant factor in developing squamous cell carcinoma, a cancerous tumor that can be seen in almost every single domesticated pet breed. Animals with white fur or markings are more likely to develop this form of cancer.

Age Sadly, cancer is one of the leading causes of death in dogs over the age of 10, with 50% of older dogs developing the disease and approximately one in four dogs passing from it. However, the reasons for this are largely speculated.
The environment In humans, most cancers are related to environmental factors. This can include their diet, their exposure to UV light and various chemicals, and more. The same is likely true for canine cancer, too.

Reducing your dog’s exposure to environmental hazards – like smoke – is important in reducing their risk of developing cancer.

What could help prevent your dog from getting cancer? One thing you could consider is spaying and neutering. Spaying or neutering your dog could prevent ovarian and testicular cancers from developing. Studies have also shown that spaying a female dog before her first or second heat may also help to reduce the risk of breast cancer developing. You should talk to your veterinarian about the best time for your dog to be spayed or neutered, according to their breed.

Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and healthy may also reduce the risk of oral cancer.

As well as trying to reduce your dog’s risk of cancer, you should educate yourself on the warning signs, so your veterinarian can catch and treat it early.

What are the warning signs of cancer in dogs? Unfortunately, our four-pawed friends can’t tell us when something’s wrong. We need to be on the lookout for the warning signs of cancer and other diseases. The earlier it can be caught and treated, the better the outcomes tend to be.

If you notice one or more of these potential warning signs, reach out to your veterinarian:

Tumors, lumps, or unusual growths Tumors are some of the most obvious signs of cancer, but not all tumors are cancerous. There are actually two types:
Malignant tumors. This type is cancerous. They grow very quickly and spread around the bodily easily.
Benign tumors. This type is not cancerous. They typically grow very slowly and don’t tend to spread around the body. Usually, benign tumors are harmless. Problems only occur if the tumor gets in the way of other body parts or organs.

You should also be on the lookout for swollen lymph nodes. Fortunately, they don’t cause pain, but they can be a sign of lymphoma – which is a form of cancer commonly found in breeds like Golden Retrievers.

Any unusual lumps or bumps on your dog should be examined by your vet – especially if their size, shape, or appearance changes.

Wounds that won’t heal Just like with humans, any small wounds and lesions your dog gets should heal over time. If a wound doesn’t seem to be healing – e.g., if you don’t see signs of it scabbing over, or hair re-growing – you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. This can be a sign of cancer.
Abnormal bleeding Bleeding is a red flag in general. But it’s especially concerning if you notice bloody eye discharge or bleeding from the nose – as this is a common sign of eye and skin cancers.

Unusual bleeding from your dog’s mouth is often the first sign of an oral tumor. It’s important to be extra vigilant for these, since they often go undetected.

Many owners believe bad breath and discharge from their dogs’ mouths are a normal part of aging. But they’re actually signs of a health problem, and you should always get your dog checked out by a veterinarian if you notice these signs.

Lameness If your dog starts limping, slowing down, or putting more weight on a certain limb, this could be an early sign of bone cancer – although it could also just be a sign of joint stiffness.

To be on the safe side, arrange for a checkup with your veterinarian if you notice any issues with your dog’s movement.

Sudden weight loss or gain Weight loss is frequently seen in dogs with cancer. Similarly, sudden weight gain in dogs can also be a sign of canine cancer. If you see any sudden changes in your dog’s weight you should contact your veterinarian right away.
Lethargy and lack of enthusiasm to exercise As dogs get older, they naturally slow down and lose energy. It’s an unfortunate fact, but there are things you can do to help them keep their energy levels and mobility up.

Extreme lethargy, or a sudden, unexplained lack of energy, however, can be a sign of various conditions, including cancer.

If your dog suddenly loses interest in going for walks, stops greeting you at the door, or doesn’t want to play with their favorite toy, these are all red flags to investigate. Other warning signs include your dog sleeping too much or taking longer to respond to noises or commands.

Unusual bowel movements If you’ve had your dog for years, you probably know what’s normal and what’s not when it comes to their toilet habits. Unusual stool can be the first sign of many different illnesses. Take a look at this guide to find out what your dog’s poo tells you.

In particular, you should be on the lookout for bloody or black, tarry stools, or diarrhea – these are often a sign of ulcers, but can sometimes indicate mast cell tumors.

What to do if your pet is showing warning signs If you spot any signs that your dog might have cancer, it’s extremely important to contact your veterinarian straight away. They’ll be able to run a number of tests including X-rays, ultrasounds, and blood tests, to figure out what’s wrong.

Early detection greatly helps your dog’s chances of beating cancer. It can also make a major difference in treating various other issues that your dog may be dealing with.

The good news? There’s no two ways about it, a cancer diagnosis is heartbreaking. But it doesn’t mean you should have to live in fear. Every single year, dogs are living longer and longer – which just goes to show how far pet care and veterinary medicine have advanced.

In fact, nowadays there are more options than ever. Treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are readily available. And, as we mentioned before, early detection greatly improves your dog’s chances of living a long, happy, healthy, and active life.

Think your dog is showing any of these common signs of cancer? It’s best to get in touch with your vet. And, if you’re not doing so already, annual visits to the vet are essential.

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Our Mission Shepherd’s Rest Goat and Sheep Rescue exists to rescue, rehabilitate, and provide sanctuary for goats and sheep in need, to educate the public about goats and sheep as therapy animals, to provide qualified animal assisted therapy, and to train others to provide qualified animal assisted therapy with sheep and goats adopted through our program.

Our Promise

Shepherd’s Rest Goat and Sheep Rescue is committed to equal employment and volunteer opportunity without regard to age, ancestry, disability, national or ethnic origin, race, religious belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or veteran status. This policy applies to all areas of employment and volunteer participation, including recruitment, hiring, training and development, promotion, transfer, termination, layoff, compensation, benefits, social and recreational programs, all other conditions and privileges of employment in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

Goat Yoga We hold classes Spring through Fall at our picturesque 100-year-old farm located in Pickrell, Nebraska, just a 30 minute drive south of Lincoln.

Shepherd's Rest Goat & Sheep Rescue

426 West Cedar Road Pickrell, NE, 68422

402.580.5299 shepherdsrestrescue@gmail.com

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Our Promise

Goat Yoga We hold classes Spring through Fall at our picturesque 100-year-old farm located in Pickrell, Nebraska, just a 30 minute drive south of Lincoln.

Shepherd's Rest Goat & Sheep Rescue

426 West Cedar Road Pickrell, NE, 68422

402.580.5299 shepherdsrestrescue@gmail.com

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Leaving your beloved companion home while you’re at work or travelling is hard enough; finding a trustworthy pet sitter shouldn’t be. Faced with hectic schedules and long commutes—or even a pet who’s dealing with separation anxiety—more people are hiring professional sitters to ensure their animals’ health and happiness. But there’s a lot to consider when choosing a sitter.

Not only are they caring for valued family members, they’re coming into your home. They should be trustworthy, professional, knowledgeable and able to handle emergencies. And your pet should feel comfortable around them.

Here are some tips to help find that perfect sitter!

Start online The internet (including neighborhood and community websites) is a great place to start. Professional pet-sitting associations such as the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters and Pet Sitters International list members on their websites. Reading online reviews and even checking out candidates’ Facebook pages can help narrow down your search.

Seek firsthand recommendations Check the bulletin boards at local stores or your veterinarian’s office for ads, then reach out to potential sitters for their references. You can also ask friends, relatives and neighbors for referrals. Or connect with your veterinarian and local humane societies, which may have employees who are part-time pet sitters. Just keep in mind that people with full-time jobs may not have the availability you need.

Prepare for the interview Take some time to think through what you want to ask candidates before interviewing them via phone or video chat. Don’t be afraid to have a long conversation; you can get a good sense of someone’s personality and character that way. Here are some topics to consider:

THE BASICS Find out how long they’ve been in business, what their level of experience is with your pets’ species and what their backup plan is if something prevents them from coming to your house.

FEES There’s no point in moving forward if you can’t afford their services. At the same time, don’t just go with the cheapest rate; you want a qualified professional.

SERVICES Ask what specific services they offer—are they comfortable administering medications? Do they have special training or certifications? Are they bonded and insured (which could protect you in certain situations, such as if your dog bites another person while on a walk with the sitter)?

It can also be helpful to pose one or two emergency scenarios to see how candidates respond: What would they do if the air conditioning breaks on a hot day or your pet starts vomiting?

Get ready for the meet-and-greet Before you book a pet-sitting date, you and your pets should meet the candidate. This will allow you to get to know the person better, flesh out special instructions and observe how they interact with your animal. You may even want to ask a candidate to do a trial walk to see how they handle your dog.

Don’t forget to ask for credentials such as references and copies of their bonding and license. You might also want to get a criminal background check.

Accept that it might not work out The best screening in the world may not prevent you from hiring the wrong person. But you can take some simple steps to help determine whether the person is doing their job.

For example:

Ask your sitter to leave notes about each visit or share photos with you via text or email.
If you have a doorbell camera, check whether your sitter comes at the agreed-upon times.
Get a GPS for your dog’s collar to ensure they’re being walked every day.

Still not sure whether your sitter is up to snuff? Here are some potential red flags to look for:

Pee puddles, feces or vomit in the house.
Untouched treats or toys you’ve left for the sitter to give to your pet during a visit.
Failure to provide detailed reports of your pet’s behavior.

While it’s good to be cautious when starting with someone new, keep in mind that most people who choose pet-sitting as a career are animal lovers. Over time, a sitter can become a trusted friend to you and your pet!

For more information please contact Cat's Canines at catscaninesne@gmail.com / 402-326-4595.

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Founded in 2020 by a group of animal advocates in Lincoln, Nebraska, Brave Animal Rescue is a nonprofit 501(C)(3) volunteer-based animal welfare organization dedicated to rescuing homeless kittens, cats, dogs, and puppies. By working with a network of volunteer advocates, foster caregivers, local veterinarians, and shelters, Brave Animal Rescue is able to help hundreds of animals every year by pulling animals from high-kill shelters, by working hands-on rescuing orphaned kittens, by aiding in local Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) efforts, and by helping those who are no longer able to care for their pets. We provide these animals with care and temporary homes until we are able to place them in permanent homes. Brave also aims to serve as a resource to our community by providing information about pet ownership, spaying and neutering, veterinary care, and TNR.

The founders of Brave Animal Rescue are life-long animal advocates who have several years of experience working with other nonprofit animal groups throughout the Midwest. Through these experiences on the forefront of rescue, the founders quickly began to recognize a need in the community for a neonatal-focused rescue. The vast majority of animals that are surrendered to animal shelters are under the age of 18 months old. According to The Humane Society of the United States, 80% of kittens are born outside. Without intervention, these kittens go on to procreate, get killed (by disease, vehicles, predators, etc.), or end up in shelters. Unfortunately, kittens and puppies under 8 weeks old are the population most at-risk for being euthanized in shelters due to a lack of resources and foster homes. With a passion for newborn kittens and puppies, and drive to help the community, the founders of Brave Animal Rescue aim to end the cycle of unwanted companion animals through education, rescue, and spaying and neutering.

CONTACT

Brave Animal Rescue

PO Box 21864

Lincoln, NE 68542

BraveAnimalRescue@gmail.com

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WORK WITH ME Cindy Myers Ambassador to Animals, Humans and Spirit

Welcome to YourEnergyHealer.com, your sanctuary for spiritual growth and healing. I’m Cindy Myers, a dedicated energy healer, intuitive guide, and passionate advocate for holistic wellness for you and your pets. Through my journey, I’ve been blessed to discover my calling in life—to assist others in navigating their own paths to healing and self-discovery.

At the heart of my practice, I am an experienced energy healer specializing in the ability to work with both humans and animals. I’m certified in the Emotion Code and Reiki, I earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Depth Psychology from the prestigious Pacifica Graduate Institute. It was during this time of advanced study that I developed one of my passions of interpreting dreams and obtained invaluable mentoring and skills coaching individuals. I have a long history of people naturally drawn to me sharing their fears and life challenges. Many are amazed that I transformed from an engineer working for the Navy before transitioning to a life on an alpaca farm and working as an intuitive energy healer and animal communicator. But it was because of those huge life transitions throughout my life that provide the real life experience to guide you in your own personal growth. My intuitive abilities enable me to connect deeply with individuals, see beyond their fears and provide supportive guidance as they explore their inner worlds and unlock their full potential. My approach is rooted in compassion, empathy, and a profound belief in the interconnectedness of all beings.

My mission at YourEnergyHealer.com is to offer a comprehensive range of personalized healing services designed to nurture the mind, body, and spirit of not only individuals but also their beloved pets and animals. Recognizing the deep bond between humans and animals, I am committed to extending healing and balance to your furry and feathered companions. Whether you’re seeking relief from physical ailments, emotional distress, or spiritual blockages for yourself or your animal friends, my goal is to facilitate a transformative experience that leads to profound and lasting change for all beings involved. By incorporating pets and animals into our healing journey, we honor the interconnectedness of all life and work towards holistic wellness for our entire family.

It wasn’t until into my adulthood that I discovered I was an empath also known as a highly sensitive person or sensate intuitive. I struggled through my teens and young adulthood with terrible anxiety and depression. It was hard to get through day-to-day activities, especially through high school. I often think of those years as my “dark years.” I was in deep pain that I didn’t understand and didn’t have the language to describe. It wasn’t until fairly recently that I realized that not only was I suffering with my own anxiety and depression, but as an empath, I was picking up and absorbing all that teenaged angst of my classmates. I dreaded facing school each day. I somewhat grew out of this intense anxiety as I entered the workforce, I still battled anxiety. I knew something wasn’t right but I had no idea where to begin figuring it out. Finally, I found my own mentor and guide. I learned to meditate and spirit guides began appearing. I began to understand my intuition and what it meant to be an empath. Instead of fearing it, I thought it would be incredible if I could use this “gift” to benefit others. Working with clients as part of my Master’s Degree Curriculum honed my listening skills. It was discovering alpacas that trained me to become an animal communicator. I’ve since incorporated using alpacas to teach animal communication classes.

Because of those hard emotional times, it has become another mission of my life and practice to help others dealing with anxiety and depression. I found so many are also empathic intuitive individuals that don’t realize how empathic they are. After a few simple questions, I help you to discover if you are an empath and what that means to you. And then the next level of work begins in providing you tools in handling that fact. It is actually possible and very doable to turn the challenges of being an empath into a superpower. But it is very important to learn how to protect yourself and how to be an empath.

I encourage you to go explore my services and events on this site. I tailor our sessions to your needs. I’m guided in those sessions not only by my spirit guides but I’m listening with my third ear to your higher self in knowing how best to support you. When you choose a service, you will receive a link to my online calendar. Select a time and provide me a good phone number to reach you and I’ll call you at the appointed time. I do almost all my sessions over the phone for you or your pets. If you reside outside the United States, please let me know and we can use other methods to connect. I have clients all over the country and world.

Explore my events page too and you will find regularly scheduled Group Online Healing Circles where I provide you a guided meditation that promotes physical and emotional healing. You will also grow your authentic self during these impactful sessions. I also teach various course from dream workshops where you learn how to interpret your dreams, learn how to connect with your spirit guides, learn how to communicate with animals and much more.

I also write blogs regularly and you can read what my thoughts are on all these vast subjects of intuitive listening.

I’m so appreciative that I have combined all my passions in this business. I’ve taken my joy in writing and art to create several books which you can check out on my books page. I don’t think I’ve had more fun than when I wrote and illustrated the toddler books. In all my books, I fold in important life lessons. In my memoir, I wrote about how I came to living on my alpaca farm in Oregon and how animals provided me many life lessons that make me a better “two-legged” (that’s how they see us humans). My second book, 5 Steps to Animal Communication, provides you simple techniques to practice to develop your own intuitive skills with your pet(s). I incorporated lessons I learned working with children when I was studying to be a therapist to create my children’s books. You can explore all my books on this website.

SERVICES OFFERED – Energy Healing Sessions: Harness the power of universal energy to promote healing and balance. I like to say I’m a one-stop-shop providing wellbeing services for you and your pets. I invite you to explore both my animal and human services pages. If you have questions, I welcome your questions. Just reach out using my contact form and I’ll get back to you quickly.

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I always ask you when we begin our sessions with, “How can I help you today?”

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JOIN OUR JOURNEY If you’re ready to embark on a transformative journey towards holistic health and spiritual awakening, I invite you to explore the services and resources available at YourEnergyHealer.com. Together, we can unlock your healing potential and pave the way to a more balanced, joyful, and fulfilling life.

Thank you for choosing YourEnergyHealer.com as your guide on this incredible journey. I look forward to supporting you in your healing and spiritual growth.

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How to Manage a Dog Lunging on Leash By Stephanie Gibeault, MSc, CPDT Updated: Sep 22, 2021 | 5 Minutes How to Manage a Dog Lunging on Leash – American Kennel Club Do you dread taking your dog for a walk because they lunge at other dogs, other people, or objects like cars or skateboards? Maybe they bark or growl too. Walking an out-of-control dog is both physically and emotionally exhausting. It’s tempting to avoid walks altogether, but then your dog isn’t getting the mental stimulation and physical exercise they need. So, what do you do? Read on for tips to manage and improve your dog’s lunging behavior.

Understand Why Dogs Lunge Dog experts often label dogs who lunge and bark during walks as “leash reactive.” A reactive dog is one who becomes overly aroused by normal situations, and a leash reactive dog is one who behaves that way on leash. But what causes this behavior? There are three possible motivations for lunging. The least likely is aggression. Although rare, some dogs truly want to do harm. Fear is a far more common motivator. Using the “I’ll get it before it gets me” strategy, dogs lunge to try to make the feared person, dog, or other object go away. Finally, your dog might be excited to approach the person, dog, or object, but because the leash is preventing that, they become frustrated and lose emotional control.

You need to take all these motivations seriously, but it’s important to understand which one is driving your dog. For example, if your dog is frustrated, lessons in emotional self-control come in handy. If your dog is fearful, building self-confidence is key. However, regardless of the reason for the lunging, some of the basic management tools and treatments are the same.

Manage Your Dog’s Behavior It’s important to prevent your dog from lunging because every time they do, they’re practicing the behavior and developing a self-reinforcing habit. And the firmer the habit, the harder it will be to change. But how do you prevent lunging? First, never punish your dog for this behavior. You will only exacerbate the problem. Your dog will associate the punishment with the other person, dog, or object which will strengthen their fear or jack up their frustration.

Second, use the correct equipment for walking. A buckle collar can put a lot of pressure on your dog’s throat when they lunge. A front-clip harness is a better choice. It will put the pressure on your dog’s chest and help turn them back toward you when they spring forward. A head halter (also called a head harness) is another option for a leash-reactive dog. It loops around your dog’s nose and allows you to control their head like the reins of a horse. However, many dogs need help adjusting to a halter and they can damage their necks if they hit the end of the leash with too much force. To prevent that, you can clip one leash to their buckle collar and another to their halter, so the collar leash takes the force during lunges and the halter leash gently turns your dog’s head.

Finally, be proactive. Plan your walks for times when your dog is unlikely to encounter any triggers (the people, dogs, or objects that cause the lunging to occur). That might be late at night or with the sunrise. Also choose the quietest route. And always be on the lookout for triggers so you can keep your dog far enough away that they don’t react. That might mean taking evasive action like crossing the street or making a 180-degree turn. If you can distract your dog before they notice the trigger, even better. Constantly monitor the environment and your dog’s body language so you can predict lunging before it occurs and act accordingly.

Change Your Dog’s Emotional Response Management will prevent your dog from practicing lunging, but it won’t improve their behavior or ease their emotional state. For that, try desensitization and counterconditioning. This technique will change your dog’s emotional response from negative to positive (in the case of fear-based or aggressive reactivity) or from out-of-control excitement to calm (in the case of frustration).

The trick is to get your dog in the presence of their trigger but far enough away they don’t react. This is known as below-threshold intensity. That could be 10 feet, or it could be 40. And different triggers might have different distances. Once you have your dog below threshold, pair the trigger with high-value rewards they would do anything for, like strips of meat, cubes of cheese, or a chance to play with their favorite toy. You want your dog to build a positive association between the wonderful goodies and the trigger.

Start the process with your dog on leash. Wait for them to notice a trigger then immediately present a reward. When they glance at the trigger again, offer another reward. Continue as long as the trigger is present. With enough repetition, your dog will eventually glance at the trigger then turn right back in your direction, as if to say, “I saw it, now where’s my treat?” This tells you that your dog has realized the trigger makes the reward happen, so the positive association is being formed.

Now you can move a tiny bit closer to the trigger and repeat the process. The goal is to slowly reduce the distance between your dog and the trigger until they are within a few feet or less, all while keeping your dog under threshold. Then duplicate the entire procedure again with a new dog or person. Continue to repeat with as many examples of the trigger as necessary to convince your dog that their trigger makes great things happen. As a result, when they see any trigger, they will look to you for a reward instead of lunging.

Try your best to control the environment during this process. You don’t want a dog or stranger sneaking up and putting your dog over threshold. Instead, enlist the assistance of friends so you can coordinate a training plan using them or their dogs as the trigger. You can also try positioning your dog at a set distance from a pathway or street so you can predict passersby but control how far your dog is from them.

Teach Your Dog an Incompatible Alternative Behavior You can also teach your dog to perform a behavior that is incompatible with lunging. For example, they can’t lunge towards another dog and turn to look at you at the same time. If you heavily reward this alternative behavior, your dog will eventually choose to do it in place of lunging even when their trigger is close by. Some great choices include “Watch me” (where your dog looks at your face), “Touch” (where your dog targets something with their nose), or “Find it” (where you drop treats at your feet for your dog to find). These are easy to teach and easy for your dog to do even when they are emotionally aroused. And more importantly, they redirect your dog’s gaze from the trigger to you.

Whichever behavior you choose, make sure your dog loves to do it. Start training in a quiet environment without distractions and pile on the treats. This will show your dog how easy it is to get rewarded for the new task. Next, build distractions into your training. Then add the trigger at a below-threshold distance. When your dog looks at the trigger, ask for the replacement behavior. Shower them with treats when they obey. Finally, ask for the new behavior while slowly moving closer and closer to the trigger. If your dog reverts to lunging, you’ve moved too far, too fast. Eventually, rather than lunging, your dog will see the trigger as a cue to do the new behavior and earn a reward.

Know When to Get Help For some dogs, you might be able to work through these techniques on your own and achieve great success in a matter of weeks. For other dogs, it’s advisable to get help from an animal behaviorist or a professional dog trainer with leash reactivity experience. Your dog might also benefit from a consult with a veterinary behaviorist. If your dog is too worked up to learn, medication can control their arousal levels during training allowing them to make more progress.

Lunging on leash can usually be modified into more polite and acceptable behavior. At the very least, you can minimize your dog’s outbursts with good management. It takes patience and dedication to your dog and the training protocols, but walks can eventually be stress-free for both you and your dog.

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Mission K9 Rescue primarily has Contract Working Dogs (CWDs) available for placement. These incredible canines perform the same vital tasks as Military Working Dogs (MWDs) but are not owned by the Government.

We also occasionally place MWDs and retired police dogs for adoption, but it’s unpredictable when they may become available. We rescue these dedicated canines as we become aware of them and work diligently to find suitable placements afterward.

We’ve opted not to post photos of available dogs to avoid mismatches and save everyone valuable time. Instead, we review your application thoroughly and send you pictures of dogs that suit your situation, if any. This process helps us ensure our dogs find their forever homes with the right families and that the adoption process runs smoothly.

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Whether you're potty training a new pup or struggling with positive reinforcement, you might want to consult a qualified dog trainer and/or enroll your pooch in a class.

“A lot of people say ‘I know how to teach a dog to sit. Why would I go to a class?’ And it's so much more than that,” says Lindsay Hamrick, director of shelter outreach and engagement at the Humane Society of the United States and a certified professional dog trainer herself. She advises dog owners to “reach out for help anytime they don't know what to do.”

Animal behavior websites can vary greatly in quality, Hamrick adds, but dog trainers can too—so here are some tips to get you started!

Starting the search Start your search for a dog trainer at the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, which makes locating a qualified dog trainer near you as simple as plugging in your zip code. You might also try searching "canine behaviorist" and "dog behavior consultant."

Making a match Contact potential dog trainers to see if they’d be a good fit. Trainers’ websites typically describe their expertise, allow you to submit a form explaining the concerns you have about your dog’s behaviors and give you an idea of the cost. It’s also important to determine if they have the bandwidth to work with you.

Good dog trainers “know what they can and can't handle,” Hamrick says. Some don't work with aggression cases, for example, and focus solely on obedience training or non-aggression behavioral challenges.

Setting realistic expectations Remember that dog trainers aren’t miracle workers, and behavior change takes time. “If you are talking to a trainer and they think they can fix your issue in a 30-minute television show … you should find somebody else,” Hamrick says.

However, while a single session may not solve the challenges completely, we know that access to behavioral support can be pricey unless you have a low-cost option in your community. One consultation can still be helpful in identifying the root causes of your dog’s behavior and some initial ways to help them choose new behaviors.

And just like when you were in school, homework matters.

“If you only practice during those training sessions, it's not going to stick,” says Jessica Simpson, a senior companion animals public policy specialist for the HSUS. A consistent approach is necessary to help dogs generalize the new behavior from the classroom to the home.

Virtual training Online dog training options have exploded in COVID’s wake. It's possible for dog trainers to size up a dog’s issues through virtual chats with the owner and videos of the dog’s behavior. After an initial video consultation, trainers can give the owners homework and then watch videos tracking the dog’s progress. GoodPup is a great online program for those looking for this approach.

Red flags Ideally, you’ll find an affordable, certified dog trainer who’s knowledgeable about your dog’s issues, practices humane techniques and is available either in person or online. But if the training sparks concern, you can simply leave.

“If you don't feel good, then remove your dog,” Hamrick says. “If you go to a local obedience class, and the trainer is yanking on leashes or making your dog scared, if your dog is not excited to go to class, then you absolutely have the right to cancel and remove them. You will do more damage by trying to be nice and stay.” BY JAMES HETTINGER

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Exposure to winter’s dry, cold air and chilly rain, sleet and snow can cause chapped paws and itchy, flaking skin, but these aren’t the only discomforts pets can suffer. Winter walks can become downright dangerous if chemicals from ice-melting agents are licked off of bare paws. To help prevent cold weather dangers from affecting your pet’s health, check out our top 10 cold weather safety tips from our experts at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC).

Remember, if it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside. If left outdoors, pets can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured or killed. In addition, don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather, as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death.
Keep your home humidified and be sure to towel dry your pet as soon as they come inside. Repeatedly going into the cold and then comin back into a warm home can cause itchy, flaking skin. Pay close attention to their feet and in-between their toes and remove any snow balls from between their foot pads to prevent and treat skin irritation in the winter.
Massage petroleum jelly or other vet-approved paw protectants into paw pads before going outside to protect from salt and chemical agents. Booties can provide even more coverage and can also prevent sand and salt from getting lodged between bare toes and causing irritation. Use pet-friendly ice melts whenever possible.
Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter. A longer coat will provide more warmth. If your dog is long-haired, simply trim them to minimize the clinging ice balls, salt crystals and de-icing chemicals that can dry their skin, and don’t neglect the hair between their toes. If your dog is short-haired, consider getting them a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly.
After each walk, make sure to wash and dry your pet's feet and stomach to remove ice, salt and chemicals. Don't forget to check for cracks in paw pads or redness between the toes. You may also want to bring a towel on long walks to clean off stinging, irritated paws.
Bathe your pets as little as possible during cold spells. Washing too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry, flaky skin. If your pooch must be bathed, ask your vet to recommend a moisturizing shampoo and/or rinse.
Thoroughly clean up any anitfreeze spills. Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Additionally, cold weather chemicals like ice melts can be dangerous when ingested, so always be mindful and keep chemicals up and out of paws' reach.
Feed your pet a little extra in the winter months. Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in wintertime. Feeding them a little bit more can provide much-needed calories, and making sure they have plenty of water to drink will help keep them well-hydrated and their skin less dry.
Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.
Never let your dog off leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm. Dogs can lose their scent in the snow and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure your dog always wears an ID tag.

Be sure to keep these tips top of mind this winter so that you and your furry friends can stay warm, cozy and safe.

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A mystery dog illness that spread across the U.S. last year and can lead to serious or fatal respiratory problems is still under investigation, but cases are starting to slow, experts say.

The illness, which started to spread more widely in the summer and fall of 2023, causes coughing, sneezing and fatigue, among other symptoms, and can progress quickly to pneumonia. The dogs suspected to have it test negative for all of the typical causes of respiratory symptoms and often don't respond to treatment.

In a statement to TODAY.com, the American Veterinary Medical Association says that based on "conversations with various sources ... the number of cases are declining," adding that an "ebb and flow" of respiratory illness in dogs over the course of the year is common, similar to cold and flu season in humans.

The statement also explains that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has so far not seen that the rise in respiratory illness in dogs is linked to a new virus or bacteria.

A statement from the Animal and Plant Inspection Service, part of the USDA, confirms to TODAY.com that the state-led testing that the agency is helping coordinate "has not indicated the presence of a novel pathogen or single infectious cause among these cases."

Numerous veterinary diagnostic labs across the country are investigating the outbreak, from Oregon to Kansas to New Hampshire.

The APHIS spokesperson adds that the illness is not regulated by APHIS and therefore the branch doesn't have data on case numbers.

The Oregon Veterinary Medical Association also shared in an Feb. 14, 2024, update that "cases seem to be waning, if not back to normal," citing veterinarian Dr. Scott Weese's Worms and Germs blog.

At last count, at least 19 states had reported cases of the illness, according to various expert groups. The AVMA explained in an earlier statement that the mystery dog illness is difficult to track because there's no national surveillance system.

In November 2023, veterinarians in critical care settings told TODAY.com that they'd seen dozens of cases since the fall.

Late last year, multiple groups — including the Colorado and Oregon departments of agriculture, the AVMA, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health — issued warnings about the mystery illness in dogs.

“We don’t know what is causing this situation, where dogs are presenting at veterinarians with what private veterinarians would call kennel cough,” Rhode Island's state veterinarian Dr. Scott Marshall told NBC affiliate WJAR. “What’s different about this situation is that dogs are presenting with little bit more severe signs, not responding to usual treatments, and unfortunately had a small number, still a number, of dogs that have succumbed to them.”

“It seems to happen very, very quickly — to go from this cough that’s just won’t go away ... and then all of a sudden they develop this pneumonia,” Dr. Lindsey Ganzer, veterinarian and CEO at North Springs Veterinary Referral Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, told TODAY.com. She said she treated over a dozen dogs with what she believes is the condition between October and November 2023.

If your dog develops a cough, do not panic, the AVMA advises. But stay vigilant about its progression and your pet's overall health, and contact your vet right away if anything seems off.

What is the mystery dog illness? Dogs with this mystery illness usually have coughing, sneezing, eye or nose discharge, are abnormally tired, and do not test positive for any common causes of canine respiratory illness, the Oregon Department of Agriculture noted in a Nov. 9 press release.

Typically, dogs with respiratory illnesses have a cough for seven to 10 days, but some vets saw an uptick in dogs with coughs lasting weeks to months that don't respond to treatment, the Colorado Department of Agriculture said in a Nov. 22 statement.

One of the distinguishing characteristics of this mystery illness outbreak was the high number of dogs who developed pneumonia. One Colorado vet, Dr. Michael Lappin, director of the Center for Companion Animal Studies at the Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine, told NBC News the number of canine pneumonia cases in the state rose by 50% between September and November 2023 compared to 2022.

Marshall estimated that Rhode Island saw at least 35 cases of the mystery respiratory illness, but it's hard to know exactly how many because not all cases are reported.

Dogs are most likely to contract it by being in close contact with numerous other dogs — so places like doggy day care, dog parks, groomers or boarding kennels, Ganzer said. The illness seems to affect dogs regardless of age, size or breed, though dogs with snort snouts, like bulldogs and pugs, may be at higher risk.

Between mid-August and mid-November, the Oregon Department of Agriculture received reports of over 200 cases of the illness from veterinarians in the state but has had no additional cases to report since.

A Dec. 1 statement from the Washington Department of Agriculture said the state has received 16 reports of unusual canine respiratory disease. Two cases were confirmed as such.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture also shared in November that veterinarians in the state were seeing "double the number of cases than what is typically seen during a canine infectious respiratory disease outbreak."

The Wisconsin State Journal reported that between late October and December, clinics around the state saw six to 12 cases each, according to Dr. Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at University of Wisconin-Madison.

Dr. Amanda Cavanagh, head of urgent care services at Colorado State University James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, in Fort Collins, Colorado, told TODAY.com that this past summer she started seeing cases of dogs with coughs lasting several weeks or longer, and the trend continued into the fall. She estimated her caseload of coughing dogs doubled from October to November.

While dogs with a contagious cough are common in veterinary settings, Cavanagh noted that she normally sees cases decrease in the fall as temperatures drop and fewer dogs are gathering at parks. "But this year, the spike has stayed high," she explains.

In its original press release, the Oregon Department of Agriculture noted that the illness can progress in three ways:

Mild to moderate cough for six to eight weeks or longer that either doesn't respond to antibiotics or only responds a little
Chronic pneumonia that doesn't respond to antibiotics
Severe pneumonia that "often leads to poor outcomes in as little as 24 to 36 hours"

Cavanagh witnessed all three scenarios play out at her hospital. Last fall, she said she saw more dogs than usual with a long-lasting upper respiratory infection who then developed pneumonia from a secondary bacterial infection.

Of the dogs she treated, she said most who developed pneumonia responded to antibiotics, and many with the long-lasting cough recovered with time and never got pneumonia. But of those who developed the severe pneumonia, some died or had to be euthanized.

"That really bad pneumonia, historically, is very, very rare. Maybe I would see one case a year," but last fall alone, Cavanagh saw a "handful," she said.

How many dogs have died from the mystery illness? Because most states are not tracking case numbers, it's not known exactly how many dogs have died from the illness.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture tells TODAY.com that it does not know how many dogs have died from the illness in the state.

However, it is confirmed that some dogs in the U.S. have died from the mystery illness.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture said in a statement that "in rare cases, the canine patients progress quickly from pneumonia to death." Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences also said the illness has resulted in "some fatalities."

Ganzer and Cavanagh both have had several canine patients die from what they believe to be the condition. Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association President Shelly Pancoast told WJAR that she's seen five to 10 dogs die from the mystery illness.

“We still don’t have a great handle on how exactly we should be treating these dogs,” Pancoast said. “A vast majority of them are making full recovery, it’s just unlike anything we’ve seen in previous years with kennel cough."

What states have the mystery dog illness? According to various expert groups, cases that match the description of the mystery dog illness have been reported, officially or anecdotally, in:

Colorado
California
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Nevada
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Vermont
Washington
Wisconsin

This above list of states comes from the AVMA, the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association, the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine and the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Mystery dog illness 2023 symptoms Symptoms of the mystery dog illness include:

Coughing that doesn't get better on its own after a week or so
Sneezing
Nasal or eye discharge
Red eyes
Lethargy
Trouble breathing, especially from the stomach
Blue or purple gums (due to not getting enough oxygen)

Related:What does coughing in a dog sound like? Vet explains in viral video

Signs of coughing in dogs For many dog owners, the signs of coughing can be difficult to recognize, Dr. Michele Forbes, Dr. Michele Forbes, owner of Compassionate Care Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, says.

"Rarely do (dog owners) identify a cough until it becomes an overt problem and it’s clearly coming from the chest,” Forbes explained in a now-viral TikTok.

As a result of owners not noticing coughing or confusing it for something else, like throat-clearing or gagging, some dogs are arriving at vet facilities in more advanced stages of the condition, which can make it more difficult to treat, Forbes told TODAY.com.

Some tips to help identify signs of coughing in dogs:

The sound dogs make when they're choking can be confused for coughing.
Some dogs sound like they're honking, kind of like a goose.
Coughing can also sound like the dog is gagging or clearing its throat.
The chest may heave or the abdomen may move while the dog is coughing.
For some dogs, it looks like they're trying to cough up a hair ball and they may produce some liquid.
A wet cough may produce a gargling sound.
If a dog is coughing a lot, they may end up vomiting, which dog owners often confuse for a gastrointestinal issue.
Reverse-sneezing can be confused for coughing but it's not usually a reason to call the vet unless it's paired with actual coughing, nasal discharge or any other concerning symptoms.

When to see the vet for the mystery dog illness Other signs that your dog should see the vet, per the AVMA, include:

Lingering cough
Weakness
Loss of appetite
Difficulty breathing
Worsening of illness
Cough that is sufficiently severe that it causes the dog to vomit or makes it hard for the animal to breathe

Tips to prevent mystery dog illness from vets Dogs are most likely to contract the illness when in close contact with other dogs, so previous guidance was to keep dogs away from other dogs. But case rates have essentially returned to normal, Weese noted in his blog.

To keep your dog safe and healthy overall, the AVMA recommends keeping up to date with vaccinations. "While the existing vaccines may not specifically target this unknown infection, maintaining overall health through routine vaccinations can help support a dog’s immune system in combating various infections," it said.

The AVMA stressed the following vaccines: Bordetella, Adenovirus type 2, and parainfluenza combined with the injectable influenza H3N2 vaccine.

Be sure to give your dog two weeks after vaccination before interacting with other dogs so they can build up immunity.

If your dog is sick, consult a vet as soon as possible, as early testing can help with treatment, and keep the dog away from other dogs to avoid spreading the illness, experts advise.

While it's unlikely a humans can get sick with the respiratory illness, because the cause is still unknown, the AVMA suggests thoroughly washing hands after handling any dogs.

Caroline Kee contributed reporting.

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Liver shunts (technically called portosystemic shunts) are not that common in dogs, but if you are an aficionado of certain breeds or if your dog develops liver disease, you may find yourself in desperate need of information. Read on to learn all about liver shunts in dogs.

What Is a Liver Shunt? First, we need to review some canine anatomy and physiology. A network of veins (called the portal system) drains blood away from the digestive tract. This blood carries nutrients, hormones, and waste material and is supposed to enter the liver before it travels to the rest of the body. The liver takes what it needs to function properly and also detoxifies the blood before sending it onward.

A shunt is defined as a passage “that allows the flow of materials between two structures that are not usually connected.” A portosystemic shunt is, specifically, an abnormal blood vessel (or vessels) that connects the “portal” system draining the digestive tract to the “systemic” circulatory system feeding the rest of the body, thereby bypassing the liver.

Causes of Liver Shunts in Dogs Liver shunts can be divided into two categories: those that are present at birth (congenital shunts) and those that develop later in life (acquired shunts).

Congenital shunts are most common, being responsible for approximately 80 percent of cases. Dogs are usually quite young (less than 3 years old) when they start experiencing symptoms. A genetic cause is known for some breeds and suspected in others. Breeds at higher than average risk for congenital liver shunts include the Yorkshire Terrier, Dachshund, Maltese, Miniature Schnauzer, Lhasa Apso, Bichon Frise, Shih Tzu, Havanese, Toy and Miniature Poodle, Pekingese, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Irish Wolfhound, Old English Sheepdog, Samoyed, Irish Setter, Labrador Retriever, Doberman Pinscher, Golden Retriever, and German Shepherd.

Acquired shunts typically develop when blood pressure within the veins connecting the digestive tract to the liver becomes elevated—most often because of diseases that cause liver scarring (cirrhosis). Dogs with acquired liver shunts tend to experience symptoms when they are older in comparison to those diagnosed with congenital shunts.

Symptoms of Liver Shunts in Dogs Dogs with liver shunts generally have some combination of the following symptoms:

Poor growth (congenital shunts)
Poor appetite and/or eating unusual things
Weight loss
Increased thirst and urination
Difficulty urinating or blood in the urine due to the formation of bladder stones
Vomiting, which may contain blood
Diarrhea, which may contain blood
Behavioral changes like mental dullness, staring vacantly, poor vision, unsteadiness, circling, and head pressing

Diagnosing Liver Shunts in Dogs These symptoms are obviously not unique to liver shunts. A veterinarian will start the diagnostic process by taking a complete health history, performing a physical examination, and running some basic tests such as blood work and a urinalysis. If he or she thinks that a liver shunt is likely, additional testing will be necessary to reach a definitive diagnosis. Possibilities include bile acid tests, blood ammonia levels, abdominal X-rays, abdominal ultrasound, and advanced imaging studies. Your veterinarian can discuss the pros and cons of each test with you based on the specifics of your dog’s case.

Treatment for Liver Shunts in Dogs The type of liver shunt that a dog has and their age and overall condition determines what type of treatment is best. Most small breed dogs who have congenital shunts have just one abnormal blood vessel that is located outside of the liver. These are the most amenable to surgical correction. A single shunt that is located within the liver itself is more common in large breed dogs. These are still usually best treated with surgery, but the procedure is a little more difficult. Dogs with acquired shunts tend to have multiple, abnormal vessels and may be poorer candidates for surgery due to their underlying illness.

Surgery for liver shunts centers on blocking the flow of blood through the abnormal vessels so that more of it travels through the liver. This can involve the application of devices specifically designed to do this (e.g., ameroid constrictors or cellophane bands) or tying off the vessels with suture material. Oftentimes, the abnormal vessels cannot be completely blocked off all at once without the dog developing serious side effects like intestinal damage. Ameroid constrictors and cellophane bands are designed to get around this problem since they cause the vessel to narrow over time, which gives the body a chance to adjust.

Medical management for liver shunts can be used to improve a dog’s condition prior to surgery, when surgery is not in a dog’s best interests, or when surgery is unable to entirely correct the problem. Veterinarians typically prescribe a diet that has just enough protein for the dog but no “extra,” which reduces the byproducts of protein digestion (e.g., ammonia) that can make a dog’s symptoms worse. Research indicates that soy protein may be a better option in comparison to meat-based sources of protein. Feeding several smaller meals throughout the day is also beneficial.

Medications also play an important role in the medical management of liver shunts. Antibiotics are prescribed to reduce the number of bacteria in the gut, and enemas can be given to physically remove feces and bacteria from the colon. Oral lactulose, a type of indigestible sugar, is used to encourage rapid transit of stool through the intestinal tract and to lower the pH within the gut, which reduces the absorption of ammonia.

Prognosis for Liver Shunts in Dogs Approximately one-third of dogs with liver shunts can be successfully managed with dietary changes and medications, according to Dr. Karen Tobias, professor of small animal soft tissue surgery and a board-certified surgeon at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dogs who have liver shunts that are located outside of the liver and that are surgically corrected using ameroid constrictors or cellophane bands have the best prognosis, with around 85 percent being clinically normal several months after surgery, according to Tobias. In comparison, dogs with shunts that are located within the liver have a greater risk of complications although many still do very well after surgery.

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The WINPRO Story The WINPRO story goes back to the 1980’s at Iowa State University where there were trials done to try and save the lives of weaning baby piglets. During this stressful time young piglets are taken away from mom. Many died from the stress. So researchers at Iowa State started putting spray-dried blood plasma into the pigs’ starter diet. It had a profound and positive effect. So instead of losing lots of pigs, farmers lost hardly any. And a revolution was born.

A Plasma Protein Revolution Over the years, blood proteins found in plasma have been used to improve the lives of many animals including dairy calves, lambs, kids, goats, juvenile fish, and horses. In late 2016...

WINPRO Was Formed To Explore Using Blood Proteins In Dogs And the results were nothing short of astonishing.

Today, WINPRO is the only company to offer a line of plasma-powered health products formulated especially for dogs. Dogs could be the perfect species for blood proteins as they are highly active, athletic and get into lots of stuff, both good and bad. Dogs have to deal with a lot of stressors, both inside their bodies and in the environment around them. Where you have stress, you will find inflammation.

Blood Proteins Are The Enemy Of Inflammation By reducing inflammation, WINPRO helps promote a normal, healthy dog free of issues and able to do the things it loves to do.

It’s All About Returning The Dog To Normal This is what WINPRO is designed to do. It works fast.

You Will See The Results In A Few Days, Not Weeks Or Months Our passion is to help keep dogs doing the things they love to do. This is the WINPRO way - we live it every day. And why we backup our science with a money-back guarantee. Because WINPRO works.

Learn even more: * Scientific Proof * Our Formula & Our Production Process

Tim's contact: timm@winpropet.com Tim's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-mitchum-a7671117/ Main Website: https://winpropet.com/ Links To More Science Info: https://winpropet.com/pages/our-production-process https://winpropet.com/pages/scientific-proof https://winpropet.com/pages/our-story https://winpropet.com/pages/letter-from-founder WeeklyWag Newsletter: https://winpropet.com/pages/weekly-wag Social Links: https://www.facebook.com/winpropet https://www.instagram.com/winpropet/ https://www.tiktok.com/@winpropet https://www.linkedin.com/company/winpropet/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTy_NP3sHlahOaNXghZJnFQ Coupon Code (For your audience): BARK20 (works on one time purchases & 1st order of a subscription)

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Pug Rescue of Northern California feels every pug is special and important, so we do everything we can to give these special souls the care and love they need. We take in over a hundred pugs annually. All of these pugs see vets, some for simple check ups, some for expensive procedures. Thanks to donations, we are able to continue to care for these pugs and find forever homes for them.

https://pugpros.org/donate/

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What is Pug Partners of Nebraska? Pug Partners of Nebraska is a 501c3, non-profit organization comprised of dedicated volunteers who are committed to rescuing and re-homing pugs in need. We believe that all pugs deserve a chance to be loved and to love a human companion.

The majority of our rescue pugs come from what is called a puppy mill (a mass breeding facility), and we are very dedicated to these special dogs and providing them with the life they deserve. Our main purpose is to provide all of our rescue pugs with a loving foster home, quality dog food, medical care, and any other need that they may have while in our care. Our ultimate goal is to place each pug into a forever family that will continue to show the pug love, attention, and provide the care that they each deserve.

We strive to educate our adopters and the public about our wonderful pug breed. Although pugs are quite different from most breeds, we want to show people how amazing these small dogs can be, and how they are great companions.

Vision Statement Pug Partners of Nebraska provides a service to the community for pugs in need, by rescuing purebred pugs that are in shelters, puppy mills, whose owners can no longer care for them, and for those who have become lost/abandoned and to place them in a loving and safe permanent home where they will be loved and cared for as companion pets.

Goals of Pug Partners of Nebraska To accomplish our mission, Pug Partners of Nebraska strives to:

Rescue adoptable pugs from a variety of situations and place them into loving foster homes until their permanent home can be found
Treat all pugs like our own, by giving them behavioral and medical attention that they need
Act as advocates by protecting and advancing the pug breed by encouraging responsible pug ownership and by rescuing pugs from unsafe or abusive situations
Carefully screen all volunteers to ensure that the most knowledgeable pug experts in the community are on board with pug Partners’ mission
Help reduce the pet over-population crisis by ensuring that all pugs adopted through our rescue are spayed or neutered
Have useful information available to those interested in adding a pug to their family
Provide the community with superior knowledge of the pug breed
cooperate and network with other animal rescue organizations in the community and world-wide
Incorporate programs to help the rescue succeed and involved more volunteers

Pug Partners History One random July evening in 2008, Jessica Kamish was surfing the web looking for a sister for her current 3 year old pug Rocky. She came across the website for Midwest Pug Rescue where a banner read, “Foster homes needed in Omaha, NE.” As Jessica was the president of the Omaha Pug Club, with membership of more than 150 pug lovers, she was sure that she could find a couple of fellow pug lovers who would open their homes and hearts to a pug in need and foster for the rescue.

An email was sent out to the address listed on the website, and an email was quickly received back that there was a 6 year old female who was found in O’Neil, Nebraska who needed a foster home. At this point Jessica sent an email to the pug club asking for foster homes. One couple replied immediately, Megan and Josiah (Si) Hollibaugh. They had just adopted two pugs from another rescue and wanted to help out a pug in need.

With much contemplation, Jessica and her fiancé Matt decided to go ahead and take on this 6 year old puppy mill pug and give fostering a try. They named their foster pug Lily. Lily changed Matt and Jessica’s life. As a puppy mill survivor she had never experienced life outside of a kennel. There were so many firsts, and they found glory in the small things. The experience touched them both and they wanted to become more involved. Shortly after deciding this, Lily became part of their family.

Jessica soon began getting emails about all the pugs needing rescued in Nebraska and Iowa. At this time, the only pug rescue in the area was Midwest Pug Rescue in Kansas City, MO, and it was obvious that the rescue need was great in the Nebraska and Iowa area as well. Jessica continued to seek out additional foster homes to help with the influx of pugs that needed rescued in the area. Megan and Si were the first foster home to take in a foster pug after Jessica. Their first foster was Yoda, a three year old mostly blind male who was surrendered to the Council Bluffs Animal Shelter. They too were touched by their fostering experience and wanted to find a way to help the pugs in need even more.

After finding it hard to stay in contact with the pug rescue in Kansas City, Jessica, Matt, Megan and Si decided that it would be best to start up their own rescue and run it the way that would work best for them. Pug Partners of Nebraska was created in December 2008, and the EIN number request was filed with the IRS. In January 2009, a generous Omaha lawyer agreed to help the group file their 501(c)(3) paperwork.

On January 30, 2009 the state certified Pug Partners of Nebraska’s Articles of Incorporation.

Since then, Pug Partners of Nebraska has rescued over 900 pugs. We have over 20 foster homes, many volunteers, and have countless happy-ever-after stories about the pugs PPN has rescued. As the rescue has increased in size, Pug Partners added new positions to better help them rescue more pugs in need. In July 2009, positions were added to include a foster qualifier, foster coordinator, adoption qualifier, and adoption coordinator. In January 2010, these roles were further condensed to include a foster director and an adoption director. In March 2010, the positions began evolving once again and will continue to evolve as the rescue continues to grow.

Join us for a dinner benefitting Pug Partners of Nebraska!

This special event directly supports our rescue efforts. There will be a live auctioneer, a silent auction, raffles, a photo booth, and a presentation of Pug Partners’ mission and achievements for the year.

Location: Arbor Hall, 14040 Arbor St, Omaha, NE 68144

Suggested attire: Cocktail attire

6:00 Social hour begins

6:30 Announcements

7:00 Dinner buffet

7:30-7:40 Silent Auction Tables Close

8:00 Live Auction by Larsen & Larsen Auction Company

8:30 Raffle Drawing (must be present to win)

Purchase Tickets

This event is only for adults over 21 years old.

Interested in Sponsoring?Sponsor Curly Tails & Cocktails

https://www.pugpartners.com/

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Signs From The Afterlife When our pets leave their physical body, it can feel overwhelming and challenging. But it is important to remember that it is not the end! Our animals are always around and ready to interact with us. We just need to understand how they communicate, recognise the signs and acknowledge their presence.

The summarised list of signs from the afterlife include:

Hearing familiar sounds: footsteps, barking, howling scratching
Smelling familiar scents which remind you of your pet
Seeing their presence out of the corner of your eye
Noticing orbs or small flashes of light
Receiving an sudden influx of shared memories out of nowhere
Experiencing unexplained electrical malfunction or disturbances
Feeling your animals snuggle up next to you
Sensing your animals looking at you
Special encounters with winged animals, bird and insects
Noticing your other animals stare at an empty space
A Sudden feeling of warmth, love and comfort
Sudden changes in room temperature
Seeing your pets doppelganger
Finding feathers, fur or whiskers around the house or on clothing
Using words or numbers to communicate
Moving toys or objects around the house
Finding your animals favourite food around the house
Being drawn to a particular objects
Finding misplaced or objects in unexpected places
Knocking objects over around the house
Finding unexplainable scratches or markings
Having vivid dreams about your pet
Receiving visions from your pet
A new animal comes knocking at your door
Hearing songs that remind you of your deceased pet

And if you haven’t yet received any signs, don’t worry, it may take some time. And if you really can’t wait, consider an Animal Mediumship Consultation to reconnect with them. It is a great way to establish contact, overcome grief and exchange loving messages.

To sign up for a webinar please find more information:

Here is the link to Jen Weigel's site that is hosting the animal communication class. https://weigel-productions.ticketleap.com/animal-communication-with-cindy-myers-on-zoom/

https://yourenergyhealer.com/

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THE PRNC STORY Pug Rescue of Northern California (formerly Pug Rescue of Sacramento) is a non-profit organization that takes in Pugs and Pug mixes from across Northern California that have been abandoned at pounds or shelters, found as strays or turned in by their owners. We then spay or neuter the pugs, make sure they are current on their shots, perform a heartworm test and start medication, insert a microchip, complete a health check and provide for other medical assessment and treatment as needed. The pugs are fostered in the private homes of our volunteers and then placed in loving, pre-screened adoptive homes.

We recently changed our name to Pug Rescue of Northern California (PRNC). We were formerly known as Pug Rescue of Sacramento (PROS). We have worked throughout all of Northern California for many years and feel this name represents our efforts more fully. Please read below our story of how we became Pug Rescue of Sacramento and grew into Pug Rescue of Northern California.

Before PROS was formed the need for pug rescue had become evident. A breeder in the Sacramento area named Marianne Herzberg-Stanley stepped into the void without having outside financial backing. She had done informal pug rescue for years, but saw the need in the early 1990's and took the lead.

In May of 1996, we were incorporated as a California Public Benefit Corporation. By this time Marianne had yielded her involvement to others that have kept her efforts going. She left PROS in good hands with many volunteers and dedicated Board members.

The year 2001 brought a major change in our pug rescue organization. Pug Rescue by the Bay joined forces with the Sacramento group and became affiliated with us starting in April. Prior to this change, we had been taking in and adopting out a substantial amount of Pugs in the Bay Area. The volunteers and coordinators in the Bay Area have proven to be a great asset to PROS' rescue efforts. Effective on May 14, 2003 PROS became a federal nonprofit organization and this has benefited our many donators and members who support our rescue efforts.

By the end of 2010, PROS rescued 106 pugs. Total pugs helped in 2009 was 105 and in 2008, the number of pugs saved was 125. Contrary to our name, PROS will rescue from the Bay to the Borders because the need is evident. Most of our adoptions are more than 50 miles out of Sacramento or in the Bay Area.

Recently, several other rescues have come into existence that will take the strain off our efforts. We applaud their efforts and wish them much success, but as they come into growth we expect to remain the most dedicated Pug rescue group in Northern California. We have many contacts and volunteers in various geographical areas. Our ultimate goal is to make sure all Pugs and Pug mixes that need to be rescued get rescued.

We hold various events in the Bay Area such as Pug Sundays and the Adoption Fair. We are always looking for additional volunteers as well as foster homes for the Pugs waiting to find their forever home.

We accept donations of new goods and services for our yearly auctions and raffles, as well as cash donations. We accept Pay Pal donations and can also donations through United Way. We are a state and federal non-profit corporation so your donation may be tax deductible. These funds go to providing food, medical treatment and care for the growing number of rescues that are finding their way to our door.

All Pugs that are adopted out are done so under a contract that provides that the Pug will be returned to us if the owner can no longer keep the Pug for any reason. It is the goal of PRNC to never turn away a Pug in need. PRNC does not euthanize any animal because of lack of space or inability to find a home, and in fact will only do so in cases of extreme medical crisis.

Visit https://pugpros.org

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In an ideal world, all dog food would be created equal. Instead, dog owners are presented with an overwhelming array of options, all claiming to be the best dog food on the market. Wading through these choices to find a dog food brand that is healthy, affordable, and appealing to your pet is often frustrating. We’ve compiled expert advice to help you narrow down your options.

What Makes a Dog Food “Good”? Most people feed their dogs dry kibble or canned wet food. These processed foods might not be appealing to us, but they contain all of the nutrients dogs need to stay healthy. Quality commercial dog foods are highly regulated and have undergone rigorous testing by veterinary specialists. So what exactly is in these dog foods?

Dogs, unlike cats, are not strict carnivores. While meat makes up the majority of their diet, domestic dogs can also derive nutrients from grains, fruits, and vegetables. These non-meat foods are not simply fillers, but can be a valuable source of essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. A good dog food will contain meat, vegetables, grains, and fruits. The best dog foods contain high-quality versions of these ingredients that are appropriate for your dog’s digestive system.

Dog Food Nutrition The best dog food for your canine companion should meet his nutritional needs. While most commercial dog food brands are specially formulated with at least the minimum nutritional requirements for dogs, it is important to remember that not every dog has exactly the same nutritional needs.

Dogs require a wide range of nutrients in different quantities over the course of their lives. The nutritional needs of a puppy are different from an adult dog, which is why it is a good idea to feed a puppy formula or an “all life stages” food to your young dog. If you are unsure about the differences in nutritional requirements between puppies and adults, the Merck Veterinary Manual lists the recommended nutrients for dogs, along with the recommended amount by weight and age. Large breed dogs and puppies have different nutritional requirements than small breed dogs and puppies.

©Justyna - stock.adobe.com Dog Food Myths and Misinformation There are plenty of dog food myths and misinformation about dog nutrition on the Internet. You can sort through it by following one simple rule: check your sources. Many well-meaning individuals make claims about dog nutrition without backing them up with scientific evidence. As you do research, always check to see if the information is supported by a credible source, like a veterinarian, canine nutritionist, or scientific study. It never hurts to be skeptical, either. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Many people have questions about grain-inclusive or grain-free dog food, pea-free dog food, or dog foods containing animal byproducts. If your dog has been diagnosed with a food allergy caused by grains, you may choose a grain-free diet under the guidance of your veterinarian. For most dogs, grains are actually a source of wholesome nutrients. Quality animal byproducts are also nutritious. These include organ meats and entrails, which often contain more nutrients than the muscle meat consumed by humans. Regulated byproducts do not include hooves, hair, floor sweepings, intestinal contents, or manure. As with any pet-related inquiry, feel free to discuss your concerns about your dog’s food with your veterinarian.

How to Read a Dog Food Label One way to decipher a good dog food from a bad dog food is to read the label. This is easier said than done, as labels can be hard to read, both due to the small print and just plain awkwardness of handling big bags of dog food in the store! But labels can also be misleading, as the Merck Veterinary Manual explains. Dog food labels are required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to tell you eight key pieces of information, and individual states may also have their own labeling requirements:

Product name
Net weight of the product
Name and address of the manufacturer
Guaranteed analysis
List of ingredients
Intended animal species (i.e. dog or cat)
Statement of nutritional adequacy
Feeding guidelines

Product Name The product name alone tells you a lot about what’s inside the can or bag. The term “beef” means that beef must make up at least 70 percent of the entire product. The terms “beef dinner,” “beef entrée,” or “beef platter,” on the other hand, only require that beef makes up at least 10 percent of the entire product. “With beef” only requires that 3 percent of the total product be beef, and “beef flavor” simply implies that there is enough beef in the product to flavor it (less than 3 percent). The same holds true for other named ingredients like “chicken.”

Ingredients The ingredient list on a dog food label will not tell you the quality of the ingredients or where they came from, and some manufacturers split up the ingredients to make the distribution more equal. For instance, different types of corn, such as flaked corn, ground corn, or kibbled corn, can be listed separately. This bumps corn down on the list of ingredients, even though the actual content of corn in the food is high. Meat is another tricky ingredient. Whole meats contain a large percentage of water weight, which means that the overall percentage of meat after processing is lower than it appears. Meat meal, on the other hand, sounds less appealing to people, but actually contains more meat than “whole meats,” as there is no water weight to throw off the calculation.

While the ingredient list might not tell you the quality of the ingredients, it does tell you what is in the food. This is especially important for dogs with special dietary needs or allergies and is also useful for owners who wish to feed their dogs specific sources of fiber, protein, and carbohydrates.

“Complete and Balanced” Dog Foods One of the first things you should look for on a dog food label is the statement “(Name of product) is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.” This isn’t just an advertising slogan. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has strict requirements to make sure that a product is in fact complete and balanced for dogs (or cats). Complete and balanced diets must contain the minimum amount of all of the nutrients necessary for dogs, which is also indicated in the “guaranteed analysis.” This analysis gives the minimum amount of crude protein and fat, along with the maximum amounts of water and crude fiber. The analysis does not, however, give the exact amount of these components, which means there is room for considerable variation. The manufacturer’s average nutrient profile is often a better tool for evaluating a product.

You can always contact the dog food company directly to get more information about its product. A reputable company that has your dog’s interests at heart should be happy to answer your questions and in many cases will give you more information than what is available on the website or product label. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association has a helpful sheet with questions you can ask a company representative.

Best Dog Food for Small and Large Breeds Small breed dogs and large breed dogs have different nutritional needs. Large breed dogs are more prone to musculoskeletal problems than smaller breeds, and so they often require large-breed dog food with different balances of certain nutrients to promote musculoskeletal health, especially as puppies. Small breed dogs, on the other hand, can choke on large-sized kibble and have their own nutritional requirements that can be accommodated with a small-breed dog food. Research your dog’s breed to find out if there are any additional nutritional requirements you should be aware of.

©duncanandison - stock.adobe.com Best Dog Food for Puppies The nutritional needs of dogs vary throughout their life. Puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs, and senior dogs have their own nutritional considerations. Most dog food companies carry specially formulated puppy foods for each stage of a dog’s life, making it easier to narrow down your choices. If you are concerned about which is the best dog food for your dog’s life stage, consult your veterinarian to see what stage food is appropriate for your dog.

Your puppy requires a different nutrient balance than an adult dog. This is especially true for large breeds. Feeding a large breed puppy food can help, as their growth needs to be monitored carefully to prevent bone and joint problems. Other puppies do well on both “puppy food” and food labeled “for all life stages.” The best food for your puppy depends on your puppy’s size and breed. Always consult your veterinarian for recommendations on puppy feeding, and advice on how to switch puppies to adult dog food.

Best Dog Food for Senior Dogs Senior dogs, usually considered 7+, vary in their individual nutritional needs. Younger senior dogs may struggle with being overweight and older senior dogs may struggle with being underweight, which is why there is such a variety.

Choosing the best senior dog food may come down to what your dog finds palatable. Many older dogs prefer wet food while others may need their food warmed up to enhance the aromas. Ultimately, your vet can help choose the best dog food for an older pet.

Best Food for Dogs With Special Dietary Needs Allergies, sensitive stomachs, and dietary restrictions affect dogs, as well as people. Feeding dogs with special dietary needs can be tricky. Your best course of action is to consult your veterinarian for advice about the dog food that best helps with their condition.

Best Dry Dog Food The most widely available and affordable dog food is dry dog food. Dry dog food does not require refrigeration, which is its main advantage over wet dog food, as it contains approximately 90 percent dry matter and 10 percent water. This makes it easy to store. Dry dog food is made by combining and cooking ingredients like meat and grains. This process converts the starches in the food into an easily digested form, while also destroying toxins and flash sterilizing the ingredients. There are many different varieties of dry dog food on the shelves. The best dry food for your dog depends on your dog’s dietary needs. In general, a higher quality dry dog food that contains the appropriate ingredients for your dog’s life stage and breed is the best choice, but talk to your vet or veterinary nutritionist about the healthiest choice for your pet.

Best Wet Dog Food Wet dog food, or canned dog food, is a perfectly viable alternative to dry dog food. While generally slightly more expensive, wet dog food is more palatable than dry food and can help stimulate the appetite of picky eaters. Wet dog food contains many of the same ingredients as dry dog food, but not in the same quantities. Wet food contains higher amounts of fresh meat, poultry, fish, and animal byproducts, along with more textured proteins derived from grains. Canned dog food has a long shelf life, however it must be refrigerated once opened. The best wet food for your dog, just as with dry dog food, depends on your dog’s life stage, breed, and any special dietary needs or allergies. Talk to your vet about the wet dog food that he recommends for your pet.

How Much Should I Feed My Dog? Dog obesity is a growing concern in the veterinary community and has been linked to many health problems in dogs. Luckily for our pets, we are usually more disciplined about controlling their diets than we are about controlling our own. Knowing how much to feed your dog and what healthy dog weight looks like can be tricky. Many owners accidentally overfeed their pets, which is why it is important to take your dog in for regular checkups and to talk with your vet about appropriate portions. The guidelines on the back of the bag are just that – guidelines. Some dogs may require more than the recommended amount, whereas others require much less. Activity level, time of year, nursing, illness, and more factors can all impact how much a dog needs to eat. Dog people will often advise that you should “feed the dog that’s in front of you” instead of strictly adhering to dog food serving size guidelines that may or may not be exactly what your dog needs.

Choosing the Best Dog Food The best dog food for your dog is ultimately up to you to decide. As an owner, you are the one who sees your dog on a regular basis. If your dog produces firm, healthy stool, is active and fit, and has a healthy appetite, then your dog food is probably working just fine.

Your veterinarian is a valuable resource to you during this process. They know more about pet nutrition than the average owner, and they also have access to research and resources that owners do not have. Your vet can help you narrow down your options and should be more than happy to help you find the answers to your questions about your dog’s food.

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About Digitail Founded in 2018 by Sebastian Gabor and Ruxandra Pui, Digitail is an all-in-one, cloud-based practice management software with a native pet parent app. It is designed to maximize productivity and deliver modern experiences to veterinary teams, pet owners, and their companions on every step of the patient journey. Equipped with an AI-powered virtual assistant, Digitail automates routine administrative tasks, cuts down staff’s workload, and lets them focus on what they do best — providing exceptional care. At the same time, the Digitail app puts essential pet care information into the hands of pet parents, improving communication and increasing compliance.

Visit https://digitail.com/ to learn more

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Dogs can be opportunists when it comes to getting their paws on tasty treats, but not all everyday food and drink are safe if they come into contact with them. Learn which nine items are particularly dangerous to your dog.

ONIONS, GARLIC AND CHIVES The onion family, whether dry, raw or cooked, is particularly toxic to dogs and can cause gastrointestinal irritation and red blood cell damage. Signs of illness are not always immediate and can occur up to a few days later.
CHOCOLATE However enticing chocolate is for humans and dogs alike, chocolate is another poisonous food for dogs. Chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine (dark chocolate has the highest content of this) which is toxic to dogs and can cause kidney failure.
MACADAMIA NUTS Macadamia nuts contain a toxin that can affect your dog’s muscles and nervous system resulting in weakness, swollen limbs and panting.
CORN ON THE COB Corn on the cob could potentially be fatal if eaten by your dog. Although the corn is digested by dogs, the cob can cause a blockage in your dog’s intestine.
AVOCADO Avocados are another poisonous food for dogs. Avocado plants contain a substance called Persin which is in its leaves, fruit and seed and can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs.
ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER (XYLITOL) Our desire for sweet treats, chewing gum and drinks together with low-fat, diet and sugar-free products (including some peanut butters so always check the label before using this as a treat) are often laced with an artificial sweetener called Xylitol which causes an insulin release in our bodies. However, if your dog digests one of these sweetened foods they can go into hypoglycaemia which is linked to liver failure and blood clotting disorders.
ALCOHOL Alcohol has a huge impact on dogs even in small doses. The drink not only causes intoxication as it does in humans, but it can lead to sickness, diarrhoea and even central nervous system damage.
COOKED BONES Giving your dog a raw uncooked bone to chew on is great, but avoid cooked bones at all cost. These can easily splinter and in large quantities cause constipation or at worst, a perforation of the gut which can be fatal.
GRAPES AND RAISINS Raisins are in many of the foods that we love to eat such as cakes, biscuits and cereals so it’s not just the fruit form we should be concerned with. The active ingredient which causes the toxin is unknown, however both grapes and raisins may cause severe liver damage and kidney failure.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY DOG HAS EATEN ANY OF THESE? If consumed, even small amounts of these items can be fatal so always act immediately and take your dog to the vets.

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Many dog owners have learned to recognize the telltale signs of an ear infection: whining, scratching, and head shaking are often the first symptoms of the problem.

Ear infections are common conditions in dogs, especially those with floppy ears such as Basset Hounds and Cocker Spaniels. An estimated 20 percent of dogs have some form of ear disease, which may affect one or both ears. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce the length and severity of these episodes for your dog. There are dog ear care products to help prevent issues from reoccurring.

There are three types of ear infections, known formally as otitis externa, media, and interna. The most common is otitis externa, in which inflammation affects the layer of cells lining the external portion of the ear canal. Otitis media and interna refer to infections of the middle and inner ear canal, respectively. These infections often result from the spread of infection from the external ear. Otitis media and interna can be very serious and may result in deafness, facial paralysis, and vestibular signs. That’s why it’s important to prevent infections and seek early treatment when problems arise.

Symptoms of Dog Ear Infections Some dogs show no symptoms of ear infection aside from a buildup of wax and discharge in the ear canal. But ear infections often cause significant discomfort and affected dogs may show signs such as:

Head shaking
Scratching at the affected ear
Dark discharge
Odor
Redness and swelling of the ear canal
Pain
Itchiness
Crusting or scabs in the ears

What Causes Ear Infections in Dogs? The canine ear canal is more vertical than that of a human, forming an L-shape that tends to hold in fluid. This makes dogs more prone to ear infections. Ear infections are typically caused by bacteria, yeast, or a combination of both. In puppies, ear mites can also be a source of infection.

Factors that may predispose your dog to ear infections include:

Moisture, which can create a prime growing environment for bacteria and yeast
Allergies, which lead to ear disease in about 50 percent of dogs with allergic skin disease and 80 percent of dogs with food sensitivities
Endocrine disorders, such as thyroid disease
Autoimmune disorders
Wax buildup
Foreign bodies
Injury to the ear canal
Excessive cleaning

Precise Diagnosis Needed for a Dog’s Ear Infections If your dog is showing any of the common signs of ear infections, it’s important to consult with your veterinarian as soon as possible. Quick treatment is necessary not only for your dog’s comfort (these conditions can be painful!), but also to prevent the spread of infection to the middle and inner ear. Don’t try to treat ear infections at home.

Be prepared to provide your vet with a thorough history of the problem. This is especially important for first-time infections, or if you are seeing a new veterinarian. Your vet will want to know the following:

Duration of any symptoms, such as pain, swelling, discharge, and odor
If your dog has any allergies or other underlying medical conditions
If your dog is on medication
What your dog has been eating
How often you clean your dog’s ears and which dog ear cleaning products you use
If you’ve trimmed or plucked the hair in your dog’s ears
Recent activities, such as baths, grooming, or swimming
If your dog has a history of ear infections, when they occurred, and how they were treated

After obtaining your dog’s history, your veterinarian will perform a physical examination. In severe cases, your vet may also recommend sedating your dog to facilitate examination deep within the ear canal. Your vet will evaluate both ears, and the exam may include:

Visual assessment to look for signs such as redness, swelling, and discharge
Examination with an otoscope, which allows evaluation of the ear canal and eardrum
Gentle palpation of the ear to assess level of pain
Microscopic examination of samples taken by swabbing the ear
Culture of samples from the ear
Biopsies or X-rays in severe or chronic cases

How are Dog Ear Infections Treated? Your veterinarian will thoroughly clean your dog’s ears using a medicated ear cleanser. Your vet may also prescribe your dog prescription ear drops for you to use at home. In severe cases of dog ear infections, your vet may prescribe oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications.

Most uncomplicated ear infections resolve within 1–2 weeks, once appropriate treatment begins. But severe infections or those due to underlying conditions may take months to resolve, or may become chronic problems. In cases of severe chronic disease where other treatments have failed, your veterinarian may recommend surgery such as a Total Ear Canal Ablation (TECA). A TECA surgery removes the ear canal, thus removing the diseased tissue and preventing the recurrence of infection.

It is important to follow your veterinarian’s instructions closely and return to the veterinary hospital for any recommended recheck appointments. Lapses in your dog’s treatment may lead to the recurrence of the infection. It is especially important that you finish the full course of your dog’s medication, even if your dog appears to be getting better. Failure to finish the full course of treatment may lead to additional problems such as resistant infections.

Can You Prevent Ear Infections in Dogs? As with most diseases, prevention is always best. Excess moisture is a common cause of ear infections, so be sure to thoroughly dry your dog’s ears after swimming and bathing. Ask your veterinarian if a dog ear powder would be a good option for helping keep your dog’s ears dry. If your dog is prone to chronic or recurrent ear infections, identifying and managing any underlying causes such as allergies can also help prevent new infections from occurring.

Cleaning your dog’s ears at home can also help prevent ear infections. Jeff Grognet, DVM, a columnist for AKC Family Dog, advises the following steps for ear cleaning: “First, fill the canal with a dog ear cleaning solution and massage the vertical ear canal from the outside. Wipe out the canal with absorbent gauze. Don’t use paper towels or cotton because these may leave fibers behind, and those could cause irritation.” Cotton swabs may also be useful for cleaning your dog’s pinnae (the external ear flaps) but avoid using them in the ear canal, which may inadvertently push debris deeper into the canal. You can also find dog ear cleaning wipes that are helpful for clearing away dirt and debris from the external ear flaps.

Ear infections are a common and often recurrent problem in many dogs, but, with your veterinarian’s help, you can keep your dog’s ears clean and comfortable. If your dog is showing signs of an ear infection, always talk to your vet and seek treatment right away to ensure the problem does not become serious.

Visit your local Veterinarian if you have any of these symptoms.

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Welcome to Zoom Room Dog Training in Lincoln, providing exceptional dog training classes using only positive reinforcement. Small group classes or private training sessions allow our expert dog trainers to teach obedience, dog agility, puppy training classes and enrichment workshops in our indoor climate-controlled dog gym.

You can also get in some exercise during a Playgroup or Private Gym session, or throw your dog a birthday party! We're available for fund-raisers for rescue groups, too, as well as meet-ups, or other canine social events.

If you're looking for the best dog trainers in Lincoln or Omaha, please stop on by or give us a call.

Location Information 4400 Lucile Dr Suite 102 Lincoln, NE 68516 402-413-6410 Contact Us Mon-Thu: 11 am - 8 pm Fri: 11 am - 7 pm Sat-Sun: 9 am - 5 pm

TRAIN.

How Our Classes Work At the Zoom Room, we don’t train dogs. We train the people who love them. We’ve redefined dog training, with classes specially designed to build confidence and success as dogs master skills in a simple, step-by-step process.

We utilize only positive dog training methods, which your entire family can easily master and embrace. You will be actively engaged in your dog’s training, working as a team as you learn to communicate more effectively with your dog. So what you learn at the Zoom Room doesn’t have to stay at the Zoom Room. Behaviors will naturally transition to life at home with your dog.

Our indoor dog training gym offers small group classes in agility, obedience, puppy and socialization classes with the best dog trainers in Lincoln, NE. Private, one-on-one training scheduled to your convenience is also available.

Getting Started Your dog training journey always begins with either an Orientation or an Evaluation.

Orientation
- Free, 30 min, attend without your dog, bring your vaccination records
- You’ll learn how we do things, and how to load a clicker
- For all puppies and those ready to enter Obedience 1
- If you can’t attend a scheduled Orientation, please call us so we can accommodate you, even remotely
Evaluation
- $25, 30 min, attend with your dog, bring your vaccination records
- Book an appointment to schedule a convenient time
- Attend if you’re concerned your dog may be too reactive for group classes, if you’d like to place into more advanced coursework, or if you need help coming up with a training plan

SIGN UP FOR ORIENTATION BOOK AN EVALUATION Group Classes * + Small class size for personalized attention + Flexible Schedule: Class packs can be used for any class, day or time + Advanced courses have prerequisites to enter + Levels Training: work at your own pace and graduate to the next level when you and your dog have mastered the skills + You can enroll in class at any time because everyone is working at different levels and advances at different paces from each other

Private Training * Private dog training Scheduled at times convenient to you, this is ideal if:

+ You’d prefer one-on-one attention
+ Your schedule makes it difficult to attend group classes
+ Your dog is too reactive to participate in a group setting
+ You’d like to focus on a specific behavior issue
+ You wish to accelerate the learning of any behaviors

Remote training Half-hour private sessions via live video chat are beneficial if:
- You are unable to leave home due to illness or a shelter-in-place order
- You have a new puppy and want some extra hand-holding at home
- You'd like to include members of the household not able to attend classes, such as young children
- Your dog is exhibiting problem behaviors that only appear at home
- You are traveling out of town with your dog

PRIVATE TRAINING MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

Puppy Training The Zoom Room wrote the book on puppy training. Literally. “Puppy Training in 7 Easy Steps: Everything You Need to Know to Raise the Perfect Dog” is the best-selling dog training book in America.

Luckily for you and your puppy, you live in Lincoln and can enjoy early socialization and puppy training classes right here at your local Zoom Room!

Visit zoomroom.com

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Dr. Doug Mader is a triple board-certified veterinary specialist and has been a veterinarian for over three decades. He is an internationally recognized speaker, has written three best-selling medical textbooks and numerous book chapters and scientific publications, and has had long standing pet columns in the Long Beach Press Telegram, Reptiles magazine, and the Key West Citizen. Dr. Mader is the recipient of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Award, the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Achievement Award, and the Fred L. Frye Lifetime Achievement Award for Veterinary Medicine, and is a seven-time winner of the North American Veterinary Community Speaker of the Year award and a four-time winner of the Western Veterinary Conference Educator of the Year award. He is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine in the UK. Dr. Mader practiced in California for many years, but today lives and works in the Florida Keys.

To learn more or puchase Dr. Mader's book please visit: https://www.dougmader.com/

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Ellie is an animal communicator and healing expert who consults with people, animal rescues, and sanctuaries all over the world on how to save, heal, and treat their own animals.

Ellie is a powerful speaker and the author of “My Gentle Barn: Creating a sanctuary where animals heal, and children learn to hope.” Ellie has appeared on some of the most influential media outlets including The Ellen Show, People Magazine, Life Magazine, Animal Planet, The Huffington Post, Turning point, Women’s World, NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS, The NY Times, and many more.

Ellie has been saving, rehabilitating and communicating with animals since she was a child. From the age of seven Ellie heard the distress calls of baby birds, injured wildlife, and orphaned animals and would bring them home to heal them. By age 11 Ellie was working with families in her community to solve behavioral and training issues for their dogs.

As a young adult, Ellie founded "Rover Rescue" where she focused on taking dogs and cats from high kill shelters deemed unadoptable. By communicating and connecting with the animals, Ellie was able to resolve their issues and place them into forever homes. During her time with Rover Rescue Ellie saved over 500 dogs and cats.

Later Ellie discovered a petting zoo and was overwhelmed by the animals desperate pleas for help. Not able to walk away, Ellie ended up bringing those broken farm animals home to her half acre backyard. She listened as they recounted their tails of abuse and neglect and gave them everything they needed to heal. This made Ellie want to do more.

Ellie founded The Gentle Barn in 1999, a nonprofit organization that rescues and rehabilitates not only dogs and cats, but horses, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, turkeys, peacocks, emus, llamas, and donkeys. Ellie formulated her own "Gentle Healing" method, using a combination of animal communication, energy healing, holistic healing, holding therapy, and western medicine to heal animals no one else would take and had nowhere else to go. Ellie specializes in healing puppies with Parvo, calves from veal crates, and orphaned animals of all kinds.

Ellie and her husband Jay Weiner have brought The Gentle Barn national and now have three Gentle Barn locations, in California, in Missouri and in Tennessee. The Gentle Barn is one of the largest and most beloved farm animal sanctuaries in the world. It is their goal to be the voice for animals, share their stories, and open the hearts of humanity towards all living beings. For more information about The Gentle Barn, please visit: www.gentlebarn.org

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Managing canine diabetes Giving your dog a long, happy life Symptoms of diabetes

Excessive thirst (drinking water)
Increased urination
Weight loss (even if eating well)
Decreased appetite
Cloudy eyes
Chronic or frequent infections, including skin and urinary infections

Learning your dog has diabetes can feel like a punch to your gut. Up to 1% of all dogs may develop diabetes during their lifetime. While this is a serious diagnosis, treatment options and management strategies can give your dog a long, quality life.

Diabetes mellitus revolves around a lack of insulin or a lack of the body’s response to insulin. Insulin therapy is a mainstay of treatment.

Understanding your dog’s prognosis As with so many canine health problems, early diagnosis is key to your dog living a full life. Caught early, with treatment started right away and careful monitoring, many dogs with diabetes live full, active lives. The battle will be more difficult with dogs who have these issues:

Phosphate levels
- Dogs who have high levels of phosphate in their blood at the time of diagnosis tend to have a slightly less positive prognosis. The exact reason for this is unknown, but it emphasizes the need for a complete blood chemistry panel at the time of diagnosis.
Medical history
- Dogs who are more than 10-years-old, overweight, have a history of pancreatitis or are battling hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s disease) are more likely to have problems.
- Dogs with hypothyroidism have a slightly higher risk of becoming diabetic, and any dog who has required treatment with glucocorticoids for long periods of time is also at risk.
Breeding
- A study from the United Kingdom suggested that Border Terriers, West Highland White Terriers and Cocker Spaniels had lower survival times than Border Collies.
- Tibetan Terriers, Cairn Terriers and Samoyeds are also considered high-risk breeds for diabetes.
Females
- While female dogs have a higher risk of developing diabetes, if they are spayed, they can be managed quite well.

Starting therapy After your dog has been definitively diagnosed with diabetes, treatment with insulin will be the starting point. Dogs who are ill may need to be hospitalized and started with rapid-acting insulin injections. Most dogs will be feeling relatively well and can start treatment at home under veterinary guidance.

Customizing treatment for diabetics is essential. Individual dogs may respond to one type of insulin but not another. Some dogs become resistant to a certain type after time and need to change. Dosages can vary greatly among dogs, as can the timing of dosages. Typically, dogs will start off on insulin injections twice a day, around their feeding times. But be prepared for the experimentation necessary to find the ideal protocol for an individual dog.

Veterinary staff will explain how to handle and store insulin, and how to correctly use the syringes. Different strengths and types of insulin come in different units, and you need to carefully match the syringes you use with the insulin type. Insulin is sensitive and must be stored carefully, not too cold or too hot. Even shaking it too vigorously can harm this medication. Some insulins need to be rolled rather than shaken. Never use insulin past its expiration date.

Finally, you will learn how to give the injections. Some clinics have you practice on something like fruit until you are comfortable with doing the injections properly. Injections are given subcutaneously, reaching the fat between the surface skin and muscle below. The needles are a small diameter and very sharp, so most dogs handle the injections well. Needles and syringes need to be disposed of properly. You will need a sharps container and to learn how to dispose of the needles in your town.

Types of insulin

There are many versions of insulin available for treating diabetic dogs, and your veterinarian will guide you to the best choice for your individual dog.

FDA-approved for use in dogs:

Porcine lente (Vetsulin)
Zinc insulin (ProZinc)

Used off-label with good results:

Detemir (Levemir)
Glargine (Lantus)
Isophane insulin, known as NPH (Novolin-N, Humulin-N)

All insulin drugs should only be used under the guidance of your veterinarian, with regular check-ups. Insulin costs will vary among products.

Insulin-glucose response curve Once you have the basics down, you will help fine-tune your dog’s treatment. Trial and error is used to determine the best insulin, the ideal dose, timing and how to coordinate feedings with the dosing schedule. For the first week or two, while your dog’s body adjusts to the insulin and you get your routine down, your veterinarian may have you monitor your dog via urine glucose strips. These give you a rough idea as to whether your dog is handling the insulin without getting their glucose levels too low.

The ideal method for determining all these factors is to create a glucose response curve. Glucose is one of the main factors influenced by insulin. Tracking results of glucose in the blood is an easy way to know if your insulin dose is correct. Urine glucose monitoring can also help but is not as precise.

To create a glucose curve, blood glucose levels are checked about every two hours over a 12-hour period, if possible. That many blood tests can be expensive, but it is worth it to get your dog on the right track. Using the glucose curve, your veterinarian will see when the insulin starts to act, how long a single dose provides treatment, when the insulin is at its highest level of activity and when it fades out. While running the glucose curve, your dog’s feeding (timing and portions) are carefully controlled. Based on the highs and lows of the curve, adjustments may be made in dose, timing of meals and amount fed.

Normal blood glucose levels in healthy dogs are 80-120 milligrams per decilitre (mg/dl). Most dogs can handle levels going as high as 250 with minimal side effects. Post mealtimes, some dogs may normally go up to 400 but that is a temporary effect. Once blood glucose levels go over 200, glucose will be detectable in the urine.

Factors influencing insulin dosing Because glucose is a basic nutrient, many factors can affect a dog’s requirements. Obese dogs need to lose weight, so that should be factored in. If your dog has a successful weight-loss program, insulin amounts will decrease. Activity levels also require different amounts of insulin. A dog who is running agility trials will end up with a different dose than a dog who strolls sedately around the block once or twice a day. Female dogs who go into heat will often have different insulin needs than a spayed dog ( — it is generally recommended to spay an intact diabetic female to even out insulin requirements).

If your dog is sick or becomes hypothyroid (low thyroid hormone production), their insulin needs will change. If your dog skips their morning meal and doesn’t eat, you need to contact your veterinarian to discuss adjustments in the insulin dose. Insulin needs the “raw material” of the food to be effective.

Monitoring your diabetic dog If your dog is not showing any clinical signs of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar or glucose levels), such as drinking more than usual, being extra hungry or urinating excessively, then your dosing should be in the right ballpark. Even so, periodic blood testing is recommended.

Having hypoglycemia (low blood sugar or glucose levels) is more serious. If your dog is very lethargic, sleeping more than usual and resisting activity, then they may have hypoglycemia. Some of these dogs will have tremors, difficulty walking and can collapse into a coma.

The brain is very dependent on glucose for its nutrition, so any changes in mental state could mean hypoglycemia. If you suspect this, you can put corn syrup or honey on your dog's gums. If they are alert, a meal of cooked pasta with some syrup or honey can help to quickly raise their blood sugar. The response should be fairly rapid. Contact your veterinarian if you suspect that your dog has high or low glucose levels.

Fairly new on the scene are continuous or flash glucose-monitoring systems. These high-tech systems use an electrode inserted in the subcutaneous tissues of your dog. They give off a small current determined by the amount of glucose in the interstitial tissues. That charge is then converted to a glucose amount and displayed on a monitor.

Two systems have been used successfully in veterinary medicine: the MiniMed iPro2, a continuous monitoring system, and the Abbott Freestyle Libre, which is a flash system. These systems can provide a picture of your dog’s daily blood glucose levels while they are at home and doing normal activities.

Best management practices The goal with your diabetic dog is to mimic a healthy dog’s glucose status.

You want a normal rhythm with no clinical signs of too high or too low. That means a steady routine, ideally feeding your dog the same diet, at the same time every day. Plan your dog’s activity for each day. If you have an unusually active day planned, ask your veterinarian ahead of time about any recommended adjustments in insulin or food.

A steady state minimizes long-term damage from diabetes to organ systems like the heart, liver and kidneys. Even dogs who are well-managed may eventually develop cataracts, but it takes longer in dogs who have relatively well-controlled glucose levels.

Once your dog is on a set schedule, costs and complications are minimal.

Side effect cataracts Cataracts are a common side effect of canine diabetes. These cataracts tend to mature quickly and may be associated with inflammation. A veterinary ophthalmologist can evaluate your dog’s eyes to determine if cataract removal would improve vision.

If the ophthalmologist recommends removal, a well-regulated diabetic dog can have general anesthesia and surgery to remove the damaged lens. An artificial lens may be put in place at that time. If your dog is not a surgical candidate, don’t despair. Blind dogs usually adjust well to their loss of vision.

Prognosis With careful monitoring, many dogs with diabetes live full, active lives. It is important for owners of diabetic dogs to keep a notebook charting daily dosage, diet, and activity. Doing so can alert you to any developing problems.

This article has been reprinted with permission from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine’s DogWatch newsletter, published by Belvoir Media Group.

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2023: THE TEXAS LICENSED BREEDERS LAW  Background: Texas passed a law regulating large-scale cat and dog breeders in 2011 (Texas Occupations Code – Chapter 802 – Dog or Cat Breeders Act). While the 2011 law successfully prevented animal cruelty at licensed facilities, loopholes allowed numerous large-scale breeders to avoid inspections and meet basic standards of care. By 2023, it was clear that the Texas Licensed Breeders Law needed reform to regulate commercial breeders masquerading as hobbyists.

SB 876 does just that: first, by requiring breeders with five or more breeding females to be licensed. Previously, only breeders with eleven or more breeding females were regulated, which meant a large swath of the industry went sight unseen. According to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) study, unlicensed breeding facilities are responsible for most cruelty and neglect complaints.

Second, SB 876 removes the need to prove a breeder sold 20 or more animals in a calendar year. Many breeders conduct cash-only sales, which are untraceable. By removing the “proof of sales” requirement, SB 876 closes a significant loophole that allowed commercial breeders to evade accountability. This legislation will effectuate change for thousands of animals across the state and allow the Texas Licensed Breeders Law to oversee the industry as originally intended.

SB 876 was authored by Representative Brad Buckley and co-authored by Senator Pete Flores and Senator John Whitmire. SB 876 is effective September 1, 2023, and breeders with five or more breeding females must be licensed by January 1, 2024.

https://www.thln.org/2023_the_texas_licensed_breeders_law

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Dogs repeat behaviors that get them what they want. That’s why positive reinforcement dog training focuses on rewarding your dog for the behaviors you want to see. If you give your dog a treat for giving you a paw, for example, your dog will be more likely to give you a paw in the future.

But where do clickers and markers fit in? You may have heard of clicker training, also known as mark and reward training. Is it an unnecessary gimmick? Quite the opposite. A clicker (or marker) is a tool that can make positive reinforcement training more efficient. After being repeatedly associated with a treat or reward, a clicker becomes a conditioned reinforcer. Learn how clicker training can help you better and more effectively communicate with your dog during training sessions.

What Is Clicker Training? Clicker training is the same as positive reinforcement training, with the added benefit of a clicker. A clicker is simply a small mechanical noisemaker. The techniques are based on the science of animal learning, which says that behaviors that are rewarded are more likely to be repeated in the future. So rather than focusing on what your dog is doing wrong, and taking good behavior for granted, clicker training flips the script and concentrates on what your dog is doing right. By telling your dog what to do, instead of what not to do, you can have an incredible effect on how your dog chooses to behave.

The value of the clicker is that it tells your dog exactly which behavior you’re rewarding. By clicking at the right time, you can “mark” the moment your dog did what you wanted. So rather than having to guess what you liked, the click tells your dog precisely what they did correctly. For example, if you’re training your dog to sit, you would click at the moment your dog’s butt hit the ground.

What Is the Meaning of the Click? The clicker is merely a way to mark a moment. There is nothing magical about that specific noise, except that you likely never make it around your dog outside of training. Therefore, you can substitute anything as a marker as long as it’s distinct from other ways you communicate with your dog. For example, you could snap your fingers, blow a whistle, or cluck your tongue. Many people use a marker word, like “Yes” or “Good.” For a hearing-impaired dog, you could use a light or a gentle tap on the shoulder.

Of course, the click or other marker itself is meaningless until it’s paired with a reward. The click simply indicates a reward is on the way. Although edible treats are the best incentive for most dogs, a reward is anything your dog values. So if your pup would rather work for a game of tug-of-war than a chunk of chicken, play that instead. The important part is timing and consistency. The click must mark the correct moment and every click must be followed by a reward.

How Does Clicker Training Help? In positive reinforcement training, a dog is rewarded after performing a desirable behavior. Without the use of a clicker or other marker, it might be obvious to the trainer what is being rewarded, but is it obvious to the dog? For example, when teaching a dog to lie down, how do you make it clear you are rewarding the belly on the ground? You have to make sure the reward is given while the dog is lying down rather than the dog getting up to get it. Otherwise, the dog might think the reward is for standing up or walking toward you. That’s easy with food treats, but impossible if the reward is a round of fetch or tug.

What about dogs who pop up from a down as soon they touch the floor? You can’t possibly get the reward to them fast enough. Or, what about more challenging behaviors like those performed at a distance? How do you get your dog a reward for jumping through a hoop at the exact moment they pass through the hoop? That’s where the power of the click or other marker comes in. The click marks the moment you are going to reward, then bridges the gap in time until the reward arrives. Your dog knows exactly what action was correct.

But couldn’t you just use praise in the same way? You could, but it’s not nearly as clear. You communicate with your dog using praise all the time. In fact, it’s a wonderful part of rewarding your dog. Plus, there is nothing about praise that is specific to the training situation, nor would you want that to be the case. Gushing over your dog is part of the joy of dog ownership. Using a clicker or other training-specific marker prevents confusion about the reward to come.

On top of the benefit of clarity, clicker-trained dogs tend to love learning. They want to train and work hard to earn a click. From your dog’s point of view, mark and reward training makes teaching new behaviors a game. It takes the pressure off the trainer too. Looking for clickable moments means you focus on your dog’s good choices, rather than dwelling on mistakes. Like any form of positive reinforcement training, clicker training boosts your communication, builds your bond with your dog, and makes training fun.

How Do You Use Clicker Training? To use a clicker or other marker, you’ll first need to teach the dog what the marker means. Sometimes called “loading the clicker,” you pair your chosen marker with a reward. So, click, then immediately treat. After about 10–20 repetitions, your dog will understand that the marker predicts a coming reward. Now you’re ready to put the clicker into practice.

You can use your marker with lure-and-reward training, where you use a reward to lure your dog into the behavior you’re looking for. But it’s also useful for shaping behaviors. Shaping involves building a complex behavior through baby steps. The clicker is also a great way to capture good behavior. So if you see your dog lying quietly on a mat instead of begging at the table, click then reward that behavior. Or if your dog has all four paws on the floor when the doorbell rings, click that moment before your dog has a chance to jump on guests. Last but not least, clicker training is a great way to teach tricks.

Eventually, when your dog has learned a new behavior, you won’t need the marker anymore. After all, it’s simply a teaching tool. But whenever you want to lure, shape, or capture a behavior, the clicker or other marker will help you communicate clearly with your dog so the behavior you want is the behavior you’ll get.

Contact Zoom Room Lincoln for more questions

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https://zoomroom.com/location/lincoln/

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September 30
10 to 11:30 a.m.
CCS Shelter, 5787 W. 6th Ave., Lakewood, CO 80214

Get the must-know estate planning tips for LGBTQ+ supporters at this special seminar! Learn estate planning principles, the difference between a will and a trust, the importance of a power of attorney and living will, and how to incorporate your pets into your plans! Join us for this FREE session presented by Erica Johnson, Attorney at Law for AMBLER | KEENAN | MITCHELL | JOHNSON, on Saturday, September 30 from 10-11:30 a.m. at the CCS shelter.

Space is limited, so registration is required. RSVP by September 15 to Ashleigh Leader at aleader@catcaresociety.org or 303-237-4559.

“I’m an estate planning attorney and I have had the pleasure to speak to CCS donors on a number of occasions about estate planning with your pets in mind. I love being able to teach CCS donors about this topic. It is in everyone’s best interest that they know about this, and especially about the CCS Guardian program for their cats!” — Erica Johnson

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Learn about the Animals and Emotions Webinar – September 27 with Cindy Myers, Animal Intuitive.

https://yourenergyhealer.com/event-animals-emotions-webinar/

HI, I AM CINDY! Cindy Myers Ambassador to Animals, Humans and Spirit

I’ve always been a good listener. However, twenty years ago, I would have found it hilarious if you told me that I’d be working as an intuitive energy healer while living on an alpaca farm! But, here I am with a herd of 24 alpacas, 3 dogs and 3 cats working as a Medical Intuitive! I believe that the sum of our life experiences can lead us to our true calling in life. There are many paths to finding our way to our authentic selves.

It took many years, multiple and diverse career paths, and tough life challenges to finding my true calling. The life lessons were invaluable that led me to this meaningful life. I learned about frequencies and Radars while working as an Engineer for the Navy and now I am a Radar! I learned all about stress and how harmful it is to our body, mind and spirit while being my mom’s caregiver through her final years. And there was an amazing gift I created out of the house fire I experienced due to an arsonist. Losing my belongings led me to discovering myself. And I found the courage to embrace and pursue my calling of intuitive energy work. It is an honor and humbles me to do this work for people and their animals.

I love sharing my intuitive abilities with both animals and humans. I look forward to helping you restore your energy balance so you can live an abundantly joy filled life!

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About Cat Care Society Cat Care Society is a private, non-profit cat shelter founded in 1981 that was established in order to improve the quality of life for cats in need in the Denver metro area. Our unique and free-roaming approach views all cats as worthy, regardless of their age or abilities.

We are non-discriminatory in our love for cats and take in cats that may not have a chance anywhere else. This includes cats that have tested positive for FIV or FeLV, or have been diagnosed with chronic health conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease. We also pride ourselves in finding these cats loving homes and educating cat owners on the care requirements for cats with special needs.

As a limited-admission shelter, we only accept new cats as quickly as our current cats can find homes, and only if we have the space and resources to properly care for them. We provide a temporary refuge for cats in need until an appropriate and permanent home can be found for each. Veterinary care, premium diet, and human interaction are lovingly provided by dedicated staff and volunteers. Approximately 800 cats come into our care each year!

As we receive no government funding, Cat Care Society is supported by a number of loyal volunteers, donors, and partners, without whom we could not operate. Our staff and board of directors work together to ensure that every cat receives an enriching environment and the opportunity to find a home where they can flourish.

For more information: https://catcaresociety.org/about-us/

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Come celebrate National Dog Day at our family fun 5K Trail run/walk event on August 26th! This is a year of celebration! Therapy K-9 Rex, the inspiration of RexRun For PAWSitivity 2023 was joined by his brother, Zeke and his nephew, Riley! In April, therapy K-9's Bear and Otis joined the pack! Come and join us in celebrating National Dog Day with a family fun filled day! Our 5K Trail run begins at 8am and is followed by the 5K Trail walk (with your dog) and a Kids Run. After that, you can enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast at the Flippin' Flapjacks food truck! All day long, we will have K-9 training demonstrations and the ASCO Mounted Patrol will gallop in! Don't miss our dog costume contest followed by a silent and live auction! The Kids Zone will have face painting and a balloon artist! The vendors in the Marketplace will be handing out giveaways throughout the event! Dogs are welcome inside of the event area as long as they are well behaved and on a 6' leash.

K-9 Rex is a two-year-old black Labrador therapy dog. He and his fellow K-9's with their handlers go to local schools to primarily offer comfort to students with special needs. Many are in crisis and are dealing with stress, anxiety and depression. All net profits go to the law enforcement K-9's through the 501(c)3 nonprofit, Back The Blue K-9 Force, to purchase K-9's and their protective gear as well as provide funding for their medical needs. Apprehension K-9's trained in narcotics, explosives, and electronics detection, are also funded by Back The Blue K-9 Force. Several of the K-9's will be at RexRun For PAWSitivity 2023!

Four registrations are available this year! * 8 am - 5K Trail Run * 8:30 am - 5K Trail Walk and bring your dogs! * 9:00 am -1-mile Kids Trail Run/Walk * Virtual Run/Walk is open anytime from August 1st to September 1st * https://runsignup.com/Race/CO/Aurora/RexRunForPAWSitivity

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Which is the best food for dogs? While meat makes up the majority of their diet, domestic dogs can also derive nutrients from grains, fruits, and vegetables. These non-meat foods are not simply fillers, but can be a valuable source of essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. A good dog food will contain meat, vegetables, grains, and fruits.

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Back The Blue K-9 Force became a 501c3 in March of 2016. We worked with K-9s from several different departments around Metro Denver. We purchased with donated funds 15 K-9s. Two of the SRO dogs K-9s Zeke and Riley are included in that number. We wanted to become involved with the SRO program when we learned about how therapy dogs calm kids with special needs in times of crisis and provide comfort to all the students.

The goal is to raise funds and awareness of why School Resource Therapy K-9s are needed.To help raise money to purchase more SRO dogs as well as to cover their medical and needed safety gear. Also, to help with the apprehension, narcotics, explosive, and electronics detection K-9s who often partner with the SRO dogs.

Join us for a pet friendly 5k trail run/walk to spread mental health awareness and PAWSitivity in schools with the help of more therapy K9’s like Rex.

Visit RexRun.com to sign up for this great event.

Run/Walk Info:

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  Once upon a time...…there was a CAT named Cosmo.         Cosmo shared his home with very likable dogs, but the chasing thing, and the slobbers on his head, were enough to make anyone see stars. To say the least, it was just a bit annoying for poor Cosmo. It was time to find a distraction for his dog pals. So, Cosmo persuaded his human companion, Laurin, to try making delicious, healthy treats as “decoys” for the dogs. IT WORKED!!!! Cosmos’s Dog Biscuit Bakery was founded in 1995 in a small shop in Denver – much to the delight of fellow felines and the canine community. Over 20 years of making cats and dogs happy treat by treat.

Cosmo’s is owned and operated by a warm and spirited animal lover, along with a team of equally kind-hearted employees, all exhibiting the joy that our animals bring to us. We will always greet you and your furry pals with a smile and a treat. Cosmo’s Dog Biscuit Bakery is the first and possibly only dog biscuit bakery to have been founded by a CAT! To this day, Cosmo is with us in mind and spirit.

https://cosmosdogbakery.com/

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Breck & Bailey is a Colorado born and bred home-delivered freshly frozen dog food company. We work with a veterinarian nutritionist to develop fresh recipes that not only meet AAFCO standards but also OUR standards. Not only do our own dogs taste test our recipes, but SO DO WE! We are human and pup approved! We use only ingredients that you can pronounce and actually identify. We also use a limited number of fresh and sustainably sourced ingredients that are grown in the USA only. Our proteins are sourced from Colorado-based ranches and our vegetables and starches are sourced as close to Colorado as possible based on seasonal availability. You know what is so awesome?! Bark@BreckAndBailey.com.

Visit https://breckandbailey.com/

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From renowned veterinarian Dr. Doug Mader comes a stirring account of his fight to protect his animal patients and human staff amid the dangerous realities of inner-city life and the Los Angeles riots—and a celebration of the remarkable human-animal bond.

The life of a veterinarian is challenging: keeping up with advances in medical care, making difficult decisions about people’s beloved companions, and, in Dr. Doug Mader’s case, navigating the social unrest in Los Angeles in the early 1990s. As one of the few exotic animal experts in California, he was just as likely to be treating a lion as a house cat.

The Vet at Noah's Ark: Stories of Survival from an Inner-City Animal Hospital follows Dr. Mader and his staff over the course of a year at Noah's Ark Veterinary Hospital, an inner-city LA area veterinary hospital where Dr. Mader treats not only dogs and cats, but also emus, skunks, snakes, foxes, monkeys, and a host of other exotic animals. This real life drama is set against the backdrop of the trial of four police officers in the Rodney King case, as well as the violent aftermath following their acquittal.

This is a book about survival, both of the pets that Dr. Mader and his staff try to save on a daily basis, as well as the staff themselves. Living in the harsh reality of the city, surrounded by gangs, drugs, violence, traffic, smog, and deadly riots, they must overcome and rise above, for their own survival and that of the animals who need them. This awe-inspiring account is told through Dr. Mader's riveting storytelling―as Carl Hiaasen writes, "Doug is fearless and dedicated," and "a damn good storyteller."

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Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) is a degenerative disease that can affect your dog's spinal cord and causes a range of painful mobility issues.

What is IVDD? Intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) in dogs can also be described as a ruptured, slipped, bulging or herniated disk. This condition is most commonly seen in beagles, dachshunds, Pekingese, Shih Tzus, basset hounds, or American cocker spaniels but may occur in dogs of any breed.

What causes IVDD in dogs? Intervertebral Disc Disease is an age-related, gradual degenerative process that affects the spinal cord of the dog over a period of time, often undetected. Even with yearly wellness exams, your vet may not detect any signs of IVDD until your dog's hardened disc or discs become ruptured and painful symptoms become evident. Something as every day as a jump up onto the sofa could damage a disc that has been weakened by IVDD, and trigger acute and painful symptoms of the disease.

IVDD occurs when the shock-absorbing discs between your dog's vertebrae gradually begin to harden until they are unable to cushion the vertebrae properly. The hardened discs will typically go on to bulge and compress the spinal cord, often damaging the dog's nerve impulses such as those that control bladder and bowel control. In other cases, a simple jump or poor landing can lead one or more of the hardened discs to burst and press into the nerves of the dog's spinal cord causing pain, possible nerve damage or even paralysis.

What are the symptoms of IVDD in dogs? Intervertebral Disc Disease can occur in any of the discs in your dog's spine and symptoms of this condition will depend upon which part of the spine is affected, and how severe the damage is. Symptoms of IVDD may also appear suddenly or come on gradually. If your dog is displaying any of the following symptoms seek veterinary care as soon as possible. IVDD can be very painful for dogs and early treatment is essential for preventing the condition from becoming more severe or causing irreversible damage to your dog's spine.

Symptoms of Neck Intervertebral Disc Disease (Cervical IVDD) Cervical IVDD occurs in the discs of the dog's neck. If you may notice one or more of the following symptoms, which can affect the whole body and range from mild to very severe contact your vet for immediate advice, or visit your closest animal emergency hospital for veterinary care:

Head held low
Arching back
Shivering or crying
Reluctance to move
Unsteadiness in all 4 legs
Inability to walk normally
Knuckling of all 4 paws
Inability to support own weight
Inability to stand
Inability to feel all 4 feet and legs

Symptoms of Back Intervertebral Disc Disease (Thoracolumbar IVDD) Dogs with Thoracolumbar IVDD have a damaged disc causing issues in their back region and may display one or more of the following symptoms. Symptoms of Thoracolumbar IVDD mainly affect the mid to back portion of the dog's body and can range from mild to very severe:

Muscle spasms
Tense belly
Weakness in hind legs
Crossing back legs when walking
Inability to walk normally
Knuckling of back paws, or dragging rear legs
Inability to support their own weight
Unable to move or feel back legs

Symptoms of Lower-Back Intervertebral Disc Disease (Lumbosacral IVDD) If your dog is suffering from lumbosacral IVDD the problematic disc or discs are located in your dog's lower back region. Symptoms of lumbosacral IVDD typically affect the very back of the dog's body and may range from mild to very severe:

Pain and/or difficulty jumping
Limp tail
Urinary or fecal incontinence
Dilated anus

How is IVDD diagnosed in dogs? If your dog begins showing any of the above symptoms immediate veterinary care is required. Tests for diagnosing Intervertebral Disc Disease typically include standard x-rays, a neurological exam, and/or MRI to help locate the disc or discs causing your dog's symptoms.

What is the treatment for IVDD? The diagnosis and treatment for Intervertebral Disc Disease needs to begin as early as possible in order to achieve good treatment outcomes. That's why we recommend taking your dog to the vet for a full examination if you spot signs of IVDD in your dog. Delays in treatment could lead to irreversible damage.

Anti-Inflammatory Medications If your dog is diagnosed with a mild to moderate IVDD injury, treatment may include steroid and anti-inflammatory medications to help reduce pain and swelling, combined with strictly reduced activity for approximately 4 -6 weeks

Surgery Surgery is typically recommended for dogs suffering from more severe cases of Intervertebral Disc Disease where rest and medication are not sufficient to reduce pain and other symptoms. During surgery, your dog's veterinary surgeon will remove the hardened disc material which is pressing on your dog's spinal cord and causing the IVDD symptoms.

Surgery outcomes are most successful in dogs that have not lost their ability to walk. If your dog's surgery is not successful in returning your pet to normal mobility, a dog wheelchair can help your pup to enjoy a happy and active life while living with Intervertebral Disc Disease.

Recovery from IVDD surgery requires 6 - 8 weeks of restricted activity. Running, climbing stairs, playing with other dogs, or jumping on furniture need to be prevented in order to avoid further damage as your dog's spine heals.

Physical Therapy Following surgery, your vet may also recommend physical therapy for your dog in order to work on muscle strengthening and to help get your pet moving comfortably again.

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Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua.

Today we are talking to Dr. Laura Brown, a Veterinarian and owner of Green Tree Animal Hospital in Libertyville, IL as we discuss Ticks. Yuck! They are out there and what can we do to protect our dogs?

Dr. Brown, thank you for taking the time to talk about ticks with our dogs. Welcome and please let us know more about these gross insects?

TICKS

Ectoparasites are organisms that live on the outside of an animal. Ticks are fairly common ectoparasites of dogs (and cats). How often you see ticks on your dog and how severe a tick assault will be depends on the region of the country in which you live, the time of year (tick activity varies in warm and cool weather), the habits of your dog, and how and when you use tick control products. Some ticks can infest dogs that spend most of their time indoors, and even dogs that only spend brief periods of time outside can have ticks.

How will ticks affect my dog?

Ticks attach to your dog by inserting their mouthparts into your dog’s skin. Many ticks also produce a sticky, gluelike substance that helps them to remain attached. After attaching to your dog, ticks begin feeding on your dog’s blood. The places where ticks attach can become red and irritated.

Although rare, ticks can consume enough of your dog’s blood to cause a deficiency called anemia. Certain female ticks can also cause a rare paralysis in dogs as a result of a toxin they produce while feeding. More important, ticks are capable of causing many diseases in your pet. The disease with which most people are familiar is called Lyme disease. Another is Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Lyme disease can cause arthritis and swelling of your dog’s joints, resulting in painful lameness. Rocky Mountain spotted fever can cause fever, lameness, and other signs. There are also other diseases that ticks can transmit to your dog. Your veterinarian can answer questions about the diseases that are important where you live.

How do I prevent my dog from getting ticks?

It is very difficult to prevent your dog’s exposure to ticks. Ticks can attach to your dog when he or she goes with you on walks, hikes, or during any outdoor activities.

The best way to prevent ticks from attaching to your dog is by the regular use of tick control products. Your veterinarian can advise you about the best product for your dog and your situation. Your veterinarian is also aware of diseases that are common in your area and can pose a risk to your dog.

If you have a tick problem in your yard consider:

treating the outdoor environment (be sure to understand what products you are using and how they affect the environment)
making a landscape change to make the environment less tick friendly – this can be done by providing a 3 foot buffer between the lawn and any woods. Mulch, wood chips, or gravel work well, and help to decrease the migration of ticks into yards.
ridding your yard of wild animals

Often more ticks are present or they are more active at certain times of the year. Your veterinarian can tell you how to avoid locations where large numbers of ticks are found.

Can humans be harmed by ticks?

Ticks can attach to and feed on humans. The skin where ticks attach to humans can become red and irritated. Ticks that transmit diseases to your dog can also transmit many of the same diseases to people. It is important to realize that people do not get these diseases from their dogs. Both people and dogs get the diseases from ticks they come into contact with outdoors. Diseases, such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which have already been described in dogs, can also be very serious in humans.

If you have questions about human diseases that are transmitted by ticks and how you can protect yourself, you should consult a doctor.

DID YOU KNOW?

While ticks themselves cause only mild irritation, they can carry diseases that pose a serious threat to animals and humans.
Ticks can be prevented by regular use of tick control products.
Just pulling off a tick can leave body parts attached to your dog. Ask your veterinarian about proper tick removal and tick control.
Illnesses transmitted by ticks can case fever, anemia, paralysis, lameness, and other symptoms.
People can not catch Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever from infected dogs, but the same ticks that bite dogs can cause these illnesses and others if they bite humans.
Adult ticks can live up to 3 years without blood meal.
Ticks live on three different animals during their life.
Most ticks spend most of their life OFF the host (animal) in the environment.
Ticks can't jump and don't "fall from trees" as most people think, but transfer onto hosts when animals or humans walk through long grass, bushes and brush.

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Pug encephalitis causes inflammation of the brain in some small-breed dogs.
It is always fatal and there is no cure.
It is estimated that 1.2 percent of Pugs will die from this condition.
It is believed to be an inherited autoimmune disorder with genetic markers.
Vets may prescribe steroids or other immunosuppressive drugs to manage the condition.

Pug dog encephalitis (PDE) is a severe and debilitating disease in small breed dogs that causes inflammation of the brain. This condition is inherited in Pugs but can occur in other breeds as well.

Unfortunately, the disease is fatal and it is estimated that 1.2 percent of Pugs will die from Pug encephalitis (1). Although there is no cure for this disease, early diagnosis and management can help your dog maintain a good quality of life for as long as possible.

What is Pug Dog Encephalitis? Pug dog encephalitis is the colloquial name for Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis (NME), a severe and incurable condition that causes inflammation and death of the brain tissue.

Although the disease primarily affects Pugs, other small breed dogs—including Maltese, Chihuahuas, and Yorkshire Terriers, can be affected as well.

Young adults are most commonly affected, with most being diagnosed before 7 years of age. Young, fawn-colored, female Pugs are especially prone to developing this condition.

What Causes the Condition? Pug encephalitis is believed to be an inherited autoimmune disorder. In Pugs, genetic markers have been identified that can predict a dog’s risk for developing the disease. One in eight Pugs with two copies of these genetic markers will develop Pug encephalitis in their lifetime (2). At this time, it is not known why some dogs develop the disease while others do not.

Other small breeds such as Maltese, Chihuahuas, and Yorkshire Terriers can also develop NME. A genetic basis is suspected in these breeds as well, but has not yet been proven. To date, the disease has not been reported in medium or large breed dogs.

Symptoms of Pug Dog Encephalitis The symptoms of Pug dog encephalitis may come on gradually or may progress rapidly depending on the patient. Many cases start with vague symptoms such as lethargy and depression, which can often be overlooked.

As the disease progresses, pet owners may notice more dramatic symptoms, such as:

Seizures
Collapse
Circling
Appearing lost or disoriented
Behavior changes
Weakness, stumbling
Blindness
Abnormal gait
Coma

Diagnosing the Condition If your dog is showing symptoms of Pug encephalitis, you should seek veterinary care immediately. Other conditions may present with similar symptoms, so your veterinarian will likely recommend several diagnostic tests to determine the underlying cause of your dog’s clinical signs.

Sampling the brain tissue through biopsy or necropsy is the only way to definitively diagnose Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis. However, other less invasive tests may be used to establish a tentative diagnosis.

Your veterinarian will perform a full physical examination, and may perform some or all of the following tests:

Blood Work. A complete blood count and biochemistry panel may be performed to evaluate organ function and look for underlying conditions such as liver disease or toxin exposure, which can cause similar clinical signs.

Diagnostic Imaging. Imaging such as MRI may be used to evaluate your dog’s brain and spinal cord. Often this requires referral to a specialist. Your dog will also likely need to be placed under general anesthesia for this procedure.

CSF Tap. Your veterinarian may recommend taking a sample of your dog’s cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Examining the cells of this fluid under a microscope can help rule out other types of meningitis and encephalitis that cause similar clinical signs.

Genetic Testing. In Pugs, a genetic test is available that can identify which individuals are at higher risk for developing NME. Dogs with two copies of the genetic markers of NME are 12.75 times more likely to develop the disease in their lifetime, compared to dogs with only one or no copies of these markers (2).

How to Treat Pug Encephalitis Unfortunately, there is no cure for Pug encephalitis. Treatment is focused on decreasing the immune response, alleviating inflammation, and minimizing seizures.

Your veterinarian may prescribe steroids or other immunosuppressive drugs to manage the condition. Antiepileptic drugs may also be prescribed for patients experiencing seizures due to NME. Most patients will need to stay on these medications for life and will relapse if the medication is discontinued. Because these medications can have severe side effects, some trial and error may be necessary to find the drugs and dosages that work best for your dog.

Pug Dog Encephalitis Life Expectancy Pug dog encephalitis is a serious condition and is ultimately fatal. Most dogs will succumb to the disease within a year of diagnosis, although some dogs can survive for several years with medication and supportive care.

Frequent rechecks with your veterinarian will be necessary to monitor response to treatment and ensure your dog is maintaining a good quality of life.

Cost to Manage Pug Encephalitis Pug encephalitis can be costly because it often requires advanced testing to diagnose the condition. In some cases, your dog may need to be referred to a specialist for diagnosis and treatment.

Depending on the medications used, your dog may also need frequent rechecks and blood work to monitor the effects of these drugs.Thus, pet owners should expect to spend several thousand dollars on diagnosis and treatment of Pug dog encephalitis.

How to Prevent Pug Dog Encephalitis Studies have shown a strong familial inheritance of this disease in Pugs. The disease is also believed to be genetic in other breeds, although this has not yet been proven. Any dog diagnosed with Pug encephalitis should not be bred, because there is a high risk that the disease will be passed on to the dog’s offspring. The parents of affected dogs should also not be bred together again, as they may be carriers of the disease.

In Pugs, a genetic test is available which can help identify potential carriers of Pug dog encephalitis. Testing before breeding is recommended to avoid producing puppies with a higher risk of developing this disease.

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Visit https://tamihendrix.com/

SoulSpeak is a uniquely organic and conversational approach to healing that allows me to go underneath surface layers directly to the heart of an issue or situation. During the conversation with a client (human or animal), I employ intuitive listening and receive precognitive, intuitive, and soul-level information that directly relates to the situation and delivers a means for resolution, clarity, and positive change. I hold the energetic space to receive spiritual messages that foster my clients' healing and transformation.

Clients are able to make positive internal and external changes in their lives and in their relationships with their pets following just one session with me. A session leaves clients feeling grounded, clear-minded and with a renewed sense of purpose and wellbeing. I inspire clients to embrace new perspectives of life situations and connect with their own heart wisdom.

Please reach out to Tami.

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Dog Ear Infections: Everything You Need to Know Home » Blog » Dog Ear Infections: Everything You Need to Know

There are many possible causes of dog ear infections. Ear infections can be painful for your pup, so getting them to the vet is essential to get them treated right away. The longer the ear infection goes untreated, the worse it can become.

Dogs are more predisposed to ear infections than humans due to the shape of their ear canals. The most common dog ear infections are bacterial infections or yeast infections. Sometimes ear infections can be caused by environmental allergies or endocrine issues.

You can help prevent ear infections for your dog altogether. If you regularly clean your dog’s ears and make sure they are free of wax and dirt, this will help. If you read this article, you will find out everything you need to know about dog ear infections.

What Are the Symptoms of Ear Infection in Dogs? Sometimes dogs do not demonstrate any symptoms of ear infection. Ear infections are typically painful for dogs, so you will need to frequently examine your dog’s ears to know if they are clean and healthy. The following are some common symptoms of a dog ear infection:

Dark discharge
Unpleasant odor
Redness or swelling of the ear canal
Pain
Constant head shaking
Itchiness
Scabs in the ears

Around 20 percent of dogs suffer from some kind of ear disease in one or both ears. If you note your dog has any of these symptoms, you must get them to the vet right away.

Do not make an attempt to clean your dog’s ears if there is any sign of infection. It can be too painful for them, and it requires the help of a veterinarian.

What Causes Ear Infection in Dogs? There are a plethora of causes of ear infections in dogs. Most of the time, an ear infection results from an underlying problem. The following include some of the causes of ear infection in dogs:

Ear Mites When your pup has ear mites, they live in your dog’s fur. Ear mites are typically black and cause a lot of pain and itchiness in your dog’s ear. Ear mites devour skin debris, which triggers inflammation and perpetuates the infection. Some of the problems ear mites can cause your dog include:

Bacterial infections
Inflammation in the ear canal
(Eventually) Partial or complete deafness

Ear mites usually have eggs, which need to be destroyed. Ear mite medication will kill the adult mites but leave the eggs, so it can take time to resolve the problem.

Environmental Allergies Some of the most common environmental allergies that can cause ear infections in dogs to include:

Mold
Pollen
Dander

Allergies cause the skin barrier to lessen, producing excess wax in the ear canal. Yeast and bacteria are made, which permits severe infection strains to grow. This growth can cause the following:

Inflammation
Pain
Discharge

Chronic inflammation can trigger the deterioration of the opening of the ear canal. Treatment is often difficult for this affliction.

Endocrine Issues Hypothyroidism and Cushing’s disease can be the culprit when your dog has an ear infection. If a dog keeps getting otitis externa and they are not itchy, endocrine disease could be to blame. Symptoms of endocrine disease in dogs include the following:

Increased thirst
Increased urination
Excessive hunger
Weight gain
Sleepiness
Poor coat condition

If you see your pup has any of these symptoms, take them to the vet as soon as possible. With endocrine issues, your dog may need lifelong treatment.

Food Allergies More than 20 percent of ear infections begin with just otitis externa, and ear disease occurs in 80 percent of ear infections from food allergies. Animals with food allergies tend to have recurrent skin and ear infections unless the underlying cause is taken care of.

Inhalant Allergies Inhalant allergies are the most common underlying cause of ear infections in dogs. Seasonal allergies are usually the perpetrator.

It generally worsens over time. The dogs who suffer from this tend to have itchy feet, faces, and ears. They are susceptible to secondary skin and ear infections which often occur after treatment.

Tumors Some research suggests that chronic, long-term inflammation of the ear canal could cause tumors in the ear. It can form due to abnormal growth of tissue. Some of the symptoms of ear tumors include the following:

Swelling of the ear
Crying when the ear is touched
Bloody or yellow discharge
Chronic ear infections
Scratching or rubbing the ear
Foul odor coming from the ear
The visible growth in the ear

The initial symptoms mean your canine is very uncomfortable, so seeing the vet would be the best course of action. Fortunately, most ear tumors are benign. There are many different types of ear tumors. These include:

Tissue tumor of the inner ear
Tissue tumor of the outer ear
Bone tumor
Tissue tumor of the middle ear
Earwax gland tumor

Most vets will want to remove the ear tumor no matter where it occurs in the ear. The tumor can cause infection, pain, or growth if left untreated.

What is the Remedy for an Ear Infection in Dogs? A good ear cleaning is an integral part of treating ear infections in dogs. You must be careful to remember that you could over clean your pup’s ears, which can also lead to infection. A clean dog’s ear is the following:

Pink on the inside
Not dirty
Not swollen
No nasty odor

If your dog’s ear is red and inflamed or smells like yeast, take them to the vet as soon as possible. Your veterinarian should clean out an infected ear.

How Do You Clean Your Dog’s Ear Regularly? You need three things to clean a dog’s ear successfully. These include the following:

Cotton ball or gauze
Dog ear cleaning solution
Towel

Do not use any tool with a pointed tip, such as a Q-tip. A Q-tip can further push the dirt deeper into your pup’s ears, triggering infection. Here is how to clean your dog’s ear in simple steps:

Clean your pup’s ears in a bathroom or someplace where your dog is free to shake their head as much as they want
Fill your dog’s ear with dog cleaning ear solution and lightly rub at the base of the ear for 30 seconds
Use a cotton ball or gauze and wipe the ear canal without going in too deep. If your dog appears in pain, stop the cleaning immediately and contact your veterinarian.

Cleaning your canine’s ears regularly can help prevent infection. You should aim to clean your pup’s ears at least once a month. Regular ear cleanings will also serve as a preventative measure against mites and other problems before they become a significant issue.

You should also take care to dry your dog’s ears after a bath. Moisture creates a breeding ground for bacteria to thrive. If you clean the ears after a bath, this will help to prevent excess moisture from causing an ear infection.

Keep Your Dog’s Ears Clean and Infection Free Ear infections are a common dilemma for dogs, but by using regular preventative measures, you can help keep your pup’s ears fresh and free from infection. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you see evidence of swelling, redness, or infection.

Silver Honey Rapid Ear Care line (Amazon links below) consists of:

· Silver Honey Vet Strength Ear Treatment and Rinse ($54.99 MSRP): a two-step system to treat otitis externa-related ear infections in 10 days or less and starts working to soothe pet pain in less than 30 minutes.

· Silver Honey Vet Strength Ear Wipes ($19.99 MSRP): convenient ear wipes instantly remove debris and wax to maintain ear health and prevent bacteria from entering the ear.

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Visit https://tamihendrix.com/

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GRAYSON’S BOOK LAUNCH AT TODDY OAKS Toddy Oaks I 20120 Franz Rd. I Katy TX

Saturday, April 15, 2023 from 1-5 pm

This event is to celebrate Grayson’s book launch.

You can pick your book up here if you ordered it from the square store and chose an in person pick up.

It is dog and child friendly and the venue is gorgeous.

Come celebrate this stubborn dog with incredible will to live and his beautiful book!

NOT AN ADOPTION EVENT!

Make sure you get the book - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-great-rescue-grayson-s-story-heather-bass/19937885

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Your vacation is scheduled and you’ve decided to find a pet sitter so your pet can stay at home while you are away. To ensure you find the perfect pet sitter, you should conduct an interview, check references and make sure the sitter is licensed, bonded and insured, and LOVES pets. But there are some additional steps you should also take to help ensure your pet will receive the best care possible:

Schedule Early Most pet sitters book appointments far in advance. Make reservations as early as possible to guarantee a spot for your pet’s care. If your schedule changes, alert your pet sitter so additional care can be scheduled if necessary.

Meet & Greet Make sure your pet has had an opportunity to meet the sitter before your vacation. Give your sitter your pet schedule, feeding and medication instructions. If possible, have the sitter take your dog for a walk so that your pet and sitter get accustomed to each other, or bond for a few minutes with you cat or other pets.

Pet Care Information and Supplies Don’t make your sitter search for pet care items. Place everything your sitter will need in one specific place. This includes food & treats (including a can opener, utensil to mix/chop food and scoop for measuring dry fare), extra food and consumable supplies just in case, medications (with clearly written instructions), leash and collar/harness, paper towels and cleaning supplies, broom/dust pan or vacuum cleaner, plastic bags for waste disposal, litter and scooper, and potty pads if used. Clearly write out and review with your pet sitter any special instructions you want them to perform.

Thermostat Your pet will be in your locked, sealed home. Make sure the thermostat is set at a comfortable temperature for your pet. Leave instructions on how to adjust the temperature range for your thermostat in case of a power-outage.

Pet Proof Your Home Pets can be more inquisitive and bored when they are left alone and get into mischief. Put toilet lids down, close cupboards and closets, store medications, perfumes, loose small objects and household cleansers away and out of your pet’s reach.

Alarms, Off-limit Areas, Home Access Are there areas where your pet is not allowed? Make sure you close off the rooms and let the sitter know that those areas are to be kept off limits. Close and lock doors, including garage, and patio doors and windows before you leave. Use timers to control indoor lights so your pet’s day/night schedule is similar to when you are at home. Check to make sure gates and fences are closed and locked.

Visitor List If you live in an apartment or gated community, advise and authorize security that your pet sitter will be visiting and, if appropriate, let you neighbors know too. Also, if you plan to have friends, family or someone else also checking on your house and pets in your absence, let the sitter know. Clearly explain what the pet sitter is responsible for and what the other visitors will be doing to avoid confusion. Also let the sitter know about gardeners, pool or house maintenance providers who might also be on the premises in your absence.

In Case of Emergency Your pet sitter should have the information about where to take your pet in case of a health emergency. You should also notify your veterinarian in writing that a sitter will be watching your pet and authorize the veterinarian to provide medical care during your absence if necessary. If there is a natural disaster and your sitter needs to remove your pet from your premises, have a pet emergency kit available and a pet carrier too. You should also communicate with your sitter how you would like to get updates about your pet, via text, email or phone.

Prepare Your Pet Sitter Preparation is the key to make sure your pet sitter has all of the information they need to properly care for your pet while you are away. If they don’t have to search around for your pet supplies and instructions, they will have more time to spend giving love and attention to your pet.

Written by Kathleen Huffman, General Manager of Fetch! Pet Care Palm Desert

Visit Christi for more informaton: https://www.naturalpetwellnessco.com/

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Silver Honey Rapid Ear Care line is the first that uses medical-grade Manuka honey and MicroSilver BG™ so dog owners can treat ear infections naturally and without antibiotics in 10 days or less at home. It’s from W.F. Young, a trusted leader in animal care products since 1892.

Silver Honey Rapid Ear Care line (Amazon links below) consists of:

· Silver Honey Vet Strength Ear Wipes ($19.99 MSRP): convenient ear wipes instantly remove debris and wax to maintain ear health and prevent bacteria from entering the ear.

EAR TREATMENT AND RINSE PHOTO: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1avWWdoC605xDQwd4Zjl9ZXw_brIbm-5E/view?usp=sharing

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Does Reiki/ Healing touch therapy work on animals? Energy work is based on similar principles as acupuncture, believing that energy flows in the body (called Chi in acupuncture) and when this energy becomes blocked or stagnant, we experience health and emotional crisis. Like humans, animals have a subtle body and energy field and benefit from a positive energy flow.

When cats and dogs are surrounded by stressful situations (including pain), energetic blockages or diminished movement can accumulate, causing imbalance and/or congestion in their energetic body that is reflected in the physical body in a wide range of symptoms.

Common Symptoms include:

fears/phobias
separation anxiety
trauma response
nervousness/general anxiety
aggression
travel anxiety and motion sickness
stress and irritability
grief over the loss of a person or animal friend
phobias, obsessions and compulsions
depression
musculoskeletal issues
decreased mobility
nervous system disorders

What to expect during your pet's HTA Session: I will come to your pet's home and work with you and your pet. There is an initial assessment and then various hand placements on your pet, depending on what your pet needs the most focus on. You will be asked to hold your pet or sit near your pet during the session. Sessions are approximately 45 minutes.

After a review of your pet's information and specific needs, I schedule an appointment in your home where your pet is most comfortable.

Human Energy Sessions Available Often our pets are a mirror of ourselves. If you have anxiety, stress, depression, or suffer from physical or mental stress, your pets or other family members may be off-balance and also show symptoms of those issues. Energy work for people is very helpful to work through or overcome the same issues your pet experiences. Find out how Energy Therapy can help you be your best person each day.

www.fieldofbalance.com

Visit: https://www.naturalpetwellnessco.com/energy-healing-for-pets-and-humans-

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Military and contract working dogs keep our soldiers and facilities safe bysniffing out bombs and tackling terrorists, and just like human veterans they may end up with health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder.Mission K9 Rescue works to bring these heroic dogs home and place them in comfortable, peaceful, loving homes for the rest of their lives. Read on for details and contact us to speak with officials of this unique nonprofit!

Giving Working Dogs a Peaceful Retirement 5 Ways

Mission K9 Rescue helps any retired working dog that has served mankind, including retired military dogs, contractor working dogs, and police dogs, through 5Rs:

Rescue – We work to rescue any military working dog or contractor working dog that needs help, whether it be bringing them back from overseas or rescuing them from a poor environment stateside.

Reunite – We work to reunite retired working dogs with any handler that wants them and has proven they can provide a good home, including transporting the dog to the handler.

Re-Home – For any retired working dog that does not have a designated handler, we work to find them the perfect loving home.

Rehabilitate – We work with dogs suffering PTSD and other effects of severe stress and anxiety from their former occupations to help reintegrate them into society and make them suitable for adoption.

Repair – Working dogs train like professional athletes for their entire careers, and often suffer from extensive medical issues that can become quite costly. Since they don’t receive retirement benefits, Mission K9 Rescue provides all veterinary needs while in our care.

“We're raising funds to take care of these dogs — to bring dogs back from all over the world where they are stuck in kennels after retirement, and to provide medical care for working dogs who have worked like athletes their entire lives and now have injuries and health issues. It can be really costly to get them ready for adoption,” explains Mission K9 president Kristen Maurer.

Press Kit: MissionK9Rescue.OnlinePressKit247.com – images, more story ideas, etc.

Public Website: MissionK9Rescue.org

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One of the most difficult behaviors for dogs to master is the “Stay.” This is a command that must be well-defined for your dog. This includes teaching the stay in several stages, as well as teaching the behavior in reverse, starting with the end and working backward for longer and more reliable stays.

Create a Definite Beginning and a Definite Ending The first and most important rule of the stay is to have a definite beginning and a definite ending. This means pairing your stay command with a release word that signals that the stay is finished. Common release words include “OK,” “Free,” Release,” and “All Done.” Choose one word as your release word and use only that word consistently when the “stay” is finished.

To teach the release word, position your dog as you wish, in either a sit, down or stand. Then give your dog a stay command, followed almost immediately by your release word and reward. Don’t worry if your dog does not move following the release word. You can step back, clap your hands, or otherwise engage in positive interaction to cue them that it is OK to move.

Do watch out for these common pitfalls when teaching stay:

Do not give your stay command with food in your hand. This will only lure your dog to follow you.
Do not always call your dog to come to you from a stay. This will cause him to anticipate a recall. Practice by leaving your dog and returning to him before giving the release word.

Three D’s: Duration, Distance, and Distractions Once you have successfully paired a release word with your stay command, you are ready to move to the next step. Dog trainers refer to these as the Three D’s: Duration, Distance, and Distractions. Duration is the amount of time your dog is in a stay. Distance is how far from your dog you go. Distractions are anything that happens during your dog’s stay.

Duration – The amount of time your dog remains in his stay is called duration. To begin, position your dog as you wish, in a sit, down, or stand. Give your stay command, without moving count to three, and then release your dog using his release word. Increase the time you ask your dog to stay by two to three second intervals. If your dog breaks his stay, just reset him and ask him to stay for a lesser time in which he was successful.
Distance – Moving away from your dog is referred to as distance, and it is common for owners to rush this phase of training. Teaching distance stays happen literally a half step at a time. Position your dog as you wish and give your dog his stay command. Step back with one foot, lean back, then step back to your dog and release him. Next, take one full step back then return to your dog for the release and a reward. Continue slowly, adding only one step at a time. Remember, do not have food in the hand in which you give your dog the stay command. Also, return to your dog before you release him, and do not always call him out of a stay.
Distractions – Distractions are anything, big or small, that happens during your dog’s stay. It is important to have a strong foundation with your release word, stay duration, and distance before you try and add distractions. Once distractions are to be added, start with something easy at home or in the back yard, and work your way up to more distractions in various environments. One good technique is to use higher value treat rewards when introducing and increasing distractions.

Proofing People love their dogs because they help us remain in the present moment. Dogs live very much in the here and now. This means anything, everything or even nothing at all can cause a dog to break his stay. Proofing is an important part of training the stay for reliability in a variety of situations. Always start simple and gradually increase what you are asking of your dog.

Proofing for duration from the science of canine cognition we know that dogs understand if we are paying attention to them or not, no matter what the proximity. Practice this by asking your dog to stay while you sit, lie down, read, watch television, or cook. Be sure to reward at various intervals for the stay, but do not allow them to get up until you have given the release word.
Proofing for distance is moving away from your dog and includes going out of sight. Practice this by moving away from your dog at various angles, either leaving to the side, diagonally and/or going behind your dog. When working out of sight, use a mirror to see your dog around corners. You can either set him up angling a wall mirror or, as inconspicuously as possible, use a hand mirror.
Proofing for distractions is one of the more difficult tasks. Ideas include bouncing or rolling a ball while your dog is on a stay, jumping up and down, or running past your dog. Remember, you must start slowly and build up to things more interesting to your dog. One helpful hint is to use “leave it” during the stay. Often with distractions, dogs are more likely to succeed with additional information such as reminding them to stay or to “leave” distractions like toys.

Additional Tips: * If you think your dog is going to move, repeat your stay command. * Set your dog up for success. Do what you feel you need to do to help your dog be successful. The more successful they are, the more reliable the stay behavior will be.

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How Can Dog Massage Therapy Benefit Your Pet? “Massage does wonders for dogs,” says Becky Brandenburg, B.A. ED., ESMT, CMT, an Ohio-based certified animal massage therapist and owner of Brandenburg Massage Therapy. “Full-body massage keeps the muscles moving and conditioned—touch can truly be healing.”

In addition to the physical benefits of dog massage therapy, it can also promote bonding between you and your pet.

“Not only is massaging your pet of benefit to them, but it is also of benefit to you,” says Dr. Rachel Barrack, a New York City-based veterinarian and founder of Animal Acupuncture.

“Studies have shown that petting a dog or cat can lower heart rate and blood pressure. Touching your pet will also cause your body to release oxytocin, a hormone that causes sensations of bonding and love,” says Dr. Barrack.

Dog Massage Therapy: What You Should Know From puppies to seniors, all dogs can benefit from dog massage therapy, says Dr. Barrack.

However, it’s not quite as simple as giving your dog a shoulder rub. Dog massage therapy uses strategic, often intense pressure to manipulate the soft tissues of the body, so it’s important to have your dog seen by a professional.

“When you’re getting in and working with muscles, you want to work with someone who is trained and understands the anatomy and how much pressure is safe,” says Brandenburg.

If you’d like to try therapeutic massage for your pet, ask your veterinarian to refer you to a certified animal massage therapist.

Simpler Dog Massage Techniques to Try at Home While full-body, deep tissue massage should be left to the professionals, here are some simpler, less intense dog massage therapy techniques that are safe to try at home.

Backstroke To introduce your dog to canine massages, Brandenburg recommends a simple, gentle backstroke.

“You can do this sitting with your dog, watching TV,” she says.

Starting at the back of the head, stroke up and down either side of your dog’s spine using very gentle pressure. Be sure to stay off the bone.

This type of back rub is calming and relaxing for dogs, says Brandenburg. It can be a good dog massage for anxiety, particularly for dogs who are fearful of human touch.

“For rescue dogs, touch can be healing,” she says. “Massage helps them trust again—it’s wonderful to watch.”

Forehead Rub For another calming massage technique, try giving your best bud a head rub.

“Calming points are primarily located on your pet’s head,” says Dr. Barrack.

Start at the top of your dog’s nose, where there’s an acupressure point associated with calming and healing, says Dr. Barrack. Using gentle pressure, run your thumb from the top of the nose and over the head, going back and forth slowly.

Thigh and Glute Rub Many of Brandenburg’s clients are senior dogs suffering from age-related mobility issues.

“Dogs are like us—they’re living longer,” she says. “There are certain inevitabilities with age, but we can make our dogs more comfortable.”

Dog massage for arthritis should be done by a professional under the medical guidance of a veterinarian, says Brandenburg. However, some gentle compression can be done at home to keep muscles loose and flexible.

This dog massage therapy technique is intended for your dog’s back legs and glutes. Using gentle pressure, press both thumbs into the thigh or glute muscle, and make a backwards “c.” Slowly work your way across the entire muscle, making these clockwise thumb circles.

This thumb-circle technique can also be used to massage the base of the neck, says Brandenburg. “Dogs absolutely love it because they can’t reach their necks,” she says.

Ear Rub Most dogs love even the most basic ear rub. But with a little know-how, you can offer your pet a calming, therapeutic ear massage, says Brandenburg.

For this simple massage, start with your thumb on the inner side of your dog’s ear, at the base of the ear flap; your index finger should be outside the ear. Using gentle pressure, slowly stroke out towards the end of the ear and conclude with a gentle pull.

Stay Calm and Monitor Your Dog’s Reaction to the Massage When massaging your dog, it’s important to have a calm, relaxed demeanor, as animals are quick to pick up on human energy, says Brandenburg.

“You want to use a low, calming voice,” she instructs. “You have to bring the animal into your quiet space.”

It’s also important to monitor your dog’s body language. A dog who is enjoying the massage will stretch, lean into your hands and be calm to the point of falling asleep, says Brandenburg.

Conversely, a dog who is uncomfortable will watch you closely or try to escape and may even growl, says Brandenburg. If this is the case, stop the massage and give your pet some space.

Over time, you’ll be able to communicate with your dog through your hands. “With massage, eventually your hands do the talking,” says Brandenburg. “It’s a very cool thing when that starts to happen, and that trust builds.”

By: John Plichter

Featured Image: iStock.com/stphillips

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What is Mange? Mange is a skin disease which is caused by several species of mites. Some mites are naturally found in our dog’s skin and hair; however, others may not. All mites, regardless of if they are naturally found or not, have the potential to cause mild to severe skin infections. The most common type of mange, Demodex, lives on dogs naturally and even lives on humans naturally.

The Demodex mite is not rare and the majority of healthy pets possess a certain number of demodex without problems. If your pet has a weakened immune system, the mites multiply quickly as the dog’s body is not able to maintain the mite population properly. The increased number of mites will results in a severe health condition which leaves the skin bald and leathery.

Breeds Prone to Developing Mange Dogs less than 18 months of age are prone to localized demodectic mange which often clears on its own. Generalized demodectic mange is more serious and has been found to be hereditary most often affecting:

Old English Sheepdog
Collie
Dachshund
Pointer
Pug
Shar-Pei
German Shepherd
Doberman Pinscher
Chow Chow
Chihuahua
Afghan Hound
Beagle
Great Dane

Senior dogs who have an underlying medical condition, regardless of breed, are also more prone to developing mange. Other factors which affect mange include:

Anxiety
Pregnancy
Heartworms
Intestinal worms
Cancer
Diabetes
Hypothyroidism
Medications

Symptoms of Mange The symptoms of mange depend upon the type of mite causing the condition. Demodectic mange often leads to hair loss, scabbing and sores. Sarcoptic mange causes extreme itching and results in restlessness, hair loss, reddened skin, scabs and sores most commonly on the ears, elbows, face and legs. The skin also becomes leathery in texture and appearance after a period of time.

Causes of Mange There are several types of mange in dogs. Sarcoptic mange, also known as canine scabies, is caused by microscopic mites and is easily transferred between hosts. All dogs possess demodectic mange mites which are transferred from mother to pup during cuddling in the first few days of life. Most dogs do not have a problem with demodex mites; however, some may experience severe cases of mange from them.

Treating Mange If your dog has mange, you should consult a veterinarian. The veterinarian will perform a physical examination and take skin scrapings to be analyzed under a microscope. Depending on the type of mange, medication may be prescribed to be given orally, via shampoo, topically or by injection. These treatments must be given exactly as the veterinarian prescribes them as these can be toxic to dogs in large amounts.

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I realized my love for canine rehab and massage while volunteering at a canine rehab facility in 2012 when I took my own dog in for rehab. I wasn’t able to pursue school at that time and went on to work as a veterinary assistant while being trained as a technician on the job. While learning valuable information about the veterinary field and gaining vast experience working in general practice, I felt I was missing out on a passion that I had grown to love. I went on and graduated from New England Institute of Technology with an Associates in Science Degree in Veterinary Technology, as well as going to the University of Tennessee for Canine Rehabilitation. My love for helping geriatric patients and other arthritic dogs lead me to go on and become certified in canine massage at the Brandenburg Massage Therapy program. I worked in a rehab facility in Massachusetts since 2014 and continued on to do the job I love fitting in massages anywhere I can whether it be in the pool, underwater treadmill, draped over an exercise ball or on a bed.

https://www.pawsitivehealingtouch.com/about-me

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HT Vista by HTVET is the first non-invasive medical device that allows clinicians to rule out cancer in subcutaneous and dermal masses, through the power of Heat Diffusion Imaging (HDI) technology. This innovative imaging modality relies on unique thermal signals that differ between normal and malignant tissues, as they are recorded by the device, during a rapid heating and cooling process.

https://www.ht-vet.com/

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Marijuana in all forms is toxic to dogs and cats. Marijuana ingestion occurs much more commonly in dogs than in cats because dogs tend to be less scrupulous in the things they eat. After consuming marijuana, dogs typically show clinical signs within 30 to 90 minutes. Signs include wobbliness and incoordination, drowsiness, jitteriness, restlessness and hypersensitivity to touch, sound and lights, meaning they startle easily. Dogs may urinate on themselves, have low heart rates and dilated pupils.

Drug Testing Veterinarians are not required to report pet marijuana ingestion to law enforcement. If there is a possibility that marijuana was in the pet’s environment, it is best to be honest and forthcoming so prompt and appropriate treatment can begin. Similarly, you should disclose any other possible drug ingestion (illicit or prescription) to your veterinarian. If there is marijuana in your pet’s environment and your pet is not acting normally, you should assume your pet has access to it. Remember, dogs can be adept in gaining access to things they would like to eat.

If marijuana ingestion is suspected, a urine sample can be tested to confirm exposure and likely intoxication. Human urine drug tests can be purchased without a prescription from any drug store as well as the pharmacy section of many grocery stores. Human urine drug tests are highly accurate at detecting marijuana and other drugs in your pet’s urine. If there is a suspicion that your pet may have ingested a drug, your veterinarian may ask you to provide a urine drug test while clinic staff members obtain a urine sample for testing. Urine drug tests provide accurate results within five to 10 minutes.

Treatment Options Treatment for marijuana intoxication is focused on removing the marijuana from your pet’s body. If ingestion occurred within 30 minutes of the time of presentation and your pet is alert and appears to be acting normal, your veterinarian may induce vomiting to remove as much of the material as possible prior to absorption. This greatly reduces the potential for toxicity. Owners should not attempt to make dogs vomit since serious and potentially life-threatening complications such as choking and aspiration can occur.

Your veterinarian may recommend hospitalization of your pet for 12 to 24 hours for close monitoring. Additional treatments that may be administered include intravenous (IV) fluids and oral activated charcoal, which can further help absorb the marijuana in your pet’s system. IV fluids hasten the excretion of the drug in your pet’s urine while activated charcoal binds to the drug within the gastrointestinal tract to further reduce absorption and aid in excretion in subsequent stools.

Close monitoring of your pet’s body temperature, heart rate and breathing are also needed until the marijuana has been cleared from your pet’s body and your pet returns to normal. Marijuana is a powerful sedative, and at high doses, it can induce a life-threatening coma. With appropriate, interventional care by a veterinarian, marijuana toxicity is almost never fatal. Long-term side effects are extremely rare.

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How do I know if my dog has an eye infection? If your dog's eyes are weeping, watering more than usual, or you notice yellow, green or white coloured discharge, they may have an eye infection. Other signs of eye infections in dogs include pawing at their eye, blinking more than usual, swelling, redness and squinting

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This week on Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk podcast we will learn about Colorado Gives Day on 12/6 with Joan from Foothills Animal Shelter. When is your state non profit fundraiser? Join in on Colorado's statewide movement! On the first Tuesday of December since 2010, Coloradans have come together to support the nonprofits that make a difference in our lives. Colorado Gives Day has grown to be Colorado's largest 24-hour giving event, raising more than $362 million for nonprofits across the state since it began. ColoradoGives.org is home to Colorado Gives Day, and your one-stop shop for making good happen for our community. Time to help the animals! Please like and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio and YouTube 🐾❤️

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Dogs get into things they shouldn’t. They pick up dead animals and try to eat garbage. Although you should train a solid “leave it” cue to tell your dog to leave certain things alone, you might not always notice what your dog is doing until it’s too late. Therefore, an equally important behavior to teach is “Drop It.” This cue tells your dog to immediately drop whatever they have in their mouth. Sometimes this will simply be to prevent an annoyance like your dog stealing your shoe. But at other times this cue can be lifesaving such as when your dog picks up dropped medication or toxic food like chocolate.

Why You Should Teach “Drop It” “Drop It” allows you to get items away from your dog without having to run after them. In fact, as most dogs love the game of chase, this will only increase the likelihood of your dog taking forbidden things in the future. They quickly learn it’s a great way to start what they see as a fun way to play with you. Chasing your dog also increases the chance they will swallow the object to prevent you from getting it first. Even non-toxic items can pose a choking hazard or create an intestinal blockage.

Nor should you ever have to pry your dog’s mouth open to retrieve an object. That puts you at risk of a bite and again may persuade your dog to swallow the object. Fighting with your dog over anything can also lead to problems with resource guarding down the road. If your dog already shows issues with guarding objects, consult a dog trainer or animal behaviorist for help before beginning any of the following exercises.

Teaching your dog to drop items on cue is also a useful component of fetch as it helps your dog bring objects back to your hand rather than leaving them on the floor for you to retrieve. And finally, “drop it” is perfect for trick training. You can have your dog putting their toys in their toy box or playing dog-sized basketball in no time if they understand how to drop things on cue.

How to Teach “Drop It” With a Treat The trick to training your dog to drop items is to make it all about trading – give them something else in exchange. In addition, during the training process, you will also give the original item back again. Although you would never do that with something dangerous, this teaches your dog that “drop it” is a double bonus. They get a reward for dropping the object and then they get to play with the object some more. That makes trading incredibly enticing. Here are the steps for training “drop it” with treats:

Offer your dog a low-value toy. It should be something they have an interest in but don’t feel overly excited about. You want to make it easy for them to give it up.
Let your dog play with the toy for a few seconds.
Place a high-value treat in front of your dog’s nose. If you chose a low enough value toy and an exciting enough treat, your dog should willingly drop the toy in exchange. As soon as your dog drops the toy, praise or use a clicker to mark the behavior, then give your dog the treat.
While your dog is eating the treat, pick up the toy and hide it behind your back.
Once your dog is finished eating, present the toy again and repeat the process.
When you know your dog will drop the item as soon as you show the treat, you can add a verbal cue like “drop it,” “trade,” or “out.”
After several repetitions, give your cue without showing the treats. If your dog drops the item, click and praise and provide a jackpot reward (many treats in a row) to convince them how great it is to play this game. If your dog doesn’t drop the item without seeing the treats, try waiting one second between saying your cue and showing the treats. Then slowly increase that time across repetitions until your dog understands to drop the item before the treats come out.

If you run into trouble with this technique, here are a few troubleshooting tips. First, if your dog runs away with the toy, do this training with them on leash so they have to stay with you. Second, you don’t want to race your dog to the toy after they drop it. If your dog is trying to get it back before you can get your hands on it, try tossing the treat a few feet away to buy you time to get the toy. Or throw several treats on the floor to keep your dog occupied.

How to Teach “Drop It” With a Toy You can also teach your dog to trade items with toys only. Some dogs simply aren’t food motivated, but even for those that are, these games can help reinforce the lesson. You can repeat the exercise above but instead of offering a treat, offer another toy. If your dog is reluctant to trade, play with the new toy and act as if it’s the greatest thing you’ve ever seen. Your dog is sure to drop the original toy in favor of this exciting new object.

Tug-of-war is another great way to teach “drop it.” Simply present the toy and start playing. After a few seconds, go still. Your dog will eventually get bored of playing alone and will drop the toy. When they do, praise them then reward them with another game of tug. Once your dog is dropping the toy as soon as you go still, you’re ready to add the verbal cue. You can do the same type of training with a flirt pole (a toy tied to a string on the end of a pole).

Now that your dog understands the “drop it” cue, anytime they have something they shouldn’t, ask them to drop the item then reward them with a treat or acceptable toy or chew bone. If you practiced enough, your dog will happily drop the forbidden item to trade for something better.

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The overwhelming joy of having pets is unfortunately accompanied by the inevitable sadness that comes with ending their lives. As humans, we must be witness to the death of our family member, our pet. And unlike the movies, rarely is it that they gently fall “asleep” for eternity. Instead, dog owners are in the unique position of having to decide when it’s time to say goodbye, a process called humane euthanasia.

When age or illness changes a pet’s ability to function in a normal capacity, your veterinarian, as well as friends and family members, start to discuss with you “quality of life.” What is this quality of life, and whose lives are we talking about — you or your pet?

As an emergency veterinarian for over thirty years, I have been there for clients needing sound advice to make that most difficult decision, a decision that they often have never been faced with before and have little or no training. Veterinary medicine is now capable of allowing our pets to live longer more “normal” lives, but there will come a time in our lives when no amount of medicine, money, hopes, or wishes will be able to keep your dog or cat alive.

Signs to Look For Any time a pet starts showing signs of illness, whether visible changes in appetite or thirst, movement or behavior, it is time to consult with your veterinarian. Sometimes, after appropriate evaluation by your veterinarian, an assessment will be made regarding your dog or cat. When those signs relate to the ability of your pet to live life comfortably in their normal routine, various things need to be assessed.

Some of the most worrisome signs are the inability to breathe normally and eat or drink. Another sign is the inability to get up to perform routine tasks such as getting to their food or water bowl and the failure to get up as not to soil themselves. In other words, when your pet loses the ability to live their lives in comfort and with a modicum of grace and nobility, it is a sign that something is wrong.

Questions to Ask Your Veterinarian Your veterinarian is the person who has guided you and your pet throughout its life. They understand your situation, and it’s important to know that every situation is unique. Ask your veterinarian their opinion on options available. The age, breed, and condition of your pet, the financial reality of your case, such as the costs involved in any form of treatment or therapy compared with the benefits and length of time of benefit (if any) that can be offered, will all play a part in the making of your decision.

It is never easy to come to that realization, but I have found it especially difficult for first-time pet owners to make that call. Ask your veterinarian to go over the process. Try to remember that this difficult decision is being made to ease your pets’ suffering rather than your own feelings is not only helpful but imperative. When the time comes, it may be useful to have a comforting friend or family member, especially one that may have previous experience with the procedure, come along for emotional support. I usually recommend that owners stay with their pets during the process, both as comfort to their pets as well as some form of closure for themselves.

The Final Goodbye Various people have different ways to honor their pets: cremation is the most common choice, and the ashes can be stored in a vase in your home, on your property, or dispersed over a favorite area of your lost pet. Some choose burial at a pet cemetery or on their own property if the local laws allow it.

Another way of honoring and giving tribute to them is to donate in their name to a meaningful organization, such as your breed’s rescue or health fund, or an organization devoted to research in canine health, such as the AKC Canine Health Foundation.

It is never an easy decision, but as a long-time mentor once told me, “it’s better to do it one day too early than one day too late.” It took many years to understand fully that, but I have found it to be true. Nonetheless, it’s still so difficult when you experience it firsthand.

 Related article: How to Explain a Pets Death to Children

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What Is Pancreatitis in Dogs? The pancreas is an organ in the abdominal cavity. One of its roles is producing digestive enzymes, which helps break down food products.

Pancreatitis in dogs is an inflammatory reaction within the pancreas that can result in abdominal pain, inappetence, and vomiting.

The inflammation results from the inappropriate, early activation of an enzyme within the pancreas, which causes the pancreas to digest itself.

What Causes Pancreatitis in Dogs? Classically, the typical history of a canine patient that is diagnosed with pancreatitis is one in which the dog ate a high-fat meal or got into the garbage. Unfortunately, this is not the most common cause of pancreatitis.

In reality, 90% of the time, the inciting cause of pancreatitis in dogs is idiopathic (cannot be determined).

Are Some Dogs Predisposed to Pancreatitis? Some breeds are more prone to the development of pancreatitis, as well as dogs taking certain medications.

Miniature Schnauzers are considered to be a predisposed breed due their tendency to have problems with high blood triglyceride levels.

Another example is the English Cocker Spaniel. Immune-mediated diseases, which result from abnormal activity of the immune system, are seen at a higher frequency in this breed in general, and the immune system attacking the pancreas is no exception.

Medications that are known to cause inflammation of the pancreas include, but are not limited to, some chemotherapy medications and some antibiotics.

What Are the Symptoms of Pancreatitis in Dogs? Pancreatitis can present as a sudden-onset (acute) illness or as a more long-term (chronic) illness.

A dog that has acute pancreatitis will have more serious clinical signs, such as:

Severe lethargy
Abdominal pain
Persistent vomiting
Severe dehydration
Collapse and shock (sometimes)

A dog with chronic pancreatitis is typically not as sick. The clinical signs may include:

Lethargy
Decreased appetite to not eating at all
Abdominal pain and/or vomiting

In general, chronic pancreatitis is not as common in dogs as acute pancreatitis.

Dogs with chronic pancreatitis can suddenly develop worsening pancreatitis. This is a situation where chronic pancreatitis presents acutely.

How Do Vets Diagnose Pancreatitis in Dogs? Disease of the pancreas can be difficult to identify because, oftentimes, the signs of illness are not specific to the pancreas, and routine blood tests are often not helpful.

However, there are pancreatic-specific blood tests that can be performed when the veterinarian has a high suspicion of pancreatitis.

Unfortunately, even these special tests are not 100% accurate.

Abdominal X-rays are also not very helpful in diagnosing pancreatitis in dogs. However, in a vomiting patient, it is important to take X-rays to rule out a potential foreign-body obstruction of the stomach and/or intestine (something your dog ate, like a squeaker out of a toy).

The best method to image the pancreas is via abdominal ultrasound. However, the tissue of the pancreas has to be abnormal enough to visualize using the ultrasound, which is more common in dogs with acute, severe pancreatitis, when compared to those with chronic, mild pancreatitis.

Overall, blood testing and abdominal ultrasound are better in helping to diagnose pancreatitis in dogs when it is acute and severe.

How to Treat Pancreatitis in Dogs Treatment is primarily supportive care regardless of whether the patient has acute or chronic pancreatitis.

Severe Pancreatitis in Dogs Patients with severe, acute pancreatitis often require more extensive medical intervention and treatment.

These patients are often in need of several days, if not weeks, of treatment, including:

Intensive intravenous (IV) fluid and electrolyte support
Pain-control measures
Antinausea medication(s)
Stomach-protectant medications
Nutritional support in the form of a feeding tube
Antibiotics (sometimes)

Severe pancreatitis patients are often critical and best treated in a specialist practice, such as an intensive 24-hour care facility. The cost for treatment is estimated at approximately $2000-5000 but can vary depending on where you live.

Moderate to Mild Pancreatitis in Dogs Patients with moderate or mild pancreatitis may be hospitalized for one to a few days for IV fluid therapy to correct dehydration.

In a dog with mild pancreatitis, your veterinarian may determine that subcutaneous (applied under the skin) fluid administration—either at the appointment or at home—will be adequate for rehydration.

These patients are usually also treated with:

Antinausea medication
A stomach protectant(s)
Pain-reliever medication
A bland, low-fat diet is recommended during recovery (this may be a home-cooked and/or home-prepared diet)

In general, mild to moderate pancreatitis patients recover in one to two weeks. Treatment can vary with these patients, so the cost varies. If hospitalized for a few days, the costs can approximate $1500-2500. If treated as an outpatient, the cost is around $500-1000.

A permanent diet change may be recommended, especially in predisposed breeds (Schnauzers) or dogs with a previous history of pancreatitis.

What Is the Prognosis for Pancreatitis in Dogs? The prognosis for dogs with pancreatitis ultimately depends on the severity of the illness.

A dog with severe pancreatitis has a poor to grave overall prognosis, thus a higher risk of death. These patients can die from a severe whole-body inflammatory condition, which results in multiple organ failure.

Pancreatic abscess formation and peritonitis (abdominal cavity infection) is another complication of severe pancreatitis that increases the risk of fatality.

It is important to note that a dog that has recovered from even a single episode of pancreatitis or repeated episodes of pancreatitis may develop extensive scarring within the pancreatic tissue.

This can lead to the development of diabetes mellitus and/or a condition called exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). EPI occurs as a result of the pancreas not being able to produce a sufficient amount of digestive enzymes.

Pancreatitis has many potential causes, and dogs can present with illness that ranges from mild to very severe. Also, the signs of illness are not specific to the pancreas, so it can be a challenge to diagnose. Ultimately, the earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the more positive the outcome.

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What is a soft tissue sarcoma? Soft tissue sarcomas are a broad category of tumors including those that arise from the connective, muscle, or nervous tissues in dogs and cats. These tumors are the result of abnormal production of these cell types in an uncontrolled manner. Connective, muscle, and nervous tissues are present throughout the entire body; therefore, these tumors can develop over the chest, back, side, legs, and facial tissues of your pet.

Soft tissue sarcomas make up about 15% of cancers of the skin affecting dogs and about 7% of those affecting cats. Fibrosarcomas are common in dogs and are a type of soft tissue sarcoma (see handout "Fibrosarcoma in Dogs" for more information).

"Soft tissue sarcomas make up about 15% of cancers of the skin affecting dogs and about 7% of those affecting cats."

Even though soft tissue tumors arise from many different types of cells, they all behave in a similar manner and their treatment is typically the same.

What causes soft tissue sarcomas? The reason why a particular pet may develop this, or any tumor or cancer, is not straightforward. Very few tumors and cancers have a single known cause. Most seem to be caused by a complex mix of risk factors, some environmental and some genetic or hereditary.

For most cases of soft tissue sarcomas, no direct cause has been determined for their development. Sarcomas at injection sites occur in cats but are rare in dogs (see handout “Post-Vaccination Sarcoma in Cats” for further information on this type of sarcoma). In cats exposed to a form of the feline leukemia virus (called feline sarcoma virus), the development of sarcomas on the head and neck sometimes occurs.

What are the clinical signs of soft tissue sarcomas? The clinical signs depend on where the tumor is located and the tissues that are affected. Often, pets have a noticeable mass that is growing in size.

Signs associated with soft tissue sarcomas include the following:

Pets that have tumors arising from muscle tissue may show signs of pain in the affected region and may have a distinct firm and growing mass (tumor).
Tumors that are located on the limbs may cause changes in your pet’s ability to walk and the limbs may have obvious swelling.
Pets that have tumors arising from nervous tissue may be unable to use the affected limb or may show other neurological signs.
Pets with intestinal tumors may have signs of an intestinal blockage, such as vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, weight loss, and abdominal pain.
Pets with soft tissue sarcomas in the mouth often have halitosis (bad breath), difficulty eating, loss of appetite, bleeding in the mouth, or obvious tumors in the mouth.
Signs of a soft tissue sarcoma affecting the reproductive system depend on the location of the tumor. For example, if the prostate is affected, difficulty with urinating or defecating may be observed.

How are soft tissue sarcomas diagnosed? In some cases, a fine needle aspiration (FNA) may be performed. FNA involves taking a small needle with a syringe to suction a sample of cells directly from the tumor and placing them on a microscope slide. A veterinary pathologist then examines the slide under a microscope. If a diagnosis is not confirmed by this method, a biopsy may be needed. A biopsy is a surgical excision of a piece of the tumor. Pieces of the tumor are then examined under the microscope. This is called histopathology. A biopsy is beneficial because it gives an indication as to how aggressive the tumor is and how its treatment should be approached.

Staging (searching for potential spread to other locations in the body) may be recommended. This may include blood work, urinalysis, radiographs (X-rays) of the lungs, and possibly an abdominal ultrasound. If any lymph nodes are enlarged or feel abnormal, further sampling may be pursued to determine if any spread is present.

"If any lymph nodes are enlarged or feel abnormal, further sampling may be pursued to determine if any spread is present."

How do these tumors typically progress? This is entirely dependent on the location and grade of the tumor. Typically, the higher the grade (these tumors are graded from I to III) the more likely that spread is possible. However, one of the biggest concerns with soft tissue sarcomas is their ability to invade the local surrounding tissues. They can almost be described as an ’octopus’, where the bulk of the tumor is the head and the microscopic cells that invade the surrounding tissue are like small tentacles. These ‘tentacles’ become challenging to treat when managing your pet’s tumor, either by surgery or radiation therapy.

"...one of the biggest concerns with soft tissue sarcomas is their ability to invade the local surrounding tissues."

What are the treatments for these types of tumors? The most commonly pursued treatment for all soft tissue sarcomas is surgery. Because these tumors typically produce ‘tentacles’ of abnormal cells, wide margins (the amount of tissue that needs to be removed) must be obtained for the best control of the tumor. If microscopic cells are left behind after surgery, recurrence of the tumor is much more likely. If cells are left behind (determined through histopathology), either a second surgery or a combination of surgery and radiation therapy may be pursued.

Chemotherapy is not usually pursued as a primary treatment unless surgery or radiation are not options for your pet based on the tumor size or location. Chemotherapy may be an option after surgery. Metronomic chemotherapy (daily administration of lower doses of chemotherapy rather than traditional schedules) may be recommended. These therapies will be discussed with you if they are relevant to your pet’s particular type of sarcoma.

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How to help animals in shelters and rescues   Want to help animals in shelters? Here are a few ways you can help animal shelters and rescues that do so much for animals, people and your community    SHARE           Julia Gerasina /  iStock.com         Animal shelters and rescues are amazing! Usually with limited resources and very little publicity, they help untold numbers of animals and people. Give back by choosing one or more of the following ways to show your appreciation for the groups that do so much for animals, people and your community.

    1. Adopt a pet If you’ve been thinking that it’s time to add a pet to your family, consider adopting from a local shelter or rescue group. Search for available cats and dogs near you at the Shelter Pet Project. Be sure to find out from the group you are considering adopting from what their adoption process is like and, if it doesn’t feel right to you, move on to another local group.

Donate Every animal shelter and rescue organization has bills to pay and your generous monetary donation will be gratefully accepted. Donations may be used to help cover the costs of daily operations, supplies, staff training, animal housing upgrades, community outreach programs, animal enrichment and much more.
Volunteer Even if you can’t adopt a pet just now, you can help make life better for animals in your community by volunteering with your local shelter or rescue organization. Do you have experience as a carpenter or electrician? Are you a marketing or dog walking whiz? All of these skills are valuable! Or be open to learning something new that is needed, such as trap-neuter-return for unowned cats.
Say thanks Take a minute to express your gratitude to the people who work at your local shelter or rescue groups. Did you adopt a pet from one of them? Did they provide affordable spay/neuter? Perhaps they helped reunite you with your lost pet or provided behavioral advice that made it possible for your pet to stay in your home. Give them a shout-out on social media, drop off lunch or cookies for the staff and/or mention to municipal leadership what a value they bring to your community.
Become a fan Like and follow your local animal shelters and rescue groups on Facebook, then invite your friends and family to like and follow them too. Also like and follow the Shelter Pet Project, which directs people seeking to adopt a cat or dog to their local shelters and rescues. Engage by sharing and commenting on posts.
Get crafty Combine fabric, recyclables and imagination to bring much needed fun into the lives of local shelter and rescue pets. You can fashion cage curtains to help shelter cats get some privacy (and stay healthy) or play matchmaker by creating attention-grabbing "Adopt-Me" vests to spotlight available pets at adoption events held by shelters and rescues.
Make wishes come true Shelters and rescue groups always need towels, toys and other supplies. Check their websites for wishlists; if they don’t have one, call them to find out what's in short supply and offer to create an online wishlist for them.
Become a foster The value of fosters can't be overrated. They can be lifesavers for pets who can't adapt to shelter life, those who need to be nursed back to health and orphaned kittens who need someone to step in for their mom (or whose needs are beyond what busy shelter staff can often provide).

Foster homes are the backbone of many rescue groups—without a strong network of foster providers, rescue groups simply could not take in as many animals. Foster homes can also become adoption ambassadors to friends, family and colleagues who otherwise may not visit the shelter. If you already have pets of your own, fostering is also often very fun for the resident pet.

Help at your own home Make the jobs of shelters and rescues easier: Outfit your cats and dogs with collars and proper ID (a microchip and ID tags) at all times. As soon as you bring them into your family, have all of your pets spayed or neutered. Keep your cats indoors, where you can keep them safe (though it's great to take them on walks if they are comfortable on a harness and leash or provide them a catio for safe outdoor enrichment) and keep dogs on leashes when off your property.
Help your shelter make positive changes The work your local shelter does may be hindered by an outdated animal control ordinance or, for municipal shelters, an inadequate budget. You can help by rallying support from your elected officials and working with shelter and rescue leaders to make necessary changes. If you see or hear anything at your local shelter that concerns you, follow our guidelines for addressing that concern in the most effective way.

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Managing Canine Arthritis 09/19/2011 If your dog experiences difficulty getting up, tires easily or seems stiff, arthritis may be the culprit. The most common type of canine arthritis is degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis, affecting one out of five adult dogs in the United Sates, the Arthritis Foundation recently reported.

Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage protecting the bones of the joint is destroyed. The joint loses its cushion, causing friction between bones, leading to pain and decreased mobility in affected joints. Inflammation of the cartilage can also stimulate bony growths (spurs) to form around the joints. Since cartilage has no nerve supply, damage can progress with no outward symptoms until the joint is severely damaged and the lubricating fluid has lost its ability to protect the bone surfaces. Although any joint in a dog’s body can be affected by arthritis, the most commonly affected joints are the hips, elbows, lower back, knees and wrists.

The other less common type of arthritis affecting dogs is inflammatory joint disease, usually caused by an infection, such as bacterial or fungal infection, tick-borne disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. This type of arthritis can also be caused by an underlying defect in your dog’s immune system, which may be hereditary.

Factors contributing to a dog developing arthritis include aging, congenital joint disorders like hip dysplasia, osteochondrosis, elbow dysplasia, old injuries, repeated trauma to joints, activity levels in working and athletic dogs placing increased stress on joints, obesity, and metabolic diseases such as diabetes and Cushing’s disease.

Arthritis symptoms include stiffness, lameness, or limping after rest; appetite loss or unusual weight gain; inactivity and sleeping more; reluctance to walk, run or climb stairs; unusual urinating in the house; and irritability and other behavioral changes. A veterinarian can diagnose arthritis based on your dog’s age, medical history, and a physical exam. X-rays of the joints may be necessary to determine severity of disease.

Non-medical approaches to minimize arthritic aches and pains include:

Weight control. If your dog is overweight, this puts added stresses on joints, causing greater joint damage and more severe arthritis. Helping your dog lose weight will help minimize further joint damage. A recent collaborative study between the Universities of Glasgow and Utrech found that weight loss among obese dogs with osteoarthritis dramatically improved lameness and mobility.
Food. The right mix of dietary fatty acids can do more than improve your dog’s skin and coat. Research shows that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid, can help reduce inflammation, help limit damage to cartilage and reduce the symptoms of arthritis in dogs.Ask your veterinarian for foods that provide high levels of EPA.
Exercise. Light to moderate exercise helps keep stiff joints supple and mobile. The exact exercise requirements depend on the individual dog, with 15 to 20 minutes of exercise twice daily often recommended, rather than one long, 40-minute walk. Ideal is swimming, a low-impact activity that improves muscle mass without overstressing joints.
Animal physical rehabilitation. Most academic centers and many large private practices have certified rehabilitators today. Rehabilitation therapy can include underwater treadmills, ultrasound therapy and electric stimulation. Like techniques used to help humans with arthritis, canine physical therapy utilizes applications of cold and heat, massage, stretching and range-of-motion exercises to maintain joint health and muscle strength. Rehabilitation can relieve pain and promote cartilage, tendon and ligament health.
Natural over-the-counter treatments. Pills or food containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate or Omega fatty acids have shown to ease arthritis symptoms in dogs.
Acupuncture and massage. Although controlled clinical studies are lacking, there are many anecdotal reports on the use of acupuncture to help relieve pain from hip dysplasia and degenerative joint disease in dogs. You can also gently massage your dog’s painful joints to help restore blood flow.

Medically managing canine arthritis is aimed at controlling pain, increasing mobility, slowing down joint degeneration and encouraging cartilage repair. Options include:

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. NSAIDs). Aspirin and many other modern and prescription medications like Rimadyl reduce pain and inflammation. Because of the side-effects associated with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, many vets will choose to run a blood test to ensure that the liver and kidneys are in working order before initiating this treatment.
Glucocorticoids (commonly known as steroids or cortisone). Given as tablets or injections, these drugs have a higher anti-inflammatory effect than NSAIDs, but long-term use may cause more obvious and serious side effects.
Chondroprotectants. Helping protect cartilage as it attempts to repair itself, these drugs are increasingly popular in treating degenerative joint disease. This category includes the FDA-approved Adequan for management of degenerative joint disease in dogs, which works by inhibiting enzymes that contribute to cartilage destruction. Administered by intramuscular injection, studies show when puppies diagnosed with hip dysplasia were given Adequan before arthritic changes occurred, their radiographs showed significant improvement and development of degenerative joint disease was delayed.
Surgery. If your dog’s joints become severely damaged or if the pain is intense, your veterinarian may recommend surgery to reduce pain and improve movement and function. Among the different kinds of procedures for degenerative arthritis is arthroscopic surgery, which involves making small incisions through which the surgeon can clean cartilage debris from the joint. Other surgeries are aimed at repairing bone deformity, fusing joints or rebuilding part of a joint. Your dog may also undergo an operation to replace a damaged joint with an artificial joint.

Preventing or delaying arthritis later in life can begin in puppyhood with these strategies:

If you’re buying a purebred puppy, choose a reliable breeder who should have X-rays taken of hips and elbows to prevent dogs with poor joint conformation from breeding.
Don’t let your puppy eat too much or over-exercise. Providing a wholesome diet with added calcium and omega 3 may also help delay or prevent arthritis.
Providing a comfortable sleeping space for your puppy will help prevent him from laying in awkward positions and relieve unnecessary pressure on his joints.

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Non-medical approaches to minimize arthritic aches and pains include:

Weight control. If your dog is overweight, this puts added stresses on joints, causing greater joint damage and more severe arthritis. Helping your dog lose weight will help minimize further joint damage. A recent collaborative study between the Universities of Glasgow and Utrech found that weight loss among obese dogs with osteoarthritis dramatically improved lameness and mobility.
Food. The right mix of dietary fatty acids can do more than improve your dog’s skin and coat. Research shows that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid, can help reduce inflammation, help limit damage to cartilage and reduce the symptoms of arthritis in dogs.Ask your veterinarian for foods that provide high levels of EPA.
Exercise. Light to moderate exercise helps keep stiff joints supple and mobile. The exact exercise requirements depend on the individual dog, with 15 to 20 minutes of exercise twice daily often recommended, rather than one long, 40-minute walk. Ideal is swimming, a low-impact activity that improves muscle mass without overstressing joints.
Animal physical rehabilitation. Most academic centers and many large private practices have certified rehabilitators today. Rehabilitation therapy can include underwater treadmills, ultrasound therapy and electric stimulation. Like techniques used to help humans with arthritis, canine physical therapy utilizes applications of cold and heat, massage, stretching and range-of-motion exercises to maintain joint health and muscle strength. Rehabilitation can relieve pain and promote cartilage, tendon and ligament health.
Natural over-the-counter treatments. Pills or food containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate or Omega fatty acids have shown to ease arthritis symptoms in dogs.
Acupuncture and massage. Although controlled clinical studies are lacking, there are many anecdotal reports on the use of acupuncture to help relieve pain from hip dysplasia and degenerative joint disease in dogs. You can also gently massage your dog’s painful joints to help restore blood flow.

Medically managing canine arthritis is aimed at controlling pain, increasing mobility, slowing down joint degeneration and encouraging cartilage repair. Options include:

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. NSAIDs). Aspirin and many other modern and prescription medications like Rimadyl reduce pain and inflammation. Because of the side-effects associated with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, many vets will choose to run a blood test to ensure that the liver and kidneys are in working order before initiating this treatment.
Glucocorticoids (commonly known as steroids or cortisone). Given as tablets or injections, these drugs have a higher anti-inflammatory effect than NSAIDs, but long-term use may cause more obvious and serious side effects.
Chondroprotectants. Helping protect cartilage as it attempts to repair itself, these drugs are increasingly popular in treating degenerative joint disease. This category includes the FDA-approved Adequan for management of degenerative joint disease in dogs, which works by inhibiting enzymes that contribute to cartilage destruction. Administered by intramuscular injection, studies show when puppies diagnosed with hip dysplasia were given Adequan before arthritic changes occurred, their radiographs showed significant improvement and development of degenerative joint disease was delayed.
Surgery. If your dog’s joints become severely damaged or if the pain is intense, your veterinarian may recommend surgery to reduce pain and improve movement and function. Among the different kinds of procedures for degenerative arthritis is arthroscopic surgery, which involves making small incisions through which the surgeon can clean cartilage debris from the joint. Other surgeries are aimed at repairing bone deformity, fusing joints or rebuilding part of a joint. Your dog may also undergo an operation to replace a damaged joint with an artificial joint.

Preventing or delaying arthritis later in life can begin in puppyhood with these strategies:

If you’re buying a purebred puppy, choose a reliable breeder who should have X-rays taken of hips and elbows to prevent dogs with poor joint conformation from breeding.
Don’t let your puppy eat too much or over-exercise. Providing a wholesome diet with added calcium and omega 3 may also help delay or prevent arthritis.
Providing a comfortable sleeping space for your puppy will help prevent him from laying in awkward positions and relieve unnecessary pressure on his joints.

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The Pup Up Market 09/10/2022 at 10:00am - 09/10/2022 at 2:00pm Foothills Animal Shelter
580 McIntyre Street
Golden, CO 80401 Support the homeless pets at Foothills Animal Shelter by joining us at our second annual Pup Up Market!

Experience live music, food trucks, local beer, and adoptable animals!

Your ticket gets you...

The chance to shop local vendors for people AND pets
Live musical entertainment
Meeting our adorable, adoptable animals

Tickets are limited and 100% of proceeds will help pets in need.

If you'd like your doggo to join you at the Pup Up, please be sure they are leashed/harnessed properly and that the weather is appropriate. Thank you, Good human!

 Pup Up Admission $15 / each

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Experience live music, food trucks, local beer, and adoptable animals!

Your ticket gets you...

The chance to shop local vendors for people AND pets
Live musical entertainment
Meeting our adorable, adoptable animals

Tickets are limited and 100% of proceeds will help pets in need.

If you'd like your doggo to join you at the Pup Up, please be sure they are leashed/harnessed properly and that the weather is appropriate. Thank you, Good human!

 Pup Up Admission $15 / each

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PugHearts of Houston Pug Rescue is a true 501(c)(3) non-profit charity founded in the Houston area by dedicated pug owners and lovers. Our mission is the rescue, rehabilitation and permanent placement of needy pugs into loving homes.

Visit and please try to help http://www.pughearts.com/

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Visit and please try to help http://www.pughearts.com/

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Everybody gets old, including your dog. That adorable little pup that grew into your constant companion may be showing signs of getting old, both physical and mental. Different breeds and sizes of dog age at different rates. A large breed like a Great Dane is considered senior at around six years old. A small dog, like a Chihuahua, for example, may not be considered old until she is seven to ten years old. The more tuned-in you are to the typical signs, the sooner you can help your dog age gracefully.

Physical signs that your dog is aging * Cloudy eyes or difficulty seeing: Eye cloudiness (nuclear sclerosis) can happen so gradually that you might not notice it right away. While it’s a fairly common occurrence in senior dogs and doesn’t affect vision, it may also be a sign of cataracts or other eye diseases, most of which are easily treatable. Your dog may also start bumping into things or have trouble locating a toy on the floor or other familiar objects. This could signal vision loss. * Horrible breath: While doggie breath isn’t uncommon at any age, if your dog seems to suddenly have awful breath, it could indicate gum disease, tooth decay, or infection. The immune system weakens as dogs age and they are not able to fight off infections as easily as they did when they were younger. Along with a good dental cleaning, your vet may decide to do blood work to rule out infection. * Slowing down or difficulty getting around: An older dog may have trouble with stairs, jumping into the car, or just getting up after a nap. You might notice weakness in her back legs. While we all slow down as we age, your dog’s mobility issues could be caused by arthritis or another degenerative disease. Along with any medication or supplements your vet recommends, you will have to adjust your dog’s exercise regimen to slower and shorter walks or a new exercise routine. Swimming, for example, is gentle on the body and many dogs love it. * New lumps and bumps: Some dogs are prone to harmless fatty lipomas, but these lumps under the skin are more common as dogs age. However, any new lump should be checked by a veterinarian to rule out a malignant tumor. * A change in weight: It’s not surprising that older, less active dogs sometimes gain weight and you may have to adjust your dog’s diet and exercise to maintain a healthy weight. However, you should also pay attention if your senior dog loses weight. This could be the result of reduced muscle mass, which is common in older dogs, or it might be caused by reduced appetite, poor absorption of nutrients, or a digestive illness. If your dog loses more than 10 percent of her body weight in a few months, or even in a year, consult your vet. * Incontinence or difficulty “going:” If your dog suddenly seems to forget his housetraining or seems to strain when urinating, these could be signs of a urinary tract infection or kidney disease. However, incontinence is not unusual in elderly dogs and there are medications that can help.

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What To Do If You Lost or Found a Pet Vea los protocolos de mascotas perdidas en español a continuación **Our team will do our very best to assist with every lost pet as it is our passion to save every single lost pet. Due to the high volume of lost reports we receive daily, we may have limited number of volunteers and resources, and may not be able to assist on every search. Please follow our search protocols that we have listed in detail on our Lost A Pet tab at www.lostpetrescue.org/lost-pet

:STEPS TO FOLLOW IF YOUR PET WENT MISSING

Go to www.lostpetrescue.org and fill out the Owner Intake Waiver Form

Call ALL of the following to REPORT LOST:
- Summit County Animal Control 970-668-8600
- Call Summit County Shelter 970-668-3230
- Call Summit Lost Pet Rescue 970-423-5701

COMFORT/SCENT STATIONS- place out owner’s dirty clothes, dirty towels, dirty sheets, pet bed, etc ASAP in area where pet was last seen. If missing pet has a sibling pet, rub towels on the sibling pet and leave those where the pet went missing as well for scents.

SHARE on the following Facebook pages:
- Summit Lost Pet Rescue
- Summit County Loves Their Pets
- Dog Gone Summit County
- One Man’s Junk Summit County
  - Post a picture and name of lost animal
  - Date, time, exact location lost
  - Phone number of owner to call or text if seen
  - Describe animal- shy, skittish, friendly, what color collar, etc

NEON SIGNS- hang neon foamboard signs and write in big black marker: “LOST DOG/CAT”, “BREED", “CALL TEXT xxx-xxx-xxxx”, “DO NOT CHASE” See example on www.lostpetrescue.org

SHARE on :
- nextdoor.com
- pawboost.com
- petfbi.com
- lost.petcolove.org
- petharbor.com

Call your microchip company and report lost

Call all local vets and shelters in area and surrounding areas

GO SEARCHING ON FOOT & USE CALMING TECHNIQUES:
- DO NOT CALL or CHASE pet
- Get low to ground, turn back, don’t make eye contact and do not call his name or chase. He’s in flight or fight mode and will run. If you see him, do these steps and toss some treats his way. Act like you’re eating and dropping crumbs to see if it’ll entice him to come. Build trust. Let him come to you.
- Be patient & calm
- If missing pet has a sibling pet, take them with you on every search to spread the scent
- Keep smelly treats with you and a lead leash.
- If you see him, he may not recognize you right away (don’t take this personally, its part of survival mode, they get confused).
- Keep chip bag or paper with you and make crinkly sound.

FLYERS- www.lostmydoggie.com and www.lostmykitty.com-Create flyer from this site, print and hang on bus stops, Summit Daily Boxes, gas stations, local restaurants & businesses, neighbors cars, and share with Fedex/Ups/Post Office/mailman/garbage truck drivers, etc

Post sign in owners yard- “LOST DOG/CAT LIVES HERE”

Window markers on your car- write "lost dog/cat, description, location, phone number"

Look on Craigslist for free pets or pets for sale (just in case someone picked up your lost pet and is trying to sell)

Look on Petfinder.com & Petharbor.com

Those with information about this lost pet should contact Summit Lost Pet Rescue, Inc. (“SLPR”) at 970-423-5701. IMPORTANT: Those reading this flyer are not authorized to conduct or assist in pet searches for, or on behalf SLPR, without first registering with and executing a waiver and release with SLPR at www.lostpetrescue.org/volunteer. Those who conduct or assist in pet searches without first doing so, do so at their own risk, peril and liability.

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I love sharing my intuitive abilities with both animals and humans. I look forward to helping you restore your energy balance so you can live an abundantly joy filled life!

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       If your dog is going a little gray in the muzzle, they may be entering the senior stage of their life.

While the standard age range for senior dogs varies by breed and size, pet parents should watch for signs of aging and make necessary adjustments to provide their pets with the best senior dog care available.

How to Take Care of Senior Dogs If you need to take care of a dog who is older, making subtle changes to your dog’s routine, veterinary care, and home environment can help them live a healthier and more comfortable life.

Tip 1: Keep Your Senior Dog Active As dogs age, it’s important that they continue to get plenty of exercise. If they don't move it, they lose it. Muscle mass is the main driver of metabolism, and dogs that lose muscle mass develop frailty syndrome, which accelerates the aging process.

If a dog’s activity level gradually decreases over time, it could be a sign that something is wrong. Owners of old dogs should watch for subtle signs of pain and visit a veterinarian to come up with an ideal treatment plan. Pet parents still think that 'slowing down' is normal for old age. It isn't always the case—it is indicative of untreated pain.

Dog monitors that attach to a dog collar, such as the Whistle 3 dog GPS tracker and activity monitor, are useful tools that are designed to help pet parents keep tabs of their dog’s activity level. If activity levels are low, dog owners can adjust a pet’s exercise routine to include more playtime or longer walks.

Keeping your senior dog active will also help prevent weight gain. Keeping your dog thin is the most important thing you can do to help minimize the effects of arthritis.

Tip 2: Get Your Dog’s Blood Work Checked As dogs get older, it’s a good idea to see your veterinarian on a regular basis for checkups. Besides an annual or biannual exam, it is suggested that pet parents get yearly blood work done for their senior dogs.

It's recommended that you do blood work to check your senior dog's white and red blood cells and their kidney and liver function to make sure that they're healthy. This is an easy way of being able to detect any kind of disease.

Tip 3: Invest in an Orthopedic or Heated Dog Bed If you want to take care of a dog that is getting up there in age, splurging on an orthopedic dog bed or a heated dog bed may help senior dogs that are suffering from arthritis and other joint problems.

A pain-free, restful sleep is huge for older dogs. It can improve mobility, reduce pain, and improve quality of life.

A heated dog bed may help a senior dog with stiffness and joint problems. It has a built-in heater that warms up to your dog’s natural body temperature.

You can place a heated pad or mat into your dog’s bed for a similar effect. Consider electric warming pads that are thermostatically controlled and have emergency shut-offs if they overheat. Such a pad will provide substantial relief for the achiness of age-related arthritis.

In particular, the K&H Pet Products pet bed warmer is specifically designed not to exceed the natural body temperature of your dog. It fits inside most pet beds and is MET listed for safety. This means that it has been tested at a “Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory” to ensure quality and safety standards.

Tip 4: Try Using a Dog Support Sling If your senior dog has mobility problems, a dog support sling or a specially designed dog harness can be a big help. If your dog has a really hard time getting up, sometimes using a dog sling can help them get on their feet. There are great harnesses available that have a handle on the back so you can easily assist your dog. Dog support slings are designed to help make walking, climbing stairs, going to the bathroom, or getting into the car easier for your senior dog.

Tip 5: Make Small Changes to Your Dog’s Environment If you have a senior dog, making small adjustments to your home and their environment can have a big impact.

Putting down more carpeting around your home so that your senior dog will have an easier time getting up and will be less likely to slip on hardwood or tile floors.

Dog socks with rubberized, non-slip soles can also help provide traction for senior dogs.

It is also recommended that senior dog parents consider using dog ramps throughout their homes. Ramps are a wonderful way to help dogs get into cars, up and down stairs and onto furniture.

Additionally, pet parents may need to reevaluate the dog food and water setup they have for their dog in order to provide extra comfort and ease of use. Pet parents should consider an elevated dog bowl for their dog’s food and water to eliminate excess strain on a dog’s head and neck.

Senior dog parents should make finding a water bowl easier for their aging pups. You may have to increase the number of water bowls around the home if the pet has trouble remembering where any single bowl may be located. A nightlight by the food and water can help, too.

Night vision is the first type to dissipate over time, so it can help your aging pet to put up nightlights throughout the home. You can also block stairways by using dog gates.

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CLICK HERE to complete our Owner Intake Waiver Form

If you lost a pet and would like to request the services of Summit Lost Pet Rescue to help you find your pet, please fill out the Owner Intake Waiver Form above and call us at 970-423-5701. Then view tips on our "Lost Your Pet" tab above.

**Our team will do our very best to assist with every lost pet as it is our passion to save every single lost pet. Due to the high volume of lost reports we receive daily, we may have limited number of volunteers and resources, and may not be able to assist on every search. Please follow our search protocols that we have listed in detail on our Lost A Pet tab at www.lostpetrescue.org/lost-pet

OUR MISSION:

Summit Lost Pet Rescue is an animal protection and welfare organization devoted to educating the public about lost pet prevention, finding lost pets in Summit County Colorado and reuniting them with their owners.

We are 100% donation based and donations go directly toward resources and supplies to help find lost pets. If you'd like to donate, please click on the Donate link.

RESCUE REPORT since

January 2020:

LOST PETS FOUND & REUNITED WITH OWNERS:

288 DOGS

88 CATS

CALLING ALL PETS! Summit Lost Pet Rescue in Summit County, CO is excited to announce our 2nd Annual Pet Photo Calendar Contest

Snap a photo of your pet and enter our contest today. You can enter photos until 8/8/22 at 9:00pm Mountain Time. All proceeds benefit and further our Lost Pet Rescue!

Get more info and Submit Photos Here!

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Pet safety over the 4th of July is very important.

The 4th of July can mean fun, food, friends and fireworks for people, but for our pets, it can feel more like a scary alien invasion! In fact, July 5th is the busiest day of the year for animal shelters, which fill up quickly with animals who panic and flee the bright lights and loud noises of holiday celebrations. Make July 4th a pet-riotic holiday by following these steps for a stress free day for both you and your fur-kids.

Prepare for the worst-case scenario. July 4th is a great annual reminder to be prepared in case your pet escapes or gets lost. If your pet is not wearing a collar with an ID tag, now is the best time to get one. You’ll also want to double check that your pet is microchipped and that the chip is registered with updated contact information.
Avoid the crowds. Avoid bringing your pooch to super crowded events, parades, and other gatherings with a lot of commotion or people. A combination of heat, loud noises, packed spaces and scorching blacktop can not only be stressful, but harmful to your pet’s health. Better to leave them at home in a cool spot with lots of water. It’s especially wise to avoid bringing your pets to firework events, as they could panic and try to run.
Work them out. Be sure to give your pets lots of exercise during the day, so they’ll be a little worn out before the scary noises start at night. A nice long run or play session during the daytime will help with your pet’s overall stress and anxiety levels. Some pets may sleep right through the night time celebrations!
Head indoors before the fun begins. Don’t wait for the fireworks to be in full swing before taking care of your pet. It’s best to bring him or her indoors or put them in a cozy spot well ahead of the first boom of fireworks. Which brings us to…
Create a safe space. Pre-pyrotechnics, create a safe, escape-proof space in your home. Lower the blinds, close the windows, provide a bed or crate where they feel comfortable, offer a special chew or toy to distract them and turn on the TV or radio to help mask the noises outside.
Wrap them up. Confining movement in dogs and cats actually has a calming effect on them, which is why you might want to consider an anti-anxiety wrap or coat. Try this one, available on Amazon. In a pinch, you can even create one from a scarf.
Give them a chill pill. If you’re really worried about a pet who stresses easily, talk to your vet in advance about anti-anxiety chews, drops or other remedies that can help your pet relax. There are plenty of prescription and homeopathic solutions out there that can help your pet get the extra dose of relaxation that he or she needs.

Independence Day is fun for us, but it’s the worst day imaginable for some cats and dogs. They literally think the world is ending! Do them a favor and make sure they’re well protected and safe so they stay with you for many years to come. Happy Fourth!

ThunderShirt Sport Dog Anxiety Jacket |Vet Recommended Calming Solution Vest for Fireworks, Thunder, Travel, Separation | Platinum, Large

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Dogs can be excellent company in the outdoors. Exploring the wilderness with a furry friend can be an incredibly fun and bonding experience, but only if you plan ahead. If you don’t, bringing your dog could be a dangerous mistake, one that ends abruptly, unpleasantly, or even tragically.

What do you need to know, bring, do, and avoid when camping or hiking with your dog? * First, you’ll want to determine if your dog is capable of making the trip. * Next, locate dog-friendly outdoor adventure spots. * Prepare your dog physically for outdoor adventures. * Learn proper trail etiquette for dogs and their owners. * Learn how to deal with dog poop on a long hike or backpacking trip. * Know the most common dangers and threats to dogs while hiking. * Learn how to load a dog’s pack properly (and what to bring to ensure your pet’s comfort and safety). * Make your own dog booties (if you want) dog bootie instructions. * Find answers to other frequently asked questions about hiking with your dog.

Below, you’ll find everything you need to know to adventure safely and optimize the fun for both you and your pet.

Can I Take My Dog for a Hike? First, it’s important to recognize that not all dogs are capable of hiking. Since your dog will do her best to keep up with you, possibly at the risk of her own health or safety, it’s up to you to be realistic about what you’re asking your pet to do.

Dogs that are very young or old may not only lack the stamina and strength for the trip, but their immune systems might make them even more vulnerable. (Old dogs might still go on hikes if you keep these tips in mind.)
Any dog that has health issues or isn’t physically fit enough to exercise all day and endure temperature fluctuations might not make the best hiking buddy.
Brachycephalic breeds (short-muzzled dogs)—like pugs, boxers, and Boston terriers—do not do well in heat and are not known for their endurance. Their shortened muzzles and narrowed nares actually make it quite dangerous to take them out in the heat or on endurance hikes. These breeds are at higher risk of heat stroke and exercise intolerance. That doesn’t mean they can’t kill it on shorter jaunts; just use caution.
Breeds that might get overly excited in nature, like scent and sight hounds or dogs with high prey drive, are not ideal in the wild. Some can be conditioned out of these behaviors and learn to obey whistles and commands, but these dogs are more likely to take off after something and ignore your commands.
Dogs that are not properly trained and don’t follow commands can be a danger to themselves, to other hikers, and to wildlife, so they should be left at home.
Don’t overestimate your dog’s capabilities, even if she regularly accompanies you on walks. Consider the terrain and weather conditions of that specific trail. Is the ground steep, jagged, icy, or slippery? Will it be extremely hot, and will there be enough shade?
Check with your vet to see if your dog is ready for action. Make sure you are up-to-date on vaccinations and ask the vet about medical or preventative measures to take for waterborne pathogens and the treatment of snakebites and parasites (like ticks). If you microchip your dog, then you’ll have some way of locating her if you get separated on the trail.

Is my puppy too young for hiking? Michelle Richardson, a vet in Helena, Montana, advises waiting until your puppy has received all her shots (about five months) before taking her on the trail, and keeping hikes shorter than one hour to start. DHPP, a combo vaccination administered serially, will be required, as is a rabies shot which is given at 4 months. You can also elect to get the Leptospirosis vaccination, which will protect her from pathogens found in wildlife urine.

The only way to avoid waterborne pathogens is to prevent dogs from drinking stream water, and the only way to treat them is with prescription meds from a vet (done in-house). Offer your dog clean, filtered water often so she’s not searching for other sources.

Every hiker needs a break every once in a while—even the canine kind.Lottie Where Can I Take My Dog Hiking or Camping? Once you’ve determined that your dog is indeed capable of hiking, the first thing to consider is location. Many trails and campsites require leashes or don’t welcome dogs at all, so you’ll need to do your research ahead of time. Most national parks don’t allow dogs, and if they do, they require leashes at all times and sometimes require that you keep your dog on paved trails. Take some time to get to know the rules and regulations of that specific trail or campsite, and familiarize yourself with the wildlife (and possible dangers and hazards) to watch out for.

Look for places that are “easy on the paws,” advises Craig Romano, author of Best Hikes with Dogs Inland Northwest. Pick shady trails with soft, leaf- or needle-covered terrain; avoid paths littered with sharp rocks, off-trail routes with steep drops, and any surface that gets very hot. “Stay away from areas with heavy horse use and mountain bikes,” he adds, since they increase the risk of injury.

How to Prepare Your Dog for Camping or Hiking In order to get your dog mentally and physically prepared for the trip, you’ll want to do the following:

Practice by taking small hikes ahead of time. Build up to longer trips with a series of shorter hikes. Start small, with easy or short walks, and work your way up from there. Begin on a relatively flat and smooth surface, monitoring your dog’s response. If she still has energy after an hour or so, increase the next hike’s difficulty and add distance, slowly building up stamina and strength.

Prepare your dog’s feet to go the distance. The small practice hikes are also your opportunity to toughen up your dog’s paws or get her used to wearing those snazzy hiking booties you bought for her. A paw salve might help to condition her feet for longer treks. If she’ll be sleeping in a tent, be sure to trim her nails pretrip to prevent rips in the tent floor.

Reinforce your dog’s obedience training. It’s your job to keep your pet with you and under control at all times, both on- and off-leash. Even if you think you’re alone on the trail, your dog should always be within sight and close enough to hear your commands. No matter how well-trained she usually is, the excitement of the new setting is likely to require a refresher course in obedience. On practice hikes, make sure she remembers how to listen, sit, stay, heel, and come. Consider recall training with a whistle that can be heard 400 yards away.

Teach your dog the rules of the trail. Even the most well-behaved dog will need to learn some new tricks for the trail. See the section on proper trail etiquette below, and read “How to Train Your Dog For the Trail.”

When hiking with a dog, it’s important to keep her under control at all times. Obey every trail rule and use proper trail etiquette.Ryan Somma Rules and Proper Trail Etiquette for Hiking With a Dog * Keep your dog under control at all times. She should always be within eye- and ear-shot. If the trail requires leashes or if there is any risk that she might run into or jump up onto other hikers, keep her on a short leash (six feet or less) since a long leash is more likely to get tangled on brush. Even if you’re sitting safely at a campsite, your dog should not be allowed to roam freely. Here’s more information about hiking off-leash. * Yield to other hikers and riders. Always step off the trail make your dog heel when others approach. * Communicate proactively. When you meet someone on the trail, let them know that your dog is friendly and communicate that calmness to the dog. * Don’t try to manage more than one dog. If you need to bring two, bring another human to help. But no matter how many hikers are in your group, don’t try to manage more than two dogs, because three or more becomes a pack, and packs of dogs may be harder to manage. * Leave no trace. Bring bags to collect and carry out your dog’s poop. If you’ll be backpacking overnight, bring a shovel to bury it at least 8” deep and at least 200 feet from walkways, camping sites, and water sources. * Protect the wildlife. Don’t let your dog stray off the trail to chase animals, run through the foliage, or play in water. The natural flora and fauna will need to be protected from your pet’s curiosity and enthusiasm (and not only that, but some plants are poisonous, and some creatures bite back and may host dangerous viruses or diseases).

Leave no trace: Dogs are not wild animals, so their poop is not “natural” to the environment and must be removed.

How to Deal With Dog Poop on the Trail Although a bear can poop in the woods, your dog definitely shouldn’t. Dog poop is extremely disruptive to native fauna. Many wild animals communicate via scent (fecal, too), and dog poop can interrupt territorial claims and cause distress. So if you care about the nature you’re walking through, you’ll avoid this disruption.

The old rule ‘pack it in, pack it out’ also applies to dog poop. Don’t forget to bring bags to collect it all and carry it out. If you’ll be hauling it long distances, bring extras for double-bagging to ensure against leakage. If you’ll be camping overnight or don’t want to carry it, bring a shovel to bury it at least 8” deep and at least 200 feet from walkways, camping sites, and water sources. If you bury it, don’t use a bag.

QUMY Dog Boots Waterproof Shoes for Large Dogs with Reflective Strips Rugged Anti-Slip Sole Black 4PCS (Size 6: 2.6''x3.0''(W*L) for 52-65 lbs, Black)

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Here Are Five Tips to Help Ease Separation Anxiety * Before You Leave the House, Take Your Dog for a Walk. ... * No Touch, No Talk, No Eye Contact. ... * Say Goodbye to Your Dog Long Before You Leave. ... * Stay Calm and Assertive! ... * Start Out Small by Leaving Your Dog Alone for Just Five Minutes. ... * Leave Your Dog with a Good Audiobook.

Contact a local dog trainer to help you so your dog does not get hurt

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   On October 25, 2021, after the most contentious Texas legislative session in memory, the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act was signed into law. THLN never wavered during the six-year quest to pass this legislation, even when it was targeted by an extremist lawmaker and unexpectedly vetoed.

Texas dogs and the communities where they reside deserve a common-sense, balanced policy governing the restraint of dogs outdoors. The Safe Outdoor Dogs Act, which goes into effect January 18, 2022, achieves that by:

| * Defining adequate shelter to protect dogs from extreme temperatures, inclement weather, and standing water. Previously, there was no definition for shelter, thus tethered dogs routinely perished from exposure. * Requiring access to drinkable water. Before the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act, state law did not include this vital requirement. * Requiring safe restraints. The Safe Outdoor Dogs Act strikes the use of chains. Other means of restraint, such as cable tie-outs, may be used so long as they are correctly attached to a collar or harness designed to restrain a dog. |

Arguably the most significant change wrought by the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act is removing the 24-hour warning period that allowed bad actors to flout the law. Officers can take immediate action for tethered dogs in distress from now on.

| * What the Safe Outdoor Act Does - English | Spanish * How to Properly Restrain Your Dog Outdoors - English | Spanish * Key Exceptions to the Safe Outdoors Act - English | Spanish |

Exceptions to the Safe Outdoor Dogs ActThe Safe Outdoor Dogs Act does not prevent owners from tethering dogs. The law requires that unattended dogs are tethered in a way that keeps them and the people around them safe, and there are several exceptions to the law. The Safe Outdoor Dogs Act does not apply to dogs who are:

| * Attached to a cable-tie out or trolley system. * Camping or using other public recreational areas. * Herding livestock or assisting with farming tasks. * Hunting or participating in field trials. * In an open-air truck bed while the owner completes a temporary task. |

Restraining Dogs Without Using ChainsThe American Veterinary Medical Association and the Center for Disease Control agree that chaining dogs is an inappropriate method of restraint. Not only do chains tangle, rust, and break, but they often cause pain and injury.

Conversely, cable tie-outs and trolley systems are designed to restrain dogs, so they are lightweight, strong, and flexible. On average, they cost between $15-$30 and are easy to find in stores and online. Below are links to highly rated cable tie-outs and trolley systems:

| 1. Tumbo Trolley Dog Containment System 2. Expawlorer Dog Tie Out Cable 3. Boss Pet Prestige Skyline Trolly 4. BV Pet Heavy Extra-Large Tie Out Cable 5. Petest Trolley Runner Cable 6. XiaZ Dog Runner Tie Out Cable |

Watch this short video to see examples of cable tie-outs recommended by a company that rates affordable pet products. Always install cable tie-outs and trolley systems according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Read FAQs When the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act goes into effect on January 18, 2022, we all want our friends and neighbors who have dogs tethered outdoors to be prepared for this change.

The following list of resources is available to qualified applicants. Bear in mind each organization has its own application process and service area.

Local nonprofits and civic groups:

| BASTROP & TRAVIS COUNTIES: Dejando Huella ATX – donates dog houses & specializes in outreach to Spanish-speaking dog owners. | Contact: dejando.huella.atx@gmail.com CORPUS CHRISTI: People Assisting Animal Control organizes pet wellness & educational events, distributing cable tie-outs. | Contact: cmmutt70@aol.com DALLAS/FORT WORTH: SPCA of Texas’ Russell H. Perry Pet Resource Center provides temporary support to pet owners in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex who are experiencing financial hardship and are at risk of having to surrender their pets. | Contact: helpmypet@spca.org MCLENNAN COUNTY: Cribs For Canines provides dog houses to under-resourced dog owners. | Contact: Cribs for Canines (cribs4canines.com) MIDLAND: Fix West Texas donates dog houses and other pet supplies to under-resourced dog owners. | Contact: karen@fixwesttexas.org NORTH TEXAS: The Love Pit is a Dallas-based nonprofit that improves the quality of life for pit bull-type dogs through rescue, education, and outreach in the DFW area. | Contact: info@thelovepitrescue.org PLEASANTON: Atascosa Animal Allies donates dog houses within the city limits of Pleasanton, Texas to those who qualify. They also operate a TNR program for feral cats and host monthly subsidized spay/neuter clinics for under-resourced pet owners in Atascosa County. | Contact: AtascosaAnimalAllies@gmail.com TRAVIS COUNTY: The City of Austin Fencing Assistance Program donates fence material to under-resourced dog owners in Travis County. The city also donates dog houses to qualified residents. | Contact: Amber.Harvey@austintexas.gov TYLER: The SPCA of East Texas donates doghouses and other pet supplies to under-resourced dog owners. | Contact: spca@spcaeasttx.com VICTORIA: South Texas Tales – donates dog houses and other resources to under-resourced dog owners. | Contact: southtexastails@yahoo.com WICHITA FALLS: Chain Off Wichita Falls – donates fencing materials and labor for under-resourced dog owners. | Contact: chainoffwf@gmail.com WILLIAMSON COUNTY: Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter – serving Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Hutto, and rural Williamson County. Donates dog houses and other items to under-resourced dog owners. | Contact: wcras@wilco.org Chain Off | P.E.T.S. Low-Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic (petsclinic.org) |

National Organizations:

| The Home Depot | Community Impact Grants Grants are available to nonprofit groups working to help local citizens. Fences for Fido Provides support and mentorship to groups dedicated to getting dogs off chains | Contact: katrina.FencesForFido@gmail.com |

THLN wants to help those in underserved communities, and we need your help! We encourage everyone who wants to see the successful implementation of the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act to engage at the local level. Consider doing the following in your community to help outdoor dogs:

| * Partner with your local shelter or rescue group to fundraise for dog houses and cable tie-outs. * Co-host a neighborhood event with your local shelter/rescue to distribute free cable tie-outs. If the event is part of a spay/neuter or vaccine clinic or pet food distribution event, dog owners are sure to attend. * Attend dog-friendly public events and distribute Safe Outdoor Dogs Act Fact Sheets. * Share Safe Outdoor Dogs Act information on all your social media platforms. * Add cable tie-outs and dog houses to your shelter or rescue group "Wish List." * Ask local retailers like Home Depot, Lowe's, Ace Hardware, and Tractor Supply to donate dog houses, fencing materials, or cable tie-outs. * Many high schoolers and college students need community service hours – why not involve them in a dog house building project? Whether it is the Eagle Scouts, ROTC, National Honor Society, church youth groups, or high school shop classes – these groups are all looking to make a positive community impact. * Help your local shelter or rescue create a "Donate a Dog House" program. |

Click here for free DIY Doghouse blueprints.

Are you already working in your community to help under-resourced dog owners? Do you have other ideas for assisting folks in complying with the new law? We'd love to hear it!

Show Us Your Success StoriesThe Safe Outdoor Dogs Act starts a brand-new chapter for Texas dogs. And nothing is better for showing the impact of this law than your stories of helping those in need. Send us your photos, videos, and firsthand accounts of helping those in your community…we can't wait to see your success!

Showing 1 reaction * Jessica Hagmaierpublished this page in Legislation5 months ago

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BV Pet Tie Out Cable for Dogs Up to 125 Pounds, 30 Feet (Red/ 125lbs/ 30ft)

XiaZ 50 ft Dog Tie Out Run Trolley Cable, Pet Heavy Duty Reflective Dog Leash Lead Runner for Large Dogs Up to 250 Pound

Boss Pet - Prestige 100ft Skyline Trolly

EXPAWLORER Dog Tie Out Cable and Reflective Stake 30 ft Outdoor, Yard and Camping, for Medium to Large Dogs Up to 60lbs(20ft) 90lbs(25ft) 125 lbs(30ft), 16" Stake, 30 ft Cable

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Overheated dogs can suffer heat exhaustion, heat stroke or sudden death from cardiac arrhythmias. Panting, followed by disorientation and fast, noisy breathing could signal overheating. Other possible signs: Collapsing or convulsing, bright red or blue gums, vomiting and diarrhea.

**How to cool a dog down fast**  1. Move your dog to a cooler location + encourage them to drink.

Spray and soak their coat with tepid, lukewarm water.
Blow air over your dog.
Ice pack your dogs groin, armpits + neck area.
Placing soaked towels over your dog.

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Cindy Myers Ambassador to Animals, Humans and Spirit

I love sharing my intuitive abilities with both animals and humans. I look forward to helping you restore your energy balance so you can live an abundantly joy filled life!

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Introduction

Mast cell tumors (MCTs) arise from malignantly transformed mast cells. In dogs, most of these tumors arise as primary tumors in the skin. They are the most common skin tumor in dogs, accounting for roughly 20% of all reported skin tumors.1 Any breed may be affected with MCTs, but certain breeds are predisposed, including golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, Boston terriers, boxers, and pugs. Pugs are more likely to have multiple MCTs at diagnosis (56% of pugs with MCT in one study), but these tumors demonstrate more benign behavior and rarely lead to death.2 MCTs can affect dogs of any age but typically affect middle-aged to older dogs. An underlying etiology for most tumors cannot be identified. Breed predilections support some component of underlying genetic causes. Mutations in the c-kit tyrosine kinase receptor, which can lead to malignant transformation of mast cells, are found in 25%–30% of intermediate to high-grade tumors.3,4 KIT mutations will be further discussed in regards to both prognosis and treatment options for MCTs.

MCTs can be located anywhere on the body and may lie within the dermis and/or subcutis. They have a wide range of gross appearance, from raised and superficial to very deep and fixed; they may feel soft and fluctuant or firm. Most MCTs are easily diagnosed with fine needle aspiration (FNA). Infrequently, MCT granules will not stain with Diff-Quik (Jorgensen Laboratories Inc., Loveland, CO, USA) and need to be stained with a Wright’s stain. On Diff-Quik cytology, if eosinophils are seen along with large round cells that lack granules, suspicion should be raised for an MCT and the slide submitted to a clinical pathology laboratory for a non-Diff-Quik stain.5

The majority of MCTs will be cured with surgical excision.1 Prognostic factors for predicting MCTs that will exhibit a more aggressive biologic behavior – ie, tumors that will not be cured despite local excision and that will ultimately lead to the patient’s death – are varied as well as controversial. When to pursue staging tests in dogs with MCTs, which tests to perform, and treatment recommendations beyond surgery are based on the predicted biologic behavior of the tumor, with staging diagnostics and systemic therapy the recommendation for dogs with biologically aggressive MCTs.

Prognostic factors relating to history and physical examination

Some factors that can be obtained from a history and physical examination that are generally accepted to carry a more guarded prognosis in dogs with MCTs include recent, rapid tumor growth and fixed, ulcerated tumors.6–8 Although publications regarding these features are limited, one early study reported doubling of the survival percentage at 30 weeks post-MCT excision for dogs with slow-growing tumors versus (vs) those with more rapidly growing masses.8 Biologically, both the ability to grow quickly and to become fixed to deeper tissues are physical manifestations of more aggressive behavior. Tumor location on the body can also be associated with biologic behavior; this topic is more controversial and the pertinent locations and published papers are highlighted as follows.

Mucocutaneous location

In limited published cases, eyelid margin MCTs appeared to have relatively benign behavior and were effectively treated with local therapy, although one dog was reported to have regional lymph node (LN) metastasis.9–11 MCT of the conjunctiva may be of concern only locally, without reported metastasis in three dogs.12,13 In a paper evaluating chemotherapy for high-risk MCT patients, eleven dogs with mucous membrane MCTs (vulva, prepuce, conjunctiva, oral cavity) had significantly shorter median survival times (MST) than 50 dogs with MCTs of haired skin.14 However, a recent paper of 32 dogs with 33 conjunctival MCTs treated with surgery alone showed prolonged survival times, with only two dogs having local recurrence despite incomplete margins in 25 cases, and no dogs dying of mast cell-related disease.15

Muzzle/perioral/oral location

Early case reports described aggressive behavior and local metastatic disease at diagnosis in two dogs with MCT of the lip; survival times were 6 months or less.16,17 Of five dogs with MCT of the tongue, two presented with LN and/or systemic metastasis, and two of the remaining three had postoperative local recurrence leading to euthanasia.18 Larger, more recent studies confirmed that MCTs on the muzzle, perioral mucocutaneous junction, or oral mucosa have a more aggressive biologic behavior, with increased risk of locoregional LN metastasis.19–21 The rate of documented metastasis to local (mandibular) LNs was 55%–59%, compared with a <10% rate for other cutaneous sites. Despite a high rate of metastasis, the MSTs of the dogs were prolonged at 30 months, 52 months, and median not reached. Treatments varied in these cases, with many dogs receiving surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Dogs with LN metastasis had significantly shorter MSTs than dogs without nodal metastasis, with medians of 14 months, less than 20 months, and 9 months.19–21

Inguinal location

Historically, the “back half” of the dog was considered to carry a worse prognosis, and although this is generally not supported, there are still concerns about MCTs located in the inguinal areas, especially involving the prepuce or scrotum. One study reported on dogs with MCT in the perineal and/or inguinal region treated intensively, most receiving trimodality therapy with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The MST was 37 months, and the authors concluded that with appropriate therapy dogs with perineal or inguinal MCTs can do well.22 It is important to note that these dogs received a more aggressive treatment protocol than do the majority of dogs with MCTs at other cutaneous sites. A later study compared the outcome of dogs with inguinal or perineal MCTs with dogs with MCTs in other cutaneous locations; these dogs received a range of therapies. When the 12 dogs with preputial or scrotal MCTs were analyzed separately from other inguinal or perineal tumors, their disease-free interval was significantly shorter (4.2 months) than for the 84 dogs with tumors in noninguinal cutaneous locations (33.9 months).23 Dogs with preputial or scrotal MCTs were also significantly more likely to have received chemotherapy, thus potentially biasing the results. The authors state that the power of the study may not have been adequate to identify a difference between the locations. Scrotal and preputial MCTs may have a more malignant biological behavior; further study is needed.

Subcutaneous location

Recently, several papers presented information regarding MCTs in the subcutaneous (SQ) location.24–26 As the grading system was developed only with cutaneous tumors, it cannot necessarily be applied to SQ tumors with prognostic accuracy. Survival times for dogs with the SQ tumors were found to be prolonged, with the majority of dogs in both papers (53 dogs and 306 dogs) not succumbing to mast cell disease.24,25 Out of the 306 dogs, only 8% had local recurrence, and only 4% had metastasis.25 Risk factors identified for local recurrence and metastasis included mitotic index (MI), infiltrative vs circumscribed histologic pattern, the presence of multinucleation, as well as Ki67, Ki67 + AgNOR, and KIT cellular localization pattern.25,26 As most of the dogs with SQ MCTs were cured, and MI had the strongest correlation with clinical outcomes, there seems to be little need for, or benefit in, assessment of the risk factors that require additional staining.

Histologic information

Grade

A histologic grading scheme (I–III) was developed for classification of MCTs affecting haired skin and is still one of the most accepted prognostic indicators of canine MCT behavior.1 However, histologic assessment is prone to operator subjectivity, giving rise to extremely variable grading results for the same tumor among different pathologists.27,28 In one study with ten pathologists evaluating the same 60 MCTs, there was agreement on grade by all pathologists for only four tumors, and six of the MCTs had all three grades assigned. Differences in the references used to grade the MCTs were the suspected reason for the disparity, with six different references being used.28 In a follow-up study involving the same tumors and pathologists, the Patnaik grading scheme29 was used by all. Although mean agreement did improve, only 16 of 60 tumors received the same grade by all, and three of 60 tumors still received all three grades.27 The subjectivity and variability between pathologists bring into question the heavy reliance placed on the grade of an MCT to predict its behavior. In addition, most MCTs are designated grade II, and most of these are cured with surgery. How to identify the subset of grade II tumors that will show that aggressive behavior is a matter of ongoing debate and study.

To address some of the grading concerns, a two-tier (high vs low grade) grading scheme was proposed in a study of 95 dogs with MCTs treated with surgical excision alone.30 High-grade tumors had one of the following criteria: MI of ≥7, three or more multinucleated cells or cells with bizarre nuclei in 10 high-power fields, or karyomegaly. Areas of highest mitoses or anisokaryosis were evaluated. MST for high grade (ten dogs) was 3.6 months vs median not reached (>2 years) for low grade (85 dogs). A retrospective study with 47 dogs attempted to validate the two-tier scheme; although some of the data reported were inconsistent (including no description of the MI of the cases), the high-grade cases did have significantly worse progression-free and overall survivals than the low-grade ones.31 Further studies validating this proposed system are warranted; currently, the author’s university pathology department provides the standard grade, an MI, and the two-tier grade for every sample. Clinically, heavy reliance is placed on the MI for behavior prediction.

Other assessments on biopsies – highlighting mitotic index

As grade is so variable and subjective, many other prognostic factors, including DNA aneuploidy, c-kit-staining pattern, presence of c-kit mutations, microvessel density, Ki67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and MI, have been evaluated in an attempt to better predict the behavior of canine MCTs and to pick out the “bad” grade II tumors. Two groups have evaluated the MI (total number of mitotic figures counted in ten high-power fields; fields with the highest mitoses counted) and found that it is predictive of survival time, even within the grade II tumor category. The groups did identify different values for the index, with the first paper showing an MST of >70 months for an index score ≤5 and survival <2 months for a score >5.32 The second group wrote a letter to the editor in response to the first paper and confirmed that high scores have very short survival times, with index scores broken down into three groups: MI =0, MST not reached; MI =1–7, MST =18 months; and MI >7, MST =3 months.33 The cutoff of MI ≥7 was subsequently adopted for the two-tier system.

Although MCT histologic “prognostic panels” are offered by some laboratories, no publications have shown how these panels may provide additional benefit over the MI and grade for prediction of tumor behavior.

Staging information

In general, staging tests for asymptomatic dogs with cutaneous MCTs are extremely low yield. The test most often positive is regional LN aspiration. Cytologic assessment of the locoregional LN is important, even if the node is not enlarged. In a study of dogs with muzzle MCT, four of eleven LNs with metastases were of normal size.19 Another study with 55 dogs with confirmed LN metastasis and 35 dogs without metastasis showed a sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 54% for palpation as a predictor of metastasis.34 Sixteen of 35 dogs (46%) with normal size LNs on physical examination had metastasis, whereas in another study eight out of 21 (38%) normal size LNs showed metastasis.35 FNA of the LN is ideally performed prior to excision of the primary MCT, as surgical treatment of the tumor can produce confusing LN results due to local postoperative inflammation. As mast cells can be a normal feature in LNs, some MCT cases will not have a definitive answer on LN cytology. Criteria for LN involvement have been proposed and used in several subsequent reports.34–37 Prognostically, the implication of a metastatic LN is also a controversial topic. LN involvement has been associated with a worse prognosis in a number of studies.20,36–39 However, several papers also report long-term survival in dogs with LN involvement where the primary tumor and the LN are treated to achieve local control using surgery with or without radiation therapy.14,34,35,40,41 Chemotherapy was used in many of the reported cases as well, although the protocols varied, and the added benefit of chemotherapy after local control was achieved cannot be proven via the retrospective noncontrolled studies that currently exist. To summarize the information in the literature, LN involvement may carry a worse prognosis, yet dogs can still have prolonged survival with adequate treatment of the primary tumor and the metastatic node, with chemotherapy potentially having a benefit as well. Assessment of any locoregional LNs, whether normal sized or enlarged, with cytology or histopathology is critical to determine the stage of the tumor and appropriate therapy for the patient.

Other staging tests are rarely positive and may have false positive results as well. In general, staging tests other than LN aspiration are recommended in patients who have negative prognostic factors associated with their MCT. Thoracic radiographs are indicated to evaluate the sternal LN if the mass is on the ventral abdomen, or to rule out other non-MCT diseases. MCTs metastasize so rarely to the lungs that radiographs are not indicated to evaluate for pulmonary spread. Buffy coat preparation to look for circulating mast cells is a quick and easy test, but it is both insensitive and nonspecific. The bone marrow may still be infiltrated in spite of a normal buffy coat, and dogs with skin disease, parvo virus, and nonmast cell illnesses often have positive buffy coats despite not having an MCT.42–44 Bone marrow evaluation for mast cell infiltration is positive in <5% of cases, even in cases with poorly differentiated tumors, and thus is not a staging test that is recommended as standard.45

Abdominal ultrasound (US) also rarely finds evidence of MCT metastasis, although US is needed to evaluate the sublumbar LNs if the MCT is on the back half of the patient. The benefit of FNA and cytology of ultrasonographically normal-appearing liver and spleen for staging of dogs with MCTs is another topic of ongoing debate. Mast cells can be found in moderate numbers in normal canine liver and spleen, and although increased numbers were found in splenic aspirates in 51 MCT-bearing dogs with normal spleens on US compared with 32 unaffected dogs, the splenic cytology did not correlate with systemic behavior.46 In another study, 52 dogs with MCTs underwent ultrasound evaluation and FNA with cytology of their liver and spleen.47 Cytologic criteria of MCT infiltration included clustering of well-differentiated mast cells, large numbers of well-differentiated mast cells, or mast cells with atypical morphology (pleomorphic and poorly granulated). The dogs were separated into two groups: those without MCT infiltration into either organ (n=42) and those with infiltration into one or both organs (n=10); survival time between these groups was significantly different at 733 days vs 34 days, respectively (P<0.0001). This dramatic difference in survival time supports that the cytologic findings were consistent with systemic MCT. Survival time based on US appearance alone in the dogs was not significant, suggesting that cytologic evaluation of the spleen and liver may be indicated for complete staging of dogs with MCT regardless of the ultrasonographic findings.47 More recently, 19 dogs with clinically aggressive grade II or III MCTs treated with vinblastine/lomustine chemotherapy were evaluated to determine the specificity and sensitivity of US findings in determination of MCT infiltration of the liver and/or spleen, using cytologic assessment to determine infiltration.48 Seven dogs had MCT infiltration, and the sensitivity of US for detection of infiltration was 43% for the spleen and 0% for the liver. Dogs with cytologic determination of infiltration of the spleen or liver had significantly shorter survival than dogs without infiltration (100 days vs 291 days and 100 days vs 276 days, respectively, P<0.0001), this clinical survival thus corroborating the cytologic finding of systemic disease. Due to the poor sensitivity of US in detection of cytologically confirmed organ infiltration and the decreased survival associated with identified infiltration, FNA and cytology of the spleen and liver are recommended for staging of dogs with MCT thought to be at high risk for metastasis.48

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What to do when your dog is being sick? Reasons dogs are sick * Food poisoning * Eating too much or too quickly * Eating new or unusual food * Swallowing a poisonous substance * Parasites * Kidney, liver, or pancreatic disease * Ear or balance problems * Motion sickness

If your dog has been sick a few times but otherwise appears well: * Remove all food and water for two hours * After this time, allow your dog to have small amounts of water — offer this half-hourly a few tablespoons at a time — but withhold food for a further 6-8 hours * If your dog’s vomiting has stopped, reintroduce small meals (1-3 tablespoons) of a bland low-fat cooked food such as chicken or white fish and rice and or pasta every hour or two. Plain cooked egg is also suitable. Fats, dairy and raw meat should be avoided. * If no further signs are seen, your pet can gradually return to a normal diet the following day. Give the food in 4-6 small meals and introduce gradually by mixing with the bland diet, increasing the proportion of normal diet with each subsequent meal.

If this does not solve the sickness problem you should call your vet or, out of hours, your nearest Vets Now pet emergency clinic or Vets Now 24/7 hospital.

Find your nearest Vet

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Schedule time for a discovery call or we can come to you! You want to learn more. We want to get to know you, your dog, and your needs.

We give you a total run-through of your dog's hike day and what to expect--

Weekly Hikes -- Benefits & Rundown
Pick-up & Drop-off Schedule
Trails

Our meet & greet fits conveniently into your schedule. We have availability before and after working hours, and on weekends.

This is the perfect time to ask questions, get to know us, and gain comfort on how Adventure Pup Wellness helps dog owners give their dog the best care.

GET STARTED or call 720.839.4264

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   DID YOU KNOW THAT THE WAY YOUR PET EATS CAN AFFECT THE HEALTH OF BOTH THEIR SPINE AND MOUTH? Most domestic dogs and cats don’t eat how nature intended because traditional pet feeders force them to stand over a bowl, bending their head and neck down to eat at an unnatural and uncomfortable angle.

To eat, dogs and cats have to use their entire jaw and head to get food in their mouth. After prey has been captured, dogs and cats eat lying down with their neck and back straight in order to protect their food.

The position your pet eats can affect their spinal health, as well as contribute to oral health issues https://www.flufftrough.com/

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Visit https://yourenergyhealer.com/ to sign up for this special webinar

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Please connect with Nicole.

Code barknwag And the link to the booking is here
https://www.mindful-connections.com/book-online Website www.mindful-connections.com Nicole Birkholzer Animal Communication & Wellness Specialist Author - Speaker - Educator
+ NEW Podcaster
https://www.mindful-connections.com/podcasts
www.mindful-connections.com

"Animals, just like us, want to be seen and heard."

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What Are the Stages of Grief? Your feelings may happen in phases as you come to terms with your loss. You can’t control the process, but it’s helpful to know the reasons behind your feelings. All people experience grief differently. Though it it no longer considered the ideal way to think about grief, you may have heard of the stages of grief:

Denial: When you first learn of a loss, it’s normal to think, “This isn’t happening.” You may feel shocked or numb. This is a temporary way to deal with the rush of overwhelming emotion. It’s a defense mechanism.
Anger: As reality sets in, you’re faced with the pain of your loss. You may feel frustrated and helpless. These feelings later turn into anger. You might direct it toward other people, a higher power, or life in general. To be angry with a loved one who died and left you alone is natural, too.
Bargaining: During this stage, you dwell on what you could’ve done to prevent the loss. Common thoughts are “If only…” and “What if…” You may also try to strike a deal with a higher power.
Depression: Sadness sets in as you begin to understand the loss and its effect on your life. Signs of depression include crying, sleep issues, and a decreased appetite. You may feel overwhelmed, regretful, and lonely.
Acceptance: In this final stage of grief, you accept the reality of your loss. It can’t be changed. Although you still feel sad, you’re able to start moving forward with your life.

Every person goes through these phases in their own way. You may go back and forth between them, or skip one or more stages altogether. Reminders of your loss, like the anniversary of a death or a familiar song, can trigger the return of grief.

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Although young children shouldn’t be given total responsibility for pet care, learning the basics can keep both them and your pets safe and sound.

If you’ve recently brought a cat or dog into your home, congratulations. Not only can a pet become a child’s best friend, but exposing young ones to an animal's germs actually may be healthy; a recent study1 found they help build up kids’ immune system.

Having a pet is also a good way to teach kids responsibility. How much a child should be involved in pet care depends on his or her age. Babies and pets should not be left alone together.

Toddlers need lots of supervision as they can be unintentionally rough. To them, pets are like moving stuffed animals. Megan J., a mother to a mother and pet parent to a 2-year old Siamese cat, says to teach gentleness, “Take [your child's] hand firmly and guide him through petting the dog/cat. Tell your child, ‘We touch the cat softly. We are nice to our cat,1 so that he hears positive words to go with the actions.”

Teach compassion by pointing out that pets have feelings beyond getting hungry and thirsty. They feel pain. They feel ashamed if they know they’ve done something wrong, and sad if they're ignored. When children don't make time for their pet, ask them to think about it from the dog or cat’s point of view: Why are you ignoring me? What did I do wrong?

Joan R., a mother and pet parent, said, “How children relate to animals will be reflected in how they react to other human beings, so it's an important lesson even separate from treating the animal well.”

DO’S AND DON’TS Do’s

Do make kids part of the pet selection process
Do help your kids understand that a pet is a pet for life
Do involve them in preparing for the pet’s arrival
Do teach kids not to interrupt a pet who is eating
Do supervise kids as they learn to walk a dog on a leash

Dont's

Don’t let your child punish a pet for misbehaving
Don’t let kids feed unhealthy treats or table scraps to pets
Don’t make a kid responsible for animal-care chores beyond the child’s ability
Don’t let your child try to ride a dog like a horse
Don’t punish a child by threatening to get rid of the pet

THE BOTTOM LINE “As with anything you introduce to a child, start slowly and reward good behavior,” advises Megan J. “Kids and dogs aren't really that different when it comes to teaching them the right way to behave.”

Eliot D., a father and pet parent adds, “Consistency and establishing a routine go a long way. Before my two kids got pets, they agreed that they would be responsible. Every day they have to do their animal feeding and watering before the family eats. Once in a while they slip up – but the cats have a way of reminding them!”

REFERENCES 1. Park, Alice. Study: Why Dogs and Cats Make Babies Healthier. Time Magazine. 2012-07-09.

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Francesca Arnoldy, UVM alumna and longtime birth worker, is the course developer, facilitator, and program director of the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine’s End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate Program. She is author of Cultivating the Doula Heart: The Essentials of Compassionate Care and leads in-person workshops about doula approaches and end-of-life wishes. Her goal is to encourage people to hold one another’s hands through life’s intensities and sacred rites of passage. She founded Contemplative Doula as a resource to help people to prepare for birth, death, and life with the doula heart. Francesca lives in quaint Hinesburg, VT with her family in a most idyllic village.

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When anticipating the arrival of a new baby, special care must be taken to prepare the family pets for the big changes to come. Here are some tips to ensure a smooth transition from pet-centered to baby-centered living.

Before baby comes home: Change your pet’s environment gradually Create barriers to areas of the home Prepare your pet for baby sounds Prepare the pet for baby smells Start training now After baby comes home: Try to keep your pet’s schedule intact Always supervise Without question, it takes time and effort to prepare a dog for a baby, but it is time and energy well spent. Planning ahead and erring on the side of caution can help everyone live a long and happy life together.

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Nicole Birkholzer, speaker, author, educator, is an animal communicator, and equine behavior and communication specialist. Her unique approach to working with all animals is based on respect, deep listening, and ancient wisdom. Nicole's work is informed by over two decades of working one-on-one with individual animals, animal rescue organizations, and as the director of a therapeutic riding center.

Over 20 years, Nicole has developed a mindful communication and problem-solving approach informed by traditional skills and inspired by ancient animal wisdom,

the Mindful Connections® Approach.

In her consultations, webinars, workshops, and talks Nicole teaches you to engage with your animals in the present moment, explores the logic behind your animal's behaviors, and helps you find mindful solutions.

Nicole's animal communication sessions may include long-distance healing through energy work, which is especially beneficial for animals

who've experienced:

injury
surgery
mental, emotional, physical trauma

The healing sessions are informed by Nicole's expertise as an essential oil practitioner, her training in Flowtrition, and the knowledge she has received from the animal kingdom about healing and self-healing.

Code barknwag And the link to the booking is here
https://www.mindful-connections.com/book-online Website www.mindful-connections.com

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What is a Veterinary Specialist? Veterinary specialists are veterinarians who have advanced training in various veterinary medical and surgical disciplines and are Board-certified. To become Board-certified, a veterinarian must have completed, at a minimum, four years of veterinary college, a one year internship or equivalent, and two to three years in a residency program that meets the standards of a recognized specialty college or board. There are additional training and caseload requirements that must be met during the residency and finally, to become an ACVIM Diplomate the veterinarian must pass a series of rigorous examinations.

For more info, please contact Dr. Bragdon.

Dr. Bragdon is co-founder of the Independent Veterinary Practitioners Association and currently serves as the President. Her primary goal in her work on behalf of IVPA members is to use her expertise gained working for large veterinary pharmaceutical and device companies to promote the unique value independent practices deliver to their clients, their patients, and their communities.

Dr. Bragdon joined PS Broker to educate veterinary students and veterinarians about the benefits of practice ownership. The combination of PS Broker’s expertise in evaluating and selling veterinary practices and Dr. Bragdon’s expertise in running a hospital as a clinician will support veterinarians as they explore ownership opportunities.

LEARN ABOUT DR. BRAGDON'S COACHING & LECTURE OPTIONS  https://bonvetlife.com/about/

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Learn from the best and email with questions. The animal laws need to change.

On October 25, 2021, after the most contentious Texas legislative session in memory, the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act was signed into law. THLN never wavered during the six-year quest to pass this legislation, even when it was targeted by an extremist lawmaker and unexpectedly vetoed.

| * What the Safe Outdoor Act Does - English | Spanish * How to Properly Restrain Your Dog Outdoors - English | Spanish * Key Exceptions to the Safe Outdoors Act - English | Spanish |

When the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act goes into effect on January 18, 2022, we all want our friends and neighbors who have dogs tethered outdoors to be prepared for this change.

The following list of resources is available to qualified applicants. Bear in mind each organization has its own application process and service area.

Local nonprofits and civic groups:

| BASTROP & TRAVIS COUNTIES: Dejando Huella ATX – donates dog houses & specializes in outreach to Spanish-speaking dog owners. | Contact: dejando.huella.atx@gmail.com CORPUS CHRISTI: People Assisting Animal Control organizes pet wellness & educational events, distributing cable tie-outs. | Contact: cmmutt70@aol.com DALLAS/FORT WORTH: SPCA of Texas’ Russell H. Perry Pet Resource Center provides temporary support to pet owners in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex who are experiencing financial hardship and are at risk of having to surrender their pets. | Contact: helpmypet@spca.org MCLENNAN COUNTY: Cribs For Canines provides dog houses to under-resourced dog owners. | Contact: Cribs for Canines (cribs4canines.com) MIDLAND: Fix West Texas donates dog houses and other pet supplies to under-resourced dog owners. | Contact: karen@fixwesttexas.org NORTH TEXAS: The Love Pit is a Dallas-based nonprofit that improves the quality of life for pit bull-type dogs through rescue, education, and outreach in the DFW area. | Contact: info@thelovepitrescue.org TRAVIS COUNTY: The City of Austin Fencing Assistance Program donates fence material to under-resourced dog owners in Travis County. The city also donates dog houses to qualified residents. | Contact: Amber.Harvey@austintexas.gov TYLER: The SPCA of East Texas donates doghouses and other pet supplies to under-resourced dog owners. | Contact: spca@spcaeasttx.com VICTORIA: South Texas Tales – donates dog houses and other resources to under-resourced dog owners. | Contact: southtexastails@yahoo.com WICHITA FALLS: Chain Off Wichita Falls – donates fencing materials and labor for under-resourced dog owners. | Contact: chainoffwf@gmail.com WILLIAMSON COUNTY: Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter – serving Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Hutto, and rural Williamson County. Donates dog houses and other items to under-resourced dog owners. | Contact: wcras@wilco.org Chain Off | P.E.T.S. Low-Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic (petsclinic.org) |

National Organizations:

Click here for free DIY Doghouse blueprints.

Are you already working in your community to help under-resourced dog owners? Do you have other ideas for assisting folks in complying with the new law? We'd love to hear it!

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After training your dog a few basic commands like sitting and staying, you can move on to more advanced tricks, like teaching them to shake your hand (sometimes referred to as “giving a paw”). Whether you’re an experienced dog owner or a newbie, by following a few simple steps (and having some patience), your dog is well on their way to learning this cool new trick. As a bonus, this trained behavior comes in handy when you need to wipe off our dog’s muddy paws or even trim their nails.

   Steps to Teaching Your Dog to Shake     Have your dog “sit.”

 Grab a treat and show it off before you hide it in your closed fist.

 Hold out your fist, palm facing up, at about your dog’s chest level.

 Your dog should naturally paw at your fist to get to the treat. When they do, open your hand and let them have the treat and give them plenty of praise. Repeat these steps several times until your dog “gets it.”

 Repeat steps 1–4, but this time, *without* holding a treat in your hand. As soon as your dog paws at your fist, give them a treat from your other hand.

 Once your dog understands what you want them to do, it’s time to add the word “shake” — add this word just before you put out your hand. Now your dog is shaking!

 We recommend practicing for 5-10 minutes per day as to not frustrate or tire out your dog. If you’d like, you can incorporate a clicker into this routine, “clicking” immediately before giving the treat. If your dog isn’t getting the trick down as quickly as you’d like, be sure not to scold and instead to just offer encouragement along the way.

By training your dog to shake (as well all the other foundational behaviors like sitting and staying), you’ve helped keep them safe, improved their confidence, and given yourself something to show off!

ZPC-00527R1

 The Zoetis Petcare Team

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The holiday season is upon us, and many pet parents plan to include their furry companions in the festivities. As you gear up for the holidays, it is important to try to keep your pet's eating and exercise habits as close to their normal routine as possible. Also, please be sure to steer pets clear of the following unhealthy treats, toxic plants and dangerous decorations.

Be Careful with Seasonal Plants and Decorations

Oh, Christmas Tree: Securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn't tip and fall, causing possible injury to your pet. This will also prevent the tree water—which may contain fertilizers that can cause stomach upset—from spilling. Stagnant tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria, and your pet could end up with nausea or diarrhea should he imbibe.
Avoid Mistletoe & Holly: Holly, when ingested, can cause pets to suffer nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems. And many varieties of lilies can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested. Opt for just-as-jolly artificial plants made from silk or plastic, or choose a pet-safe bouquet.
Tinsel-less Town: Kitties love this sparkly, light-catching "toy" that's easy to bat around and carry in their mouths. But a nibble can lead to a swallow, which can lead to an obstructed digestive tract, severe vomiting, dehydration and possible surgery. It's best to brighten your boughs with something other than tinsel.
That Holiday Glow: Don't leave lighted candles unattended. Pets may burn themselves or cause a fire if they knock candles over. Be sure to use appropriate candle holders, placed on a stable surface. And if you leave the room, put the candle out!
Wired Up: Keep wires, batteries and glass or plastic ornaments out of paws' reach. A wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock and a punctured battery can cause burns to the mouth and esophagus, while shards of breakable ornaments can damage your pet's mouth and digestive tract.

Avoid Holiday Food Dangers

Skip the Sweets: By now you know not to feed your pets chocolate and anything sweetened with xylitol, but do you know the lengths to which an enterprising pet will go to chomp on something yummy? Make sure to keep your pets away from the table and unattended plates of food, and be sure to secure the lids on garbage cans.
Leave the Leftovers: Fatty, spicy and no-no human foods, as well as bones, should not be fed to your furry friends. Pets can join the festivities in other fun ways that won't lead to costly medical bills.
Careful with Cocktails: If your celebration includes adult holiday beverages, be sure to place your unattended alcoholic drinks where pets cannot get to them. If ingested, your pet could become weak, ill and may even go into a coma, possibly resulting in death from respiratory failure.
Selecting Special Treats: Looking to stuff your pet's stockings? Stick with chew toys that are basically indestructible, Kongs that can be stuffed with healthy foods or chew treats that are designed to be safely digestible. Long, stringy things are a feline's dream, but the most risky toys for cats involve ribbon, yarn and loose little parts that can get stuck in the intestines, often necessitating surgery. Surprise kitty with a new ball that's too big to swallow, a stuffed catnip toy or the interactive cat dancer.

Please visit our People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets page for more information.

Plan a Pet-Safe Holiday Gathering

House Rules: If your animal-loving guests would like to give your pets a little extra attention and exercise while you're busy tending to the party, ask them to feel free to start a nice play or petting session.
Put the Meds Away: Make sure all of your medications are locked behind secure doors, and be sure to tell your guests to keep their meds zipped up and packed away, too.
A Room of Their Own: Give your pet his own quiet space to retreat to—complete with fresh water and a place to snuggle. Shy pups and cats might want to hide out under a piece of furniture, in their carrying case or in a separate room away from the hubbub.
New Year's Noise: As you count down to the new year, please keep in mind that strings of thrown confetti can get lodged in a cat's intestines, if ingested, perhaps necessitating surgery. Noisy poppers can terrify pets and cause possible damage to sensitive ears. And remember that many pets are also scared of fireworks, so be sure to secure them in a safe, escape-proof area as midnight approaches.

Share our holiday safety tips with others! Download this shareable PDF for your friends and family.

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Visit https://yourenergyhealer.com/ to learn more.

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The Safe Outdoor Dogs Act prohibits chaining up dogs outdoors in Texas and requires dogs have adequate shelter. AUSTIN, Texas — After a nearly identical bill was vetoed by Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this year, Senate Bill 5, also known as the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act, was signed into law in October.

Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) is the only Texas-based organization focused on addressing unjust state animal welfare laws.We at the Texas Humane Legislation Network - a 501c4 - are working to stop animal cruelty and abuse before it starts.

Our IRS status as a 501c4 allows us to be political animal advocates, by lobbying and working with our representatives to fix our lenient animal cruelty laws. While there are thousands of 501c3s in Texas formed to help animals, they are VERY limited in how much they can lobby, and are outright prohibited from participating in any partisan activities.

https://www.thln.org/about

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Indy & Olly’s is a for-purpose dog bandana company that helps dogs in animal rescues and shelters get adopted by improving pet adoption photos…because dogs look #betterwithbandanas. Today we learn about the new holiday styles avaialbe for your dog.

Indy & Olly’s got its start in 2019 out of Evergreen, Colorado, when our founder decided it was time to honor two of her favorite dogs with a business that gives back. Indy & Olly’s—the company—has several goals -

Help homeless dogs find homes
Be a platform for promoting dog adoptions, spreading the spay & neuter message and keeping dogs out of shelters.
Care for the earth and its inhabitants in all we do.

Visit https://www.indyollys.com/

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I love sharing my intuitive abilities with both animals and humans. I look forward to helping you restore your energy balance so you can live an abundantly joy filled life!

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Behavioral and mental signs of aging in dogs Physical changes aren’t the only differences you may notice in your dog as he ages. Changes in behavior can signal an underlying physical problem or may be a normal sign of aging. For example, if your sweet pup has suddenly turned into Grumpy, she may be in pain caused by arthritis or be experiencing some other physical discomfort. Or your high-energy companion may be sleeping hours a day. Older dogs need more sleep, just let him nap.

However, changes in behavior may also be the result of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS). According to a study at the National Center for Biotechnology Information, CCDS affects 14-35 percent of dogs over eight years old. A dementia similar to Alzheimer’s in humans, CCDS can bring about pronounced changes in your dog’s everyday behavior:

Fear of familiar people or objects.
Changes in the sleeping-waking cycle, including restlessness or pacing at night.
Increased barking and vocalization.
Repetitive or compulsive behaviors.
Forgetting commands and cues that she once knew.
House soiling.
Increased anxiety.
Confusion and disorientation.
Marked change in activity level.

Your vet will be able to make a diagnosis by asking you simple questions during the appointment. While there is no cure for CCDS, there are some new medications and therapeutic options your vet can discuss with you.

How can you help your aging dog? The single most important thing you can do is check with your vet if you see any of these physical or mental changes. The vet can determine the underlying medical causes and prescribe treatments. He can also help you make some decisions about your dog’s care going forward: changes in diet and exercise, changes you can make around the house, or in the daily routine.

We spoke with Wendy Stevens, a former veterinary technician at VCA Alton Road Animal Hospital in Miami Beach, with 30 years experience, and she said that pet owners’ greatest fear is having to make a decision about their pets’ end of life, and that fear may make an owner unwilling to visit the vet. They may also not be educated about the signs of aging and take a “wait-and-see” attitude. The cost of care is also an issue for many pet owners.

Our dogs give us many years of love and loyalty and it’s only natural to want to make their senior years as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Aging is a normal part of life and with some vigilance and attention to your dog’s health, these can truly be “golden years.”

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Your Dog's Ears The shape of a dog's ear canal makes your canine companion more susceptible to ear infections than people are. Not only that, dogs that swim frequently and dogs with adorable floppy ears are even more prone to ear infections due to moisture that gets trapped in the ear, creating the ideal environment for bacteria to thrive.

The good news is that in many cases, with a little care, you can prevent your dog from developing an ear infection. If your dog does develop an infection, by seeing a vet early there's a good chance that the infection can be cleared up quickly and easily.

On the other hand, if your dog's ear infection goes untreated in the early stages a much more serious infection can develop, possibly causing serious symptoms such as facial paralysis, balance and coordination issues, and severe pain.

Causes of Ear Infections in Dogs There are a number of different causes of ear infections in dogs. Bacteria in the ear is a primary cause of infections however yeast, fungus and ear mites can all cause your pup's ears to become infected and painful. Other causes of dog ear infections include foreign objects lodged in the ear, trauma, and tumors or polyps.

Types of Dog Ear Infections There are three types of ear infections seen in dogs;

Otitis externa infections affect the outside of the ear.
Otitis media indicates an infection in the dog's middle ear.
Otitis interna which are infections of your pet's inner ear.

Symptoms of Ear Infections in Dogs If your pooch has developed an ear infection they are likely to feel very uncomfortable and in some cases, the ear may be very painful. If your dog shows any of the following signs of an ear infection contact your vet straight away to book an examination for your pet. Early treatment of ear infections can help to prevent more severe symptoms from developing.

Common signs of ear infections in dogs include:

Scratching or pawing at the ear
Yellow, brown or bloody discharge
Redness inside of the ear
Odor in the ear
Head shaking or tilting
Swelling of the ear
Crusts or scabs just inside the ear
Rubbing ear on floor or furniture

If your dog is suffering from a more severe ear infection you may notice other symptoms such as:

Loss of balance or coordination
Signs of hearing loss
Walking in circles
Unusual eye movements

Treating Your Dog's Ear Infection If your pooch is diagnosed with an ear infection your vet will take the time to clean your dog's ear with a medicated cleanser and prescribe any antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medication appropriate for treating your pet's ear infection. The vet may also prescribe a topical medication and instruct you on how and when to apply it to your dog's ear at home.

When caught early and provided with appropriate treatment, uncomplicated dog ear infections typically clear up within just a week or two. If your pup's ear infection is more severe or is due to an underlying health condition, treatment may be more challenging and may take months to resolve. In many cases, more severe cases result in chronic or repeated ear infections over the course of the dog's lifetime.

Carefully following your veterinarian's instructions is the key to clearing up your dog's ear infection as quickly as possible. Not finishing prescriptions, or stopping treatment before the infection has completely cleared can lead to a recurring infection that becomes increasingly difficult to treat.

Taking your pup back to the vet for a follow-up appointment is highly recommended for dog ear infections. While it may look as if the infection has cleared there may still be traces of infection that are difficult for pet parents to spot.

Preventing Ear Infections in Dogs Our vets believe that prevention is always better than treatment. To help prevent your dog from developing an ear infection it is important to keep your pup's ears clean and dry.

Speak to your vet about the best cleaning solution to use for your dog's ears, and take the time to gently clean your pup's ears every week.

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.

Is your pup showing signs of a painful ear infection? Contact Thomasville Veterinary Hospital Urgent Care + Surgery for urgent vet care for your pup. Our Davidson County emergency vets are here to help your dog whenever your regular vet is unavailable.

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   Steps to Teaching Your Dog to Shake     Have your dog “sit.”

 Grab a treat and show it off before you hide it in your closed fist.

 Hold out your fist, palm facing up, at about your dog’s chest level.

 Your dog should naturally paw at your fist to get to the treat. When they do, open your hand and let them have the treat and give them plenty of praise. Repeat these steps several times until your dog “gets it.”

 Repeat steps 1–4, but this time, *without* holding a treat in your hand. As soon as your dog paws at your fist, give them a treat from your other hand.

 Once your dog understands what you want them to do, it’s time to add the word “shake” — add this word just before you put out your hand. Now your dog is shaking!

 We recommend practicing for 5-10 minutes per day as to not frustrate or tire out your dog. If you’d like, you can incorporate a clicker into this routine, “clicking” immediately before giving the treat. If your dog isn’t getting the trick down as quickly as you’d like, be sure not to scold and instead to just offer encouragement along the way.

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Cindy has a new book. Perfect for the holidays! Here is the Amazon link for my book, Booster the Rooster Who Couldn't Tell Time https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FS2ZVQY

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Many people think that dogs just innately know how to walk politely on a leash, but this skill is something that needs to be trained. It’s an important skill to teach, and one you’ll value every time you take your dog out for a walk. Dog training expert and AKC Family Dog training and behavior columnist Kathy Santo offers the following tips:

Training Your Dog to Walk on a Leash Introduce the puppy to the collar or harness and leash. Start out by letting him get used to wearing a collar or harness and a leash. Let him wear them for short periods of time in the house while you are playing with him and giving him treats. The puppy should love collar-and-leash time because it represents food and fun.

Teach a cue. Introduce your puppy to a sound cue that means, “food is coming.” Some people like to click and treat, some people use a word like “yes,” and some people cluck their tongue. Whichever you use, the method is the same: In a quiet, distraction-free area, with the puppy on a leash and collar, make the sound. The second your puppy turns toward you and/or looks at you, reward him with a treat. After a few repetitions, you’ll notice your puppy not only looking at you, but also coming over to you for the treat.

Make the puppy come to you. While he’s on his way to you, still wearing the leash and collar, back up a few paces and then reward him when he gets to you. Continue the progression until your puppy, upon hearing the cue noise, comes to you and walks with you a few paces. Remember that puppies have a short attention span, so keep your sessions short, and end them when your puppy is still eager to do more, not when he’s mentally exhausted.

Practice inside. Now that your puppy understands how to come to you, practice walking a few steps in a room with little distraction. Feeling and seeing the leash around him will be enough of a challenge. Offer treats and praise as your puppy gets used to coming to you, as described above, with a leash on.

Take it outside. Finally, you’re ready to test your puppy’s skills in the Great Outdoors. There will be new challenges with this step because all the sounds, smells, and sights your puppy encounters will be intriguing and new to him. Be patient and keep the first walks short. While you’re on a walk, if your puppy looks as if he’s about to lunge toward something or is about to get distracted (you’ll notice this because you will keep your eyes on him at all times), make your cue sound and move a few steps away. Then reward him with a treat for following you.

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Sunday, September 19, 2021 10:00am – 3:00pm Central Park – Stapleton 8801 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Denver, CO 80238 Please join us for the most pug-a-licious event of the year! Pugs in the Park is the largest annual celebration of all things pug! Help support Colorado Pug Rescue at our biggest fundraiser of the year while you and your pugs have an amazing, fun, pug-filled day! Of course there will be many pugs to meet and play with.

But wait, there’s more!

Fun Fun Fun! Start planning your costume now for the most anticipated pug event of the day: The Pug Costume Contest! The winning pug will be featured in our 2022 Pug Rescue Calendar!

There are other contests too! Line up for the hot-dog eating contest or pucker up for best kisser.

Microchipping will be available for $25, or take advantage of our pug “spa” for a nail trim or face fold wash. Looking fabulous? Get your pug’s portrait taken!

VISIT our Vendors! We’ll have a variety of booths with anything you might need for your pug! Have something to sell? We’d love to have you!

And if that’s not enough shopping for you, we’ll have a silent auction! Want to help the pugs? We are in need of silent auction items. These do not need to be pug (or even dog) related. We’d love a gift certificate to your business, or that wedding gift you’ve tucked away to re-gift someday. If you would like to donate an item for the silent auction, please contact Frankie at frankielynn@gmail.com) or 303-996-1815. We will be happy to come and pick up your donation.

BEST OF ALL: Meet some of our wonderful pugs available for adoption!

So pack up your piggy bank. We’ll have lots of ways for you to help support Colorado Pug Rescue while you have a totally awesome fun pug-filled day! And bring your friends! As we say, if one pug is amusing, 300 pugs are hilarious! The more the merrier!

P.S. – CPR relies almost exclusively on donations from people just like YOU! Your donations to our 501(c)(3) non-profit are tax deductible, and we genuinely appreciate each and every gift. Donations cover veterinary expenses for the pugs CPR cares for annually. Can’t make it to the event? We’ll be sorry to miss you. You can still contribute by clicking here.

Want to be a Pugs in the Park sponsor? Take a look at our available sponsorship levels.

Interested in being a vendor? Sign up for booth space here.

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Mella not only takes your pet's body temperature, but it also displays the results on your smart device or desktop. The data is automatically recorded and can be sent to a Practice Management System where it can be analyzed and made intelligible for you.

Visit https://www.mella.ai/

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Vacation is your time to unwind and escape the stresses of your busy life. Why not make your vacation time just as enjoyable for your dog? They deserve a vacation as well! Boarding your dog when you’re out of town is a great way to ensure that your dog is thoughtfully cared for while you’re away. To keep both of your vacations as stress-free as possible, here are 5 things that you can do to prepare your dog before boarding:

Consider a Boarding Trial If your dog is particularly nervous or prone to separation anxiety, it’s a good idea to plan a trial boarding stay. The trial stay of at least 24 hours eases your dog into a new environment and a new daily routine. You may find that your dog will adjust much better when it comes time for a longer stay.

Adjust Your Dog’s Sleeping Habits If your dog sleeps with you in your bed each night, you can expect him to be upset with sleeping alone at the boarding facility. Do your best to get him adjusted to sleeping by himself. If he cries when sleeping alone, you can expect him to cry when he’s boarded.

Keep Your Dog Comfortable Regardless of the creature comforts your chosen boarding facility provides, there’s nothing like the comfort of home. Bring a familiar rug for your dog to sleep on. It will help them feel more secure. The facility may allow you to bring your dog’s bed, so ask in advance.

Drop Off Your Dog in the Morning If your schedule permits, drop your dog off at the boarding facility early in the morning. This gives them the entire day to adjust to their surroundings before its time to bed down for the night.

Visit Your Dog’s Veterinarian It’s important, and considerate to the other dogs, that you de-flea and worm your dog. You should also update your dog’s vaccinations at least two weeks prior to boarding. Both of these precautions are typically required before boarding.

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Cindy Myers Ambassador to Animals, Humans and Spirit

I love sharing my intuitive abilities with both animals and humans. I look forward to helping you restore your energy balance so you can live an abundantly joy filled life!

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Have your pup’s medical history ready to go Any good daycare will require proof of vaccinations ahead of time. They’ll also want to know if your pet has been neutered or spayed by the time they’re one year old, says Ryan Getwright, owner of Philly Dog School in Philadelphia, Pa. While daycares are unable to check if you are using flea and tick preventative care, they expect that you are, he says. If you don’t have your dog on a flea and tick regimen now, start before you bring him to daycare.

Ask about safety certifications While the daycare is not a vet, the attendants should know how to respond to health emergencies and how to provide basic first aid to your four-legged buddy. The Red Cross offers these certifications, says Getwright, and your daycare should always have one person on duty who is first aid and CPR certified.

Look into cleaning protocols Your dog is at a higher risk of illness with so many pets in close proximity, says Jakob Hunt, vice president of operations and human resources for Dogtopia, a daycare chain with 30 locations in the United States. Because of this, you want to make sure the daycare has strict daily cleaning procedures in place.

At Dogtopia, the playrooms are spot cleaned throughout the day, and then thoroughly cleaned during your dog’s nap time, says Hunt. If something like kennel cough—which is equivalent to the human cold—is identified, the attendants will take even bigger precautions. “The sick dog will be placed in lockdown so the other dogs won’t get sick,” explains Hunt. “Then all the rooms are cleaned. We try to contain the illness as best we can by limiting the amount of times attendants can go from room to room and dipping their shoes in a bleach mixture before they can leave a room.”

Another tip: Check to see if the daycare has floor-to-ceiling walls. Since the majority of illnesses are airborne, half walls and chain-link fences won’t stop them from spreading, explains Hunt.

Prepare for an evaluation Before you sign on the dotted line, daycare attendants should give your dog an in-depth assessment without you present. “Just like at children’s daycare, you won’t be there during the day,” says Hunt. “We need to see how your dog will react without you there. It’s our chance to learn as much about your pet as possible so we can give him the best care while you’re at work or away.”

While every dog daycare will have a different assessment format, a good one will look for some of the following things: how your pup responds to a dog crate, what parts of his body he doesn’t like to have touched, and how your pet gets along with other dogs of different energy levels, temperaments, genders, and sizes. Attendants should take detailed notes to share with you afterward and to keep in your dog’s file.

But remember: Daycares aren’t training facilities. “Your dog may be a wonderful pet, but he may not be a good fit for open play,” explains Hunt. “If that’s the case, we’ll recommend you socialize your dog and enroll him in training, and then come back in six months to get reevaluated.”

Practice, practice, practice Daycare is basically an indoor dog park, so Getwright suggests bringing your dog to the outdoor version before you consider daycare. “If your dog doesn’t like it, he won’t enjoy it here,” he says.

It’s also a good way to see how your dog interacts with other animals. “Many dogs who have never been in open play don’t know dog language,” says Hunt. “But when they hang around other dogs for a few days, they begin to learn it.” Then, when dogs approach your pooch in the daycare, he’ll know the proper way to react.

Ask about what’s included Some dog daycares operate on an a la carte basis, says Hunt. Want Rufus to go on a walk? That’ll cost you an extra $10 a day. Want Baxter to be petted throughout the day? That’ll cost you $7. Those small additions add up to a big price tag. Ask the daycare manager what is included in the daily fee. Many places will accommodate your wishes for no extra charge.

Ask what a typical day is like Schedules vary dramatically from daycare to daycare. Some are very structured, while others are looser. Choose a facility with a daily timeline that best suits your dog. However, make sure there’s plenty of time for both play and relaxation included. “If you don’t allow for rest, dogs get clumsy or grumpy because they’re tired,” says Hunt.

And they will get tired. Daycares should encourage dogs to play with one another under supervision for the majority of the day. Some facilities will offer indoor miniature jungle gym equipment for your dog to climb up and slide down. Some smaller daycares will take dogs for walks in small groups. “Your dog will be active and busy. He’ll burn calories, he’ll run around,” says Getwright. “He’ll be wiped out when he gets home.”

Inquire about meals Since both food allergies and food aggression in dogs are common, daycares should take precautions at chow time. Some facilities, like Philly Dog School, don’t allow dog food at all. Dogs are given plenty of water throughout the day.

Others, like Dogtopia, feed pets two to three times a day. However, the dogs have to eat in individual crates. Afterward, the attendants clean the room and make sure there are no leftover pieces of kibble lying around before the dogs are let out for playtime again.

Learn what amenities are provided Many daycares allow owners to remotely check in on their pooches. Dogtopia has cameras in every room so you can watch Fido playing, eating, or napping on your phone or your computer, while Philly Dog School has an Instagram account you can follow so you can get a peek of his daily activities. Other chains boast movie theaters, spas, and theme days for events like March Madness. Figure out what additions are most important to you and your dog before making your final decision.

Jill Fanslau

Published: **December 21, 2016**

  Up NextHow To Make Your Garage Pet-Friendly Make sure your garage is a safe place for four-legged family members.    Previous YouTube’s Funniest Dog Videos Of 2016 YouTube’s Funniest Dog Videos Of 2016

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How Often to Bathe and Groom a Dog A clean pup is a healthy pup, but if you’re a new pet parent, it may be confusing figuring out how often to bathe and groom your dog. However, the right bathing and grooming schedule for your pet will help maintain their overall skin and coat health and keep them comfortable.

The frequency of bathing and grooming your dog depends on a couple of factors including your dog’s breed, lifestyle and coat health.

If you’re trying to establish a grooming schedule for your dog, you can follow these guidelines to create the ideal program for your pup.

How often should you wash your dog? While the frequency of bathing may be different for each dog, Wendy Weinand, manager, pet services grooming education for Petco, says that a good rule to follow is to wash your dog every four weeks.

“This will help to keep their skin and coat clean and keep their natural oils spread out to help condition,” she says. “Plus, they will smell great.”

Regular bathing is important because it removes the buildup of dirt and debris on a dog’s skin and prevents potential skin conditions from developing such as clogged pores, itchiness, dry skin or oily skin. “When pets are dirty, their skin doesn’t ‘breathe’ correctly,” says Weinand, “and they can end up with some issues that may require veterinary care to fix.”

Keep in mind that dogs who play outdoors regularly or get dirty from rolling around in dirt and mud may need more frequent baths. Certain dog breeds may also need to be washed more than others.

“Certain breeds, like Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, have a naturally oily coat,” says Weinand. “Bathing them regularly will help remove the ‘dirty’ oils and replace them with clean, new natural oil the skin is producing.”

Seasonality may also affect the frequency of your dog’s baths, Weinand adds. In the winter, pet parents may want to bathe and condition their dog’s skin more frequently to cut down on dryness and itching. While in the spring, when pets are shedding, more frequent baths may be needed to help remove dead coat.

Be careful not to bathe your dog too often, because overwashing your dog’s skin can cause irritation. “Unless there is a medical reason for more frequent baths, overbathing your pet—say weekly or even every two weeks—can dry out the skin and coat,” says Weinand.

How often should you groom your dog? Grooming your dog’s hair and coat is another necessary pet parent responsibility. Like bathing, the frequency of grooming appointments or at-home grooming sessions will depend on your dog’s breed and coat length.

“The majority of breeds that need haircuts—for example Poodles, Cocker Spaniels and Yorkies—need to be seen every six to eight weeks to keep their coats from getting matted,” says Weinand. “Their coats tend to grow at a faster rate than some other breeds.”

Dogs with shorter coats, like the Brittany or Parson Terrier, can go longer between grooming appointments because their hair grows slower. These dog breeds should still be brushed regularly at home to keep their coats healthy.

Pet parents should watch for matting and pay attention to overall hair and coat health when brushing their dogs. If something doesn’t look right, they should consult with a veterinarian or dog groomer for professional treatment.

How often to trim your dog’s nails Keeping your dog’s nails trimmed is a part of grooming that many pet parents find difficult, but it’s something that shouldn’t be overlooked.

“If nails get too long, it can cause issues with walking,” says Weinand. “Or they will crack up to the paw exposing the ‘vein,’ which can be very painful.” Additionally, “Not trimming your dog’s nails regularly can also lead to infections that may require veterinary intervention.”

Most dogs need their nails trimmed every two weeks, says Weinand. If dogs regularly walk outside on hard surfaces like sidewalks or pavement, they may require less frequent nail trims (every four weeks) because the act of walking can help file nails down.

If you’re unsure how to approach this part of grooming, watch this video to learn how to cut your dog’s nails properly.

For more guidance on your pet’s specific bathing and grooming needs, scroll through to find Petco’s recommended schedule below. If you don’t see your pet’s breed, you can call your local Petco grooming salon for recommendations.

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Pet safety over the 4th of July is very important.

Prepare for the worst-case scenario. July 4th is a great annual reminder to be prepared in case your pet escapes or gets lost. If your pet is not wearing a collar with an ID tag, now is the best time to get one. You’ll also want to double check that your pet is microchipped and that the chip is registered with updated contact information.
Avoid the crowds. Avoid bringing your pooch to super crowded events, parades, and other gatherings with a lot of commotion or people. A combination of heat, loud noises, packed spaces and scorching blacktop can not only be stressful, but harmful to your pet’s health. Better to leave them at home in a cool spot with lots of water. It’s especially wise to avoid bringing your pets to firework events, as they could panic and try to run.
Work them out. Be sure to give your pets lots of exercise during the day, so they’ll be a little worn out before the scary noises start at night. A nice long run or play session during the daytime will help with your pet’s overall stress and anxiety levels. Some pets may sleep right through the night time celebrations!
Head indoors before the fun begins. Don’t wait for the fireworks to be in full swing before taking care of your pet. It’s best to bring him or her indoors or put them in a cozy spot well ahead of the first boom of fireworks. Which brings us to…
Create a safe space. Pre-pyrotechnics, create a safe, escape-proof space in your home. Lower the blinds, close the windows, provide a bed or crate where they feel comfortable, offer a special chew or toy to distract them and turn on the TV or radio to help mask the noises outside.
Wrap them up. Confining movement in dogs and cats actually has a calming effect on them, which is why you might want to consider an anti-anxiety wrap or coat. Try this one, available on Amazon. In a pinch, you can even create one from a scarf.
Give them a chill pill. If you’re really worried about a pet who stresses easily, talk to your vet in advance about anti-anxiety chews, drops or other remedies that can help your pet relax. There are plenty of prescription and homeopathic solutions out there that can help your pet get the extra dose of relaxation that he or she needs.

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Fat Pug: How To Tell If Your Pug is a Healthy Weight JANUARY 19, 2019 BY KRISTIN HITCHCOCK LEAVE A COMMENT

A fat Pug is likely to have health problems. This breed often has trouble breathing, even at a healthy weight, so the extra pounds are going to add up to some serious issues.

Despite their barrel ribs, Pugs should be slim with a visible tuck at the waist.

Just like for us humans, bad habits and over eating cause Pugs to gain weight.

But carrying a few extra ounces or pounds can have health implications for your pup too.

             Let’s find out what the healthy weight for a Pug is, and how to help a Pug who’s overweight.

Is My Pug Fat? Pugs typically weigh around 14 to 18 pounds. Of course, some Pugs might weigh more or less than this and still be healthy.

Instead of relying on the scale alone, we recommend looking at your Pug’s body for signs of obesity.

There are two easy ways to check dogs’ weight at home.

Step 1: Feel their rib cages on the sides of their chests You should easily be able to feel your Pug’s ribs under their skin.

There should only be a very thin layer of fat present, much like the back of your hand.

If it is difficult to feel their ribs, it is possible that they are overweight.

On the other hand, you should not be able to see your dog’s ribs when they are in a normal standing position.

This is a sign that your dog is underweight, which can cause all sorts of problems as well.

Step 2: Look for your dog’s waist Just like a human, your dog should have a waist around her stomach area between her ribs and hips.

The easiest way to check a dog’s waist is to look at her from the top down.

Pug waistlines are not as pronounced as other breeds. But Pugs should still have small indents on their waists.

If you Pug is more rounded, it is possible that they are overweight.

Pug Shape Pugs‘ large eyes, shortened snouts and curly tails make these pooches easily recognizable.

However, many of these unique characteristics also give Pugs a few health problems.

Their short snouts, for example, cause many of them to experience breathing problems.

They are also known to experience spinal difficulties because of their screw tails. These conditions affect their ability to run, play, and generally be active.

Do Pugs Get Fat Easily? Pugs are not known to be active dogs.

Many would much rather lay around than do much activity.

But that’s not because they are inherently lazy dogs. https://thehappypuppysite.com/lazy-dog-breeds/

Their reluctance to exercise is actually because of their breathing problems.

The Pug’s shortened snout makes it difficult for them to breathe and get the oxygen they need.

Because of these difficulties, many Pugs tire quickly and can only handle short exercise sessions.

Their owners often must restrict their playtime to prevent overheating or fainting.

In hot weather, it might even be impossible for a Pug to exercise at all. Often, the risks are not worth it.

This inability to exercise for extended periods can make the Pug gain weight quickly.

It is essential that their food intake is restricted appropriately.

A cycle of weight gain On top of this, a healthy weight is essential for a Pug’s health. If a Pug becomes overweight, it is often even harder for them to breathe properly.

This difficulty only makes them able to exercise less, which compounds their weight gain.

In this case, prevention and proper veterinary care are the best medicines.

But, if you do think your Pug is overweight, there is no reason to fret.

Visiting the Vet to Help Your Fat Pug If you have done these two tests and suspect your Pug might have some extra fat, it is essential to take them to the vet.

This is to rule out any underlying health condition which might have caused weight gain.

This step is particularly important if the weight gain was sudden.

Your vet will also check your dog for subsequent health problems caused by carrying extra weight.

Because Pugs have many structural problems, extra weight can have a severe impact on their health.

It is vital that you get your Pug checked out by a vet before starting any exercise routine or changing the dog’s diet.

If your Pug is experiencing any underlying disorder, an increase in exercises can be detrimental.

Are Fat Pugs Unhealthy? A fat Pug is not a healthy Pug.

Sadly, the breed is very prone to health problems anyway.

It’s important therefore to keep him as slim as possible.

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The Happy Cat Handbook - A unique guide to understanding and enjoying your cat! Unfortunately, having a few extra pounds will only make their problems worse. As you might guess, a fat Pug will get hotter even faster.

And, combined with a Pug’s inability to cool herself properly, this can result in overheating very quickly.

The extra weight will also put more strain on their back.

This strain can worsen any existing spinal problems and cause arthritis.

When you add in extra fat, a Pug’s skinfolds often become larger and more pronounced.

This increases the risk for infections. Plus, it is also more difficult to notice an infection with so much extra fat hanging around.

Dogs aren’t healthy when they’re obese. But a Pug is even more affected than your average canine.

Obesity can have significant effects on health very quickly.

If your Pug is overweight, it is essential to get her to shed those extra pounds quickly and safely.

Helping Your Fat Pug Lose Weight Luckily, helping your Pug lose weight is not complicated.

Slim Pugs are healthier than Fat Pugs

Just like humans, for your Pug to lose weight, you must create a caloric deficit. In other words, they need to burn more calories than they lose.

This deficit will cause the body to consume extra fat for energy. Over time, this will result in a skinnier, healthier Pug.

This is done in two major ways: diet and exercise.

If you feed your Pug treats regularly, your first step is to cut them out completely.

While it might be difficult to deny your adorable Pug, treats have little nutritional value and can tack on many extra calories.

Depending on how many treats you feed your Pug, this might be all you need to do. Some Pugs show improvement after treats are cut out.

Swap Carby Treats for Healthy Treats Next, you should switch out training treats for a healthier alternative.

Switch out any processed, unhealthy training treats or regular meals for something healthier.

Chicken is often a good alternative, as are carrots if you can get your pooch to eat them.

Reduce Meal Quantities Finally, begin cutting back on your dog’s regular meals.

For the next four days, give your dog a third less than normal.

At the end of that period take a look at whether they have lost weight.

If they have, great, keep it up until they are back at a healthy size.

If not, reduce by a third again for four days.

Repeat until your pup is looking slim and trim.

Then very gradually up the quantity slightly until their weight stabilizes.

Exercise carefully Exercise can also be useful to help your canine lose weight.

However, due to a Pug’s difficulty exercising, it is often a better idea to focus on dietary change over exercise.

If you do decide to exercise your Pug, keep sessions very short and watch for signs of exhaustion and overheating.

Do not go running, walking is fine.

Do not take your pup out on hot days, or in the humidity.

Watch that they aren’t overheating.

A sure sign of oxygen deprivation is if his tongue is curled up and around.

Their panting tongue should lie flat.

Caring for a Fat Pug While your pup is on her diet, it’s important to make sure she doesn’t overheat or over exercise.

Dogs with breathing problems will snort, snore and may even in their desperation try to sleep upright.

This habit that is seen as cute by some is actually a sign of respiratory distress.

If your Pug sleeps sitting upright, take her to the vet. She might need more help to lose weight more quickly, and potentially an operation to open her airways.

A Happier Pug By making these changes to your dog’s diet and exercise, it is likely that she will be more energetic and playful.

This means that she can interact and keep up with her family better.

Additionally, with the loss of weight, your dog will be able to manoeuvre around the home easier and with less assistance.

Because your dog will have lost weight, diseases and illnesses related to obesity will be less frequent and not as severe.

To help inspire others, feel free to share your Pug’s weight loss journey below.

References and Further Reading: * Liu, N.C., et al., 2017, “Conformational Risk Factors of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (Boas) in Pugs, French Bulldogs, and Bulldogs,” PLOS One * O’Neill, D., et al., 2016, “Demography and Health of Pugs Under Primary Veterinary Care in England,” Canine Genetics and Epidemiology * Packer, R., 2012, “Normal for the Breed?” The Veterinary Nurse, Vol. 3, Issue 5 * Roedler, F.S., et al., 2013, “How Does Severe Brachycephaly Affect Dog’s Lives? Results of a Structured Preoperative Owner Questionnaire,” The Veterinary Journal, Vol. 198, Issue 3, pgs. 606-10 * Ryan, R., et al., 2017, “Prevalence of Thoracic Vertebral Malformations in French Bulldogs, Pugs and English Bulldogs with and Without Associated Neurological Deficits,” The Veterinary Journal

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You are listening to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk and I am your host Polly ReQua.

Today we are talking with Dr. Susan McMillan, owner of Vet to Pet Mobile Veterinary Service in Burlington, Vermont about signs of heatstroke. Heatstroke occurs when normal body mechanisms cannot keep the body's temperature in a safe range. Animals do not have efficient cooling systems (like humans who sweat) and get overheated easily. A dog with moderate heatstroke (body temperature from 104º to 106ºF) can recover within an hour if given prompt first aid and veterinary care (normal body temperature is 100-102.5°F). Severe heatstroke (body temperature over 106ºF) can be deadly and immediate veterinary assistance is needed.

Signs

A dog suffering from heatstroke will display several signs:

Rapid panting
Bright red tongue
Red or pale gums
Thick, sticky saliva
Depression
Weakness
Dizziness
Vomiting - sometimes with blood
Diarrhea
Shock
Coma

What you should do

Remove the dog from the hot area immediately. Prior to taking him to your veterinarian, lower his temperature by wetting him thoroughly with cool water (for very small dogs, use lukewarm water), then increase air movement around him with a fan. CAUTION: Using very cold water can actually be counterproductive. Cooling too quickly and especially allowing his body temperature to become too low can cause other life-threatening medical conditions. The rectal temperature should be checked every 5 minutes. Once the body temperature is 103ºF, the cooling measures should be stopped and the dog should be dried thoroughly and covered so he does not continue to lose heat. Even if the dog appears to be recovering, take him to your veterinarian as soon as possible. He should still be examined since he may be dehydrated or have other complications.

Allow free access to water or a children's rehydrating solution if the dog can drink on his own. Do not try to force-feed cold water; the dog may inhale it or choke.

What your veterinarian will do

Your veterinarian will lower your dog's body temperature to a safe range (if you have not already) and continually monitor his temperature. Your dog will be given fluids, and possibly oxygen. He will be monitored for shock, respiratory distress, kidney failure, heart abnormalities, and other complications, and treated accordingly. Blood samples may be taken before and during the treatment. The clotting time of the blood will be monitored, since clotting problems are a common complication.

Aftercare

Dogs with moderate heatstroke often recover without complicating health problems. Severe heatstroke can cause organ damage that might need ongoing care such as a special diet prescribed by your veterinarian. Dogs who suffer from heatstroke once increase their risk for getting it again and steps must be taken to prevent it on hot, humid days.

Prevention

Any pet that cannot cool himself off is at risk for heatstroke. Following these guidelines can help prevent serious problems.

Keep pets with predisposing conditions like heart disease, obesity, older age, or breathing problems cool and in the shade. Even normal activity for these pets can be harmful.
Provide access to water at all times.
Do not leave your pet in a hot parked car even if you're in the shade or will only be gone a short time. The temperature inside a parked car can quickly reach up to140 degrees.
Make sure outside dogs have access to shade.
On a hot day, restrict exercise and don't take your dog jogging with you. Too much exercise when the weather is very hot can be dangerous.
Do not muzzle your dog.
Avoid places like the beach and especially concrete or asphalt areas where heat is reflected and there is no access to shade.
Wetting down your dog with cool water or allowing him to swim can help maintain a normal body temperature.
Move your dog to a cool area of the house.

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Hi, I am Cindy. I am excited that you are here! As you can see, I offer both Human and Animal Services and often times do both simultaneously with clients. Click on either one below to learn more about my offerings. If you have additional questions, most answers can be found on my FAQ Page. Thank you for your interest, I look forward to possibly working with you and/or your pet. – Cindy

Visit yourenergyhealer.com for more info

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As cute as Pugs are, they are susceptible to a brain disorder with unknown causes called encephalitis. This neurological disease is only found in Pugs and can be fatal. Find out the warning signs for encephalitis here.

The adorable wrinkly Pug makes a wonderful family pet, but unfortunately, some of these dogs fall victim to a neurological disease called Pug dog encephalitis (PDE). Encephalitis refers to an inflammation of the brain tissues that causes pain, seizures, and ultimately death.

Read on to learn about the causes and symptoms of this serious condition.

Causes of Pug Dog Encephalitis Unlike other forms of encephalitis that can be linked to infections, PDE is unique in that it is idiopathic, meaning that the cause is not known. However, because it tends to strike Pugs who are closely related (e.g., littermates), many veterinarians suspect that it is hereditary and immune-mediated. Immune-mediated diseases are those characterized by an abnormal immune response in which the body’s immune system is tricked into seeing normal tissues as dangerous, and then attacks them. In the case of PDE, the immune system would attack the brain.

Regardless of this widespread theory, there is still no definitive answer for what causes Pug dog encephalitis.

PDE usually strikes pugs between 2 and 3 years of age, though it can be seen in Pugs as young as 6 months old and as old as 7 years.

Symptoms of Pug Dog Encephalitis Because PDE affects the brain, most of the symptoms are neurological, and include:

Behavioral changes
Seizures
Neck stiffness
Head tilt
Pressing head against walls or objects
Disorientation or confusion
Loss of coordination
Walking in circles
Depression
Lethargy
Weakness
Blindness

In many cases, the symptoms of PDE will progress rapidly (in a matter of days or weeks) and result in sudden death, usually due to a seizure. In other cases, a Pug may be able to live a while longer with the help of anticonvulsant drugs to control seizures. Ultimately, all affected Pugs will succumb to the disease, usually within months after the onset of symptoms.

When to Seek Help for PDE You should contact your veterinarian at the first appearance of symptoms. Because PDE is not the only cause of seizures in Pugs, your dog will likely be examined for other diseases such as epilepsy, intracranial tumor, and poisoning. If PDE is found, supportive treatment will be started immediately.

To learn more about the study, please contact Dr. Rebecca Windsor at rwindsor@ethosvet.com. Please visit Ethos website.

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It is very scary if you lose your pet.

Visit https://www.lostpetrescue.org/

OUR MISSION:

Summit Lost Pet Rescue is an animal protection and welfare organization devoted to finding lost pets in Summit County Colorado and reuniting them with their owners.

Go to www.lostpetrescue.org and fill out the Owner Intake Waiver Form

Call ALL of the following to REPORT LOST:
- Summit County Animal Control 970-668-8600
- Call Summit County Shelter 970-668-3230
- Call Summit Lost Pet Rescue 970-423-5701

COMFORT/SCENT STATIONS- place out owner’s dirty clothes, dirty towels, dirty sheets, pet bed, etc ASAP in area where pet was last seen. If missing pet has a sibling pet, rub towels on the sibling pet and leave those where the pet went missing as well for scents.

SHARE on the following Facebook pages:
- Summit Lost Pet Rescue
- Summit County Loves Their Pets
- Dog Gone Summit County
- One Man’s Junk Summit County
  - Post a picture and name of lost animal
  - Date, time, exact location lost
  - Phone number of owner to call or text if seen
  - Describe animal- shy, skittish, friendly, what color collar, etc

NEON SIGNS- hang neon foamboard signs and write in big black marker: “LOST DOG”, “TYPE OF DOG”, “CALL TEXT xxx-xxx-xxxx”, “DO NOT CHASE” See example on www.lostpetrescue.org

SHARE on www.nextdoor.com & www.pawboost.com

Call your microchip company and report lost

Call all local vets and shelters in area and surrounding areas

GO SEARCHING ON FOOT & USE CALMING TECHNIQUES:
- DO NOT CALL or CHASE pet
- Get low to ground, turn back, don’t make eye contact and do not call his name or chase. He’s in flight or fight mode and will run. If you see him, do these steps and toss some treats his way. Act like you’re eating and dropping crumbs to see if it’ll entice him to come. Build trust. Let him come to you.
- Be patient & calm
- If missing pet has a sibling pet, take them with you on every search to spread the scent
- Keep smelly treats with you and a lead leash.
- If you see him, he may not recognize you right away (don’t take this personally, its part of survival mode, they get confused).
- Keep chip bag or paper with you and make crinkly sound.

FLYERS- hang on bus stops, Summit Daily Boxes, gas stations, local restaurants & businesses, neighbors cars, and share with Fedex/Ups/Post Office/mailman/garbage truck drivers, etc

CLICK HERE FOR LOST DOG FLYER TEMPLATE

CLICK HERE FOR LOST CAT FLYER TEMPLATE

Post sign in owners yard- “LOST DOG LIVES HERE”

Window markers on your car- write "lost dog, description, location, phone number"

Look on Craigslist for free pets or pets for sale (just in case someone picked up your lost pet and is trying to sell)

Look on Petfinder.com & Petharbor.com

Those with information about this lost pet should contact Summit Lost Pet Rescue, Inc. (“SLPR”) at 970-423-5701.

IMPORTANT: Those reading this flyer are not authorized to

We are 100% donation based and donations go directly toward resources and supplies to help find lost pets.

RESCUE REPORT since

January 2020:

LOST PETS FOUND & REUNITED WITH OWNERS:

109 DOGS

24 CATS

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http://pughearts.com/

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Many pets are prone to ear infections — especially those with long, floppy ears. Because of this, many dog owners are familiar with the symptoms of dog ear infections. Common symptoms of dog ear infections include:

Excessive itching and scratching at the ear
Head shaking, particularly when it looks awkward or unnatural
Swelling and redness around the ear canal
Scratching at the affected ear
Unusual discharge and odor
Scabs or crusted over the skin in the ears

The ear canal of dogs is much more vertical than the human ear canal. This L-shape makes it more susceptible to holding fluid and disruption from bacteria, yeast, or ear mites — all of which are causes of infection. There are three types of dog ear infections:

Otitis externa, the most common one that typically affects the outer portion of the ear
Otitis media, affecting the middle part of the ear canal and usually a secondary development in up to 50% of chronic otitis externa cases
Otitis interna, referring to inner ear infections that can result in neurological damage

Dog ear infections can be a serious condition, which may result in hearing loss or facial paralysis. These serious complications make it imperative to prevent infection and seek treatment as soon as symptoms arise in your pet.

Caring for and managing dog ear infections involve cleaning, medication, and aftercare.

Remedies and Treatments for Dog Ear Infections Up to 16.5% of dogs will experience at least otitis externa, and complications may involve further development into more serious dog ear infections. Fortunately, there are straightforward steps you can take to alleviate symptoms and minimize the severity of such infections in your dog.

Immediate Care

Once your vet has determined the severity and type of ear infection your dog is experiencing, they will clean your dog’s ear thoroughly to remove debris, discharge, and ear wax. They may use a medicated ear cleaner or apply a topical medication.

In more severe cases, the vet may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications or oral antibiotics for your pet.

Long-Term Care

Your vet will likely prescribe a topical medication to your dog. It is important for you to carefully follow your veterinarian’s exact directives and instructions. You may make the application process easier by:

Keeping your dog relaxed with affection and treats.
Relying on a partner's help to hold and comfort your pet while you apply medication to the ear.
Ensuring that you place the applicator safely outside of the dog’s ear when dispensing medication.
Gently massaging the medication into the affected area.
Remedies and Treatments for Dog Ear Infections
When to See a Vet

Always finish the full course of the medication, even if your pet seems to be feeling better. Lapses or errors in treatment can prolong your pup’s illness.

Maintenance and Prevention

Whether it’s to prevent an infection from starting or to manage the healing of a dog ear infection that’s already in progress, ear cleaning is an important part of your dog’s hygiene. Cleaning your dog’s ears can:

Make it easier for you to examine your dog’s ear canal
Remove microbes and other small foreign objects that may cause dog ear infections
Clean and expose the ear canal for possible topical medication applications

Ear infections are often caused by excess moisture. Take care to thoroughly dry your dog’s ears after a swim or a bath. If your dog experiences chronic infections, talk to your vet about underlying causes such as allergies.

Managing your dog’s hygiene is an effective way to prevent future ear infections. Clean your dog’s ears by:

Gently wiping the ear with an absorbent gauze. Never use a washcloth or paper towel.
Avoiding cotton swabs, which can push debris deeper into your dog’s ear.
Cleaning the external portions of your dog’s ears

For many dogs, ear infections are a recurring problem. Be proactive about keeping your dog’s ears clean and dry to prevent future ear-related health issues.

When to See a Vet As soon as you notice symptoms of an ear infection in your faithful friend, you should contact your veterinarian. Prompt and proactive treatment will ensure your dog’s comfort and happiness.

WebMD Medical Reference

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Meet Doggy Dan

Hi! My name is Daniel Abdelnoor, otherwise known as 'Doggy Dan'. I’m a full-time professional dog trainer and one of the leading dog trainers in Auckland, New Zealand. I’m also a highly acclaimed author, an avid animal rights activist, media personality, and even a celebrity dog trainer.

Having trained dogs of all types and breeds, with EVERY type of problem, there are now thousands of beloved dog owners all over the world, everyday, who are using my training with excellent results.

I’m excited to finally help you solve all of your own dog issues for good. I know you’ll resonate with my kind, gentle and loving method of dog training.

Visit Doggy Dan https://theonlinedogtrainer.com/easyway-optin/

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CUDDLY helps give all animals a healthy life and a loving home. We enable animal rescues to create fundraisers and wishlists to support animals in their care. Through CUDDLY, animal lovers can purchase and give in a modern, transparent way. With over 2,000+ animal welfare organizations on board, CUDDLY's mission is to help save as many animals globally through community, innovation, and creativity. As a for-good startup, we believe animals often "rescue" us. And it is our obligation to support those who do not have a voice. As a company, we believe the best way for us to make an impact is by providing the "business" tools, namely fundraising, marketing, and a valuable community, to animal-focused non-profits so that they can fulfill their potential and continue to do good.

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| I'll be hosting my next Animals and Emotions webinar next Wednesday, April 14thd at 6PM PST. This is a completely free interactive webinar that focuses on animals and their emotions and more importantly, how we can communicate with them... In this Animals & Emotions webinar, I will be answering questions, showing off some live demos and lots more. |

| Register Now - It's FREE! |

| Join Cindy and Remember, this is a free webinar! Register now to receive your webinar link and event details. If you have any questions, please drop me an email. I love to listen! The Happy Listener, Cindy Cindy@BeAnAnimalListener.com YourEnergyHealer.com |

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How to Love Your Pug is the first in a series of delicately designed picture books focused on the purest kind of love between a child and a pet. There are 10 simple rules to caring for pugs in the peculiar and special ways the roly-poly breed craves. Always have the treats. Lots of downward dogs. Precious pillow fort naps. Skip along on spirited park sessions. Strategically tuck treats. And bring on the knock-knock jokes. How to Love Your Pug is a magical friendship story sprinkled with humor and designed with rich, beautifully focused illustrations. This sweet bedtime favorite is built on loads of heart for our lovable, irreplaceable furry family members. Book Signing Sunday, April 11, 2021 2pm-4pm Next Page Bookstore, Frisco, CO Stop by and say hi! Come celebrate the release of two children's series. Info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/887819472008461
- Book cost: $17.99 hardcover, $11.99 paperback - website: https://www.howtoloveyourpet.com/

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What Causes Urinary Tract Issues in Dogs? Almost all dog urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria, which are normally present on the skin or in a dog’s poop. Typically, problems start when the bacteria move up through the genitals and spread into the bladder, kidneys, and prostate.

Bacteria irritate the urinary tract causing inflammation (swelling). Some types of bacteria can also cause stones to develop in the bladder.

Any dog can have a UTI, but Sharon Marx, DVM, medical director of VCA Animal Healing Center in Yardley, Penn., says some dogs are more likely to get them. Older female dogs and those who hold their urine for a long time are more susceptible. Your dog may also be at higher risk if he has:

Diabetes
Bladder stones
A weakened immune system, due to medications or medical conditions like Cushing’s disease or hypothyroidism

Warning Signs of Urinary Tract Infections Dog UTI symptoms are easily noticeable if you know what to look for. Signs of a UTI in dogs include:

Frequent need to pee but little urine comes out
Straining to pee
Crying out or whining during urination
Blood in urine
Peeing in the house
Leaking urine

Licking genitals

 If you have a male dog that hasn’t been neutered, the bacteria that cause a UTI can infect the prostate as well. Signs your dog’s prostate is affected include:

Back pain
Abdominal pain
Stiff or funny walk
Disinterest in normal activities

Treating Urinary Tract Problems Just like UTIs in humans, UTIs in our canine companions are painful—and waiting too long to take your pup to the vet for treatment can make symptoms worse. The infection can spread to kidneys and the prostate. While you might want to run out and pick up over-the-counter treatment to help your pup now, Marx says to avoid medications meant for people, since they’re toxic to pets.

If you suspect your dog has a UTI, see your veterinarian for antibiotics. The test for a dog UTI is a urine culture. Your vet will analyze a sample of your dog’s urine to see if bacteria are present and if there are any crystals, which can signal that your dog has bladder stones too.

Marx says you can collect a urine sample at home or have your vet do it at the clinic. Here’s how:

Taking a Urine Sample at Home Marx recommends trying to get urine from your dog’s first-morning pee if possible—it’ll be the most concentrated sample. Catch it in a clean container that can be sealed.

You can also scoot a soup ladle underneath your dog to catch the urine while she pees and then transfer it to a clean container. But note that a home urine sample has to get to your vet’s office within two hours.

Collecting a Urine Sample at the Veterinary Clinic If you can’t get a sample at home, your vet can take a sterile sample with a needle. “It’s a quick procedure that most dogs tolerate extremely well,” Marx says.

Your dog may also need x-rays to check for bladder stones if your vet finds crystals in the urine sample. Bladder stones can cause recurring bladder infections and need to be treated as well.

In most cases, Marx says treatment for a UTI in dogs is a simple course of antibiotics, usually prescribed for seven to 14 days. You should also encourage your dog to drink water to flush bacteria from the bladder.

“Dogs should feel better by 48 hours after starting antibiotics,” Marx says. “Sometimes, it can be as early as 24 hours. But continue the medication for as long as prescribed by your vet to completely clear up the UTI.” Your vet can recheck the urine at a follow-up exam to make sure the bacteria is gone.

How to Prevent Urinary Tract Infections from Occurring Marx says the best thing you can do to prevent another UTI is to make sure your dog has plenty of fresh water. Also, take frequent walks or provide a lot of potty breaks for your dog throughout the day.

If your dog has recurring UTIs, your vet may recommend taking supplements. “Cranberry and vitamin C can help dogs that have chronic UTIs by lowering urine pH,” Marx says. “But discuss it with your vet before using any treatment. These supplements can make some types of infections worse, especially if certain crystal types (calcium oxalates) are part of the cause.”

An underlying medical condition could also be what’s behind your dog’s multiple UTIs or difficulty getting one to go away. Your vet may suggest additional testing to determine the root cause of chronic UTIs.

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Visit Bones for Homes on Facebook to learn more and purchase antlers for your dog!

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Cindy Myers Ambassador to Animals, Humans and Spirit

I love sharing my intuitive abilities with both animals and humans. I look forward to helping you restore your energy balance so you can live an abundantly joy filled life!

Visit https://yourenergyhealer.com/about/ for more info

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We can increase the quality of our lives simply by adding hemp to our daily routines. Whether you ingest hemp by using our delicious hemp elixirs or you apply one of our many hemp body care products to your skin (your body’s largest organ), you are giving your body beneficial cannabinoids, like CBD! Colorado Medicine Woman is your source for safe and effective CBD products! Enjoy 10% off your order with coupon code: HEMPLOVE Can’t afford to invest in our hemp products? Check out our philanthropy page… We are happy to help!

Visit https://medicinewomancbd.com/

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A very tough topic.

Please visit Cristi at Natural Pet Wellness for more information:

Get in Touch Tel: 720-830-6293

Email: naturalpetwellnewsinfo@gmail.com

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Summit Lost Pet Rescue is an animal protection and welfare organization devoted to finding lost pets in Summit County Colorado and reuniting them with their owners.

They are 100% donation based and donations go directly toward resources and supplies to help find lost pets.

Summary of Services * Educate the community about how to avoid losing or becoming separated from their pets. * Educate the community about what steps to take once they have lost their pet(s). * Educate the community about what to do/what not to do when spotting lost or stray pets. * Once a pet has been deemed to have been “lost” the charity will communicate with the owner to share calming signals techniques and gather information on the lost pet. If the pet is lost in Summit County, then we organize a team of volunteers to: hang signs, create flyers, purchase bait food and set traps, set out comfort stations & pet-beds, set up game-cameras, as well as organize search parties to look for lost pets. * If the pet is lost outside of Summit County, then we can consult remotely via phone, text or facebook messenger with the owners. * Post lost pets to various social media along with updates and what to do/not do to help locate lost pets. * Maintain internet website as well as social media sites to educate and inform the public.

STEPS TO FOLLOW IF YOUR PET WENT MISSING:

CALL SUMMIT ANIMAL CONTROL TO REPORT LOST- 970-668-8600
CALL SUMMIT SHELTER TO REPORT LOST- 970-668-3230
CALL SUMMIT LOST PET RESCUE- 970-423-5701

COMFORT/SCENT STATIONS- PLACE OUT OWNER’S DIRTY CLOTHES ASAP IN AREA WHERE DOG WAS LAST SEEN (THEY CAN SMELL FOR MILES, SO THESE SCENTS CAN HELP DRAW THEM BACK). ALSO PLACE OUT THEIR PET BED. IF MISSING PET HAS A SIBLING PET, RUB TOWELS ON THE SIBLING PET AND LEAVE THOSE OUTSIDE AS WELL FOR SCENTS.

SHARE ON THE FOLLOWING FACEBOOK PAGES:
- SUMMIT LOST PET RESCUE
- SUMMIT COUNTY LOVES THEIR PETS
- DOG GONE SUMMIT COUNTY
- ONE MAN’S JUNK SUMMIT COUNTY
  - POST A PIC PICTURE AND NAME OF LOST ANIMAL
  - DATE, TIME, EXACT LOCATION LOST
  - PHONE NUMBER OF OWNER TO CALL OR TEXT IF SEEN
  - DESCRIBE ANIMAL- SHY, SKITTISH, FRIENDLY, WHAT COLOR COLLAR, ETC

SIGNS- HANG NEON FOAMBOARD SIGNS AND WRITE IN BIG BLACK MARKER:“LOST DOG”, “TYPE OF DOG”, “CALL/TEXT- XXX-XXX-XXXX”, “DO NOT CHASE”

FLYERS- HANG ON BUS STOPS, SUMMIT DAILY BOXES, GAS STATIONS, LOCAL RESTAURANTS & BUSINESSES, NEIGHBORS CARS, AND SHARE WITH FEDEX/UPS/POST OFFICE/MAILMAN/GARBAGE TRUCK DRIVERS, ETC

CLICK HERE FOR LOST DOG FLYER TEMPLATE

CLICK HERE FOR LOST CAT FLYER TEMPLATE

SHARE ON WWW.NEXTDOOR.COM

SHARE ON WWW.PAWBOOST.COM

CALL YOUR MICROCHIP COMPANY AND REPORT LOST

CALL ALL LOCAL VETS IN THE AREA

POST SIGN IN OWNERS YARD- “LOST DOG LIVES HERE”

GO SEARCHING ON FOOT-
- DO NOT CALL OR CHASE PET
- BE PATIENT & CALM
- IF MISSING PET HAS A SIBLING PET, TAKE THEM WITH YOU ON EVERY SEARCH TO SPREAD THE SCENT
- KEEP SMELLY TREATS WITH YOU AND A LEAD LEASH.
- IF YOU SEE HIM, HE MAY NOT RECOGNIZE YOU RIGHT AWAY (DON’T TAKE THIS PERSONALLY, ITS PART OF SURVIVAL MODE, THEY GET CONFUSED).
  - GET LOW TO GROUND, TURN BACK, DON’T MAKE EYE CONTACT AND DO NOT CALL HIS NAME OR CHASE. HE’S IN FLIGHT OR FIGHT MODE AND WILL RUN. IF YOU SEE HIM, DO THESE STEPS AND TOSS SOME TREATS HIS WAY. ACT LIKE YOU’RE EATING AND DROPPING CRUMBS TO SEE IF IT’LL ENTICE HIM TO COME. BUILD TRUST. LET HIM COME TO YOU.
    - KEEP CHIP BAG OR PAPER WITH YOU AND MAKE CRINKLY SOUND.

WINDOW MARKERS ON YOUR CAR- WRITE "LOST DOG, DESCRIPTION, LOCATION, PHONE NUMBER"

LOOK ON CRAIGSLIST FOR FREE PETS OR PETS FOR SALE (JUST IN CASE SOMEONE PICKED UP YOUR LOST PET AND IS TRYING TO SELL)

LOOK ON PETFINDER.COM & PETHARBOR.COM

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Help homeless dogs find homes
Be a platform for promoting dog adoptions, spreading the spay & neuter message and keeping dogs out of shelters.
Care for the earth and its inhabitants in all we do.

Indy & Olly’s is a for-purpose dog bandana company that helps dogs in animal rescues and shelters get adopted by improving pet adoption photos…because dogs look #betterwithbandanas.

Visit https://www.indyollys.com/to see the great Valentine bandanas!

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Carol Novello is the founder of Mutual Rescue™ and author of “Mutual Rescue: How Adopting a Homeless Animal Can Save You, Too” (new in paperback, April 2020). Mutual Rescue is a national initiative that highlights the connection between people and pets in order to inspire and support life-saving efforts in communities across the nation and world. Mutual Rescue’s first short film, “Eric & Peety,” went viral around the globe and has been viewed more than 100 million times. A former senior software executive at Intuit, Carol served as president of Humane Society Silicon Valley for nearly a decade and earned her MBA from Harvard Business School. She is proud to include several rescue animals in her family. Visit www.MutualRescue.org.

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Visit Cindy at https://yourenergyhealer.com

Cindy Myers Ambassador to Animals, Humans and Spirit

I love sharing my intuitive abilities with both animals and humans. I look forward to helping you restore your energy balance so you can live an abundantly joy filled life!

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Cannabis (Marijuana) Intoxication in Cats and Dogs By Rania Gollakner, BS, DVM; Lynn Buzhardt, DVM Care & Wellness, Emergency Situations, Pet Services

 Marijuana (or cannabis) refers to the dried parts of the *Cannabis* plant. Cannabis has been used since 500 BC as an herbal medicine, and for products such as rope, textiles, and paper. Today, cannabis is primarily used for medicinal or recreational purposes. Cannabis can be smoked like a cigarette, inhaled via vaporizers, or ingested via food and drink.

Cannabis contains more than 100 different chemicals (or compounds) called cannabinoids. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the cannabinoid that has the most psychoactive effects. It is also the compound responsible for some of cannabis’ medicinal uses, such as treating nausea and improving appetite in cancer patients. Other compounds, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have shown promise for medicinal use and do not have psychoactive effects.

"The increased accessibility to the drug has led to an increase in accidental exposure in pets"

While cannabis use is not new, its use for recreational purposes is more recent. In the 1970s, cannabis was criminalized in the US when it was labeled a Schedule 1 (Class I) drug. In the 1990s, individual states began legalizing cannabis for medicinal use, and more recently, 9 states have legalized it for recreational use. Legalization for recreational use in Canada occurred in 2018. As with any other medication, the increased accessibility to the drug has led to an increase in accidental exposure in pets.

How do cats and dogs become intoxicated? Cats and dogs can become intoxicated by cannabis in various ways; by inhaling second-hand smoke, eating edibles (baked goods, candies, chocolate bars, and chips containing cannabis), or ingesting cannabis directly (in any form). Most exposures are accidental when curious pets discover access to the drug or when they are present in the same room with a person smoking cannabis. Dogs have more cannabinoid receptors in their brains, which means the effects of cannabis are more dramatic and potentially more toxic when compared to humans. A small amount of cannabis is all it takes to cause toxicity in cats and dogs.

"Accurate and complete information is imperative to treating the patient successfully."

Regardless of the method of exposure, accurate and complete information is imperative to treating the patient successfully. For example, ingestion of a 'pot brownie’ needs different treatment than inhalation, because eating the brownie requires treatment for cannabis and chocolate toxicity, whereas inhalation may require additional treatment for respiratory irritation.

How does cannabis affect cats and dogs? Like most drugs, the effects of cannabis are based on chemistry. The drug enters the body via inhalation or ingestion and binds with specific neuroreceptors in the brain, altering normal neurotransmitter function. THC interacts with neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine. Humans and pets have two types of receptors in their bodies. One type, CB1, affects the central nervous system, and the other, CB2, affects the peripheral tissues. Although not all the pharmacologic mechanisms triggered by cannabinoids have been identified, it is thought that CB1 is responsible for most of the effects of cannabis.

Everything that enters the body has to exit the body. THC is very lipid-soluble, which means that it is easily stored in the fatty tissue in the liver, brain, and kidneys before being eliminated from the body. THC is metabolized in the liver and the majority (65-90%) is excreted in the feces, while a small percentage (10-35%) is eliminated through the kidneys. The drug has to be metabolized and excreted for the effects to wear off.

How toxic is cannabis? Cannabis is considered to have a high margin of safety for people; however, not all people, and certainly not all pets follow a single pattern of intoxication. A small amount may affect one pet more than another, so there is no official safe level of exposure. Differences in age, health status, and body size are some of the factors that can lead to toxicity differences.

"Deaths have been noted after ingestion of foods containing highly concentrated cannabis such as medical-grade THC."

Luckily, cannabis intoxication is seldom fatal. The average marijuana cigarette contains about 150 mg of THC. The minimum lethal oral dose of THC in pets is fairly high; however, deaths have been noted after ingestion of foods containing highly concentrated cannabis, such as medical-grade THC. In fact, fatalities were very rare until the development of medical-grade products.

What are the signs of cannabis intoxication? Many of the signs of intoxication are neurological. Pets may become wobbly and uncoordinated. They may be hyperactive, disoriented, and very vocal. Their pupils may dilate, giving them a wild-eyed appearance, and they may drool excessively or vomit. They may also develop urinary incontinence (i.e., urine leakage). In severe cases, tremors, seizures, and coma can result.

"Side effects are usually short-lived, but they can still be dangerous."

Physical signs include low or elevated heart rate and blood pressure and slowed respiration rate (breathing rate). Lethargy, and increases or decreases in body temperature may also be observed. Fortunately, these side effects are usually short-lived, but they can still be dangerous and make the pet quite miserable.

How is intoxication diagnosed? Diagnosis is based on an accurate history and clinical signs. Although there are tests to determine the level of THC in the urine, the results take time, making them impractical. Human urine drug-screening tests are quicker but are not dependable in pets. The diagnosis is made much more quickly, and treatment initiated, when responsible pet owners provide accurate information regarding the pet's exposure.

How is intoxication treated? When a toxin enters the body, often the first line of defense is to get it out. If the toxicity is discovered shortly after ingestion, your veterinarian may induce vomiting to prevent further absorption of the toxin. Two factors may interfere with this early defensive strategy. First, the signs of toxicity may manifest only after the drug has been absorbed, meaning it is already in the system. Second, cannabis has an anti-emetic effect which inhibits vomiting. In life-threatening cases, the stomach may be pumped (gastric lavage). Activated charcoal may be administered every 6-8 hours to neutralize the toxin. Enemas are also used to reduce toxin absorption from the GI tract.

"Activated charcoal may be administered every 6-8 hours to neutralize the toxin."

The second line of defense in cannabis toxicity involves providing supportive care until the effects of the drug wear off. Medications and supportive care to regulate the pet's heart rate, respiration, and body temperature are used if needed. Since the pet may be lethargic, with no desire to eat or drink, IV fluids can help prevent dehydration, support blood pressure, and maintain organ function. Anti-anxiety medications can minimize agitation. To prevent self trauma while the pet is disoriented and uncoordinated, confinement in a safe, comfortable space is helpful. Noise should be kept to a minimum to decrease sensory stimulation.

The Bottom Line The bottom line, when it comes to cannabis use and pets, is similar to that with other drugs in the home: Be careful. Keep all forms of cannabis, medical or recreational, out of reach of your pet. Consider storage in high cabinets or in locked drawers when not in use. Keep pets in a separate and well-ventilated room, away from second-hand smoke. Remember that pets have a good sense of smell and will be tempted to eat candies, chips, chocolates, and cannabis directly if accessible. If you notice suspicious behavior in your cat or dog and cannabis exposure is a possibility, take your pet to your veterinarian or the nearest emergency veterinary hospital for treatment.

| Contributors: Rania Gollakner, BS, DVM; Lynn Buzhardt, DVM |

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Vomiting in Dogs: Causes and Treatment WebMD Veterinary Reference from the ASPCA A dog may vomit simply because he’s eaten something disagreeable or gobbled down too much food, too fast. But vomiting can also indicate something far more serious-your dog may have swallowed a toxic substance, or may be suffering from a condition that requires immediate medical attention. Vomiting can also be associated with gastrointestinal and systemic disorders that should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

What Might Cause a Sudden. or Acute, Episode of Vomiting? * Bacterial infection of the gastrointestinal tract * Diet-related causes (diet change, food intolerance, ingestion of garbage) * Foreign bodies (i.e. toys, bones, pieces of chewies) in the gastrointestinal tract * Intestinal parasites * Acute kidney failure * Acute liver failure or gall bladder inflammation * Pancreatitis * Post-operative nausea * Ingestion of toxic substances * Viral infections * Certain medications or anesthetic agents * Bloat * Heatstroke * Car sickness * Infected uterus

Vomiting that occurs sporadically or irregularly over a longer period of time can be due to stomach or intestinal inflammation, severe constipation, cancer, kidney dysfunction, liver disease or systemic illness.

What Should I Do If My Dog Vomits Frequently? An occasional, isolated bout of vomiting may not be of concern. However, frequent or chronic vomiting can be a sign of a more serious condition, such as colitis, intestinal obstruction or parvovirus. If your dog’s vomiting is not an isolated incident, please bring him to the vet right away for a complete examination and diagnostic testing.

What Other Symptoms Should I Watch For? The causes of vomiting are so varied that sometimes obtaining a diagnosis can be difficult, so it’s important to give your veterinarian as much information as possible and indicate if other signs are also occurring. What to watch for:

Frequency of vomiting. If your dog vomits once and proceeds to eat regularly and have a normal bowel movement, the vomiting was most likely an isolated incident.
Diarrhea
Dehydration
Lethargy
Blood in vomit
Weight loss
Change in appetite
Increase or decrease in thirst or urination

When Is It Time to See the Vet? Please see your vet if you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, if your dog vomits more than once during the course of a day, or if vomiting persists past one day

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Dr. Lori Cesario is a Board-Certified Veterinary Oncologist currently practicing in Southern California. She is originally from Long Island, New York but is happy to now call California home.

She received a Bachelor of Science in Animal Bioscience from Penn State University. After college, Dr. Cesario worked in a lab at Cornell University developing mouse models of human prostate and mammary cancers, amongst others. She then attended Ross University Veterinary School, with a clinical year at the University of Wisconsin. She completed two one-year internships: a small animal rotating internship at the University of Illinois, followed by an oncology specialty internship at NC State. She then returned to the Midwest for an oncology residency at Michigan State University.

Dr. Cesario is committed to maintaining a high quality of life in patients that are feeling well and improving the lives of patients that are feeling poorly. She uses her expertise to develop tailored treatment plans for each individual patient and family. Her professional interests include electrochemotherapy and histiocytic sarcoma.

Understanding that many families head to the internet after a cancer diagnosis, she wanted to ensure that there were excellent resources there waiting for them. She developed the Dog Cancer Roadmap program so families would have a reliable resource for dog cancer information online. Having a dog diagnosed with cancer is very difficult, and nobody should have to experience it alone.

When she is not at the hospital, Dr. Cesario enjoys hiking, pilates, and plant-based cooking.

Sign up on our blog page to receive our weekly educational emails and stay up-to-date with the latest news about canine cancer!

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Visit https://yourenergyhealer.com/about/ to learn more about the December webinars.

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What food can your dog have on Thanksgiving?

You need to listen to learn more.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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PugHearts of Houston is a non-profit rescue dedicated to giving unwanted and neglected Pugs a second chance. It is staffed by a network of volunteers in and around the greater Houston, TX area. Some of these volunteers donate their time; they pick up dogs, drive them to vet appointments, process adoption applications and help us out at events we attend throughout the year. Some volunteers open their hearts and homes to our Rescues and provide safe, loving foster homes for these dogs.

None of our dogs stay in a shelter or kennel. All of our dogs are in private foster homes throughout the area. They learn to live (some of them for the first time) in a home with foster siblings and parents who teach them how to be part of a loving family. These fosters will try to get them ready for the next phase of their lives – when they get to join their new forever home!

Interesting in Adopting? Here's what you should do...
Read the FAQ below. Click the Pugs? and Learn tabs at the top of this website to read more about PugHearts and the breed. Taking the time to do some research about the breed will ensure that this is the right breed for you.

Look over the Our Dogs section to see if we have a pug available that would be a good match for you and your family. Any dog listed in this section is available unless their bio states they are on medical hold. As soon as a dog is adopted out they are moved to our Success Stories page.
Complete an adoption application using the Adopt tab on this website. Be sure to answer every single question as an incomplete application will not be processed.Remember, there is no obligation or commitment when you fill out an application. Even if you are approved, we will not place a pug with you until you (& we!) are certain you have found the perfect match. To make sure of this we will conduct a home visit as well a Meet & Greet with you and your potential adoptee. Our goal is to make sure that our Rescues find their true FOREVER home and never find themselves homeless again.

FAQ - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Can I come see the dogs?
A: No, our dogs do not live at a shelter; they are in private foster homes.

Q: How will I know which dog is right for me?
A: Start by reading the bios and looking at the photos of the dog. If you find one you think you are interested in, complete an adoption application and list that dog on it. One of our volunteers will contact you (usually within a week or so) to talk to you about your application and that dog. If it sounds like a good fit, we will then arrange a “meet & greet” for you and that dog.

Q: Is there any way I can meet a dog before putting in an application?
A: If you do not have an approved adoption application on file, we will not schedule a “meet & greet” for you and a dog. However, we do try to bring as many of our rescues as possible to the Houston Pug Meetup. This is held the first Saturday of every month at Danny Jackson Dog Park. We usually have several volunteers there too who can answer general questions about PugHearts. NO adoptions take place during the meetups, they are for socialization only.

Q: What if I want a dog but don’t see one on your website I’d like?A: Complete the adoption application. Unfortunately, we always have more dogs coming into our care. If you complete an application and we have it already approved, then we can contact you if a dog comes in that meets your request. Also, if you see one added to our website that you’d like to meet we can proceed directly to that step – no waiting for your application to be processed!

Q: How much is it to adopt a dog?
A: There is a $400 for adults and $500 for puppies adoption fee. This covers all medical expenses for the dog including rabies and other vaccinations, spay/neuter, heartworm testing and microchipping.

Q: Do I have to pay anything to put in an application?
A: No. We do not collect the adoption fee until your new furry family member is with you.

Q: What if I think I want to adopt but I’m not sure yet?
A: Completing the adoption application does not place you under any obligation. If you change your mind, just drop us an email or use the contact form and tell us you would like to withdraw your application. Or you can tell us you would like to put it “on hold” until you are sure. There is no commitment when you fill out the application.

Q: How long does it take to process an adoption application?
A: Usually 2 -3 weeks, though not always. Processing time varies depending upon how many applications we have recently received and how many volunteers we have helping us at the time.

Q: I put in an adoption application but haven’t heard anything. How do I contact PugHearts?
A: Use the Contact form on our website. We are an all volunteer staff which means we all work full time jobs and help out in our free time. One of our volunteers will get back with you shortly, though not always on the same day.

Q: How do I become a volunteer/foster?
A: Fill out the Contact form on our website. Someone will get in touch with you to discuss your area of interest.

Q: How do I contact PugHearts for more information?
A: For any general inquiries or comments, please use our Contact form to leave us a message.

Q: How do I contact PugHearts in an emergency?
A: If you know of a Pug that is in danger, please use our Contact form and select the “Urgent - Pug In Danger” option from our drop-down menu. Also, if you need to surrender a pug or have found a pug that you would like us to pick up, use the contact form and select the “I would like to surrender a pug” selection. If email is not an option you can contact our Emergency Hotline at 281-968-4958. Leave a message after the tone – we will be notified immediately that a message has been left and we will contact you shortly. Please note that this is an Emergency Hotline only – messages regarding adoption applications and general questions should not be left at this number – use the contact form instead.

Q: I saw a Pug at my local animal control shelter. How do I let PugHearts know it is there?
A: While PugHearts works very closely with all of the local shelters and will probably already know about this dog (most shelters have a mandatory waiting period before the dog can be released to a Rescue) you may know about one that we haven’t seen. Please use our Contact form to let us know where you saw a Pug needing a new home using the “I have information on a Pug needing help” option. This is also true of online classified ad sites (such as Craigslist).

Q: I’d like to know when PugHearts will be having a fundraiser/event – how can I get on your email list?
A: Come and join us on Facebook for up to the minute updates on all events.

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Canine Cancer Academy

        The goal is to share knowledge and information about canine cancer with dog owners affected by the disease.   Listen to my New Podcast: Your Dog Wants You To Know This!  https://www.caninecanceracademy.com/your-dog-wants-you-to-know-this                                https://www.caninecanceracademy.com/                info@caninecanceracademy.com

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Get involved in their fundraiser:

http://www.pughearts.com/ph_pugsonthebayou.aspx

http://www.pughearts.com/default.aspx

Pughearts would love your help!

Purchase a mask on the barknwag.com and part of the proceed will go to PugHearts!

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Please keep you dog healthy and go to the vet! Also, if you are rescuing a dog.

By T. J. Dunn, Jr., DVM

It is always nice to know what to expect when you visit the veterinarian. Why? Because nobody likes surprises. So what what is going through the doctor's mind when your dog (or cat) is presented.

Let's just say you came in for your pet's routine yearly vaccination. Usually this is a good time for the doctor to take a really close look at your pet -- a good time to do an annual physical exam.

Written notes on the patient's medical chart are absolutely necessary in order to maintain a good medical history. So when the doctor isn't probing and pulling, there will be some written data being recorded. Later this information is transferred to a computerized program that sorts and organizes yearly reminders, prescription data, important patient events or surgeries and billing data.

Computers are an excellent way for the veterinarian to access current information on new techniques, medications and procedures. Plus, as a way to access continuing education references, the computer and Internet have opened up libraries of information on dog (and cat) care.

A good physical exam includes taking the patient's temperature. Normal temperature for a dog or cat varies between 101 and 102.5 degrees; that's a bit higher than our normal temperature. So if you see the veterinarian lift the pet's tail up and come at it with the thermometer, don't be shocked! The temperature is taken rectally and causes no discomfort. Every so often a seemingly healthy pet tips off the veterinarian that something isn't quite right simply by having an elevated temperature.

Skin and coat are really excellent indicators of the pet's health status. Look at this dog's coat and you can see right away that there is something wrong. The coat should be shiny, not brittle and coarse, and the skin should be clean and not greasy and flaky.

The vast majority of skin and coat problems are associated with grain-based diets of poor quality and during the physical exam your veterinarian should inquire about the pet's diet. Two weeks on a meat-based diet and this dog will often look, feel and act much better. (Visit our nutrition section for some good advice on the matter.)

Many types of dermatological problems are avoided if the dog or cat is consuming an optimum diet. In some cases, adding a supplement such as, a mega fatty acid supplement is the key factor in avoiding repeated episodes of hot spots and other skin afflictions.

Your veterinarian should examine both ears, too. Obvious infections and allergies are problems the owner can see, like the infected ear on this dog. But often, deep in the ear canal is where infections can start and if noticed early, can be eliminated before they get to the stage where the ears look like what you see in the photo (on the right).

Many dogs (and cats) suffer from allergies. Skin and ear infections are commonly the result of repeated allergic episodes. The doctor will show you how to clean the ears and prescribe the right medication if signs of an infection are present. Check your dog's (and cat's) ears and look for any signs of disease.

Every good exam includes getting that stethoscope against the chest and listening to the lungs and paying close attention to the heart sounds. Dogs seldom get pneumonia. Much more common are heart rhythm and heart valve problems. The first way to gain information about a dog's (or cat's) heart is to listen. (If your veterinarian seems not to be listening to you while the stethoscope is plugged into his/her ears, don't be insulted!) If any deviation from normal is detected, further workup is a good idea. A cardiac workup usually entails an EKG to assess the electrical activity of the heart and X-rays or an echocardiogram to evaluate the heart's size and shape.

A careful evaluation of the abdomen must be a part of the physical exam. Every veterinarian has made surprising discoveries while examining "normal" dogs (and cats). Many owners were shocked to find out that their pet had only one normal kidney, or was harboring an undiscovered tumor or was pregnant! Bladder stones, for instance, can be discovered during a routine physical exam. So in addition to feeling what's on the outside of the pet, what's inside is just as important.

Every good physical exam must include a look into the pet's mouth -- that is if the pet is willing! Oral hygiene (see our article on dentistry) is one of the most overlooked aspects of pet health care. The mouth can harbor infected gums, loose teeth, objects stuck between teeth, tumors and all sorts of other surprises. And often the pet shows no signs of discomfort from even serious oral abnormalities. Older dogs (and cats) especially may have oral hygiene difficulties that would vastly improve if dental and oral treatment was instituted. Be sure the veterinarian takes a look!

Although the eyes may not need a thorough exam where the veterinarian inspects the interior of the eye with special instruments, at least a close inspection of the visible eye structures and lids is a part of a complete physical exam. Early cataract formation may be detected, any haziness on the surface of the cornea can be detected and inflammation of the surrounding eye structures can be assessed. The most common difficulties are simple irritations that result from pollen, dust and contact with grasses.

Finally, the paws and toenails should be examined, and any really long nails should be clipped shorter (see How to Trim Toenails). Pad injuries are usually quick to heal and it is a wonder that dogs (and cats) don't cut and puncture their pads more often than they do.

Now that your pet has had a head-to-toe examination, you and the veterinarian will feel more confident that the pet is healthy. Now the challenge is to keep the pet well!

Image: Courtesy of AVMA

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Canine Cancer Academy is a wonderful platform for pet owners.

Dr. Lori Cesario is a Board-Certified Veterinary Oncologist currently practicing in Southern California. She is originally from Long Island, New York but is happy to now call California home.

When she is not at the hospital, Dr. Cesario enjoys hiking, pilates, and plant-based cooking.

Sign up on her blog page to receive our weekly educational emails and stay up-to-date with the latest news about canine cancer!

https://www.caninecanceracademy.com

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Carprofen is a medication commonly prescribed to canines with osteoarthritis; it works well for pain management and is very palatable making it a medicine well suited for canine ailments. The positive results seen by pet owners who give this medicine to their dogs regularly is well documented. The anti-inflammatory properties of this drug are also known to be beneficial. Many canines are prescribed carprofen long-term, though patients on this medication must be followed by the veterinarian to monitor the effects of the drug. Carprofen has caused toxicity in dogs who have been on the medication long-term; however, cases of poisoning are most commonly seen with an accidental overdose of the medication. Our canine companions enjoy the flavor of this medication and will help themselves to it if available. Symptoms will vary depending on the amount consumed and can range from vomiting to abdominal pain, and gastrointestinal perforation in very severe cases.

Carprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used in the veterinary field for pain management. Prescribed as a medication to alleviate inflammation and pain associated with arthritis, as well as pain management after surgery, ingestion of more than the prescribed amount can result in serious consequences.

Symptoms of Carprofen Poisoning in Dogs   The severity of signs of carprofen poisoning will be contingent on how much of the medication was ingested by your pet. The peak plasma concentration (the highest level of medication in the blood) is reached in one to three hours. Symptoms you may see in your dog will vary.

Vomiting (can be bloody)
Diarrhea (can be bloody)
Abdominal pain
Weakness
Lethargy
Muscle twitching

In severe cases, additional signs will be seen.

Tremors
Seizures
Gastrointestinal perforation
Stupor
Coma

Signs of kidney failure are as follows.

- Blood in the urine
Extreme thirst
Excessive urination
Fatigue
Vomiting

In addition, if the liver is experiencing damage, jaundice will be present in the form of yellow colored skin, mucus membranes, and whites of the eyes.

Types

Carprofen poisoning in dogs can be acute after the ingestion of a large qunatity over and above the prescribed amount. Chronic carprofen poisoning may result if your dog develops a sensitivity to it over a period of time. There are side effects and possible adverse reactions to carprofen in some canines, this is why a dog who is on a regular prescription will be monitored through regular check-ups with the veterinarian.

 Causes of Carprofen Poisoning in Dogs   Although adverse reactions to the drug are rare, ingestion of high amounts due to a canine gaining access to his medicinal supply is common. NSAID’s in general can be responsible for gastrointestinal issues with long-term use; therefore, an overdose of a chewable tablet or capsule will cause your pet to experience stomach upset in mild cases, to gastrointestinal irritation or perforation in severe cases of poisoning. Reduction of gastric acid secretion and blood flow to the mucosa can occur causing hemorrhaging along with kidney and liver failure. Other risk factors for severe carprofen poisoning can be:

Dogs with coagulation disorders such as von Willebrand’s disease
Other medication that is prescribed concurrently like glucocorticoids and sulfonamides
Dehydration
Predisposition to liver and kidney disease
Compromised liver and kidney due to age

Diagnosis of Carprofen Poisoning in Dogs If you have witnessed your pet indulging in his carprofen tablets, do not question or wait for the result. A visit to the veterinary clinic is essential. Bring the empty packaging with you, along with any other medications your pet may be on (if any). The veterinarian will base his diagnostic decisions on clinical signs exhibited by your dog (like nausea and abdominal pain) and will also rely on information you can provide. The veterinarian may ask questions as he examines your pet’s mucus membranes and eyes and takes his vital signs.
How long has your pet been on the carprofen?
What is the reason is it was prescribed?
How long ago did you realize that he may have ingested an overdose amount?
What have the symptoms been so far?
Are they getting worse as time progresses or staying at the same intensity?
How much is he drinking and urinating?

The veterinary team will take blood tests in the form of a complete blood count and blood serum chemistry to evaluate levels such as BUN (blood urea nitrogen), creatinine, electrolytes, and liver enzymes. A urinalysis will determine the concentration or dilution of the urine.

 Treatment of Carprofen Poisoning in Dogs   **Decontamination**

Depending on the timing between ingestion and hospitalization, the veterinary team may choose to induce vomiting and administer active charcoal (to bind the remaining medication).

Supportive Care

IV fluids will provide much supportive and corrective care. Nausea medication, antibiotics, gastroprotectants, vitamin K1 for the liver, and diazepam if there are seizures can all be administered during supportive therapy. Kidney and liver function, as well as urine outflow, will be assisted through intravenous fluids. Your furry family member will be monitored carefully and will remain in the hospital as needed until blood levels are normal and organ function has returned.

 Recovery of Carprofen Poisoning in Dogs  Studies show that cases of carprofen poisoning in dogs can have a good prognosis with timely medical intervention. If there has been severe kidney or liver damage or if the ulceration and hemorrhaging in the gastrointestinal tract and stomach are extremely damaging, the chances of recovery become guarded. If your pet is able to return home after treatment, he may require special care and will need a follow-up appointment with the veterinarian to re-evaluate with blood tests. As with all other types of medication, carprofen should be kept out of reach of children and pets.

*Wag! may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Items are sold by the retailer, not Wag!.

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Cindy Myers Ambassador to Animals, Humans and Spirit

I love sharing my intuitive abilities with both animals and humans. I look forward to helping you restore your energy balance so you can live an abundantly joy filled life!

CONTACT 541-658-5062
Email Cindy

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Cristi Eckert, owner of Natural Pet Wellness, would love to talk to you about Essential Oils and Reiki.

About Natural Pet Wellness Animals have been part of my entire life. As a kid, I would sneak in the neighborhood cat in through my window, pet any dog I came across, and walk dogs for neighbors. Not much has changed as an adult! I still pet every dog I see, all my animals live in the house and I talk to strangers about my love of all animals. As I got older, I worked at shelters, vet clinics and went to school specifically to learn more about animals. I worked with many animal organizations, pet sit for friends and family and even took in a pack of alpacas.

Despite working in retail and marketing, I kept finding my way back to working with animals. What started as a "hobby" to learn about holistic ways to help my own pets has become a career to help other people and their pets live their fullest life. I trained in essential oil therapy through Young Living Animal Oil classes, I trained in energy work through HTA (Healing Touch for Animals) to help my aging dogs and I am certified Reiki Master. I've taken coursework in CPR and First Aid specifically for animals. I realized these techniques can help all animals I meet, not just my own pets. I truly have a passion for animals and treat them with respect and love.

As I worked more with people's pets, I found the people benefiting from energy work and from having happy pets-by helping the hoomans, the people and their pets were able to have a greater bond and happier life.

I look forward to meeting and caring for you and your furry family member!

 https://www.naturalpetwellnessco.com/about-us   Get in Touch   Tel: 720-830-6293

Email: naturalpetwellnewsinfo@gmail.com

Address: Lakewood Colorado

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How to Win on Social Media: A Step-by-Step Guide for Local Businesses. Social media is huge for brand awareness, gaining new customers, and making sales. What if you had the definitive guide created by renowned social media guru Dennis Yu? Now you do.

Get this guide to learn the step-by-step strategy used by digital marketing maven Dennis Yu as he works with some of the biggest brands out there. He has consolidated the lessons learned through his experience to create a winning formula for local businesses. This is the formula we use to help our clients conquer the local market.

What's inside?

Deep tactical tips on conquering social media marketing for local businesses
Eleven simple steps to turn your social media pages into lead-generators
A step by step guide to setting up your "digital plumbing," including analytics
Links to external resources to help you develop a winning content strategy
Stats, tools, and insights to help you succeed

| Get the FREE Guide |

Contact Phil at

CHAAMP Marketing, LLC 3348 Swover Creek Road
Edinburg, VA 22824
(540) 287-8592
sales@chaampmarketing.com

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First Aid for Dogs By Ryan Llera, BSc, DVM; Ernest Ward, DVM

Emergency Situations, Pet Services

 Emergencies come in all forms; automobile accidents, bite wounds, burns, heatstroke, poisoning, seizures, and more. For a general overview of what constitutes an emergency, and how to handle common crisis situations, see handout “Emergencies in Dogs”.

What is first aid? First aid is initial treatment given in a medical emergency. Its purpose is to:

preserve life
reduce pain and discomfort
minimize any risk of permanent disability or disfigurement

In an emergency, what should I do first? 1. Keep calm and assess the scene for any additional threats to you or your pet. This is important for everyone's safety.

Keep your dog warm (except in the case of heat stroke), as quiet as possible, and keep movement to a minimum, especially if there is possible trauma, broken limbs, or any neurological symptoms.
Contact your veterinary hospital, inform them of the situation and get specific first aid advice.
To safely move or transport an injured dog, get somebody to help you. For a small dog, put him into his carrier (remove the top for easy and safe access to the carrier; DO NOT push an injured dog through the small door or opening), or use a suitable container such as a strong cardboard box. For a larger dog, use a makeshift stretcher made out of some rigid material such as an appropriate sized, sturdy piece of wood. Carefully maneuver your dog onto a blanket or coat so that he can be gently moved to the carrier, box, or stretcher.
Get to a veterinary hospital as soon as possible.

What are some tips on restraining or calming an injured dog? The majority of injured animals will be panicked and/or disoriented.

"The stress of an emergency can cause an otherwise friendly animal to act aggressively."

The stress of an emergency can cause an otherwise friendly animal to act aggressively. Although most panicky dogs will respond to a calm, soothing voice, use caution when approaching or touching any injured animal. It is important to ensure the safety of all rescue personnel that are attempting to assist with an injured animal. Some of the types of restraint that can ensure the safety of both dog and humans include:

Muzzling. You can create a muzzle out of a leash, belt, sock, rope, or strap. Loop the cord around the dog's muzzle and tighten it to prevent the animal from biting. Dogs have only one muscle to open their jaw so once the jaw is closed, it is relatively easy to hold it safely shut. Animals can breathe through their nostrils unless the nose is injured or obstructed.
Wrapping. You can wrap the body of an unmanageable pet in a blanket or towel. Be sure to keep the head exposed and do not constrict the trachea.
Immobilizing: If you are suspicious of spinal injury, lay the animal on a board and secure it on the board with straps or cords. Pay special attention to immobilizing the head and neck.

What is shock? Shock is a complex systemic or whole body reaction to a number of emergency situations. These include severe trauma, hemorrhage or sudden loss of blood, heart failure, and other causes of decreased circulation (e.g., severe and sudden allergic reaction and heat stroke). A life-threatening fall in blood pressure is a dangerous part of shock.

"Systemic shock may cause irreversible injury to body cells, and it can be fatal."

If not treated quickly and effectively, systemic shock may cause irreversible injury to body cells, and it can be fatal.

What are the signs of shock? Clinical signs of systemic shock include rapid breathing and elevated heart rate with pale mucous membranes: gums, lips, or under the eyelids. The feet or ears may feel cold and your dog may vomit and shiver. As shock progresses most pets become quiet and unresponsive.

What should I do if my dog is showing signs of shock? Keep the dog as quiet as possible and try to conserve heat by covering it with blankets, towels, or even newspapers. Follow the A, B, C's of first aid:

A Airway
B Breathing
C Cardiac function

Airway. Anything that obstructs the airway prevents oxygen from entering the lungs. Do your best to clear the mouth and throat of any obstruction such as vomit, saliva, or foreign bodies such as grass, sticks, or balls. Be careful - your dog may bite you in panic.

Breathing. If the dog is unconscious and does not appear to be breathing, try gently pumping the chest with the palm of your hand, at the same time feeling just behind the elbow to detect a heartbeat or pulse. If this is unsuccessful, give the dog rescue breathing (see below). Be careful - injured pets may bite you out of fear. If you are unsure about the health or vaccination status of the injured pet, avoid contact with bodily fluids and blood.

Cardiac function. If you are unable to detect a heartbeat or pulse, or if appears weak and slow, try pressing on the chest with your palm and elevate the lower half of the body to promote blood flow to the brain. Follow the steps below, under CPR.

How do I perform rescue breathing for a dog? When you encounter an unresponsive dog, the first step is to ensure that there is an open airway.

Carefully pull the tongue out of the mouth.
Extend the head and neck so that they are in a straight line. DO NOT overextend the neck in animals that have obvious head and neck trauma.
Carefully clear the mouth of any debris that may be obstructing breathing.
Place your hand over the animal's muzzle while holding the mouth shut and extending the neck. For small dogs, you can sometimes improvise with a styrofoam cup or other similar item, by placing the opening over the dog's face and poking a large hole in the bottom for you to breathe through. Ensure a relatively tight seal around the muzzle.
Blowing into the nostrils, give 2-3 breaths and watch for a rise in the chest. If you do not see a rise in the chest, reposition the neck or search for airway obstruction.
If you believe there is an airway obstruction that you cannot see, turn the dog upside down, with the back against your chest. Give 5 sharp thrusts to the abdomen to try and expel any object (this maneuver can be difficult to do in large dogs and you will need assistance).
For rescue breathing, provide 20 breaths per minute.
If the dog fails to breathe on his own, you may attempt an acupressure maneuver. Press firmly with your fingernail or other hard object in the space just beneath the nose on the upper lip (nasal philtrum). Maintain the pressure for 10-30 seconds.

What if the dog requires CPR? After you have established an airway and begun rescue breathing, if there are still no obvious signs of life you should attempt chest compressions.

Make sure there is no major bleeding. If there is bleeding, have an assistant manage the bleeding (see below) while you perform CPR.
If possible, lay the dog on his right side.
Feel for a heartbeat or femoral pulse. The femoral pulse is located inside the leg in the groin region. Dogs do not have a readily palpable carotid (neck) pulse.
Bend the left forearm and note the location where the elbow touches the chest. This is close to the middle of the rib cage.
Placing one hand on each side of the chest in the middle of the rib cage, vigorously compress the chest 100-120 times per minute. For small dogs (under 10 pounds), use one hand to compress the chest from both sides by putting your fingers on one side and your thumb on the other side of the chest. The rate should be about 30 compressions for every 2 breaths.
Try to compress the chest wall at least 30-50%. This is about 1" (2 cm) in small dogs and 2-3" (5-8 cm) in larger dogs.

What is the specific first aid for some of the more common emergencies? Blood loss. Once you have followed A, B, C above, if the bleeding is severe, try to stop it. If bleeding is from a cut pad or paw, apply a dressing using a piece of absorbent bandage or clothing. If the bleeding persists and is soaking through the bandage, do not waste any more time, and get to your veterinarian, since this is a medical emergency. Most bleeding wounds will require medical or surgical treatment. If the wounds are treated within four hours, they can often be sutured. Deep cuts treated after four hours have increased risk of infection and complication, and require more extensive surgery.

Burns and scalds. Cool the burned area with cold water as quickly as possible. Cover the burned area with damp towels. If the injury is due to a caustic substance, rinse with cold water for 15 minutes and contact your veterinarian for further advice. Animals that have been exposed to heat or smoke from a fire should be offered water as soon as the situation is stable.

Eye injuries. Injuries to the eye are always very painful and can threaten the eyesight. If a foreign body (grass awn, stick, hair, etc.) can be seen, it may be possible to remove it by gently rinsing the eye with eyewash or contact lens saline solution (be sure to check that there are no other ingredients and it is ONLY saline solution). Do not allow the dog to rub the eye, either with its paws or against the furniture or carpet. Seek veterinary advice as soon as possible.

Seizures. Seizures can be due to many causes. These include eclampsia (milk fever in a nursing mother), toxicities, and epilepsy. If due to eclampsia, remove the puppies from the mother immediately. All dogs that are seizuring or have had a recent seizure should be kept in a dark, quiet, confined area until medical help can be sought. DO NOT reach into your dog's mouth; they will not swallow their tongue, but you will get bit. Contact your veterinarian immediately.

Heat stroke. This most commonly occurs in hot weather when dogs are left in cars without adequate ventilation. Body temperature rises dramatically. Initial clinical signs include excessive panting and obvious distress, but can quickly progress to coma and death. Reduce the pet's body temperature as quickly as possible using cool water and keep the dog wet during transport to the veterinarian. Keep the car windows open, as evaporation will help reduce body temperature. Avoid using ice or ice water because this may drop the temperature too quickly and cause additional complications.

Is there anything else I should know? After being involved in an emergency or accident, it is important that you take your dog for a veterinary examination as soon as possible, even if he appears to have recovered fully.

| Contributors: Ryan Llera, BSc, DVM; Ernest Ward, DVM |

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Cristi Eckert is available for appointments. Please visit https://www.naturalpetwellnessco.com/services

Two modalities of energy healing are available. Reiki for people and Healing Touch for Animals (HTA).

Why would your pet need energetic medicine?

Reduce stress and anxiety
Ease emotional trauma and abuse issues
Relieve pain
Communicate and strengthen desired behaviors
Support end-of-life process or euthanasia
Provide a solid energetic foundation for a healthy immune system
Support overall health and wellness

HTA is perfect to pair with traditional veterinary medicine and healthcare to provide the best total care for your pet.

What to expect during your pet's HTA Session:

I will come to your pet's home and work with you and your pet. There is an initial assessment and then various hand placements on your pet, depending on what your pet needs the most focus on. You will be asked to hold your pet or sit near your pet during the session. Sessions are approximately 45 minutes.

After a review of client information, we schedule an appointment in your home where your pet is most comfortable.

Energy healing for people:

People benefit from the same positive effects that animals experience through energy work. The energy session for people includes an in home treatment with a spa like atmosphere to help you truly relax. Each session includes the use of stones or crystals to aid in positive energy flow. Specific essential oils are also used at the start and the end of the session to assist in grounding and to help deflect negative energy. This non-invasive treatment helps your body relax and increases your energetic frequency. By having an unblocked flow of energy, your body can start to help itself. This treatment will help you and those around you enjoy a better quality of life.

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Dr. Kathy Sennello obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. She spent 3 years in private general practice outside of Chicago before returning to the University of Illinois for an internship in small animal medicine and surgery. Following her internship she moved on to a three-year residency and masters degree in small animal internal medicine at Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Sennello has been in private specialty practice for the last 8 years and has special interests in gastro-intestinal diseases and endocrinology.

Thank you Dr. Sennello. Veterinary Specialty Care - SC

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Safety during July 4 celebrations: * Leave your pets at home when you go to parties, fireworks displays, parades and other gatherings. Loud fireworks, unfamiliar places and crowds can all be very frightening to pets, and there’s great risk of pets becoming spooked and running away. * Consider putting your pets in a safe, escape-proof room or crate during parties and fireworks. * Keep horses and livestock in safely fenced areas and as far from the excitement and noise as possible. * If you’re hosting guests, ask them to help keep an eye on your pets to make sure they don’t escape. Placing notes on exit doors and gates can help both you and your guests remain vigilant. * Keep your pets inside if you or your neighbors are setting off fireworks. * Keep sparklers, glow sticks, fireworks, charcoal and kabob skewers away from curious pets. * Don’t let pets get near your barbecue grill while it is in use or still hot. * Avoid the urge to feed your pets table scraps or other foods intended for people. Be especially careful to keep them away from these common foods that are actually toxic. * Remember that too much sun and heat (and humidity!) can be dangerous to pets. Keep them inside when it’s extremely hot/humid; make sure they have access to shady spots and plenty of water when outdoors; don’t leave them outside for extended periods in hot weather; and know the signs that a pet may be overheating. * Never leave your pet in your car when it’s warm outside. Vehicle interiors heat up much faster than the air around them, and even a short time in a locked car can be dangerous to pets. * + f you’re travelling out of town for the holiday, consider leaving your pets at home with a pet sitter or boarding them in a kennel. If you need to bring them with you, be sure you know how to keep them safe. + Follow safe food handling and hygiene practices to protect your family and guests.After the celebrations: + Check your yard for fireworks debris before allowing pets outside to play or relax. Even if you didn’t set off fireworks yourself, debris can make its way into your yard, where curious animals may pick it up to play with or eat. + Check your pastures and remove debris to protect horses and livestock. + If you hosted guests, check both your yard and home for food scraps or other debris that might be dangerous to pets, such as food skewers.Related resources: Podcast: Fourth of July Pet Safety Tips

Microchip Information: August 15 is Check the Chip Day

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Visit https://yourenergyhealer.com/webinars/ to sign up for the webinar!

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Meet Alisa.

I’m constantly planning my next adventure. A few years ago, after visiting a friend in the U.S. Virgin Islands, I got bit with the travel bug. It was shortly after getting back home to NY, that I’d convinced my hubby to sell all our stuff, quit our corporate jobs and move to St. John, USVI. Friends and family thought we were crazy. Maybe we were. But, it’s the best kind of crazy there is. Crazy FREE! We explored island life for a year, then we went on to travel around Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, and ultimately came to live in Breckenridge for a ski season.

That one season, turned into two, and here we are five years later. Breck is now our home. The crisp air, the beautiful scenery, the amazing people, all of it makes my heart smile from the inside out.

I feel so blessed to be where I am today. That one decision to leave the safety and security of our life in NY, and chase this big dream of travel, led me to discover my passion for photography and capturing the true essence of love, family, and everything in between. It’s the smallest of moments - a Dad winking at his daughter, a Mom whispering to her son, a glance, a smile, a sweet touch - that create the most beautiful of memories. I am honored to be part of your journey, whether for a single session, a week long vacation, or annual reunions. All of it lights me up.

If there was one message that I’d want the world and everyone in it to hear, it’s this: Do you. Listen to your heart. Take the leap. Do the thing. Be brave. You are worthy of EVERY dream you’ve ever dreamed. Go after it!

And if you want to document your journey along the way... I'm your girl! I can't wait to work with you.

For more info please visit https://alisamesseroffphotography.com/

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Bark & Wag is in the CBD business. It is very important to work with a herbalist grower to make the sure the product does not have pesticides. For more questions please contact Sarah at sjmarr707@gmail.com.

Here is an article about Herb Farms.

Many people are drawn to herbalism, not only because plants are natural or contain healing qualities, but also because being an herbalist can bring you closer to the Earth.

It’s not unusual to see herbalists with dirt under their fingernails who never leave home without their botanical ID books or a trusted wildcrafting tool.

We like to plunge our hands into the dirt, spend time with the plants in their native habitats, or simply with herbs growing freely in a garden. (Read Sue Kusch's articles on the benefits of working with soil here).

While many herbalists love to gather their own herbs, it’s not always possible to do so. Some herbalists may choose to spend their time consulting with clients, making herbal products or teaching classes.

When you aren’t able to gather your own herbs, buying from a small herbal farmer or ethical wildcrafter is the next best thing. Not only is the quality often incredible, you are also supporting what we want to see more of in this world:

Small-scale organic and sustainable farms instead of concrete buildings.
Family-operated businesses, or businesses that support their employees with living wages and benefits, rather than large corporate entities most interested in making a buck.
Local economies rather than shipping herbs from far away places.

Sustainable Herbs Project

For more information about the importance of sourcing our herbs sustainably I highly recommend the Sustainable Herbs Project. Created by Ann Ambrecht and funded by almost 1,000 herbalists, this site explores many of the important issues facing the herbal industry. I hope every herbalist is familiar with this important work.

317Save I am frequently asked about small scale herbal farms, but until now I’ve never had an extensive resource list to send folks to. Thank you to Val who researched and compiled this list for the USA and to Tiffany Traverse for compiling the list for Canada!

My intention is to provide herbalists an easy way to find their own local farmers and wildcrafters. While it certainly doesn’t contain every farm out there, we did our best to make it a comprehensive by-state list of small herb farms and ethical wildcrafters. This specifically means people who are offering fresh and/or dried plant material and, in some instances, fresh whole plants.

In choosing the herb farms and wildcrafters, we looked for websites that clearly reflected the availability of plant material. (Educational farms, personal gardens, and herbal products aren't included.)

Disclaimer: I have not received herbs or any other kinds of perks from most of the farmers and wildcrafters on this list. This list is not an endorsement of quality.

Do You Want to be Added to this List? If you are an herb farmer or ethical wildcrafter and would like to see your website listed here, please click here to fill out the form.

USA California Crimson Sage

Pearson's Gardens

Connecticut Pleasant Valley Botanicals

Twin Star

Delaware Sharon's Natural Gardens

Illinois Stone House Herb Company

Wind Ridge Herb Farm

Indiana Iowa Nature's Cathedral

Kansas Neff Family Farm

Kentucky Among the Oaks

Flourishing Herbs

Maine Avena Botanicals

Blessed Maine Herbs

Herbal Revolution Farm

Maine Seaweed

October Fields

Maryland Harding's Wild Mountain Herbs

Massachusetts Flora Verdura

Muddy River Herbals

Sawmill Herb Farm

Michigan Black Locust Gardens

Heartwood Forest Farm

Linden Tree Herbals

Minnesota Will Heal Farm

Montana Spirit Works Herbs

Nebraska Loess Roots

Spiritus Vitae Botanicals

New Hampshire Bee Fields Farm

Heartsong Farm

Langford Homestead Farm

Remick Museum and Farm

New Mexico Desert Bloom Herbs

Feral Gardens

New Mexico Farmacy

Voyage Botanica

New York Healing Spirits Herb Farm

Midsummer Farm

Tree Star Farm

North Carolina Bat Cave Botanicals

Featherherbs

Gentle Harmony Farm

Maple Spring Gardens

Mountain Gardens

Pangaea Plants

Red Root Native Nursery

Ohio Companion Plants

Foraged and Sown

Wild Vitality Homestead

Oklahoma Our Herb Farm

Oregon Lovelight Herb Farm

Medicine Garden

Mountain Rose Herbs

Naturespirit Herbs

Oshala Farm

Pacific Botanicals

Pharmacopia Herbals

Strictly Medicinal Seeds

Thyme Garden

Tumalo Lavender

Viriditas Wild Gardens

Pennsylvania Cloverleaf Herb Farm

Cutting Root Farm & Apothecary

Farmer Liz

Lancaster Farmacy

Tooth of the Lion

Tulsi Fields Farm

Rhode Island Farmacy Herbs

Parcel Apothecary

Texas Lori Rose Holistic

Vermont Eleven Acre Farm

Flack Family Farm

Free Verse Farm

Wild Faith Herb Farm

Zack Woods Herb Farm

Virginia Forrest Green Farm

Gathered Threads

Goose Creek Gardens

Greenstar Farm

Terembry Farm

The Heathen Homestead

Washington Ancestree Herbals

Blazing Yarrow Farm

Blooming Artichoke Herbary

Eaglemount Farms

Friends of the Trees

Harmony Fields

Island Herbs

Montevista Medicinals

Smoot's Flavor Farm

Understory Apothecary

The Wheel Medicinal Herbs

YarbWorks

Wisconsin Moonwise Herbs

Canada    Alberta Chickadee Farm Organic Herbs

British Columbia Breath of Life

Cedar Hill Herbs

Fireweed Farm

Harmonic Arts Botanical Dispensary

New Brunswick Bear Roots Forest

Ontario Floreren Farm

Foggy River Farm

Green's Creek Farm

Judy's Organic Herbs

Rebel Roots

Richters Herbs

Do You Want to be Added to this List? If you are an herb farmer or ethical wildcrafter and would like to see your website listed here, please click here to fill out the form.

A special thanks to jim “cougar” mcdonald and Michael Pilarski for introducing us to some of the growers and wild crafters listed.

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Alisa, Owner of Custom Digital Pet Watercolors, discusses starting a business where she turns cute pet photos to beautiful digital watercolor portraits.

     Thank you for your interest in having me transform your photo into a beautiful digital watercolor. Please choose below what product you would like, and checkout. After you checkout please email your photo(s) to hello@customdigitalpetwatercolors.com

For optimal results please be sure to choose a photo that shows your pets facial details, neck and chest. Also, please make sure the photo is crisp and not blurry. Thank you for supporting my small business!

    * Quick View  Digital File Price$25.00

Quick View 5x7 Velvet Fine Art Watercolor Print Price$30.00
Quick View 8x10 Fine Art Velvet Print Price$40.00
Quick View 12x18 Fine Art Velvet Print Price$60.00

Quick View 16x20 Fine Art Velvet Print Price$95.00

       CONTACT ME ALISA       hello@customdigitalpetwatercolors.com

Thank you for listening to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk podcast

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Bo Palazola - Real Estate Agent discuss homes, pets and house hunting tips! Bo is a Real Estate Professional in Breckenridge, Colorado United States. Bo was licensed at the young age of 24, and quickly became one of the top real estate agents of Summit County selling 19 homes in just his first year in business. He's dedicated to serving you by building a meaningful professional relationship and truly understanding your deep needs and wants. Bo is already known for going above and beyond expectations for both buyers and sellers. Bo has taken over the Breckenridge luxury market in less than 2 years. He prides himself on always being there for his sellers and bringing a new digital marketing approach that's proven to sell high end homes in Breck. Bo's niche is the luxury market in Breckenridge and he knows how to sell high end homes with proven results. Bo is huge on digital marketing in our top feeder markets where our buyers are coming from. He is truly there for his sellers 7 days a week, 24/7! His marketing techniques are unique to the traditional agent in Breck and separates him from the competition. Bo Palazola recently partnered up with the experienced broker Mr. Tom Day, they formed the Day-Palazola Group with Sotheby's International Realty to truly dominate the high end luxury market in Breckenridge. Let us serve you and show our proven results will sell your home. We pride ourselves on valuing a relationship and not a deal. We are looking forward to helping you buy or sell your mountain home!

Visit Bo at https://www.sothebysrealty.com/eng/associate/180-a-df18120720161030811/bo-palazola

Visit Bark & Wag at:

www.barknwag.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/barknwag/

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Carrie has been on the podcast a few times. Please find all of the companies Carrie is involved with in 2020. Rocky Rex is the Saurus of recreation recommendations in Denver and beyond. Find fun things to do with friends and family, including your pets! Have ideas or suggestions? Email us at info@rockyrex.com https://rockyrex.com Instagram @rockyrexco https://www.facebook.com/Rocky-Rex-101374144665784/ Chicago Rex is the Saurus of recreation activities in Chicagoland area. Find fun pet friendly beer gardens, pet massage classes and more! Send suggestions to info@chicagorex.com https://chicagorex.com Instagram @chicago_rex https://www.facebook.com/chicagorexclub/ Get It Made helps businesses and creative hustlers get things made and sell online. We also run a website featuring cool and custom products for consumers called CoolandCustom.com. Need ideas on how and what to get made? Email us at info@getitmade.co

https://getitmade.co https://coolandcustom.com Instagram @getitmadeco https://www.facebook.com/getitmadeco/ https://www.facebook.com/Cool-and-Custom-110415780343132/

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You are listening to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk and I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking with Dr. Susan McMillan, owner of Vet to Pet Mobile Veterinary Service in Burlington, Vermont to learn more about heartworm. What is it, how do dogs get it and what can we do to prevent heartworm positive test results.

Welcome Susan….

HEARTWORMS

Heartworms are common in dogs throughout the United States (cats can have them, too). They are among the most damaging parasites in dogs but they are almost100 percent preventable. Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes and, once mature, they live in the heart and large blood vessels of the lungs. Adult heartworms can measure over one foot in length.

How will heartworms affect my dog?

The heartworm larvae deposited by the feeding mosquito eventually migrate to the chambers of the heart or into the vessels of the lungs. Once Heart opened to reveal heart wormsin the heart, the worms can affect blood flow throughout the body. Heartworm infection can affect many different organs of the dog—heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver, for example—so symptoms may be varied. Most commonly though, signs of heart or lung disease are present. A veterinarian may suspect that a dog has been infected if an active animal tires easily or shows shortness of breath or coughing. Early in the disease, dogs are often asymptomatic. Signs are often progressive over weeks to months and untreated, heartworm infection can be fatal.

Testing for heartworm infection

Blood tests are most commonly used to diagnose heartworm infection in dogs. An in-house screening test run by your veterinarian may be followed by a confirmatory blood test sent to an outside lab. Other tests frequently employed in determining the extent and severity of heartwom infection in a dog include blood tests of kidney and liver function, x-rays of the chest and an ultrasound (sonogram) of the heart. Once infection is confirmed, your veterinarian will discuss the most appropriate treatment for your pet.

How do I prevent my dog from getting heartworms?

Heartworms have been found in dogs in all 50 states so all dogs are at risk, even those animals that primarily live indoors. Fortunately, with medication, heartworm infection is almost always preventable.

Ask your veterinarian about heartworm prevention. Preventive treatment should begin at 6 or 8 weeks of age in puppies and after tests have been conducted in older dogs to determine if your dog has already been infected. An annual blood test should be run to confirm the dog continues to be negative for heartworms. If your dog does have heartworms, your veterinarian can advise you about treatment options.

Can humans contract heartworm disease?

Isolated and rare cases of human infection have been reported, however, the heartworm is generally not considered a risk to human health and direct transmission of heartworm from dogs to humans is not possible.

DID YOU KNOW?

If left untreated, heartworm disease can result in your dog's death.

Heartworms can grow to 16 inches in length and there can be as many as 250 heartworms in a dog's vital organs.

Your dog can have no symptoms until heartworms are well-established.

Almost 300,000 dogs in the U.S. are infected with heartworms each year.

It is difficult, especially for your dog, to treat heartworms once established. It is much easier and less expensive to prevent heartworms than to treat them.

Other kinds of worms that dogs can get include hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and whipworms.

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Knowledge with animal lovers. Perfect time to join to see cute puppies.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2522610434667637/

Make sure to visit Dog Training Camp USA to learn more https://dogtrainingcampusa.com/about

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HI, I AM CINDY! Cindy Myers Ambassador to Animals, Humans and Spirit

I love sharing my intuitive abilities with both animals and humans. I look forward to helping you restore your energy balance so you can live an abundantly joy filled life!

Visit Cindy at https://yourenergyhealer.com/about/

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Dog Training USA Info COVID-19 Update Virtual Private Training: We are pleased to announce our new video-based and virtual private training service! Read more Training Camp/Continuing Education/Day Camp: Our in-home Training Camp, Continuing Education and Day Camp programs are still available! Read more

Group Classes: All group classes have been postponed until further notice. We are still accepting enrollments and will contact everyone as soon as our classes can resume.

In-Person Private Consults: All in-person private consults have been postponed until further notice. For More Info: Dog Training Camp USA offers services to fit the needs of all our clients. There's our classic Training Camp program, Group Classes where you can interact with other dog lovers, and Private Consultations for those who prefer individual attention.

If you aren't quite sure which service will fit you and your dog, give us a call at 919-401-9050 and we'll be happy to assist you in selecting the perfect service.
We Travel To You!
* Serving Eastern North Carolina * 919-401-9050 * Facebook * Instagram * Pinterest * Twitter

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In early March 2020, the World Health Organization declared that the COVID-19 novel coronavirus is a global pandemic. In the panic over the spread of the virus, people are worried not only about their own health but the health of their dogs, cats, and other pets.

Dogs wearing face masks have popped up in photos across social media, causing pet owners everywhere to ask: can dogs get coronavirus?

Can dogs contract COVID-19? Dogs can contract certain types of coronaviruses, such as the canine respiratory coronavirus, but this specific novel coronavirus, aka COVID-19, is believed to not be a health threat to dogs.

The World Health Organization has stated, “There is no evidence that a dog, cat or any pet can transmit COVID-19. COVID-19 is mainly spread through droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. To protect yourself, clean your hands frequently and thoroughly.”

Can dogs spread COVID-19? Li Lanjuan, an epidemiologist and representative of China’s National Health Commission cautioned pet owners in China to be vigilant about their own health and the health of their pets: “If pets go out and have contact with an infected person, they have the chance to get infected. By then, pets need to be isolated. In addition to people, we should be careful with other mammals especially pets.”

The CDC says that “while this virus seems to have emerged from an animal source, it is now spreading from person-to-person.” The CDC recommends that people traveling to China avoid animals both live and dead, “but there is no reason to think that any animals or pets in the United States might be a source of infection with this novel coronavirus.”

Two dogs in Hong Kong whose owners tested positive for COVID-19 have tested positive for the virus in what health officials characterize as “likely to be a case of human-to-animal transmission.” Local government health officials emphasize that “there is currently no evidence that pet animals can be a source of infection of COVID-19 or that they become sick.” Hong Kong health officials have continued to test dogs owned by people infected with the coronavirus. Officials there have stated that cases of infection in dogs appear to be infrequent. As of March 25, Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department “has conducted tests on 17 dogs and eight cats from households with confirmed COVID-19 cases or persons in close contact with confirmed patients, and only two dogs had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.”

Hong Kong officials stress that “these findings indicate that dogs and cats are not infected easily with this virus, and there is no evidence that they play a role in the spread of the virus.”

Is it safe to pet my dog? According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, petting a dog’s fur is a low risk. The AVMA’s Chief Veterinary Officer Gail Golab says, “We’re not overly concerned about people contracting COVID-19 through contact with dogs and cats.” And there’s science behind that: “The virus survives best on smooth surfaces, such as countertops and doorknobs,” Golab says. “Porous materials, such as pet fur, tend to absorb and trap pathogens, making it harder to contract them through touch.”

Dr. Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the AKC, says, “The CDC has not reported any cases of pets or other animals becoming infected with COVID-19 in the United States or anywhere else in the world, including hotbeds like Italy.” Dr. Klein urges common sense best practices when it comes to our pets: “If you have children, you wouldn’t have them touch a puppy and put their fingers in their mouth, because they can have fecal contamination,” he says. “The general practice of washing our hands after touching a puppy or a dog—that’s normal hygiene.”

Can I walk my dog? Physical and mental exercise are extremely important for dogs and dog owners alike. Before taking a walk, check your local regulations. As long as the area where you reside remains safe enough to venture outside, dog owners feeling healthy and well should plan to continue walking their dogs daily, albeit with added safety measures. Observe any local ordinances concerning curfews, even if that means adjusting your dog walking schedule.

Owners should wash their hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds before and after each walk. Consider carrying around a pocket-sized bottle of hand sanitizer during your walks. Practice social distancing measures by walking your dog in uncrowded areas when possible. If you live in a big city, make efforts to take your dog down less-heavily-trafficked blocks, or try adjusting walks to less busy times of day and night.

How can dog owners protect dogs from coronavirus? For now, healthy pet owners in the U.S. don’t need to do anything other than follow basic hygienic precautions such as washing their hands with soap and water before and after contact with any animal, including dogs and cats. If you test positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, experts recommend that you should “restrict contact with [your] animals — both to avoid exposing the pets and to prevent getting the virus on their skin or fur, which might be passed on to another person who touches the animal.” To reduce the spread of all germs, you may consider wiping your pet’s paws when they come in and out of the house with a paw cleaner and paw wipes.

Dogs do not need a face mask to protect themselves against the novel coronavirus COVID-19. If you are still concerned or notice a change in your dog’s health, speak to a veterinarian. And the most important protection of all: Under no circumstances should owners abandon their dogs, cats, or other pets because of COVID-19 fears.

The AKC is here to help dog owners adapt to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Find answers to all your coronavirus concerns, plus at-home activity ideas, training tips, educational resources, and more at our ‘Coping With Coronavirus COVID-19′ hub.

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Cindy Myers Ambassador to Animals, Humans and Spirit

I love sharing my intuitive abilities with both animals and humans. I look forward to helping you restore your energy balance so you can live an abundantly joy filled life!

  **FREE WEBINAR** APR. 1ST 2020 – 6PM PST **Intuitive Listening** Learn how trapped emotions can indeed effect illness and injuries and how we can support our bodies in healing.   FIND OUT MORE              **FREE WEBINAR** APR. 15TH 2020 – 6PM PST **Animals & Emotions** This free interactive webinar focuses on animals and their emotions, as well as your ability to communicate with them.   FIND OUT MORE

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   Check out s  Get It Made, which manages about 30 websites of our own that cover various topics like  dog friendly things to do in Denver    Get It Made helps businesses and creative hustlers get things made and sell online. We also run a website featuring cool and custom products for consumers called CoolandCustom.com. Need ideas on how and what to get made? Email us at info@getitmade.co  https://getitmade.co  https://coolandcustom.com  https://www.coolandcustom.com/collections/for-pet-lovers  Instagram @getitmadeco  https://www.facebook.com/getitmadeco/  https://www.facebook.com/Cool-and-Custom-110415780343132/

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Carrie

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Hong Kong (CNN)They're your furry best friend and a fixture of your home -- but could your beloved cat or dog give you coronavirus?

Last Friday, Hong Kong's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said that samples from a dog's nasal and oral cavities had tested "weak positive" for novel coronavirus. Initially, experts believed the virus was likely to be present only on the surface of the animal. But this week authorities confirmed that the dog -- which has been in quarantine -- had repeatedly tested weak positive, indicating a low-level infection with the virus. Experts, including those from the World Organization for Animal Health, unanimously agreed that it was likely a case of human-to-animal transmission. But there's no need for pet owners to panic yet. Coronavirus outbreak: Latest news on the global pandemic "There is currently no evidence that pet animals can be a source of infection of COVID-19 or that they can become sick," the AFCD spokesman said. To be safe, the AFCD recommends that pet owners wash their hands after being around their animals, and avoid kissing them. The department also "strongly advises" that pets of people infected with coronavirus should be quarantined. Both Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and the World Organization for Animal Health reiterated that there is no evidence of pets becoming sick with Covid-19, even when infected. "Members of the public are advised to differentiate that 'being infected' does not equal being infectious and capable of spreading the Covid-19 virus," Hong Kong SPCA said in a statement. Can pets give you coronavirus? There were similar fears over coronavirus spreading to pets during the SARS outbreak in 2003, when over 280 people died in Hong Kong. Experts believe that both SARS and Covid-19 likely originated in bats. Dogs and cats do get coronaviruses -- but they are usually not the same viruses associated with this outbreak, said Jane Gray, Hong Kong SPCA's chief veterinary surgeon. The strains dogs and cats typically get don't cause respiratory problems. Back in 2003, scientists said the chance of getting SARS -- which is also a type of coronavirus -- from your cat was extremely remote.
A cat lies on the windowsill on February 16, 2020 in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. Gray, who was working in Hong Kong during SARS, said the virus was found in a small number of cats, but there was no evidence that they could pass it to humans. Could a dog be contaminated with coronavirus? We know that coronaviruses can live on surfaces and objects, although researchers don't know exactly how long this virus can linger for. This is such a concern in mainland China that the central bank has been deep cleaning and destroying potentially infected cash. In the same way, coronavirus could be present on the surface of a dog or cat, even if the dog or cat hasn't actually contracted the virus.
A Chinese woman holds her dog on a Beijing street on February 7, 2020. "Present evidence suggests that dogs are no more of a risk of spreading (coronavirus) than inanimate objects such as door handles," wrote Sheila McClelland, the founder of Hong Kong-based Lifelong Animal Protection Charity (LAP), in a letter to the Hong Kong authorities, which she shared with CNN. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the main way the disease is spreading is from person-to-person, either from when people are close together, or from respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs and sneezes. Is it worth quarantining pets? According to Gray, there is value in quarantining pets from a scientific perspective, because it allows scientists to observe how an animal relates to a disease we still know relatively little about. "Whilst it seems a bit scary, it's purely a precautionary measure, and it's certainly nothing for pet owners in general to be concerned about," said Gray.
A dog wears a mask over its mouth on a street in Beijing on February 13, 2020. Some pet owners in mainland China have been fitting their dogs with tiny face masks, but Gray said there is no benefit to that -- in fact, it's probably fairly distressing for the pet and could cause them to panic. Instead, pet owners should stick to the basics: good hygiene. Both WHO and Gray said owners should wash their hands with soap and water after touching pets. Gray said if dog owners are particularly concerned, they can wipe their dog's paws with antiseptic wipes after they have had a walk outside -- but they should take care not to overdo it, as wiping too much can dry out a dog's paws. "I am certainly not in any concern of my dog or cats, I'm far more concerned about myself catching it from a human being that has the disease," said Gray, who is a pet owner herself. What's the bigger risk? To veterinarians and animal rights experts, there is a bigger issue than the potential spread of coronavirus to pets: the spread of fear. After the announcement that the Hong Kong dog tested positive last week, the Lifelong Animal Protection Charity (LAP) -- a group which helps rehome animals in Hong Kong -- wrote to the government, saying its announcement caused "a tremendous amount of panic."
Dogs wearing masks are seen in a stroller in Shanghai on February 19, 2020. McClelland, the founder of LAP, said she had been contacted by "countless people" worried for their pets, with many anxious that their dog or cat would be forcibly set to quarantine. "In a state of panic, people could abandon or kill their pets," she said. "Other people could stigmatize people who have dogs. Dog owners could face unreasonable problems when simply walking their pets outdoors, or neighbors could create trouble for no reason." Back in 2003, there were reports of cats in Beijing being taken from the owners and killed by people worried that they could be harboring the disease, according to a New Scientist report. In Hong Kong, there was an increase of abandoned pets, said McClelland.
A Chinese woman wears a protective mask as she plays with her dogs at a park on February 25, 2020 in Beijing, China. In Wuhan -- the Chinese city at the center of the epidemic and which has been under lockdown for over a month -- pets have been trapped in apartments alone while their owners are stuck outside the city. Volunteers from Wuhan Small Animal Protection Association say they have rescued hundreds of pets left in apartments. Furry Angels Haven, a group that works to rescue homeless and neglected pets in Wuhan, said that "without a doubt" there had been an increase in abandoned pets since the outbreak and that pets were being unfairly targeted. Last week, Gray and McClelland said they hadn't seen any sign of an increase in pet abuse or abandonment in Hong Kong. Instead, they've both seen a rise in people looking into steps to export their pets overseas -- suggesting owners are looking to leave the city. Why pets are worth keeping Rather than pets being a coronavirus culprit, they are actually good to have around in this stressful period when many people are stuck working or studying from home, says Gray. Pets are likely happy to have extra time with their owners, and can help lower people's blood pressure and ease the feelings of stress, she said. "We know that stress lowers our immunity, and no one right now wants their immunity lowered," she added. That's been the case for Hong Kong resident Marco Leung, who has a seven-year-old pet dog. He's not worried about his dog getting sick from coronavirus -- although he has been taking precautions such as cleaning his dog after walks. "I know dogs will not be infected, but if the virus goes on their skin or fur, it will stay there. So if we are careful, I think it's OK," he said. He's been working from home, so he gets to spend the whole day with his pet Hung Jai, which means "little bear" in Cantonese. "Working from home is very very boring, so now I have more time for us to play together," he said.

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Heartworm Prevention for Dogs Heartworm prevention for dogs is an important concern for every pet owner. Prevention is an important part of providing essential care, and heartworm disease prevention for dogs is something every owner can do. Consider this:

Dogs have been diagnosed with heartworm disease in every state in the U.S.
Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes, so any area of the country that has mosquitoes—even just a few of them—can also have heartworm disease.
Dogs don’t just need prevention during warm-weather months. Heartworm preventives work by treating heartworms that already infected the pet within the past month or longer; meanwhile, preventives need to be given on time, every time to be effective. That’s why the American Heartworm Society recommends year-round heartworm prevention for pets.
The American Heartworm Society estimates that more than a million dogs in the U.S. have heartworm disease—and heartworm disease can be fatal.
Cats and ferrets can also get heartworm disease.
Heartworm preventives are safe, relatively inexpensive and easy to give, but if a dog becomes infected, heartworm treatment can be costly and difficult, requiring multiple veterinary visits and months of exercise restriction.
While there are drug-free strategies owners can put in place to reduce a pet’s exposure to mosquitoes, there’s no such thing as a “natural” heartworm preventives.

Heartworm preventives come in different forms, including monthly chewable pills and topical “spot on” medications, as well as an injectable medication that is given every 6 or 12 months. Heartworm preventives are available only by prescription from veterinarians.

Some preventives only prevent heartworms, some protect pets from heartworms and intestinal parasites, and some protect pets from many different parasites, including heartworms, intestinal worms, fleas, ticks and mites. Because veterinarians know which parasites are common in the area in which they practice, owners should talk to their pet’s doctor about what product or products will be best for their pets.

For more information on the “dos” and “don’ts” of heartworm prevention in dogs, click here.

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When you bring that soft, sweet-smelling little ball of a puppy into your home, you know right away that she depends on you for, well, everything. It’s up to you to give her all the care she needs every day. It can be a little intimidating — she needs the best puppy food, plenty of attention, gentle training, safe toys, puppy socialization, a comfortable home, and proper veterinary care. And that includes puppy shots throughout her first year.

Which Vaccinations Do Puppies Need? Going to the vet repeatedly over several months for vaccinations, and then for boosters or titers throughout your dog’s life, may seem like an inconvenience, but the diseases that vaccinations will shield our pets from are dangerous, potentially deadly, and, thankfully, mostly preventable.

We read about so many different vaccinations, for so many different illnesses, that it can sometimes be confusing to know which vaccinations puppies need and which ones are important but optional. Here is an overview of the diseases that vaccinations will help your pet to avoid.

Bordetella Bronchiseptica This highly infectious bacterium causes severe fits of coughing, whooping, vomiting, and, in rare cases, seizures and death. It is the primary cause of kennel cough. There are injectable and nasal spray vaccines available.

Canine Distemper A severe and contagious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal (GI), and nervous systems of dogs, raccoons, skunks, and other animals, distemper spreads through airborne exposure (through sneezing or coughing) from an infected animal. The virus can also be transmitted by shared food and water bowls and equipment. It causes discharges from the eyes and nose, fever, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, twitching, paralysis, and, often, death. This disease used to be known as “hard pad” because it causes the footpad to thicken and harden.

There is no cure for distemper. Treatment consists of supportive care and efforts to prevent secondary infections, control symptoms of vomiting, seizures and more. If the animal survives the symptoms, it is hoped that the dog’s immune system will have a chance to fight it off. Infected dogs can shed the virus for months.

Canine Hepatitis Infectious canine hepatitis is a highly contagious viral infection that affects the liver, kidneys, spleen, lungs, and the eyes of the affected dog. This disease of the liver is caused by a virus that is unrelated to the human form of hepatitis. Symptoms range from a slight fever and congestion of the mucous membranes to vomiting, jaundice, stomach enlargement, and pain around the liver. Many dogs can overcome the mild form of the disease, but the severe form can kill. There is no cure, but doctors can treat the symptoms.

Canine Parainfluenza One of several viruses that can contribute to kennel cough.

Corona Virus It is a virus that usually affects dogs’ gastrointestinal systems, though it can also cause respiratory infections. Signs include most GI symptoms, including loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. Doctors can keep a dog hydrated, warm, and comfortable, and help alleviate nausea, but no drug kills coronaviruses.

Heartworm When your puppy is around 12-to-16 weeks, talk to your vet about starting her on a heartworm preventive. Though there is no vaccine for this condition, it is preventable with regular medication. The name is descriptive — these worms lodge in the right side of the heart and the pulmonary arteries (that send blood to the lungs), though they can travel through the rest of the body and sometimes invade the liver and kidneys. The worms can grow to 14 inches long and, if clumped together, block and injure organs. A new infection often causes no symptoms, though dogs in later stages of the disease may cough, become lethargic, lose their appetite or have difficulty breathing. Infected dogs may tire after mild exercise. Unlike most of the conditions listed here, which are passed by urine, feces, and other body fluids, heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes. Therefore, diagnosis is made via a blood test and not a fecal exam. The FDA has more information about heartworm.

Kennel Cough Also known as infectious tracheobronchitis, kennel cough results from inflammation of the upper airways. It can be caused by bacterial, viral, or other infections, such as Bordetella and canine parainfluenza, and often involves multiple infections simultaneously. Usually, the disease is mild, causing bouts of harsh, dry coughing; sometimes it’s severe enough to spur retching and gagging, along with a loss of appetite. In rare cases, it can be deadly. It is easily spread between dogs kept close together, which is why it passes quickly through kennels. Antibiotics are usually not necessary, except in severe, chronic cases. Cough suppressants can make a dog more comfortable.

Leptospirosis Unlike most diseases on this list, Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria, and some dogs may show no symptoms at all. Leptospirosis can be found worldwide in soil and water. It is a zoonotic disease, meaning that it can be spread from animals to people. When symptoms do appear, they can include fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, severe weakness and lethargy, stiffness, jaundice, muscle pain, infertility, kidney failure (with or without liver failure). Antibiotics are effective, and the sooner they are given, the better.

Lyme Disease Unlike the famous “bull’s-eye” rash that people exposed to Lyme disease often spot, no such telltale symptom occurs in dogs. Lyme disease (or borreliosis) is an infectious, tick-borne disease caused by a type of bacteria called a spirochete. Transmitted via ticks, an infected dog often starts limping, his lymph nodes swell, his temperature rises, and he stops eating. The disease can affect his heart, kidney, and joints, among other things, or lead to neurological disorders if left untreated. If diagnosed quickly, a course of antibiotics is extremely helpful, though relapses can occur months or even years later.

Parvovirus Parvo is a highly contagious virus that affects all dogs, but unvaccinated dogs and puppies less than four months of age are at the most risk to contract it. The virus attacks the gastrointestinal system and creates a loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, and often severe, bloody diarrhea. Extreme dehydration can come on rapidly and kill a dog within 48-to-72 hours, so prompt veterinary attention is crucial. There is no cure, so keeping the dog hydrated and controlling the secondary symptoms can keep him going until his immune system beats the illness.

Rabies Rabies is a viral disease of mammals that invades the central nervous system, causing headache, anxiety, hallucinations, excessive drooling, fear of water, paralysis, and death. It is most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Treatment within hours of infection is essential, otherwise, death is highly likely. Most states require a rabies vaccination. Check with your vet about rabies vaccination laws in your area.

Of course, your veterinarian should weigh in and can always provide more information and guidance if needed on necessary and optional vaccinations.

Puppy Vaccination Schedule

The first thing to know is that there is not just one puppy vaccination schedule for all dogs. Factors such as which part of the country you live in, and your dog’s individual risk factors will come into play. Some dogs do not need every vaccine. This decision is between you and your veterinarian. Always discuss puppy vaccinations at your regularly scheduled appointments.

That said, here is a generally accepted guideline of the puppy vaccination schedule for the first year.

Puppy Vaccinations Cost How much vaccinations for your puppy will cost depends on several factors. Where you live is one: Veterinarians in crowded and expensive urban areas will charge more than a rural vet in a small town. In other words, there are significant differences in price. But no matter what the range in costs, some vaccines, such as the “core vaccines,” and for rabies, are necessary.

Vet Info has a helpful guide for the approximate cost of puppy vaccinations for her first year.

The average cost will be around $75—100. These will include the core vaccines, which are administered in a series of three: at 6-, 12-, and 16 weeks old.
The core vaccines include the DHLPP (distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvo, and parainfluenza). Your pup will also need a rabies vaccination, which is usually around $15—20. (Some clinics include the cost of the rabies vaccination.)
Often animal shelters charge less for vaccines — approximately $20 — or are even free. If you acquired your dog from a shelter, he would most likely have been vaccinated, up until the age when you got him.

The initial puppy vaccination costs during the first year are higher than during adulthood.

Vaccinations After Puppyhood: Boosters and Titers There is a difference of opinion about having your adult dog vaccinated every year. Some vets believe too many vaccinations in adult dogs pose health risks. But others disagree, saying that yearly vaccinations will prevent dangerous diseases such as distemper.

Many dog owners opt for titer tests before they administer annual vaccinations. Titer tests measure a dog’s immunity levels, and this can determine which, if any, vaccinations are necessary. Please note that a titer test is not an option when it comes to the rabies vaccine. These are required by law (see above). Your vet can tell you the schedule for your particular state.

And it’s all worth it. For your effort and care your puppy will lavish you with lifelong love in return. This critical first year of her life is a fun and exciting time for both of you. As she grows physically, the wonderful bond between you will grow, too.

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Dogs Try To Befriend Porcupine And Things Don't Go As Planned Here's what to do if this happens to you (ouch!)

BY LILY FEINN PUBLISHED ON 06/29/2018          It was one of the scariest things Peggy Gamblin had ever experienced. During the night, her two dogs,  Bentley Nicole and Bullwinkle, had gone wandering around her property in Brown County, Texas, and encountered a porcupine on their turf.

When Gamblin found her dogs cowering in pain the next morning, there was no question who won the fight.

A single porcupine can have upwards of 30,000 quills, making the gentle herbivore a fierce enemy when frightened — and Gamblin’s dogs found out the hard way.

Gamblin rushed her pups to the vet, where it took over an hour and a half to remove hundreds of quills. Bullwinkle, a Boston terrier, is on the mend, but he's still recovering from the unpleasant encounter.

“It was very scary and we are still going to the vet once a week because he got a staph infection,” Gamblin told The Dodo. “He is doing better.”

As Gamblin found out, it’s not uncommon for dogs to have run-ins with porcupines— especially in the summer.

WATCH NOW Wikimedia Commons/Sandy Brown Jensen Longer daylight hours and mild evening temperatures mean that dogs often stay outside later, explains Dr. Jennifer Gorman, a veterinarian at DoveLewis Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital in Portland, Oregon. But running into the wrong critter at dusk or dawn, when porcupines are most active, can result in a painful lesson.

“Dogs who are curious about other animals or protective of their people or territory are most likely to get quilled,” Gorman tells The Dodo.

So how do dogs actually get “quilled” by a porcupine?

The prickly rodent is pretty passive when it comes to defending herself. Covered in soft hair, the quills are concentrated on their backsides where they lie flat, but if the little animal feels threatened, her spikes rise to attention.

“Contrary to popular belief, porcupines cannot ‘shoot’ quills from their body,” Gorman says. “But if a dog approaches a porcupine, the animal may defend itself with the swipe of a tail. The quills come off very easily and usually end up sticking to the dog’s face.”

   Addie, a beagle who ran into a porcupine on a hike near her Oregon home |DoveLewis Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital  If you discover quills sticking out your dog's muzzle, it’s best to seek veterinary help immediately. While it may be tempting to try removing them yourself or cutting the quills shorter, that can often do more harm than good.

“Quills have tiny barbs at the end, like a fishhook, which makes them difficult to remove and actually causes the quill to keep moving deeper into the dog’s skin tissue or muscle,” Gorman explains. “Trying to remove the quills without medical expertise, sedation and pain relief medication can be very painful for your dog and potentially result in an infection or abscess, as quills carry bacteria.”

Julianne Vet Tech@Juliannevettech

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Dogs and Ticks: What You Need to Know Pet Health and Safety • Maggie Dean • Aug 30, 2018

When is "tick season"? “Tick season” can vary depending on where you live. In general, summer and fall are peak tick seasons; however, because ticks like warmer climates, those who live in regions that stay warm year-round are at higher risk. This does not mean that you should cease tick prevention when temperatures drop. Most veterinarians will recommend that you continue tick prevention year-round in accordance to the instructions on your tick prevention of choice.

As a general rule, if your area’s average temperature is below 40 degrees, your tick risk is low. If your average temperature is between 40 and 64 degrees, you are at a moderate tick risk. Average temperatures at 65 degrees and above are at a high tick risk.

Where do ticks live? Ticks take up residence in dark, damp areas low to the ground until they find their perfect host on whom to latch. Ticks can be found anywhere from the dog park to your backyard; however, heavily wooded areas and tall grasses are where your dog is most at risk. After going on a hike or romping through the field, dogs should be checked thoroughly for ticks from nose to tail.

Where do ticks like to hide? Searching for ticks is not as simple as running a hand down your dog’s back and legs. Ticks latch firmly onto the skin, so you have to search deep within the fur to find them. Often, they are so tiny, you won’t even feel them. They can also be mistaken for a skin tag, wart or scab. (This is why it is so important to pet, bathe and groom your dog so you familiarize yourself with your dog and know what is “normal” and what is not.)

Long-haired dogs, dogs with dark-coats and dogs with an undercoat pose the most challenge as ticks are hard to feel and see. Just like in nature, ticks like warm, dark areas on your dog too. These are some common places where ticks like to hide:

Under front legs: You will commonly find ticks in your dog’s “armpits,” where it is dark and warm. Also, the skin is very thin in that area, which makes it easy for them to penetrate.
Inside groin region: Also hidden from view and thin-skinned, ticks commonly latch onto the inside of your dog’s back legs in the flank region.
Between toes: Being low to the ground, between your dog’s toes are another good hiding place for ticks. They can be difficult to detect in this location, so be sure to closely examine between the toes and webbing. (For reasons like this, it is important that your dog be comfortable with you touching his or her paws. This handling should begin when your dog is a puppy!)
In and around ears: The delicate folds and thin skin of your dog’s ears make for another easy place for ticks to hide. Ticks here can be difficult to find and often difficult to remove.
Around eyes and eyelids: Surprisingly, ticks will often latch onto the thin skin around your dog’s eye and eyelid. This is because often times your dog’s snout is sniffing the ground. Though easier to find, ticks around the eye can be precarious to remove.
Under collar or harness: Because ticks like warm, dark places, ticks will often hide under your dog’s collar or harness. Don’t forget to check there!

Can ticks make my dog sick? Just like humans, dogs are susceptible to tick-borne diseases. Below are some of the most common tick-borne diseases seen in dogs:

Lyme Disease: One of the most well-known tick-borne diseases, Lyme Disease, is typically transmitted by deer ticks and is most common in the Northeastern and Southeastern United States. Symptoms include a rash around the tick bite, fever, mild lameness, loss of appetite, and lethargy.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: Another common tick-borne disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, is transmitted by American dog ticks, Rocky Mountain wood ticks and brown dog ticks. It is prevalent throughout all regions of the United States. Symptoms include lethargy, stomach pain, and vomiting. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can be fatal if not treated promptly, so if you have any concerns, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Ehrlichiosis: Another common tick-borne disease, Ehrlichiosis, is primarily transmitted by brown dog ticks. Brown dog ticks can be found throughout the United States but are most prevalent in warmer climates, such as the South and Southeast. Symptoms of Ehrlichiosis include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, lymph node enlargement, and sometimes abnormal bruising.

Ticks bites can also cause a local reaction - like a bump, scab, reddening or itchiness - in the area of the tick bite. This may not be cause for concern. If symptoms persist beyond 24 hours after tick removal, worsen or are accompanied by other symptoms, contact your veterinarian.

How do I prevent ticks? Staying diligent with your tick prevention regimen is key! A variety of prevention methods are available, including oral medications, topical treatments, and collars. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you on what method will be most effective for you and your dog. Region, lifestyle and the individual dog all play a role. Sometimes a method that works for one dog, won’t work for another, so you may have to use trial and error to determine the best method for your pup.

What do I do if I find a tick on my dog? Don’t panic! Most of the time, tick bites do not cause your dog any harm. If your dog is on tick prevention, a tick can still bite your dog but will die before it can cause any negative effects. The tick may fall off on its own or you may notice the tick is not alive when you remove it.

Ticks can transmit disease in as little as 36 hours, so removing them immediately is important. Removing ticks is fairly straight-forward and most pet owners are comfortable with the below process:

Wear latex or vinyl exam gloves when removing ticks to avoid contact with blood if the tick is engorged.
Grasp the tick as closely to the skin as possible using fine, sharp tweezers. In one, fluid motion, carefully pull the tick straight up from the skin.
Check the area to ensure that the full tick has been removed completely. (If a tick is firmly latched on, sometimes the head can remain in the skin.)
Dispose of the tick by flushing it down the toilet, dousing it in rubbing alcohol or trapping it in a piece of tape before placing it in the trash. Ticks are very hardy and could reattach to someone if not disposed of properly! They cannot be disposed of with regular “conventional bug” methods (i.e. in a tissue in your trash can).
Give your dog a treat!
Continue to check the site for several days. As previously stated, some reddening and itching can occur. If reddening worsens, you observe any inflammation or oozing, or it appears that your dog is in pain, contact your veterinarian.

If for whatever reason you are uncomfortable, contact your veterinarian. They will be more than happy to remove it for you or can walk you through the process.

To hedge your bets against avoiding ticks altogether, stay diligent with your tick prevention! Follow your veterinarian’s recommendations for a tick-free season! AKC Pet Insurance offers two wellness options for reimbursement on your flea and tick preventative care to keep your dog healthy and happy!

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn     About the Author Maggie Dean Maggie Dean is the proud owner of a Bichon Frise / Cocker Spaniel mix named Rocco and a Holland Lop rabbit, Bunson. She’s been the Inbound Marketer at AKC Pet Insurance since 2016 but has had a passion for animals her whole life. If you’re an animal lover, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook to keep up with all things cute, funny, and interesting!

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Essential Oils are a hot topic with humans and their pets.

For more information or questions, please contact Carey at simpleoilgirl@gmail.com.

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By Jennifer Coates, DVM

Grief is a natural response when a family member or friend dies. We know this for ourselves, but is the same true for our pets? The answer is “yes.” Pets can grieve, but just like us, each responds in his or her own way. The behaviors that you might observe vary based on how close the relationship between the individuals was and the pet’s temperament. But regardless of how grief is displayed, pet parents can do a lot to help. Here are five tips for helping pets deal with their grief.

1. Recognize the Signs Think of all the ways that you’ve seen people deal with loss. Some want to be left alone while others crave company. Some cry inconsolably while others are stoic. All of these reactions can be normal.

A recent study showed just how varied pets’ reactions to loss can be. Researchers in New Zealand and Australia surveyed pet owners regarding how their surviving pets reacted to the loss of an animal companion. The research involved 159 dogs and 152 cats. Take a look at this table that reveals some of the study’s more fascinating findings.

| Behavioral Change | Percentage of Dogs Involved | Percentage of Cats Involved | | More demanding of attention | 35 | 40 | | Being clingy or needy | 26 | 22 | | Seeking less affection from owners | 10 | 15 | | Seeking out the deceased’s favorite spot | 30 | 36 | | Increased duration sleep | 34 | 20 | | Decreased amount eaten | 35 | 21 | | Slower eating | 31 | 12 | | Increased frequency of vocalizations | 27 | 43 | | Increased volume of vocalizations | 19 | 32 |

Other behavioral changes that were observed included avoidance of regular sleeping locations, aggression toward people and other animals, and changes in elimination behaviors (e.g., litter box use).

2. Give Them What They Need When dealing with a grief, owners should respect what the pet is trying to communicate. For example, if a pet seeks out more attention, give it to her, but don’t force yourself on a pet who wants to spend some quiet time alone in her friend’s favorite spot.

That said, trying to encourage a grieving and withdrawn pet to engage in some favorite activities is a good idea, just respect an answer of “not right now” if that’s what you get. Try taking your dog out for a walk around the neighborhood or break out your cat’s laser pointer. If your pet usually enjoys spending time with particular human or animal friends, invite them over for a visit. Food treats can also be used to encourage grieving pets to get involved with family activities once again.

3. Time Your Attention Appropriately On the other hand, if your pet’s grief is causing him to act in ways that are problematical (howling, for example), make sure that your attempts to console him aren’t inadvertently reinforcing that behavior. If possible, ignore the behavior while it is occurring. Only give your pet attention, treats, or anything else that he might be seeking when he is acting in the way that you want him to. While it may seem cruel to ignore a pet who is suffering, remember that these behaviors will pass with time, unless your pet learns that they are the way to get what he wants.

Be careful when it comes to attention-seeking behavior. As long as your pet is not being overly-demanding and doesn’t react poorly when you stop giving attention, it’s fine to respond to a gentle head on your knee or leap into your lap with affection. But if your pet is becoming too insistent, make sure you are the one to initiate your cuddle sessions, not the other way around.

4. Don’t Rush the Process Some pets will go through the grieving process quickly or not appear to grieve at all, while others may seem to get stuck. The study mentioned above found that for a typical pet, grieving behaviors lasted for less than six months, but this is still longer than many owners might suspect. In general, pets who are making their way through their grief in a healthy manner improve gradually as time goes on. The cat who didn’t want to play at all one week will bat around the catnip mouse for a few minutes the next, or the dog who would only eat treats for a few days starts nibbling at his regular food again.

5. Know When Veterinary Attention Is Necessary Pets who stop improving, take a step backward, or develop symptoms like persistent loss of appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea that are typically associated with physical illness should be evaluated by a veterinarian. Sometimes the stress caused by the loss of a companion can bring about serious health issues that need to be addressed. On the other hand, if your veterinarian gives your pet a clean bill of health, he or she may be able to prescribe medications or recommend other forms of treatment that will improve your pet’s outlook on life.

In conclusion, pets grieve the loss of a beloved family member in much the same way as we do and have many of the same needs during this difficult time. While it can be difficult to focus on your pet’s grief when you are in mourning yourself, doing so has a way of making everyone feel better in the end.

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What is Canine Influenza? with Dr. Susan McMillan, owner of Vet to Pet Mobile Veterinary Service in Burlington, Vermont.

As travel season ramps up, you need to know and understand canine influenza and how to protect your pooch.

Susan, Welcome to Bark & Wag’s 15 minute Vet Talk – It is a pleasure to have you on the podcast today. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your practice before we begin on the topic of What is Canine Influenza?

Canine influenza (CI, or dog flu) in the U.S. is caused by the canine influenza virus (CIV), an influenza A virus. It is highly contagious and easily spread from infected dogs to other dogs through direct contact, nasal secretions (through barking, coughing or sneezing), contaminated objects (kennel surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes), and by people moving between infected and uninfected dogs. Dogs of any breed, age, sex or health status are at risk of infection when exposed to the virus. In early 2016, a group of cats in an Indiana shelter were infected with H3N2 canine influenza (passed to them by infected dogs), and the findings suggested that cat-to-cat transmission was possible.

Unlike seasonal flu in people, canine influenza can occur year round. So far, there is no evidence that canine influenza infects people. However, it does appear that at least some strains of the disease can infect cats.

Canine influenza symptoms and diagnosis

CIV infection resembles canine infectious tracheobronchitis ("kennel cough"). The illness may be mild or severe, and infected dogs develop a persistent cough and may develop a thick nasal discharge and fever (often 104-105oF). Other signs can include lethargy, eye discharge, and reduced appetite. Some dogs may not show signs of illness, but can shed the virus and infect other dogs.

Most dogs recover within 2-3 weeks. However, secondary bacterial infections can develop, and may cause more severe illness and pneumonia. Anyone with concerns about their pet’s health, or whose pet is showing signs of canine influenza, should contact their veterinarian.

CIV can be diagnosed early in the illness (less than 3 days) by testing a nasal or throat swab. The most accurate test for CIV infection is a blood test that requires a sample taken during the first week of illness, followed by a second sample 10-14 days later.

Cats infected with H3N2 canine influenza show symptoms of upper respiratory illness, including a runny nose, congestion, malaise, lip smacking, and excessive salivation.

Transmission and prevention of canine influenza

Dogs are most contagious during the two- to four-day incubation period for the virus, when they are infected and shedding the virus in their nasal secretions but are not showing signs of illness. Almost all dogs exposed to CIV will become infected, and the majority (80%) of infected dogs develop flu-like illness. The mortality (death) rate is low (less than 10%).

The spread of CIV can be reduced by isolating ill dogs as well as those who are known to have been exposed to an infected dog and those showing signs of respiratory illness. Good hygiene and sanitation, including hand washing and thorough cleaning of shared items and kennels, also reduce the spread of CIV. Influenza viruses do not usually survive in the environment beyond 48 hours and are inactivated or killed by commonly used disinfectants.

There are vaccines against the H3N8 strain of canine influenza, which was first discovered in 2004 and until 2015 was the only strain of canine influenza found in the United States. However, a 2015 outbreak of canine influenza in Chicago was traced to the H3N2 strain – the first reporting of this strain outside of Asia – and it is not known whether the H3N8 vaccine provides any protection against this strain. Used against H3N8, the vaccines may not completely prevent infection, but appear to reduce the severity and duration of the illness, as well as the length of time when an infected dog may shed the virus in its respiratory secretions and the amount of virus shed – making them less contagious to other dogs.

In November 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture granted a conditional license to Zoetis to market the first commercially available H3N2 canine influenza vaccine. Later that month, Merck Animal Health announced the availability of an H3N2 canine influenza vaccine, also conditionally licensed by USDA. None of the currently available H3N2 canine influenza vaccines are approved for use in cats.

The CIV vaccination is a "lifestyle" vaccination, recommended for dogs at risk of exposure due to their increased exposure to other dogs – such as boarding, attending social events with dogs present, and visiting dog parks.

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Putting Your Dog To Sleep – When Is The ‘Right’ Time? ‘How will I know it’s the right time to euthanize my dog?’

This is probably one of the most common questions owners ask, and the most difficult one to answer.

I’ve seen (and felt) the distress, pain and internal battle that it causes.

In fact, there may not be a clear-cut ‘right’ time to euthanize your dog, but there is often (although not always) a window where it could be considered the ‘best’ time for a number of reasons.

There are some situations where the answer to this question is pretty clear-cut: * When a dog is in severe, chronic pain which can’t be relieved * When a dog is critically injured and won’t be unable to survive the damage * If a dog’s quality of life is so poor that he/she is merely ‘existing’ not ‘living’

But, there are more ‘gray’ areas than black and white.

Which is the right choice to make when:

Our dog is in long-term chronic pain, but it IS relieved by medication/treatment
He isn’t able to run/play and barely eats, but still seems to be comfortable
She has a terminal disease, but doesn’t have any insurmountable symptoms – yet
Our dog is mostly anxious/confused but has short periods of being her ‘old self’
He has no appetite, often refuses to drink and has trouble with incontinence

There are also other potentially difficult situations, such as:

When a dog is aggressive to the point of being dangerous, and training, behavioral modification and other treatments haven’t helped.
When finances simply don’t allow you to afford on-going, long-term treatment for your dog’s severe, chronic, and eventually terminal health conditions.
When your dog could survive for some time to come, but his life will be full of vet visits, painful treatments, anxiety and stress… with no hope of recovery, just management.

All of the above clearly shows that there is NO single, one-size-fits-all answer to any of these questions. As owners, we know our dogs better than anyone else in the world.

We have to rely on our veterinarian’s for professional advice, but it’s important to remember that they only see our pets for very short periods of time – and that their advice will be based on general veterinary principles.

They have to be more objective that we are… and a veterinarian’s objectivity is sometimes essential if emotions are getting in the way of a decision that obviously needs to be made.

If chronic, serious and debilitating illness is the reason you’re trying to decide whether or not to put your dog to sleep, your vet’s input is very important.

But… your vet doesn’t know Fido the way you do.

He can’t tell what your dog is feeling by the way he holds his ears, or ‘read’ the look in his eye…. but you can.

Your dog can’t tell you when he’s in pain, in fact he’ll most likely try his best to pretend he’s fine, so don’t assume that if he’s not crying or whining then he’s fine.

Common signs of distress/pain in dogs include:

Excessive panting and/or drooling
Excessive shaking & shivering – even in a warm environment
A distended, rigid tummy
Short, rapid breathing patterns
Lethargy, hiding, excessive sleeping
Whining, crying or whimpering – when touched, moved or at any time
Loss of appetite and/or thirst
Vomiting, excessive yawning, retching

For a more detailed look at the way dogs handle, exhibit (and sometimes hide) pain check out this page Is My Dog in Pain?

Chronic problems like arthritis , poor sight or hearing, incontinence or confusion (such as seen in Old Dog Syndrome) can usually be managed effectively for some time, but eventually there will be a point where you have to differentiate between a ‘fair’ quality of life, and one that is ‘unfair’, to both of you.

But do remember, that what WE as humans might consider a poor quality of life, isn’t necessarily perceived the same way by our dogs.

Dogs don’t worry about the future,

There’s often a relationship between dog and owner that is more ‘sixth sense’ than it is physical communication, and your ‘gut’ may well guide you when it comes to choosing the right, or best, time to help him reach the Rainbow Bridge.

There’s no single way to make this difficult decision, as every dog, every owner and every situation (and combination of these three) is different.

I recently came across a couple of websites which might be of interest to anyone who is caring for a terminally ill senior dog, or grieving (whether in advance, or after the fact) the death of a beloved pet.

There’s information, advice, support, lists of relevant organizations & services (including pet cemeteries and crematoriums) plus newsletters, in memoriams, chat rooms and more. Check these out:

International Association of Animal Hospice & Palliative Care (IAAHPC)

The Association for Pet Loss & Bereavement (APLB)

Dr. Susan McMillan

http://www.oldnorthendvet.com/hospice.html

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8 Clear Signs That Your Dog May Be Cold Here are some of the things to look out for, how to tell if your dog is cold in those conditions and the best way to avoid letting your dog getting cold.

1. Weather. The most important thing to look out for is how cold it is outside. If it is too cold for you to be outside, it is too cold for your dog to be outside. Yes, your dog has fur, but you more than likely have a coat on. If you feel cold even with a coat on, your dog feels cold even with their fur. Even with fur, some dogs will still feel extremely cold when outside in the cold. Regardless, your dog should not be left outside alone during cold weather.

2. Shivering. Dogs show a visible reaction to the cold. If your dog is shivering or trembling, they are likely too cold to be outside. Excessive shaking is another way your dog shows signs that they may be too cold. Don't let your dog stay in the cold the minute you see him shivering and trembling; bring him into warmth.

3. Cold ears. Even when dogs are cold, their body may feel warm to the touch due to fur. If you don't know how to tell if your dog is cold or are unsure if he is, feel their ears. If their ears feel cold, particularly around the edges, it is time to bring your dog inside. If their body feels cold to the touch, they are definitely cold and should be brought inside immediately. It would be ideal to offer your dog a blanket once they are inside.

4. Slow movements. Another good tip on how to tell if your dog is cold is observe his movements. Your dog will look like they don’t want to be outside when they are feeling cold. You will see your pooch walking slowly. If you are outside with your dog and notice that they are attempting to hide behind or under different objects, they are likely attempting to shelter themselves from the cold. If you notice these signs with your dog, it is time to go inside.

5. Curling up. When dogs are cold, they attempt to warm themselves up with their body heat. If you notice your dog curling up into a ball when outside, or is hunched over with their tail tucked in, they are very likely cold. When you notice this, it would be wise to take your dog indoors to warm up as soon as possible.

6. Limping. A dog’s paws are especially sensitive to cold weather and you must always take precautions to care for your dog's paws. If your dog's paws are unprotected, and the ground is colder than the air, your canine will get cold much quicker. When your dog starts to limp, they are trying to tell you that their paws are too cold and it is a sign that your dog is too cold. You can always get your dog booties to keep him warmer for longer.

7. Whining. When dogs become uncomfortable due to the cold, they will attempt to let you know. They may do so with whining, whimpering, or barking. If your dog starts behaving adnormal without any clear reason, consider if they may be exposed to too much cold or wind chill. Cold dogs may look agitated or anxious. You should help your dog warm up if you notice these signs.

8. Extreme sleepiness/lethargy. Finally, another clear sign on how to tell if your dog is cold is if your dog appears to be extremely sleepy or lethargic, and this could be very serious. This is most likely a sign of hypothermia, not just your dog being cold. Another sign of hypothermia is clumsiness.

When you notice this, you need to bring your dog inside immediately so he can warm up. Take your dog to the veterinarian or call a vet immediately if he is stiff, is having a hard time breathing, or is barely moving. Taking quick action can save your dog’s life.

Winter months can be hard on your dog, and things can become dangerous quickly if you aren’t paying attention. The steps mentioned above should help you know when your dog is too cold, and if you notice these signs, you should take steps to warm them up immediately. Being in the cold for too long can lead to frostbite or hypothermia, which can be fatal. During the winter, dogs should not be left alone outside, and if you do, make sure they have a shelter like a dog house with heater.

READ NEXT: Cold Weather Preparation for Dogs

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How to Keep Your Pets Safe Through the Holidays The holiday season is one of the most magical and highly anticipated times of the year in most households. It’s a time of year
when the home is decked out in beautiful decorations, and filled with the scintillating aromas of delicious holiday foods.

But, as exciting and wonderful as Thanksgiving and Christmas can be, special consideration needs to be applied to the family pets during the holidays. With so many new smells and items inside the home to discover, this time of year can be especially dangerous to curious pets. This guide will provide the tips you need to help ensure your pets stay safe throughout the holidays.

Holiday Foods to Watch Out For

Food plays a major role in most family get-togethers over the holidays, especially on Thanksgiving. And, all too often, it’s not just the family that overindulges. The family dog also tends to get her fair share. The problem is, not all holiday foods are good for dogs to eat. Here’s a list of foods to keep away from your pet this holiday season:

Chocolate
Coffee
Tea
Alcohol
Gravies or leftover grease
Uncooked scraps (meat, fish, and poultry)
Bones (meat, fish, and poultry)
Grapes and raisins
Macadamia nuts
Uncooked yeast dough
Anything containing artificial sweeteners, especially xylitol

After cooking, you should immediately wrap up any plastic, strings, or aluminum foil that came into contact with food, place them in the garbage, and take the garbage outside. Dogs have an incredibly keen sense of smell, and they will try to take these items out of the garbage if they aren’t taken out of the home. And should they ingest these items, it could present a wide array of problems.

Poisonous Holiday Plants That Are Dangerous for Pets

The poinsettia is a traditional holiday plant in many American households. But this popular plant contains a sap that can be highly toxic to dogs and cats. The irritating sap can cause extreme stomach upset and blisters in the mouth.

Other common holiday plants to avoid include mistletoe and holly (both the leaves and berries). Each of these can cause severe stomach problems and in some cases even prove fatal to dogs and cats. If you want to decorate your home with holiday plants, then make sure they are well out of reach of your pets or better yet, use artificial versions of the plants.

Dangerous Decorations and Wrappings

Ribbons, strings, yarns, and glittery silver “icicles” can prove irresistible to both dogs and cats. And, while it may be fun to watch your pet play, these items can be extremely dangerous. If these items get ingested, they can cause severe abdominal blockages, which often require surgery to remove. In some cases, the blockage can even prove fatal.

You should also keep any adhesives and glues away from your pet, as well as potpourri. These things contain ingredients that can be toxic to pets.

Candles are another dangerous decoration to keep well away from your pets. Lit candles can cause burns, or, your pet may knock the candle from its stance, causing a fire in the home.

Christmas Tree Warnings Concerning Pets in the Home

The Christmas tree, as beautiful as it is, is one of the more dangerous holiday items for your pets. The tree’s needles can prove highly toxic to pets, causing stomach and mouth irritation. Flocking and artificial snow can also produce stomach upset if ingested.

Then, there is the risk of your pets chewing on electrical cords or Christmas light strings. Spraying the cords with a product designed to deter chewing can help in this regard. Also, some lights burn so hot your pet may suffer mild burns should they come into contact with them, so try to use only low-heat LED lighting on your tree.

You should also avoid decorating your tree with real food items like candy canes or using glass ornaments. If you have delicate ornaments that you just can’t leave off the tree, be sure to place them high up on the tree to minimize the risk of them getting broken.

Lastly, dogs and cats will sometimes be attracted to the water in the tree stand, especially when tree preservatives are used because these contain sugars. The problem is, the standing water can harbor potentially harmful bacteria or pull some of the fertilizers, pesticides, or insecticides used on the tree into the water. You don’t want your pet drinking tree stand water!

Stay Safe, Relax, and Enjoy the Holidays With Your Pet

The holidays can be an overwhelming and hectic time for most families, and the family pet will often feel the stress too. Protect your pet from the above risks, try to relax (especially if you’re taking time off from work!), and be sure you spend some quality time with your pet this holiday season. That will be all your pet needs to enjoy the splendor of the holidays!

Author: Giano Panzarella

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Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking to Ames Grobstein and today we are discussing designer dogs. Dr. Grobstein is a Veterinarian from Dorr, Michigan. Ames, thank you for taking the time to talk about designer dogs. My girlfriend has a Puggle. It barks like a beagle and snores like a Pug. What the heck is a designer dog?

A "designer" dog (as the media has labeled them) is a cross between two purebred dogs. A purebred dog is one that has been bred over many generations to breed true, meaning each puppy that is born looks and has the same temperament and characteristics as the others. In most cases a standard is written and breeders must follow this written standard. Only dogs that make the written standard are to be bred. Purebred dogs are beneficial in that when you buy a purebred dog you know what you are getting. You know how big your puppy will grow and you know basically what type of care the dog will need. You know the dog’s limits, whether it is capable of agility, hunting, search and rescue, police work, herding, flock guarding, or just simply being a companion dog. You have a pretty good idea how much exercise the dog will require. When one breeds purebred dogs great care must be taken to ensure the lines do not become too thin. Even with all the best DNA testing available genetic problems can occur, however with the proper testing these problems can be greatly reduced. To give you a simple analogy, let's say there was a law passed that stated only people with red hair and green eyes with a high IQ could have children, with the end goal being everyone in the USA to be smart with red hair and green eyes. If this were to happen, as you can imagine, our gene pool would eventually become thin, and many genetic problems would occur. This is why it is very important to ask breeders of purebred dogs what types of genetic testing they perform.

What's the difference between a designer dog and a mutt? Generally, a mutt is of uncertain ancestry. A designer dog has documented purebred ancestry, and one knows for sure what it is. The ACHC is the leading registry for designer dogs.

So what's up with these hybrid "designer" dogs? Are they healthier? Hybrid dogs can still have genetic problems because you are crossing two first-generation dogs, however the percentage of hybrid dogs with genetic problems is much lower than purebred dogs because the gene pool is mixed. Breeders who breed purebred to purebred creating a first generation hybrid believe in the heterosis effect and hybrid vigor. Vigor means "physical or mental strength, energy, or force. "Unlike purebred dogs, when you adopt a hybrid, you do not know exactly what the temperament, size of the dog, or exact look of the dog will be.

When you breed two different types of purebred dogs together you can get any combination of any of the characteristics found in either breed. If you are stuck on a hybrid dog how do you know which one to choose? Read the temperament and care for both breeds in the cross and be prepared for any combination of the two. If everything about both breeds matches your and your family’s personality and lifestyle, then you can most likely assume this cross will work for you. If there is ANYTHING about either breed in the cross that you do not feel matches what you are looking for, avoid that cross. Do not assume or take the chance that only the good characteristics will emerge. You may be in for a big surprise and it is not fair to the puppy to chance that.

It is also important to be aware not all of these designer hybrid dogs being bred are 50% purebred to 50% purebred. It is very common for breeders to breed multi-generation crosses. A simple F1 generation cross is said to produce the most hybrid vigor in the dog and the further down the multi-generation chain, the more vigor is lost in the hybrid, but there are some benefits to multi-generation crossing. If you want to greaten your chances of certain traits, such as non-shedding, sometimes it is necessary to move further down the generation chain, risking less vigor.

To help you understand this concept we will use the Goldendoodle as an example. A Goldendoodle is a cross between the Golden Retriever and the Poodle (usually the Standard Poodle). In general we will call the first purebred "purebred-A" and the second "purebred-B." Note: the examples of the differences in coat only apply to the Goldendoodle hybrid; all other hybrids will vary in their own way depending on what breeds are in the cross.

F1=first generation puppy—50% purebred-A and 50% purebred-B. For example, a Golden Retriever to Poodle cross is first generation, resulting in healthier offspring. In this particular Goldendoodle cross, hair type can be smooth like a Golden, wiry like an Irish wolfhound or wavy/shaggy, they can shed or not shed and pups in the same litter can vary. This is not the best cross for people with severe allergies.

F1b=backcross puppy—25% purebred-A and 75% purebred-B. For example, an F1 Goldendoodle and Poodle cross; this is a Goldendoodle bred back to Poodle— the wavy, curly, shaggy-look doodle (poodle cross) is very consistent in coat types. F1b is the MOST likely of any doodle to be non-shedding and allergy-friendly, and is the easiest coat to take care of.

F2=second-generation puppy—F1 hybrid crossed with an F1 hybrid. For example, an F1 Goldendoodle crossed with an F1 Goldendoodle. In this combination you get the same percentage of purebred-A as purebred-B as you would in an F1 hybrid. In the case of the Goldendoodle, they are more likely to shed.

F2b=second-generation backcross puppy—F1 bred to a F1b (hybrid backcross)

F3=F2 hybrid to F2 hybrid

Multi-generation=F3 or higher-generation hybrid crossed with F3 or higher-generation hybrid

To sum things up:

Purebred-A x Purebred-B = F1 Hybrid Dog

F1 x Purebred-A = F1b Hybrid Dog

F1 x F1 = F2 Hybrid Dog

F1 x F1b = F2b Hybrid Dog

F2 x F2 = F3 Hybrid Dog

Dogs are not to be disposed of like old toasters when they do not perform as you wish. They are living creatures. Cross a Labrador with a Poodle (Labradoodle) and you may or may not get a dog that sheds. Most experienced breeders can give you a pretty good idea what characteristics in a pup will emerge as the puppy grows. For example, in the Labradoodle, some breeders are able to tell which coat the pup will have, the Poodle’s or the Labrador’s, but still, this cannot be guaranteed. Sometimes it is harder to tell what type of temperament the pup will take on, as some characteristics do not appear until the pup is older, past adopting age.

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Welcome to Bark & Wag’s 15 minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking to one of our favorite vets, Dr. Susan McMillan, owner of Vet to Pet Mobile Veterinary Service in Burlington, Vermont we
will be discussing annual exams for your pet.

Thanks for agreeing to do discuss what to expect when taking your dog to the vet for an annual exam. Welcome Dr. Susan McMillan.

Let's just say you came in for your pet's routine yearly vaccination. Usually this is a good time for the doctor to take a really close look at your pet -- a good time to do an annual physical exam.

Written notes on the patient's medical chart are absolutely necessary in order to maintain a good medical history.

Computers are an excellent way for the veterinarian to access current information on new techniques, medications and procedures.

A good physical exam includes taking the patient's temperature. Normal temperature for a dog or cat varies between 101 and 102.5 degrees; that's a bit higher than our normal temperature.

Skin and coat are really excellent indicators of the pet's health status.

The vast majority of skin and coat problems are associated with grain-based diets of poor quality and during the physical exam your veterinarian should inquire about the pet's diet.

Your veterinarian should examine both ears, too.

Many dogs (and cats) suffer from allergies. Skin and ear infections are commonly the result of repeated allergic episodes.

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Welcome to Bark & Wag’s 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking to Dr. Laura Brown, a Veterinarian and owner of Green Tree Animal Hospital in Libertyville, IL as we discuss dental health.

Dr. Brown, thank you for taking the time to talk about dental health with our dogs. Welcome and please let us know more about our dog’s teeth?

Vet Clinic Hygiene

Why it is important to have professional cleanings?

How often?

Why is it so important to your pet’s overall health?

How it is done?

Home Oral Hygiene

Home oral hygiene can make a tremendous difference in your dog’s comfort and health. There are several home care oral hygiene options from which to choose, but keep in mind that anything you can do to help prevent plaque and tartar accumulation will pay big dividends. What really matters is whether or not home oral hygiene will be provided over the long haul – considerable effort applied only for a short period or only occasionally will be of no long-term benefit.

Options for home oral hygiene that have been proven to be of benefit for dogs. Combining several methods will achieve the best results. All methods of home oral hygiene share the goal of preventing or controlling periodontal disease by minimizing plaque (bacterial film) accumulation, and preventing the mineralization of the plaque to form calculus (“tartar”).

BRUSHING and TOOTH-PASTES: Brushing your dog’s teeth is the single most effective means to maintain oral health between professional dental examinations. This makes sense because the bacterial film known as “plaque” is the cause of periodontal disease. This film is easily disrupted by the simple mechanical effect of brushing the teeth. Frequent (ideally daily) brushing is recommended to maintain optimal dental health. Almost all dogs will eventually accept brushing. The key to success is to be patient and gradual in your approach, brushing mainly the outsides of the “cheek teeth” located under the upper lip. A dog that resists brushing frequently may have painful areas in the mouth that need to be addressed.

A variety of products safe for pets are available in the marketplace. If you use a brush and a dentifrice, AVDC recommends pet-specific toothpastes. These come in flavors that dogs accept, such as poultry and seafood. Avoid human toothpastes as they often contain abrasives and high-foaming detergents that should not be swallowed or inhaled by dogs.

Toothbrushes designed for dogs are soft and angled to assist in brushing the back teeth. Some dogs prefer finger brushes. A variety of “dental wipes” containing different products are available. The single-use wipes are rubbed daily on the outside of the teeth to remove plaque.

CHLORHEXIDINE ORAL RINSE and GEL: Chlorhexidine is the most effective anti-plaque antiseptic. Chlorhexidine binds to the oral tissues and tooth surfaces, and is gradually released into the oral cavity. It is safe for pets and rarely causes problems, though it does have a bitter taste if palatability enhancers suitable for dogs are not included. Some dogs may object to the taste of products containing chlorhexidine while others accept it with no difficulty. The rinse is applied by squirting a small amount inside the cheek on each side of the mouth. The gel is applied by smearing it onto the teeth. The tongue and lips will spread the rinse or gel around the mouth.

DIETS and CHEWS: Several “dental diets” have been shown to be of benefit in decreasing dental disease. Some employ a specific kibble design and others include a chemical anti-tartar poly-phosphate ingredient.

Rawhide products and chew treats can be helpful if chewed daily, and some rawhide chews and biscuits contain an anti-tartar ingredient. Palatability is important – chewing every day is the ideal.Dogs are carnivores – they chew on bones in the wild. However, AVDC does not recommend cow hooves, dried natural bones or hard nylon products because they are too hard and do not mimic the effect of a dog tearing meat off a carcass. These hard products are associated with broken teeth or damaged gums.

Chew toys are only of benefit if they are played with frequently and over the long haul – you can increase the dog’s willingness to chew by smearing palatable peanut butter or soft cheese on the product.

Pet dogs should be monitored while chewing a chew treat or toy, as they may swallow large pieces, leading to a variety of digestive system disorders.

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Welcome to Bark & Wag’s 15 minute Vet Talk. Today we are talking to one of our favorite vets, Dr. Susan McMillan, owner of Vet to Pet Mobile Veterinary Service in Burlington, Vermont as we answer a question from a listener about suggestions for her poor dog, Pepper, who has seasonal allergies.

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Tips for Controlling Your Dog’s Barking at the Door Brought to you by the AKC GoodDog! Helpline – the AKC’s 7-day-a-week training support service
By Hilarie Erb, AKC GoodDog! Helpline Trainer

Would you like to be able to hear the doorbell without your dog getting into a frenzy? It is a natural and sometimes even desirable reaction for dogs to alert their people when someone is at the door. But you can teach them that everything is okay and that they can stop barking when you want to open the door.

First, think about what you do when the doorbell rings. You don’t realize it, but you have already taught your dog that it’s a very exciting thing because you drop whatever you are doing at the moment and rush to the door…every single time. This is an excellent example of how consistency makes for good dog training! You have reinforced Fluffy’s natural watchdog instincts. Now let’s make a conscious effort to use consistency to your advantage.

Place Command
- Teach your dog to go to her place, such as a comfortable bed or rug that may be in sight of the door but still a cozy spot. Enlist the help of a friend or family member. Ask them to ring the doorbell several times while you ignore it. Calmly sit or continue doing whatever it is you are doing. When the dog quiets down, lure her to the place and reward with a delicious treat. Repeat as often as needed until your dog understands that when the bell rings, she gets a treat for getting on her bed. Let your helper know that they don’t have to wait at the door for you to let them in. It might be a while until you get to the point where you actually open the door.When the dog learns to associate the bell with getting a treat on her bed, it’s time to graduate to opening the door. If the dog gets up, do not open it. Just calmly direct her back to the place. Again, lavishly reward so that she knows staying calm and away from the door makes you dish out goodies. You still may not get the door open, but you are getting there.
Wireless Doorbell
- A great way to speed up the process, and to save friends and family a lot of standing around on your front porch, is to get a wireless doorbell kit. These are inexpensive and you can make the doorbell ring yourself with the button that you have in your pocket, unbeknownst to your dog. You can ring the bell all day long and throw a treat to the special place. When you reach the point where your dog automatically goes to his place when it rings and you go to the door, pretend that you are talking to a person at the door. Soon you can invite real live friends to help and actually come inside.

Even if your dog is well-trained and calm when the doorbell rings, if you are expecting lots of visitors, say Halloween trick-or-treaters or party guests, the best and safest thing to do is to put your dog in his crate that is in a quiet room. Give a special treat such as a food-stuffed toy or chew so he has a special party treat to enjoy too.

Dog Training Camp USA offers services to fit the needs of all our clients. There's our classic Training Camp program, Group Classes where you can interact with other dog lovers, and Private Consultations for those who prefer individual attention.

If you aren't quite sure which service will fit you and your dog, give us a call at 919-401-9050 and we'll be happy to assist you in selecting the perfect service.
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| Dear Polly, I'll be hosting my next Animals and Emotions webinar next Wednesday, October 23rd at 6 PM PST. This is a completely free interactive webinar that focuses on animals and their emotions. In this Animals & Emotions webinar, I will be answering questions, showing off some live demos and lots more. |

| Remember, this is a free webinar! Register HERE to receive your webinar link and event details. If you have any questions, please drop me an email. I love to listen! The Happy Listener, Cindy Cindy@BeAnAnimalListener.com BeAnAnimalListener.com |

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What to look for when searching for a Vet for your pooch with Dr. Susan McMillan, owner of Vet to Pet Mobile Veterinary Service in Burlington, Vermont.

Well, you have taken home your new BFF, now what? Just like humans today's pets are living longer and having healthier lives. This is due to the availability of high quality veterinary, preventive care, and all of us pet owners' careful monitoring our animals. Today we are going to be talking to Dr. Susan McMillan about tips that can help you find a vet that will become your pet's health care provider?

Where to look for a veterinarian

Ask a friend Animal-owning friends are generally good sources of information. Ask them why they chose their veterinarian. If you believe their expectations of service are similar to yours, you may want to schedule a visit to the facility to evaluate it for yourself.

Breed clubs and special interest groups If you have a purebred dog or cat, area breed clubs or rescues can be a good source of information. They have often established a strong relationship with a practice that is very familiar with the potential health-related problems for the particular breed. If you have a non-traditional (i.e., not a cat or a dog) pet, special interest groups in your area may be good sources of information about veterinarians who have special interest in and experience with your species of pet.

Directories and the Internet The business pages of a phone book or yellow pages can be sources for contact information on local veterinarians, but the printed books may have fewer resources than online formats.

Many state or local veterinary medical associations maintain lists of area practices.

A word of caution about review sites: although online review sites can be valuable for picking out a restaurant, we don’t recommend you rely on them when choosing your veterinarian because the reviews may not reflect the average client experience. Personal references, such as the others we’ve listed here, are more reliable sources for finding a veterinarian.

Your current veterinarian If you are relocating to another city or state, ask your current veterinarian if he or she can recommend a practice where you will be living. Many times they have colleagues in other towns whose practice policies and services are similar to theirs. Your current veterinarian should also provide copies of your pet's medical records to the new practice to ensure your pet's medical history is available to the new staff.

When to look for a veterinarian

It’s a good idea to start thinking about selecting a veterinarian before acquiring a new pet. In fact, your veterinarian can assist you in selecting a pet that complements your personality, family needs and expectations, work schedule, and lifestyle.

If you have recently moved to a new area, locate a veterinarian before your pet actually needs one. Don't wait until your pet becomes ill or requires emergency care – and remember, the Internet can be a great source of information, but it’s not a substitute for veterinary care. It’s best to have secured a doctor's name and number and become acquainted with the practice and staff before you need to find them during an emergency. Consider scheduling an initial visit soon after arriving at your new home. Your new veterinarian can suggest ways to help your pet become accustomed to your new environment and can inform you of any health risks unique to your area.

Pay a visit

When deciding on a veterinary practice, first schedule a visit with the veterinarian to discuss your pet and ask questions about fees, services and payment policies. You may want to visit several practices before making a final selection.

Considerations when visiting a veterinary practice

Different pet owners have different needs, and their reasons for selecting a veterinarian for their pets will differ widely. The following list includes some considerations for selecting a veterinarian who is a good fit for you and your pet. Not all of these considerations may apply to your situation.

Office hours

What are the regular office hours? Are they compatible with your schedule?
Will they accept e-mails or appointments electronically (if that is your preferred scheduling method)?
Who covers the practice when the doctor is unavailable?
Do they have after hours emergency coverage or do they refer emergencies to a local emergency clinic?
What is the average wait time for making a non-emergency appointment?

Professional staff

How are telephone calls handled?
Can you request an appointment with a specific veterinarian?
Does the staff dress and act professionally?
Do you feel comfortable talking with the doctor and/or the veterinary technician?
How do the staff and doctors interact with your pet? Does your pet seem comfortable with the doctor and staff?

Fees and payment

What methods of payment are accepted?
If you have pet insurance or are considering pet insurance, does the hospital accept your pet’s insurance plan?
Are payment plans or financial assistance options available if you need them?

Services

What is the range of medical services that the practice provides, and does it suit your needs and expectations?
If you own an exotic or non-traditional pet, is the veterinarian able and willing to provide care for your pet?
Does the hospital have educational materials for pet-owners on a variety of topics?
Are there non-medical services such as boarding, grooming, and training classes available?
If necessary, does the veterinarian have a network of specialists for referrals?

Emergency care

How are emergency calls handled during regular office hours and after office hours?
Is there an emergency facility in your area should you need it?

Facility

Is facility clean and orderly?
Are there any unpleasant odors?
Can you take a tour of the non-public areas?

Professional affiliations

Are the veterinarians members of a professional veterinary association such as the American Veterinary Medical Association and their state or local veterinary association?
What is the hospital policy regarding continuing education for the professional staff?

Remember that veterinarians care as much about you as an owner as they do about your pets. They are available to give you the information and resources you need to take the best possible care of your animals. By taking the time to select the veterinarian that you feel confident can provide for your needs as an owner and the medical needs of your pet, you will establish a satisfying and rewarding partnership.

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Essential Oils and Pets: A Quick How-To You love to share essential oils with your family, so it makes sense that you want to share them with your pets as well! Before you begin using essential oils for pets, you need to know the answers to some important questions: Can you use essential oils on dogs, cats, and other pets the same way you use them on yourself? How much should you use? What is the best way to administer oils for topical and internal use?

Check out our quick and easy how-to guide for tips and info that will answer your questions about essential oils for dogs, cats, and other animals!*

It is important to note that animals cannot tell us if something is working or not, so it is our duty to exercise due caution and approach using oils on animals safely and responsibly.

Please note that these are general recommendations for use. If your veterinarian suggests other usage, defer to your veterinarian. If your pet is pregnant, nursing, or has a medical condition, consult a veterinarian prior to use.

Basic Guidelines There are some general tips and suggestions you’ll want to keep in mind as you share essential oils with your furry friends.

Do not use essential oils on and around cats or dogs under 8 weeks old because they are developing at fast rates; it is easy to mess up the proper dilution for each breed.
Animals are generally more sensitive to essential oils than humans are. It’s best to heavily dilute essential oils and use them in moderation.
Every animal is different, so carefully observe how your animal responds to essential oils. Use common sense and good judgment as you try different methods.
Be especially careful to not get essential oils in an animal’s eyes.
If diffusing, always allow cats access to areas where they can avoid the diffused oil.
With all animals, avoid using high-phenol oils—such as Oregano, Wintergreen, Clove, Mountain Savory, and Thyme. This is especially important with cats.
Use special caution with cats and essential oils. Avoid applying citrus oils topically, diffusing the scent around cats, and having your cat ingest them.

Essential Oil Acclimation Your pets may need some time to adjust to the new scents and sensations of essential oils. Use these tips to introduce your pets to essential oils in an easy and comfortable way.

Wear essential oils throughout the day, so your pets will be exposed to the aroma as you hold them, play, or cuddle on the couch.
Diffuse essential oils in spaces where your pets like to relax. Keep in mind that dogs tend to stay in a room with their owner even if something is bothering them. Closely watch for signs of irritation—such as whining, sniffing, nervousness, and excessive scratching—while diffusing around them.
When diffusing essential oils around cats, be sure to only diffuse in areas that allow the cat to leave if it doesn’t want to be there.
Apply an essential oil to your hands and let your pets smell them, so they can explore the scent on their own terms.
If your pets are jittery or resistant to essential oils, try applying an oil to yourself and staying near the pets for several minutes, so they can get used to the aroma.

Dilution for Topical Application Your animal’s size affects the amount of oil you should use and how much you should dilute for topical application.

For cats, small dogs, and other smaller animals, use a carrier oil—such as V-6™ Vegetable Oil Complex—to dilute the essential oil before application. We suggest a 9:1 ratio of carrier oil to essential oil.
For medium sized dogs dilute 4:1 carrier oil to essential oil.
If you’re using essential oils on medium-sized animals—like large dogs—dilute 3:1 carrier oil to essential oil.
For very large animals—including horses and cattle—start with a 1:1 dilution on the back and, if desired, move to the directions indicated on the bottle.

Topical Use Once your pets are used to essential oils, they’ll better handle topical application. Keep these tips in mind as you experiment with using essential oils on your pets.

We recommend applying to the back for dogs and cats, being sure to rub your hands together until they are no longer shiny before rubbing the essential oil on the pet.
For animals with hooves, apply to the spine and flanks, avoiding the face. Apply oils to places that allow them to evaporate and breathe. Do not apply oils under any tack or saddles.
For easy and comfortable application, rub oils between your own hands until they are no longer shiny and then apply by stroking the animal.
For easier application in large or hard-to-reach areas, combine essential oils with V-6 or water in a spray bottle.
Unless otherwise directed by your veterinarian, avoid daily use of essential oils with cats.
Use Animal Scents® Ointment to soothe irritated skin or to help with the occasional scrape or burn.

Internal Use Animals can ingest essential oils, but you need to follow some general rules before you serve up an oil-infused meal for your pets.

We recommend consulting with a veterinarian prior to administering oils internally to your pets. You should not attempt to mix oils with food unless directed by a veterinarian.
If you choose to mix essential oils with your pet’s food, keep in mind that the smell may make the food undesirable to the pet; this is especially true for cats.
If you apply oils to places on their body they can lick, they will likely consume some of the essential oil as they groom and play. Make sure you dilute heavily, so the amount your pet licks is minimal.
Never force your pets to consume essential oils or food mixed with essential oils.

Supplemental Products Young Living also offers a full line of animal-specific products, including essential oil blends made just for animals, cat treats, dental pet chews, and Animal Scents® Shampoo. Click here to find something your pets will love!

Looking for even more ways to show your furry friends some love? Check out our animals and oils infographic and our DIY paw balm for more pro tips!

Contact Cristi at naturalpetwellnessinfo@gmail.com

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Cindy Myers Ambassador to Animals, Humans and Spirit

I love sharing my intuitive abilities with both animals and humans. I look forward to helping you restore your energy balance so you can live an abundantly joy filled life!

https://yourenergyhealer.com/

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10 Most Common Household Pet Toxins By Amanda Carrozza Pets are curious—it’s part of what makes them so lovable. However, that same inquisitiveness can be dangerous, especially when the target of an animal’s interest is a cleaning product, medication or food known to be poisonous to pets. Because how do animals investigate new objects? They eat them, of course.

In 2017 alone, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) received 199,000 cases concerning possible pet poisonings, a 10% increase from the previous year.

RELATED: * Assessing Cases of Animal Poisoning * Top 3 Toxins for Animal Poison Control

To help raise awareness about potential hazards in and around the average home, ASPCA APCC released a list of the 10 most common pet toxins it received reports about last year. This list serves as a great point of reference for veterinary clients, as well as veterinary team members who may be taking a patient history to understand the cause of illness in a pet.

10. Garden Products
Fertilizers and other gardening-related products accounted for 2.6% of poison control calls the center received in 2017.

9. Plants
Several indoor and outdoor plants pose a threat to pets, which is why the center received 10,725 reports of possible pet toxicity from plants last year. When selecting plants, choose varieties that are non-toxic to pets, such as African daisies, rosemary, and snapdragons; avoid azaleas, daffodils, lilies, sago palms, and tulips.

8. Rodenticide
It’s a no-brainer that rodenticides would be toxic to pets, but more and more companion animals are gaining access to these types of products. Exposure to rodenticides increased from the year prior, which the ASPCA APCC attributes to unpredictable weather patterns causing rodents to seek shelter and food inside homes, in turn, causing an uptick in rodenticide use.

7. Insecticides
Although insecticides are commonly used in homes to kill ants, spiders and the like, their misuse can be harmful for pets. Reports of possible pet poisonings related to insecticides decreased from 2016 to 2017, but still accounted for 6.7% of cases reported to the ASPCA APCC last year.

6. Household Items
The vast category of household items—including glue, cleaning products, laundry detergent, etc.—appears in the middle of the pack, comprising 8.6% of pet toxicity cases in 2017.

5. Chocolate
Chocolate is a known danger to dogs, yet the ASPCA APCC received 17,540 pet toxicity cases due to chocolate in 2017, amounting to about 48 cases per day. The high volume of possible poisonings related to chocolate is so high that the center felt it warranted its own category separate from all other food-related toxicities.

4. Veterinary Products
While veterinary products are intended for use by animals, the very flavoring that makes them desirable can also make them dangerously desirable. Animals ingesting amounts of medications exceeding their prescribed doses made up 8.9% of the ASPCA APCC’s cases last year.

3. Human Food
Many of the foods that fill up your pantry can make cats and dogs severely ill. Still, accidents happen; pet owners either mistakenly share scraps from a meal or a pet somehow finds its way into the snack drawer. The ASPCA APCC points to the popularity of xylitol—which is toxic to animals—in sugar-free items like gum and baked goods as the reason why this category consistently appears toward the top of their list.

2. Over-the-Counter Medications
For the second year in a row, over-the-counter (OTC) medications claimed the No. 2 spot on this ASPCA APCC list. It’s imperative that clients know to consult with a veterinarian before giving their pets any OTC medication, including herbal supplements.

1. Prescription Medications
Just as with many of the items on this list, exposure to prescription medications is often accidental. Even so, it contributed to 34,888 of pet toxicity cases reported to the ASPCA APCC last year. The center says it most often receives calls about pain medications, antidepressants and heart medications. Cristi Eckert, Owner of Natural Pet Wellness, discusses toxins in your home that can effect your pet. Please like and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio and YouTube. https://www.youngliving.com/en_US/products/thieves-household-cleaner Contact naturalpetwellnessinfo@gmail.com

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By Lynne Miller

You quickly run your hands along your dog’s head, back, and belly, and, finding no ticks, you think your job is done.

Actually, finding ticks on your dog is not so simple. These tiny bloodsuckers are good at playing hide-and-seek, particularly when their host is covered in thick, dark hair. Ticks can latch on to your furry friend and live in hiding, feasting on blood for several days at a time. Even dogs with flea and tick collars and other forms of protection can be targeted by these parasites.

Checking your dog carefully for ticks is extremely important since these parasites can make pets and humans seriously ill. Anaplasmosis, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tick paralysis are just a few of the potential diseases caused by tick bites.

The Companion Animal Parasite Council predicted that 2016 would be a big year for illnesses transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes, noting that the threat of diseases continues to spread into new areas, “creating a year-round menace to both pets and their owners.”

How Ticks Find Their Victims Using heat sensors, ticks find a victim and typically latch onto the warmest places on the dog’s body, says Dr. Ann Hohenhaus, who is board certified in internal medicine and oncology, and based at New York City’s Animal Medical Center.

“The head, neck and ears are prime places, but ticks can occur anywhere,” says Hohenhaus. “Look and look again. You have to look everywhere. You can easily miss ticks.”

You might be surprised by some of the places ticks have been found on dogs.

In the Groin Area

The groin probably isn’t the first place you would look for ticks on your pet. However, they can get attached in and around your dog’s bottom, says Dr. Amy Butler, a veterinarian at the DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital in Portland, Oregon.

“You should check the perianal area,” Butler says. “Ticks are drawn to dark, moist areas on the body.”

Also make sure to check your dog’s tail, says Hohenhaus.

Between the Toes

Ticks have nothing against your dog’s paws. Though it takes extra effort to latch on, a tick can become attached between the toes, Butler says.

If you find one there, use hemostats or tweezers to remove it, she says.

“Grasp the tick without crushing it and pull it straight out,” she says.

In and Around the Ears

At DoveLewis, a very sick sheltie named Ollie was at the hospital about to be euthanized. An extern who was working alongside a veterinarian reached out to comfort Ollie and, as she scratched behind his ears, found a tick engorged with blood. The quantity of fecal material suggested the tick had been attached to the dog for some time, the hospital said.

The tick was removed. Thinking the dog could have tick paralysis, the veterinarian discussed the possibility with Ollie’s owner and sent the dog home. Within hours, Ollie was back on his feet, fully recovered and eager to go outside.

“I was here the day Ollie came in,” says Butler. Tick paralysis, she says, “is really uncommon. I saw another case of tick paralysis a decade ago.”

Unlike other tick-transmitted diseases, tick paralysis will go away without lasting health effects once the tick is removed, says Hohenhaus, who treated a Yorkie with paralysis caused by a tick found on the dog’s lip.

She also recommends checking inside your dog’s ears, including the ear canal. “I’ve found ticks on the inside of floppy ears,” Hohenhaus says.

Under Clothes and Collars

If your dog wears a collar 24/7, it’s easy to forget to remove it during the tick inspection. Ticks can hide under your pet’s collar, harness or any article of clothing she’s wearing, Hohenhaus says.

“If your pet wears a T-shirt or sun protection shirt, those have to come off,” she says. “I don’t think people think about that.”

The Eyelids

Is it a skin tag or a tick on your dog’s eyelid? Sometimes, it’s hard to determine, says Hohenhaus.

Dogs can develop skin tags anywhere on their bodies, but they frequently appear near the eyelids, she says. “You don’t want to rip off a skin tag,” she says. “Make sure that black mass on the eyelid is actually not a tick.”

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Bark & Wag CBD is on the market!

The hemp extract used in our tinctures are sourced locally from a farm in Boulder, CO and are manufactured in Colorado as well. The isolate is refined to 99%+ purity with 0ppm THC. Having a THC-Free product is critical for pets.

Bark & Wag Pet Tinctures are formulated with the best raw materials which have passed a 6 panel test: potency, residual solvents, terpene content, bio-contaminants (including mold), pesticides, and heavy metals.

Our tinctures come in 4 strengths: 300mg, 750mg, 1200mg, and 2400mg. Please see our suggested dosing chart.

We are certified by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment and registered with the Department of Agriculture and Metric.

A portion of Bark & Wag profits support local animal rescues and The Humane Society.

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OUR FRIENDS, CAMPING WITH DOGS, SHARE HELPFUL TIPS FOR CAMPING, HIKING AND ENJOYING THE GREAT OUTDOORS WITH FURRY FRIENDS. Camping with Dogs is a lifestyle brand built on a community of people who love outdoor adventure shared with their beloved pets. What began as an Instagram account featuring photos of dogs exploring the outdoors with their owners has now become so much more. Connecting people around their world through a shared love, who better to gather some of the best expert tips for camping and hiking with dogs?

TIPS FOR HIKING AND CAMPING WITH DOGS FROM THE EXPERTS 1. LOOK UP THE REGULATIONS IN THE AREA OF TRAILS OR CAMPGROUNDS BEFOREHAND Some may not allow dogs are have restrictions. Keep your dog close, or on leash because others camping may not want to be bothered with your dog, and leashing up can also protect your dog against any wildlife that may come after your furry friend, or prevent them from wrestling in the bushes that may have poisonous plants. – @west_coast_heeler_pack

2. PACK PLENTY OF WATER It may seem like a no brainer, but make sure your dog is staying hydrated. It’s super important. Pack enough water for them if there won’t be a source of water they can safely use. Don’t let them drink salt water or from standing water! Same goes for food, make sure they have enough. Collapsible bowls are super handy. – @mirandashea24

3. KEEP YOUR DOG LEASHED While it’s nice not to have your dog tug on a leash while hiking (unless you’ve trained them not to), there’s a few obvious reasons to have your dog on the leash. For starters, not everyone is as in love with dogs as we are and they could actually be terrified. If you have your dog leash-less, it could make other hikers very uncomfortable. Secondly, they could become targets for or infuriate wildlife (i.e., bears). I could go on but if your dog is like either of mine (i.e., likes to stay head 20 feet and greet any human being in site), then keep them leashed. – @samanthabrookephoto

4. PROTECT THE PAWS Not just from the snow, but from the hot ground as well. We have a pair of “cool” dog booties that we use for the summer when the dirt or cinder that we’re walking on is too hot for Jazz’s paws. In the winter we use Musher’s Secret, a wax product that you can put directly on your dog’s paws to protect their fur from balling up in the snow. We find that a lot of booties fall off of Jazz (because he loves hopping through the fresh powder) so the wax is a great alternative for the winter. – @jazz.paws

5. BRING A TENT WITH LOTS OF SPACE Get a tent with double entries and vestibules. If you have a smaller tent, you can put your packs and gear under one vestibule, and a little sleeping pad for your dog to sleep in the other one. We have a shorthair dog and prefer to keep him in our tent on cold nights, but in the summer the vestibule lets us enjoy more room. – @captainshark

6. DON’T LET RAINY DAYS DAMPEN OUTDOOR PLANS A tent can be used to provide a cozy and dry place to hangout outdoors with your pets. Another huge plus of venturing outside in the rain is that, chances are, no one else takes advantage of the day. We found an empty beach where we could relax, have lunch, and play cards in our warm little tent – during breaks in the rain, the pups could roam free without us worrying about them bothering other people. It was a super lovely day, rain and all. – @nancythebeat

7. PACK A BRUSH/COMB Here in the desert I always make sure I have my comb and leatherman tool cause more than likely my pup will have an encounter with a colla cactus. Even if he isn’t near one, the spines litter the desert all year long. – @dustydesertdogs

8. PACK TOYS Bring your dog’s favorite toy with you. It will help ease any anxieties he may have and help him feel more comfortable in his “home away from home.” – @alexborsuk

9. PET FIRST AID It’s always handy to have pet first aid knowledge. There are courses out there that are great to help build current knowledge or for those who don’t know where to start. Having a basic first aid guide book is also really handy to include in a first aid kit. You can get away with having a regular first aid kit and adding a few things to make it more accommodating to pets, such as, iodine for cleaning wounds, wax paw protector for dry pads, or to be used as a barrier for extreme conditions, and a tick remover. Liquid bandages are helpful for cuts. I also included dog boots and tongue suppressors that can be used as a splint. – @west_coast_heeler_pack

By KOA

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  Actress and animal lover Kate Walsh knows first-hand that dogs can be “off their game” because of allergic itching, which can get in the way of dogs doing what they love. When her dog Rosie was diagnosed with allergies, Kate learned that scratching can be more than just an itch and can lead to more serious problems if not treated by a veterinarian. That’s when she knew it was time for Rosie to get her *A-Game*back.

Many dogs itch, so it’s hard to tell when an itch is more than just an itch, or if it’s caused by an underlying condition, like allergies. Kate is encouraging pet owners to be advocates for their dog’s health by paying attention to how skin issues are affecting their pets’ well-being.

August is Itchy Pet Awareness Month and Kate is sharingher experience finding her dog’s A-Game and why the K-9 Courage™ Program is near and dear to her heart.

By sharing a photo or video of your dog’s A-Game, using the #MyDogsAGame hashtag, it will trigger a donation to the K-9 Courage™ Program, which supports military and police dogs as well as active service dogs that assist veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress.

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One of the frequently asked questions I get from my clients and workshop attendees is if I have always been able to communicate intuitively with animals and have empathic energy skills. The answer to that question is no, not really. I’ve always loved animals, but I was not aware of having any intuitive senses or that I could do healing energy work until I was an adult. I’ve always been a good listener. But, if twenty years ago, someone told me I’d be living on a farm with about 30 alpacas, 3 dogs, and 2 barn cats working as an intuitive energy healer and animal communicator, I would have laughed and thought that was the craziest thing I ever heard!

  Why I call myself An Animal Listener...      Communication entails two elements; talking and listening. It has been my experience that when you ask someone to define what makes a good communicator, they often say, “She has a great style of talking to you,” or “He is really assertive and makes you feel at ease.” Almost everyone describes just the talking piece in good communication. It is pretty rare that someone describes the listening component of communication. Yet, the best communicators, the healthiest relationships, all have the ability to be effective listeners. Listening isn’t just done with our ears. To listen well, we must use all of our senses including our “sixth” sense. Most have heard of using their “third eye” to indicate their intuition. I also like to use the term, using our “third ear.” It is this “third ear,” that I use in listening to and communicating with animals. To be effective communicators with our animals, we must first be willing to listen to them. The beauty of improving our listening skills with our animal companions is that same skill can make our human relationships richer, deeper and more connected as well. Our animals can teach us much about how to be better listeners.

  Here’s what I believe...      I believe that all of our life experiences lead us to our true calling in life, however, sometimes we take a roundabout way of getting there. Boy do I get that. It has taken many years, different career paths and life challenges from tending to and being my mom’s caregiver during her final years and then a house fire caused by an arsonist, before discovering and finding the courage to finally embrace and pursue my calling of intuitive energy work for people and their animals and teach others how to open up to their own intuitive listening abilities.

  What I used to do that drew me to my calling...      It is quite amusing to watch people’s reaction when I tell them my career began working as an engineer. On the surface, it does seem a far stretch going from engineering to an intuitive healer and animal communicator. I enjoyed my engineering career in the beginning but in the end, it wasn’t quite the right fit. But when you are in your teens and early twenties, deciding on a career, it was a very good choice. I was drawn to engineering because of my interest in Physics. My first job was working on radars and that was no fluke. I was not ready to open up to my intuitive personal radar, but studying and working on equipment that sends out and receives frequency signals and then interprets the data was fascinating to me and I know that was a strong foundation in my eventually opening up to my own intuitive abilities. And it was that work and basic understanding of physics and quantum mechanics that validated in my mind that my intuitive experiences were real.

My second career, I found myself drawn to Counseling. Another career that seems on the surface to be polar opposite to engineering yet I was supervising people and trying to be a good leader and you need to have excellent people skills for that so, counseling was a better idea than going and getting an MBA. I pursued and earned my Master’s Degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Depth Psychology. It was during this time that my intuitive abilities began to open up and I had a place and an outlet to begin sharing my experiences with others. I began experiencing people’s pain in my own body! How freaky is that to suddenly have a pain in my side, headache or migraine? It was pretty darn scary at first and I often felt isolated because no way I was going to share those experiences with my engineering colleagues. But, at the same time, I knew I wasn’t crazy and that these experiences were very real. I also thought, it would be pretty cool to learn how to use these experiences for others’ benefit.

I began reading a lot of different books. I was drawn to memoirs of intuitive healers. It helped to read about how they got started and how it all worked for them. I found they experienced things similar to what I was going through. That made me feel a little less alone and that it was more real. Then I found a book on Animal Communication and couldn’t wait to learn more. I practiced on my dog Rusty and we had the neatest experiences! Being able to communicate merely by thinking to him was so amazing and it made our connection and bond all the more special. I was hooked! I wanted to learn more and practice communicating with more animals.

Although it was really amazing to communicate with animals, I never thought of it being a profession so I began working to get my Marriage Family Therapy license. I thought going into Counseling was the right fit and that this was my calling. Like many people, life can throw you quite the curve ball. Being the caregiver of my mother her final years was challenging. As her health declined, the responsibilities of her daily care and emotional upheaval of tending to her, working full time as an engineer all while still working on my Marriage Family Therapy license took its toll. I burned out. Both figuratively and literally! Only weeks after my mother passed away, I lost my home to arson fire. It was devastating. I only had the emotional strength to rebuild my own life and home. I couldn’t ethically care for others’ tender psyches. So I took a leave of absence from both counseling and engineering to tend to me and rebuild my life.

  My true life passion comes about...      It was then that I discovered alpacas and I bought my first two, a mother and newly born daughter. I boarded them at the time and I learned the ropes of caring for alpacas and while doing that, I honed my intuitive skills. They healed me as much as I learned about doing healing energy work on them and on people. I became a student of Reiki and Healing Touch for Animals. I studied clicker training and adapted all the techniques I learned to work with alpacas.

I wore a Phoenix necklace during that time to hold the intention of rebuilding my life up from the ashes. I often tell people that the blessing of that very hard time was that I got my “life do-over.” It was like these personas and reasons why I had to do the things I was doing were all written on a big white board. But when the fire happened, in a flash, that white board was wiped clean. I was no longer a caregiver, I stopped being an engineer and a counselor. I didn’t care about material things any more. Funny how when they are all taken in a second you realize how little importance they really are. The only thing that mattered was my family, friends and my dogs.

After having the slate wiped clean, I was then handed a marker and allowed to start putting up on the whiteboard what I wanted to do with my life. That was very empowering and it allowed me to walk away from things that weren’t working for me anymore. I now had the time, space and energy to explore a totally different life. I went from living an “in the box” life to not just being out of the box, but having no box at all!

Becoming an alpaca farmer and living with these amazing animals, provided that new life. They are quite ironic animals. They are prey animals and have no real means of defense so are driven by the flight response. They are incredibly skittish animals and vary wary of humans. Yet, for people that have experienced terrible traumas or live in a high stress environment, being around alpacas is incredibly calming and soothing. They pump out this very calming, zen-like energy. Alpacas are amazing teachers and are incredibly intuitive animals. When I first began using alpaca to teach others how to communicate with animals, I wasn’t sure how that would work having total strangers in the pasture with them, trying to mentally communicate with these skittish animals. I remember holding my breath that it would work the first time students went out into my pasture. But, true to form, they worked beautifully with all the students. Each student walked away having a special connection and knew they had actually communicated intuitively with an animal.

  Two leggers (I know you’ve been waiting for this)…      In one story I tell in my book, “Alpacas Don’t Do That,” I was intuitively communicating with an alpaca for the first time, and she did a triple take and sniffed my face and I heard in my head, "hmm, I didn't know two-leggers could do that." Ever since then, I use the term two-leggers to refer to us humans. (There is your explanation from the first paragraph that I promised you).

  Why I love what I do…       I know how busy we all are and that in our society and way of life, we have a hard time making time for ourselves. We can spend years trying to understand our dynamics and that is all great to go and do. However, it has been so exciting to find that my energetic techniques I use with both people and animals can facilitate those personal growth issues. These techniques remove those balls of trapped energies that created our old behavioral dynamics and support our bodies in healing and it can be done relatively quickly and easily. And the beauty of it is that I can be here in Oregon and people or their animals can be anywhere in the world. Not only can I do this work for anyone anywhere, I can do it all through email! You don’t even have to be on the phone with me as I tap into your subconscious. So you don’t even have to change your schedule or stop what you are doing in your busy lives. I take care of it and send an email to you telling you what emotions were trapped and I can also tell you what age they were trapped. Some like knowing that information and it will trigger a memory. Others don’t want to remember it at all and are just happy to have those energies that cause problems out of their body and system. Some people like to have me work on them in person or over the phone and experience the releases as I’m doing it, however, many more people, are very happy that they don’t have to schedule one more appointment into their busy and hectic lives.

It is very rewarding releasing these trapped emotions and energies in people and animals, but even more rewarding is teaching people how to do it for themselves and their animals. It fits with that saying, provide someone a fish and they eat for the day; teach them to fish and they eat for the rest of their lives. This is true for learning to release your trapped emotions. We pretty much get a trapped emotion each day of our lives. Individually, a trapped emotion may not cause harm, but after awhile, it can keep attracting more similar trapped emotions and they tend to accumulate in similar areas of the body. I like to say, “We store our issues in our tissues.” Some very learned individuals such as Louise Hays has written multiple books on the subject. So learning how to remove those emotions that cause those issues is of everyone’s benefit. I like to set people up for success and with these techniques, you will experience for yourself how incredibly rewarding and useful these tools are in our daily lives.

I love sharing my intuitive abilities with both animals and humans. I look forward to getting to know both you and your animals better soon!

   **Certified in:**

Emotion Code as a Practitioner
Level II Reiki
Level II Healing Touch for Animals

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Several years ago, local Boston resident Ryan DeRoche was in a mountain bike accident that resulted in a severe spinal cord injury and left him with little to no use of his arms and legs. His life changed in an instant. But through Massachusetts-based National Education for Assistance Dog Services (NEADS), Ryan was matched with service dog Oliver, who just completed his training at a Boston-based jail. The two have been inseparable ever since. Oliver is specially trained to help Ryan be independent – assisting him with daily tasks like opening and closing doors and getting things in hard-to-reach places. Emotionally, he also has a way of knowing if Ryan is sad, angry or frustrated, and knows exactly how to cheer up his human buddy with attention and kisses. Oliver changed Ryan’s life, and he couldn’t imagine a life without his furry sidekick.

Ryan and Oliver are working with Merck Animal Health and NEADs to highlight the critical role service dogs play and the importance of keeping them healthy. The campaign – called BRAVECTO™ Cares – focuses on the health of service dogs, including protecting them from fleas and ticks, and underscores the importance of keeping family pets protected, as well.

Fleas and ticks can carry illnesses, such as Lyme disease, to our pets and our families, and CDC-reported illnesses in humans have tripled in recent years. If service dogs are not at optimal health, they will not be at ideal performance and can potentially put their handler at risk.

For more information, you can also visit the website www.protectfromfleasandticks.com.

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From PETA....do not be dumb with your dog

Every year, dogs suffer and die when their guardians make the mistake of leaving them in a parked car—even for “just a minute”—while they run an errand. Parked cars are deathtraps for dogs: On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to 100 degrees in just minutes, and on a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 109 degrees in less than 10 minutes.

Animals can sustain brain damage or even die from heatstroke in just 15 minutes. Beating the heat is extra tough for dogs because they can only cool themselves by panting.

If you see a dog left alone in a hot car, take down the car’s color, model, make, and license plate number. Have the owner paged in the nearest buildings, or call local humane authorities or police. Have someone keep an eye on the dog. Don’t leave the scene until the situation has been resolved.

If the authorities are unresponsive or too slow and the dog’s life appears to be in imminent danger, find a witness (or several) who will back up your assessment, take steps to remove the suffering animal from the car, and then wait for authorities to arrive.

Watch for heatstroke symptoms such as restlessness, excessive thirst, thick saliva, heavy panting, lethargy, lack of appetite, dark tongue, rapid heartbeat, fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and lack of coordination. If a dog shows any of these symptoms, get him or her out of the heat, preferably into an air-conditioned vehicle, and then to a veterinarian immediately. If you are unable to transport the dog yourself, take him or her into an air-conditioned building if possible and call animal control: Tell them it is an emergency.

Provide water to drink, and if possible spray the dog with a garden hose or immerse him or her in a tub of cool (but not iced) water for up to two minutes in order to lower the body temperature gradually. You can also place the dog in front of an electric fan. Applying cool, wet towels to the groin area, stomach, chest, and paws can also help. Be careful not to use ice or cold water, and don’t overcool the animal.

When walking your dog, keep in mind that if it feels hot enough to fry an egg outside, it probably is. When the air temperature is 86 degrees, the asphalt can reach a sizzling 135 degrees — more than hot enough to cook an egg in five minutes. And it can do the same to our canine companions’ sensitive foot pads.

On an 87-degree day, asphalt temperatures can reach 140 degrees, hot enough to cause burns, permanent damage and scarring after just one minute of contact. Rapid burns and blistering can occur at 150 degrees. Hot sidewalks, pavement and parking lots can not only burn paws, they also reflect heat onto dogs’ bodies , increasing their risk of deadly heatstroke.

If you wouldn’t put your dog in a frying pan, please don’t make him or her walk on hot pavement. Always test the pavement with your hand before setting out (too hot to touch is too hot for Spot), walk early in the morning or late at night when it’s cooler, carry water and take frequent breaks in shady spots and never make dogs wear muzzles that restrict their breathing.

PETA offers leaflets that can be placed on vehicles to remind people never to leave unattended animals inside. For information on ordering PETA’s “Don’t Let Your Dog Get Hot Under the Collar” leaflet, please click here.

Simon Cowell stars in PETA’s public service announcement (PSA) informing viewers of the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars. You can help spread the message by contacting us at ActionTeam@peta.org or 757-622-7382 for information on how to get the PSA aired on your local television stations.

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10 SAFETY AND CALMING TIPS FOR DOGS DURING FIREWORKS By:

Lisa SpectorFireworks can be fun for humans, but dogs don't have the same reaction.

In the United States, July 4th is around the corner, along with the fireworks that inevitably come with this holiday. Almost all humans with canines in the U.S. declare this day the worst day of the year for their dogs. Veterinarians say that July 3rd is usually the most trafficked day in their offices, with clients coming in to get drugs for their dogs.

A few years ago, I found a lost dog on the 4th of July. He was obviously a well fed, groomed, and trained dog that escaped his yard when he heard the fireworks. When I called our local Humane Society, I was informed that it is the busiest time of the year for them, as more dogs are found wandering loose on July 4th than any other day of the year in the U.S.

10 Tips for providing a safe July 4th for your Canine Household:

Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise earlier in the day.
Keep your dogs inside during fireworks, preferably with human companionship. If it’s hot, air conditioning will help. Bringing your dogs to a fireworks display is never a good idea.
Provide a safe place inside for your dogs to retreat. When scared of sounds they can’t orient, dogs often prefer small enclosed areas. (I once had a dog who climbed in the bathtub during windstorms.) If your dog is comfortable in a crate, that is a good option.
If possible, keep the windows and curtains closed. Covering the crate or lowering the blinds can also be helpful. Removing visual stimulation can also help calm dogs.
Make sure all your dogs are wearing ID tags with a properly fitting collar. Dogs have been known to become Houdini around the 4th of July.
Leave your dog something fun to do – like a frozen Kong filled with his favorite treats.

Using sensory enrichment to calm dogs:

Sound Therapy: The psychoacoustically designed music of Through a Dog's Ear has been specifically designed to reduce canine anxiety and has been successfully utilized by dog lovers world-wide. It is most effective when you first play the music well before the fireworks start, at a time the dog is already feeling peaceful and relaxed. He will begin to associate the music with being calm and content. Then play the music a couple of hours before the fireworks start and continue to play through bedtime. The music doesn’t need to be loud to be effective as it has been clinically demonstrated to calm the canine nervous system. Listen to free sound samples.
Sound Therapy combined with Desensitization: The Canine Noise Phobia series (CNP) consists of four CD's that can be used individually or as a set: Fireworks, Thunderstorms, City Sounds, and Calming. CNP is an innovative desensitization training tool that combines three distinctive elements for the treatment and prevention of sound-sensitivities and noise-phobias:
progressive sound effects (distant/close)
specially-designed psychoacoustic music (Through a Dog’s Ear)
reward-based reinforcement protocols (Victoria Stilwell)

Here's what Nancy Weller said after using CNP Fireworks:

"I am preparing for New Years Eve. The most skittish of the greyhounds already went to bed. My boy is just game for everything. Tonight, we are relaxing to the Phobia Series Fireworks. He fights hard to stay awake. The subtle fireworks make him stare at the speaker. Then not. 75+ lb brindle boy, sleeping like a baby. Mom might have to curl up too."

Tactile: There are two canine wraps on the market that reportedly help sound phobic dogs. The original Anxiety Wrap was invented by professional dog trainer Susan Sharpe, CPDT-KA. The patented design uses acupressure and maintained pressure to reduce stress. The thundershirt is also a wrap for your dog that provides gentle, constant pressure. Their website reports that over 85% of Thundershirt users see significant improvement in noise anxiety symptoms. Most dogs respond with the very first usage; some need 2-3 usages before showing significant improvement.
Scent: Canine Calm, an all-natural mist from Earth Heart™ Inc., can help dogs relax and cope more effectively with loud noises and other stressful situations. Directions on their website say to spray Canine Calm onto your hands and massage the dog’s outer ears or abdomen. Or lightly mist the air behind your dog’s head, inside the travel crate or car, or directly onto bedding or clothing.

Do you have any additional tips for helping keep dogs calm and safe on this noisy holiday? Thanks for clicking comment below and sharing your suggestions. Also, feel free to share how your dogs have acted during previous July 4th holidays.

Tags: Canine Noise Phobia, desensitization for dogs, noise desensitization, Through a Dog's Ear

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| Dear Polly, I'll be hosting my next Animals and Emotions webinar next Wednesday, June 19th at 6 PM PST Learn How to Comfort Your Pet During Stressful Events - Including 4th of July Fireworks! Do you have pets or animals where you: Wonder how are they feeling - physically and emotionally? Wonder what are they thinking? Want a deeper understanding of the reasons they are showing pain, fear, distress? Do you ever feel like: You are worried that they are not happy in you home? You did something wrong? You don’t know how to help your pets? What if you could: Learn to communicate better with your animal… Understand their needs and what they want in case of pain or illness... Understand their behavior & moods and what they are actually telling you... Well - You Can! Learn how to create a deeper relationship with your pet and create a true ‘bond’. Learn how to enjoy their personalities so you can share your lives better, together! |

| Register Now - It's FREE! |

| In this webinar: I’ll be sharing tips on how to help your pets to cope with stressful events, especially fireworks! We'll go over techniques you can use to help animals better manage their emotions during the booms, explosions and thunder of fireworks. This is a free webinar! Register HERE to join me. If you have any questions, please drop me an email. I love to listen! The Happy Listener, Cindy https://www.beananimallistener.com/ |

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TICKS Ectoparasites are organisms that live on the outside of an animal. Ticks are fairly common ectoparasites of dogs (and cats). How often you see ticks on your dog and how severe a tick assault will be depends on the region of the country in which you live, the time of year (tick activity varies in warm and cool weather), the habits of your dog, and how and when you use tick control products. Some ticks can infest dogs that spend most of their time indoors, and even dogs that only spend brief periods of time outside can have ticks.

How will ticks affect my dog? Ticks attach to your dog by inserting their mouthparts into your dog’s skin. Many ticks also produce a sticky, gluelike substance that helps them to remain attached. After attaching to your dog, ticks begin feeding on your dog’s blood. The places where ticks attach can become red and irritated.

How do I prevent my dog from getting ticks? It is very difficult to prevent your dog’s exposure to ticks. Ticks can attach to your dog when he or she goes with you on walks, hikes, or during any outdoor activities.

If you have a tick problem in your yard consider:

treating the outdoor environment (be sure to understand what products you are using and how they affect the environment)
making a landscape change to make the environment less tick friendly – this can be done by providing a 3 foot buffer between the lawn and any woods. Mulch, wood chips, or gravel work well, and help to decrease the migration of ticks into yards.
ridding your yard of wild animals

Often more ticks are present or they are more active at certain times of the year. Your veterinarian can tell you how to avoid locations where large numbers of ticks are found.

Can humans be harmed by ticks? Ticks can attach to and feed on humans. The skin where ticks attach to humans can become red and irritated. Ticks that transmit diseases to your dog can also transmit many of the same diseases to people. It is important to realize that people do not get these diseases from their dogs. Both people and dogs get the diseases from ticks they come into contact with outdoors. Diseases, such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which have already been described in dogs, can also be very serious in humans.

If you have questions about human diseases that are transmitted by ticks and how you can protect yourself, you should consult a doctor.

For veterinary professionals, more detailed information on ticks can be found at https://www.capcvet.org/guidelines/ticks/.

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Essential oils are naturally occurring, volatile aromatic compounds that come from the seeds, bark, stems, flowers and roots of plants. If you’ve used them before, I’m sure you’re already familiar with how incredibly potent, fragrant and beneficial they can be to your health, but have you ever tried essential oils for pets?

According to the American Kennel Club, “Preliminary research suggests that these potent oils may have some health benefits for dogs and humans, and many holistic veterinarians incorporate essential oils into their practices.” Many pet owners today are turning to essential oils for a variety of health concerns in their pets, including flea and tick prevention, skin issues, and behavior problems like anxiety. (1)

While using essential oils for pets is known to have its benefits, it’s vital to know which oils are safe to use, how to use them, and to remember that, like people, each animal is different and may react uniquely to a particular essential oil. Similar to the use of oils with children, it’s absolutely crucial to remember that a little goes a long, long way with pets.

Are Essential Oils Safe for Pets? If you’re wondering about the safety of essential oils for pets, the answer is that some essential oils are considered OK for use with pets. There are a good amount of essential oils that have been deemed safe and, even better helpful, to pet health. However, there are also many essential oils toxic to dogs and cats (and animals in general), which I will talk about later in this article. But first, are you ready to learn all about the best essential oils for pets, specifically dogs and cats?

Essential Oils for Pets: 5 Best Oils + Uses for Dogs What essential oils are OK for dogs? The following oils are not only OK for dogs, but they’re also known to have some really impressive potential benefits!

Below is a short list of essential oils that experts say are safe to use on dogs:

1. Lavender Oil Lavender oil is a popular choice among humans so maybe you already have this incredible essential oil on hand for your furry friend. If you’re looking for essential oils for dog odor, lavender is a great scent that pet owners tend to love too. Plus, studies demonstrate lavender’s amazing helpful effects on cases of PTSD as well as its anti-anxiety ability, so it will likely calm both you and your pet. (2, 3)

For pets like dogs, lavender essential oil’s calming effects can be very helpful for anxiety (often induced by visits to the vet or car rides), car sickness or sleep troubles. A 2006 clinical trial looked at the effects of lavender essential oil on 32 dogs with a history of travel-induced excitement in their owners’ cars. What did they find? The dogs exposed to the scent of lavender oil spent a significant amount more time resting and sitting and a lot less time moving around and vocalizing. Overall, the researchers conclude, “Traditional treatments for travel-induced excitement in dogs may be time-consuming, expensive, or associated with adverse effects. Aromatherapy in the form of diffused lavender odor may offer a practical alternative treatment for travel-induced excitement in this species.” (4)

Lavender oil is a great topical remedy for canine skin concerns like allergies and burns. It’s also a common choice of essential oils for dog wounds and essential oils for dogs itching. (5)

2. Peppermint Oil You may already be familiar with this popular, refreshing essential oil. Will peppermint oil hurt dogs? Peppermint is one of the top recommended essential oils to get rid of fleas in dogs. You’ll actually find peppermint as one of the more commonly used essential oils for dog flea repellent for sale in pet shops and online today.

According to Dr. Janet Roark, a veterinarian and the owner of Hill Country Mobile Veterinary Service in Austin, Texas, “Peppermint essential oil can be used to cool sore muscles, energize tired animals, and soothe upset stomachs. It refreshes the air when diffused and can freshen breath with taken internally. This oil can open the airways and promote a healthy respiratory tract, as well as soothe aching joints.”

As an energizing oil, it can be a great mood booster for animals too. Roark, who is also known as the “Essential Oil Vet,” instructs that peppermint oil is best used topically with dogs. (6)

The American Kennel Club has a great essential oil dog shampoo recipe that includes several recommendations for essential oils for dog fleas prevention, including peppermint. Check out it Flea-Repellent Dog Shampoo with Essential Oils, which includes simple ingredients you may likely have on hand already. Using a shampoo like this regularly is the perfect way to use essential oils to kill fleas on dogs.

Chamomile Oil Roman chamomile oil is a well-known anti-inflammatory that is a great choice for both humans and dogs alike if the problem is a skin irritation, burns, wounds, ulcers or eczema. (7, 8) This is a very gentle essential oil that can also help calm a stressed-out dog. (9)

If you’re looking for essential oils recipes for dogs using chamomile oil, check out this super easy Calming Spray Recipe that also includes lavender oil.

4. Frankincense Oil Can you use frankincense oil for dogs? For most dogs, the answer is “yes!” In fact, Dr. Richard Palmquist, chief of integrative health services at Centinela Animal Hospital in Inglewood, Calif., says that using frankincense oil in some cases of cancer and tumors can be very helpful. (10) The use of frankincense oil in pet cancer isn’t that surprising when you consider that research has shown the powerful potential for frankincense oil to help fight some forms of human cancer, including bladder cancer. (11)

Frankincense oil is known to have potent antimicrobial abilities, making it a great choice for germ fighting and immune boosting too. (12) Research using animal models (mice) also shows that this ancient oil has powerful anti-depressive effects. (13)

5. Cedarwood Oil According to Dogs Naturally Magazine, cedarwood oil (Cedrus Atlantica or Cedrus deodara) is a terrific natural pest repellent. Cedarwood essential oil when used in dogs also can act as an antiseptic for the lungs, expectorant for coughs (like kennel cough), circulation stimulator (making it helpful for bodily pains and arthritis), hair growth booster and dandruff reducer, diuretic, and a general calming agent that can help with behavior concerns like shyness or nervous aggression. (14)

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Canine Influenza in Dogs There are two strains of the virus that causes dog flu (Influenza Type A): H3N8 and H3N2. Both primarily infect the respiratory system and are extremely contagious. While some dogs become very ill with dog flu, others can be exposed to the virus and fight off infection without ever getting sick.

Symptoms and Types of Canine Influenza Dogs that are infected with the canine influenza virus may develop two different syndromes:

Mild – These dogs will have a cough that is typically moist and can have nasal discharge. Occasionally, it will be more of a dry cough. In most cases, the symptoms will last 10 to 30 days and usually will go away on their own. It’s similar to kennel cough but persists longer. These dogs may benefit from dog flu treatment to reduce the duration or severity of symptoms.
Severe – Generally, these dogs have a high fever (above 104 degrees Fahrenheit) and develop signs very quickly. Pneumonia can develop. The canine influenza virus affects the capillaries in the lungs, so the dog may cough up blood and have trouble breathing if there is bleeding into the air sacs. Patients may also develop secondary bacterial infections, including bacterial pneumonia, which can further complicate the situation.

General signs of these syndromes include:

Red eyes
Runny nose
Coughing
Sneezing
Anorexia
Fever
Malaise

In most cases, there is a history of contact with other dogs known to carry the virus.

Diagnosing the Dog Flu If your dog develops the signs of dog flu described when there is an outbreak in your region, see your veterinarian as soon as possible. Often, local news will warn of an outbreak of the dog flu. However, if your dog travels or comes into contact with dogs who travel, call your veterinarian about your dog’s symptoms in case your dog is the first locally to acquire canine influenza.

Besides a physical, your veterinarian will want to perform a complete blood count and clinical chemistry on the dog. Usually, increases are seen in the white blood cells, specifically the neutrophils, a white blood cell that is destructive to microorganisms. X-rays (radiographs) can be taken of the dog's lungs to characterize the type and extent of pneumonia.

Another diagnostic tool called a bronchoscope can be used to see the tracheaand larger bronchi. Cell samples can also be collected by conducting a bronchial wash or a bronchoalveolar lavage. These samples will typically have large amounts of neutrophils and may contain bacteria.

Detecting the virus itself is very difficult and is usually not required for treatment. There is a blood (serological) test that can support a canine influenza diagnosis. In most cases, a blood sample is taken after initial symptoms develop and then again two to three weeks later. Because of this, your dog will be treated based on the signs she is showing.

Treatment for Canine Influenza The mild form of dog flu is usually treated with cough suppressants. Antibiotics may be used if there is a secondary bacterial infection. Rest and isolation from other dogs is very important.

The severe form of dog flu needs to be treated aggressively with a broad spectrum of dog antibiotics, fluids and supportive care. Hospitalization may be necessary until the dog is stable. For some dogs, canine influenza is deadly and should always be treated as a serious disease. Even after returning home, the dog should be isolated for several weeks until all canine influenza symptoms have fully resolved.

How to Prevent the Dog Flu Canine influenza vaccines are currently available as separate vaccines for each of the two strains. The first time your dog is vaccinated, they will require a booster 2 to 4 weeks later. Thereafter, the canine influenza vaccine is administered annually. In addition, there are other respiratory conditions that can be vaccinated against, specifically Bordetella bronchiseptica, the bacteria responsible for what is commonly called "kennel cough."

Any dog that is suspected to have canine influenza should be isolated from other dogs. Those dogs with the mild form of the infection usually recover on their own. Canine influenza is not a contagion issue for humans or other species.

Infection may be able to be prevented by avoiding places where dogs congregate when the dog flu is active in your region.

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What Are Essential Oils? Essential oils are compounds extracted from plants.

The oils capture the plant's scent and flavor, also called its "essence."

Unique aromatic compounds give each essential oil its characteristic essence.

Essential oils are obtained through distillation (via steam and/or water) or mechanical methods, such as cold pressing.

Once the aromatic chemicals have been extracted, they are combined with a carrier oil to create a product that's ready for use.

The way the oils are made is important, as essential oils obtained through chemical processes are not considered true essential oils.

Popular Types There are more than 90 types of essential oils, each with its own unique smell and potential health benefits.

Here's a list of 10 popular essential oils and the health claims associated with them:

Peppermint: Used to boost energy and help with digestion.
Lavender: Used for stress relief.
Sandalwood: Used to calm nerves and help with focus.
Bergamot: Used to reduce stress and improve skin conditions like eczema.
Rose: Used to improve mood and reduce anxiety.
Chamomile: Used for improving mood and relaxation.
Ylang-Ylang: Used to treat headaches, nausea and skin conditions.
Tea Tree: Used to fight infections and boost immunity.
Jasmine: Used to help with depression, childbirth and libido.
Lemon: Used to aid digestion, mood, headaches and more.

BOTTOM LINE:There are over 90 commonly used essential oils, each associated with certain health claims. Popular oils include peppermint, lavender and sandalwood.

Health Benefits of Essential Oils Despite their widespread use, little is known about the effectiveness of essential oils in treating health conditions.

Here's a look at the evidence for some of the common health problems that essential oils and aromatherapy have been used to treat.

Stress, Anxiety and Depression It has been estimated that 43% of people who have stress and anxiety use some form of alternative therapy to help with their condition (8).

Regarding aromatherapy, initial studies have been quite positive. Many have shown that the smell of some essential oils can work as a complementary therapy to treat anxiety and stress (9, 10, 11).

However, due to the scents of the compounds, it's hard to conduct blinded studies and rule out biases. Because of this, many reviews on the stress- and anxiety-relieving effects of essential oils have been inconclusive (12, 13).

Interestingly, using essential oils during a massage may help relieve stress, although the effects may only last while the massage is taking place (14).

A recent review of over 201 studies found that only 10 were robust enough to analyze. It also concluded that aromatherapy was ineffective at treating anxiety (15).

Headaches and Migraines In the '90s, two small studies found that dabbing a peppermint oil and ethanol mixture on participants' foreheads and temples relieved headache pain (16, 17).

Recent studies have also found positive effects against headaches when applying peppermint and lavender oil to the skin (18, 19).

It has also been suggested that applying a mixture of chamomile and sesame oil to the temples may effectively treat headaches and migraines. This is a traditional Persian headache remedy (20).

However, more high-quality studies are needed on this.

Sleep and Insomnia Smelling lavender oil has been shown to positively affect the sleep quality of women after childbirth, as well as patients with heart disease (21, 22).

One review examined 15 studies on essential oils and sleep. The majority of studies showed that smelling the oils (mostly lavender) had positive effects on sleeping habits (23).

Reducing Inflammation It has been suggested that essential oils may help fight inflammatory conditions. Some test-tube studies show that they have anti-inflammatory effects (24, 25).

One mouse study found that ingesting a combination of thyme and oregano essential oils helped induce the remission of colitis. Two rat studies on caraway and rosemary oils found similar results (26, 27, 28).

However, very few human studies have examined the effects of these oils on inflammatory diseases. Their effectiveness and safety are unknown (29, 30).

Antibiotic and Antimicrobial The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has renewed interest in the search for other compounds that can fight bacterial infections.

Essential oils, such as peppermint and tea tree oil, have been investigated extensively in test tubes for their antimicrobial effects. In fact, they have shown some positive results (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39).

However, while test-tube study results are interesting, they do not necessarily reflect what's happening within your body. They don't prove that a particular essential oil could effectively treat bacterial infections in humans.

BOTTOM LINE:Essential oils may have some interesting applications for health. However, more research is needed in humans.

Other Uses Essential oils have many uses outside of aromatherapy.

Many people use them to scent their homes or freshen up things like laundry.

They are also used as a natural scent in homemade cosmetics and high-quality natural products.

It has also been suggested that essential oils could provide a safe and environmentally friendly alternative to man-made mosquito repellents, such as DEET.

However, results of their effectiveness have been mixed.

Studies have shown that some oils, such as citronella, may effectively repel certain types of mosquitoes for around 2 hours. Protection time may be extended up to 3 hours when it is used in combination with vanillin.

Despite this, no oils have been as effective as DEET at preventing bites from all species of mosquito for long periods of time (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45).

The properties of essential oils also indicate that some of them could be used industrially for extending the shelf life of foods (39, 46, 47, 48).

BOTTOM LINE:Aromatherapy isn't the only use for essential oils. They can be used in and around the home, as a natural mosquito repellent or industrially to make cosmetics.

How to Choose The Right Essential Oils Many companies claim that their oils are "pure" or "medical grade." However, these terms aren't universally defined and therefore hold little weight.

Given that it is an unregulated industry, the quality and composition of essential oils can vary greatly (49).

Keep the following tips in mind in order to choose only high-quality oils:

Purity: Find an oil that contains only aromatic plant compounds, without additives or synthetic oils. Pure oils usually list the plant's botanical name (such as Lavandula officinalis), rather than terms like "essential oil of lavender."
Quality: True essential oils are the ones that have been changed the least by the extraction process. Choose a chemical-free essential oil that has been extracted through distillation or mechanical cold pressing.
Reputation: Purchase a brand with a reputation for producing high-quality products.

BOTTOM LINE:High-quality oils only use pure plant compounds extracted by distillation or cold pressing. Avoid oils that have been diluted with synthetic fragrances, chemicals or oils.

Safety and Side Effects Just because something is natural doesn't mean it's safe.

Plants and herbal products contain many bioactive compounds, which may be harmful to your health in some cases. Essential oils are no different.

However, when inhaled or combined with a base oil for use on your skin, most essential oils are considered safe.

Nevertheless, they may cause some side effects (50):

Rashes.
Asthma attacks.
Headaches.
Allergic reactions.

While the most common side effect is a rash, essential oils can cause more serious reactions, and they have been associated with one case of death (51).

The oils that have most commonly been associated with adverse reactions are lavender, peppermint, tea tree and ylang-ylang.

Oils that are high in phenols, such as cinnamon, can cause skin irritation and shouldn't be used on the skin without first being combined with a base oil.

Eating essential oils is not recommended, as it could potentially be harmful and in some doses fatal (52, 53).

Very few studies have examined the safety of these oils for pregnant or breastfeeding women, which are usually advised to avoid them (54, 55, 56, 57, 58).

BOTTOM LINE:Essential oils are generally considered safe. However, they may cause serious side effects for some people, especially if applied directly to the skin or ingested.

Take Home Message Essential oils are generally considered safe to inhale or apply to the skin, as long as they've been combined with a base oil. They should not be eaten.

However, the evidence for many of the health claims is lacking, and their effectiveness is often exaggerated.

For minor health problems, using essential oils as a complementary therapy is probably ok.

But if you have a serious health condition or are taking medication, you should discuss their use with your doctor.

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Kennel cough in dogs Kennel cough is a condition that affects the upper respiratory tract of dogs and is characterized by the inflammation of the trachea and bronchi. While kennel cough may sound like a horrific condition, it’s not actually as terrible as most dog owners assume. However, the effects of the condition can vary depending on each individual dog. For this reason, you may want to avoid your dog catching the illness if possible. To do this, you need to understand where the name comes from.

Why is it called kennel cough? This condition is referred to as a kennel cough because, perhaps, unsurprisingly it is most commonly found and caught in kennels or anywhere that there are a lot of dogs in close proximity to one another. Kennels or shelters are the obvious risk zone, but training facilities and dog parks can be another place where dogs are likely to contract this illness. Ultimately kennel cough in dogs is very much like the typical human cold.

It’s very common and will spread from dog to dog.

Kennel cough causes Kennel cough does not have one individual cause. There are often multiple infectious agents that are working at the same time to infect your dog. Which is why it is also referred to as Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRD) or Infectious Tracheobronchitis. Viral pathogens include canine distemper (CDV), canine parainfluenza (CPIV), canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2), canine influenza (CIV), canine herpesvirus (CHV), canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV), pantropic canine coronavirus, canine reovirus, and canine pneumovirus (CnPnV). Bacterial pathogens include Bordetella bronchiseptica, Mycoplasma spp., and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus.

One of the most common causes is a bacteria known as Bordetella bronchiseptica. Due to this cause kennel cough may also be referred to as Bordetella. However, this bacteria may work with a virus such as canine distemper or canine parainfluenza. Both are problematic for your pet as they weaken the animal’s immune system and affect both the dog’s voice box and windpipe.

Dogs can contract a kennel cough in a variety of different ways. The most common way is to catch it from the air as it is spread by another dog. A dog with this infection may sneeze, bark or cough. Any one of these things can flood the air with thousands of organisms..

A dog may also get infected by using an item such as a toy or food dish that another dog with the infection has used. You should also know that bacteria can remain alive on a food bowl for up to forty-eight hours. This is another reason why you should be wary of kennels, particularly if there are signs that dogs at that kennel are infected.

The final way this disease can spread is through animal interactions. Whether your dog plays, sniffs or licks another dog, if it has the infection, it will almost certainly pass it on. So, while letting your dog play with another dog may seem fun you do have to be careful.

Signs of kennel cough One of the challenges of keeping a dog with a kennel cough away from other dogs is that it’s not always possible to tell that they have it. A dog can carry kennel cough and show no symptoms at all yet still pass on the infectious organisms to other dogs. As such, a dog might seem safe for your pet to interact with and still be carrying kennel cough. Not much you can do in that case.

Other dogs will present more symptoms. The most common symptom is a dry, hacking cough. This may be followed by gagging or retching. It will be irritating for your dog and may even hurt her throat. It can sound far worse than it is so try not to panic if your dog does start to show this symptom. In most cases, this cough is completely harmless and will go away within a couple of weeks. Still you should have your dog checked out by your veterinarian as there are other causes of coughing that are more serious. Make sure you call or otherwise notify them you are coming in so they can take precautions to prevent infection of other dogs in the hospital.

On rare occasions, this condition can lead to further complications. Some dogs may develop a fever and seem lethargic. However, you still don’t have to worry too much about the impact of this condition. With treatment, a dog will still recover.

In extremely rare cases, this condition can lead to something far more sinister which is pneumonia. Pneumonia may develop due to your dog’s weakened immune system. However, it is important to understand that this is incredibly rare. Even so, if you think your dog’s condition is getting worse, you should always get them checked out by the vet.

Treatment for kennel cough Many cases of a kennel cough may not require any treatment. Although rest and isolation from other dogs will likely be recommended. In two weeks, a dog will usually fully recover and be back to its old self. If the condition is more severe, they may be provided antibiotics to help fight the infection and/or a cough suppressant by a vet. In some cases tests (such as chest x-rays) and more aggressive treatment may be necessary. Pet medical insurance typically applies to these tests.

The condition is likely to be more severe and potentially dangerous in older dogs, young puppies and any dog with a severely weakened immune system. If your dog fits into any of these categories, you should go and see your vet as soon as possible. They will determine whether further treatment is necessary. With treatment, most dogs will recover fully in roughly two weeks. On occasion, however, some dogs may have a longer course of 2-6 weeks..

Preventing kennel cough As with other conditions, the best way to approach a kennel cough is to prevent it from developing. There are several ways to do this including checking out the dogs your pooch is playing with. Ask the owner whether they are up to date on their vaccinations. There is a vaccination for Bordetella, and if you visit your vet, they can provide you information on this.

If you are using kennels or a doggy daycare check them out thoroughly, ensuring they are clean and sanitized. Kennel cough is just one of the nasty illnesses your dog can pick up at kennels which aren’t being properly cleaned and maintained.

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When you head to the veterinarian, you and your pet are likely both a little nervous. Whether it's for yearly vaccinations or to figure out why your furry best friend has been scratching or vomiting, you have to bring them in — and no one likes to be poked and prodded. By the time your vet appears in the exam room, you've both had time to worry about it and the doctor picks up on your combined nerves.

That's one of the reasons so many veterinarians will do an initial exam in the room while you're there, but will whisk your pet "to the back" for vaccinations, bloodwork and other procedures.

"Some pets are actually calmer when they are away from their owners, which makes it easier to perform exams or draw blood or administer a treatment," writes veterinarian Dr. Joanne Intile in PetMD. "This allows the veterinarian to accomplish tasks more efficiently and safely, reducing stress for the pets."

Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker agrees. "Your pet may actually be much more difficult (or even dangerous) to handle in your presence, either because he’s trying to protect you or is sensing your concern for him. For many pets, getting away from Mom or Dad and being handled by a confident, experienced, animal-loving veterinary technician means getting the procedure done faster and with less stress for everyone."

Especially if you happen to get a little queasy when it comes to medical procedures. If you get lightheaded while your pet is getting vaccinated or having blood drawn, no doubt he will pick up on that. And do you really want to see them getting a fecal sample or drawing a lot of blood (which they usually get from your dog's jugular)?

More room to work In most veterinary clinics, "the back" refers to a large open area with access to surgical lights, equipment and more space to move around. It's a comfortable room where it's easy for vets and techs to work with your pet with all the tools they need close at hand.

"Exam rooms are generally smaller, with less room to maneuver, especially with the pet owner (or two, and sometimes children as well) taking up room without knowing the best place to stand or how to help — or even if (and when) staying out of the way is better," says Becker.

Often there are other staff members in the back who can offer an extra set of hands to help with restraining or calming your pet or getting equipment, medications or anything else that's needed.

In exam rooms, owners often insist on restraining pets themselves, but they aren't necessarily all that good at it. Owners have been bitten by their own dogs in exam rooms.

"Because veterinarians are liable for anything that happens to owners in the exam room, it's quite normal for them to discourage you from restraining your pooch when they have staff who are professionally trained to perform safe restraining techniques," writes behavior consultant and former animal hospital assistant Adrienne Janet Farricelli.

"Many years ago, I took my dog to the vet to have a painful wound cleaned. At first, I tried to help, but the vet said to me, 'Let me have my professionally-trained staff hold your dog for this procedure. We don't want him to associate this not-so-pleasant experience with you.'"

Less stress ... or not? Does your presence comfort your pet or make her feel more anxious? (Photo: Gumpanat/Shutterstock)

Although many vets will insist that pets pick up on their owners' stress, not all experts are convinced that dogs and cats are less likely to be anxious when we're with them.

Faricelli reflects on her own days working at an animal hospital. "The dog who I thought appeared to be 'calmer' when brought to the back room may have likely been frozen in fear instead," she writes. "Some dogs who initially tried to resist, and then appeared calmer afterwards, may have been a victim of 'learned helplessness.' This means that they simply gave up. Their behavior might be mistaken for 'behaving,' but, in reality, they are in a subdued state of stress and fear."

In the 2017 study, researchers in France assessed the behavioral and physiological responses in dogs while being examined by a vet. They found that signs of stress in dogs — which include an increased heart rate and lip licking — decreased when the owners stayed in the room, petting and talking to the dog during the exam. They also were less likely to try to jump off the exam table when the owner was comforting them.

The researchers concluded, "This study demonstrates that owner-dog interactions improve the well-being of dogs during a veterinary examination. Future research may assist in further understanding the mechanisms associated with reducing stress in dogs in similar settings.

If your vet takes your pet to the back and you aren't happy about it, talk about it. Your vet should be open to a discussion and should be able to give you a tour of the back so you can see what goes on back there. Either way, you'll get to stay in the room with your pet or you'll be more knowledgeable about where he goes when he's out of your sight.

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Mary Jo DiLonardo writes about everything from health to parenting — and anything that helps explain why her dog does what he does.

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   Upcoming Events with Cindy                   April 3rd, 2019 at 6 pm PST

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Animal & Emotions Webinar    The bond between a human and their pets is far stronger than most people realize. It is so easy for our animals to absorb our emotions, unknowingly taking our stresses onto themselves. How can we help our pets during these times of great stress, for both them and us?

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Dog Behavior and Training - Dominance, Alpha, and Pack Leadership - What Does It Really Mean? By Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB & Gary Landsberg, DVM, DACVB, DECAWBM

Behavior

 Despite the fact that recent studies have reevaluated hierarchy models and have modified our understanding of behavior in the wild wolf, the concept of a hierarchal relationship among dogs and humans continues to be perpetuated. To ensure a well functioning family group, a family needs to know more about canine behavior than outdated strategies focusing on pack structure. In fact recent research has clearly indicated that the longstanding theory which maintained that alpha wolves control through aggression and relentless management is more myth than fact. These theories have been refuted by wolf biologists and if this theory is no longer considered true for wolves, then how can it be considered true for our dogs? New research on canine learning patterns indicates dogs understand us far better than we understand them.

How do wolves behave in the packs? Aren't dogs just like wolves? Decades of observation by wildlife biologists of free-ranging wolf packs have revealed startling insight into the lives of these majestic canids. For instance, seasoned leaders of wolf packs actually survey from near the back of the pack when traveling, rather than taking the lead position. Also, in times of scarcity, the leaders allow the young to eat first, rather than feeding themselves first. Wolf behavior experts, such as L. David Mech, have dedicated their lives to observing wolves in their natural state. Some interesting observations include: There is an absence of reports of wolves seeking high positions over the pack, there are no signs of a leader rousting a subordinate from a desired resting place, and an alpha wolf rarely initiates pinning (a dominance behavior). These experts who study wolf behavior describe the role of the wolf leaders as parents— guiding, teaching, and caring for their pack members. When the wolf offspring mature, they do not compete to overthrow the pack leader; instead, they leave the pack, find a mate, and start a family of their own. A parent-family model better describes wolf-wolf relationships than a competitive hierarchy model.

Aren't dogs just trying to be in charge? Dominance hierarchy based training methods assume dogs are committed to a battle of supremacy and constant challenge with family members. This premise is incorrect and not supported by scientific study. Trainers advising families to take charge of the pack by eating first, walking through doors first, occupying a higher position and worst of all, pinning the dogs into submission are ignoring the current scientific research and subjecting the dog to unnecessary and sometimes cruel training methods. In reality, dogs have an intra-species relationship and a pattern of behaviors with their human family members that are driven by a variety of motivations, including: genetics, socialization, available resources, fear, conflicts, learning, behavioral pathology and disease. Furthermore, application of scientifically based principles of positive reinforcement, operant conditioning, classical conditioning, desensitization and counter-conditioning programs have been shown to successfully teach dogs desirable behaviors and prevent behavior problems while enhancing the human-pet bond.

Pack Leadership Rules: myth or fact? 1. Myth: Don’t let your dog walk ahead of you. If he is ahead of you on a walk, he will walk all over you in all other areas of your relationship!

Fact: Dogs may pull when walking on a leash for a variety of reasons. They may have the desire to play, explore, investigate or be social. This can become a learned behavior that is self rewarding; the reward being successful attempts to experience a new area’s odors, other dogs, and people. In other cases, dogs pull to get out of a fearful situation!

The second part of this myth is actually more damaging: how a dog walks on a leash does not reflect your relationship, it simply means you haven’t taught your dog to walk on a leash. Teaching a dog to walk nicely on a leash will not improve separation anxiety, aggression or phobias. However, this should not be confused with the fact that dogs that show excitable or aggressive meetings and greetings on walks may need to learn to walk calmly by the owner’s side as part of the behavior management program. Mostly walking nicely on a leash is about manners, training and enjoying something you should do with your dog frequently.

2. Myth: A Tired Dog is a Good Dog

Fact: It is essential to meet the exercise and behavioral needs of your dog (and breed) by providing a variety of forms of enrichment. However, exceeding the exercise needs of your dog may actually be unhealthy especially for dogs with health concerns such as heart, respiratory or joint diseases. The fact is that exercise needs will vary according to breed, age, health and individual personality. In addition there are many ways in addition to exercise to enrich the lives of our pets including social, exploratory and mental stimulation (see Working for Food and Enrichment, Predictability, and Scheduling). A 2-mile run, a swim, and a chance to play with another dog may be ideal for some Labrador retrievers, while a bichon’s needs may be met by a short walk to the coffee shop and doing tricks for the other patrons. However, fulfillment of basic exercise needs alone does not prevent problems of boredom or unruly problems. Exercise does not prevent aggression, separation anxiety, phobias, or compulsive disorders. There are many athletically fit dogs that demonstrate aggression!

3. Myth: Your dog should wait while you pass through doorways before your dog.

Fact: Dogs should be taught nice manners at doorways: go out when told, wait when asked to and don’t knock people over. Doorways are man-made structures that have little significance to a dog. Most wolves have a narrow inconspicuous opening to their den and wolf biologists do not observe confrontations regarding the order wolves utilize a den entrance.

This is relevant for manners and safety – your dog should not knock you over as you pass through a doorway and he should not escape past you. In addition, if your dog tends to pull excessively or show aggression when meeting or greeting new people and pets, he should be trained to follow you out the door. However, adherence to these guidelines does not signify your dog’s respect, admiration or allegiance. In fact, a dog that is punished may learn not to go through a doorway when a specific person is around because he has learned from past experience punishment occurs; this is fear, not respect.

4. Myth: Eat before your dog; this shows him you are his alpha leader.

Fact: Dogs naturally associate food rewards as an indication the immediately preceding behavior was appropriate.

Dogs are scavengers by nature and while he may longingly desire what you are eating, he is not reflecting on his place in the pack while he watches you eat. Simply put, because we provide the food, our dogs cannot eat unless we give them the food regardless if we eat first or second. Dogs learn best by operant conditioning and food rewards facilitate that learning process much like a wolf would learn how to hunt a prey. A successful hunt means that a wolf will likely try that strategy again. By the way, wolves in packs do not display a meal time hierarchy: in times of plenty; everyone eats together and in times of scarcity the parent wolves make certain their offspring are fed first.

5. Myth: Don’t allow your dog on the furniture or on your bed. If you allow your dog to be on the same level as you, you are elevating his status and lowering yours.

Fact: Neither dogs nor wolves use elevated positions to infer social meaning. Wildlife biologists who have spent their lives observing natural wolf pack behavior do not observe acquisition of higher places to be associated with confrontation or challenge among wolves. Dogs or wolves may choose to occupy a comfortable location. They may select a location to observe prey or approaching enemies.

The pertinent questions become: Do you want your dog on the bed, couch or chair? Is it safe to have your dog in those places with you? Do you enjoy that interaction with your pet or would you rather not have dog hair in your bed? This is a personal decision based on how you enjoy interacting with your pet and if it is safe. This matter only becomes relevant for behavior issues if a dog is aggressive to people while in these vulnerable positions. So, cuddling in bed with a dog that may wake up suddenly and react by startled aggression is a bad idea because it puts people at risk for an aggressive episode not because the dog infers some hierarchal privilege by being in the bed.

6. Myth: If you establish eye contact with the dog, the dog must avert his gaze first.

Fact: Teach your dog to watch your face on cue; then you have his attention and if your dog is watching you instead of something else many problems can be avoided.

Dogs do display submission or appeasement by diverting their eyes. It can also mean fear, conflict or anxiety (see Canine Communication – Interpreting Dog Language). New research suggests that dogs have the innate ability to observe and learn from human gestures and eye gaze. Curiously wolves did not display this ability. Dogs can also be taught to watch a person’s face on cue and this can be very helpful in the prevention and treatment of behavior problems. For example, if a dog doesn’t like other dogs then while passing other dogs he can be given a “watch” cue and rewarded for watching his owner

Aren't behavior problems resolved by pack leadership and obedience training? Dogs are simply not trying to take over the pack or be in charge. Dogs are learning how to interact by assessing what works and what doesn’t with each interaction. Dogs are great students of human behavior and draw conclusions based on your actions. Punishment, deference and fear as training methods do not foster a mentally, emotionally and behaviorally sound dog. A mentally and emotionally healthy dog is not necessarily achieved with obedience training. Families that focus on socialization, positive reinforcement, avoidance punishment based strategies and clear and predictable interactions will be rewarded by a dog that is an enjoyable member of the family.

Additional reading:

Visit the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior website www.avsabonline.org and read each of the position statements but particularly those on dominance and punishment.
"The Wolf: Ecology and Behavior of an Endangered Species" David Mech
"Dominance Fact or Fiction" Barry Eaton
Family Dog Project Ádám Miklósi http://familydogproject.elte.hu/index.html

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3 Vet-Recommended Supplements For Senior Dogs by Dina Fantegrossi Although dietary supplements can be beneficial at any stage of life, many people don’t start thinking about giving them to their pets until they reach their senior years. This is the time when we are reminded of their mortality as we notice signs of arthritis and that telltale gray muzzle. With so many products on the market making different promises, it’s hard to know which ones are safe, let alone helpful for your senior pooch.

Dr. Marty Becker has been a practicing veterinarian for more than 20 years. He has contributed to Good Morning America and The Dr. Oz Show, written 25 books, and sits on the Board of Directors for The Grey Muzzle Organization, a non-profit group devoted to helping senior dogs. When it comes to his aging canine patients, there are three major supplements he recommends.

1. Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids are best known for doing wonders for a dog’s skin and coat. While a shiny pooch is certainly an added bonus, EFA’s are thought to aid in critical brain function, as well as boost the immune system – two very important benefits for senior dogs! For those experiencing arthritis or the general aches and pains of aging, EFA’s are also known to have anti-inflammatory properties.

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2. Glucosamine with Chondroitin Sulfate Glucosamine and chondroitin are compounds found in healthy cartilage. Aging dogs experience joint pain when cartilage naturally breaks down and joint fluid is lost. The anti-inflammatory properties in glucosamine help to reduce that pain and aid in cartilage regeneration, while the water-retaining properties of chondroitin sulfate aid in joint lubrication. This type of supplement works well when paired with essential fatty acids.

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3. Probiotics Probiotics are designed to replace the healthy bacteria in the gut that can be killed off due to illness, stress, medications, and a variety of other causes. When the healthy bacteria levels drop too low, the bad bacteria in the gut take over, wreaking havoc on the digestive system, which contains up to 80% of a dog’s immune defenses. Probiotics keep the flora levels balanced, providing important benefits for an aging dog beyond digestive health. There is evidence that probiotics boost the immune system, strengthening your senior dog’s defenses against infections and auto-immune diseases.

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Remember that frequent exams, a high quality diet, and maintaining a healthy weight are important for all dogs, but especially seniors! Consult with your vet to determine an overall wellness strategy and which supplements are right for your pooch. The goal is to keep your best friend healthy, comfortable, and most importantly, by your side as long as possible!

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Step 1: Training Your Dog to Walk on a Leash Introduce him to the collar or harness and leash. Start out by letting him get used to wearing a collar or harness and a leash. Let him wear them for short periods of time, in the house, during which you are playing with him and giving him treats. The puppy should love “collar and leash time” because it represents food and fun.

Teach a cue. Introduce your puppy to a sound cue that means “food is coming.” Some people like to click and treat, some people use a word like “Yes,” and some people cluck their tongue. Whichever you use, the method is the same: In a quiet, distraction free area, with the puppy on a leash and collar, make the sound. The second your puppy turns toward you and/or looks at you, reward him with a treat. After a few repetitions, you’ll notice your puppy not only looking at you, but also coming over to you for the treat.

Make him come to you. While he’s on his way to you, still wearing the leash and collar, back up a few paces and then reward when he gets to you. Continue the progression until your puppy, upon hearing the cue noise, comes to you and walks with you a few paces. Remember that puppies have short attention spans, so keep your sessions short, and end them when your puppy is still eager to do more, not when he’s mentally exhausted.

Take it outside. Finally, you’re ready to test your puppy’s skills in the Great Outdoors. There will be new challenges with this step as all the sounds, smells, and sights your puppy encounters will be both intriguing and new to him. Be patient; keep the first walks short. While you’re on a walk, if your puppy looks as if he’s about to lunge towards something or is about to get distracted (you’ll notice this because you will keep your eyes on him at all times!), make your cue sound, and move a few steps away and reward his following you with a treat.

Step 2: Leash-Training Troubleshooting As perfect as you want to pretend your puppy is, you’re likely going to run into some issues as he learns to walk on a leash. (And eventually, you’ll want to teach him loose-leash walkingso that he can pass his Canine Good Citizen test!) Here are a few tips on what to do if you’re having trouble, courtesy of the AKC GoodDog! Helpline.

If he pulls: If your dog starts pulling in the other direction, turn yourself into “a tree.” Stand very still and refuse to move until your dog comes back to you. Do not yank or jerk the leash, and do not drag your dog along with you. Alternative harnesses, like front-hook harnesses, and head halters are designed for dogs that tend to pull.

If he lunges: If your dog is going after something while on a walk— another dog, a car, or skateboarder, for example, try to redirect his attention with a treat before he has a chance to lunge and create space between you and the target. Be proactive. Get prepared before the target of his frustration gets too close. This type of behavior is more common in herding breeds, who like to chase.

If he barks: Some dogs have the habit of barking at other dogs while on a walk. Oftentimes, this behavior comes as a result of lack of exercise. Make sure your dog gets the proper amount of mental and physical stimulation for his breed. If this is still a problem, use the same process as you would if your dog is lunging at a ca r— create distance and offer treats before he starts to bark.

Gradually you’ll reduce the amount of treats and troubleshooting that your puppy needs during a walk, but you’ll always have some on hand to randomly reinforce good leash walking behavior!

Having trouble with these or other puppy behaviors? Contact the experts at the AKC GoodDog! Helpline for personalized tips and techniques.

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  Tied outside the entrance of a café, the young Border Collie-mix paced and panted. An approaching couple, assuming that a dog tethered outside of a café would be friendly, moved toward him to say hello. But before they could get within five feet, he erupted into a frenzy of barks and shrieks and then urinated. The dog’s person rushed out, coffee in hand. “Sorry—he’s a bit shy,” she said, the dog cowering into her. Untying the dog, she quickly led him away down the street.

For a “normal” dog, this would have been a welcome encounter. But for a chronically shy dog, something as simple as a casual hello from a stranger can be a terrifying experience. It goes without saying that this timid dog should never have been left out there alone, waiting to fail.

This example is an extreme case of shyness (extreme shyness can look like aggression), but there’s a whole spectrum of timidity. Read on to determine if your dog is shy and how you can use confidence boosting exercises to help her feel at ease.

Is Your Dog Shy? Signs of Shyness
Typically, a dog’s behaviour and body posture will alert you to his timidity. A shy dog might exhibit any or all of the following:

Ears flattened back to the head
Cowering posture
Shying away from interactions with other dogs and/or people
Tail tucked between the legs
Panting or shaking
Dilated, glassy eyes
Skulking, pacing, hiding, or escaping
Whining or barking
Raised hackles
Fear of eye contact
Sneering, nipping or biting
Submissive urination

Some shy dogs exhibit shy behaviour only toward people, while others show it only toward dogs. Many, though, will display the behavior toward both, or even in stressful situations that don’t involve a person or dog. Thunder, fireworks, traffic, or any unpredictable circumstance can trigger a shy dog into a panic.

Why Shy?
Causes of chronic timidity in dogs are numerous, and include one or more of the following:

Hereditary predisposition
Improper socialization during the first eight weeks of life
Traumatic occurrence during the first “fear imprint” stage, from 8–11 weeks
Chronic abuse
Injury or attack
Medical issues, including hearing loss, thyroid imbalance, epilepsy, or chronic pain
Rescue dogs in particular can suffer from shyness, due not only to trauma associated with being in a noisy shelter with many unknown dogs, but from the abrupt (and often serial) termination of comforting relationships with an adoptive family. When a dog is abruptly denied the comfort of a reliable, loving situation, and deprived of any dependable routine, he can develop anti-social tendencies.

Don’t!
There are certain situations and actions you should attempt to avoid with your timid, fearful dog. They include:

Tethering her outside an establishment such as a café, store or library while you go inside. People coming and going will try to pet her; this will reinforce her fears, and perhaps cause a biting incident.
Forcing your dog into a fearful situation, thinking it’s a “sink-or-swim” solution. It will only make things worse!
Telling friends and strangers to make eye contact with her and to reach out to greet her. Instead, let your dog initiate the greeting.
Having large, boisterous groups in the home. Putting her into a room or a crate will make matters worse, because she can still hear the noise, but not go anywhere to avoid it. Only use the crate or room if it is located far enough away for her to not hear the stimulus. The hectic activity of children should particularly be avoided.
Overbearing training styles.
Forcing a shy, hiding dog out from under tables, sofas or chairs when scared. Instead, let her come out of her own accord. If you must get her out, keep a leash on her in the home and use it to coax her out. Then have her sit for a treat.
Taking her into chaotic urban environs or areas with unpredictable activity, such as a skateboard park or a fireworks display. Instead, always think ahead, and choose venues you know won’t panic her.

How to Help a Bashful Dog Enjoy the Finer Things in Life:
Easing a Shy Dog’s Worries Via Confidence Building Exercises

Though you may not be able to turn a shy dog into a socialite, there are techniques you can use to ease the stress and raise a timid pooch’s confidence. These include:

Obedience training
A shy dog that knows exactly what you are asking of her will be less likely to panic. It’s essential to teach your timid dog the basic commands, especially “Sit,” “Stay,” and “Come.” Never use an overbearing, intimidating style, and avoid yelling or undo emotion. Stay calm and supportive, but avoid coddling and over-the-top, exaggerated praise. Treats and toys are helpful tools to keep her mood upbeat during training. Begin teaching all new behaviours in a quiet indoor spot with no distractions. Then, over time, gradually introduce distractions, such as a friend reading a newspaper, a football game on the television, or kids playing outside a window. Eventually take the obedience outside. If your shy dog is liable to run off when scared, keep a leash on her.

Doggie Mentors
Professional trainers often enlist the help of a confident, laid back canine helper. When a timid dog sees the confident helper dog playing, sitting for treats, and enjoying herself, he will often relax and join in on the fun. If your shy dog has a doggie friend she knows and trusts, by all means, use that “mentor dog” to help in the training and socialization process. If your timid dog doesn’t like other canines, try including a person she trusts.

Subtle Socialization
Nervous dogs often don’t respond well to the standard socialization techniques that other dogs do. Busy parks, streets or active homes can send them into a panic and make the problem worse. Instead, be subtle. Have a friend sit quietly in the same room as the dog and randomly drop treats onto the floor. No eye contact or communication; just treats. Over time, this will get your shy dog to associate that person with something good. Once he trusts that person enough to regularly take the treats, continue with the person standing. Then move the venue to another room, or into the yard. Slowly, you’ll relax the dog enough so that the friend can go with you on walks and even take the leash. Repeat this with other friends until your dog has a small cadre of trusty human pals.

Game time!
Worried dogs have a hard time enjoying life. To break the worry cycle, teach your dog to play games such as “Fetch” or “Hide-and-Seek.” She will relax and simply be a dog for a while. If she has a dog friend, include him or her in the fun. Schedule at least three play sessions each day. If you can, change up the venue, so that eventually she will feel comfortable playing within sight of strangers or unpredictable activity.

Timid dogs have a “worry radius” that is fairly predictable; as long as something or someone stays outside this distance, the dog is usually fine. If you can, try to reduce this distance ever so slowly, over time, while playing games. After several months, you should be able to play games within plain sight of activity. (Keep a leash on her if the area is unfenced.)

Trick and Treat
Teaching tricks to your shy dog will help her focus and stay out of “worry” mode. And, they teach her positive cause and effect—if she performs the trick, she gets a treat. It may sound simplistic, but, for a nervous dog, just learning that they can initiate a reliable, predictable interaction can be a great comfort.

Any tricks will work. “Shake,” “Spin,” “Roll over”—whatever you think your dog can master is good.

Exercise
A tired dog is less apt to worry than one that has pent up energy. To that end, try to get your dog as much exercise as possible on a daily basis. Go for walks in areas where he’s not apt to panic. Jog or bike with him. Play fetch or Frisbee—whatever gets him tired will calm him and keep his mind off of worries. (Ever been so ridiculously overtired on a long-haul flight that you didn’t fret the turbulence as you normally would? Same principle. It’s remarkably effective.)

Directed Walks
If your shy dog fears other dogs, the normal canine greeting procedure—a nose-to-nose, nose-to tail, play-posturing ritual—should be replaced with a technique called the “directed walk.” Instead of letting the leashed dogs greet, simply walk them briskly, with as much space between each dog as needed to prevent your own shy dog from panicking. Walk them quickly, right at your dog’s “worry radius,” and don’t allow contact. It should be a no-nonsense, directed walk, as if you are all on a mission. Keeping them moving!

After a few minutes, have each sit about ten to fifteen feet apart, and reward. Then move on, and repeat. Over time (days if need be), reduce the “worry radius” incrementally, but don’t feel obliged to have the dogs greet each other unless it’s completely obvious from their body postures that they want to. The idea is to get your timid dog to think there is something important going on that takes precedent over her fears. This “teaming” drill is a vital tool in conditioning her to like other dogs.

Desensitizing
By pairing a marvelous experience with a worrisome one, you can slowly desensitize your timid dog to stimuli that cause her worry. For instance, if she fears the sound of a vacuum, try this: record the sound of the vacuum on your cell phone. Then, with the volume set down to barely audible, have her sit then give her a treat while simultaneously playing the audio. If necessary, have a partner operate the audio from a distance while you work with your dog. Over a few days, increase the volume while treating. Also, try playing her favourite games while the audio plays. The trick is to increase the volume slowly, over time, and to never reward the dog when she reacts poorly to the sound. These “counter-conditioning” drills should over time get her to actually look forward to the sounds, because they signal a payday.

Scent Work
Teaching your timid dog to find scent-rich items hidden around the home is a great way to get her mind off of her troubles and build her confidence. Start off by hiding a treat in plain sight then telling her to “Find-it!” Lead her to it if need be then praise and say “Good Find-it!” As she improves, make them harder to find. Use different treats and other scent-rich items, such as another dog’s hair, a feather, or even a slip of paper with some lavender oil on it. Success will boost her confidence!

Routine and Trigger Reduction
Most importantly, reduce the possibility of failure by setting your dog up for success. Maintain a predictable routine for your shy dog and keep the home as free from triggers as possible. Desensitize very, very slowly, as you gradually expand her pack to include select trusted humans and dogs. Once you realize that you are managing a personality disorder more than curing a bad behavior, you and your shy dog will make great strides towards minimizing her fears so she can enjoy life.

        Teaching a shy dog to be less timid          By Steve Duno | Illustration by Kara Pyle

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What Is CBD? CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound found in cannabis, the plant we often associate with marijuana.

In fact, it is one of over 113 “cannabinoids” found in the cannabis plant, many of which are also being investigated for their potential health benefits.

Now, keep this in mind:

CBD won’t get your pet “high”. You can read more about that here.

Unlike THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, CBD is completely non psychoactive and safe to be used on pets.

CBD also has no known toxicity level, and is incapable of causing an overdose.

In fact, the CBD found in cannabis pet supplements is usually sourced from hemp, a variety of cannabis that naturally contains extremely low concentrations of THC.

How Does CBD Interact With the Body? CBD interacts with the body via the endocannabinoid system, or ECS.

While I’ll likely discuss the ECS in more detail in other posts, here are some basics on how this system works.

The ECS is a biological system found in all mammals, and is involved in managing a wide variety of biological processes, including memory, sleep, immune response, and more.

It mainly consists of two types of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2).

These receptors are built to interact with endocannabinoids (cannabinoids naturally produced by the brain).

However, they can also interact with plant-derived cannabinoids like CBD, which in turn cause a variety of responses throughout the body.

When it comes to CBD, many of these responses are very beneficial.

The endocannabinoid system is essentially the system that processes cannabinoids introduced into the body.

Below I’ll outline some of the main benefits of CBD in more detail.

Note that most of these findings come from studies on lab animals (like rats) or clinical trials on humans.

Nonetheless, the effects of CBD are similar in humans, dogs, cats, and other pets.

This is because, just like humans, dogs and cats also have an endocannabinoid system that functions much in the same way as the human ECS.

Plus, many of the conditions we’ll list below (like anxiety, arthritis, pain, and convulsions) manifest much in the same way in pets as they do in humans.

The 7 Most Common CBD Benefits for Dogs

| 1. | Powerful Painkiller | | 2. | Anticonvulsant | | 3. | Anti-Inflammatory | | 4. | Stress Reliever | | 5. | Antiemetic | | 6. | Anticancer Effects | | 7. | Promotes Homeostasis |

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Kidney disease is more common as dogs age. It is estimated that more than 1 in 10 dogs will develop kidney disease over a lifetime1,3, so it’s an important topic to understand. When healthy, the two kidneys efficiently:

Filter the blood
Process protein wastes and excrete them into the urine
Conserve and balance body water, salts and acids
Help to maintain normal red blood cells

Kidney disease occurs when one or more of these functions are compromised or reduced. Unfortunately, it typically goes undetected until the organs are functioning at approximately 33% to 25% of their capacity. Dogs with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) are prone to dehydration and you may notice that your dog is lethargic and has a poor appetite. Treatment options for advanced kidney disease are usually limited to treating the symptoms because dialysis and kidney transplants are not readily available for dogs. Protecting your pooch from kidney disease means you should be prepared to look for problems early.

Causes of of chronic kidney disease in dogs
The International Renal Interest Society or IRIS is a group of veterinary specialists studying kidney disease in dogs and cats. They list several risk factors that make pets more susceptible to kidney disease, such as age or breed, and investigate reversible factors that initiate or accelerate kidney damage. Such factors include:

Glomerulonephritis
Pyelonephritis (kidney infection)
Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)
Ureteral obstruction & hydronephrosis (stones causing a blockage)
Tubulointerstitial disease (involving the kidney tubules)
Leptospirosis
Cancer
Amyloidosis (protein problem)
Hereditary nephropathies (genetic problem)

Signs of chronic kidney disease in dogs
One of the earliest signs of kidney disease in dogs is urinating and drinking more (polyuria/polydipsia or PU/PD). Often, dogs need to urinate at nighttime (nocturia) or have "accidents." There are many other causes of PU/PD, but kidney disease is one of the most serious concerns. Taking water away from your dog could make chronic kidney disease worse, so please don’t try to do this without your veterinarian’s direction. Having your dog examined promptly when you note a change in water intake and urine production is key! Dogs tend to be pretty sensitive to changes in their blood levels of waste so even mild to moderate changes may cause signs of illness.

Other signs of chronic kidney disease include:

Urinary incontinence (urine leakage)
Dehydration
Lethargy
Reduced appetite
Vomiting
Weight loss
Bad breath with a chemical odor
Oral ulcers
Pale appearance

Testing your dog for chronic kidney disease
Your veterinarian will often suggest these basic tests:

Physical Examination— The first test your veterinarian is likely to perform will be a physical examination, and remember that taking your dog in for routine physical examinations is an excellent way to help protect him. Even normal physical exams may be useful later as a baseline of comparison. During the exam, your veterinarian might detect:

Enlarged, painful kidneys
Back or flank pain
Changes in the prostate or urinary bladder

A rectal examination can give more detail about the possibility of urethral, bladder or prostatic disease that might relate to kidney disease. Finding a large bladder in a dehydrated pet, or other, less specific, findings may also warn your veterinarian about a kidney problem, for example:

Low body temperature
Excessive skin tenting
Dry gums (showing dehydration)
Unkempt hair coat

Other testing may include:

Complete blood count (CBC)—The CBC may reveal anemia (too few red blood cells) or an elevation in white blood cells consistent with infection, stress or inflammation. Less commonly, blood parasites or circulating cancer cells are found.
Chemistry profile with electrolytes
Urinalysis with sediment exam—Examining a urine specimen, especially prior to any treatment, is a simple and economical way to gauge urine quality.
Urine culture with susceptibility
Urine protein to creatinine ratio
Infectious disease testing—Regular testing for heartworm infection and for vector borne diseases such as Ehrlichiosis andLyme can identify risk factors for kidney disease.
Diagnostic imaging—Using radiography (X-rays) and diagnostic ultrasound to identify changes in the size, shape and architecture of the kidneys may suggest a specific blockage that needs emergency treatment.
Blood pressure measurement—High blood pressure is common in dogs with chronic kidney disease.
Kidney Sampling

Management and monitoring of chronic kidney disease
Sick pets with signs of kidney disease that include dehydration will likely require more intensive care in a hospital setting, while those that are happy tail waggers and are completely self-supporting will often be treated at home. Your veterinarian will work diligently to find a treatable cause of kidney disease and make individual recommendations for your dog.

General treatment goals for dogs with kidney disease include:

Providing adequate and appropriate nutrition with a kidney friendly diet (always check with your veterinarian before making any diet changes).
Ensuring excellent hydration.
Balancing salts and acid-base levels.
Aggressively treating any protein problems or high blood pressure, since these conditions tend to worsen kidney damage2.
Keeping plenty of fresh water available—this is essential!

Keep in mind that dogs with kidney disease are usually going to need more trips outside for bathroom breaks, so building this into the household schedule will be important. A friendly neighbor can help out, or a professional dog walker can come to give your pooch a midday break and help you avoid coming home to a puddle or two on the floor. He really can’t help it!

Your pet’s condition, any other illnesses found and your personal goals for treatment will help determine the course of treatment and dictate how often you visit the veterinarian.

Chronic kidney disease prognosis/advances
Some dogs with chronic kidney disease will live years after diagnosis and have a good quality of life. Others will not be so lucky. Your veterinarian will evaluate after testing is finished.

As a motivated pet guardian you can take an active role in your pet’s preventive care by planning for wellness exams and routine lab testing. Team up with your veterinarian to address any problems before they get worse. The discovery of new biomarkers for kidney function, such as SDMA, provides for early recognition of kidney disease before other blood values change and offers the prospect of earlier intervention and kidney care3.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian -- they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

Resources:

Brown SA. Renal dysfunction in small animals. The Merck Veterinary Manual website. Updated October 2013. Accessed January 14, 2015.
Polzin DJ et al. Evidence-based management of chronic kidney disease. In Bonagura J, Twedt D (eds), Kirk’s Current Veterinary Therapy XIV, Elsevier Saunders, St Louis 2009: 872-879.
https://www.idexx.com/small-animal-health/solutions/articles/sdma-diagnose-kidney-disease.html

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Dogs operate on a social structure of rank – a hierarchy. If he leads you then you follow. When it comes time to command him he won’t take you seriously if he believes he is #1. However, if you put in some clear leadership roles and become the “alpha”; then your dog will respond and present more positive behaviors more often that you can now reinforce. In this case you have a fulfilling relationship without all of the frustration. Being the pack leader does not mean being a bully. Leadership is most often carried out in silent dominance, resource control, being confident and having the ability to give direction and follow through. Also, being a good leader without teaching your dog what is expected and using a properly conditioned language won’t work. It is the combined effort of learned behaviors and sound leadership that will create lasting results and a great relationship of love and mutual respect.

Your dog should earn everything – work for a living just like we do. If he learns to earn his “Paychecks” then he won’t expect everything for free. (If you give him everything he wants when he wants it, then he will become “bossy”). This means no petting, feeding, talking to or even eye contact if he is demanding attention. He has to complete an obedience command before he gets anything. *This rule will differ slight for working service dogs.

Control all aspects of his feeding arrangements – we must eat first, even if it is a bite of a something. He is not allowed to begin eating until you release him to eat; he must “out” while eating and not begin again until invited. Don’t feed him in the same place everyday, control the environment and feed him in different areas. Teach him to work for his food – CleverPet, Kong Stuffing, Busy Buddy, Canine Genius, Atomic Treat Ball, Buster Cube and scatter feeding.

Control all “entertainment” resources – he should have about 3 toys out per day. He has to work to get each one of them released and the toys must be rotated daily. When you pick them up in the evening, be sure he is watching you control these items. Put them away and bring out 2-3 different toys the next morning. If at any time he protects a toy or tries to control the situation, remove the toy and put it away for the day.

Have him move out of your way a few times a day. If he is lying down in a hallway, walk through him by gently shuffling your feet until he gets up and moves. The alpha never walks around his littermates. Don’t let your dog treat you like a sibling, be the parent. In control, but calm and silent dominance works best. Save the verbal corrections for when you really need them.

Do not let him pull on leash. If he leads you on a walk he will want to take lead in all other aspects of life. Be the leader; teach him to walk beside or behind you. Also, frequently stop him on walks and give him obedience commands. Make him stop at all the street corners, have him sit and then down. Don’t allow him to get up until you release him to “heel” again. If he advances forward or gets up, use the verbal correction “no” and command him again. Be calm and confident. Getting flustered makes him feel like he is winning. Use precise commands and only reward him if he completes them the first time he is asked. Teaching formal leash walking and a “heel” command typically needs to be done with the help of a professional dog trainer like Specialty Dog Training™, but applying the above advice will give you a great start. *Avoid giving specific obedience cues that have not been properly taught or conditioned.

Control access to all doorways and narrow openings. This forces him to look up at you for guidance, checking in to see what is next.

Always make him complete a few commands before letting him off leash and call him back intermittently while he is playing off leash. Have him come, sit and then release him to play again. Reward him if he responds right away.

Do not let him jump on you or others, ever. It is a very rude way of greeting and is also associated with dominance. What if you went to a friend’s house and the first thing he did was start body checking you and scraping his fingernails down your arms and legs. Not so polite when you think about it that way now is it?

Do not let him take positions above you. Dogs have a literal sense of hierarchy; if he is up on the couch looking down at you he will feel more dominant. In a social pack, the alpha dog would never let that happen unless it was during invited play.

Play – Control games; whether it is fetch, tug, keep a way etc. You must always initiate play and make the rules. Start and stop when you feel like it, not when he tells you so. If he isn’t listening, immediately stop paying any attention and walk away.

Never let him bite you. If you are playing, training or even just petting him and he puts his teeth on you give him a sharp verbal correction (eh-eh or no) and then disengage for a few hours. No petting, no talking to him, no eye contact etc. It is tough love but if he learns now it will create more freedoms for him later. Would you rather lay down some ground rules now and teach him right from wrong or wait until he uses his teeth and hurts someone?

Continue obedience training throughout his life. It should be a part of a daily routine: he waits at doorways, gets in the car when invited, comes when called etc. As he masters the basics, teach him new advanced commands to stimulate his mind. Our children attend school for 18 years and then many continue their education for another 4 plus years in college or trade school. One 6-week-obedience course or a few private lessons isn’t going to fix everything; although, it will most likely lay down a great foundation. You must continue using what you have learned and strive to learn more. Give your dog the opportunity to succeed and teach him right from wrong.

Groom and handle your dog often. Clean out his ears, touch and hold his paws, give him gentle hugs to help him adjust to restraint.

Dogs want us to step up as the pack leader. Animals select pack leaders because they instinctually know who is strong and who can best lead them. A pack leader is concerned for the pack, not for himself. The pack leaders natural instincts are protection and direction for the entire pack. It’s an unselfish role and an instinctual role, just like human parenting. In return, the pack completely trusts the pack leader, the parent. You need to earn your dogs’ trust, loyalty, love, and respect before they will look to you as their leader and you do this by giving them clear boundaries, rules, limitations and conditioning good behavior.

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To keep your kitchen clean and your dog healthy, follow these tips for how to prevent your dog from eating trash when you are away. 1. Keep your dog fed. ... 2. Keep your dog engaged. ... 3. Be strategic with your trash can. ... 4. Introduce baby gates and crates. ... 5. Training. ... 6. Catch your dog in the act.

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Holiday Foods That Are Bad For Dogs Contributed by Dr. Alison Birken, owner and DVM of Victoria Park Animal Hospital.

Daily pet emergencies at the hospital nearly double during the holidays, with the consumption of toxic foods for dogs being one of the leading causes. While there are potentially harmful holiday decorations, hazardous holiday plants and Christmas trees, there is also a hefty list of what not to feed dogs. So to ensure more time celebrating, and less time at the veterinary hospital, check out these toxic foods for dogs.

What Not to Feed Dogs Over the Holidays * Rich and Fatty Foods. Rich and fatty foods can cause problems ranging from stomach upset to more serious illnesses such as pancreatitis, which causes pain, vomiting and dehydration. * Alcohol. Alcohol can cause intoxication in our pets, and many dogs are attracted to the sweet taste and smell. * Candy Canes, Gingerbread Cookies, Popcorn, Raisins and Cranberry Garlands. Candy canes, gingerbread cookies, popcorn, raisins and cranberry garlands can also be enticing to your pet, but when ingested, can cause upset stomach or a more serious intestinal obstruction. * Chocolate, Coffee and Tea. Chocolate, coffee and tea all contain dangerous components called xanthines, which cause nervous system or urinary system damage and heart muscle stimulation. Problems from ingestion range from diarrhea to seizures and death. Unsweetened baking chocolate and dark chocolate are the most toxic to our pets. * Uncooked Meat, Fish and Poultry. Uncooked meat, fish and poultry can contain disease-causing bacteria, such as E. coli, and parasites like Toxoplasma Gondii. * Bones From Fish, Meat or Poultry. Bones from fish, meat or poultry—even small bones—can splinter and cause tearing throughout the intestinal tract, requiring surgery. * Tobacco. Tobacco products can be fatal to pets if ingested. Signs of poisoning develop within 15-45 minutes and include over-excitement, salivation, vomiting and diarrhea. Pets may develop seizures, collapse and even die from cardiac arrest. Keep all tobacco products out of reach and make sure to empty all ashtrays regularly. * Uncooked Yeast Dough. Uncooked yeast dough can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines. * Grapes, Raisins, Macadamia Nuts and Xylitol. Grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts and xylitol (an artificial sweetener) are toxic for pets.

By being aware of dangerous foods for dogs, you can better avoid potential pet emergencies. And with all the festivities, do not forget to relax and spend some quality time with your pet. Your dog will truly think that is the best gift of all!

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Tips from the Humane Society on bringing home a new dog. Bringing home a new dog can be one of the most joyous experiences of your life, but you have to make sure you have a solid plan to avoid some of the pitfalls that can lead to problems down the road. You also need to be patient. Acclimating a new dog to your home can take as long as two months, so be sure you’re in it for the long haul. And remember, your new family member doesn’t understand what you’re saying. He learns what is and isn’t allowed from how you behave, your tone of voice, what rules you set, and all of the nonverbal cues you give him.

Here are 7 tips the Humane Society recommend to acclimate your new dog to your home:

1. Have all needed supplies ready before Fido walks through the door These include a food and water bowl, a leash, age-appropriate food (don’t give a puppy adult dog food) and treats, a collar and ID tag, and a crate if you plan on crate training. It’s also a good idea to have a few toys ready for him.

2. Set the rules of the house in advance You have to decide who will take care of feedings and who will take him for daily walks. Decide ahead of time what your dog is allowed to do, and what’s not permitted, and be consistent. For example, are you going to let him up on furniture, and if so, in what rooms? Where will he sleep?

3. Do some research on housebreaking Housebreaking your new dog is actually easier than you might think—all it takes is patience and consistency. Be prepared for accidents—again, remember that your dog doesn’t understand the rules until you teach them to him. Establish a consistent schedule for feeding your dog and taking him outside to go.

“Patience and consistency are the keys to #housebreaking your #dog” TWEET THIS

If you bring home a puppy, he’ll have to go more often; plan on taking him out every two hours. Always take him to the same place in the yard (he’ll know from scent what you want him to do).

When he has an accident, interrupt him if you catch him in the act. Make a startling noise, or simply say “outside,” but be sure not to frighten him. Immediately take him to his outside “go location.” Above all, don’t ever punish your dog for having an accident, and always reward him for getting it right.

4. Take him to a vet within the first week Even dogs adopted from reputable breeders and shelters are prone to diseases, so he has to have his shots as soon as possible if he doesn’t already have them. Take him to a vet to receive all his vaccinations. It’s also important to spay or neuter your dog. The best age to spay or neuter is from 6 to 9 months.

5. Crate your dog for several hours a day Many new owners don’t want to crate their dogs because they think it’s cruel. Actually, dogs in the wild live in dens, so to your dog the crate represents safety and helps him relax. Be sure the crate is the right size (check with your vet) and doesn’t have dangerous wires where he could catch his claws or hurt himself. Generally, you don’t want to crate your dog for more than a few hours each day, and always at the same time (remember—consistency!).

6. Let your dog know who the pack leader is It’s important for dogs to be submissive to their owners. Dogs are pack animals and will be calmer and less anxious if they know from the outset that you set the rules. It’s important to be assertive, letting him know clearly and consistently what the rules and boundaries are, but equally important to always remain calm. When he makes a mistake, convey your disapproval in a firm but calm tone. When he behaves properly, give him positive reinforcement in the form of praise and a treat.

7. Give him plenty of exercise Dogs have a lot of pent up energy, especially when they’re young. A regular schedule of exercise is critical to his physical and emotional health. Take him for walks, give him a place where he can run free, and play active games with him.

Remember... If this is your first dog, you might be a little anxious and concerned that you'll make mistakes. The truth is, you probably will, but if you follow the steps outlined here, stay calm and provide your dog with love, structure and discipline, he'll be happy, and so will you.

If you have questions, you can always check with your vet who will be happy to listen and give you good advice. Here at South Boston Animal Hospital, we're always willing to help you forge a great relationship with your dog and keep him as healthy as possible. If you have questions or need helpful advice, contact us today.

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At Freedom Service Dogs, we unleash the potential of dogs by transforming them into custom-trained, life-changing assistance dogs for people in need. Our clients include children, veterans and active duty military, and other adults. Their disabilities include autism, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Freedom Service Dogs has received numerous commendations, national press features, and government resolutions in support of our innovative work.

https://freedomservicedogs.org/about-us/

Event

Winter Graduation 2018 December 6 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Join us at Parker Arts, Culture & Events Center on Thursday December 6 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Celebrate the incredible client-dog teams that have worked so hard to graduate from Freedom Service Dogs, as well as the talented trainers and dedicated volunteers who help transform shelter dogs into service dogs and professional therapy dogs. This uplifting graduation ceremony is free and open to the public.

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Dogs can experience a detached eye from trauma, fighting, head injury or pulling the skin too far back from the face or by the scruff of the neck. Skin stretching or trauma can cause eye detachment in any breed of dog, but dogs with very shallow eye sockets can be more affected but if you hug your pug their eyes are not going to pop out.

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It can be quite scary when your dog loses a nail.

When you’re trimming the dog’s nails, it takes only a small jerk of the dog’s paw to cause a nail to break or chip, and if the dog yanks hard enough, they could tear a nail partially or rip it out completely.

Nails that are too long are more likely to snag and be torn — and long nails are more likely to break or crack when a dog is walking or running on asphalt, concrete, or similar hard surfaces.

In addition, some dogs are just born with weaker nails, making them more susceptible to damage.

Symptoms of a Damaged Nail * Favoring a paw by holding it in the air rather than walking on it * Limping or visibly not putting weight on a paw while walking * Blood on your dog’s bedding * Constant licking of a paw * A visibly swollen paw or toe * Resistance when you try to examine a paw or toe * Nail at an odd angle

If you are comfortable doing so, examine your dog’s paw if the dog exhibits any of the above symptoms.

If the toe is sore and injured, dogs may not allow you to examine or touch their foot — and if so, it’s time to go to a veterinarian.

If your dog does allow you to examine the paw, you might still consider a muzzle or at least a helper who can divert your dog’s attention, and their mouth, away from your hands as you examine them.

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Cindy Myers has a new closed Facebook page called Your Energy Healer. Check it out.

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We all have that friend, relative, or rival who walks their dog with expert leash-wielding skills. They aren’t being pulled down the block, tied 'round trees, or tangled up with the friendly neighbor dog who’s also out for an afternoon stroll. I don’t know about you, but I silently envy the person and pet that can walk side-by-side without breaking a sweat.

And I have to admit, good leash walking skills are important for more than just showing off your pet-parent talents.

“From a relationship perspective,” explains Sarah Fraser, a certified professional dog trainer and co-founder of Instinct Behavior & Training in New York City, “if your dog is walking nicely on a leash, it likely means that your dog is paying more attention to you, making it easier for you to provide direction and guidance as needed along your walk.”

A leash-puller can also run the risk of accidentally breaking away from your grip, which can pose multiple dangers to your pet if he or she continues to run, not to mention the danger for yourself if you end up face-first on the sidewalk. Having proper leash manners minimizes the risk that you will be pulled over in a moment of overzealous leash yanking and will make the time more about walking and less about tug-of-war.

“Teaching your dog to walk nicely on a leash allows you to take her more places and for longer walks, because it’s more comfortable and enjoyable for the both of you,” Fraser says.

Tips for Better Walking Behavior Whether your dog is big or small, here are six ways to improve your dog’s behavior on a leash:

Adjust your attitude.

First, ask yourself: “What would I like him or her to do instead?” Instead of teaching a dog to stop pulling, think of it as teaching your dog how to walk nicely beside you.

Remember it’s all about the rewards.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to start teaching a dog to walk properly on a dog leash is to reward the dog for paying attention to you and for being in the desired position (next to you or close to you) when out for a walk.

“As the dog learns that walking next to you is a pleasant, rewarding experience, she’ll spend less time pulling and more time walking nicely beside you,” says Fraser. Try using very special treats in the beginning, like small pieces of boiled chicken or roast beef, to really get your dog’s attention, she advises.

If you are worried about spoiling your pup's meals you can use pieces of dehydrated dog food or freeze-dried dog food from your pup's daily meals. That will help you to make sure you are not overfeeding your dog while also supplying them with tasty incentives for good behavior.

Play the “follow me” game.

Hold on to your leash and take several backward steps away from your dog. The backward movement is inviting, so your dog is likely to turn and follow you. Say “yes!” as your dog approaches you, then immediately reward him or her with a treat.

“The game helps your dog focus and move with you,” says Fraser. Then back away several steps in another direction. Once again, says “yes!” as your dog approaches and reward him or her with a treat. Repeat this pattern eight to 12 times, until your dog is actively pursuing you when you move away.

Practice on your regular walks.

Once you’ve started your stride, each time your dog looks up at you or walks next to you, says “yes!” and immediately reward him or her with a treat.

Reward often.

"Frequent rewards will help your dog figure out more quickly what behavior you’re looking for and make the learning process easier for her,” Fraser explains.

“The trick to making this work is using very special treats at first, and keeping your rate of reinforcement high, which just means that you are marking and rewarding often—maybe every 4-5 steps at first—for any and all ‘good’ leash behavior.”

Over time, you can thin out your rate of reinforcement, rewarding your dog less frequently throughout the course of the walk, Fraser adds.

Consider additional assistance.

“If your dog is already a practiced puller, consider purchasing a quality front clip harness to provide extra control on walks,” Fraser recommends. But if your dog already pulls hard with a no pull dog harness, consider working with a certified, positive reinforcement-based trainer.

Finally, remember that walking on a leash is a skill that takes time and practice for both the pet parent and dog, so celebrate incremental improvements and successes!

By Caitlin Ultimo

Kersti Nieto - Dog Training Camp USA - http://www.dogtrainingcampusa.com/

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  Why I call myself An Animal Listener...      Communication entails two elements; talking and listening. It has been my experience that when you ask someone to define what makes a good communicator, they often say, “She has a great style of talking to you,” or “He is really assertive and makes you feel at ease.” Almost everyone describes just the talking piece in good communication. It is pretty rare that someone describes the listening component of communication. Yet, the best communicators, the healthiest relationships, all have the ability to be effective listeners. Listening isn’t just done with our ears. To listen well, we must use all of our senses including our “sixth” sense. Most have heard of using their “third eye” to indicate their intuition. I also like to use the term, using our “third ear.” It is this “third ear,” that I use in listening to and communicating with animals. To be effective communicators with our animals, we must first be willing to listen to them. The beauty of improving our listening skills with our animal companions is that same skill can make our human relationships richer, deeper and more connected as well. Our animals can teach us much about how to be better listeners.

  Here’s what I believe...      I believe that all of our life experiences lead us to our true calling in life, however, sometimes we take a roundabout way of getting there. Boy do I get that. It has taken many years, different career paths and life challenges from tending to and being my mom’s caregiver during her final years and then a house fire caused by an arsonist, before discovering and finding the courage to finally embrace and pursue my calling of intuitive energy work for people and their animals and teach others how to open up to their own intuitive listening abilities.

  What I used to do that drew me to my calling...      It is quite amusing to watch people’s reaction when I tell them my career began working as an engineer. On the surface, it does seem a far stretch going from engineering to an intuitive healer and animal communicator. I enjoyed my engineering career in the beginning but in the end, it wasn’t quite the right fit. But when you are in your teens and early twenties, deciding on a career, it was a very good choice. I was drawn to engineering because of my interest in Physics. My first job was working on radars and that was no fluke. I was not ready to open up to my intuitive personal radar, but studying and working on equipment that sends out and receives frequency signals and then interprets the data was fascinating to me and I know that was a strong foundation in my eventually opening up to my own intuitive abilities. And it was that work and basic understanding of physics and quantum mechanics that validated in my mind that my intuitive experiences were real.

  My true life passion comes about...      It was then that I discovered alpacas and I bought my first two, a mother and newly born daughter. I boarded them at the time and I learned the ropes of caring for alpacas and while doing that, I honed my intuitive skills. They healed me as much as I learned about doing healing energy work on them and on people. I became a student of Reiki and Healing Touch for Animals. I studied clicker training and adapted all the techniques I learned to work with alpacas.

  Two leggers (I know you’ve been waiting for this)…      In one story I tell in my book, “Alpacas Don’t Do That,” I was intuitively communicating with an alpaca for the first time, and she did a triple take and sniffed my face and I heard in my head, "hmm, I didn't know two-leggers could do that." Ever since then, I use the term two-leggers to refer to us humans. (There is your explanation from the first paragraph that I promised you).

  Why I love what I do…       I know how busy we all are and that in our society and way of life, we have a hard time making time for ourselves. We can spend years trying to understand our dynamics and that is all great to go and do. However, it has been so exciting to find that my energetic techniques I use with both people and animals can facilitate those personal growth issues. These techniques remove those balls of trapped energies that created our old behavioral dynamics and support our bodies in healing and it can be done relatively quickly and easily. And the beauty of it is that I can be here in Oregon and people or their animals can be anywhere in the world. Not only can I do this work for anyone anywhere, I can do it all through email! You don’t even have to be on the phone with me as I tap into your subconscious. So you don’t even have to change your schedule or stop what you are doing in your busy lives. I take care of it and send an email to you telling you what emotions were trapped and I can also tell you what age they were trapped. Some like knowing that information and it will trigger a memory. Others don’t want to remember it at all and are just happy to have those energies that cause problems out of their body and system. Some people like to have me work on them in person or over the phone and experience the releases as I’m doing it, however, many more people, are very happy that they don’t have to schedule one more appointment into their busy and hectic lives.

I love sharing my intuitive abilities with both animals and humans. I look forward to getting to know both you and your animals better soon!

Visit Cindy http://www.beananimallistener.com/

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Pets have been an important part of our lives for many years. You can extend your pets good health and quality years with simple dental care. Dental disease is the most common problem seen in our pet population today. More than 85% of all dogs and cats presented to veterinarians are affected by dental problems. Periodontal disease is what causes bad breath, mouth pain and eventual tooth loss.

We recommend daily dental care at home for your pets, just like the rest of the family. It is best to begin home care at an early age, but it is never too late. Visible tartar should be removed ultrasonically in a process known as scaling and polishing, just like when people go to the dentist. This makes your home care efforts easier and more effective. Always remember to make it FUN.

Gathering Supplies: Washcloth, toothbrush or finger brush

Pet toothpaste (We have products available in our hospital)

Step one: Slowly acquainting your pet with mouth care (this can be started as soon as you get your puppy.

Using your hand, gently open the pet’s mouth and run your finger around his/her lips, lifting the lips, etc. This should begin with just 30 seconds on day one and progressing to a couple of minutes by the end of the week. Reward your pet with a small treat or praise at the end of each session. You can use a special tartar-reducing treat. Ask us about dental diets!! After your puppy/dog is comfortable with this step and old enough you can proceed to step two.

Step two: Introducing toothbrush or washcloth (without toothpaste) after your puppy has all of their adult teeth

This step should not be done until your puppy is older than 6 months or has all of their adult teeth in place. Prior to that age your puppies mouth might be sore from cutting teeth and you don’t want to add to that discomfort by banging into the gums with a tooth brush or wash cloth. You also do not want your puppy to associate the discomfort of their teething with having their teeth brushed. After your puppy has all the adult teeth in place you can start this step. Use either a washcloth wrapped around your index finger or wet toothbrush on the teeth. Lift lips. Massage the outer surfaces only of upper and lower teeth using a back and forth motion. Do this for 30 seconds on day one, progressing to three minutes by the end of the week. Once your puppy/dog is comfortable with this step proceed to step three.

Step three: Add toothpaste, extend brushing time

For this step you will use your dental cleaning instrument and add ¾ inch of toothpaste to brush outer surfaces only of upper and lower teeth in a back-and-forth motion.

A few pointers

Do not rush the process or else your pet may become resistant
Always give your pet a treat at the end of each session, making it enjoyable
If your pet shows any indication of aggression (growling, biting, scratching, etc.) stop immediately. Call the hospital for further professional advice.
NEVER use human toothpaste. Vomiting is common if this is used.
Cleaning at home will reduce the frequency of professional teeth cleaning.

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Make sure to sign up for the webinar tonight -

http://www.beananimallistener.com/events/

Make sure to visit Cindy's website http://www.beananimallistener.com/about/

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Whether you're having a few friends over for dinner or hosting a large family get-together, parties can be stressful for pet parents. The last thing you need is to discover your pet nose-deep in a pitcher of spiked punch.

Sure, alcohol toxicity in pets is very rare. “We don’t see much of this in vet medicine because alcohol tends to be distasteful to most animals,” says Dr. Steven Friedenberg, an assistant professor in the department of veterinary clinical sciences at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. “They don’t regularly seek this out, and most owners don’t deliberately feed their animals alcohol.”

But during a party or social gathering, sometimes things can get out of your (or your pet’s) control. If your pet does get into alcohol, it can affect him in the same way it affects humans—either get him a little buzzed or, in the most extreme cases, cause him to wind up in the hospital. Here’s what to know about your pet’s alcohol risks.

It Comes Down to Alcohol Content Rather than the type of alcohol your pet consumes, what you should really be concerned with is how much they get into. “We have this mythos in humans like, ‘I can’t drink tequila,’ or, ‘Rum is really bad for me,’” says Dr. Christine Rutter, a clinical assistant professor in the department of small animal clinical sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University. “You may have a reaction to something specific in that product, but pound for pound, it’s the ethanol that gets you.”

The same can be applied to pets. But since most pets are much smaller than humans, a smaller dose of alcohol can prove more dangerous to them than it would be to us. “A dog weighs substantially less and is not used to consuming alcohol,” says Rutter. “So processes that break down alcohol are not regulated in a dog the same way as a person who consumes alcohol once in a while.”

If you do find your dog licking up the last remains of a bottle, worry about the strength of alcohol the same way you would if it were a friend who might have drunk too much. Light beers are the least dangerous since their alcohol content is less, followed by craft beers, wine, hard liquors, and finally, grain alcohols like Everclear. And since ethanol is what’s truly dangerous to animals, also be on the lookout for pets getting into cleaning products, mouthwash, or hand sanitizer, some of which have ethanol in them.

Although wine does have grapes in it, which can be extremely dangerous to dogs, there’s no research showing that wine is more dangerous to dogs than other types of alcohol, says Rutter. Rather, it once again all boils down to just how much alcohol your pooch got into.

Be Especially Cautious of Certain Ingredients Although an animal won’t be likely to take more than one sip of a glass of wine or a scotch on the rocks, certain mixed drinks or alcohol-based cakes could be sweet enough or have ingredients that appeal to animals. And sometimes these other ingredients (chocolate, grapes, raisins, or macadamia nuts, for example) are dangerous in and of themselves. You should also be on the lookout for hidden sources of alcohol, like certain flavorings, including vanilla and almond, and for spices that might contain essential oils, like cinnamon. “That can be irritating to the gastrointestinal tract,” says Rutter.

Notice the Signs of Alcohol Toxicity When it comes to alcohol toxicity in pets, the signs usually appear the same as they would in humans. “Alcohol poisoning would present similarly as it might present in people,” says Friedenberg. “So there could be gastrointestinal upset. They might vomit or become nauseated, and they can get wobbly.” Other symptoms can include increased thirst and urination, lethargy, disorientation, and, in severe cases, you might notice muscle tremors, paralysis, extremely slow and shallow breathing, seizures, and your pet may lose consciousness, adds Dr. Jennifer Coates, veterinary advisor for petMD.

In mild cases of alcohol exposure, pets generally recover with time and no other treatment, Coates says. “Simply let them ‘sleep it off’ in a safe environment,” she says. “But if you think that your pet could have ingested a large amount of alcohol or is starting to have worrisome clinical signs, seek out immediate veterinary care.” The vet can hospitalize your pet if need be while giving him intravenous fluids and any other treatment that might be necessary.

Although an animal getting alcohol toxicity to the extent of requiring hospitalization is extremely rare, just like for you, parties and family gatherings can be overwhelming for your pet. The holiday season can be especially stressful. “Even if you have an amazingly well-behaved dog, the holidays are full of change in the environment,” says Rutter. Whether it be the introduction of a Christmas tree into your house or more people running around than usual, environmental changes can cause anxiety in your pet.

That, in turn, can cause them to act in ways they normally wouldn’t, like table surfing or digging in the trash for leftovers. So, avoid any dangerous run-ins for your pet by keeping any risky food or drinks out of their reach. “Even a good dog during stressful times will act up,” says Rutter.

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Confusion, disorientation, dogzheimers. Call it what you will, but canine dementia (known clinically as canine cognitive dysfunction) can be a serious problem. Just like humans, dogs can suffer from many of the same symptoms:

Sleep-wake cycle disturbances
Generalized anxiety
Lower threshold for aggression
Decreased activity levels
Inappropriate vocalization (howling, barking or whining)
Repetitive behaviors (pacing)
Elimination disorders
Staring at walls
Fewer social interactions
Disorientation (getting “lost” in the house)

But getting old and loopy doesn’t have to be as stressful as all that — not for dogs lucky enough to be cared for by owners willing to learn what it takes to mitigate the effects of dementia as they age.

Here’s how, in six mostly simple steps:

Recognize Symptoms Early The early signs of canine cognitive dysfunction can be subtle and difficult to detect. They can even be misinterpreted as "just getting old." However, early recognition and intervention are helpful. Owners should be on the lookout for mild versions of the symptoms listed above.
Pay Attention to Changes in Hearing and Vision Sensory deficiencies, such as hearing and vision loss, can cause anxiety for some pets — and their owners. When pets lose these faculties, they can become disoriented far more easily. Simple things, like failing to hear an owner’s call, can make daily life challenging for aging pets and their owners.

But many pets with hearing deficits can be trained to recognize hand signals, and pets with limited vision can often learn their way around, as long as furniture and other objects remain in the same place.

Although there’s not much we can do about hearing loss in most cases, we have options for treating some diseases of the aging eye. Cataracts, for example, are super common and highly treatable. I personally recommend surgery for pets who have cataracts with or without dementia. But you should ask your vet if this is the best option for your dog.

Stick to a Strict Schedule Adhering to a set schedule when it comes to feeding, walking, turning lights on and off, and bedtime can be excellent therapy for confused pets. It’s orienting.
Manage Anxiety Most dementia dogs display some degree of stress, especially when lost in the corner of a room or if they find themselves awake and alone in the middle of the night. Managing anxiety requires owners to know what works best for their individual dog, such as soothing music, aromatherapy or a long walk.

Additionally, I also recommend crate training early on in life, which can sometimes help curtail stress-exacerbating nighttime wanderings. Although, in some cases, it could cause further stress to the animal. If the wandering is extreme, talk to your vet about whether anti-anxiety medication may also be effective.

Talk to Your Vet About Dementia-Specific Drugs For severe cases of canine dementia, veterinarians will sometimes discuss the potential benefits of dementia-specific medication that seem to reverse some of these symptoms, albeit to a minor extent for most patients.
Look Into a Veterinary Behaviorist The most comprehensive approach to canine cognitive dysfunction involves the assistance of a veterinary behaviorist. These specialists can often help owners dramatically re-orient their confused and stressed-out geriatric pets.

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Email - weesarah76@hotmail.com

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Cindy Meyers - http://www.beananimallistener.com/

I’m Cindy Myers, Animal Listener I would like to share a little about what I do and how I got here working with both animals and two-leggers (humans...you will understand that terminology in a few minutes;) One of the frequently asked questions I get from my clients and workshop attendees is if I have always been able to communicate intuitively with animals and have empathic energy skills. The answer to that question is no, not really. I’ve always loved animals, but I was not aware of having any intuitive senses or that I could do healing energy work until I was an adult. I’ve always been a good listener. But, if twenty years ago, someone told me I’d be living on a farm with about 30 alpacas, 3 dogs, and 2 barn cats working as an intuitive energy healer and animal communicator, I would have laughed and thought that was the craziest thing I ever heard!

Certified in:
Emotion Code as a Practitioner
Level II Reiki
Level II Healing Touch for Animals

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| Handi-Dogs is dedicated to helping older adults and people with disabilities gain independence and improve their quality of life through specialized training of dogs and to advocate about the important role of service dogs. | | Service/Assistance DogsA Service Dog is a dog that has been individually trained to assist an individual with a disability. With proper training, these dogs have public access rights. Therapy Dogs These dogs love to interact with people, and are used for visiting animal programs in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and many other facilities. Pet Dogs Helping older adults & people with disabilities train their pets to be well-behaved companions. |

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Are Pain Meds for Dogs Safe? By Jennifer Coates, DVM

Knowing that a dog is in pain is upsetting. So it's an understandable reaction to want to do something — anything — to provide the dog pain relief as soon as possible.

However, as tempting as it may be to reach for an over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen and give it to the family dog, you must avoid them at all costs. Over-the-counter pain meds (OTC medications) and human medications can be very dangerous, even fatal, when used improperly in dogs. Dogs should not be given Advil, aspirin, Tylenol, or any other pain reliever made for human consumption.

NSAIDs and Asprin for Dogs – Are They Dangerous? Some of the most common over-the-counter pain relievers fall into the category of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs). Common examples include aspirin, baby aspirin ibuprofen, and naproxen. They all work by inhibiting an enzyme called cyclooxygenase that is responsible for the production of prostaglandins that promote inflammation, fever, and pain.

But prostaglandins also play many other roles in the body, including maintaining adequate blood flow to the kidneys, the production of a layer of mucus that protects the inner lining of the gastrointestinal tract from stomach acid, and normal blood clotting. When these functions are reduced, dogs can develop vomiting and diarrhea (often bloody), intestinal problems, loss of appetite, bleeding disorders, kidney or liver dysfunction or failure. They may even die without appropriate treatment. It is not safe to give your dog any amount of aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen, or other anti-inflammatory meant for humans.

Problems can arise with NSAID use in dogs for several reasons:

Sometimes an owner will give (or a dog will get into) an inappropriately high dose of one or more of these drugs.
Certain dogs are especially sensitive to human NSAID brands and can develop dangerous side effects even when a correct dose is given.
The concurrent use of other medications (e.g., corticosteroids) and/or the presence of certain health conditions (e.g., gastrointestinal, liver, or kidney disease) can make the use of NSAIDs for dogs more risky than normal.

(NOTE: Cats are especially sensitive to the adverse effects of NSAIDs, but because more dogs are exposed to these medications, a greater number of NSAID toxicity cases are reported in dogs in comparison to cats.)

What About Tylenol for Dogs? Acetaminophen (Tylenol) presents a slightly different story. Acetaminophen is not an NSAID. No one is exactly sure how it works to reduce pain and fever (it has no effect on inflammation), but when dogs ingest toxic amounts of acetaminophen, it destroys their liver cells, damages the kidneys, and converts hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying molecule in blood, to methemoglobin resulting poor oxygen delivery throughout the body and tissue damage.

(NOTE: Cats are so sensitive to the adverse effects of acetaminophen that just one, regular strength tablet can result in death.)

What Can I Give My Dog For Pain Relief? For all of the above reasons, you should not give NSAIDs, like aspirin and ibuprofen, or other pain relievers, such as Tylenol, to dogs or other pets without the supervision of a veterinarian. Drug companies have designed specific canine pain medication that are safer and more effective than those that are designed for people. Examples of these modern pain killers include carprofen, deracoxib, etodolac, and meloxicam.

With knowledge of the specifics of a dog’s health history, your vet can make a proper diagnosis to determine which medication and dose is most appropriate for your dog and design a plan for monitoring that will make treatment as safe as possible.

Other Pain Relief Measures Appropriate medicine is not the only way to provide dog pain relief, however. Chronic inflammatory conditions such as general arthritis often respond well to dietary modification. For example, dog food that is supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids like eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) can reduce joint inflammation and the pain associated with it. Also, overweight dogs benefit greatly from a weight loss plan that includes both diet and exercise.

Foods with a lower caloric density but normal amounts of protein can help dogs lose weight while maintaining muscle mass and strength. Reducing body fat and promoting lean body mass decreases stress on joints and inflammation throughout the body.

The combination of a good diet and weight loss will often lessen if not completely eliminate the need for pain meds for dogs suffering from chronic conditions like arthritis. More severe cases can also benefit from physical therapy, acupuncture, cold laser treatments, and other interventions. Talk to your veterinarian to determine what combination of diet, exercise, pain meds, and other treatments is right for your dog.

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Dogs of both sexes commonly scratch or scrape the ground with their hind paws immediately after defecating. Some dogs also perform this action after urinating. This is a normal behavior -- it's your dog's way of leaving a scent and visual message to other hounds that might pass by later.

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Spring is here, which means both people and their pets are eager to get outside and socialize. Unfortunately, many dog parents may not realize that more puppy playdates mean more opportunities for their pup to get sick from dog flu. In fact, two highly contagious strains of dog flu – H3N8 and H3N2 – have been traveling across the country since 2007, infecting dogs in nearly all 50 states.

Dr. Kathryn Primm, owner and chief veterinarian at Applebrook Animal Hospital and co-author of “Pet Parents Guide to Infectious Disease,” discusses what every pet parent should know about dog flu and spring pet health, including:

What kinds of dogs are most at risk
The signs and symptoms and how to treat it
Whether its preventable and how to protect dogs from it

Symptoms of canine influenza virus include: * Coughing. * Sneezing. * Variable fever. * Clear nasal discharge that progresses to thick, yellowish-green mucus. * Rapid/difficult breathing. * Loss of appetite. * Lethargy.

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Broken or Fractured Teeth and Treatment Options
Pets with broken or fractured teeth are an extremely common presentation for veterinarians. We see at least one case daily, and several weekly. The large premolar and molar teeth are typically injured from chewing hard objects. The canine (fang) and incisor teeth are frequently fractured from trauma. In cats, it is particularly common to see fractured upper canine teeth. For cats in general, the canine teeth are most likely to fracture from facial trauma, while fractures from chewing objects is uncommon.

Teeth are fractured from chewing hard objects (see the first three photos below), from major trauma, and from less obvious trauma such as, pets fighting or playing. The extent of the fracture helps to determine a rational treatment plan. The extent of the fracture may be obvious, with vital (live) pulp exposure, or it may be more subtle. The non-vital (dead) exposed pulp is often not as apparent as calculus (tartar), which may cover up the fracture site. Additionally, the non-vital tooth may have the pulp chamber exposed without the bright pink or red pulp tissue visible. The extent of a tooth fracture may only involve the outer enamel, or it may involve deeper structures, such as the dentin or pulp (nerve and blood supply).

It is important to establish an accurate diagnosis prior to deciding on the best treatment for fractured teeth. Dental radiographs with periodontal probing allow for accurate diagnosis and optimal treatment plans.

Misconceptions and misunderstandings in veterinary dentistry are common. Some veterinarians are unfamiliar with modern dentistry and treatment options for teeth. Many pets benefit by saving teeth rather than extracting every tooth with problems. There are benefits in extracting teeth, as well as saving them.

We feel very strongly about providing thorough dental and oral surgery consultations. This allows for informed decision making.

Vital (live) tooth with recent tooth fracture. This dog refused treats. Complicated Crown Fracture.

Another pet with the same tooth fractured. Owner reports normal
eating and drinking habits, but not playful. Complicated Crown Fracture.

Complicated Crown Fracture.
This is a non-vital fractured tooth. It was completely covered by calculus. The
owner insisted the pet was "pain free" and without behavior changes until after
root canal therapy was performed. The owner was shocked to see a dramatic improvement in behavior after treatment.

Do fractured teeth hurt?

Fractured teeth hurt!The anatomy, physiology and nervous system of our companion animals is incredibly similiar to our own. It is only logical to assume animals experience pain from fractured teeth. The degree of pain is related to the extent and duration of the fracture. If the pulp is exposed from an injury, such as being hit from a baseball bat or golf club, there is immediate and excruciating pain. Many times we fail to notice our pets have had fractured teeth.

As the tooth becomes infected through the fracture site, it may die and become non-painful. If the infection spreads to the alveolar bone supporting the tooth, pain often returns. The bone and local soft tissues may become infected and eventually abscess. The abscess may result in an intraoral swelling (inside the mouth), or an extraoral facial swelling (outside the mouth), and eventually become a draining tract. Swollen faces are tremendously painful in our experience with patients. We also notice that the pain is reduced when the abscess "bursts" and drains. These draining tracts may form intraorally or extraorally.

Treatment of fractured teeth eliminates the pain. Treatment also eliminates the swellings and draining tracts that sometimes develop.

Our experience has consistently been that pet owners are very surprised on how dramatic the improvement in their pets' behaviors are, abruptly after treatment has been provided. Many of these owners did not realize how painful their pets were until after we provided treatment.

**What treatment options are available for fractured teeth?

Option 1: Extraction**Removing teeth is one treatment option, and it is the only option if the veterinarian does not have appropriate equipment, instruments, training, experience and interest in providing advanced dental care. There are times when extraction is the best treatment option, however there are times when extraction involves unnecessary risks for the patient. Risks associated with tooth extraction include: additional fractured teeth, fractured jaws, excessive bleeding and infection. At times, an extraction procedure may fail, and a tooth remnant is left in the alveolus, or end up in a sinus or other vital structure. The benefit of an extraction can be a rapid elimination of the problem.

We provide treatment options with disclosure of risks and the anticipated prognosis. These dental consultations allow for informed decision making for the pet owner.

Option 2: Endodontic Therapy (root canal therapy or vital pulpotomy therapy)Root canal therapy and vital pulpotomy with pulp capping, are two treatment options for fractured teeth. The family veterinarian typically does not offer these services because of their focus on more common needs for companion animals. They have made decisions to invest wisely in technology that allows them to offer optimal general care for your pets. It is not fair to expect the family veterinarian to invest time, effort and money in services of lower demand. The quality of endodontic service is compromised when the operator only gets the opportunity to do 10 or 12 root canal treatments a year. Equipment, training and experience makes a huge difference in providing successful services. You can count on them to save your pet's life, and refer your pet to us for endodontic therapy.

Endodontic procedures require: specialized training, equipment, instrumentation and clinical case experience. Not every upper fourth premolar tooth has the same root canal anatomy or orientation. Not all teeth have the same number of roots or anatomy. Young pets tend to have very wide canals. If they are too young, root canal therapy may be contraindicated. In those cases, vital pulp therapy may be appropriate. With the wide variation in patients (180# Great Dane to the 1.4# tea cup Yorkie) we see, there is a demand for a wide assortment of equipment and instruments. Not all endodontic procedures are performed using the same technique or materials. The high volume of cases we see improves our efficiency, patient safety, and the overall success rate.

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If your dog is in pain they may: 1. Show signs of agitation. 2. Cry out, yelp or growl. 3. Be sensitive to touch or resent normal handling. 4. Become grumpy and snap at you. 5. Be quiet, less active, or hide. 6. Limp or be reluctant to walk. 7. Become depressed and stop eating. 8. Have rapid, shallow breathing and an increased heart rate.

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Items you should have at home in case of a pet emergency with Dr. Laura Brown. This podcast is sponsored by Rover.com. Receive $25 off your first booking by using rover.com/vettalk.

Everyone who shares a home with a pet should have a basic pet first-aid kit on hand.

Keep your pet's first-aid kit in your home and take it with you if you are traveling with your pet.

One way to start your kit is to buy a first-aid kit designed for people and add pet-specific items to it. You can also purchase a pet first-aid kit from a pet-supply store or catalog. But you can easily assemble your own kit by gathering the items on our lists below.

Pet-specific supplies * Pet first-aid book * Phone numbers: your veterinarian, the nearest emergency-veterinary clinic (along with directions!) and a poison-control center or hotline (such as the ASPCA poison-control center, which can be reached at 1-800-426-4435) * Paperwork for your pet (in a waterproof container or bag): proof of rabies-vaccination status, copies of other important medical records and a current photo of your pet (in case he gets lost) * Nylon leash * Self-cling bandage (bandage that stretches and sticks to itself but not to fur—available at pet stores and from pet-supply catalogs) * Muzzle or strips of cloth to prevent biting (don't use this if your pet is vomiting, choking, coughing or otherwise having difficulty breathing)

Basic first-aid supplies * Absorbent gauze pads * Adhesive tape * Antiseptic wipes, lotion, powder or spray * Blanket (a foil emergency blanket) * Cotton balls or swabs * Gauze rolls * Hydrogen peroxide (to induce vomiting—do this only when directed by a veterinarian or a poison-control expert) * Ice pack * Non-latex disposable gloves * Petroleum jelly (to lubricate the thermometer) * Rectal thermometer (your pet's temperature should not rise above 103°F or fall below 100°F) * Scissors (with blunt ends) * Sterile non-stick gauze pads for bandages * Sterile saline solution (sold at pharmacies) * Tweezers * A pillowcase to confine your cat for treatment * A pet carrier

Pre-assembled first-aid kits The hassle of creating a kit for your pet can be reduced by purchasing one pre-assembled.

Pet Fist Aid Kits on Amazon.com »

Other useful items * Diphenhydramine (Benadryl®), if approved by a veterinarian for allergic reactions. A veterinarian must tell you the correct dosage for your pet's size. * Ear-cleaning solution * Expired credit card or sample credit card (from direct-mail credit-card offers) to scrape away insect stingers * Glucose paste or corn syrup (for diabetic dogs or those with low blood sugar) * Nail clippers * Non-prescription antibiotic ointment * Penlight or flashlight * Plastic eyedropper or syringe * Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) to clean the thermometer * Splints and tongue depressors * Styptic powder or pencil (sold at veterinary hospitals, pet-supply stores, and your local pharmacy) * Temporary identification tag (to put your local contact information on your pet's collar when you travel) * Towels * Needle-nosed pliers

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What happens at doggy daycare with Steve from The Dog House in Breckenridge, Colorado. This podcast is sponsored by Rover.com. Receive $25 off your first booking by using rover.com/vettalk.

Daycare Why Daycare For Dogs?

The purpose of dog daycare is to provide stimulation, exercise, and socialization for your pet. Your dog’s personality can be strongly influenced by the amount of physical and mental stimulation he or she receives on a daily basis.

The daycare session also includes a nap time mid-day, which is always well needed. They play with their canine buddies in playgroups according to their size and/or temperment, or we may accommodate them as they feel most comfortable. They play with the staff of The Dog House in a safe and supervised environment. Your dog can enjoy the warm sun while they play in the pools all summer, or just relax with plenty of shade. In the winter they love romping out in the snow, however, we also have large indoor play areas with artificial grass as well. The Dog House has controlled temperatures inside the building for the dogs, as well as a very clean environment with circulated air.

Screening: We do not need to meet your dog prior to their first visit. We accept all breeds, however, we do reserve the right to exclude certain dogs based on temperament for the safety of themselves as well as the other dogs. We do not have an age restriction. We just require puppies to have Bordatella and Distemper current for their age. We require them to have Rabies when they reach 4 months. We will also accommodate dogs that are not spayed or neutered (see note below in green). Dogs must be people friendly. Proof of Distemper, Rabies and Bordatella vaccines must be current and on file in order to confirm your reservation. Due to privacy policies of veterinary clinics, we can not call your vet for you to obtain these records. We will no longer be offering Bordatella at our facility due to its lack of effectiveness for up to two weeks from the time given, however, we will honor it up to a year from the date it is given from your vet.

Non-neutered males over 6 months will not participate in group activities without approval. No female dogs in heat will be accepted. Cancellation Policy for Overnight Boarding or Daycare:
Cancellations must be made no later than the morning of your dog’s check-in date. If you do not cancel by then and we are at capacity, you will be charged for your dog’s stay when you check your dog in on their next stay.

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Is your dog acting unusual? Perhaps he or she seems overly anxious or depressed. Stress is more common in dogs than you may think. Even worse, stress can negatively impact your dog's health. Here are five common signs of stress and anxiety in dogs to help you identify it and seek help quickly.

Diarrhea, Constipation, or other Digestive Issue Although they are more commonly attributed to disease or food intolerance, gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea and constipation can also be brought on by anxiety. Speak to your veterinarian if the diarrhea, constipation, or other digestive issue is abnormally severe, especially if it has lasted longer than 24 hours or if the diarrhea is bloody. Blood in the vomit and/or stool can be an indicator of a food borne illness.
Decrease in Appetite Dogs don't go on fasts or diets like we do, so it's important to consult a veterinarian if your pet suddenly loses interest in food or stops eating altogether. It could be due to stress or to an underlying health condition, including anorexia, which can cause your dog to refuse to eat totally and its food intake to decrease so much that it leads to drastic weight loss.
Isolation Some dogs like some alone time now and then. However, a dog that is constantly isolating him or herself from other pets or people may be suffering from anxiety or a sickness. Your veterinarian can help you identify the cause of this strange behavior.
Increased Sleeping By now you will have become accustomed to your dog's sleeping schedule. Speak with your veterinarian if your dog is sleeping more than usual or seems overly lethargic. Lethargy is often the first symptom that a dog is sick, injured or traumatized. It can also be a symptom of conditions including diabetes, heart and liver problems, tumors, diarrhea and severe dehydration, hypothyroidism, anaemia and poisoning, among others.
Aggression Toward People or Other Animals Aggressive actions toward animals or people can be a sign of a stressed or sick dog. Consult your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist before the problem gets worse. Many aggressive signs are accompanied by a fearful body posture and facial expression, and with submissive behavior. Treatment for aggresion focuses behavior management techniques to assist the dog with its anxiety and anger. Devices such as muzzles can also be effective when the dog is away from home, with all treatment being focused on preventing injury to humans, other animals, and to the dog.

How to Help a Stressed Out Dog? If your dog’s behavior changes suddenly in any way, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. He or she can rule out any underlying medical issues as well as make recommendations to help lower your dog's stress level. Here are some tips for helping to alleviate anxiety in your dog:

Play/exercise with your dog regularly – Physical activities like a game of fetch or a walk around the block are a great stress reducer for dogs.

Create a safe zone – Set apart an area in your home for your dog to escape high-stress events like thunderstorms and parties. Provide your dog with a favorite "security blanket" such as a toy and visit your dog often. If possible, stay with him until the high-stress event has passed. Your presence is a great reassurance to him or her.

Choose a high quality dog food – Your dog's diet is an integral part of his health and wellbeing. Providing your dog with a diet that is not properly balanced for his or her life stage and lifestyle may cause unforeseen repercussions that may lead to anxiety and stress.

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 **Pawberry Lane** offers fresh baked variety of treats for dogs, cats and horses. Vet approved, the treats are made fresh with no additives or preservatives to extend shelf life. Our treats are made of all real food including fresh organic fruits and vegetables from Ripe Organics (www.ripeorganics.com). My mother and business partner, Lyn Hallberg, makes hand knit, machine washable sweaters for dogs and cats ... from the tiny 3-pound tea cup up to the 100+ pound German Sheppard and Great Dane.

We specialize in making treats for pets with allergies or sensitivities to foods. We can custom-make specialty treats to include meat free, grain free, low calorie and accommodate sensitive stomachs, and skin allergies. Our line also includes a variety of treats for dogs and cats with cancer. They are specially designed with cancer fighting ingredients, special digestive enzymes, anti inflammatory foods and very low carbs.

   Colleen Berg, pawberrylane@gmail.com, 847-752-8486 www.pawberrylane.com

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Dr. Millie Armstrong discusses what happens if you put your dog's flea collar on your cat.

Poisoning most often occurs when pet owners accidentally apply dog-specific topical flea/tick products to their cats. Those roducts that contain insecticides from the pyrethrin or pyrethroid family are the culprit (e.g, permethrin, cyphenothrin, etc.). While these insecticides are safe for dogs (and people), they are extremely toxic to cats because our feline friends lack the metabolic pathway to quickly detoxify these chemicals.

Dogs and people, on the other hand, are rarely poisoned by these chemicals. Cats can also be exposed by grooming a dog that recently had the product applied or, rarely, even licking the bedding of a dog following application. Remember, cats are not just small dogs. It’s best to think of them as an alien life form that does not obey the rules of other mammals.

The First Thing an Owner Should Do
Generally speaking, if you notice your mistake within a few minutes of application, the best option is to immediately (and thoroughly) bathe your cat with liquid hand-dishwashing soap (e.g., Dawn). We recommend two to three latherings just to be safe.

If like you liken the idea of bathing your cat to wrestling an alligator, you’re better off bringing him straight to your vet for a thorough cleaning.

If you don’t notice your mistake until your kitty starts showing twitches or tremors, DO NOT BATHE! Bring your cat immediately to your vet instead. If you were to put a twitching/tremoring cat into the water, chances are that she will become so overstimulated that she’ll start to have seizures. Instead, your vet will sedate your cat, stop the tremors and then safely decontaminate her.

If you caught your mistake in time to safely bathe your cat, your next step is to monitor her very closely for at least 8-12 hours. By "monitoring very closely," we mean checking on her at least every 15 minutes. Set a timer and be diligent about this. Do go to a movie and leave her at home, do not go grocery shopping, do not go on an hour-long run, and most important of all, do not go to bed!

We’ve had several occasions where pet owners thought they had thoroughly bathed their cat and, believing all was well, went to sleep for the night. They then awoke to find their kitty with severe tremors or seizing the next morning. These are terrifying situations and completely preventable. If you aren’t able to stay with your cat, bring her to your vet—they will be able to monitor her while you’re away and, should signs of poisoning arise, they can immediately begin treatment.

Clinical Signs that Require a Hospital
If a cat starts to show muscle twitching, it’s time to get to the hospital. Mild twitching can quickly progress to serious tremors and seizures, both of which can be effectively treated by your veterinarian with injectable muscle relaxants.

Additionally, twitchy cats may have difficulty eating and drinking which can result in dehydration and, in severe situations, fatty liver disease (this can occur in cats, especially obese cats, that do not eat for more than two to three days). While these signs can be very serious or fatal, it’s important to know that these kitties have an excellent prognosis if treated quickly and appropriately. The drugs given to cats to combat this drug are safe and highly effective.

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Today we are talking to JoAnn Turnbull, Executive Director, of Handi-Dogs about the difference between a service, emotional support and therapy dog.

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Today we are talking to Carrie Leigh, recently on the podcast with Get It Made who also researches dog friendly activities for bevver.com. Teek, her rescued terrier mix, is the Branch Manager.

Do tell us about Bevver…..

How did it start?

How do you submit locations?

Do find this a trend?

Explore dog friendly activities on Bevver:

https://bevver.com/dogs

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Dr. Millie Armstrong from Petit Brook Veterinary Clinic in Vermont discusses stomach twisting.

Gastric dilation and volvulus syndrome (GDV), more commonly referred to as gastrictorsion or bloat, is a disease in dogs in which the animal’s stomach dilates and then rotates, or twists, around its short axis. A number of emergency conditions may result as a consequence of this gastric rotation, including progressive distension of the stomach, increased pressure within the abdomen, damage to the cardiovascular system, and decreased perfusion. Perfusion is the process of delivering nutrients via blood in the arteries to the body’s tissues. Insufficient perfusion may lead to cellular damage and even organ death.

Symptoms and Types Symptoms of GDV include anxious behavior, depression, abdominal pain and distention, collapse, excessive drooling, and vomiting to the point of unproductive dry heaving. Further physical examination may also reveal an extremely rapid heart beat (known as tachycardia), labored breathing (known as dyspnea), a weak pulse, and pale mucus membrane (the moist tissues lining the body’s orifices, such as the nose and mouth).

Causes The exact causes of GDV are unknown. A variety of factors, including genetics, anatomy, and environment, are most likely to blame. For example, dogs that have a first relative with a history of GDV have been shown to be at higher risk. Additionally, large and giant-breed dogs may be at higher risk, especially deep-chested breeds such as great Danes, German shepherds, and standard poodles. Although GDV has been reported in puppies, risk does increase with age.

Some factors that are believed to contribute to the development of GDV include ingestion of excessive amounts of food or water, delayed emptying of the gastrointestinal system, and too much activity after eating. In some cases, dogs affected by GDV have a history of gastrointestinal tract problems. It should be noted, however, that these characteristics do not necessarily occur with all cases.

Diagnosis A primary method of diagnosing GDV is imaging techniques, such as x-rays of the abdomen. Other tests may include a urine analysis and testing concentrations of lactate substance in the plasma.

If GDV is not to blame, other possible causes of the patient’s symptoms may include bacterial infection, gastroenteritis (which is the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract involving both the stomach and small intestine), or “food bloat” due to overeating.

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Today we are talking to Carrie Leigh who designs custom pet products like doggy tees, beds, water bowls and more at Get It Made in Chicago

Welcome Carrie. Thank you for being on the podcast.

How did Get It Made begin?

What are some of the products that you design?

Tell us about the dog bathing suit?

How do people get a hold of you?

Shop cool and custom pet products by Get It Made:

https://www.coolandcustom.com/collections/for-pet-lovers

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Cindy Myers is an animal listener and Intuitive coach. The bond between a human and their pets is far stronger than most people realize. It is so easy for our animals to absorb our emotions, unknowingly taking our stresses onto themselves. How can we help our pets during these times of great stress, for both them and us?

On Thursday, February 15th, Cindy will be holding a completely free Webinar focusing on animals and their emotions. In the Animals & Emotions Webinar, we will be answering the above questions, showing off some live demos, and lots more. You will learn how developing your communication skills with animals can create a healthier and closer relationship between you and your pets. By strengthening your animal communication abilities, you will be able to help your pet release trapped emotions, get rid of emotional baggage, and much more.

As I said, the Animal & Emotions Webinar is completely free. You just need to sign up for an invite and I will immediately send your login information. I’ll also send you two reminders of the webinar, one the day before and another one hour before the webinar begins.

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Dr. Curtis Mack is a board certified radiation oncologist at Arizona Oncology, an affiliate of The US Oncology Network. Dr. Mack, who lives and works in Tucson, Arizona is active on the board of Handi-Dogs, a local non-profit organization dedicated to training service and therapy dogs for seniors and those with disabilities. He understands "both sides of the stethoscope" because he is a cancer doctor and a cancer survivor himself.

A super story on how dogs can help you heal.

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Kersti Nieto, Dog Trainer at Dog Training Camp USA discusses what to do when you have pack competition.

Dogs consider their home as a territory they need to defend, so they can get aggressive when another animal enters. It's very important to know what to do when two dogs don't get along to prevent more serious problems.

One of the most important issues is training them properly. As the owner, you are responsible for getting your pets to respond to your orders and obey the rules of the house. This is a very important step when it comes to introducing a new member into the family. If the two dogs don't get along you can start teaching orders to the new dog separately and gradually begin teaching them together as the training progresses.

By doing this, you can teach each animal to respect the space and possessions of the other. Each dog will have its own bed, food bowl and toys - especially at the start - which is why there will be fewer problems with possessiveness and jealousy.

The roles should be well marked: You are the leader of the pack and the dogs need to know it. Nonetheless, remember that violence leads to more violence, and you should never reprimand your dogs by hitting them or shouting at them aggressively. This is not only animal abuse, but can actually make your dogs more aggressive and cause them to fight more between each other - and perhaps even attack you. You can make your dogs respect you by using different training methods like positive reinforcement, rewarding good behaviors instead of punishing bad ones.

There is also hierarchy among the animals. Dogs may growl or challenge each other after the introduction of a new member to the family unless one of the two dogs is clearly submissive. This is a normal attitude and there is no need to worry.

Dogs sometimes fight for the affection of the owner, so you should avoid showing more affection to one than the other. At the same time, you should show the veteran of the house that nothing has changed despite the arrival of a new friend.

What to do when two dogs get along very badly? If you have followed our advice but still feel that you can't control your dogs and you don't know what to do if your two dogs get along very badly, it will be best to consult a canine ethologist, who will analyse the situation and help you find a solution to the problem.

As we explained, growling and small feuds are common among dogs. However, serious fightsand situations which you cannot control require the visit of a professional who will guide you with appropriate guidelines and tips for your particular case. The ethologist will help you by evaluating your daily routine - including walks, exercise and other aspects - the welfare of both dogs and the possible causes of the problem.

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Dr. Susan McMillan, owner of Vet to Pet Mobile Veterinary Service discusses prednisone. This episode is sponsored by MoleKule. Molekule is offering $75.00 off your first order by mentioning vettalk. What is prednisolone? Well, when prednisone enters the kidneys, it is activated as prednisolone. If there is weak or compromised liver function, prednisolone for dogs may be administered instead for the same effects. Both prednisone and prednisolone are catabolic steroids. Their primary function in dogs is to relieve swelling and inflammation that arise due to any number of medical conditions. Let’s learn more about prednisone for dogs, its uses, and its potentially dangerous side effects!

What is prednisone used for in dogs? Prednisone has a wide range of applications for medical treatment in dogs. Usually, it is deployed in treating severe allergies, or other conditions that involve a great deal of swelling and inflammation. These include, but are not limited to:

Breathing problems, such as asthma or respiratory infection
Joint pain associated with arthritis
Skin irritations or itching due to allergic reactions, eczema, or dermatitis
Severe allergic reactions, like anaphylactic shock
Addison’s disease, in which adrenal function is compromised
Cancer, including lymphoma
Irritable bowel syndrome

Prednisone and prednisolone for dogs are very useful steroids, but very strong, twice as powerful or more than the cortisol naturally produced by their own adrenal glands. It should be administered with great care and precision.

What is the proper dosage of prednisone for dogs? Is there a standard prednisone dosage for dogs? Not really. For humans, typical prednisone dosages include 20mg, 10mg, and 5mg. Dogs come in so many shapes and sizes that standard human dosages are far too high for them to tolerate. A dog’s veterinarian will take size, age, weight, and overall health condition, as well as the state of the dog’s liver to process steroids, into account before prescribing a dosage that is individually tailored to them.

How is prednisone administered? Prednisone and prednisolone are versatile steroids, and are available in a number of formats. Prednisone can be given orally, topically, or by direct injection. It can be prescribed for dogs as tablets, pills, eye drops, liquid, syrup, injection, or topical ointment. A dog’s veterinarian will determine which form and what prednisone dosage are best for a given dog, based on the dog’s condition and particular needs.

Side effects of prednisone in dogs Side effects of prednisone for dogs are not mild, and can affect multiple internal and external systems, and yield a number of behavioral changes. Unless the situation is dire indeed, prednisone and prednisolone should be avoided when it comes to treating puppies, very young dogs, and dogs that have diabetes or are pregnant. It is particularly dangerous for young dogs and puppies, since long-term use of prednisone can slow or inhibit their normal patterns of growth and restrict their progress toward physical maturity.

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This episode is sponsored by BarkBox. Receive one month free when you use the code vettalk when you purchase a six month plan. This week we talk to Dr. Laura Brown regarding foods your dog should avoid over the holidays.
The holidays are stressful enough without having to worry about a potentially poisoned pet. Below is a list of holiday-related decorations, plants and food items that the veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline recommend keeping away from pets.

Holiday Ornaments: When decorating for the season, consider your pets. Holiday decorations such as snow globes or bubble lights may contain poisonous chemicals. If your pet chews on them the liquid inside could be could be dangerous to their health. Methylene chloride, the chemical in bubble lights, can result in depression, aspiration pneumonia and irritation to the eyes, skin and gastrointestinal tract.

Tinsel: If you own a cat, forgo the tinsel. What looks like a shiny toy to your cat can prove deadly if ingested. Tinsel does not pose a poisoning risk but can cause severe damage to a cat’s intestinal tract if swallowed. Ultimately, cats run the risk of severe injury to, or rupture of their intestines and treatment involves expensive abdominal surgery.

Plants: Though they have a bad rap, poinsettia plants are only mildly toxic. Far more worrisome are holiday bouquets containing lilies, holly or mistletoe.“Lilies, including tiger, Asiatic, stargazer, Easter and day lilies, are the most dangerous plants for cats,” said Dr. Ahna Brutlag, assistant director of Pet Poison Helpline. “The ingestion of one to two leaves or flower petals is enough to cause sudden kidney failure in cats.” Other yuletide pants such as holly berries and mistletoe can also be toxic to pets and can cause gastrointestinal upset and even heart arrhythmias if ingested.

Alcohol: Because alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, it affects pets quickly. Ingestion of alcohol can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure and body temperature. Intoxicated animals can experience seizures and respiratory failure. Additionally, foods such as desserts containing alcohol and unbaked dough that contains yeast should be kept away from pets as they may result in alcohol toxicity, vomiting, disorientation and stomach bloat.

Holiday Foods: With the holiday season comes a delightful variety of baked goods, chocolate confections and other rich, fattening foods. However, it is not wise (and in some cases is quite dangerous) to share these treats with your pets. Keep your pet on his or her regular diet over the holidays and do not let family and friends sneak in treats. Foods that can present problems:

Foods containing grapes, raisins and currants (such as fruitcakes) can result in kidney failure in dogs.
Chocolate and cocoa contain theobromine, a chemical highly toxic to dogs and cats. Ingestion in small amounts can cause vomiting and diarrhea but large amounts can cause seizures and heart arrhythmias.
Many sugarless gums and candies contain xylitol, a sweetener which is toxic to dogs. It causes a life-threatening drop in blood sugar and liver failure.
Leftover, fatty meat scraps can produce severe inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) leading to abdominal pain, vomiting and bloody diarrhea.

Imported Snow Globes: Recently, imported snow globes were found to contain antifreeze(ethylene glycol.) As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze when ingested by a cat or a tablespoon or two for a dog (depending on their size), can be fatal. Signs of early poisoning include acting drunk or uncoordinated, excessive thirst, and lethargy. While signs may seem to improve after eight to twelve hours, internal damage is actually worsening, and crystals develop in the kidneys resulting in acute kidney failure. Immediate treatment with an antidote is vital.

Liquid Potpourri: Filling your house with the smell of nutmeg or pine for the holidays may seem inviting—but if you’re partial to heating your scented oils in a simmer pot, know that they can cause serious harm to your cat; even a few licks can result in severe chemical burns in the mouth, fever, difficulty breathing, and tremors. Dogs aren’t as sensitive, but it’s still better to be safe than sorry—so scent your home with a non-toxic candle kept safely out of kitty’s reach.

When it comes to the holidays, the best thing a pet owner can do is get educated on common household toxins and pet-proof your home accordingly. If you think your pet has been poisoned, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680 with any questions or concerns.

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Dr. Peggy Larson, DVM discusses issues within a slaughterhouse. This is a sad and disturbing podcast but one that needs to be addressed.

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Kersti Nieto, Professional Dog Trainer from Dog Training Camp USA in Raleigh, North Carolina discusses tips on dog manners.

This episode is sponsored by BarkBox.

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You are listening to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk and I am your host Polly ReQua.

Today we are talking with Dr. Susan McMillan, owner of Vet to Pet Mobile Veterinary Service in Burlington, Vermont to shed light on distemper. Canine Distemper in Dogs Canine distemper is a contagious and serious viral illness with no known cure. The disease affects dogs, and certain species of wildlife, such as raccoons, wolves, foxes, and skunks. The common house pet, the ferret, is also a carrier of this virus. Canine distemper belongs to the Morbillivirus class of viruses, and is a relative of the measles virus, which affects humans, the Rinderpest virus that affects cattle, and the Phocine virus that causes seal distemper. All are members of the Paramyxoviridae family. Young, unvaccinated puppies and non-immunized older dogs tend to be more susceptible to the disease.

Symptoms and Types of Distemper in Dogs The virus, which is spread through the air and by direct or indirect (i.e. utensils, bedding) contact with an infected animal, initially attacks a dog’s tonsils and lymph nodes and replicates itself there for about one week. It then attacks the respiratory, urogenital, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems.

In the initial stages of Canine Distemper, the major symptoms include high fever (≥103.5 ° F, or 39.7° C), reddened eyes, and a watery discharge from the nose and eyes. An infected dog will become lethargic and tired, and will usually become anorexic. Persistent coughing, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. In the later stages of the disease, the virus starts attacking the other systems of the dog’s body, particularly the nervous system. The brain and spinal cord are affected and the dog may start having fits, seizures, paralysis, and attacks of hysteria.

Canine distemper is sometimes also called “hard pad disease” because certain strains of the virus can cause an abnormal enlargement or thickening of the pads of an animal’s feet. In dogs or animals with weak immune systems, death may result two to five weeks after the initial infection.

Causes of Distemper in Dogs The disease can be acquired from improperly attenuated vaccines, though this occurs rather rarely. Bacterial infections of the respiratory or gastrointestinal systems may also increase an animal’s vulnerability to the disease. Non-immunized dogs that come into any kind of contact with an infected animal carry a particularly high risk of contracting the disease.

Diagnosis of Canine Distemper in Dogs Canine distemper is diagnosed with biochemical tests and urine analysis, which may also reveal a reduced number of lymphocytes, the white blood cells that function in the immune system in the initial stages of the disease (lymphopenia). A serology test may identify positive antibodies, but this test cannot distinguish between vaccination antibodies and an exposure to a virulent virus. Viral antigens may be detected in urine sediment or vaginal imprints. Haired skin, nasal mucous, and the footpad epithelium may be tested for antibodies as well. Radiographs can only be used to determine whether an infected animal has contracted pneumonia. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans can be used to examine the brain for any lesions that may have developed.

Treatment for Distemper in Dogs Unfortunately, there is no cure for canine distemper. Treatment for the disease, therefore, is heavily focused on alleviating the symptoms. If the animal has become anorexic or has diarrhea, intravenous supportive fluids may be given. Discharge from the eyes and nose must be cleaned away regularly. Antibiotics may be prescribed to control the symptoms caused by a secondary bacterial infection, and phenobarbitals and potassium bromide may be needed to control convulsions and seizures. There are no antiviral drugs that are effective in treating the disease.

Living and Management for Canine Distemper In the more acute stages of canine distemper, it is necessary to monitor for development of pneumonia or dehydration from diarrhea. The central nervous system (CNS) must also be monitored because seizures and other neural disturbances may occur. A dog's chances for surviving canine distemper will depend on the strain of the virus and the strength of the dog’s immune system. Recovery is entirely possible, although seizures and other fatal disturbances to the CNS may occur two to three months after recovery. Fully recovered dogs do not spread or carry the virus.

Prevention of Distemper in Dogs The best prevention for canine distemper is routine vaccinations and immediate isolation of infected animals. Special care must be taken to protect new-born pups from exposure, since they are especially susceptible to the disease.

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You are listening to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk and I am your host Polly ReQua.

Today we are talking with Dr. Susan McMillan, owner of Vet to Pet Mobile Veterinary Service in Burlington, Vermont about cats. Our first podcast on cats. What to do when your cat will not use the litter box.....

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Rodeo is popular throughout the western United States and is the official state sport of Wyoming, South Dakota, and Texas. While “entertaining” the audience, animals are physically provoked in order to make the cowboys appear more impressive. However, spectators may be unaware of the suffering that the animals endure as the price of entertainment.

“Tools of Torment” In order to elicit certain behaviors from the animals, rodeos use various tools to make animals appear more aggressive than they really are.

Such tools include the “hotshot,” an electric prod used on the animal while captive in the chute. The intense pain scares the animal into displaying abnormally dramatic reactions. Other tools include metal spurs and “bucking straps” that burn the animal’s abdomen and groin area and cause him to “buck” and can lead to back and leg injuries.

The Events Calf Roping: a mounted rider yanks a calf into the air by her neck, slams her into the ground, and ties her legs together. During this performance, calves may cry out (if they can breathe), defecate from fear and stress, and suffer neck injuries and death.

Steer Busting: a rider ropes a steer with such force the steer flips in the air. The injury and death rates are so high that the Nevada State Veterinarian has condemned the practice.

Steer Wrestling: in this event the steer endures a high level of stress and can suffer ripped tendons, sprains and bruising, and even a broken neck.

Bull Riding and Saddle Bronc Riding: bucking straps, electric prods, and spurs are used to hurt the animal and aggravate him into reacting more roughly than he would naturally.

Injury, Pain, and Death Rodeos mean constant trauma for the animals forced to participate. They suffer broken ribs, backs, and legs, torn tails, punctured lungs, internal organ damage, ripped tendons, torn ligaments, snapped necks, and agonizing deaths.

Animals are often transported over long distances in hot and overcrowded trucks and trailers. The official rules of the PRCA permit them to be confined during transport for as long as 24 hours without being fed or watered. The injuries are not confined to the rodeos themselves. For instance, during practice sessions, a calf may be roped repeatedly, until the calf suffers injuries that require her replacement.

Despite increased publicity about animal cruelty, the PRCA has not improved animal safety. The penalties for violating regulations are not severe enough to deter abuse and are miniscule in comparison with the large rodeo cash prizes at stake.

Does the Law Protect Animals Used in Rodeos? The federal Animal Welfare Act exempts rodeos from the protections it provides to animals. Some states exempt rodeos from their anti-cruelty statutes, while other states defer to clearly inadequate PRCA regulations to judge whether animal cruelty has occurred in rodeos.

On the other hand, some states have taken measures to protect animals used in rodeos:

California bans the use of electric prods while animals are in the holding chutes, unless necessary to protect participants or spectators. A licensed veterinarian must either be present at all times or on-call and able to arrive at the rodeo within one hour after a determination has been made that there is an injury requiring veterinary treatment. The veterinarian must submit a brief report of any injury requiring veterinary treatment to the Veterinary Medical Board within 48 hours of the conclusion of the rodeo.
Rhode Island has banned tie-down roping and other practices but allows breakaway calf roping, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, team riding, barrel racing, team roping, wild horse racing, chuckwagon racing, quarter horse races, mounted flag races, trail riding events, and obstacle course and pole bending events. Anyone conducting a rodeo must notify the local animal control officer in advance of the event. A licensed veterinarian with complete authority over the treatment and use of injured rodeo animals must be present during the event.
Nevada has banned horse tripping.
Ohio has banned the use of twisted wire, unpadded bucking straps, unpadded flank straps, and prods.
Wisconsin prohibits the use of certain tools of torment, including a bristle bur, tack bur, electric prod, or prod with nails, tacks, and sharp points.

In addition, several cities and local governments have taken steps to protect animals used in rodeos:

Pittsburgh, Pa. prohibits electric prods or shocking devices, flank or bucking straps, wire tie-downs, and sharpened or fixed spurs or rowels. Rodeos must allow humane agents to access any areas where animals are present. A licensed veterinarian with complete authority over the treatment of rodeo animals must be present for the entirety of any rodeo or related activities.
Montgomery, N.J. prohibits prods such as pointed sticks at all times, as well as sharpened spurs or rowels. Rodeos must provide access to certified animal control officers to enforce compliance with animal protection ordinances. Rodeos must notify the state SPCA that an officer may attend and monitor the rodeo.
Charles, Ill. has banned the use of electric prods while an animal is in the holding shoot unless necessary to protect participants and spectators.
Southampton, N.Y. has banned the use of electric prods or shocking devices, flank or bucking straps, wire tie-downs, sharpened spurs, bull hooks and bullwhips, or any device that is likely to cause physical injury, pain, or suffering. An animal may not be made to perform any act that is inherently dangerous, unnatural, or likely to injure the animal. An animal must have proof of required vaccinations or a valid certificate of health from a licensed veterinarian. Animals must be free of any outward signs of injury, illness, or disease for the term of the display or exhibit.
Baltimore County, Md. prohibits electrical prods or shocking devices at rodeos except for the herding or managing of livestock. The County has also banned bullfighting. A state-approved veterinarian must attend every rodeo or similar event.
Some jurisdictions in which rodeos are nearly banned or strictly limitedinclude:
- Pittsburgh, Pa. prohibits any practice or technique or any device that is likely to cause physical injury, torment, or suffering in animals used in rodeos, effectively banning rodeos from the city.
- San Francisco, Calif. requires rodeos to obtain a permit. The City allows only “humane rodeo events” and specifically prohibits “events such as greased pig contests” and events that “utilize cattle prods, unfleeced flank straps for cattle or flank straps without sheepskin for horses.”
- Pasadena, Calif. has banned rodeos on public property.
- Fort Wayne, Ind., prohibits any event or concession that involves contests between humans and non-human animals, unless the city issues a permit following a review of the safety, well-being, and comfort of the participating animals and public.
- Greenburgh, N.Y. has banned rodeos on any town property.
Internationally, rodeo is banned in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Many other countries prohibit certain events.
Vancouver, Canada prohibits a number of rodeo activities central to a professional rodeo, including calf or goat roping or tie-down roping, horse tripping, steer busting, steer wrestling, the use of shocking devices such as electric prods, the use of bucking straps, and the use sticks, whips, spurs, and wire tie-downs. These prohibitions effectively ban rodeos from the city.

What Is ALDF Doing to Protect Animals Used in Rodeos? ALDF has sued California Rodeo Salinas, the state’s largest rodeo, on behalf of Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), an international non-profit organization that is dedicated to protecting animals from neglect, abuse, and cruelty.

The suit alleges that California Rodeo Salinas engages in unlawful business practices by regularly failing to report animal injuries to the California Veterinary Medical Board as required by state law.

SHARK has documented a pattern of consistent and repeated underreporting of animal injuries at California Rodeo Salinas. Over a recent two-year period, for instance, SHARK documented ten times the number of injuries requiring veterinary treatment than the defendants reported.

Check this space for updates on this pending litigation.

What You Can Do to Help * Do not attend rodeo events. * Ask local authorities to verify that proper rodeo permits have been obtained. * Demonstrate and distribute leaflets at the gates of the events. * Write letters to sponsors of the events and boycott their businesses. * Contact your local law enforcement agency or humane society and ask them to ensure rodeos follow local and state laws regarding the humane treatment of animals. * Educate family and friends about the animal welfare problems and safety concerns related to rodeo events. * Lobby your representatives to institute a state or local ban on calf roping (this is an event in which cruelty is most easily documented). Since most rodeo circuits require calf roping, eliminating it can result in the overall elimination of rodeos. * Fight for state and federal laws that protect animals and raise the standards of care.

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You are listening to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk and I am your host Polly ReQua.

Signs

A dog suffering from heatstroke will display several signs:

Rapid panting
Bright red tongue
Red or pale gums
Thick, sticky saliva
Depression
Weakness
Dizziness
Vomiting - sometimes with blood
Diarrhea
Shock
Coma

What you should do

Allow free access to water or a children's rehydrating solution if the dog can drink on his own. Do not try to force-feed cold water; the dog may inhale it or choke.

What your veterinarian will do

Aftercare

Prevention

Any pet that cannot cool himself off is at risk for heatstroke. Following these guidelines can help prevent serious problems.

Keep pets with predisposing conditions like heart disease, obesity, older age, or breathing problems cool and in the shade. Even normal activity for these pets can be harmful.
Provide access to water at all times.
Do not leave your pet in a hot parked car even if you're in the shade or will only be gone a short time. The temperature inside a parked car can quickly reach up to140 degrees.
Make sure outside dogs have access to shade.
On a hot day, restrict exercise and don't take your dog jogging with you. Too much exercise when the weather is very hot can be dangerous.
Do not muzzle your dog.
Avoid places like the beach and especially concrete or asphalt areas where heat is reflected and there is no access to shade.
Wetting down your dog with cool water or allowing him to swim can help maintain a normal body temperature.
Move your dog to a cool area of the house.

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Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk - I am your host Polly ReQua. Today we are talking to Julie Bachman, owner of Pine Song Farm in Iowa about her pet pig.

Please follow Doug on Instagram - apignameddoug - for a daily dose of Doug.

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You are listening to Bark & Wag’s 15 Minute Vet Talk and I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking with Dr. Susan McMillan, owner of Vet to Pet Mobile Veterinary Service, in Burlington, Vermont about skin tags. What are they?

Skin tags are tiny, soft skin growths that can appear anywhere on a dog's body. Also called fibropapillomas, fibrin tags, dog warts, skin polyp, and achrochordons, skin tags are fleshy growths on the skin that are about a few millimeters in length. Some growths are round while others are flat and stalk-like.

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Dr. Laura Brown, owner of Greentree Animal Hospital in Libertyville, IL discusses ear infections. Sponsored by BarkBox. Free extra month of BarkBox by visiting BarkBox.com/vettalk. Please like and subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube and iHeartRadio.

How Can I Tell if My Dog Has an Ear Infection? The following symptoms may indicate that your dog needs to have his ears checked by a veterinarian:

Scratching of the ear or area around the ear
Brown, yellow, or bloody discharge
Odor in the ear
Redness
Swelling
Crusts or scabs on inside of the outer ear
Hair loss around the ear
Rubbing of the ear and surrounding area on the floor or furniture
Head shaking or head tilt
Loss of balance
Unusual eye movements
Walking in circles
Hearing loss

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Nicole Scherer, VP of Labrador Connection in Woodstock, IL, discusses how to prepare for fostering a pet.

With all of the natural disasters animals are homeless and need our help. Nicole discusses tips on taking on a foster pet.

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Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking to Kersti Nieto, trainer at Dog Training Camp USA in Raleigh, NC on what your dog's tail mean when out with your dog.

Welcome Kersti.....

Visit: http://www.dogtrainingcampusa.com/

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This week on Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk podcast we are talking to Nicole Scherer, VP of Labrador Connection in Woodstock, IL, about how you can get involved and volunteer with a rescue near you. Please like and subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio and YouTube. 🐾❤️#barknwagbuzz.

Please visit http://www.thelabconnection.org and donate as well as win Bears tickets!

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Rabies is a virus that may affect the brain and spinal cord of all mammals, including dogs, cats and humans. Though preventable, there is good reason that the word “rabies” evokes fear in people. The disease has been reported in every state except Hawaii, and everywhere throughout the world except for Australia and Antarctica. Annually, rabies causes the deaths of more than 50,000 humans and millions of animals worldwide. Once symptoms appear, the disease results in fatality.

How Would My Dog Get Rabies? Since animals who have rabies secrete large amounts of virus in their saliva, the disease is primarily passed to dogsthrough a bite from an infected animal. It can also be transmitted through a scratch or when infected saliva makes contact with mucous membranes or an open, fresh wound. The risk runs highest if your dog-or any pet-is exposed to wild animals. The most common carriers of the rabies virus in this country are bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes. In the United States, rabies is reported in cats more than in any domestic species. If there are also cats in your household, it’s important to make sure they are vaccinated and kept indoors.

What Are the General Symptoms of Rabies? Initially, a dog who’s become infected may show extreme behavioral changes such as restlessness or apprehension, both of which may be compounded by aggression. Friendly dogs may become irritable, while normally excitable animals may become more docile. A dog may bite or snap at any form of stimulus, attacking other animals, humans and even inanimate objects. They may constantly lick, bite and chew at the site where they were bitten. A fever may also be present at this stage.

As the virus progresses, an infected dog may become hypersensitive to touch, light and sound. They may eat unusual things and hide in dark places. Paralysis of the throat and jaw muscles may follow, resulting in the well-known symptom of foaming at the mouth. Disorientation, incoordination and staggering may occur, caused by paralysis of the hind legs. Other classic signs of rabies include loss of appetite, weakness, seizuresand sudden death.

This episode is sponsored by Rover.com. Receive $25.00 off your first booking. Visit rover.com/vettalk and use promo code vettalk during checkout!

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If you have a pet question, please submit your question on barknwag.com.

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5 Steps to Animal Communication Workshop EARLY BIRD PRICING UNTIL JULY 31st- DON'T MISS OUT!! **Learn to communicate with animals!

Enjoy a day of communicating and learning to listen to animals with Cindy Myers, author of 5 Steps to Animal Communication and Alpacas Don't Do That, and intuitive energy healer for animals and humans.

No alpaca experience is neccessary. These techniques work for all species.

Aug 19, 2017
7660 bradley Rd
Somis, CA 93066
9am-4pm
Lunch provided

Visit: http://www.beananimallistener.com/august2017/ to get tickets!**

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This podcast is sponsored by Rover.com. For $25 off your first booking, visit rover.com/vettalk and use promo code vettalk during checkout!

Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking to Kersti Nieto, trainer at Dog Training Camp USA in Raleigh, NC on tips on having your dog come when they are called.

Welcome Kersti......

When dogs fail to come when called their behavior falls into one of two categories: active or passive disobedience. With passive disobedience, the dog doesn’t come and it isn’t doing much else besides. Instead it simply stands, sits or lies down and watches its owner call. Either the dog is apprehensive of approaching (a major temperament emergency), or it fails to see the relevance of the owner’s request and simply can not be bothered (a minor trainingemergency). With active disobedience, however, not only does the dog not come, but also, it has a darn good time not coming. This is a major training emergency.

Why dogs don’t come: Apprehensiveness If your dog is apprehensive of coming when called, there is only one reason… You! Take yet another look in the mirror. Your dog is afraid of you or of what you have done to it in the past – probably intentionally punishing the dog for coming when called. Whatever the reason, just solve the problem right away. Even though apprehensiveness is a dire temperament emergency, take your time. Get sweet and get small. Keep backing up and calling the dog, tossing food treats if necessary. Once the dog approaches to take food from your hand, practice the ‘grab tests’. Build your dog’s confidence, and its so-called obedience problem will disappear.

Why dogs don’t come: Irrelevance Your dog understands what you want it to do but it just does not see the point. Also, your dog may be tired, bored, or lethargic. For large dogs especially, it is a big deal to get up and lumber towards the owner. When they get there, it better be worthwhile. Well, it wasn’t! And now the dog is on strike. The dog came when called many times before, but nothing ever happened. Perhaps the owner even practiced recallsto the point of utter boredom. This problem is so common; this is what training is all about. I would say that 95% of a successful training program should comprise not just teaching dogs what we want them to do but teaching them why they should do it! The solution is to revamp the relevancy training program (see sections on Play Recalls and Life Rewards).

If your dog does not come, give it a reason to come. Tell it to “Hustle,” back up quickly and cause some kind of disturbance – rattle the furniture, bang on the door, kick the dog’s food bowl or drop to the ground, kick you feet in the air and let out an eerie maniacal wail. The idea is to get your dog’s attention, and so do something attention-getting. Whatever you do though, eventually your dog will come. When it does, on no account punish or reprimand the dog. Don’t even let on that you are grumpy. Instead, let your dog know what it missed by not getting there earlier. Waggle an extremely tasty treat in front of the dog’s nose, tease the dog with the treat and then give it to another dog, or even eat it yourself. Or show the dog its empty food bowl and say, “Oh dear, dindins all gone!” Or drop the dog’s leash on the floor and lament, “Deary, deary me, slow-poke snail-pooch missed his walky, walky, walkies.” The dog will soon grasp the relevance of coming when called.

Lazy dogs often refuse to come when called because they know the owner will eventually come to them. Many owners start towards the dog the instant they call it. Perhaps the owner has no confidence the dog will come and so, completes the recall himself with food treat in hand, as if auditioning as a waiter. Never go back to the dog. Move away from it, and make it come to you. This advice, of course, refers to a dog that is not coming but is not doing much else. If, however, your dog is sniffing, running, playing, or otherwise having a great time not coming, it is a different story altogether. Every second your dog does not come, its alternative activities are potently reinforcing its disobedience.

Why dogs don’t come: Active disobedience Dogs run off and/or refuse to come when called because they have discovered play and training are mutually exclusive. Consequently, the dog feels the need to run away to have fun. The dog is afraid to go back to its owner because it knows the good times will end. And some dogs are afraid to return to the owner for fear of punishment.

For a dog to blatantly ignore the owner’s request to come and to flagrantly continue having a good time is a major training emergency. You must do something drastic, and quickly! Every second you dither around and allow your dog to continue amusing itself strongly rewards the dog for not coming. Basically, your lack of action passively trains your dog to be disobedient! The first item on the agenda is to catch your dog. All the time your dog is running at large, its life is at risk. Once your dog is safely on leash, do not even consider letting it off-leash again until you have trained your dog to come when called, no matter what it is doing or what the distraction.

Step 1: Catch the dog A distracted, fleeing dog is much easier to catch than most people think since the dog is usually running towards a distraction. Just walk up to your dog, put it on leash and give it a treat. If, however, your dog is running from you, shouting and running after the dog usually makes it harder to catch. Instead, it is better to run away from the dog, maniacally laughing and shouting the dog’s name and then, to drop down on the ground, jerking all fours in the air whilst emitting a high-pitched screech. Most dogs come running pronto. Maybe you will not feel inclined to practice this routine in the park in the course of everyday training, but do remember it for an emergency. It works. And it has already saved the life of several dogs.

Alternatively, you will have to physically and mentally chase the dog down. Unless you have practiced for emergencies, generally it is a bad idea to shout “Come Here.” If your dog did not come when called in a normal tone of voice, it is unlikely to come if it thinks you are angry. It is much better to shout an emergency, inhibitory command, such as “Sit!” or “Down!” As a rule during regular training, never switch commands on a dog. Once the dog has been instructed to do something, it must do it. The only exception would be switching to an easier, emergency command in times of stress, confusion, or distraction, as in the above example to change from “Come Here” to “Sit.”

Shout “SIT! SIT! SIT!” and continue to do so until your dog sits, and then say, “Good Sit-Stay, Rover.” DO NOT GIVE UP! You cannot give up. You have got to catch your dog. If your dog does not sit, but it looks as though it might, lighten-up on the tone and volume, and repeat the command to “Sssssit!,” more softly, yet with an emphatic tone. Once your dog sits, tell it to sit-stay, and praise it for a while before you try approaching the dog. Continue to praise the dog in a normal happy voice while you approach to take it by the collar and offer a treat. Approach your dog slowly, and do not get angry, otherwise the dog may bolt again. If you decide to call your dog to you, call it eagerly and happily, running away from your dog as you do so.

No matter how long you have been chasing the dog and no matter what the dog has done when running at large, praise the dog as soon as it starts to come back to you. In fact, praise it every step of the way. When you have the dog on leash, praise it, pet it and maybe give a treat. No matter how difficult this is to do, do it! If you want the dog to eventually come reliably, quickly and eagerly, you had better reward the dog on those unreliable occasions it comes eventually, slowly and dejectedly. There is no point in getting angry at the dog; it was you, who made the mistake of letting an untrained dog off-leash.

NEVER NEVER NEVER punish your dog when it comes back to you. If you do, your dog will take longer to come back the next time, when you, silly owner, let your untrained dog off-leash yet again. Even if your dog has created mayhem in the park when it ran off, if you punish it when it comes back, you will still have a dog which creates mayhem, but now it takes even longer to get under control. If you want to punish your dog, obviously punish it when it is in the act of creating mayhem, but then reward it as it comes back. If you are annoyed, angry, furious or beside yourself with rage, for the meantime, hide your emotions. When the dog is safely back at home, go and bite a pillow, beat a breeze-block or otherwise punish yourself. By all means, let off steam, but do not abuse the dog in the process. Do not punish the dog for your mistakes – you, yes you, let the dog off-leash, left the front door open or kept the dog in a yard knowing full-well it was not escape-proof. Please be happy your dog is still alive. Take a break, and then get back to some sensible training.

Step 2: Train the dog Many owners throw up their hands in despair when their dog runs amuck in the park and fails to come when called. Certainly, training any dog to be reliable in an off-leash and distracting setting can be a daunting prospect which requires a substantial commitment on behalf of the owner. In reality, though, many park-problem dogs are also downright disobedient in a variety of other simpler and safer settings. Few dogs come when called in a safe, fenced dog park. Few will come in dog training class, and some will not even come in from their own backyard. And some dogs will not even sit reliably (as in 100% of the time) when on leash. The point is there is so much training that can be done in safe areas to build a firm foundation of basic control to ready your dog for mastering off-leash, distance, Olympic obedience. Please make sure your dog is reliable at home, in class and on-leash before even thinking of allowing it to run willy-nilly and get itself into trouble in a public place.

There are plenty of safe (fenced) areas to train dogs while they are playing off-leash. The most obvious example would be a dog training class. Or, for example, form a doggy play/training group, and practice in a different owner’s backyard each week. Also, it is worth bearing in mind that your dog may be satisfactorily exercised and trained on a long (50-100 feet) line. It is smart to keep your dog on leash and out of trouble. However, it would still be wise to prepare for future potential emergencies and proof the dog to “Sit” or “Come” when you shout. Otherwise, if you shout at your dog when it is running away, it will probably run faster. Heaven forbid, this happens when your dog is running towards a group of children or a busy street. We want the dog to have the confidence to understand that a shouted command conveys urgency and not anger. Even though you may have no intention of letting your dog off-leash again, another person might let the dog escape. Practice training the dog to sit reliably in safe and controlled, yet much more distracting situations, e.g., when playing with other dogs in a fenced yard.

Many dog owners casually let rambunctious dogs off-leash to play and then leash the dog after it comes when called. Now, if an off-leash romp is the reward de rigeur in suburban dogdom, then ending said walk must represent the biggest disappointment or punishment, i.e., unruly behavior is reinforced, and obedient responses are inhibited. This is back to front. At the very least, instruct your dog to sit-stay before letting it off-leash. And if the dog wants to play, obviously the best reward for coming when called is to let your dog go play again. The answer to most recall problems is to repeat “Come Here – Sit – Go Play” over and over throughout the entire play session.

Training game: Play recalls To reliably come when called, your dog must learn that play and training need not be mutually exclusive, i.e., coming when called is neither the end of the world nor necessarily the end of the play session. By integrating recalls into play sessions, your dog will learn that if it comes immediately, you will say “Go Play” immediately, whereas if it does not come immediately, the play session is temporarily terminated until the dog eventually comes, i.e., the dog has to come anyway. Basically, we have put Rover’s destiny in Rover’s paws; Rover can end play by being disobedient, and once the play session has been terminated, only Rover can restart it by obediently going to his owner. By giving the problem (playing with other dogs) a name (“Go Play”), the problem behavior becomes a reward for coming when called. Every time the owner interrupts the play session and requests the dog to come, the owner may then say “Go Play” and thus reward the dog for coming. To keep the play session going, all the dog has to do is to continue to come when called.

Work in a safe area – indoors, in a fenced yard, tennis court, training class or dog park. Initially, work with your dog and just one other – his favorite doggy friend. Whisper-request the dog to come – “Rover, Come Here.” If your dog comes, take hold of its collar, praise, pet, pat, hug and treat the critter before saying “Go Play”, i.e., just a short, enjoyable time-out from play. If your dog does not come, command it to come – an instructive reprimand – “ROVER!!! Come! Here!” Do not progressively escalate volume and tone over several commands (this would systematically desensitize the dog to your voice). Go from the whisper-request to the all-out, attention-getting command within one second. We want the dog to learn what comes out of our mouths is meaningful, not meaningless.

If your dog comes in response to your reprimand, praise the dog, touch its collar, waggle a food treat in front of its nose but do not give it to the dog. It would be silly to reward your dog after you had to call him twice. Instead, bait the dog with the food, invitingly whisper-request “Come Here,” back up two steps, take the dog’s collar, give it the treat and say “Go Play,” i.e., in order to get a treat and be told “Go Play,” your dog has to come immediately following a single request. If you have to tell the dog twice, repeat the recall until the dog gets it right. The hardest part is getting the dog’s attention when it is playing. Once the dog comes, you now have its attention, and it will likely follow the next instruction.

If your dog does not start towards you within one second following your reprimand, the other owner immediately takes hold of Rover’s playmate to curtail the play session. Once Rover’s playmate has been successfully corralled, it is now your job to get Rover to come. It does not matter how long it takes, Rover will come eventually, if only because there’s not much else to do. Once your dog does come, repeat the recall (as described above) until Rover comes on the first request, and then, tell it “Go Play” at which point the other owner instantly releases Rover’s playmate, and the play session resumes once more.

Getting your dog to come the first time is the hardest. But, as with all troubleshooting procedures, it gets easier with each attempt. In fact, have the other owner time how long it takes for you to get your dog to come, and you will soon have proof of dramatic improvement within just a few trials. Alternate “Come Here” and “Go Play” over and over, until your dog reliably comes instantaneously in the presence of its favorite playmate. Then, work with another playmate, and then, work with all three together. Eventually, your dog will respond reliably within a large play group.

For $25 off your first booking, visit rover.com/xxxx and use promo code xxxx during checkout!

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Welcome Cindy.....

In Alpacas Don't Do That, Cindy Myers describes how her relationship with alpacas and other animals in her life, provided a new career path and lifestyle. She went from suburban life with steady career in engineering to owning and operating an alpaca farm. Alpacas opened up not only a new lifestyle, but Cindy developed and adapted positive reinforcement, Clicker Training methods and using Reiki to work with alpacas. While training her animals and using these techniques, her life has been transformed by her interaction with the animals that have crossed Cindy's path. This book shares those life changing lessons and stories.

http://www.beananimallistener.com/contact/

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Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) in Dogs Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a condition where the cushioning discs between the vertebrae of the spinal column either bulge or burst (herniate) into the spinal cord space. These discs then press on the nerves running through the spinal cord causing pain, nerve damage, and even paralysis.

Breeds of dog that are predisposed to IVDD include the Dachshund, Beagle, Basset Hound, and Shih Tzu.

Symptoms and Types Made up of a gelatinous substance surrounded by a thick outer layer, intervertebral discs are basically the shock absorbers of the spine. There are two types of disc herniation seen in dogs: Type I and Type II, of which Type II generally has less severe signs and symptoms.

Symptoms of IVDD may include:

Unwillingness to jump
Pain and weakness in rear legs (lameness)
Crying out in pain
Anxious behavior
Muscle spasms over back or neck
Hunched back or neck with tense muscles
Reduced appetite and activity level
Loss of bladder and/or bowel control (urinaryand fecal incontinence, respectively)

Causes In Type I, common in the neck region of smaller breeds, discs develop a hardening (or calcification) of the outer layer. This damages the disc, allowing it to break down easier. Any forceful impact such as jumping and landing can cause one or more disc(s) to burst and the inner material to press on the spinal cord. With Type II herniation, the discs become hardened and fibrous over a long period of time and eventually break down, bulge out, and compress the spinal cord.

When the nerves of the spinal cord are compressed, the nerve impulses are not able to transmit their signals to the final destination in the limbs, bladder, etc. If the damage is severe enough, paralysis and loss of bladder and bowel control can occur. Depending on the location of the disc that is bulging, signs occur anywhere in the body from the neck to the rear legs.

Diagnosis Examination by your veterinarian will include a complete neurologic exam, which will help identify where in the spinal cord the injury is located. Plain X-rays may show an abnormal area in the spine. However, because the spinal cord does not appear on X-rays, special imaging may be necessary to locate the source of the injury.

Once such procedure, called a myelogram, injects a special dye into the spine, which surrounds the spinal cord and allows it to appear on X-rays. This test requires the animal to be put under anesthesia. In some cases, further testing such as an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT (computed tomography) scan can also be used to locate where the nerves are being pinched, which is necessary for surgical repair.

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Dr. Jeff Werber has practiced veterinary medicine for more than 30 years and is one of a select few actively-practicing veterinary medical journalists in the U.S. He serves on the advisory board of Veterinary Economics Magazine.

Known to the world and his clients as “Doc Hollywood,” Dr. Werber has frequently appeared as an expert guest on Good Morning America, The Dr. Oz Show, Rachael Ray, Fox & Friends, Inside Edition, CBS’ The Early Show, CNN, and Fox News, among others. Many people may also remember him from his days hosting Petcetera on Animal Planet and Lassie’s Pet Vet on PBS. He also cares for furry friends of many of Hollywood's biggest stars.

Dr. Werber dedicates his time to several animal welfare and rescue organizations such as Best Friends Animal Society, Last Chance for Animals, Hounds and Heroes, Angel City Pits, Forever Fido, Wags and Walks, Eloise, Bichons and Buddies, and Bill Foundation.

Itching is the number one reason for veterinary visits, yet millions of dogs continue to suffer because their owners underestimate the severity or frequency of their dogs itching and do not seek medical care that could help them.

To educate pet owners about the importance of treating allergic skin conditions in dogs, animal health company Zoetis has teamed up with renowned veterinarian Dr. Jeff Werber to develop an “Itch Instinct” quiz for pet owners. Many don’t know that left untreated, allergies can lead to more serious problems, including infection. You can find helpful tips by visiting the program website and taking the quiz.

Completion of the “Itch Instinct” quiz will trigger a donation made by Zoetis to expand the number of recipients in its K-9 Courage™ Program, which provides healthcare assistance to retired military and active police dogs as well as active service dogs that assist veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress.

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Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk, I am your host Polly ReQua.

Today we are talking to Cindy Myers, Animal Listener and Intuitive Coach.

Welcome Cindy.....

I would like to share a little about what I do and how I got here working with both animals and two-leggers (humans...you will understand that terminology in a few minutes;) One of the frequently asked questions I get from my clients and workshop attendees is if I have always been able to communicate intuitively with animals and have empathic energy skills. The answer to that question is no, not really. I’ve always loved animals, but I was not aware of having any intuitive senses or that I could do healing energy work until I was an adult. I’ve always been a good listener. But, if twenty years ago, someone told me I’d be living on a farm with about 30 alpacas, 3 dogs, and 2 barn cats working as an intuitive energy healer and animal communicator, I would have laughed and thought that was the craziest thing I ever heard!

  Why I call myself An Animal Listener...    Communication entails two elements; talking and listening. It has been my experience that when you ask someone to define what makes a good communicator, they often say, “She has a great style of talking to you,” or “He is really assertive and makes you feel at ease.” Almost everyone describes just the talking piece in good communication. It is pretty rare that someone describes the listening component of communication. Yet, the best communicators, the healthiest relationships, all have the ability to be effective listeners. Listening isn’t just done with our ears. To listen well, we must use all of our senses including our “sixth” sense. Most have heard of using their “third eye” to indicate their intuition. I also like to use the term, using our “third ear.” It is this “third ear,” that I use in listening to and communicating with animals. To be effective communicators with our animals, we must first be willing to listen to them. The beauty of improving our listening skills with our animal companions is that same skill can make our human relationships richer, deeper and more connected as well. Our animals can teach us much about how to be better listeners. Please visit Cindy at: **Cindy Myers**

Be An Animal Listener
(541) 658-5062
cindy@beananimallistener.com

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Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking to Stacy Pursell, CEO/Global Executive Recruiter for Animal Health & Nutrition, Animal Science, Pet Product Industry and a Veterinary Recruiter from The Vet Recruiter.

The VET Recruiter -thevetrecruiter.com

E-mail Stacy at stacy@thevetrecruiter.com or call at 918-298-7025 or 800-436-0490.

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| MOOSE CAN BE AGGRESSIVE. Moose have evolved defenses to keep them from becoming easy prey. Unfortunately for humans, moose sometimes perceive us as threats. When a moose feels threatened it has only two choices, either to flee or attack. Normally it will flee, and we can feel glad or apologetic, but when a moose decides to be aggressive, we can find ourselves in a dangerous situation. Moose can become aggressive in winter when they are hungry, tired of walking in deep snow, and being harassed by dogs and people. During mating season bull moose may be aggressive towards other bulls and humans. Each year in Alaska more people are injured by moose than by bears. In the past ten years two people have died from moose attacks in the Anchorage area. Each year there are at least 5-1O moose-related injuries in the Anchorage area alone, with many reports of charging moose in neighborhoods or on ski trails. AVOlD CONFRONTAT1ONS. First and most important to avoiding confrontations is to give moose plenty of room. DO NOT APPROACH THEM. Moose, like other animals, have a distance around them, that if entered by another animal--wolf, dog, bear, or human--causes them to react. Biologists call this area "personal space" or "critical distance." COWS AND CALVES NEED EXTRA ROOM. Moose calves, because of their size and lack of experience, are particularly susceptible to predation. Thus cow moose have evolved some very strong defensive behaviors. If one perceives a threat to its calf, it may attack. A cow moose can defend itself against a full-grown grizzly. If you are out walking and see a calf but not a cow, be very careful; you may have gotten between them and will want to remove yourself without drawing their attention. Calves themselves can also be dangerous. Weighing 200 to 400 pounds by their first winter, they are fully equipped to injure a predator--or a human.

| DOGS AND MOOSE DON'T MIX. Moose are likely to treat dogs just as they do wolves. If Lassie barks and runs towards a moose, the moose is likely to defend itself by lunging, kicking, and chasing the dog. A frightened dog, not having been a wolf for several thousand years, will run back to its master for protection, and you may find yourself between your pet and 1000 pounds of irate moose that seems capable of kicking in four directions at once. Because moose consider dogs to be their enemies they may go out of their way to kick at them, no matter if the dog is on a leash or in a fenced yard. If you have a dog with you, give moose extra room. Each year packs of domestic dogs harm and sometimes kill moose. Moose calves are especially vulnerable. It is against the law to allow your pet to harass wildlife. If your dog is a habitual offender it may be destroyed by authorized personnel. Moose need to conserve energy during long Alaska winters. Being chased by dogs can lead to exhaustion, weakness, inability to move to feed, and ultimately death. MOOSE BODY LANGUAGE. Moose use body language as a method of communication. Understanding this language will help keep both you and the moose out of harmi way. The first thing you might notice is that a moose has stopped feeding, walking, or resting, and is looking at you. Its ears will be up and it will be listening as well as looking for clues as to what you are, and what you may be up to. You can stay where you are, or increase the distance between you and the moose. The moose can move towards you, stay put, or move away. What you do influences what the moose does. You should be thinking: Does the moose have room! Does it have a safe escape route! Could it consider me a threat! If the moose has your garden fence on one side, your house on another, and you are in its only path of escape, it is going to behave differently than if it is on the edge of your lawn with only the Chugach Mountains beyond. Even then, what looks like a logical escape route to you isn't always apparent to a moose. Terrified moose have run through and over all manner of things. If the moose puts down its head, lowers its ears, and the hair on its back and neck go up, it's time to start worrying and looking for your own escape route. The moose may begin to lick its lips and walk towards you. The moose is telling you very clearly in moose language that either you have gotten too close and are a threat, or, in urban areas where it may have been hand-fed by humans, it may think you have something for it to eat. Regardless of the reason, you are too close and in a dangerous situation. Back off and look for something to get behind. | A TRUE MOOSE STORY Sour Dough John "l've noticed that moose get angry, especially after a long winter ofharassment by people and dogs. Their anger can easily be directed at an innocent bystander. Several years ago I was working on my snow machine in the back yard, when a yearling calf walked out ofthe woods. Its teeth were clicking, its hackles were up, and its ears laid back. I chuckled as it slowly approached me and when it reached a distance ofabout 20 yards, I said, who are you trying to kid. When it got to within IO yards, I waved my hands and yelled Shoo. In an instant I found myself curled in a ball, the moose flailing over me. Fortunately, he left me with only a few bruises, but he definitely proved his point: I was on his turf and he could do what he darned pleased. I had made three mistakes in this unprovoked attack. First, I didn't realize that my dog had been pestering the moose in the woods. Second, I didn't appreciate his verbar warnings. Third, I underestimated his physical capabilities. This moose was in a bad humor and I happened to be in his way. He gave me ample opportunity to retreat, and when I didn't, I made his day. |

IF A MOOSE CHARGES... Fortunately most moose charges are bluffs--warnings for you to get back. They should nevertheless be taken seriously. If a moose chases you, get behind something solid. You can run around a tree faster than a moose can. If a moose knocks you down, it may continue running or start stomping and kicking with all four feet. Curl up in a ball, protect your head with your arms, and lie still. Don't try to move until the moose moves a safe distance away or it may renew its attack. DON'T FEED MOOSE. 1T'S AGAlNST THE LAW! Feeding moose either at your house, dumpster, or haystack is against the law. Moose quickly become habituated, and can be very aggressive when they expect to be fed. It may seem harmless to feed a hungry moose out of your car window or off your porch. However, when the same moose charges a child on the way to school, with the hope of a handout, the outcome can be tragic. A moose with a history of unprovoked attacks will be shot by enforcement officers to protect public safety. By feeding a moose, you are likely contributing to its death. DON'T RESCUE BABY MOOSE. Every year people find "abandoned" moose calves. In most cases the mother has moved off for one reason or another and will return. If you find a calf, remember that its best chance for survival is to be left alone. After early July calves are weaned and capable of surviving on their own, although they remain very vulnerable to predation. REMEMBER. . . If for any reason you have to get close to a moose, ALWAYS MAlNTAlN AN ESCAPE ROUTE. |

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Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking to one of our favorite Vets, Dr. Laura Brown, owner of Green Tree Animal Hospital in Libertyville, IL as we discuss vitamins. Do you need to give your dog vitamins?

Welcome.

Let’s start with puppies….

Do I need to supplement my puppy's diet?

Should I supplement my adult dog's diet?

Talk with your veterinarian to determine which supplements may be beneficial for your dog.

What if my dog is super active?

What if my dog is on a diet?

High quality light foods should contain adequate vitamins and minerals. If you are only feeding your pet less of his regular food to cut down, you may want to supplement with a multivitamin.

Should I give my senior dog supplements?

Aging dogs have special nutritional needs, and some of those can be supplied in the form of supplements.

A large percentage of older dogs suffer from arthritis. We recommend a daily supplement containing glucosamine, for dogs suffering from arthritis, hip dysplasia, or other bone or joint problems. If your dog is not eating a complete balanced diet, then a vitamin/mineral supplement is recommended to prevent any deficiencies.

What traits should I look for in a quality vitamin?

Contains at least 8 essential vitamins including Vitamin A, B-complex, D, and E, as well as the B vitamins. Vitamins A and E are all-important antioxidants that help maintain a healthy immune system and should also be included in the supplement.

Vitamins and minerals should be in the correct ratio for your pet's good health.

In addition, look at the ingredient list of multi-vitamin supplements to see from which sources the vitamins and minerals are coming.

B-Complex and zinc from Brewer's Yeast and other sources

Magnesium from wheat germ and fish, and other sources

Calcium from non-fat dried milk, and other sources

Fatty acids from marine sources, such as cod liver oil

Iron from natural sources, such as liver, as well as other sources

Not all vitamin supplements contain these quality ingredients. And, remember that whatever your particular pet's species or age, the right supplementation will help him live the best quality life possible.

Can I give my pet too many vitamins?

There is always some controversy regarding vitamin supplementation. Many people feel supplements are very necessary. They feel that even when feeding a high quality food, some of the vitamins may have been destroyed by the processing or storage. Pet owners feeding a homemade diet or a diet high in table scraps should give their pet a high quality vitamin/mineral supplement. Ill or recovering pets who may have a poor appetite should also be given a good vitamin/mineral supplement since they are not receiving their daily requirements through the food they eat.

The possibility of vitamin toxicity with the fat-soluble vitamins, especially Vitamin A and D, which are stored in the body, can occur with severe oversupplementation. Toxicities do not occur when you give your pet the recommended amount of high-quality, commercially prepared vitamin/mineral supplements. However, if you give a variety of supplements, each containing Vitamin A or D, oversupplementation is more likely. Supplements must be chosen with care and large numbers of different supplements should not be used together unless prescribed by a veterinarian.

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Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking to Stacy Pursell, CEO/Global Executive Recruiter for Animal Health & Nutrition, Animal Science, Pet Product Industry and a Veterinary Recruiter.

Welcome Stacy…..

I am excited to have you on the podcast today to talk about employment in the animal field.

Please tell us about The Vet Recruiter and your roll?

How did your career lead you to become an animal recruiter?

If listeners are interested in any positions on your website, should they send you their resume?

The VET Recruiter -thevetrecruiter.com E-mail Stacy at stacy@thevetrecruiter.com or call at 918-298-7025 or 800-436-0490.

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You are listening to Bark & Wag’s 15 Minute Vet Talk and I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking with Chris Wallen, Volunteer with LEARN, Labrador Education and Rescue Network servicing Northern Illinois and Wisconsin. Welcome Chris…..

First – thank you for all that you do for Labs. As a volunteer for LEARN it is such a pleasure to have you on the podcast.

Two weeks ago we talked with Dr. Meredith Rives about Puppy Mills. Opening our eyes on this terrible practice. In January LEARN rescued 14 dogs from a backyard breeder. This is the second time you had rescued Labs from this breeder. The first rescue saved 11 Labradors. You dedicated the mission as Stop the Madness – Operation Sunday Labs.

Please tell us what is a backyard breeder?

Backyard breeder is a term used to describe amateur animal breeders whose breeding is considered substandard, with little or misguided effort towards ethical, selective breeding. ... Larger commercial operations of a similar type that breed dogs are usually termed a puppy mill (especially in North America) or puppy farm.

One of the dogs your rescued was Peanut. Please tell us about Peanut.

Peanut was one of the Labs rescued in Operation Sunday Labs. Peanut arrived in very poor medical condition. He was extremely malnourished and suffering from parasites and tick-borne illnesses. Sadly, despite exceptional foster home and Vet care, Peanut survived only a few days. L.E.A.R.N. has dedicated subsequent efforts to rescue the remaining Labs at that breeder's in Peanut's honor: Operation Peanut's Promise. L.E.A.R.N. geared up for Operation Peanut's Promise by recruiting and preparing additional foster homes.

Why weren’t all of the dogs taken with the first rescue?

How did the second rescue come about?

After several postponements, and with the help of Pets In Crisis, on Sunday, January 11th, L.E.A.R.N. rescued 14 more Labs from the same breeder. Peanut’s Promise Labs were transported to a central location in southern WI where L.E.A.R.N. volunteers bathed, examined and showered them with love. From there, the 14 dogs headed off to their warm foster homes where they would begin learning to trust humans. One of the greatest challenges for the foster homes is to help these Labs overcome different fears — from everyday noises to riding in a car, conquering stairs, and leaving the couch.

We're happy to report that this second group of Labs, despite needing Vet care, appeared less emaciated and generally in better health than the first group. Unlike the first group, none have required emergency care. Nevertheless, because of their background, they require more Vetting. As with the Operation Sunday Labs, most have parasites and tick-borne illnesses for which they are being treated. They also need to be Heartworm tested, put on preventative, spayed/neutered and vaccinated. Since the breeder erratically vaccinated some dogs himself, L.E.A.R.N. is running titer antibody tests first to avoid over-vaccinating, which would be especially risky for dogs who already have health challenges.

What can we do to help these Labs in foster care?

What can we do to help better laws protect animals so backyard breeders are put out of business?

Thank you very much for coming on Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk. We hope that you will come on the show again.

Please send donations or volunteer to www.labadoption.org.

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Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking to Kersti Nieto, Trainer at Dog Training Camp USA, in Raleigh, NC on how to potty train your puppy.

Welcome Kersti

House training your puppy is about consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement. The goal is to instill good habits and build a loving bond with your pet.

It typically takes 4-6 months for a puppy to be fully house trained, but some puppies may take up to a year. Size can be a predictor. For instance, smaller breeds have smaller bladders and higher metabolisms and require more frequent trips outside. Your puppy's previous living conditions are another predictor. You may find that you need to help your puppy break old habits in order to establish more desirable ones.

When to Begin House Training Puppy Experts recommend that you begin house training your puppy when he is between 12 weeks and 16 weeks old. At that point, he has enough control of his bladder and bowel movements to learn to hold it.

If your puppy is older than 12 weeks when you bring him home and he’s been eliminating in a cage (and possibly eating his waste), house training may take longer. You will have to reshape the dog’s behavior -- with encouragement and reward.

Steps for Housetraining Your Puppy Experts recommend confining the puppy to a defined space, whether that means in a crate, in a room, or on a leash. As your puppy learns that he needs to go outside to do his business, you can gradually give him more freedom to roam about the house.

When you start to house train, follow these steps:

Keep the puppy on a regular feeding schedule and take away hisfood between meals.
Take puppy out to eliminate first thing in the morning and then once every 30 minutes to an hour. Also, always take him outside after meals or when he wakes from a nap. Make sure he goes out last thing at night and before he’s left alone.
Take puppy to the same spot each time to do his business. His scent will prompt him to go.
Stay with him outside, at least until he’s house trained.
When your puppy eliminates outside, praise him or give him a treat. A walk around the neighborhood is a nice reward.

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Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking to one of our favorite Vets, Dr. Laura Brown, owner of Green Tree Animal Hospital in Libertyville, IL as we discuss fish oil supplements for your pet.

Fish oil for dogs and cats can greatly improve skin, coat, joint, and heart health, and more, in dogs and cats.

The benefits of fish oil for dogs can be surprisingly far-reaching. Fish oil for dogs and cats supports the health of the skin, coat, joint, kidneys, heart, and immune system. It’s even been shown to aid in more serious problems, like cancer.

Here’s what you need to know about what fish oil can do for your pet, and what to expect.

WHAT’S IN FISH OIL SUPPLEMENTS?

Fish oil supplements contain two essential fatty acids: EPA and DHA (or eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid). Both are omega-3 fatty acids that can only be made in a limited capacity in dogs and are even more poorly synthesized in cats.

These two fatty acids come straight from fish like salmon, sardines, mackerel, black cod, herring, anchovies, and albacore tuna.

5 GREAT BENEFITS OF FISH OIL FOR DOGS AND CATS

EPA, one of the two omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil, acts as an anti-inflammatory. It will help with any condition that causes inflammation of the heart, kidneys, skin, and joints—such as arthritis.

It will ease inflammation due to allergies, and reduce itchy skin and dandruff. This can also be an effective way to potentially decrease the incidence of hot spots on your pet.

Like many fat supplements, it promotes a shiny, healthy coat, and reduces shedding. (For cats, this may also mean fewer hairballs, since your cat won’t pick up as many loose hairs while grooming.)

DHA, the other omega-3 fatty acid in fish oil, is important in brain and eye development in puppies and kittens. Giving fish oil to pregnant or nursing pets can benefit the babies once they're born.

In some studies, fish oil has slowed the growth of cancer. Though more studies are needed to reach conclusive results, some veterinarians recommend it for any pets with cancer.

HOW IT WORKS

How can one supplement do so much?

Both EPA and DHA are important components of cell membranes in both humans and animals like dogs and cats. These unique fatty acids act as signals in cells to decrease inflammation. Less inflammation leads to less pain, redness, and swelling in the skin, joints, or other organs.

If that sounds very important, it is. These are the same pathways of inflammation that we inhibit with painkillers like aspirin all the time.

Omega-3 fatty acids, in particular DHA, also act to promote neuron development. This fatty acid affects cell permeability and the growth of nerve cells. So when a puppy's or kitten's nervous system is developing in the first few months of life (and even while developing before birth), delivering ideal amounts of DHA is important for optimal development.

HOW DO I GIVE FISH OIL TO MY PET?

Fish oil for dogs and cats comes in capsule or liquid form. If your pet will cooperate, give them the capsule to eat. If your pet has no interest in swallowing the capsule, use a clean safety pin or a small knife to open the capsule, and squeeze the liquid onto your pet’s food.

If you need a large dosage, look for fish oil sold in liquid form.

As with any supplement, dosage of fish oil for dogs and cats is important. You should consult your veterinarian before deciding on the correct dosage for your pet, and read product labels carefully.

ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS OF FISH OIL FOR DOGS AND CATS?

Fish oil won’t become toxic if too much is taken, but a too-large dosage could result in uncomfortable side effects.

If your pet has a history of gastrointestinal problems, slowly introduce fish oil into their diet a bit at a time, instead of using the full dosage right away. If your pet starts to have diarrhea, contact your vet, since you may be giving your pet too much fish oil.

Omega-3s have been shown to slow blood clotting, by decreasing the ability of blood platelets to stick together. This effect is more common and more pronounced in cats than in dogs, so be especially sure to consult your vet if you want to give fish oil to an outdoor cat who can get in scrapes or fights.

For this same reason, don’t use fish oils along with any blood-thinning dog or cat medications before consulting your vet.

Because fish oil is an anti-inflammatory, don’t give it to a pet already on anti-inflammatory medications without first talking to your vet.

The doses provided above will not cause immunosuppression, but if your dog is on immunosuppressive therapy for some reason talk to your veterinarian about an appropriate dose of fish oil.

If your pet’s breath starts to smell a bit fishy, just lower the dosage. The bad smell isn’t harmful to pets, but getting rid of it will make you happier!

With just one simple supplement, your pet can enjoy all these various benefits of fish oil.

References & Resources

The Allergy Solution for Dogs by Shawn Messonnier, D.V.M.

Canine Rehabilitation and Conditioning Group

Nordic Naturals Veterinary Professional

Dr. Weil, M.D. Q&A Library

Tomlyn Products

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Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking to Kersti Nieto, trainer at Dog Training Camp USA in Raleigh, NC on how to crate train.

Welcome Kersti…..

First of all, understand that crate training is not cruel. In spite of what some people may have told you, breeders and veterinarians recommend using a crate for your dog from a young age.

For thousands of years, dogs in the wild have sought out small “dens,” where they can feel safe and sheltered while resting, caring for puppies, or recovering from an injury or illness. Giving your puppy his own personal bedroom can help him feel more secure.

This method is also extremely effective for house training while you're not keeping a hawk eye on them—dogs won’t want to soil their bed, but will have little issue with sneaking into another room of the house to go if they’re not yet fully trained.

Finally, crate training can help prevent anxiety. For puppies, overseeing a big house when no one is with them can be overwhelming. When they feel like they have a smaller place they need to “protect,” it’s much more manageable. (Read more on useful ways to use dog crates here.)

Choosing The Best Dog Crate So now that we’ve sold you on crate training, here’s how to get started:

Choose a well-ventilated crate that is large enough for your puppy to stand up, lie down, and turn around. Remember that your puppy’s crate will have to grow as he does, so purchase a crate that is appropriate for your dog’s expected full-grown size, and use a divider to make the crate smaller for the time being. Many crates available at pet-supply stores include dividers.

Why size matters: A crate that’s too small will be uncomfortable for your dog, but a crate that’s too large may give your dog the space he needs to have an accident without it ruining his bedding. This behavior might encourage future accidents in the crate and around the home.

How To Teach Your Puppy To Love The Crate The most important part of crate training is making sure your puppy always associates it with a positive experience. Start by lining it with blankets and place a few toys inside to make it cozy. You can also cover it with a lightweight blanket to mimic a “den” environment. Make sure it is still ventilated and not too hot if you do this.

Bring your puppy to the crate for naps and quiet-time breaks so that he can “unwind” from family chaos. Start in increments of 10 minutes and work up to longer periods. Offer treats when he goes inside, and distraction toys like a stuffed KONG. For years, this author has been giving her Yorkie a treat every day as soon as he goes into his crate and sits. Now as an adult dog, he runs to his crate each morning in anticipation of the goodie.

Every time you take the puppy out of the crate, take him for a walk so he can eliminate. He’ll get used to the idea that potty time comes after crate time. Remember to praise him after he goes to the bathroom outside.

It’s also helpful to keep puppies in the crate overnight. They may cry the first night or two—in most cases, they are simply adjusting to home without their mom and littermates. Most puppies should be able to sleep through the night without a potty break by 4 months of age, but if you’re in doubt, take him outside.

What Not To Do When Crate Training Your Puppy

Never leave a puppy in his crate all day; he needs several bathroom breaks, as well as play and feeding times. Even though he won’t want to soil his sleeping area, if he is in there for extremely long stretches, he just might. (He can’t help it!) And if he does, it is because his owner has neglected his responsibility, not because the dog has misbehaved.

Never use the crate as punishment. Your dog should see his “room” as a place where only happy, peaceful things happen.

Never lose your patience. Learning takes time. If you follow the above advice and are consistent, your puppy will learn to love his crate for years to come.

Dog Training Camp USA: Doing the hard work for you! Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Phone: 919-401-9050.

Sponsored by BarkBox. Visit barkbox.com and if you use the code barkbox/vettalk you will receive one month free with a six or twelve month plan.

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Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking to one of our favorite Vets, Dr. Laura Brown, owner of Green Tree Animal Hospital in Libertyville, IL about seizures. What do you do if your dog has a seizure?

What Are the Symptoms of Seizures? Symptoms can include collapsing, jerking, stiffening, muscle twitching, loss of consciousness, drooling, chomping, tongue chewing, or foaming at the mouth. Dogs can fall to the side and make paddling motions with their legs. They sometimes poop or pee during the seizure.

Some dogs may look dazed, seem unsteady or confused, or stare off into space before a seizure. Afterward, your dog may be disoriented, wobbly, or temporarily blind. He may walk in circles and bump into things. He might have a lot of drool on his chin and could be bleeding in his mouth if he bit himself. He may try to hide.

What Are the Types of Seizures? The most common kind is the generalized seizure, also called a grand mal seizure. A dog can lose consciousness and convulse. The abnormal electrical activity happens throughout the brain. Generalized seizures usually last from a few seconds to a few minutes.

With a focal seizure, abnormal electrical activity happens in only part of the brain. Focal seizures can cause unusual movements in one limb or one side of the body.

Sometimes they last only a couple of seconds. They may start as focal and then become generalized.

A psychomotor seizure involves strange behavior that only lasts a couple of minutes. Your dog may suddenly start attacking an imaginary object or chasing his tail. It can be tricky to tell psychomotor seizures from odd behavior, but a dog that has them will always do the same thing every time he has a seizure.

Seizures from unknown causes are called idiopathic epilepsy. They usually happen in dogs between 6 months and 6 years old. Although any dog can have a seizure, idiopathic epilepsy is more common in border collies, Australian shepherds, Labrador retrievers, beagles, Belgian Tervurens, collies, and German shepherds.

If your dog has a seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes or if he has several in a row while he's unconscious, take him to a vet as soon as possible. The longer a seizure goes on, the higher a dog’s body temperature can rise, and he may have problems breathing. This can raise his risk of brain damage. Your vet may give your dog IV Valium to stop the seizure.

What Should I Expect When I Take My Dog to the Vet? Your vet will want to do a thorough physical exam and get some lab work to look for the causes of your dog’s seizures.

Your vet may prescribe medicines to control seizures, like phenobarbital or potassium bromide. You can give your dog phenobarbital twice a day, but over time it can damage his liver. Dogs that take phenobarbital need blood tests about every 6 months.

Potassium bromide doesn’t work its way through the liver, making it a better choice for young dogs that need medicine for life.

Always follow your vet’s instructions when you give your dog medicine. Don’t let him miss a dose.

*FOR A FREE EXTRA MONTH OF BARKBOX, VISIT BARKBOX.COM/VETTALK WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TO A 6 OR 12 MONTH PLAN! ENJOY!

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Welcome to Bark & Wag’s 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking to Dr. Meredith Rives, Owner of Natural Touch Veterinary Care in Evanston, IL about puppy mills and what we can do to stop the madness.

Welcome Merry…..Please tell us about puppy mills and how we can stop this awful business.

Buyer Beware: The Problem with Puppy Mills

Choosing to bring a new canine companion into your life is an exciting but involved decision-making process, especially when deciding where to get one. You might have concerns about "puppy mills" and want to know how to steer clear of them. Perhaps you don't even know what these are and need more information.

As you begin your research, here are some things to consider:

Puppy mills

Puppy mills are commercial breeding facilities that mass-produce dogs (and cats in cat mills) for sale through pet stores, or directly to consumers through classified ads or the Internet. Roughly 90 percent of puppies in pet stores come from puppy mills. Many retailers who buy animals from such facilities take the wholesaler's word that the animals are happy and healthy without seeing for themselves.

In most states, these commercial breeding kennels can legally keep hundreds of dogs in cages their entire lives, for the sole purpose of continuously churning out puppies. The animals produced range from purebreds to any number of the latest "designer" mixed breeds. Cat breeding occurs under similar conditions to supply pet stores with kittens.

Animals in puppy mills are treated like cash crops

They are confined to squalid, overcrowded cages with minimal shelter from extreme weather and no choice but to sit and sleep in their own excrement.
Animals suffer from malnutrition or starvation due to inadequate or unsanitary food and water.
Sick or dying animals receive little or no veterinary care.
Adult animals are continuously bred until they can no longer produce, then destroyed or discarded.
Kittens and puppies are taken from their mothers at such an early age; many suffer from serious behavior problems.

Look for these red flags:

The seller has many types of purebreds or "designer" hybrid breeds being sold at less than six weeks old.
Breeders who are reluctant to show potential customers the entire premises on which animals are being bred and kept.
Breeders who don't ask a lot of questions of potential buyers.
No guarantees-responsible breeders make a commitment to take back the pet at anytime during the animal's life, no matter the reason.

Because puppy mills and backyard breeders choose profit over animal welfare, their animals typically do not receive proper veterinary care. Animals may seem healthy at first but later show issues like congenital eye and hip defects, parasites or even the deadly Parvovirus.

Taking homes away

When puppy mills and backyard breeders flood the market with animals, they reduce homes available for animals from reputable establishments, shelters and rescue groups. Every year, more than 150,000 cats and dogs enter shelters in Washington State-6 to 8 million animals enter shelters nationwide. Sadly, only about 15 percent of people with pets in the U.S. adopted them from a shelter or rescue group, leaving so many deserving pets left behind.

Help stop the suffering by taking these steps:

Be a responsible, informed consumer-if you do buy from a breeder, go to a reputable one who:
- Will show you where the dogs spend their time and introduces you to the puppy's parents.
- Explains the puppy's medical history, including vaccines, and gives you their veterinarian's contact info.
- Doesn't have puppies available year-round, yet may keep a waiting list for interested people.
- Asks about your family's lifestyle, why you want a dog, and your care and training plans for the puppy.
- Doesn't use pressure sales tactics.
Adopt from a shelter or breed-specific rescue group near you-typically 25% of the animals in shelters are purebred.
Support laws that protect animals from puppy mill cruelty-tell your elected officials you support laws which cap the number of animals a person can own and breed, and establish care standards for exercise, housing, access to food and water and regular veterinary care.
Urge your local pet store to support shelters-animals are often used to draw consumers into stores. Encourage pet stores to promote shelter animals for adoption instead of replenishing their supply through questionable sources.
Donate pet supplies to local shelters to help those rescued from the puppy mills and many other homeless animals in need.
- CAPS-web.org (Companion Animal Protection Society)
- No Pet Store Puppies (ASPCA)
- PrisonersOfGreed.org
- StopPuppyMills.com (The Humane Society of the United States)
Learn more at:

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Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking to one of our favorite Vets, Dr. Laura Brown, owner of Green Tree Animal Hospital in Libertyville, IL, about spaying or neutering your pet and when is the best time to do it.

By spaying or neutering your pet, you’ll help control the pet homelessness crisis, which results in millions of healthy dogs and cats being euthanized in the United States each year simply because there aren’t enough homes to go around. There are also medical and behavioral benefits to spaying (female pets) and neutering (male pets) your animals.

Here are some of the medical benefits:

Your female pet will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast tumors, which are malignant or cancerous in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.
Neutering your male companion prevents testicular cancer and some prostate problems.

And behavioral benefits:

Your spayed female pet won't go into heat. While cycles can vary, female felines usually go into heat four to five days every three weeks during breeding season. In an effort to advertise for mates, they'll yowl and urinate more frequently—sometimes all over the house!
Your male dog will be less likely to roam away from home. An intact male will do just about anything to find a mate, including finding creative ways escape from the house. Once he's free to roam, he risks injury in traffic and fights with other male animals.
Your neutered male may be better behaved. Unneutered dogs and cats are more likely to mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house. Your dog might be less likely to mount other dogs, people and inanimate objects after he’s neutered. Some aggression problems may be avoided by early neutering.

Spaying/neutering your pets is also highly cost-effective. The cost of your pet's spay/neuter surgery is far less than the cost of having and caring for a litter. How much does it cost to spay or neuter your pet?

Debunking Spay/Neuter Myths and Misconceptions

Spaying or neutering will not cause your pet to become overweight. Lack of exercise and overfeeding will cause your pet to pack on the extra pounds—not neutering. Your pet will remain fit and trim as long as you continue to provide exercise and monitor her food intake.
Neutering is not as a quick fix for all behavior problems. Although neutering your pet often reduces undesirable behaviors caused by a higher level of testosterone, there’s no guarantee that your dog’s behavior will change after he’s neutered. Although the surgery will reduce the amount of testosterone in your dog’s system, it won’t eliminate the hormone completely. Neutering will also not reduce behaviors that your pet has earned or that have become habitual. The effects of neutering are largely dependent on your dog’s individual personality, physiology and history.

When to Spay or Neuter Your Pet

For dogs: While the traditional age for neutering is six to nine months, puppies as young as eight weeks old can be neutered as long as they’re healthy. Dogs can be neutered as adults as well, although there’s a slightly higher risk of post-operative complications in older dogs, dogs that are overweight or dogs that have health problems.
For cats: It is generally considered safe for kittens as young as eight weeks old to be spayed or neutered. In animal shelters, surgery is often performed at this time so that kittens can be sterilized prior to adoption. In an effort to avoid the start of urine spraying and eliminate the chance for pregnancy, it’s advisable to schedule the surgery before your own cat reaches five months of age. It’s possible to spay a female cat while she’s in heat.

Talk to your veterinarian to determine the best time to spay or neuter your pet.

Helping Your Pet Before and After Surgery

Your veterinary clinic will provide pre-surgical advice that you should follow. In general, avoid giving your cat any food after midnight the night before surgery. A puppy or kitten, however, needs adequate nutrition, and your veterinarian may advise that food not be withheld.

Your veterinarian can also provide post-operative instructions for you to follow. Although your pet may experience some discomfort after surgery, your veterinarian can take various measures to control pain. Depending on the procedure performed, medication for pain may be sent home with your pet.

Here are tips for a safe and comfortable recovery:

Provide your pet with a quiet place to recover indoors and away from other animals.
Prevent your pet from running and jumping for up to two weeks following surgery, or as long as your veterinarian recommends.
Prevent your pet from licking the incision site, which may cause infection, by distracting your pet with treats or by using an Elizabethan collar.
Avoid bathing your pet for at least ten days after surgery.
Check the incision site daily to confirm proper healing.

If you notice any redness, swelling or discharge at the surgery site, or if the incision is open, please contact your veterinarian. Also call your veterinarian if your pet is lethargic, has a decreased appetite, is vomiting or has diarrhea or any other concerns following surgery.

Please visit our Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Programs page to find spay/neuter options in your area.

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Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking to Kersti Nieto, trainer at Dog Training Camp USA in Raleigh, NC on what to do when you become frustrated with your dog and dog training. Things are not going as plan - what do you do?

COUNT TO TEN

In these moments it’s critical that I don’t let my temper get the best of me, because my dog is going to associate that anger and negative energy with being introduced to stranger dogs. The solution? Rather than fume, I count as I remove my dog and I from the situation. I count to ten.

TAKE DEEP BREATHS

While we’re counting and moving ourselves into a safer place, I’m also taking deep breaths. A natural response to stress is to tense up, but if you want your dog to return to being relaxed, you’ve got to return to that relaxed state too! Breath deeply as you count, until you don’t feel like a rubber band that’s ready to snap. Sometimes I also take a moment to stretch or sit down.

SHIFT YOUR FOCUS

Letting go of those prior incidents or frustrations is just as important as physically relaxing. Choose not to stew on whatever failures have come your way, and instead find a new, positive focus. Think about how nice the weather is, or queue up a fun song on your phone to listen to, it’s up to you. Usually your dog has already bounced back to their happy selves after their trigger has been removed, so take a page out of their playbook and return to the now.

LEARN YOUR OWN TRIGGERS

You may not think it’s true, but you have triggers just like a reactive dog. I get very tense when I see a loose dog, even when I am in control of the situation, or we’re separated by a fence. It’s something that takes me right back to when Topher and I were attacked, so I have to work hard not to let the sight of a loose dog send me straight into “flight” mode. Talk to your trainer about your own triggers, and how to work through those scenarios. Having a specific set of cues for you to follow reduces your own triggered reaction, in addition to helping you train your dog.

IDENTIFY WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL

When out and about with a reactive dog, it can be easy to get angry at those things we have little control over. We can’t control who else is going to head to the park today, or how their dogs are feeling. We can’t control the volume of the trucks that may go by, or the squirrels that may dart in front of us. Yet, it’s easy to get bent out of shape by these occurrences because of the impact they have on us, but in the end, it's not worth it.

Instead of letting a lack of control over your environment work you up, try to prepare the actions you’ll take when these uncontrolled events occur: whether you’ll try passing another dog while walking, or how you might redirect your dog away from chasing a squirrel. When you take time to think about how you’ll react and train while you’re out and about, you’ll always be setting yourself up for a greater level of success.

DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP

It’s often said that most dog training problems arise with the owner, not necessarily the dog. However, that doesn’t mean beating yourself up for every error or misstep. Be gentle with yourself; after all, you're learning new things too. It takes time.

LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE

This is a really great exercise for any of life’s little frustrations. When that latest outburst on a walk or a round of window barking is threatening to derail your good day, step back and think: will you remember this episode in a day? What about in a week, a month, or a year? In the grand scheme of things, the frustrations that are trying to ruin your day will be some of the easiest things to forget over time. Don’t waste any energy keeping those frustrated feelings around: let them roll off your back, like water off a duck.

TALK ABOUT IT

What happens when you keep all that frustration locked in your own head? Usually: you stew about those issues until you finally snap. If possible, talk to a professional trainer about the problems you’re having with your dog, and look for productive solutions that can help you move forward. However, if you can’t talk to a professional, at the very least vent to a friend. Your dog won’t find out, I promise.

COUNT THE POSITIVES

While there are some moments, minutes, or even hours with your dog that can be hard and frustrating, there are probably way more moments with your dog that are positive, happy, and even carefree. Live in the happy moments, acknowledging and savoring them. Studies have actually shown that being present in the moment contributes to your enjoyment of that moment!

MANAGE YOUR EXPECTATIONS

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you won’t magically cure an anxious, reactive, or otherwise sensitive dog in 24 hours either. Usually, working with these animals is a long term decision, and takes a lot of positive reinforcement along the way. Understand that this is a marathon, not a sprint, and set your goals and expectations accordingly.

CREATE YOUR OWN VICTORIES

While you’re on that marathon, make your own milestones to keep you going. Celebrate the first time, or every time, you and your dog pass another dog without any poor reactions. Or, if you’ve had a rough day, work on some well known cues to give your dog some small successes to end their day. Make your own success, and reward as you make progress, whatever that ends up looking like.

MONITOR YOUR PROGRESS

Speaking of progress, you can’t celebrate if you don’t know where you are and where you’re going. We like to set mini goals for every season, to give us things to shoot for and things to celebrate, even if the bigger picture looks a little rough now and then.

RELEASE YOUR OWN PHYSICAL ENERGY

If all else fails, you have my permission to scream, kick, and punch your way to feeling better. Just as long as you direct that energy towards things like pillows and punching bags, and not people or animals. If kickboxing or screaming to loud music isn’t your style, try some other cardio—get yourself moving, and make yourself good and tired. That frustrated energy will drain away, and you’ll have gotten a good workout out of it.

TAKE A BREAK FROM YOUR DOG

It's perfectly healthy spend a little time without your dog.

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Rabies is a severe, and often fatal, viral polioencephalitis that specifically affects the gray matter of the dog's brain and its central nervous system (CNS). The primary way the rabies virus is transmitted to dogs in the United States is through a bite from a disease carrier: foxes, raccoons, skunks, and bats. Infectious virus particles are retained in a rabid animal's salivary glands to better disseminate the virus through their saliva. Once the virus enters the dog's body, it replicates in the cells of the muscles, and then spreads to the closest nerve fibers, including all peripheral, sensory and motor nerves, traveling from there to the CNS via fluid within the nerves. The virus can take up to a month to develop, but once the symptoms have begun, the virus progresses rapidly. This inflammatory infection also has zoonotic characteristics and can therefore be transmitted to humans. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects cats, please visit this page in the petMD health library. Symptoms and Types of Rabies in Dogs There are two forms of rabies: paralytic and furious. In the early symptom (prodomal) stage of rabies infection, the dog will show only mild signs of CNS abnormalities. This stage will last from one to three days. Most dogs will then progress to either the furious stage, the paralytic stage, or a combination of the two, while others succumb to the infection without displaying any major symptoms. Furious rabies is characterized by extreme behavioral changes, including overt aggression and attack behavior. Paralytic rabies, also referred to as dumb rabies, is characterized by weakness and loss of coordination, followed by paralysis. This is a fast-moving virus. If it is not treated soon after the symptoms have begun, the prognosis is poor. Therefore, if your dog has been in a fight with another animal, or has been bitten or scratched by another animal, or if you have any reason to suspect that your pet has come into contact with a rabid animal (even if your pet has been vaccinated against the virus), you must take your dog to a veterinarian for preventive care immediately. The following are some of the symptoms of rabies to watch for in your dog: * Pica * Fever * Seizures * Paralysis * Hydrophobia * Jaw is dropped * Inability to swallow * Change in tone of bark * Muscular lack of coordination * Unusual shyness or aggression * Excessive excitability * Constant irritability/changes in attitude and behavior * Paralysis in the mandible and larynx * Excessive salivation (hypersalivation), or frothy saliva

Causes of Canine Rabies The rabies virus is a single-stranded RNA virus of the genus Lyssavirus, in the family Rhabdoviridae. It is transmitted through the exchange of blood or saliva from an infected animal, and very rarely through breathing in the escaping gasses from decomposing animal carcasses. Contracting the virus in this way is rare but it can occur, often in caves with large populations of bats, where the virus is widespread. This may be a concern for hunting dogs. Diagnosing Rabies in Dogs If you suspect your dog has rabies, call your veterinarian immediately. If it is safe to do so, cage, or otherwise subdue your dog, and take it to a veterinarian to be quarantined. If your pet is behaving viciously, or is trying to attack, and you feel you are at risk of being bitten or scratched, you must contact animal control to catch your dog for you. Your veterinarian will keep your dog quarantined in a locked cage for 10 days. This is the only acceptable method for confirming suspected rabies infection. Rabies can be confused with other conditions that cause aggressive behavior, so a laboratory blood analysis must be conducted to confirm the presence of the virus. However, blood testing for the virus is not veterinary procedure. Diagnosis in the U.S. is done using a post-mortem direct fluorescence antibody test performed by a state-approved laboratory for rabies diagnosis. Your veterinarian will collect fluid samples if your dog dies while in quarantine, or if it begins showing progressive signs of rabies; in which case, your veterinarian will opt to put your dog to sleep (or euthanize it).

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Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking to Kersti Nieto, trainer at Dog Training Camp USA in Raleigh, NC about tips on how to find a dog trainer.

Here are some frequently asked questions from pet parents who are seeking professional behavioral help for their pet:

What are the differences between pet-behavior professionals? Trainers
Pet trainers use a number of different titles, such as “behavior counselor,” “pet psychologist” and “pet therapist.” The level of education and experience among this group of professionals varies greatly. Most learn how to work with animals through apprenticeships with established trainers, volunteering at animal shelters, attending seminars on training and behavior and training their own animals. And some are certified by specialized training schools.

Certified Professional Dog Trainers (CPDTs)
The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), an independent organization created by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), offers an international certification program. To earn the designation of Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT), an individual must accrue a requisite number of working hours as a dog trainer, provide letters of recommendation and pass a standardized test that evaluates her or his knowledge of canine ethology, basic learning theory, canine husbandry and teaching skill. A CPDT must abide by a code of ethics and earn continuing education credits to maintain certification.

Applied Animal Behaviorists, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists (CAABs) and Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists (ACAABs)
An applied animal behaviorist has earned an MS, MA or PhD in animal behavior. They are experts in dog and cat behavior and often in the behavior of other companion animal species as well, like horses and birds. Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists (CAABs, those with a doctoral degree) and Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists (ACAABs, those with a master’s degree) received supervised graduate or post-graduate training in animal behavior, biology, zoology and learning theory at accredited universities.

Effective applied animal behaviorists will have expertise in (a) behavior modification, so they know the techniques that produce changes in behavior, (b) the normal behavior of the species they’re treating, so they can recognize how and why your pet’s behavior is abnormal, and (c) teaching and counseling people, so they can effectively teach you how to understand and work with your pet. Most CAABs work through veterinary referrals, and they work closely with veterinarians to select the best behavioral medications for pets.

Veterinary Behaviorists
Knowledge of animal behavior isn’t required to earn a veterinary degree, and animal behavior isn’t comprehensively taught in most veterinary training programs. However, some veterinarians seek specialized education in animal behavior and earn certification through the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. To become a Diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (Dip ACVB), veterinarians must complete a residency in behavior and pass a qualifying examination.

In addition to having knowledge of domestic animal behavior and experience treating pet behavior problems, veterinary behaviorists can prescribe medications that can help with your pet’s treatment. Issues that often require the use of medication include separation anxiety, phobias, compulsive behaviors and fear of people, objects or other animals.

What kind of training does my pet need? Once you’ve determined that you and your pet need some professional help to keep your household harmonious, consider what kind of training or treatment you need.

Group Class
If your pet needs to learn some basic manners and skills, like sit, down and come when called, you might benefit most from group obedience classes. Group glasses are also ideal for young puppies who need socialization.

Private Sessions
If your dog or cat has a specific behavior problem, seeing a professional outside of a classroom context would be best. Problems like resource guarding, handling issues, separation anxiety and aggression toward people or other animals require custom treatment plans and individual attention from a qualified behaviorist. Other less serious behavior issues that trainers and behaviorists can’t usually address in a group class include house training problems, excessive barking and destructive chewing.

Day Training & Board-and-Train
Day training is a great service for busy pet parents. The trainer comes to your house while you’re at work, or alternatively, some train your dog in their home or facility. The trainer teaches your dog the specific obedience behaviors you want, for example recalls (coming when called), wait, stay, walk on-leash without pulling and greeting people and pets politely. If the trainer is qualified as a behaviorist, she can also treat issues like resource guarding, handling issues, some other types of aggression, some types of excessive barking or meowing and some fears.

Board-and-train services involve leaving your pet in the trainer’s kennels for a specified period of time. Be sure that you know and agree with the methods that your board-and-train or day training professional plans to use, since you will not be there to supervise. This method should also provide a training package with instruction for you. Board-and-train and day training programs are only effective if the trainer teaches you some skills so that you can maintain your pet’s new behaviors after her training is done.

How Do I Decide Which Professional to Choose? After you’ve decided between group classes, one-on-one private help and board-and-train, how do you figure out which professional is right for you and your pet? Your decision will be based on a number of factors, including the type of problem your pet has, the professional’s education and experience and the availability of behaviorists and trainers in your area.

Ask the right questions.
We advise contacting more than one professional in your area so that you can compare their methods, credentials and experience before making a choice. Don’t hire any professional without first thoroughly interviewing her or him and asking for a couple of references from former clients or veterinarians. A good behaviorist or trainer will be happy to speak with you about her or his qualifications, background and treatment or training methods.

Consider the nature of your pet’s behavioral problem.
If your pet has a serious behavior problem that puts him, people or other animals at risk, or if he’s developed a problem that causes him significant stress, seek an expert with both academic training (either a master’s or doctoral degree) and practical experience. Although some CAABs, ACAABs and Dip ACVBs charge more per session than trainers, it’s because they’ve acquired a great deal of knowledge through years of study and research.

Rule out physical problems.
If your pet has a behavior problem, contacting a trainer or a behaviorist is a great first step on the road to resolution. However, some behavior problems can be caused or exacerbated by physical problems. For example, if your nine-week-old puppy urinates indoors when you’re not supervising him, he probably simply needs house training, but if your five-year-old dog who hasn’t made a mistake in the house for years suddenly starts urinating indoors, you might have a medical condition on your hands.

Trainers and behaviorists specialize in pet behavior problems. Only licensed veterinarians can diagnose medical conditions. If you think that your pet is sick, injured or experiencing any kind of physical distress, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

Dog Training Camp USA 919-401-9050 dogtrainingcampusa.com

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You are listening to Bark & Wag’s 15 Minute Vet Talk and I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking with Dr. Susan McMillan, owner of Vet to Pet Mobile Veterinary Service in Burlington, Vermont about Canine Hip Dysplasia. What is it and how do we protect our dogs? Canine Hip Dysplasia in Dogs The hip joint is composed of the ball and the socket. The development of hip dysplasia is determined by an interaction of genetic and environmental factors, though there is a complicated pattern of inheritance for this disorder, with multiple genes involved. Hip dysplasia is the failure of the hip joints to develop normally (known as malformation), gradually deteriorating and leading to loss of function of the hip joints.

Hip dysplasia is one of the most common skeletal diseases seen in dogs. Gender does not seem to be a factor, but some breeds are more likely to have the genetic predisposition for hip dysplasia than other breeds. Large and giant breeds are most commonly affected, including the Great Dane, Saint Bernard, Labrador Retriever, and German Shepherd. Rarely, small breed dogs can also be affected, but are less likely to show clinical signs.

Hip dysplasia often begins while a dog is still young and physically immature. Early onset usually develops after four months of age. There are also cases of later onset, where hip dysplasia develops later due to osteoarthritis, a form of joint inflammation (arthritis) that is characterized by chronic deterioration, or degeneration of the joint cartilage.

Symptoms and Types

Symptoms depend on the degree of joint looseness or laxity, the degree of joint inflammation, and the duration of the disease.

Early disease: signs are related to joint looseness or laxity
Later disease: signs are related to joint degeneration and osteoarthritis
Decreased activity
Difficulty rising
Reluctance to run, jump, or climb stairs
Intermittent or persistent hind-limb lameness, often worse after exercise
“Bunny-hopping,” or swaying gait
Narrow stance in the hind limbs (back legs unnaturally close together)
Pain in hip joints
Joint looseness or laxity – characteristic of early disease; may not be seen in long-term hip dysplasia due to arthritic changes in the hip joint
Grating detected with joint movement
Decreased range of motion in the hip joints
Loss of muscle mass in thigh muscles
Enlargement of shoulder muscles due to more weight being exerted on front legs as dog tries to avoid weight on its hips, leading to extra work for the shoulder muscles and subsequent enlargement of these muscles

Causes

Influences on the development and progression of hip dysplasia are concurrent with both genetic and environmental factors:

Genetic susceptibility for hip looseness or laxity
Rapid weight gain and obesity
Nutritional factors
Pelvic-muscle mass

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will perform a complete physical exam on your dog, including a blood chemical profile, a complete blood count, an electrolyte panel and a urinalysis. Inflammation due to joint disease may be noted in the complete blood count. As part of surveying the physical symptoms and fluid work-ups, your veterinarian will also need a thorough history of your dog's health, onset of symptoms, and any possible incidents or injuries that may have contributed to your dog's symptoms. Any information you have on your dog's parentage will be helpful as well, as there may be a genetic link.

X-rays are crucial for visualizing the signs of hip dysplasia. Some of the possible findings may be degenerative disease of the spinal cord, lumbar vertebral instability, bilateral stifle disease and other bone diseases.

Treatment

Your dog may be treated for hip dysplasia on an outpatient basis as long as it does not require surgery. The decision for whether your dog will undergo surgery will depend on your dog's size, age, and intended function (i.e., whether your dog is a working dog, as many large breeds tend to be). It will also depend on the severity of joint looseness, degree of osteoarthritis, your veterinarian's preference for treatment, and your own financial considerations. Physiotherapy (passive joint motion) can decrease joint stiffness and help maintain muscle integrity. Swimming is an excellent form of physical therapy, encouraging joint and muscle activity without increasing the severity of joint injury.

Weight control is an important aspect of recovery and is recommended to decrease the pressure applied to the painful joint as the dog moves. You and your veterinarian will need to work together to minimize any weight gain associated with reduced exercise during recovery. Special diets designed for rapidly growing large-breed dogs may decrease the severity of hip dysplasia.

The TPO surgery rotates the socket for dogs less than a year old. The juvenile pubic symphysiodesis surgery is performed on dogs that are younger than six months, fusing part of the pelvis together to improve hip joint stability. A total hip replacement is done in mature dogs that are not responding well to medical therapy and that are suffering from severe osteoarthritis. Most dogs will handle this type of surgery, with acceptable hip function after the recovery period. Excision arthroplasty is performed when hip replacement surgery is cost-prohibitive. In this surgery the ball of the hip joint is removed, leaving muscles to act as the joint. This surgery works best for dogs weighing less than 44 pounds, and for dogs with good hip musculature.

Your veterinarian may also prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce swelling and inflammation, along with pain medications for lessening the severity of the pain.

Living and Management

Your veterinarian will schedule follow-up appointments with you to monitor any changes in your dog's hip dysplasia. X-rays will be taken for comparison with previous x-rays. If your dog has undergone surgery, these x-rays will indicate the rate of post-surgical healing. If your dog is being treated as an outpatient only, the x-rays may indicate the rate of deterioration in the hip joint.

If your dog has been effectively diagnosed with hip dysplasia, it should not be bred out, and the dam and sire (the parents) of your pet should not be bred again, since this condition is often acquired genetically. Special diets designed for rapidly-growing large-breed dogs may decrease severity of hip dysplasia.

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You are listening to Bark & Wag’s 15 Minute Vet Talk and I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking with Sara DeTienne, Essential Oils Representative about ear infections and how Essential Oils can help. Maddie, our Black Lab, is a big swimmer and I would love to be proactive with her ears and use oils before an infection starts. How can Essential Oils help?

Canine ear infections are most often caused by bacteria or yeast overgrowth. Ear mites, growing hair, trapped water, tumor or foreign body in the ear canal can also lead to an overgrowth of bacteria or yeast. Infections may also develop when allergies, immune system disorders, hypothyroidism or an excessive amount of ear wax are present.

Frequent bathing, swimming and using incorrect cleansing methods can also lead to infections. Because a dog’s ear canals plunge downward then horizontally from the ear opening, it is difficult for caught debris or water to be released as it must work it’s way upward to escape this makes dogs especially susceptible to ear infections (even more so with floppy ear breeds).

Also a diet that contains grains (corn, wheat, soy, etc) and more than moderate amounts of carbohydrates can feed yeast infections and also cause chronic inflammation and damage to their immune system, setting a a predisposed dog for even more ear infections.

HOW CAN I TELL IF MY DOG HAS AN EAR INFECTION?

The following symptoms may indicate your dog has an ear infection:

Ear Scratching

Brown, yellow or bloody discharge

Foul or offensive odor coming from the ear

Redness

Swelling

Crusted or scabby skin on or near the ear

Hair loss around the year

Wiping or rubbing their ears on the floor, ground or furniture

Head shaking or tilting their head

Loss of balance, walking in circles

Unusual eye movements

Hearing loss

In conventional veterinary medicine, infected ears are often treated with oral antibiotics, tropical drugs or even surgery. The problem is that none of these treatments is a cure for the root cause of the infection, they are only treating/masking the symptoms. As soon as the dog eat another wrong food, goes for a swim, has a build up of was or in some way triggers another reoccurrence, the infection is back and most often worse.

Many ear infections, especially in puppies, stem from immune system imbalances caused by vaccinosis, a reaction to their vaccinations. They can cause mucoid discharge in puppies. For example, it’s not uncommon for puppies to have discharge from their eyes or develop conjunctivitis after the distemper vaccine.

NOTE: If your dog develops a suspected ear infection for the first time, or if it’s contain is especially severe/painful, seek veterinarian care to rule out a tumor, polyp or some other issue that requires medical attention.

YEAST INFECTIONS:

An under active immune system can lead to a yeast overgrowth, because it can’t keep things in balance. The other end of the spectrum is an over active immune response where allergies are present, and can also attribute to a yeast overgrowth.

Dogs with allergies (a sign of a damaged/overactive immune system) are typically prescribed steroid therapy to shut off the immune systems’ response. This treatment does not address the underlying cause of the allergy it only stops the unwanted symptom. When your dog’s immune system is turned off with drugs, it can not do it’s job of regulation and balancing so a yeast overgrowth continues.

When conventional vets see dogs with allergies and possibly a secondary skin infection they will prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics are well-known to destroy ALL GOOD BACTERIA while attempting to kill the bad bacteria. These antibiotics most often make a bad situation worse in the long run.

Another reason an allergic dog can end up with a yeast overgrowth, is he can develop an allergy to the yeast itself. Intra-dermal tests often reveal that a dog is having an allergic response to it’s own natural flora. This situation can be very problematic because the dog’s allergic response can affect his whole body. These dogs are often plagued with red, inflamed and irritated skin over their entire body.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF A YEAST OVERGROWTH

A definitive diagnosis by a vet of a yeast infection is accomplished by either a cytology (looking at a skin swab under a microscope) or by culturing (submitting a sterile saw of the skin to a lab where the cells are grown and identified in a petri dish).

As a pet owner, you’ll be able to tell if your dog has a yeast overgrowth/infection just by it’s smell. Yeast has a very characteristic odor, some people think it smells like moldy-yeast bread, cheese popcorn or corn chips. In fact people often refer to a yeast infection of a dog’s paws as “Frito Feet.” It’s a pungent, musty unpleasant smell. Another sign of a yeast infected dog is intense itching.

HOW TO CURE A YEAST OVERGROWTH

It’s rare that a dog has yeast in just one spot, it will most likely be present in more than just one ear. Both ears, ears and paws, all four paws, if your dog has a reoccurring ear infections or if his entire body has some symptom of yeast overgrowth, you have no choice but to proactively address his diet.

Yeast, just like all other living organisms, need a source of energy. Carbohydrates are their fuel and by eliminating them from your dog’s diet you can effectively treat and prevent a yeast overgrowth. You will want to avoid any product containing honey, high fructose corn syrup, white/sweet potato, carrots, wheat, rice, corn – essentially feeding them a low carbohydrate (high fat & protein diet)

CHANGING YOUR DOG’S DIET IS THE MOST CRITICAL STEP YOU CAN TAKE TO HAVING HEALTHY DOG!

And it is why we’ve chosen to specifically feed our dogs a raw diet (learn more HERE) If you aren’t interested in feeding a raw diet, you can find many options for grain free dog foods.

EAR MITES

Not every ear infection is an “infection” sometimes it’s a infestation. Ear Mites are tiny parasites that eat ear wax and oils in the ear and fill the ear canal with black waste. The problem is most common in dogs from pet shops, puppy mills, shelters or breeders with unclean environments.

Ear mites are species specific. Feline ear mites prefer cats’ ears and canine ear mites prefer dogs’ ears, however it is possible in a mixed pet household for both dogs and cats to be infected with the same type of ear mites. The ear mite bites to the ear tissue can also ulcerate the ear canal and lead to secondary infections.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR DOG’S EARS HEALTHY

Healthy ears start with a weekly maintenance exams and cleaning with cotton balls and cotton swabs. The canine ear canal isn’t straight like our ears canal and this makes it less likely to cause damage while cleaning (remember how the canine ear canal changes direction, it’s almost a 90 degree angle)

Lift the dog’s ear flap while holding a cotton ball between your thumb and index finger, push the cotton downward into the ear’s opening and scoop upward. Use a few dry cotton balls to clean out any normal waxy buildup.

Next put a cotton swab gently vertical into the ear canal until it stops, then scoop upward while rubbing it against the walls of the vertical canal. Repeat as needed depending on how much debris is in the ear.

After the excess debris is removed from the ear, lightly spray (3-4 times) the inside of your dog’s ear flap or spray a cotton ball with my Homemade Essential Oil Dog Ear Wash Spray (recipe at the end of this post) and wipe around and it to the ear canal.

You do not want to drip oils or cleaners into the ear canal because they will end up collecting on the ear drum where they can cause infection. By using a light spray mist you can lightly distribute the essential oil blend without over saturating the area.

If ears are especially inflamed or infected, dilute 2 drops of Lavender Essential Oil in 4 drops of Fractionated Coconut Oil on a cotton ball and apply lightly to soothe the inflamed ear area.

Essential Oil Ear Wash Spray (for Ear Infections)

ESSENTIAL OIL DOG EAR WASH SPRAY RECIPE:

In a 2 ounce glass spray bottle, combine:

15 drops Lavender Essential Oil
15 dropsGeranium Essential Oil
15 drops Frankincense, Serrata Essential Oil
15 drops Basil Essentail Oil
Fractionated Coconut Oilto fill the bottle about 3/4 of the way full

Shake well. Use as described above.

When using essential oils, it’s imperative to use high quality oils. Do not use cheap oils!

Contact Sara DeTinne at Essential Oils 608-320-4513

2 oz Amber Boston Round Glass Bottle with Fine Mist sprayer 6/bx

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Bottom line after talking to a few Veterinarians - they do not care what drugs you are taking, they want to save the dog. Get the dog to your Vet.

Symptoms to look out for:

Severe depression
Walking drunk
Lethargy
Coma
Low heart rate
Low blood pressure
Respiratory depression
Dilated pupils
Coma
Hyperactivity
Vocalization
Seizures

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Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking to one of our favorite Vets, Dr. Laura Brown, owner of Green Tree Animal Hospital in Libertyville, IL on how to keep your pets safe during the Holiday season.

Holiday Safety Tips for Your Pets The holidays can be an exciting time of year for you and your pet, but they also pose hidden hazards for your furry friends. And nothing can spoil good cheer like an emergency trip to the veterinarian. This holiday season, learn to recognize common pet hazards so you can take extra precautions to keep your pets safe, healthy and happy.

Dangerous Décor and Holiday Treats

From chocolate and yeast dough to ornaments and plants, seasonal and everyday items can go from joyful to dreadful in a matter of seconds. Follow these pet-proofing steps to avoid common holiday health risks:

Hang holiday lights and ornaments out of reach. Pets can get shocked if they bite through the wires — and ornaments can be a choking hazard.
Secure your tree to keep it from falling over. Check the label if you use an additive in tree water to ensure it doesn't contain poisonous ingredients.
Holly, mistletoe and poinsettias are popular seasonal plants, but they're poisonous if ingested. Keep these out of reach.
Move burning candles out of the way to avoid being knocked over by a wagging tail or curious feline.
Keep table food, chocolate and other rich holiday sweets out of pets' reach.

Watch Out for Pet Stress

The holidays are a wonderful time to enjoy family and friends. But the extra hustle and bustle — along with disrupted routines — can cause anxiety in even the most social of pets. Whether you're hosting at home or attending celebrations with your pets, give them a safe space, such as their own room or a crate that's away from the commotion. And pay attention to exits. Even if your pet is comfortable around guests, a nervous pet may try to make a run for it.

Safe Travels

Whether you're taking your pets with you or leaving them behind, these steps can safeguard them when you're traveling.

Bring your veterinarian's contact information.
Make sure that your pet wears proper identification on a collar or is microchipped.
Keep pets properly restrained using a secure harness or carrier, and never leave them alone in a car.
Pack for your pets as you would for yourself. Include food, medications, medical records and first aid supplies.
If you're boarding your pet while you travel, be sure vaccinations are up-to-date to protect them from canine flu and other contagious diseases.

Finally, don't forget to include your furry family members on your holiday shopping list. A new toy, a favorite treat, extra playtime and plenty of affection can let your pets know how much you love them.

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You are listening to Bark & Wag’s 15 Minute Vet Talk and I am your host Polly ReQua.

Today we are talking with Dr. Susan McMillan, owner of Vet to Pet Mobile Veterinary Service in Burlington, Vermont to shed light on shelter dogs. With somewhere between 5 and 7 million homeless animals entering U.S. animal shelters, it’s unconscionable to suggest, as one writer did in the Washington Post, that adopting a pet from an animal shelter is a bad idea. (See a comprehensive refutation from Washington Humane Society’s Lisa Lafontaine.) But as ridiculous as anti-shelter arguments are, they reveal destructive myths about shelter animals that need to be called out every time they arise. I’m sharing some of the most persistent ones below, and have enlisted help from ASPCA shelter science experts to help dispel them.

Myth: The major reasons dogs end up in shelters is because they were seized in criminal cases, or were too aggressive to own safely.

More than half of all dogs and cats in shelters were received as strays, but that doesn’t mean by any stretch they’re automatically aggressive, come from abusive environments, or have medical challenges. What’s much more important than an animal’s history is its current behavior and medical status. This information is typically well-known and shared by shelter staff who’ve been caring for the animal.

Myth: Shelter animals are not as clean as pet store animals.

Not only is this untrue, but the conditions of many breeding facilities or puppy mills (which supply pet stores that sell dogs) are nothing short of horrific. Puppy mill operators may fail to remove sick dogs from their breeding pools. As a result, puppies from puppy mills sometimes come with congenital and hereditary conditions including epilepsy, heart disease, kidney disease, and respiratory disorders.

Puppies born in puppy mills are usually removed from their mothers at just six weeks of age, denying them critical socialization, and housed in overcrowded and unsanitary wire-floored cages, without adequate veterinary care, food or water. Make no mistake: Anything purchased at a pet store that sells animals—even supplies—is keeping this vicious industry in business.

Myth: Older cats and dogs will not bond with new owners.

Again, simply untrue. Age is not a determining factor in an animal’s affection toward humans or its ability to bond with them. Just ask anyone who’s adopted an older pet, visit a shelter and ask to see their older animals, or simply look into the face of an older dog or cat. Organizations like Susie’s Senior Dogs are trying hard to connect more senior animals with loving homes. Believe me, they’re ready for you.

Myth: A shelter animal should never be given as a gift.

To the uninformed, this may makes sense, but data shows otherwise. A scientific study we published last October found that 96 percent of people who received pets as gifts reported it either increased or had no negative impact on their attachment to that pet. Also, 86 percent of the pets in the study are still in their homes, a percentage roughly equivalent to that in standard adoption.

The survey also showed no difference in attachment based on whether the gift was a surprise or known in advance. This is supported by previous studies conducted in the 1990s and 2000, which found that pets acquired as gifts are actually less likely to be relinquished than pets acquired directly by an individual owner.

This misconception is particularly harmful because it not only prevents shelter animals from going into loving homes, but may drive potential adopters toward pet stores that almost always get their inventory from puppy mills.

Myth: Adopting big or very strong dogs is a bad idea if you have little children.

There’s no evidence that big dogs are more likely than small dogs to harm children. Chances are, you already know some very sweet big dogs, and if you don’t, the ASPCA or your local shelter would be happy to introduce youto one.

There’s been some recent debate about the inherent natures of pit bulls in particular, but again, there’s no evidence to show that pit bulls are more likely to cause harm to humans than any other breed. A dog's—any dog’s—behavior is a function of many factors, including breeding, socialization, training, environment and treatment by owners.

Myth: Getting animals from breeders is safer because the breeders know the animal’s bloodline and family history.

First know that, as a result of their breeding, purebred dogs very often have genetic disorders and medical issue predispositions, certainly no less often than shelter dogs. Also, while bloodlines and histories are useful tools to assess an animal’s value, they are limited in terms of predicting behavior. On the other hand, shelters are motivated to save lives and make strong matches. Some use science and sophisticated tools to appropriately pair up animals and owners, and are happy to share everything they know about each animal.

Good breeders are focused not on profit, but on the health and welfare of the individual animals they handle, and we applaud that. But the plain truth is you’re helping to save and protect more lives if you make adoption your first option, so please match your open home and open heart with an open mind.

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Today we talk to Kari Fisher, chicken flock owner, about owning chickens as pets.

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Today we talk to Dr. Laura, owner of GreenTree Animal Hospital, in Libertyville, IL on the gross topic of anal glands.

You may not think of that dog in your bed as a predator, but at heart, he is. And like all predators, your dog has anal sacs (anal glands) located on both sides and slightly below his anus. They produce fluid with a distinctive odor that identifies him and tells other dogs his sex, approximate age, health status, and other things.

Healthy anal glands express, or empty, this fluid when the dog has a bowel movement. Unfortunately, some anal glands don’t work as they should because of inherited malformations, or because of a history of poor-quality foods that produce poor-quality bowel movements.

If the anal glands don’t empty properly, they can become impacted, making bowel movements difficult or painful, and potentially leading to infections or abscesses.

It’s not uncommon for a rescued dog to have a history of anal gland problems. Your dog may damage the delicate tissue around his anus in his attempts to relieve his own discomfort, so if you see him biting at his butt, or scooting it along the ground, take him to the vet.

Impacted anal glands can often be relieved by manually expressing, or squeezing out, the fluid they contain. This is a very smelly process, but if you’re game you can have your vet or groomer teach you how to do it. Most people whose dogs need their anal glands expressed periodically prefer to pay to have it done.

If your dog’s anal glands get impacted frequently, ask your vet to recommend a high-fiber diet to create bulkier stools. If that doesn’t work, and if your dog has repeated infections or abscesses from impaction, the anal glands may need to be removed.

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| Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua Today we are talking to one of our favorite Vets, Dr. Laura Brown, owner of Green Tree Animal Hospital in Libertyville, IL as we discuss reverse sneezing. Dogs have a condition we call a 'reverse sneeze.' It may also be known as a 'pharyngeal gag reflex'. It is termed a reverse sneeze, because it sounds like the dog is rapidly pulling air into his nose, whereas in a 'regular' sneeze, the air is rapidly pushed out through the nose. During a reverse sneeze, the dog will make rapid and long inspirations, stand still, and extend his head. A loud snorting sound is produced, which may make you think the dog has something caught in his nose. The most common cause of a reverse sneeze is irritation of the soft palate, which results in a spasm. This spasm narrows the airway and makes it temporarily more difficult for the dog to take in air. Factors that may be associated with reverse sneezing include excitement, eating or drinking, exercise, physical irritation of the throat such as from pulling on a leash, respiratory tract mites, allergies, irritating chemicals such as perfumes or household cleaners, viral infections, foreign bodies caught in the throat, and post-nasal drip. If you witness a dog having a reverse sneeze it may seem alarming, but in most cases it is not a harmful condition, there are no ill effects, and treatment is unnecessary. Usually the dog is completely normal before and after the episode. However, in some dogs, especially brachycephalic breeds such as Boxers or King Charles Cavalier Spaniels, sounds similar to a reverse sneeze may be a sign of a respiratory problem, such as an elongated soft palate. In these cases, there are usually other respiratory symptoms as well, and these dogs should be examined by a veterinarian. A reverse sneezing episode can last for several seconds to a minute. Some claim that an episode can be shortened by closing the dog's nostrils for several seconds with your hand or massaging the throat. |

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Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua

Today we are talking to Robyn Santor, owner of Spirit Dog Training in Fairfax, VT as we discuss separation anxiety. Recently, my mom rescued a Golden Retriever who has severe separation anxiety. I wanted to bring Robyn on the podcast to discuss why pets gets separation anxiety and what we can do to help our pets.

Welcome Robyn

One of the most common complaints of pet parents is that their dogs are disruptive or destructive when left alone. Their dogs might urinate, defecate, bark, howl, chew, dig or try to escape. Although these problems often indicate that a dog needs to be taught polite house manners, they can also be symptoms of distress. When a dog’s problems are accompanied by other distress behaviors, such as drooling and showing anxiety when his pet parents prepare to leave the house, they aren’t evidence that the dog isn’t house trained or doesn’t know which toys are his to chew. Instead, they are indications that the dog has separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is triggered when dogs become upset because of separation from their guardians, the people they’re attached to. Escape attempts by dogs with separation anxiety are often extreme and can result in self-injury and household destruction, especially around exit points like windows and doors.

Some dogs suffering from separation anxiety become agitated when their guardians prepare to leave. Others seem anxious or depressed prior to their guardians’ departure or when their guardians aren’t present. Some try to prevent their guardians from leaving. Usually, right after a guardian leaves a dog with separation anxiety, the dog will begin barking and displaying other distress behaviors within a short time after being left alone—often within minutes. When the guardian returns home, the dog acts as though it’s been years since he’s seen his mom or dad!

When treating a dog with separation anxiety, the goal is to resolve the dog’s underlying anxiety by teaching him to enjoy, or at least tolerate, being left alone. This is accomplished by setting things up so that the dog experiences the situation that provokes his anxiety, namely being alone, without experiencing fear or anxiety.

Common Symptoms of Separation Anxiety

The following is a list of symptoms that may indicate separation anxiety:

Urinating and Defecating

Some dogs urinate or defecate when left alone or separated from their guardians. If a dog urinates or defecates in the presence of his guardian, his house soiling probably isn’t caused by separation anxiety.

Barking and Howling

A dog who has separation anxiety might bark or howl when left alone or when separated from his guardian. This kind of barking or howling is persistent and doesn’t seem to be triggered by anything except being left alone.

Chewing, Digging and Destruction

Some dogs with separation anxiety chew on objects, door frames or window sills, dig at doors and doorways, or destroy household objects when left alone or separated from their guardians. These behaviors can result in self-injury, such as broken teeth, cut and scraped paws and damaged nails. If a dog’s chewing, digging and destruction are caused by separation anxiety, they don’t usually occur in his guardian’s presence.

Escaping

A dog with separation anxiety might try to escape from an area where he’s confined when he’s left alone or separated from his guardian. The dog might attempt to dig and chew through doors or windows, which could result in self-injury, such as broken teeth, cut and scraped front paws and damaged nails. If the dog’s escape behavior is caused by separation anxiety, it doesn’t occur when his guardian is present.

Pacing

Some dogs walk or trot along a specific path in a fixed pattern when left alone or separated from their guardians. Some pacing dogs move around in circular patterns, while others walk back and forth in straight lines. If a dog’s pacing behavior is caused by separation anxiety, it usually doesn’t occur when his guardian is present.

Coprophagia

When left alone or separated from their guardians, some dogs defecate and then consume all or some of their excrement. If a dog eats excrement because of separation anxiety, he probably doesn’t perform that behavior in the presence of his guardian.

Why Do Some Dogs Develop Separation Anxiety?

There is no conclusive evidence showing exactly why dogs develop separation anxiety. However, because far more dogs who have been adopted from shelters have this behavior problem than those kept by a single family since puppyhood, it is believed that loss of an important person or group of people in a dog’s life can lead to separation anxiety. Other less dramatic changes can also trigger the disorder. The following is a list of situations that have been associated with development of separation anxiety.

Change of Guardian or Family

Being abandoned, surrendered to a shelter or given to a new guardian or family can trigger the development of separation anxiety.

Change in Schedule

An abrupt change in schedule in terms of when or how long a dog is left alone can trigger the development of separation anxiety. For example, if a dog’s guardian works from home and spends all day with his dog but then gets a new job that requires him to leave his dog alone for six or more hours at a time, the dog might develop separation anxiety because of that change.

Change in Residence

Moving to a new residence can trigger the development of separation anxiety.

Change in Household Membership

The sudden absence of a resident family member, either due to death or moving away, can trigger the development of separation anxiety.

Medical Problems to Rule Out First

Incontinence Caused by Medical Problems

Some dogs’ house soiling is caused by incontinence, a medical condition in which a dog “leaks” or voids his bladder. Dogs with incontinence problems often seem unaware that they’ve soiled. Sometimes they void urine while asleep. A number of medical issues—including a urinary tract infection, a weak sphincter caused by old age, hormone-related problems after spay surgery, bladder stones, diabetes, kidney disease, Cushing’s disease, neurological problems and abnormalities of the genitalia—can cause urinary incontinence in dogs. Before attempting behavior modification for separation anxiety, please see your dog’s veterinarian to rule out medical issues.

Medications

There are a number of medications that can cause frequent urination and house soiling. If your dog takes any medications, please contact his veterinarian to find out whether or not they might contribute to his house-soiling problems.

Bark n Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk: Recent Episodes

Polly ReQua