This could happen to your dog…..

The other day I saw a 7-month-old puppy named Buddy that came in with a bit of lethargy.  He just wasn’t his normal self. He was breathing just a little faster than normal and acting groggy but overall didn’t look too bad. His temperature was normal and he was walking around the exam room. He ate some but not his full meal. Normally he scarfs down everything he can find. He had all his vaccines, too.

I asked questions about if he could have gotten into anything. I was told “No – absolutely not.” Any possibility for trauma? “No – absolutely not.” They take him out on a leash only. Buddy’s owners were very careful.

So we did an x-ray of Buddy’s chest to look into his breathing. There was a dark spot, that looked abnormal in his lungs. Just about that time,  Buddy collapsed and coughed up a little blood.

Oh NO!

This just about scared me to death. I got authorization from the owner to run blood work and place an IV catheter, then admitted Buddy to the hospital.

This was bad.

There was Buddy, getting weaker by the minute. I looked at my watch – their appointment only started about 25 minutes before. I knew Buddy didn’t have much time for me to find the answer. The results of the blood test told me what was going on.  His blood wasn’t clotting normally. This can happen for a number of reasons, but my number one suspicion was that he got into rat poison.

Rat poison, frequently called rodenticide, is one of the most common sources of poisoning in dogs. A curious animal can get into even the smallest areas where humans have placed the rat poison. Read more about rodenticide poisoning in dogs.

I asked the owners again if he could have gotten in to anything. They told me no. Then they thought about it. He was out in the yard and ran to the neighbors about 7 days before. They noticed the next day he had green stuff in his poop.

Yep – he was passing some of the rat poison through.

The most common types of rat poison, such as Decon, interferes with blood clotting and causes the rats to bleed to death. The same can happen to dogs. Generally it takes a few days for the bleeding to start, and I think this is what happened to Buddy.

I’m very happy to say we got a quick diagnosis and quickly started treatment. Buddy lived! It was his owners’ fast response that enabled us to quickly start treatment. I hope that nothing ever happens to your dog, but it can only help to be prepared. Read “Poisoning in Dogs – What You Should Know” by clicking here.

Learn about common toxins that can affect your dog.
What are common toxins that could hurt my puppy?

P.S.: Make sure to keep the number for a veterinary poison control hotline posted near your phone, as well as a copy of your dog’s medical records. This can really cut down response time in case something happens.

25% of Dogs Get Cancer – Is Your Dog at Risk?

You got the vaccine for kennel cough and use flea and tick medicine every month – but are you protecting your dog from one of the most common diseases? Cancer affects one in four dogs, and it is currently the number one non-accidental cause of death for our canine friends. While certain breeds, like boxers, golden retrievers and rottweilers, are more prone to cancer, the disease can strike any dog. Like cancer in humans, there is no cure.

But there are ways that you can reduce your four-legged friend’s risk of getting the disease. Start incorporating these tips into your daily routine:

• Feed your dog a healthy diet, complete with vegetables like cauliflower
• Spay or neuter your dog to prevent mammary cancers
• Keep your dog away from carcinogens, like secondhand smoke
• Check your dog regularly for abnormal bumps or lumps
• Make sure your dog gets regular exercise
• Don’t let your dog drink from puddle water on the street- it could have carcinogens from cars
• Limit the number of vaccinations your dog gets to just the necessities. Some studies show that over vaccinating your dog can hurt their immune system and lead to chronic diseases, like cancer.
• Wipe off your dog’s paws after going outside. You don’t want them to lick up any chemicals from sidewalks, streets or grassy areas.

Over 10,000 viewers voted for what they thought were the most aggressive breeds

Those nine, in no particular order:

• Alaskan malamute
• Boxer
• Chow chow
• Doberman pinscher
• German shepherd
• Great Dane
• Pit bull
• Siberian husky
• Rottweiler

(Of course, the pit bull technically isn’t a breed.)

Apparently, when it came time for Millan to say which breed he thought was the most aggressive, he said “none.”

Oddly enough, by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania had nearly completely different results, skewing toward smaller dogs.

That survey found that dachshunds were the most aggressive, followed by Chihuahuas and Jack Russell terriers. It found that rottweilers, pit bulls and Rhodesian ridgebacks scored average or below average for hostility toward strangers. Lowest on the aggression scale were Basset hounds, golden and Labrador retrievers, Siberian huskies and greyhounds.

I guess the difference is that between two dogs with the same amount of aggression, it’s the bigger one that will cause more damage.

This list has many of the same dogs on the Dog Whisperer survey list (boxer, chow chow, doberman, malamute, husky, German shepherd, rottweiler and pit bull) and adds dalmatians and Presa Canarios.

Types of Aggression and Biting in Dogs and Puppies include:

• Aggression caused by pain
• Aggression caused by fear or self-defense
• Aggression resulting from tethering your dog
• Reactive aggression
• Dominance aggression
• Conditioned aggression
• Associative aggression
• Displacement aggression
• Trained aggression
• Physical problems like epilepsy can cause aggression

To stop your dog from biting and stop dog aggression, first of all, determine what type of aggression is causing your dog to bite. Does he have fear aggression/submissive aggression, dominance aggression, territorial aggression/food aggression, etc.?

Some will argue, of course, that its all about training — that a dog is aggressive or not because of its upbringing. But it’s hard to deny that some breeds are more inclined toward hostility than others. Do you agree/disagree?

I have had many canines in my life and every one of them has suffered to some degree the effects of arthritis in dogs. In fact, almost all dogs will suffer from this disease to some degree in their later years of life. There are no cures for it. All a dog owner can do is to help is four-legged friend by minimizing the effects and symptoms of the joint disease.

Smaller breed dogs suffer from osteoarthritis to a lesser extent than larger dogs. The reason for this is quite simple; larger dogs carry more weight and therefore have more stress placed on their diseased joints then do smaller breed dogs. There is really nothing that can be done about this fact except to make sure that whether your dog is small or large that they do not carry any extra body weight. In other words, if your dog is fat, put him or her on a diet immediately. This excess weight can dramatically increase the pain suffered from arthritis in dogs.

Another important thing to remember for people with older dogs is to ensure they get the proper amount of exercise. If an older dog gets too little exercise, his muscles will deteriorate and they won’t be able to support the joints properly. When the joints are not supported, the effects of arthritis are again magnified as the joint is loose and allowed too much freedom to move in directions it should not.

If the dog gets too much exercise as it gets older, this too will simply aggravate the condition of osteoarthritis and cause more suffering and pain for the animal. There is no set amount of exercise that can be stated to be proper for all breeds and all dogs. One must get to know their own pet and understand what is the correct amount for him or her. One simple guide for knowing too much exercise is taking place is that the animal begins limping after exercise on a regular basis. If this happens consistently, then you know probably there is too much exercise going on and the animal needs to work up to that level a slower pace.

And let’s go back to the issue of being overweight. It may be extremely difficult to withhold food from your loved pet as he or she gets older, but it is vital for his well-being that he not be overweight even in a small amount. Besides the issues of joint arthritis, which is aggravated with the extra weight, there are other cardiovascular reasons for maintaining a lower body weight in your canine. Basically, the more proper your pet’s body weight is, the longer he or she will live.

Also remember to make your dog as comfortable around the house as possible if he is suffering from arthritis in dogs. We have built a handicapped ramp for our older dogs in order that they can go up and down the porch steps easier. Steps and stairs are very difficult for dogs suffering from dog arthritis. A simple ramp made out of plywood and then covered with an old rug is a very good ramp for the older dogs to use. Another thing to remember is that older dogs enjoy sleeping much more than younger dogs. Allow them plenty of quiet time where they can sleep as much as they like. Also remember that old bones enjoy something soft to sleep on. Find your dog some cushioning material where he or she can nap and sleep at night.

And lastly, if your dog is suffering from arthritis disease, always provide a warm place in the wintertime. Cold winter days are no place for old dogs suffering from joint arthritis. The cold weather aggravates the disease tremendously and makes the dog very uncomfortable. If your dog simply can’t come in the house for some reason, make sure that he or she has a very well protected and warm area outside. They even make heated dog beds the you may look into for your arthritic dog.

There are four words every dog should know: Never chase a skunk. Skunks are well known for their defense system. They spray a thick, yellow, oily – and very stinky – secretion from two scent glands located on either side of the anus. The principle component of the odor is an organic compound called mercaptan, and that’s why it smells so bad.

These smelly mercaptans – and they smell really bad – contain sulfur. In a concentrated form the smell is almost unbearable, but it takes only a few parts per million for the average nose to wrinkle. For this reason, mercaptans are added to odor-free natural gas so that we can detect leaks from the stove or furnace.

Skunk spray is a degradation product from urine. It is stored in anal sacs and released whenever the skunk feels threatened. Skunks are not aggressive animals and would rather retreat from an enemy, but if threatened it will arch his back, raise his tail high, and start hissing and stomping his front feet on the ground. This is a warning. He may even do hand stands with his back and tail arched toward the enemy. Finally, he will bend into a U-shape with his head and his butt facing the enemy and let it go, directing his spray at the enemy’s face.

Skunks are able to spray an enemy up to 16 feet away (accurately for the first 10 feet). An animal that chases or otherwise frightens a skunk may end up covered with this foul substance. Frequently, the face of the dog or cat is the primary target for the skunk spray. Along with the odor, the spray can produce nausea and burning of the eyes, although the effects are temporary and will not cause permanent damage. Nevertheless, if you notice redness, irritation or rubbing/pawing at the eyes, flush your pet’s eyes and call your veterinarian.

More Serious Problems

Recently, there has been a report of skunk spray causing anemia in a dog. It is thought that the skunk spray contains substances, thiols and other compounds that act as strong oxidizing agents.

It was speculated that this spray was absorbed by the dog and caused methemoglobinemia and Heinz body anemia. If you dog has been sprayed with a skunk within the past 3 to 5 days and is exhibiting signs of lethargy, weakness, or discolored urine, see your veterinarian immediately.

De-odorizing Your Pet

Removing the skunk odor from your pet can be quite challenging. There are several chemical methods of removing or reducing odor: neutralizing the odor, bonding the odor particles and absorbing the odor. Some pets will continue to smell for weeks, especially when the environment is damp or their hair gets wet.

Do you live in an area of the country that is subject to heavy snowfalls or very cold temperatures? This would be areas like Wisconsin, Minnesota, upstate New York, North Dakota and Montana – to name a few.

If this is the case and your dog spends a lot of time out of doors, you need to think about the steps you can take to protect him or her from winter’s cold blasts

You need to be especially careful if your dog has a very short coat or no undercoat. For example, our Cairn Terrier has no undercoat and is, therefore, much more susceptible to cold weather than out Wheaton Terrier.

Tip #1. If your dog does spend a great amount of time outdoors, make sure that you have a very warm and sturdy doghouse. In fact, if you live in the far north or northeast, you should probably insulate that dog house. If you do not currently have a dog house, there are many plans available – some of which are even free – that can help you put one together quickly. For that matter, you can buy a dog house kit and simplify the task of building that dog house even further.

Tip #2. Again, if you live in a very cold part of the country, you might consider buying your dog a warming mat or a doghouse heater for Christmas. There are doghouse heaters available for less than $60 and heated mats that can be purchased for about $75 for a large dog, scaling down to around $44 for a small dog. There are also warming throws available for around $75, again for a large dog.

Tip #3. You also need to consider the weather and your dog’s paws. Hard frozen ground, as well as snow and ice, can cause your dog’s paws to become sore and cracked. While it may sound funny, your best bet for protecting those paws might be doggy boots. These boots are generally made of water-resistant fabric on the outside, with a warm fleece or flannel lining. Most have elastic cuffs around the top and Velcro fasteners to help keep them in place.

Tip #4. If your dog refuses to wear doggy boots or if doggy boots are just not practical for some reason, make sure you keep the hair around its paws and “ankles” cut short and its nails trimmed. This will help keep snow and ice from clinging to its paw pads. You might also gently rub petroleum jelly on your dog’s paw pads before he or she goes outside. This provides a protective gel over the paws which will help keep them from cracking and bleeding.

Tip #5. This one may sound silly but more and more pet owners are purchasing doggy pajamas. These can help keep the dog insulated and warm. You might also consider investing in a dog coat or jacket.

Tip #6. Keep your dog indoors as much as possible. This is the best and most common way to keep a dog warm during the winter. If your dog prefers the outdoors or there is some reason why you cannot keep him or her indoors during really bad weather, then making sure you have a sturdy and insulated dog house is absolutely critical.

Winter can create problems for even the hardiest of dogs. But if you use common sense and follow these tips, you can keep him or her safe and warm during even the worst of weather.

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Rich dog, poor dog: Foreclosures fill animal shelters while high-end pet products take off

In the face of ongoing economic misery–for people and dogs alike–luxury items keep the pet-product industry growing. (Those $200 dog beds are selling like hotcakes.)

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This is our Dog, Chuck. The most wonderful, Smart Dog we’ve ever had. Chuck is a unique dog. Have not heard of anyone having a breed like our Chuck. Chuck is Golden Retriever and Corgi Mix. Tell me what you think of Chuck?

What Chuck does while we are gone