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 PLAY-BITINGArticle taken from No More Myths, Real Facts To Common Misbeliefs About Pet Problems, Stephanie Schwartz, DVM For most pet-owners, an adult pet that bites is almost never acceptable. Puppies that are permitted to practice undesirable behaviors during play are much more likely to persist in these patterns as adults. For this reason, play-biting, directed towards a person's clothing or any body part is not cute or harmless at any age. Games that encourage a puppy to chase children around the yard, or nip at someone's heels as they pass should be strictly discouraged. If your pet becomes wild, agitated, and difficult to control when it plays specific games with you, choose different interaction games. Games which divert energies toward moving objects, such as 'fetch' , are no less fun and far more appropriate in the long run. If you are unsure as to whether a game is appropriate or not for your growing pet, ask yourself whether the behaviors associated with the game will be acceptable when it reaches adulthood. Your answer will be plain to see. Puppies have to learn that there are two sets of behavior What is permissible behavior with other dogs may not be ok with human beings. They must be taught that there are limits for their interactions with people. It is up to you to set and to teach these standards of behavior. It is normal for puppies to nip, but it is the wise pet owner that recognizes the implications and consequences. Respond by a gentle but firm "no!" and direct attention toward an appropriate chew toy or ball. If the nipping persists, gently grasp the pup's muzzle and hold it closed while you repeat your warning, "no!" Then repeat your diversion toward a desirable alternative activity. Puppies can be quite persistent in nipping, but you must be ready for it and answer them with consistent and quick discouragement. Eventually they will understand that playtime has its limits too. top  IT'S FLEA SEASON .. AGAIN !!by Sharon Eckenrode, Animal House & Company, Inc. Ctenocephalides felis, the fleas that affect dogs and cats, can breed year-round in doors. The life cycle varies according to where they live. In the south, fleas may hatch year-round, while their northern counterparts flourish in the spring through fall months. Moving through the life cycle from the egg to the larvae to pupae to adult can take a flea anywhere from 14 to 140 days depending on conditions. (The typical flea population consists of 50% eggs, 35% larvae, 14% pupae, and 1% Adults). Fleas mate shortly after contact with animals. Once they produce eggs, the eggs often drop off the animal to complete their larval and pupae stages. The pupae stage can last from 3 weeks to several months depending on the environment (Fleas like temperatures of 62 - 83 degrees Fahrenheit with 52 - 92 percent humidity). Once hatched, adult fleas search for a host, and if fleas are not removed from the host they can live for more than two months, again, depending on environmental conditions. Pets that exhibit signs of itching, scratching, and unusual amounts of chewing and licking may have fleas. Although fleas are sometimes difficult to spot, black specks (flea feces) on pets' skin and coat are one sign (these specks turn reddish brown when placed on dampened white paper). Flea infested dogs may scratch mainly on the lower part of their bodies while cats scratch more around their neck & head. Fleas also can cause an allergic reaction called fleabite dermatitis, a hypersensitivity to flea saliva, which can cause a rash inflammation or hair loss in some pets. If ingested, fleas also can transmit tapeworm to pets. Effective treatments for fleas require killing fleas and breaking the flea life cycle. Because fleas multiply rapidly, treating fleas often involves treating both the pet and your home. The topic of flea eradication or control can be baffling and appear complex. For an excellent book on the subject, consider purchasing "The Complete Book of Flea Control" by Ted Kuepper (3rd edition). The 78-page book can be purchased from the author's web site at www.4fleas.com or at www.amazon.com ($7.95 + S&H). It's a must have book for the conscientious pet owner. top  RECIPE OF THE MONTH Bacon Bits for Dogs (not for humans) By Sandra Strassman-Sundy as taken from Newf Goodies web site.
Mix ingredients with a strong spoon; drop heaping tablespoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet. Bake in a 350 oven for 15 minutes. Turn off oven and leave cookies on baking sheet in the oven overnight to dry out. Yield: about 4 dozen dog cookies. For more recipes, visit: top SPRING IS CLEAN UP TIME! By Sally Smith, CKO This article taken in it's entirety from Pet Services Journal, May 2002 (A bi-monthly magazine published by the American Boarding Kennel Association (ABKA) for members only. ABKA is now known as Pet Care Services Assoc or PCSA) Spring and early summer are typically the time when many people bring their pets in for grooming after a long winter. Without regular grooming or brushing, the coat is probably matted and dirty. Unfortunately, these conditions make grooming much more difficult. Your groomer may not be able to give the pet the clip you prefer, and in fact, may have difficulty grooming the pet at all. Here are some things to take into consideration: A tightly matted coat cannot be brushed out. It will need to be shaved off. Your groomer may call this a puppy cut, a strip, or a shave down. Basically, it requires shaving the coat off right down to the skin. This process may lead to skin irritation, nicks, or cuts, regardless of how careful the groomer is. Excessive matting is difficult and dangerous to remove. Your pet will be more likely to get sunburned, so do not leave her/him exposed for any length of time. Ears may also be affected by a spring grooming. If the hair inside them has become impacted, the groomer may have difficulty removing the hair. There may also be an underlying infection. If problems develop within a day or two of grooming, the infection was most likely already there. Another problem called a hematoma may develop if the dog shakes his head a lot following ear plucking and shaving of matted ears. By shaking the head hard enough and hitting the ear flaps on the skull, blood vessels may break and cause swelling of the ear flap itself. Again, the grooming shop did not cause the problem; it is a result of grooming a matted pet. Poodles and sheepdogs are prone to hematomas. A shorn pet may act differently for several days following a close cut. He may shake, hide or otherwise act abnormally. He may be cold, but it is more likely that s/he feels 'naked' and different, and will need a few days to adjust. It is not a physical problem, and a pet usually resumes normal activity as soon as the mental adjustment is made. If your pet can be dematted, and you request it, be prepared for a substantial fee. It is very time consuming and difficult work. It can be uncomfortable for both the pet and the groomer. Dematting can leave behind irritated skin and an uneven coat that may need additional grooming to even it out. While a spring grooming is better than no grooming, consider regular grooming appointments throughout the year to avoid these problems. For more information on the American Boarding Kennel Association, visit: top DOGGIE TRIVIA ... The phrase 'Three Dog Night', attributed to the Australian Aborigines, came about because on especially cold nights these nomadic people needed three dogs (dingos, actually) to keep from freezing. For more dog trivia, visit: top  MOST HUMAN MEDICATIONS ARE NOT SAFE FOR YOUR PETSUniversity of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine Your medicine cabinet may be hazardous to your pet's health. This is where most people store various over-the-counter medications, painkillers, antihistamines, and vitamins. "Dogs and cats are not small people. What is safe for people may not be safe for pets," says Dr. Valentina Merola, a veterinarian at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana. "Most human medication has the potential to cause severe problems." Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin are common anti-inflammatory drugs that can cause disease in dogs and cats even in small doses. Cats are especially sensitive to these medications. Their physiology is unique, and it is hard for them to clear certain drugs from their system. These pain medications can cause stomach ulcers and kidney damage in dogs and cats, and acetaminophen can also harm the liver. Antihistamines and decongestants may contain pseudoephedrine, a drug that is poorly tolerated by dogs and cats. Even one pill can be a toxic dose. "It is extremely important to consult with a veterinarian before administering any drugs to pets. Similar appearing medications may actually contain different active ingredients. Some antihistamines are routinely prescribed by veterinarians to treat allergies, but other antihistamines, even those with very similar names, can contain pseudoephedrine or other dangerous ingredients," explains Dr. Merola. Dogs are notorious for chewing open bottles of medications and popping pills. If your pet ingests any human medication, call your veterinarian immediately. Your dog or cat may appear normal, but many of the toxic effects cannot be seen externally. Exposures at high enough doses can cause internal bleeding, stomach ulceration, and liver or kidney injury. Signs you will be able to recognize-such as vomiting and behavior changes-may not appear until hours after the exposure, when some damage may already be done. "It's critical to get these animals to the veterinarian for treatment in order to prevent damage. Drug therapy, fluids, activated charcoal, and gastrointestinal protectants may be needed. Supportive care and monitoring are very important," says Dr. Merola. Before calling your veterinarian, quickly gather the relevant facts, such as the exact name of the product your dog or cat ate and the active ingredients it contains. "How much was ingested is the magic question. Try to estimate this number by thinking how full the bottle was, how many pills it contained when full, and how many are missing. We need to deal with the worst-case scenario to provide proper care," says Dr. Merola. Your veterinarian will start by calculating the dose (measured by milligrams of drug per kilogram of body weight) your pet received. In addition the veterinarian will consider your pet's health status and how long the drug has been in the animal's system. These are all factors influencing the course of treatment. To avoid an emergency situation, make sure all over-the-counter drugs are kept out of reach. Cats are able to climb high shelves and dogs may run into them during play, knocking bottles to the floor. Never leave medication on countertops! Dogs and cats will also raid purses and get into medication mischief. Consult with your veterinarian before administering any medications. If you are concerned your pet has ingested any human medications, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-4ANI-HELP immediately. For more health related articles from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, visit: top  LIGHTEN UP .... You Know You Have Too Many Dogs When ..... top  SUN SAFETYWhy Your Dog Can't Handle the Heat Dog Fancy Magazine, June 2004 Article by Marcia King. (Portions of the article have been omitted) While you may deal with summer heat just fine, your dog isn't as efficient in the cooling department. "A dog's primary means of heat dissipation is through panting and, to a minor degree, by sweating through the pads of her feet," explains Ted Cohn, DVM, of University Hills Animal Hospital in Denver. "Panting allows the dog to move large volumes of heated air away from her body core to the outside. Additionally, that same air moving over a highly vascular [having many blood vessels], wet tongue produces an evaporation effect. That helps to cool the blood and regulate the dog's body temperature." But soaring heat and humidity hinder that effort. "High humidity means that water can't evaporate very well," says Ruth E. Chodrow, VMD, of At-Home Pet Care, a pet house call service in Fisherville, Va. "High temperatures mean the dog has to pant faster and faster to evaporate the water, and if the temperature gets too high, the dog simply can't cope." Heat stress and heat stroke follow. "When a dog overheats, her body temperature can shoot up rapidly from the normal 101 - 102 degrees to 105 degrees and beyond," Chodrow says. "Above 105 degrees, the dog cannot get sufficient oxygen to its tissues, and brain damage can occur. Above 108 degrees, the cells of the kidneys, liver, and GI tract sustain severe damage, and the cells can die." RECOGNIZING HEATSTROKE'S SIGNS Heatstroke's early signs include rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, thick drooling saliva, and a dry nose and mouth. "The dog often has a panicked or wild expression, " Chodrow says. "If you lift up a lip, the gums above the teeth will be muddy grayish-pink or a brick-red instead of their normal clear pink color. As heatstroke progresses, the dog may stagger or have seizures. In advanced stages, she may show bloody diarrhea, coma, and death. Heatstroke is a medical emergency: If untreated, it can be fatal." WATCH FOR RISK FACTORS Too much exercise on a hot day or sitting in a parked car on a warm day, and your dog could suffer severely - or die. "In the enclosed space of a car, humidity builds up rapidly as the heat rises," Chodrow says, "so moisture doesn't evaporate to cool the dog. Even when it's only 80 degrees outside, a car can heat up to 120 degrees in less than 30 minutes." With extended play or work, a dog's body naturally heats up; that rising body heat coupled with hot or muggy conditions taxes the dog's ability to coll herself. Chodrow notes that certain factors put dogs at greater risk for heat problems:
HOW TO TREAT HEATSTROKE If you suspect your dog is suffering from heatstroke, follow these steps:
What you shouldn't do is as important as what you should. "Do not soak the dog in ice water," Chodrow says. "Ice water will close the capillaries of the skin, preventing cooling of the internal organs. Do not use rubbing alcohol - the dog might cool down too rapidly. Do not give a heatstroke victim large amounts of water to drink as the dog could bloat; if she seems thirsty, offer her some ice cubes to lick. Do not put the dog into an enclosed crate - humidity will build up and prevent evaporation. AVOID THE HEAT AND ADD WATER The best way to deal with heatstroke is to prevent it. "Never exercise your dog in the middle of a hot day; exercise or play with your dogs in the early morning or late evening to prevent overheating," says Jeff Weber, DVM, of the Century Veterinary Group in Los Angeles. "If you do go outside with your dog on a hot day, bring plenty of water, and wrap a wet bandana around her neck to keep her cooler. Even better, freeze the wet bandana the night before, so it will be cooler longer." By planning exercise around the thermometer and carrying plenty of water, you and your dog can enjoy summertime fun - safely. To subscribe to Dog Fancy Magazine, visit: top  PET ASTROLOGY - TAURUSApril 21 - May 20 Stubborn but beautiful, these pets have a very easy going nature and will sit for hours with you. In fact, they won't move until they are ready, and will follow orders at a slow pace. They stand their ground when threatened or pushed past their limits. They like the finer things in life and can be quite possessive, wanting to control everything. They won't give-up something they have decided belongs to them. Praise will get their attention more effectively than scolding ... and their vitality, calm temperament, and tenacity make them a superior dog to hold positions of service to society ... positions such as therapy, police, guard, explosive or drug , and guide dogs. Taureans are capable of enduring faithfulness and are very loyal. In turn, they demand the same of their human companions. Since the Sun sign Taurus has a calming influence on dogs, it is a good sign under which to adopt an apartment dog, energetic Terriers, or toy breeds. An interesting book on the subject of pet astrology is Cosmic Canines, The Complete Astrology Guide For You and Your Dog by Marilyn MacGruder Barnwell. top REFLECTION FOR THE MONTH Acquiring a dog may be the only opportunity a human ever has to choose a relative. - Mordecai Siegal  |