My Friendly Pets

There is more and more talk recently about how beneficial it is to cook for your dog rather than use commercially made dog food. Remember the contaminated dog food horror of a couple of years ago? Many dogs died as a result of the contamination and owners were outraged. Instead of waiting for the dog food industry to clean up their act, many dog owners said, “Enough!!!” Owners were no longer willing to accept the food put out by pet food manufacturers. Many decided they wanted their dogs to be fed food of which they knew the ingredients. Because of this, many people have now chosen to cook for the pooches they love!!!

One of the most important things to remember if you make the choice to be the chef for your dog is that there are nutritional requirements which your dog needs and you should discuss these requirements with your dog’s vet!!! Also, it is advised that dietary changes are integrated into your dog’s meals slowly so as to not disrupt the dog’s digestive system.

While we know that dogs love bones, it is best advised not to feed your dog bones. When the dog chews the bones, they shatter into fragments and these fragments can cut and become lodged in the dog’s digestive track. Dogs in the wild ate bones, but these bones were often surrounded by the hide as well as some of the fur of the prey and this cushioned or wrapped the bones, so that they passed through the digestive track more easily.

Below are a couple of recipes that may appeal to your dog and are easy to cook. Remember check with your vet!!

Doggy Casserole
1 cup boiled poultry, chopped

½ cup cooked brown rice

½ cup boiled mixed vegetables

3 to 4 Tbsp unsalted chicken broth

(Note: Salmon may occasionally be substituted for boiled poultry, with chicken broth omitted.)

Stir together and serve at room temperature. A good doggy multivitamin/mineral supplement may be added for good measure. Be sure to store unused portions in a covered container in the refrigerator and discard remains after 3 days.

Doggy Fish Dinner
1 can of salmon (bones removed)

1 egg beaten

3 Tbsp cornmeal

1 potato

1 carrot

1 stick celery

1 Tbsp peanut butter

Combine salmon, egg, and cornmeal and mix well, form into patties, and coat them with a little more cornmeal. Fry in a tiny amount of canola oil until brown on both sides. Chop patties into small bites and stir together with chopped and boiled vegetables. A spoonful of cottage cheese may be stirred in for moisture if desired. Finish off dinner with peanut butter as dessert.

If you have read my blog for a time, you know I write often about the need for service dogs to be matched with disabled veterans to help them with the tasks that they can no longer do themselves. The dogs bring the service men more than that…they bring these heroes happiness and unconditional love!!!

Well, there is a gentleman by the name of Irvin Stovroff who is now 85 years old. He currently resides in Boca Raton, Florida, but over sixty years ago he was a bombing pilot who was shot down in enemy territory. He knew he was going to be captured by the Germans, and being a person of Jewish descent, threw out his dog tags, so his German captors wouldn’t know. He was a German POW for a year before he was freed by Allied forces.

Living though his experiences gives Stovroff a drive to do what hasn’t been done for vets coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan. He feels that the vets coming home with disabilities should be able to quickly be matched with service dogs that will help them both physically and emotionally. “It is a shame.” Stovroff says about the lack of an official federal program that pairs up battle-injured veterans with guide and therapy animals that can greatly improve their rehabilitation. “I wanted to do something about it.”

And he has. Stovroff has raised $2,000,000 to match up service canines with wounded combat vets. Stovroff also feels that the federal government should be putting forth more efforts and funds to do this for the returning vets. It appears that his message has not fallen on deaf ears. Earlier this month, Rep. Ron Klein (D-Fla.) introduced legislation to help train guide dogs and other service animals for wounded veterans. It looks like Irvin has a lot of fight left in him for the vets he cares about and respects and the dogs that could help them!!!

In most of my blog entries, I try and pass on valuable information and stories about dogs and their lives. I seldom engage in my opinions on various topics. In fact one of the only stories where I continue to share my feelings is the story of Michael Vick and his crimes of dogfighting and the punishments he has received. One of the strongest statements against the activities of Vick that I felt spoke to the barbaric nature of his crimes and how everyone felt about him was when NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely from playing football with the NFL. Finally, someone was taking a stand against the crimes committed, rather than worrying about how much money would be lost as a result of the dismissal of Vick.

However, I was both surprised and disappointed to learn that Roger Goodell was giving Vick the opportunity to come back to the NFL. Vick can immediately take part in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games — if he can find a team that will sign him. Vick left the Falcons when he admitted his guilt regarding the dogfighting crimes. Goodell said the following in his letter to Vick, “I accept that you are sincere when you say that you want to, and will, turn your life around, and that you intend to be a positive role model for others. I am prepared to offer you that opportunity. Whether you succeed is entirely in your hands.”

I understand that Michael Vick has paid his debt to society according to the law and perhaps he is entitled to a second chance. However, I find that ironic since so many of the dogs that he maimed and killed will never experience a second chance.

Many of us are who fall ill are lucky enough to be able to undergo procedures that are much less invasive than in the past. The are done laproscopically which is a minimally invasive surgical procedure. After making small incisions while the patient is asleep and under the effects of anesthesia, the doctors use small scopes and specially designed tools to perform the surgery. This is a much less invasive procedure than regular surgery and requires much less hospitalization and recovery time.

Now, laprosocpic surgery is available to some dogs at specific animal hospitals in the country. As an example, a standard poodle named Whisky was brought into a veterinary hospital on Long Island when she fell ill with chronic liver disease. Her owners, Ricky Riva and Nanjoo Joung wanted to find alternatives to what most doctors were saying and that was invasive surgery to determine the extent of liver disease and damage. That can be very invasive and any type of open surgery has certain risks involved!!

After speaking with Dr. Louise Murray, the Director of Medicine at the ASPCA Bergh Memorial Hospital, she suggested a laparoscopy, a much less aggressive approach to examine the severity of the dog’s illness. Whisky underwent the laproscopic procedure in January of 2008 and suffered none of the conditions associated with major surgery. A biopsy of the dog’s liver was taken during this procedure and after several days it was determined that the dog had a mild inflammatory condition of the liver, treatable with medication.

This is a major advance in veterinary medicine. In addition to providing the dog with a safe and less painful alternative to major surgery, it provides owners with a much more peace of mind.

In what has been called, a crisis response of the same magnitude of Hurricane Katrina, the Humane Society of Missouri is calling out to any and all shelters and rescue organizations for help placing many dogs that were rescued from raids on dogfighting rings earlier this month.

All together that are over 500 pit bulls from the states of Missouri, Illinois, Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Mississippi that are currently being evaluated to determine their ability to be adopted or worst case scenario, have to be euthanized. The calls to take some of these dogs for possible adoption have been few and far between. The raid on the dog fighting operations that found these dogs was a result of a telephone tip, but no one realized the magnitude of what the raids would ultimatley produce. According to Debbie Hill, the Humane Society of Missouri’s vice president, “We’re going to need a whole lot of new friends to help the animals in this case. There are so many more in this unprecedented raid.”

Shortly after the raid, when desperate phone calls and emails took place across the country, about 10 pit bulls were sent to California, courtesy of Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit Bulls, or Bad Rap, which helped evaluate the dogs taken from NFL star Michael Vick’s dogfighting operation.

Of the ten, about half of the dogs will be adoptable with training and socialization, as they appeared starved for human love and will thrive in a family environment. One is still being evaluated and unfortunately due to the aggresiveness and lack of socialization, about four will have to be euthanized.

All 500 dogs will be evaluated and unfortunately many may end up having their lives cut short, not by the hands of these caring individuals who came out to help, but by the barbarians who continue to subject these wonderful animals to the horrible conditions in which they are forced to exist.

In Nevada, as in many other parts of the country, homes are being abandoned and people are moving due to forclosures, loss of employment or other effect of the economic crisis. As in other areas of the country, more and more dogs are being left behind. Some are left in homes without food or water and in many cases are found dead. However, as officials and realtors are becoming more sensitive to the situation, many dogs are being found and their lives are saved. However, the next home of these dogs is usually the local animal shelter.

Cyndee Platko is a personal trainer who lives in Nevada. She has two dogs, Tigger and Daisy and considers them her kids. She says, “My dogs are my life. I don’t have kids, so they are my kids. I would do anything for them.” Her love of dogs goes beyond her own dogs. Understanding the plight of the dogs and the needs of the over populated shelters, Platko had undertaken a great task. She is going to run a 50 mile race in order to raise $5000 for the Nevada SPCA. Platko says the following of her efforts, “I kept hearing about how many animals they’re getting because there are so many foreclosures, so many people having to go to apartments and not being able to afford the dog fee.”

Officials at the NSPCA are thrilled with the assistance they will receive from Platko’s efforts. The main shelter is packed to capacity with 800 dogs and they are taking in an average of 30 dogs per day. Some are dropped off, some found by others and some are just found wandering along sides of the road.

Let’s hope that more people are inspired by the efforts of Cyndee Platko and help those animals and the people who dedicate their lives to caring for them.

Many of us are concerned about the outbreak of the swine flu around the world and how quickly someone will come up with a vaccine that will work. However, what many people are not aware of is that there is an influenza virus that specifically affects dogs and it is known as the canine influenza virus infection, a type A, subtype H3N8. This canine influenza was first identified in the United States in 2004, but since that time it has spreat to 30 states and the District of Columbia.

However, last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service granted a conditional product license for Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health’s Canine Influenza Vaccine, H3N8. The vaccine will reduce the severity of the effects of the virus and minimize the duration of coughing and viral shedding.

According to Cynda Crawford, DVM, Ph.D., clinical assistant professor of shelter medicine at the University of Florida, “Canine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection that has a significant impact on dogs housed in shelters, kennels and communal facilities. The availability of a vaccine can help prevent the medical, financial and emotional costs associated with this new virus.”

The virus that causes this virus is so very new, that very few dogs have had he ability to build up immunity to this virus. This has added to the fact that the disease is easy to spread so very quickly in places where dogs congregate. The vaccine can be given to dogs six weeks of age and older and would be given in two intervals two to four weeks apart. The vaccine can be given annually, which will help prevent the spread of the disease over time. Perhaps canine flu will be able to be eliminated in a few short years. In the mean time, talk to your vet and get your dog vaccinated.

Well, there is some dog worth notes to pass on to you and the first one is a bit sad. For anyone who has been a Taco Bell fan for a period of time, you will remember Gidget, the Chihuahua best known for her Taco Bell ad campaign and her famous overdubbed tagline, “Yo quiero Taco Bell”. Well, sadly Gidget died today at the tender age of 15. Yesterday Gidget suffered from a stroke and today after fighting, she passed on. Gidget was very happy in front of the camera. However, she had a few other small roles and other than that, Gidget loved the sun and would enjoy the California sunshine all day napping and getting some rays.

Another story out of California that shows the entrepreneurship of a youngster and his love of his dog. Oscar Youd created his own root beer for his kindegarten science project and named it after his dog Margo. Margo is a pit bull-Labrador mix who the family found in a parking lot, abandoned when the dog was just six weeks old. The root beer experiment turned out to be delicious and the Youd family decided to market the mixture commercially and called it Margo’s Bark. The taste of Margo’s Bark has been refined by a food chemist and it will soon be distributed and sold in specialty shops in southern California, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii. Due to the love of animals by the Youd family, who have two dogs, three cats and a rabbit, they feel it is very important that Oscar understand the plight of animals. As a result, Oscar has already donated $2000 to two local rescue organizations in southern California. Margo’s Bark root beer will do more that simply make root beer lovers happy!!!

Everytime I write an entry about Michael Vick, I try and tell myself it will be my last, as this man does not deserve all the press attention that he gets. And yet, if we fail to remind people of his barbaric behavior, the dogfighting which he supported and participated in will no doubtedly continue. So I will continue to write about Michael Vick, but I can’t allow myself to be positive about the man, even though according to the law, he has paid his debt to society. He will never be able to repay the dogs for the lives lost or the physical and emotional damage they endured.

If you recall, Michael Vick was a quarterback with the NFL Atlanta Falcons. In April 2007, Vick was arrested on various dogfighting counts base on evidence found at his “Bad Newz Kennels”. In August 2007, he began serving a 23 month prison sentence as a result of his guilty plea. He actually only served 18 months in a federal prison, 2 months on home arrest and the judge commuted three months of his remaining sentence.

Vick was suspended indefinitely from the NFL back in August of 2007 and they haven’t made up their minds whether he will be reinstated or not. I can’t believe this is even up for discussion. As mentioned, I know that Vick has served his sentence and paid his debt to society, but I have a lot of questions regarding the character of a person who can inflict pain and suffering on creatures who can’t and don’t make the decisions to participate in activities that might kill them.

From some of the pictures I have seen and information I have read, Vick even participated in some of the executions of the dogs which were determined to ineffective for dog fighting. Well, knowing that decisions are often made with the bottom line in mind, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Vick on the football field in the years to come….what a shame!!!

As my parents began to age, their eyesight began to weaken and cataracts were diagnosed. After some brief surgical procedures, the cataracts were removed and their sight was again enhanced.

Cataracts can be a single condition or can be caused by other conditions. For example in the case of Jakob, the eight year old Tibetan terrier, owned by Nikki Begg, the cataracts were caused by a recently diagnosed case of diabetes. The loss of Jakob’s sight changed his behavior and personality and according to Begg, “..instead of living, the dog merely existed”.

Begg lives in Bermuda and the surgery that Jakob needed to restore his vision would take place in Rhode Island. Summer temperature prevented any airline from allowing Jakob to fly in their cargo area, so the surgery had to be delayed four months. By the time the surgery took place, Jakob was fully blind.

Tests were preformed prior to a final decision about surgery. When it was determined that Jakob’s eyesight could be restored, surgery was scheduled for the following day. Jakob underwent the surgery in the morning, where he was put under general anesthesia and the cataracts were removed.

According to Nikki Begg, there was no greater feeling than returning to the dog clinic that afternoon, opening the door to where Jakob was and realizing that he recognized her, not only by scent, but by sight as well. The surgery had worked perfectly and Jakob could see again. Nikki and Jakob had to remain in Rhode Island for about a week after the surgery for postoperative care, but soon headed home to Bermuda. Even with the expense of the surgery, travel and time away from her job, Nikki Begg says it was well worth the cost to have her dog back and seeing normally!!!

In China a rare thing has happened. A red panda gave birth to two cubs late in June. That isn’t the rare fact. There were some problems. The cubs who were born in a northern Chinese zoo and zoo officials did not even know that the mom red panda was pregnant. The cubs, born in captivity were quickly abandoned by their mother. Vets at the zoo were concerned about how the cubs were going to survive and scrambled to find a wet nurse for the cubs. The dog wet nurse was found at a nearby farm, still nursing one of her own pups. However, it didn’t take her long to treat the cubs like two of her own…in fact, the dog at times would neglect her own pup and favor the cubs.

Three weeks have passed since the cubs have been born, and even though the cubs have not opened their eyes yet, they have doubled in size and are almost 8 inches long. It isn’t known how long the dog will nurse the cubs, but probably long enough for the cubs to thrive and live on their own.

While these bears are related to the well known black and white pandas, they don’t grow any where near the size of the pandas. In fact these bears resemble racoons with a lot of hair and very bushy tails. It is not known if the cubs will remain in the zoo or be put in the wild, but since they have a home already at the zoo, it is assumed that the zoo officials would want these saved cubs to stay as one of their newest attractions

The threat of fleas is scary for dogs and owners alike. However, what is more scary are the treatments which often contain pesitcides and poisons. A recent article on the website www.idealbite.com stated that many of the conventional treatments including certain flea collars contain pyrethroids which can cause heart attacks and seizures in dogs. There are also pesticides in flea control products that can be extremely damaging to humans. Are these the type of things that you want you and your dog exposed to? I doubt it.

Here are some natural things that you can do to protect your dog that will not cause the dog, you or the enviornment any harm. Take note of some of the article’s suggestions below:

“Veterinarian’s Best Oatmeal Flea Relief Shampoo - its oatmeal soothes your pet’s skin while oils like citronella ward off fleas ($7-$12).
De Flea Pet & Bedding Spray - spray on your friend and his/her bedding; its chief chems soften fleas’ waxy coatings, eventually affecting their insides - but leave your pets healthy ($8).
GripSoft Flea Comb - flea-combing your pet regularly is a part of the solution…dip this comb in warm, soapy water between strokes ($8).
Sentry Natural Defense Flea & Tick Squeeze-On - effective, plant-based treatment you just rub on your pet ($14).
Only Natural Pet All-In-One Flea Remedy - sprinkle this powder on your pet, around your home, and in the yard - it sucks fleas dry ’til they’re no more, but is safe for the rest of us ($12).

Only Natural Pet Brewer’s Yeast & Garlic Tablets - adding garlic and vitamin B to your pet’s diet repels fleas from the inside out but takes a few weeks to work ($8).
Castor & Pollux Pet Works Play Dead Herbal Collar - essential oils repel fleas for about 3 months ($5).
Vacuuming your carpets daily during flea season and washing pet bedding regularly will help too.”

Take care of your dog, yourself and your home!!!

I recently received a magazine from my vet that serves as an alert that my cat was in need for a visit and updated vaccinations. The magazine is called “Healthy Pet”. This magazine has some great tips about dogs and how to keep them healthy and happy!!

In the magazine there are also some tidbits or real “feel good” stories about dogs that I would like to share with you, my readers. In Halifax County, Virginia, a three year old toddler went missing. He had walked into the woods with his two puppies and was missing for 21 hours. When he was found, the dogs were snuggled next to him trying to protect the boy and keep him warm.

Another myth that you can forget as a result of this next story is about the fighting between cats and dogs. Recently in Australia, there was a house that had caught fire. In the house was a dog named Leo. When firefighters discovered Leo, he was with a litter of kittens that he had refused to leave. Leo saved the lives of the kittens, but came close to losing his own. Fortunately, the dog was revived with oxygen and is around now to tend to the kitties!!!

Thank heavens for the generosity of people from Canada, Germany, Sweden and the U.S. A neglected Lhasa apso was dropped off at a shelter in Ontario, Canada. The dog had several serious medical issues which would require surgery. A shelter volunteer contacted a San Francisco pet writer named, Christie Kieth. Together, these two mounted an internet campaign of funds for the dog’s surgery and within five hours, they had the $1100.00 needed to save this dog!!!
Great job!!

Coughing in dogs is not always common and probably the cause that most people associate with dog coughs, is what is known as kennel cough. This is an infectious disease caused by a bacteria or a virus. Many animal boarding facilities and kennels will require dogs to be vaccinated before they are allowed in their facilities, but vaccinations are not always a 100% guarantee against your dog getting the disease. Because kennel cough is a complex of diseases, it is not always easy to treat. While kennel cough is not deadly, it is bothersome to the dog and causes concern in owners. Any one who suspects their dog has this ailment should take the pooch to the vet.

There are other causes of coughs in dogs that may be more of a concern and would require intense medical attention. Heart disease can cause a “soft” cough initially. That is one that does not produce a lot of mucus. However the heart is not pushing blood around as it should, so the lungs become congested. As the heart disease progresses, the coughing becomes worse and contains more mucus. Obviously, this condition requires a medical diagnosis and specialized treatment.

Dogs have allergies and while most allergies manifest themselves through skin irritations, some allergic reactions in dogs is demonstrated through coughing as their lungs and nasal passages can become irritated.

Heartworms and ringworms also cause coughing in dogs. Adult heartworms usually live in the pulmonary arteries and the heart, which can cause coughing. Roundworms can cause coughing in the dog as they migrate up the windpipe from the lungs and cause the dog to be very uncomfortable.

There are several other causes of coughs in dogs, but the best advice to be given is that if your dog has a frequent or persistent cough that goes on for more than a couple of days, it is important to get the dog to a vet to determine the cause and begin appropriate treatment.

It was just a month ago when 180,000 people and their pooches descended upon Old Town Toronto, Canada for the 7th Woofstock Festival. Woofstock is the largest outdoor festival for dogs in all of North America. One year it was beamed around the world on CNN for the entire weekend.

Woofstock is a free admission, all weekend party that highlights the love of dogs and dog ownership. There are contests, games, and events and many sponsors that help host the event. Some of the larger corporate sponsors included Purina, Chevrolet, the Toronto Star and other area businesses. The event this year was held on June 13th and 14th and was enjoyed by all. Some of the events that got the most attention and participation included the Mr. and Mrs. Canine Canada contest, the Woofstock Fashion Show and the kickoff event, which was Woofstock weddings. That’s right, there were fifteen doggie couples that exchanged wedding vows at the famous Le Meridien King Edward Hotel. The best dressed couple (of dogs) also won a honeymoon package at the hotel…don’t even want to picture that!!!

There were over 200 vendors showing off a variety of wares for dogs and dog owners alike. While the emphasis is on fun and enjoyment, there is also much attention given to the cause of animal/dog abuse and the good works of rescue organizations. The Resuce Me Walk-a-Thon, raised funds to support Ontario’s nonprofit organization, K9 Rescue Me. It is not surprising that this even continues to grow each and every year. Many of organizers hope that the event takes off in the United States and is currently planning a Winter 2010 Woofstock Festival that will be held in Toronto, November 2010!!!