My Friendly Pets

I thought I’d offer you a couple bits of dog news to highlight that it is Friday and we need just “a little bit of this and a little bit of that!”

Oprah Winfrey has been a staunch supporter of animal rights and a loud voice against puppy mills. Last year, Oprah lost her beloved cocker spaniel, Sophie. Well, it has been just about a year since Sophie passed away and last Sunday, Oprah and Stedman Graham Oprah’s signficant other, went to the local PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving) shelter and adopted a female cocker spaniel puppy. Oprah has two other dogs who are golden retrievers!!! She lost a male cocker spaniel named Solomon last year. You go Oprah!!

Also, more and more people who are learning to live and eat organically are doing so with their dogs as well. The executive chef at the State University of New York at Geneseo has written an organic cook book for dogs. Anne “I want to make sure (my dogs) are healthy as long as they live.” She has seven dogs of her own and one is prone to various allergies. Many of the recipes that she used to help with her dog are in the cookbook. The foods identified in her cookbook are meant to supplement the well balanced dog food one gets in a pet food store or quality grocery store. In developing her book, she worked with a canine nutritionist and a veterinarian. Her book is titled “The Healthy Dog Cookbook” (T.F.H. Publications, 2008), and can be found in Barnes and Noble as well as on Amazon.com. So c’mon, this weekend, get the book and start cooking some healthy stuff for Fido, he deserves it!!!

Many of us love dogs…no matter what kind….even if they are mixed together as a “mutt”. The breeds that we think are our dog, may not necessarily be what we think. The dog in the photo above is what Wil Colosimo believed to be a Basenji. From www.basenji.org comes the following. “The African Barkless Dog is a well-defined breed created by Nature in one of her happier epochs. The basenji has associated with man long before the building of the Pyramids. This fascinating hound is still used as a hunting dog by primitive tribes in Africa to this day.” However, this isn’t the dog that Colosimo thought it was. Colosimo sent away for a dog DNA test and discovered that his dog was really a combination of german shepard and dachshund. Wow…was he surprised?!

There are two types of DNA tests available for canines. One is relatively simple and the sample can be gathered with a quick swab from the inside of your dog’s cheek. The sample is then sent away to a lab to determine the true breed(s) of your beloved mutt. The second is a blood test which must be done by a veterinarian, but the results will be the same. According to the article, “DNA is DNA, no matter how it is gathered.”

For most, finding out the hidden breed in your dog is interesting and entertaining. However, it can also be beneficial because as you learn about the breeds within your dog, their behaviors and origin of those behaviors will become more clear. This is great for training issues as well as understanding certain breed characteristics.

I’m sure whatever kind of dog you find yours to be a mixture of, you’ll love him/her just the same!!!

Yes, it is March…finally….the promise of spring is just around the corner. But March is famous for another reason. It is the month of St. Patrick’s Day, a traditionally Irish holiday!!! In celebration of this holiday I thought it would be great to give you information on the Irish Wolfhound, known as the world’s tallest breed of dog.

Historically, this dog was orignally known as a war dog but was also used for hunting or as a guard. The breed almost died out in Ireland a couple of hundred years ago, when wolves and oversized elk dwindled to few numbers because of the wonderful hunting prowess of this dog. Thankfully, through the efforts of a gentleman named Capt. George Augustus Graham, the breed was resuscitated by breeding the dog with
Deerhounds, Great Danes, and a Borzoi and Tibetan Mastiff. This was done to regain the size and type of the original dog.

Although a great hunter, this dog is also known as a gentle giant and is often a family favorite breed. They seem to have an even and friendly temperament and are extremely good with children. However, because this dog is a hunter by nature, they do not always get along with other animals especially smaller ones, who they consider as prey.

The dogs come in all different colors from cream to black and everything in between. Because of their size, they are not the type of dog you want to keep in an apartment. They need room to roam and room to run. As mentioned, they love being part of a family and is not the breed of dog to keep isolated (is any breed?). They need consistent exercise and should be brushed and groomed consistently.

Many people are turned away by the size of this dog, but the breed is one that could grow in your heart as much as in your home!!

Dog ownership brings too many joys to discuss here in this blog. However, one of the “not so joyful” things associated with our dogs is cleaning up after them and this could mean a variety of things, some of which I will talk about today.

Does your dog make a mess at meal time with his food? There are a couple of ways to minimize messy dog meals. First of all, a little behavioral training is necessary to teach your dog to wait until the meal is set down before he/she can eat. This avoids the jumping or knocking over of food and water dishes because of food anticipation. Also, a plastic or rubber placemat on the floor under your dog’s bowls can help keep any splatters or dripping to a minimum. Sometimes after our dog was done eating, he would have bits of food and drool on the sides of his mouth. He would wipe all of that on the closest leg or piece of furniture he could find…UGH!!! It didn’t take me long to figure out that wiping my dog’s mouth after mealtime saved a lot of mess and aggravation!!!

If you don’t enjoy walking around your house wiping up muddy, wet, or snowy paw prints after your dog has been outside to do his business, keep a couple of old towels or t-shirts near the door where your dog comes in. Before he gets the run of the house from outside, take a moment to wipe off his paws. At first they might not like it, but if done often enough, they will get used to it and expect that upon return into the house, they will get a little foot massage (and clean paws for you!!!)

The Frederick County Animal Shelter is desperately looking for people who want to adopt a dog. Now that isn’t an unusual request from an animal shelter, except for the fact that this week 75 dogs were dropped off at the shelter and there is minimal room to care for them. An unidentified gentleman from Thurmont, Maryland brought the dogs in after he was asked to care for them by a friend from St.Mary’s county. The man became overwhelmed with the task of looking after all of these dogs and when he went to contact or locate his friend, he was nowhere to be found.

The shelter wants to get these dogs adopted and into forever homes as soon as possible. The dogs are in good health and they seem to be social. However, the dogs are not housetrained, so there would be a bit of training necessary. The shelter has been overloaded with 100 dogs dropped off in February alone, not counting this recent bunch. All but 3 of those former dogs have been adopted.

The 75 dogs are made up of about 10 different breeds of small dogs. Once they are all checked out, they will be ready for adoption. The Frederick County shelter is one that has a “no refuse” policy, which means that they don’t turn any animals away and work very hard to insure the best placement for the dogs.

Currently officials from Frederick County and St. Mary’s County are looking to find the original owner of the dog. They have yet to determine if charges are to be filed.

So anyone in the Maryland, Virginia, Delaware area who has it in their heart to help out and adopt one of these small beauties, contact the shelter at 301-600-1546.

I recently came across an article that was very interesting about aging dogs and I thought I would pass some of that information on to you. Care for pets, including dogs has drastically improved in past years and as more and more people take better care of their dogs in terms of food and vet care, the longer those dogs are living. However, as a result, elderly dogs are suffering the effects of old age including ailments similar to Alzheimer’s disease and senility. According to recent research, the age of the dog will add to the possiblility of “dog senility”. “Recent research has shown that nearly a third of 11- and 12-year-old dogs and two-thirds of 15- and 16-year-old dogs have significant cognitive impairment.”

In dogs, the condition mentioned above is called cognitive dysfunction syndrome. Four distinct behaviors have been identified as indicators that a dog or a cat could be suffering from CDS. They are as follows:

1. Disorientation - things like walking around aimlessly, getting confused when moving around or not knowing how to get out of familiar settings.

2. Interactions - we love our animals especially when they love us back. However, if your dog doesn’t greet you at the door like he/she used to or hides from you or other family members, it could be a sign that something is going on.

3. Sleep - sleep habits in dogs suffering from CDS seems to go into reverse, meaning that animals who used to sleep through the night might be now wandering the house at night barking and howling, keeping family members awake and

4. House-training - dogs who begin to urniate or have bowel movements in the house, when they have been perfectly trained up to that point indicates that CDS could be a culprit.

If your dog is in his/her senior years and you have seen evidence of any of these behaviors, speak with your vet. There are some medications that can help.

Very often when we think of Hollywood, we think of the glitz and the glamour. While many Hollywood stars say they are giving and philantropic, few show it the way Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy) and her mother have. They give more than money. They give time and love to a project called Pup My Ride.

Katherine and her mother, Nancy have teamed with an organization called the Best Friends Animal Society. The Society which began in the 1970’s as a way to minimize and eliminate the destruction of shelter animals is one of the largest no-kill animal organizations in the country. The Best Friends Sanctuary has been mentioned several times in my entries as the place where many of the dogs from Michael Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels have been placed and are thriving.

The national campaign titled “Puppies aren’t Products” saved 650 small breed dogs from Los Angeles animal shelters. Many of these small dogs are available in areas like L.A. and New York, but the supply of these dogs are low in other areas of the country. So Heigl and her mom, along with other volunteers transport these dogs from the shelters in Los Angeles to new forever homes in other parts of the country. According to Heigl, “”Over 600 dogs have been saved and adopted. Up in Utah and Arizona and some of these states around California, they have waiting lists for small dogs, people wanting to adopt and here we have an overwhelming number in the shelters.”

Katherine wants to save as many animals as possible and is planning on establishing a grant with the Best Friends Society, which can keep “Pup My Ride” running in 2009. We thank Heigl, her mom and the other volunteers at Best Friends Society for making this program a success and for saving so many of the little dogs, who otherwise might live longterm in shelters, or worse.

If you are from the New York metropolitan area, you are familiar with the animal rescue and shelter organization called Bideawee. It is one of the oldest humane organizations in the United States. The organization was founded in 1903 by Mrs. Flora D’Auby Jenkins Kibbe. Currently Bideawee operates one facility in Manhattan and two on Long Island. However, due to the economic conditions and other organiztion structural changes, one of the Long Island facilities located in Wantagh, NY will be closing its doors on March 8, 2009. There are about 1700 adoptions that take place at the three locations yearly, so closing a location will cause the other two facilities to absorb many of the animals housed in Wantagh. Like many shelter and rescue organizations, Bideawee, is not immune from the current economic climate. Private donations have decreased about 30% just since October.

However, while the adoption center will be closing in Wantagh, then many other services offered by Bidawee wll continue. These programs and services include animal behavior and training classes, pet therapy, reading to Dogs, bereavement counseling groups and the public education programs. Located at the Wantagh location is the Pet Memorial Park which will continue to provide its full range of burial and cremation services. These types of services are extremely important to people who lose their pets and are looking for a permanent resting place for them.
According to Nancy Taylor, president and CEO, Bideawee, Inc. “Difficult times demand difficult decisions; and this realignment of Bideawee resources will help the organization survive this financial downturn, and position us to grow and thrive when the economy recovers and we move into the future”

While this will probably be a common occurence at facilities across the the country, we can only hope that those who run these facilities do so with the sincerity and concern for the animals that is held by those who run Bideawee. We wish them luck and prosperity in the future. Our future pets depend on it!!!

Check out more about the organization by clicking here.

Many of us have certain things that we have heard or read over the years about dogs and their bahavior and have determined that to be the truth. However, that isn’t always the case. Recently Tamar Geller, an animal behaviorist, gave some great information about common myths and the actual truth, if any, behind them.

The first myth identified by Geller states, “You must have a yard for your dog.” Geller says that this is a complete fallacy. Dogs are pack animals and their favorite place is to be is with their human companions. Most dogs only want to be outside in the yard if you are out there with them, otherwise dogs will spend a great deal of time barking at the back door to get back in the house with the family they love.

Another myth to which Geller refers is about the tail wagging of dogs. The myth being: “A wagging tail means a dog is friendly.” Wrong!!!! According to Geller, a dog’s tail can have three different positions. The first position is low between the dog’s legs. This infers that the dog is fearful and vulnerable and should be avoided as any approach to the dog could appear as threatening and the dog may react aggressively. Another position of the dog’s tail could be straight up in the air with short wags. Geller says, “if the tail is about 90 degrees high, with small wags — avoid the dog, as this is a dominant, threatening position.” The dog whose tail ” is in the middle wagging very loosely, with a “smile” on his face, that’s an inviting dog.” Those are the happy dogs who are waiting for you to pat their head or play with them!!! These are just a couple of dog myths. We’ll catch up on some more in a later entry!! Enjoy the weekend.

Soon, it will be that time of year…gosh I hope so….where we will be going outdoors again to enjoy all of the benefits of getting out of the house!!! It has been a long cold winter. However, for many that means that fleas on your dog are a distinct possibility and will have to decide about the appropriate treatment to minimize or eliminate flea infestation.

In a recent article on msnbc.com it was writtent that a dog owner in Ft. Wayne, Indiana bought an over the counter flea treatment for her dog. Within thrity minutes of application, the dog began to have severe reactions to the treatment. The owner stated,”"thirty minutes later she went into shock, she was shaking, couldn’t breathe properly”
It took the care of professionals at two separate veterinary hospitals to save the dog.

The authors of the article stated that they contacted, but did not get a response from the company responsible for the product. However, they investigated the claims further and found that there were dozens of complaints from all over the country with similar and some more disturbing reactions to the flea products. One particular owner spoke about how his dog experience foaming at the mounth and later did not survive.

Many people use the over the counter products becasue they are less expensive than products received or perscribed by the veterinarian. However, most vets are familiar with the products that are most reactive and nonreactive and utilize these accordingly. The problem is that most of the products use nerve agents like, Permithrin and Cyphenothrin to kill fleas on dogs, since they’re pesticides, they’re actually regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. Vets say in some dogs the chemicals can affect the nervous and digestive systems.

So, even though the over the counter products are less expensive, the damage to your dog could be long term or even fatal. Speak to your vet and get something that is safe for your dog becasue if cost is the primary factor of concern, you might pay more just trying to save your dog’s life. Check out a recent article by the Humane Society of the United States regarding information on flea and tick products by clicking here.

I was watching our local news yesterday and there was a short piece on how there was a puppy mill raid in Tennessee and 250 dogs were saved. Some of those dogs have made it up to the New York metropolitan area where I live and I decided to check out the story and pass it on to you.

The White County Sheriff’s department in Tennessee requested the ASPCA to serve as the authority for managing operations in the investigation of a local puppy mill where 250 dogs were seized on February 11th.

A raid took place at the facility where it had been reported as early as September that the dogs were living in horrible conditions. A consumer who went to purchase a dog made complaints to the ASPCA, the Sheriff’s office as well as the Humane Society of the United States. The complaints are what spurred the investigation and all law enforcement officials wanted to insure that when they actually raided the facility, they would be able to close it down with the evidence that they had accumulated.

Some of the horrific conditions existing at the facility included “little to no food or water, lack of proper ventilation in enclosed areas, and feces encrusted pens. Conditions such as matting, sores, mange, poor teeth, abscesses, and a host of other medical conditions are prevalent.”

The dogs saved included many small toy brand of dogs such as Boston and Jack Russell terriers, Pomeranians, Shih Tzus, Chihuahuas, poodles, miniature Pinschers and Schnauzers. According to the local news report 43 of those dogs are in the New York area and will be available for adoption very soon. Click here to see more about the story.

It seems that a deadly dog disease for which there has been a vaccination for years is rearing its ugly head and infecting many dogs, primarily in the Witchita, Kansas area of the country. The disease, as it is known in veterinary circles is called Lepto, but really stands for Leptospirosis. This is a bacteria that is usually found in wild animals but that can be transmitted to humans and animals…meaning your beloved pooch. Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by a particular type of bacteria called a spirochete. Leptospirosis can be transmitted by many animals such as rats, skunks, opossums, raccoons, foxes, and other vermin. The waste or urine of the infected animals can contaminate dirt or ground water and if someone or a dog comes in contact with the infected substance, they stand a good chance of getting sick. Also if a dog has an open wound and that comes in contact with an infected substance, the bacteria can be transmitted to the dog. The symptoms of the disease can often be vague and difficult to diagnose. Some of the first symptoms you may notice are increased drinking and urination. However, these symptoms are common in many diseases and conditions. Some other more severe symptoms could include vomiting, refusal to eat, weight loss, decreased activity, muscle pains, or stiffness.

This is a treatable and curable disease if found early. Your dog should be put on a regiment of antibiotics and insure that he/she takes the entire perscription. There have been so many recent deaths from this disease in dogs down in Kansas, that veterinarians are considering administering the vaccine for the disease as part of the yearly round of vaccines given to dogs. While cats are not immune to the disease, they rarely get it. You can check with your vet regarding the vaccine for Leptospirosis.

While telling my readers about dogs that are true heroes, the sad part is that some of those dogs don’t make it from their heroic deeds alive. However, there is still a story to be told.

In Winona, Minnesota, Sue Fueling and her 9 year old daughter, McKenzie were sleeping peacefully in their home. Their 3 year old golden retriever/collie mix named Bella along with Maddie, a six month old golden retirever began jumping on Sue Fueling’s bed and barking to alert her that something was not right. Fueling began to smell the smoke and raced to get McKenzie out of bed and out of the house. Fueling went back to get Bella and Maddie, but for some reason, they wouldn’t come out. Perhaps they still believed that McKenzie was still in the house. By the time the firefighters arrived, the house was virtually totally engulfed and Bella and Maddie were gone. The Fuelings had to taken to the hospital to be monitored for smoke inhalation, but that was nothing compared to the grief they experienced when the realization hit them that their dogs were lost to the blaze that destroyed their home.

The irony of this situation is that Bella was a dog that was rescued and then adopted by the Fuelings because she was in an abusive home. She went on to save the lives of these people when they had saved her from the cruelest of lives. Perhaps that is how it is supposed to be. Maybe that is the circle of life and it worked to provide the dog with the home and love that he needed. No one wanted Bella or Maddie to die and they will never be forgotten, as they were true heroes for Sue and McKenzie Fueling.

For anyone who is a parent, you know from the time your child gets on the bus for the first time, to the time that they get behind the steering wheel for their first independent drive, they will soon be leaving the nest and you are filled with a sense of sadness, pride and dread. Have you prepared them enough? Will they be safe? How will they function without you?

These same questions have to be answered when you are separating pups from their moms. The question is, when should puppies be able to be separated from their moms? According to many of the sources I have read, eight weeks is the minimum age when a pup should leave his mom. I didn’t realize that it is actually illegal in some states for breeders to sell a dog under the age of eight weeks. While eight weeks is a minimum, much of my reading said that it is best for the pups to be with their moms for between eight to twelve weeks. Most vets won’t vaccinate a dog until they are at least eight weeks old. Many of the articles I read said that there are extremely valuable skills that dogs learn from their mom and littermates well after the dog has been weaned. Socialization skills and acceptable behaviors like bite inhibition are also learned lessons that occur well after the eighth week. A well adjusted dog will make a wonderful family forever pet, so having the puppy stay with the mom and other littermates just a couple of weeks longer could make the difference in the wonderful pet you want your puppy to be.

The day is almost here….you know, Valentine’s Day!! And who better to shower our love on than the dogs in our lives. However, we know that we cannot indulge our dogs in chocolate…that would be very dangerous. However, there are other treats which our dogs would enjoy and which would not put them in any type of danger.

From trixieandpeanut.com you can get some adorable personalized tags for your dog. You want your dog to look sharp and these tags are colorful enamel tags accented with 22K gold or lead-free pewter. Your dog would be the hit of the block. These tags can also be personalized with emergency contact information or other relevant details.

There is nothing that says love to your dog like a heart-print retractable leash. This is from 26 Bars And A Band Avant Garde and is described as follows: “Avant Garde Love Print Leash
This is definitely not your boring old retractable leash. Let your personality shine with the Avant Garde Retractable Leash series. Made of fine materials, this leash is not only cute but is a quality product.”

And you can’t make your dog completely happy without feeding them a special treat. So don’t forget the “Roll Over Red Rover-Party To Go Martini Treats” These cookies are in the shape of martini glasses and are described like this: “These nibbles are made of top-quality natural ingredients like oatmeal, whole-wheat flour, peanut butter, nonfat dry milk” Check out the variety of these cookies for your pooch at the following website: http://rolloverredrover.com/s/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=44&cat=party%20to%20go

So have fun and enjoy Valentine’s Day. You’ll love sharing it with your pooch!!!