The reporter vol3 iss 2

Dam: CH ShoGun's Nilea Swingin on a Star BN RE (Dori) Sire: CH ShoGun's Iron Cross (Julius)

1

Birthday Greetings ShoGun's Fact or Fiction Moonrysn's That Girl Nonsuch Vivacissimo ShoGun's Zelda Fitzgerald Shogun's Legends of the Fall ShoGun's Banana Oil ShoGun's Ukulele Lady ShoGun's Boop-A-Doop Girl

Lisa Marlo Ana Claire Zelda Tristan Tess Pumpkin Little Helen

6/16/2006 6/16/2011 7/10/2004 8/31/2007 8/31/2007 8/31/2007 8/31/2007 8/31/2007

Marlo, CH Moonrysn’s That Girl WD BOS at the American Spaniel Club 2013

Congratulations to Charlotte and her owner, Chris Saint, on a Job well done. It may have taken a while, but well earned.

Flynn, ShoGun's Gunflint Trail In His Summer Cut

Emmet, GCH ShoGun's Im It N Thats That JH RN BN and Gabe at Rest After a Tough Day

OLOMOUC, Czech Republic — For Zuzana Navelkova, it was just another day at the office. She showed up for work last month and found a two-pound bag of frozen Swedish meatballs awaiting her attention.

Pavel Horejsi for The New York Times Zuzana Navelkova, head of another laboratory’s virology department, with meatballs that contained horse meat.

“There was nothing unusual, just the normal routine,” recalled Ms. Navelkova, head of the virology department at a state-financed veterinary laboratory in this Czech town about 160 miles east of Prague.

Normal, that is, until she found horse meat in the meatballs, retrieved from an Ikea furniture store in the nearby city of Brno.

The discovery, based on DNA testing, did not stir any alarm at the laboratory, which spends most of its time hunting for deadly health hazards, not for food-labeling fraud.

“I would still eat these meatballs,” Ms. Navelkova said. “No problem.”

But the results set off a firestorm across Europe, pouring fuel on a slowburning scandal that had begun weeks earlier with the first discovery of horse meat masquerading as beef in Ireland and then Britain. “We never expected this kind of reaction,” Ms. Navelkova said.

The complete article may be seen @ http://tinyurl.com/cmtfmap

Congratulation to Vieno and Ira Sarlin on Vieno ‘s earning her Norwegian & Nordic Champion titles at the Tromsø International CACIB Show on June 16,2013. And thank you Kiti Sinisalo for helping in handling Vieno.

Diva showing off her rosette after completing the requirements to earn her Senior Hunter title

His mom, Jennifer Amundsen, has opened her own law office. Jennifer is practicing in the following areas: business and intellectual property law; nonprofits; estate planning (including planning for companion animals); and canine and equine law.Check Jen’s web site for more information: Amundsen Law Firm, LLC

608-515-8370

jla@amundsenlaw.com

www.amundsenlaw.com

CH ShoGun's Funky Diva TD JH SH CD RN CGC

Grace, GCH ShoGun’s Miss Lily

We hope all is well with you both, and your precious gang of Clumbers.

Congratulations on the awards your dogs won at the Clumber National. With Otto's technology, we were able to see a couple of the events online. It was fun, and interesting. Iris is an amazing companion! She will travel with us to Booth Bay Harbor, Maine for the Fourth of July weekend. We are going with our son, Jim, and his clumber Dahlia. This is the town that is very dog friendly.

Iris and Dahlia are always recognized from previous visits, and are treated like "rock stars". "Oh, what Beautiful Dogs!", is a common greeting.

Iris continues to display a very loving and social personality. She loves it when all our grandchildren visit. Our backyard pool is up and running, and she loves to witness all the activities that 7 boys can perform. When they dive, splash and spray their water guns, Iris races around the pool in excitement.

We have trained her not to jump in the pool. It is safer that way.

We recognize how smart she is every day. When asked to bring a certain toy from her basket, she will MOST often bring the item. Of course she has her moments of independence!! Her most favorite toy is a large orange tennis ball that she knows as "SQUEAKIE". She loves to answer our comments to her by squeaking a response, as if she is talking to us!!

Iris is very healthy, weighs 60 pounds, beautiful white fur, and very agile. We are amazed how she can grasp her toys with her paws; she pushes, reaches, and balances her balls with intense concentration.

Of course, we think she is the smartest dog.I would like to certify her as a volunteer dog, to visit hospitals and nursing homes. We just have to train her to stop jumping up when she meets people for the first time. She gets very excited to see them.

Best wishes, and Happy Fourth of July!

Peg, Paul, and Iris Donahue

Titres: What Do They Mean?

The subject of titres (sorry I spell it that way but I’m Canadian, eh) was mentioned in a previous post and I thought it might be a good idea to outline here what titres are and are not capable of.

Many vets and pet owners are fond of using titres to determine whether a dog requires re-vaccination with the understanding that a low titre equals low immunity. Wouldn’t it be nice if that were true, but unfortunately it is not. The ability of titres to accurately measure immunity is limited because it measures only a portion of the body’s immune function.

Viruses can not replicate on their own and must invade our bodies and hijack our cells and cellular machinery to replicate. This means that once a virus invades our body, it is in our own cells. The defense system against these viruses is twofold and can be divided into cellular immunity and humoral immunity.

As the name implies, cellular immunity works on a cellular level where T cells are able to detect which of our cells contain the unwanted virus and work to destroy it. When our T cells are activated against a virus, they file the information away for future use and this allows them to respond much quicker the next time the body is faced with the virus. These cells are always reproducing and they pass this memory on to their ‘children’ and this memory exists for life. This explains how we are immune to many viruses after getting them once. The T cells protect cells like soldiers protect a fortress.

Humoral immunity is like the front line troops that work outside the cellular fortress: it is the first line of defense. Humoral immunity occurs in the body fluids where B cells float around on sentry duty. When B cells come into contact with antigens (proteins from a virus), they activate antibodies which they carry on their back. These antibodies identify and neutralize foreign proteins. Each antibody is responsible for a different antigen, so some might be responsible for distemper, some for parvovirus, etc. After an antibody is successful at neutralizing any nasty antigens, it will float around the body for years, working as a sentry. Like T cells, B cells develop a memory which allows them to respond quicker and with more force the next time they come across the same virus.

A titre is capable of measuring only a small part of the active immune system: circulating antibodies. If a titre is high, it is a good assumption that the immune system is perfectly capable of a successful response to the antigen in question. So if your dog has a high titre for parvo, it is extremely unlikely that he will suffer the disease, even if he is exposed to parvovirus. If there are parovovirus antibodies circulating in his system, then the B cell front line troops and the T cells that protect the cell fortresses are armed and ready to go.

What if the circulating antibodies are low? Does that mean that immunity is low? Well, the answer is no. Immunity is an all or nothing thing: a dog is either immune or he is not. There is no grey area or sliding scale.

If a titre is low and you have a reasonable expectation that your dog has been exposed to parvovirus for example (either through exposure or vaccination), then a low titre really has no predictive value. Memory cells which are produced by T and B cells exist for the life of the animal: circulating antibodies may or may not. Just because circulating antibodies are low (and therefore the titre is low), does not mean that your dog can not fight infection if exposed to parvovirus (or any other virus). There may not be circulating antibodies present, but the memory cells are there and waiting to launch a quick and powerful attack on parvovirus antigens, activating the antibodies and neutralizing any threat. The fortress protecting your dog’s cells is still very well protected by front line troops and T cell soldiers and remains so for the life of the dog.

Based on this, what is the predictive value of a titre? Well, a high titre has a very good predictive value. If a titre is high, then your dog is either suffering from the disease or has successfully fought it in the past and can expected to do so in the future without further vaccination. If a titre is low, then it is of little value as it comes down to guesswork. A low titre does not mean low immunity. It is for this reason that I think titres are not a good use of money. The exception would be using titres to determine the effectiveness of a vaccination (not that I necessarily endorse vaccination).

If you were to vaccinate a puppy and run a titre about three weeks afterward, it would have wonderful predictive value. If you were to vaccinate for distemper and parvo at 12 weeks, then run a titre at 15 weeks for example, now the titre would be of value. If the titre is high, then there are circulating antibodies against the parvo or distemper virus. If this is the case, then it is extremely likely that memory cells will have been produced by B cells and T cells and your puppy is protected for life. There is no need for further titres and certainly no need for further vaccination.

In my opinion (for what it’s worth), this would be the best use of a titre test as a low titre would now have predictive value, meaning there was either vaccine failure or passive immunity (maternal antibodies) blocked the vaccine (which is possible for up to 26 weeks of age with parvovirus).

I wish more vets, breeders and puppy owners would use titres in this manner, instead of hapharzardly vaccinating at three or four week intervals, trying to catch the period in time when passive immunity is low enough for the vaccine to work. It would take a lot of the guesswork out of a vaccine schedule and eliminate the need for unnecessary vaccinations.

This post was written by...

Dogs Naturally – who has written 56 posts on Dogs Naturally Magazine.

How Are Your Dog Park Manners?

Story at-a-glance Off-leash dog parks are popular places for owners to bring their pets for some exercise and a bit of mixing and mingling.

What some dog owners don't realize, however, is the dog park environment isn't appropriate for every single dog. Some dogs, due to trauma or temperament, are better off socializing in small groups or more controlled settings.

As with any public setting, there are certain dog park rules of behavior that should be followed to insure the safety and comfort of everyone using the park.

Insuring your pet can interact in a friendly way with other dogs is the first thing you should determine before you visit a dog park. Another important step is to watch the activity of other dogs in the park for a few minutes before entering, to insure there are no dogs or situations present that might pose a threat to your pet.

When all the humans in the dog park behave as responsible pet owners, it makes for a positive experience for everyone on two legs and four.

Full story: http://tinyurl.com/8x6bhw8

Type, Balance and Symmetry-Developing a Discerning Eye: http://www.thedogplace.org/ShowPlace/Eye-on-Symmetry_Gammill-125.asp

A Guide to Nursing and Weaning Puppies: http://tinyurl.com/mqrdnnq

If Your Dog Suddenly Starts Circling or Staggering, This Could Be Why: Story at-a-glance Canine vestibular disease affects the body’s balance systems. There are two forms of the condition, peripheral vestibular disease which is the more common, and central vestibular disease.

Peripheral vestibular disease results from damage to the nerves of the inner ear that can be caused by infection, overzealous cleaning of the ears, trauma, stroke, tumors, certain drugs and other conditions.

Symptoms of the condition including head tilting, loss of balance, stumbling, falling, abnormal eye movements, nausea and vomiting.

Treatment of the disorder consists primarily of supportive care and resolving any underlying cause. Geriatric dogs with peripheral vestibular disease often need supportive therapy in the form of IV fluids and supplemental nutrition, help with eating, drinking Full story : http://tinyurl.com/74xydvm

CPR Guidelines For Cats And Dogs Released

By Roxanne Palmer

If your dog has a heart attack and collapses, what should you do?

For years, different veterinarians may have offered different pieces of advice -- but now veterinary medicine researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University have produced the first set of evidence-based guidelines for resuscitating dogs and cats with stopped hearts.

University of Pennsylvania researcher Manuel Boller and his colleagues looked at decades of peer-reviewed data and determined that the proper rate for chest compressions on dogs and cats is between 100 and 120 per minute. That's the same rhythm recommended for humans. It also happens to align to the 103-bpm Bee Gees classic disco hit "Stayin' Alive," which studies have shown aids medical students in performing chest compressions.

The guidelines, while primarily for veterinarians, are "very translatable to pet owners and bystanders," Boller said in a phone interview.

Of course, performing chest compressions on a Pekingese is very different from doing so on a full-grown person, or even on a Great Dane.

For most dogs, you can apply chest compressions to the widest part of the chest while the animal lies on its side. Credit: Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.

For most dogs, you can apply chest compressions to the widest part of the chest while the animal lies on its side. Credit: Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.

For most dogs, chest compressions can be performed on the widest part of the chest while the animal's lying on its side. But in some breeds like greyhounds with more keel-shaped chests, the guidelines recommend pushing down closer to the dog's armpit, directly over the heart. Barrelchested dogs like English bulldogs can be laid on their back and compressed on the sternum, like people.

Smaller cats and dogs can either be chest-compressed with one hand wrapped around the sternum, encircling the heart or two-handed on the ribs.

For cats and small dogs, you can use one hand wrapped around the sternum to try and restart the heart. Credit: Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.

For cats and small dogs, you can use one hand wrapped around the sternum to try and restart the heart. Credit: Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.

One fundamental difference between human patients and animal patients is that dogs and cats have much lower rates of coronary heart disease, the most common cause for cardiac arrest in people.

"Sudden cardiac arrest in dogs is therefore not as common as in people and may be more comparable to what occurs in young athletes with structural abnormalities of the heart muscle or a defect in the electrical circuitry," Boller said in an email.

Pets can also suffer a cardiac arrest due to difficulties with breathing or a severe illness that also affects the heart.

Boller says it's gratifying to have these standards, especially since the original experiments on animals used in their review were instrumental in developing CPR guidelines for people.

"Now we can translate that benefit back to their own kind," he says.

SOURCE: Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care 22. Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation: Evidence and Knowledge Gap Analysis on Veterinary CPR.

More Than Half of U.S. Pets Have This Disease-Linked Condition - Does Yours?

By Dr. Becker

I’m sad to report that for yet another year, U.S. pet obesity rates continued to escalate.

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), in 2012 the number of overweight cats reached an all-time high.

As we’ve also seen from prior year surveys, certain dog breeds are at greater risk for growing too heavy. Around 60 percent of Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers are considered overweight or obese by their vet.

'The Most Important Decision a Pet Owner The 2012 survey reveals that 52.5 percent of Makes Each Day Is What They Choose to dogs and 58.3 percent of cats are either Feed.' overweight or obese according to their veterinarian. The number of fat cats represents Dr. Ward believes the war against creating a 3 percent increase over the 2011 number. overweight pets is one pet owners and These percentages mean that approximately 80 veterinarians must win. Obesity is an entirely million dogs and cats in this country are not preventable medical condition, and it’s the only uncomfortably heavy, but also at increased responsibility of pet owners – with support from risk for a long list of debilitating weight-related their veterinarian – to maintain their dog’s or cat’s healthy weight through speciesdisorders. appropriate nutrition and physical activity.

According to Dr. Ernie Ward, found of APOP and lead veterinarian for the 2012 survey, Dr. Ward believes, and I certainly agree, “The obesity is the number one health threat to Most Important Decision a Pet Owner Makes today’s pets. “We continue to see an escalation Each Day Is What They Choose to Feed. in the number of overweight cats and an Choose wisely. Your pet’s life depends on it.” explosion in the number of type 2 diabetes Dr. Ward also sees a clear connection between cases,” says Dr. Ward. pet and childhood obesity rates.

Oblivious Pet Owners Highlighting another frustrating issue, the survey reports that 45.8 percent of dog owners and 45.3 percent of cat owners believe their overweight or obese pet is a normal weight.

Dr. Ward has dubbed this phenomenon the “fat gap” …

“The causes of pet and childhood obesity are largely the same: too many high-calorie foods and snacks combined with too little physical activity. Parents need to encourage children to put down their video games and pick up the dog leash to go for a walk. Instead of snacking on sugary treats, share crunchy vegetables with your dog. Eat more whole foods instead of highly processed fast food.”

"The disconnect between reality and what a pet parent thinks is obese makes having a Obesity Destroys Your Pet’s Health conversation with their veterinarian more challenging. Many pet owners are shocked Overweight and obesity in pets is both a primary when their veterinarian informs them their pet disease and the root cause of many other needs to lose weight. They just don't see it."

diseases that develop as the result of too much companion is more important than what and how weight, including: much you feed her.

Arthritis Diabetes Hypertension Hypothyroidism Kidney disease

These three common sense guidelines are all you really need: Feed a balanced, species-appropriate diet to your pet. Regardless of her weight, your dog or cat still needs the right nutrition for her species, which means food that is high in animal protein and moisture, with low or no grain content.

And you can add to this list a significant Practice portion control -- usually a morning and reduction in the quantity and quality of your evening meal, carefully measured. A highoverweight pet’s life. protein, low-carb diet with the right amount of calories for weight loss, controlled through the While some pet owners don’t realize their dog portions you feed, is what will take the weight or cat is overweight, others know their pet is too off your dog or cat. And don't forget to factor in heavy, but for some reason find it amusing. Still any calories from treats. other owners of fat pets don’t seem to realize they are compromising the animal’s health.

Regularly exercise your pet. An overweight body gets back in shape by taking in fewer I wish more pet owners understood the calories and expending more energy. Daily consequences of letting their dog or cat get fat. exercise, including at least 20 minutes of I find it hard to believe most pet parents would consistent aerobic activity, will help your pet continue to overfeed, feed the wrong foods, and burn fat and increase muscle tone. under-exercise their companion animals if they realized they were destroying their pet’s health.

What to Do If Your Pet Is Overweight If you’re not sure whether your pet is too heavy, you can find a list of ideal weights at Pet Obesity Prevention.

Veterinarians rate the body condition of dogs and cats on a scale of 1 to 9, where 1 is emaciated and 9 is obese. A pet at a healthy size will fall into the middle of the range at 4 to 5. If your pet is a healthy weight and in good physical shape, you'll be able to feel the ribs (but not see them), see your pet's waistline when you look down at him, and notice a tuck in the abdomen when he's viewed from the side.

If your dog or cat is too heavy, begin a program to get her safely down to a healthy weight. No one thing you can do for your precious furry

Do You Still Believe This Persistent Myth About Dogs and Exercise?

Story at-a-glance There is a common myth among dog owners with fenced-in backyards that their pets get all the exercise they need just going outside. This is simply not true. There are plenty of obese dogs living in homes with big backyards.

Studies show that solitary dogs rest about 80 percent of the time, and dogs who live with other dogs rest about 60 percent of the time. In other words, much like humans, dogs need a reason to be physically active.

The best way to insure your dog gets enough exercise is to provide her with companionship and motivation. If your dog isn’t provided regular opportunities to run, play and exercise aerobically, she is at much higher risk of developing arthritis and other debilitating conditions.

Your dog should be getting a minimum of 20 minutes of sustained, heart-thumping exercise three times a week. Thirty minutes is better than 20 … and 6 or 7 days a week is better than three.

Simply walking your dog won’t get the job done, so it’s important to take power walks and/or find other activities that will deliver cardiovascular benefits and keep your pet’s body in good condition.

Full story: http://tinyurl.com/lbbwbvb How to Limit Your Liability If Your Dog Bites

By Dr. Christopher J. Allen, JD 5/13/13 It has always been a smart idea to keep proper control of your dog both indoors and outside the home, but new developments in the law now make that good habit a vital aspect of personal responsibility. In the past a minor dog (or cat) bite might have resulted in an argument with a neighbor or a small cash settlement with a stranger. Recent cases and legislation, however, mean that these sorts of bites can have serious financial consequences for a pet owner.

What’s the big deal about animals biting people and other animals? Isn’t it just a quick trip to the walk-in clinic along with a corresponding apology? That thinking is sooo outdated. In today’s world of litigious folks, aggressive attorneys and new theories of

recovery, there is real money available to animal bite victims and their legal counsel.

And many people out there are ready and willing to take advantage of that unexpected cash. So how should you protect yourself?

What is the best route to follow should your pet bite one of your guests or run off and nip an innocent bystander?

Trade Detailed Identification Information Once your dog has bitten the person or pet of another, there is no point in trying to avoid responsibility. Instead, stepping up and demonstrating genuine compassion for the injured party is a much more effective strategy.

First, it is simply the right thing to do. Second, it is the best legal strategy.

Bite cases frequently lead to personal injury trials and/or insurance settlements. If evidence emerges that the dog owner deliberately tried to

stonewall the victim’s request for his identity or that he simply walked away from the scene, his insurance company may end up having to pay even more. Should a trial ensue, such evidence looks terrible; juries get very generous when they hear proof that a dog owner tried to “leave the scene of the accident.”

professional medical attention (perhaps because of a lack of health insurance), you should contact your insurance company and your lawyer immediately. They may or may not consider suggesting that you somehow contribute financially to permit quick treatment of the injury, depending on circumstances.

Contact Your Insurance Agent Immediately

Consider Getting a Police Report

Many homeowner insurance policies and some renter’s insurance policies cover dog bite claims up to certain limits. If the injuries involved are minor, a policyholder may or may not decide to make an insurance claim for monies owed to a bite victim. But keep in mind that if an insured individual fails to report the incident to his agent in a timely fashion, he may later be unable to receive reimbursement or even make a belated claim.

Though it may seem counterintuitive, calling the police to take an accident report at the scene of a dog bite can be a good idea. Realistically, an owner of a biting pet should and inevitably will be held legally and financially accountable for the attack. But the animal’s owner should not have to pay any more than what is legally owed.

In today’s “get something for nothing” world, it is not uncommon for persons injured on the job or in an accident to try to “milk” the injury into an unjustifiably large settlement or a long period If your dog bites someone and you notify your of “disability” payments. insurance agent right away, he can advise you of any policy-related time limitations. If the bite An on-site police report can actually be helpful turns out to be very minor, (for example, costs and keep a victim from successfully claiming less than your deductible) you can decide to pay injuries and complications that could not money “out-of-pocket” and skip the insurance possibly have been a result of the dog bite. It paperwork (with the possible subsequent also proves that the dog owner stayed around to increase in your premium). make sure that the victim’s medical needs were documented.

But if you do not notify your insurance agent or insurance carrier of the event, you may be out Maintain Available Vaccination Records of luck when a minor skin injury turns into a horrific nonhealing wound because the victim It is bad enough having your dog bite a happened to be diabetic, immune-suppressed, or member of the public. It’s even worse to end up with your dog getting arrested and hauled allergic to antibiotics. off to the doggie lockup because you can’t get Encourage Medical Attention your hands on proof of vaccination.

As the owner of a dog who bites an innocent person, you have a vested interest in that person recovering from the bite as quickly and as completely as possible. What you do not want is for a simple bite to turn into a medical catastrophe if not treated appropriately and rapidly. If the victim admits that he won’t seek

And heaven forbid your dog should bite somebody, say, on the Friday of a Monday holiday weekend: If you personally possess no rabies vaccination proof and your veterinarian and town clerk are closed for the long holiday, you don’t even want to imagine the liability

should the victim have to begin antirabies therapy as a result of your negligence.

Offer to Pay Directly for Care

the payment of lost wages and medical care attributable to the bite.

More recently, some courts and legislatures are allowing legal claims by spouses of injured In today’s bad economy, not every pet owner victims for bite-related expenses such as days has the up-front cash to have his pet cared for taken off from work to drive a wife to doctor immediately after a serious attack by someone visits. There are even courts that are else’s dog. And if the injured pet’s owner takes considering claims by pet owners for pain her animal to a veterinary clinic, that office suffered by their pets when they are bitten by a probably won’t be willing to accept a vague dog belonging to someone else. Finally, some promise by an owner that “someone else” is states are allowing owners of pets maimed or responsible for necessary emergency surgery. killed by somebody else’s dog to recover for Therefore, it is good policy to advise the owner the pet owner’s sadness, angst and emotional distress allegedly resulting from injuries or of any animal attacked by your dog that you death of their beloved pet. have a cell phone number and a credit card available to any veterinarian who agrees to Remember: Limit Your Liability perform emergency care on the victim animal.

Never give out your credit card information to Trust me, as a practicing lawyer and the pet owner; instead provide appropriate veterinarian for over 25 years, I can tell you identification and the assurance that you will that jury verdicts based on these sorts of legal pay for reasonable treatment at a nearby theories have the potential to add up to much veterinary hospital once that office calls to more than your homeowner’s policy or your explain what care needs to be done. rainy-day fund can pay. Do everything you can to keep your pet from being in a situation Be Aware of New Theories of Liability where he could bite someone else or another Some dog owners believe that they don’t really pet. If the worst does happen, take all have too much to worry about if their dog has necessary steps to do the right thing as well as an inclination to bite. For example, if the dog to limit your potential liability. is a small breed, they may not think anybody could be injured very much by his tiny little chompers. Some owners don’t worry because their dog never bites people, though she does tend to be aggressive toward other dogs and cats.

Here is a bit of important legal news for such “pet owners in denial”: New legislation and court decisions have broadly expanded the liability of owners of biting dogs. Some courts also have been awarding noneconomic damages to dog bite victims, (so-called “pain and suffering” awards) which can go well beyond

What to Do Immediately If Your Dog Has a important information in a successful canine“Spinal Cord Stroke” human relationship.

Story at-a-glance A fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE) is a blockage in a blood vessel in the spinal cord.

When such a blockage occurs, an area of the spinal cord dies.

It's very common for dog owners to punish their dogs for growling. Unfortunately, this often suppresses the growl – eliminating his ability to warn us that he's about to snap, literally and figuratively. On other occasions, punishing a growling, uncomfortable dog can induce him to escalate into full-on aggression.

An FCE typically results from an injury to the spinal cord caused by jumping or landing So, if you're not supposed to punish your dog awkwardly. Sometimes vigorous exercise can for growling, what are you supposed to do? The trigger it. Dog fights, rough play, and any sort next time your dog growls at you, try this: of accidental trauma can also lead to an FCE. Stop. Whatever you're doing, stop. If your dog's Fibrocartilaginous emboli are rarely seen in growl threshold is near his bite threshold – that cats and occur most often in large and giant is, if there’s not much time between his growl breed male dogs, and also miniature Schnauzers and his bite – get safe. If his growl doesn’t mean and Shelties between three and six years of age. a bite is imminent, stop what you're doing but Symptoms of an FCE can include sudden, stay where you are. Wait until he relaxes, then severe pain followed by lessening pain after a move away, so you're rewarding the relaxed short period; weakness; partial to full paralysis behavior rather than the growl. of a rear limb; and an uncoordinated gait.

Analyze the situation. What elicited the growl?

The recommended treatment for FCE is to begin aggressive physical therapy.

Implementing an immediate rehabilitation program is your pet’s very best option for a full recovery and a second chance at life.

Full story: http://tinyurl.com/krzza5u

Understanding Dog Growling and Dog Language

Were you touching or grooming him?

Restraining him? Making direct eye contact?

Taking something away from him? Making him do something?

If you need help to create and implement a behavior modification protocol, contact a qualified behavior professional who is experienced and successful in modifying aggressive behavior with positive, dog-friendly techniques.

For more details and advice on modifying dog aggression, purchase Whole Dog Journal's Growling is a valuable means of communication ebook, Approaches to Modifying Dog for a dog – something that dog owners should Aggression. appreciate and respect rather than punish. Of course, we don't want our dog to growl at us, but neither do we want him to fail to growl if something makes him uncomfortable; that's very

by Pat Miller

psychological differences between dogs Behavior Differences in Dogs from Pet Stores Versus obtained from these two sources.

Breeders This recent study looked at 413 dogs obtained Pet store dogs have more psychological problems from pet stores and contrasted them to 5657 dogs than dogs from breeders obtained from breeders. The idea was to compare dogs that are purebred and all obtained Published on May 8, 2013 by Stanley Coren, Ph.D., as puppies at approximately the same age.

F.R.S.C. in Canine Corner Some new research which looks at differences

in the behavioral characteristics of dogs obtained as puppies from pet stores compared to those obtained from noncommercial breeders has produced some disturbing results. The research appears in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Associationand was conducted by Utah veterinarian Frank McMillan from the Best Friends Animal Society and a team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Veterinarians have long complained that dogs purchased from pet stores are much more likely to suffer from health problems than those obtained from breeders. This has led to banning the sale of dogs in pet stores in many venues around North America. The vast majority of dogs sold in pet stores come from what the industry calls "puppy farms" but the rest of the world calls "puppy mills". In most of these establishments dogs are reared much the same way that farmers rear chickens to be used for food. The animals are often kept in wire cages and they are not removed even to allow them to eliminate. The dogs get virtually no socialization or personal attention from human beings.

Anyone who knows anything about the psychological development of dogs would doubtless predict that this is a bad situation and is apt to produce many behavioral problems in the dog's later life. However, although various studies have looked at health differences between pet store and breeder purchased puppies, there is little information about

Behavioral measures were obtained using an online version of the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (CBARQ). This is a 100 item questionnaire which was developed by James Serpell, who is one of the researchers on this team. It is one of the best known, and most carefully validated questionnaires that assesses a dog's behavioral characteristics. It is based on the owner's observations of their dogs’ typical responses to a variety of everyday situations during the recent past. It looks at a variety of different aspects of canine behavior, including characteristics like trainability, excitability, various aspects of sociability, fearfulness and a variety of expressions of aggressiveness.

The data clearly shows that dogs purchased from pet stores appear to be less psychologically sound overall. On 12 out of the 14 behavioral subscales the pet store dogs showed significantly less desirable behaviors, and in no category did the pet store dogs have a better score.

The strongest and most disturbing effects were observed in relation to aggressive behavior. For example the owners of sexually intact pet store dogs were three times more likely to report that their dogs had acted aggressively toward them, than were sexually intact dogs acquired from breeders. In addition the pet store dogs were nearly twice as likely to be reported as showing aggression toward unfamiliar dogs. Pet store dogs were also more likely to have issues associated with stranger directed aggression and aggression to other dogs in the household.

More than that, fearfulness is a greater problem in the pet store animals. They show significantly higher rates of fearfulness toward other dogs, unfamiliar situations, and strange events. They also show significantly more separation related problems and higher touch sensitivity. In addition the pet store dogs were somewhat more excitable, energetic, and attention seeking.

Moreover these dogs showed a range of miscellaneous behavior problems at significantly higher levels than the dogs obtained from breeders. These problems included escaping from the home, sexual mounting of people and objects, and most forms of housesoiling.

There was some indication that the pet store dogs tended to be less trainable, although further analysis showed that this was mostly true for dogs that did not participate in working or recreational activities rather than the whole population of pet store dogs.

The guess is that the problems that pet store dogs have to do with the fact that the majority of them come from puppy mills and therefore simply do not have adequate early socialization. These puppies have inadequate human contact, little chance to interact with their environment, and suffer from inappropriate housing which does not allow them to learn house cleanliness on their own.

We Love the Dogs We Do; What Do Dogs Know? The Intelligence of Dogs; Why Does My Dog Act That Way? Understanding Dogs for Dummies; Sleep Thieves; The Left-hander Syndrome Copyright SC Psychological Enterprises Ltd.

Dangerous Dog Treats: Is Your Dog At Risk?

Sometimes even the best intentions can have

dangerous or even tragic results.

As a good pet parent, you want your dog to have the very best life possible. That includes giving them everything that could possibly make them happy. One easy way that many owners show how much they love their animal companions is to treat them with a delicious snack. Our pets appreciate the treats and we get joy from giving them, so what could be wrong with a little extra goodie now and again?

The problem is that all treats are not created equal, and what you may not know about some treats could put your dog in grave danger.

Over the years I've talked to a lot of my colleagues in veterinary medicine about treats.

That includes my dear friend Dr. Debra at PetProductAdvisor.com, who has spent years and years studying the treats on the market.

Researchers, especially those who deal with psychological issues, are usually rather cautious as to Together she and I have learned a lot about their recommendations and conclusions. Behaviors are products, what dogs like, and what is safe. so fluid and variable that psychologists seldom want to come out with a "thou shalt" or "thou shalt not" kind of pronouncement based upon their data. In this particular study however, the researchers presented a hard and uncompromising conclusion which was "until the causes of the unfavorable differences detected in this group of dogs can be specifically identified and remedied, we cannot recommend that puppies be obtained from pet stores."

Stanley Coren is the author of many books including: Born to Bark; Do Dogs Dream? The Modern Dog; Why Do Dogs Have Wet Noses? The Pawprints of History; How Dogs Think; How To Speak Dog; Why

As you may recall, in 2007 we all heard about the horrific deaths and illnesses related to contaminated dog treats imported from China.

The terrible situation came about because production standards in other countries are often less strict as they are in the United States. Most dog owners didn't know this, and didn't realize that their dogs' treats were made in a country with lax regulations (such as China). The treats in question were packaged and sold under U.S. brand names, but produced elsewhere.

Thousands of animals became sick as a result of consuming contaminated treats, and many others lost their lives. When owners became aware of the issue it led to greater attention to the dangers associated with imported treats. As a result, it also fed into a growing demand for natural treats that are made in the U.S.A. with U.S.-sourced ingredients. Two types of treats became much more popular during this time: rawhide chews and “bully sticks.” Today I'd like to talk a little bit about them and help you understand which is better for your pet.

These strange-looking snacks might look a little unusual at first but trust me: dogs go crazy for them. Unlike rawhide, bully sticks are made with the meat of the cow – not the hide – so bully sticks are more easily digestible. This eliminates the potential choking hazards and intestinal obstructions associated with rawhide chews.

Bully sticks are a little more expensive than rawhide, but they are long-lasting and much safer for your dog. Plus bully sticks are natural and do not contain chemicals.

After the dog treat contamination issues began Rawhide Treats: Are They Safe? in 2007, there was a growing demand for allnatural dog treats, including bully sticks that It seems like rawhide treats have been around were American made. But did you know that forever. These familiar chews come in lots of most bully sticks are not made in the U.S.A.? fun shapes and flavors, and dogs generally enjoy them. They're also very affordable and they last Today I'd like to tell you about a new kind of for a long time. But there are also some health bully stick that is safe, tasty, long lasting, made dangers associated with rawhide treats, so make in the U.S.A. of all-natural U.S. sourced sure you understand the risks before giving your ingredients… and it cleans your dogs' teeth as dog this kind of item. they chew. Merrick Flossies Spiral Chews are a great choice for a high-protein, digestible, longRawhide is made from animal hide, which is not lasting bully stick. Their unique textured spiral digestible. If your dog swallows a piece of shape cleans the tartar from your dogs' teeth as rawhide whole, it can become a choking hazard. they chew. Not only will your dogs get a tasty Swallowed rawhide cannot be digested. That savory treat, every time they chew they'll be means it must travel through your dog's digestive improving their breath and cleaning their teeth tract where the sharp edges of the undigested and gums. rawhide can cause internal damage. It is not uncommon for veterinarians like myself to I highly recommend Merrick Flossies Spiral examine an x-ray only to find obstructions from Chews for dogs of all ages. It is the only bully rawhide. In some cases they even require a stick I know of that is made in the U.S.A. from surgery.

American cattle. These bully sticks are loved by dogs for their taste and loved by dog Many owners find that rawhide treats don't fit owners for their dental benefits. into their lifestyle of reduced chemicals.

Rawhide goes through a lot of processing before Dr. Jon it is ready for sale, including a chemical process P.S.: Being uninformed can lead to unseen dangers. where it is washed with degreasers and Always supervise your dogs with any type of chew to detergents then sterilized in hydrogen peroxide. ensure they do not try to swallow it whole. Once a With these things in mind, you might want to treat becomes small enough for a dog to swallow it, please discard it. reconsider the use of rawhide as treats.

Bully Sticks: The Healthier Alternative

The Critter Invasion That Can Make Your Pet's Life Miserable (Not Fleas)

What makes dust mites allergenic for pets and people is a protein found in their feces.

By Dr. Becker

Symptoms of Dust Mite Allergies in Your Pet

Dust mite allergies are extremely common among dogs and cats (and humans), but because house dust mites are microscopic, many pet owners think they couldn’t possibly present much of a problem.

Because house dust mites are a problem yearround, allergies to them tend not to be seasonal.

However, they are known to be worse in the spring and fall.

But the fact is when we decided to bring pets into our homes and onto our furniture and beds, we increased their exposure to these mites. Over time, our dogs and cats have become sensitized to the little critters just as we have.

From 30 to 80 percent of allergic dogs and cats test positive for dust mite sensitivity. Pets that once lived primarily outdoors can develop sensitivity after they’ve lived indoors for a period of time.

In dogs, signs of a dust mite allergy include House Dust Mites bacterial skin infections; itching, especially around the face and on the feet; recurrent ear Dermatophagoides farinae and inflammation or infections; and seborrhea (a red, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, more itchy rash with white scales). commonly known as dust mites, are found in materials like carpeting, upholstered furniture, Kitties with a dust mite allergy may develop mattresses, bedding, and cloth toys. They thrive something called eosinophilic granuloma in warm, moist air (the kind we exhale during complex that results in skin lesions; itching; acne sleep) and darkness -- which is why they are on the chin; recurrent ear inflammation or often found in bedding. Their bodies are infections; and a disease of the foot pads called translucent. plasma cell pododermatitis, or “pillow foot.”

Diagnosing and Treating Dust Mite Allergies Your vet will look for a history that indicates your pet’s condition is non-seasonal, and is not related to either food sensitivities or skin parasites. Next, your dog or cat should be either skin or serum-tested for sensitivity to dust mites.

Dust mites survive on a diet of dead skin, bacteria, fungi and viruses in the environment.

They prefer to feed on the skin of hypersensitive (allergic) individuals because the lipids in their skin are different from those of non-allergic people.

Once your pet has a confirmed diagnosis of dust mite allergy, I recommend first trying to rid his environment of mites. This is a bit of a challenge, because studies show the most effective method of treatment is to air out fabrics your pet is exposed to on either a hot, sunny or cold dry day for 12 hours, then vacuuming.

Other suggestions include:

Probiotics: Even Your Traditional Vet May Now Recommend This Pet Supplement

Switching to mattress covers made of microporous fabric (“dust mite” covers)

By Dr. Becker

Covering your pet’s bed in a sheet that repels Probiotics are living microorganisms or gut dust mites and washing it weekly friendly bacteria. They were discovered in the early 1900’s by Russian Nobel Laureate Elie Washing bedding in hot water at least monthly, Metchnikoff. Metchnikoff became aware that or in cold water and tea tree oil people living in rural areas who consumed fermented milk on a regular basis lived long Removing carpets from bedrooms lives, and he attributed it to the Lactobacillus Vacuuming all carpets and upholstery often (at organism found in milk. Metchnikoff began least weekly) using a vacuum with a HEPA filter advising people to use fermented milk to decrease pH levels in the GI tract and suppress Steam-cleaning mattresses, pet bedding and growth of harmful gut bacteria. upholstered furniture Holistic vets have been recommending Many veterinarians recommend immunotherapy probiotics for pets for decades, but the good (allergy shots or under-the-tongue drops). This news is that traditional veterinarians are is a much safer option than immuno-suppressant becoming more aware of their benefits as well, drugs like cyclosporine or corticosteroids. I and many DVMs now routinely recommend prefer to hold off on powerful drugs that shut probiotic supplementation for patients with down the immune system in favor of dealing diarrhea, and those receiving antibiotic therapy. with the animal’s environment first, in conjunction with some other safe, common Probiotics Are Proving Beneficial in a Wide sense steps. These include regular foot soaks and Variety of Diseases and Disorders bathing to wash away allergens and soothe irritated skin; feeding a species-appropriate, According to Dr. Marcella Ridgway, writing for anti-inflammatory diet; providing fresh, good- Clinician’s Brief, “Initial investigation of quality drinking water; and avoiding over- clinical efficacy of probiotic use in disease vaccinating/over-medicating to ensure your prevention and treatment in veterinary medicine pet’s immune system remains strong and is promising but preliminary.” resilient.

While there isn’t sufficient evidence yet to You can also consider investing in an air purifier to control dust mites, and switching to non-toxic cleaning agents to lessen your pet’s overall toxic load.

Keep in mind it only takes a miniscule amount of dust mite allergen to create an allergic response in your dog or cat. So the more effective your mite eradication efforts, the more comfortable your allergic pet will be.

formally support specific health claims for probiotics, pretty much everyone now agrees they improve GI health and immune system function. And a growing body of research suggests probiotics can have therapeutic benefits for a wide range of health conditions, including chronic GI malfunction, allergies, diabetes, obesity, liver disease, and mood and behavior disorders.

Human studies suggest that probiotics may:

common working theory is that friendly bacteria establishes itself in the gut, and its presence discourages proliferation of pathogenic (unfriendly) bacteria.

Dr. Ridgeway provides an expanded explanation: “Gut bacteria serve many functions, including food product fermentation, digestion and nutrient absorption, vitamin synthesis, drug metabolism, interaction with cells for gut development and function, and host immune system modulation.

“Alterations in GI microflora secondary to illness, stress, antibiotic use, and dietary and/or environmental changes can disrupt GI homeostasis (the complex interrelationship of resident GI organisms and normal GI mucosal functions), which has far-reaching effects on host immune system and organ function.

“Probiotics may benefit affected individuals by In studies of dogs and cats with acute or chronic acting at one or more points to initiate, enhance, unexplained diarrhea and dogs with diet-related or restore function to evoke a positive health diarrhea, probiotic supplementation had the effect.” following non diarrhea-related benefits: Selecting the specific probiotic strains to include Reduced inflammation levels in allergic dogs in a veterinary supplement is currently based Improved vaccine response and growth rates in primarily on the strains that hold up best during product processing and are also able to puppies effectively colonize the gut.

Lowered cholesterol in healthy dogs and those Going forward, research should evaluate with intestinal disease particular strains for specific health benefits.

Reduced levels of certain fecal bacteria in dogs Good candidates include strains that are derived from the species for which the probiotic is Reduced the incidence of feline herpes (FHV-1) intended; are able to remain viable through infections product processing and storage; can survive the Studies also suggest there are no side effects of environment of the GI tract, including the probiotic therapy, and that supplementation is presence of gastric acid and bile; and can adhere to and inhabit gut tissue. Of course, these strains safe and easy to administer in pets. also must be nonpathogenic and have health How Probiotics Work benefits for the animal.

The exact mechanism by which probiotics work I’m hopeful future evidence-based studies will in the GI tract is as yet unknown, but the most reveal many more suitable probiotic strains,

proper dosing levels, and the effectiveness of The Alarming Proposed Bill That Could supplementation in a wide variety of canine and Threaten Your Pet's Life feline disorders.

Story at-a-glance: How Do I Know If My Pet Needs a Probiotic California Assembly Bill AB 272 is proposing Supplement? new vaccine legislation that will require puppies The health of an animal’s GI tract can be easily in California to receive the rabies vaccine at 12 compromised by everything from emotional weeks rather than 16 weeks. Analysis of the bill stress to unhealthy lifestyle choices he has no indicates significant important factual errors control over. have been conveyed to legislators about the impact of the bill on California's dogs if it As an example, veterinary antibiotics and passes, and the motivations behind its corticosteroids are overprescribed, and both introduction. types of drugs can decimate the helpful bacteria in your pet’s gut. Other stressors that can open Dr. Jean Dodds, Dr. Becker, other members of the door for pathogenic bacteria to overwhelm the veterinary community and countless pet the good bugs include a sudden change in diet owners are very concerned about this proposed for a pet that’s been eating the same food every bill, for the sake of California’s puppies, and also day for months or years; a poor quality, because other states often follow California’s biologically inappropriate diet; eating non-food lead. items like poop, grass or rocks; drinking unclean water; ingestion of toxins; vaccinations; A primary concern is that too-early rabies vaccination can interfere with residual maternal boarding; travel; GI disease and surgery. antibodies, with the result that puppies presumed When GI stressors throw the balance of good- to be immunized against the disease, will not be. to-bad gut bacteria out of whack, it can create a cascade of nutritional and other health problems. Another concern is that adding the rabies It also opens the door to leaky gut syndrome vaccine around the same time dogs receive their (dysbiosis), which means your dog or cat is “puppy shots” can significantly increase the risk absorbing partially digested amino acids and for serious adverse vaccine reactions. allergens into the bloodstream. This can trigger Dr. Becker and Dr. Dodds encourage pet owners a wide range of additional health problems, from to get informed and involved by visiting the allergies to autoimmune disease.

Rabies Challenge Fund website.

In my experience, almost every dog and cat Full story: http://tinyurl.com/d7z2uho today can benefit from probiotic supplementation.

How to Teach Loose Leash Walking to Your Dog Full story: http://tinyurl.com/cpxeayy

A Dog’s Plea Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick, for although I should lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will quickly teach me the things you would have me learn.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world’s sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footsteps falls upon my waiting ear.

Please take me inside when it is cold and wet, for I am a domesticated animal, no longer accustomed to bitter elements. I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth. Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.

Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life, should your life be in danger.

And, my friend, when I am very old, and I no longer enjoy good health, hearing and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having any fun. Please see that my trusting life is taken gently. I shall leave this earth knowing with the last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your hands.

Author Unknown

Know the Symptoms of This Potentially Life-Threatening Condition January 21, 2013

By Dr. Becker Anemia is a condition in which there are an abnormally low number of red blood cells called erythrocytes or hemoglobin in the blood. Hemoglobin is a protein molecule inside red blood cells. Its job is to move oxygen in the blood to all the tissues in the body. As red blood cells age (they have an average lifespan of about two months) or are damaged, they are collected by the spleen and removed from circulation. Part of the hemoglobin molecule is recycled to the bone marrow to be included in new red blood cells, while other parts are processed by the liver.

Common Causes of Anemia There are three causes of anemia: blood loss, destruction of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia), and insufficient production of red blood cells (aplastic anemia), which is the cause of about 80 percent of feline anemia. Anemia caused by blood loss can result from trauma, surgery, or another bleeding disorder that results in a sudden reduction in the overall numbers of circulating red lood cells. However, anemia from blood loss can also be the result of a slower, chronic condition, including bleeding in the GI tract due to ulcers, internal or external parasites, cancer, and a number of other conditions.

Hemolytic anemia is caused by the destruction or shortened lifespan of red blood cells, which means there is a low overall circulating red blood cell volume. This type of anemia can be either immune-mediated or non immune-mediated. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is a condition in which an animal’s body sees its own red blood cells as foreign invaders and sets out to destroy them. Non immune-mediated hemolytic anemia is the destruction of red blood cells by other means, including red blood cell parasites, hereditary diseases, toxins, or a low phosphorous level.

Aplastic anemia, which is insufficient production of red blood cells, is caused by several different disorders, including tumors of the bone marrow, chronic kidney disease, and other conditions that affect the production of red blood cells. Infections like parvovirus or Ehrlichia can cause this type of anemia, as well as chemotherapeutic agents, sulfa drugs, estrogens, and sometimes exposure to radiation and toxins.

Symptoms and Diagnosis When a pet has an abnormally low volume of red blood cells and consequently insufficient hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues, he experiences oxygen starvation.

Symptoms can include weakness, lethargy, exercise intolerance, an elevated heart rate, pale mucous membranes (usually noticed in the mouth – the gums and/or tongue become pale pink to white), mental confusion, loss of appetite, rapid breathing, and collapse. If the animal is passing a large amount of digested blood from the GI tract, there will be a black tarry stool as well.

Anemia isn’t difficult to diagnose. Typical diagnostic tests include a complete blood count, a packed cell volume, and a serum biochemistry panel. A blood smear can be analyzed under a microscope to evaluate the structure of the red blood cells. A urinalysis may also be performed, as well as a test to check for Ehrlichia canis if the patient is a dog.

Your vet may also do a coagulation panel, as well as a mucosal bleeding time test to evaluate your pet’s clotting ability. A fecal test may also be performed to check for occult blood loss, which is blood loss from the intestines.

A diagnosis of anemia doesn’t identify the underlying problem, however. There are several other tests that often must be run to determine the cause of the low red blood cell volume.

These tests can include an abdominocentesis to check for fluid or blood in the abdomen due to trauma, a bleeding disorder, a problem with the spleen, or a complication from a prior surgery. Other tests might include abdominal X-rays, an ultrasound, or an endoscopy to look inside the abdomen for the presence of tumors or ulcers.

There are also tests that can identify the presence of mycoplasma or Babesia in the blood. Sometimes a DNA test is done to look for genetic defects in susceptible breeds.

And of course there are tests to determine if there’s cancer present in your pet’s body.

Treatment for Anemia Depends on the Underlying Cause If you think your pet may be anemic, you should make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible. Anemia can be life threatening, depending on what’s causing it.

Treatment goals for patients with anemia are to control bleeding, restore blood volume, find and resolve underlying causes of chronic blood loss, and provide supportive care.

Depending on the cause of the anemia, treatment options can include IV fluid therapy to increase blood volume; transfusions of packed cells, whole blood, platelets, or fresh frozen plasma; transfusions of bone marrow; antibiotics if infection is present; vitamin K1 for coagulation disorders or certain poisonings; GI protectants; anti-parasitic medications; potassium phosphate supplementation; or urgery to fix the source of the bleeding.

Rarely is anemia related to iron deficiency in pets, as it is in many women. Iron supplementation should be avoided, unless your pet is one of the very rare cases where actual iron deficiency is present.

Anemic pets must be carefully monitored while undergoing treatment.

Acute aplastic anemia can be reversed within a few weeks once the cause is identified.

Chronic aplastic anemia is usually a more serious condition and more difficult to resolve.

Blood loss anemia can be resolved as soon as the source of the bleeding is identified and repaired. Anemia caused by cancer has a less optimistic prognosis and depends on the pet’s response to treatment for the cancer. Many causes of hemolytic anemia can be resolved once whatever is causing the destruction of the red blood cells has been identified.

No matter where you live, if you see an animal left in someone else’s parked car in the heat, notify a store employee or mall security right away. If the pet’s owner can’t be located immediately, animal control or the police should be

By Dr. Becker called. A pet can suffer permanent The hot summer months are almost damage or death in a very short time upon us, and tragically, many pets will when left in a parked vehicle on a hot succumb to heat-related deaths between day. now and the arrival of cooler weather in the fall.

Overheating Can Cause Your Dog’s Agonizing Death within Minutes – Yet It’s Entirely Avoidable

Most cases of dogs dying from heat exposure go unreported, so no statistics exist on how widespread the problem is.

But estimates are that several hundred dogs suffer this slow, agonizing and entirely preventable fate every summer.

Symptoms of Overheating in Dogs

Leaving a dog unattended in a vehicle in extreme temperatures is currently a criminal offense in a handful of states and several cities and towns. Most of the laws on the books have rescue provisions that allow certain individuals – typically police officers, firefighters, animal control officers, and store employees – to take whatever action is necessary to free an animal from a vehicle in dangerously hot or cold weather.

down in the heat.

On an 85-degree day it takes only 10 minutes for the interior of your parked car to climb to 102 degrees. In a half hour, it can reach 120 degrees. And leaving windows partially open doesn't The loss of a beloved pet is hard enough drop the temperature inside the vehicle. when death is expected and the passing Keep in mind your dog has a higher is painless. But losing a furry family body temp than you do and she can’t member to an avoidable case of cool down as efficiently as you do, heatstroke is something many pet either. Your dog is designed more for owners can never forgive themselves for. insulation from the cold than cooling You have sweat glands all over your body, but your dog's are confined to her nose and the pads of her feet. A dog that is heating up can only normalize her body temperature through panting, which just doesn't get the job done under extreme conditions. In a very short period of time, an overheated dog can suffer critical damage to her brain, heart, liver and nervous system.

Symptoms of overheating in dogs I recommend you learn from your dog's vet how to take his temperature (it must include: be done rectally), and invest in a digital Heavy panting; Elevated body thermometer that you designate for temperature; Excessive thirst; doggie use only. It could come in handy Weakness, collapse; Glazed eyes; if you're ever concerned your dog is Increased pulse and heartbeat; Vomiting, overheated and need to know his body bloody diarrhea temperature.

Seizures; Bright or dark red tongue, I can't stress enough how important it gums ; Excessive drooling; Staggering; is for pet owners to take every Unconsciousness precaution to prevent overheating. By Some dogs are at higher risk for heat- the time a dog is exhibiting symptoms related illness than others, including of heatstroke, it's often too late to save brachycephalic breeds (dogs with flat him. faces and short noses), older dogs, How to Help an Overheated Dog puppies, dogs that are ill or have a chronic health condition, dogs not used If you think your pet or any dog is to warm weather, any dog left outside experiencing heatstroke, you should in hot weather, and dogs that are take immediate action and move him to allowed to overexert themselves in the a cool area, preferably with air heat. conditioning. At a minimum you should move him to a shady spot.

From Overheating to Heatstroke Next, try to determine his condition. If If your dog's body temperature gets to he’s standing, or if he’s at least 109°F or higher, heatstroke is the result. conscious and panting, offer him small The cells of the body rapidly start to die. amounts of water to drink and take his The brain swells, causing seizures. Lack temperature if possible. of blood supply to the GI tract causes ulcers. Dehydration leads to irreversible If his temp is 104ºF or lower, remain kidney damage. All these catastrophic with him in a cool environment, watch events take place within a matter of him carefully and keep offering small minutes. drinks of water. A large volume of water all at once might cause him to vomit, In the early stages of a heat-related which will add to the risk of illness it can be difficult to assess your dehydration. When he seems more dog's condition, since it's normal for comfortable, call your veterinarian for him to pant when he's warm or while next steps. The vet may want to evaluate exerting himself.

your dog even if he seems fully Tips for Preventing Overheating recovered.

Provide plenty of fresh, clean drinking If the dog is unable to stand on his own, water at all times. If your dog will be is unresponsive to your voice, touch or outside for any length of time in warm the sight of you, or is having seizures, weather, she should have access to check for breathing and a heartbeat. At complete shade. Periodically encourage the same time, have someone contact a her to play in the sprinkler or hose her veterinary hospital (or make the call down with cool water to prevent yourself if you're alone with your pet) overheating. to let them know you'll be bringing him If your dog has a long coat, give her a in right away. It's important to alert the summer cut. Her fur can be shaved to a clinic you're on the way so they can one-inch length to make her more prepare for your arrival. comfortable when it’s hot. Just don’t go Begin cooling your dog down by soaking any shorter than an inch, because her his body with cool water – cool, but not coat protects her from the sun. cold. Use a hose, wet towels or any other Exercise your dog early in the morning source of cool water that is available. or after sunset, during the coolest parts Take his temperature if possible. of the day. Don’t overdo exercise or play Concentrate the cooling water on his sessions, regardless of the time of day. head, neck and in the areas underneath And if it gets to be 90°F, your pet should the front and back legs. Carefully cool be indoors where it’s cool. the tongue if possible, but don't let water run into the throat as it could get Don’t walk or exercise your dog on hot into the lungs. Never put water in the pavement. Not only can it burn her mouth of a dog that can't swallow on his paws, but the heat rising from concrete own. Put a fan on him if possible – it will or asphalt can quickly overheat an speed up the cooling process. animal that is close to the ground.

After a few minutes, re-check his temperature. If it’s at or below 104ºF, stop the cooling process. Further cooling could lead to blood clotting or a too-low body temperature. Get the dog to a veterinary clinic right away, even if he seems to be recovering.

And once again, never leave your dog alone in a parked car on a warm day.

Leave her where she's cool, hydrated, and waiting in comfort for your return home.