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Did You Know...?

  
(Page 2 of 2: Viewing entries 11 to 16)  
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Tessa

You may- approach.
 
 
Barked: Tue Apr 7, '09 5:02am PST 
We read this online and want to pass it along, it's one of those "in case you didn't know".

Q: I know that cat urine can burn up a lot of plants. I have a problem with dog dung in my vegetable garden. Does anyone know if this will hurt the plants?
BJ, KY

A: BJ,

Although dog and cat manure both contain organic nutrients useful to plants, neither is safe to use in soil containing food crops. Both contain parasitic pathogens that are harmful to human health. Dog manure can contain the eggs of Toxocara canis (the common large roundworm), which can also infect humans. It's estimated that 90% of young puppies are infected with this worm-many are born infected-and up to 50% of all adult dogs. The eggs can be transferred to the human mouth by a person's fingers or from foods that have been in contact with dog feces. Toxocara eggs can remain viable in the soil for up to 10 years depending on environmental conditions. Because no information is known on the effects hot composting has on Toxocara eggs, it also unsafe to add dog manure to compost heaps intended for food crops. If you have a dog feces problem in your garden, remove the feces and take care to use good hygiene practices (thoroughly washing hands and vegetables) to avoid possible contamination.
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Fitzcairn

Where's the- Ball?! Throw- the ball!!!
 
 
Barked: Wed Apr 15, '09 9:47am PST 
DOG NOSE = HEALTH BAROMETER?

From an article in the online newsletter "It's A Dog's Life - YOUR Dog's!"

Newsletter, Issue #037 - Dog Symptoms Dry Nose
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 6:07 AM
From: "William Coughlin"

Dry Nose

Many people wonder whether their pet’s dry nose is a good or bad thing. Here are some dog symptoms for a dry nose which may be of possible health concerns. By understanding the dog symptoms for a dry nose, you will be better educated and may help your vet figure out what is just wrong with your doctor.

From time to time dogs will get a dry nose and this is completely natural.

Other times they may have a moist noise.

This depends on temperature changes.

If, however, what you observe on your dog’s nose does not look like anything healthy, chances are something may be not right. Watch out for some of the following dog symptoms for a dry nose:

Cracking or flaking skin: Does your dog have flaky pieces of skin on his nose or is he constantly trying to paw at it with his paws?

Does he look irritating and seem to constantly try and scratch or itch it?

Does the dog have any pink spots on his nose? This could be caused by skin cancer. Dogs can be prone to skin cancer as the nose and other various parts are not protected by large layers of fur. The fur helps protect the dog’s raw skin from UV rays just like the way humans wear clothes to help block UV rays from touching the skin directly.

Also, have you considered the fact that the plastic bowl you use to feed your dog as the leading cause of your dog’s dry nose? Sometimes this can lead to irritation in the nose. The plastics may contain chemicals that cause an allergic reaction for your dog’s nose and hence begin to irritate it. This may cause your dog constant scratching.

Okay, so what do you do then?

Well, again, as always, it is best to bring your friendly furry friend to your local veterinarian. She will best be able to determine what the problem is with your dog’s nose.

Your veterinarian will ask if you have observed any kind of dry nose symptoms and make note of them in your dog’s chart. If you can, be sure to keep written detail as to when the problem began.

This could seriously help your veterinarian out in giving your dog some relief from his dry nose. Your veterinarian may need to perform a biopsy on the dog’s nose to determine the cause of the dryness.

Sometimes different disorders can share similar symptoms of a dry nose, so again, it is best to get the advice of a professional, and not from the family friend.

Your veterinarian may recommend you make a consultation appointment with a veterinary dermatologist – someone who specializes in skin disorders for dogs and cats. He or she would be a much better source of information as this is his specialty – skin issues.

Simple fixes may involve changing of the diet. Often times we feed our dogs food that we do not even know are harmful. Take a look at the back of your dog’s food bag.

Does it contain wheat or animal by-products?

Often times these animal by-products are the remains of animals that couldn’t’ be put into human food because of the strict regulations. However, dog food manufacturers do not face the same kind of restrictions. They can get away with putting a whole lot more harmful substances into dog food than their human food counterparts.

See if you can find a good source of dry dog food for your pet from a natural holistic store. Often times these places truly will not sell anything that would be harmful to any pet.
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Tessa

You may- approach.
 
 
Barked: Thu Apr 16, '09 6:35am PST 
The American Kennel Club now has a program that will allow mixed breeds dogs to compete in some of their events.

QUOTE AKC:

Mixed Breed Program Details
The Board and Staff have been considering a program for mixed breeds since January 2005. After extensive research, including gathering feedback from AKC Delegates, AKC Clubs, and mixed breed dog owners, the Board unanimously approved a program for mixed breed dogs at the April 2009 Board Meeting. This followed the non-binding resolutions passed by an overwhelming majority of the Delegates at the March 2009 meeting asking the Board to reconsider a program for mixed breeds.
The details of the program are presented below. Thank you to all Delegates, club officers, and club members who have provided feedback over the years. The program, which includes a Listing Service and Competition Eligibility, is a result of many years worth of research. You have been an integral part of the process and the feedback received has been invaluable.
Please contact mixedbreeds@akc.org if you have any questions regarding this new program.
Effective October 1st, 2009, mixed breed dog owners can list their dogs with the AKC’s new mixed breed program.
1.
Dogs in the program will be issued an ID number.
2.
Dogs must be spayed or neutered.
3.
The fee for the program will be $35.
4.
In Phase I, listed dogs will receive:
a.
A certificate of participation
b.
A competition card, with their identification number. This number allows mixed breeds to compete in AKC Agility, Rally, and Obedience events
c.
Access to a community of dog lovers interested in supporting all things canine, including the AKC Humane Fund
d.
Affiliation with an organization that:
i.
Actively supports the right to own and breed dogs responsibly by fighting anti-ownership legislation at the local, state, and federal level
ii.
Donates millions to canine health research, making all dogs healthier in the long run
iii.
Proactively responds to disasters like 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina, reaching out to all dog owners in need during stressful times
The Listing Service will be enhanced in Phase II. In Phase II, effective July 1, 2010 participating dogs will also receive:
a.
Discounted enrollment in the AKC CAR Lost & Found service, which includes a collar tag and 24-7 recovery services
a.
An AKC Supporter window decal
b.
Free CGC certificate for dogs that pass a CGC test
c.
Copy of The New Puppy Handbook and/or sample of Family Dog magazine
d.
Free initial veterinary visit
e.
Trial offer of pet health insurance
f.
Discount coupons to an online dog store
The Listing Service will be enhanced again in Phase III, allowing owners of mixed breed dogs to have access to interactive website with fun features such as forums, picture contests, dog care video downloads, information on pet-friendly businesses, advice from experts, etc. The effective date for the new website will be determined in the future based on the needs of those enrolled.
Competition in Companion Events
Effective April 1st, 2010, the competition parameters governing mixed breed participation in AKC Agility, Rally, and Obedience events:
1.
AKC clubs will have the option to hold mixed breed classes for Agility, Obedience, or Rally events. Those clubs electing to hold mixed breed classes will offer the same classes for mixed breed dogs and purebred dogs.
2.
Mixed Breed classes can only be held at standalone AKC Agility, Obedience, and Rally Events. The class could not be offered at All Breed Shows, Group Shows, or independent specialties, even if Agility, Obedience, or Rally events are being held.
a.
The definition of standalone AKC Companion event is an AKC Agility, Obedience, or Rally event that is not held on the same date AND show site as an AKC all-breed show or independent specialty.
3.
Mixed breed dogs will compete in separate class divisions from AKC purebred dogs.
a.
The club is not required to hold the classes in separate rings under separate Judges. The purebred classes can be held in the same ring, under the same Judge, as the mixed breed classes. Placements and titles will be scored and awarded separately.
b.
For example, in Agility in the Regular class, all purebred dogs entered in the Regular 16 inch class will run, followed in the same ring by the mixed breed dogs entered in the Regular 16 inch class.
4.
Allows event-giving club to decide if group exercises in Obedience, specifically long sits and downs, should be combined to save time or should be completed separately. The club is not required to hold the classes in separate rings under separate Judges. Placements and titles will be scored and awarded separately.
5.
Mixed breed dogs will earn different titles from purebred dogs.
a.
Mixed breed dogs will earn titles with a Mixed Breed suffix (i.e. NAM-Novice Agility Mixed Breed)
6.
Dogs competing in the class will be eligible to earn similar (but separate) titles as purebreds, including MACH-M (Master Agility Champion Mixed Breed), OTCH-M, and RAE-M.
7.
Dogs competing in classes will NOT be eligible for National Championships or Invitational events.
The mixed breed concept that was approved has strong support from AKC Delegates and other key fanciers.
o
In a strategic planning survey in January 2005, 65% of the responding Delegates either supported mixed breeds in AKC competition or had no opinion on the issue.
o
In a telephone survey of 84 all-breed, training, and specialty clubs that hold agility and obedience trials, 78% supported AKC clubs having the option to offer classes for mixed breeds at their trials.
o
In a Fancier Survey completed by 21,017 exhibitors, Delegates, club members, club officers, and dog owners in February 2007, 70% of respondents agreed AKC clubs should have the option to offer classes for mixed breeds at Companion events. 67% of exhibitors, 65% of Delegates, 65% of club members, and 60% of club officers agreed.
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Fitzcairn

Where's the- Ball?! Throw- the ball!!!
 
 
Barked: Wed May 6, '09 5:35pm PST 
This is a post from the Cairn Rescue Mentoring group and gives an additional way to help find lost pets.

QUOTE:

Another Lost Dog Checklist Item
Posted by:
Wed May 6, 2009 5:49 am (PDT)

Last night there was a segment on our local NBC affiliate reporting on a lost dog successfully returned to its owner.

Here's what happened: A little male Jack Russell scooted out the front door and took off. His owner and her family searched everywhere for him, put up posters, called shelters, etc. All without success. There were no sightings of him anywhere. He had just disappeared without a trace!

She didn't give up, however. About 3 weeks after he disappeared, she decided to check Craigslist. Lo and behold, there he was...a FOR SALE picture of her little boy from a town about 25 miles away from where he disappeared. She managed to track him down...he had been sold to a man who bought him for his aging parents (buying a JRT for an aging couple is another story for another day!!!). The man told his original family that the couple who'd listed him on Craigslist told him that although they, "...loved him and had raised him from puppyhood," that they were having another baby and realized they, "...couldn't give him the attention he deserves and was accustomed to," so, reluctantly they were looking for a good home for him. Yeah right!!!!

It turns out that the couple who sold him had been visiting someone on the original owner's street when the JRT escaped. Seizing on what they thought was an opportunity to make a little quick cash, they scooped him up and stole him with the intention of selling him. When the aging couple found out that the little dog they'd been given from their son was actually a dog that had been STOLEN, they immediately agreed to return him to his rightful owner saying they couldn't imagine someone stealing another person's beloved doggy for profit!

Sooooooo.... the takeaway here is if your furkid goes missing, PLEASE check Craigslist every day to see if perhaps someone has either stolen him/her and found him and is attempting to sell him.
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Tessa

You may- approach.
 
 
Barked: Fri May 15, '09 6:16am PST 
This is a quick overview of seizures in dogs. Note the advice to know where your emergency animal clinic is!

Dog Seizures Symptoms and Treatment

Top Signs of the Symptoms for a Dog Seizure

A brief guide on how to tell and identify dog seizure symptoms that could be life saving and what to do in an emergency.

A seizure is when the body begins to experience muscle contractions – shaking aggressively and uncontrollably. Often times there is no known cause of a seizure. Your best defense is to understand the dog seizure symptoms listed below.

If you know your dog well enough, you should be able to tell if he or she is acting out of line or different.

5 Common Dog Seizure Symptoms

A dog will experience a seizure when something in the brain triggers the neurological system. The dog may experience the seizure any where from a few moments to several long minutes.

The seizure is a disorder of the brain. This is not caused by any sort of virus or disease you may think your dog contracted. Many times a dog seizure occurs due to epilepsy, which dogs can experience.

1. Your dog may begin to defecate, urinate or salivate uncontrollable
2. Experiences hallucinations
3. Excessive barking, gnawing at limbs or paws
4. May become non responsive to you and your commands
5. Involuntary contractions of the muscles – whether this is isolated to a certain body part or the entire body.

Your dog may experience only one of these symptoms or any combination of them.

Is the dog in harm’s way during the seizure?

As long as your dog is lying on the ground, he should be okay even if his body is having convulsions.

A dog’s tongue will not block his airway. He can breathe okay. There is no point putting your hand down his throat to try and clear his airway so he breathes. You only run the greater risk of your dog accidentally biting you.

Action to take: Call your local vet right away. Do not try to self diagnose the problem. This requires immediate attention from a professional who handles this type of issue on a routine basis.

Being aware of dog seizure symptoms certainly can help you save your dog’s life, but please do not play the role of a vet if you are not one.

Keep a local phone list of more than one veterinarian if you can. Identify one or two local emergency animal care centers in your area as well.

Be sure to have those numbers posted alongside your veterinarian’s phone number and address.

On a sunny day it wouldn’t be a bad idea to drive to the local animal hospital just so you know where it is in case your dog ever experiences a seizure.

Once at the veterinarian, your pet’s doctor typically will prescribe some kind of medication to help keep the body stable and relaxed. This treatment may be anywhere from one to two weeks. Or it may mean going as far as treating the dog for the rest of his life. This type of medication would need to be taken on a regular basis.

A veterinarian usually does not go this route – medicating a dog for life – until the dog begins experiencing seizures on a routine basis.
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Fitzcairn

Where's the- Ball?! Throw- the ball!!!
 
 
Barked: Fri May 29, '09 7:44am PST 
Should a dogger be clipped short in the summer? The aritcle below is the best answer I have seen to this question.

QUOTE:

Dog Advice From Hobo the Bearded Collie
Hobo's Advice Column

©read me Welcome to my advice column. Remember, I am only a dog like you. My opinions are to the best of my knowledge but are only opinions, researched or what I feel is correct.. The writer of this page is not responsible for any actions the reader may take as a result of reading this column. If that is OK with you, keep reading. If not, then go back and enjoy the other pages. You can address your questions to Hobo by Email with the topic Hobo's Advice

Current Column - Should I clip or shave my long haired dog for summer?

This topic seems to be debated heavily each year as warm weather approaches. Many people will argue that clipping or shaving off the long coat is sensible: "We don't wear our winter coats in the hot weather do we? - so why should our dog?" Those who don't want to clip that lovely long hair often reply that "the hair has a function and beside I like the way it looks."

We don't want to argue, but we thought we would research this and provide some interesting facts.

First let's look at how hair functions, particularly the so called "double coat" often found with northern breeds or those that developed in cold climates. When you look at your dog you are generally looking at the outer layer of hair called "guard hairs", which overlay the fur and serve to protect it. This is stiffer and often longer hair. Beneath the guard hairs is usually a layer called the "underfur" which is often seen as a wooly like (soft downy) hair when you groom out the dog.

We all generally accept that this combination of hair (called "pelage") provides insulation from the cold in the winter. This combination is not very effective as insulation until it is fairly well developed, thus cutting it short or shaving would reduce the effectiveness as insulation. But do we accept that this also insulates against heat? Generally that is a bit more difficult to go along with.

In fact, the double coat does provide insulation in the summer. The principle of insulation is that heat flows from a warmer to cooler. This is similar to how insulation works in your home. For example insulation helps stop the heat in your home from flowing out in the winter, and also helps heat from the outside from flowing into your home in the summer by providing effective resistance to that flow. It is the same principle for the dog's coat providing insulation to prevent heat from flowing to your dog's skin in the summer!

Still hard to swallow this concept? To help, let's consider the example of the home and make comparisons once more. Most would feel that eventually that heat is going to get into the home. But modern day technology has thankfully provided us with air conditioning? Guess what, dogs have a heat removal system too! Dogs don't sweat like humans so there is no evaporation from the body skin to help cool them down. Dogs mainly cool themselves by panting and loose some heat through the dilation of the blood vessels in the skin of the face, ears and feet. Panting uses evaporation to cool as the dog breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth directing air over the mucous membranes of the tongue, throat and trachea.

The basic concept is to have insulation to reduce the amount of heat flowing in, and thus reduce the amount of heat that needs to be dissipated through panting. But there are other considerations to be concerned with. Dog hair as insulation uses the principle that air is not a good conductor of heat. Like other insulation materials called "Bulk Insulation", dog hair needs to trap air to work. Bulk insulation traps pockets of still air within it's structure to provide the resistance to heat flow. But also like other insulation materials - if you compress them they loose their efficiency - thus mats should be avoided by using good grooming practices.

Of course you may have other reasons to clip your dog's hair. Maybe it is just easier to maintain or maybe you just don't have time to remove all those mats. Maybe it just makes you feel better or you like the look. Maybe there is a skin problem. If you do clip, you can of course leave a couple inches of hair to maintain some of the insulation.

A dog's coat also helps protect against ultraviolet light. Dogs do get sunburn, so don't clip it too short. Generally sunburn is seen where the hair is the thinnest (bridge of nose, tips of ears, underbelly). If you clip too short you may expose the body in a similar fashion. If necessary use some sort of sun screen (but make sure it is safe for your dog! Some, like Paba have been indicated as not safe for dogs). Also remember that in climates like Arizona (and possible elsewhere) sunburn can turn into skin cancer.

Of course many people clip the hair each year. Their dogs play in the water or run though fields and pick up twigs and burs and the mats would otherwise be unmanageable (and the insulation factor lost). Just be careful to leave an inch or two of fur to provide some insulation and protection from sunburn.
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