Dog's News
10 Things That Will Poison Your Dog
1. Foods (chocolate, xylitol, and grapes/raisins)
We have all heard that chocolate is toxic to dogs. What some may not know is that xylitol, the sweetener used in many sugarless foods including gum and candy is highly toxic. According to the vets at Pet Poison Helpline, “When ingested, even in small amounts, it can result in a life-threatening drop in blood sugar or even liver failure.” Also important to note, grapes and raisins are among the most toxic foods to dogs and can cause kidney failure.
2. Insecticides(sprays, bait stations, and spot on flea/tick treatment)
Pay particular attention to products that contain organophosphates, often found in rose-care products, which can be life-threatening even in small amounts.
3. Mouse and rat poisonFor obvious reason, these products are toxic and can cause severe issues in dogs including internal bleeding, brain swelling, kidney failure, or severe vomiting and bloat, according to the veterinarians. Your dog can even be poisoned by eating dead rodents that ingested rat poison!
4. NSAIDS human drugs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen)
NSAIDS can cause stomach and intestinal ulcers, and kidney failure. Do not give these drugs to your dog unless recommended by a veterinarian.
5. Household cleanersThese are bad for your kids and bad for your pets. Pet Poison Helpline reminds us that just because a cleaner says “natural” does not necessarily mean it is safe.
6. Antidepressant human drugsAntidepressants account for the highest number of prescription medication-related calls to the Pet Poison Helpline. According to their veterinarians, “When ingested, they can cause neurological problems in dogs like sedation, lack of coordination, agitation, tremors, and seizures.”
7. Fertilizers (including bone meal, blood meal, and iron-based)
The problem with fertilizers is that, to a dog, they smell heavenly and probably taste good. However, ingesting fertilizer can cause severe pancreatitis or form concretion in the stomach, which obstructs the gastrointestinal tract.
8. Acetaminophen human drugsLike other drugs, acetaminophen can cause severe liver failure in dogs. It can also cause dry eye. A single Tylenol tablet can be fatal to a cat.
9. Amphetamine human drugsAccording to Pet Poison Helpline, “medications used to treat ADD and ADHD contain potent stimulants…even minimal ingestions by dogs can cause life-threatening tremors, seizures, elevated body temperatures and heart problems.”
10. Veterinary pain relieversJust like with us, it’s not good to overdose your dog on painkillers. The result can be severe gastric ulceration and acute kidney failure. Make sure you follow your veterinarian’s recommended dosage. If you think your dog is still in pain, take him back to the vet, don’t up the dosage yourself.
The best way to prevent dog poisoning is to be diligent. Dog-proof your home in the same way you would baby-proof. Put medications in high cupboards that dogs cannot reach. Make sure the garbage has a tight lid, or better yet, is in a cabinet with a child lock on it so your pet cannot get into it while you are gone. If it is impossible to put something out of your dog’s reach, do not leave your pet unaccompanied.
Pet Poison Helpline reminds us to never medicate a pet with human drugs without consulting your veterinarian first. It also reminds us to be aware of cigarette butts, which are harmful to dogs and any poisonous plants in our houses or your yards.
We have all heard that chocolate is toxic to dogs. What some may not know is that xylitol, the sweetener used in many sugarless foods including gum and candy is highly toxic. According to the vets at Pet Poison Helpline, “When ingested, even in small amounts, it can result in a life-threatening drop in blood sugar or even liver failure.” Also important to note, grapes and raisins are among the most toxic foods to dogs and can cause kidney failure.
2. Insecticides(sprays, bait stations, and spot on flea/tick treatment)
Pay particular attention to products that contain organophosphates, often found in rose-care products, which can be life-threatening even in small amounts.
3. Mouse and rat poisonFor obvious reason, these products are toxic and can cause severe issues in dogs including internal bleeding, brain swelling, kidney failure, or severe vomiting and bloat, according to the veterinarians. Your dog can even be poisoned by eating dead rodents that ingested rat poison!
4. NSAIDS human drugs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen)
NSAIDS can cause stomach and intestinal ulcers, and kidney failure. Do not give these drugs to your dog unless recommended by a veterinarian.
5. Household cleanersThese are bad for your kids and bad for your pets. Pet Poison Helpline reminds us that just because a cleaner says “natural” does not necessarily mean it is safe.
6. Antidepressant human drugsAntidepressants account for the highest number of prescription medication-related calls to the Pet Poison Helpline. According to their veterinarians, “When ingested, they can cause neurological problems in dogs like sedation, lack of coordination, agitation, tremors, and seizures.”
7. Fertilizers (including bone meal, blood meal, and iron-based)
The problem with fertilizers is that, to a dog, they smell heavenly and probably taste good. However, ingesting fertilizer can cause severe pancreatitis or form concretion in the stomach, which obstructs the gastrointestinal tract.
8. Acetaminophen human drugsLike other drugs, acetaminophen can cause severe liver failure in dogs. It can also cause dry eye. A single Tylenol tablet can be fatal to a cat.
9. Amphetamine human drugsAccording to Pet Poison Helpline, “medications used to treat ADD and ADHD contain potent stimulants…even minimal ingestions by dogs can cause life-threatening tremors, seizures, elevated body temperatures and heart problems.”
10. Veterinary pain relieversJust like with us, it’s not good to overdose your dog on painkillers. The result can be severe gastric ulceration and acute kidney failure. Make sure you follow your veterinarian’s recommended dosage. If you think your dog is still in pain, take him back to the vet, don’t up the dosage yourself.
The best way to prevent dog poisoning is to be diligent. Dog-proof your home in the same way you would baby-proof. Put medications in high cupboards that dogs cannot reach. Make sure the garbage has a tight lid, or better yet, is in a cabinet with a child lock on it so your pet cannot get into it while you are gone. If it is impossible to put something out of your dog’s reach, do not leave your pet unaccompanied.
Pet Poison Helpline reminds us to never medicate a pet with human drugs without consulting your veterinarian first. It also reminds us to be aware of cigarette butts, which are harmful to dogs and any poisonous plants in our houses or your yards.
Dog Worms: Roundworms
What are roundworms?
Roundworms are a common parasite that lives in the intestine of young dogs and puppies. If you have heard about a dog having “worms,” roundworms are the most likely culprit. While easily prevented and treated, an infection of roundworms can lead to weight loss, diarrhea, failure to thrive, and a pot-belly appearance.
Important things to know:
Prevention
Roundworms are easily prevented by a series of de-worming medications every two weeks starting from when a puppy is born. This medication is usually given in liquid form, so it is easy for dog owners to give.
Keeping a clean environment can also reduce the risk for worms. Pick up poop in the yard as quickly as possible and keep your dog away from other dog's feces.
Treatment
If your puppy has not been treated for roundworms as a part of prevention, and has diarrhea, most likely there is an infection. Your veterinarian will want to look at a stool sample under a microscope, where the diagnosis can be confirmed by the presence of roundworm eggs.
Once your puppy is old enough to go on heartworm medication, the roundworms will be controlled also, so further treatment or prevention is not necessary. For this reason, it is recommended that your dog stay on monthly heartworm prevention year-round.
Talk to your veterinarian about getting your dog on an effective de-worming program that prevents heartworms, roundworms and hookworms.
Roundworms are a common parasite that lives in the intestine of young dogs and puppies. If you have heard about a dog having “worms,” roundworms are the most likely culprit. While easily prevented and treated, an infection of roundworms can lead to weight loss, diarrhea, failure to thrive, and a pot-belly appearance.
Important things to know:
- Almost every puppy is born with, or acquires, roundworms.
- Roundworms are most commonly spread through feces. As puppies tend to be less fastidious in their hygiene they are more likely to be exposed to worms.
- Roundworms can be passed to puppies through the mother before birth or through her milk.
- Puppy immune systems are immature and unable to fight the infection.
- Dogs gain resistance to these worms as they age.
- Roundworm eggs survive in the soil for a long time, sometimes several years. All feces in the yard should be promptly cleaned up to avoid eggs.
Prevention
Roundworms are easily prevented by a series of de-worming medications every two weeks starting from when a puppy is born. This medication is usually given in liquid form, so it is easy for dog owners to give.
Keeping a clean environment can also reduce the risk for worms. Pick up poop in the yard as quickly as possible and keep your dog away from other dog's feces.
Treatment
If your puppy has not been treated for roundworms as a part of prevention, and has diarrhea, most likely there is an infection. Your veterinarian will want to look at a stool sample under a microscope, where the diagnosis can be confirmed by the presence of roundworm eggs.
Once your puppy is old enough to go on heartworm medication, the roundworms will be controlled also, so further treatment or prevention is not necessary. For this reason, it is recommended that your dog stay on monthly heartworm prevention year-round.
Talk to your veterinarian about getting your dog on an effective de-worming program that prevents heartworms, roundworms and hookworms.
Dog Peeing When Excited
Some dogs will pee a small puddle (sometimes more) when they greet people, particularly if the person moves to pet them. Some dogs do this whenever anyone greets them, but often the leakage problem only occurs with certain individuals or with people who have a certain appearance or voice tone.
It is fairly common in young puppies who have less control over their bladder and are easily excited, though it usually goes away as the dog matures. Some dogs, however, continue this habit into adulthood. This behavior tends to be more common in female pups, but it can happen with males, too.
Why dogs pee when excited
When a puppy becomes overexcited, or when something frightens her, it’s normal for the pup to release a few drops of urine. Not all puppies do this, but many do. It happens because overexcitement or fear may cause the pup to momentarily lose control of the muscles that close the urinary bladder, which allows a small amount of urine to escape.
This is a physiological response to excitement and is not under the pup’s control. She might not even realize it’s happening until she feels a sensation of wetness.
Why this dog behavior is a problem
Cleaning up puddles every time you greet your dog can be frustrating and distressing to owners. The first reaction is often to scold a dog for the behavior, but it is not the dog’s fault. Punishing a dog for this behavior is useless and cruel, because the dog cannot control the leakage.
Scolding or showing disapproval can make the dog more anxious and cause the problem to get worse – sometimes turning a temporary age or health-related behavior into a long-term nervous habit.
How to keep your dog from peeing when excited
Reduce the initial excitement. The most common trigger for urination while greeting is loved ones arriving home after being gone for several hours. To reduce the dog’s excitement, walk into your house without greeting her. Put down your purse or other items you’re carrying and put your coat away. Delay greeting her until about five minutes after you’ve arrived home.
Keep greetings low key. Speak quietly and calmly when you greet your dog. Don’t immediately bend down to pet her, as “looming over” a dog in that way can trigger them to urinate. Instead of reaching for her, just put your hand where she can come to it for petting. Pet her under the chin, not on top of the head. Teach your visitors to do the same.
Greet outdoors. If your dog tends to pee when you first say hello to her, say hello outdoors. This way the dog will be urinating where there’s no need to mop it up. That will reduce your own anxiety about the possibility of a wet greeting and you’ll relax a bit – which can help reduce any anxiety your dog might have learned to feel about greeting time.
Health check. Though usually outgrown by six or seven months of age, this behavior can linger into adulthood. Sometimes health issues, such as urinary tract infections, can cause delayed bladder control, so if your dog is over five months old and still piddling when petted, let your veterinarian know. If it’s a health problem, it needs to be treated medically. Most often, though, there are no health issues causing the problem – it’s just a case of too much excitement.
It is fairly common in young puppies who have less control over their bladder and are easily excited, though it usually goes away as the dog matures. Some dogs, however, continue this habit into adulthood. This behavior tends to be more common in female pups, but it can happen with males, too.
Why dogs pee when excited
When a puppy becomes overexcited, or when something frightens her, it’s normal for the pup to release a few drops of urine. Not all puppies do this, but many do. It happens because overexcitement or fear may cause the pup to momentarily lose control of the muscles that close the urinary bladder, which allows a small amount of urine to escape.
This is a physiological response to excitement and is not under the pup’s control. She might not even realize it’s happening until she feels a sensation of wetness.
Why this dog behavior is a problem
Cleaning up puddles every time you greet your dog can be frustrating and distressing to owners. The first reaction is often to scold a dog for the behavior, but it is not the dog’s fault. Punishing a dog for this behavior is useless and cruel, because the dog cannot control the leakage.
Scolding or showing disapproval can make the dog more anxious and cause the problem to get worse – sometimes turning a temporary age or health-related behavior into a long-term nervous habit.
How to keep your dog from peeing when excited
Reduce the initial excitement. The most common trigger for urination while greeting is loved ones arriving home after being gone for several hours. To reduce the dog’s excitement, walk into your house without greeting her. Put down your purse or other items you’re carrying and put your coat away. Delay greeting her until about five minutes after you’ve arrived home.
Keep greetings low key. Speak quietly and calmly when you greet your dog. Don’t immediately bend down to pet her, as “looming over” a dog in that way can trigger them to urinate. Instead of reaching for her, just put your hand where she can come to it for petting. Pet her under the chin, not on top of the head. Teach your visitors to do the same.
Greet outdoors. If your dog tends to pee when you first say hello to her, say hello outdoors. This way the dog will be urinating where there’s no need to mop it up. That will reduce your own anxiety about the possibility of a wet greeting and you’ll relax a bit – which can help reduce any anxiety your dog might have learned to feel about greeting time.
Health check. Though usually outgrown by six or seven months of age, this behavior can linger into adulthood. Sometimes health issues, such as urinary tract infections, can cause delayed bladder control, so if your dog is over five months old and still piddling when petted, let your veterinarian know. If it’s a health problem, it needs to be treated medically. Most often, though, there are no health issues causing the problem – it’s just a case of too much excitement.
Five Guilty in Major Dogfighting Ring
An “amazing team effort” on the part of some 200 paid staff and volunteers is ongoing to care for more than 400 dogs seized on July 8, 2009, after raids on 22 dogfighting operations in Missouri and Illinois, according to Jeane Jae, Humane Society of Missouri’s communications director.
Of the 26 arrests made July 8, 2009, four Missouri men (Robert Hackman of Foley, Teddy Kiriakidis of Leasburg, Ronald Creach of Leslie and Michael Morgan of Hannibal) pled guilty to charges connected with the dogfighting raid on Sept. 14 in U.S. District court in St. Louis.
Morgan and Hackman both pled guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit federal offenses and one felony count of prohibitions against animal fighting ventures. Kiriakidis and Creach each pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit federal offenses. Sentencing is scheduled to take place in December for these men.
Jack Ruppel of Eldon, Mo., pled guilty to similar charges connected with the dogfighting raid on Sept. 4 in Jefferson City, Mo. His sentencing date has yet to be determined.
Only a few of the 407 dogs rescued in Missouri and Illinois had to be put down. Those were for medical reasons.
“We recognize that dogs coming from this background can have challenges, but we’re working with rescue groups all over the country to evaluate the dogs and see which ones they can take so we can rehome as many as possible,” Jae says.
One hundred puppies have been born since the raid.
The staff and volunteers are working tirelessly to feed, walk, socialize and attend to the veterinary needs of the dogs, she says.
Until forfeiture orders are signed by the courts to begin releasing the dogs for adoption and to various rescue organizations, the dogs will remain at the temporary shelter set up and being run by HSM near St. Louis.
Jae is unsure at this point how long the temporary shelter will continue to house the dogs after the orders have been signed. She speculates that whatever dogs have not already been adopted or transferred may be taken to the Humane Society of Missouri’s permanent shelters to await adoption or transfer.
More than 500 dogs were rescued after an 18-month investigation into a dogfighting ring that spanned several states.
According to sources, this is believed to be the largest dogfighting ring case in the nation’s history.
Of the 26 arrests made July 8, 2009, four Missouri men (Robert Hackman of Foley, Teddy Kiriakidis of Leasburg, Ronald Creach of Leslie and Michael Morgan of Hannibal) pled guilty to charges connected with the dogfighting raid on Sept. 14 in U.S. District court in St. Louis.
Morgan and Hackman both pled guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit federal offenses and one felony count of prohibitions against animal fighting ventures. Kiriakidis and Creach each pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit federal offenses. Sentencing is scheduled to take place in December for these men.
Jack Ruppel of Eldon, Mo., pled guilty to similar charges connected with the dogfighting raid on Sept. 4 in Jefferson City, Mo. His sentencing date has yet to be determined.
Only a few of the 407 dogs rescued in Missouri and Illinois had to be put down. Those were for medical reasons.
“We recognize that dogs coming from this background can have challenges, but we’re working with rescue groups all over the country to evaluate the dogs and see which ones they can take so we can rehome as many as possible,” Jae says.
One hundred puppies have been born since the raid.
The staff and volunteers are working tirelessly to feed, walk, socialize and attend to the veterinary needs of the dogs, she says.
Until forfeiture orders are signed by the courts to begin releasing the dogs for adoption and to various rescue organizations, the dogs will remain at the temporary shelter set up and being run by HSM near St. Louis.
Jae is unsure at this point how long the temporary shelter will continue to house the dogs after the orders have been signed. She speculates that whatever dogs have not already been adopted or transferred may be taken to the Humane Society of Missouri’s permanent shelters to await adoption or transfer.
More than 500 dogs were rescued after an 18-month investigation into a dogfighting ring that spanned several states.
According to sources, this is believed to be the largest dogfighting ring case in the nation’s history.
New Beginnings for Dogs
When Sue Richmond walked into my training class with Skipper, I knew we had a challenge. She had recently adopted the 3-year-old Shetland Sheepdog from a rescue group. All she knew about him was that he had spent his entire life in a backyard.
His lack of socialization was evident in his tucked tail, flattened ears, and nervous glances around the training yard. Like many adopted dogs, Skipper needed help changing his fear of the world around him into curiosity and confidence.
Sue had already charged the clicker by taking the little plastic box I had given her the prior week and feeding Skipper a treat every time she pushed the metal tongue to make a clicking sound. When I saw Skipper's eyes light up at the sound of the clicker, I knew he was on the road to a better life. He already understood that the sound meant Treat! Now it was a matter of time, and small steps, to help him understand the world was safe.
A dog's personality is a combination of genetics and environment-nature and nurture. A genetically bold puppy will be timid if he doesn't get adequate socialization during the important development period from 4 weeks to 4 months of age. A genetically timid puppy can achieve confidence with lots of socialization.
Open the Lines of Communication
Your shelter or rescue dog will probably come with some baggage in the form of too little socialization, or a negative kind. When you adopt, you commit to help your new dog overcome these types of challenges.
Your first tool in building your adopted dog's confidence is communication. A poorly socialized dog has had little reason or opportunity to communicate with humans. The sooner you begin communicating with the consistent use of terms, a calm and positive tone, and tools like a clicker and treats the sooner the two of you will start forming the all-important bond that will ensure him a lifelong, loving home.
Think of the clicker and treats as an interpreter -- a means to establish a common language. The click says "Yes! You earned a treat for that behavior!" Dogs, like all living things, want to make good things happen.
When your dog discovers he can make you click the clicker (and feed him treats) by offering behaviors, he can start to make sense of his world. When you associate words or hand signals with his behaviors, the two of you begin to communicate -- he's learning your language. As you observe and interpret his behaviors more closely, you're learning his.
Three More Tools for Confidence
Any positive training you give your dog will help build his confidence. Each time you ask him to sit or lie down, and he understands, responds, and is reinforced with a click and treat, it helps him become more sure of himself.
There are also specific exercises for building confidence:
Targeting: Most dogs seem to enjoy it, and it's immensely useful for grounding fearful dogs with a familiar task they know they can do during a stressful moment. Simply offer your hand, and when your dog sniffs it, click and treat. If necessary, smear a dab of something yummy and highly scented on your hand to make it more tempting.
Repeat until your dog will enthusiastically bump his nose into your hand. Then add a word, such as Touch, just before you offer your hand, to put the behavior on cue. When your dog does this behavior easily, ask him to target when he's a little worried. His enthusiasm for targeting can overcome his caution. You can also use the target-your hand-to invite him near or past things that are a bit scary for him.
Tug: Another great confidence game, fun for the human end of the tug toy as well. Offer your dog a toy that he likes. Tease him gently with the toy to get him to grab at it. Praise him when he does to generate more tug-play. When he'll consistently grab the toy and hold on, tug softly to encourage him to tug back, then add the Tug cue. When he'll play tug with enthusiasm, teach him to let go by offering a tasty treat as you say Give. When he's confident about playing, you can use this game to raise his confidence level around things that are scary to him.
Counter-conditioning and desensitization: This approach helps your dog learn a new, positive association for things that really frighten him.
Start with the stimulus (the thing your dog fears) at a far enough distance that your dog notices it, but doesn't yet start to panic. The instant he alerts to the stimulus, feed him tiny bits, nonstop, of an extremely high-value treat, such as cooked, boneless chicken. Keep feeding tiny bits until the stimulus is gone or you move out of its range.
Practice this until his fearful alert turns into an excited anticipation for chicken.
Then, move a little closer to the stimulus and start again. Do it enough, and your dog will think the frightening thing makes chicken happen. It will no longer be scary -- he'll want it to appear so he gets more chicken.
Skipper responded beautifully to his positive training program.
Richmond realized the value of targeting as a confidence-builder when she used it to invite him into her car. Previously, she had to lift him in, and she was concerned that a possible problem with his hind legs was preventing him from jumping in voluntarily. The first time she targeted him into the car, he leaped in easily on his own. Problem solved!
Skipper graduated happily and confidently at the end of his six-week class, a changed and well-loved dog.
His lack of socialization was evident in his tucked tail, flattened ears, and nervous glances around the training yard. Like many adopted dogs, Skipper needed help changing his fear of the world around him into curiosity and confidence.
Sue had already charged the clicker by taking the little plastic box I had given her the prior week and feeding Skipper a treat every time she pushed the metal tongue to make a clicking sound. When I saw Skipper's eyes light up at the sound of the clicker, I knew he was on the road to a better life. He already understood that the sound meant Treat! Now it was a matter of time, and small steps, to help him understand the world was safe.
A dog's personality is a combination of genetics and environment-nature and nurture. A genetically bold puppy will be timid if he doesn't get adequate socialization during the important development period from 4 weeks to 4 months of age. A genetically timid puppy can achieve confidence with lots of socialization.
Open the Lines of Communication
Your shelter or rescue dog will probably come with some baggage in the form of too little socialization, or a negative kind. When you adopt, you commit to help your new dog overcome these types of challenges.
Your first tool in building your adopted dog's confidence is communication. A poorly socialized dog has had little reason or opportunity to communicate with humans. The sooner you begin communicating with the consistent use of terms, a calm and positive tone, and tools like a clicker and treats the sooner the two of you will start forming the all-important bond that will ensure him a lifelong, loving home.
Think of the clicker and treats as an interpreter -- a means to establish a common language. The click says "Yes! You earned a treat for that behavior!" Dogs, like all living things, want to make good things happen.
When your dog discovers he can make you click the clicker (and feed him treats) by offering behaviors, he can start to make sense of his world. When you associate words or hand signals with his behaviors, the two of you begin to communicate -- he's learning your language. As you observe and interpret his behaviors more closely, you're learning his.
Three More Tools for Confidence
Any positive training you give your dog will help build his confidence. Each time you ask him to sit or lie down, and he understands, responds, and is reinforced with a click and treat, it helps him become more sure of himself.
There are also specific exercises for building confidence:
Targeting: Most dogs seem to enjoy it, and it's immensely useful for grounding fearful dogs with a familiar task they know they can do during a stressful moment. Simply offer your hand, and when your dog sniffs it, click and treat. If necessary, smear a dab of something yummy and highly scented on your hand to make it more tempting.
Repeat until your dog will enthusiastically bump his nose into your hand. Then add a word, such as Touch, just before you offer your hand, to put the behavior on cue. When your dog does this behavior easily, ask him to target when he's a little worried. His enthusiasm for targeting can overcome his caution. You can also use the target-your hand-to invite him near or past things that are a bit scary for him.
Tug: Another great confidence game, fun for the human end of the tug toy as well. Offer your dog a toy that he likes. Tease him gently with the toy to get him to grab at it. Praise him when he does to generate more tug-play. When he'll consistently grab the toy and hold on, tug softly to encourage him to tug back, then add the Tug cue. When he'll play tug with enthusiasm, teach him to let go by offering a tasty treat as you say Give. When he's confident about playing, you can use this game to raise his confidence level around things that are scary to him.
Counter-conditioning and desensitization: This approach helps your dog learn a new, positive association for things that really frighten him.
Start with the stimulus (the thing your dog fears) at a far enough distance that your dog notices it, but doesn't yet start to panic. The instant he alerts to the stimulus, feed him tiny bits, nonstop, of an extremely high-value treat, such as cooked, boneless chicken. Keep feeding tiny bits until the stimulus is gone or you move out of its range.
Practice this until his fearful alert turns into an excited anticipation for chicken.
Then, move a little closer to the stimulus and start again. Do it enough, and your dog will think the frightening thing makes chicken happen. It will no longer be scary -- he'll want it to appear so he gets more chicken.
Skipper responded beautifully to his positive training program.
Richmond realized the value of targeting as a confidence-builder when she used it to invite him into her car. Previously, she had to lift him in, and she was concerned that a possible problem with his hind legs was preventing him from jumping in voluntarily. The first time she targeted him into the car, he leaped in easily on his own. Problem solved!
Skipper graduated happily and confidently at the end of his six-week class, a changed and well-loved dog.
Marine Corps Bans Pit Bulls, Rottweilers
Months after the US Army banned residents of privatized housing from owning “dangerous or potentially dangerous” dog breeds, the Marine Corps followed suit. On Aug. 11, 2009, a rule that disallowed purebred and mixed-breed pit bulls, Rottweilers and canid-wolf hybrids aboard Marine Corps installations was signed. However, residents who already own one of these breeds have 60 days to apply for and meet the guidelines of a “grandfather” clause waiver, approved by the local installation commander.
Available until Sept. 30, 2012, the waiver requires dogs to pass a “nationally recognized temperament test, administered and interpreted by individual(s) who have been certified in technique and evaluation of the test results, at the service member resident’s expense. Such tests include the Canine Good Citizen (American Kennel Club) and the Delta Test (Delta Society).
In response to the newly passed rule, local trainers are offering owners additional classes and discounted classes to help dogs pass the 10-part Canine Good Citizen test. The test includes such exercises as accepting a friendly stranger, walking on a loose lead, walking through a crowd and so on.
Available until Sept. 30, 2012, the waiver requires dogs to pass a “nationally recognized temperament test, administered and interpreted by individual(s) who have been certified in technique and evaluation of the test results, at the service member resident’s expense. Such tests include the Canine Good Citizen (American Kennel Club) and the Delta Test (Delta Society).
In response to the newly passed rule, local trainers are offering owners additional classes and discounted classes to help dogs pass the 10-part Canine Good Citizen test. The test includes such exercises as accepting a friendly stranger, walking on a loose lead, walking through a crowd and so on.
World’s Oldest Dog Dies at 21
Chanel, the wirehaired Dacshund who held the Guinness World Records title for world’s oldest dog, has died at the age of 21.
“She just inhaled and took her last breath,” owner Denice Shaughnessy, of Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., told USA Today. “Chanel had been telling me it’s time.”
Earlier this year, Shaughnessy told the U.K.’s Daily Telegraph that Chanel suffered from cataracts but was otherwise in good health.
“While I go to work she sleeps all day until I come home and then when I get home she is like a ball of fire,” Shaughnessy said.
Still, Chanel, who celebrated her 21st birthday on May 9 with a people-and-pooches party in Manhattan, occasionally had senior moments.
“Sometimes I will find her walking around at night and I have to give her a little snack and then she goes back to bed,” said Shaughnessy, who adopted Chanel as a 6-week-old puppy from a shelter in 1988.
“The vet says he’s never seen a dog her age do so much,” Shaughnessy said.
“She just inhaled and took her last breath,” owner Denice Shaughnessy, of Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., told USA Today. “Chanel had been telling me it’s time.”
Earlier this year, Shaughnessy told the U.K.’s Daily Telegraph that Chanel suffered from cataracts but was otherwise in good health.
“While I go to work she sleeps all day until I come home and then when I get home she is like a ball of fire,” Shaughnessy said.
Still, Chanel, who celebrated her 21st birthday on May 9 with a people-and-pooches party in Manhattan, occasionally had senior moments.
“Sometimes I will find her walking around at night and I have to give her a little snack and then she goes back to bed,” said Shaughnessy, who adopted Chanel as a 6-week-old puppy from a shelter in 1988.
“The vet says he’s never seen a dog her age do so much,” Shaughnessy said.
Paula Abdul Auctions Clothing for Pet Charities
"American Idol" judge Paula Abdul is conducting an online auction of thousands of her articles of designer clothing to benefit the American Humane Association’s Pets and Women’s Shelters (PAWS) program, Guide Dogs of America and the Petco Foundation. Launched June 29, the auction is being conducted in cooperation with Auction Cause, a business that helps raise money for various causes using eBay. Abdul is the national spokesperson for the PAWS program, which works with domestic violence shelters to allow women to take their pets with them to the shelters to keep them safe as they make a major life change.
“The PAWS program is a critical way of providing a transition for abused women and children into a safer and better life,” Abdul said in a press release. “I feel privileged to be involved with this extremely important and necessary program.”
The Petco Foundation promotes a wide variety of educational and charitable activities nationwide by partnering with approximately 5,700 local animal welfare organizations.
The auction includes items designed by Dolce and Gabbana, Pucci, Burberry, Vivienne Westwood and Zac Posen, among others. Some are brand new; others were worn at red-carpet events, on "American Idol" or at other public appearances. Each item won in the auction will come with a thank-you letter hand signed by Abdul.
“These clothes have been a joy to wear, but it’s an even greater joy to pass them on and help a great cause at the same time,” Abdul said.
The auction will be ongoing at Abdul's eBay store for the next few months, with new items added regularly. Abdul will be donating 10 percent of the proceeds from the auction to PAWS and will make donations to the other two charities privately.
“The PAWS program is a critical way of providing a transition for abused women and children into a safer and better life,” Abdul said in a press release. “I feel privileged to be involved with this extremely important and necessary program.”
The Petco Foundation promotes a wide variety of educational and charitable activities nationwide by partnering with approximately 5,700 local animal welfare organizations.
The auction includes items designed by Dolce and Gabbana, Pucci, Burberry, Vivienne Westwood and Zac Posen, among others. Some are brand new; others were worn at red-carpet events, on "American Idol" or at other public appearances. Each item won in the auction will come with a thank-you letter hand signed by Abdul.
“These clothes have been a joy to wear, but it’s an even greater joy to pass them on and help a great cause at the same time,” Abdul said.
The auction will be ongoing at Abdul's eBay store for the next few months, with new items added regularly. Abdul will be donating 10 percent of the proceeds from the auction to PAWS and will make donations to the other two charities privately.
World’s Tallest Dog Dies
On Friday, August 7 at 10 a.m., 7-year-old harlequin Great Dane Gibson died from osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, four months after his diagnosis. Gibson, who stood 42.6 inches tall from ground to top of shoulders, was the Guinness Book of World Records world’s tallest dog and recent nominee for an American Kennel Club Award for Canine Excellence for work as a therapy dog Gibson’s front right leg recently was amputated to prevent the disease from spreading, and the dog received follow-up chemotherapy treatments. Although early tests showed positive results, Gibson’s owner, Sandy Hall of Albuquerque, N.M., was informed that the cancer had spread to the dog’s lungs and spine. The vet, Peter Walsh, concluded that no further medical treatment would save him.
Hall, who launched Three Paws for the Cause, an initiative to raise awareness of canine cancer, decided the best option was to euthanize Gibson. According to Walsh, “Gibson died peacefully in the loving arms of Ms. Hall.”
Brewster, a dog sired by Gibson, will accompany Hall during her bus tour across the United States to continue to raise awareness of canine cancer.
Hall, who launched Three Paws for the Cause, an initiative to raise awareness of canine cancer, decided the best option was to euthanize Gibson. According to Walsh, “Gibson died peacefully in the loving arms of Ms. Hall.”
Brewster, a dog sired by Gibson, will accompany Hall during her bus tour across the United States to continue to raise awareness of canine cancer.
Study Shows Microchips Help Find Lost Pets
Pets who are microchipped have a better chance of being returned to their owner after entering an animal shelter than those who are not, according to a recent study by Linda Lord, D.V.M., Ph.D., assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Ohio State and service head for Community Practice, Outreach and Shelter Medicine.
Specifically, the return-to-owner rate for cats was 20 times higher and for dogs 2.5 times higher for microchipped pets than were the rates of return for all stray cats and dogs that had entered the shelter.
“This is the first time there has been good data about the success of shelters finding the owners of pets with microchips,” Lord said. “We found that shelters did much better than they thought they did at returning animals with microchips to their owners.”
For the study, 53 shelters in 23 states agreed to maintain monthly records about microchipped animals taken to the facilities. Only shelters that automatically conduct scans for microchips on all animals were eligible to participate. Collectively, there were 7,704 microchipped animals that entered the shelters for the duration of the study: August 2007 to March 2008.
Strays made up slightly more than half of the animals tracked in the study, or 53 percent. About 42 percent of the animals had been surrendered by their owners and were not factored into the return-to-owner rate.
In all, owners were found for 72.7 percent of microchipped animals. Among those found, 73.9 percent of the owners wanted the animals back in their homes.
Although the study supports micochipping as a valuable permanent way to identify, issues related to registration may undermine its overall potential, according to Lord.
“In the study, the biggest reason owners couldn’t be found was because of an incorrect or disconnected phone number in the registration database,” she said. “The chip is only as good as my ability as a pet owner to keep my information up to date in the registry.”
In the cases in which owners were not found, 35.4 percent was attributed to incorrect or disconnected phone numbers, 24.3 percent was owners’ failure to return phone calls or respond to letters, 9.8 percent was attributed to unregistered microchips and 17.2 percent because microchips were registered in a database that differed from the manufacturer.
Most people who obtain a microchip for their pet register their contact information with the chip’s manufacturer, Lord said. However, a pet owner can also register with another company. In addition, many animal shelters keep their own microchip registry databases.
Still, veterinarians can further help in the recovery process by telling clients about the importance of registration, according to Lord.
Lord also noted that no animal identification is more effective than a tag on a collar that includes the pet’s name and the owner’s phone number.
Lord conducted the study with co-authors Walter Ingwersen, D.V.M., DVSc, Dipl. ACVIM, of Boehringer Ingelheim Canada’s Vetmedica Division; Janet Gray, D.V.M., a veterinarian in Redmond, Wash.; and David Wintz of the Larimer Humane Society in Fort Collins, Colo.
The study was published in the July 15 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Specifically, the return-to-owner rate for cats was 20 times higher and for dogs 2.5 times higher for microchipped pets than were the rates of return for all stray cats and dogs that had entered the shelter.
“This is the first time there has been good data about the success of shelters finding the owners of pets with microchips,” Lord said. “We found that shelters did much better than they thought they did at returning animals with microchips to their owners.”
For the study, 53 shelters in 23 states agreed to maintain monthly records about microchipped animals taken to the facilities. Only shelters that automatically conduct scans for microchips on all animals were eligible to participate. Collectively, there were 7,704 microchipped animals that entered the shelters for the duration of the study: August 2007 to March 2008.
Strays made up slightly more than half of the animals tracked in the study, or 53 percent. About 42 percent of the animals had been surrendered by their owners and were not factored into the return-to-owner rate.
In all, owners were found for 72.7 percent of microchipped animals. Among those found, 73.9 percent of the owners wanted the animals back in their homes.
Although the study supports micochipping as a valuable permanent way to identify, issues related to registration may undermine its overall potential, according to Lord.
“In the study, the biggest reason owners couldn’t be found was because of an incorrect or disconnected phone number in the registration database,” she said. “The chip is only as good as my ability as a pet owner to keep my information up to date in the registry.”
In the cases in which owners were not found, 35.4 percent was attributed to incorrect or disconnected phone numbers, 24.3 percent was owners’ failure to return phone calls or respond to letters, 9.8 percent was attributed to unregistered microchips and 17.2 percent because microchips were registered in a database that differed from the manufacturer.
Most people who obtain a microchip for their pet register their contact information with the chip’s manufacturer, Lord said. However, a pet owner can also register with another company. In addition, many animal shelters keep their own microchip registry databases.
Still, veterinarians can further help in the recovery process by telling clients about the importance of registration, according to Lord.
Lord also noted that no animal identification is more effective than a tag on a collar that includes the pet’s name and the owner’s phone number.
Lord conducted the study with co-authors Walter Ingwersen, D.V.M., DVSc, Dipl. ACVIM, of Boehringer Ingelheim Canada’s Vetmedica Division; Janet Gray, D.V.M., a veterinarian in Redmond, Wash.; and David Wintz of the Larimer Humane Society in Fort Collins, Colo.
The study was published in the July 15 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Three Dogs in Danger After Fight With Rabid Bat
Ric Metts of Cleveland, Texas, returned home one recent evening and was told by his nephew, Caleb, that his three dogs had caught a bat. The dogs – a 2-year-old Boston Terrier named Carter, an 18-month-old Smooth Fox Terrier named Fee and a 5-month-old Wire Fox Terrier named Mark – had been playing in the backyard and, before Caleb could stop them, they had used their natural terrier instincts for hunting to attack the bat. What happened next was every dog owner’s worst nightmare. After putting on thick gloves, Caleb removed the still-live bat from the yard and put it in a plastic bag. He then burned the gloves. When Metts came home and heard the story, he consulted his local veterinary clinic, which told him to send the bat to the Animal Control’s bite division for rabies testing.
Rabies is a deadly virus. Once an animal is infected, the disease spreads through the nerves and to the brain and, eventually, to the salivary glands, from where it can be transmitted to humans and other warm-blooded animals, usually through biting. It is uncommon in dogs and especially rare in humans, but it is fatal if not quickly treated, and causes a variety of symptoms, including aggression and difficulty breathing.
The state of Texas, where Metts and his dogs live, requires that all domestic dogs and cats be vaccinated against rabies by 4 months of age. An additional booster is required one year after the first vaccination, and must be repeated in three-year intervals. However, the vaccine does not guarantee protection against infection; it simply lowers animals’ chances of contraction. Thankfully, all three of Metts’ dogs, including the puppy, had had at least one rabies vaccine prior to their encounter with the bat.
Six days after sending the bat off, Metts received word it had tested positive for rabies. He was also told that the state of Texas recommends euthanasia for all dogs under the age of 3 who have had contact with a rabid animal, to prevent further transmission of the disease. All three of Metts’ dogs are under the age of 3.
Distraught, Metts asked his veterinarian, Cara Campbell, D.V.M., what she recommended. She advised him against euthanasia unless absolutely necessary – if the dogs tested positive for rabies. She also told him to have the dogs given rabies boosters immediately. His nephew, Caleb, wasn’t bitten, so he is safe from the disease.
It can take three to eight weeks for the rabies virus to incubate in dogs (three to six weeks in humans), so Metts won’t know for a while whether his dogs contracted the disease. Fortunately, dogs aren’t very susceptible to rabies, so their chances of infection are low.
But because rabies is such a dangerous disease, Metts has been advised to keep his three dogs quarantined for 90 days, which he is able to do on his property’s kennel facility. The dogs will also need three rabies boosters and then they will be tested.
Campbell and Metts strongly advocate vaccinating all pets against rabies. Campbell recommends vaccinating adult dogs once a year, and says that puppies should have booster shots one to two months after the first vaccine. Federal law mandates that all domestic dogs and cats be vaccinated, but unfortunately, many aren’t, risking the transmission of rabies to both pets and humans.
When purchasing or adopting a pet, make sure the animal has been properly vaccinated against rabies. “I am amazed at the number of breeders that do not vaccinate for rabies,” Metts says. Metts and Campbell hope that Metts’ story will inspire more people to get their pets vaccinated.
All that’s left for Metts to do now is wait and hope for the best.
Rabies is a deadly virus. Once an animal is infected, the disease spreads through the nerves and to the brain and, eventually, to the salivary glands, from where it can be transmitted to humans and other warm-blooded animals, usually through biting. It is uncommon in dogs and especially rare in humans, but it is fatal if not quickly treated, and causes a variety of symptoms, including aggression and difficulty breathing.
The state of Texas, where Metts and his dogs live, requires that all domestic dogs and cats be vaccinated against rabies by 4 months of age. An additional booster is required one year after the first vaccination, and must be repeated in three-year intervals. However, the vaccine does not guarantee protection against infection; it simply lowers animals’ chances of contraction. Thankfully, all three of Metts’ dogs, including the puppy, had had at least one rabies vaccine prior to their encounter with the bat.
Six days after sending the bat off, Metts received word it had tested positive for rabies. He was also told that the state of Texas recommends euthanasia for all dogs under the age of 3 who have had contact with a rabid animal, to prevent further transmission of the disease. All three of Metts’ dogs are under the age of 3.
Distraught, Metts asked his veterinarian, Cara Campbell, D.V.M., what she recommended. She advised him against euthanasia unless absolutely necessary – if the dogs tested positive for rabies. She also told him to have the dogs given rabies boosters immediately. His nephew, Caleb, wasn’t bitten, so he is safe from the disease.
It can take three to eight weeks for the rabies virus to incubate in dogs (three to six weeks in humans), so Metts won’t know for a while whether his dogs contracted the disease. Fortunately, dogs aren’t very susceptible to rabies, so their chances of infection are low.
But because rabies is such a dangerous disease, Metts has been advised to keep his three dogs quarantined for 90 days, which he is able to do on his property’s kennel facility. The dogs will also need three rabies boosters and then they will be tested.
Campbell and Metts strongly advocate vaccinating all pets against rabies. Campbell recommends vaccinating adult dogs once a year, and says that puppies should have booster shots one to two months after the first vaccine. Federal law mandates that all domestic dogs and cats be vaccinated, but unfortunately, many aren’t, risking the transmission of rabies to both pets and humans.
When purchasing or adopting a pet, make sure the animal has been properly vaccinated against rabies. “I am amazed at the number of breeders that do not vaccinate for rabies,” Metts says. Metts and Campbell hope that Metts’ story will inspire more people to get their pets vaccinated.
All that’s left for Metts to do now is wait and hope for the best.
Bulldog Wins First VPI Hambone Award
Lulu, a 2-year-old pacifier-eating Bulldog, recently received Veterinary Pet Insurance’s first Hambone Award, which honors the most unusual Pet insurance claim of the year. Owners Jennifer and David Zwart of Warson Woods, Mo., thought their daughter’s missing pacifiers had just been misplaced. One day, however, Jennifer caught Lulu eating a pacifier that had dropped on the floor. She immediately took Lulu to the veterinarian where an X-ray revealed a large foreign mass in Lulu’s stomach. Surgery was performed, revealing 15 baby pacifiers, a bottle cap and piece of a basketball.
Lulu’s subsequent pet health insurance claim was one of 12 claims nominated by VPI. The public then voted in September for their favorite story. Out of the more than 3,400 votes, Lulu won with nearly three times more votes than the first runner up.
The VPI Hambone Award is named in honor of a VPI-insured dog who got stuck in a refrigerator and ate an entire Thanksgiving ham before being found. He had a mild case of hypothermia but recovered.
As the winner, Lulu’s owners received a bronze trophy in the shape of ham, a gift basket and an upcoming appearance on the “Rachael Ray Show.”
All pets considered for the award made full recoveries and received insurance reimbursements for eligible expenses.
Lulu’s subsequent pet health insurance claim was one of 12 claims nominated by VPI. The public then voted in September for their favorite story. Out of the more than 3,400 votes, Lulu won with nearly three times more votes than the first runner up.
The VPI Hambone Award is named in honor of a VPI-insured dog who got stuck in a refrigerator and ate an entire Thanksgiving ham before being found. He had a mild case of hypothermia but recovered.
As the winner, Lulu’s owners received a bronze trophy in the shape of ham, a gift basket and an upcoming appearance on the “Rachael Ray Show.”
All pets considered for the award made full recoveries and received insurance reimbursements for eligible expenses.
H1N1 Test for Dogs and Cats Now Available
Idexx Reference Laboratories of Westbrook, Maine, reported Tuesday that it has introduced a canine and feline H1N1 Influenza Virus RealPCR Test. The test, which is in response to concern about the spread of the virus, is designed to help veterinarians diagnose and manage patients with suspected respiratory infection.
To date, H1N1 has been detected in cats, ferrets, pigs and birds, including turkeys. Two dogs in China also recently tested positive for the virus, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, which cited the Xinhua News Agency on Nov. 28. Specifics of the China cases were not available at press time.
“The clinical signs of the H1N1 virus are likely to resemble other canine and feline respiratory infections,” said Christian Leutenegger, D.V.M., Ph.D., regional head of molecular diagnostics at Idexx Reference Laboratories.
“Offering the H1N1 Influenza Virus RealPCR Test with the Feline Upper Respiratory Disease and Canine Respiratory Disease RealPCR panels will help practitioners identify and differentiate multiple causes of respiratory infection for improved diagnosis and patient management,” Leutenegger said.
The same test is used to detect the virus in cats, dogs and other mammals, including ferrets, according to Dr. Leutenegger.
So far, it is believed that the infected pets contracted the virus from humans in their households who were sick with influenza-like symptoms. While there is no evidence these pets spread the virus to other animals or people, the potential exists for the H1N1 virus to infect companion animals as a result of close contact with infected family members, according to Idexx Reference Laboratories.
Still, the number of H1N1 pet-related cases is relatively small overall. When asked if these numbers are expected to increase, Leutenegger responded, “As testing for a particular infectious disease increases, this normally increases the number of positives detected. We do expect [the number of positive virus cases] to increase as doctors try to deliver the best care possible to their patients.”
To date, H1N1 has been detected in cats, ferrets, pigs and birds, including turkeys. Two dogs in China also recently tested positive for the virus, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, which cited the Xinhua News Agency on Nov. 28. Specifics of the China cases were not available at press time.
“The clinical signs of the H1N1 virus are likely to resemble other canine and feline respiratory infections,” said Christian Leutenegger, D.V.M., Ph.D., regional head of molecular diagnostics at Idexx Reference Laboratories.
“Offering the H1N1 Influenza Virus RealPCR Test with the Feline Upper Respiratory Disease and Canine Respiratory Disease RealPCR panels will help practitioners identify and differentiate multiple causes of respiratory infection for improved diagnosis and patient management,” Leutenegger said.
The same test is used to detect the virus in cats, dogs and other mammals, including ferrets, according to Dr. Leutenegger.
So far, it is believed that the infected pets contracted the virus from humans in their households who were sick with influenza-like symptoms. While there is no evidence these pets spread the virus to other animals or people, the potential exists for the H1N1 virus to infect companion animals as a result of close contact with infected family members, according to Idexx Reference Laboratories.
Still, the number of H1N1 pet-related cases is relatively small overall. When asked if these numbers are expected to increase, Leutenegger responded, “As testing for a particular infectious disease increases, this normally increases the number of positives detected. We do expect [the number of positive virus cases] to increase as doctors try to deliver the best care possible to their patients.”
World’s ‘Ugliest Dog’ Goes Caroling
Rascal, voted one of the world’s ugliest dogs at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif., has recorded a funny holiday e-card to celebrate the season. The video shows the Chinese Crested caroling the tune “Silent Night” and flanked by two burly canine sidekicks. In the video Rascal, who belts out the tune like a four-legged Pavarotti, is so ugly he’s cute.
Rascal, now 12, won the “World’s Ugliest Dog” competition in 2002, and has appeared in several movies since, says owner Dane Andrew, also an actor.
“Horror movies just love him because he’s so strange looking,” Andrew said in an interview with the Palm Desert Sun.
Rascal has appeared in “Tele-Zombie” and “Curse of the Smoke O’Lantern,” and on talk shows “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “The View.”
Not surprisingly, Andrew doesn’t agree with Rascal’s unflattering title. “I don’t think he’s ugly at all.”
Rascal, now 12, won the “World’s Ugliest Dog” competition in 2002, and has appeared in several movies since, says owner Dane Andrew, also an actor.
“Horror movies just love him because he’s so strange looking,” Andrew said in an interview with the Palm Desert Sun.
Rascal has appeared in “Tele-Zombie” and “Curse of the Smoke O’Lantern,” and on talk shows “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “The View.”
Not surprisingly, Andrew doesn’t agree with Rascal’s unflattering title. “I don’t think he’s ugly at all.”
