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May 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment

List of Common Household Items Toxic to Pets

We often forget how hazardous common items and foods can be for our pets.  Below is a comprehensive list of items to keep away from your pets.  This is a great list to keep on your refrigerator or someplace accessible to the whole family.  In addition to this list keep the phone numbers for your local veterinarian and emergency veterinarian visible as well.  It is important to stay calm and act quickly when a pet has consumed something toxic.  Even after ingesting many of these items, it can take several hours for your pet to show symptoms. If you have witnessed your pet ingesting something or just suspect that your pet has consumed something dangerous contact your veterinarian immediately.

Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet

  • Alcoholic beverages

  • Avocado

  • Chocolate (all forms)

  • Coffee (all forms)

  • Fatty foods

  • Macadamia nuts

  • Moldy or spoiled foods

  • Onions, onion powder

  • Raisins and grapes

  • Salt

  • Yeast dough

  • Garlic

  • Products sweetened with xylitol (most sugar free gum contains xylitol)

Other Household items

  • Citronella candles

  • Cocoa mulch

  • Compost piles Fertilizers

  • Swimming-pool treatment supplies

  • Fly baits containing methomyl

  • Slug and snail baits containing metaldehyde

  • Prescription medications

  • Antifreeze

  • Liquid potpourri

  • Ice melting products

  • Rat and mouse bait

  • Fabric softener sheets

 

Guest post by Leslie Cook - Lifelong animal lover and pet boutique owner of Woof Life in Crown Point, IN, with a passion for proactive pet care. If you are in the area please stop by and visit our store – http://www.wooflife.com/

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December 2, 2012 By 1 Comment

Performance Dog Play

Should I let my performance dog play with other dogs? My dog may suffer an injury.

This is a common concern for canine athlete owners and trainers; injuries in general are concerns, so why take a risk with an athlete that will have to perform? The thought about not letting them play with other dogs to reduce the chance of injuries is common however is it right? In one study performance dog play with the human handler is important especially right before an event. It helps with keeping the dog focused during the event. But how about dog on dog play? Should you let your prized performance dog play with that other dog?  - You want the short opinionated answer, yes you should allow your performance dog to play with other dogs.

Let’s go through my reasoning for allowing performance dogs to play.

First – your fear here is injuries,right? Why are you letting your dog do an athletic event in the first place? It is much more likely to be injured in its sport than playing with another dog. The most common type of injuries in performance dogs are repetitive stress injuries – shoulder instability, carpal strains, cruciate ruptures, and tendon/ligament strains/tears.The most frequent type of injuries that veterinarians see are broken bones from car accidents and other equally severely traumatic events and then the next most common has to be cruciate ruptures. In canine sport medicine practices cruciates and other tendon/ligament injuries are the most common – the repetitive stress injuries. Besides lacerations to ears and the skin on other areas of the body, dog play does not cause very many injuries and the injuries that it does cause are not likely to affect performance.

Second – dogs are pack animals. The nature of a dog is to be and interact with other dogs and that includes playing. Apologies to my single dog family homes for the next statement, but dogs that are not allowed to interact with other dogs are more likely to have behavior disorders. So for the mind of the performance dog, it would be best to allow the dog to have its natural tendencies and then control/moderate the activity. Dog play is going to help the dog in other aspects, such as relaxation (we all know – all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy), develops coordination and muscle development utilizing different muscles than the normal routine of training which will help balance, and can learn from the other dog such as restraint and impulse control.

Lastly – is your dog a superstar, and no, not in your own mind? Is it one of the top dogs in the nation? Are you going for your second national title in your chosen canine sport? If you are, then you are in the top 1% (and I am being generous) of canine performance dog owners. So then why do all these owners do it, when only a select handful make it to the top? Very few are making money from it, even some of the top are spending money not making it. It must not be about being the top or about making money, it has to be about something else. For the majority, it is about having fun with the dog. OK, then how about it? You are going to prevent your dog from having fun, because you have a fear that it is possibly going to injure itself so that it will not miss out on the opportunity to perform something else that is fun but is more likely to cause injury? How does that make any sense?

Let the dog be a dog and let your performance dog play! There is much less of a chance of injury playing than in the sport itself, it helps the behavior and mind set of the dog and its fun!

Do you really want to prevent performance related injuries, then stop worrying about your performance dog playing with other dogs and condition your dog against the repetitive stress injuries by purchasing (and then using) one of  Dr. Chris Zink’s Canine Sports Production books,  Clean Run’s Canine Fitness and Conditioning videos,  or Dr. Debbie Gross Saunders’ Strengthening and Stretching the Performance Dog  videos. You will have a happier and healthier performance dog!

 

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November 8, 2012 By 3 Comments

Lepto Vaccine: Should I or Shouldn’t I

I am asked quite often if a dog owner should be giving a Leptospirosis vaccine to their dog. In typical non-committal the owner makes the final decisions about their dog fashion I usually answer – “it depends”.

lepto raccoonTo be honest I am on the fence about it. In Illinois and in Indiana, which is where I live, it is endemic. Meaning it is all over the place here. There are estimates of 50% of the raccoon population carry the disease. Lepto is transmissible to humans and you can get it from your infected dog. Your dog can die from the disease or it can cause permanent kidney disease in dogs and humans. For those reasons it is important to vaccinate. In fact most veterinarians stop right there when describing lepto in order to convince you how necessary it is for your dog to receive the vaccine. It can be a scary disease.

So why would I be on the fence about such a horrific disease? Well, Lepto is a bacteria (spirochete) so the vaccine is not as long lasting as vaccine that protect against viruses, and it has to be given every year. In the past, the vaccine produced some significant side effects, the vaccine is cleaner now which has reduced some of the side effects, but it seems that some dogs are still experiencing them. Lepto has numerous strains more than 20, the vaccine protects only against 4 (the most common ones), so even if your dog is vaccinated it still can contract lepto, become sick and possibly transmit it to you or your children. 

So if you have a healthy dog and you have wildlife in your backyard or you have a dog that does spend time out in the woods, ponds, or areas that are known to have a lot of wildlife then the Lepto vaccination would be appropriate. However, if your dog has allergies or other immune system issues then you need to consider that giving an annual vaccine is not the best for the health of your dog. Also one thing to know is that lepto is not a death sentence. It is a bacterial infection and if caught early can be treated successfully with no long term effects. It has to be caught, tested for, and treated. There in lies the problem. Many owners are slow to bring the dog to the vet and many vets do not think of lepto first when the dog comes in lethargic with signs of a urinary tract infection, because it usually isn’t. Most of the time symptoms like that  is a simple bacterial infection not a kidney destroying life threatening zoonotic (that means humans can catch it) disease. The main difference is usually lethargy, if the dog is acting sick and has a urinary tract infection it is important to test for Lepto especially in endemic areas.

If you have more questions then ask away in the comment section below.


Here are a couple of articles with other opinions - 
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/09/20/pet-owners-love.aspx
http://www.pet-health-care-gazette.com/2010/10/02/canine-leptospirosis-vaccination-pros-and-cons/
http://www.2ndchance.info/leptospirosis.htm

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November 6, 2012 By 2 Comments

Epidemic Canine Obesity: Killing Them With Kindness

Fat dog ObesityEveryday I see it, the pudgy dog whose owner just loves them to death literally. There is an epidemic in this country with obesity and that includes our dogs. Obesity in dogs, as in humans, leads to several health problems such as diabetes, respiratory issues, skin conditions and most important from my perspective on canine movement is osteoarthritis. Yes, osteoarthritis can be caused by canine obesity. Your dog being overweight puts more stress, strain, and ultimately more inflammation on joints and leads to destruction of the cartilage. So these owners with the little pudgy dogs that can’t help themselves and just have to feed that cute little face are killing them with their kindness.

What is very interesting is owner’s perception of their dog being overweight versus what we as veterinarians perceive as overweight. It is a sensitive subject for owners that their dog is fat. A British study published last year shows “Although a high proportion of owners claimed to have discussed the dog’s weight with their veterinarian, some discrepancies were apparent between owner perception of animal weight and the veterinarian’s evaluation of body condition score. Owner disagreement was significantly greater for the veterinarian-defined overweight dogs (P=0·005). Owners often provide personal narratives to account for their dog’s weight status.” The study concluded that verbal communication should not be the only information given to an owner of an overweight dog.

There have been several other studies recently in regards to the prevention and/or the decrease in progression of arthritis in dogs that were fed restricted calorie diets. A diet of only 25% reduction in calories has shown to decrease the incidence of arthritis in elbows, hips, and shoulders of dogs and it was noted in one study that it increased the average age of the dogs by almost 2 years!

Talk to your vet, talk to a canine nutritionist about how to feed your dog appropriately. Realize that the dog food companies are trying to sell you food and that the amounts on the bag that they recommend feeding are only estimates and of course they are on the high side for most dogs because the more your dog eats the more food you will buy. If your dog is already overweight do not treat him like a human and feed a diet high in fiber that will just produce gas. I know that those of you that have tried the store bought “diet” foods have experienced the problem with high fiber diets and your dog really is the one to blame for clearing a room. The first order of business is to talk to your vet, have an exam and possibly some blood tests to be sure your dog does not have an underlying condition causing him to be overweight; however in my experience it usually is the amount and quality of food being fed.

The best steps to take (after the visit to the vet) for the overweight dog is to go to a diet that is species appropriate which means for your dog a carnivorous or meat based diet with no grain. Similar to people some dogs have a problem with grain and especially gluten and no not celiac disease but rather grains being pro-inflammatory, meaning it promotes inflammation. Increased inflammation in the body can lead to weight gain, similar to people that have a puffy appearance. It makes it very difficult to lose weight. It is best to feed your dog a meat based, grain free diet and count the calories. Use the following formula for an estimate of what your dog requires for calories per day Calories = 132 x (body weight in kilograms) X 0.75

For example the daily energy requirements of a 20 lb dog -

Convert pounds to kilograms ( 1 lbs = 0.454 kg)
20 lbs x 0.454 = 9.08 kg

Determine the metabolic body weight (kg0.75)
9.08 x .75 = 6.81

Multiply metabolic body weight by 132 (for the average dog)
6.81 x 132 = 898.92 or 900 kcal per day

So a 20 lb dog needs only 900 kcal per day total. To do a reducing diet you need to reduce the calories by 25% which is 75% of the total 900 X .75 = 675 kcal per day.

You can calculate an estimate of calories of the food you are feeding by using University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine formula of 3.5 kcal per gram of protein and carbohydrates and 8.5 kcal per gram of fat. Just use the percentages found on the side of the bag and weigh a cup of the food to determine how many calories are in each cup. You will find some interesting results and that maybe, just maybe, you have been overfeeding your dog.

Remember a thin dog is a healthy dog and a long lived dog, one that is not as likely to have arthritis or other diseases. So the next time you go to give that begging fat face a treat just because he wants it; realize he doesn’t know what you know – he doesn’t know you are killing him :-)

Another great article with even more specifics – Pet Food Calorie Mis-Information

A dog food calculator – Dog Food Calculator

Filed Under: Dog Health, Nutrition
October 16, 2011 By 1 Comment

Dog Chocolate Toxicity Revisted

It is that time of year again it’s Chocolate season! It starts with Halloween and ends at Christmas. This is where us humans gain several pounds due to good food and even better candy. Chocolate is a favorite of mine and truly a favorite of many. However our dogs should not be indulging in chocolate, it is toxic to them. Depending on how much your dog weighs and how much your dog eats will decide whether your dog will be OK, have gastrointestinal symptoms, have seizures or even die.

It is the theobromine that is in chocolate that is really toxic to dogs and certain chocolate is much more toxic than other types. Depending on how much theobromine is in the chocolate will decide on how toxic. For example White Chocolate has very little theobromine and it takes quite a large amount to be toxic in dogs, in comparison baking chocolate or real cocoa is highly toxic to dogs, because it has a lot of theobromine.

Usually I tell people to go to the cool interactive chart offered several years ago by National Geographic – it still available here – National Geographic Chocolate Chart

However this year a fellow veterinarian, Dr Marie from AskAVetAQuestion.com offered me a free Chocolate Toxicity Calculator to put right here on my site. So thanks Dr. Marie!

Calculator provided by Ask A Vet Question.

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March 22, 2011 By 6 Comments

Raw Dog Food Company seeking more veterinarians

With the wider acceptance of raw feeding for dogs, meaning feeding uncooked meats, with bone and vegetables and seeing how it is helping a number of dogs with health issues and improving overall health for dogs,  a couple of companies are reaching out to vets and have veterinary programs to help veterinarians determine when and how to institute a raw feeding program for their clients.
Nature's Variety Raw Food

Nature’s Variety has a program helping vets become more aware and more knowledgeable about raw feeding. I have their vet packet in front of me, which is filled with information and ways to find out more information. Interesting information such as case studies, online resources and a good explanation on why their raw food is safe, using High Pressure Pasteurization (HPP) which kills harmful bacteria but does not affect proteins, enzymes, nutrients, prebiotics, vitamins or minerals.

Nature’s Variety has been helping vets get over the other hurdle of feeding raw by going through the process of AAFCO food trials to be certified complete and balanced. According to NV they are the 1st and only raw food company to have done this; not that it matters to most raw feeders, but it does matter to the scientific community including veterinarians.

Some of the disease conditions that vets use nutrition to help treat that can be benefited by raw feeding are food allergies, obesity, digestive disorders, skin and coat disorders and diabetes.  I am really impressed by this company taking the time to try and integrate the raw feeding world and bring it to the scientifically based veterinary community that many times is concerned with new and non-traditional ways of treating pets and improving their health.

What are your thoughts? Would you like to see more companies like Nature’s Variety go mainstream and try to connect with more veterinarians or do you think raw feeding is a fad and will die off or become a cult for a select few?

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March 15, 2011 By 21 Comments

THE 10 Best Websites For Dog Lovers

OK So this really is not THE 10 Best Websites For Dog Lovers but rather a difference of opinion to an article on Business Insider with the same title.  I firmly believe there is no such list as the 10 BEST websites. Opinions change,  websites change at a rapid pace, and it is difficult with all the information available out there and with all the websites out there what criteria do you use to say a website  is THE best? So why am I writing this then?

It is blatantly obvious in Evan Britton’s article The 10 Best Websites For  Dog Lovers (click for the article) that the sites he chose are not based on proper research but something else. I am not sure if it is, as some of the commentors wrote, just the paid or sponsored websites that are being mentioned in the list or ignorance. Is it he threw a list together with no research and just put familiar names he knew just so he could promote his own two websites in the list…and what is with that? I know I am very proud of my own website here and I do promote it but to call it one of the top websites for dog lovers is reaching a little and so is Evan.  I don’t know how he formulated his list but in my opinion it is NOT the best list.

So I decided using my own dog knowledge with a slant on what is best for a dog’s health, based on popularity of the passionate dog owners, caretakers and professionals that I interact with, along with finding some of the least biased information I could on the topics Evan suggested in his list, to formulate what I would consider THE 10 Best Websites For Dog Lovers list. Please passionate dog lovers please correct my list in the comments and we can provide an even better list than THE best. :-)

1. Pet Food – OK just giving a store and a big chain at that as your BEST website for dog food? There are some big changes happening in the pet food industry especially with the dog food recalls going on. Many pet owners need more knowledge about pet food and what is best for their dog. Besides there are so many online stores that will ship dog food to your door with the same if not better customer service than PetCo. Not that PetCo is bad just not the best. How about a couple websites telling you which dog food is the best and why?
Dog Food Analysis and Dog Food Scoop. These two sites will help you choose the best kibble for your dog that is if you are not cooking for your dog or feeding raw which would be better for most dogs anyway.

2. Dog Breeders – Not even going to go there.  Full disclosure here – I have a purebred, but for a specific purpose and if you want a purebred for a specific purpose then fine do research and choose an appropriate breeder by going through the appropriate channels which is not going to the website mentioned on Evan’s list! However if you are looking for a family pet and want to really feel good about getting a dog that really needs you check out one of the best websites for dog adoption – Pet Finder

3. Puppy Names – his website was mentioned here. Um – Ok it probably is a fun website but whatever – NOT a 10 best website.

4. Dog Whisperer & 9. Common Dog Problems – Both of the sites he mentions for these categories are single person trainers. One trainer is not the best for everyone. Even though these sites provide a lot of information for helping you, they provide a lot more by purchasing something. Fine everyone needs to make a living, but is Cesar’s Way the best way? Well even Cesar himself will tell you that it is best if you are having behavior problems with your dog to have a trained professional work personally with you to help solve the problem. So why not a website that will provide you the information to search for such a trainer? Purdue University has a dog behavior modification course and provides a list of individuals that have completed the course. Another list of trainers can be found at Truly Dog Friendly, which is a list of trainers that use training methods that are pain free.  Or if you want to do it yourself but can’t decide which method/s to use how about a scientific approach to dog training? Although this website is old (2001) it provides excellent information on training from an educational/scientific standpoint Dr. P’s Dog Training & Behavior. It provides opinions from many different perspectives not just one trainer and one method.

5. Dog Health – He got one right here! But isn’t this where I promote my own website? :-)
Have to admit it, VetInfo is a good solid source of information. With that said, your best source of information about your dog’s health is the veterinarian that is taking care of your dog.

6. Dog Insurance- with all the articles out there bantering back and forth as to whether or not pet insurance is even worth the premiums, I think it is bad form to single out one insurance company as the best. This is especially bad, when you go to the review sites about insurance companies and you find that although the one Evan chose is one of the most popular here in the US, it is not the best as decided by consumers. So now if you do decide that pet insurance is something you want to look into,  how about looking into the choices you have and deciding for yourself which insurance company is right for you – Pet Insurance Review An unbiased look at the options for insurance companies, with customer reviews and ratings.

7. Dog Breeds – OK Dog Breed Info does provide the information on dog breeds but it is not as slick or cool as Animal Planet’s – Dog Breed Directory

8. Labradors – um – his own website I see. Well how about my breedist views – Border Collie ;-)

already did 9 back at 4 since they are basically the same thing.

10. Pet Travel Guides – Another one right! Dog Friendly is a cool website helping dog owners find places while traveling that are dog friendly.

Full disclosure – I do not own or operate any of the sites in this list. :-)

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October 25, 2010 By 5 Comments

Dog Chocolate Toxicity

Happy Halloween! Just a quick post here about keeping an eye on your dog during Halloween. Most Halloween treats are not acceptable for dogs especially anything sugar free made with Xylitol and remember no chocolate.

There is an excellent interactive Chocolate Toxicity Chart showing based on the weight of your dog how much chocolate it can ingest before being a problem.

Check it out at National Geographic – Chocolate Toxicity Chart

Keep your dogs safe and Happy Halloween!!

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October 15, 2010 By 14 Comments

If you were me, what would you do?

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If you could ask your vet anything about the care of your dog what would you ask?

Would you want to know how your vet takes care of his/her dog?

In many situations, I am asked if this were your dog what would you do? That question brings up ethical concerns as well as attachment concerns – but in many cases it is a valid question. If you were me what would you do?

So I am asking YOU – what do you want to know about how I care for my dogs?

Anything is game – vaccinations, feeding, exercise, training, whatever you can think of. What would you like to know?

Reply in the comments and we can discuss it. If your comment is good it may get put into the book that I am writing on this subject.

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October 13, 2010 By 26 Comments

HSUS vs Puppy Mills?

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The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has for years been using funds to promote legislative changes in regards to puppy mills and other large dog facilities. Now this may seem like a noble and right thing for the HSUS to be doing however I think it may be an inappropriate use of funds, especially considering some of the laws or regulatory changes they are promoting are not going to make a lick of difference and considering that HSUS needs to take care of its own issues before complaining about others.

Let me first start by saying, I do think that although puppy mills are a legal form of business, it is not an acceptable form of business. It is one in which it does not have the health and welfare of dogs in mind. Puppy mills do not have the best interest of dogs and their breeds as their top priority. Puppy mills should be shut down the way most bad businesses are shut down – don’t buy their product.

In this point I agree with the HSUS from their website (Puppy Mills: FAQ) -

Because most puppy mills are not illegal, we need help from the public to put an end to the consumer demand for their “product.” You can help The HSUS put a stop to puppy mills by getting your next dog from an animal shelter, rescue group, or a humane and reputable breeder that you have carefully screened in person.

The focus should be on public education. Letting people in the general public considering purchasing a puppy from a puppy mill or a dog store what they are getting and how that puppy was produced. It is not an easy task and will take sometime but it is a better choice than trying to regulate and make laws against freedom of business, especially considering the amount of money being spent on trying to regulate something that can not be regulated.

Also from HSUS website -

Only large-scale commercial facilities that breed or broker animals for resale—to pet stores for example—are required to be licensed and inspected by the USDA because they are considered “wholesale” operations. Those that sell directly to the public—thousands of facilities that breed and sell just as many puppies as their wholesale counterparts—are not required to adhere to the Animal Welfare Act or to any federal humane care standards.

Inspection records obtained by The HSUS show that many USDA-licensed breeders get away with repeated violations of the Animal Welfare Act. These violators are rarely fined and their licenses are rarely suspended. Facilities with long histories of repeated violations for basic care conditions are often allowed to renew their licenses again and again.

So this means two things – 1.) The laws/regulations do not and are not enforceable on anyone that does not register with USDA – most Amish puppy mills are not touchable by business laws and regulations 2.) The current laws on the books obviously are there but are not enforced – so making new laws is stupid when the current ones are not even enforced. Are the new laws going to be enforced more, just because they are new?

The major problem with these laws are that they are not enforced. The reason the laws are not enforced? No one to enforce them, no money to enforce them and no place to go with the dogs when they are taken away from the violator. When the dogs are taken from these facilities, many times they are placed in other facilities just as over crowded or they are euthanized. Since breeding dogs is not an illegal business when the laws are enforced and the dogs are taken away from violators, the puppy mills just start over with new dogs. Looking at this honestly there are laws already that exist to prevent puppy mills they are just not enforced.

Looking at the current national story of the Tea Party attempting to block the current Proposition in Missouri. The new proposition makes only 3 changes to the laws that are currently on the books in Missouri in regards to animal facilities.

  1. Limits the amount of breeding animals to 50
  2. Requires resting periods between breedings
  3. Increasing the amount of space that the dogs need to have

The Tea Party’s main complaint is that the Proposition does not include anything as a way to fund or enforce the new regulations. Now in my opinion, this proposition does nothing to change anything. Why should the HSUS waste its money on a law that is not going to change what is going on there?

Lets take out the freedom to do business and the rights of people, I do not want to get into that argument here, lets look at the 3 changes and where I believe they are not going to make a difference.

  1. limit to 50 breeding dogs – Are you kidding? I can run a real good puppy mill with 50 dogs! 8-9 bitches with 1-2 males of 5 of the most common breeds, then my brother can own 50 and my cousin also. We would have a real good puppy mill business.
  2. Resting periods between breedings – how in the world is this going to be enforced?
  3. Increasing the amount of space an individual dog should have – the puppy mills are not following the amount of space requirements that are already on the books in Missouri. If those are not enforced how is this going to change anything?

The HSUS is wasting valuable resources on a bad regulatory change that will not make a lick of difference to the health and welfare of dogs. Even if the proposition passes, the puppy mills will continue to be run in that state despite the new rules.

They are doing this in many states. Trying to limit the amount of dogs people are allowed to own is the main focus of the majority of these bills and propositions. Limiting the number of dogs people own should not be the focus the focus needs to be on the health and welfare of the dogs that are owned. Limiting the number of dogs does nothing – a bad breeder with only 5 dogs can have deplorable conditions.

Talking about deplorable conditions – the HSUS supports facilities that go against the legislation they are trying to push for puppy mills. Not enough space, multiple dogs in cages and runs, not enough man power to keep the facilities clean or to get the dogs exercised. Instead of spending valuable resources on promoting legislation and trying to go toe to toe with the Tea Party, why don’t they try and clean up their own act and provide money to true humane and welfare issues for shelters. There are some shelters and rescue facilities that are fabulous and well maintained, but there are others that are completely disgusting. Lets use the money and resources to help those facilities clean their act up. Pull the wooden beam from thine own eye before pointing at the splinter in someone else’s.

Puppy mills are terrible. The operators have no regard for the health and well being of the dogs and they certainly do not have the best interest of improving the breed of the dogs. They need to be shut down by public education and by not buying their product. The HSUS needs to clean up its own act and not spend the thousands to millions of dollars trying to get legislation passed. Their donations need to be spent on cleaning up the facilities they support making sure they run well and in accordance to the standards they wish others to have and in educating the public. Being involved in politics is not my idea of where the donations of the HSUS should be spent.

If you have a comment please do not hesitate to give me your opinion, below.

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