Dog Channel / Dog Health / All About Dogs

PENNSYLVANIA SB 155 Rabies Waiver Bill

Kris L. Christine — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 02:35:09 GMT

PENNSYLVANIA Rabies Medical Exemption Bill SB 155 before the full Senate Monday 2/11/13.

The bill received unanimous support from the Senate Agriculture Committee Wednesday with an amendment (see amended exemption text Section 2 Subsection F ) and will be considered by the full Senate on Monday February 11, 2013.

What You Can Do to Help

Please contact your Senators & ask them to support SB 155. Share this action alert & ask any of your pet-owning friends in Pennsylvania to contact their Senators to support the bill.

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Dog Mouth Health Problem!

MandyMaltese — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:37:10 GMT

Hello,

My little Maltese,Mandy has had some sort of problem with her mouth for a couple of months now. Up under the insides of her lips is red and a bit sore looking,the edges of her tongue are red and sore at times,which results in her not being able to stick her tongue out as far as usual. She can eat and drink,pant and play with her toys,but if you offer her food from your hand,she cannot open her mouth properly to grab it,it is quite an ordeal to her,yawning is awkward too.

Her breath is absolutely Rancid and never was before she got this problem. Her teeth and gums fine,no redness or anything. Sometimes her nose is quite runny and she gets shivery on occassion. We've been to the vet several times with her. She had some antibiotics twice which fixed her up perfectly,but a week after her pills were done each time,the problem returned. Currently we are trying a water additive that kills bacteria and stuff in the mouth and gums. This has stopped her runny nose and her tongue from being red,but she is still in pain with the rest of it.

Today my Mom is picking up some more stuff from the vet,a "mouth wash" medicine that you wipe around in their mouth.. I have no idea how we will use this stuff on her,her mouth is so sore there's no way she'll let us rub stuff around in there!

Has anybody here had this problem with their dog or cat? How did you fix it? Any help would be great as 2 months of this is way too long for my sweetie!

It's just so odd how it comes back after it goes away with antibiotics. And how she can open her mouth to pant or play and she can *just* manage to eat,yet she can't open it to take food or yawn? I'm just so bewildered and frustrated!

Oh!! Also,do any of you have secrets for handling a snappy dog when you have to go in their mouth? LOL!

Flying with chihuahua, should I sedate her?

Alice01748 — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:12:18 GMT

I have an 8 pound chihuahua and we are traveling from utah to providence. I am taking her on the plane and my vet prescribed acepromazine. They told me to give her .25 mg on a day before the flight so I can see how she reacts and if she needs .5 mg. I have been looking at articles and I am now a bit fearful of giving this drug to her on the plane ride. I have read that she won't be able to control her body temp and that it can be very dangerous in high altitudes. I would never forgive myself if something happened to her. I gave her .25 about 45 minutes so and she seems very drowsy and looks very sad. Any advice on if I should use this or try something else? What are the exact effects for chihuahuas? Any and all information would be helpful

I need help ASAP

Lillatinangel70 — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:21:53 GMT

Hi my name is Angela and I need some help. I have a 12 year old, 2lb Apple-head Chihuahua named Kiara that i took to the vet this morning and x-rays show she has a broken jaw. Bless her heart she just had surgery on Feb 12, 2013 for breast cancer. Being the little fighter that she is, she was making an awesome recovery. I have suffer with Pulmonary Fibrosis, disabled and on a fix income. I spent everything I had on her cancer surgery. She is my baby and as long as she is fighting, I can't give up on her. I paid for some more blood work and x-rays and the blood work was good. But they are calling in a oral surgeon to see what needs to be done. I explained to the vet my situation and she recommend that I go online and inquire about setting up a page for donations from fellow pet lovers. Can anyone help me. I have tried care credit, but with my medical bills I was not approved. I researched Actors and Others, and so forth, but the vet wants payment first. I am using After Hours Animal Hospital in Norwalk, Ca. Please help me.. if you could see the love and determination to fight in her little eyes. The vet said she is not one that has to be put down for her age.. she is a fighter. Please help us!!!!

Dog Neck Problem??

mickey123 — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 23:57:21 GMT

Hi,
I have one Boxer Dog and i want to buy new dog collar so give me your suggestion.

German Shepherd Food Intolerance

quotei — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 21:26:19 GMT

I am not sure what is going on with my dog. He's a 7month old German Shepherd that is constantly putting things he shouldn't in his mouth. All I know for sure is that he's definitely allergic to beef and that he pukes on an empty stomach. When I first bought him I switched him over from the cheap purina puppy food the owner had him on to I can't even remember what now. He didn't do well with it at all. He didn't really like it and I had to bribe him to eat it. So I switched him again and he still wasn't doing well. I thought maybe it was because I was switching his diet too much, so I tried to stick with it, but it didn't get better. Finally I switched him to Earthborn Holllistic Petfood, the Puppy Advantage, and at first he did really well with it. About a month ago, though, he got really sick. He had diarrhea really bad and he was puking because his stomach was empty. He would still eat whatever was put in front of him (mostly chicken and rice) though. I took him to the vet and we put him on special food, antibiotics and probiotics and it took a whole week, but he finally got better. The vet suggested I switch him to a lamb diet, because of the beef allergy and possible chicken allergy, so I switched him to a grain free, lamb meal which was made by Earthborn as well. He was doing really well, eating like I was starving him (even though he gets 5 cups of food a day) and he was doing better than before he got sick.

About a week ago, though, he started to get really reluctant to eat his food in the morning. I had to go back to bribing him. I didn't think anything about it because he was still eating his lunch and dinner fine. (I feed him 3 times a day because of the puking when the stomach is empty issue). After the course of a few weeks, his poop started getting less solid and more mushy, and then finally he got diarrhea (not as bad as before) and was puking again. This time, he refused to eat anything, he wouldn't even eat rice or chicken or any of his treats. It was really upsetting, because I had hoped we finally found something that worked for him. The vet wants me to switch his diet again to a sensitive stomach formula.

I am just wondering if anyone out there has this problem and I wanted to ask what worked for them? What kind of pet food worked best? I was hoping to limit him to 2 meals a day, but I tried that today and he puked between meals. So am I going to have to feed him 3 times a day for the rest of his life?

He does not have worms. He did have roundworms, and ironically so, he hasn't been the same since I treated him for the roundworms. He puked up roundworms about 3 months ago and I got him treated and I've done all the follow up treatments and continue to give him monthly preventive measures. His stomach really hasn't been the same since we eradicated the worms. Also, every time he gets sick, he doesn't seem to lose any energy.

dog allergies !

josif65 — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 09:29:11 GMT

I have a dog from german shepherd breed . its was beautiful dog before

3 month, but now he is a victim of allergies diseases, his complete skin like
eczema , infect insect bit or allergic skin disorder. if any one know , that
what is the treatment for my lovely dog..

Dog won't eat, continues to vomit and sleep

beauteeyvette — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 07:51:33 GMT

Hello

Greetings to all. Hopefully someone here has some experience with this issue and can assist me.

I have a 7-month old rambunctious rat terrier mix. She is truly a handful.

Monday AM- She was fine. I let her outside in the backyard to play with our other dogs. She's the smallest of the bunch.

Monday PM- She was really sluggish when I got in from work. She just wanted to lay around and sleep. I got worried b/c she wouldn't eat any of her favorite treats and when she drank some water, she vomited the water back up.

Tuesday AM- She was still acting the same as the night before. I called the vet to make an appt. for them to see her that day. They stated that she had a slight fever and sent me home with some vetprofen. They ran a heart worm test, it came back negative. They said more than likely she just didn't feel good b/c of the fever. We got back home and she ate a piece of chicken, but totally disregarded all other foods.

Tuesday PM- She was still acting the same. I tried to feed her more food but she refused.

Wednesday AM- She was still acting the same. She continued to drink water and vomit it back up. She just wanted to sleep and drink water. I picked up some Doxycyline antibiotics from the vet.

Wednesday PM- She had a bowel movement and it was ugly. No form whatsoever, looked oily, and was definitely diarrhea. I force fed her some chicken broth and Pedialyte since she hadn't eaten anything since the chicken on Tuesday. She continued to drink water and vomit. I gave her one half of the antibiotic and went to bed. She threw up at least 4 times last night, all water.

Thursday AM- She is still acting the same. Continues to drink water and vomit. I force fed her more chicken broth and Pedialyte and gave her another half of the antibiotic. She is starting to thin out since she isn't eating.

The vets are unsure of what else could be wrong with her. They ran blood tests and everything came back normal. I'm about to lose my mind and I'm out of money to continue taking her to the vet. They told me to just make her comfortable as possible, but I want her better.

Is it possible she got into some rat poison- I have some in my garage- and they didn't detect that in her blood? I don't know what else to think of since she's had all of her vaccinations. None of our other dogs are sick- (Lab, German Shepherd, and 2 Mixed Sheep dogs)

I asked a friend and he told me to go and buy Vitamin K1, but I'm not sure that she even got into the rat poison. If I give her the Vitamin K1 anyway, would it do any additional harm?

Any and all help is appreciated.

Thank You.

What can I do about allergies?

feathers50 — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 07:43:46 GMT

My chihuahua has skin allergies. The vet said most likely pollen and fleas. I've been giving her a brewer's yeast in the morning, linatone oil in the afternoon and have been putting bag balm on her in the evening. Sometimes at night, I give her a antihistamine before bed. She still scratches a lot but less than she used to. Does anyone know of anything else I can do for her? The vet said try to keep her indoors as much as possible, but we live in the country and all the dogs love to go out and play in the yard. he said also that he could give her prednisone but that it's hard on her liver and kidneys. I don't really want to give her that. If anyone has any ideas, I'd really appreciate it.

Dog yelps when she lays down and periodically all the time.

liz63664 — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:32:31 GMT

The puppy was my neighbors dog now she has moved today and we took the puppy in to see about her. I have felt her all over not much to do with this tiny animal she does not weigh much she is a runt for a poodle and chihuahua she is so cute. But back on subject I fear it maybe an ear infection or/and some constipation. She has not ate anything and I keep food down or drank anything that I have seen I brung her in a few hours ago and she is sleeping sitting up with her head leaning on a pillow sitting upright. I would like to give her something until I can get her to the vet

SMALL Urethra??? Is my dog doomed to constant UTIs???

LucysMommy — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:04:24 GMT

Here's what I've been doing to keep Lucy's UTIs in check: daily UTI-Free holistic granules in her food, dried cranberries as doggy treats, lots of walks with frequent pees. Cleansing her vagina with vinegar. Any other ideas???

My dog is allergic to bee stings!

pudelfan — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 14:01:01 GMT

Yesterday afternoon I noticed that one of my dog's eyes was looking funny. Later he vomited several times, and by that night his skin was splotchy and red and his eyes were nearly swollen shut, and he was chewing himself like mad. We gave him some benadryl, and this morning we took him to the vet. The vet said he thought it was probably a bee sting and he was having an allergic reaction. He was given steroids, and he seems fine now. I never ever thought about insects posing a danger to my pooch. Is this going to happen ever time he gets a bee sting? Could it be another kind of insect, and could any kind of insect set him off again? Could future reactions be more severe than this one? Could they be deadly? We have a long and hot and buggy summer here - how can we keep him safe? Could this be something completely different than a bee sting? Any advice from someone who's had this problem with their dog??

worried

Beyond Walks

pudelfan — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 07:47:32 GMT

I have a 4 year old poodle mix. While he is pretty healthy, I tend to worry about his weight, fitness, and mental stimulation. (Probably more than I should, but I figure that's better than ignoring it.) I know he could handle more excercise than he's getting, but our everyday walks are just getting old. They take up a lot of time without getting rid of much of his energy. I would love to sign him up for agility or lure coursing, but I don't have the resources for a class like that. I was wondering if anyone has ideas about how to freshen up our excercise routine, beyond an ordinary walk. I'd really appreciate it.

How can I help our puppy with an ear infection til the vets are open?

dylanalexander55 — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 04:12:33 GMT

Hi people,
My puppy has an ear infection, it's causing her to lose balance constantly. How can I help her til the vets are open tomorrow morning?

7 Year Old Lab With MAJOR Nosebleeds

snarknkette — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 05:09:50 GMT

Hello everyone. We have an awesome yellow lab nameds Gracie, in fact we have 3 labs total. Gracie started about 3 weeks ago (Thursday) with a profuse nosebleed that took over 2 hours to stop. The following Friday at 7:30am she started again and this time the blood flow was more than I have ever seen of animal and have it live. We brought her home finally around 6pm that night.

The vet had found a mass or clump in nasal passage that looked to me like a leech. It wasn't though. The 2 1/2" long whatever was sent Michigan State fro analysis. Came back as "unknown". Not good, but not cancer or a fungus. Head x-rays show zero. An MRI was suggested, but that costs more than we have and it might come back as negative.

They have had her on steriods after finding her platelets were VERY low. Her blood could'nt clot. She also took antibiotocs. She has 4 small bleeds since the massive ones.

Nobody seems to know what is going on. The one vet said " You have to think of yourselves and maybe let her go. NOT YET!! She's fine otherwise. Eats like a dog. Wants to play, all though we have to keep her somewhat calm so as not to start bleeding again.

We are running out of money and options. I'd like her to be checked for allergies. Is this hot dry weather causing it? Could a STRONG dose of ampicillin possibly go after an infection somewhere else in her body causing this? Bone marrow makes your blood. Something wrong there? I do not know.

My wife and I CAN NOT leave together. One of us (because we want to and need to) stays around the home while the other is off doing work or errands. We don't far from home in case we have to rush home to another episode. This is taking a toll on us. The unknown and our own lifestyles. I just can't let her go yet.

Can anyone help us? Please?

Thanks...

Lyme disease

Harley97 — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:49:55 GMT

So we have been taking our dogs to the vet in Gobles, MI for years. Just recently my brother bought a GSD and is taking her to a different vet in Kalamazoo. The vet there did not vaccinate her for Lyme disease because she said that since the puppy won't be going to the Upper Peninsula that it doesn't matter. Our dogs have been taking shots for it as long as we have been going there. Is this an unnecessary shot that we are paying for? or does my brother need to ask for one to have for Ryleigh? i know Lyme disease is caused by ticks, and we have ton where we live, and my brother brings her over a lot, so...

How to keep my dog from chewing himself raw, is it skin allergies?

c2012 — Wed, 02 May 2012 20:01:29 GMT

I think my dog has a skin disorder. I use Frontline plus & vaccuum regularly. He hahot spots on his inner front legs & paws. What can I do to keep him from making himself covered in scabs?

gsd

mhawada — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:46:43 GMT

I have a half bread GSD, which was recently given to me and I am new to dogs, so I need help and I need it ASAP, where I live there are no Vets, and the nearest is a good hour drive. getting to the subject, 2 days ago the puppy started to vomit and has a bad case of diarrhea. this is coupled with a loss of appetite and energy. I took him to a pharmacy, the only one that sells vet medics. and the pharmacist gave me a digestive system medicine and to asked me to give the medicine to roy 3 times a day. The response to the medicine is very slow. Please help.

mange perhaps

riverchic — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:42:18 GMT

our gsd pup has had this weird skin condition on his chin for a few months. its kind of bald and his lips are a little crusty in spots. we took him in and did a round of vet prescribed oil treatments. the vet scraped his face on 2 occassions and didnt see any mites. it healed some- ie his hair grew back- but its getting bald again and hes scratching. i dont think its allergies- its localized to this area. the other two dogs dont have it. im trying a 1:1 mix of vinegar and water this time. anyone had experience with this?

The food I have been feeding Khalan has been recalled how do I ease the transition

soliscjw — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:30:07 GMT

I had been feeding her Taste of The Wild Lamb formula (Sierra Mountain blend) while I am not 100% sure it was one of the ones recalled I can not find it in stores or online which makes me pretty sure. Kahlan was out of food (at first I got a small bag of Blue lamb) but when I went to my locally owned pet store they told me that Diamond was having problems with recalls and looked into it online so choose a different brand (Nature's Variety Prairie Lamb) Is there any way to help reduce the loose stools or is time the only way?

Golden retriever?

Jhonalid1 — Wed, 02 May 2012 06:18:10 GMT

I have a 1 year old Golden pup and her fur is kinda on the short side. Her top coat seems very thin/short and wavy compared to other 1 year old goldens ive seen. Is there anything i can do to make it long and straight? Does it have anything to do with her food? I'm currently feeding her canidae. She was spayed too, idk if that has anything to do with it. The fur on her tail and hind legs are long though. Any other tips for fur health/ fur care would be appreciated!

Have you guys ever used sanitizing wipes on your dogs?

puppylove100123 — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:00:40 GMT

Hi there everyone! How was all ya'lls weekend?

Wonderful, magnificent, and magical I hope! Anywho, here's one of my first thread questions to you all. I wanted to know if any of you guys have ever used sanitizing wipes on your dogs? I have been doing some of my own independent research on this, and I have found a couple products that are on the market, but then this one product called Pawtizer really stood out to me. Has anyone ever heard of it before?

I like it because they advertise that it's antibacterial, which to me is amazing because I hate germs, but also because it kills the germs and bacteria without harming my babies. It doesn't have any alcohol in it, so it won't dry out the sweat glands in their paws. I saw that they're carried on Amazon.com, but are on back order. I can't wait to get my hands on these and try them out on my pups! The prices aren't bad either! $5.99 for the 100 count and $4.99 for the 45 count wipes. There's also a spray. Would love to know everyone's thoughts on this subject!

Please Help! Swollen Cheek on puppy!

Miss Malice — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 09:49:50 GMT

My 10 week old puppy was playing with the older dog in the house last night. She got irritated and snapped at him. He cried alot, but when we looking him over, he seemed fine, no blood, no wounds, he calmed down and continued acting like his normal self.
This morning after letting him outside and feeding him breakfast, I noticed that his cheek on his left side is swollen. Looking into his mouth I noticed what appears to be a puncture wound that I assume is causing the swelling. It's not red or bleeding,and it hasn't effected his eating or playing. Any advice? The dogs are all up to date on their shots, except puppy who has an appointment in a few days to get his.

Biting/Licking paws

sammydog1201 — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 11:37:58 GMT

We have a 6 1/2 year old Bichon who in the last year or so has progressively gotten worse with biting/licking his paws. I'm at my wits end trying to figure out why he's doing this.

Last year when I took him to a vet he suggested trying benadryl to see if that made any kind of a difference in his behavior, which it didn't. He also gave me a stronger med used for allergies and that didn't seem to help either. The vet also suggested I cut the hair on the underside of his feet to see if the length might be bugging him. I did this but again it didn't seem to help.

Another suggested it may just be behavioral and said as long as he's not hurting himself let it be. It still bothers me though. Because if he's in any discomfort I obviously want to help him. I tried spraying bitter apple on his paws but he just licks it off - yuck!

Recently someone suggested it could be a food allergy and to try putting him on a wheat free, beef free diet. I haven't tried this yet because he is sooo picky. I've had him on Iams food for over 5 years and recently tried to switch him to the Science Diet j/d formula and he refused to eat it. Our other dog loves it though. I asked the vet about it being a food allergy but he said dogs don't usually develop them later on in life.

Any thoughts?

Pet Safe Fertilizer

dv911sc — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:11:53 GMT

I am very concerned about the fertilizers I put on my yard since my dog spends alot of time outside. I have used various "pet safe" products but my lawn just doesn't seem to look that good. I recently came across a product called Pet Safe Lawn Fertilizer. The company advertises that the granules dissolve into the soil with a small amount of water. I tried a bag recently and I must admit that my lawn has never looked so good!! And I love thefact that it is safe for my pets and children. I would encourage people to try it. This stuff really works. They have a website at petsafe-fertilizer.com
Let me know what you think.

Urine color

Harley97 — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:46:24 GMT

Hi, this seems to me to be a stupid question, but my sister is just being cautious. We are dogsitting our brother's GSD, and we noticed that wherever she pees, the grass is stained yellow, and stays that way. My sister wasn't sure if that was only when she was in heat, or if that was normal. I know male dogs tend to have stronger urine, if you can call it that, but i just wanted to be sure. My brother thinks she has been in heat before ( his first dog and our first unfixed female) she is six months. If you have any ideas, go ahead and let me know!!! It doesn't seem to happen with our other dogs, we have 2 fixed females and a fixed male. THANKS!!

INDIANA Medical Exemption

Kris L. Christine — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:43:32 GMT

INDIANA Medical Exemption Petition -- Pet owners are taking steps to put a medical exemption clause into Indiana 's rabies rules. If you are an Indiana resident, please sign the online petition and share the link: .

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MINNESOTA Rabies Vax Survey

Kris L. Christine — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:18:50 GMT

MINNESOTA: 88.8% of veterinarians responding to a rabies survey from the Board of Veterinary Medicine indicated they give a 3 year rabies vaccine; yet 53.3% fail to give pet owners a corresponding 3 year rabies certificate (36.2% issue a 2 year certificate, 17.1% issue "other"). When asked if they inform clients when they put a different expiration date on the rabies certificate than that on the vaccine administered, 40.9% responded that they did not inform the client.

A copy of this 12/14/11 report entitled "Rabies Vaccination Survey Report" may be requested from Dr. John King, Executive Director of the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine (651) 201-2844 John.King@state.mn.us

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Nibbling to death

turtlelovesjems — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:58:46 GMT

My 9 month old Boxer mix Mickey (bigger dog maybe masitff) started with the foot chewing. We put a cone on his head for about a month and it sort of helped him stop it. He would chew it so bad that there is no hair and it swelled up and turned red. Now instead of chewing on his food he has decided to move up the same leg. Now he is nibbling the crap out of his leg to were there are sores all over. I am cleaning it at least twice a day, trying to wrap it, but the wrap will not stay because of how active he is. I can put the cone back on but I am afriad of what he will start chewing/nibbling next. His poor leg looks like he has some kind of problems and I just want him to stop. We have tried every type of no-chew we can find, he thinks it some kind of yumming good stuff and actually made the foot problem ALOT worse. He has TONS of toys that we have found out to switch out about once a month. (he stays more into them) He loves his pork skin rolls and bones. He always has one of each to keep him from chewing on other things. He has never chewed on any of our item until yesturday. He finally got a pair of my sandels and then this morning got another pair. I don't know what is getting into him. But help me PLEASE figure out this leg thing, bc I just want my guy to be normal. I have switched his food to a grain, wheat free food. We are on our 4th different food. He is currently on a Lamb diet.

male dogs reactions to females in heat

chapsticksis — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:29:10 GMT

I have a weird question for you guys. my mix breed is about seven years old. He is a medium sized short haired dog. His name is Gorilla and believe me it suits him perfectly. He is normally very active alert and always on patrol. Ok now I have had dogs all my life. But I have never seen nor heard of any dog behaving the way he did all last week. There was a female in heat some where in our area. I always know when this is happening because of the change in his behavior. But this time he was shall I say out of control. We have a golden retriever (scout) who is about sixteen yrs old. Gorilla was constantly attempting to mount scout. he was constantly licking or smelling scout. he had to be constantly at scouts side. After about 5 or 6 days this thankfully ended. Only for my baby to be sick the very next day. His eating habits have changed. His hind quarters shake terribly. The first two days he attempted without success to have a bowl movement. we fixed that but he is still lathargic and has difficulty getting up. The only relief he seems to get is when I walk him. Also he licks his privates excessively. My question is could he have strained his genetiles during his activities of the previous week? Any suggestions as to what I can do for him at home as I am currently lacking of any resoures with which to take him to the vet.

Sis

barbed wire

riverchic — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:46:13 GMT

its been a while since anyone posted anything, so im going to. the other day i took the boys out to the same desert i always do, but we went to a different area. the boys were ahead of me, running around chasing bunnies, found a road opening through the barbed wire fence and went through to persue their prey. on the way back, the puppy makhai (pronounced muh-KYE)- now 8 months old and 85 lbs- was running full spead ahead down a hill and didnt see the fence he so carefully avoided in the other direction. he hit the fence at full puppy speed and flipped though it and down the hill. when i met up with him, he seemed fine- dirty, but not cut on his face, eyes, ears... and he didnt make a sound during the tumble.

later that night, my husband asked if id seen makhai's legs. i hadnt noticed anything earlier, but as it turns out he cut himself pretty bad on one leg, and had a scrape on the other. i stuck some first aid creme and a bandaid on there and its healing nicely, but holy crap. do dogs get tetanus? or any other weird disease i should know about just in case?

merry christmas to you all.

Dogs in Hot weather?

minniemouse88 — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:02:56 GMT

Hello,

I was wondering, what temp. is too hot for dogs outside? Because what's hot for me may not be hot for them. When it's like 89 or higher, I will spray them down with cool water and they always have fresh water outside to drink.

We let them outside in the morning, it's so beautiful outside we have them stay outside until it's bedtime for us. Then they are let inside. A 3 1/2 month old German Shepherd/Husky/Malamute mix & a 4 yr old German Shepherd.

What temp. is too hot for dogs outside? I see them with there tongues hanging out sometimes, does that mean anything?

Thank you!

Tina

another reason to neuter

riverchic — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:57:58 GMT

I know there are a million and one reasons to neuter your male if youre not a responisble breeder, but i want to share my story for the non-believers.

We debated a bit about neutering our gsd pup makhai. we are training him for protection and there is some debate about whether or not that 'takes away their drive'. We researched the topic and it is controversial, but we decided to get him fixed anyway. hes a pet first and we didnt want the responsibility of an intact male. we scheduled an appt for him 2 months in advance for a neuter at 6 months. The friday before his monday appt, i was checking to see if his other testicle had finally dropped. it hadnt. my husband wanted to hold off on the neuter, figuring he wasnt ready. i insisted we do it anyway. (lots of reasons, he is very dog savy but doesnt research like i do... hard to explain and not the point) we took him in and when we got him back, his incision was quite long- about 4 inches. ive had all my dogs neutered and this was unusual. the vet called later to see how he was, and i asked about the large incision. my vet said that his undescended testicle was lodged in his thigh muscle and he had to follow his cord to find it and remove it.

had we not had him neutered, his testicle would have been impotent but would have still received blood flow. a few years down the road, it would have become cancerous.

ive alluded to this in other posts, but i felt compelled to make it its own. hope it helps someone on the fence about neutering make a good decision.

Safety Concern for Dogs

JuneForDogs1 — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:31:02 GMT

Hi All,

Thanks again for all your help and feedback for Charlie's eye issues! The cream is working and we have him on a more regular walking schedule to prevent him from poking around too much in the yard.

While I was in the doggy park the other day, I met a few people that were incredibly interesting and informative about all things pet- and dog-related. One of the people I met actually shared something pretty scary with me that I thought I should share with all of you. About a year ago, her dog was shocked by electricity when they were out walking near a park/park fence. She said it was something called "contact voltage." It sounded really complicated when she was trying to explain it to me, but I think it's basically charged electricity leaks through the underground and makes regular things get an electric shock that can shock or electrocute any person/pet that touches it. Sounds pretty scary, so I was doing a little research and came across this site that had some info. Decided to pass it along in case you all are interested in lerning about this:

June & Charlie

syringomyalia

Jasismon — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:57:33 GMT

Has any one had a good outcome with a cavalier that had syringomyalia? Have a new adopted baby that shows all the symptoms and at 2 yrs she hasn't been checked for that.

FLEAS

Nalaa — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:18:45 GMT

HELP! Nala has fleas. I noticed them about a week ago. I bathed her, put the flea collar on her and I bought a spray to spray her down and she still has them.

Today, I saw another one, so I sprayed her down and brushed her really good and saw about 5. WHAT DO I DO? SHe also has sensative skin and is REALLY red around her private area. It looks like she has sores.

PLEASE give me advice.

Help Fight Canine Cancer

Gena with Nutro — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 18:42:40 GMT

This looks like a great way to help in the fight against canine cancer. If you have a Cocker Spaniel or a Great Pyrenees, you may be able to help by submitting a saliva sample. You can find more information at: tgen.org/chcc/ps/

Dealing with the loss

Heaven216 — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 16:23:04 GMT

Hello everyone,

I could not find a topic on bereavement. So I am writing here in search of any advice

as to how you cope with the loss of your dog. I had a pomeranian which had a enlarged heart, which then went into liver failure. We had to let him rest on Thursday, because there was nothing that could be done for him. .

Although we know that was the best decision for him, and he is not in pain, nor taking pills anymore, it is so hard to stop the tears and pain. I do not even want to be in the house anymore. Because everything reminds me of him.

I know I will get over this hump, but are there any suggestions out there that you think may help in the meantime.

He would have been 8 years old today.....

Thank you

Canine Massage

Your Dog's Golden Years — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:01:01 GMT

Touch. Dogs love it. They thrive when they are touched. No wonder when touch is applied in a therapeutic way – commonly called “bodywork” – it can help senior dogs enormously. Bodywork improves circulation, stimulates the immune system, promotes physical and mental relaxation, alleviates depression and reduces stress (yes, dogs have stress, too; chronic pain wears on them and changes in their environment, particularly with senior dogs, can cause great anxiety). All of these contribute to the dog’s healing and bring nourishment to the dog’s body while flushing out toxins. Bodywork can also break down adhesions in the dog’s body, allowing damaged muscles to heal and improve range of motion.

One of the most common forms of bodywork therapy is massage. It’s no surprise this is so popular. After all, who doesn’t love a massage? When done correctly, massage not only feels good, but it leaves the body relaxed and gives an overall sense of well-being.

The earliest accounts of massage date back to China, 3000 B.C. It was much later, though, during the second century B.C., that Chinese medicine took the basic form it has today and practitioners began using massage as a treatment for illness. Through the years, the Chinese have developed an in-depth system of therapeutic massage and have identified specific points in the body where massage is most effective.

Massage for companion pets is currently a growing field. We all know everyday touch can bring our dogs comfort, but massage does much more than this: It triggers a parasympathetic response of the dog’s nervous system, signaling the dog’s body to heal itself. Massage focuses on the soft tissue of the body, including the muscles. It plays an important role in post-surgery and post-injury rehabilitation, as well as in the treatment of more chronic conditions, such as arthritis. Dogs with hip dysplasia, hygroma (a false bursa that occurs over boney areas and pressure points) arthritis, allergies, swollen joints and even dry, flaky skin can benefit from regular massage. Gingivitis (red inflamed gums) can also be treated with gentle, circular massage to the gums, which increases circulation.

When working with senior dogs, the therapist will perform a more thorough assessment of the dog’s body than they might in younger animals at each massage to look for any changes, including any increased or decreased signs of tension or soreness. For some aging dogs, the massage sessions may need to be shorter and more frequent.

The massage can be performed on the floor with a soft dog bed or on a massage table. Most dogs prefer the floor; however, some like massage tables, and tables are easier on the practitioner. It is important not to allow the dog to jump off the table on his own.

Overall body palpations should be done at each massage. The therapist will evaluate the dog for hot or cold areas, adhesions, tight fibrous bands of muscles and anomalies, such as new lumps on the dog’s body. An assessment should also include evaluation of the dog’s gait and postural distortions. Jennifer Kachnic, CCMT

2011 AAHA Vaccine Guidelines

Kris L. Christine — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:38:07 GMT

2011 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines

p. 3 "When compared with infectious (attenuated, avirulent, modified live, recombinant viral vectored) vaccines, noninfectious vaccines are more likely to produce local and systemic adverse reactions in some dogs."

p.10 "Most noninfectious vaccines require at least two initial doses to immunize, regardless of the dog's age. The first does of a noninfectious vaccine generally primes the immune response and the second dose, which should be administered 2-6 weeks later, provides the protective immune response. Immunity typically develops approximately 7 days after the second dose. Therefore, the minimum time for onset of immunity is approximately 3 wk after administration of the first dose of a noninfectious vaccine"

p. 12 "Because dogs older than 14-16 wk of age are not likely to have interfering levels of MDA [maternally derived antibodies], administration of a single initial dose of an infectious vaccine to an adult dog can be expected to induce a protective immune response. ..... MDA is the most common reason early vaccination fails to immunize."

p. 12 "The onset of immunity after administration of a single dose of infectious core vaccine is approximately 4+3 days in the absence of MDA [maternally derived antibodies]."

p.13 "Infectious core vaccines are not only highly effective, they also provide the longest DOI [duration of immunity], extending from 5 yr up to the life of the dog."

p. 17 "Despite the confusion and controversy surrounding antibody testing, these serologic tests are useful for monitoring immunity to CDV, CPV-2, CAV-1, and RV. .....On completion of the puppy core vaccination series with the last dose given at 14-16 wk of age, a dog can be expected to have an antibody titer or positive test result, regardless of the serologic test performed, provided the serum sample is collected > 2 wk after the last dose of vaccine." (CDV=distemper, CPV-2 = parvovirus, CAV-1 hepatitis, RV= rabies)

p. 18 "....the last dose of CDV and CPV should be administered at 14-16 wk of age. At this age, MDA should be at a level that will not block active immunity in most puppies (>98%) when a combination MLV vaccine is administered."

p. 18 "In a study reported in 1997, dogs vaccinated with a product containing CDV (canine distemper virus) and then placed in an environment without CDV maintained antibody titers for at least 10 yr."

p. 20 "...the list that follows includes categories of adverse reactions that have been attributed to vaccine administration.

-Injection-site reactions: lumps (abscess, granuloma, seroma), pain, swelling, hair loss associated with ischemic vasculitis

-Transient postvaccinal nonspecific illness: lethargy, anorexia, fever, regional lymphadenomegaly, soreness, abortion, encephalitis, polyneuritis, arthritis, seizures, behavioral changes, hair loss or color change at the injection site, respiratory disease

-Allergic (hypersensitivity) and immune-mediated reactions:

Type 1 (acute anaphylaxis): angiodema (especially the head), anaphylaxis (shock) and death

Type 2 (cytolytic): immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (suspected only; causality has not been confirmed)

Type 3 (immune-complex): cutaneous ischemic vasculopathy associated with rabies vaccine, corneal edema ('blue-eye') associated with CAV-1 vaccine, immune-mediated disease.

-Tumorigenesis: vaccine-associated sarcoma or other tumors

Multisystemic infectious/inflammatory disorder of young Weimaraner dogs: may be genetically linked to both a poorly characterized immunodeficiency and to autoimmune disorders (e.g., hypothyroidism and hypertrophic osteodystrophy [HOD] that are detected shortly after vaccination

-Vaccine-induced immunosuppression: associated with first or second dose of combination MLV vaccines containing CDV and CAV-1 or CAV-2 with or without other vaccines (e.g., CPV-2, CPI). Immunosuppression begins 3 days after vaccination and persists for 7-10 days. The suppression may be associated with increased susceptibility to other diseases.

p. 21 "It is reasonable to avoid administration of any vaccine to patients with a history of systemic disease suspected to be associated with previous vaccination (e.g., immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia) or known to be caused by vaccine (vaccination-site cutaneous ischemic vasculitis after administration of rabies vaccine).

p. 28 "As with pregnant dogs, veterinary medicine has advised against vaccination during illness, due to concerns about suboptimal protection, or worse, vaccine-induced illness."

p. 29 "Manufacturers only recommend administration of vaccine to healthy dogs. Dogs receiving immunosuppressive chemotherapy should not be vaccinated. Doing so may result in a suboptimal immune response or may aggravate (reactivate) an immune-mediated illness."

p.33 "Vaccine adverse events are significantly underreported in veterinary medicine."

p. 34 "The vaccination protocol that includes the minimum number of vaccines yet still provides a reasonable opportunity to immunize the dog would be: a single dose of combined infectious (attenuated, avirulent, modified live, recombinant viral vectored) CDV, MLV CPV-2, with MLV CAV-2, administered at 16 wk of age or older, plus a rabies shot at the same time (but inoculated at a separate site on the body)."