Category: Uncategorized

by Audrey Harvey, DVM

Dog obesity has been a popular topic in the media in recent weeks. In fact, a study by Glasgow University in Scotland in July 2010 found that 60% of dogs in their area were overweight.

Dog owners may not realize that obesity is just as harmful for our four legged family members as it is for us. People who own an obese dog may not in fact be aware that their dog has a problem; because it is so common, we have come to see overweight dogs as normal.

What Makes Dogs Obese?

An Australian study found that only 3% of obese dogs had a medical reason such as hypothyroidism for their condition. The other 97% were overweight because of their owners. In a nutshell, these dogs were fed too much of the wrong type of food, and didn’t get enough exercise to burn off the extra calories.

Extra Pounds are Extra Work

If your dog has to carry excess weight, it will affect his legs. There will be more wear and tear on the cartilage in his joints, which will ultimately cause arthritis. Because going for a walk will be painful, he won’t burn up any calories so his waistline is likely to grow.

Diabetes is more common in overweight dogs, as is heart failure. Perhaps the most frightening effect of obesity on our dogs is that it shortens their lifespan by up to 2 years. This means that your beloved companion may die sooner than if he was in lean condition. That’s a very good reason to start him on a weight loss program.

How to Manage an Obese Dog

If you are concerned that your dog is overweight, have him examined by your veterinarian to rule out any health issues that may be causing his increased waistline. If he checks out well, then it’s time for work. Weight loss is a matter of reducing the number of calories your dog takes in, and increasing the number he burns up during the course of the day. It sounds easy, but it’s not.

Let’s look at how we can reduce the calories your dog eats. Firstly, cut out any between-meal snacks. He really doesn’t need a biscuit or dog treat while you have a cup of tea. Next, look at his food. You have two choices here: you can either reduce the amount of food you put in his bowl or feed him a prescription weight loss diet. Prescription diets are designed to help your dog lose weight without him feeling like he is being starved, and are very effective.

 The next step is to make sure that your dog is getting plenty of exercise and burning more calories each day. Be careful, because your dog is carrying excess weight, and too much walking can hurt his joints. A better way to exercise your dog, at least until he loses some weight is to take him swimming, so he doesn’t put any stress on his joints. He can swim in a swimming pool if you have one, or in a nearby ocean or lake.

You may live near a canine therapy center that has swimming pools specifically for dogs. They may even have an underwater treadmill, which allows your dog to walk while the water supports his body.

While your dog is exercising the pounds off his waistline, he will benefit from some pain relief for his legs. Joint Resolution was developed by a medical herbalist, and contains all natural ingredients to increase joint health and mobility. Specifically, BioCell Collagen II will help to build new cartilage, and improve the cushioning effect of the joint fluid.

It’s up to you to help your dog lose weight. Be strong, and don’t give in to those pleading brown eyes when he begs for a treat. It could be a matter of life or death.

 

Audrey Harvey is a veterinarian who has worked in small animal practice for 20 years, and has been involved in teaching and competing in dog obedience and agility. She is passionate about preventative health care in dogs, particularly obesity management and the prevention of boredom related behavioral problems. Audrey lives in Brisbane Australia, and shares her couch with an Australian Cattle Dog, an Australian Working Kelpie and two Whippets.

 

 

 

 

 

by Audrey Harvey, DVM

 

Many people take a vitamin tablet every day.  The nutritional supplement industry turns over several million dollars a year, but there is debate about whether many of these supplements are actually necessary. In an ideal world, we would get all our nutritional needs from a balanced and healthy diet, but that isn’t often the case.

 

That’s the situation amongst people, what about our dogs? Do they need nutritional supplements?

 

What is Your Dog Eating?

 

Wild dogs, such as wolves, that have to hunt their prey eat a variety of foodstuffs including muscle meat, bone and grass. Your pet dog doesn’t have the same access to this natural canine diet, but he also doesn’t have to work too hard to find his next meal.

 

Dogs are by nature omnivorous, and most of them will eat anything that falls onto the kitchen floor, or finds its way into their dinner bowl. However the majority of a pet dog’s diet is processed kibble. While the premium brands contain a reasonable percentage of meat protein, less expensive foods are predominantly cereal based.

 

Processed foods and unhealthy eating habits are playing havoc with our own health. When you see the variety of high fat dog treats and snacks on the supermarket shelf, you’ll realize that dogs aren’t any better off. Couple this with a lack of physical exercise, and the result is less than optimal health and increased weight gain.

 

If your dog lives in an urban area, they may be exposed to toxins in the air from car exhausts and nearby industrial factories. This isn’t good for him at all.

 

Does My Dog Need a Supplement?

 

Lots of dogs go through life without any supplements or vitamins and are just fine, but their health could be improved. There are some supplements that may be beneficial to your dog, and will improve his health from the inside.

 

Over time, dogs may accumulate toxins in their body because of a less than ideal diet and lifestyle. Healthy Skin Shiny Coat is a natural detoxifier which counteracts this. It contains herbal extracts including dandelion and burdock which cleanse their body and promote the elimination of waste products and toxins. Echinacea is well known as an immune stimulant and also promotes waste excretion. Just a few drops in your dog’s mouth each day will result in a shiny coat and better overall health.

 

If your dog is a little generous around the waistline, it’s very likely that his joints are hurting. Joint Resolution is the ideal supplement for him. The collagen in this easily absorbed liquid helps to rebuild cartilage and prevent further damage to his joints. It also improves the joint fluid, which lubricates the joint and helps to cushion the impact from walking and running. This unique product also contains herbal extracts which have a natural anti-inflammatory effect, to help to ease his discomfort.

                                                                                                                                             

Even if your dog appears to be in great shape, you may find he will benefit from these supplements. Give them a try and see the results for yourself.

 

Audrey Harvey is a veterinarian who has worked in small animal practice for 20 years, and has been involved in teaching and competing in dog obedience and agility. She is passionate about preventative health care in dogs, particularly obesity management and the prevention of boredom related behavioral problems. Audrey lives in Brisbane Australia, and shares her couch with an Australian Cattle Dog, an Australian Working Kelpie and two Whippets.

by Audrey Harvey

In my opinion, chocolate is one of the five food groups. I am a chocoholic, and there is always some chocolate hidden away in my home for emergencies.

 

Althuogh we all enjoy sharing life’s little luxuries with our dogs, chocolate is one thing that you should definitely not give them. It can make them quite sick, and if they eat enough, it can be fatal.

 

Chocolate contains a compound called theobromine which is found in cocoa. It is theobromine which is poisonous to dogs, even in small doses. Incidentally, caffeine has a similar chemical structure to theobromine and can also make dogs ill. Because dogs don’t seem to enjoy the taste of coffee, caffeine poisoning isn’t nearly as common as chocolate poisoning.

 

How much chocolate will make your dog sick? That depends on two things – your dog’s body weight and whether he eats dark, milk or white chocolate.

 

Let’s do some number crunching. The lethal dose of theobromine is 100 to 150 mg per kilo bodyweight. We’ll use a 10kg dog as an example, that’s a nice round figure to work with. Breeds of dogs that reach 10kg, or 22lb as adults include Beagles, American Cocker Spaniels and Standard Fox Terriers. Using these figures, they would need to eat 1000 to 1500 mg of theobromine to become poisoned.

 

Cooking chocolate contains the most theobromine, 140mg per gram. Our 22lb dog would only need to eat 10g of this type of chocolate before he became seriously ill. That’s not much at all!

 

Milk chocolate contains15mg of theobromine per gram, so it would take 100g of this chocolate to affect your dog. White chocolate is least dangerous, as there is very little theobromine in it.

 

If, in spite of your best efforts at keeping your treats all for yourself, your dog eats enough chocolate to poison himself, he can start to show symptoms within half an hour. You can expect to see vomiting and diarrhea, and he will appear twitchy, hyperactive and excited. Depending on dose, he may then start to stagger and develop seizures. Finally he will lapse into a coma, and he may die.

 

As you can see, chocolate poisoning in dogs is an emergency, and it’s important that you contact your veterinarian as soon as you realize your dog has eaten some of your chocolate stash. Treatment is aimed at preventing him absorbing more theobromine, and controlling any symptoms he is showing.

 

Your vet can give your dog medication to make him vomit up any chocolate that remains in his stomach. Activated charcoal by mouth will absorb any theobromine that’s travelling along his gastro-intestinal tract, and sedatives or anesthesia will control twitching muscles and seizures.

 

As an alternative to chocolate, why not give your dog a bone, some dried liver treats or even carob – it contains no theobromine and is quite safe for dogs.

 

There are so many safe treats that are available for your dog, there is no reason to give him something that may kill him, no matter how good it tastes. That suits me just fine, because I don’t have to feel guilty when I keep my chocolate all for myself!

 

 

Since 2004 Los Angeles-based happytails has created eco-friendly spa, grooming and wellness products for the modern dog. We use the finest (“better than human quality”) ingredients to solve the toughest problems that dogs face, like itchy skin, tear stains and bad breath. Happytails is sold and recommended by veterinarians around the world for one simple reason- they work, naturally

 

 

 

Love is in the air, the world is rosy, and life is good. Well, it’s all good until your dog meets your new partner and decides he doesn’t like him/her.  Your dog may feel that your lover is taking his place in your affections, and he feels threatened. He may also feel he needs to teach your new love interest where he/she fits in the household. In some cases, your canine companion may worry that your human companion is a threat to you, and he feels the need to protect you.

All of these are fair reasons for him to react to your partner with apprehension, but you need to help your dog adapt to this major change in his life. He is very important to you, but so is your new love. How can you help them get along?

There are things you can do to help your dog love your partner as much as you do.

1.       Don’t force your dog to accept your partner. Let him get acquainted in his own good time. If your dog feels pressured or threatened, he may become defensive. This isn’t a good start to their relationship.

 

2.       Reinforce your dog’s basic training so he acknowledges you as his leader. By doing this, you’re teaching him that you’re in charge, and if you are happy to have someone in your home, he should be too.

 

3.       Encourage your partner to feed your dog. If he learns that good things come from the new member of your household, he’s more likely to tolerate them. Tolerance is the first step to developing a friendship.

 

4.       Playtime is a great time for your dog and your partner to have fun together. Choose your dog’s favorite toy, and involve your partner in a game with him. Use treats to encourage your dog to interact with your new love, and help him learn that your partner is actually good to have around.

 

5.       Don’t let your dog sit on the couch or on your bed with you and your partner. This can encourage rivalry, and won’t help the situation at all.

 

6.       If your dog is actually aggressive and trying to bite your partner, get a referral to a veterinary behavioralist sooner rather than later. Aggression is something that is best managed by professionals, and it’s not worth risking your new love being injured.

 

7.       Use Sleepytime Tonic whenever your dog is going to spend time with your partner. It contains Skullcap, Valerian and Passionflower which reduce anxiety and nervousness.  Its ingredient list also includes Bach Flower Remedies to reduce shyness and fear, and it is safe enough to use whenever you anticipate your dog becoming tense around your partner.

 

There’s no reason for you to have to choose between your dog and your love life. As with any aspect of owning and training a dog, you’ll need to invest time and energy into managing the situation. It’s worth it; your dog will learn to love your partner just as much as you do.

Now, if you could only get your significant other to like your dog! 

On another related topic you may be interetsted in reading the Top Five Signs that she loves her dog more than you: A man’s Guide to Winning the Fluff Wars!

 

Nine Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Your Dog

By Kevin Fisher

1. Your dog’s ancestors were weasels.

Well actually they were tree-dwelling-mammal called Miacis that lived about 40 million years ago in central Asia.

2. Oh and he probably has family in China

Peter Savolainen of the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden studied the DNA of dogs around the world. He found evidence suggesting that all modern dogs originated from a pack that roamed the plains of east Asia about 15,000 years ago. So don’t be surprised if your dog barks in chinese!¹

3. Your dog is from a very hardworking family .

Over the years dogs have earned their keep as night watchmen, messengers, shepherds, bomb detectors, soldiers, and even doctors! yes. Dr. Donald Broom, a researcher at Cambridge University Veterinary School showed that a dog can be trained to detect cancer simply by smell. He performed a meticulously controlled double blind study (reviewed by the British medical journal BMI) which stated “The results are unambiguous. Dogs can be trained to recognize and flag bladder cancer.”²

4. He may be older than you think

The old theory of multiplying dog’s age by seven isn’t completely accurate. A dog is able to reproduce by the time he’s one year old (thankfully a little out of reach for even the most precocious 7 year old) and reaches full physical growth by his second birthday. A more accurate formula is to count the first year as 15 human years, the second year as ten human years and every year after that as five years.

5. And yet he’ll always be a puppy

The evolution of dogs from Wolves is a prime example of neoteny or paedomorphism which means that juvenile traits are prolonged into adulthood. This is a natural result of human intervention: young wolves tend to be more social and less dominant than adults. Even traits like soft fuzzy fur, and large "puppy dog" eyes are not entirely natural but the result of human intervention.³

6. He’s better than a blanket

The average body temperature for a dog is 101.2 degrees almost three degrees higher than the average human temperature, so the next time your dog comes over to snuggle on a cold night welcome the gesture with open arms (as I’m sure you do now) and you’ll get the better end of the deal

7. He’s such a cute little killer

If you own a terrier you own a killer. All terriers (The word terrier comes from the Latin word Terra meaning Earth) were bred to be killers of small vermin like rats, badgers and otters. This is one of the reasons most terriers enjoy a good tug of war so much, it’s genetic and goes back to the rapid shaking of the prey upon capture; the coup de grace . It’s not true that playing tug of war will make your dog more aggressive, it’s actually an excellent way to release energy.

8. No matter how many carrots you eat your dog will always see better than you

This is due to the tapetum lucidum, a light reflecting layer behind the retina. It acts like a mirror to focus the incoming light, interestingly that’s also what’s responsible for the strange reflective glow in your dogs eyes at night

9. Prostates and pointing

Dogs are the only other animal that has a prostate (it creates the liquid that makes up 30% of the volume of semen). On a more interesting, less squishy note dogs are one of the few creatures other than man that understand the gesture of pointing.⁴

Los Angeles-based happytails creates eco-friendly spa, grooming and wellness products for the modern dog. We use the finest (“better than human quality”) ingredients to solve the toughest problems that dogs face, like itchy skin, tear stains and bad breath. Happytails is sold and recommended by veterinarians around the world for one simple reason- they work, naturally!

The products can be ordered at HappytailsSpa.com , by calling 1-866-HAPPY-20 or by visiting your local pet boutique.

1. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/dogs-that-changed-the-world/interactive-map-discover-ancient-breeds/1282/

2. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/01/06/60minutes/main665263.shtml

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoteny
4. http://www.springerlink.com/content/y62350012045573l/fulltext.html

It certainly looks, sounds and feels like genuine affection but is the love felt by an owner for a pet reciprocated in kind? For dog owners there is no more interesting question.
We recently returned from a trip to Orlando and as usual Lorna’s two dogs Riqui and Brie were excited to pick us up at the airport (ably assisted by Lorna’s husband Jason). The reunion was touching… lots of licking, panting and petting (but enough about Lorna and Jason..the dogs were just as bad (…happily they had just used some Dog Smog Remedy and Dry Dog Instant Clean so they smelled great:-)  As we drove home it made me wonder about the age old question  “Does my dog actually love me? (Or in this case do Lorna’s dogs actually love her?)
It certainly looks, sounds and feels like genuine affection and for many people their relationship with their dog is more long lasting and meaningful than many human relationships in their lives. But is it actually love? Or more precisely is the love felt by an owner for a pet reciprocated in kind? For dog owners there is no more interesting question.
The idea of an animal having real emotions is easily dismissed as wishful thinking. But further study reveals it to be a more complex issue than one might think.
Lets look at Riqui, a pure-bred Maltese, she is indeed the result of hundreds, if not thousands of generations of selective breeding designed to amplify her breeds affinity for humans. (An affinity that is more welcome after a little Ruff to Smooth I might add) But just because these attributes have been selected and amplified over time doesn’t mean that they are not genuine. (I come from a long line of fishermen and I’m sure my dislike of seafood stems from that fact but my distaste for fish, I assure you, is real). Riqui is a genuinely affectionate (some might say needy) dog. She has been bred to be that way however there is no doubt in my mind that she is actually happier when Lorna is around.
All animals, including dogs have a pleasure center in the brain (in fact the brain has several areas associated with pleasure: the nucleus accumbens, the septum pellucidium and the hypothalamus… seems that we’re hard wired to enjoy life). When a dog is playing, dopamine is released into these areas and creates a feeling of happiness. The mechanism is almost identical in both dogs and humans; seems we are more alike at a fundamental level than we might have imagined.
Some fascinating research has been done in the last few years that sheds new light on this similarity. In 1990 Giacomo Rizzolatti, a neuroscientist at the University of Parma discovered what are now referred to as mirror neurons. A mirror neuron is a brain cell that not only fires when an animal acts but also when the animal sees that same action in another. They are essential for socialization within a species but also have been shown to work across species. Can anyone say empathy?
“We are exquisitely social creatures,” Dr. Rizzolatti says. “Our survival depends on understanding the actions, intentions and emotions of others. Mirror neurons allow us to grasp the minds of others not through conceptual reasoning but through direct simulation. By feeling, not by thinking.”
Any one who owns a dog already knows that they have a tremendous capacity for connection, especially with humans. I would suggest that part of the reason for this is because our two species evolved together. Recent studies suggest that dogs were domesticated very early on in the history of Homo Sapiens and played an important role in our success as a species. Our symbiotic relationship enabled both species to survive and thrive in an inhospitable world. Dogs provided everything from an early warning system against predators to assistance in herding domesticated animals. In turn humans provided shelter and food for their faithful companions and together we learned how to relate, communicate and empathize. This relationship has lead to a more comfortable and longer life for dogs .
One oft referenced quote on this subject comes from a gentleman named Fred Metzger a veterinarian from Penn State who observes “Dogs probably don’t feel love in the way humans do. Dogs make investments in human beings because it works for them. The more ‘cute factor’ they give us, the more we feel like they love us. This makes it more likely that we will give them more attention, food treats, outdoor access”.
But a competing opinion comes from Susan B. Eirich, a biologist and psychologist who cites Jane Goodall’s research with chimpanzees as evidence that animals do indeed have deep emotions. Eirich states, “From a behavioral perspective, it only makes sense that animals would experience emotions. Goodall notes that social animals must be able to read other animals in their society to be able to maintain social bonds.” If history has shown us anything it is that survival is not only for the fittest but also for the most cooperative.
“When you think about it,” explains Eirich, “strong emotion underpins social behavior and connection.”
So I think we can make the case that animals in general, and dogs specifically do feel real emotion but the question is do they love?
The obvious (if somewhat anticlimactic) answer is that we’ll probably never know, but more than anything this question gets to the heart (no pun intended) of how we gauge love? How do we know that we love one another? One simple measure is how much the person (or animal) is willing to sacrifice for the loved one. We revere hero’s, lovers and mothers because of their selflessness;  the hero dies to save his friends and the mother subsumes her life in her child’s. In Christianity we idolize the man who gave up his life not for his friends but his enemies. This is a thorny issue when it comes to animals because even though there are numerous stories of dogs sacrificing themselves for their owners the question is are they aware of exactly what they’re sacrificing?
Bearing this limitation in mind can we imagine a creature more self sacrificing than our dogs? They live lives completely determined by their owners. They eat when we say, sleep when we say and even poop when we say (yes I know the irony of this supposition for many dog owners out there…but play along with me here)  more importantly, they are always happy and joyful to live that way because it enables them to interact with humans.
We judge love on a sliding scale: we wouldn’t expect a 5 year old to be capable of the same devotion and self sacrifice as an adult. Most mothers will tell you that even though they fell in love and got married they had no idea what love really was until they had children. I suggest that we  must afford the same courtesy to dogs. Admittedly their love may not be human, but this is not completely a bad thing, it may not conform to our standard of the ultimate level of connection but at the same time it’s also not fickle, transitory, petulant or selfish.
It may be the greatest complement to say that dogs love to the best of their ability, and it gives us a chance to reflect on whether the same can be said for ourselves.

My Dog Has Acne!

by Fiona Young-Brown

No doubt many of us have unhappy memories of pimples during our teen years, but who knew our dogs could also get acne? As it happens, young dogs go through the trials of puberty too, and that may include dog pimples. I had never heard of such a thing until my husky pup Sam developed a small bald spot on his chin, covered in little pink pimples.

The condition is more common in younger dogs, usually appearing at around five or six months of age, however since the acne may also be cause by allergies or hormonal imbalances, it is not restricted to younger dogs. The larger the dog, the greater the chance of developing pimples, so your Great Dane or German Shepherd is more likely to experience acne than the Shih Tzu next door. As for what it looks like, doggy acne usually appears as little red pimples or pustules on the chin and around the lips.

Before going any further, it is vital to mention that under no circumstances should you use acne treatments designed for people on your pooch’s pimples. The levels of benzoyl peroxide will be far too high for use of animals.

It is always a good idea to check with your vet at the first signs of any skin condition. The vet may want to run a few tests to rule out other more serious conditions, such as mange and ringworm. If the pimples are being caused by an allergic reaction to something in your dog’s food, the vet may also be able to advise you. Once more serious illnesses have been ruled out, you can move on to treating it to ensure that the pimples don’t return. Common treatments prescribed by your vet may include skin wipes (with animal appropriate levels of benzoyl peroxide, a topical skin treatment), steroids, or antibiotics.

Understandably, not everyone feels comfortable using steroid or antibiotics treatments, and may prefer to reach the root of the problem. Fortunately, there are also a number of more natural remedies you can do at home. My dog Sam is incredibly inquisitive when he’s out and about and gets into all kinds of dirt and other things filled with bacteria,  so one of my first concerns was making sure the pimples did not get infected. Each day, I would hold a warm washcloth over the area to open the pores, then gently clean the affected area with a mild shampoo . If you have an aloe vera plant at home, a small dab of the gel can also help to ease any itchiness.

Another convenient option that doesn’t involved wetting the dog’s face with shampoo are pre-moistened wipes. Believe it or not the antibacterial ingredients in the Happytails Eyepads make them an ideal wipe for the entire facial area. They contain witch hazel, which is a gentle astringent, colloidal silver, a very effective natural antibiotic and golden seal which is a natural antimicrobial agent.

For a more long-term solution, an all natural or raw diet has proven to be helpful for avoiding all sorts of skin complaints. Common allergens in commercial food, including wheat, soy, gluten and corn, can all cause acne in some dogs. Switching to an organic diet of meat and vegetables, with some added salmon oil for essential fatty acids can help enormously.

Fortunately, puberty-related acne usually resolves itself after a few months, as your puppy’s growth hormones settle. In the case of allergies, an organic diet like the one mentioned above can have quick results but the diet must be continued to prevent recurring outbreaks. With a little care and attention, you can not only clear your dog’s skin of pimples, but also ensure that our beloved pet has a lifetime of healthy, beautiful skin.