My Blog.....Pet News and more!

FACT #1: There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog.

Yes, while some breeds (as I will soon discuss) are certainly better than other in the allergens department, there is NO such thing as a Hypoallergenic dog. Before you drop thousands of dollars on a dog that a “breeder” is claiming to be hypoallergenic and allergy-free, think twice before writing that check!

FACT #2: It's not the dog's fur you're allergic to.

It isn’t the shedding need to worry, it is the skin dander.

That's why even hairless or very short haired dogs that don't shed fur can still trigger an allergy flare-up. You see, just like humans, all animals shed an enormous amount of skin "dander" or teeny, tiny skin flakes throughout the day. This dander can get on furniture, bedding, clothes and when we pet them, our hands.
While fur a dog sheds is, indeed, coated in skin dander, that fur is just a carrier for the real trouble maker.

FACT #3: Dog allergies can be improved.

There are a number of options for improving dog allergies. I have done:

• Allergy shots (20 years)
• Daily (sometimes twice a day) antihistamines
• Nasal sprays
• Regular pet grooming and bathing...

The American Kennel Club sanctions the National Dog Show, and also puts out a list of the 10 most “popular” dogs in the U.S., which for 2011 is as follows:

1. Labrador Retriever (20 years in a row!)
2. German Shepherd
3. Yorkshire Terrier
4. Beagle
5. Golden Retriever
6. Bulldog
7. Boxer
8. Dachshund
9. Poodle
10. Shih Tzu

The CFA recognizes 42 pedigreed breeds for showing, ranging from somewhat common breeds like the Siamese to rarer breeds, like the Singapura, Korat and LaPerm. The most popular breeds as determined by CFA registry are:

1. Persian
2. Maine Coon
3. Exotic
4. Ragdoll
5. Sphynx
6. Siamese
7. Abyssinian
8. American Shorthair
9. Cornish Rex
10. Birman

Go-to-Mat: A Life Skill Every Dog Should Have

by Sarah Owings, KPA-CTP

When go-to-mat is being taught, the goal behavior is that the dog will run to his mat and lie down on cue from any direction, regardless of the handler’s position.

In clicker training, a dog offers a behavior, and the trainer reinforces it. Although a dog that is new to clicker training may take a little longer to get to the final behavior, I prefer to use clicker training rather than luring (placing food on the mat first to lure the dog to it) to train go-to-mat because clicker training teaches the dog how to think independently. In my experience, once a dog learns to respond to this method of operant conditioning, his ability to quickly learn new behaviors (such as basic and advanced obedience exercises, agility contacts, tricks) grows exponentially over time. Also, breaking go-to-mat training into small approximations (e.g., looking at the mat, stepping toward the mat, sniffing the mat, putting all four feet on the mat) and systematically reinforcing each one teaches a dog, click by click, that voluntarily moving toward the mat is just as rewarding as lying on the mat. This process—often referred...

Here are some ideas to keep your pet healthy while you cope with serious budget cuts by DAWN ARMSTRONG.

1. Cut food costs

Ernie Ward, DVM, president of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention says “Most pet food label feeding guides are based on the caloric needs of un-neutered/un-spayed, active adult animals. A spayed or neutered pet's metabolic needs are 25 to 30 percent lower than that.

“Look for a high-quality brand name, and buy it in bulk at a discount store,” suggests Dr. Hammer past president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. “You'll slash costs by a third. Don't go too cheap, generic and local brands may not have the same level of nutritional research.”

Mixing pet food with pet safe people food such as lean meat, fish, and vegetables can reduce the amount of store bought required to maintain health. Learn what ingredients are key for your pet's age and lifestyle. Talk with your veterinarian before making a change. Then make any change slowly.

2. Treat without treats

Portion out a day's food ration and use bits of that for treating. Maintain weight and nutrition needs while simply feeding in a different way. Consider crunchy carrots and apple...

Here are some ideas by DAWN ARMSTRONG (Special to the Tribune) to keep your pet healthy while you cope with serious budget cuts.

1. Cut food costs

Ernie Ward, DVM, president of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention says “Most pet food label feeding guides are based on the caloric needs of un-neutered/un-spayed, active adult animals. A spayed or neutered pet's metabolic needs are 25 to 30 percent lower than that.

“Look for a high-quality brand name, and buy it in bulk at a discount store,” suggests Dr. Hammer past president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. “You'll slash costs by a third. Don't go too cheap, generic and local brands may not have the same level of nutritional research.”

Mixing pet food with pet safe people food such as lean meat, fish, and vegetables can reduce the amount of store bought required to maintain health. Learn what ingredients are key for your pet's age and lifestyle. Talk with your veterinarian before making a change. Then make any change slowly.

2. Treat without treats

Portion out a day's food ration and use bits of that for treating. Maintain weight and nutrition needs while simply feeding in a different way....

By Denise Baran-Unland For The Herald-News September 26, 2011 6:54PM

It was obvious our oldest cat, Frances, was not feeling well. Her eyes were glazed and runny; her nose was dripping. We took her to the vet who said, “It’s probably an upper respiratory infection.”

So Frances took her antibiotics, but a couple of months later her symptoms returned. Seasonal allergies were suspected, so we added Benadryl until the first hard freeze.

When she got sick again during the middle of a move, the vet discovered the underlying cause: feline herpes.

More technically known as Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, feline herpes is a common virus that causes upper respiratory disease in cats, said Dr. Tony Kremer, owner of six Chicago-area veterinary hospitals and Help Save Pets animal shelter in Plainfield.

“Feline herpes is transmitted through nasal and ocular secretions from direct cat to cat contact or from shared food, water dishes and toys,” Kremer said. “It can also be spread when handling an infected cat and then handling a healthy cat without properly disinfecting your hands.”

Symptoms in cats

Primary symptoms are runny eyes and nose; many cats with feline herpes also have severe sneezing, Kremer said. The...

The Canine Ladder of Aggression (from bottom rung to top: early, milder signs progressing to severe signs)

• Biting
• Stiffening and snapping
• Lying down with leg up
• Food guarding
• Ears back, creeping
• Walking away
• Turning body away
• Turning head away
• Yawning, blinking, and licking

By understanding how dogs communicate, we can diminish the amount of miscommunication that occurs between people and dogs, can better predict future behaviors in the dogs we interact with, and reduce the incidence of dog bites, says Dr. Ciribassi. And, he adds, understanding dog language will increase owners' enjoyment of their dogs.

The eyes, ears, tail, mouth, and overall posture can give us the best indications of what dogs are trying to communicate, says Dr. Ciribassi. These structures can convey relaxation, anxiety, tension, or confidence and by understanding the subtleties of their expressions, much ambiguity can be eliminated.

Because aggression can greatly influence the bond we have with our pets, an understanding of the progression of aggressive responses can help minimize the exacerbation of problem behaviors. The "Ladder of Aggression" serves to provide a good model of how aggressive behavior can develop from relatively benign "calming signals" to more overt aggressive displays culminating in snapping and biting,...

Who Benefits from TNR?

July 5th, 2011 - Written by: Shelters' Edge
Posted in Saving Lives | No Comments »

  By Monique Balas, Special to The Oregonian OregonLive.com
 

A new study by Portland-based Banfield Pet Hospital shows our pets are increasingly suffering from illnesses that could be prevented by more frequent visits to the vet.

The “State of Pet Health Report” examined disease trends among the 2.1 million dogs and 450,000 cats between 2006 and 2010. The study shows that dental disease, diabetes, parasitic infestations and ear infections plague our pets most often.

“We wanted to focus on the diseases that are very common in dogs and cats,” says Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, Banfield’s chief medical officer. “We wanted to focus on those, because anything we can do to prevent those diseases has a huge impact.”

Dental disease: This is the most common disease among pets, affecting 68 percent of cats and 78 percent of dogs. Periodontal disease has been linked to heart, kidney and liver disease, but it can be prevented by annual teeth cleaning.

Otitis externa (inflammation of the outer ear canal) was the second most-common disease, increasing by 34 percent in cats and by 9 percent in dogs.

Diabetes: The report found the diabetes rate in dogs has gone up by 32 percent in dogs and...