Yesterday Karma went to the Olney-Sandy Spring Veterinary Hospital for his annual check-up and to learn about his Lyme issue.
Dr. Joellen Gregory met us in reception and Karma was excited to see his “Aunt Joey.” We went on a quick tour of the impressive clinic that boasts its own lab, groomer, mini-store, multiple exam rooms, separate cat and dog kennels and an impressive collection of frozen sperm! The clinic hosts puppy classes and is situated on a beautiful wooded lot.
Karma is not a good or willing patient! He even growled when Dr. Gregory started to look at his teeth – please! We got through the ear check and managed to draw his blood without drawing any of ours! He drew the line at checking his temperature and we let it go. Dr. Gregory did say that he could stand to lose a few pounds – from a current weight of 93 to an even 90 pounds.
The great thing about having an on-site lab is the results come back in minutes. Karma is testing positive for the Lyme antibody after two years so he has to be on Doxycycline for 30 days. After that he will get his first Lyme vaccine and a booster to follow. Along with the Doxy, Karma will take FortiFlora, a probiotic to help keep the good bacteria present and ease any stomach discomfort caused by the antibiotic. Dr. Gregory tells me FortiFlora is also a good thing to have on hand for upset stomachs and diarrhea.
Karma also received his Bordetella vaccine because he is in contact with so many other dogs between classes and dog trials. And because we hike and camp, he received the Lepto vaccine to protect him from 4 of the 27 serovars of disease caused by the Spirochete Leptospira. This disease is carried in the urine of both domestic and wild animals easily encountered when hiking. He will need a booster of this one in 30 days when we go back for his Lyme vaccine.
We will go back in 30 days so stay tuned!
As our readers may remember, Karma tested positive for Lyme Disease at 15 months old. The vet said he routinely tests for Lyme because so many dogs test positive but may not be showing symptoms.
For this reason, he believes that some symptoms (seizures was the example he used) are wrongly assigned to Lyme when it just so happens more comprehensive blood work was done when the dog presented with issues. In other words, you may only find out when something else is going on and then wrongly connect the two issues.
All that sounded logical and still does. So then I asked, “What do we do?” And this is where the opinions vary wildly.
He said that he doesn’t typically treat dogs that aren’t symptomatic. He also said that he doesn’t suggest the vaccine because he didn’t think it did enough (I don’t know which one was available at that time). We also discussed the fact that since Karma is so furry the odds of me finding a tick on him aren’t good so we switched him to separate products for heartworm prevention and flea and tick prevention. (After my own research, I chose K9 Advantix for flea and tick.)
Not being a vet myself I went along with it but continued to ask questions over the last two years. When you hang out at dog trials on weekends you soon amass quite the collection of Lyme and tick horror stories!
And that’s where my friend, Dr. Joellen Gregory, DVM, comes in. Joellen breeds Otterhounds (see photo!) and competes with her dogs in multiple activities including agility which is how we met. I took advantage of the waiting time at a trail to bend her ear about her opinions about Lyme.
Turns out she has a much different view and so Karma has an appointment with her at the Olney-Sandy Spring Veterinary Hosipital on Monday. Stay tuned! I intend to write about this journey in case it is helpful to anyone else out there.
It’s clear that we love our pups. I have never doubted that and frankly, I have come to measure the character of a person by how he or she treats the furry roommates.
I shower Karma with all kinds of things – belly rubs, toys, treats, playtime and more. But one thing I am mindful of is food. As our faithful readers know, Karma is an active boy and earns lots of treats when we are training. But obesity in dogs is a HUGE (no pun intended!) problem and we all have to be careful of over-showering our pups with too much food.
Pets encounter many of the same problems humans do when they are overweight – osteoarthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and cancer – all of which shortens their lifespan (which is already too short!).
So how can you tell if you dog is packing on the pounds? First, take a trip to the vet and pay attention to the scale. Ask your vet about Fido’s weight and really listen to the answer. You should be able to easily feel ribs when you run your hands along his sides. When looking at your dog from above, he should have a discernible waist.
If your dog could stand to lose a few, here are some things to keep in mind:
Read the label of your dog food. Again. | Make sure they are eating a quality food free of by-products, corn and other fillers. Also check the calorie count as most “recommendations” in the instructions are geared to selling more food, not maintaining optimum weight.
Be honest about the amount of snacks and treats your dog gets. | When training, Karma gets all kinds of healthy treats, but that means he gets a little less breakfast and dinner as I’m looking at his total calories for the day. Be sure to educate everyone in the home!
Rethink your rewards. | Karma is very toy-motivated so sometimes a game of tug is the only reward he needs. Other times we use apples, blueberries or other healthy choices to mark good behavior.
Get moving. | It’s really not that different for dogs than it is for people: eat less, move more. Unless your dog has a physical issue, your dog needs to be walking and playing and running.
Like people, like dogs. | Dogs need variety in their workouts just like humans do or their bodies can “plateau,” or get used to the exercise. If you only ever walk your dog around the neighborhood for 20 minutes in the morning, consider mixing in some more active cardio to raise their heart rate; add some strength training like having them wear a pack or working in a bunch of hills; do a super-long walk once a week to build stamina … you get the idea.
Not to insult anyone, but I want to first make sure everyone knows what a “Way Station” is. For me, it is that general store of sorts in a park that seems to always have exactly what you forgot to bring on your camping adventure. Marshmallows, check. Matches, check. Baked beans, check. Some even have postcards, ice cream and deli counters and various souvenirs.
It is also usually staffed with some really helpful people who can direct you, teach you and give you great information about the park. Maps, phones and firewood are usually staples at the Way Station.
So today we launch our Way Station page and intend for it to evolve into that same type of invaluable resource. We are preparing checklists, compiling favorite links, providing directions and more. This home page will still be the first place for new content, but before you head out on a hike or camping trip, be sure to click to the Way Station to make sure you have everything.
As always, if you have something to add or need a resource not listed, we want to hear about it!
Dental health is often overlooked when evaluating the overall health of your dog. In fact, “doggie breath” is not normal and it can be an early warning sign of something more serious, just like bad breath in humans is an indicator of something more.
So maybe you have scoffed at doggie toothbrushes and peanut butter-flavored toothpaste. But scoff not. Or maybe you have just accepted the fact that every two years or so you leave your pooch at the vet for a day to be put under while tough plaque is removed. Not acceptable! Sure, you may have the small percentage of healthy dogs who have been dealt a bummer set of choppers, but most likely you can regain control.
Regular – meaning weekly or more often – brushing can go a long way towards ensuring health. Use it as a bonding excuse rather than a chore and build trust between you and your dog. You may have to start slowly by letting them get used to the flavor of the toothpaste or just having your finger rubbing against his teeth. Start slow and build trust.
Once you have the hang of it, add a toothbrush to the mix. There are even some that fit over your finger for more control so you don’t accidentally jam your dog’s gum with a hunk of plastic (I mean, not that I’ve ever done such a thing!).
My personal preference is to make sure Karma has lots of different surfaces on which to chew. Crunchy treats, edible, organic bones and even store-bought dental treats ensure his teeth are getting the same workout they would in the wild. Karma is on a raw diet so that means every once in a while he gets something totally disgusting like a turkey neck (I say, “ick!,” he says, “Nom!”).
I can honestly say that by changing his diet and being conscious of his choppers, Karma’s plaque has decreased and his doggie smile is even brighter.
By now, if you read regularly, you might think I am the most paranoid person on the planet when it comes to my dog as I am often writing about safety, safety, safety. In truth I just prefer being prepared and my mom might rat me out by saying these are all just excuses to buy more stuff!
I prefer the label “prepared,” but Mom is probably right, too.
In any case, I certainly can’t convince you that I’m really not so paranoid today, because I have found an entire online store devoted to safety! Wag’n Pet Safety Gear offers first aid kits, pet passports and even evacuation kits!
Of course reading about the evacuation kit made me realize that I really don’t (or didn’t!) have an evacuation plan for Karma in case we need to (godforbid!) make a run for it. The majority of their products are for dogs, but they do have your cat and even your ferret in mind as well.
So how do you think Karma will feel about fire drills?
Last week when the temperature crept over the 50 mark, it made me dream of spring and hikes in the mountains! Ahhhh. And that was the perfect reminder – am I in shape for the first hike of the season? More importantly, is my dog?
It’s easy to forget that while you may be hitting the treadmill in the winter, your dog relies completely on you for exercise. I don’t know about you, but when the weather is yucky I have been known to shorten a walk or opt for the backyard potty to avoid the elements or the dark.
Which is fine, of course, but it means that your dog will need to get back into shape before you do a three-miler with a grade change of 600 feet! Karma and I participate in other doggie activities year round but even agility runs aren’t the same as a few hours in Shenandoah National Park.
So what’s a team to do?
- Take advantage of the rare warm(er) days and double the time of your walk.
- Look for even slight inclines and small hills in your neighborhood and walk up and down them to work different muscle groups.
- Build both stamina and strength in your dogs – sometimes walks can be about duration, sometimes strength.
- Use a doggy backpack to make your dog think about what he’s doing and to build strength. A dog should be able to carry 1/3 of his weight but not right away! Start with a small bottle of water on each side of the pack (if you have a small dog, don’t fill the bottles all the way).
- Vary your dog’s pace to build cardio strength – chasing balls, fast walks, etc.
- Look at the calendar and work backwards. If you were to sign up to run a 10k in say, June, you would start training accordingly. Treat your dog the same way!
But wait, there’s more!
The temperatures are still bone chilling and you can never be too careful with your best friend!
So here are a few more tips for taking care of your pup.
- You may not have antifreeze in your garage, but it can collect on roads and driveways. It tastes and smells good to dogs, but it is highly lethal.
- Watch out for anything your dog picks up on a walk – or better yet, don’t let him! Karma is surprisingly fast when it comes to picking up something during a walk and at the end of an extension leash he’s harder to control. But a good friend lost her dog to something they never knew the dog ate while walking so be careful!
- Rock salt or other ice-melting products is all over sidewalks, driveways and roadways this time of year. These various products may be harmful to your dog’s paws so be sure to clean them off. Also, buy “paw-friendly” products for your own home.
- Be careful of supplemental heat sources like fireplaces and portable heaters. Your dog can easily burn himself.
- Like us two-legged creatures, dogs are also susceptible to illnesses in the winter so be sure to visit the vet if you see any symptoms.
- Do NOT use over-the-counter medications on your dog without consulting your vet. I’m talking about both the ones meant for humans and those meant for dogs.
OK, so here I am again with more health and welfare tips! This time some reminders as the thermometers display cold temperatures and we are layered-up for walks.
As I may have mentioned (like a hundred times), my dog LOVES the cold but in some ways, that can almost make it harder to notice early signs that even my snow dog has to come in from the cold. Once Karma played so long in the snow that his paws were bright red that night and painful the next morning. So even if your dog loves this weather, please read on. These tips were taken from information on AKC.org.
- Don’t leave your dog outside in the cold for long periods of time or certainly without monitoring. Windchill affects them just as much so pay attention.
- Adequate shelter is a necessity! Even inside, make sure your dog is protected from drafts and too-cold floors. Provide options for them – from beds to towels to bare floors – so they can mange their needs.
- Watch out when walking near bodies of water that may look frozen as looks can be deceiving and weak spots occur.
- Keep you dog well groomed in order for his natural insulation to function properly. You may also need to clip hair in some places if it is holding onto snow – like the bottoms of feet.
- If your dog needs a coat, get him a coat! We like the Foggy Mountain coats but there are literally thousands to choose from. (also check out our previous post!)
- You may need to feed additional calories if your dog is spending a lot of time outdoors. It takes more energy in the winter to regulate body temperature. Just don’t go overboard!
- Be sure to thoroughly dry you dog after he comes in from the rain or snow and check the condition of his feet.
- Don’t leave your dog in a car as it can get cold in there fast. And running the engine doesn’t help, as the carbon monoxide fumes can be dangerous.
During the holidays, no doubt you will have an extra cookie or two and you may even let your pooch cheat on his “diet” as well. It happens.
So while you are making promises to clean up your act in ’10, make a promise to take a look at your dog’s diet too.
Suggesting a diet for someone else’s dog is about as inflammatory as bringing up religion at a cocktail party so I won’t even try!! What I will do instead is offer a site I have found helpful in learning how to better read labels and get educated – Dogma!
I will also suggest researching your specific breed requirements as well. When I first got Karma I learned that his breed has much different protein requirements than my Labrador did and that was helpful.
If you can’t stick to your new year’s resolution diet, for sure your dog can!
No one wants to think about it, but what if an emergency happened in your home but you weren’t there? We would all like to think our pooch is smart enough to dial 9-1-1, but in case they aren’t, this great window cling from Big Paw Designs will alert emergency responders.
Be sure to put one on or near each entrance to your home to alert rescuers of the pets in your home. Another tip: If you have an alarm service, be sure to keep your profile updated to let them know there are pets inside.
For just a few dollars, this is a great stocking stuffer that hopefully will never be needed!
This holiday season, in addition to being thankful for my amazing life, I am thankful to my friend and vet, Dr. Kim Danoff of Paws to Heal Veterinary Clinic in Vienna, Virginia. In her newsletter this month she shares some great reminders and I couldn’t have said it better myself! So thanks, Dr. Danoff, for reminding us – and teaching us – about foods that may be toxic to our best friends!
Chocolate
Most of us know that chocolate is bad for our pets. 95% of chocolate ingestion calls to animal poison control are for dogs. Dark chocolate and less sweet chocolate tend to be more toxic because they have higher cocoa contents.
Xylitol
Xylitol is a popular, natural, sugar free sweetener that is often in gum and desserts. Xylitol when ingested by pets very quickly lowers the blood sugar and can cause liver failure with in 24 hours.
Raisins, Grapes and even Currants
Whether they are yogurt covered, in granola, or by themselves raisins, grapes, and currants can be bad news. Raisins, grapes, currants can cause very rapid onset of kidney failure that is often fatal.
Non-Stick Cooking Spray
Depending on the formulation, these aerosol sprays contain hydrocarbons, which are volatile substances. Some of the early signs of ingestion in your pet include an upset stomach. A high amount can lead to respiratory tract problems and a condition known as aspiration pneumonia.
Birds are very sensitive to cooking sprays because they have a unique respiratory tract that makes them very susceptible to irritation, so be really careful not only with cooking sprays but anything coming from an aerosol container when around birds.
Yeast Dough
If yeast dough is ingested it can expand, rise in the stomach, and can present a dangerous risk to your pet’s intestinal system, such as an intestinal rupture. Also, alcohol fermentation may take place in your pet’s stomach and if there’s enough ingested it can lead to alcohol poisoning. Any pet is at risk. Keep an eye out for signs of gastrointestinal irritation – vomiting, diarrhea and drooling.
Coffee Grounds
The harmful substances like theobromine and the caffeine found in coffee grounds are very similar to those in chocolate and often produce the same side effects. Look out for vomiting and diarrhea. In addition your pet may experience hyperactivity, increased heart rate, seizures, tremors and possibly even death, depending on the amount ingested.
Macadamia Nuts
We’ve only seen a negative reaction from these nuts in dogs and we don’t know all that much about why they are dangerous, but we would recommend keeping them away from all pets. It’s an interesting phenomenon – if enough are ingested (and as little as a handful can be seen as dangerous), we see weakness in hind legs and can see the gastrointestinal effects – vomiting, diarrhea and drooling. These nuts can also affect the central nervous system and cause depression and muscle tremors. Generally signs resolve in 48 hours with proper care and treatment.
Onions & Onion Powder
Onions, garlic and chives are all part of the allium species. Any of plants can produce similar effects. Look for the common gastrointestinal effects and trouble breathing. In addition, these substances can see significant damage to a pet’s red blood cells. Cats can be particularly sensitive but it is dangerous to cats, dogs and birds.
If you think your pet has ingested a toxic food, please contact a veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435
As the seasons move closer to winter Cannon is spending less and less time laying in the yard soaking up the sun and more time sprinting toward the house when he has done his business. Let’s face it, it’s getting cold! For those of us with short haired dogs, or smaller dogs whose core is closer to the ground we need to begin thinking about their needs during the upcoming winter months.
Just yesterday I received my copy of the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) magazine, familydog. I’d already resolved to sit and write this post and was happy to note that they included an article titled “How to Winterize Your Dog.” If you don’t have access to this magazine then I recommend checking out their guidelines on how to keep your dog both safe and warm. For those of you who work at a veterinary clinic, groomer, pet store or the like, you may also be interested in posting the AKC’s flyer that includes these guidelines.
In any event, some gear may be necessary to keep your dog from turning into a pupsicle. If you’re looking to purchase a coat or turnout (style of coat, originally designed for horses) then I highly recommend Foggy Mountain Dog Coats! I’ve purchased two snuggler (fleece) style coats for Cannon; one when he was a growing pup and another now that he’s full grown. They are durable, washable (bonus!) and come in many different patterns. Blackwatch plaid is my fav. Also notice that they have some breed specific coats as well. Warning: if you get a coat just be careful that you’re not getting too excited to see your dog sport his new fashions and that the weather is truly cool enough to justify wearing it. You don’t want to overheat him.
No matter how much we want to fight it, there are snowflakes in our future. Remember that while we start shivering so will many of our dogs. Get out the shovel and clear those paths for potty walks. Be careful where you sprinkle that rock salt, it can hurt their paws. And, if you have a Berner (like Julie) then let them off the leash and watch them in their element… no coat necessary here!
Do you have other favorite winter gear, such as sweaters and booties? Please share with us; we’d love to learn how you’re keeping your best friends warm this winter.
On a recent camping trip, while trying to untangle the dogs’, I unclipped Cannon’s leash and watched him run off and around the campground like a total maniac!!! While still in our campsite, I reached over to grab his collar and rein him back in when he got a mischievous glint in his eye and proceeded to run through the brush and into a nearby site. I called and called but he wouldn’t even look up at me. I had to resort to shaking a bag of treats to get my unruly Ridgeback to come back to me. Ugh… this was not his finest hour. It’s times like these when we realize that our sidekick requires a much needed tune-up.
The summer months are great for Cannon since we spend so much time outside, hiking and camping. What I discovered though is that this year we took no trips into town to mingle with all the passersby – resulting in some antisocial behavior on the trail; I didn’t work on sit and down or enforce them with consistency – resulting in Cannon’s long thoughtful consideration of whether or not he would do what I was telling him; he spent a lot of time on leash and so recalls didn’t happen much either – which resulted in an impromptu romp through the campground.
As winter approaches, so does more hours indoors. This makes fall the perfect time to do some extra work with your pup, especially if you’re like me and slacked over the summer. The cool days make pushing those walks a little further an easy task. Walks can be for exercise and to practice getting your dog to heel properly at your side (I prefer the “turn-around” method). Time in your backyard, at a dog park or even in the house can be dedicated to making a game out of practicing recalls, sit-stays, down-stays and wait. With all the fall festivals, pumpkin patches and wine festivals you should get that leash out and practice walking through the busy crowds and interacting with strangers (remember! it’s okay to say “no” if someone asks to pet your pup while you’re training or just not in the mood).
I’ve taken my own advice and I’ve gotten Cannon back on track. After just a few days of re-training my husband even remarked about what a good boy he’s been on his walks. Now I can enjoy my pack being back in order.
Last week my husband (Dan), my Ridgeback (Cannon) and I took a drive from Virginia to upstate New York to celebrate the wedding of some friends of ours. Originally we were going to board Cannon, so we wouldn’t have to worry about walks and things while we were busy with the rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception. We’d stay one night with my in-laws and the next night at the hotel where the wedding would take place. After a bit of discussion we decided to put Cannon in the backseat of the car and take him along with us. My brother-in-law agreed to doggy-sit while we were out having fun and we knew our nieces would give him a lot of love in our place.
So off we went, our happy little family. About 3 hours into the trip I cracked the window a bit to let Cannon get a good sniff outside and to get some fresh air in the car. It wasn’t more than an hour after that, that my husband asked me if it looked like Cannon had some bumps on his muzzle. I was driving and took a peek back at Cannon and while he did appear to have some strange puffiness around his mouth it didn’t seem like anything to worry about. An hour after that I looked back and noticed Cannon’s eye half swollen shut. Still two-hours from our destination (yes, it’s a very long drive!) we were approaching a bigger town where we knew there’d be a vet clinic.
Dan checked for local vets on his Blackberry and gave them a ring. He explained that Cannon had had his head out the window and may have been stung by something, that his face was swelling. They advised us to stop and get some Benadryl. Simple enough and not as urgent as I was anticipating. We dialed our home-town vet to confirm the instructions and checked the dosage for Cannon, since he’s much more familiar with our pup – 1mg for each pound of weight was prescribed. Our vet also let us know that though the hives might look bad the things we needed to worry about was if they didn’t go away over time or if he was having trouble swallowing, indicating swelling of the throat, in which case Cannon would need to see a vet ASAP.
We stopped at the first gas station we saw, put the Benadryl in with a bit of kibble and let him gobble them up. We were all relieved that over the next couple hours Cannon’s mumps and bumps went away. When we got the in-laws’ they couldn’t even tell anything had been wrong with him in the first place. Wonderful! Dan and I were able to change quickly and off to the rehearsal dinner we went.
It wouldn’t be as interesting if the story ended there though. We got back to our family’s place sometime around or after midnight and we were greeted by Cannon and the new display of hives, which were not only on his face and head but also down his back and some on his legs and ears. Poor dog. Dan took me by the shoulders and instructed me not to cry. I didn’t. We dispensed some more Benadryl and headed for bed. Needless to say, I didn’t sleep well. Cannon slept next to me and I kept a hand on his side, so when I woke up I could pet him to see if the hives had come or gone.
The next morning there were only the remnants of a few hives. I took care of Cannon’s potty walk. He met a kitten that he decided was a terrifying creature. He had a nice breakfast. And that’s when the hives started breaking out again. What I thought were leftovers from the night before were really the first to appear for the next day. I kept an eye on him and over the next 20-30 minutes I was witnessing a full body outbreak. And this time they were itching him.
My 10-year old niece and I were the only ones awake. She let me log onto the family computer with her password. She gave me the name of the vet they use for their animals. I was able to look up the number and give them a ring. No appointments open for the day (Saturday) and the emergency vet they recommended me to was an hour away. Next. I called another vet and was in luck. They had an appointment open in a couple hours. I locked that in and gave Cannon another dose of Benadryl. Worried that it would kick in before we made it to the vet I made sure to take plenty of pictures with my digital camera, just in case.
This story does have a happy ending! We made it to the vet with only a mild scattering of hives. The vet looked Cannon all over, as well as the photo’s I’d taken. He explained that the reason the hives seemed to be coming back was because the Benadryl was wearing off before the allergen (hystimine) was out of his system. He told us there’s no telling exactly what it was that caused the allergic reaction but that it’s not uncommon for owners to have to administer Benadryl or the like for a week or even two – depending on how bad the allergy attack is. He also gave us some education on what type of injuries can occur from letting your dog stick his head out the window. The most frequent cases he sees involved tears to the cornea (eye). There’s a lot flying around in the air outside the car and getting kicked up by other vehicles that there’s any number of injuries that can occur from flying objects. Besides that, stopping quick or getting in an accident can be fatal to your canine friend. Dan and I agreed, there will be no more windows down for Cannon.
That afternoon we kept up with more consistent doses of the Benadryl. Checked Cannon into the hotel with us, for the extra fee, to keep an eye on him. And within 24-hours he was drug and hive free. It was an exhausting weekend, which left Dan and I wishing we would have boarded him instead of carting him 800+ miles total and exposing him to whatever it was that “got him”.
So, start your engines. Windows up. On we go 
