Pawprints - All About Dogs and Cats Blog

The typical Thanksgiving meal consists of turkey with gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, an assortment of other vegetables, and pumpkin pie for dessert.

Should you let your beloved furry family member indulgein this feast?  After all, what are holidays for? You love your dog. You want to share with him.

There is no good reason why you should not…BUT don’t forget about portions. To a small dog, just three hefty slices of turkey, chicken, or ham is like you eating at least a half an entire turkey, chicken, or ham.

The impact can be more severe than an upset tummy. Vets see more pancreatitis around the holidays than at any other time of the year. Eating very fatty food may cause pancreatitis, and it can be life threatening. Ham is often especially fatty as well as salty ( very bad for your dog).

Keep an eye on your pet. There are lots of cases of counter surfing dogs scarfing huge hunks of meat when their owners’ backs are turned, and their pancreas just can’t process all that fat at once.

Even lean meat can take a toll if everyone at the table contributes. At a large family dinner  little Muffin may be offered “tidbits” by everyone as they surreptitiously sneak her more turkey under the table. By the time the night is over, little Muffin will have had more to eat than anyone else at the dinner table.

Refrain from feeding your pet at the table -  do so only by putting the the food in her food bowl. That way you can control the amount of food.

Also, feeding your pooch from the dinner table can inadvertently trains him to beg for food.

Enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with your pet…just be discriminating about the amounts he is offered.

Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa (Nov 13th, 2008)

Iowa State University veterinary researchers may have found a cure for a previously incurable disease that causes dogs to go blind suddenly.

In the past few months, two dogs have been successfully treated for sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS) by a research team led by ISU veterinary ophthalmologist Dr. Sinisa Grozdanic in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The experimental treatment is the first to reverse blindness and restore sight to dogs diagnosed with SARDS. The treatment restored sight to the two dogs that were treated on April 12 and April 27.

SARDS was first identified in the 1980s and blinds as many as 4,000 dogs each year in North America, he said. The dogs have a sudden loss of vision despite no structural changes to the eyes or damage to the retinas in the early stages of the disease. Their eyes appear completely normal, but their retinas show no electrical activity.

Although the treatment has worked in two SARDS dogs, not every dog is a good candidate, Grozdanic cautions. Dogs with severe cardiac or kidney disease cannot tolerate IVIg. And it won’t work in a dog whose retina degeneration is advanced. “Once a dog gets SARDS, the retina degenerates quickly, so it’s important the dog is treated with IVIg very soon after diagnosis,” he said. “Usually dogs that have SARDS for longer than two months have severe retinal changes. The sooner it’s treated, the better chance it will work.”

Diagnostic tests cost about $700. If the dog is a good candidate for treatment, hospitalization and intensive care fees will be about $1,200. The IVIg cost will be between $35-40 per pound of the dog’s body weight. Grozdanic recommends owners visit the nearest veterinary ophthalmologist as soon as a dog exhibits any loss in vision.

On November 7, Massachusetts citizens voted to prohibit commercial greyhound racing statewide by voting YES on ballot Question 3, The Greyhound Protection Act (pdf).  The Greyhound Protection Act will phase out dog racing in the state by 2010. This inhumane “sport” has already been banned in Vermont, Idaho, Washington, North Carolina, Virginia, Nevada and Pennsylvania.

The greyhound racing industry in Massachusetts has proven itself incapable—or unwilling—to treat dogs humanely. The state’s two dog tracks, Wonderland and Raynham Park, each maintain a population of over 1,000 greyhound dogs. These dogs are confined for 20 or more hours per day to small cages barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around. To reduce costs, the tracks feed greyhounds raw meat from dying, diseased or downed livestock that has been deemed unfit for human consumption. In fact, this meat often contains denatured charcoal to discourage human use.

Racing greyhounds regularly endure serious, even fatal injuries. According to state records, more than 800 dogs have been injured on the tracks since 2002. On average, a Massachusetts racing greyhound is injured every three to four days, with over 81 percent of these incidents involving fractures, dislocation, head trauma, seizures, cardiac arrest, paralysis, or instant death. The majority of these injuries also involve broken legs.

Congratulations, Massachusetts, for passing the ban on dog racing!

Christmas Idea: 

Pet parents can decorate their Christmas tree with “create your own’ ornaments featuring their favorite pictures of their fur kids.

These keepsake ornaments make a lovely addition to the family tree, and  also make great gifts for pet lovers. No special skills are required…Just a clear picture of the pet ( cropped to a size suitable for the ornament) And you can preview the finished product before you place the order.

For more information, visit The Pet Boutique at All About Dogs and Cats.

Pet Parents BEWARE!

Please do not leave your precious pets unattended outdoors on Halloween. There are freaks out there who will torture and do unthinkable things to your furry companions!

Make sure your pet has a safe Halloween by following these guidelines from the ASPCA:

 “Many of our favorite Halloween traditions could pose a potential threat to our companion animals. As pet parents start to make plans for trick-or-treating or costumes, they should be aware of Halloween-related products and activities that can be potentially dangerous to pets.” warns Dr. Steven Hansen, Senior Vice President, ASPCA Animal Health Services, including the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, IL

The following are just a few precautions you should take:

No Chocolate: Even if your pet has a sweet tooth, ingesting chocolate—especially baker’s and dark chocolate—can be dangerous for dogs and cats, possibly causing vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity and even seizures.

No Sweets for the Sweet: Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which leads to depression, lack of coordination and seizures.

Dangerous Décor: Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach. If chewed, your pet could experience damage to his mouth from shards of glass or plastic, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.

Don’t Play with Fire: Keep your pets away from jack-o-lanterns with lit candles inside—knocking the pumpkin over can easily cause a fire. And curious kittens can get burned or singed by candle flames.

Costume Caution: Please don’t put your pet in a costume unless you know that he or she loves it. Costumes can cause skin irritations, obstruct a pet’s vision or impede his breathing.

For more information on having a safe Halloween with your pets, please visit the complete list of Halloween Safety Tips. And if your pet accidentally ingests potentially harmful products, immediately consult your veterinarian or the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

1. Be aware.  Get to know and look out for the animals in your neighborhood. By being aware, you’re more likely to notice, for example, that the dog next door who was once hefty has lost weight rapidly—a possible indicator of abuse.

2. Learn to recognize animal cruelty. Here are some signs and symptoms :

• Tick or flea infestations. Such a condition, if left untreated by a veterinarian, can lead to an animal’s death.
• Wounds on the body.
• Patches of missing hair.
• Extremely thin, starving animals.
• Limping.
• An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal.
• Dogs who are repeatedly left alone without food and water, often chained up in a yard.
• Dogs who have been hit by cars-or are showing any of the signs listed above-and have not been taken to a veterinarian.
• Dogs who are kept outside without shelter in extreme weather conditions.
• Animals who cower in fear or act aggressively when approached by their owners.

3. Know who to call to report animal cruelty. Every state and province, and even every town is different. In some areas, you may have to rely on the police department to investigate animal cruelty; in others, you may have to contact local animal control or another municipal agency.

4. Provide as much as information as possible when reporting animal cruelty. The details that you provide can go a long way toward assisting the investigating officer. It helps to write down the type of cruelty that you witnessed, who was involved, the date of the incident and where it took place.

5. Call or write your local law enforcement department and let them know that investigating animal cruelty should be a priority. Animal cruelty is a CRIME—and the police MUST investigate these crimes.

6. Know your state’s or province’s animal cruelty laws. These vary from state to state, province to province, and  from city to city. You can visit the ASPCA’s online database of more than 550 animal cruelty laws—and their penalties—in all 50 states.

7. Fight for the passage of strong anti-cruelty laws on federal and local levels. Write letters encouraging your legislators to pass these laws-and you can send them directly from our website.

8. Set a good example for others. If you have pets, be sure to always show them the love and good care that they deserve - more than just food, water, and adequate shelter. If you think your animal is sick, bring him to the veterinarian. Be responsible and have your animals spayed or neutered.

9. Teach children  how to treat animals with kindness and respect.  Tell kids that their dog or cat would really appreciate fresh water every day,  a warm place to live, and love and play time. Help children understand that animals are living creatures who have the ability to feel pain, joy and sadness.

10. Support your local shelter or animal rescue organization. Make a difference. If possible, foster animals who have been abused in their former homes, giving these dogs and cats the chance they deserve to have a good life. Find a list of shelters and rescue groups in your area:

• Dog Breed Rescue Directory  (USA,  Canada, UK)
• Purebred Cat Rescue (USA, Canada, UK)
• Pet Rescue (USA, Canada, UK) 
• National Shelter Directory (US)

Minneapolis, Minnesota (Oct 2nd, 2008) by Daphne Reid (Pet Peoples Place)

A gene mutation carried by up to 30% of Labrador Retrievers has been identified by researchers as being linked to Exercise-Induced Collapse (EIC).

Researchers at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine identified a gene associated with the syndrome which can result in loss of control of hind limbs and sometimes death after intense hunting or retrieving exercise - activities these dogs are trained to perform. Up to 3-5% of Labradors are affected by this condition.

Researchers also determined that up to 30 percent of Labrador retrievers are carriers of the mutation, and they developed a genetic test to indicate whether dogs have the normal or mutated forms of the gene. The research team identified a mutant form of the dynamin 1 gene as highly associated with EIC. The dynamin 1 protein normally functions to maintain proper chemical communication between adjacent nerves, also known as synaptic transmission. However, the mutated form of the dynamin protein appears to have diminished function, interrupting synaptic transmission during intense exercise, and causing the muscle-controlling nerves to not fire when directed to do so.

 The research was published in the journal Nature Genetics and was funded by Morris Animal Foundation and the American Kennel Club Canine Health  Foundation. Owners can have their dogs tested through their veterinarian by submitting a blood sample to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

“The test can not only help confirm the diagnosis, but it can also help dog breeders ensure that no dogs inherit two copies of the mutated gene” said Edward Patterson, D.V.M, Ph.D., assistant professor of veterinary medicine at the University of Minnesota and co-principal investigator of the study. Breeds such as Chesapeake Bay and curly-coated retrievers, which are closely related to Labradors, have also been found to have the dynamin 1 mutation. The research team is now determining what other breeds might be involved and more precisely defining the specific alteration in dynamin function.

Crufts 2008 was a great success and there were many thousands of visitors and dogs from all over the world. All of which contributing to ensure that Crufts maintains its status of being the World’s Greatest Dog Show. Crufts is officially recognised as the world’s largest dog show by the Guinness Book of Records and the 2008 show had almost 23,000 dogs entered, including 1,165 dogs from overseas and 160,000 dog loving visitors.

Crufts 2008 Best in Show

The Crufts 2008 was held 6th - 9th of March . The Best In Show winner was The Giant Schnauzer CH JAFRAK PHILIPPE OLIVIER owned by Mr and Mrs K Cullen.

Crufts 2009 dates are 5th – 8th March 2009 at the NEC, Birmingham.

Crufts 2008Crufts, the world’s greatest dog show will be taking place from 6th – 9th March 2008 at the NEC, Birmingham.  The show is open from 8.15 to 19.30 each day.

Officially recognised as the world’s largest dog show by the Guinness Book of Records, Crufts 2008 looks forward to expecting almost 23,000 dogs, including 1,165 dogs from overseas. As for human visitors the 2007 show had over 153,000.

On Friday, February 15, the ASPCA celebrated I Love NYC Pets Month by giving shelter dogs a chance to take the stage.  

At the ASPCA’s third annual “Best in Show” competition, ten adoptable dogs displayed their talents to a panel of celebrity judges, including Emmy award-winning actress Kristen Johnston; legendary actress and singer Maureen McGovern;  DJ Angie Martinez; Lonneke Engel (the face of Ralph Lauren’s HOT perfume) and the ASPCA’s Supervisory Special Investigator, Officer Annemarie Lucas.

The feisty contestants scored on overall presentation, attentiveness to their handlers and creativity of their tricks … and really hammed it up for the judges. All the dogs were rewarded with treats, resounding applause and television coverage.