Pawprints - All About Dogs and Cats Blog

Chanel, the world’s oldest dog, celebrated her 21st birthday on Wednesday May 6th with a certificate from the Guinness Book of Records and a visit to a dog hotel and spa.The off-white dachshund, a rescue dog from Port Jefferson in New York, wore an orange sweater and red goggles as her owner, Denice Shaughnessy, accepted the award marking her longevity.

Chanel became the world’s oldest dog following the death of Butch, the 28-year-old former record holder, in 2003. She’ll be listed in the 2010 edition of Guinness World Records, scheduled for publication this October. She celebrated her birthday with a visit to the New York Dog Hotel and Spa where she was  joined by some doggy friends and posed for photographers as she sat on a red mini-sofa.

Shaughnessy said Chanel tires quickly, wears goggles for cataracts when she is in the sun, and booties to cushion a benign tumor on her hind leg.“I just take good care of her,'’ said Shaughnessy, 51, who cares for Chanel with her husband, Karl. “I treat her like a person.'’Shaughnessy adopted Chanel  from an animal shelter in Virginia when she was just six-weeks old. Although Chanel could run miles in her younger days, now she suffers from joint problems and spends most of her days at home.

The oldest dog ever whose age could be verified was Bluey, an Australian cattle dog that died at the ripe old age of 29 years, 5 months in 1939.  

According to the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) as well as the ASPCA, the H1N1 virus, previously known as swine flu, appears to present little risk of infecting our furry friends.

The AVMA states that “to date, there is no evidence that pets are susceptible to this new strain of influenza; it appears to be transmitted solely from person to person.”

“Currently there’s no data demonstrating any risk of dogs and cats contracting this strain of the virus,” says Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Hospital in New York City.

 ”However, owners of pet pigs, as well as farmers, should monitor their animals’ health more closely and take steps to limit transmission from humans to pigs and vice versa.”

If you do count a pet pig as your animal companion, please consult with your veterinarian about a Type A influenza vaccine, which is available and recommended for all healthy swine.

So dog and cat lovers, we need not fret for our fur kids. But remember to take the necessary precautions for your own health.

Taking a pet first aid class could save your pet’s life.

Countless emergencies can be averted and accidents  prevented by the the owner or Pet Care Professional being trained in pet first aid.  

Red Cross Pet First aid classes, which last about four hours, are a combination of lecture, discussion, video presentation and live demonstration. They can be taught for dogs, cats or both, and topics include actions to take in an emergency — such as CPR and controlling bleeding.

Students learn how to perform CPR and rescue breathing on stuffed animals modified to simulate lungs and airways. Pet mannequins are also used to practice making emergency muzzles out of cloth strips. These can be necessary for human safety when an animal is in pain. Students also learn when not to muzzle, when the emergency involves choking or difficulty in breathing. 

The Red Cross first began offering pet first aid classes in 1997; prices are set by individual chapters. The course was revised in 2007 to separate care for cats and dogs, which are different in some important respects. (American Red Cross Pet First Aid)

“A cat is not a small dog,” says Deborah C. Mandell of the University of Pennsylvania, veterinary adviser to the Red Cross. For instance, she says, while urinary blockage is possible in dogs, in cats it’s one of the most common life-threatening problems, and it’s critical to recognize the signs.

Another source for pet first aid classes is Pet Tech, which has 300 trained instructors in 30 states, Canada and Mexico. Started 13 years ago by Thom Somes, a former emergency medical technician and a human first aid instructor, the company offers first aid and CPR, dental care, and senior pet care classes.

PetSaver™ Training is a one-day course designed for pet owners as well as Pet Care Professionals. Pet Tech Instructor (PTI) Training is a three-day course that will train you to teach the PetSaver™ course to pet owners andPet Care Professionals in your area.

Pet Tech is the first international training center dedicated to First Aid, CPR & Care for dogs and cats .

For more information, contact the Red Cross in your area, or visit the Pet Tech site: http://www.pettech.net/

Go Orange !

This month the ASPCA will kick-off Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month on April 7 when iconic buildings and landmarks across the country will support the ASPCA’s life-saving work as they light up in its signature color and “Go Orange For Animals .” 

Last year New York, Chicago and many other cities lit up—even Niagara Falls went orange.

Show your support for the ASPCA by going orange. Call your city council and find out how to get prominent buildings and landmarks to light up orange—it could be your town hall, local businesses, schools, libraries, museums, baseball fields, you name it.

The ASPCA’s official color is orange, and they’re asking people to “Go Orange ” all month , telling the world that you love animals and don’t want to see them hurt.

Ways to Go Orange 

Wear Orange ! 
Get out those bright orange pants, hats, caps, bandannas, shirts, sneakers and socks! Dressing up can be great fun for you and four-legged fashionista if you take the proper precautions. If your pet seems distressed or shows abnormal behavior, consider a simple orange bandana instead. Please make sure the costume doesn’t limit your pet’s movement, hearing, vision or ability to breathe or bark.

Free ASPCA Posters Download and customize your own Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month poster! Use it to promote your own event, or just ask people to visit ASPCAApril.org!  ( Download Now )

Go Orange Photo Contest 
Get out your pet’s favorite orange outfit, grab your camera and send ASPCA your best shot Enter the Contest here

A Sealyham Terrier, Charmin, owned by Marjorie Good, from Chester County, Pennsylvania, won Best in Show at Crufts 2009, in Birmingham, England.

Four-year old Charmin, (Am/Can/Su Ch Efbe’s Hidalgo at Goodspice) was selected from seven group winners at the show, held in Birmingham, England on March 8th. This was the first time that a Sealyham has ever won Best in Show at Crufts.

The terrier breed is native to the United Kingdom but only 43 Sealyham Terriers were registered last year in Great Britain, according to the Kennel Club, which registers dogs in the country and organizes Crufts. This will hopefully help boost its situation as a vulnerable native breed in the UK.

From over 22,500 dogs which were entered into Crufts 2009,  seven wonderful dogs made it into the final stage of the ultimate competition, Best in Show. Those seven dogs were a Sealyham Terrier, a Pharaoh Hound, a Standard Poodle, a Papillon, a Hungarian Vizsla and the Boxer and Old English Sheepdog .

Crufts is an annual international Championship conformation show for dogs organised and hosted by the Kennel Club (UK), currently held every March at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham, England. It is the largest annual dog show in the world, as declared by the Guinness Book of Records, and lasts four days.

Crufts 2010 dates are 11 – 14 March 2010 at the NEC, Birmingham.

On Thursday, February 26, The View held its First Annual Mutt Show, in which ten mixed-breed dogs participated in a little friendly competition. Five of the contestants were dogs owned by viewers, and the other five were available for adoption rightat the ASPCA! David Frei, longtime commentator for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, judged the dogs on appearance and temperament, and eventually selected the ASPCA’s energetic Eggy as “best in show” of the adoptable group.

Eggy and three other dogs featured on the show have already found their forever homes! Larry and Sheila Alberg of Bakersville, CA, were so taken by Mia, a German shepherd mix, they decided to drive across the country to our New York City shelter to adopt her! “I burst into tears when I saw her on the show. It was an instant connection,” says Mrs. Alberg, who was impressed by how well-behaved Mia was on The View.

Little Michael, an 11-year-old Maltese mix, who wowed the judge with his loving temperament, found his soulmate in Tracy Keenan of Brooklyn. Keenan adores her new companion and even makes him homemade food—lucky pooch!

Thanks to The View, we have another reason to trumpet the many joys of adopting a mixed-breed dog, but if you have your heart set on a purebred, don’t give up on finding one at a shelter! Purebreds are also available at shelters and rescue groups; to find one near you, visit the All About Dogs and Cats Breed Rescue Directoy

Pet parents, take care around your dog or cat to make sure he/she doesn’t lick the antifreeze spilled on the garage floor or driveway. Watch out for antifreeze  left on other driveways when taking your dog for a walk.

According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, thousands of pets are exposed to antifreeze each year. Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, a colorless and odorless alcohol known for its attractive taste. Even small amounts have deadly consequences—one teaspoon of ethylene glycol can be fatal to a 10-pound cat, while one to two tablespoons can kill a 10-pound dog.

“The symptoms of ingestion vary depending on how much time has passed and how much the animal has consumed,” says ASPCA Director of Medicine, Dr. Louise Murray. “Initially the animal may act ‘drunk,’ wobbly and unsteady, and develop nausea and increased thirst. As time passes, there are signs of kidney failure, such as lack of appetite, vomiting, lethargy, and eventually failure to produce urine.” The best chance for survival is initiating aggressive treatment within the first four to 12 hours of ingestion. Once signs of kidney problems develop, the likelihood for recovery is low.

Prevent your animal companions from coming into contact with antifreeze by storing it in a secure cabinet and monitoring cars to make sure radiator hoses aren’t leaking. When flushing or refilling radiators, keep pets inside and immediately clean up any spills. So-called “pet safe” antifreeze  products do exist, and they typically contain propylene glycol, which is less toxic than ethylene glycol but can still cause intoxication.

If you suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous, please contact your vet immediately. Or call the ASPCA’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.

The 133rd annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show came to its grand finale Tuesday night February 10, 2009 at New York’s Madison Square Garden with “Stump” the Sussex Spaniel winning Best In Show.At 10, Stump, who’s registered name is Ch. Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee,  became the oldest Best In Show winner ever at the Westminster Kennel Club, coming out of retirement only last week. He’s also the first Sussex Spaniel to win the crown during the 133 years that Westminster has been bestowing it.Stump overcame age,a near-fatal illness

, and more than 2,500 rivals, to become Westminster’s Top Dog. He came out of retirement only last week. With 50 other Best in Shows under his leash, Stump took all the fuss in  stride. After taking  the sporting group title in 2004, Stump came down with a mysterious illness, said handler Scott Sommer. “He just got very sick and his whole body started shutting down,” he said. “He lived at Texas A&M’s veterinary hospital for 19 days. They did something miraculous and here he is.” Because  Stump had shown no signs of slowing down,  Sommer and owners Cecilia Ruggles and Beth Dowd decided to unretire him.

Valentine’s Day can be as much fun for pets as it is for humans if dangerous foods, flora and other items are kept out of paws’ reach. Each year our poison control experts see a rise in cases around February 14, many involving chocolate and lilies, a flower that’s potentially fatal to cats. So please heed our experts’ advice—don’t leave the goodies lying around on Lover’s Day.

The ASPCA has compiled a list of things to watch out for:

Pet-Safe Bouquets
Many pet owners are still unaware that all species of lily are potentially fatal to cats. When sending a floral arrangement, specify that it contain no lilies if the recipient has a cat—and when receiving an arrangement, sift through and remove all dangerous flora. If your pet is suffering from symptoms such as stomach upset, vomiting or diarrhea, he may have ingested an offending flower or plant. Use our online toxic and nontoxic plant libraries as visual guides of what and what not should be in your bouquets.

Forbidden Chocolate
Seasoned pet lovers know the potentially life-threatening dangers of chocolate, including baker’s, semi sweet, milk and dark. In darker chocolates, methylxanthines—caffeine-like stimulants that affect gastrointestinal, neurologic and cardiac function—can cause vomiting/diarrhea, hyperactivity, seizures and an abnormally elevated heart rate. The high-fat content in lighter chocolates can potentially lead to a life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas. Go ahead and indulge, but don’t leave chocolate out for chowhounds to find.

Careful with Cocktails
Spilled wine, half a glass of champagne, some leftover liquor are nothing to cry over until a curious pet laps them up. Because animals are smaller than humans, a little bit of alcohol can do a lot of harm, causing vomiting, diarrhea, lack of coordination, central nervous system depression, tremors, difficulty breathing, metabolic disturbances and even coma. Potentially fatal respiratory failure can also occur if a large enough amount is ingested.

Life Is Sweet
So don’t let pets near treats sweetened with xylitol. If ingested, gum, candy and other treats that include this sweetener can result in a sudden drop in blood sugar known as hypoglycemia. This can cause your pet to suffer depression, loss of coordination and seizures.

Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Don’t let pets near roses or other thorny stemmed flowers. Biting, stepping on or swallowing their sharp, woody spines can cause serious infection if a puncture occurs. “It’s all too easy for pets to step on thorns that fall to the ground as a flower arrangement is being created,” says Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine for the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital. De-thorn your roses far away from pets.

Playing with Fire
It’s nice to set your evening a-glow with candlelight, but put out the fire when you leave the room. Pawing kittens and nosy pooches can burn themselves or cause a fire by knocking over unattended candles.

Wrap it Up
Gather up tape, ribbons, bows, wrapping paper, cellophane and balloons after presents have been opened—if swallowed, these long, stringy and “fun-to-chew” items can get lodged in your pet’s throat or digestive tract, causing her to choke or vomit.

The Furry Gift of Life?
Giving a cuddly puppy or kitten may seem a fitting Valentine’s Day gift—however, returning a pet you hadn’t planned on is anything but romantic. Companion animals bring with them a lifelong commitment, and choosing a pet for someone else doesn’t always turn out right.  If you want to give your loved one a pet,  take a romantic trip to the shelter together.

The Irish Red and White Setter, the Pyrenean Shepherd and the Norwegian Buhund join as the 159th, 160th, and the 161st registered breeds respectively. The Irish Red and White Setter will join the Sporting Group while both the Pyrenean Shepherd and the Norwegian Buhund will join the Herding Group.

According to the AKC, the history of the Irish Red and White Setter “is as mysterious as the myths and legends of the country of origin”. The Irish Red and White Setter Association was formed in America in 1997 to preserve the purebred Irish Red and White Setter and to maintain the heritage and unique qualities of the breed as a multi-talented gun dog.

The Pyrenean Shepherd, of which there are both rough-faced and smooth-faced coat types, has herded sheep in the Pyrenees Mountains of Southern France for centuries. It first distinguished itself outside its native mountains during its service to French troops during World War I. Hundreds or even thousands of Pyrenean Shepherds gave their lives for the cause as couriers, search and rescue dogs finding injured soldiers after battles, and accompanying guards on their rounds. 

The Norwegian Buhund belongs to a large class of dogs called the Spitz type and was nurtured in the rainy western coastlands of Norway where they herded sheep, guarded farms and hunted bear and wolf. Besides working ability, Buhunds are trained to aid the hearing impaired, perform some types of police work, and perform well in obedience and agility trials.