An Ounce of Prevention

CITIZEN NEWS 6/9/2011

An Ounce of Prevention

A few weeks ago I met Bella.  Bella had escaped from her home and was running as fast as she could toward the state road.  When I finally caught up to Bella, I noticed that she did not have any pet identification on her.  Later, I was informed that Bella did have a microchip but her owners could not be located.  The main microchip registry database was not updated with her present owner’s information.  The good news is that Bella was reunited with her owners - safe and sound.  However, the ending to this story might have been quite different.   

When I was being certified as a pet first aid instructor, I was surprised to learn that most medical emergencies are avoidable.  Did you know that 60% of all visits to veterinary facilities are due to an emergency?  How about the fact that preventable accidents are the leading cause of death among pre-senior dogs and cats?

What can we do as pet owners to keep our pets safe?  The answer is two-fold:  Owners should be able to administer pet first-aid (in the case of emergency) and be aware of “Preventable Risk Factors” within the home.  “Preventable Risk Factors” - are situations which owners can control to promote safety within their dog’s daily living environment.  Here are some “Preventative Risk Factors” to think about:

ü  Nutrition and Feeding – Although there is much debate on which food/diet is the best for your pet, virtually everyone agrees that good nutrition is essential.  However, some food that is good for people are not good for dogs.  Foods like avocado, garlic and onions can all present a threat if ingested by your dog.  For a complete list of people foods that could be toxic to your dog visit http://www.aspca.org and click on “Pet Care”.

ü  Provide Plenty of Fresh Water – Make sure the water your dog drinks is clean.  Do not let your dog drink from water sources that appear to be stagnant or contaminated.  Be mindful that even though a nearby lake of river looks clean, it may contain harmful organisms or pollutants. 

ü  Dental Health – Rule of thumb:  A healthier mouth equals a healthier life.   Dental problems that go untreated not only cause problems in the teeth and gums, but their effects can extend to other areas of the body.    It's estimated that 80 percent of dogs (and 70 percent of cats) over the age of three suffer from some form of periodontal disease.   Make time to speak with your vet about your dog’s teeth during his annual physical.     

ü  Electric Cords:  Chewing on electrical cords can burn or shock your pet, causing respiratory problems, cardiac arrest and even death. Be particularly mindful of puppies.  Their inquisitive nature, sharp teeth and need to chew everything puts them at high risk.

ü  Choking:  According to research dogs are 3 - 4 times more likely to choke on an object than cats.  String, yarn, socks, balls, bones and small toys are some common household items that may cause your dog to choke.  Trash cans are also a common source for choking hazards. Discarded bones, food wrappers and leftover food can be very enticing to a curious or hungry dog.

ü  Proper identification – Make sure your pet always wears a collar with an ID tag. If any of your contact information changes, be sure to change the information on your dog’s ID tag.  Your name, your pet’s name, phone number and address should be included on your dog’s ID tag.  Note:  When providing a telephone number on an ID tag, it is recommended to use a cell or mobile phone number as opposed to your house phone. 

ü  Regular veterinary checkups – Regular veterinary exams can help to identify preventable disease problems and help promote early detection of others.  It is recommended to schedule a routine exam for your pet at least once a year.  

ü  Take time to perform a “Snout to Tail Assessment” (Petsaver Program) - This assessment creates a base line for your pet’s health.  When you know what is normal for your pet it becomes easier to recognize and assess what is abnormal.       

ü  Emergency Phone Numbers:  In the event of a medical emergency every minute counts.  Have the phone number (and driving directions) of the nearest veterinary emergency hospital and Poison Control hotline posted and readily available. 

Final Note:  Remember that many emergency trips to a veterinary facility could be avoided if owners recognized “Preventable Risk Factors” in their dog’s daily living environment. 

Donna Gleason - TLC Dog Trainer resides in Sherman, CT.  She is a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA) with a Masters in Behavior Modification and a certified pet first aid instructor (PTI).  She offers professional in-home training (specializing in puppy education, basic obedience and behavior modification) and group puppy/basic obedience classes.  Donna is a member of APDT, Delta Society, Shelter Animal Reiki Association, Good Dog Foundation and consulting trainer for Paw-Safe Animal Rescue.  To reach Donna call 203.241.4449 or visit her website @ www.TLCdogtrainer.com

So you think you know dogs?

Dogs are truly an amazing species.   Did you know that the smallest dog is only 4 inches tall? Or that each dog’s nose is as unique as a human fingerprint?  How about research that suggests cats may be smarter than dogs?   This week I’ve put together a list of interesting and fun trivia designed to make you say, “Hey, I didn’t know that.” 

Breed Trivia

·         Dalmatian puppies are born with a pure white coat.  Their spots usually begin to appear within the first few weeks of life.

·         The Basenji is the only breed of dog that cannot bark, but they are not silent.  They are able to produce howls or yodeling sounds. 

·         Chows Chows are the only breed whose tongue is colored bluish-black.  

·         In 2004, a Neapolitan Mastiff gave birth to the largest recordable litter of puppies (24).   

·         An Australian Cattle-Dog holds the record for the oldest canine - 29 years, 5 months. 

·         In 2010, a Blue Great Dane (Giant George) was recognized as the world's tallest living dog, measuring 43 inches tall at the shoulder.   

·         Newfoundland’s have webbed feet, making them great swimmers and divers.

·         Basset Hounds cannot swim. Their legs are too short to keep their heavy, long bodies afloat.

·         DNA testing has recognized 14 ancient breeds of dogs.  Two breeds included on the list are the Akita and Pekinese.

·         The smallest living dog (in terms of height), is Boo Boo, a long haired female Chihuahua measuring only 4 inches tall.  

Celebrity Dog Trivia

·         Bingo is the name of the dog on the Cracker Jack box.

·         It is said that at the end of the song "A Day in the Life", Paul McCartney recorded a sound that only dogs could hear, for his Shetland Sheepdog.

·         It is reported that a dog helped to invent VELCRO! As the legend goes, inventor George de Mestral took his dog for a walk and upon arriving home found his dog’s fur covered in burrs.  After examining the burrs he noticed hundreds of "hooks" which caught on anything with a loop.  He then reproduced the “hook and eye” structure to develop one of the most versatile fabrics in history.

·         Hollywood canine celebrity Rin Tin Tin, was discovered at five days old.  He was found in a bombed out dog kennel by American soldier, Corporal Lee Duncan, in France during WW1.  It is reported that Rin Tin Tin would sign his contracts using his paw print.

·         Dogs are mentioned in the Bible fourteen times.

·         Despite the female name, Lassie was played by several male dogs.  Producers of the show thought male collies looked better on camera.

Random and Fun:

·         In Latin, Fido means, “I trust”.

·         Newborn puppies are blind and deaf.  

·         Dogs have three eyelids. The third lid, called a nictitating membrane or “haw,” keeps the eye lubricated and protected.

·         Depending on the breed, the average life span of a dog can vary from 8 to 15 years.

·         Sweat glands in dogs are located between their paw pads.

·         The normal gestation period of canines averages 63 days. 

·         Dogs have a great sense of smell.  They have on average 200 million scent receptors as compared to 5 million in humans.  It has also been found that the nose print of a dog is as unique as the human fingerprint.

For Cat Lovers:

·         Cats have better memories than dogs. Tests conducted by the University of Michigan concluded that while a dog’s memory lasts no more than 5 minutes, a cat's memory can last as long as 16 hours.   

 Pet Owner Trivia: 

·         According to a survey done by the American Animal Hospital Association, seventy percent of people sign their pet's name on greeting cards and 58 percent include their pets in family and holiday portraits.

·         Some 39 percent of pet owners say they have more photos of their pet(s) then of their spouse or significant other.

·         According to Bloomburg Business Week, Americans spend $41 billion a year on their pets—more than the gross domestic product of all but 64 countries in the world. 

Final Note:  Here’s the last piece of trivia for all humans who own a pet no matter the species:  Research supports that people who own pets live longer, have less stress, and have fewer heart attacks.  Now go and enjoy your pet!

Salmonella Concerns Prompt Pig Ear Recall

Keys Manufacturing Co. Inc. of Paris, Ill., is recalling its Pig Ears for Pet Treats because the product may be contaminated with salmonella.

Posted: May 4, 2011, 1 p.m. EDT

The recall affects Pig Ears for Pet Treats with the UPC number 7 61094 15000.

The dog treats were shipped in 100 count cases between Sept. 27 and Oct. 6, 2010; Nov. 1 and Nov. 29, 2010; and Jan. 3 and Jan. 25, 2011, to distributors in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Missouri, Iowa, Ohio, Illinois, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Texas and Minnesota.

Distributors repackaged the treats for retailers. Distributors were separately notified of the problem and instructed to notify their retail customers, according to the company.

A report of an ill dog in Missouri prompted the recall. Dogs with salmonella infections may become lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some dogs may only experience a decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. Dog owners should contact their veterinarian immediately if their dog consumed the recalled treats or is experiencing any of the above symptoms.

People handling the treats can become infected with salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the product or any surfaces exposed to these products.
Healthy people infected with salmonella may experience some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Although rare, salmonella can result in more serious ailments.

Keys Manufacturing reported that it has been working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to identify any products that might contain salmonella and determine the cause of the problem.
Consumers who have bought Pig Ears for Pet Treats are urged to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions should contact the company at (217) 465-4001.

Teaching Dogs About Children

Donna Gleason CPDT-KA, MA

Several years ago, Robert Fulghum wrote a book entitled. “All I Ever Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”. In his book, he speaks about how people can live a meaningful life by learning from experiences that occur while attending kindergarten. Share everything. Play fair. Don't take things that aren't yours. Don't hit people. If I was going to write a similar book (from a dog’s perspective), it might be titled: All I Really Need to Know I Learned in my Whelping Box. Some of my thoughts would be similar to Robert Fulgham’s, however “Don't hit people” would most likely be changed to “Don’t bite people”.

While in the whelping box, puppies begin to learn about limitations and boundaries from their mom and littermates. How to play appropriately with other dogs. How to send and receive appropriate canine social signals. How to use their teeth and mouth appropriately when engaging in play. Each one of these experiences will be part of a pup’s behavioral foundation for the rest of their life. So, how can we help our puppies and young dogs learn about children, using previous experiences they may have encountered while living in the whelping box with their mom and littermates?

Children are not puppies with two legs.If you’ve ever been lucky enough to grab the remote control on Super Bowl Sunday and watch the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet, you know that puppies engaging in unleashed play are close to the same height, project lots of energy, impulsive and may (at times) forget to be gentle when interacting with another dog. Many of these traits can also be observed when watching small children engage in free-play. Maybe that is why some puppies may view young children as a “buddy” on two legs.

However, your pup no longer has his mom and littermates to correct him, so it becomes the role of the adults (living in the home) to continue this role.  Here is what you can do; Control the level of energy that occurs between your pup and child and try to keep their interactions positive and fun. “Mom, he’s biting me again!”...is not fun!!

When energy levels begin to rise and beforeinteractions are no longer positive or fun, stop the play and redirect your pup with his favorite toy or perhaps ask him to perform a learned cue. This tactic will diffuse the energy and redirect your pup’s attention onto something else. It teaches your pup alternative and incompatible behaviors for those times when he needs to burn off a little steam and goes looking for the nearest child.

Children are not chew toys:
Puppies and maybe even most dogs love to chew. Chew on marrow bones, fancy chew toys from pet stores, furniture, shoes, books ...oh my, the list can become quite long!! But now let’s add movement from a young child into the equation. You can just see the pup thinking, “Oh boy! I’ve just been reunited with my littermates...I know I will be corrected when I’ve gone too far, but for now let the games begin!” Off your pup goes to chase, play and nip at your child. Puppies and young dogs sometimes don’t understand that showing good “bite inhibition” - playing with a “soft mouth” makes us humans VERY happy!

Young pups may occasionally bite a littermate to hard when interacting with each other in their whelping box. The recipient of the bite typically will let out a sudden and sharp "yelp" in response to their discomfort. The game suddenly ends and all interactions cease. We can also use those same techniques, when teaching a pup that children/humans are not chew toys. Over time your dog will realize that when he uses a soft mouth, the fun continues, but when he nips to hard...game over!

Final Note:  Pups begin to learn the rules of appropriate canine interactions from the residents they shared a space with while in the whelping box. Now that those pups are living in our space, we become the residents who need to teach them the rules of appropriate human/canine interaction, especially when it comes to our children.

Donna Gleason - TLC Dog Trainer resides in Sherman. She is a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT) with a Masters in Behavior Modification. Donna offers professional in-home dog training. Specializing in puppy education, unruly adolescents, and behavior modification. To reach Donna call 203-241-4449 or visit her website @www.TLCdogtrainer.com