What’s a “designer dog”?

Let’s get to the point, the “designer” dog that you purchased for a small fortune is not a new “breed” and will not necessarily have the best qualities of both of the parents. Your dog is a mutt with a fancy name! The designer dog craze is one of the more successful animal-related cons currently ongoing.

A dog breed as described by Wikipedia is “represented by a sufficient number of individuals to stably transfer its specific characteristics over generations. Dogs of same breed have similar characteristics of appearance and behavior, primarily because they come from a select set of ancestors who had the same characteristics. Dogs of a specific breed breed true, producing young closely similar to the parents”. Even though the term “breed” is more of a descriptive term rather than a scientific one, it denotes a clear unambiguous picture in one’s mind. Anyone familiar with dogs could easily likely conjure a mental picture of a German shepherd or Labrador. Crossing a schnauzer with a Maltese, dogs of similar size and station will not produce a dog that closely resembles either parent. It’s just a “mutt” or cross-breed that has a fancy name, the Mauzer. Pay the exorbitant fees to suspect people who call themselves breeders, but accept the fact that your dog does not have more of a pedigree than the mutt someone adopts from a shelter.

The other common misconception about the “designer dog” is that if you cross two distinct breeds the best of both breeds will end up in the pups. The genetics of dog breeding don’t work that way. Start out with healthy problem-free parents and the pups will likely have fewer problems. Breed two unhealthy dogs to turn a quick buck and you will be faced with many furious puppy owners. Take my advice as a vet and dog owner, stay away from the designer dog there are too many “mutts” in rescues and shelters that will provide any family with a fabulous dog. The scruples of many people who breed these “designer pups” are often non-existent. In fact the term “crook” is often appropriate to describe them.

 

“Inbred” Cat

“Somebody’s going to have to suffer for this…..”

How to prepare your pet for a Natural Disaster

Hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, or forest fires can arrive suddenly or with little warning. Having a disaster preparedness plan for your pets is as important as planning for your own safety. Here are 5 things you can do to prepare in the event of a disaster:

1. Keep a digital copy of your pet’s medical record on a flash drive.
   1. This is especially important if your pet has an underlying medical condition that may require ongoing treatment with a temporary vet, or if your pet may need medication refilled and your own vet is unreachable.
   2. Pack a bag with the essentials.
      1. Keep a backpack packed with the following so you can grab it and go in an emergency:

                                                               i.      3-day supply of dog food

                                                             ii.      2-4 liters of water

                                                            iii.      5-day supply of any prescription medication

                                                            iv.      Leash

                                                             v.      Towel or blanket

                                                           vi.      Travel/collapsible water and food dishes

                                                          vii.      Basic first aid kit for pets

1. Talk to your vet about a sedative for traveling
   1. You may be required to travel or be exposed to violent weather. Both of these scenarios may be traumatic or stressful for your pets. Talk to your vet about having a small supply of sedatives available to alleviate the anxiety.
   2. Download one of the pet travel apps that locate pet friendly lodging and other pet-services in advance.
      1.  Visit the Apple App store or Google marketplace for apps like: Pet friendly hotels, Fido Factor, My Dog, Find Pet friendly Hotels or Dogfriendly mobile.
      2. Make sure your pets are up-to-date on their vaccinations
         1. If you are required to board your pet for any length of time, a current vaccination record will be required. During a natural disaster a vet may not be available to provide vaccine services and a boarding facility may not accept your dog without one.

Household Cleaning Products: The unanticipated dangers abound!

When you think about the dangers associated with cleaning products think like a dog! As a dog owner you are probably aware of the risks associated with common products like bleach, liquid plumber and ammonia, but it’s the unexpected accessibility to these products that is of greatest concern.

Dogs drink from the toilet, lick the floor, chew on mop heads and lick water from the shower stall. Toilets frequently contain sanitizing tablets that have strong oxidizing agents, like bleach, which the dog can consume when drinking from the toilet. Similarly a toilet treated with liquid plumber may be unattractive to you, but might be inviting for your dog. Oxidizing and corrosive agents can cause severe tissue burns and GI disturbances which can be painful or life-threatening. Remember to close the bathroom door and lower the toilet lid if using these products.

Many commonly used floor cleaners contain potentially toxic agents as well. Always insure that your dog does not have direct access to the mop water or any chemical laden mop heads. Prepackaged mopping pads may also pose a risk if your dog chews on them. Furthermore allow your floors to dry completely before allowing your dog(s) to walk on them. They may lick the floors but also lick their wet paws excessively to remove any irritating cleaning products.

Bathtubs and shower stalls are of particular concern since many bathroom cleaning products are applied and allowed to “sit” in place before being rinsed away. As a consequence, these products could be ingested from the walls and floor. Keep your pet(s) out of the bathroom until the residue from these products has been removed.

The risks associated with commonly used household products are varied and potentially severe. If you suspect that your dog or cat may have been exposed, contact your vet immediately. For more information on other potential home hazards, visit the ASPCA’s Poison Control Center online at http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/a-poison-safe-home.aspx.

The digging dilemma: What to do?

The digging dilemma: What to do?

One of the many “blessings” of owning a dog is digging. This is a lesson I have relearned over the past 5 months as I have been raising my Airedale puppy Lucy. She loves to dig! My plants are being systemically uprooted (literally!) along with drip system. Keep in mind that Lucy isn’t just digging in dirt; she has to go through a layer of crushed granite stone to get to the dirt! So what am I to do?

I have decided to use a technique I have often recommended to owners and have gotten good feedback about. I call it “peppering”. For those areas that your dog frequently digs in, heavily saturate the ground with ground black or cayenne pepper. This may sound a little harsh, but no significant harm is likely to come about. Aerosolizing the pepper will irritate the mucous membranes in the nose and the eyes, but aside from some uncomfortable sneezing, face rubbing and tearing of the eyes your dog will be fine. The pepper doesn’t harm the plants or soil and sticks around to remind your dog not to dig.

After losing multiple plants and having Lucy rework my sprinkler system, I put “peppering” to the test. It worked like a charm! Lucy got a face full of black pepper, and I got my yard back. Even after monitoring her for the next few hours I didn’t observe any harmful side effects.

Dog owners have to accept that some dogs love to dig; we’ve even bred them to be particularly good at it in order to hunt small rodents. However our plants don’t need to be the innocent victims. “Peppering” may seem a little harsh but it is a humane and effect way of preventing digging in undesirable locations.

Chocolate 101:The Basics

Chocolate 101: The basics

1. The darker the chocolate the more of the chemicals theobromine and caffeine are present. Therefore darker, bitter chocolates and baking chocolate are potentially more harmful to ingest.
2. The point at which ingesting chocolate becomes a problem depends on your dogs’ size: the larger the dog, the more chocolate can be ingested before they risk experiencing any side effects. (Mild effects can be seen when 20mg/kg are ingested. At 60mg/kg severe side effects can develop).
3. Side effects associated with chocolate ingestion may include: vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, excessive drinking/urinating, lethargy, tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, or death.
4. If you suspect that your dog has ingested a significant quantity of chocolate, call your vet immediately and provide the following information: type and quantity of chocolate ingested, approximate weight of your dog, time elapsed since chocolate was ingested and whether you notice any of the clinical signs noted above.

The REAL costs of raising a puppy!

When the thought of getting a puppy becomes a reality, most of us are consumed by the adorable waddle, the squishy face and all-around excitement of the new addition to the family. Whether the puppy is acquired from a shelter or purchased from a breeder, the actual cost of owning that puppy far exceeds the price paid for that little pup. Part satire, part fact, these are the costs that need to be factored into the decision to purchase a new puppy.

1. Purchase Price: Whether you purchase the pup from a breeder, store or adopt from the shelter, the cost of acquiring this new pup could be $50 or several thousand. The “purchase price” is just the beginning when it comes to getting a new puppy.
2. Puppy Accessories: A new leash, collar, kennel, toys, beds, feeding dishes, etc. can be cheap or expensive depending on your tastes. Keep in mind that as your pup grows, new toys may need to be purchased to replace the old.
3. Food and treats: Everyone eats. The larger the dog, the more food they will consume. The variety and cost of pet diets varies dramatically. Monthly food costs may be nominal at $10-20 per month, but can climb into the hundreds for a large breed dog fed an organic, grain-free diet.
4. Vet care: The costs for providing veterinary care are not limited to the routine vaccinations and deworming that most puppies receive from an early age. Spaying/neutering, bouts of illness and medication for preventative care (e.g. heartworm medication) add to the overall cost  during the first year. Multiple visits and vaccinations are necessary to properly assess and immunize your puppy. Puppies have a knack for finding trouble when out exploring; minor injuries and vomiting/diarrhea will be frequent companions to you and your pup as they grow and mature.
5. Cleaning supplies and service: Puppies make messes. They urinate and defecate in the home, vomit, chew on furniture and tear at the carpet. The mess might be easy to clean, but you should consider the potential added cost of any specialized cleaning service for more serious “accidents”.
6. Training: Teaching a puppy obedience basic is often facilitated by using the services of a behaviorist or trainer. Whether you choose to pay for private or group lessons, the cost may be hundreds or thousands of dollars.
7. Time away from work: Consider this: a poo-filled kennel and poo-covered puppy first thing in the morning are never a joy to wake up to. Puppies are like kids; they choose the least opportune times to cause trouble and make messes. Furthermore visits to the vet may be unanticipated but necessary during the workday to deal with illness. Make sure you have the flexibility to attend to your young pups needs even if it conflicts with work or other personal obligations.
8. Loss of furniture or personal items: Puppies love to chew. In particular they love shoes, socks, underwear and anything else you might value. Replacing, repairing and removing the damaged items are often unanticipated costs associated with raising a puppy.
9. Landscaping or lawn repair: Puppies love to dig! They also love the time-tested game of tug-of war with your landscaping and sprinklers. Carefully supervise your pup in your yard. It takes only moments to ruin a beautiful flower bed or lush garden.
10. Emergency Fund: Unanticipated expenses associated with owning a puppy usually revolve around unplanned visits to the vet. In particular, traumatic injuries and gastrointestinal obstructions are the most serious and costly. If possible, plan ahead and try to build an emergency fund of $500-1000 to better manage any of these worst-case scenarios.

Planning for a puppy is somewhat like planning for a child. Thankfully your puppy will grow and mature faster than your child and hopefully cost less in the long run. Despite all the real and unanticipated costs associated with raising a puppy, the fun and enjoyment you get from that puppy makes it worthwhile.

Traditional vs. Complementary/Alternative Veterinary Medicine: A fundamental Distinction

The debate in veterinary medicine between traditional medicine and the numerous alternatives is gaining increased attention and press over the last several years. While the range of opinions varies widely, I wanted to highlight an important distinction between them that is crucial to the discussion. The term “traditional medicine” usually refers to an evidenced-based approach to the diagnosis and treatment of a condition. “Complementary or Alternative medicine” relies on treatment modalities that look to historical precedent, subjective experience, or suspect science to support their use. While alternative medicine can coexist and complement more traditional medicine, the practice of alternative/complementary medicine is not as firmly ground in the scientific method. Therein lies the dilemma and the distinction that you must consider. Many alternative medicine treatments and techniques do not have to be PROVEN to be effective. The standard of proof for alternative/complementary medicine is either low or nonexistent. Traditional medicine as it is practiced in most western countries relies on rigorous statistical analysis and peer-review to establish its efficacy as well as its potential risks.

When alternative medicine is discussed the proposed benefits AND risks are important considerations. The promise of hope often associated with non-traditional medicine is particularly dangerous for people who suffer from chronic or life-threatening disease. As a pet owner you must remember that the burden of proof when recommending an alternative or complementary therapy falls squarely on the veterinarian. As the pet owner you are entitled to a variety of options to care for your pet, but you must insist on evidence for a particular recommendation especially when it seems to be outside of an accepted norm or “feels” inconsistent with your own knowledge or experience. As veterinarians we have a responsibility to cause no harm to your pet and a responsibility to provide the pet owner with the evidence and confidence necessary to make an informed choice.

The practice of “evidence-based” medicine is not always embraced by people in the medical professions. Therefore it is incumbent upon the pet owner to insist on the evidence for a recommendation. If the evidence is scant or non-existent, as it so often is with complementary/alternative medicine, don’t allow yourself to be swayed. More often than not you and your pet are unlikely to realize any real tangible benefits, but fall victim to poorly educated or dishonest people.

Keeping your Dog healthy during heat waves

It goes without saying that heat stroke kills. Anyone in lives in a hot or humid climate is likely familiar with the risks associated with excessive exposure to the heat. Here is a list of a few things to remember in order to minimize the risk to your dogs during the summer months:

1. If you want to walk your dog, do so before 7am or after 7pm.
2. Even though the ambient temperature may be comfortable, concrete and pavement retain heat and can lead to paw pad burns on dogs who are not wearing protective footwear.
3. If you’re planning on a lengthy walk/hike, bring at least 1 liter of water for a medium sized dog for every hour you plan on walking/hiking.
4. Allow your dog 5-10 minutes every hour to rehydrate and rest in the heat. If possible, wet your dog’s coat or allow them to swim. The evaporative cooling effect will help mitigate any dangerous rise in body temperature.
5. Early sign of heat stroke to watch for: Vomiting, Diarrhea, lethargy, excessive drooling, confusion/difficulty walking.

Heat stroke can cause life-threatening organ damage within 30 minutes. If you suspect that your dog is showing signs of heat stroke, find a vet ASAP! With this condition any delay in treatment can worsen the condition, leading to permanent organ damage or death.

How much “people food” is too much?

With all the attention “a good diet” gets in the mainstream media I’m frequently asked how much human food owner can allow their dogs. The truth is, I don’t know. A dog who eats a commercially prepared diet is likely to have all its nutritional needs met. When fed an appropriate quantity of food, dogs are also likely to maintain a healthy weight with moderate exercise on a daily basis.

Keeping your dog at a healthy weight is likely the most important factor under an owner control and has been shown to significantly reduce the time of onset and severity of a variety of diseases. So, back to the question, how much “people food” can your dog eat?

 Just enough to make you feel like you are dog is a true member of the family and eliminate any guilt you feel when they look at you with “puppy dog” eyes.

This amount will vary from dog to dog. As long as the majority of calories are derived from a balanced dog food and the total daily calorie intake doesn’t exceed your dogs’ needs, you can supplement your pets’ diet with people food. When the total daily calorie intake exceeds your dogs daily requirement those extra calories will be stored as fat.

Most human foods are safe for dogs however the following is a short list of common foods to avoid: Grapes/raisins, macadamia nuts, chocolate (especially darker chocolates), avocado, bread dough, and sugar-free gum. For a more complete list go to the ASPCA website at: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/people-foods.aspx.