DogHobbyist News
From DogHobbyist.com
July 2007
Comments from Newsletter Pack Leader
PetHobbyist.com staffers were among the first to dig deep into the story behind the pet food recall. PHChristy contributed to the coverage at PetConnection.com, where she is a contributing editor, and Therese Kopiwoda, the marketing director for PetHobbyist.com, created one of the disaster’s most important resources,
http://www.thepetfoodlist.com.
Thanks from all of us at DogHobbyist.com to the site’s owner, Jeff Barringer (who is himself owned by two rescued Rhodesian Ridgebacks, so you know he’s a great guy) for generously letting his staff and his site support this effort to keep our pet food supply safe and prevent anything like this from ever happening again.
Also: It’s that time of year. Do your dogs have problems with fireworks phobia? Help is here:
http://www.doghobbyist.com/articles/Fireworks.html
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Summer Time Cautions
by Liz Phipps, CVT
Watching the beautiful summer weather approach, many of us grab the leash and take our canine companions out to enjoy it; walking, hiking, camping and even just out to the park. Although a great time is sure to be had by all, many people forget to be careful about some of the itty-bitty, yet significant dangers their canine pals can come across. The warmer weather brings more insects like mosquitoes and ticks. Although they may be same, these insects often carry diseases that can make dogs quite ill.
First would be exposure to Heartworm disease. Heartworm disease is a parasitic infection of “worms” that live and grow is a dogs’ heart and lungs. Heartworm disease is spread by mosquitoes. The microfilaria (baby heartworms) grow inside the mosquito and when it bites the dog, the microfilaria transfer into the dogs’ bloodstream. From there, they move into the heart and grow. When the population of adult worms becomes significant, signs of the infection may be noticed; exercise intolerance, coughing, shortness of breath and lethargy to name some. If left untreated, Heartworm disease is fatal. Treatment of the disease is not only very hard on the dog, but it can have many complications and side effects. This is why is it very important to follow your veterinarian’s advice regarding testing for Heartworm disease and using the proper preventative protocol for the area you live in. The prevention is one pill, once a month. It is simple and saves you and your dog a lot of pain and
heartache.
Next, we move onto ticks. Ticks are tiny insects that live in wooded areas and tall grasses. They feed on the blood of mammals and can be host to several bacterial infections that greatly affect dogs (as well as people!). The most prevalent being Lyme, with some of the less known being Ehrlichia (2 common strains exist of this disease) and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. These are only the most common of tick-borne diseases that can affect dogs. The symptoms are similar and can often be confused with each other or other diseases altogether. Symptoms can include, but are not limited to: unexplained lameness (often in multiple areas), lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss, diarrhea and lymph node swelling. Always let your veterinarian know if your dog is, is going to be or has been exposed to ticks so that they may advise you on proper prevention (including possible vaccinations) and annual blood testing for these diseases. Do not start a flea/tick control medication without co
nsulting your veterinarian first – not all the topical preventions are the same, and many may not actually give your dog the coverage they need. Although these diseases are treatable, it really is far safer to prevent the problem than it is to treat it.
More on heartworm:
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=591
More on Lyme Disease:
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1588
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Brutus’ Favorite Place: Vet?
Ohhh we are in the truck and going to one of my FAVORITE places! I love my vet! The ladies love to get kisses, I get to sit on a chair and visit! And then I get to go in a room with the coolest man other than my daddy! My Dr. Paul. The only problem is I had to take a bath today and well bullies are made of sugar and melt when we get too wet. Momma didn't want us stinking like sweaty dogs. So Caesar and I smell like oatmeal.
We had to get some shots today! It doesn't hurt a bit, but they are for very special things. Momma said my brother and I needed to get a wellness panel. She says its because of the bad foods they keep telling people to stop feeding. Our food was safe and never on the lists, but momma wants to make sure our insides are working good, because she cant see through my belly. Plus I am an older guy and when you get up there in years, momma says a good defense is a good offense.
The other thing we had a shot for was the Heartworm and Lyme Disease test. Its skeeter season, and time to check and make sure our hearts have no worms. Momma sez heartworm is a bad sickness and she has seen puppers sick with it. While we don't get a lot of medicine our heartworm treatment is one big thing we never miss! We never did have a tick, well Caesar has a few but he isn't right in the head, but momma still checks us for Lyme disease.
I tried a lime once, and I didn't like it, but momma sez I can still get the disease. Dr. Paul is very gentle and gives some great belly rubs. Dr. Paul is very happy that I lost my winter chubbies. I am now a lean mean Bulldoggie machine! It is very important with my bad feets to stay skinny. Dr Paul also says a chubby pupper can have lots of problems inside and not know it! Now they are covered in white hair and drool. But he still gives me lots of hugs, kisses and cookies! I love my Dr. Paul.
Signed Brutus the Bullheaded Bulldoggie
Brutus is a 6 year old adopted American bulldog owned by PHFaust
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Bark Out Headlines Question: Why is Mom drowning my toys?
http://forums.doghobbyist.com/view.php?id=155479,155479
We wish to welcome Story to the MCV family...Getting to her new home was a nail biting experience for Mom...read all about it
http://forums.doghobbyist.com/view.php?id=155424,155424
Dainty Lady! Needs some privacy.
http://forums.doghobbyist.com/view.php?id=155372,155372
Bucket, Bucket, who’s got the Bucket! And what the heck is in it?
http://forums.doghobbyist.com/view.php?id=155358,155358
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Book reviews by Melanie Martinez
Bookstore editor
Being off for the summer is one of my favorite times of the year. Not because I'm able to lounge around at the beach all day or take a boat ride around the harbor. It's because I'm able to increase my love for reading books. I find nothing more relaxing then getting up before any one else in our household, brew some coffee and kick my feet up on the patio with a good book. Unfortunately, I find myself having way to much to read and the list keeps growing but below are 5 of my top books to read this summer that involves our beloved canines.
Second Chances: More Tales of Found Dogs - is a heartwarming reading about ordinary people and there dogs who they were fortunate to have been saved. Each story is different but one thing remains the same, the power of love between each one.
Why Do Dogs Drink Out of the Toilet?: 101 of the Most Perplexing Questions Answered About Canine Conundrums, Medical Mysteries and Befuddling Behaviors - An entertaining book that takes a look at the myths, behaviors and facts of our beloved companion. What more do you want from a book that provides the dogs side of view, humor and makes sense?
Stop the Shots!: Are Vaccinations Killing Our Pets? - There are dangers with pet vaccines that most of us pet owners are unaware about. Education is the key in helping us make decisions in what is the best way that we can provide for our pet. John Clifton provides us with an easy to read book to learn about the risks and benefits of vaccinations.
Home Waters: Fishing with an Old Friend: A Memoir - Home Waters is a story of a month long trip between a man and his golden retriever Nellie, whom he just recently found out is very ill with tumors. Believing this will be there final trip together both head out west to visit and relive memories they both endured. Beautiful tale about rebirth instead of ending.
Smoky Mountain Tracks: A Raine Stockton Dog Mystery (Raine Stockton Dog Mysteries) - It's wintertime and a child has been kidnapped and left in the wilderness alone. It's up to Raine Stockton and her new tracking dog Cisco to find this child. But first they must learn to accept and trust one another. This is the first book in the series of Raine Stockton.
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