Kayla’s Dog DNA Update
July 19, 2008
Loyal readers will remember I sent away Kayla’s DNA to see what she is made of on June 29th. I received an e-mail last week stating that my order had been received and was in process. Before the results are in, any guesses? She has the coat of a German Shepherd, but a curled tail like a Huskie or Chow. She’s just a bit bigger than my Golden Retriever. Also, she is on the aggressive side. We saw her mom, who I thought looked a lot like a Border Collie. From her picture above, what would you say?
Saving Pets from Smoke Inhalation
July 19, 2008
From the Dallas Morning News: What a great idea! As many as 40,000 pets are killed in fires each year, usually from smoke inhalation. The number is so high because pets, scared by the fire, smoke, and commotion, often hide from firefighters.
To help combat this problem, firefighters in McKinney, Texas now have access to special equipment that will fit over a dog or cat’s muzzle to administer oxygen. These kits, given to the fire department by Dog Scouts of America, Troup 119, cost about $55 each.
Keri Price Grant, fire and life safety coordinator with the McKinney Fire Department, says, “For years we just tried to use human oxygen masks. We tried to retrofit the mask to fit a dog, and that doesn’t work well. We are not a mobile veterinary care unit, and these kits are strictly for use in a fire. Our top priority is saving human beings, but in our society, many people consider their pets to be their children and members of their family.”
The kits come with three sizes of muzzle masks to fit most household pets. The Dog Scout Troop has donated 85 kits to fire departments all over the Dallas area, with a promise to resupply the disposable masks as needed.
Dog Scouts of America is a non-profit group which seeks to encourage responsible pet ownership. Two paws up to them for such a thoughtful gift!
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
Picture Credit:
Morris Animal Foundation
July 18, 2008
The Morris Animal Foundation has been in business for 60 years, dedicated to finding animal health research. When I first read about the Foundation, I was surprised that they were worried about dogs, because I thought it was named for the cat food commercial Morris. Shows you what I know! The Foundation was established by a veterinarian named Dr. Morris, who wanted to improve the health condition of all animals.
Noting that cancer is the number one cause of death in dogs over the age of two, the Foundation has posted an exclusive presentation (as above + /ccexclusive) on its website featuring information and insight from leading canine cancer research centers. There is a question and answer section, facts about canine cancer, and updates on cancer research from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The site also has links to leading vet centers in the US and UK.
The Foundation has launched a global campaign to raise funds to cure canine cancer in the next 10 - 20 years, while providing more effective treatments in the meantime. You can learn more about the fundraising efforts here. And for those of you who are a bit suspicious of a charity you have never heard of, Charity Navigator ranks the Morris Animal Foundation as a four-star charity, the highest available rating.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
Another problem with global warming…
July 16, 2008
As the earth warms up, it appears more slugs and snails are migrating to Scotland. Which wouldn’t be so bad, except that they carry an tapeworm known as “French heartworm”. This parasite has never before been seen in Scotland, but was confirmed by the vet finding larvae in the feces of a Weimeraner.
The dog had never left the city of Glasgow, so they are sure he contracted the disease there. Vets speculate that he may have eaten a slug or eaten grass that had a slug trail on it. (Yuck!!)
So far, there are no reports of this organism infecting dogs in North America, but symptoms include coughing, breathing difficulty, and unexplained bleeding.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
Hot dog?
July 14, 2008
Summertime is upon us, and at least in the Midwestern US, it is finally starting to heat up outside.
Because dogs don’t sweat, they have to lower their body temperatures by panting, which is much less efficient. This makes them much more susceptible to heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke. Dogs with short muzzles and those with any type of airway disease are particularly affected.
Loss of a Hero
July 8, 2008
From Berea, Ohio: K-9 officer Ciro was put to sleep Saturday, two weeks after receiving a devastating diagnosis of cancer. He was just five years old. Swollen lymph nodes were found during a routine vet visit, and tests revealed a very aggressive form of lymphatic cancer.
What Kind of Dog is That?
June 30, 2008
If you own a mutt, as I do, you may have spent some time wondering what breeds went into his making. Thanks to a new test from BioPetVetLab.com, it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg to find out.
Chance’s bad weekend
June 25, 2008
I spent last weekend at a family reunion near Cincinnati. My next oldest brother, Jim, and his wife Phyllis have a son, er… dog named Chance. This is not a case of people who treat their dog like a child. They actually consider him their offspring. And he couldn’t have had a worse weekend.
Saving Your Pet’s Life
June 24, 2008
Parade magazine in last Sunday’s paper had a nice article on pet first aid. Dr. Karen Halligan details what to do in the case of car accidents, bleeding, choking, loss of consciousness, and poisoning.
Tick Removal
June 1, 2008
Kayla picked up a tick during her little outing last weekend, so I had the opportunity to do a little research this morning on tick removal.
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