If you want to save money on dog grooming, learn to do it yourself. Since the groomer’s biggest task is bathing the dog, that’s a good place to start. In many areas of the country, pet stores now offer self-service dog-wash facilities. The store usually provides shampoo and towels, but to get the most out of the experience—and the most for your money—you need to have a plan.
Scope out the facility and talk to the manager. Appointments are sometimes taken, but most are “first come, first served”; weekends are always the busiest, weekday mornings are the slowest. Look for non-slip surfaces (including ramps or steps to the tub), tie-downs and general cleanliness. Cost it out. Verify how much time you get for your money; some allow all the time you need for a set price, others charge by the minute. Be realistic about how long it will take. Your Chihuahua could be spic and span within five minutes. Your double-coated Rough Collie or Poodle mix might take an hour. Find out if there’s a groomer on site. If you can’t do it yourself, you’ll want the groomer to cut your dog’s nails and possibly do a sanitary trim (very important for fluffy, lowshedding dogs). Give your dog a thorough pre-bath brush. Before heading to the dog wash, make sure your pup is totally brushed out and mat-free. Washing matted fur is counterproductive. Among other things, it’s almost impossible to dry it completely, which sets the stage for skin infections caused by bacteria and mold. Brush from your dog’s rear legs up, against the grain (the direction the hair grows) toward the body to the head. If you have a Pit Bull, this won’t take any time at all. If you have that Rough Collie (or Chow, Alaskan Malamute, Golden Retriever or Afghan) it will obviously take you longer, but you’ll save on tub time because it will be easier for the water to penetrate the coat. In any case, it makes sense to either brush out or cut off hair you don’t want to end up washing. Check your supplies. If the dog wash doesn’t have your preferred shampoo, take your own. Ditto for towels. And, because the aprons stores provide aren’t always up to the job of keeping you entirely dry, bring a rain poncho. At the site, use the force blower before getting your dog wet. Blow out the loose hair you may have missed when brushing. Force blowers aren’t dryers; they work by velocity and are really effective. Wet your dog from the bottom and rear up, then apply shampoo. Here’s a tip: rather than lather it on with your hands, brush the shampoo through your dog’s coat. For slick types, such as Pit Bulls or Labs, a rubber curry will do. For a double-coated or low-shedding dog, a slicker brush is ideal. And remember, more shampoo doesn’t get your dog cleaner. It’s the ingredients and the agitation of the shampoo against the fur that do the job. Rethink crème rinse or conditioner. If your dog’s coat is prone to tangles or you want to cut static, they can help, but they work by retaining moisture, which will make your dog more difficult to dry. A better solution is an after-bath antistatic, like The Stuff or Ice on Ice. Thoroughly rinse your dog and squeeze out as much extra water as you can (then stand back when he shakes off). After towel drying, use the blower/dryer to finish up. CAUTION: if you have a drape-coated dog, like an Afghan or Lhasa Apso, the velocity of the air will cause the hair to tangle. Go very slowly and hold the dryer at a distance. (This is why groomers sometimes partially crate-dry these types of dogs, and have a low-velocity dryer on a stand. It’s pretty labor intensive to blow dry a long-haired dog.) It takes a bit of practice to get it right and become efficient, but it’s time well spent. You’ll save some money, your dog will smell swell and your bathtub will still be clean: a real win-win, as they say in business school!
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People love to talk about how much they love their dogs and will often mention that one special individual to whom no others can really compare. I wonder, are the dogs in our lives capable of these same types of feelings?
One of the problems with exploring the idea of love is the all encompassing nature of the word in the English language. We can love our mates, our children, our pets, or even a favorite desert; but these are all actually very different emotions. No one ever talks about how they’d jump in front of a speeding truck to save a piece of chocolate cake, after all! Other languages have different words for different types of love, but in everyday English we’re stuck with just “love.” Psychologists have long used the word attachment rather than love to describe the bonds between people and are increasingly doing so with regards the relationship between people and their pets. The hormone oxytocin is important in the formation and maintenance of interpersonal attachment, and scientists are now looking at its role in the human-animal bond. A study published in 2009 found that owners’ oxytocin levels rose when they were on the receiving end of their dog’s gaze for long periods of time and interacted with them more. Research published in 2014 also showed that dogs experience similar increases in oxytocin levels when, after an absence, a familiar person enters a room and an even more prolonged increase if that person initiates physical contact with the dog. So it appears that at least some of biochemistry associated with attachment (or love if you prefer) works in similar ways for both dogs and their owners. But is love all biochemistry? Perhaps the feeling is, but love is also a verb. The essence of acting out of love is to put aside one’s own interests, focusing instead on what is best for someone else. Dogs behave in this way on a regular basis. Stories abound of dogs saving their owners from poisonous snakes, fires, subway trains, accident sites, carbon monoxide poisoning, collapsed buildings, rising flood waters, snowstorms, people with bad intentions, attacking animals, and many other dangerous situations. In all of these cases, the dogs put their well-being and often their lives on the line to protect their people. While we may never know exactly how dogs experience love, it seems obvious that they are capable of the emotions and actions that define the word. In the end, the bond that forms between people and dogs enrich all of our lives, no matter what we choose to call it. Fast Facts Type:Mammal Diet:Herbivore Average life span in the wild:25 years Size:14 to 19 ft (4 to 6 m) Weight:1,750 to 2,800 lbs (794 to 1,270 kg) Giraffes are the world's tallest mammals, thanks to their towering legs and long necks. A giraffe's legs alone are taller than many humans—about 6 feet (1.8 meters). These long legs allow giraffes to run as fast as 35 miles (56 kilometers) an hour over short distances and cruise comfortably at 10 miles (16 kilometers) an hour over longer distances.
Typically, these fascinating animals roam the open grasslands in small groups of about half a dozen. Bulls sometimes battle one another by butting their long necks and heads. Such contests aren't usually dangerous and end when one animal submits and walks away. Giraffes use their height to good advantage and browse on leaves and buds in treetops that few other animals can reach (acacias are a favorite). Even the giraffe's tongue is long! The 21-inch (53-centimeter) tongue helps them pluck tasty morsels from branches. Giraffes eat most of the time and, like cows, regurgitate food and chew it as cud. A giraffe eats hundreds of pounds of leaves each week and must travel miles to find enough food. The giraffe's height also helps it to keep a sharp lookout for predators across the wide expanse of the African savanna. The giraffe's stature can be a disadvantage as well—it is difficult and dangerous for a giraffe to drink at a water hole. To do so they must spread their legs and bend down in an awkward position that makes them vulnerable to predators like Africa's big cats. Giraffes only need to drink once every several days; they get most of their water from the luscious plants they eat. Female giraffes give birth standing up. Their young endure a rather rude welcome into the world by falling more than 5 feet (1.5 meters) to the ground at birth. These infants can stand in half an hour and run with their mothers an incredible ten hours after birth. Giraffes have beautiful spotted coats. While no two individuals have exactly the same pattern, giraffes from the same area appear similar. So, you think you can dance? Animals dance, too. They don’t all do it quite the same way we do, but they often shake their stuff for the same reasons (showing off for the opposite sex) and sometimes for vastly more complex ones. See our list of animals with smooth moves. Red-Capped Manakin Bird The first time the world saw Michael Jackson moonwalk we went collectively bananas, wondering if we really saw what we thought we saw. Check out the Red-Capped Manakin Bird's MJ impersonation below: Bring on the mixed breeds ...The largest percentage of dogs euthanized in shelters is medium to large mixed breed dogs - a ridiculous figure, since we all know that mutts are awesome! Here are the top ten reasons why mixed breed dogs rule.
#10 They are unique: The standard for breeding purebreds calls for breeding puppies whose appearance and temperament are of exactly the same quality every time. A mixed breed dog is awesome because without these standards, the dog is more unique. Plus, when visiting a shelter to adopt a mutt, the selection of choices is more varied and unique than you’d find at a breeder. #9 They are more flexible: Mixed breeds tend to be more flexible and more middle-of-the-road because they are not as strongly programmed as purebreds. Mixed breeds are thought to adjust more easily to a variety of households and living conditions, whereas purebreds tend to be bred with a specific skill set in mind, such as herding or hunting. #8 They can still compete: Think you need to purchase a purebred in order to enter dog competitions? Think again! Mixed breeds can compete in agility competitions through groups like the NADAC, amongst others. #7 They can still be trained as service dogs: Being trained as a service or therapy dog is no longer limited to just purebreds. Mixed breeds are now considered equally as awesome and capable in this regard. #6 House-training is provided: Many mixed breeds found in shelters did belong to someone before - people who couldn’t keep them due to allergies, or moving homes, or for some other reason. Because of this, many mixed breed shelter dogs come already potty- and house-trained. A definite plus towards their awesomeness! #5 You can skip the puppy stage: While many pet owners cherish the puppy stage, there are others who just don’t have the time and patience to train a new puppy. With a mutt from the shelter, you have the choice of adopting a young or adult dog over a baby. In these cases, the dog’s size and temperament will already be pretty set, too, so there will be no surprises in the future. #4 They have fewer health issues: There are some people who claim mixed breed dogs are healthier than purebreds. While this isn’t proven, it is known that certain purebreds are more prone to specific illnesses. Mixed breed dogs are thought to be less likely to develop these illnesses because even if they are part, say, Golden Retriever, they have fewer Golden Retriever genes than a purebred one. #3 They have cheaper start-up costs: Many shelters only require a $50 to $200 donation in order for you to adopt a dog. Purebred dogs can run up to and over $1,000. Plus, a mixed breed from the shelter is likely spayed or neutered and is up-to-date on vaccinations, which will save you even more money. #2 You're saving a life: Even if a purebred puppy doesn't get adopted (highly unlikely in and of itself), the puppy is already living in the home of a breeder, probably even still with its parents. A mixed breed dog living at a shelter, however, has a high chance of being euthanized. Adopting one means you are directly saving a life, a fact your grateful new dog will not soon forget. #1 Their awesomeness is contagious: A mixed breed dog is for the adventurer in all of us. When purchasing a purebred dog, you’re buying a specific temperament that has been honed through strict breeding practices over a long period of time. With a mixed breed, a puppy especially, the unknown genetic line leaves all that up in the air. Appreciate the spontaneity behind this and that makes you awesome by association with the awesome mutt Part of the veterinary oath states that a veterinarian does "solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the … promotion of public health," which is why diseases that can be transmitted from animals to people (called zoonoses or zoonotic diseases) get special attention from us. When we can effectively treat or prevent a zoonotic disease in a pet, we are protecting both animal and human health.
A study appearing in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases points to a new link between a type of bacteria carried by cats and poor human health. The bacteria are Bartonella henselae, which most commonly cause bartonellosis in cats and cat scratch disease in people. Add to that list the possibility that Bartonella bacteria may also play a role in the development of some human cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The researchers tested blood samples taken from 296 human patients exhibiting symptoms consistent with RA, and 62 percent had antibodies to Bartonella bacteria, indicating they had been exposed at some point in the past. Bacterial DNA was found in 41 percent of patient samples, which is consistent with an active infection. B. henselae was one of the most prevalent but not the only species of Bartonella identified in these patients. B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii, which causes bartonellosis in dogs, was also found. B. henselae bacteria are usually transmitted from infected to non-infected cats through fleas (The vector for B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii appears to be ticks). People often come in contact with the B. henselae when they are scratched or bitten by a cat that has the bacteria around their nails or in their mouths. Immunosuppressed people are at a higher than average risk of diseases associated with B. henselae infection. Cats may carry Bartonella henselae bacteria in and on their bodies without becoming sick themselves. If they are affected, typical symptoms include fever, enlarged lymph nodes, and/or chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. Diagnosing a cat with bartonellosis is not always easy. Blood tests capable of identifying cats that have been exposed to the bacteria do not determine whether or not an animal’s current illness is related to Bartonella or if they can transmit disease to people. Other tests reveal the presence of an active infection, but they tend to misdiagnose cats with low-level infections as being free from disease. It is generally not recommended that healthy cats be tested for bartonellosis because of the results can be so difficult to interpret. Treating bartonellosis in cats is also difficult. The antibiotic azithromycin is the drug of choice, but it often fails to completely clear the infection. Cats with symptoms that are thought to be linked to Bartonella bacteria often improve with antibiotics but commonly relapse after treatment is stopped. The link between Bartonella infections in cats (and potentially dogs) and rheumatoid arthritis in people is still tenuous, but certainly points to a need for more research into these harmful bacteria. Pro-Pet Recalls Select Dry Dog and Cat Foods Pro-Pet LLC, St. Marys, Ohio, has initiated a voluntary recall of a limited number of Dry Dog and Cat Foods for possible Salmonella contamination. A single field test indicated products manufactured during a two day period, on a single production line may have the potential for Salmonella contamination. Pro-Pet LLC is voluntarily recalling the potentially impacted products made during this timeframe. There have been no reports of illness related to this product to date. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers. Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. No other products/lot numbers are affected by this recall.
Customers should immediately discontinue use of any impacted product and contact Pro-Pet at 1-888-765-4190 for disposition. For more information on the recall, customers can contact the customer service line for Pro-Pet at 1-888-765-4190. Customer service representatives will be available Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm CT. What You Should Know
Understanding that there are over 160 different skin disorders of dogs, some of which create chronic difficulties, is key in helping your veterinarian solve the issue at hand. As a team, you and the veterinarian should be proactive in defining the problem accurately and in a timely manner. In order to achieve satisfactory results, it will require the doctor’s expertise and perseverance coupled with your permission and financial commitment. There are few challenges in veterinary medicine more daunting than treating a patient for a long-term skin disorder. Chronic dermatitis cases take up about 10 percent of animal hospital file folders; and these patient folders tend to be the thickest due to the multiple pages of patient history, lab test results, biopsy reports, medications and supplements dispensed, and even dermatology specialist referral summaries. Reading through all that data you would find an oft-repeated theme … "Control is the goal since for sure there’s no cure." Curable vs. Incurable To simplify a bit, there are just two kinds of skin disorders in dogs: curable and incurable. Veterinarians need to understand what is really happening to and within the skin before appropriate therapeutic strategies can be employed. Since it takes a new, healthy skin cell about four weeks to mature and be present near the skin surface even curable skin diseases may take weeks to resolve. For the incurable cases, controlling an ongoing skin disorder through selected diets, medications, shampoos, sprays, fatty acids and vitamin supplements is the best we can do. Managing a chronic skin disorder presupposes that an exact diagnosis has been established. Making that diagnosis requires certain diagnostic protocols be done so that the doctor has a clear understanding of the pathological processes impacting the patient. A multitude of different causes may very well manifest themselves in very similar appearing visual signs. For example "itchy skin" (pruritus) is not a diagnosis, nor is "allergy." The veterinarian needs to establish what is causing the pruritus and to what the dog is allergic. Diligent detective work has to be done and it's no small task, as evidenced by a recently published veterinary dermatology textbook that lists over 160 skin disorders of dogs! If you ever find yourself in a situation where you leave the veterinary clinic with yet another assortment of medications or skin care products, and the plan of action is "let’s try these for a while and we’ll see if they help," you need to insist on a more proactive approach to actually obtain a definitive diagnosis. It’s time to get busy with whatever testing is needed to find the cause of the dog’s skin troubles. Only then can we recognize the curable from the controllable. Curable Chronic Skin Disorders Of the curable skin disorders the most commonly seen is reoccurring bacterial dermatitis where the dog displays circular patches alopecia (hair loss), scales and crusts, and tiny inflamed eruptions that evolve into additional crusty patches. At every dermatology seminar we are reminded that most chronic bacterial dermatitis cases need to have cultures and antibiotic sensitivity tests run. And then, the appropriate antibiotic must be used for 8 to 12 weeks and sometimes much longer. Healthy dogs seldom develop bacterial dermatitis, therefore underlying predisposing factors should be considered. (My experience is that a poor quality diet is often a factor.) Other causes of curable but chronic skin disorders are Malassezia (yeast) infections, seen very commonly in Cocker Spaniels and West Highland White Terriers. Malassezia will cause a greasy and odorous skin. Fungal (ringworm) infections, seborrhea (oily and flaky skin) due to low fatty acid and protein in the diet, and dermatitis/alopecia due to parasites such as fleas and mites. These curable disorders, if not properly treated, can be present throughout the dog’s life and can be mistakenly assumed to be incurable! Incurable Skin Disorders The incurable, chronic skin disorders can be a nightmare for the unfortunate dog and frustrating to the veterinarian and dog owner. Hormonal imbalances such as hypothyroidism in Golden Retrievers and Cushings disease (adrenal gland disorder) often seen in small breeds, generally are not curable but be managed and will display remarkable improvement once proper therapy is instituted. Chronic dermatitis due to flea saliva, food allergy, and contact or inhalant allergy will miraculously vanish once we discover the offending antigen and then prevent dog-antigen contact. Autoimmune Disorders Disorders such as pemphigus are some of the most frustrating chronic and incurable skin problems of dogs. These occur when the dog’s immune functions target his own tissues for destruction, also known as an autoimmune skin diseases. Atopy, also called allergic inhalant dermatitis, can mimic other itchy, destructive skin disorders and may require life-long therapy to control. A newly approved use of cyclosporine has shown dramatic improvement in atopic patients. Hereditary disorders of the skin are not curable. A wide variety of supplements and topical therapies may be palliative. The severity of inherited skin problems ranges from trivial annoyances, such as canine acne commonly seen in Doberman Pinschers, to the nearly unbearable skin and muscle destruction that occurs with dermatomyositis most often seen in Collies and Shelties. Icthyosis, an inherited severe thickening of the skin that creates oily crusts and scales is another nasty inherited skin disorder that shows up at an early age and persists lifelong. What You Should Do If your dog requires repeat visits to the veterinarian for "a skin problem" and you do not have a name for what type of skin problem is present, you owe it to your dog to get a diagnosis. In short, you must be proactive and persistent in achieving an understanding of what is causing the chronic dermatitis. You may consider a visit to a dermatology specialist, too. Remember, only after a diagnosis is made can effective measures be initiated to cure or control the problem. A Word of Caution "Cortisone" drugs such as prednisone, triamcinolone, dexamethasone, and long acting cortisone injections are much like a two-edge sword. Under certain conditions they can save a dog’s life. The dark side is that misuse is common. One reason "cortisone shots" or pills are so widely used for skin disorders is that in some patients, especially when a precise diagnosis has not been established, its use can dramatically improve the patient’s comfort and appearance. A common example of misuse occurs in the sarcoptic mite patient that is mistakenly assumed to suffer from a severe allergy. Dramatic improvement seems to occur, unfortunately it is short lived … and more cortisone is prescribed and cycles of treatment lead to a dependence on the cortisone. The patient’s treatment becomes as damaging as the original problem! The message is this: cortisone-like medications are to be used with caution. It always amazes me how stoic and accepting dogs are while enduring endless severe pruritus, open sores and scabs, skin infections and cancer. Their courage should inspire us to be firm in our determination to meet the challenges of chronic dermatitis. Don’t you just love playing fetch with your dog? It’s such a joy when she comes bounding back to you, toy in mouth, tongue lolling out, waiting for the next throw -- often as she pants heavily. But why exactly do dogs pant? Here are a few of the more common reasons.
Dogs Aren't Like PeopleObviously, dogs have a vastly different physiology than people. For one thing, dogs have fur -- the equivalent of a coat. Imagine you’re running around in the hot sun, with a coat on, and you can’t take it off! After a while, you’d start to sweat and look for something to drink -- the cooler the better. To Cool Down Once their body temperature rises, dogs can’t sweat through their skin like we do to cool off. Dogs do sweat through their paw pads, but it’s by panting that dogs circulate the necessary air through their bodies to cool down. If you’re near a body of water (like the beach), your dog can also regain her "cool" by jumping in. Dangerous Signs – Heatstroke Panting is a sign that your dog is excited, hot, or both. But panting is also a warning sign. If your dog is taking a break from exercise and continues to pant heavily, this could be a sign of heatstroke – a medical emergency. Move your dog to a cool spot or indoors immediately. When playing with your dog outside in hot weather, it’s vital to bring along water for her to drink too. Dangerous Signs – Poisoning, Allergic Reaction Panting can also be an important sign that something is physically wrong with your dog, especially if there is no discernible reason as to why she is panting. When accompanied by other signs like lethargy and vomiting, panting can be an indicator that your dog has ingested poison or is having a severe allergic reaction that is affecting her ability to breathe. This is especially important to watch out for if your dog is on any kind of medication. Dangerous Signs – Illness Another possible reason your dog suddenly starts to pant is as a symptom of illness. A sudden increase in heart rate and panting to catch her breath can be a warning that your dog has a heart problem. Other illnesses that can cause your dog to suddenly start panting include respiratory problems like pneumonia and Cushing’s syndrome(adrenal glands producing too much cortisol). Head for Cover! While relaxing indoors, a dog may suddenly start panting if an electrical storm passes by. This is a normal fear response -- dogs are easily startled by loud noises and bright flashes of light (such as with thunder and lightning). Dogs also look to people to know how to act, so if you act normal during a storm, they’ll be less prone to panic. Still, if your dog feels the need to hide under the bed (or under your legs), allow her to do that until she feels that the worst is over. *** Hot weather, getting spooked, or not feeling well -- dogs pant for all these reasons and more, including when they’re injured and in pain. By learning your dog’s behavior and taking good care of him or her, you’ll be able to tell the difference between "a breather" and a serious medical condition. |
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For the LOVE of Pets The goal of this blog is to help educate pet owners by sharing pet health facts and pet news articles...and ... sometimes put a smile on your face with a cute or funny pet story! Categories
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