I have decided to interview each of my dogs by asking them each the same five questions.
I know I am the crazy dog lady (ahem, the Dog Dame), but I'm not crazy, I swear. Read on to learn about the mutts that inspire me to blog!
1. For the record, please provide your full name:
They call me Mr. Bits! My registered name is Lil Bit, but my family mostly calls me Bits or Mr. Bits.
2. Tell me about when you joined the family. How long has it been?
Wow! I joined the family in July 2016 and am their newest addition. I'm eight years old, and have the body of a chihuahua and the colors and markings of a beagle. I'm the smallest of the mutts, and the craziest! Despite having two slipped discs in my back, I like to race around the house and yard like a wild puppy. I'm about 13 pounds but have no problem jumping on my new siblings - even Remy who is a lot bigger than me! I LOVE the love, and have no idea what the words "personal space" mean! I was adopted from Love Mutts Rescue, just like my brother, Otis!
3. What is your favorite toy?
I like to wrestle with my stuffed toys! I roll around on the floor and wrestle with them - I win about half of the time. My favorite to play with is Otis, though. I love to run and jump on him. It sometimes takes a long time to convince him to chase me, though! I'm also a big fan of the kong, which is usually filled with peanut butter and kibble, or steamed veggies!
4. What is your least favorite thing to do?
I hate going outside. I'd much rather be in someone's lap or cuddling with Otis on the couch! My people make me go outside and play with the others, though, and I do sometimes have fun. I hate when my feet get wet, or when I have to get my nails trimmed, and I don't like it when it's cold, or hot.
5. What's your favorite treat?
I really love green beans, the 3 ingredient cookies, and the dental treats. I also like peanut butter/greek yogurt ice cream in the summer. I used to enjoy chicken broth popsicles until my people figured out I'm allergic to chicken!
Showing posts with label Otis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Otis. Show all posts
Monday, January 23, 2017
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Interview with Mr. Otis
I have decided to interview each of my dogs by asking them each the same five questions.
I know I am the crazy dog lady (ahem, the Dog Dame), but I'm not crazy, I swear. Read on to learn about the mutts that inspire me to blog!
1. For the record, please provide your full name:
I am Mr. Otis Ulysses. You may call me Mr. Otis. My family calls me Mr. Odit or Mr. Otis.
2. Tell me about when you joined the family. How long has it been?
It's been almost 15 months since I joined the family. I was five years old I was adopted from Love Mutts Rescue, and my family brought me home to live with Remy. She just wanted to play, but I was too dignified for that, and a little portly, too. It was love at first sight though... as soon as I met my new sister, I just wanted to cuddle with her... ALL THE TIME. I was really scared of the people in my family and hid from them, especially from the males. I loved Remy, though. The humans kept giving me love and cuddles and treats, though, and after awhile I wanted to be around them, too. They had no idea for the first several weeks that every day, I like to greet the morning by loudly singing the song of my people (beagles) to the entire neighborhood. They know and love (or at least begrudgingly accept) that about me, now.
3. What is your favorite toy?
I haven't played with many toys, though I do have a red squeaky ball that I like to carry around, and sometimes roll around with. Remy steals and and hides it because it squeaks. I also enjoy playing with ropes and other toys that I can play tug of war with Remy. I love to hide a cow femur in the leaves and chew it when I think nobody is looking. I do run and play now, but mostly I just like to chase Remy (or run from her) and sniff things. I like to cuddle with soft toys, but she Remy steals them to rip them apart and Bits steals them to cuddle with, too.
4. What is your least favorite thing to do?
I love to be outside, so I hate when it's really cold or rainy and I can't be outside much. I just sleep on the couch those days. I'm not a huge of fan of getting my nails clipped but mom says I am the best out of the three about it.
5. What's your favorite treat?
ALL OF THEM! I love to eat, and I love all of the different kinds of treats! I love green beans, raw carrots, 3 ingredient cookies, ice cream, and I really love the dental treats.
I know I am the crazy dog lady (ahem, the Dog Dame), but I'm not crazy, I swear. Read on to learn about the mutts that inspire me to blog!
1. For the record, please provide your full name:
I am Mr. Otis Ulysses. You may call me Mr. Otis. My family calls me Mr. Odit or Mr. Otis.
2. Tell me about when you joined the family. How long has it been?
It's been almost 15 months since I joined the family. I was five years old I was adopted from Love Mutts Rescue, and my family brought me home to live with Remy. She just wanted to play, but I was too dignified for that, and a little portly, too. It was love at first sight though... as soon as I met my new sister, I just wanted to cuddle with her... ALL THE TIME. I was really scared of the people in my family and hid from them, especially from the males. I loved Remy, though. The humans kept giving me love and cuddles and treats, though, and after awhile I wanted to be around them, too. They had no idea for the first several weeks that every day, I like to greet the morning by loudly singing the song of my people (beagles) to the entire neighborhood. They know and love (or at least begrudgingly accept) that about me, now.
3. What is your favorite toy?
I haven't played with many toys, though I do have a red squeaky ball that I like to carry around, and sometimes roll around with. Remy steals and and hides it because it squeaks. I also enjoy playing with ropes and other toys that I can play tug of war with Remy. I love to hide a cow femur in the leaves and chew it when I think nobody is looking. I do run and play now, but mostly I just like to chase Remy (or run from her) and sniff things. I like to cuddle with soft toys, but she Remy steals them to rip them apart and Bits steals them to cuddle with, too.
4. What is your least favorite thing to do?
I love to be outside, so I hate when it's really cold or rainy and I can't be outside much. I just sleep on the couch those days. I'm not a huge of fan of getting my nails clipped but mom says I am the best out of the three about it.
5. What's your favorite treat?
ALL OF THEM! I love to eat, and I love all of the different kinds of treats! I love green beans, raw carrots, 3 ingredient cookies, ice cream, and I really love the dental treats.
Monday, August 29, 2016
Canine Vaccines: The Diseases That They Prevent
You know that you get your dog vaccinated, but do you know what the vaccines are for?
Vaccines work by introducing the virus or bacteria to the body in a very small amount, so that the body's natural immune system will develop antibodies to the virus. Once your dog's body does this, if the actual virus or bacteria is contracted, your dog's body will recognize it as a threat and will respond with an immune response to eradicate it.
There are two main kinds of vaccines: Core (usually legally required) and Non-Core (optional)
Core vaccines include Distemper, Parvo, Canine Hepatitis, and Rabies.
Non-Core vaccines include vaccines against bacteria such as Bordetella bronchiseptica, Borrelia burgdorferi and Leptospirosis.
Core Vaccines:
Distemper is a virus with no known cure. It's similar to the measles virus in humans. Early symptoms of an infection are fever (103.5+), red eyes, watery discharge from nose and eyes, lethargy, and anorexia. persistent coughing, vomiting, or diarrhea are also common symptoms.
Parvovirus (parvo) is highly contagious and is dangerous, particularly to puppies and very old dogs. Poor appetite, vomiting, diarrhea (with or without blood) are common symptoms. Parvo can attack the heart muscle and bone marrow function as well, and is often lethal. Many shelters will euthanize dogs with Parvo instead of trying to treat it due to the high mortality rate and because it is highly contagious.
Canine Hepatitis can be fatal. It starts by causing an upper respiratory infection, and then attacks the liver, eyes, kidneys, and then the bloodstream. It's a nasty virus.
DAPPv is also known as the canine distemper combination. It is a four-way vaccine that protects against distemper, andenovirus (Canine Hepatitis), parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Vaccination should begin at 8 weeks of age. Boosters are given every 3-4 weeks until the puppy has reached 16 weeks of age or older. After the initial series the vaccine is boosted in one year, and every three years after that.
Rabies is often fatal, and is very serious. It affects the dog's central nervous system and gray matter of their brain. There are two kinds of rabies, furious and paralytic. Furious rabies includes the type of rabies you hear about or see on movies and features increased and overt aggression, biting Paralytic rabies is also sometimes called dumb rabies, and features loss of coordination and weakness. Furious rabies usually lasts a few days, followed by paralytic rabies. The virus moves quickly and early treatment is necessary for recovery. Rabies can be transmitted to humans and is very dangerous.
The Rabies vaccine can be administered to puppies as young as 3 months of age. It's usually recommended for a puppy to get a one year vaccine, followed by another one year vaccine, then a three year vaccine.
Non-Core Vaccines
Bordetella is also called kennel cough. Your dog will need this vaccine if she or he is going to be boarded at a canine daycare or boarding facility, or otherwise around other dogs. It's a highly contagious respiratory infection, with the most common symptom being a persistent cough. A dog with kennel cough may also have watery nasal discharge, and in cases that have been left untreated, symptoms can progress to pneumonia, fever, lack of appetite, lethargy, and death. Dogs often show symptoms 3-4 days after exposure.
The Bordetella vaccine for dogs is administered either as an injection under the skin or via nose drops every 6-12 months. A vaccinated dog may still contract Bordetella, but the case is often less severe. Most dogs can be vaccinated every 12 months, but your vet may recommend more often if your dog is frequently exposed to other dogs (such as those in dog daycare).
Borellia burgdorferi is also known as Lyme Disease and is spread by ticks, especially black legged ticks. Some Flea prevention products also work against ticks, as I talked about in this post about Flea & Tick prevention, but there is also a vaccine available. Lyme Disease causes joint pain (this may be lifelong!), tiredness, fever, and loss of appetite. There can also be less common symptoms like sudden onset lameness. My dog Otis had Lyme Disease when I adopted him, which is part of why flea and tick prevention is so important to me.
The Lyme Disease, or Borellia burgdorferi, vaccine is usually given in two doses the first time, with each dose two to four weeks apart and annual re-vaccination. Puppies must be at least 9 weeks old to receive the vaccine.
There is a Leptospirosis vaccine available, and it is adminstered annually. You may have to ask your vet for this vaccine, as they may not offer it to all dogs. If your dog is frequently around other dogs, or has access to woods or water (lakes, ponds, streams) you may want to seriously consider this vaccine.
Remember: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Source:
ASPCA
PetMD
PetsWebMD
VetStreet
AMVA
Vaccines work by introducing the virus or bacteria to the body in a very small amount, so that the body's natural immune system will develop antibodies to the virus. Once your dog's body does this, if the actual virus or bacteria is contracted, your dog's body will recognize it as a threat and will respond with an immune response to eradicate it.
There are two main kinds of vaccines: Core (usually legally required) and Non-Core (optional)
Core vaccines include Distemper, Parvo, Canine Hepatitis, and Rabies.
Non-Core vaccines include vaccines against bacteria such as Bordetella bronchiseptica, Borrelia burgdorferi and Leptospirosis.
Core Vaccines:
Distemper is a virus with no known cure. It's similar to the measles virus in humans. Early symptoms of an infection are fever (103.5+), red eyes, watery discharge from nose and eyes, lethargy, and anorexia. persistent coughing, vomiting, or diarrhea are also common symptoms.
Parvovirus (parvo) is highly contagious and is dangerous, particularly to puppies and very old dogs. Poor appetite, vomiting, diarrhea (with or without blood) are common symptoms. Parvo can attack the heart muscle and bone marrow function as well, and is often lethal. Many shelters will euthanize dogs with Parvo instead of trying to treat it due to the high mortality rate and because it is highly contagious.
Canine Hepatitis can be fatal. It starts by causing an upper respiratory infection, and then attacks the liver, eyes, kidneys, and then the bloodstream. It's a nasty virus.
DAPPv is also known as the canine distemper combination. It is a four-way vaccine that protects against distemper, andenovirus (Canine Hepatitis), parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Vaccination should begin at 8 weeks of age. Boosters are given every 3-4 weeks until the puppy has reached 16 weeks of age or older. After the initial series the vaccine is boosted in one year, and every three years after that.
Rabies is often fatal, and is very serious. It affects the dog's central nervous system and gray matter of their brain. There are two kinds of rabies, furious and paralytic. Furious rabies includes the type of rabies you hear about or see on movies and features increased and overt aggression, biting Paralytic rabies is also sometimes called dumb rabies, and features loss of coordination and weakness. Furious rabies usually lasts a few days, followed by paralytic rabies. The virus moves quickly and early treatment is necessary for recovery. Rabies can be transmitted to humans and is very dangerous.
The Rabies vaccine can be administered to puppies as young as 3 months of age. It's usually recommended for a puppy to get a one year vaccine, followed by another one year vaccine, then a three year vaccine.
Non-Core Vaccines
Bordetella is also called kennel cough. Your dog will need this vaccine if she or he is going to be boarded at a canine daycare or boarding facility, or otherwise around other dogs. It's a highly contagious respiratory infection, with the most common symptom being a persistent cough. A dog with kennel cough may also have watery nasal discharge, and in cases that have been left untreated, symptoms can progress to pneumonia, fever, lack of appetite, lethargy, and death. Dogs often show symptoms 3-4 days after exposure.
The Bordetella vaccine for dogs is administered either as an injection under the skin or via nose drops every 6-12 months. A vaccinated dog may still contract Bordetella, but the case is often less severe. Most dogs can be vaccinated every 12 months, but your vet may recommend more often if your dog is frequently exposed to other dogs (such as those in dog daycare).
Borellia burgdorferi is also known as Lyme Disease and is spread by ticks, especially black legged ticks. Some Flea prevention products also work against ticks, as I talked about in this post about Flea & Tick prevention, but there is also a vaccine available. Lyme Disease causes joint pain (this may be lifelong!), tiredness, fever, and loss of appetite. There can also be less common symptoms like sudden onset lameness. My dog Otis had Lyme Disease when I adopted him, which is part of why flea and tick prevention is so important to me.
The Lyme Disease, or Borellia burgdorferi, vaccine is usually given in two doses the first time, with each dose two to four weeks apart and annual re-vaccination. Puppies must be at least 9 weeks old to receive the vaccine.
Leptospirosis is something I had not heard of before until a friend of
mine from Brazil told me how her dog had died from this, so I looked it up and
found out that this bacteria causes infections across the world, particularly
in warm and rainy areas, and is very serious. Common risk factors for leptospirosis in dogs
residing in the United States include exposure to or drinking from rivers,
lakes or streams, dogs that are around other dogs. Some infected dogs do
not show any signs of illness or infections, some have a mild and transient
illness and recover spontaneously on their own, while others develop severe
illness and death.
Signs of leptospirosis may include fever, shivering, muscle tenderness,
reluctance to move, increased thirst, changes in the frequency or amount of
urination, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy,
jaundice (yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes), or painful inflammation
within the eyes. The disease can cause kidney failure with or without liver
failure. Dogs may occasionally develop severe lung disease and have difficulty
breathing. Leptospirosis can cause bleeding disorders, which can lead to
blood-tinged vomit, urine, stool or saliva; nosebleeds; and pinpoint red spots
(which may be visible on the gums and other mucous membranes or on
light-colored skin). Affected dogs can also develop swollen legs (from fluid
accumulation) or accumulate excess fluid in their chest or abdomen. Soon after this bacteria infects your dog, fever and
bacterial infection of the blood develops. The bacteria reproduces in the
liver, kidneys, central nervous system, eyes, and/or reproductive system.
While a healthy dog's immune system may be able to clear out most of the
infection, often some bacteria is left in the kidneys which then infect the
urine. This bacteria can be passed between dogs and animals. Dogs can become infected and develop
leptospirosis if their mucous membranes (or skin with any wound, such as a cut
or scrape) come into contact with infected urine, urine-contaminated soil,
water, food or bedding; through a bite from an infected animal; by eating
infected tissues or carcasses; and rarely, through breeding. It can also be
passed through the placenta from the mother dog to the puppies.
There is a Leptospirosis vaccine available, and it is adminstered annually. You may have to ask your vet for this vaccine, as they may not offer it to all dogs. If your dog is frequently around other dogs, or has access to woods or water (lakes, ponds, streams) you may want to seriously consider this vaccine.
Remember: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Source:
ASPCA
PetMD
PetsWebMD
VetStreet
AMVA
Friday, July 29, 2016
Obesity in Canines - Is Your Dog Overweight?
Obesity in dogs is a topic close to my heart. In October 2015, we adopted an obese 5yr old beagle named Otis, and I started researching how to safely help him lose weight.A dog is considered overweight if she weighs 10-20% above her ideal body weight. A dog weighing more than 20% above his ideal body weight is considered obese.
There are a lot of risks to the health of an overweight or obese dog, just like with people. Obese dogs are more likely to experience musculoskeletal problems, cardiovascular problems, breathing problems, exercise and heat intolerance, and diseases like heart disease and diabetes.
My vet recommended that I switch Otis to a low calorie/low fat food. She recommended Science Diet Perfect Weight, which she has fed to her own dogs. Since most dogs can benefit from a lower fat diet, I decided that both my newly adopted beagle and my basset/beagle mix could eat the same food. My basset needs to have grain free, though, or she suffers from nasty gastrointestinal upset. Science Diet Perfect Weight is only 291 calories* per cup and is one of the lowest calorie foods on the market, but it contains corn, which I don't feed to my basset.
We have tried many different brands with differing levels of protein/fat/calories and different protein sources. It even got to the point that I created a spreadsheet to keep track of the different brands and their related info, including price shopping at a couple of different stores, like www.chewy.com, www.amazon.com, and www.petsmart.com. I read reviews from multiple sites, but relied heavily on www.dogfoodadvisor.com because I like their breakdown of each food's nutritional pros and cons. They also have a dog food calculator that can help you figure out a baseline or general idea for how much food your dog actually needs based on activity level and weight goals. Remember to take into account any extra treats you give, which will reduce how much food your dog needs overall. I like rotation feeding to help change up their meals because Remy (my basset) gets bored after a few weeks to a month and starts refusing food, but also to help with if I have to change foods due to a recall or supplier shortage.
Otis lost eight pounds in eight months with a combination of increased activity (more walks, which he loves) and reducing the amount of his food and feeding a lower calorie food. This is considered a healthy weight loss. It's slow enough that his body didn't go through severe changes but quick enough that could see that the change in food and additional exercise were actually working.
Some of the foods we had pretty good success with are:
- Earthborn Holistic Grain Free Weight Control, which has only 325 calories per cup and contains 25% protein and a mere 7% fat. The main protein is Chicken Meal, it comes in as large as 28 pound bags, and generally retails for about $2.11 per pound. Chicken meal actually contains 300% more protein than regular chicken meat. It's rated 4 stars on DFA (Dog Food Advisor).
- Another chicken meal based food is Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Healthy Weight. This food has 29% protein, and slightly more fat at 15%. There are 321 calories per cup, and a 25 pound bags runs around $1.62 per pound with a 4 star rating at DFA. This was one of the most affordable brands we tried, and he did lose weight on it.
- Beef might be what your dog prefers, and Merrick makes a low calorie food called Grain Free Healthy Weight. This food earned a 4.5 star rating from DFA, comes in a 25 pound bag at around $2.16 per pound, and contains 32% protein, only 8% fat, and 360 calories per cup. Neither of my dogs have lost on this, but I think it's because it's higher calorie than most of the other brands that they eat.
- The only non-grain free food we tried was Fromm Gold Weight Control. They do also make a grain free version with fish as the protein called Gold Coast, but their regular version has no corn, wheat, or soy so we tried it. The main protein is turkey liver and duck, and it contains 25% protein with 10% fat, and 241 calories per cup. It's rated 4 stars on DFA, and runs about $1.53 per pound for a 33lb bag, This was the best value as far as cost, but my basset had some issues with it and developed a yeast infection.
- Otis had some of the best results on Solid Gold Holistic Fit & Fabulous, which has fish/pollock as the main protein. Remy, my basset, was not a fan of the fish and refused to eat it except if she was starving. Otis dug in with gusto. It is not rated in DFA, but has 26% protein and only 7% fat. It contains 330 calories per cup, comes in a 24 pound bag and costs about $2.33 per pound.
There are other foods that made my list of possibilities but that we have not yet tried (or ruled out for various reasons):
- Wellness Core Reduced Fat Grain Free, made with Turkey, and containing 33% protein, 12% fat, and 360 calories per cup. It has a five star rating from DFA and it costs about $2.26 per pound for a 26 pound bag. I ultimately decided not to try it because of the higher calories combined with the 12% fat. It has the same calories as the Merrick, but Merrick is lower in fat.
- Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Grain Free Healthy Weight has 4 stars from DFA and costs about $2.08 per pound for a 24 pound bag. It was 26% protein and only 8% fat with 394 calories per cup and the main protein being Salmon. I opted against this for my dogs because Remy doesn't seem to care for fish and the calories were way too high. This might be better for larger dogs who have higher caloric needs. 8/30/16 Edit: Since this was posted, we have adopted a third dog, an eight year old beagle/chihuahua mix, who turned out to possibly be allergic to chicken. Despite the very high calories, I am transitioning all of my dogs over to this food (because it's salmon and not whitefish) and reducing the amount of kibble I feed them. Adding water and fresh veggies (steamed green beans, raw carrots, raw celery, etc) help them feel full while they adjust to less kibble.
- Nulo Freestyle Adult Trim Grain Free has Cod as the main protein. I really want to have my dogs try this but haven't because Remy doesn't seem to care for seafood. It has 4.5 stars from DFA, 30% protein and only 7-9% fat with 368 calories per cup. At $2.62 per pound for 24 pounds, it was a bit more expensive than I was comfortable spending for a food that Remy probably won't eat. If your dog doesn't mind fish and you are comfortable with the price, this might be a great one to try.
- The last that I considered but haven't tried yet is Annamaet Grain Free Lean. With 5 stars from DFA, 350 calories per cup, 33% protein and only 9% fat, this is a contender for trial in our house. It runs about $2.34-$2.87 per pound for a 30 pound bag and has Chicken, Duck, and Herring as the protein. It's much more expensive than the others as well.
To help prevent Otis from feeling like he was being starved, we gradually reduced the amount of kibble he was getting, and added warm water to his kibble to help fill his stomach. We also supplemented with raw or steamed vegetables as treats instead of nutrition-empty biscuits. He really enjoys steamed sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and carrots. He eats raw green pepper and celery, too. He likes raw or steamed apples, and loves bananas. Once or twice a day, I give him one of my three-ingredient canine cookies, as they are high in fiber and help keep his digestive system running smoothly.
Unfortunately, as the weather got too hot, I got lazy and stopped walking him except on weekend mornings, as we have fenced yard. He doesn't cope well with heat and humidity and has breathing issues, and I don't like going to work looking and smelling like a sweaty mess. Once the weather cools, we will be walking more. He's gained most of the weight back, but he's also getting a few more treats to help with the addition of a new dog. They are almost out of their current food, so I am switching again as part of our rotation to one of the lower-fat and lower calorie foods.
Don't just reduce the amount of normal food. This is because over time, your dog will not get the right nutrition. Lower fat/calorie foods are formulated to make sure that your dog gets the nutrition he needs, to help him lose weight safely and in a healthy way. Just reducing the amount of regular calorie food will cause some weight loss, but it's not healthy weight loss. It's like with people, if you just eat less overall of your higher-fat diet, of course you will lose weight. But, you have to make healthy changes to lower-fat/higher fiber and protein foods so you stay full and get enough vitamins and minerals from your food.
Aside from lowering the fat and calorie intake, your dog will need to increase his activity more. This means more exercise. This can be daily walks, runs, chasing a ball or laser pointer, or pretty much anything that gets your dog moving. While you will need to monitor and possible reduce activity if you live in an area with hot (and especially humid) summers, you can still get some exercise in playing indoors if you have room. You can also try to take walks in the early morning or late evening hours. When the weather is cold, walking is also more challenging, but your pup (and her feet) can handle it as long as it's not very icy or below freezing. You do need to take into account your dog's age and overall fitness and medical needs. For example, a dog prone to tearing cruciates (knee ligaments) would not be a good candidate for running but could most likely handle a good long walk. Always check with your vet if you aren't sure!
*Calories in dog food are actually measured in kilocalories, or kcal. You may see labels that reference kCal/ME, which is a way of measuring the metabolic energy. For the sake of simplicity in my own research and blog, I do not convert the kCals to calories, but simply refer to them as calories.
Sources:
petMD
VCA Hospitals
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Fleas & Ticks - More Than Just An Annoyance!
You probably know that in humans, fleas can cause itchy rashes and skin infections. Did you know they also spread Typhus and Plague, among other diseases? You've probably heard that ticks spread disease like Lyme Disease, but they also spread things like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Anaplasmosis.
Even worse, your dog can get these things and more! All it takes is a flea or tick bite, and both are preventable.
When we adopted Otis, he was a sick little thing. He had tested positive for Erlichiosis, and worse, Lyme Disease. Erlichiosis is a bacterial infection transmitted by the Lone Star Tick. The bacteria, erlichae, affect the body by infecting the white blood cells and then destroying them. Your dog will likely be very fatigued/lethargic, may not have much of an appetite and lose weight, will likely have a fever, may become anemic, and may suffer from an enlarged spleen and lymph nodes. It more or less causes flu-like symptoms and lasts a couple of weeks with treatment. Treatment is generally well tolerated is typically is a course of the antibiotic doxycyline. It took Otis several weeks to recover, but he was also dealing with Lyme Disease.
Lyme Disease is also spread by ticks, usually the black-legged tick. It has some odd symptoms like sudden onset of lameness, which may or may not be accompanied by a fever. Anorexia and lethargy are also common symptoms. Once Otis came home with us, he spent much of his first week sleeping. Lyme Disease has lasting symptoms like arthritis or stiff joints when left untreated. Luckily, Lyme Disease in dogs is treatable by antibiotics like tetracyclines (such as doxycycline) and cephalosporins.
There are tons of other flea and tick borne infections and diseases such as babeiosis, bartonellosis, anaplasmosis, tapeworm, and Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, just to name a few. These can cause serious illness, and even death, in both dogs and humans. It's a risk you can easily reduce or eliminate.
Prevention is key. The good news is that there are many things you can do to prevent fleas and ticks on your dogs. Some of them are store-bought, some are natural, and some are just elbow grease.
If your dog already has fleas, s/he will need a flea bath. You can do this yourself by purchasing or making a flea shampoo. Alternatively, you may prefer to take your pup to a groomer or vet for a flea bath. Some examples of a store-bought flea shampoo is Vet's Best Flea Shampoo or Advantage II flea shampoo, available at pet stores or online at places like Chewy.com or Amazon.com. Make sure to check your dog for ticks, too. Ears, groin, creases of skin, skin folds, and in between toes are places you might commonly find a tick.
You can make your own flea shampoo, too. I found a simple recipe on Food.com that is perfect for natural flea treatment. All you need is one cup of liquid dish soap (Dawn is preferable), one quart of water, and one cup of white vinegar. For best results, mix the ingredients then put the mixture in a squirt bottle, like an old shampoo bottle. Shampoo your dog and let it sit on him for at least five minutes (it's okay to keep massaging him while the shampoo does it's thing). You can use this on yourself, too. You'll also need to treat your entire home. You will need to wash all bedding (and blankets/throws around the house) including your dogs bedding. You will need to vacuum every room, every corner, every baseboard and throw out the bag when you're done. If you have a bag-less vacuum, empty it and wipe it out. Vacuum your car, too, even if your dog hasn't been in it lately, since fleas may hitch a ride on your clothing and infest your car. You'll probably also need to purchase a spray or fogger and kill off all of the fleas. You may also need to spread granules or spray your yard to kill the fleas there and prevent re-infestation.
If your dog does not yet have fleas or ticks and you want to keep it that way, then you need to work on prevention. There are inexpensive flea collars available, which I am not a fan of as they can cause irritation to your dog's skin. The skin reactions seem to be more common in cats, but it does also happen to dogs. However, if you are on a tight budget, a flea collar is better than nothing at all. You can also make your own flea collar using Apple Cider Vinegar and Lavender oil, but it does need to be replaced weekly. I'll provide recipes at the bottom of this post.
There are oral medications such as Capstar or Comfortis, that will help kill and repel fleas. They don't really work for ticks, though, but are a good option if your dog's skin is too sensitive for topical medications. I prefer topical medications that are applied once a month. They work even after your dog gets wet or is bathed and lasts for several weeks. Better yet, they kill and repel not just fleas, but ticks and other parasites like mosquitoes, which transmit the dreaded Heartworm. I prefer K9 Advantix II over Frontline because I live in an area with a lot of mosquitoes, and K9 Advantix repels mosquitoes, whereas Frontline does not. That being said, the Heartworm preventative I use repels mosquitoes so I could probably use Frontline without issue. I just feel better knowing that my dogs have as much mosquito protection as possible.
Other forms of prevention require some elbow grease, and should be done in addition to your other forms of flea and tick control. Flowerbeds and corners of the yard should be cleared of leaf debris. Bushes/shrubs should be kept trimmed back, making sure the leaves or needles of the bush don't touch the ground and all leaf debris is cleared from under it. You may want to spray your yard or spread granules - though read labels carefully since many of these products can be toxic to dogs. I like to use Eco-Smart products (available at places like Home Depot, Lowe's Home Improvement, Walmart, etc) because they are safer around kids and pets, but use whatever works best for you.
Natural Flea Collar
(recipe courtesy Everyday Roots)
3-5 drops Lavender oil
1-3 tbsp water
fabric collar or bandanna
Mix the ingredients, then apply several drops (5-10) to the fabric. Repeat weekly. Another method is to dip the fabric in the mixture.
Natural Flea Spray
(recipe courtesy Everyday Roots)
1 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
1 qt. fresh water
3 drops Lavender oil
Mix ingredients and put into a spray bottle. Lightly most your dog, taking care to avoid her face. You can spray a washcloth and then rub the washcloth on your dog's neck and face.
Flea Shampoo
(recipe courtesy Food.com)
1 cup liquid dish soap (preferably Dawn)
1 qt. water
1 cup white vinegar (ACV would also work)
Mix ingredients, put into a squirt bottle. Shampoo your dog, letting shampoo sit for about 5 minutes.
Sources:
VetInfo
CDC
VetStreet
WebMd
Food.com
Everyday Roots
Even worse, your dog can get these things and more! All it takes is a flea or tick bite, and both are preventable.
When we adopted Otis, he was a sick little thing. He had tested positive for Erlichiosis, and worse, Lyme Disease. Erlichiosis is a bacterial infection transmitted by the Lone Star Tick. The bacteria, erlichae, affect the body by infecting the white blood cells and then destroying them. Your dog will likely be very fatigued/lethargic, may not have much of an appetite and lose weight, will likely have a fever, may become anemic, and may suffer from an enlarged spleen and lymph nodes. It more or less causes flu-like symptoms and lasts a couple of weeks with treatment. Treatment is generally well tolerated is typically is a course of the antibiotic doxycyline. It took Otis several weeks to recover, but he was also dealing with Lyme Disease.
Lyme Disease is also spread by ticks, usually the black-legged tick. It has some odd symptoms like sudden onset of lameness, which may or may not be accompanied by a fever. Anorexia and lethargy are also common symptoms. Once Otis came home with us, he spent much of his first week sleeping. Lyme Disease has lasting symptoms like arthritis or stiff joints when left untreated. Luckily, Lyme Disease in dogs is treatable by antibiotics like tetracyclines (such as doxycycline) and cephalosporins.
There are tons of other flea and tick borne infections and diseases such as babeiosis, bartonellosis, anaplasmosis, tapeworm, and Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, just to name a few. These can cause serious illness, and even death, in both dogs and humans. It's a risk you can easily reduce or eliminate.
Prevention is key. The good news is that there are many things you can do to prevent fleas and ticks on your dogs. Some of them are store-bought, some are natural, and some are just elbow grease.
If your dog already has fleas, s/he will need a flea bath. You can do this yourself by purchasing or making a flea shampoo. Alternatively, you may prefer to take your pup to a groomer or vet for a flea bath. Some examples of a store-bought flea shampoo is Vet's Best Flea Shampoo or Advantage II flea shampoo, available at pet stores or online at places like Chewy.com or Amazon.com. Make sure to check your dog for ticks, too. Ears, groin, creases of skin, skin folds, and in between toes are places you might commonly find a tick.
You can make your own flea shampoo, too. I found a simple recipe on Food.com that is perfect for natural flea treatment. All you need is one cup of liquid dish soap (Dawn is preferable), one quart of water, and one cup of white vinegar. For best results, mix the ingredients then put the mixture in a squirt bottle, like an old shampoo bottle. Shampoo your dog and let it sit on him for at least five minutes (it's okay to keep massaging him while the shampoo does it's thing). You can use this on yourself, too. You'll also need to treat your entire home. You will need to wash all bedding (and blankets/throws around the house) including your dogs bedding. You will need to vacuum every room, every corner, every baseboard and throw out the bag when you're done. If you have a bag-less vacuum, empty it and wipe it out. Vacuum your car, too, even if your dog hasn't been in it lately, since fleas may hitch a ride on your clothing and infest your car. You'll probably also need to purchase a spray or fogger and kill off all of the fleas. You may also need to spread granules or spray your yard to kill the fleas there and prevent re-infestation.
If your dog does not yet have fleas or ticks and you want to keep it that way, then you need to work on prevention. There are inexpensive flea collars available, which I am not a fan of as they can cause irritation to your dog's skin. The skin reactions seem to be more common in cats, but it does also happen to dogs. However, if you are on a tight budget, a flea collar is better than nothing at all. You can also make your own flea collar using Apple Cider Vinegar and Lavender oil, but it does need to be replaced weekly. I'll provide recipes at the bottom of this post.
 |
| example of a brand of flea collar |
 |
| example of contact dermatitis (allergic reaction) caused by flea collar. |
There are oral medications such as Capstar or Comfortis, that will help kill and repel fleas. They don't really work for ticks, though, but are a good option if your dog's skin is too sensitive for topical medications. I prefer topical medications that are applied once a month. They work even after your dog gets wet or is bathed and lasts for several weeks. Better yet, they kill and repel not just fleas, but ticks and other parasites like mosquitoes, which transmit the dreaded Heartworm. I prefer K9 Advantix II over Frontline because I live in an area with a lot of mosquitoes, and K9 Advantix repels mosquitoes, whereas Frontline does not. That being said, the Heartworm preventative I use repels mosquitoes so I could probably use Frontline without issue. I just feel better knowing that my dogs have as much mosquito protection as possible.
Other forms of prevention require some elbow grease, and should be done in addition to your other forms of flea and tick control. Flowerbeds and corners of the yard should be cleared of leaf debris. Bushes/shrubs should be kept trimmed back, making sure the leaves or needles of the bush don't touch the ground and all leaf debris is cleared from under it. You may want to spray your yard or spread granules - though read labels carefully since many of these products can be toxic to dogs. I like to use Eco-Smart products (available at places like Home Depot, Lowe's Home Improvement, Walmart, etc) because they are safer around kids and pets, but use whatever works best for you.
Natural Flea Collar
(recipe courtesy Everyday Roots)
3-5 drops Lavender oil
1-3 tbsp water
fabric collar or bandanna
Mix the ingredients, then apply several drops (5-10) to the fabric. Repeat weekly. Another method is to dip the fabric in the mixture.
Natural Flea Spray
(recipe courtesy Everyday Roots)
1 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
1 qt. fresh water
3 drops Lavender oil
Mix ingredients and put into a spray bottle. Lightly most your dog, taking care to avoid her face. You can spray a washcloth and then rub the washcloth on your dog's neck and face.
Flea Shampoo
(recipe courtesy Food.com)
1 cup liquid dish soap (preferably Dawn)
1 qt. water
1 cup white vinegar (ACV would also work)
Mix ingredients, put into a squirt bottle. Shampoo your dog, letting shampoo sit for about 5 minutes.
Sources:
VetInfo
CDC
VetStreet
WebMd
Food.com
Everyday Roots
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Introduction
Several nights ago, my husband and I were having a conversation about our dogs when he quipped, "I married the dog lady!". The idea for this blog was borne from that conversation, but my love for alliteration (the same beginning sound in adjacent words) led me to name my blog The Dog Dame.
I am not in a professional field related to animals, but I do love animals and spend a lot of free time reading about them (particularly dogs) and researching related topics. I plan to share some of my findings here. Please note that I am not a veterinarian, and you should always consult with your vet regarding medical issues.
I grew up pretty much always having a pet in the family. Usually we had a dog (or two, or three, or more!), but we also had a cat. As an adult, I have adopted cats and dogs. I promote adopting instead of shopping for an animal, and believe all dogs and cats should be inside pets, as members of the family. I have loved and lost several beloved pets, and care about things like nutrition and exercise for my pets.
In 2012, my eldest stepdaughter's mother adopted a puppy from the local SPCA for my stepdaughter. After a couple of months, her mother decided she was done dealing with a puppy and said she was going to return it to the shelter. At that point, we intervened (as the dog was physically in our home) and made the decision to keep the puppy as a family dog, belonging to the entire family and no one particular person. Benelli was a basset/lab on paper, but anyone who saw her knew she had some pit bull or american staffordshire in her. The entire family fell in love with her.
Several months later, we decided that Benelli needed a canine playmate, and we adopted Remy, a basset/beagle from an SPCA a couple of hours away. For nearly a year, Benelli and Remy were the best of friends and life was good. In April 2015, Benelli was a bit picky about her food, eating some of it but leaving much of it in the bowl. I wasn't particularly concerned as we were getting to the end of the bag of food and this was typical behavior for the end of the bag. We went out of town for a couple of days and while we were gone, her condition worsened and she laid on her dog bed, refusing to eat, drink, or get up. We rushed home several days early and took her that afternoon to our vet, who directed us to take her to a nearby specialty hospital. That night, the emergency vet gave her two blood transfusions and pumped her full of medication to help stabilize her and help her body fight what it was dealing with. By the next morning, things were worse and due to her organs failing and Benelli being in a lot of pain, we made the decision to have her put to sleep and end her suffering from Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA). She was two and a half months shy of her third birthday, and losing her devastated my entire family. We had Remy to love and take care of, but the loss of Benelli left a gaping wound in our lives.
Five months later, we knew Remy (who celebrated a year with us the day after Benelli's death and also her second birthday two months later) needed a buddy to pal around with, and we humans were just not enough. I was looking for another basset around her age as we prefer short dogs who are unlikely to jump our fence. Instead, on Halloween 2015, we adopted a five-ish year old overweight beagle who had been abused, and we named him Otis. We adopted from Love Mutts Rescue. Remy and Otis made fast friends, and she plays very well with him (she sometimes forgets she's much bigger though!). I can't imagine my life without a couple of dogs to love.
I am not in a professional field related to animals, but I do love animals and spend a lot of free time reading about them (particularly dogs) and researching related topics. I plan to share some of my findings here. Please note that I am not a veterinarian, and you should always consult with your vet regarding medical issues.
I grew up pretty much always having a pet in the family. Usually we had a dog (or two, or three, or more!), but we also had a cat. As an adult, I have adopted cats and dogs. I promote adopting instead of shopping for an animal, and believe all dogs and cats should be inside pets, as members of the family. I have loved and lost several beloved pets, and care about things like nutrition and exercise for my pets.
In 2012, my eldest stepdaughter's mother adopted a puppy from the local SPCA for my stepdaughter. After a couple of months, her mother decided she was done dealing with a puppy and said she was going to return it to the shelter. At that point, we intervened (as the dog was physically in our home) and made the decision to keep the puppy as a family dog, belonging to the entire family and no one particular person. Benelli was a basset/lab on paper, but anyone who saw her knew she had some pit bull or american staffordshire in her. The entire family fell in love with her.
Several months later, we decided that Benelli needed a canine playmate, and we adopted Remy, a basset/beagle from an SPCA a couple of hours away. For nearly a year, Benelli and Remy were the best of friends and life was good. In April 2015, Benelli was a bit picky about her food, eating some of it but leaving much of it in the bowl. I wasn't particularly concerned as we were getting to the end of the bag of food and this was typical behavior for the end of the bag. We went out of town for a couple of days and while we were gone, her condition worsened and she laid on her dog bed, refusing to eat, drink, or get up. We rushed home several days early and took her that afternoon to our vet, who directed us to take her to a nearby specialty hospital. That night, the emergency vet gave her two blood transfusions and pumped her full of medication to help stabilize her and help her body fight what it was dealing with. By the next morning, things were worse and due to her organs failing and Benelli being in a lot of pain, we made the decision to have her put to sleep and end her suffering from Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA). She was two and a half months shy of her third birthday, and losing her devastated my entire family. We had Remy to love and take care of, but the loss of Benelli left a gaping wound in our lives.
Five months later, we knew Remy (who celebrated a year with us the day after Benelli's death and also her second birthday two months later) needed a buddy to pal around with, and we humans were just not enough. I was looking for another basset around her age as we prefer short dogs who are unlikely to jump our fence. Instead, on Halloween 2015, we adopted a five-ish year old overweight beagle who had been abused, and we named him Otis. We adopted from Love Mutts Rescue. Remy and Otis made fast friends, and she plays very well with him (she sometimes forgets she's much bigger though!). I can't imagine my life without a couple of dogs to love.
Benelli Grace (07.01.2012-04.18.2015)
Gone But Always Remembered
Left: Remington Ophelia (b. 07/04/2013)
Right: Otis Ulysses (b. ?10/31/2010)
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