Archives for February, 2011
I once reviewed a research study investigating the effect of a full moon on the number and kinds of pets admitted to an emergency clinic–seriously! Although the authors did not find a significant increase in number or seriousness of injuries I wonder if events like the Super Bowl have an effect on pets needing emergency care–perhaps from an overindulgence in cheese? And could the Super Bowl be labeled a UEE? Not seriously.
So far there has not been a veterinarian-led investigation into this very important question although there has been at least one report of UEE (Unusual External Events) on cat behavior. It seems some events can trigger litter box problems as well as eating problems. But, now watch for the UEE affecting your pet. Pet owners, we now have a scientific name for fire works, owner vacations, a new family member! UEE has entered the pet owner’s vocabulary! Also new–creating a video of your pet’s unusual behavior with your phone. A noted veterinarian says such videos can help with diagnosis since home behavior does not always manifest itself in the hospital.
NEW COLUMN. Jacqueline O’Neill of Bloomsburg is now authoring a column for the Allentown Examiner. www.examiner.com It has training tips as well as current events. As most of you know O’Neill is a very successful trainer and owner of a Boxer, a Petite Bassett Griffon Verdeen and a Toy Fox Terrier. She has wide experience in pet therapy (including 9/11 with her boxers), rescue and agility and her dogs have been on Animal Planet Dogs 101.
NATIONAL HEART MONTH. February is National Heart Month–for dogs too. The AKC Canine Health Foundation is developing a promising pharmaceutical that blocks seratonin in the mitral valves of dogs with cardiomyopathy. The Foundation also has devised a genetic test for dilated cardiomyopathy. As most owners of older dogs know– heart disease contributes to aging problems. Diets are modified as in humans to include a low salt diet and moderate exercise is part of the treatment. The Health Foundation recently had a fundraiser at the Hill Crest Canine Country Club in Mifflinville (Britany Long). Long plans to formally open training classes in March.
MOST OF ALL I REMEMBER FEBRUARY AS NATIONAL DENTAL MONTH. THE LATE DIXON CUFF ALWAYS, ALWAYS STRESSED DENTAL HEALTH AND CLEAN TEETH.
MORE HEALTH NEWS. The book, Champ’s Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too, has won the Teacher’s Choice Award. By Helen Foster James, the book is available through Amazon. Skipping ahead to March–on the 6th, the Bloomsburg Fire Hall is hosting a Vera Bradley Bingo with proceeds to benefit the Fabulous Felines Cat Rescue. Remember PawsAbilities on March 12th-13th.
Feb 28, 2011 | | Uncategorized
By now most of you know about the head butt Martha Stewart suffered when she said good bye to Francesca, one of her French Bulldogs. Stewart obviously forgot the adage–”let sleeping dogs lie”–even in the kitchen! As Stewart bent over Francesca to give her a kiss, the dog sprung up and their heads collided. The bloody result–stitches in Stewart’s split lip and a slight whiplash.
Gerontologists want seniors to stay in their homes as they age but this involves the danger of falls and inevitably dogs enter the discussion as a danger. A house is only a structure without a resident companion dog and so it is past time we factor them in as safety issues. As Stewart proved–a small dog can be dangerous without a fall! Further, do we really know how many falls are caused by dogs? Or for that matter has anyone done a study on what breed can predict a Super Bowl victory or an early spring? (I’m only half kidding!)
Unfortunately, small breeds do not know they are small and they have all the behavior problems of larger dogs. Since the naughtiness is often indulged, the behavior almost necessitates a trainer who understands the small dog psyche. Terriers and toy dogs don’t think like Great Danes. Perhaps the Agencies on Aging need to include a dog trainer as a resource?
I NEVER WANTED TO SAY GOOD-BYE. The title of this book sums up all the feelings of any dog owner who has had to feel the grief of losing their beloved pet. Originally published in the 1990s it has been re-printed with a foreward by Betty White. White probably has thousands of products and books presented to her hoping for an endorsement. That she has chosen this book of poems is indeed high praise–and as the owner of a first edition I agree with White. The author is Arlene Klein. She writes about her sadness and loss, gently touching upon emotions we all can share. The dogs described in the book are Yorkshire Terriers that not only watched life from matching bean bag chairs but from trips around town. Today the love of her life is Scout, a retired champion. (Speaking of champions, here we should mention that Sadie, the Scottie that went Best in Show at Westminster last year, will be absent from ringside due to motherhood.) Klein’s dogs are immortalized in a videotape on the Canine Good Citizen, a program White also endorsed when it was first produced by the Latham Foundation. A portion of the proceeds is donated to the Morris Animal Foundation for Canine Health Studies. $9.95 Publisher Designing Poet www.amazon.com
RECENT STUDIES WITH SURPRISE QUESTIONS. Recent study results are indicating that a commercially available point-of-care relaxin test kit designed for use with dogs can be be used to reliably detect pregnancy in cats. (This is the first time I was aware there was a pregnancy test for dogs. How about you? Usually ultra-sound and x-rays are used to determine pregnancy.)
A recent study found that canine influenza virus can spread easily among dogs and can cause lung damage.
A commentary published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association discussed the decapitation of rodents as humane euthanasia.
The commentary cites newer research challenging this conclusion. Why this newer research–are we still decapitating animals in our research laboratories?
Feb 13, 2011 | | Uncategorized
Kim Kezer not only trains her winning Irish Water Spaniel, Fiona, she also trains hippos , jaguars, and giraffes for the Franklin Park Zoo. Fiona is the number three ranked Irish Water Spaniel and has been featured on Animal Planet’s Dogs 101.
A Pennsylvania champion Labrador Retriever from Richboro specializes in working with young children in an assisted learning program–including the disabled and autistic. Owner Wendi Hunter (kennel prefix Ridgeway) holds a “read to the dogs evening” at the local library.
A Rottweiler named Riley is the mascot for the Church of the Epiphany in Spartansburg, SC. It will be the first appearance for Riley and owner Episcopal Priest, Henry Tollison.
Vietnam Vet Doug Toomey, North Carolina, who trained sentry dogs will be on the carpet with Eddie, a Miniature Bull Terrier, while Seaworld trainer Jamie Marti of Orlando will be there with Harley, a top Belgian Malinois. And, the trainer of Rachel Alexander, the 2009 Eclipse Thoroughbred of the Year, will bring Poker, a Norwich Terrier she purchased with poker winnings. The first show dog for Caroline Dodwekk, he has been the number one Norwich for the past three years.
An Iraq war veteran will be in the ring with a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Moose. Larry Lentz now owns an Illinois boxing gym that trains pro and amateur fighters. Moose is the lifeguard at the gym. And then there is a Leonberger named Cisco. He is a Delta Society therapy dog and certified Animal Assisted Crisis Response team member–he also participates with his owner Lorene McLaughlin of Vermont in the weekly READ program. Another Leonberger, Gigi, survived a near-death experience when neighbors tried to poison her. She and her owner, Jean Boggie, also survived a capsized boat.
And last, but not least–an Alaskan Malamute named Kinky from Montana. Owners Baker and Coburn also raise Icelandic sheep and angora goats.
If there could be a BEST IN AMERICA, then these owners and their best friends should win the titles. A big WOOF to all who train their dogs week in and week out!
Feb 09, 2011 | | Uncategorized
Each year I receive an invitation to join a Westminster media conference call. This year, invitees were allowed to ask David Frei and Tom Bradley questions. Tom Bradley is the longtime show chairman of the Westminster Kennel Club and David Frei is an authority on all things canine and host of telecasts on the USA Network–for the 20th straight year!
I thought you might be interested in the following trivia.
ENOUGH AIR TIME FOR ALL BREEDS. A problem for television–a total of 179 breeds are currently recognized by the American Kennel Club and this number will increase to 185 next year. Both Bradley and Frei say with the increase in number it is increasingly difficult to make sure each of the breeds has time on camera. This year each of the group judges have judged Best in Show. The Westminster BIS judge is from Italy. In March he will follow the Westminster judging assignment with the task of judging BIS at Crufts.
THERAPY. Frei shares his life with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named “Angel”. Angel excels in therapy in a women’s health unit while “Grace”, a Brittany, follows in the pawprints of Frei’s previous Brittany’s (both passed this past year). Both dogs “dabble in the show world and are dedicated to their work as pet therapists”. Although Bradley has had an active past with sporting breeds–German Shorthaired Pointers and more particularly Labrador Retrievers– his canine companion in the office is a Border Terrier. Westminster Best in Show winners have an active history in pet therapy and Frei said the English Springer Spaniel, James, was and is a wonderful therapy dog–followed closely by Rufus, the Bull Terrier. Eight of the former Westminster winners are active and over ten years old!
THE SHOW IS FAST APPROACHING. Westminster is held on the 14th and 15th (this year, the Empire State Building will be red in honor of Valentine’s Day, not the customary purple and gold). Then Frei says, “the world is ready for us on Wednesday–even though the winner, his owner, handler and other connections have been partying all night!” This year the media events include a trip to Sardis for the traditional steak (last year they were hosted by Donald Trump) and the Stock Exchange on Thursday. The winning dog will also be on Martha Stewart this year for the first time. Frei says he knows how to operate every cell phone as New Yorkers line up for pictures. New York is a dog-friendly city even when Westminster is not on the agenda. The Westminster BIS usually is retired after this triumph since if s/he were to be defeated it would cast a negative note on a great win. After the Westminster whirl the BIS goes home for a rest and doesn’t return to New York until the Garden Show!
Uno had the most active schedule but is not the best therapy dog since for the Beagle–it is all about him!
PENNSYLVANIA CONNECTION. And, Bradley has a Pennsylvania connection. He hunted with German Shorthaired Pointers trained by the late Dick Johns of Benton. In the past he has showed dogs in Bloomsburg and even spent a New Year’s eve in Benton as the guests of the late Dick Johns and the Eyerly family. On the media conference call we spoke of the clusters of AKC-sanctioned shows held on the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds with its quality entry. (Odds favor an Irish Setter winning BIS–perhaps a duplicate of the breed’s triumph on the Fairgrounds and at the National!)
Having a retired champion therapy dog is truly a breeder’s dream–a picture of all that is really a great dog!
Feb 03, 2011 | | Uncategorized