“In the eyes of a dog, a Christmas tree is a giant, gloriously decorated fire hydrant.”
– Unknown
Three spaniels, an orchid in hiding, and an innovative technique that could change how Saving our Species monitors elusive species.
Trying to save a species that’s hard to find is a problem many conservationists face. Imagine the challenge when a species spends most of its time lying dormant beneath the earth’s surface.
The critically endangered Wyong sun orchid (Thelymitra adorata) is one of these hidden species. It is hard to see unless it’s flowering, which makes monitoring a difficult task.
Three clever canines (Paddy, Sully and Vera) are being trained to use their strong sense of smell to help find this orchid. While the use of scent detection dogs is not new to conservation, this is the first time they have been used for Wyong sun orchid monitoring. It’s a trial that could mark the start of a game-changing method.
A tuber is a specialised plant stem that occurs underground, storing a lot of a plant’s nutrients. It exists in a type of hibernation mode. During this ‘resting’ phase, you could walk right over a tuber and never know it. When conditions above ground are favourable, a tuber will sprout and push through the soil, producing a plant that conservationists can finally see.
However, for the Wyong sun orchid’s tubers, the right conditions for emerging include the presence of fire (much like humans in winter). Imagine how much easier monitoring would be if conservationists could detect this plant without having to wait for these conditions.
Thanks to a partnership between Saving our Species and dog training organisations On the Scent and The Good Dog, the team are one ‘sniff’ closer to detecting this species while it is sleeping.
‘If successful, this method may enable a year-round survey window, give greater certainty of survey results and assist in planning conservation actions, such as targeting areas for controlled burns’, said Paul Hillier, a senior regional conservation officer for Saving our Species.
‘Until now, the only way to find the Wyong sun orchid is by identifying the flower or leaf, whereas the dogs will attempt to find the plant by scenting the tubers under the ground in a minimally invasive way’, said Mel, owner and dog trainer, The Good Dog.
This unique partnership is expanding opportunities to conserve this critically endangered species, and if successful, may provide the basis for detecting other cryptic species in the future.
‘Both The Good Dog and On the Scent believe that supporting threatened species conservation is important to ensure they remain and repopulate in their habitat for years to come and don’t become just another item added to the extinction list’, said Philly, owner and dog trainer, On the Scent Canine Detection.
The project is also in collaboration with Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan and Central Coast Council.
Source: NSW Environment and Heritage
Posted in Dogs, special dogs and awards
Tagged animals, conservation, detection dogs, flowers, nature, NSW, orchids, Saving Our Species, scent, wildlife, Wyong sun orchid
Thuson of Hermione, a blind boy, had his eyes licked in the daytime by one of the dogs about the temple, and departed cured.
– Inscription on a tablet at Epidaurus, a city in ancient Greece that is an UNESCO World Heritage Site
Posted in dog quotes, Dogs
Tagged ancient Greece, dogs, Epidaurus, God of Medicine, healing
When I adopted Sox in March 2022, he was triggered by walking along the main road near our home, with the exception of very early mornings when there was no traffic. He didn’t like the traffic noise and he didn’t like the reflections of the vehicles in the shop windows.
Given our suburban location, his reactivity on the main road was going to be a problem and so it was time to think about how to apply de-sensitisation and counter-conditioning.
Our local SPCA Op Shop became a cornerstone to Sox’s training.
Located on the main road, it allowed well-behaved dogs, on lead, inside. Sox quickly learned that we could walk through the scary glass windows and inside were friendly people who greeted him with pats and cuddles.
He also made a special friend, a regular Sunday volunteer named Beth.
Within 8 weeks, Sox was happily walking along the main road without fear.
With few exceptions, we have visited the shop every fortnight since our first visit in 2022. Sadly, a couple of weeks ago, these posters appeared in the window – the shop is closing!
Visits to the op shop have become a regular part of Sox’s routine and a source of ongoing enrichment (think of him as the Official Greeter of the SPCA Op Shop whenever he is on site).
I am sure he will be confused when we no longer visit this shop front, and I do wonder whether he will think of his Special Friend Beth when we pass by, not knowing what has become of her and why she isn’t there to cuddle.
We will visit the shop up until the last Sunday they are open next month.
Kathleen Crisley, Fear-Free certified professional and specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and canine fitness, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Posted in Dogs
Tagged counterconditioning, desensitization, dog training, dogs, pets, reactivity, SPCA, SPCA Op Shop, Special Friends, volunteers
They can suffer from wheezing and struggling to breathe – and the new Companion Animal Protection Ordinance in Ojai, means the breeding of breathing impaired cats and dogs, like French bulldogs and Persian cats is banned.
“For so many of these animals, breathing through their nose is like trying to suck in air through a tiny straw,” explained Jakob Shaw, the manager of strategic initiatives at PETA.
The animal welfare organization welcomed the new law.
“Breeders are deliberately selecting for unhealthy and harmful traits in order to breed dogs with these unnatural features like the flat, smushed faces and corkscrew tails that French bulldogs have. This ordinance prevents breeders from purposefully breeding dogs to have bodies that don’t work,” said Shaw.
“I’m thrilled that Ojai is setting a new national standard for protecting dogs and cats from being bred to suffer. Our companion animals are cherished members of our families and our communities, so I hope that this inspires other cities around the country to adopt Companion Animal Protection Ordinances of their own,” said Ojai Mayor Betsy Stix.
A recent study revealed that some of the most common Breathing Impaired canines have the shortest life expectancies of companion dog breeds. Shaw said that French bulldogs – who have been the most popular dog in the U.S. for the past two years – have an especially low life expectancy of only 4.5 years due in large part to their deformed, smushed-in faces. A number of countries—including Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway—have banned or restricted the breeding of some or all BIBs.
Ojai City Council has previously passed ordinances recognizing the bodily rights of elephants and banning the use and sale of glue traps for rodents.
Source: KCLU
The Pet Advocacy Network has released this media statement opposing the ban:
On Tuesday night, Ojai Mayor Betsy Stix and the Ojai City Council in California voted to adopt a misguided new law—the Companion Animal Protection Ordinance—making it the first city to ban the breeding of a wide range of cherished dog and cat breeds.
Concerningly, the Council ignored input from citizens who spoke out against the bill at a public hearing earlier this month and didn’t appear to consult any experts with real-life experience breeding pets. Instead, the Council took months of input from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which has argued against breeding and pet ownership entirely, saying, “it would have been in the animals’ best interests if the institution of ‘pet keeping’—i.e., breeding animals to be kept and regarded as ‘pets’—never existed.”
The sweeping legislation outlines 19 different categories of “congenital anatomical features”—ranging from “excessive skin folds” to certain snout lengths—as grounds for a ban. Impacted breeds include beloved French Bulldogs, Pugs, Dachshunds, Corgis, Shar-Peis, Mastiffs, Persian cats, and more.
The Pet Advocacy Network (PAN), which advocates for the responsible pet care community at all levels of government, is speaking out against the law, characterizing it as an attempt to ban purebred dogs in general.
“This law is an outrageous overreach that insults responsible pet owners and breeders and takes away their freedom to choose their ideal cat or dog,” said Mike Bober, president and CEO of PAN. “The legislation flies in the face of veterinary science showing that these breeds lead happy, healthy lives with loving families when bred responsibly.
“Historical records show some of these species, including Shar-Peis and Tibetan Mastiffs, are ancient breeds that have existed in their current form for thousands of years,” he added. “We should celebrate these incredible animals, not outlaw them.”
The Pet Advocacy Network connects the experience and expertise of the responsible pet care community to lawmakers and governing bodies, advocating for legislative and regulatory priorities at the local, state, federal and international levels. Since 1971, the organization has worked to promote animal well-being and responsible pet ownership, foster environmental stewardship, and ensure access to healthy pets, including small animals, cats, dogs, fish, reptiles, and birds. Pet Advocacy Network members include retailers, companion animal suppliers, manufacturers, wholesale distributors, manufacturers’ representatives, pet hobbyists, and other trade organizations. To learn more, visit www.PetAdvocacy.org.
Posted in animal welfare, dog breeds, Dogs
Tagged bracycephalic breeds, breed bans, breeding, cats, Dog, dog breeds, dogs, French Bulldog, Ojai, PETA, pets
Dogs with inflammatory bowel disease (technical name, chronic enteropathy) often exhibit a deficiency in Vitamin B12. The treatment for this has typically been parenteral (injections) of cobalamin. These injections are painful and I can speak from personal experience with my greyhound, Sox, that subjecting the dog to painful injections is a good way of making them fearful of vet visits. So, it is nice to see that there has been a study about whether oral supplementation can be just as effective as the injectable form. (Spoiler alert: it is)
IBD can often be a challenging condition to manage: finding foods that the dog tolerates and managing other stressors can be easier said than done. Every dog is different, so what works for one may not for another. If you are located in New Zealand, I have started a Canine IBD support group. We originally met in video calls but I have now placed the group on Facebook. This group discusses products and services that you can access in NZ; many online support groups mention products that are not available here.
Kathleen Crisley is Fear-Free certified dog massage therapist and canine fitness trainer. She has a particular passion for working with dogs and their families to ensure injury prevention and quality of life. She specialises in working with anxious and emotionally damaged dogs. Her mobile practice, The Balanced Dog, is based in Christchurch, New Zealand
Cobalamin (ie, vitamin B12) is an important intracellular cofactor. Hypocobalaminemia can result in cellular cobalamin deficiency that leads to increased methylmalonic acid (MMA) concentrations, is identified in 19% to 38% of dogs with chronic enteropathy (CE), and warrants cobalamin supplementation.1-3 Parenteral administration of cyanocobalamin has been the main method of supplementation; however, recent studies have shown similar efficacy of oral and parenteral supplementation for achieving normal serum cobalamin and/or MMA concentrations.4-6
This prospective studya was designed to evaluate tolerance and efficacy of oral versus parenteral cyanocobalamin supplementation for normalizing serum cobalamin concentrations in client-owned hypocobalaminemic (<250 pg/mL; reference interval, 240-590 pg/mL) dogs with clinical signs of CE, including subgroups of dogs with protein-losing enteropathy, severe CE (based on canine inflammatory bowel disease activity index [CIBDAI] scores >9), or moderate to severe hypocobalaminemia (<200 pg/mL). Dogs (n = 37) at 3 referral centers were randomly assigned to receive oral (capsules every 24 hours for 12 weeks) or parenteral (SC injections weekly for 6 weeks with 1 additional injection 4 weeks later) cobalamin. Serum cobalamin and CIBDAI scores were assessed at inclusion, week 7, and week 13. Serum MMA concentration was measured at inclusion and week 13. Owners completed a questionnaire on treatment adherence, palatability (oral supplementation group only), tolerance, and satisfaction at week 13.
Nineteen dogs (11/18 in the oral treatment group and 8/19 in the parenteral treatment group) completed the study. All dogs in the oral treatment group and 7 dogs in the parenteral treatment group had normalized or increased serum cobalamin concentrations at weeks 7 and 13. No significant difference in serum cobalamin concentration between treatment groups was identified at week 13, regardless of presence of protein-losing enteropathy, severity of hypocobalaminemia, and CIBDAI score at inclusion. In addition, no significant differences in serum MMA concentrations, treatment adherence, satisfaction, or tolerance scores were identified between treatment groups at week 13.
Key pearls to put into practice:
a This study was partially funded by ADM Protexin.
Journal reference: Dor C, Nixon S, Schmitz SS, et al. Efficacy and tolerance of oral versus parenteral cyanocobalamin supplement in hypocobalaminaemic dogs with chronic enteropathy: a controlled randomised open-label trial. J Small Anim Pract. 2024;65(5):317-328. doi:10.1111/jsap.13705
Source: Clinician’s Brief
Earlier today, an acquaintance asked me to “Name 3 things you cannot live without.”
Not surprisingly, #1 just flowed off my tongue – My Dog.
Kathleen Crisley, Fear-Free certified professional and specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and canine fitness, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand.
“Animals are such agreeable friends; they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.”
– George Eliot, English novelist and poet
Sox has three special teddies. They are (from left to right):
Cuddle Teddy is special. I found him in a giveaway box at a local op shop shortly after adopting Sox. Sox had plenty of toys, but all were hand-me-downs from previous dogs. I felt he needed his own teddy. Since then, Sox will gently mouth Cuddle Teddy and sleeps with him on the couch. He has never shown any inclination to tear or rip Cuddle Teddy and, when Cuddle Teddy gets grey from all the saliva and mouthing, I will give him a wash. This upsets Sox very much and he will throw Cuddle Teddy around in the hope of getting him to smell better.
Chewing Teddy, as the name suggests, is the teddy that is the target of Sox’s hunting skills. Chewing Teddy has been re-stuffed and gutted many times. Always a favourite, although he looks worse for wear.
Which brings me to Play Teddy. As Chewing Teddy was getting very worn, I decided it might be time to head to the op shop for a new toy. Play Teddy’s nose was ripped off immediately but, unlike Chewing Teddy, Play Teddy is largely staying in one piece. He gets played with most nights after dinner.
What makes Sox choose one toy over another? Why is Cuddle Teddy so precious? I have pondered these questions for some time.
Remembering that dogs have the sentience of a two-year old child, I think Cuddle Teddy came at a particularly important time in Sox’s life as a pet. A toy that did not smell of previous dogs and which he could make his own.
I read once that ‘familiarity brings security.’ When a nervous child starts school, for example, they may take a favoured toy with them for security. My working theory is that Cuddle Teddy is Sox’s version of a security blanket. (Although I will keep washing teddy when he is ‘ripe’ as he looks much better on the sofa without his fur sticking together and with a dingy grey colour.)
What’s the future for Chewing Teddy and Play Teddy? Who knows? That is for Sox to decide. The degree of control that we give our dogs is something called agency – and sentient creatures deserve the opportunity to have choice.
Sox continues to mature as a pet since being adopted in March 2022; but judging by the last 2+ years, Cuddle Teddy seems almost certain to go the distance.
Kathleen Crisley, Fear-Free certified professional and specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and canine fitness, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Posted in animal welfare, dog care, dog ownership, Dogs
Tagged agency, choice, Dog, favorite toys, favourite toys, freedom of choice, pets, playing favorites, security blanket, teddy bear, teddy bears, toys
Therapy dogs can help boost the spirits of healthcare workers in the same way they brighten the moods of hospital patients, a new study shows.
The furry, four-legged friends reduced emotional exhaustion and job stress among a small group of workers at two surgical and two intensive care units in the Midwest, researchers report.
“We brought the dogs to the units and many times we had staff in tears sitting with the dogs, telling them about their day,” said lead investigator Beth Steinberg, a senior researcher with Ohio State University’s Center for Integrative Health.
“For the most part, people have an affinity to a non-judgmental, warm, furry animal that can come and just sit with them and listen,” Steinberg said in a university news release. “Dogs don’t care what you look like, how you’re feeling that day; they just know that when you need them, they’re there.”
Steinberg is co-founder of Buckeye Paws, a therapy dog program initially aimed at improving the mental and emotional health of staff at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Buckeye Paws launched in March 2020, shortly before the pandemic began taking its toll on overtaxed health professionals.
To see whether the program is making a difference, researchers focused therapy dog sessions with a group of 64 health care workers. The group included doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, respiratory and rehabilitation therapists, patient care associates and unit clerks.
“The recruitment for this study was incredibly easy because as soon as you said, ‘We’re going to do a study assessing your response to therapy dog interaction,’ people were like, ‘I’m in!’” Steinberg said. “Even before COVID-19 hit hospitals so hard, the staff were already struggling with stress, burnout, lack of work engagement.”
Buckeye Paws handlers — all hospital employees who volunteered their time — brought in seven certified therapy dogs three times a week for eight weeks. The study ran from October 2021 to March 2022.
“There was free interaction with the dogs that people could spend as much or as little time as they wanted with the dogs,” Steinberg said. “Prior to their interactions, we asked them to fill out a basic 1 to 10 mood scale. And then, after the interaction, they did that again.”
Most interactions were brief, just a few minutes between a dog and a health care worker at a clinical workstation or in a team room or break room.
But results showed the brief sessions made a big impact.
Many study participants reported an immediate decrease in feelings of stress, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and burnout.
“Our findings suggest that an animal-assisted activity, available for healthcare workers within busy inpatient settings, may offer immediate benefits through improved mood,” researchers concluded in their report, which was published recently in the International Journal of Complementary & Alternative Medicine.
Buckeye Paws expanded in March 2022, and now provides therapy dog assistance to students, faculty and staff at Ohio State University. There are now 29 dog-handler teams in the program, with another 11 teams going under training and eight more beginning the process, researchers said.
Source: Newsmax
Posted in Dogs, special dogs and awards
Tagged complementary medicine, Dog, dogs, healthcare workers, mental-health, stress, therapy dogs
DoggyMom.com 