Category Archives: dog care

Doggy pedicures?

Posted on August 16, 2013 | 2 comments

It’s important to keep your dog’s nails trimmed to avoid injury to their paws and general irritation. Some dog owners find that walking on urban/suburban pavements means that the only real concern is the dew claws. Other owners, such as those on lifestyle blocks and farms, find that their dogs need regular nail clipping.

But beyond that – do our dogs want/need pedicures?

I’m talking decorative colouring of the nails. Products like this one from Warren London – Pawdicure Pens – which decorate the nails in colours…

Pawdicure pens from Warren London come in a variety of colours

I love my dog and I love to include her in my daily life and activities. But would I colour her nails? Never!!! I think that is over to the top and exposes her to chemicals she doesn’t need. Looks like this one don’t excite me:

What do you think? Would you polish your dog’s nails in colours and designs? If so, why?

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Posted in dog care

Tagged dew claws, dog owners, nail clipping, nail polish, Pawdicure, Pawdicure pens, pawdicures, paws, pedicures, toe nails, Warren London

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Senior pets month

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Posted on August 13, 2013 in dog care

Tagged animals, blogpaws, cancer, dental health, obesity, senior pet month

The five freedoms

Posted on August 10, 2013 | 1 comment

Let’s go back to basics for a moment and think about our role as caregivers for our dogs. Every animal owner should understand the Five Freedoms which are an internationally recognised code for animal welfare.

Anyone responsible for looking after animals should aim to meet each of these freedoms.

1. Freedom from hunger and thirst

This means giving your dog adequate food and water to keep them healthy

2. Freedom from discomfort

All animals deserve adequate shelter and a place to rest

3. Freedom from pain, injury and disease

Owners should focus on keeping their animals safe from harm and, when they are sick, they should be taken for appropriate care without delay

4. Freedom to behave normally

This is about ensuring there is enough space for an animal to exhibit its normal behaviour including having opportunities to interact with others of its own kind

5. Freedom from fear and distress

Treatment should ensure that animals are not distressed or fearful, exhibiting good mental health

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Posted in animal welfare, dog care

Tagged animal care, behaviour, discomfort, disease, distress, fear, five freedoms, food, hunger, medical care, shelter, thirst, welfare

The search for quality (a tale of recalls and safety concerns)

Posted on August 9, 2013 | Leave a comment

Well, it’s happened again. Another range of pet treats is the subject of a recall. This time it’s Dogswell treats by Arthur Dogswell LLC.

Chicken Breast and Duck Breast jerky under the Breathies, Happy Heart, Happy Hips, Mellow Mut, Shape Up, Veggie Life, Vitality and Vitakitty brands with a best before date of Jan 28, 2015 are affected

These treats are being recalled because product testing by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets found traces of an antibiotic that is not approved for use in the United States.

The company says that since January of this year, they have new testing procedures in-house to ensure that their chicken and duck ingredients don’t contain antibiotics – so clearly there was a risk identified which motivated them to make a business decision to invest in the new testing!

Because animal feed products are going to ‘just animals’ there’s a real tendency of the markets and businesses involved to buy sub-standard and cheap ingredients. (Don’t forget the melamine scandal of 2007 and how many brands were involved.)

Supply chain management is so important. That’s about businesses knowing the source of each and every ingredient in their product – with contractual obligations on those suppliers to meet quality standards. My advice is if you are considering a food product for your dog, you should enquire with the manufacturer about the source of their ingredients before buying. If the information isn’t on the label, you need to contact the manufacturer through their website.

If the manufacturer doesn’t have a website or another avenue for customer enquiries – AVOID, AVOID, AVOID their product. Always get the information on the ingredients of their product in writing (usually via email).

One of the reasons I started Canine Catering was to have greater control over the ingredients in dog treats. These products tend to remain on shelves for much longer than other foods and their countries of origin often have dubious reputations for supply chain management. The amount of preservatives is often staggering.

I like to use human grade ingredients in the first instance, as a major step for quality control. I still read labels even on human grade food.

Accidents happen. But haven’t we had enough accidents in the pet food industry? Consumer choice drives change. Make sure you exercise your power as a consumer by buying quality products for your dog.

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Posted in dog care, dog nutrition and labelling, Dogs

Tagged antibiotics, dog treats, Dogswell, pet food recall, recall

The State of Pet Health in 2013 – The Banfield Report

Posted on August 5, 2013 | Leave a comment

As most of my regular readers know, I’m passionate about holistic health for our dogs. It helps, though, when we have statistics like the Banfield State of Pet Health Report 2013 to show us the ailments that are more common. In this report, we see that obesity and dental health are 2 major problems.

So ask yourself honestly – is my dog a bit heavier than he/she should be? Is the dog’s bad breath a sign of something more sinister? Through my practice, I can help dogs with both conditions (plus others, like arthritis).

Get in touch!

No Dog About It Blog

Last year, I shared a summary of Banfield Pet Hospital’s 2012 report on the state of pet health in America. The report was full of interesting information on the common ailments and diseases they see in the cats and dogs who visit their hospitals. It also called out a disturbing trend being seen in both types of pets – an increase in pet obesity.

In their 2013 State of Pet Health Report, Banfield shares even more interesting information on the average lifespan of pets and some frequently occurring themes (also seen in the 2012 report). This year’s report provides pet owners and veterinarians with even greater insight into the health of all our pets and where we should be focusing our attention.

Here is a summary of some of the more interesting findings:

Toy or smaller breed dogs live 41% longer than large breed dogs.
Large breeds reach their senior…

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Posted in dog care

Tagged arthritis, Banfield State of Pet Health, dental health, obesity prevention, obesity problem, pet obesity

Old dogs and quality of life

Posted on July 28, 2013 | Leave a comment

As our dogs age, we have to face the fact that they are likely to have special needs and health concerns that need following up on. In my massage and rehab practice, I see a lot of older dogs and most still enjoy life. Some need some help getting around, which may be having some ramps installed around the house or perhaps they need a wheelchair for getting outside.

The important thing about older dogs is creating a life for them that accommodates any limitations they have.

For owners, it is important to work with your healthcare team on what constitutes ‘quality of life.’ Some questions to consider in a quality of life assessment are:

Is your dog eating and drinking normally?
Is your dog ambulatory?
Does your dog have normal elimination habits and are they continent?
Does your dog interact with other people or animals in the household?
Has your dog secluded itself in an area of the house on a regular basis?
On balance, does your dog have more good days than bad?

Dogs often surprise us with their acceptance of physical limitations, but it is up to us to monitor their quality of life.

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Posted in dog care

Tagged geriatrics, older dogs, palliative care, quality of life, quality of life assessments

Cleaning your dog’s ears

Posted on July 27, 2013 | 1 comment

Bath time in our house is combined with a check of Daisy’s ears and teeth. It makes sense when she’s already in the tub (and usually, looking pretty miserable)…

When I adopted Daisy, she came down with an ear infection with days of arriving (her immune system was depressed – she’d just finished weaning her sole surviving puppy, and she was recovering from a cesarean section). At that time, I purchased a commercial ear cleaner from the vet.

Since then, however, I’ve refilled the bottle with my own mixture of cider vinegar and water. It’s easy: 50% vinegar to 50% water.

I never (and I mean never) introduce the liquid into Daisy’s ears. I apply the solution with a soft wash cloth that is wrapped around my finger to clean around the ear.

This video produced by VetVid is a good explanation of how to clean your dog’s ears.

Do you check your dog’s ears regularly? What ear cleaning solution do you use?

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Posted in dog care

Tagged bath, cider vinegar, ear cleaning, grooming, vinegar, water

Using dog hair for diagnosis

Posted on July 20, 2013 | Leave a comment

Dog hair is used to diagnose hyperadrenocorticism (Photo: Ouschan/Vetmeduni Vienna)

Many dogs suffer from hyperadrenocorticism, more commonly known as Cushing’s Disease. The disease is characterised by excessive amounts of hormones known as glucocorticoids that are produced by the adrenal glands. The disease is more common in older dogs. Most cases result from a tumour in the pituitary gland but some are caused by tumours in the adrenal glands.

The symptoms of a dog with Cushing’s Disease often ‘creep up’ on the owner and vet. Common symptoms include excessive drinking (and urination) and overeating, leading to a pot-bellied appearance, as well as with loss of hair. Since all of these symptoms can stem from a number of disorders, it is difficult to be certain. The methods traditionally used to diagnose the disease are complicated and costly and usually give information about the hormone concentrations at the time a sample is taken. Since most dogs are stressed by veterinary examinations, their hormone levels will peak because of the stress – making it difficult to rely on the analytical results.

Researcher Claudia Ouschan and colleagues at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna decided to look for a way to monitor the long-term levels of glucocorticoids in dog hair that would also offer a diagnostic option that was less stressful to the dogs. She compared the levels of cortisol, corticosterone and cortisone in the hair of twelve dogs with hyperadrenocorticism and ten healthy dogs. The results were striking: all three hormones were found at far higher levels in the hair of dogs with Cushing’s Disease than in the control group, with the increase in cortisol particularly pronounced.

She concludes, ‘we think it (our findings) have real promise for use as a rapid and non-invasive method to diagnose hyperadrenocorticism.’

Her research has been published in the journal Veterinary Dermatology.

Source: University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna media statement

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Posted in dog care

Tagged adrenal glands, cortisol, Cushing's Disease, diagnosis, dog hair, fur, glucocorticoids, health, hyperadrenocorticism, science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Dermatology, veterinary medicine vienna, Vienna

Joint supplements

Posted on July 20, 2013 | Leave a comment

I get a lot of questions about supplements from dog owners whose dogs are aging and entering ‘the senior years.’

Three of the main supplements for joint support are glucosamine, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid.

Hyaluronic acid, or hyaluronan, is a major component in synovial fluid and has been found to increase the viscosity of the fluid. In older dogs, the synovial fluid becomes thinner and less able to support the joints. Originally given in injectable form, increasingly hyaluronic acid is found in oral supplements.

Glucosamine is naturally produced in the body and is a constituent of synovial fluid and cartilage, both of which help to support and stabilise the joints. Glucosamine is made of a sugar and an amino acid and is involved with the body’s production of joint lubricants and shock absorption necessary to maintain healthy cartilage and joint function.

Glucosamine sulfate is also one of the building blocks of articular cartilage and it aids in the rebuilding of damaged cartilage. Glucosamine sulfate is also involved in the formation of nails, skin, eyes, tendons, bone and ligaments.

Glucosamine supplementation enhances the body’s ability to manufacture collagen and proteoglycans, which are essential for rebuilding joints and supporting synovial fluid. Glucosamine in the sulfate form seems to be absorbed best by the body.

Chondroitin, or more appropriately chondroitin sulphate, is usually found in supplements containing glucosamine. Chondroitin sulfate may actually help the body to repair damaged cartilage and help restore joint integrity. It may also protect existing cartilage from premature breakdown as well as keep cartilage tissue hydrated and assist in cushioning impact stress.

If considering giving your dog a joint supplement, it pays to discuss dosage with your veterinarian or complementary health professional. Some dog food brands are adding glucosamine and chondroitin to foods and so supplementation dosage has to be considered in light of this.

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand

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Posted in dog care

Tagged cartilage tissue, chondroitin, glucosamine, glucosamine and chondroitin, glucosamine chondroitin, glucosamine supplementation, hyaluronic acid, joint supplements

Help! Needham needs a dog park

Posted on July 13, 2013 | Leave a comment

Needham, Massachusetts doesn’t have a dedicated facility where dogs can run and exercise off-leash. For a town that is home to approximately 3,000 registered dogs, it’s a real shame.

Thankfully, a group of dedicated owners led by Mike Verdun and Bill Paulson are hoping to change that. They and a group of about 10 other passionate dog owners have located a suitable site, the Nike Site, next to Ridge Hill Reservation. The group is now fundraising to establish the park.

$25,000 is needed to establish the facility; the bulk of the money is needed for the fencing, combined with signage and a wood chip base. Double gates will ensure that dogs are kept safe as they enter and exit the park.

‘We’ve talked to other communities in Massachusetts that already have dog park facilities,’ says Bill. ‘We’re confident in our design.’

So far, the group has raised $3,500 – so there’s still a long way to go. If you and your dog benefit from off-leash exercise in your community, maybe you can consider making a small donation to help the dogs of Needham be rewarded with their own dog park.

The Needham Dog Park donation form has all of the instructions you need. And you can follow progress via the Needham Dog Lovers Facebook page.

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Posted in dog care

Tagged dog park, fundraising, Massachusetts, Needham, off-lead exercise, off-leash exercise