As I work with clients, I try hard to use terms and definitions that they will understand. Every now and again, I get caught out and slip into the use of anatomy terms that many dog owners just don’t know about.
This week, it was the pastern.
The pastern is the area of the leg that is below the wrist (or carpus) on the front legs but above the foot. On the hind legs, the pastern is the area of leg below the heel (hock) but above the foot.
In the United States, the big holiday of Halloween is approaching. For this holiday and for others like Christmas and New Year, some dog owners may be tempted to dress up their dog in costume.
Did you know that there are no safety requirements for dog costumes? Netting, sequins, wire, and elastic which are found on many costumes pose a choking hazard. If ingested, these items can cause bowel obstructions. In addition, a dog who runs away for any reason can get caught up in bushes and trees.
The lesson? If you want to dress up your dog, please ensure you are supervising them at all times!
The answer is ‘yes’ but the risk and mode of transmission is poorly understood.
Researchers at Oregon State University and Iowa State University are studying reverse zoonosis. This is where disease goes from human to animal (rather than animal to human). There are documented cases of H1N1 being transmitted to 13 cats and 1 dog in the 2011-2012 period.
The research team is looking for more cases of human to animal transmission so they can better understand the risks to public health. “It’s reasonable to assume there are many more cases of this than we know about, and we want to learn more,” researcher Christiane Loehr said. “Any time you have infection of a virus into a new species, it’s a concern, a black box of uncertainty. We don’t know for sure what the implications might be, but we do think this deserves more attention.”
Any new movement of a virus from one species to another is a concern because viruses mutate and they can mutate into more virulent or easily transmittable forms.
If you think you have the flu, it’s probably a good idea to respect good hygiene practices with everyone in the household and that means keeping your distance from your dog as well. And if someone in your household has been unwell with influenza and your dog is experiencing respiratory symptoms, a visit to your vet is recommended.
Researchers at Kansas State University are devoting their time to the study of improvements in pain management and the treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs. (For more information on pain management, see my June 2012 blog)
The projects are led by James Roush, a professor of clinical sciences.
In one study, the research team determined that the maximum effective time for using hot and cold packs for pain management is 10 minutes. The researchers studied how packing affects tissue temperature in beagles and beagle-sized dogs after surgery because hot and cold packing is a common technique for reducing swelling. After 10 minutes, the maximum change in tissue temperature has been reached.
In another study, a special mat is being used to study lameness in dogs suffering from osteoarthritis. When dogs step on the mat, it measures the pressure in their step and the study team can determine in which leg the lameness is worse.
“We’ve designed the study to help improve osteoarthritis treatment,” Roush said. “We will also use it to measure clinical patients when they come in for regular checkups. We can measure their recovery and a variety of other aspects: how they respond to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, how they respond to narcotics or how they respond to a surgical procedure that is designed to take that pressure off the joint.”
And in a third study, Roush is collaborating with researchers to study the effectiveness of a painkiller used to treat dogs to identify potential alternatives.
“To achieve the drug’s effect, the dosage in dogs is much higher than in people,” Roush said. “It also may not be a very good analgesic in dogs. We want to see if there is an alternative that requires smaller doses and does not have not as much of a discrepancy for patients.”
The week of 23 – 29 September is Deaf Pet Awareness Week.
In many cases, when a dog is found to be deaf, it is put to sleep. However, more frequently there are pet owners willing to take on these special needs animals. These dogs can be trained using sign language and are just as intelligent as ‘normal’ dogs.
Deafness in animals can be inherited or acquired through trauma, drug reactions, or simply old age. Dalmatians and Boxers are more prone to deafness than others. Thirty percent of all Dalmatians born are either deaf in one ear or bilaterally deaf. Some deaf dogs also have albinism, meaning that they lack normal melanin pigment in their eyes, nose, or skin. Owners of these dogs have to pay special attention to sun protection.
The Deaf Dog Education Action Fund has a wonderful website with answers to questions involving the ownership and care of deaf dogs.
Use this special week to contact animal shelters in your area to find out if there is a special deaf dog waiting for you!
The Auckland (New Zealand) Council is proposing to further restrict the ability of dog owners to exercise their dogs at the beach. This is a sad day for New Zealand and for New Zealand dog owners.
The bylaw will prohibit dogs on beaches from the Saturday of Labour Weekend (October) to March 31 during the hours of 10am till 6.30pm.
The Hibiscus and Bays local boards want the ban to end on March 1, which would allow dog owners 30 more days of usage of the beaches. As part of their submission, they showed the Council representatives a host of pictures of empty beaches during the month of March – challenging the notion that allowing dogs on the beaches would restrict the enjoyment and rights of other beach users.
Responsible dog owners of New Zealand – fight for your rights – otherwise, there are many people very willing to take those rights away from you!
Posted in dog care
Tagged Auckland Council, beach ban, empty beaches, responsible dog owner, responsible dog owners
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new kennel cough (bordetella) vaccine made by pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim that is administered orally.
Branded as Bronchi-Shield® ORAL, the vaccine is mixed in the vet’s office and placed in the dog’s mouth between the dog’s cheek and gum, an area known as the buccal cavity.
For dogs that don’t tolerate the intra-nasal form of vaccination, this form is likely to be an improvement.
Kennel cough has many strains and not all are considered bordetella. As with other kennel cough vaccinations, the vaccine does not prevent your dog from coming down with bordetella or any of the many infectious respiratory diseases. However, vaccination may help to reduce the severity of the illness if your dog does contract it and that allows for faster recovery.
Kennels in the United States report that the cost for this form of the vaccine is currently three times the cost of the traditional vaccine. That’s because the product is new and only one pharmaceutical company is manufacturing it. The price is likely to reduce over time as the vaccine becomes more widely used.
For more information about Bronchi-Shield® ORAL, visit the product website.
Research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine has been published which shows promise in treating dogs with a specific type of cancer.
Hemangiosarcoma is a type of cancer that can occur in any dog, but German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers seem to be the most prone to developing it. The cancer is an aggressive and malignant tumor of blood vessel cells. The most common area it affects is the spleen but can appear in the skin, other soft tissues and the liver. This is a type of cancer that is metastatic and it will frequently spread to other parts of the body.
In the study, 15 dogs were divided into three groups of 5 and given a different dose of a product called I’m-Yunity, which contains polysaccharopeptide or PSP. PSP is derived from Yunzhi mushrooms and appears to have an immune-boosting effect – it’s been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 2,000 years.
The findings?
‘We were shocked,’ says Professor Dorothy Cimino-Brown. ‘Prior to this, the longest reported median survival time of dogs with hemangiosarcoma of the spleen that underwent no further treatment was 86 days. We had dogs that lived beyond a year with nothing other than this mushroom as treatment.’
The treatment may offer a way for owners to extend the life of their pet and there were no adverse effects reported.
The researchers plan to study the effect of the compound further, using groups of candidates that are given a placebo, others which undergo chemotherapy, and other groups given the mushroom-based treatment.
The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine based at Tufts University in Grafton, Massachusetts has opened the first obesity clinic for pets in the United States.
Studies have suggested that up to 60 percent of dogs and cats are obese or overweight. However, a recent survey of client-owned animals at the Foster Hospital, one of the busiest teaching hospitals for pets in the US, suggests that that figure may be higher at 70 percent.
Dr Deborah Linder, who will oversee the clinic, says that the clinic will employ sound, research-proven principles in assisting pets to lose weight.
‘We hope to effect change in the obesity epidemic among companion animals.’
Source: Tufts University media statement
Today, 30 August 2012, is National Holistic Pet Day.
This is the day to celebrate all of the ways we can care for the ‘whole’ dog – their physiological health and their mental health.
As a canine massage therapist, I’m naturally a supporter of holistic approaches because I help treat dogs with acupressure, laser and massage therapies. I also help dogs with rehabilitation programmes, even measuring dogs for mobility carts when necessary. I also like to use bach flower remedies.
Here are a few ways to celebrate National Holistic Pet Day:
Whatever you do – enjoy National Holistic Pet Day together. The best thing you can give your dog is your time.
Kathleen Crisley, Fear-Free certified professional and specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in dog care
Tagged acupressure, bach flowers, dogs, holistic care, holistic medicine, homeopathic, laser, massage, mobility carts, National Holistic Pet Day, rehabilitation
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