THOSE WORRYING WARTS ON YOUR DOG AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM. 

Many  concerned people have asked my opinion about a lump they have found on their dog. Since this is always a worrying subject, I thought I would tell you about warts.  Yukky little things that look awful and in 80% of time, they turn out to be non malignant. But how does anyone except a vet know that? There are ways to find out if a wart is malignant or benign.

Usually  it is the older dogs that get warty. Poor dogs, as if the loss of hair, deafness and loss of muscle strength isn't enough for them to deal with. Warts can be itchy little things and often the dog has a scratch and makes it bleed.  My way of finding out if a wart is benign or malignant is to press down gently in a circular movement. If it moves around, it is benign.

I treat the warts on my 14 year old dog by puncturing a vitamin E capsule directly onto the wart, every day for one month until it softens completely and almost disappears.

I also give her the homeopathic remedy - Thuja  12c or 30c (pronounced Thuya). Two tablets twice a day in her food, works well in reducing the wart and preventing new ones from growing. The longer you keep up this treatment, the better.

Dog Warts Defined

Benign Dog Wart

A dog wart is the singular form of papillomas, meaning only one visible bump in an isolated area.
Warts usually occur on the aging skin of older dogs -- as if the loss of hair and muscle strength weren't enough for them to deal with! They can also be more of a problem in breeds that need to be groomed (clippers may cut the wart and cause bleeding).
Dog warts can also trigger an 'itch' response, making the dog lick or scratch the area which also makes it bleed or get infected.

Benign Dog Wart

In homeopathy, warts are commonly associated with over-vaccination.
Their appearance will let you know if they are benign (non-cancerous) or cancerous.
- See more at: http://www.organic-pet-digest.com/dog-warts.html#sthash.eXWMrGL1.dpuf

Dog Warts Defined

Benign Dog Wart

A dog wart is the singular form of papillomas, meaning only one visible bump in an isolated area.
Warts usually occur on the aging skin of older dogs -- as if the loss of hair and muscle strength weren't enough for them to deal with! They can also be more of a problem in breeds that need to be groomed (clippers may cut the wart and cause bleeding).
Dog warts can also trigger an 'itch' response, making the dog lick or scratch the area which also makes it bleed or get infected.

Benign Dog Wart

In homeopathy, warts are commonly associated with over-vaccination.
Their appearance will let you know if they are benign (non-cancerous) or cancerous.
- See more at: http://www.organic-pet-digest.com/dog-warts.html#sthash.eXWMrGL1.dpuf

Dog Warts Defined

Benign Dog Wart

A dog wart is the singular form of papillomas, meaning only one visible bump in an isolated area.
Warts usually occur on the aging skin of older dogs -- as if the loss of hair and muscle strength weren't enough for them to deal with! They can also be more of a problem in breeds that need to be groomed (clippers may cut the wart and cause bleeding).
Dog warts can also trigger an 'itch' response, making the dog lick or scratch the area which also makes it bleed or get infected.

Benign Dog Wart

In homeopathy, warts are commonly associated with over-vaccination.
Their appearance will let you know if they are benign (non-cancerous) or cancerous.
- See more at: http://www.organic-pet-digest.com/dog-warts.html#sthash.eXWMrGL1.dpuf

Dog Warts Defined

Benign Dog Wart

A dog wart is the singular form of papillomas, meaning only one visible bump in an isolated area.
Warts usually occur on the aging skin of older dogs -- as if the loss of hair and muscle strength weren't enough for them to
- See more at: http://www.organic-pet-digest.com/dog-warts.html#sthash.yBUtiwUr.dpuf

Dog Warts Defined

Benign Dog Wart

A dog wart is the singular form of papillomas, meaning only one visible bump in an isolated area.
Warts usually occur on the aging skin of older dogs -- as if the loss of hair and muscle strength weren't enough for them to
- See more at: http://www.organic-pet-digest.com/dog-warts.html#sthash.yBUtiwUr.dpuf

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Dog Warts : Types & Treatments

Dog warts are pesky yet painless bumps that dogs can develop on various parts of your dog's body.
Even though warts are relatively harmless, it is important that they are diagnosed and observed to prevent any cancerous growths.

• What is a dog wart?
• Warts vs. papillomas
• Holistic treatments & dog wart removal

Dog Warts Defined

Benign Dog Wart

A dog wart is the singular form of papillomas, meaning only one visible bump in an isolated area.
Warts usually occur on the aging skin of older dogs -- as if the loss of hair and muscle strength weren't enough for them to deal with! They can also be more of a problem in breeds that need to be groomed (clippers may cut the wart and cause bleeding).
Dog warts can also trigger an 'itch' response, making the dog lick or scratch the area which also makes it bleed or get infected.

Benign Dog Wart

In homeopathy, warts are commonly associated with over-vaccination.
Their appearance will let you know if they are benign (non-cancerous) or cancerous.
There are three common appearances of dog warts:

1. Small, skin colored, resembling a mushroom on a stalk or a tiny finger. These common warts are benign and nothing to worry about, as long as they remain the same size and shape. It is still a good idea to have the dog wart examined by your veterinarian.

2. If that small, mushroom like wart begins to grow in size and ulcerate, your dog could have a problem. Have the wart diagnosed by your veterinarian, who may have it removed.

3. Warts with dark areas that are growing on the eyelid or around the lips could be malignant melanoma (potentially fatal skin cancer). These should be checked by your vet and removed immediately.

- See more at: http://www.organic-pet-digest.com/dog-warts.html#sthash.ONbk5zd6.dpuf

This 'n that ............
Things that you realise as you get older
By the time you've finished reading this month's blog, you will be about 2 minutes and 37 seconds older.  But while I still have your attention, here's my list of things that will make you realise that you've grown up:

1. Dumbo is still a brilliant film. That tear jerking moment when Mummy holds and rocks Dumbo through the prison cell bars while singing "Oh! Baby mine!"
2. Titanic? Not so much.
3. The effort involved in preparing, cooking and clearing up after a Sunday roast isn't worth it.
4. Being a tester of a rectal thermometer probably isn't the best job in the world.
5. The word 'fine' has many different and complex meanings when used in response to the question 'how are you?'.
6. Being told by someone that you you're 'showing off' isn't the most embarrassing thing anyone can say to you.
7. Burping loudly after drinking a can of Cocoa cola on the tube isn't the most embarrassing thing you can do.
8. There are more pleasurable things in life than peeling dried PVA glue off your fingers.
9. One of the most satisfying and mindless things in the world is popping bubble wrap. 
10.Changing into your pyjamas at 6 pm is really indulgent but wonderful.

                Christmas is only 16 days away.  Aaaaaaaaargh! Time to get your act together.

Here is a wonderful clip of skipping dogs, all looking as though they are having a wonderful time.

                                                      That's it until my next blog in 2015.
                                                  Have a good Christmas and New Year everyone!
                                                  Try not to kill each other by Boxing Day.

                                                                        Dawn (".")

ARE YOU WORRYING THAT YOUR DOG COULD GET EBOLA?

Aren't the media doing a great job in whipping up hysteria and fear.  Each day you turn on the news and you hear and read the latest frightening statistics about the 2014 African Ebola epidemic. WHO (World Health Organization) predicts that before it is contained, 20,000 people will have been infected and it will cost many million dollars to fight this outbreak. To date there is no cure, but there are promising new treatments and vaccines being developed to battle the disease that was first identified in 1976.

Can your dog get and transmit EBola?

Er! Im afraid the answer is Yes. 

However,  don't panic, because in the UK and areas of the world not contiguous to the affected countries in central Africa, the chances of  your dog contracting Ebola are extremely nil.

The virus is spread mainly in the current prevalent areas where the lifestyle is far different from ours. There is no known source of infection outside of affected areas in Africa. In our country, and most countries with more stringent rules concerning food production and sanitation, our pets can be protected as effectively as we are from this type of catastrophic disease.

What Is Ebola?

According to the World Health Organisation, Ebola is a virus or group of viruses that originated in central Africa, possibly in birds. The main reservoire for the virus is thought to be African fruit bats.
The symptoms could easily be mistaken for influenza. The victims suffer headaches, muscle and joint pains, fever, sore throat, 'the runs', vomiting and in extreme cases, it progresses to kidney failure and the hemorrhaging stage when the victim begins bleeding internally and externally.


What Creatures Are at Risk For Ebola Infection?

Ebola is a zoonotic (good word, that!) disease, which means it can be passed between species. The most adversely affected group is primates, including gorillas, chimpanzees, monkeys and humans. Other animals known to have been naturally infected are the African fruit bats, antelope, porcupines, rodents, pigs and  sometimes dogs. Cats don't seem to be infected. Among primates and humans, the disease is 50 to 90% fatal.

How Is Ebola Spread?

Ebola is spread in several ways. An important study done by infectious disease experts and veterinarians following the 2001-2002 Ebola outbreak, concluded that consumption of infected meat was one avenue. Gorillas and other primates kill and eat infected animals. African hunters trade in "bush meat" and people from many parts of Africa and Asia smuggle bush meat into their luggage and bring it to the UK. These are the people who are most at risk of getting infected. ebola is spread amongst humans by direct contact of kissing mouth to mouth, sex, body fluids such as urine, saliva, vomit, feces, semen and blood, open cuts and sores from infected individuals.
Objects such as needles may also be contaminated with infected fluids.

You cannot catch EBola by shaking someone's hand unless you have a cut on yours.  Nor can you catch the virus from a door handle,  stair bannisters or by standing near them just because they came from Sierra Leone or other parts of Africa.
      
How Do Dogs Get Ebola?

Information on the  DEFRA website assures us that Ebola among dogs in the UK is non existent. However, dogs and other animals can pick up Ebola from consuming infected meat and by direct contact with infectious fluids such as urine and poo.

 In many parts of Africa, dogs are kept as pets and for hunting. Because they are  not properly fed as they are in the western world, they scavenge and ingest infected meat or residue from infected people. The very detailed Centre for Contagious Diseases study found evidence of infection in dogs by testing hundreds of blood samples for antibodies.

The Centre for Contagious Diseases concluded that infected dogs are asymptomatic (do not develop symptoms) from Ebola. During the initial time of their infection, dogs can spread the disease to humans and other animals through licking, biting, grooming, saliva, tears, urine, and feces. However, once the virus is cleared from the dog it is no longer contagious. Dogs do not die from Ebola infections, but they can pass on flu-like symptoms to humans.

Just so that you know .......

When dogs dig after pooing,  they’re not burying anything – they’re marking their territory - using scent glands in their paws. So the next time your dog scatters earth and debris all over your shoes, its a way of saying "I woz here first, mate!"

And now on to something more cheereful to appease my cat owning friends..........

Until the next blog, enjoy scuffing through the dead leaves, looking at the changing colours on the trees and wearing woolly socks in the evening.

                                                                 Dawn (..)

TIPS ON COPING WITH THE CANINE TEENAGER FROM HELL!

In last month's blog I told you how to cope with a new puppy and warned you that when it reaches 6 months, it becomes the teenager from hell.  Here are some pointers on what to expect from your teenage dog.

Coping with your dog’s adolescent phase
If you have been really pleased so far with your well-behaved, house-trained, polite, well-socialised puppy, then canine adolescence will come as a bit of a shock.

After all the hard work you’ve put into your puppy’s training, your dog’s adolescent behaviour will have you tearing out your hair and you will be at the end of your tether.  Suddenly that cute, cuddly puppy becomes the teenager from hell. Even when adults some of them behave like teens.  Rather like humans really!
Instinct is telling your dog it’s time to get out and about,  to start showing off, to leave their scent everywhere and see off competition. Your challenge is to allow your dog some freedom without getting into too many uncomfortable situations with other dogs and their owners.

When will my puppy go through adolescence?
Puppies mature very quickly, and the smaller the breed, the faster they reach maturity. In small breeds, adolescence can start as early as 5 months. In larger breeds it can start as late as 9 or 10 months, and very large breeds might not go through adolescence until 12-18 months.
Depending on the size of your puppy’s breed, adolescence will last for between a few months and a year. Once dogs reach maturity, their rate of ageing slows down. Despite the “seven years” myth, older dogs age at the rate of about four dog years for every human year.

Recognising adolescence in your dog
When your dog reaches adolescence, you will see some or all of the following behaviours:
·  aggression  ( males - because he still has his 'wobbly bits' and needs to flex his manhood)
·  bouncing off the walls with excessive energy
·  very short attention span; bored and whingey for no reason
.  selective deafness
·  poor socialisation
·  disobedience
·  wandering
·  leg cocking when visiting other people's homes (males)
·  obsessive mounting behaviour.
.  jumping up on strangers
.  barking excessively at anything and everything that takes his fancy
.  chasing joggers/cyclists/birds/squirrels/anyone terrified of dogs
. snarling aggressive behaviour while on the lead and towards the owners
. pit bull tendencies towards any other dog minding its own business
. boredom in the early hours of the morning
. chewing on furniture, carpets, mats and anything else they can find

Be aware that when he/she is disobedient and does that dodging away from you routine, they think it's all a good game.  The more you shout "Come here now!", scream and chase, the worse their behaviour will be.  In this situation,  simply grit your teeth and walk away shouting "Bye!"  They will soon rush back to you. And yes! they will definitely come back because, above all else, you are the one that dishes out the food and treats.

Ritual fighting
When adolescent dogs challenge each other, a scuffle is almost inevitable. This can be very scary as many times the other dog will cause some sort of injury to yours.  Other dogs standing nearby will join the fray with much yapping and barking. Its the old "I'll-hold-your-coat-while-you-hit-him!Go-on-whack-him-one-bite-him-in-the-goolies" scenario. They won't join in but the noise will terrify you and bystanders, who will think that World Ward 4 has broken out. Once one dog has established itself as ‘top dog’, the fight is usually over in seconds. And part of adolescence is learning the rules. So you don’t need to keep your adolescent totally apart from other dogs –  if you do that,  they will simply grow up frustrated and poorly socialised. (Properly socialised puppies will “mock bite” without causing injury).
Tip
Should you get into a situation where two dogs are snarling and snapping and look like they are going to tear each other apart,  don't put your hand in the fray to pull them apart. You will get bitten. Simply yank your dog's tail or the other dog's tail. This is enough to stop the fight because they have been distracted. Another tip is to throw a jumper, cloth or coat over the head of one of them.  End of ruckus!

Intensify the training
Adolescence doesn't last forever, thank god!
Right now, it’s essential to keep working on every aspect of your dog’s training: give them lots of praise and rewards to boost their self-esteem while they work off some of their extra energy. Don’t give up. 

Castration  
Always a good idea to consider having his 'bits' removed if you are an owner based in town.  Once he has been "done", all his aggression will be a thing of the past and all your troubles will be over.  Castration also stops other alpha males who haven't had the operation, picking on your dog. It becomes a "Yeah! go on then! let's see how big you are, wuss!" and before you know it a fight begins.
Some dogs seem to get worse after castration. They snarl, bite and attack you,!! the owner. Remember, if you started off hitting your dog as a way of teaching it a lesson, castration makes them aggressive out of fear for what you might do to them. In this instance, see a behaviourist as soon as possible to learn ways to control your dog.
Miraculously, after 11 months and 3 weeks of really awful behaviour, your dog grows up and becomes a well mannered, loving, obedient dog who is a joy to own. You will notice the change.

4 am boredom
Teenage dogs (from ages 6 - 14th months) are like human teenagers. They sleep all day. Then around 4 am  they wake up, yawn loudly, shake themselves noisily and look around for amusement. That is the time when boredom sets in. They gnaw on furniture legs,  chew on any bits of carpeting that looks frayed, mats or anything else they can see.  No good chastising them as they have no idea what is right or wrong.  Give them a pat and settle them back into their baskets until the alarm goes off.
Exercise for at least two hours per day is vital for keeping your dog free of boredom. If you restrain them by simply walking them to the nearest lamp post and back, then you are storing up trouble for yourself.  Besides, its not fair to keep a dog caged up. Get a goldfish instead!
Tip 
Some tripe filled bones from the supermarket are a good distraction for those times when boredom sets in.  

Chasing joggers/cyclists/ people scared of dogs and attacking other dogs.
This is the teenage thug's version of frightening old ladies and children. The more they react, the more the dog does it.  When this happens, you put your dog onto a lead and walk away jerking the collar gently as you drag them away. Yelling at them makes them think that you approve. In fact, a firm "No!" said many times, and looking straight at them works like a canine threat.  They do, I promise, grow out of that, and the fun soon goes out of startling other dogs and people.  A single word works best, since a sentence to a dog sounds like "No! numm, numm, numm, bad dog! Believe me, a dog doesn't understand "Be nice" but NO! it does.

During the teenage terror years, be vigiliant, alert and aware to any potential situation that might give you a heart attack. Learn to read your dog's body language. If it crouches low as if about to pounce, that's the time to slip on its lead. If you see lots of dogs, joggers or cyclists coming your way and yours is off the lead, put it back on the lead until all is clear.  
 
Playtime 
Playtime is important to help them hone up their socialisation skills. Enrolling them into a puppy creche for a couple of days a week will give your dog all the socialisation and stimulus it needs.
Just because they are growling, baring their teeth and pulling fur doesn't mean they are fighting. This

is "play fighting" and a way of learning how to interact with other members of the pack. Don't pull them away as so many ill informed people do, merely keep an eye on them because it can sometimes lead to fisticuffs, exactly as when a group of children are playing.

This 'n that...................
"Can't believe it's September already?" said 7 billion people in unison last Monday, to avoid having to say anything of actual substance. This year has absolutely flown hasn't it? It seems to have gone much faster than last year did. It'll be Christmas soon. And then January. And then before we know it it'll be Christmas again. Probably a sign of impending age when days seem to whiz by so quickly... policemen look younger...... and you spend your time saying "Eh what! say again!"

That's it for this month.  We are going to have an Indian summer from next week.  That's what the weather men say but do we believe them?  Enjoy anyway! Here's a clip of a silly dog to make you chuckle.

                                                                         Dawn (.".")














 

O....M....G! Don't you just lurve puppies?

                           Some useful tips for New Puppy Owners

 

Owner's of  a new puppy reach day two  of ownership and then start asking themselves the question, “what the hell have I got myself into?”  Owning a puppy is full of new challenges and you are suddenly faced with obnoxious puppy behavior - whining, biting, jumping, chewing, boisterousness and peeing and poohing everywhere, not forgetting the sleepless nights that you will have to go through.

And if you’ve done any research at all, you will know that proper care and training is critical during a puppy’s first few months. The things your puppy experiences now are going to affect him/her for the rest of their lives.  So no pressure, then? By now you are totally overwhelmed with well-intentioned but often incorrect advice from family, friends and tv shows, it  is any wonder a new owner wants to throw in the towel after one week or perhaps sooner.

So here are some bite-sized puppy tips to get you through the next few months, when the sleep deprivation has set in, and you can’t remember the difference between a clicker and a Kong.

Get a crate.  It makes house training incredibly easy and also acclimatises the puppy that going into a crate means safety, security and a place to nestle down for the night. Tip: Cover the cage with a dark cloth. That will guarantee you unbroken sleep as puppy cant see daylight nor can it see you moving around.

Don't buy expensive puppy pads. Buy cot mats called Drynites from the baby section of the supermarket. These are bigger, cheaper, square in size with stick on pads on the back  and  they do the job perfectly.

Start  off your puppy's digestive system the right way by giving it a tablespoon of natural yoghurt every day. Supermarket own brand is just as effective as an expensive brand. It will build up the immune system in your puppy's gut and stop those worrying puppy squits.

Let your puppy sleep in your bedroom, at least for the first few nights. This whole experience is scary for a pup. Remember he has been taken away from a whole group of family and will be very frightened. Don’t make him sleep in the kitchen on his own. Put the crate next to your bed so you can reassure him.

Set a daily routine. House training proceeds more smoothly if your puppy knows what to expect from his day.  Put them straight out once they have eaten breakfast, lunch, dinner but don't expect them to instantly know that they can't pee on the floor. House training is a tortuous proceedure for both dog and owner. (Think of it as training a 2 year old to use a  potty).  Patience is necessary, not a good slap, yelling or kicking . Besides, that traumatises the animal and sets the pattern for future behaviour.

Enroll in a puppy class and a puppy creche. Your pup will learn some basic obedience, but the real benefit of puppy classes is socialization with other puppies and people.  Ask at your local pet shor or the vet's practice.

Make sure everyone is on the same page. Discuss the puppy rules with your whole family. Figure out who will do what and when. Pick one set of training rules and stick with them.

Don’t encourage behavior that you’ll regret when they gets bigger. Jumping up is cute when the  dog weighs six pounds. It won’t be so cute when they reach 160 pounds. Each time they do it, say in a low voice "Down". This sounds like a growl that an alpha dog would do to a puppy.

Get your pup used to being handled from day one, touching feet, nails, tail, ears, mouth, teeth, and belly with love. Let your puppy meet and get squeezed and cuddled by at least, two new (friendly and gentle) people every day. Your vet will thank you because the more the dog is handled, the less chance there is that it will bite the vet.

Groom your dog every day. It only takes a couple of minutes.  Its a good bonding exercise for both you and the pup.

Introduce your pup to all kinds of novel things. People in funny hats. Balloons. Paper streamers.  Remote control cars. Kids playing. Agility equipment. Cats. Car rides. This will stop them from getting scared of strange shapes and noises. Socialize, don’t traumatize. Introduce new experiences slowly and never let your puppy get overwhelmed.

Frozen wet washclothes and baby carrots make great chews for teething puppies. Lots of puppy hide chews and latex rubber rings from a pet shop will also help with those sore gums.

Reward good behaviour, don’t wait for bad behaviour. Praise lavishly and then reward the puppy when you see them doing something you like. Don’t wait until he’s misbehaving to give him attention.

Pick up anything you don’t want destroyed.  If it’s on the floor, it WILL be chewed. Make sure all elextrical flexes are taped over and not trailing. And clear things off coffee tables. Above all, dont leave pills, chocolates, cigarettes or anything else that is easy to pull off the surface.  Your puppy is a furry toddler and will explore everything and anything.

I don't need to remind to get your puppy micro-chipped. It’s your best chance of being reunited with your dog if they ever gets lost. You can get this done  at your vet or local shelter.

Check your puppy’s poohs for the first six months. Disgusting? Yes, I know! But it could save your puppy’s life. If you notice anything like diarrhea or blood, take your puppy to the vet ASAP.

Provide toys. If you provide them with their own toys, they are less likely to chew on yours (ha! Yeah right. It’s worth a shot, though).  Like human kids who would rather play with the box than with the toy that came in it, puppies are usually happier chewing on an empty plastic water bottle than an expensive store-bought toy. Toilet roll inners and old tee shirts that they can rip up and shake vigorously, or play tug of war with, make good play things. If you can stand the noise, then get a toy with a squeaker.

Learn to read your puppie's body language. If you think your puppy needs to go to the toilet, don’t hesitate to plonk them outside! You’d be surprised how often puppies need to go. They don't know how to say so and certainly don't have the ability to keep their legs crossed for many hours. And, please! don't thump them for going where they shouldn't. As a general rule of thumb, the number of hours a puppy can “hold it” is his age in months plus one. So a two month old puppy should be crated for a maximum of three hours at a time (during the day. When they sleep at night, puppies can usually hold it for longer).

Practice separation. As tempting as it is, don’t let your puppy be glued to your side all day. Letting your puppy have time to himself in his crate or room will help prevent separation anxiety ie yelping, screaming, barking, yapping, scratching at the door.

Playing with other dogs in the park, no matter what size is very important. Don't yank the dog away as I have seen many 
owners do. Interaction with other dogs is necessary for the puppy to learn socialisation skills.

Don’t get angry and smack your puppy when it chews on you.  Sometimes painfully. It is NOT aggression. Do not react by yelling, smacking them, rolling him on their back or holding their muzzle shut. This is how they play with others in a pack and it doesn't mean that they will become aggressive in later life.

Don’t use ammonia-based cleaners. Your puppy will think it smells like urine and it will actually encourage them to pee there again. Use an enzymatic cleaner that you can get from a pet shop.

Leave the TV or radio on when you leave your puppy home alone. I usually leave on the news because the talking makes them think there is someone in the home.

Teach good lead manners early. Better to teach your puppy to walk nicely on the lead than to teach your adult dog to stop pulling on the lead. Tip:  Hold the lead so that your arm is at your chest level. This makes the puppy walk alongside you and not zig zagging across you tying you in knots.

 Remember that your puppy is a baby – don’t ask too much of them. Don’t worry about whether they will perform a perfect sit/stay or heel. Plenty of time for that when they are older. Focus on socialization and having fun.

Take lots of pictures. Puppyhood goes by SO fast and you want to be able to look back with nostalgia. One good thing is that a puppy never grows up and says "Oh! Mum! No! and gets embarrassed when you dig up old pictures of it on a fluffy mat to show people.

Be prepared for your pup to become an obnoxious little brat around age 6-12 months. If you thought puppyhood was awful. Wait until adolescence. This is even more challenging than puppyhood. They become the teenager from hell.  I don't mean that they start going to clubs, taking drugs or drinking to oblivion.  They become the doggy version of the worst human teenager that you know.  Disobedient, quarrelsome, irrational, noisy and chasing after joggers and cyclists, deaf to any commands. They will also explore by squeezing into places that have railings or jumping after birds in rivers and ponds, swimming around for ages giving you a heart attack.  Sadly, adolescence is the time that most people have had enough and decide to re-home their dog.  I hope that you will be patient and stick it out.

I know I keep banging on abut this, but during these swelteringly hot days, here is a video to watch and take note, when leaving your dog in the car for "just five minutes."

                http://www.theinternetpetvet.com/video-vet-shows-you-how-hot-it-gets-in-locked-car/


                                        That's it for this month. Have a good August where ever you are.

                                                                              Dawn ("")

 IS YOUR DOG BECOMING A SLAP HEAD?*  (street-speak for Baldie)

Baldness in dogs can be very upsetting for the owner.  To a dog, it makes not one iota of difference. You will never see a dog sitting in front of a mirror fretting about the bald patch on its back. Nor will it refuse to go to the park without wearing a 'hijab'.  But that bald patch can be a symptom of something going on in your pet's system. It could be hormonal, mange, ringworm or just plain old stress.

Stress hair loss
Dogs, like people, can suffer from stress. The causes can vary from  house moving, being left alone for long periods of time, being constantly yelled at, or a death in the family. On the other hand, if your dog is a worrier about the state of the world or why no one smelled his bottom, or is exposed to a high level of stress for a prolonged period of time, they may begin to lose their coat as a result. The coat will begin to grow back normally when the cause of the stress is removed and the dog gets back on an even keel.

Endocrine disorder

Alopecia without an obvious external cause 

Hormonal imbalances leading to conditions such as hyperthyroidism and canine Cushing's disease, can both potentially lead to alopecia in the dog, where the alopecia is an effect rather than a cause of the illness. Both of these illnesses can be potentially serious and do require veterinary intervention, so if you can rule out any of the other potential causes of alopecia in your dog, then its important to go to the vet for testing.

When my dogs show signs of bald patches on their body, I give them a tea spoonful of cod liver or olive oil in their food every day for 3 months, increase the veggie content (supermarket tins of own brand mushy peas and grated carrots), and a good multi vitamin pill, ie Vetzyme or Bob Martin's, plus a daily brush down.  If, after 3 weeks, they are still losing hair then a trip to the vet is recommended as it could be some other health problem that will need treatment with steroids.

Start your dog on a course of Brewer's Yeast available from Holland and Barratt or any other health food shop. I have had good results by using this, not only on the dog, but in helping my own alopecia.

The homeopathic remedy, Sulphur, (available on line from Weleda, Nelson's Pharmacy or Ainsworth's Pharmacy) is another good tip.  Given in the dog's food 3x 2 pills 3 times a day for 3 weeks,  then reduced to 1 tablet three times a day until you notice an improvement,  really makes a huge difference to its coat and you will see results within 3 months.   Make sure you take before and after pictures  as a record of how well the home remedies work.


This 'n that ................................................

O....M.....G! following the news of poisoned food,  now this in Regent's Park!

Photograph by Felix Reimann

Army of snakes ‘capable of crushing small children’ discovered in Regent’s Canal

By Descrier Staff on May 11, 2014 UK

A colony of snakes capable of crushing small children or pets to death have been reported in London.
Around 30 Aesculapian snakes have been seen in buildings and trees near to Regent’s Canal in the capital over the last few weeks, according to the Daily Star.
The reptiles look similar to grass snakes, so they may have been living in the area of a long period dismissed as harmless until the head keeper of reptiles at London Zoo spotted one, and confirmed it to be an Aesculapian snake.
A number of theories have arisen as to how the snakes first arrived at Regent’s Canal, with the animals most likely escaping from captivity. The species prefer mild temperatures and are often found around riverbeds of southern Europe.

Eeeeuw!

Bet you never knew this .........
Dandelions are thriving at the moment. The bright yellow flowers turn into round white seed-heads – that's the thing you blow while making a wish (if all the seeds come off first time, your wish will come true) – and their name comes from the Old French 'dent-de-lion' meaning deep-toothed. But before you chuck them on the compost, don't forget you can eat them: young buds fried in butter taste similar to mushrooms, although we've missed the boat a bit because they're best before the flowers appear. Or try making dandelion wine, cooking up the roots or steaming the leaves. I can tell you that they taste a bit like chicory or endive.

Is it a bird? Is it a bee? Is it a wasp? There is a difference.
A few years ago, the National Trust carried out an online survey of 1,651 adults across the UK, and reported that half of them couldn't tell the difference between a bee and a wasp. So next time you're out and about, why not think about helping the adults by shouting "bee" or "wasp" really loudly when you see one? And please! don't stamp on them because you think it might sting you. They won't unless you disturb it when it is busy nectar collecting.  Wasps, on the other hand, look different to bees and have only one purpose in life and that's to find a jam sandwich and then sting the owner.

Here's your commercial break. Absolutely nothing to do with dogs but it will give you a giggle nonetheless.  (Thanks to Barbara Barbour for this).
 
It's a 43 second commercial and the sponsor isn't identified until the final few seconds. It will give you a chuckle.

                  https://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?feature=player_embedded&v=9WoM2bHfr48#t=0 


                                     That's it for this month.

                                               Dawn (..")

HUMAN MEDICINES THAT ARE SAFE TO GIVE YOUR DOG

People  frequently ask me about what human medicines can be safely used on dogs.  I thought it would make a good topic for this month's blog.

What is safe, and what isn't? Good question!

Over the years I have discussed and followed my vet's advice and given my dogs the following human medicines.  Here is a short list of some of the medicines that can be safely given or used on your dog.
   
Aveeno or any other Oatmeal Shampoo. Great to cool down itchy inflamed skin - for especially irritated pets you can do this daily. Then  use it once a week as maintenance.
Antiseptic wipes. Apply directly to affected area. 
Benadryl. Up to 1 mg per pound (half a teaspoon) every 8 hours to treat allergies ie snorting, snuffling, itching, etc. Can also be used as a mild tranquilizer.  This is good stuff to soothe your dog's throat if is coughing and gagging at night.  I also use Tixylix children's cough mixture. If you have neither  of the two cough mixtures mentioned in the store cupboard, then mix a teaspoon of honey with some lazy or fresh lemon and squirt it into the side of the mouth.  (Try and get one of those needle- less syringes from your vet for these sorts of moments).
Cuticura medicated talcum powder.
This works well on red, itchy skin or on any part of the body that is red, irritated or bleeding. Rubbed in gently it really is an "oooh! aaaaah! ummm!" moment for the dog and gives instant relief.  
Vaseline is very  effective for constipation, and easier and often safer to give. The vaseline dose is 1 teaspoon per 10lbs.  (Warm it in the microwave for 20 seconds to make it liquid).      
Preparation H. FOR DOGS ONLY. Apply to an irritated anal area 3 times daily. This works well if your dog has an itchy bottom and does a lot of scooting on the pavement or carpet.
(It also works for humans if you have bags under the eyes. Just thought I would throw in that little snippet of information. Ive used it many times on models and celebs, when I was a make up artist in my previous life!)

 Pets hate medication as much as we do. Here's a cute video of a puppy's reaction to being given something horrible.

                                       www.youtube.com/watch?v=02xpByGj9Yw‎


This and that ..........  MAY DAY! MAY DAY!
Oh! sorry! That was yesterday. This is today. Or maybe it's tomorrow. Maybe you took a turn around the maypole. Maybe you wore a lei all day (that's what they do in Hawaii, where Mayday is called Lei day). May this be a very happy month for all.

                                        PRODUCT SPOT - www.scots-pet.co.uk

1. A pooh bag is a pooh bag, but every so often I get bored with my collection of  boring old black ones, the free supermarket shopping bags punched with holes that seep out if you aren't careful and of course, if you are being really cheap, those thin black ones bought from a market for £1 a thousand that fall apart at the crucial moments of pick up. Yes! you know what I mean? I came across a site on the internet - www.scots-pet.co.uk - that sells pooh bags of every sort. I never knew that there were so many different types. I loved the coloured patterned bags  on rolls and also the biogradable ones like these. They are really good quality at an affordable price.
   
   
   Have a look at the site. You will think of pooh bags in a new light and, like me,  probably become a Pooh bag snob! The site also features some other interesting animal goodies.  Ive bookmarked this one!

                                             Thought for the month!
                "I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult."

                                     *******************************
 Important Notice to all users of Parks and Open Spaces. 
Here is an extract from an email sent to me by Carl Drake of the Metropolitan Police based in Regent's Park.

"I have just been informed that approx two weeks ago, a park user found an ice cream cone containing a bright blue, thick, paste-like substance on the lower slopes of Primrose Hill. In this instance it was removed by a Royal Parks contractor. I would like you all to be aware of the incident as there were three dogs killed by consuming poison in Brent at about the same time. In those cases the poison was described as either a blue tablet or a bright blue paste which was smeared on food and left where dogs could eat it.

The story got a bit of press coverage and another group of dogs were believed to have been poisoned on Hampstead Heath shortly after but it appears that this is not the case. Should you see any bright blue paste on anything in Regent's Park or Primrose Hill please call 999 immediately and stay clear of the item. Newspaper reports believe that the poison in Brent was Methomyl which is highly dangerous to humans."
                               *********************************

 

IT'S FLEA TIME IN THE CITY

Last week we  were told of the arrival of a warm and large yellow disc in the sky. Fearing the unknown, we all stayed indoors until we could be sure of the orb's intentions. It seems to have retreated now, but to be sure, we are all still eyeing the sky suspiciously. Someone suggested that we make a ladder so we can confront it. If you should see it, our advice is to immediately destroy all your clothes (to counter its powers of heat) and then shout loudly at it until it goes away. Stay vigilant, dear readers.

The sun brings out all manner of creepy crawlies and one of them is the dreaded Flea.
Unappealing little creatures  aren't they? but its a good idea to get rid of them as soon as you can.  One flea can lay 1,000 eggs and  before you know it, you have 30,000 of them invading your space.Then it becomes the canine version of The Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Is your dog scratching away, making you feel itchy in the process.  It might be a good idea to run your fingers through its fur to check for flea eggs.  These feel like grits of sand under your fingers. If it is a black piece of grit and goes bloody when you squish it, then its for sure a flea egg.  If you want to be 100% sure that you think your dog may be flea-ridden, then stand it on something white, run a comb through the fur and the residue will fall onto the white surface.  Lots of black bits will definitely be flea eggs.

First thing to do is give your dog a good bath with a flea shampoo (Bob Martins), that you can get from the supermarket or pet shop. Then cut open a pipette of Advantage, Frontline or other flea repellent, part the hair and run the liquid along the dog's neck to the base of the tail.   After that, wash the dog's bedding. Get a can of Bob Martin's home spray flea repellent and spray that along the skirting boards of your home.  That's where they like to live. Kill them off before they can hitch a lift on a hot, furry passing body.

As a form of maintenance,  I always dab some Lavender oil onto my dog's back once a week. Fleas hate the smell and that keeps them at bay.  Sprinkle it on the bedding as well. You can get small bottles of Lavender oil from the chemist or supermarkets. Another effective repellent is garlic powder (from the herbs and spices section in the supermarket), sprinkled on your dogs food.  Your dog may smell like a shish kebab but its better that than an itchy dog.

Eeuw! just writing about it is making me itchy; Im sure you are beginning to itch reading this and before long, we will all be itching.

Watching the cute little goats in Regent's Park Zoo every morning, I thought you would like to see a compilation video of some shouty ones. They don't all plaintively go "baa".

This and that ........ Dogs need to sniff the ground; it's how they keep abreast of current events. The ground is a giant dog newspaper, containing all kinds of late-breaking dog news items, which, if they are especially urgent, are often continued into the next garden, street, tree and lamp post.

That's about it for this month.  Enjoy Easter and don't gorge on too much chocolate.

Dawn (".")

SUPER DOOPER, POOPER SCOOPER!

Before we get onto the subject of dogs feasting on poo, has anyone found the pot of gold?
There have been rainbows aplenty in Regent's Park during the wet, rainy weather, but we have yet to locate the elusive pot. Looks like it's somewhere behind the Lord's Cricket grounds. We'll stop the car  the next time we see it on our way home and have a look. Promise we will share half with you if we find it! Hah!

By popular demand, I am writing again about the reasons for dogs eating poo.  To humans it’s a very disturbing and disgusting habit.  The veterinary term for this is called coprophagia, and it may comfort  you to  know (shudder) that this is quite normal.

Poo eating (coprophagia) is common in many other animals such as rabbits, rodents, pigs, horses and even primates. However, this behavior is considered to be a problem in dogs, as there doesn't seem to be any reason for them to be munching on other dog's doodoos. Puppies, of course, will regularly eat poop and anything else they come across. If this becomes a regular habit then its a problem. To many  dogs this habit usually signals a nutritional deficiency and hero worship if they eat the poo of another dog in the same house. 

Think about a diet change. I  would suggest first trying a quality premium food. If your pet is already eating one, then switch to one of the natural diets such as raw food from Weebox available from the larger supermarkets. Dogs are programmed in the wild to eat raw food and although your pet is domesticated and raised on pellets and pate, some raw food will aid digesion and take away the need to sample another dog's poo. You can also cook your own recipes, but this is often too much trouble if you have a busy life. A diet rich in fat, protein, and fibre and low in carbohydrates can sometimes reduce the tendency.  My dogs adore raw chicken wings. There are no big bones to choke them and it is very, very healthy. Ask any vet? They will agree with me.  A good doggie multivitamin will also help stop the problem.  A probiotic tablet (available from pet stores) will go a long way to aiding digestion and putting an end to that urge to sample someone else's poo.

Altering the flavour can help. Your dog will stop eating poo if it tastes bad. Poo left in the back garden or in your cat’s litter box can be sprinkled with Tabasco sauce or cayenne pepper.  That should send them into orbit!

There are a few things that you can add to your dogs food to alter the taste of their poo.  Schwartz Meat tenderizers (from the Herb section of the supermarket), can be added to your dog’s food; this will help with digestion but also make the stool taste horrible. The dose is 1/4 teaspoon per 10 lbs of body weight. Another option is to purchase a product - called Stool repellum - from your local vet  or from the site,  PetVet  on the internet, . It gives poo a taste that your pet will hate.  My personal remedy is to mix in some pumpkin into the food. You can buy this in a tin from the supermarket. For some reason this stops the urge to eat another dog's poo poo.  Pineapple works well too but often the dog will toss it out of the dish so best to puree it and put in a spoonful at each meal and mix it in well. Many dog owners have found that by supplementing  the diet, the coprophagia then stops. My dog stopped once I added vegetables to their food. Buy the supermarket own brands of tinned carrots and mushy peas and add a spoonful to each meal.  I promise you it does work after a few weeks and they love the taste.

Finally, using a citronella spray collar  works quite effectively on dogs that persist in eating the stuff. A citronella spray collar reduces the frequency of coprophagia in dogs and the habit gets broken.This requires the pet owner to be alert and involved, triggering the spray in response to a quick chomp.

Do NOT  punish the dog when you see them gobbling up something unspeakable but distract them instead with a treat or a ball.  If you tell them off, they associate that with bad behaviour and they will eat their own poo to hide it in case they get punished.



And my point is ........
"If you want to test cosmetics, why do it on some poor animal who hasn't done anything? They should use prisoners who have been convicted of murder or rape instead. So, rather than seeing if perfume irritates a bunny rabbit's eyes, they should throw it in a perp's (cop speak) eyes and ask him if it hurts."

Some nice doggy ads:

These are classified ads, that were actually placed in U.K. Newspapers:
FREE YORKSHIRE TERRIER.
8 years old,
Hateful little bastard.
Bites!

FREE PUPPIES
1/2 Cocker Spaniel, 1/2 sneaky neighbor's dog.

FREE PUPPIES.
Mother is a Kennel Club registered German Shepherd.
Father is a Super Dog, able to leap tall fences in a single bound. 

Here is an amusing video clip for all those cat owners.  This is what your bored cat does when you are out at work all day.

That's it for this month.

Dawn ("")

WHAT YOUR DOG WOULD WRITE IF IT KEPT A DIARY.
Dear Diary............

                                                                        
7.30 am  Wonderful walk in the park. Probably the best activity in my life, followed by food and then licking my balls. The gang were all there and we sniffed around together.  Its amazing how you can miss things every day. Diego discovered the most wonderful smell for all of us to try out.

8.45 am  Watched poor Beagle being dragged out of the park by the scruff of its neck. He says he is not allowed to sniff bottoms or anything else as his stupid owner thinks its unhygenic.  For god's sakes, that's what we dogs do.  Poor dog! Definitely going to end up as one of life's social misfits.

8.50 am Caused consternation and loud protests from the humans in the car going home. There were cries of  "Phwoar!  You stink! what did you roll in?"

9.15 am Back home. Jumped out of the car, raced into the house, fell down the stairs in my excitement to get to bowl. Yummy! yummy! Aside from ball chasing, this is my favourite activity of the day.  Oh goody! a toothball as a treat.  Dont you know what a toothball is? Its a biscuit that is as hard as a rock, tastes wonderful and cleans my teeth.  I could eat a whole bag. No probs!

9.20 am  Uh! oh! my owners are showing sadistic tendencies, whispering and spelling out words. For no good reason, I am being dragged to the bathroom for the "water torture". This involves gallons of water being poured on to me and then a burning, foamy chemical called shampoo. What sick mind could invent such a thing.  Only way to feel better is to rush to the bed room and roll all over the bed to dry off. Hah! that'll teach them.

9.35 am  Chased one of those pesky tree rats, (known in our household as "Squiggies"). How dare they frighten off all the garden birds. Im not having it. Burst of frantic yelping and barking soon saw it take off like a rocket.

9.50 am  The household is getting ready to do serious things. My man works  as a graphic designer on the computer - seems to fall asleep a lot in front of it. Didn't feel like following her around. Prefer to doze in my basket.

10.00 am   Had a pee on the kitchen floor. Laziness.  She bellowed at me, grabbed my collar and dragged me to the puddle. "Who did this?" she yelled.  "Whaddya mean, who did it?"  "I did for god's sakes". You would think that I was a terrorist who had blown up the kitchen.

10. 15 am  Opened one eye as she passed me. Oh! boy! she looks cross. She glared at me as she went up the stairs. Uh! oh!  I shall stay put.

12. 00 am  In  a deep sleep; having a very serious dream. Just had that  pit bull terrier, Tyson  by the jugular; the gang were all cheering me on....  doorbell went. Back to bed (yawn!).   Heard a can being opened.  Time to sit by the kitchen door and drool.

1.00 pm  Lunch time for the humans. Lots of delicious smelling things around.  Something might jump off the table.  Time to engage my appealing look.

3.00 pm Oh goody! Lead coming off the door knob. Means "walkies." Good smells. So many designer dogs living in the area. They leave messages for help.  Poo things, cooped up every day.  No toys, no music, no treats, no company. Can't help them.  Im so lucky, (or as my owner sometimes sings,"Im so yukky! yukky! yukky!") to that Kylie Minogue song, "Im so Lucky."

4.00 pm Wonderful walk!  Senses overloadeded with interesting pee mails. Left several of my own. Owner says I have  a bottomless tank. Time for a zzzzzzzz-z. Catch you later, dear diary.

5.00 pm   Awake and refreshed.  Can hear kibble rattling into my dish? Wow! and leftovers.  I am  full and happy. Time to lick my balls and clean my paws.

6.00 pm  That mangy cat from next door is wandering around my garden.  What a half-wit he is?  Same routine everyday.  I chase, he runs like hell.

That's it for today, dear diary, until another day.
**********************************************************************************
We had January in a rainy headlock. Sad to say February looks set to be the same.
Are you caught between the call of the gym, and the call of the comforting January chocolate eclair? You're not the only one. (The eclair wins every time. It's just tastier than the gym. Don't try to fight it.) But don't feel bad, just doing a few ankle rotations and some simple stretches while you're reading this and watching this excellent video, will keep you trim, toned and eager.
 (Cleverest dog food commercial you will ever see, sent to me by my friend, Barbara Barbour. )

                                       http://www.youtube.com/embed/AA56LgpFbSw?rel=0

That's it until the next blog.  Have fun with whatever you are planning to do.

Dawn (-"-)