The signs that tell you when its time to say good-bye to your dog?

This picture of an elderly dog enjoying one last car ride has been tugging at my heartstrings.

The reality is that unlike your children — or anyone else you’ve helped raise and take care of — your dog will probably not outlive you. Even more sobering, you may end up facing a very difficult decision about when to end the life of this precious friend and family member.

Some dogs do pass peacefully on their own, but in many cases, the will to survive keeps a dog going long past the point of experiencing good quality of life. While recent advances in veterinary medicine are nothing short of amazing, remember that just because you can prolong your dog's life doesn’t mean it’s in the animal's best interest to do so.
Most of the factors around aging and death are beyond our control, but the one thing you are able to do for your dog is make sure it is not in undue pain and suffering. Without a doubt, no other decision you make about your dog will be as difficult as the one to euthanise, but in so many cases, it is the only humane option.
Having an inkling when it is the time 
If there’s ever a time to put your dog’s welfare ahead of your own needs, this is it. While the idea of living without your beloved pet can be heartbreaking, the thought of them suffering should feel even worse. So in considering what to do, ask yourself the following questions:

• Does your dog have a terminal illness? Ask your vet what to expect at the next stage and then ask yourself whether you’re prepared to go there.
• Is your dog in the kind of pain that cannot be significantly helped by medication?
• Will more treatment improve their quality of life, or simply maintain a poor quality of life?
• Can you afford treatment? End-of-life care can run into thousands of pounds, and people can end up prolonging their grieving while paying off credit cards.
• Is your dog so old they have lost most bodily functions? If they can no longer stand up, get down stairs, defecate, and urinate on their own, then their quality of life is pretty poor.
• Do they still want to eat? Once a dog loses its appetite they are signaling that their time has come.
• Are the gums pink? When  you gently press on then and the gums aren’t a normal pink, your dog is not getting enough oxygen. This means its body organs are shutting down.
• Is it in the animal's best interest to extend their life, or are you extending life for yourself? This last point is the most difficult one for most of us to sort out, but it may well be the most relevant.

Other considerations

• Of course, everyone feels free to tell you what to do, but the responsibility for this choice is yours. And believe me it will be really hard.
• Your vet is trained to save lives. That’s what they do, and that’s why you go to them. But all they can do is delay, not prevent. If your vet is advising euthanasia and you’re reluctant, closely examine your own motives and see if the reasons you give are for your benefit or for the dog.
• People often say, “You’ll know when it’s time.” In many cases that’s true, but not always.
• Choosing euthanasia is not “playing God” any more than providing medical treatment to save a life is.
• Make sure that you’ll be able to be with your dog at the moment of injection, so that you are the last presence they sense. However, if its too hard to be there, get a friend or relative to hold them. It’s best for your dog's last moments that you are calm and reassuring.
• Follow your inner voice and know when its time to let them go.

Before your dog gets to the point where euthanasia is a consideration, and you’re still fairly calm, write a list of what gives them quality of life. Decide how many of those points they can be without in old age and still enjoy life. For example:

• He/she likes to eat.                         * likes to drink from puddles                        
• likes to play ball.                            * loves treats                                            
• likes to go for walks                       * loves cuddles
• loves rolling in smelly things

Make a decision, write it down, and stick to your plan when your emotions are more rational.
If your dog is suffering, they have lost all joy in being a dog.
Bottom line: The emotions surrounding this decision are mixed and complicated. To do what’s best for our dogs, we need to realistically assess the criteria without allowing emotion to overwhelm the decision-making process.
********************************************************************************
                                                                     This and that ....... 
December started this week, so we can all agree its Christmas time and that means:             
A sense of awe and wonder at the twinkling lights and sudden goodwill towards mankind.
Wearing clothes that have fleece, fake fur, fluff and sparkle.
Groaning at Christmas music but secretly loving it.
No idea of what Frankincense and Myrrh are.
Putting up twinkly lights, even in the loo....especially the loo, and upsetting snobby neighbours.
Adding Baileys to all warm drinks including Cup-a-soup (eeeuw!)
Wondering how the true love in "12 days of Christmas" had access to so many wildfowl. 

                                     Here's to the amazing kindness of mankind towards animals.                                         
                                              Last blog for 2015. Have a happy Christmas and a
                                                                    spectacular New Year.

                                                                                   Dawn  (".".")

CAN DOGS SEE IN COLOUR?

A group of us dog owners were having this discussion in the park last week, whilst strolling with our dogs and the question came up "Can dogs see in colour?" Some people felt sure they could not, one person said they can see three colours, another said they could see red as the predominant one and others said "Of course they can see colour. Why else would they reject certain coloured treats?"

Not much gets past a dog's nose, but what about those eyes? What colour do dogs see when they gaze soulfully up at people or ogle birds, cats and squirrels? They see a whoosing blur of movement.

Dogs do see in color, despite an old misconception, but their world still doesn't look quite like ours. While human eyes contain three kinds of color-sensing cells, dogs have just two, leaving them oblivious to red. Their lower visual acuity also makes everything look an even shade of grey and a lot blurrier.

We will never know what it's like to be a dog — especially without their noses — but doing some little tests with coloured treats proves that dogs do see colour. Try it. You will be telling everyone how your dog hates the orange ones!

Dogs are not completely color blind since they have a dichromatic colour perception. Unlike humans who have three different colour sensitive cone cells in their retina (red, green and blue) dogs have only two (yellow and blue).

This does not mean that dogs can't see green or red objects! It only means that they can't distinguish green, yellow or red objects based on their color. However, they can still distinguish a red ball from a green one if there is a difference in the perceived brightness of the two.

This and that ................. 
It's that time of year again when half the microwaves and car clocks in the country are suddenly commended for their accuracy and obedience, while the other half become a source of mild annoyance until March. Yep, the clocks went back an hour on the 24th October at 2 pm, which means that every night for at least the next two weeks someone will look out of the window and reminisce about the good old days of light, saying "remember when we could still see the outside at 4pm?" But the days of light are over, Shirl, at least for a few months.  We need to embrace the night, and remember that good, honest people like Santa and dishonest people like burglars, can only work under the cover of darkness.

Can dogs speak?  This video proves that they can say important phrases to please their owners.

                                          http://biggeekdad.com/2014/10/24-talking-animals/
                       

                                                 That's it for this month.  See you in December.
                                                                                 Dawn ("-")
     

PUMPKINS ARE NOT JUST FOR HALLOWEEN..... THEY ARE GOOD FOR DOGS TOO.

      
Halloween is fast approaching, and yes, that usually means pumpkins lit up with funny faces!  Bet you didn't know that the boring old pumpkin is one of the world’s healthiest foods – not only for humans but for our dogs as well?

Pumpkin is rich in the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E. It  is also packed full of vitamin K as well as a host of minerals, such as potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and copper. pumpkin is rich in polyphenolic flavonoid compounds, such as beta-carotenes, zea-xanthin, and more.  Its the undiscovered super veg.  Remember! You read it here first.

Pumpkin is low in calorie but high in dietary fibre. (100 grams of pumpkin provides only 26 calories!). If you want to lose weight then eat a handful of pumpkin seeds as a snack every day as part of your daily diet.

Health Benefits of pumpkin for dogs

Pumpkin and its seeds provide quite a few health benefits for our dogs.  Pumpkin is good for the runs and constipation! If your dog suddenly develops mild diarrohea, or if they have mild constipation, a tablespoon of plain cooked pumpkin will definitely will do the trick. Keeping a can of plain pumpkin in the cupboard is the best thing you could have in the house!

Endocrine and Pancreatitis 

Dogs diagnosed with endocrine or pancreatitis disease benefit from the addition of pumpkin in their daily food because they should not be fed processed dog food but a bland diet of chicken, turkey or rabbit.  The pumpkin helps with dietary fibre and their digestion.

Weight Control: Since pumpkin is low in calorie but is filling, it is beneficial for dogs who need slimming down. If your dog is a bit pudgy,  pumpkin can be used as part of the dog's regular food.

Eye Health: The beta-carotenes and zea-zanthin contained in pumpkin are antioxidants that are beneficial to the eyes. They can help protect older dogs from developing age-related macular degeneration or needing spectacles.

Urinary Tract Health: Oils in pumpkin seeds contain nutrients that can prevent or lower the possibility of kidney stone formation. Pumpkins also promote and support general urinary health. Dogs with urinary problems, such as incontinence or kidney stones, may benefit from having pumpkin or pumpkin seeds in their diet.

Worms:  To treat dogs with tapeworms, add 1/4 to one teaspoon of pumpkin seed oil  (available from Holland and Barratt) to the dog food.  It certainly worked for a dog that stayed with me when it kept vomiting up the pill given by the vet.

Feeding Pumpkin to Dogs

Candygirl, my cocker spaniel aged 15 years, gets a teaspoonful of pumpkin/cinnamon mixture in her meals every day and if she could talk, she would tell you that it works like HRT. She is full of energy, a picture of health and happily walks 3 miles every morning. Stairs are a bit of a problem but since she is treated like a hairy princess and is carried up anything steep, she is a good advertisement for giving pumpkin and cinnamon to dogs.

Pumpkin and cinnamon are good companions. Cinnamon is a powerful antioxidant (one teaspoon of cinnamon contains as many antioxidants as half a cup of blueberries), and it also has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Cinnamon can be used for a variety of gastrointestinal problems.  Its great for nausea, the runs, and flatulence.

To help your dog reap the benefits of this wonderful vegetable, mix a can of plain pumpkin with a teaspoon of ground cinnamon and store in the fridge.  Each day add a tablespoon or so (depending on your dog's size) to your dog's meal as a topper and this can protect and support your dog's GI system. You can also sprinkle a few pumpkin seeds on your dog's food.

Bring on Pumpkin Power for Your Dog, I say!

 This and that ................

WE. ARE. RUGBY. In this husehold We live rugby. We breathe rugby. We've always been rugby since a little lad.  Ah, rugby.  Screams, anger, frustration, contemplating suicide when England lost and those balls that look like eggs. Men that look like Scrums. Scrum downs. Mauling rolls. Classic rugby. See! Ive been brain washed into the terminology.

Mixing it up 
Just today I was contemplating my naval and the thought came into my head about Lady and the Tramp. The classic tale of two dogs who meet, discover a deep and meaningful connection that transcends social class barriers, and ultimately fall in love. After a hedonistic, spaghetti and meatball-fuelled romance, the two finally settle down and have puppies. And then it starts to get a little far-fetched. Some of the puppies come out looking like Lady and some look like Tramp, when in fact, we all know they would have been crossbreeds. Adorable, fluffy-eared, big-eyed mixed breeds like these. You can't fool us Hollywood, we know our cockapoos from our schnoodles.


That's about it for this month's blog.  See you in November!

                       Dawn ("")

CRUCIATE LIGAMENT INJURIES 

Do you know what a Crucite Ligament injury is?  I didn't know either, until a dog that was staying with me, suddenly give out loud yelp, couldn't walk and keeled over in agony. It picked itself up then slowly and painfully limped back to the car. A visit to the vet told us that the dog was suffering from a cruciat ligament injury. This is a very painful condition that sometimes needs surgery, often long periods of rest and definitely no bungee jumping or triathalon activities for the rest of its life.

How can I tell if my dog has cruciate ligament disease?

Chronic limping is the commonest sign of crucite ligament injury. There are several types of ligament injury - hips, knees and paws. This may appear suddenly during or after exercise in some dogs, or it may be progressive and intermittent in others. Some dogs are simultaneously affected in both knees, and these dogs often find it difficult to rise from a prone position and have a very “doddery” gait. In severe cases, dogs cannot get up at all and can be mistakenly suspected of having a spinal problem.

One of the causes of a cruciate ligament strain is the dog being forced to jog with its owner day in and day out.  Dogs are not programmed to pound the pavements; they don't wear special trainers to soften the pressure on their joints.  Dogs are born to take leisurely ambles leaving a pee mail here and there or sniff some one else's messages.  The owners always say the same thing "Oh! but he loves jogging with me!"  Of course he loves running behind you.  You feed him so he will stick close to you!

Another cause of cruciate ligament injury is throwing the ball or a frisbee with a chucker. The dog jumps for it, twists its body and lands awkwardly on its back legs.  From my observtions, this type of injury seems to happen to bigger dogs such as Labradors and Rotties. It also sometimes happens to smaller dogs who maybe over weight or like jumping at objects.

One of the worst things about a cruciate ligament injury is that the dog suffers chronic arthritis and discomfort in old age, especially if it has had to undergo an operation to repair the torn ligament.

On to a totally different subject.

Niccolo, has lost his beautiful collar, in Regents Park, and as you can see from the photograph, he is feeling pretty miz about losing it.
If you happen to find it, please return to Emma Richler who walks  every day in the park with Niccolo.

It is a very distinctive collar and was  specially made for him by www.meggiemoo.dk/.

Log on and have a look at  some of the beautiful collars and coats that she makes.

Now here is something you really didn't know...........

The flying ants and biting bugs season came and went!

During those few heady days of hot weather that we had in july, the air was alive with flying ants. They caused havoc as they swarmed into people's homes and in their gardens. They were everywhere even when riding on the London Underground and buses. They ruined the picnics of everyone out and about in London parks. People were swatting them and doing war dances on them. Neither the flying ants or human beings had a good time of it.

But it turns out that male ants weren't having a great time of it either - after mating, the females drop to the ground to start a new nest.  The  poor old males meanwhile, are killed instantly from the force of their own genitals exploding. Yup! that's right. Exploding flying ant genitals. Happy September everyone!

That's it until my next blog when I hope to find another little known item to tell you about doggie behaviour,  (and maybe even flying ants!)

                                                       Dawn ("-")

WHY IS MY DOG SO SCARED OF GOING TO THE PARK OR OF MEETING OTHER DOGS?

Whatever the cause, Im afraid your dog has become traumatised by something.  Well balanced dogs don't suddenly become aggressive or fearful over going for a walk.  An attack from a bigger dog may have caused this fear or there may have been a loud noise that terrified them, but here are some simple ways to get them back to being happy, playful dogs again.

Security ....First your dog needs the reassurance of having a strong pack leader.  That's you.!  Giving your dog affection at a time of emotional instability makes them feel secure and confident.  When walking with your dog, keep saying "Good boy/girl!" You will notice that they will keep looking back at you while on the lead.  Constantly praising them, it makes them feel safe. You can almost hear them saying "Am I? Am I? Everything is going to be OK isn't it?.

Exercise... Some dogs are so terrified that they will hide rather than go for a walk. You have to be hard and literally drag them out for a walk. A quick pee at the nearest lamp post isn't exercise. The more you get them walking around the block, the quicker you will rid  them of that fear of the unknown.

Dominance... Your dog is not the pack leader, you are. Learn to recognize the earliest signs of unwanted behavior and correct it immediately. This includes nervous, fearful behaviour. Correction should be a quick tug against the leash or a "prod" made to the side of the neck with two fingers. You want to use enough force to get attention, thereby changing the dogs state of mind, but certainly don't do it so hard you injure the animal. Remember, its necessary to correct unwanted behavior immediately, not after the dog is in a cowering snarling frenzy of fear. As soon as they lock onto their "target" or some imagined fear and the ears start rolling back, prod and firmly say "That's ok, relax. I'm here. Good boy/girl!" You have to pay attention to the body language.  Tensing up is a sign of fear or about to be aggression.

Be calm and assertive. In other words you are the boss. Don't respond with anger or frustration because if you do, the  dog will pick up on that energy and start digging in its paws.
Once you've established yourself as the pack leader you are nearly there. 

Dogs are not humans. Before they receive love and affection, they need excercise, clear direction, and leadership. Giving them love alone doesn’t create balance in their lives. Its important to be the leader of the pack!

Carry a bag of treats in your pocket and when a scary situation looks like cropping up for your dog, distract them with a treat.

My magic cure for a scared, nervous, traumatised dog is to keep a bottle of Bach Flower Rescue remedy in your pocket - 6 drops in the side of the mouth before any walk- will give your dog supreme confidence to handle any situation.

Dogs try and show us through body language how they are feeling.  Tune in and make your dog a happy, secure animal.

This 'n that .......................................... did you know?

Dogs can smell disease

If your doggie chum is acting strange there might be nothing wrong with them - the problem could be with you.
Research at the Schillerhohe Hospital in Germany found dogs have an incredible ability to recognise the smell of a range of organic compounds that show the human body isn’t working as it should.
That means your dog can actually diagnose your cancer, something scientists are eager to explore further, as well as diabetes and the early signs of an epileptic seizure.
 
  This will make you smile - a compilation of clips showing animal thieves.
( I'd love to know what that monkey did with the hub cap!)

                                                         

 
                                                                    Until the next blog, Byeeeee!

                                                                                        Dawn (*^*)






                                                                                      

                                                                                 
 

Canine Scent Marking: Who's Peeing Where - and Why?

Apart from having a piddle, is there another reason when your dog lifts his leg?
Although jokingly referred to as a pee mail, canine urine marking is serious business for dogs. Just as we check our e-mails several times a day, so dogs have a similar modus operandi?
Dogs don't need wifi, but "pee mail" is a very necessary and highly complex, frequently misunderstood (by humans) method of canine communication.

You've probably experienced some sort of scent marking behavior with your own dog. But do you know why he sniffs other dogs' urine? Or what tidbits of information he's finding out  from a dog blog when he sniffs where other dogs have peed?

Dogs have to use pee to mark territory - to leave a message. How else can they do it? Other dogs come along and check the message and in turn, leave a message of their own by marking over or adjacent to the original spot. There's probably a lot of interesting information in these messages, and by checking "pee mails," a dog can determine the gender of the dogs who came before him and whether they are spayed or neutered. He can also tell if there's a randy bitch on heat or coming into heat, as well as to determine the health, stress level, and social status of the dogs who have previously marked the spot. Stopping them from smelling pee mails is cruel and restraining. It may seem awful to you but to a dog is it vital for their mental stimulus and daily health.  Forget jogging behind your owner, the pee mail is the thing that makes the walk worthwhile.

Male dogs with all their tackle intact are high on the social order and seen as alpha males. These boys are most likely to over-mark (pee over another dog's scent). Its the human equivalent of Porsche man with the Rolex who cuts up everybody in traffic signifying that HE is the top bozo.

Females spend a lot of time investigating the urine of unfamiliar male and female dogs; while males are primarily interested in what other male dogs peed on.
Strangely, females never over-marked, but rather "adjacent marked" or urinated nearby, as opposed to on top of the urine mark left by another dog. If a female dog considers itself to be a dominant one in the household, she will over mark.

I find this interesting because my fifteen-year-old, spayed, female Cocker Spaniel literally waits for the male dogs to urinate and then goes over and urinates on top of it. Most days she stands right behind the boys and can hardly wait for them to finish their business so she can mark on top of it. If they don't move fast enough, she's likely to body bomb them out of the way, then do her piddle.

What does all this mean? I'm not sure. But I'm thankful that most of the marking goes on outside although, there will always be one or two boys who will mark indoors. It's not uncommon for dogs to mark indoors, outdoors, or both. Causing owners intense irritation.

There's still a lot we don't understand about canine marking. For instance, what is the distinction between over-marking and adjacent marking? Do they have different functions? Why do some dogs mark while others do not? What does it tell us about the dogs, their personalities, temperaments, and social status? It is possible that marking may be a strategy dogs use to avoid conflict. What does this say about dogs who are forced to greet other dogs on a leash without the ability to urine mark?That's a mean and unkind owner's way of stopping them from saying "Hi! how's it going?"

If a dog lifts its leg indoors, clean it up with disinfectant immediately and spray something strong and sweet smelling to hopefully deter them from doing it again in the same spot.  Not as easy as you think, since many dogs will search out their smell and do it again months later.

This 'n that .......... 

With the exceptionally high temperatures and sweltering days, here is a good tip to hyderate your dog in readiness for a long walk. Before you leave the house, give them a bowl of water with 1/4  piece of beef or stock cube crumbled in. Dog will glug it down and they wont be gasping for water after the walk. And no, its too small a piece to worry about the salt intake.

Look at this wonderful sculpture that I have acquired to adorn my garden. I've nick named it "Doris Lay".

Made entirely out of beads on galvanised steel wire, its the most unusual feature to put in your garden or balcony. BBC Gardening World have gone bananas for them and featured them this weekend at the Gardening Show in Birmingham.

My friend, Tracy Ann Neill, mobile beauty therapist, relexologist, manicurist and pedicurist is marketing them from South Africa where she has a friend who diligently makes any kind of creature that you wish.  If you want to know more about them, her contact details are 07958062283/ neilltracy@hotmail.com.
Certainly makes a change from garden gnomes!

Wimbledon is in full swing but without any doubt, these are definitely some of the best ball boys on the tennis circuit.

                                        
The sun is shining, no clouds scudding across the blue sky, the temperture is scorchio for the next few days, so get out there and make the most of the good weather. What's not to enjoy?

                                                              Dawn  ("-")

WHY IS MY DOG MAKING ALL THOSE FRIGHTENING GAGGING, CHOKING NOISES?

There is nothing more alarming than to see your pet struggling to breathe and hearing them make loud coughing and gagging sounds that makes you think they have been secretly smoking 30 fags a day. Of course your immediate reaction is to rush them off to the vet.

Its hayfever. "Nah! I can hear you say,"Don't be daft, dogs don't get hayfever."

Like their owners, many pets are sensitive to airborn annoyances - not just dust, feathers and wool but also to pollen.  They get runny eyes and noses, explosive sneezing attacks, breathing difficulties and itchy throats that make them gag and cough like a seasoned smoker, while trying to clear the sensation. Some of the flat nose breeds suffer terribly and a hayfever attack can make them sound like their air waves are being cut off.  It looks and sounds far worse than it is.

Here are some tips to ease their discomfort.

If a dog is snorting and looks like it can't breathe, put your first finger in the dent of their nose and rub backwards and forwards for a few seconds. This helps to open up the nostrils.

Give them a child's dose of anti-histamine Piriton or similar tablet hidden in chicken or cheese as this helps with the hayfever symptoms. if you are nervous about doing this, telephone your vet and ask their advice.

For immediate relief, dampen a cloth and gently rub over the dog's nose. This wipes off any pollen or dust stuck in the air waves.

When dogs get hayfever, they get itchy and start scratching the sides of their bodies and biting their paws.  They rub their faces on the carpet or on furniture.  Best way to stop this is to dunk their feet in a bowl of cool water for a couple of minutes - warm water will irritate the skin even more - then dry them off with a towel.  You can tell by the look on your dog's face that was the most blissful thing you could have done for them.

Rub a little vaseline around the nostrils to stop pollen and dust going straight in.

If, like me, you loathe anything chemical, then there is the tried and tested, sure fire homeopathic remedy Nux Vomica 30c (available from from of the homeopathic pharmacies, Helios, Ainsworth or Nelsons). If your dog is sneezing frequently, has runny eyes and a runny nose and looks like it has been chopping onions, then 2 pillules of Nux Vomica given during an attack can stop the symptoms instantly.  I promise you it works on dogs and equally well on human beings.

Here's ten minutes of dogs doing silly things that will make you chuckle.

Happy sneezing and start enjoying the promised high temperatures and good weather to follow.

                                                                           Dawn (".")

1,000 fleas a day...... and some remedies to keep them at bay!

                                                        
It is May already and officially Spring has finally sprung?  But unfortunately,  each warm day, brings the dreaded fleas.... and ticks as well.  In next month's blog I will tell you about ticks, how to deal with them and prevent them latching onto your dog.  But for now, let's focus on fleas. I know Ive written about it before but flea time comes around regularly in warm weather.
                                             
How do I know that its flea time? I saw some dogs in the park having a good old banjo playing session! That made me rush home and apply Frontline on my own dog, Candy.

It really must be awful for dogs with flea infestations. Can you imagine how it feels to constantly have bugs crawling across your skin? And to top it off, many dogs are allergic and break out from the flea bites, which can cause stomach upsets, worms and other problems. That is not good news, especially when you consider that just one little flea can lead to a full infestation in 1 week.

Let me explain the flea life cycle and how just one flea on your dog or in your home can multiply into as many as 5,000 in just 30 days. Eueeew! just makes me itchy thinking about it.

Fleas hatch into their life cycle when the temperature is above 70°F and the humidity is high (70%). The breeding cycle gets into full swing when temperatures reach between 70°F and 85°F. An adult flea can lay 15 to 20 eggs in a day. These eggs,  develop into larvae. These larvae then develop into pupae and in 14 days turn into adults. The adults continue to breed rapidly, while the first generation lays yet another group of eggs. Before you know it, there are thousands of fleas jumping around, just waiting to feast on you and your pet.

So now you know:  One flea in your home can become a full infestation. Imagine fleas on your dog, in your carpets, sofas, clothing, and even your bed in just 30 days. Yuck!
One of the surest ways to protect your dog is to treat them with a flea and tick prevention medication and that means weekly applications of Frontline, Advantage and any other topical medicine on offer.

Tip: I give my dogs a garlic pill or Brewer's yeast twice a day in their food (available from Boots or Holland and Barratt) for two weeks. This makes their skin repellent to fleas, who then jump off in disgust into your carpets or floor edging, just waiting for any passing warm blooded body that could be you or another dog.

A dunking in the bath is quite effective as long as your dog enjoys a bath like this dog, who is obviously enjoying its relaxation in its doggy spa. 

Best  tip of all, is to give your dog a good shampoo under a really strong shower jet. I did this with my dog and found 5 fleas were lying spread eagled on the shower floor and all the black nits got zapped off down the drain.

Its a good idea to stock up on Bob Martin's Home Flea Spray. As a preventative I spray along the edge of the rooms, along the floorboards and in the middle and sides of carpeted stairs. It seems to keep them at bay. I also shake out all blankets and beds, place them in the hot sunshine and spray those with the Bob Martin's Flea Spray.
Tip for insurance, I run lavender oil along the dog's back every few days. 
I defy any flea to survive such an onslaught of prevention.  Happy itching!

This 'n that ..........
 
Did you know that a Dogs’ sense of hearing is more than ten times more acute than a human’s so be careful about saying hurtful things about your dog!
                               
That's it for this month. Have an enjoyable May doing whatever it is you plan to do.

                                                                          Dawn  ("-")











WOULD YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STROKE AND AN IDIOPATHIC VESTIBULAR ATTACK?

The most heart stopping moment in any dog owner's life is when your normally cheerful, bustling little dog suddenly topples over, head tilted to one side, eyes darting furiously from left to right, tongue hanging out, drooling, staggering around like a drunk before collapsing on the floor.  When they try to stand up, they stagger and fall again.  The eyes are rolling from left to right and not focused on anything and the dog looks very frightened and frail.   

Vets aren't kidding when they say, "Canine idiopathic vestibular disease begins acutely and resolves acutely".  But to someone who has never experienced those symptoms before, your first reaction is panic followed by Seizure?  Stroke?  Of course your first thought is  Oh! no, please god! no, don't let them die!" then you rush them to the emergency vet and rightly so. On your way to the vet, cradling your dog in your arms, you go through the scenario in your mind and wonder if  maybe it could be an heart attack or stroke.  The vet will tell you by examining the dog, whether it is a stroke or something called an Idopathic Vestibular attack. No one knows what triggers the attack and if it is any consolation, it is non-fatal, non-progressive and very common, especially among older animals.  It is not genetic or gender related nor is it specific to particular breeds

The symptoms mimic a stroke and that's why the collapsing, tilting of the head,  drooling, jerking eye movements and disorientation are often mistaken for a seizure or a stroke. One way of distinguising between a stoke and an IVD attack is the eyes.  In an IVD attack, the eyes swivel constantly from left to right very fast even when the dog is on its side.  (See the little moving sketch at the top of the page.)

Over the years I have owned and also looked after many dogs who have experienced IVD. I have now become an old hand at recognising the signs.  When you get them home from the vets, here are some tips for making their lives  as comfortable as possible to help them recover .....and they will.

..Raise the water and food bowls so that the dog doesn't have to keep bending its neck.
..Keep them calm and as quiet as possible. The less excitement going on aroun them, the better.
..Keep a light on at night as total darkness disorientates them and the panic may bring on another attack. A child's night light is good.
..Massage their neck and shoulders every day or as often as you can.
..Place extra pillows or cushions in their baskets to prop them up.
..If you feed them only dry food, then help to ease the discomfort in their jaw by mixing in some cold chicken mixed in with chicken oxo to give them some gravy. Slurping is easier than chomping on hard bits.
..Hold them up by the middle with a cloth when they are outside doing their business. Sometimes, the back end is weak and they collapse in a heap, making life difficult when doing their toilet.
..Don't pick them up  during or after an attack as this frightens them.  Get the help of another person to hold one end of the dog as you hold the other then lay them on their side.
..Place a non slip mat directly by the bed if they are on a wooden or tiled floor.

Quite often, the vet will proscribe an anti-nausea pill and other medications to help calm down the dog. It must be equally scary for the dog who has no idea what is happening to it. I give them 4 drops of  Bach Flower Rescue Remedy in the side of their mouth or in the food.  It does calm them right down.

Alternative therapies such as Reiki, Cranial Therapy massage and Acupuncture work very effectively.  I highly recommend Peter Arbeid,  acupuncturist and holistic vet at The Kynance Veterinary Clinic kynanceveterinaryclinic@yahoo.co.uk  0207 584 2019.

Homeopathy works brilliantly in helping the dog to get back to normal.  I use Cocculus Indicus (6c or 30c). Give the dog 3 tabs every 2 hours for the first day and then 2 tablets three times a day for five days. You can either crush the tabs and sprinkle it over the food or disguise them in a piece of chicken or cheese.  Cocculus Indicus can be ordered online from the following three homeopathic pharmacies: Ainsworth Pharmacy, Nelson's or Helios.



The most important thing to remember: Vestibular syndrome looks dramatic but the prognosis of this condition is very good and usually has no long term effects on the quality of your dog’s life or longevity.

This and that ............
Did you remember to do something nice for your mum on Mother's Day?
Mums are great. From making sure you never ate sandpit sand or earthworms to hiding the scissors when you wanted to cut your own hair, she's always looked out for you. As we all know, flowers will wither, chocolates may melt and cards are usually appropriated for hastily scribbled shopping lists, but a shout out in an online blog lasts forever. So to all the mums out there, you were right. About everything. Especially the not cutting our own hair thing! If my mum were alive, that's what I would tell her. Make sure you tell your Mum how terrific she is.

Here's a clip to give you a smile. Its not something you see very often.

                                          That's it for this month.  Get out there and start enjoying the joys of Spring.

                                                                                          Dawn ("")

 c

WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR DOG GETS INTO A HANDBAGGING SESSION WITH ANOTHER DOG?  

A dog attacking another dog during a calm and peaceful walk is the most heart stopping moment in any dog owner's day.  The snarling, growling and hanging onto each other's fur is a frightening sight for everyone around.  People shouting and yelling the dog's names, other dogs barking and yipping, merely adds to the excitement of the moment. Then the owners make that big mistake of trying to separate them by grabbing collars. B.....A.....A.....D move!   Touching dogs while they are fighting can result in what is called “re-directed aggression,” and a dog may bite you because he thinks you are part of the conflict.

Here are a few common sense ways to separate two fighting dogs.

1.  Stand back, take a deep breath, stop yelling at your dog, then take off your hat, scarf or jacket and throw it over both dogs.  That immediately disorientates them and the fighting stops instantly as they struggle to get away from the obstacle that suddenly fell on them.

2.  If you have the presence of mind, pull on one of the dog's tails. This distracts the dog's attention and it will swerve around to see what is happening. This will give you time to yank your dog up by the scruff of the neck and get away from the other dog.

3.  However, if the dog is in a scuffle with a proper fighting dog, then you have a big problem as your dog will continue to be attacked while hanging mid air.  If this happens, punch the other dog hard on the nose (and yah boo! to the owner who may start yelling at you).  The nose is the most vunerable part of a dog's anatomy and hitting the nose will stop anger and aggression.   If it still jumps up, get another person to grab the back legs and lift it off the ground a little. Since dogs move backwards, this confuses the attacking dog.

4.   If your dog draws blood or has been injured by the other dog, yell to someone to take pictures. In many cases, owners of attacking dogs will run away and leave you to pick up the vet's bills but keeping a photographic record of the person and the dog will be useful when you report the incident to the police.  Many times they are spotted in another  nearby park and get stopped by the Police.


Bet you didn't know this .......... 

 The Beatles song "A Day in the Life" has an extra high-pitched whistle, audible only to dogs. It was recorded by Paul McCartney for the enjoyment of his Shetland sheepdog.


                                                    Let your dog play. Its good for them!

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

You made it through January and up to now in one piece didn't you?  Good!  Then I will see you in March when the next blog will come out.

                                                           Dawn    (*^_^*)  (text speak for Big cheesy grin)

Happy New Year to everyone!  I don't make resolutions because I can never keep them, but I did ask my dogs for their New Year' resolutions and this is what they came up with.

• I will eat less and exercise more. Too many nights on the couch, too many treats and too little time spent running around the park, has made me flufflier and well, a little rounder.  I don't think using that old excuse "I'm just big boned" works anymore. 

• I will resolve to beg less.
  Ive got begging down to a fine art - they are putty in my paws but, let's face it, begging is a very demeaning habit. From now on, I shall only beg for worthwhile things such as a pizzle ( eeuw! don't ask) or a pig's ear.

• I will recognize the difference between trees, lamp posts and furniture.
  I promise not to treat the walls and furniture in the house in the same way as I do trees and lamp posts.

• I won't bite the vet anymore.
  I know that vets and their staff are just trying to help in their own inscrutable way, but it irritates me when they know how to push my buttons by sticking things into my backside and yanking open my mouth.

• I won't steal food.
  They make it so easy by leaving food on tables and work surfaces but I will definitely resist the temptation.

• I will introduce myself to guests in a more appropriate way.
  In other words, I will focus above the waist, not below when greeting guests. My owner's tell me that my doggy greeting invades people's space.

• I will try harder "holding it" until morning. If nature calls in the middle of the night, I will hold it until my routine early morning visit to the garden, unless special considerations apply.  I will decide what those considerations are.

• I will not bark so much at delivery men,  the postie and the meter readers.  Even though it scares the living daylights out of them and makes some of them leave packages in the middle of the path.   My self esteem gets such a boost when I see them run out of the gate.

• I will restrain myself from chasing joggers and cyclists in the park. In my book, anything that runs so fast is fair game. I am, after all, programmed to chase anything that moves so why not.  This one is a puzzle to me as I am allowed to chase intruders but not these things.

• I will be more tolerant of those home made flea bandanas and awful jackets. Obviously my dear owner has spent a lot of money buying me such things.   I will just have to put up with the sniggers and taunts of the other dogs that I meet.

• I will learn to drink properly from the water dish.
  Slurping from the water dish is very satisfying but it drives my owners mad when I dribble a trail of water across the floor.

• I will respect my owner's desire to be in charge.  I will stop trying to train them to do what I want. My superior abilities make it so easy to be in charge. Its hard to think that an inferior mind thinks they are training me.

• I will not chew shoes, furniture, books and anything else when left alone at home.
  It wont happen if you give me a trip bone or a filled Kong toy to keep the boredom at bay.

• I promise I will not roll in fox poo, bird poo or anything else that you consider to be revolting. This is my primitive urges to hide my smell from hunters.

• I will not drink from muddy pools, although I don't know what the big deal is when I do drink the stuff. It fell from the sky didn't it?
•  
• Here is a little clip of an esiotrot helping out another.  It will have you cheering along with the audience.   Who said they were dim creatures? 

Until the next blog, have a good January and don't get too depressed about all those brown envelopes thudding onto the mat.
                                  
                                                                 
                                                                     Dawn (".")