DON'T LEAVE YOUR DOG IN THE CAR ON A HOT SUNNY DAY

Here's a salutary warning from one dog who survived to tell the tale.
(First hand advice given by Maggie Johnson Lane of NW6 London (dictated to Dawn)

My name is Maggie Johnson Lane. I am 16 years of age and I have the maturity and first hand experience of a situation to be able to tell you my story with authority. I am a rescue pup second time around. My present owners, Dawn and Richard adopted me after a tragic accident in France ten years ago that left me near death's door. My previous owners were elderly and through a stroke of bad luck, my friend, Scamp and I got locked in the car in France for four hours, in temperatures of 86 degrees
It was hell! I honestly thought that I was going to die in those microwave conditions. I tore off all my nails by frantically trying to scratch my way out of that steambox and the more desperate I became, the hotter the temperature was.  In the end, the french break down service smashed the window and got me and my Scamp out.  I can tell you we were both very poorly, very dehyderated and at death's door. The memory of that experience will haunt me for a very long time.  I  still get panic attacks if I am left alone in the car for more than 20 minutes.

After that fateful day I sort of went looney. I would walk around in circles; I became so bloated that Dawn said I looked fit to burst; my fur fell out in big chunks and left me patchy and looking quite unappealing.  It was decided that the kindest thing to do was to euthanise me.  But my angels were watching over me, because Dawn came to the rescue (she's a healer you know), and she offered to adopt me and make me better. During the months that followed she gave me daily reiki sessions and acupressure.  Those were so relaxing. I slept for hours and each day I became mentally and physically stronger.  I started to appreciate my food and although I couldn't see properly because the trauma had made me  partially lose my sight, Dawn perservered with homeopathy,  large doses of tender, loving care and good food to help me get back to normal.
I am now totally blind but my life isnt so bad as long as I am in familiar territory. I have everything I want. I have my own trolley that the vet calls "the ambulance" because I sometimes have to share it with other old ladies when we visit him.  But the trolley gets a lot of attention in the park from humans and dogs. The humans coo and pet me and the boy dogs pay homage by lifting their legs on it! Its a good way to take the air and make new friends.

My favourite past times these days are eating, sleeping, eating, (in that order), listening to music. My taste is varied and according to my mood, I enjoy a little soothing Poocini, or some rock music - Bone Jovi, Bonio, Meatabix, Muttilica, Macflea and Snoop Dogg Dogg are my particuar favourites. When I had my eye sight, I used to watch a choice of dvds. My collection included Top Bone, Hound of Music, Lady and the Tramp, or the Beagle Has Landed, and occasionally Pup Fiction (too violent for me now). My all-time favourite was The Dog Father.  I could never watch enough of Dogtor Who on telly. I do miss all of that! Occasionally my owner logs onto sites like Pawsnet and Talk to the Paw just to find out what is happening in the canine world and she will read out interesting bits to me.

Keith Butt, my vet at Kynance Veterinary Clinic 0208 589 2019 said I had become morbidly obese due to the trauma of the accident and Dawn tried every different type of food to control my weight and allergies.  If you showed me a tin of dog food I  would gain 5 kilos! Mind you, even if they  had fitted me with a gastric band, I would never have had the will power to say "No thanks but Ive had a gastric band fitted" and will happily hoover up anything edible.  I can honestly say, paw on heart, that my life has changed. I am happier, more secure and the trauma of that accident is a distant memory.

I get showered with gifts  and treats and my latest acquisition is a pink Chewnel bag for all my grooming gear. For special occasions I wear a lovely Sniffany collar and matching lead.  I am also on a sheet of Royal Mail stamps.  When a stamp goes on a letter, Dawn always writes on the envelope "Maggie filling in for the Queen".  I get plenty of cuddles. All in all, I have a lot to be thankful for.

The whole point of my tale is to warn you about the dangers of leaving dogs in cars on a hot and sunny day. I cannot stress enough about how uncomfortable a hot car can be if you are wearing a fur coat. It may only read  2 degrees inside the car but to us dogs it feels like 100 degrees. That's when I start panting heavily, dribbling and getting anxious. Leaving a window open half an inch does no good at all, Im afraid.  If you park the car under a shady tree the sun moves around and within minutes the rays will be beating down onto the tin roof generating heat like a sauna.
I had a friend named Tansy, a little rescue Jack Russell, who died a horrible death from being locked in the car. Her owner did all the right things - big bowls of water, under a shady tree, windows open a little but by the end of the afternoon, the sun moved around and the heat in the car boiled poor Tansy to death. Her distraught owner came back to see her bleeding from every orifice. It was horrible.
So, please ask your friends and relatives not to leave their dogs in a hot car for even 5 minutes because invariably that becomes 20 minutes.
If you see an unattended dog  in a car, in full sunshine, panting heavily, call the Police.  Don't feel bad about being called a stalinist snitch for reporting the owners, that action could save a dog's life.
Lots of licks,
Maggie

Hot, sunny days are forecast for the next few days so enjoy for as long as it lasts, and until the next blog..... enjoy this video of a dog who prefers his pool to be indoors.


Dawn (")

HONEY AS A HOME REMEDY

Is surprising to see how many well trained 'experts'  are dismissive about  complementary and alternative veterinary medicine. Luckily I have several veterinarian friends who  are open minded and encourage home remedies and alternative ways of treating an animal.

Possibly this is partly due to lack of education around holistic remedies. When I first started being a 'medicine woman' 35 years ago I received virtually no training or instruction around complementary veterinary medicine and everything that I know, has been self taught and through instinct and trial,  and used when everything else has failed. 

Luckily these days, many veterinarians are open to alternative medicine and home remedies, but lack of time, and fear of governing bodies not condoning these 'unproven' methods prevents many vets from really utilizing these treatments for their clients. Many of the vets I know are happy to try new things to help a dog get better especially if it works in tandem with conventional medicine.

Let's use the example of something in your kitchen cabinet being used as an alternative to cure an ailment... its not a 'hippy dippy' treatment but one that has proven to work.

Honey. Many people swear by Manuka honey because of its purity but not all of us can or will fork out nearly £10 for a jar of honey to use on the dog, no matter how much we love them. Ordinary honey is just as effective although its best to look for one that isnt a mixture of honeys. 

 

Honey contains many components, and it is very rich in nutrients. Honey is composed of sugars like glucose and fructose and minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium chlorine, sulphur, iron and phosphate. It contains vitamins B1, B2, C, B6, B5 and B3 all of which change according to the qualities, along with copper, iodine, and zinc exist in it in small quantities.

Due to its natural anti-inflammatory effect, it will help to heal the wounds more quickly. It also has different phytochemicals--chemicals found in plants and different foods--that kill viruses, bacteria, and fungus making it a good substitute for wound dressings.

Honey is a natural antiseptic. Raw honey, for example, contains small amounts of the same resins found in propolis. Propolis, sometimes called "bee glue," is actually a complex mixture of resins and other substances that honeybees use to seal the hive and make it safe from bacteria and other micro-organisms.

In veterinary medicine,  honey is used for  a multitude of ailments, but for your own pets, good old household honey is the top remedy for wounds, wound healing, upset tummy, eczema, itchy skin, eye infections, coughs, and allergies such as hayfever  caused by grass pollen or house dust.

Honey to heal wounds
Any wound that has been cleaned can have honey applied to it- typically this would be for speeding up closure of an open wound. It goes without saying that putting a bandage over the wound will stop the honey being licked off!

Honey for Cough
I mix one teaspoon of honey with 1 teaspoon of water and give it to a coughing dog via a needle-less syringe or a dropper. It helps to soothe the dog's cough and give it some relief. I can assure you that it works as I give it to my elderly dog who gets a cough when the weather changes.

Honey for allergies and hayfever.
Honey contains very tiny amounts of pollen. These tiny amounts of pollen are not enough to trigger the allergic reaction in your pet when they ingest the local honey. Each time you dose your pet on the honey, he or she begins to build up a tolerance to the pollen. Eventually, your allergic pet is able to tolerate the amount of pollen usually present in the environment.

You can give your dog or cat 1 teaspoon per 10lbs daily. Do this for 7 days to test the effectiveness. Your dog won't spit it out like it would a pill and will happily lick the honey off a spoon or syringe.

So that's your useful tip for the week.......... in the meantime, enjoy this video. We have all been through this scenario many times?!

Until the next blog, have a nice week.

Dawn (")

PICKING UP AFTER YOUR PET

My favourite  daily rant  is "Why don't people pick up when their dog has done a poo on the pavement, in the park or anywhere that is an open space?"  They come to a park, they can see children playing and groups of people sitting on the grass enjoying the open air and still they will walk away from picking up their dog's mess.

Every day I start my day by getting iritated at my many smartly dressed neighbours  near my home, walking their dogs named Augusta and Titus (oh! sorry, thats the names of their children), on the pavements every day and every single time they will look around  furtively and then leave the steaming pile and walk on.  On many occasions I have said "Here, take a bag," pulling one out of my pocket and  handing it to them. You know full well that they will wait for you to turn the corner and then leave it where it, is or worse, hang it on the park railings. And these are supposedly middle class, well brought up, educated people who would be highly offended if you called them  anything else. When challenged they look at you in an astonished way as if to say "You mean I have to pick THAT up? That's what we pay road sweepers for isnt it?"

The situation is even worse in the many open spaces and London parks. You will see all these smart cars disgorging dogs of all sizes who are set free to run around. Of course the first instinct for any dog is to do a dump. What does the owner do? There they stand,  eyes glazed, bellowing into a mobile phone clamped to their ear, totally ignoring the fact that the dog has done its business. And when you interrupt them to point out what the dog is doing or has done, they glare at you for stopping them from having that all important call that had to be made the moment they stepped out of their car. Yes! Im talking about you, the women who shout loudly into their phones or the Range Rover man who is far too posh to pick up, let alone greet his fellow dog owners.  The joggers are the worst, they leave their big dogs running behind, totally oblivious  to the steaming pile they have left for others to tread in.

Listen up Peeps! its not rocket science to come to the  realisation that if you have a dog, it makes good sense to always have a poo bag somewhere on your person. Bins  to dispose of the mess are plentiful. So what is stopping you?  Its no good saying "Well! I always have every good intention but ....."  That's not a good enough reason for being idle and inconsiderate. If you can't afford to buy a bag of dog poo bags, then grab a handful of supermarket bags. They are free and perfect as a means of picking up after your pet.

There is nothing more irritating than to arrive at a beautiful park on a bright, sunny day ready to enjoy a soothing walk with your happy dog and then to step in a pile of doggy poo left by some inconsiderate idiot, too lazy to pick it up and drop it in the bin.

I am not alone in my rant since all responsible dog owners ask the same question "Why don't they ever pick up after them?"

I have now become one of those fearless women who bellow through cupped hands "Oy You, pick up your dog mess. You! yes, you."  They turn around looking incredulous and say "Was that my dog? Oh sorry!" Pretty soon habitual offenders will get fed up of being challenged and will decide to visit the park in the  dead of night or go elsewhere! Good!

There is a rumour that many of the Greater London open spaces will have a new ruling that will give them powers to issue on-the-spot fines to anyone who allows their dog to make a mess if they are caught and reported. No longer can a culprit who is challenged by another dog owner, sarcastically respond with "You just go ahead and take care of your own dog," or "Prove that it was my dog."
The Dog Stasi will have a field day! We will all have our cameras at the ready for catching the persistent offenders. I cant wait!

Of course the maddening thing about all those non-poop- picker -uppers is that they will spoil it for the rest of us who are responsible and considerate. The authorities will get so fed up of complaints that  they will bring in legislation insisting that all dogs have to be on leads.  No longer will it be possible to let your dog have a free range range run.  And for that we can thank the army of bone idle, inconsiderate, selfish oiks who inhabit this earth.

It  would be a  great shame if that were to happen.


And  now for something completely different to make you chuckle, here's a clip that proves you should never jump to conclusions!

            

Have a good week and enjoy any warm days that may come along.

                                                                      Dawn ("")

THE DICTIONARY OF DOGLISH! (As explained by a dog)A dictionary of dog language compiled with the help of  all our doggy friends so that you can understand your dog's behaviour.

Leash A strap which attaches to your collar, enabling you to lead your person where you want him/her to go.

Dog bed any soft, clean surface, such as the white bedspread in the guest room or the newly upholstered couch in the living room.

Drool Is what you do when your person has food and you would like some. To do this properly you must sit as close as you can and look sad and let the drool fall to the floor, or better yet, on their laps.

Sniff A social custom to use when you greet other dogs. Place your nose as close as you can to the other dog's rear end and inhale deeply, repeat several times, or until your person makes you stop.

Rubbish bin A container with a lid that stands in the kitch and tests your ingenuity. You must stand on your hind legs and try to push the lid off with your nose. If you do it right you are rewarded with margarine wrappers to shred, beef and chicken bones to consume and mouldy crusts of bread.

Bicycles Two-wheeled exercise machines ridden by humans, invented for dogs, to control body fat. To get maximum aerobic benefit, you must hide behind a bush and dash out, bark loudly and run alongside for a few yards; the person then swerves and falls into the bushes, and you prance away feigning no responsibility. People who hate cyclists praise you and sometimes give you treats.

Deafness This is a condition which affects dogs when their persons want them in and they want to stay out. Symptoms include staring blankly at the person, walking very slowly then running in the opposite direction, or lying down. Can be used selectively.

Joggers Use the same method for bicycles but nip them on the ankles as well. You sometimes get rewards to stop you doing this.

Thunder This is a signal that the world is coming to an end. Humans remain amazingly calm during thunderstorms, so it is necessary to warn them of the danger by trembling uncontrollably, panting, rolling your eyes wildly, and following at their heels. You can include howling if required.

Fireworks These sound like thunder but the behaviour pattern you use is to dig up carpets and squeeze yourself under furniture. Trembling and heavy panting works wonders to get you maximum attention and sometimes a special treat of being allowed to share their bed for the night.

Tissues These are delicate, soft white bits of paper that can be shredded and left all over the room. It can take your owner quite a while to clear it up. Such good fun!

Wastebasket This is a dog toy filled with paper, envelopes, and old sweet wrappers. When you get bored, turn over the basket and strew the papers all over the house until your person comes home.

Rolling This is heaven, especially if you are lucky enough to come across a patch of bird poo, cow poo/fox poo or a something that no one knows what it is. The smelliest, gives you the highest  rating in the dog fraternity as they all want to find it and use it.

Sofas Are to dogs like napkins are to people. After eating, it is polite to run up and down the front of the sofa and wipe your whiskers or body clean.

Bath This is a process by which your person drenches the floor, walls and themselves. You can do the same by shaking vigorously and frequently then rushing away and drying off on any clean white fabric i.e sofa, carpet or the pile of laundry waiting to be ironed.

Lean Every good dog's response to the command "sit!" especially if your person is dressed for an evening out. Incredibly effective for leaving hairs on  dark clothes worn by guests. 

Bump The best way to get your human's attention when they are drinking a fresh cup of hot coffee or tea.

Goose bump A manoeuvre to use as a last resort when the Regular Bump doesn't get the attention you require – especially effective when combined with The Sniff in the crotch area. See above.

Love Is a feeling of intense affection, given freely and without restriction. The best way you can show your love is to wag your tail. If you're lucky, a human will love you in return.

Picnics These are open air events when people will insist on sitting on wet grass and spreading food around. Works best if you rush in at full speed, snatch some food and if you have time pee on something as well.. Embarrasses your owner and makes everyone very angry.

Muddy puddles  Invented by God to give a dog maximum enjoyment on a walk. Slosh through making sure your lower end is covered in mud then slurp up some of the water before you are dragged out.

Newspapers Always use the one that the paperboy leaves on the mat by the front door. That's what they trained you to use when you were a puppy..

Visitors Quickly determine which guest is afraid of dogs. Charge across the room, barking loudly and leap playfully on this person. If the human falls down on the floor and starts crying, lick its face and growl gently to show your concern.

Barking Because you are a dog, you are expected to bark. So bark a lot. Your owners will be very happy to hear you protecting their house. Especially late at night while they are sleeping safely in their beds. There is no more secure feeling for a human than to keep waking up in the middle of the night and hearing your protective bark, bark, bark.



Licking Always take a BIG drink from your water dish immediately before licking your human. Humans prefer clean tongues. Be ready to fetch your human a towel. 

 

Football games Played by hairy men in shorts.  Rush in, grab the ball and run as fast as you can. The more they chase you, the faster you can run as that's the idea of the game

Jumping up to say Hello. Most effective if you see a stranger wearing light coloured clothes. They will appreciate your friendliness.

Here is a clip that has nothing to do with the subject of dogs. I just thought  you would enjoy seeing this very talented bird.

                          
                                    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7ht0a2-OnA 

That's it for this week and keep reading the blog.
Dawn (") 

This week's topic is THE DREADED KENNEL COUGH

Another problem caused by government funding cuts to the Royal Parks!



THE DREADED KENNEL COUGH

Your dog has suddenly started coughing with a dry,  "goose honking", hacking, raspy sound that makes you think  that he may have been secretly puffing 40 a day for  many years and hanging out with the wrong crowd. He looks frighteningly ill.  He wont move, he won't eat and he is very listless. And  he may look and act like the dog in this picture.


What he/she probably has is, kennel cough - doggy bronchitis - caused by a highly contagious virus that is easily passed around from dog to dog. (Cat owners will be relieved to know that cats dont suffer from this). It goes without saying that if your dog is coughing and loses its appetite then you must take it to the vet right away.


Here's a simple test used by vets for distinguishing a harmless harump from a possible serious infection like kennel cough.


If you press gently on the front of the dog's throat, just above the collar,  and they go into a coughing fit, this is the sign of kennel cough. The virus irritates the lining of the trachea and any pressure on it, brings on coughing.  If your dog doesnt have kennel cough, however, any gentle pressure on the throat probably won't have any effect.


Kennel cough gets its name from the past when dogs stayed in kennels that exposed them to germs from other dogs that had a touch of the disease. Thankfully, most kennels these days, request that dogs are immunised by a vaccine, before checking in for their holidays.  But in the real world, kennel cough can be caught where there are a lot of dogs, ie the park. It only takes one sniff by an infected dog to pass on kennel cough.


Should your dog get kennel cough, its best to keep it at home for a few days.  It takes 7-10 days for kennel cough to go through the system and in some cases can be very harmful to puppies and elderly dogs so it is advisable to keep away from other dogs until the dog recovers.


The vet will give your dog a course of antibiotics but until they click in, your dog will feel and act very poorly. It will have a hacking cough, dull eyes, look in real pain and not want to move.


Here are some home remedies to make life as comfortable as possible for your dog.  This is what I have found works especially well:  A good 'at home' cough remedy:

NATURAL COUGH SYRUP. Lemon and honey can soothe any sore throat.   Mix 2 tbsp of honey, 1 tsp of lemon juice and 1/2 cup of water. Give it to your dog twice daily, 1 tbsp for an average sized (50 lb) dog, 1tsp for a cat . Homeopathic cough syrups are also very effective. I use pedriatric Benylin as it contains no codein, paracetamol or aspirin and is used on babies and therefore safe to use on dogs.


Buy a bottle of pediatric Benylin and using a syringe (without the needle) that you can get from your vet or the pharmicist, dose the dog according to its weight. Or using a teaspoon, the dosage is 2 teaspoons to a dog weighing 20 Iilos and over, 1 teaspoon to a 10 -kilo dog and 1/2 a teaspoon to a smaller dog. Check with your vet to make sure these doses are right for your pet.  if poochie is coughing more than once an hour than give it  baby Benylin as often as you feel it will help to ease the congestion and let it get some sleep. As with all coughs and colds, night time is bad and this is when the Benylin comes in very handy for giving instant relief. Keep giving Benylin over the days until the cough becomes a heerramph rather than a wheezing honk.


If you have a small electric fan, let it blow on the dog at night as this will stop it getting congested and help it to breathe. Think of how you feel when you have a very bad cold. Dont you sleep better when there is air blowing around you?   If the room is hot and in some cases smoky, this will set off a coughing fit and keep your dog in pain. Let the dog sleep in a cool room with some air coming in.


Take off the collar as this can sometimes make the dog cough even more because its air waves are being restricted.


When your dog is coughing a lot and seems to be very congested, take it for a slow walk outside as fresh air will help to clear the airways, but dont drag them for a a long walk and  over tire them. I watched a woman  one morning in the park, dragging her coughing dog, who looked in obvious discomfort. When I remarked that her dog didnt look well, she replied. "he's a lazy so-and-so who just doesnt want to walk." When the poor animal collapsed she panicked and went into hysterics.  There is no acounting for brainless people! Don't they ever learn to read the dog's body language?  It lives with you 24/7. An animal will always show you that something is wrong with it and its not rocket science reading the body language.


I am a great believer in the power of homeopathy and when my 18 year old blind dachshund caught kennel cough last September from travelling in communal kennels on the ferry from Barcelona to Palma. (You can imagine how many thousands of un-vaccinated dogs had travelled in those kennels.) She was very.very poorly and we really thought we were going to lose her but I dosed her up on Bryonia 6c three times a day for one week.  It interacted very well with the Synulox given by the vet and certainly stopped her coughing at night. 

                              Here's the canine equivalent of "na na na na nah"!

See you next week and hold this thought ....

"You can say any stupid thing to a dog, and the dog will give you this look that says, `My God, you're so RIGHT! I NEVER would've thought of that!'"






Dawn ("-")

DO DOGS SUFFER FROM ACNE?

                                                If your dog gets this expression on its face, 
                                         its definitely time to think about giving up driving.

Yup! Pets get acne too. It's for sure you won't find your dog staring moodily into the mirror with a tube of Clearisil in its paws. Your Basset won't decide to cancel a walk in the park or refuse to eat chocolate because of skin eruptions. But dogs can develop acne that can be unsightly and uncomfortable as it is to any human teenager. Acne can occur in dogs of any age, although it does tend to be most common in the teenage set. For some reason it's the big breeds - Bassetts, mastiffs, Great Danes and their jumbo mates - that seem to suffer the most.

 I can hear the collective laughter and sniggers as you say "What are you on about now? Acne in a pet? Whoever heard of that? 

I'm afraid not many people have thought to lift up their dog's jowls and have a quick look when they have noticed their dog constantly rubbing both sides of its face on the carpet.

The signs of canine acne are rubbing their faces on the carpet, a smell from the mouth area, (it's a different smell to bad breath),  slight red swelling and pimple like bumps that are located on the base of your dog’s mouth and sometimes on the edge of the flaps of the mouth. They also look like blackheads or crusty sores on the lower lip and sometimes a swollen chin.

The causes can be air borne allergies such as grass pollen or house dust, or trapped food that makes them itch. They scratch and this can make the hair follicles  get inflamed and infected that gives them bumps, hormone imbalance, infected skin glands from poor grooming or in the case of jowly dogs like Basset hounds, food residue that has dried on the flaps of the face. 

Who knew all that?

Slobbery dogs  tend to suffer from it and the best solution is to wipe the area with a baby wipe or a wet flannel soaked in a mild disinfectant solution to clear up the infection.

A warm compress used daily after eating will help to remove infection and keep the area free of infection. Think of it as wiping your baby's mouth after meals.

Dogs don't complain that their acne is a social liability as it does for humans, but it can make them feel very uncomfortable. So the next time you tell your dog "Phwoar! you stink!" check out under the flappy bits for acne as your dog will probably not say "'ere Mum, I think I've got acne as my mouth is a bit itchy. Take a look will ya!"

One of my favourite remedies is aloe vera gel rubbed on the pimples to ease the itching and redness and it is not harmful to the dog. If you have an Aloe Vera plant, you  can break off a bit of the leaf and squeeze out the gel or you can buy a tube of it from the chemist. It's magic stuff not only for acne but for other cuts and grazes.

Best to look at the big picture and find out what is causing your dog to suffer the indignity of acne. It will stick around for a few days and then disappear, but if it is recurring, then it may be something in your home environment - household cleaner, fleas, dust, that is causing the problem. Then it's a visit to the vet for antibiotics to help clear up any infection.

Here is an enchanting clip of  Jerry, a dachsie (or Doxies as they call them in the USA) entertaining himself.

See you next week but before you go, keep this thought in mind .....

 If you think dogs can't count,
 try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket
 then giving Deefer only two of them.

Dawn ("-")

WHY DO DOGS CHOMP ON GRASS AND THEN THROW UP?

This week's topic is about the mysteries of dogs eating grass but first I would like to send a special message to Carlo and Hugo. We hope you enjoy your new home in Dubai. With the very efficient help of Shelle Easton of PBS Freight International Pet Travel Specialists, 01293 606903, who worked tirelessly, despite all the holdups from the Dubai end, to make sure they got on their flight, we checked them into Virgin Airlines Cargo at terminal 4 Heathrow at 7.00 pm yesterday.  They were enticed into their sky kennels with tempting treats and then whisked off to Security in readiness for a 10.00 pm take off. The house feels empty without them but they need to be with their rightful owner who is looking forward to seeing them.  Wish that we could have kept them but ......... never mind, we will have many other wonderful dogs that will come to stay and each will be just as loved and given a good time with us.

We invited their best buddies, Alfie and Herbie Molloy for a sleep-over on Monday night and they played non stop on Tuesday until the moment they were put into their sky kennels. This meant they were pre-occupied and didnt have time to follow me around with soulful eyes! But they all knew that something was happening as they went very quiet.

Here is a lovely letter that says it for all of us. The Park will be a very quiet place without you.

 Dear Dawn
Alfie and Herbie have spent the last few hours composing the attached to be read to Carlo and Hugo…

Dear Friends
We are so sorry you are going so far away to live (also slightly jealous of your great adventure).   What we want to say is that walks in Regents Park will not be the same without you (although I look forward to not being the victim of your advances, Huggie: no offence but… Herbie) and we will miss you more than we can say.  We hope that the bones are fully up to speed  and would like to hear your views on camel as they look, from the time we have spent watching Laurence of Arabia on TV, as though the size of a bone from one of them would keep a family of Norfolk terriers in clover for about a week.
We hope very much that your airconditioned garden turns out to be large and luxurious and that everyone who meets you loves you as much as we do and that you make many new doggie friends swiftly.  Please send bulletins to Dawn and Richard (who will miss you even more than we do) and don’t forget your old friends in the Regent’s Park Posse.  We for our part will make sure that the beastly Akita gets the welcome it deserves if it returns from Monaco, and will do our best to keep everyone’s spirits up in your absence.
With love, good wishes, and the promise of a many-boned and biscuited reunion at some point in the future…
Your friends
Alfie and Herbie             

Why do dogs eat grass?

Are you worried when your dog or cat eats grass, then throws up afterwards? You'll probably feel relieved to know that pets eat grass because their bodies need it. Why does my dog eat grass? Is there something wrong with him? These are frequently asked questions and although there are several theories why dogs eat grass, veterinary experts agree that it's just normal canine behavior.


Dogs and cats have been eating grass for a long time. In fact, grass is so popular among dogs that one species, dog grass, is named after them. Dog grass is also known as couch grass, and it grows just about everywhere.


Think of grass as an herbal medicine. It acts as an internal cleanser, expelling excess mucus, bile, and other impurities. It also cleanses the bowels and expels worms. Cereal grasses contain enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Grass also contains chlorophyll, which was used for relieving pain, treating infections, ulcers, skin diseases, and anemia prior to the use of antibiotics. You didn't know that, did you?


Some pet owners grow grass specifically to give to their pets to prevent or treat diarrhea, anemia, cataracts, fleas, tumors excessive shedding, and other pet health problems. Pets that are fed grass on a regular basis are less likely to crave outdoor grass. So, if you don't feel comfortable with your pet eating the grass in your lawn, you may want to grow your own grass for them to eat. Pet shops usually sell small trays that need to be watered to make the grass grow. If you are lucky you might even be able to buy a miniature lawn mower!  Only kidding!
 

There are two schools of thought on this reasons why dogs eat grass. Some people say their dog isn’t feeling well when it chomps on grass but others say, its just their way of eating salad to cleanse their systems.  The reasons are not clearly known but both sick and healthy dogs will  indulge in grass-eating behaviour. Either way, it makes them throw up, usually all over the carpet.

As Marie Antoinette said: “Let them eat cake.” Well! eating grass does them no harm so let them eat grass when they feel like it. Chances are that you may never actually get a complete answer to this, and your pet’s grass-eating habits will remain one of life’s unexplained mysteries. Springtime is popular as that’s when the grass is young and tender and tastes sweet. I know because I've tried it out of curiousity.

Some people think dogs eat grass when they have an upset stomach. Since grass is not very digestible, many dogs do vomit after eating it, but this is not always the case. Some canine grazers show no sign of gastric distress before or after eating grass, while other dogs always vomit after munching on grass. Do those dogs eat grass because they already have an upset stomach and they want to vomit, or do they vomit simply because the grass upsets their stomachs? That's a question with no clear answer.

Another common explanation is that dogs eat grass to make up for a vitamin deficiency or a lack of roughage in their regular diet. It's unlikely that eating grass will actually add any essential nutrients to a dogs diet, and many healthy dogs who always eat a perfectly balanced diet also eat grass.

Most veterinarians agree that dogs eat grass simply because they like the taste, especially the tender young shoots in Spring. Eating grass is not a sign of illness. If, however, there are signs of ill health such as excessive vomiting, vomiting not associated with grass eating, loss of appetite, diarrhea, weight loss, lack of energy, or any other symptoms of illness - call your veterinarian.

Never allow dogs to eat grass that has been treated with fertilizer, weed killers or pesticides and don't let them eat grass where mushrooms might also be growing.

But... As long as your lawn is mushroom free and has not been treated with harmful chemicals, don't  be concerned if your dog occasionally munches on a few blades of grass. It really is common canine behavior.

And now for something cute and very high on the "Aaah" factor!

See you next week


...... and remember, handle every stressful situation like a dog. if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away!

Dawn (."".)