GrouchyPuppy® Blog | Dog Lovers Source

Why do we support PAWS? Ask the Vet

Since adopting a dog, and managing her care over the past eight years, I'm aware of how costly veterinary care is and how many questions come up every month or so. Though much of our elderly dog's care is typical, we've had a few surprise vet visits. We do our best because we love Cleo very much and she deserves our best efforts. We're fortunate that we have the resources and energy to care for her, and get her the excellent veterinary services when something comes up.

Given how much we do, and would do for our dog, I couldn't imagine what it would be like if we couldn't.This is one of the many reasons I support Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS). They provide their clients free veterinary consultative services every month. 

PAWS clients are low income seniors, people living with HIV and the disabled. For many, their animal companion is their only family and confidante - their reason to get up in the morning. Like me, they would do anything for their best friend. Like me, they can have questions about lumps and bumps on their pet, skin allergies or maybe behavioral changes in their aging dog. These are all issues I've talked extensively with my vet about.

If you know what I'm talking about then consider lending a paw and join me in supporting PAWS. Read more about this special clinic, and think about making a donation to help them keep programs like this going.

ASK THE VET - KEEPING PETS HAPPY & HEALTHY

More information on Ask the Vet Clinics.

Give a Gift to support PAWS  and vital services like Ask the Vet Clinics.

Gene therapy treats dogs with blindness also helps humans

Via Futurity.org

Dual therapies treat blindness in dogs

Two kinds of therapy may be a knockout combo against inherited blindness. The study focused on impaired dogs, but the remedy may help people, too.

Published in the journal Molecular Therapy, the study builds on earlier work by Michigan State University veterinary ophthalmologist András Komáromy and colleagues. In 2010, they restored day vision in dogs suffering from achromatopsia, an inherited form of total color blindness, by replacing the mutant gene associated with the condition.

While that treatment was effective for most younger dogs, it didn’t work for canines older than 1 year. Komáromy began to wonder if the older dogs’ cones—the photoreceptor cells in the retina that process daylight and color—might be too worn out.

Read the full story

Does research prove we can communicate without words to dogs?

Via The Telepgraph

Scientists prove you really can tell what your dog is feeling by looking at its face

A study has shown that people are able to precisely identify a range of emotions in dogs from changes in their facial expressions.

The research showed that volunteers could correctly spot when a dog was happy, sad, angry, surprised or scared, when shown only a picture of the animal’s face, suggesting that humans are naturally attuned to detecting how animals are feeling.

Dr Tina Bloom, a psychologist who led the research, said: “There is no doubt that humans have the ability to recognise emotional states in other humans and accurately read other humans’ facial expressions. We have shown that humans are also able to accurately – if not perfectly – identify at least one dog’s facial expressions.

Read the full story

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Does Your Dog Eat Healthier than You?

Give Fearlessly | What older dogs can teach a person

National Pet Dental Month and Senior Dogs

February is National Pet Dental Month, and since my mind is on candy, this is the perfect month to remind me about the importance of my dog's dental hygiene.

Know the signs: Diabetic Shock in Dogs

We have a dog with diabetes. She was diagnosed over a year ago. I imagine compared to many, our experience has been relatively easy. We identified the symptoms fairly quickly. Our vet was fast with test results. Her insulin dosage was pretty seamless to adjust. The internet, friends and colleagues are a wealth of resources and encouragement. I definitely felt that we responded to this significant medical change in Cleo more quickly and effectively than our experience with her allergies.

However, for every one person who knows about diabetes in dogs, there are many who do not. They usually say, "Dogs can get diabetes? I had no idea!" That moment can stop you short. It makes me think of the dogs who are discarded at shelters, or whose life is cut short because their person had this reaction.

When your dog is a member of the family, and you fuss over their care the way many Americans do, it is hard to step back sometimes and remember that you are not infallible. Your dog clearly loves you, responding to all the thoughtful care-giving and attention you provide. But unless you are a vet, or vet tech, your training is from the point of view of a concerned and loving guardian. Like most of us.

 

Caring for a diabetic senior dog

Does Your Dog Eat Healthier than You?

My dog's facial expressions can make me do things I know I shouldn't. Her eyes turn into tractor beams and in a moment, I'm leaning over the counter giving her a treat for "being so cute." Cleo is a senior dog, and she has diabetes. I know I need to be conscious of her diet, but sometimes it's hard to listen to my brain and not those sweet doggie eyes asking for a taste of what we're eating or cooking.

“Like people, dogs require a properly balanced diet to ensure they are receiving all of the nutrients necessary for proper health,” said Preston Buff, Ph.D., PAS, Dipl., Chief Natural Nutrition Officer at The Nutro Company.

Did you know that dogs are fed scraps under the table in 70% of households? According to a new survey by the makers of NUTRO® ULTRA™ Food for Dogs, I'm not alone in trying to do the right thing for Cleo's health and diet:

• Only about half (54 percent) of owners say they feed their dog the exact serving size listed on the dog food packaging
• 40 percent of dog owners rarely or never check the ingredients in their dog’s food
• 36 percent of dogs eat dinner when their owners do
• Only 29 percent of dogs follow an all-natural, holistic diet

Read the press release for more details.

Do you struggle with your dog's diet or does your dog eat healthier than you? How do you take to make your dog(s) nutritional health a priority? Share in the comments!

This post is written by a member of the Nutro Knowledge Network.

UC Davis Veterinarians Safe Pets Holiday Tips

 

Via UC Davis News

Veterinarians at the University of California, Davis, offer some helpful tips to keep your pets safe this holiday season.

Items to watch out for:

• Chocolate — Chocolate contains ingredients that can be toxic to pets. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. While dogs are the most susceptible, cats and other species may be affected, too. It is best to avoid letting any of your pets eat chocolate. If they have eaten chocolate and show signs of anxiety, agitation or vomiting, consult a veterinarian immediately.
• Poinsettias and holly — These traditional holiday plants can cause mild irritation to a pet’s mouth and may cause minor drooling, decreased appetite or vomiting. Seek veterinary care if these signs progress.
• Mistletoe — In small amounts, mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal irritation, possibly resulting in drooling, vomiting or diarrhea. Larger amounts could cause more severe harm. Consult veterinary care immediately if your pet has eaten any mistletoe.
• Electrical cords — Pets can easily be electrocuted if they chew through holiday light cords, which are usually thin and not insulated. Respiratory distress is a sign of electrocution, as well as a burn mark across the lips or tongue. Consult veterinary care immediately if your pet has these signs.
• Tinsel — While it makes a beautiful decoration, tinsel can be deadly to your pet if swallowed. It can easily cause an intestinal blockage and leakage of the consumed material into the abdomen. If you suspect your pet has eaten tinsel, and it has a loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea, seek veterinary care.

The best medicine may be prevention. Here is the entire story.

 

 

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Doggie Dental Care | Only the teeth you want to keep

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, approximately 75% of pets over the age of three will experience signs of periodontal disease. When we adopted our dog Cleo, she had a root canal within months of coming home. She was about three years old. Adopting an adult dog, we didn't know her background but since having Cleo is for keeps, it's been important for us to learn about doggie dental care.

Migaloo the rescue lab becomes first conservation dog

It always amazes me how a dog can be trained to want a ball more than a bone, even a bone that is thousands of years old.

Via National Geographic

Since a canine nose is equipped with some 200 million more olfactory receptors than a human's, scientists are increasingly turning to dogs as field assistants to track and monitor populations of wild species.

Such "conservation dogs" can sniff out creatures as small as a lizard or as large as a gorilla, pinpoint where invasive plants are growing, and even guide marine biologists to fresh whale poop. (See pictures of scat research.) But can a dog smell the past?

Australian dog trainer Gary Jackson of Multinational K9 has trained a black lab mix named Migaloo as the world's first "archaeology dog," able to locate bones that are hundreds of years old. He spoke with National Geographic magazine's Amanda Fiegl.

Read the full story

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Cleo's Diabetes Diagnosis | November is Pet Diabetes Month

One year ago we discovered that our dog was diabetic. It was a huge surprise to us. She ate well, we avoided processed people food, she wasn't fat and she got regular exercise. Our early warning sign was her sudden increase in water consumption. 

When she kept up the excessive water drinking so that we were taking her out to pee every few hours, we knew something was wrong. My elderly father had developed diabetes a few years ago, and his sudden increase in thirst had been a big sign to all of us to push him to get tested. The signs of diabetes are similar for pets and people.

Feed your dog using new mobile app

 

Via Mashable.com

Ever wish you could feed your pet from afar? Meet Pintofeed, a device that lets you feed your pet using your smartphone.

Once connected to the wireless network in your home, you can activate the feeder from anywhere using a mobile app. Feedings can also be automated. T

Read the full interesting story

 

Dog's Injury Inspires Oregon Engineer | Creates Vet First Aid Products

 

Healers PetCare Inc.

Via OregonLive.com

Take it from Terri Entler: If you can't find a product that fits your needs, it just might be a sign that opportunity awaits. 

A few years ago, the Vancouver resident noticed her German shepherd's paw pads were severely injured from a summer hike. Seeking to help the healing process, Entler tried applying socks and gauze and fastening them with duct tape, but they came off, got wet and dirty, and stuck to the wounds. She could find nothing on store shelves or in veterinary offices that did the trick. 

Finally, Entler, an engineer, went into her basement and came up with her own solution, sewing an outer layer of heavy-duty netting to a terrycloth lining and securing it with Velcro and a hook. Looking back, Entler describes her creations as "crude," but they stayed on and breathed. Even the veterinary office where she took her dog was impressed, she said. 

Entler turned a need into an entrepreneurial venture, founding Healers PetCare Inc. Its first product, Healers paw booties, evolved from her prototype.

 

Read the full inspiring story

Stand back! Dogs can shake themselves 70% dry in milliseconds

New research into the physics of a wet dog's shake has found that furry mammals can shake themselves up to 70 percent dry in just a fraction of a second.

Via Minneapolis Star Tribune

Furry mammals can shake themselves 70 percent dry in milliseconds. Scientists are using that tidbit to help humankind.

Bonnie Kane spends her days ducking for cover from the wet dogs she washes and grooms at Royal Pet Beauty Shop, her Minneapolis business. After 30 years in the business she's well aware of a dog's instinct to shake when wet, but never thought much about just how efficient the dog's shake is.

"Once they feel the water start hitting them, they generally start shaking, and the colder the water the more they shake," Kane said. "Some of them shake so uniquely. It's pretty funny."

Read the full story

 

Send Us Your Young Adult "Teenage" Dog Nutrition Questions

Do you have a "teenage" dog? We want your nutrition questions! This Thursday, September 13, we’ll be with a handful of bloggers participating in The Nutro Company's NATURAL CHOICE® Young Adult Interactive Chat with celebrity veterinarian, Dr. Jeff Werber.

Dr. Werber on the Dr. Oz Show

Nutro is launching an entirely new pet food specifically for dogs between six months and one year old. As a dog grows from a young pup into an adult their developmental needs change with them. Cleo is a senior dog but some of you may be interested in information regarding this lifestage -- Email me your questions to ask Dr. Werber: grouchypuppy@yahoo.com.

Why Dogs Really Do Feel Our Pain

My dog Cleo has never been able to handle any conflict between people, or sadness. She is a natural at knowing how to console someone, and be a therapist. 

Via Discovery News

Dogs may empathize with humans more than any other animal, including humans themselves, several new studies suggest.

The latest research, published in the journal Animal Cognition, found that pet dogs may truly be man (or woman's) best friend if a person is in distress. That distressed individual does not even have to be someone the dog knows.

"I think there is good reason to suspect dogs would be more sensitive to human emotion than other species," co-author Deborah Custance told Discovery News. "We have domesticated dogs over a long period of time. We have selectively bred them to act as our companions."

Read the full story