Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Bellie wants to wish you all the best for the holidays and a new year that surpasses expectations. She wanted me to add, she hopes your stockings are full of tennis balls. Ho! Ho! Ho!

Any balls you don't want, just send them my way!

Getting Your Dog Out of a Trap

One of my biggest fears when we're mountain biking or hiking is that Bella, or another dog we are with, could be caught in a trap. I am grateful that Bella stays with us and rarely, if ever, ventures off the trail or far from our side.

However, our friends have a dog they acquired as a stray. This little girl kept herself alive by hunting rabbits and squirrels. The vet said she had had at least two litters by the time she was spayed, so she was also feeding her pups.

She does not stay on the trail. She bolts into the brush at the crack of a twig. I'm sending this article and it's links to her owners. If you spend time in the woods and your dog wanders, please read the linked story. It could save your pup's life.

How Much is Your Pup at Risk

I came across the website this morning and thought it pretty interesting. By clicking on a category (i.e., intestinal parasites), then a subcategory (roundworm) and then the animal (dog or cat), a map of the United States will appear. You can then pick your state, and from there, your county and see what the prevalence is. I can see this being helpful if you are traveling.

Parvo Redux—Good News?

There is a local, excellent, training facility in Seattle called Ahimsa Dog Training. The owner, Grisha Stewart, posted a recent update on the parvo outbreak in this area. She spoke with one of the vets at ACCES, an emergency veterinary clinic in the region. She quotes:

He [the vet] mentioned that the increase in cases was “significant, but it is not an epidemic.” The dogs who were sick were all treated and survived, and they seemed to have an incomplete vaccination history. So the vaccination probably would have protected them.

The good news is that it does not appear to be a new strain, although they are sending the culture out for testing. The number of cases has dropped back down to normal.

You can read more about it here.  Stewart's focus is on her training facility and the health of your puppy—good information wherever you live.

More on the Parvo Outbreak

The paper published another story. It seems that the preponderance of cases have been seen in young dogs, pups really, who have not received their full round of shots. My vet has seen it in young dogs who have received their initial shots (complete?) and their first booster. I think the comment at the end of the article says a lot—parents skeptical about vaccinating their children have transferred that same concern to their dogs. I know I feel "vaccine wary," but continue to have Bella receive all her shots.

The article also said:

"[T]he informal selling and giving of dogs through Craigslist has "definitely" increased the rate of unvaccinated puppies. If there isn't paper documentation that a puppy has been vaccinated, new owners should assume the dog needs to be inoculated."

I am skeptical of dog parks anyway. I've seen too many incidents of people who bring dogs, but do not monitor their behavior (dog fights) nor do they pick up after them (disease). I am leery of dogs who may not have been vaccinated spreading disease, not to mention fleas. Those reasons, combined with the fact that Bella only wants to chase a ball (versus play with other dogs), means we never go.

What is the Difference in Similar Drugs?

I was with my niece today who is a temporarily retired vet tech. I was talking to her about the drugs I have for Bella for Mexico—Trifexis and Frontline Plus—and she asked where I got the Frontline. Costco. Her take was that is was more efficacious to buy via the vet for the same reason my vet mentioned. Her drugs are guaranteed and trackable from the manufacturer. Costco's are not. I don't know that for sure and need to check with Costco to verify.

She also said before she left her clinic (to become a full-time mom), they were seeing many dogs for whom Frontline was no longer effective. Hm. Very interesting. I'll have to check with my vet about that. My niece recommended using Advantix.

So it got me to wondering, what is the difference in these products? I came upon an interesting website that spelled it out. If you're curious, take a peek. I think it's worth it.