Poisonous Mushrooms

Part of the backyard stash.

This has been a fantastic year for mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest. Hiking has been wonderful for all the varieties one can see and if you're knowledgeable, great for picking and eating. However, while 'shrooms can kill you if you ingest the wrong variety, they can likewise poison your dog. I was at a recent pet first aid class put on by our local emergency vet hospital, ACCES. The vet tech conducting the class said they have seen a large influx of dogs poisoned from eating mushrooms. 

A local TV station recently posted this article which has some great links at the bottom. Please read the article and check your yard for mushrooms, protect your dog. I removed a large bowl from mine.

Car Travel Safety

I've had my dogs in car harnesses for over 10 years. I began using a walking harness (see this earlier post) and have since graduated to a Bergen harness as I felt it provided better protection, offered more chest coverage and therefore, less impact harm to my pup. Bella is never in the car without being in her harness. But today, I came across an interesting article that relayed test results from different dog harnesses and the Bergen was not a leading contender. In fact, for a 75-pound dog, it proved catastrophic meaning the restraints broke, launching the dog.

With a bit more scurrying around the Internet, I was able to locate the actual study and am linking you to it, so you can see how the testing was done. This is the first time I've read that a study was even conducted. It seems the Sleepypod Clickit harness was recommended in all dog weight ranges (small: 25; medium: 45; and large: 75 pounds).

The Clickits are not cheap, but it could save your pup's life.

Lost & Found

Heaven forbid your dog runs off. As careful as we all are being mindful of our dog's location, things happen. Unfortunately for some owners, their dog take off without the slightest provocation. Lucy was like that. Any opportunity was golden. Luckily, the majority of the times she "left," she went to one of two neighbors who would bring her in and call us. How could we be so careless with her?

For the first five years of her life, she made no attempt to leave our fenced yard. Then, one summer a new family moved in with a passel of kids. It was late June and the kids had gotten a hold of "squealer" fire crackers and were lighting them off in the alley behind our house. Lucy panicked and jumped the fence in fear. Luckily, we saw it happen and were able to race after her. Long story short, once she discovered this access to the world, she made the most of it until we could eventually build a taller fence. She learned to open the gate latches with her nose, so we installed locking handles.

Bella stays close by, but she is a normal dog and an open door is...well...so beckoning. If my husband doesn't pay attention and the garage door to the alley is open, she trots out. Luckily she only goes across the alley to our neighbor's garbage. (Not so good for her tummy and our carpet, but usually we catch her before she devours the pile.)

All our dogs have been licensed. All have had tags. (My favorite tags are Boomerang. They slide over the collar, don't clink and more importantly, don't get stuck on things. Bella once caught her tags in the slit between deck boards. I've used Boomerang since then.) All dogs have been microchipped. Every year when we go for Bella's annual checkup, I have the vet scan her to make sure the chip is still reading. When we travel, which we do a lot, I carry recent pictures of her and her medical records.

But what to do if your pup bolts and isn't found? I came across this article today in the Huffington Post, How to Find a Lost Dog: Things You Haven't Considered, by Nicole Wilde. It covers the basics (posting flyers, walking your neighborhood, eliciting help from neighbors, checking at local shelters), but also covers some ideas I hadn't considered. It hadn't occurred to me to give a poster with my dog's picture and our phone number to the mailman and UPS/Fed Ex guys that regularly drive the area. Wilde also recommends posting the flyer at local vet offices and stores. Again, a great idea. If your dog is hurt, perhaps a good Samaritan took your pup to a vet. Perhaps a shopper at a store you don't frequent, has seen your pup.Not only should you post with local groomers and pet stores, but at any local shop. Take your search on-line. A local dog, Harley, was eventually found after four months, because his owner took every avenue to search for his beloved dog. Don't give up on your pup!

Are You Coming Home Tonight?

Are you coming home tonight? You can 100% guarantee that? What if your car breaks down? Or heaven forbid, you're in an accident? What if you aren't able to make it home and your pup is home alone without access to food or water and no one knows? What plans do you have in place in case you aren't returning soon?

I came across this article today that lays out just this scenario. The author was biking when—whoa!—an accident caused an unforeseen delay in getting back to their pup.

One sad puppy...because you aren't coming home.

In the old days, before our house was burgled, we had a dog door that allowed Lucy access to the fenced yard. This gave us peace of mind for the dog if we were delayed in returning. (Of course, we weren't thinking our delay would be anything but what we had control over.) Luce had water inside and out, so the only absence, besides us, would have been food—and she could have made it for a while with an empty bowl.  (Lucy wasn't much of an eater and would literally go days without touching her food. I think her tops was four days, her choice.)

Today, post burglary, we no longer have a dog door, so Bella does not have that same freedom. And like the author of the article, we never leave the house thinking we aren't coming back. She brings up great points and stresses her plans aren't for permanent contingencies, but a shorter period of time—24-72 hours.

I am a cyclist also and identified not only with the possibility of an accident, but just the fact that "stuff" happens. I immediately checked my phone's ICE contacts and realized the woman who looks in on our house when we travel was not an ICE contact. She is now, as she as complete access to the premises and loves Bellie to bits. I know she would take excellent care of her. Next up, a list where we keep food, treats, poop bags and leash for our neighbor, and vet notification that said neighbor, knowing our desires, is authorized to make medical decisions for Bella, should they be necessary.

What are you contingency plans?

Snail Bait—Not So Pet Friendly

When Bella was a pup, my husband put some moss kill on the lawn. I don't remember the brand, but it had iron in it—and Bella loved it. Her tongue turned orange (which was how I knew she'd been lapping it up). Although she didn't act sick in the least, I took her to the vet just in case. Luckily, all was well and those products are no longer used in the backyard where she hangs out.

Today I received an email via a gardening group to which I belong. In it was an alert about iron toxicosis in pets that had consumed slug bait containing iron phosphate. Symptoms of consumption are typical: lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea.

Although slug bait containing metaldehyde is more toxic, iron phosphate is not benign. If you live in slug country, as I do, battling those slimy garden decimaters is an ongoing job. There are less lethal methods of controlling slugs (beer traps), though they may not work as quickly. However, better safe than sorry with your beloved pets.

You can read the AVMA notice here.

Remember, although a product may be organic or natural, it doesn't mean it's safe when consumed. Be sure to:

1. Always read pesticide labels carefully and follow the directions for recommended dosage. More is not better!
2. If the product is dry (i.e., pellets), don't create bait piles. (If you must, but it in an enclosed container that only a slug can enter.)
3. And of course, store the product somewhere out of reach to pets and children.

ALERT! Dog given away during soldier's deployment

Picture of Oakley

A soldier returns from deployment to find his dog has been sold or given away by its caretaker. The soldier was not informed of this until May, but he states he could have happened anytime between February and June of this year. I've seen this sad news in several different places and on Facebook. This Craigslist ad is circulating through the local dog news in the State of Washington. If you know where this dog may be, please contact the soldier through his Craigslist listing.

Water Intoxication—No Joke

Having suffered this myself, I can genuinely say water intoxication is no joke. I passed out and ended up in the emergency room. They thought I'd had a stroke. I was completely dysfunctional—all from having drunk too much water. Drinking too much water (hyponatremia) dilutes the sodium/electrolytes in your body causing swelling of cells which can impact your brain and other organs in your body.

So when I saw this article stating the same thing is possible for dogs, I knew I needed to address it. A couple of years ago, I think Bella was close to experiencing this. We'd gone to a friend's lake place and Bella was in heaven. Not only was there water to play in, but the gathering hosted nearly 20 people—all of them more than ready to toss a ball for the B-Girl. I was watching her pretty closely and was concerned about the length of time she'd been retrieving the ball in the salt water. Her swimming had slowed down, but not her drive.

Nothing like water and a ball to make a puppy happy, but it
can be a dangerous combination if not monitored closely.

I finally called a halt to the play despite the fact that everyone thought I was over-reacting. It was a good lesson to always trust my gut instinct when it comes to my girl. I am with her more than anyone else and was aware she wouldn't stop until she collapsed. I have never seen her quite so worn out. She was definitely feeling the effects of ingesting a lot of salt water. She vomited several times and had diarrhea—both signs of water intoxication—and her coordination was slowed. Dilated pupils? I don't know. Excessive salivation? That's one of Bella's trademarks.

Luckily, she didn't succumb to water intoxication, but I can attest to how quickly I deteriorated, so I don't doubt it's as fast, or faster, with a dog. So while you have fun with your pup in the water this summer, be mindful. Don't let her stay in too long and be sure to give her plenty of breaks.

Hot Weather, Ants and Dogs

Hot girl-dog starting a hot walk.

The weather has spiked here. It's in the 80s early in the day and mid-90s by mid-afternoon. The older I get, the more I am aware of the narrowing of my personal temperature comfort range. I am not comfortable when it is higher than the 70s. Activity brings on an instant, dripping sweat. Bella is also miserable and seems content to just be on the cool tile floor or in the shade of a palm.

Along with the heat, we've seen an enormous influx of ants—in the bathroom, in the kitchen, around the perimeter of the house. Counters are cleaned several times a day, but still they come. The concrete house is porous and we've found several spots we think are their entry by watching their trail.

The only thing available in our rental was Raid and my husband used it. (Effectively, I might add, but reluctantly.) We were concerned for our health, naturally, but more concerned for Bella. Some of the spray was at her level and we didn't want her anywhere near it.

Our neighbor, a long time Baja resident and knowledgeable ant remover, had the better solution: some liquid dish detergent diluted enough to use it in a spray bottle (which she was kind enough to lend us). Eureka! It stops them dead in their tracks without us resorting to pesticides. We can now go on the attack, without fear of the "bad stuff."

Dog Buddies

I've written a lot about our last dog, Lucy, and her selective friendships. She had a hard time with other dogs and only allowed a few into her life, but she played with none...except Kita. Kita was an Akita mix and she and Lucy were so obviously best friends. They could see across the street to each other's home and when they spotted each other, oh! The volume went up! Kita's owner moved away after a year and Lucy went into a huge slump. Kita was far enough away that get togethers weren't possible.

So you can imagine my delight when I read a story of two stray dogs in Indiana that had bonded, but were caught and taken to a shelter. One was adopted out and lasted with his family only three weeks before he made a ten mile journey back to the shelter to see his buddy. The end of the story is even better. Read it here.

Do you know what's in your dog's dry kibble?

I came across this article today from Reuters regarding contaminated corn in kibble.  Wikipedia states in its description of aflatoxins:

"Aflatoxins are toxic and among the most carcinogenic substances known."

Aflatoxins flourish in dry conditions like the Midwest had last year. In drought years, corn is more susceptible to mold, from which aflatoxin is a byproduct. Many kibble products contain corn. DogFoodAdvisor.com lists a recall of Hy-Vee pet foods from Midwestern states.

Check your dog's food label. Symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning are similar to so many other signs: lethargy, vomiting, lack of appetite, diarrhea—and a new one, yellow tint to eyes and gums.

How Often is Your Dog Vaccinated?

I am not even going to go into this other than refer you to this recent article in Bark magazine regarding vaccination frequency and amount. It is a HOT topic with many pet owners and something my vet and I have struggled with trying to walk a fine line between US and Mexican requirements for pets crossing borders. Bella is healthy and current on all her vaccines, but Mexican law requires yearly rabies shots, where my state has a 3-year interim between boosters.

I spoke with another U.S. vet who lives in Mexico six months of the year. I asked him how he manages his dog's rabies shot. He observes the standard for his state. I have not asked him about vaccinations in general and plan to do so the next time I see him.

Have you talked to your vet about this? What have you discovered?

Hard-Working Dog Honored

I love these kinds of stories. I particularly like them when the animal, in this case, Rusty, the dog, can be honored and is alive to see it, versus posthumously. Not only has Rusty served his community well, but he gets to live out his life with his coworker as a regular family dog.

I wonder if after a life of work, if he'll be bored or able to enjoy his retirement with walks, ball tosses and swims?

Carbs? Low Carb? No Carb?

In the same day, I received an article from a friend and my brother regarding a new DNA study on wolves and domesticated dogs.  My friend sent it thinking I would find it fascinating, my brother because of the last paragraph in the article he sent. The author, Rosie Mestel, of the Los Angeles Times writes in that paragraph:

"Dr. Oscar Chavez, director of the veterinary technician program at Cal Poly Pomona, said the findings serve as a reminder that dogs don't eat like wolves. He said he and his colleagues are befuddled by the trend toward pricey low-carb dog foods and raw diets, which could stress dogs' kidneys with their extra protein load."

I had told my brother I was feeding Bella no grain/high protein kibble and that her coat was glossy, her stools (a dog owner's odd focus), and her demeanor even keel. He switched his young Wheaten to a similar diet with similar results. However with this news, and his understanding that Wheaten's can have kidney issues, he was concerned he might be hurting his dog with the best of intentions.

First off, I recommended he contact his vet and see what her/his thoughts were. I sent an email to my vet (and have not heard back yet), and went on-line to start reading. It seems in a layman's nutshell, the gist of the study was an apparent large difference between wolves and domesticated dogs ability to digest starch. Domesticated dogs have an enzyme that allows for easier digestion; wolves don't have it. (It is worth reading the articles, plus this one also.)

Someone mentioned to me the correlation in humans between a high protein (low carb) diet and kidney function and sent me the link to this article. I am no scientist and don't pretend to be, but found this statement in the Harvard study interesting:

"While the researchers observed that protein consumption had an adverse impact on women with mild kidney problems, the same did not hold true for women with normal kidney function."

As I wrote my brother, the high protein, low/no grain dog kibbles have been around long enough that if there were significant reports of kidney damage, I believe we would have read something about it. I also found it reassuring that none of the other articles mentioned anything about the high protein/low carbohydrate diets correlating to canine kidney dysfunction and that the Harvard article mentioned in people with good kidney function, high protein diets did not equate kidney problems.

My brother's vet did respond to his email and told him not to be concerned. If he wanted, the next time he brought his dog in, they would do a baseline test to measure Murray's kidney function.


My brother will rest easier and so will I. Thanks to all my on-line buddies at Good Paws for their input and knowledge sharing regarding this issue!

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.

Threat of Parvo Closes Local Dog Parks

Last night on the news was an entirely too short of a clip about a nearby city closing its dog parks because of a recent spike in parvo virus. For those of us with dogs—who happened to watch the news—this was a high alert. I recall last year in Baja, the family from whom we rented our house, nearly lost their dog to parvo. Luckily it recovered. However, that didn't stop me from bleaching the tile floors after they left (sans dog) from visiting us. Parvo can be found in the ground, on shoes and on the clothes of owners. The virus can survive not just days, but up to two years in favorable conditions. I didn't want Bella near it, despite the fact she's had her shots.

The city earns my applauds for being proactive and closing their dog parks. It seems vets were aware of this recent local uptick and unconfirmed reports had been linked to the parks. Parvo is shed via a dog's bowel movement and can still be present two to three weeks post exposure.  Just because you dog is vaccinated, doesn't mean he is completely off the hook either. An article in Whole Dog Journal states that even vaccinated dogs may contract the disease, although this is not normal.

Unfortunately symptoms of a parvo infection begin no differently than a myriad of other dog ailments: vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and loss of appetite.

PAWPRINT: This just in from Bella's vet:

We wanted to make sure all of our clients know that there is currently a community wide outbreak of Parvoviral Gastroenteritis/Parvovirus in dogs.  There has been a sharp increase in cases of Parvovirus in the past few weeks and an increase overall in 2012 compared to 2011.  

Puppies are most susceptible to Parvovirus and most die unless they are treated with aggressive medical care.  

With proper medical care, 90% of puppies (and almost all adult dogs) will survive, but treatment is costly ($2,000-$7,000) and many dogs require hospitalization in a 24 hour critical care hospital for 6-8 days.

We are especially concerned that several recent cases in our area have been in adult dogs and well vaccinated dogs.  (My emphasis.)

It is critical to ensure that your dog is current on his or her Parvovirus vaccination!  Parvovirus is part of the DHPP vaccine.  The DHPP vaccine should be given every 3-4 weeks to puppies until they are 16 weeks old, boosted 1 year later, and then boosted every 3 years (or less often if vaccine titers have been performed).  Please contact us to check on the status of your dog's DHPP vaccine and to discuss whether a booster or a vaccine titer may be indicated.  We are especially concerned about our dog patients who are less than 2 years of age, but all dogs may be vulnerable.  

Signs of Parvovirus include decreased appetite, decreased energy, vomiting, diarrhea, and bloody diarrhea.   

PAWPRINT 2: I stopped by the vet's today and she said the dogs that had contracted parvo were young, but not puppies, who had received their puppy shot and first booster. She didn't know why the uptick in parvo cases. I speculate here, but hope it isn't that there is a strain out there resistant to the vaccine!

LA Votes for Rescued Dogs

I came across this article , (published 7:35 p.m., Thursday, November 1, 2012) in the San Francisco Chronicle. The Los Angeles city council recently voted to require pet stores to sell only rescued animals. It was a vote precipitated by the overpopulation and high euthanasia rate at local area shelters. A group called Best Friends has been working for the last couple of years with interested community and governmental figures to enact this. Yahoo LA!

The article states:

“More than 70,000 animals are euthanized in Los Angeles city and county shelters every year—at taxpayer expense,” said [Elizabeth] Oreck, [national manager of Best Friends puppy mill initiatives]. “To continue importing puppies and kittens from mills in other states while we are killing the surplus that are already filling our shelters simply doesn't make sense. Today, Los Angeles took a reasonable and progressive step to addressing these issues in our city.”

[T]he ordinance will not affect responsible, hobby breeders, who will remain a source of purebred animals for those who are not able to find the purebred of their choice through shelters, purebred rescue groups or online databases such as Petfinder.com.

“We are witnessing a cultural shift that comes from true grassroots advocacy in action. It is only a matter of time before there will be very few places where one will be able to walk into a pet store and purchase an animal from a puppy or kitten mill."

Another step forward for animals! The Best Friends website lists several different ways you can become involved (via donation, volunteering or taking political action) to make positive changes in your community.