The significant health threat secondhand smoke poses to pets is through oral cancer and lymphoma in cats, lung and nasal cancer in dogs, as well as lung cancer in birds.  There is also a strong correlation between secondhand smoke and certain forms of cancer in cats. There are higher incidents of mouth cancer in cats living with smokers over cats living in a non-smoker’s home. Dogs living in a home with secondhand smoke have a higher risk of nasal tumors. This increase was specifically found among long nosed breeds (like me, Golden Retrievers).  Dogs with medium or short noses did not escape, as they showed higher rates for lung cancer!  Typically, dogs affected with nasal cancer do not survive more than one year.

Be aware that animals may also pick up discarded butts off the ground and ingest them. This creates a problem with nicotine poisoning, which can be fatal.

Smoking is also a very costly habit.  Do you know how many homeless animals could be fed in one year if just one person quit and gave their savings to a shelter or a rescue?

I can’t wait for the next one!

Our thanks to her hard work helping to spread the word about what we do.

Special “bark-out” to them, and a a thanks for their gift.

Here’s the scoop on the problem:

• Pet waste can contaminate our rivers, lakes and streams.
• Pet waste contains harmful bacteria such as E. Coli and fecal coliform.
• Waters that contain a high amount of bacteria such as E. Coli are unfit for human contact.
• A single gram of pet waste contains an average of 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, some of which can cause disease in humans.
• Pet waste decays, using up dissolved oxygen and releasing compounds that are harmful to fish and other animals that rely on water.
• Pet waste contains nutrients that can cause excessive algae growth in a river or lake, upsetting the natural balance.
• Pet waste left on sidewalks, streets, yards or other open areas can be washed away and carried by rainwater into storm drains to nearby rivers, lakes and streams and cause many problems.
• Whether in your yard or walking your dog, you can easily do the right thing.  Purchase a “pooper scooper” or simply use a plastic bag.  Many parks and apartment complexes provide special posts with “pet mitts” or bags to help you clean up after your dog.  When finished, just place the waste in a garbage can.  Everyone will be happier when you pick up after your pet!

Did you know that in 2001, there were an estimated 6.5 million dogs in the United States?  That is 6.3 billion pounds of poop per year!

It would take a scoop 300 feet wide and 800 feet deep to dispose of all of that poop!

1. 80% of humans brush their teeth at least twice a day, but very few pet owners brush their pets teeth.

2. Signs of gum disease includes yellow & brown build up of tarter around the gum line, inflammation & bad breath

3. One of the most common dental problems is broken or chipped teeth, some of which is caused by aggressively chewing on hard objects. Older & senior dogs are more prone to have this problem.

4. More then 80% of dogs & 70% of cats show signs of oral disease by age 3, now that’s a big deal in dog & cat years!!

Lucky for us, rain and clouds are predicted for Georgia, so I suspect that we will be smelling flowers soon.

Right, General Lee?

Though many dog foods are similar, you do not want to shock your dog’s system with an immediate and drastic change from one food to another.  Trust me, both you and your dog will appreciate the extra care you take to transition from one food to another.

Canine Core Vaccines

• Canine Parvovirus, Distemper Virus, and Adenovirus-2 VaccinesFor initial puppy vaccination (< 16 weeks), one dose of vaccine containing modified live virus (MLV) CPV, CDV, and CAV-2 is recommended every 3-4 weeks from 6-8 weeks of age, with the final booster being given no sooner than 16 weeks of age. For dogs older than 16 weeks of age, two doses of vaccine containing modified live virus (MLV) CPV, CDV, and CAV-2 given 3-4 weeks apart are recommended. After a booster at one year, revaccination is recommended every 3 years thereafter, ideally using a product approved for 3-year administration, unless there are special circumstances that warrant more or less frequent revaccination. Note that recommendations for killed parvovirus vaccines and recombinant CDV vaccines are different from the above. These vaccines are not currently stocked by our pharmacy or routinely used at the VMTH. We do not recommend vaccination with CAV-1 vaccines, since vaccination with CAV-2 results in immunity to CAV-1, and the use of CAV-2 vaccines results in less frequent adverse events.
• Canine Rabies Virus VaccinesIn accordance with California state law, we recommend that puppies receive a single dose of killed rabies vaccine at 16 weeks of age. Adult dogs with unknown vaccination history should also receive a single dose of killed rabies vaccine. A booster is required one year later, and thereafter, rabies vaccination should be performed every 3 years using a vaccine approved for 3-year administration.

Canine Non-Core Vaccines

• Canine Parainfluenza Virus and Bordetella bronchisepticaThese are both agents associated with kennel cough in dogs. For Bordetella bronchiseptica, intranasal vaccination with live avirulent bacteria is recommended for dogs expected to board, be shown, or to enter a kennel situation within 6 months of the time of vaccination. We currently stock the intranasal vaccine containing both B. bronchiseptica and CPiV. For puppies and previously unvaccinated dogs, only one dose of this vaccine is required (recommendations differ for the parenteral, killed form of this vaccine). Most boarding kennels require that this vaccine be given within 6 months of boarding; the vaccine should be administered at least one week prior to the anticipated boarding date for maximum effect.
• Canine Distemper-Measles Combination VaccineThis vaccine has been used between 4 and 12 weeks of age to protect dogs against distemper in the face of maternal antibodies directed at CDV. Protection occurs within 72 hours of vaccination. It is indicated only for use in households/kennels/shelters where CDV is a recognized problem. Only one dose of the vaccine should be given, after which pups are boostered with the CDV vaccine to minimize the transfer of anti-measles virus maternal antibodies to pups of the next generation. The UC Davis VMTH does not stock the distemper-measles combination vaccine as situations requiring its use do not arise commonly in our hospital population.
• Canine Leptospira VaccinesMultiple leptospiral serovars are capable of causing disease in dogs, and minimal cross-protection is induced by each serovar. Currently available vaccines do not contain all serovars, efficacies against infection with the targeted serovar are between 50 and 75%, and duration of immunity is probably about 1 year. However, leptospirosis is not uncommon in Northern Californian dogs with exposure histories involving livestock and areas frequented by wild mammals, the disease can be fatal or have high morbidity, and also has zoonotic potential. Therefore, we suggest annual vaccination of dogs living in/visiting rural areas or areas frequented by wildlife with vaccines containing all four leptospiral serovars (grippotyphosa, pomona, canicola and icterohemorrhagiae), ideally before the rainy season, when disease incidence peaks. The initial vaccination should be followed by a booster 2-4 weeks later, and the first vaccine be given no earlier than 12 weeks of age. In general, leptospiral vaccines have been associated with more severe postvaccinal reactions (acute anaphylaxis) than other vaccines. Whether the recent introduction of vaccines with reduced amounts of foreign protein has reduced this problem is still unclear. Vaccination of dogs in suburban areas with minimal exposure to farm animals or forested areas is not recommended. Anecdotally, the incidence of reactions has been greatest in puppies (< 12 weeks of age, and especially < 9 weeks of age) and small-breed dogs. A careful risk-benefit analysis is recommended before considering vaccination of small breed dogs at risk of exposure to leptospires.
• Canine Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme) VaccineThe incidence of Lyme disease in California is currently considered extremely low. Furthermore, use of the vaccine even in endemic areas (such as the east coast of the US) has been controversial because of anecdotal reports of vaccine-associated adverse events. Most infected dogs show no clinical signs, and the majority of dogs contracting Lyme disease respond to treatment with antimicrobials. Furthermore, prophylaxis may be effectively achieved by preventing exposure to the tick vector. If travel to endemic areas (ie the east coast) is anticipated, vaccination with the Lyme subunit vaccine could be considered followed by boosters at intervals in line with risk of exposure. The UC Davis VMTH does not stock the Lyme vaccine or recommend it for use in dogs residing solely in Northern California.

Man, that is a lot of shots.  And a lot of trips to the vet.  I am glad I do not remember all the puppy shots.

1. Max
2. Bailey
3. Bella
4. Molly
5. Lucy
6. Buddy
7. Maggie
8. Daisy
9. Sophie
10. Chloe

Interestingly, Spike is not listed. Looks like we need to launch a campaign to name as many dogs “Spike” as possible this year, so that I can lay claim to being on a Top Ten List.

I can not believe that my sister, Molly’s, name is on the list at #4.  I think I am calling “Spike-scrimination” on MSNBC for 2008.

• 4 Rolls of Gauze – For bandaging wounds and creating splints.
• 1 Box of Large Gauze Pads – For absorbing blood. You’ll put these directly on the wound and then wrap the rolled gauze around the gauze pads.
• 1 Travel Size Pack of Cotton Swabs – For applying antibiotic ointment or cleaning a wound.
• 2 Ace Bandages – For creating splints or applying a pressure wrap on a bleeding limb.
• 1 Bottle of Betadine – For disinfecting wounds (no sting) and preventing infection.
• 2 Bottles of Wound Wash Saline – For flushing puncture wounds or flushing wounds near the eyes. Wound wash saline is also helpful in removing debris from a wound when you’re away from home.
• 2 Instant Cold Packs – For reducing swelling associated with an injury or wound.
• 1 Large Blanket – For warming an animal who’s been exposed to cold. You’ll also want to keep a dog warm if he’s sustained serious injuries and is on the verge of going into shock. A large blanket can also be used as a stretcher for a pet. You can also throw the blanket over an injured animal to catch it or to protect yourself while putting the injured animal into a carrier or box.
• 1 Small Blanket – You never know when you may need a smaller blanket too! You can use it as a makeshift bandage, you can tear a strip to create a muzzle – they’re good for just about any emergency situation you encounter.
• 1 Pair of Tweezers – For removing a tick, or removing debris from a wound.

That is a pretty good start, and I do not think even Dr. House would disagree.

So Hollywood, surprise me.  Introduce a dog in the first minutes of a feature film and do not kill him off!

Recently, because of my involvement and associations on Twitter, I came across PawLuxury. Besides providing interesting content in their Twitter stream, the folks at PawLuxury run an eco-friendly dog product e-commerce site. Their products include everything you need for your dog, ranging from treats (YUM!) to dog apparel. I will leave the apparel to dogs like my brother, Tax. He likes to wear clothes while he chases balls, squirrels, or whatever he is fooling around with when he is outside. Currently, I am working on getting Mom to register so that I can just toss items that appeal to me in the shopping cart for Mom to buy. Don’t tell her, but I am planning on getting my own bank account and credit card once I strike it rich.

One of the best things about their site is the inclusion of their four-legged buddy, Lola.  She features prominently, as their resident product expert, personal shopper, endorser, and PTD (pretty terrific dog). It also helps that she is really cute. Maybe I can get her number the next time we send direct messages to one another on Twitter, and we can meet up one of these days. I may be “fixed,” but I can still appreciate female companionship.

In addition to a well-designed e-commerce website, they maintain a weblog that introduces their new products, provides readers with giveaway opportunities, and gives the added personality dimension to the site that you do not find many other places. If you have not checked out the PawLuxury site or their (and Lola’s) tweets, I strongly recommend that you do.

One last thing…  If you are interested in FREE stuff like I am, you will be enthused to find that you can enter a giveaway for some Polka Dog Bakery Holiday Treats by visiting their blog and following the instructions they give to enter.  The only caveat is that today is the last day to enter.  Do not fret, because they have giveaways often.