Tumor Scare at Our House

Two weeks ago today my husband was brushing Ralph when he discovered a big lump on his bottom. We tried to tell ourselves that he had sat on a sliver or something, but that didn't make sense, because it didn't seem to hurt him at all.

So, Monday morning I called the vet... and found that I couldn't get an appointment until Thursday. The week was long, and Thursday was even longer while we waited for news that Ralph had come out of the anesthetic. After knowing of people who died from anesthetic, just the idea of it makes me nervous.

We went to get him and the vet said we'd have the lab results back on the tumor in a "couple of days." OK... so Monday maybe.

All went pretty well the first day, except for worrying because Ralph was completely lethargic. On the second day when it appeared that the pain pills were upsetting his stomach, we decided they weren't such a good idea. He was supposed to have 2 in the morning and 2 at night, but we stopped giving them to him.

I had gone on line and found the same kind of side-effects that killed our dog Harry when the vet prescribed Rimadyl and I obeyed.

That was still OK until late that night. Apparently that's how long it took for that heavy dose of pain medication to work its way out of his system.

About midnight Ralph started chewing on his stitches... not a good thing!

I finally gave him one pain pill and sat beside him, preventing him from chewing, until he fell asleep. The next day I borrowed one of those big plastic collars from my neighbor, but it turned out that one pill at about 10 or 11 at night was the right balance. Ralph stopped chewing his stitches, but wasn't lethargic and didn't have an upset tummy.

We were still worried, and wondering when we'd hear about the test results. Finally on Wednesday the vet called... a benign tumor that probably will not re-occur.

Thank God.

Spring Planting Danger to Your Dogs - Read before you buy mulch!

This has been around before, but since it's so important, I thought I'd bring it back.

It just wouldn't occur to most people that the garden mulch that makes their yards look so nice might kill their dogs!

So... the message from my morning mail:

COCOA GARDEN MULCH KILLING PETS!!

Please share this with all the pet owners you know and ask them to do the same - the information you take a few minutes to share might prevent the senseless loss of other pets.

Over the weekend, the doting owners of two young lab mixes purchased Cocoa Mulch to use in their garden. The dogs loved the way it smelled and it was advertised to keep cats away from their garden. Their dog (Calypso) decided the mulch smelled good enough to eat and devoured a large helping. She vomited a few times which was typical when she eats something new but wasn't acting lethargic in any way. The next day, Mom woke up and took Calypso out for her morning walk . Halfway through the walk, she had a seizure and died instantly.

Although the mulch had NO warnings printed on the label, upon further investigation on the company's web site, this product is HIGHLY toxic to dogs and cats.

Cocoa Mulch is manufactured by Hershey's, and they claim that, "It is true that studies have shown that 50% of the dogs that eat Cocoa Mulch can suffer physical harm to a variety of degrees (depending on each individual dog). However, 98% of all dogs won't eat it."

*Snopes site gives the following information:

http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp *

Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Foreman's Garden Supply and other Garden supply stores contains a lethal ingredient called 'Theobromine'. It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest it and die. Several deaths already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks.

Theobromine is in all chocolate, especially dark or baker's chocolate which is toxic to dogs. Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of theobromine, a xanthine compound similar in effects to caffeine and theophylline. A dog that ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cocoa bean shells developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later. Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cocoa bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine.

Don't Put this in Your Dog's Christmas Stocking!

Following is a press release copied from the FDA website...

If you've purchased Beef Hoof products or pig ears for your pet this season, check to see where they came from...

Pet Carousel Conducts Nationwide Recall of Beef Hoof Products and Pig Ears Because of Salmonella Risk

Company Contact:
Pet Carousel, Inc
800-231-3572

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 9, 2009 – Sanger, CA-- Pet Carousel has initiated a recall of all Pig Ears and all varieties of Beef Hoof pet treats because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The problem was discovered after FDA testing found positive results for Salmonella in pig ears and beef hoof products.

These products were recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect both humans and animals. People handling dry pet food and/or pet treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the treats or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella may experience some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Although rare, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart), arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their health care provider immediately.
Pets with Salmonella infections may become lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets may only experience a decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected, but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed any of the affected products or is experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.

The following products have been recalled: The affected pig ear products were packaged under the brand names Doggie Delight, Pork Tasteez and Pet Carousel
Item No.:


* 18100-P Bulk
* 18016-P 10-pk red mesh bag
* 18120-P 20-pk red mesh bag.


The affected beef hooves were packaged under the brand names Choo Hooves, Dentley’s, Doggie Delight, and Pet Carousel
Item No.:


* 1506-K 5 lb. bulk
* 1507-K 10 lb. bulk
* 1520-K 20 lb. bulk
* 12125-T 10-pk vinyl bag
* 12110-T 10-pk, vinyl bag
* 12111-T 10-pk, vinyl bag
* 12122-T 10 lb., bulk
* 1503-K 3-pk, vinyl bag
* 1510-K 10-pk ,vinyl bag
* 1405-S 5 lb., bulk
* 1408-S 10-pk, vinyl bag
* 1410-S 10 lb., bulk
* 1420-S 20 lb., bulk
* 90058-H Cheese/& Bacon Stuffed Hoof, bulk
* 90056-H Peanut Butter Stuffed Hoof, bulk
* 17005-R Rope toy with Hooves.


The products were distributed nationwide in both bulk and retail packaging for sale in pet food and retail chain stores throughout the country. All sizes and all lots of these pork ears purchased on or after 08/16/2009 and all beef hoof products in all varieties purchased on or after 09/16/2009 made by Pet Carousel are included in this alert.

Pet Carousel has completed notifying its consignees and requested the consignees return affected products and remove them from retail sales. Out of an abundance of caution and concern for public safety, Pet Carousel is issuing this press release to inform consumers of potential risks and to ensure that all affected product has either been returned or otherwise removed from use.

Consumers who have purchased the products described above should cease use and return the product to their place of purchase. Additionally, consumers with questions may contact Pet Carousel at 800-231-3572 from 8:00am to 4:00pm PST.

Could This Have Happened to YOUR Dog?

This is really scary - for dogs, and for humans as well.

An aging poodle, put to bed in her crate for the night, couldn't get out in the morning. Why? Because her belly was adhered to the plastic in the bottom of the crate.

I can't imagine why a dog would be put to bed in a crate with no pad, but perhaps there was a reason. Maybe she preferred a blanket to wad up and she had shoved it into a corner. Whatever the reason, the poor dog was stuck - all because her owner had applied Advantage flea treatment before putting her to bed.

It's all about the ingredients in the flea treatment, as you'll see in this article.

Please read clear to the end, even though it's long. Along with preventing damage to a dog or cat you love, the warning there could save you or your child from a similar fate.

Finding Lost Pets

This great information on finding lost cats just came in from Nicole at Kent County Animal Rescue.

Since many dog lovers also love cats, and since many of the tips apply to both, I thought I'd share...




Less than 2% of all "lost" cats are reunited with their owners. That is a really scary number. Especially considering how easily this could happen. It only takes a split second.

This is why I feel that it is absolutely necessary for every indoor cat to wear an ID Tag. I really believe this is one of the most important things you can do for your cat.

Today, I'd like to give you a few quick tips to help you find a missing pet. But more importantly, I'm also going to tell you what you can do to prevent this from ever happening to you and your precious pet.

If your pet is lost:

* Search the area. Talk to the neighbors and passersby.
* Walk or drive through the area several times daily. Early morning and evening are the best times to look for a lost pet.
* Hand out a recent photograph of your pet and information on how you can be reached.
* Post signs in the neighborhood with your pet's description, a photo, your phone number and information about ID tags.
* Put signs in grocery stores, community centers, veterinary offices and other high traffic locations.
* Place advertisements in newspapers and with radio stations. Include your pet's sex, age, weight, breed, color and special markings.
* The Internet may be helpful in tracking down a lost pet, although its search is wide and random.
* Here's something that can really help get your pet back home to you. The http://www.facebook.com/l/;IDTag.com Pet ID Tag ... it's like an "Amber Alert" for pets. If your pet is lost, they will immediately notify humane societies and shelters within a 50-mile radius, and post a missing pet alert to websites that help find lost pets. This is one of the best pet protection programs I've ever seen.

Prevent your cat from ever getting lost!

* If you have an indoor/outdoor cat, don't leave your animal outside when you're gone for long periods of time.
* If you are gone for a long time, leave your pet with a responsible person or get a house sitter.
* Jot down the numbers from your pet's rabies tag, write your phone number on his tag, and take a good photo of your pet.
* Consider having a computer microchip implanted under your pet's skin. Shelters and veterinary hospitals use microchips to identify lost animals and reunite them with their owners.
* Every pet should have an ID tag. Even indoor cats. If your cat were to ever sneak out, like Oreo did, an ID tag is your cat's best chance of being reunited with you. I recommend the http://www.facebook.com/l/;IDTag.com Pet ID Tag. It has some very nice features including a toll-free hotline for owners of lost pets and the people who find them ... and the hotline is there for you 24 hours a day, 356 days a year. They will also notify all shelters within a 50-mile radius, which can really increase your chances of being reunited with your kitty.

One of the BEST ways to help bring a lost pet back home to you is to protect him with proper identification ... on his collar, an ID tag, or with a microchip.
--------------------

Keeping Pets Safe in Summertime

Summertime poses plenty of threats for our precious pets!

One of them, of course, is heat. We need to take extra precautions to make sure they have shade and plenty of water. And we have to hurt their feelings by leaving them at home rather than letting them go along for the ride if we're doing errands that will take us out of our vehicles where they can't accompany us.

When traveling, we must take care not to get them get lost in strange surroundings. Dogs love to go camping, but can easily be distracted by following a wild animal scent and get into trouble. Along with keeping a close eye on them, make sure they're wearing tags that are solidly attached - and a microchip is a very good idea. (But don't use it in place of the tags... some rescues, veterinarians, and animal control agncies don't scan!)

We also need to watch out for new poison threats. We talked about mushrooms a couple of days ago, but many of the decorative plants (and weeds) around our homes are also dangerous for our critters.

HSUS has posted a comprehensive list of plants that pose a threat to your animals. Check their list to make sure none of the offenders live in the yard where your pets play.

Poison Mushroom Warning

This is scary! I got the following in my e-mail this morning and thought I should pass it along. If you have mushrooms in your yard,you might want to get rid of them... I don't know if it affects only Colorado or not.

Vets Report Dozens Of Dogs Poisoned
Jaclyn Allen, 7NEWS Reporter

POSTED: 4:37 pm MDT July 13, 2009
UPDATED: 8:02 am MDT July 14, 2009

CONIFER, Colo. -- Veterinarians in the foothills are struggling to keep up with the growing number of dogs who are being poisoned by mushrooms.

Because of the history-making moisture Colorado experienced this spring, mushrooms are everywhere in the mountains, and in the last week, Veterinarian Jeff Danielson has seen a drastic increase in mushroom poisonings. Mushrooms, when ingested by dogs, can break down their central nervous systems.

Last year, the hospital saw six cases, Danielson said. In the last five or six days, they've had about three dozen

"It's a startling change," said Danielson. "They're stumbling, falling over, some have full-blown seizures. It can be pretty scary for owners."

Jeff Clark has three dachshunds whom he considers more than pets.

"The dogs are our children," said Clark.

So when Herman, the newest of Clark's dachshunds, got sick Saturday after eating mushrooms from the back yard, Clark called the vet and kept a close eye on the dog.

"About 10, 11 at night, when we all went to bed, he seemed fine," said Clark. "But when we woke up in the morning, he was dead. It broke our hearts."

His wasn't the only sick dog.

It happened to Paul Graham's Labrador, Jasper.

Within hours of showing symptoms, Graham took the dog to the vet for an IV and activated charcoal.

"I knew mushrooms were poisonous, but before this episode, I didn't put two and two together and know that dogs can eat them and get pretty sick or die from it," said Graham.

Since Clark’s dog died, he has taken on the never-ending task of picking mushrooms and closely watching his other dachshunds.

"If you see them do it, don't be like me. Take them to the vet," he said.

Mushroom experts said most mushrooms are not toxic to dogs, but unless you know mushrooms, it's best to keep your pet away from all of them. The problem is not just in the foothills.

A technician at VRCC, an emergency clinic in Englewood, said they have seen six cases in the last month.

The symptoms of mushroom poisoning include acting intoxicated, seizures, running into things, head tilts, staggering, excessive drooling and walking in circles.

Puppy Season - take care to prevent Parvo

Puppies are so cute and cuddly - everyone who sees them wants to touch. But that's NOT a good idea. For the first few weeks, pups have some immunities from mom, assuming that she's healthy. But when they get old enough to get out and romp around, they're in the prime time for catching a disease - and Parvo is the worst of the worst.

If you've ever seen a puppy suffering from this disease, you know. It's something you never want to see again because they do suffer so terribly.

Parvo is a disease that attacks a dog's gastro-intestinal tract and then moves into its bone marrow. When treated at home, survival rates are less than 50%. When treated with I.V. therapy in an animal hospital, survival rates are still only 80 to 90%. Our vet called it "The Meanest Guy in Town."

Spring is a time of high incidence...probably because it is "puppy season" and the young ones are the most susceptible. Add to that the fact that everyone wants to pet a puppy...and the disease spreads.

None of us can remove all chances that our puppies will contract this disease, but there ARE steps to take to minimize the risk.

First, make sure all of your adult dogs are vaccinated, de-wormed, and carrying a healthy weight. The de-worming is important because worms weaken the stomach lining, giving the Parvo virus an easy target. Then, be sure that all your puppies get their first shots at 6 weeks of age. Give another shot every 3 weeks...making sure that they get two after 12 weeks of age. You can take them to the vet, or you can purchase the shots at a feed store or pharmacy and give them yourself. De-worm them as soon as the vet says they're old enough.

If you bring a new dog into your home, especially a puppy, keep it isolated from your other animals for 14 days. That is, unless you KNOW its history and know it has been vaccinated. And, since older, stronger dogs can carry the virus without becoming ill, keep your pup away from older dogs until he's had two shots after 12 weeks of age.

A pup who looks perfectly happy one day can be deathly ill the next - which is one reason why it's so important not to mix litters (as in a shelter) and not to pet a puppy without disinfecting your hands (and clothes) before you go anywhere with other puppies. At the first sign of intestinal upset, get that dog to the vet. If you catch it soon enough, you may be able to save the dog.

Protect All the Dogs you meet...

Humans often spread Parvo without even noticing. By forming some new habits...and instilling them in your children...you can help stop the spread of this dread disease.

First...Wash your hands. Before you touch a puppy... wash your hands. After you pet a dog... wash your hands. You don't know where you might pick up this virus... it could even be sitting on the handle of a grocery store cart...left there by some other customer. So wash your hands!

One significant outbreak of Parvo traced back to kids walking home from school and petting the puppies in yards along the way. They carried the disease along their entire route from school to home.

YES...they're adorable, and YES you like to give them attention and pet them... but by doing so could kill them. Don't.

Next, if you happen to step in a pile... don't just wipe your shoes. Wipe them with a mild bleach solution. If you know you've held a dog with Parvo, bleach your clothes as well. And if you've had a sick puppy in your home, you need to bleach all areas it occupied. One dog rescuer I know had to bleach the upholstery in her car, because she transported a Parvo puppy.

Speaking of shoes, don't leave the shoes you wear "out in the world" where your puppies can get to them. You have no way to know if you've stepped on soil that carries the virus, so just keep those shoes away from the pups.

According to our vet, the only things that can kill Parvo are bleach and hot sunlight. So if you've had a sick puppy in your yard, it isn't safe to put another dog in the yard until after a very hot summer. (There is a product on the market that shelters use - and I don't know the ingredients. I do know that the bottle has clear warnings not to get it on your skin.)

Vaccination is the first line of defense and careful habits is the second. Please use them both to keep your dogs alive and healthy.

Cats are also at risk - not from Parvo, but from kitty diseases. But they're in even more danger because cat diseases are generally airborne. So don't take your new kitten out visiting until he or she has had the series of vaccinations.

"Mad Dogs" get a Reprieve / My guest "appearance"

Summertime - we've all been waiting for it after a long cold winter and a Spring that's been none too warm.

BUT... it makes my dogs mad.

When the thermometer begins to rise it means they can no longer accompany me to town to do errands and get groceries, and they don't like that one bit. So I have "mad dogs."

But today the cool weather has returned - complete with wind that seems bent on beating my poor tomato plants to pulp. So they got to ride along.

Everyone please remember - temperatures inside your car can reach 130 degrees within minutes, so let your dogs be mad. Treat them like you would your small children - if you can't take them inside with you, don't take them at all.

Mad dogs at home are much more fun than dead dogs in your car.

And Now... an announcement

For all you folks in the Phoenix area, I've been invited to be a guest tonight on Fred Haney's "My Doggie Says..." radio talk show on KFNX 1100, from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Mountain Standard Time (which is also Pacific Daylight time).

If you live where you get that station, please join us!

Flea, tick, & gnat Season is Here again

We've all been anxiously awaiting warm weather - and ignoring the fact that with it we get biting bugs.

I've already used Swat on the horse, and am ordering flea, tick, and gnat control for the dogs. I always choose natural products, because one of my dogs is allergic to products like Revolution.

A couple of summers ago we had a flea problem that came from the deer being heavily infested - since my dogs run around in the same tall grass as those deer, they got fleas. Poor little Pepper was the only one to complain - he started scratching, and scratching. So... off to the vet, who discovered the fleas and used Revolution on all 3 of them. Suzie and Ralph were fine - but Pepper kept right on scratching for over 30 days, until the stuff worked its way out of his system.

So, for my guys its lots of bathing with a citrus based shampoo and repellents such as catnip spray and baking vanilla.

I'll never forget the first time I bought a commercially prepared catnip spray - and used it on myself one evening. Later I came to my desk to get back to work and thought it was strange that my cat was being unusually attentive - and then he bit my ankle!

Right now Fetch Dog is running some attractive specials, such as their Hot Spot Shampoo. Regularly $12, on sale for $4.00

Hot Spot Shampoo is a natural, medicated remedy containing Tea Tree oil to provide fast relief from itching caused by flea allergy dermatitis and pollen allergies, while it soothes, heals and conditions. Relieves “hot spots,” and raw, red, inflamed skin.

Also, because they want your business, they're offering an incentive for becoming a new customer:
$10 off $50+ Orders Use Coupon Code: CPA1008

But they're not the only ones...You can also save money on natural flea and tick repellent at the "Only Natural Pet Store" - with this coupon good through May 30:

Have you dewormed your dog lately?

I've been telling you about my neighbor and his new puppy... He adopted her from the local shelter and was so careful about following instructions: getting her there for her follow-up shots, and taking her to the vet to be spayed. But they forgot to mention that they had not dewormed that puppy!

So, yesterday he called in a panic - the puppy had thrown up in her crate over night and there were these huge worms! Of course the vet would be closed on Sunday - what should he do!

I told him he should come over, because I had some dewormer paste he could give her.

When he got here he was waving a sandwich baggie containing worms - just so we could see the things and make sure they really were roundworms. I won't repeat what my husband said when he told him to get those things out of his face.

Anyway, we went on line and looked up roundworms, and that's what they were - and that's what the paste I had was made to treat. But we did learn something - and that is that humans can get roundworms too!

Here's the site where we got our information.

The site and my tube of wormer did disagree on the length of time between doses - so we decided she should have 3, two weeks apart, to get rid of all the undeveloped eggs as they hatched.

As an added note: That site is there to promote a topical flea and worm treatment - and those may be fine for some dogs. Just be aware that some are allergic.

Two years ago the deer had fleas - and since my dogs run around in the same meadow as deer, they got fleas. The vet sold me a topical flea killer, which was fine for two and misery for one. The dose lasts a month, and that poor dog didn't stop scratching for the full month. He was actually getting raw and bloody spots just from the scratching. As far as itching went, he was more miserable from the medicine than he had been from the fleas.

If they ever pick up fleas again, I'll search for a natural alternative.

Some dogs love the snow

Ralph likes to keep a close eye on the neighborhood - and when there's something going on down the valley, the best spot is in the middle of the pasture below the house.

If we'd go for it, he'd lay outside and let himself be covered in snow as long as the temperatures don't fall below about 20 degrees. When it gets colder than that, he joins our short haired dogs in making quick trips in and out!

But... Although he seems to think snow and cold in moderation are just fine, when he comes in he needs that snow and ice removed from his "feathers" and between his toes. We trimmed those feathers this year, just to keep the snowballs from annoying him so much.

City dogs need more than snow and ice removal - if you've been out on sidewalks where de-icer has been used, your dogs need their feet washed with soapy water, rinsed, and dried.

The salt and toxic chemicals that make walking easy for you are NOT good for your dog's feet - and are even worse for his tummy when he starts licking it off. If I lived in the city, I think I would invest in doggie booties.

I've posted a whole article on cold-weather dog care at my Do You Love Dogs site, so if you aren't sure what to do, give it a read.

Good news for military dogs

My friend Ken just forwarded me the link to this story...I think you'll like it:


Military Hospital Opens for Dogs Wounded in War

A great book for dog lovers

As you've noticed, I've been reading a cool book called "Planet Dog" by Sandra Choron.

I just checked and it's available through Buy.com for under $10 - and I paid $14.95 at the store. Just goes to show that buying on line can save a lot of money, especially when you can get free shipping.

Planet Dog is filled with tips, trivia, facts, and fun. For instance, I just learned that an estimated 1 million dogs in the United States have been named the primary beneficiary in their owner's will!

This is a fun book - get a copy for every dog lover on your list this Christmas and they'll get hours of enjoyment from it. That's a whole lot better than a sweater that's the wrong color or a kitchen appliance that means more work!

Just click below, and your Christmas gift giving will be off to a roaring start!


Planet Dog: A Doglopedia

How do dogs get themselves in such trouble?

This week-end I started noticing blood on the floor in the kitchen - and more blood on the floor by the bathtub. Since my dog pepper is the only one who likes to sleep in the bathroom, I knew it had to be coming from him, but why?

I checked his feet - no cuts. And then I made him stand up, and there right on the part of his backside that hits the floor when he sits, was a glob of bloody hair.

With the help of my clippers, I discovered a cut about an inch long - not deep enough to warrant stiches, thank goodness. I treated it with ointment and applied a bandage, which stayed on for perhaps all of 5 minutes.

But why? How does a dog get a cut on his "sitter-down" parts? We don't keep knives embedded in our floors, there are no barb wire fences that he can't run under without hitting the wires, we don't live in an area filled with sharp rocks - I can see nothing here to put a gash in a dog's hind-end.

I guess I'll never know the answer. I'll just be glad the gash wasn't deep and aside from wincing when he sits down, Pepper is none the worse for wear.