Category: Health And Wellness

Foods that are Toxic to Dogs

10/12/2014

Test your dog health IQ!
Did you know that the following foods are toxic to dogs?

Alcoholic beverages: can cause intoxication, coma, and death.
Chocolate, coffee, tea: contains caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can be toxic and affect the heart and nervous systems.
Citrus oil extracts: can cause vomiting.
Fat trimmings (in large amounts): can cause pancreatitis.
Grapes and raisins: contain an unknown toxin, which can damage a dog's kidneys.

Hops: unknown compound causes panting, increased heart rate, elevated temperature, seizures, and death.
Iron Supplements (Vitamins): can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys.
Liver (in large amounts): can cause Vitamin A toxicity, which affects muscles and bones.
Macadamia nuts: contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the dog's digestive and nervous systems and muscle.
Marijuana: can depress the nervous system, cause vomiting, and changes in the heart rate.
Mushrooms: can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death.

Onions and Garlic (in all forms): contains sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia.
Potato, Rhubarb, and Tomato leaves; Potato and Tomato stems: contain oxalates, which can affect a dog's digestive, nervous, and urinary systems.
Raw eggs: contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.
Raw fish (in large quantities): can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death.

Tobacco: contains nicotine, which affects the digestive and nervous systems. Can result in rapid heartbeat, collapse, coma, and death.
Xylitol: a natural low-cal sweetener derived from Birchwood that's found in many chewing gums.
Yeast dough: can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.

Think your dog may have eaten something poisonous?
Call the Animal Poison Control Center at 1-(800)-213-6680 or visit their website at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.
($39 per incident fee applies)

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Ball Junkie - Addiction in Dogs

9/28/2014

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What started out as a game, somewhere along the line, has become serious.

“Throw it! You are supposed to throw it!” He’s panting and foaming at the mouth, his body coiled like a spring. He looks at you, then the ball, then at you, then the ball. You toss his favorite toy into the air and he leaps, with a slapping sound he snatches it from the air. An instant later it is at your feet. He looks at you, then the ball, then at you, then the ball… After 45 repetitions, he looks exhausted, but the intensity of his ping-pong gaze begs otherwise.

Where is the line between intense play and obsessive behavior? The reward system in a dog’s brain is similar to that in humans. Dogs can become literally addicted to certain activities much like humans do, often engaging in a behavior long after it have become pleasurable to do so.

Here are some warning signs that your dog may be an ball junkie.

Persistence: If you give clear communication to your dog that playtime is over and he continues to drop the ball at your feet again and again and again or whines or barks incessantly, this is a warning sign.
Stiff Posture: When dogs are in play mode, their bodies are relaxed and their movements are fluid. A stiff posture or tense face may be a sign that your dog is fixated. Some dogs will exhibit tremors, often in the haunches or the lower jaw when they’re really jonesing.
Guarding: Showing teeth, growling, or snapping in response to another dog (or human) taking control of their favorite toy shows that play has stopped and the game has become serious.
Tunnel Vision: A fixated dog only sees the object of fixation. He will not notice the truck going by, or the bird overhead, or the dog next to him attempting to initiate play. He may not notice a sprained leg, a cut pad, or bleeding gums. Some addicted dogs can play to exhaustion or even heat stroke.

What not to do?

Do not ignore the behavior. Without attention, the problem will not get better and can escalate. And remember, it isn’t fun for your dog but acutely stressful.
Do not engage your dog in obsessive behavior with the hope that he will eventually tire of it. This is unlikely to happen and may put your dog’s health at risk.
Do not punish the behavior. Punishment increases stress which often strengthens anxiety making negative behavior more likely.
Do not give in to your dog. Once you have made the decision that play is over, stick to it, even when confronted with those longing baby browns. When they whine or bark, be firm but gentle. It’s for their own good.

What to do?

Give your dog plenty of exercise and provide him a variety of stimulating activities.
Mitigate sources of anxiety or frustration in the dogs environment. Often obsessive behaviors can be a fueled by other stressors.
Stop play if obsessive behavior manifests or play a different game that does not include the valued object.
Put toys away, out of sight, when playtime is over.

Final Note: Each dog’s personality is different, know your dog and consult a certified trainer for advice. I hope these tips have been helpful.

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Freckles on a Dog?

8/9/2014

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Yes. Freckles are common in certain breeds of dog and often become more prominent with age or after a dose of summer sun. Often referred to as Ticking, freckles are caused by a series of dominant genes that effect the melanin production of your doggie’s eyes, coat, and skin.

A Cattle Dog’s roan markings, as well as a Dalmatian’s spots, though technically different from freckles, are also controlled by this T-Series gene.

If you are looking to unravel the mix of your mutt, it may be useful to know that ticking is most often found in Dalmatians, Cattle Dogs, English Setters, as well as many spaniels and hounds. Australian Shepherds, Border Collies, and Corgis are some of the herding breeds that also carry ticking.

Check out some fascinating information on Coat Color Genetics from our friends across the pond.

Final Note: though a dappled doggie can be adorable, if your dog's skin seems itchy or irritated, it can be a sign of something more serious. Some basic information on canine skin problems can be found on the ASPCA website, but always consult your veterinarian if you have any concerns.

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The Raw Food Diet for Dogs

7/31/2014

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Many of my clients swear by a raw food diet for their dogs. They often report that their dog has a thicker shinier coat and increased energy, or that their joints seem less sore after play, or that a pesky unidentified allergen has stopped bothering them. Now, while I can't substantiate all of these claims, I can attest to one thing that a raw food diet can offer: dogs love it!

When feeding a group of dogs, it's a frequent occurrence: dog looks down at his bowl full of bland dry pellets, looks up and glances next-door to the dog with her gushy-mushy bowl of raw food. He looks up and sighs, “man, I want what she's having!”

When house-sitting for a pet on a hunger strike, a tablespoon of raw food is the lord of all enticements. If you've got a finicky pet or if your dog seems bored with the same ole food, give raw food a try.

Keep in mind that some canine stomachs can be sensitive to certain foods or changes in diet, so consult your vet if you have any questions. More on raw food diets can be found here, in an article written by our friends at All The Best Pet Care: Raw Food 101.

Also check out an interesting service from the peeps that inspired this article at Darwin's Natural Pet Products: get a free Menu Consultation for your pet.

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Authors

Aiden Swank
Walker and Blog Manager

Michelle Ranken
Walker and Contributer

Matthew Allan Von Itter
Owner, Zen Dog Walking

Matthew circa 1979

Foods that are Toxic to Dogs

Ball Junkie - Addiction in Dogs

Freckles on a Dog?

The Raw Food Diet for Dogs

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