A Word On Dog Parks

Do you know when is the best time to take your dog to a dog park? When the weather is bad. Here is why.

Dog parks can be a great place for your dog to socialize and have fun. They are fenced in, so you don't have to worry about your dog taking off and getting hurt. They have rules to make them a safe hangout for you dog.

Dog parks are a great idea. But like with all great ideas, reality sometimes fails to live up to the intention.

There are rules but there isn't anybody there to reinforce them.

There is a rule that only friendly dogs should be allowed in the park. However, different people might have a different idea what constitutes a friendly dog. I see it in the park all the time. And sometimes blood is drawn. And even if things don't get that far, you can see the tension among the dogs, and nobody is really having that much fun.

Risk of trouble increases with increased volume. The more dogs there are in the enclosed space, the higher the odds that a couple of them just won't be able to get along.

There is a rule that no toys or food are allowed in a dog park. And yet some people do bring those. And again, it is just asking for trouble.

Normally there is also a rule that the owners should not remain in one place for extended periods of time. This is to prevent dogs getting territorial about the area they 'broke a camp' in. Though in our park, to my surprise, they installed benches for people to sit on. So they sit on them. And guess where most of the squabbles happen?

There also also many people who believe that bringing their dog to the park means they set the dog loose, and since the area is fenced in, there is no need to pay attention to the dog. That doesn't work out that great even for people with extremely friendly dogs. The dogs quickly learn that once they get through that gate, they are on their own and they don't need to pay any attention to their owner either. I often see an owner chasing their dog around the park for half an hour trying to catch him so they can go home.

More importantly though, how can they make sure their dog is safe himself, or not bullying another, if they are not paying any attention? Catching early signs of tension between two dogs allows you to remove your dog from the situation before it turns bad. Or at least you will be there to break them apart when the trouble already starts.

I even saw owners standing right there and yet making no attempt to do anything about it when their dog got into a fight. Sadly, this applies mostly to the owners of the dogs who start the whole thing.

But even in the ideal world of perfectly friendly dogs and perfectly responsible owners, you still want to keep the connection with your dog while in the park. The foundation of your bond is that your dog should always remember that he's there with you. That doesn't mean that your dog shouldn't get to play with the other dogs. After all, that's why you're there. But he should keep a mental note of your presence and respond to your prompts.

When I take my dog to the park, I let him greet and play with the other dogs, but always keep an eye on him. He knows to respond to me when I call him. I might call my dog to me, give him a few pets and send him off to play again. When I want to go home, I just announce that we're going home and my dog goes with me. When I see that he's not comfortable with the situation he's in, I call him and we walk off to a different area of the park. I believe he has more fun this way than if he was on his own, and more importantly, it keeps him out of trouble.

So why the best time to take your dog to the park is when the weather is bad?

On a nice day everybody is drawn from their homes and everybody figures they should take their dog to the dog park. Which on its own is a fine idea. So everybody is heading off to the park, people who take their dog out only on sunny Sundays,  people with dogs who are not really socialized at all. The park is packed and the odds that at least one trouble-maker will be present at any given time are quite high.

If your dog is confident and well socialized, and if you pay close attention to what is going on, you should be able to avoid problems even on a day like that. I do find though, that if there is tension between other dogs it eventually transfers to most of them and they don't have as much fun as they would have otherwise.

The beauty of a nasty weather is that only the most dedicated people will show up. There are only a few dogs in the park, but the atmosphere is completely different. All dogs are relaxed, they play until they drop and nothing ever goes wrong.

While the lower volume of dogs  might certainly help, I believe that the main reason why things are so much different on a day when the weather is bad is that the people and the dogs who go out no matter what are different. The dogs are getting lot of regular exercise and are socialized regularly. The owners that are so dedicated to exercising their dogs show the same degree of dedication with their training also.

And that's what dog ownership is all about. Dedication. Remember, you don't own a dog only on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Jana

A Word On Socialization

Winter Fun: In Better Shape Than Ever

The world belongs to us!

Which of these two dogs is 4.5 years older, had both bad knees, 6 surgeries and 2 near death experiences in the past year?

Stem Cell Regenerative Therapy for Dogs In Canada

If you live in Canada and would like to consider stem cell regenerative therapy for your dog's condition, here is good news for you. Stem cell therapy is available in Canada, in fact it has been available for about two years now.

There are a number of veterinarians certified for the procedure in Canada. You can find one near you here: http://www.vet-stem.com/locatevet/index.php.

If you are in Canada and decide to go with this wonderful treatment, you might want to be aware of the possibility that you could run into problems with customs clearance during the shipment of the prepared stem cell injections.

We had our shipment delayed at customs both of the two times we were doing this procedure last year, and ended up having to pick them up personally to ensure that they were injected on time.

I have talked to Vet-Stem to find out whether the situation has improved since. Vet-Stem told me that they have managed to have deliveries of the stem cells back to the veterinary clinic within their normal time frame of  2 days after fat collection most of the time now.

However, there have been times when customs delays coupled with FedEx delivery times created a one day delay or the need for pick-up at customs.

This seems to happen about 10% of the time, and it happens more with customs in Ontario than in Alberta. The good news is that Vet-Stem has tested the viability of the cells and a delay of one day is not a problem for the cells. However it may be a problem for you or your vet with your tight schedules.

So please be aware that this  might happen, so you can make provisions before hand.

Jana

Stem cells for dogs? Oh yeah, baby.

Book Review: How Dogs Think

How Dogs Think: Understanding the Canine Mind
by Stanley Coren

How Dogs Think is another invaluable book for you if you want to better understand your dog. To get a better idea how dogs think, first we need to understand how they see the world. How Dogs Think will help you learn just that.

What do dogs see? What do they hear and smell? Is it different from our view of the world? And how does that translate into their thinking? Stanley Coren will take you on a journey into your dog's mind.

What about dog's instincts? How do dogs learn?  Do they have personalities? What kind of music do they like? Do dogs dream? Can they count? In How Dogs Think you will find answers to all these questions, and much more.

I couldn't put it down. As I am writing this review I won't be able to help myself from reading it again.

If you really want a deeper relationship with your dog you cannot go wrong with Stanley Coren's books. Always insightful, witty and rooted in his love for dogs, Stanley Coren's books are truly a wonderful way to learn to understand your best friend.

I hope you will enjoy it as I did.

Jana

A Word On Socialization

Proper socialization can be the difference between a well adjusted, confident dog and a dog that is fearful, nervous and potentially aggressive.

While it is best to socialize your dog as a puppy it that doesn't mean than an older dog cannot be socialized, though it can be much harder.

A young puppy is still defining its relationship to the environment, people, other dogs, and other animals, and it will accept new things more readily than an adult dog.

What is socialization?

Socialization is exposing your puppy, or a dog, to as many different things, people, dogs, animals and situations as possible. Familiar things are not threatening. Well socialized dog will acquire a set of social skills and experiences that will allow him to interact with his environment with confidence. Most of aggression in dogs is fear-based.

Within the first six months of its life a puppy should be exposed to at least 120 different dogs and a 90 different people. The numbers may vary depending on the source but the point is that the more different things you socialize your dog to, the happier you will both be.

As if that wasn't hard enough, the crucial thing about successful socializing is that all these encounters need to be a positive experience for your dog. Remember, you are trying to get your dog to develop a confident positive attitude. This isn't usually a problem when socializing to people or objects, but it can be when socializing to other dogs. An encounter with an aggressive dog certainly won't help.

While dog parks might seem like a great place to get your puppy socialized to other dogs, it is important to keep in mind that in a dog park you will encounter all kinds of dogs, and not all of them might have been well enough socialized themselves. Based on my own experience and observation, I would not use a dog park as a place to socialize my puppy. I will take my already socialized and confident dog to the park, but I would not take a socially inexperienced dog there.

It doesn't mean that you won't run into an aggressive dog elsewhere, but the odds of running into one in the park are just that much higher.

So what is a good place to socialize my puppy to other dogs?

It is best to expose your puppy to dogs you know. That is easier said than done – do you know 120 friendly, well adjusted dogs? I don't …

Obedience classes are a great place for safe socialization. A better place yet is your local doggy day-care. All dogs admitted to a doggy day-care are evaluated and supervised by professionals. At the day-care where we took our J.D.  there were 30-40 dogs at any given time.

An important skill to prevent negative encounters on your walks, or in a dog park if you do go there, is knowing dog's body language. If you learn to recognize the warning signs you will be able to prevent social disasters.

Learn to recognize aggressive intentions in other dogs and learn to recognize when your dog is not comfortable with the situation. This way you can remove your dog from the situation before things can go wrong.

Well socialized dog is a happy dog.

Jana

Tail Talk
How To Speak Dog
A Word On Dog Parks

Medical Jargon Explained: Hypo- versus Hyperadrenocorticism

Endocrine glands: Adrenal Glands

Adrenal glands are part of your dog's endocrine system. They are located next to the kidneys, and they produce many types of hormones that are essential to normal body function. The hormones we will be focusing on here are produced by the outer part of the adrenals, the cortex. These are called corticosteroids. Sounds familiar? Yes, that's right, that is what corticosteroid medications are—a synthetic form of one of the adrenal gland hormones.

Aldosterone

Aldosterone is a hormone that regulates your dog's electrolyte levels. It helps control both sodium and potassium in order to maintain blood pressure and fluid balance.

Cortisol

Cortisol is released in order to help your dog respond to stress. Cortisol can affect blood pressure and blood sugar levels, fat metabolism, muscle and kidney function and immune response.

Addison's versus Cushing's

Even though you couldn't tell by their names, these two diseases represent deficient and excess conditions of the adrenal gland hormones. Addison's disease is also referred to as hypoadrenocorticism and Cushing's disease is  can go by the name hyperadrenocorticism.

Because hormones produced by the endocrine system have regulatory function in the body, any imbalances in their Production or release can cause serious health problems.

Addison's Disease

Addison’s disease, or hypoadrenocorticism, is a relatively uncommon but serious deficiency condition during which your dog's adrenal glands produce insufficient amounts of the aldosterone and cortisol hormones.

Addison's disease can be caused by autoimmune destruction of the adrenal glands, or as a result of underproduction of the adrenal stimulation hormone. Some medications can also disrupt the adrenal balance.

The good news is, that like in the case of hypothyroidism, hypoadrenocorticism can be successfully managed with hormone supplementation.

Diagnosis of Addison's disease isn't easy, because the symptoms are common in many other conditions.
Some of the signs are

• vomiting
• loss of appetite
• diarrhea
• weakness
• dehydration
• depression
• low energy levels
• tremors
• collapse

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=608
http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/health/addison.htm
http://www.addisondogs.com/

Cushing's Disease

Cushing’s disease, or hyperadrenocorticism, is an excess condition. Cushing’s is one of the most common hormone imbalance conditions in dogs. It is quite common in older dogs, and the symptoms are often dismissed as signs of aging.

If your dog has Cushing’s Disease, it means that he has excessive levels of cortisol in the body.

It can be caused by some medications, but most commonly it is caused by over-stimulation of the adrenal glands due to a tumor on the pituitary gland or a tumor on the adrenal gland itself.

Because cortisol reduces immune response, dogs with Cushing's disease will often suffer from frequent or recurrent infections.

Some of the signs of Cushings disease are

• excessive drinking
• increased urination
• potty accidents
• excessive appetite
• lethargy
• hair loss
• panting
• muscle weakness
• weight gain or pot-belly appearance

Treatment options will depend on the underlying cause of your dog’s Cushing’s disease and his overall condition. If the imbalance is caused by medication, gradual discontinuation of the drug might be all that is needed.

Pituitary-based Cushing’s disease is usually managed with oral medications, although more aggressive treatment is sometimes needed.  If an adrenal tumor is to blame, surgery to remove the gland may be the best option.

Being forewarned is being forearmed. Be aware of health conditions your dog might face and be sensitive to potential signs of disease. Often, the sooner the problem gets addressed, the better chance your dog will have at living a long and happy life.

Veterinary Partner: Symptoms of Cushing's Syndrome
Veterinary Partner: What Exactly is Cushing's Disease
Veterinary Partner: Laboratory Hints Suggesting Cushing's Disease

Jana

In this series:
Hypothermia vs Hyperthermia
Hypothyroid vs Hyperthyroid
Addison's vs Cushing's
Hypoglycemia vs Hyperglycemia

Did I miss something? Have a question or something do add? Leave a comment.

Don't Go Look At Puppies, Unless You Want To Have A Dog

Word of the wise. Seriously, don't do it. Puppies are just so adorable, the chances you'll walk out without one of them are minimal.

When our first Rottweiler died, it was very sad and heartbreaking. She started having seizures and her nervous system just gave up. We had to put her down.

After that I felt I didn't want to have any more dogs. But I knew my husband did, and it was only a question of time when he would bring it up. I was hoping to extend that time for as long as I could.

One evening he was telling me a story about his friend, who got woken up in the middle of the night by the police, because he was being robbed. Sleeping soundly, he had no idea that the burglars were in his house. Making small talk I said that maybe having a dog in a house isn't such a bad idea after all.

The moment the words came out of my mouth I knew I was doomed. But my husband didn't say anything. I hoped that maybe he didn't catch that.

However, a couple of weeks later he mentioned that there are Rottweiler puppies for sale and why don't we just go look at them. We don't have to get any, we'll just look.

Accepting the inevitable, and still hoping that we indeed might just go and look, I agreed.

Well, we came, we looked, and it was really hard to walk out with just one. That's how Jasmine came into our lives.

Besides them being extremely cute and adorable, the thing that did it for me was their nature. The breeder had them out on a porch in a little inflatable pool to contain them. But they all managed to climb out of it when they saw that something interesting was going on. All except the runt of the litter, who was too small to make his great escape.

When the other puppies noticed their brother having difficulty they organized a rescue mission. Some pushing, some pulling, all working really hard on dragging their little buddy out of that pool. It was the most endearing thing I ever saw. Who wouldn't want a puppy like that?

Today, Jasmine is six and a half years old and she is the puppy of my life. She has her own ranch, her own dog, a crew of vets to help me to take care of her, her own driver and her own maid (that would be me). She's been through a lot in the past year, but always remained as adorable, loving, and caring as she was when I first saw her. We would do anything for her, and she would do anything for us.

As you're reading this, you might be thinking, so what is wrong with all that?

Nothing, as long as you're really ready for having a puppy in the house.

As cute and adorable as puppies are, they'll pee and poo where they shouldn't and they will chew things you don't want them to. They will need a lot of attention. They might get sick.

Unless you're ready for that, it might not end up well for the puppy. I saw a puppy who was tossed in the yard in the middle of the winter. They put out an old mattress out there for him. That was it. Out in the cold—literally.

A puppy needs to be trained. A puppy needs to be entertained. It can be a lot of work.

As puppies grow into dogs it might not get any easier if you don't know what you're doing. Dog shelters are a sad witness to that.

Getting a puppy requires commitment. The rewards will be many. But if you're not ready to commit, please don't get one.

Jana

Related articles:

Jasmine
Why Do We Choose the Breeds We Do?
Outsmarting a Smart Dog
The Many Reasons Why I Love Our Dogs: Loyalty

Medical Jargon Explained: Hypo- versus Hyperthyroid

Endocrine glands: Thyroid

Endocrine glands are hormone producing organs that regulate various functions in the dog's body, such as metabolism, growth and sexual development. Disturbances in production and release of these hormones lead to serious imbalances.

The thyroid gland is located in the neck and produces hormones that regulate growth, metabolism and affect the function of a number of systems in a dog's body.

Hypothyroid versus Hyperthyroid

When the thyroid isn't functioning properly, either too much or not enough thyroid hormone is released, which leads to serious  health problems.

Knowledge and awareness are important to be able to detect early signs of hypo and hyperthyroidism. The longer these conditions remain untreated the more profound  impact they might have on your dog's overall health.

Hypothyroid

Hypothyroid, or an under-active thyroid, is a deficiency condition in which the thyroid gland doesn't release sufficient amounts of its hormone into the bloodstream. This can lead to number of health problems. For example, under-active thyroid has been linked to conditions such as arthritis and ligament injuries and seizure disorders.

The good news is, that once hypothyroidism is diagnosed, treatment is relatively simple and usually very successful. Conventional treatment involves oral supplementation with synthetic thyroid hormone. The only downside is that your dog will have to receive the hormone supplement for the rest of his life.

Alternative modalities, such as holistic or Traditional Chinese medicine, may offer treatments to stimulate the thyroid function. This might work for marginally low thyroids.

Although it can be caused by other factors, the most common cause of hypothyroidism in dogs seems to be the result of an autoimmune disease.

Recognizing symptoms of hypothyroidism in your dog can be quite challenging. Jasmine eventually got diagnosed based on a symptom completely unrelated to her hypothyroid, when we were trying to determine a cause of her panting and pacing episodes.

Some of the common symptoms of hypothyroidism in dogs are

• lethargy
• listlesness
• unexplained weight gain
• cold intolerance
• exercise intolerance
• personality changes
• coat and skin changes
• poor growth in puppies

Hypothyroidism in Dogs
http://petcare.suite101.com/article.cfm/hypothyroidism_in_dogs

Hyperthyroid

Hyperthyroid, or over-active thyroid, is an excess condition. Overproduction of the thyroid hormone can lead to a number of serious health problems.

Fortunately, hyperthyroidism is rare in dogs.

The most common cause of hyperthyroidism in dogs is a cancer of the thyroid gland. Unlike with hypothyroidism, treatment is much more invasive and difficult.

Some of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism in dogs are

• unexplained weight loss
• increased appetite
• excessive thirst
• diarrhea
• hyperactivity
• heat intolerance
• nervousness
• coat changes

http://pethealth.petwellbeing.com/wiki/Dog_Hyperthyroidism
http://www.sniksnak.com/doghealth/hyperthyroidism.html

It is important to be sensitive to potential signs of disease in your dog. The longer these conditions remain untreated the more profound damage they will cause.

Jana

In this series:
Hypothermia vs Hyperthermia
Hypothyroid vs Hyperthyroid
Addison's vs Cushing's
Hypoglycemia vs Hyperglycemia

Did I miss something? Have a question or something do add? Leave a comment. 

Enjoying Their Winter Walk

 

6.5 year old, 100 pound puppy, Jasmine is enjoying her walks.

Just give us that treat already!

Medical Jargon Explained: Hypo- Versus Hyperthermia

Balance is a foundation of a healthy dog, whether it is a balance between work and play, exercise and rest, a balanced diet, or balance within the body itself.

Disruptions in balance can result in behavioral problems or disease.

Every imbalance can present itself as either a deficiency or excess. The above prefixes describe these two extremes. Hypo- stands for deficiency, while hyper- indicates excess. Neither of them is a good news, though deficiencies are often easier to deal with as long as an effective supplement is available.

Hypothermia versus hyperthermia

These are terms we are all familiar with. They refer to abnormal body temperatures. Both severe hypothermia and severe hyperthermia can be lethal to your dog. A dog's normal body temperature ranges between 100.5 Fahrenheit (38.1°C)  and 102.5 Fahrenheit (39°C).

Temperatures below 99 degrees Fahrenheit (37.2°C) and temperatures above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40°C) are considered extremely serious and your should bring your dog to a veterinarian immediately.

Of course, if your dog is acting abnormally, you should take him to the veterinarian regardless of what the thermometer reads.

When your dog's body temperature drops below normal, it is referred to as hypothermia. This can occur as a result of prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. Remember that damp or windy conditions make cold conditions even more dangerous for dogs. Severe hypothermia can lead to death. The good news is that with a little common sense and diligence environmental hypothermia  is easy to prevent.

Some breeds are more sensitive to cold temperatures, particularly small dogs and dogs with a single coat.

Dogs that are suffering from severe illness (e.g., kidney failure) may also develop hypothermia, even if the air temperature is warm.

Symptoms of hypothermia are

• shivering, although shivering stops when hypothermia becomes very severe
• lethargy
• muscle stiffness
• lack of co-ordination
• low heart and breathing rates
• fixed and dilated pupils
• collapse
• coma

http://www.dogtopics.com/163/hypothermia-and-frostbite-in-dogs/

Hyperthermia/heatstroke on the other hand refers to body temperatures above the normal range.

There are many horror stories about dogs suffering extreme hyperthermia when left alone in a car. The outside temperature doesn't even have to be that high for the interior temperature to rise enough to harm your dog. Please keep that in mind and do not leave your dog in a car unattended.

However, even when your dog is outside, a combination of hot weather, exercise and dehydration can lead to a heatstroke.

Some breeds such as bulldogs, pugs and boxers are particularly at high risk of heatstroke because of an inability to pant effectively.

There are other causes of hyperthermia in dogs, including drugs. Jasmine suffered bad hyperthermia as a result of a reaction to a Buprenorphine injection. Her temperature shot up to 42.5°C within minutes. Even though immediate steps were taken to get her temperature back down, she suffered damage to the platelets in her blood and to her muscles. She was in such bad shape that she wasn't able to get up or walk on her own for a week. This is how bad even short term hyperthermia can be.

Symptoms of hyperthermia are

• Rapid panting
• Bright red, purple or Blue mucous membranes (e.g., the gums)
• Thick, sticky saliva 
• Drooling
• Depression
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Shock
• Coma

http://www.medicinenet.com/pets/dog-health/heat_stroke_and_dehydration_in_dogs.htm
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1683&aid=1683

First aid steps are quite logical. Warm the hypothermic dog and cool the dog suffering from heatstroke. Both severe hypothermia and severe hyperthermia are emergency situations and require immediate medical care so it is best to provide first aid as you are transporting your dog to a veterinary hospital.

To warm a hypothermic dog, move him to a warm  area, lay him on and cover him with blankets that have been warmed in a dryer first if possible.  Place a hot water bottle or two under the blankets next to his body, but make sure they bottles are not so hot that they could cause burns.

To cool a hyperthermic dog, move him to a cool and shaded environment and direct a fan over his body.  Spray cool (not cold) water or rubbing alcohol on sparsely haired parts of the body (e.g., foot pads, armpits and groin). Do not use ice or ice water to cool a hyperthermic dog.

Remember, the best treatment is prevention. Keep an eye on your dog and save yourself the heartbreak.

Jana

In this series:
Hypothermia vs Hyperthermia
Hypothyroid vs Hyperthyroid
Addison's vs Cushing's
Hypoglycemia vs Hyperglycemia

Did I miss something? Have a question or something do add? Leave a comment. 

Why Do We Choose The Breeds We Do?

According to psychological studies, there seems to be a close correlation between our personality and the breed of dog we are most likely to choose.

There also seems to be some evidence that links high risk breeds, such as Akitas, Dobermans, Pit Bulls or Rottweilers to high risk owners.

I am not debating the results of the studies. My question is whether these breeds truly are inherently high risk, or whether it is a result of negative social exposure and poor breeding practices?

The breeder we got our last Rottweiler puppy from wanted to know what kind of people we were, and mentioned that she had a number of people asking for the biggest and meanest dog she had. What destiny would those puppies be headed for if she sold them to those people? And could the dogs have been blamed for what they might have become?

Rottweilers are one of the breeds with a bad reputation and we would have never considered getting one, if it wasn't for Roxy.

It was a dreary day about 20 years ago. My husband, who was a truck driver at the time, pulled into a gas station in Emlenton, Pennsylvania. A guy approached him, trying to sell a Rottweiler puppy for gas money. With a rope tied around her neck, filthy, skin and bones, with milky eyes, she wouldn't even lift her head.

My husband spent most of his life in the truck and was not planning on getting a dog. But she looked so pitiful, he couldn't leave her to her destiny.

“Listen,” he said,
“I don't have the money you're asking. I have fifty dollars. Take the money and give me the dog.”
He grabbed the dog and wasn't going to argue about it.

She was about 4 moths old, severely under-nourished and full of parasites. The plan was to give her some immediate care and find a good home for her.

But by the time he got her back on her feet, they bonded so closely, that he decided to keep her after all. He named her Roxy, because she liked fetching rocks. And that was his first Rottweiler. She traveled with him everywhere he went.

When I met my husband, Roxy was 5 years old, and they were best friends. Before we started seriously dating, I had to undergo the 'dog approval test'. He told me he wanted me to meet his dog. But as I found out later, what he really wanted was her opinion of me.

I passed, and we have been married for 13 years now.

After we shared our lives with Roxy, we fell in love with the breed. She was a gentle, loyal and loving dog. We had Rottweilers ever since, and can't say enough good things about them.

They are great with kids. They are active and playful on their walks and calm and relaxed at home.They are great with other animals. Horses love them. And Jasmine has enough charm to prevent a skunk from spraying her--three times--in spite of her attempts to get him to play with her.

Would Rottweiler be our breed of choice if it wasn't for Roxy? Most likely not. But because of Roxy we learned that all these gentle giants really want is a loving family.

If you choose your breeder carefully and treat them well, there is no breed as gentle and loyal as a Rottweiler.

Jana

Related articles:
Jasmine

Don't Go Look At Puppies, Unless You Want To Have A Dog
Outsmarting a Smart Dog
The Many Reasons Why I Love Our Dogs: Loyalty

Chasing Her Buddy Again

 

Six surgeries, two near death experiences and a year later, Jasmine is chasing her buddy again.

ACL Injuries in Dogs: Non-Surgical Alternatives?

Did your dog suffer an ACL injury? If you are anything like I was, you are searching high and low for a non-surgical solution.

Your options will depend on the severity of the injury. There is a chance that partial tears can respond to a non-surgical treatment. Once the ligament is fully torn, I believe that surgery is the only effective solution.

At the time of diagnosis, we were dealing with a partial tear in Jasmine's left knee, and a small partial tear (or stretched ligament) in her right knee.

Our motivation had nothing to do with the cost, althought the ACL surgeries are quite expensive. We just wanted our Jasmine to get well as fast as possible, with as little trauma as possible.

We found the popular TPLO and TTA surgeries very invasive and the recovery time very long. Particularly since the prognosis was that she'd have to have surgery for both knees.

We were desperately searching for another solution.

There indeed are some non-surgical options to ACL injuries. But while I don't want to shatter your hopes, I believe that the odds of successfully getting your dog's knee healed and working well without any surgery at all are rather slim.

Restricted exercise and spontaneous healing

Yes, I also read that a knee with a partial tear can heal in some dogs on its own, just with restricted exercise.

The evidence is suggesting that Jasmine already did have her knee ligaments injured in the past. But it went undiagnosed. After a long time of controlled exercise the lameness had resolved. We have been through that twice, once for each knee. Both times it took about 5 months for the lameness to resolve. That is not really any less than the post-op recovery.

She was still quite young and had the best chance of healing. However, last year her ligaments failed once more, one after another, which suggests that the healing was not adequate.

This time, armed with a firm diagnosis, we were still hoping that we might find a solution that didn't require an invasive surgery.

Braces

First thing we considered were braces. The idea was for the knees to heal while Jasmine still could enjoy her life a much as possible. But the odds were that she would have to wear them every time she would go on a longer walk or was being more active, even after the healing period was over. We felt that she was too young for that.

There are many types of knee braces available now. I don't believe it is a solution for a young active dog. But it will provide great help to an older dog, and might provide assistance if opting for prolotherapy or stem cell regenerative therapy treatments.

Prolotherapy

First promising option we learned about was prolotherapy. Prolotherapy is a possibility to consider when dealing with a partial tear, particularly if your dog is older or could not undergo anesthesia.

Stem cell regenerative therapy

Stem cell regenerative therapy is a relatively new treatment. It is successfully used to treat arthritis and other degenerative conditions, and orthopedic injuries in dogs with very exciting results. This one however does require a minor surgery to harvest the stem cells and anesthesia for both the harvesting and the injection of the stem cells.

Can stem cell regenerative therapy or prolotherapy heal ruptured ACL?

When dealing with an ACL injury, there are many variables that will determine whether the prolotheapy or stem cell treatment will be successful for your dog. It will treat the resulting arthritis. But whether or not it will actually help the knee stability depends on number of factors, most of which are hard to determine.

I believe that under some circumstances the knee can be healed using non-surgical methods, but it is a gamble whether or not it will work in your particular situation.

For best possible results it is a good idea to combine these methods with some type of stabilization (such as a knee brace) of the leg and physical therapy.

We did decide to pursue the stem cell regenerative therapy for Jasmine. But the day before her consultation her left ACL gave out completely and that ruled out non-surgical approach. We however still did combine the surgery with the stem cell injections into both knees, to assist the post-operative recovery and hoping to save the right knee. It looked very hopeful. But three months later her right ACL also failed.

To operate or not to operate?

I am a big proponent of non-invasive solutions. But after all our own research and experiences, I say operate. If you have a young dog, surgical repair is the most reliable means of dealing with an ACL injury. You don't want it to come back and haunt you. It will give your dog the best chance for a full active life.

If you have an older, less active dog, then considering non-surgical approach makes sense.

Jana

Talk to me about ACL injuries
Stem Cells for Dogs 
ACL Injuries in Dogs and Stem Cell Regenerative Therapy 
Prolotherapy: Forerunner to Stem Cell Regenerative Treatment?

Book Review: The Other End Of The Leash

The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs
by Patricia B. McConnel, Ph.D.

The Other End of the Leash is a pearl among books on dog (and human) communication. What makes this one unique is that it ponders the differences between human and canine instinctual behaviors, and how this culture clash can complicate our dialog with dogs. We are often unaware that many things we do communicate the exact opposite of our intention.

As humans we are so focused on our verbal communication that we are often unaware of our own body language, and next to oblivious to the one of our dogs.  And not only that. Many items in our body language vocabulary have a very different meaning to dogs.

What is a friendly gesture to humans, can be a dominating or threatening gesture to dogs. Unless we understand and accommodate these differences, our communication with our furry friends might be full of misunderstanding and frustration.

Achieving a better understanding with our dogs is a two step process. First we need to learn about our own communication and then come to understand the differences in interpretation by our best friends. The Other End of the Leash is a true eye-opener. It covers all aspects of human and dog language and their similarities and dissimilarities.

I absolutely loved this book. I was amazed at the difference it made in communicating with Jasmine in a way that makes sense to her. You and your dog will both be happier as well.

Communication is a foundation of any relationship. Not speaking a common language can make it hard for both parties.

Jana

Help! My Dog Is Purple!

We never thought much about how to choose the right veterinarian. We always trusted that they are all equally good. They all went to school, right? It seemed to have been working for us for years.

Until experience taught us otherwise.

I now believe that one of the important signs of a good veterinarian is attention to symptoms, however vague and seemingly minor they might be. Acknowledging a symptom, and following through, can mean the difference between your dog living a healthy and happy life, or living a life of suffering.

What if your dog suddenly turned purple? 

Nobody could overlook that. And you would insist on getting it figured out.

But what if the symptom is more subtle than that?

Since she was a puppy, Jasmine was suffering from a mild, but consistent diarrhea. We kept taking her to the vet month after month. No viable diagnosis was ever made. Several veterinarians, a number of antibiotic treatments, prescription diet foods and couple years later we finally accepted that that's the way it is and nothing can be done about it.

When Jasmine turned five and a half years she was diagnosed with a partial ACL tear. We didn't really like the idea of putting her through the TPLO surgery, so we were researching other options. During our research we found out about stem cell regenerative therapy and we wanted to see whether that could be an option for us.

When we tried talking about this to our vet at the time, he clearly never heard of it, but immediately dismissed the whole idea. Because we still felt that it was worth of looking into, we looked up veterinarians certified for the procedure in our area, and started calling around.

And that's how we found our new vet. 

He spent a long time on the phone with me, discussing the options and we booked an appointment for a consultation.

It is a long story, which I covered in an earlier article.

The reason I am mentioning it here is that it was this veterinarian, who also discovered that Jasmine is suffering from a type of irritable bowel syndrome, and that she likely has been suffering from it since she was a puppy.

How about that?

He also discovered that the reason for that are food allergies. We did a blood test, changed her diet accordingly, and guess what? No more diarrhea.

She's been suffering with this for five and a half years, despite of our frequent vet visits!

And quite likely her many other health issues stemmed from that. Wouldn't it be nice if her problem was diagnosed at the beginning?

A symptom should never be dismissed. 

If there is a symptom, there is a reason for it. It is just a question of figuring it out.

When I was in the dog park the other day, there was a female Doberman. I noticed that her rectum was completely white. I asked the owners whether they noticed that. They did notice that and took her to their veterinarian.

They were told that it was nothing.

Well, I believe that a rectum should be pink??? When it is consistently white, something is going on that shouldn't. White rectum can be caused by mucus secretion from the large intestine. Large intestine will produce mucus in order to protect itself from something. Something that shouldn't be there.

Sadly, I know a number of people whose dogs are suffering from all kinds of undiagnosed and untreated conditions. 

Make sure that your dog is not one of them. Choose your veterinarian carefully and keep them on their toes.

It is your dog's health.
Jana

Related articles:
Where There Is Smoke, There Is Fire!
Does Your Vet Listen To You?
It's Your Dog's Health!

Veterinary Drive-Thru: Coming Soon To A Veterinary Hospital Near You!
A Praise To Our Dog House DVM
A Word On Pain