| Heartworm
disease is a preventable
But serious and potentially fatal, parasitic
disease that primarily affects dogs, cats and ferrets. It
also infects wild animals such as foxes, wolves, coyotes,
and California Sea Lions. There are documented human infections,
but they are thought to be rare and do not result in clinical
disease.
How is heartworm disease transmitted
and what does it cause?
Heartworms are transmitted from animal to animal by mosquitoes.
When an animal is bitten by an infected mosquito, young heartworms
(called microfilariae) are transmitted to that animal. In
about two weeks, the microfilaria develop into larvae. The
larvae, as they mature, move through the animal's body and
eventually enter the heart and blood vessels. Over the next
several months, the growing heartworms reach adult size (female
worms can reach up to 14 inches in length) and reproduce.
In time, the worms cause injury to the pulmonary vessels and
heart. This can lead to severe lung disease, heart disease
and damage to other organs. Heartworms may survive for 5 to
7 years in dogs.
Where is heartworm disease found?
Geographically, heartworms are a potential threat in every
state except Alaska, as well as in many other countries around
the world. All dogs, regardless of age, sex, or living environment,
are susceptible to heartworm infection. Indoor, as well as
outdoor, cats are also at risk for the disease. If you plan
to travel with your dog or cat to a different part of the
country, ask your veterinarian about the risk of heartworm
disease in the area where you are going to relocate or visit.
How can I tell if my pet has heartworm
disease?
If your dog has been recently or mildly infected with heartworms,
it may initially show no signs of disease. However, as the
disease progresses, your dog may cough, become lethargic,
lose its appetite or have difficulty breathing. You may notice
that your dog seems to tire rapidly after only moderate exercise.
Your veterinarian will test your dog's blood for the presence
of adult heartworms. Further tests, such as chest x-rays and
an echocardiogram, may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis
and to help determine the severity of the infection.
How can my pet be treated?
As with most medical problems, the best defense is prevention.
However, if your dog is infected with heartworms, there is
an FDA-approved treatment available. Although there is some
risk involved in treating a dog for heartworms, serious complications
are rare among dogs that are otherwise in good health and
if the disease is detected early. The goal of heartworm treatment
is to kill the adult worms that are present in your dog's
body. While your dog is hospitalized and for a period of time
afterwards, it will require complete rest and may need additional
medications to help limit inflammatory reaction as the worms
die and are absorbed by the body.
Can heartworms be surgically removed?
Some veterinarians are equipped for surgical removal of heartworms
from dogs and/or cats. This procedure, however, is typically
reserved for severe cases.
Can heartworm disease be prevented?
Heartworm disease is almost 100% preventable in dogs and cats.
There are several FDA-approved heartworm preventives available
in a variety of formulations. Your veterinarian can recommend
the best method of prevention based upon your pet's risk factors
and lifestyle.
A blood test for existing heartworm infection
is recommended before beginning a prevention program to confirm
that your pet is not already infected with the disease. In
addition, annual re-testing is recommended to check your pet's
status and ensure that the appropriate medication is being
prescribed. Heartworm infections are preventable. Check with
your veterinarian today to help ensure that your pet is protected.
The AVMA appreciates the assistance of the
American Heartworm Society
www.heartwormsociety.org
Housetraining Your Dog
One aspect that a potential dog owner may worry about is
housetraining their new pet. If certain guidelines are followed,
this does not need to be a stressful or difficult time. A
puppy or dog simply needs your help to understand what is
expected of them. Dogs aim to please and it will not take
long to teach your dog to be housetrained. One must understand
that dogs are certainly not born with any instinct to relieve
themselves only outdoors; this is something that must be shown
to them with patience and love.
The most important elements:
- Take your dog outside at regular intervals
- Be sure to take your dog to a designated area
Taking your dog outside at regular intervals may be tiresome
in the beginning, but you will find this will quickly change
as the time between intervals stretches. An older dog will
rapidly learn what is expected; a puppy will quickly grow
and as each month goes by, they will need to be brought outside
less and less. Our guidelines will show you that after a while,
you can let your dog outside while still ensuring they are
safe and protected.
A puppy can hold its elimination 1 hour per month of age,
up to 8 hours maximum. For example:
- A 2 month old puppy can hold its need for approximately
2 hours
- A 3 month old puppy can hold its need for approximately
3 hours and so on
- Once a dog is 8 months and older, its needs can wait
for approximately 8 hours
Besides taking your puppy out according to its maximum waiting
time, a puppy should be brought out:
- Upon waking up
- Before and after being crated
- 10 to 15 minutes after they eat
- Right before bedtime
As you will see, the time you will spend bringing your dog
outside will lessen as each month goes by. Once your dog is
of age, your dog will only need to be brought out three times
in a 24-hour period.
Choosing a designated area is crucial:
- Even if you have a properly fenced in yard, you will
need to teach your dog that when he/she is brought out on
a leash and led to a certain area, it is time to relive
themselves
- If left to roam around, they will consider this to be
playtime and it will hinder your housetraining efforts
- You should choose a key phrase that you wish for your
dog to learn as the command for relieving themselves
- After putting a leash on your dog, state that command
such as “Time to go” and then immediately lead
them to the area you have chosen
It is important to have patience as your dog will seek the
“perfect” spot. Make sure to keep your dog within
the boundaries of the area you have chosen. Given that location,
you should allow your dog to walk within the distance of the
leash.
When your dog has chosen their spot, you should continually
repeat the key phrase that you chose as the command. Repeat
the phrase until your dog is done.
In the event that your dog does not eliminate within 15 minutes,
you should bring your dog back into your home. This will ensure
your dog will understand what the key phrase is to mean and
they will not assume it is playtime. 15 minutes later, repeat
the procedure for taking your dog outside.
Once a dog has eliminated, it is essential to reward them.
Dogs look to their human companions for clues that they are
doing good deeds:
- Speak to them in an excited voice, expressing how proud
you are of them
- Give your dog a small treat
- You may find that this is a perfect time to give your
dog some exercise; you can make part of the reward be some
playtime in the yard by throwing a ball and other activities
Dogs are very loyal and only wish to please their owners;
once your dog learns that taking care of his/her needs in
this area makes you happy; they will aspire to continue pleasing
you.
While you are in the phase of housetraining your dog, you
should keep a close eye on your pet whenever you are in the
house. If you are busy and cannot watch your dog closely,
there are several methods to choose from to ensure prompt
training.
The Crate Method. When crates were first launched into the
market, some people stereotyped them as being a type of “jail”
for the dog. Quite the opposite is true. Most dogs actually
enjoy having their own “room” and it gives them
a place to retreat for a sense of security. When using the
crate method, it will also train your dog to be a better traveling
companion, as a crate may need to be used if traveling long
distance.
Make sure to choose a crate that gives your dog room to stand,
turn around and rest comfortably. If your dog shows resistance
to the crate there are some steps you can take to make it
more tempting:
- You can begin by leaving the crate door open, ensuring
that it is not possible for it to close accidentally
- Beginning with your dog’s food right outside the
crate door, you can move the food closer and closer to the
back of the crate each day. If your dog is resistant, move
the food to where it was the day earlier, and begin again
from that point
- Once your dog begins to be familiar with their crate
with the door open, try closing the door but keeping it
unlocked. Slowly progress to the stage when you can lock
the door
- Do not remove your dog out of the crate if he/she is
barking non-stop. That will only encourage incessant barking
from your pet
- When it is time to take your dog out of the crate, instantly
walk him/her outside, utilizing the above methods for housetraining
Whenever you will not be home and your dog will, you should
put your dog into the crate to ensure that there are no “accidents”.
Dogs instinctively not wish to eliminate in areas that they
live in, for this reason your dog should hold itself until
you return to bring the dog outside. Obviously, you should
never leave your dog alone for longer than the time limit,
according to their age.
The Tethering Method. This is a great method that will allow
you to be close to your dog and still maintaining all control
over housetraining. All you must do is put a 6-10 foot leash
on your dog and attach the other end to your belt loop or
other convenient spot on your clothes. As you go about your
day, you will have your dog close enough to you to notice
the signs that they are in need of going outside, such as
sniffing around or running in a circle.
Gating. A simple way to keep your dog within your sight is
the use of baby gates. You will not need these for very long,
so we suggest that if you choose to use these it may be best
to ask friends or family members if they have one or two that
you can borrow. The idea is to just block off certain rooms
of your house, this will allow your dog to be able to walk
freely but will they will not be able to go far from your
sight.
If your dog does have an accident in your home, it is vital
to remember that it is called an accident for a good reason.
How you react to this event will greatly affect your housetraining
efforts. If you catch your dog as they are in the process
of eliminating in your home:
- Make a loud sound to interrupt your dog
- Quickly scoop your dog up and bring them outside
- Once your dog finishes the process in the correct designated
area, give rewards and praise just as you do for all their
other eliminations
- Against human instinct, attempt to avoid yelling “no”.
If you do this, your dog may not understand what is angering
you: the fact that they eliminated outside or the fact that
you saw them
- Rubbing a dog’s nose in their feces or urine is
a false “Old wife’s tale” and it is very
detrimental to your dog. The only thing a dog will learn
from yelling, rubbing their nose or hitting them, is to
be afraid of you
If you have left your dog home alone and then you come back
to find your dog has had an accident, this is most likely
a sign that you need to more closely follow the housetraining
methods. Possibly, your dog was not taken out at the correct
intervals or was left home alone for too long of a time. Alternatively,
if this happens often and within short time spans, it may
be a sign of illness and you should bring your dog to their
vet as soon as possible. It is important to remember that
your dog wishes to please you and will never have an “accident”
on “purpose”.
When finding accidental elimination, again, how you react
is crucial:
- Do not yell or ever hit your dog
- The common belief that dogs have a short memory span
is somewhat correct. A dog will most often only think about
the present time. If hours have passed, your dog will not
understand why you are upset. If you were to reprimand your
dog, they would assume you are angry simply for returning
home to them. A dog will then fear your return and this
will certainly hinder any bonding
Once your dog in housetrained, you will be able to simply
go about your day and your dog will give you a sign that they
are in need of going outside. It is important to take notice
of these signs; as they will vary with each dog.
- Your dog may bark
- Your dog may sit quietly at the door that they have been
taught to exit from when needing to go outside
- Your dog may run in circles near the door
- Your dog may paw at you or do other actions to get your
attention
It is very uncommon for a trained, adult dog to have accidents.
If your dog has more than two accidents within a week, it
is vital to bring you dog to the vet. Being unable to control
bladder or bowel movements can be a sign of illness.
If your dog is small in size and you live in an area that
will make outdoor housetraining very difficult, you may choose
to train your dog to eliminate into a litter box. Dog liter
boxes may be purchased at local pet stores or pet supply sites.
You would begin with laying down papers and then graduate
into using a litter box. The training methods would be the
same for outdoor housetraining.
A dog has a natural instinct to mark their territory. Having
your dog spayed or neutered can help ease this urge. The most
effective way to stop this from happening is to clean the
area thoroughly to remove all scent. In time, any marking
behavior will end as your dog becomes very understanding of
the need to use the designated area.
If you have a dog that is suffering from a diagnosed bladder
or bowel problem, the use of a Belly Band can offer great
assistance. A Belly Band is a fabric that is designed to wrap
around the belly a dog. Padding can be inserted inside the
band to soak up any urine.
The time and effort that you put into training your dog will
be well worth it. Every time you take a few moments to bring
your dog outside, you will be one step closer to having your
dog completely housetrained. Expect a few set-backs, as no
dog is perfect, as much as they will try to be loyal and please
you. If your dog does have an accident, it is best to pause
and think about what may have happened. Perhaps your puppy
was given too much freedom to roam your house; perhaps you
did not have time to take your puppy outside after they ate
dinner. Working together with your dog will be sure to produce
successful results.
Dog Treat “Greenies”
Dangerous
Dog Treat “Greenies” May Carry
Danger
UPDATED: November 21, 2005
Courtesy of www.petstv.com
Dog treats called Greenies are sold in stores
everywhere. But Seattle television station KIRO reported that
products like them can pose a real danger to dogs.
Matthew Balkman of Issaquah, Washington,
uses cheese to reward his dog, Beau. He used to use Greenies,
which are designed to clean teeth and freshen doggie breath.
"The dogs do like 'em. They're tasty; he liked eating
them," Balkman said. But last May, Beau acted started
acting sluggish after eating one.
"He wasn't eating at all," Balkman
said. "I took him to the vet, the vet monitored him for
a day and said there was something obstructing his bowel,
'We need to go in and operate.'" Dr. Jayne Jensen performed
the operation and removed a large green lump from Beau's intestine.
"She handed it to me, asked me if I knew what this is,
and I said, 'Yes, that's a Greenie,'
Balkman said. The package says Greenies are
"100 percent edible," but a company spokeswoman
told the station they are "85 percent digestible."
"That was not 85 percent digestible,"
Jensen said. "That was not digestible."
Constance Odle's dog Berkley is recovering
from the same emergency surgery. But instead of a Greenie,
a similar product was blocking the dog's intestine. "At
first, I thought he ate a piece of a toy, and when the vet
told me what it was, I felt terrible guilt because I was the
one who gave it to him," Odle said. Berkley is the latest
of several dogs Dr. Jennifer McBride has operated on after
eating teeth-cleaning products, mostly Greenies.
"We will see things in abdomens that
will dissolve like bones and, over time, they will dissolve
and go away. But these are mostly indisolvable, so they tend
to get stuck more often," McBride said.
The station discovered the results are sometimes
fatal. "I tried to revive her," said Gilbert Wright.
Wright lost his prized show dog, "Pompey of the Desert"
after feeding him a petite-size Greenies treat. He feels an
overwhelming sense of guilt. "And I will feel that way
for the rest of my life," Wright said. During its investigation,
the station tracked down nine people who claim their dogs
died after eating Greenies. KIRO passed that information on
to the company. A warning on the Greenies label says to make
sure you're giving the right size Greenie for your breed of
dog. It also cautions you to "monitor your dog to ensure
the treat is adequately chewed". "They don't chew.
They don't even have the muscles to chew. I mean, we chew,
we do that. Dogs don't do that," said Jensen. "They
also say on their Web site to avoid gulping or sloppy eating
but, heck, people can't even train their children not to do
that," said Gilbert Wright.
Company officials with Greenies declined
a request for an on-camera interview.
They sent a statement expressing sadness
over all the dogs in the investigation. "Millions of
Greenies are sold and enjoyed by dogs, every week without
incident," it said. And "though injurious incidents
are rare, more often than not, the pet is not fed according
to our feeding directions." Gilbert Wright just got a
new Pompey, but his heart will always be with the show champion
original who won countless awards for agility. Beau has recovered
from surgery, and Mathew Balkman feels lucky. "I'm saddened
for the people that have actually lost their pets, because
we came very close."
Vets say nearly all dog treats, chews and
toys can make your pets sick. They say it's important to keep
a close eye on them.
One of our own furkids
were effected greatly by greenies, read Penelope's story on
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