Thursday, May 16, 2013

Safe Veggies For Your Furball

Safe Veggies For Your Furball

original post:http://dogingtonpost.com/safe-veggies-for-your-furball/#.UZUge0rnOKI

A recent post about slimming down a pudgy pooch raised some questions about which vegetables are safe to include in your dog’s diet, or to give as snacks. After some research on several “authority” sites such as Pets.WebMD.com, DogChannel.com, and PetMD.com, here’s a list for your convenience:

Broccoli
Cauliflower
Cabbage

Don’t feed too much of those 3 until you see how much, if any, of a gas problem it can cause!!

Asparagus
Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Carrots (cooked or raw)
Lettuce
Squash
Zuccini
Cucumber
Spinach
Edamame
Green Beans
Popcorn
Peas (Snow, Sugar Snap, English)
Pumpkin (although technically a fruit)

Your dog may go crazy about some, and turn its nose up at others.
Even though these are all considered safe, test, test, test, until you’re sure there’s no adverse effect on your furball.

What is Your Dog’s Tail Telling You?

by Brandy Arnold

original post: http://dogingtonpost.com/your-dogs-tail-telling/#.UZUgCUrnOKI

One of the most useful aids to training a pooch effectively is being able to read him. Having the ability to figure out Fido’s body language and expression, and then applying this understanding to the present training situation will let you avoid the usual mistakes in judgment during the training process. Because a dog can’t say aloud if he is confused or he needs a break, it is vital that you are able to read him correctly. Aside from his head position, eyes, ears, and body position, it is important also that you pay attention to his tail.

Tips in Understanding Fido’s Tail Language
The Wagging Tail –Most people assume that a fully throttled wag suggests that their pooch is happy. However, tail wagging can’t always be interpreted as something positive since some aggressive dogs also wag their tails when they are about to attack. By looking at your dog’s wagging tail very closely, you will know what exactly he’s trying to tell you.
· “It’s nice to see you.” Low and slow wags accompanied by large sweeps, and sometimes, even a wiggling butt as well is the kind of waggle that often suggests greeting or a positive canine disposition. If your pooch is shaking his tail this way, you can assume that he’s delighted to see you and is excited about playing with you.
· “I’m not a threat”. Low, fast wags with short sweeps, however, implies that the dog wants to express that he is no threat. This often happens when a normally meek pooch is approached by a dominant one. Fearful or submissive dogs usually respond to confident ones by trying to hold their own tails low and then slightly wagging them.
· “I’m the boss”. More often than not, high, stiff wags indicate assertiveness in dogs. Although this does not necessarily mean that Fido feels aggressive and will attack, a high, stiff, wagging tail is usually the symbol of a dominant canine.
The Tucked Tail – The tucked tail- tail wrapped in between his hind legs along with sad, seemingly begging eyes is another tail position that is frequently misunderstood. Most people think that a tucked tail means cowering or being frightened, when in fact, it generally means a shy dog which could either be man-made or genetic.
· “Leave me alone”. If you have not given your pooch a reason to fear you, then his tucked tail must no longer be a mere act. This means that your dog is making use of the “pack” language to tell you that he doesn’t want to obey you, but is not eager to hash out about it either. A pooch that is willing to disagree will take a more aggressive stance. That’s why, never buy into this kind of act since dogs can learn easily how to get their way instantly by playing that “poor pitiful me” image.

In addition to their tail, your dog’s body language, facial expressions, and stance can also indicate his mood or attitude!

May 19-25, 2013, is National Dog Bite Prevention Week!

May 19-25, 2013, is National Dog Bite Prevention Week!

by Brandy Arnold

original post:http://dogingtonpost.com/national-dog-bite-prevention-week/#.UZUfmUrnOKI

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has announced its official dates for 2013′s National Dog Bite Prevention Week! Partnering up with the United States Postal Service, the AVMA promotes safety and education for dog owners – and anyone at risk for being bitten, a huge threat for postal workers around the country.
The AVMA provided the following information on their website.

Did you know that …

4.7 million people in this country are bitten by dogs every year

children are by far the most common victims

800,000 Americans receive medical attention for dog bites each year

children are far more likely to be severely injured; approximately 400,000 receive medical attention every year

most dog bites affecting young children occur during everyday activities and while interacting with familiar dogs

senior citizens are the second most common dog bite victims

There are a number of things that you can do to avoid dog bites, ranging from properly training and socializing your pet to educating your children on how, or if, they should approach a dog. Information is one of the best cures for this public health crisis.
What’s a dog owner to do?

Carefully select your pet. Puppies should not be obtained on impulse.

Make sure your pet is socialized as a young puppy so it feels at ease around people and other animals.

Don’t put your dog in a position where it feels threatened or teased.

Train your dog. The basic commands “sit,” “stay,” “no,” and “come” help dogs understand what is expected of them and can be incorporated into fun activities that build a bond of trust between pets and people.

Walk and execrcise your dog regularly to keep it healthy and provide mental stimulation.

Avoid highly excitable games like wrestling or tug-of-war.

Use a leash in public to ensure you are able to control your dog.

Keep your dog healthy. Have your dog vaccinated against rabies and preventable infectious diseases. Parasite control and other health care are important because how your dog feels affects how it behaves.

Neuter your pet.

If you have a fenced yard, make sure the gates are secure.

How can you protect your family?

Be cautious around strange dogs, and treat your own pet with respect. Because children are the most common victims of dog bites, parents and caregivers should:

NEVER leave a baby or small child alone with a dog.

Be alert for potentially dangerous situations.

Teach their children – including toddlers – to be careful around pets. Children must learn not to approach strange dogs or try to pet dogs through fences. Teach children to ask permission from the dog’s owner before petting the dog.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

New Study: Owning a Dog Can Lower Your Risk for Heart Disease

by Brandy Arnold

original post:http://dogingtonpost.com/new-study-owning-a-dog-can-lower-your-risk-for-heart-disease/#.UZJ3d0qyyM0

In a scientific statement published yesterday in the American Heart Association’s journal, Circulation, it was revealed that owning a dog can reduce a person’s risk for developing heart disease.
Glenn N. Levine, M.D., a professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, said, ““Pet ownership, particularly dog ownership, is probably associated with a decreased risk of heart disease,” after reviewing several studies performed on the matter.

Research has shown that:

Dog ownership is probably associated with a reduction in heart disease risk factors and increased survival among patients. But the studies aren’t definitive and do not necessarily prove that owning a pet directly causes a reduction in heart disease risk. “It may be simply that healthier people are the ones that have pets, not that having a pet actually leads to or causes reduction in cardiovascular risk,” Levine said.
Dog ownership in particular may help reduce cardiovascular risk. People with dogs may engage in more physical activity because they walk them. In a study of more than 5,200 adults, dog owners engaged in more walking and physical activity than non-dog owners, and were 54 percent more likely to get the recommended level of physical activity.
Owning pets may be associated with lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and a lower incidence of obesity.
Pets can have a positive effect on the body’s reactions to stress.

“In essence, data suggests that there probably is an association between pet ownership and decreased cardiovascular risk,” Levine said. He went on to explain that while research shows a decrease in the onset of heart disease in dog owners, it remains to be seen if adopting a dog has any affect on those with pre-existing disease.

For more information about this statement or to learn about heart disease and risk factors, visit the American Heart Association at www.heart.org.

10 Toll-Free Phone Numbers Every Dog Parent Should Keep Handy

by Brandy Arnold
original post:http://dogingtonpost.com/ten-phone-numbers-every-dog-owner-should-have-handy/#.UZJ3EUqyyM0

If you’ve got a dog (or, is it that the dog has you?) this is one list you’ll want to print out and keep near the phone. In an emergency, when the internet is down, or if you simply need assistance with your dog from a real, live person, these toll-free numbers should be in the Rolodex of every dog owner:

National Animal Poison Control Center: 1 888 426 4435. In an emergency every second counts. The National Animal Poison Control Center is a 24-hour manned emergency hotline sponsored in part by 36 different companies. While there is sometimes a charge for consultation, this call could save the life of your dog.

National Pet Recovery Hotline: 1 800 984 8638. Operating 24 hours a day, the National Pet Recovery Hotline is a great place to start searching if your pet is lost. This membership based service works around the clock to locate missing pets.

Stolen Pet Hotline Information: 1 800 STOLEN PET. In the event that your dog is stolen, the Stolen Pet Hotline will assist you in the best routes to locate and recover your dog.

Animal Legal Hotline: 1 800 555 6517. Do you suspect your neighbors are abusing their dog? Are you having issues with your landlord or tenants over a companion animal? Do you want to report a veterinarian that you believe is operating unethically or illegally? Here is the number to call. The Animal Legal Defense Fund can help with landlord-tenant disputes, veterinarian issues, neglect, and any form of abuse.

Emergency Disaster Hotline: 1 800 227 4645. Provided by the American Humane Association, this number provides support and relief information for pet owners living in areas affected by disasters including earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, fire and more.

Pet Loss Support Hotline: 1 888 478 7574. Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine provides a source of emotional support for those who are grieving the loss of a pet or simply anticipating it. Veterinary students answer calls and help individuals dealing with the death of their pets. This free service is funded by the Iams Company and dedicated in memory of Krista Rankin.
Spay HeIpline: 1 800 248 SPAY. Irresponsible breeding results in the abandonment and euthanization of thousands of dogs each year. SPAY USA provides free or low cost services to all. With locations at over 950 programs and clinics nationwide, they eliminate finances as an excuse for not spaying or neutering your pets.

Pet Travel Hotline: 1800 545 USDA. If you plan on traveling by plane with your dog, a quick call to this number will ensure you are prepared for any bumps in the road where your dog is concerned. Run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, this hotline provides travel resources, licensed pet transporter contact information, rules and regulations, and also assists those that believe their animal was treated inhumanely during travel.

National Found Pet Hotline: 1-800-755-8111. Call the National Found Pet Hotline if you’ve found a lost or stray animal and want to report him missing. They will use their extensive resources to assist in returning the animal to his rightful owner.

Lyme Disease National Hotline: 1 800 886 5963. If you have found a tick on your dog or suspect that he may have contracted a tick-borne illness such as Lyme Disease, a call to this number will guide you in treatment and prevention.

Do you have another can’t-live-without-it resource for dog owners? Comment below!

How Does Second-hand Smoke Affect Your Dog?

Written on 05/14/2013 by Brandy Arnold
original post:http://dogingtonpost.com/how-does-second-hand-smoke-affect-your-dog/#.UZJ2sUqyyM0

We’re not here to boast about the benefits of quitting smoking. If you’re a smoker, you’ve already heard it all. But, you should consider the effects your habit may have on your dog if he/she is exposed. So, can second-hand smoke affect your dog? Sure can!

A Brief Overview
Second-hand smoke, also known as Environmental Tobacco Smoke or ETS basically comes from anything that is smoked such as cigars, cigarettes, and pipes. ETS is a carcinogen that causes cancer not just in humans but animals as well.
Aside from cancer, second-hand smoke is also associated with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, asthma, chronic lung infections, and eye problems. ETS has been thoroughly studied where humans are concerned, but not as much research has been done for companion animals. Studies show that tobacco smoke comprises up to 20 different carcinogens that can be readily inhaled by non-smokers. ETS contains the smoke that is released by a burning cigarette, pipe, or cigar, as well as those that are exhaled by the smoker themselves. There are more than 4,000 chemicals found in second-hand smoke including carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, arsenic, benzene, chromium, nickel, and vinyl chloride.

Related Findings
In dogs, second-hand smoke has been found to be greatly associated with nasal sinus cancer and also linked with lung cancer. A study conducted at the State of Colorado reveals that there is a higher incidence of nasal cavity tumors in dogs that were exposed to ETS as compared to dogs that live in households with non-smoking members. This conclusion was particularly found amongst breeds with long noses such as Collies. There were no significant nasal tumors amongst dogs with short to medium noses exposed to second-hand smoke.

Experts indicate that long-nosed breeds are more at risk because their nasal passages consist of greater surface area on which the carcinogens can be deposited before it reaches the lungs. Also, they pointed out that because their nasal passages have more cells, there is a greater chance that some of these cells get mutated by carcinogens into cancer cells.

The same study mentioned that despite the fact that dogs with short to medium noses exposed to ETS do not have a great nasal tumor risk as compared to those unexposed, they, nonetheless, have a slightly greater incidence of lung cancer. This is likely because their shorter nasal passages tend to be less effective at filtering the said carcinogens out of breathed-in air before it enters the lungs. Unlike human beings who can develop bladder cancer as a result of second-hand smoke exposure, dogs generally do not run a higher risk of bladder cancer when exposed to these harmful elements.
As a pet owners’ bond with their four-legged companions become stronger, they share more of their lives, their leisure time and their living space with their pets, thereby exposing them to the same environmental hazards that they do. Many human habits, including smoking, can affect animals just as they can affect the other members of the household. By designating a separate room in the house or smoking only outside, you can minimize exposure for your pooch as well as the other non-smoking members of the family.

Upcoming Events - Trinity River Wind Festival by NRG- Saturday, May 18, 2013 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Trinity River Wind Festival by NRG

Date/Time
Saturday, May 18, 2013
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Trinity River Wind Festival Presented by NRG – enjoy wind driven recreational fun in the Dallas floodway. Show kites, stunt kites, birds, music, clowns, bounce houses, Storm School, and more. Dog friendly event.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.trinityrivercorridor.org
You can also contact event organizers at mytrinityriver@dallascityhall.com or (214) 671-9500.