2010 Top 10 Dawg Business Blog Posts

Picking only 10 posts from the past year turned out to be much harder than I thought. Particularly with all the wonderful guest posts I had the privilege to publish. But I had to pick only 10 so here it goes.

1. No TV Tonight!

Obesity has become an epidemic, and statistics are showing that it is affecting our dogs in alarmingly increasing numbers. What is worse is the impact it has on our best friends' health.

The content of this post was originally meant to be just an introduction to a real article. But as I was playing with ideas to get your attention, the content took on a life of its own.

Why do we allow our dogs to become obese? 

Dr. Laci Schaible of VetLive wrote an article for Fido Friendly, What to do about an overweight pet: Vet speaks out and asks your advice. One of the questions she raised is,

Why don’t more pet owners realize this?  Food is not love!

I think she hit the nail on the head there. While on an intellectual level we might agree that food indeed does not equal love, our deep down primal instinct is telling us that it is. Food is one of the basic needs of survival.

“The way to a mans' heart is through his stomach.”

How about dog's heart? Dogs are much more in touch with their instincts that we are. Food is of the utmost importance to them.

We use food to tame an animal. We use food to reward an animal. Why? Because it is of high value to them. This naturally results in the following equation.

Food = survival. Sharing food = love.

There is one thing we are forgetting though. While our instinct remained the same, our lifestyle did not. We don't spend out days hunting hoping for a meal, not knowing where our next one will come from. We drive up to the grocery store and load the trunk with food.

The problem isn't with the food but with the amount of it (and sometimes quality) and the ease of access.

That's where our instinct became obsolete.

So please, let's come to our senses! Food? Yes, but in moderation. You are not doing your dog any favors by overfeeding them!

2. The Cancer Antidote that Lies Within: You Will Never Look At Fat The Same Way Again

Because our instincts are hard-wired for the whole food = love thing, we need a darn good reason if we ever going to look at things differently.

Obesity isn't just an esthetic issue! 

Is is a serious health threat! But it is easy to turn the blind eye to it. It doesn't come and hit like a hammer, it sneaks up quietly always, giving room for excuses.

One more treat won't hurt anything.

No, one more treat indeed wouldn't hurt anything. But after the one there is another and another … And while we are lulled into denial, boom!

Bad things happen.

Arthritis. Orthopedic injuries. Diabetes. Liver disease. And even cancer!

So please, go against your instinct and find other ways of showing love.

Take your dog for an extra walk! Spend some quality time.

3. Brad Pitt Doesn't Believe in Germs. Could he be right?

Dino Dogan wrote this article for me. Just because everybody believes something, does that make it so?

Should we just accept truths as they are presented to us or should we try making up our own dam minds?

I asked Dino to use an example from history to show the downside of confusing general belief with truth. Dino chose story of Dr. Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis as an example.

Sometimes it is the odd one out who is right, not the majority!

4. A Tale of Many Tails—and What Came Out From Underneath Stories from My Diary-rrhea

Diarrhea is the most common and probably most misunderstood symptom in dogs.  Dr. Laci Schaible of VetLive wrote an awesome series of articles shedding light on the perma-stain.

Do remember, diarrhea is not a disease but a symptom of one.

Diarrhea can result from primary gastrointestinal (GI) disease or systemic conditions that consequentially affect the GI tract (such as kidney disease).

It is important to understand when you should worry and when you should be rushing to an emergency hospital.

5. Gastroenteritis is when ...

A related article explaining gastroenteritis in simple terms.

6. It's Your Dog's Health

One of several articles I wrote on the importance of finding the right veterinarian.

We learned the hard way how important this is.

Your dog's health is in your hands. You can make excuses and you can blame everybody from the Pope to a mail man, but at the end, you're the one in charge.

From choosing your veterinarian, to educating yourself about your dog's health issue and available treatments, this is the most important thing you can do for your dog.

7. More Than Meets The Eye: Dog Language And Beyond

A series of three articles shedding some light on common reasons why we are often not on the same page our dogs are.

Do you want to understand your dog? Do you want to communicate in a way he can understand? Read some good books and most importantly, observe and learn from your dog.

Dogs are so much better at this than we are! Why? Because they are not as self-absorbed as we are!

8. A Word On Second Opinions

The more I think about it the more I am convinced that there is no such thing as an objective truth.

Any opinion is just an interpretation of the available facts based on previous experience (or lack of thereof). That's why your answer depends on who you ask.

Beware though, the opinion you don't like could be the correct one. Weigh carefully.

9. Interview with Dr. Robert J. Harman, D.V.M., M.P.V.M. - CEO and founder of Vet-Stem, Regenerative Veterinary Medicine

We are big stem cell advocates. Jasmine had the treatment done repeatedly for different issues and we couldn't be more pleased with the results.

Getting and interview with Dr. Harman was so exciting for me! VetStem is the cradle of stem cell therapy for dogs, the likely future of veterinary medicine.

10. Real Life Stories

Ok, this is not a single article, but I really loved the stories people shared on my blog. They told their stories from the heart for the rest of us to benefit from.

You can find them in Table of Contents under Real Life Stories.

Which article(s) are your favorite?

Buddy's Christmas Miracle

by Jessica Holmes Hardy 

We had a wonderful but unique Christmas this year. For the first time in a very long time, we got to experience a white Christmas at Lake Burton.

The cold also brought with it an unexpected guest to the doorstep, a very neglected but very sweet hound dog who we are lovingly calling, "Buddy."  

We are not sure how long Buddy was roaming the woods or where he came from, but it is obvious from his appearance and his overly-voracious appetite that he had done without food for a very, very long time.

We brought Buddy back down the road with us and took him to the vet, expecting the worst but hoping for the best.

According to the vet's best estimate, he was about 40 pounds underweight!

He also had some intestinal parasites and was not keeping food down well.

We are not sure what the future holds for us and Buddy. We want to do all we can to help him out.  

His tail has not stopped wagging, even after all that he must have gone through, and his sweet eyes tell us that he still has a lot of life left in him.

The recovery process will not be easy.  We have two small children and two pets of our own and, although we have a fenced in back yard, we are going to have to be very creative in coming up with living arrangements for Buddy.

He will require a special, high-protein diet for a while and will undergo more tests when he is healthy enough to do so to make sure there are not any more serious underlying conditions we are not aware of.   

Buddy has recovered enough that we could bring him home yesterday and he spent his first night with us. He has been used to the outside for so long, that sleeping in a crate is quite an adjustment for him.  He has a very distinctive bay that he likes to share with us when he needs to go out but, amazingly, he is fairly calm otherwise.  He loves being outside and walks well on a leash.

He has already met his first playmate across the street and seems to show a lot of spunk and zest with other dogs, which makes me think he is younger than the original estimate.  

He "freaks out" when you whistle and goes on high alert, which makes me think he was a hunting dog at some point.

We are almost certain that he is a bloodhound, or at least has a large percentage of bloodhound in him.  He has the body, coloring and bay of a bloodhound as well as the distinctive hound odor.

The vet has put him on an oral antibiotic (once a day) for the worms and diarrhea as well as high-protein puppy food (1 cup, three times a day).

The goal is to get him to 45 pounds in the next few weeks (20 pound weight gain) so that he can receive his vaccinations.  

We will also have to get him neutered, but that will occur once he is at a healthy weight.  He is allergic to fleas and is mildly infested, so we will be putting him on Comfortis soon.

Times are tough for everyone, but if anyone would like to help make Buddy's recovery easier, we could use all the help we can get to help bring Buddy back to his happy, healthy and handsome self.  We have set up a donation site through PayPal at http://bit.ly/gd9Rso .

Common Misdiagnoses (Part 1)

by Jennifer Coates, DVM

Veterinary (and human) medicine is at least as much of an art as it is a science.  What does this mean for dog owners?

You should consider any diagnosis that your dog receives to be a “work in progress.”  

No vet would intentionally misdiagnose a dog, but certain diseases are notoriously difficult to pin down.

If you have been told that your dog has any of the following conditions (or any health problem for that matter), but he is not responding to treatment as expected, the disease is progressing in an unusual manner, or your gut is telling you that something just isn’t right, talk to your vet.  He or she should be open to reevaluating the situation.  If not, get a second opinion.

Skin Problems

Dermatological conditions can be frustrating to diagnose.  The skin responds to virtually any insult – bacterial infection, parasites, immune disorders, etc. – with the same symptoms, so diagnostic tests are usually necessary to reveal the cause.

Remember though that no test is perfect, false negatives and false positives do occur, so if lab results do not mesh with a dog’s clinical picture they need to be questioned.

To confuse the situation even more, some skin problems, like bacterial or yeast infections, almost always develop because there is an underlying condition that has disrupted the skin’s normal defensive mechanisms.

If your dog has been diagnosed with a skin infection and it either doesn’t go away with treatment or comes back when treatment is stopped, you and your vet will need to start looking for the reason why.

Allergies are a common underlying cause of recurrent skin problems in dogs. 

But, the only way to know for sure that a dog has allergies and what his triggers are is through allergy testing.  Intradermal allergy tests are best.  Blood testing is another option, but the results are not as accurate.

Many vets (myself included) are willing to diagnose allergies without allergy testing after ruling out other common causes of itchy skin, and this is appropriate as long as owners are aware of the plusses and minuses of this approach.  If, however, a dog’s condition doesn’t respond to treatment as expected, the initial diagnosis should be reevaluated.

Hormonal Diseases

Getting to the bottom of hormonal diseases can also be difficult.  Hypothyroidism is an excellent example.

A low total thyroid level on blood work alone is not sufficient to reach a diagnosis of hypothyroidism.  

Dogs must also show some of the typical signs of the disease:  weight gain, low energy levels, cold intolerance, hair loss, or skin problems, and these issues should improve once thyroid supplementation has been started.

A condition call sick euthyroid syndrome can also cause thyroid hormone levels to fall, but this is not true hypothyroidism and treatment with thyroid supplements is not beneficial.

Cushing’s disease is another tough one.  

A vet might suspect its presence after finding elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels on routine blood work or high cortisol levels on a urine test, but either a low dose dexamethasone suppression test or an ACTH stimulation test is necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

However, such advanced testing may not be necessary early in the course of the disease because in most cases, Cushing’s disease shouldn’t be treated unless a dog has symptoms that are starting to interfere with its quality of life (e.g., increased appetite, thirst and urination, skin and coat problems, or a pot-bellied appearance).  This is another situation where a big-picture approach is necessary.

Addison’s disease is probably even more frequently misdiagnosed than is Cushing’s.  

The typical symptoms – vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, collapse – can occur as a result of whole laundry list of health problems.  In many cases, a fairly distinctive change in blood electrolyte levels occurs with Addison’s disease, but electrolytes are not always included in panels of routine blood work.  Also, not every victim of Addison’s has these electrolyte changes, so an ACTH stimulation test is required to determine whether or not Addison’s is responsible for a dog’s clinical signs.

In my next post, I’ll talk about how orthopedic diseases can be confused with one another and the devastating consequences that can result.

***

Jennifer Coates, DVM graduated with honors from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999.  In the years since, she has practiced veterinary medicine in Virginia, Wyoming, and Colorado.  She is the author of several books about veterinary medicine and animal care, including the Dictionary of Veterinary Terms: Vet-speak Deciphered for the Non-veterinarian. 

Jennifer also writes short stories that focus on the strength and importance of the human-animal bond and freelance articles relating to a variety of animal care and veterinary topics.  Dr. Coates lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, daughter, and pets.

Related articles:
Common Misdiagnoses (Part 2)
A Word on Second Opinions
It's Your Dog's Health!
Veterinary Drive-Thru: Coming Soon To A Veterinary Hospital Near You!
Does Your Vet Listen To You?
Help! My Dog Is Purple!
A Praise To Our Dog House DVM
A Word On Pain

Rant About Quality Of Life Versus Quantity, And Differential Diagnoses

So Jasmine recently broke out with a third skin infection in quite a short time.

This time it was a nasty bacterial folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicles) around the base of her tail.

She lost a bunch of fur which left her with bald patches. The infection now seems to have cleared up with antibiotics and topical treatment, and even though her vet warned us that further hair loss might still occur, we are hoping that won't be the case.

Taking care of the infection is only the first step though.

Now we have to figure out what is going on allowing these infections to happen.

Most bacterial skin infections in dogs are secondary to another disease such as parasitism, allergies, endocrine (hormonal) disorders or abnormalities in the immune system.

(source: Lowchens Australia)

Parasites (fleas, mange ...) have been ruled out. That leaves us with allergies, hormonal issues or immune system issues. Wow, such lovely choices, so hard to pick!

Of course the first conclusion to jump to are allergies.

They are extremely common and Jasmine's allergy spot blood test is a long list of things she's allergic to. We are controlling her food allergies with a custom home-cooked diet. Controlling exposure to environmental allergens is another story, particularly since she tested positive to so many of them, including pollens and grasses.

Allergy shots are an option with limited number of allergens.

Approximately half the dogs receiving immunotherapy will have an excellent response. About 25% will have a so-so response. About 25% will not have any response at all.

(source: Veterinary Partner)

Viva of Kenzo the Hovawart is responding to the treatment very well. She has tested positive to dust mite allergy only though.

The more offending substances, the lesser the chance the treatment will work and the higher the likelihood of complications.

That leaves supportive treatments and limiting exposure. But Jasmine is allergic to whole bunch of grasses too.

This brings me to the question of quality of life versus quantity.

Her vet loves Jasmine and has her best interest in mind. However, with the main, however logical, suggestion being eliminating exposure to hay/grass—not only what she gets into but even whom she sees, what would become of Jasmine's life?

“If she was my dog she would not see grass or hay ever,” he noted.

Say what? How would one even remotely manage something like that short of locking her in a clean room? I'm sure there are plenty of couch-potato dogs out there who'd be perfectly happy with such a plan.

Jasmine, however, is an outdoor dog!

She loves her family and her den, but what she really lives for is spending time outside. Taking that away from her would be fate worse than death!

I still clearly remember the look on her face when after her surgeries she could not go for her walks. The disappointment that quickly turned into resignation. The profound sadness in her eyes.

Come to think of it, I believe that for her there isn't a choice between the quality and quantity of life.

If she was deprived of her time outside, she would die of sadness within a month! I am sure of that.

So what happens from here? Are we going to manage her outbreaks until things finally get out of control?

We are not convinced that her skin issues do stem from allergies, and if so, there is no real proof that the grasses are at the root of it.

It is winter now and there is snow on the ground!

Yes, she has allergies. But she is not an itchy dog! She doesn't spend her days in agony scratching and licking herself. In fact, my observation is that she doesn't get itchy until something is already brewing.

There is no discernible pattern to anything. I've been charting details about weather, air quality, and locations she's been to, for a long time now. There is no pattern! (To be on the safe side, we are now tracking eye redness as well.)

However logical, allergies are not adding up to us.

It walks like a duck, it quacks like a duck … what if it isn't a duck?

Differential diagnosis, please!

I have to give our vet all the credit in the world. As convinced as he is that it is allergies, he is still listening to what we are saying.

So while we are implementing all the reasonable suggestions to minimize Jasmine's exposure to allergens, we will also be working on a differential diagnosis.

If it wasn't allergies, what would it be?

Yes, allergies are extremely common, but they are also most commonly over-diagnosed.

If I had allergies and broke my leg—could I pin the broken leg on the allergies?

Well, possibly, if I sneezed hard enough to fall off a balcony …

We are not saying that allergies cannot be at the root of the problem. But we are not feeling it.

Jasmine has a number of other issues going on, maybe the answer lies there. Maybe it's something perfectly simple we are missing.

That is a mistake we don't want to make. Look one way and miss a truck hurtling at us from the other direction.

If the push came to shove, what do you think would be more important to your dog? Quality of life or quantity?

Jana

PS: If you wanted to flex your diagnostic muscle

It started with Jasmine suddenly licking at her right flank one night mid fall. I went to look and there was something that looked like a bug bite. I put on some Polysporin and it seemed to have done the trick. She left it alone again. Then came back to it. As we were seeing her TCVM vet, I had him look at it and he didn't find anything suspicious about it.

Then it happened again just prior her teeth cleaning and stem cell treatment. Again, it didn't seem to be anything to worry about and it was fine again.

In the meantime she got a moist pododermatitis on her foot (bacteria confirmed with cytology). It was believed to have started as a result of self-trauma due to allergies. We were buying that one, as her toes did seem to have been an issue off and on. Resolved with antibiotics.

Then at the end of  November the thing on the flank flared up again and this time some fur was coming out as well. Saw the vet immediately. The conclusion was a superficial folliculitits to pyoderma believed to be a result of a romp through the burrs and brambles. It cleared with topical treatment, though there is a small bald patch left from it.

And then the recent major break out of folliculitis around her tail base, which led to substantial hair loss and bald patches. Staph and Dermatophilosis found. Seems now under control with antibiotics.

However, last night she suddenly started paying attention to her left flank this time. I found a tiny spot again, pretty much exactly the same area as the right flank previously, but looks drier, more like a scrape than a bite this time. Used Dermacool and it doesn't seem to bother her for the time being.

But that's how the right flank started originally too, very low key.

Previously diagnosed issues:

• hypothyroidism - recent T4 21 (13-51 normal)
• eosinophilic gastroenteritis
• bilateral ACL tear
• arthritis
• history of muscle injuries
• she had history of skin issues prior hypothyroid diagnosis

Previous not really diagnosed issues:

• episodes of pacing and panting going on progressively for 5 years now, improved with TCVM
• this year new licking at front feet and scratching at front elbows with marked episodes

She is not itchy otherwise. Also are the feet actually itchy or are they burning, tingling – how would one know?

Other notes:

• her coat has been very fine, redish tint, and her nails wear off easily
• since she's been shaved for her surgeries the undercoat is overtaking the top coat (the first winter she grew virtually undercoat only)
• her coat gets smelly easily after being wet (even after bath); doesn't dry well
• her feet smell bad sometimes
• licking of private parts

When emailing with Dr. Laci of VetLive I noticed one thing: last year Jasmine's T4 levels were 36 in August and 42 in September on half the dose she is on now. This March suddenly they dropped to 14. They are now 20 with double the dose. Surely something seems to be going on there ...?

Further reading:
Five Common Causes of Itching in Dogs
Dog skin disorders
Bacterial Infection (Pyoderma) of the Skin in Dogs
Folliculitis in Dogs

Related articles:
Please help Jasmine

One Thing Leads To Another: Why The Second ACL Often Goes Too

by Susan E. Davis, PT

Have you ever wondered about the impact of the improper use of an injured limb on the rest of the body and how other areas are affected?

The canine knee or “stifle” immediately comes to mind as it is the most problematic joint in the dog.

Source: The Dog Health Handbook

It is a complex joint starting with the rounded shape at the end (like knobs) of the femur, the plateau of the tibia, the patella, meniscus, cruciate and collateral ligaments, tendons, joint capsule.

Because of this, some veterinarians and therapists embrace the concept of this joint being an “organ”.

Here’s how the structures work:  the capsule protects the joint surfaces by being a mechanical barrier, providing blood supply and nutrition to the joint and has a lubricating fluid which gives viscosity for the joint to work. Ligaments provide support to the capsule and “bind” the joint together. The patella or “knee cap” rides in a smooth canal formed a valley in the femur and provides a fulcrum for mechanical advantage to the quadriceps muscles when they contract. The menisci or shock absorbers are triangular wedge-shaped cartilage structures that transfer stress off the joint surfaces.

Now let’s examine what happens and why things can go wrong with the stifle.

The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), also often referred to as ACL, confronts unique biomechanical forces in canine “down on all fours” gait compared to upright 2-legged human gait. The human ACL tears more acutely, mainly from trauma.

The canine CCL tears from repeated movements, non trauma related and acute tears are less common. 

This type of tear is usually a slow gradual degradation followed by complete rupture. It is not only due to different forces on stifle during canine gait but also from the shape and angle of the canine tibial plateau.

In humans the tibial plateau is essentially flat, and sits in a level transverse plane almost parallel to the ground.

In dogs the plateau is more sloping in shape and sits in a plane at an acute angle to the ground. 

Therefore gravity affects the canine CCL differently with more shearing forces on it during “walking on all fours” than on the human ACL in upright gait.  Now you can see why “TPLO” surgery stands for Tibial Plateau LEVELING Osteotomy!

Once the stability of the CCL becomes compromised, the stifle joint is lax (or loose) and the menisci can tear or degenerate because of repeated stress from the laxity.

Patellar luxation in a medial or inward direction can also develop.  With these problems the first outward sign is non-weight bearing (NWB) or partial (PWB) lameness in the affected limb.  In turn, this causes increased weight on the other “sound” limbs, both front and back.

“Overuse” syndrome can then occur, leading to inflammation, irritation and crepitus (sounding “crunchy”) during passive range of motion.

Inflammation left untreated causes tissue damage by dilation of the blood vessels with release of histamine, activation of enzymes with release of free radicals that digest matrix and contribute to loss of cartilage and formation of unwanted scar tissue.  This can progress into arthritis, or degenerative joint disease (DJD).

That is why dogs with a ruptured CCL have a 20-40 % chance of tearing the other side!

The incidence is also variable by obesity and by certain breeds that have some underlying genetic predisposition, but it is not just the large breeds!  There is a correlation to body structure—“straighter leg” dogs of both large and small breeds have more chance of CCL tears than “bowed”.

Breeds with straighter bones have more direct force on the ligament as opposed to breeds with more bowed bones like bulldog, dachshund or corgi.  

If the injured CCL goes untreated or has surgery and takes longer to recover, the more likely the other side may “wear and tear” beyond the 40%. If the injured side becomes arthritic there is a 60-70% incidence the other side will tear within 12-16 months (ref:  Doverspike et al, JAAHA.)

The key to prevention of “other side” tears is in the TIMING:  early diagnosis and surgical correction for complete tears, early post op rehab, healthy diet and ideal body weight.

Otherwise excessive weight shifted onto the sound leg will increase the possibility of that CCL tearing. If the tear is just partial and you see only intermittent lameness, surgery may not be needed but PT with modalities such as laser, functional electrical stimulation and massage can be of great benefit, along with other treatments advised by your veterinarian. Further information on these modalities will be provided in a future post.

*** 

Susan E. Davis (Sue) is a licensed Physical Therapist with over 30 years of practice in the human field, who transitioned into the animal world after taking courses at the UT Canine Rehabilitation program.  She is located in Red Bank, New Jersey.

She has been providing PT services to dogs and other animals through her entity Joycare Onsite, LLC in pet’s homes and in vet clinics since 2008.

She also provides pro bono services at the Monmouth County SPCA in Eatontown, NJ.  Sue is the proud “dog mommy” to Penelope, a miniature Dachshund with “attitude”.  For more information see her website www.joycareonsite.com , or follow on Twitter @animalPTsue.


Sue is also the author of a fantastic book on physical therapy, Physical Therapy And Rehabilitation For Animals: A Guide For The Consumer.  

Physical therapy can do so many great things for your dog. Understanding all the possibilities physical therapy can offer will change your dog's life. This book definitely belongs on the shelf of every dog lover.

Further reading:
CARE Cruciate lecture
Canine rehabilitation evolving to aid arthritic, post-op patients

Articles by Susan E. Davis:
Functional Strengthening Exercises: the What, Why and How
One Thing Leads To Another: Why The Second ACL Often Goes Too
Compensation: An Attempt To Restore Harmony
Paring Down to the Canine Core
Canine Massage: Every Dog ‘Kneads’ It”
Photon Power: Can Laser Therapy Help Your Dog?  
Physical Therapy in the Veterinary World  
Reiki: Is it real? 
Dog Lessons: Cooper  
The Essentials Of Canine Injury Prevention: 7 Tips For Keeping Your Dog Safer 

The Challenge Of Degenerative Myelopathy (DM): Knowledge Is Power (Part I)
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM): Top 10 Management Suggestions (Part II) 
Great (Or Not So Great) Expectations with Femoral Head Osteotomy (FHO) Part (I) 
Great (Or Not So Great) Expectations with Femoral Head Osteotomy (FHO) Part (II)

It's Not Just Walking, It's Therapy! 
Treatment And Prevention Of Canine Intervertebral Disc Disease (Part I)
Treatment And Prevention Of Canine Intervertebral Disc Disease (Part II Physical Therapy)
Range Of Motion: It’s A Matter Of Degree…
The Weight Of Water And How It Helps Dogs 
By Land or By Sea? A Comparison of Canine Treadmills 
Unraveling The Mystery Of Fascia And Myofascial Trigger Points (Part I)
Unraveling The Mystery Of Fascia And Myofascial Trigger Points (Part II) 
Scar Tissue: Is it Too Much of a Good Thing? 
Physical Therapy Tip Of The Month: Ramps! 
Physical Therapy Tip Of The Month: Indoor Duo Dog Exercises!
Physical Therapy Tip Of The Month: Best Practices After Your Dog’s Surgery 
Physical Therapy Tip Of The Month: Ideas to Chew on - Can Physical Therapy Help with my Dog’s Digestive Problems? 


Related articles:
Talk To Me About ACL Injuries
ACL Injuries in Dogs: Non-Surgical Alternatives?
ACL Injuries in Dogs and Stem Cell Regenerative Therapy
Newest Surgery For Ruptured ACL In Dogs
Preventing ACL Injuries In Dogs
ACL Injuries In Dogs: Xena's Story 
ACL Injury Conservative Management: Sandy's Story
Surviving The Post-Op: After Your Dog's ACL Surgery
Talk to Me About Arthritis
Don't Forget the Physical Therapy 
My Love Is Sleeping At My Feet: ACL Surgery Complications 
Coco's TPLO Post-Op Diary 
Small Breeds Can Hurt Their ACL Too: Star's Naughty Knee

Please Help Jasmine

If you read my blog, you already know Jasmine and you know that she is the inspiration behind the blog and my efforts to help other dogs and their owners.

Today Jasmine needs your help!

We had hit financial rock bottom and are at the end of the rope. If you're not that familiar with Jasmine's story, here is the short version.

Jasmine has been dealt an unfortunate hand regarding her health. With some issues starting at early age but never diagnosed, about two years ago the dam finally broke and we were overwhelmed with one medical issue after another.

It started with her tearing her left ACL. Before that could have been taken care of, a mass was found in her abdomen and for a while we were very scared it might have been cancer. Fortunately it turned out to be only an eosinophilic gastroenteritis, a form of IBD. She was also diagnosed with hypothyroid.

It was found that her other ACL was in a bad shape also, and that she had arthritis not only in both knees but also in her shoulders, neck and jaws. We did an extracapsular repair and stem cell therapy.

Just when her leg was looking really good, her other ACL went. So we had to go through the whole thing again. When her rehab was done and her legs were looking good, her episodes of panting, pacing and discomfort, which were progressively getting worse since she was three years old, got really bad.

We did all the diagnostics our vet could think of. Last thing to do was an x-ray of the heart. She had a bad reaction to one of the drugs, got severe hyperthermia and it fried her blood and her muscles. She couldn't stand up or walk on her own, and the next morning started peeing blood.

As we took her to the emergency we ended up at the teaching hospital. It turned out that apart from the trauma caused by the hyperthermia she also had a large abscess in her abdomen. It was a race against time—waiting for the platelets get high enough so surgery could be done as soon as possible. It took one week of hospitalization and another week of home recovery before she got back on her feet.

We've been at this for over two years now. 

Jasmine had total of 7 surgeries and 2 near death experiences. One thing gets fixed, something else goes wrong. Seeing a regular vet, TCVM vet and a physiotherapist, they all have constantly full hands.

We have spent over $50,000 on vet bills in the past two years and our resources are exhausted. Our truck is falling apart, our home is falling apart ... everything is.

Taking her to physio therapy with her latest muscle injury. Getting another stem cell treatment, this time for her elbow which got really bad.

And now on top of things she broke out with a skin infection. 

That seemed to have been clearing up but the other night, a week into her antibiotic treatment, another bunch of fur fell out leaving a red bald patch. I'm hoping it's just a fall out from the original infection but I'm worried what would happen if it isn't.

That means another vet visit and more diagnostics.

If you ever had a dog with a really bad skin disease, or seen one, you know why I'm worried.

When today I talked to my husband about seeing the vet again (saw him twice last week!) he really freaked out.

He is talking about putting Jasmine down as we cannot go on like this. 

I thought he was saying that just because he was upset, but later on he repeated that again. He seems dead serious.

Jasmine is so precious. She's smart, loving, caring, full of zest for life.

How could we end it just like that? 

The sad thing is that she has improved so much and she always manages to come out on top for the time being!

She is a fighter and she wants to live!

So many issues got resolved and she really could be around for a few more great years if some of these latest things got taken care of. But we are still spending on average about $2,000/month on her total vet bills (treatments, medications and supplements)!

I appreciate where my husband is coming from, but how can I let this happen? 

After all, it is just a skin problem this time? The big issue just being that it is one thing after another...

If we just could get through this one now and get some help getting back on our feet, everything could be ok.

Please, if you can, please help.

Jana

Update

Thank you all dear friends who have helped!

Jasmine's skin seems to be under control, we will be working on figuring out the cause. We hope to figure it out and fix it before something else flares up. We will be starting with thyroid panel.

January 7th 2010
Blood was drawn on Monday. Got the T4 back  (20), still waiting for the other values.

Started a medicated bath regime, skin is holding up so far.


January 14th 2010
Jasmine's skin remains it a good shape with medicated baths and maintenance dose antibiotics. Those are upsetting her stomach though.

To make up for it, since Monday her both left legs were sore, it has to be something, doesn't it?

The thyroid panel is back and the results are rather inconclusive. The levels are in the low part of normal, we need to decide whether we should take steps in that direction or not and meanwhile look for other potential causes for the skin issues.

Her spirit is high though and she's loving life as ever.

Adopt Jerry, Blind And Deaf Sweetheart

Jerry found himself in a high kill shelter in Stockton, CA. where 10,000 animals were euthanized last year alone!

People United for Pets (PUP) was asked to help and we are so glad we did. All dogs PUP pulls from California have health certificates, as required by Washington State.

When Jerry (Jerad) first came to stay with us we knew he was blind. But our hearts sank when we discovered he was also deaf.

We wondered how he could possibly cope with two such challenging obstacles. 

But we were amazed and impressed at how quickly he showed us he had already overcome them. 

We were even more surprised at how securely he settled into our hearts. 

And even though we can't explain how he negotiates his life the way he does, we do know we are very grateful that PUP was able to save him. 

We feel very lucky to be his foster family, and we know this cheerful, appreciative little guy feels the same about us.

PUP's main goal is to find this loving poodle a home where he can florish with his condition and get all the love and attention he so deserves.

It is amazing how dogs can continue to have a happy heart and kisses abound when they've come from such dire situations. It will take a special family to welcome Jerry, but we know one is out there for this guy!

Jerry is blind (he has had one eye removed due to a case of painful glaucoma) and is becoming deaf.

Jerry will likely need to get a pressure test for his remaining eye, which sadly might also need to be removed.

While in his foster home he has turned out to be an amazing little guy who epitomizes the saying, "to know him is to love him."

He is a friendly, gentle, well-mannered little dog who has had to deal with a lot in his life, and, as a result, is very appreciative of the smallest acts of human kindness. 

He has adapted very well to his blindness and deafness in his foster home.

He knows his way around the house and yard, follows his foster family around the house during their daily routine and is the first one in the kitchen when he smells dinner being prepared.

Jerry gets along well with the other dogs and the elderly cat in his foster home and sleeps quietly in his crate at night. He is very good about going outside to go potty and, once there, takes care of his business quickly. 

He jumps up on the couch when he wants to cuddle and jumps back down when he has other interests elsewhere.

He carefully chooses his three favorite toys from among many others in the toy basket when he is ready to play. He loves going on walks and he trots along confidently on his leash by his masters side, even while walking in unfamiliar places.

He doesn't bark at visitors and, instead, greets newcomers to our house with a wagging tail and kisses. He's an inspirational little dog with a wonderful spirit.

    * Male Poodle mix, possibly with Bichon
    * Approximately 8 years old, 13 pounds
    * House-trained and crate-trained
    * Requires a fenced yard
    * Good with other dogs and cats
    * Dog respectful children, 12 and older because of his blindness
    * Adoption fee: $75

If you reside within Washington State and think you have room in your home and heart for Jerry, click here to see his Petfinder Profile.


***

People United for Pets (PUP) is an all volunteer, 501(c)(3) registered non-profit organization specializing in small and toy breed dog rescue. They are located in Western Washington State.

Countless dogs are without homes and in need of assistance. These are dogs who would make wonderful and faithful companions if only they could connect with the right person or family. PUP has made it their mission to help them do this.

Update on Jerry

Jerry has been adopted!

Canine Parvovirus

by Lorie Huston, DVM

Canine parvovirus is a severe, potentially fatal gastrointestinal disease that infects dogs. 

Puppies and young dogs are most susceptible and tend to have the most severe infections, but dogs of any age that are unprotected against parvovirus can get the disease.

Symptoms of Parvovirus in Dogs

Parvovirus attacks the intestinal tract, essentially destroying the inner lining of the intestines. Symptoms most commonly seen with parvovirus include:

• vomiting
• diarrhea, often bloody diarrhea
• lack of appetite
• depression, usually severe depression
• fever
• subnormal temperature  (especially in the later stages of disease)
• dehydration

The dehydration seen with canine parvovirus is profound and life-threatening. Death from parvovirus occurs in part as a result of the dehydration.

Another less commonly seen form of parvovirus affects the heart muscle. This form of parvovirus causes the cells in the heart muscle to become inflamed and die. The cardiac form of parvovirus affects young puppies most commonly and is frequently fatal.

Parvovirus is caused by a virus that is passed from one dog to another through fecal-oral contact. 

This means that your dog can become infected with parvovirus by being exposed to a fecal sample from a dog that is carrying the virus.

Treatment of Canine Parvovirus

There is no specific cure for canine parvovirus. The goal of treatment is to support the infected dog in the hope that the dog’s immune system will eventually be able to defeat the infection. As a result, treatment of parvovirus is basically supportive care, though intensive care is usually necessary in order for the dog to survive.

The most important part of treatment for parvovirus is fluid administration. 

Fluids are given intravenously to replace the fluid loss caused by the vomiting and diarrhea in an attempt to keep the dog hydrated.

In some cases, blood or plasma transfusions may be necessary in addition to fluid therapy.

Antibiotics are often administered in treating parvovirus to help prevent secondary bacterial infections. Secondary bacterial infections are a threat because the parvovirus causes suppression of the bone marrow and a weakened immune system.

Anti-emetic medications are frequently a part of the treatment for parvovirus as well. Anti-emetic medications help prevent vomiting and can be helpful in controlling nausea as well.

Prevention of Parvovirus in Dogs and Puppies

Vaccination against canine parvovirus is available and is considered to be a core vaccine (a vaccine that is recommended for all dogs).

Puppies can be vaccinated against parvovirus as early as 6-8 weeks of age. The vaccine should be repeated at 3-4 week intervals until the puppy is between 14-16 weeks of age. Some veterinarians believe that it is safest to administer the last vaccine in the series at 16 weeks of age or older.

The canine parvovirus vaccine should be repeated in one year. After that, the vaccine should be re-administered at least every three years, although some veterinarians administer the vaccine on a yearly basis.

Alternatively, titers can be measured in place of routine vaccination. 

The titer may indicate that dog is well-protected against parvovirus and does not need to be re-vaccinated. It may also be within a questionable range, in which case the vaccine should be administered.

***

Lorie Huston has been practicing veterinary medicine for over 20 years. Besides a successful career in a busy small animal hospital in Providence, RI, Lorie is also a successful freelance writer specializing in pet care and pet health topics. 

Currently, she is the feature writer for the Pet Care section at Suite101.com and the National Pet Health Examiner at Examiner.com. Lorie also publishes her own blog, The Pet Health Care Gazette and manages an increasingly popular facebook page, The Voice of Pet Care. 

In addition, she co-moderates #BarkOutLoud, a weekly twitter chat that focuses on a variety of dog topics.

Related articles:
Stories from My Diary-rrhea (part II): Acute Small Intestinal Diarrhea
Viral Infections: Cosmo's Battle with Parvovirus
Alien Invasion: Your Dog And Infections
To Booster Or Not To Booster: Jasmine's Parvo and Distemper Titer Results Are Back

Inspiration In Action: Only Days Left To Vote!

Help a non profit get $25,000 from Heska to support their work!

Vote for your winner today!

The four non profits are: 

World Vets
Establishing a sustainable disaster response program for animals in disaster situations throughout the world.

The PUP (Prevent Unwanted Pets)
Project Implementing an educational program for school-aged children in rural west Florida.

Pets Forever
Helping low-income, ill or elderly individuals care for their pets.

Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project
Averting the threat of extinction for amphibian species.

Dawg Business is voting for World Vets.

World Vets is a nonprofit that provides free veterinary aid to animals that otherwise would never receive veterinary attention.

WorldVets addresses both animal and human health issues by developing sustainable veterinary aid programs to improve animal and human populations in 24 countries.

World Vets empowers local partners through collaboration, education and training. With $25,000 in additional funding,

World Vets hopes to develop a disaster response program with protocols, procedures and adequate training to enable veterinary professionals to assist animals in natural disaster situations.

Click Here To Vote now!

A Word On Second Opinions

With Jasmine's health being a constant challenge, veterinary topics are a daily subject of our conversations.

If there is a single take-home point of my blog, it is this:

Your dog's health is ultimately in your hands. Making the right decisions for your dog is your responsibility and you cannot pass it onto somebody else and not regret it.

Yes, it sucks. It's a lot of pressure and it involves a lot of homework.

Do I have to go to vet school just because I want to have a dog?!?!

Of course not. But there are things you better learn about.

Choosing the right veterinarian and knowing when to seek a second opinion can be the difference between sickness and health, and sometimes even life and death of your dog!

Not all vets were created equal and even the best vet can make a mistake. So now what?

How often do we put our dogs at the mercy of an incompetent vet and question nothing? Or we do question things but do nothing about it?

For your dog's sake, don't let it be you!

During one of our conversations hubby came up with a great idea to illustrate the importance of questioning things and seeking second opinion.

I decided to turn it into an article and it is now published on VetLive blog—Leak under the Kitchen Sink.

If the situation you find yourself in feels wrong, you have the right to a second opinion! 


And you owe it to your dog and to your own peace of mind.

Of course when we say we want a second opinion—whether we don't like the diagnosis or the proposed treatment—what we really want is a different opinion.

Well, you're in luck.

With few exceptions, the chances that a different vet will come to the same conclusions—the ones you didn't like in the first place—are really quite low.

When after she recovered from her ACL surgeries Jasmine started limping on her hind leg again, we first took her to the main vet. He concluded that she had hurt her muscle.

When her TCVM vet examined her, he figured that it was likely a tendon injury.

When we took her to a chiropractor/physical therapist for treatment, she decided that Jasmine had a problem with her knee after all.

Three vets—three opinions. This happened last fall, and wouldn't you know it, it happened recently again!

In case you're wondering who turned out to be right, it was her main vet.

“Ten different doctors will come up with ten different diagnoses based on the same data”
—Gregory House

How is it possible that you might get as many different opinions as many vets you consult? 

I am starting to question whether there is such a thing as an objective opinion in the first place. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that there isn't. The meaning of the word opinion itself is inherently subjective.

Any conclusion is an interpretation of the available facts based on previous experience (or lack of thereof). 

Though it's really the kind rather than the amount of experience that matters. That will determine where and how the vet will choose to look and how they interpret what they see.

There's truth in the adage: "Choose your specialist - choose your disease." Doesn't work this way with specialists only!

It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind

The First approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
"God bless me! but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!"

The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, "Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me 'tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!"

The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a snake!"

The Fourth reached out an eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
"What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain," quoth he;
" 'Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!"

I'm not going to quote the whole thing, if you want to read all of it check it out here.

Bottom line is that if you desire a second (or even third, fourth, fifth) opinion, the chances that you will get them are good.

Here comes the catch though.

Now that you have all these opinions, you still have to choose one!

So how do you do that?

After all this trouble you're back to where you started – homework. 

There is no way around it. Whether it involves finding a vet so awesome that you simply take their word for it, or researching all the possibilities that had been laid out for you, you still do have to do your homework.

You can go with your gut, that often works, but you still need to root it in some information.

Of course you can always toss a coin. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe …

However you decide to arrive to your decision, make sure you will be able to live with it afterward.

It's your dog's health!
Jana

Related articles:
Finding Dr. Wonderful And Your Mutt's Mayo Clinic: Getting Started
Making Tough Medical Decisions For Your Dog
It's Your Dog's Health
Does Your Vet Listen To You?
Help! My Dog Is Purple!
Veterinary Drive-Thru: Coming Soon To A Veterinary Hospital Near You!

Heartworm Testing And Why You Can't You Just Buy Heartworm Preventative

By Dino Dogan 

Every day is a good day to learn something new. Do you know why you can't just buy heartworm preventative on a whim and why your dog should be tested annually? Or would it be a surprise for you?


I stopped by a local vet yesterday to pick up heartworm and flee/tick meds for my dog. I’ve never been to this particular vet so I encountered an issue that has never come up before.

I wasn’t allowed to buy the heartworm medicine!

Huh?

I had to check the sign hung on the doors of America. Yup… sure enough…it still said United States of Capitalism. So I was confused.

Forgive me, I said to the lady at the reception desk. And why am I not allowed to buy heartworm medication for my dog?

She said that she’s not allowed to sell it.

If you’re getting frustrated with me not getting to the point, imagine how I felt. But allow me to be thorough.

Ok, but why? I said to her.

It could cause a pulmonary embolism. She said.

Editor's note: Pulmonary embolism is actually less likely to occur than a shock, caused by body's reaction to the dying larva in the bloodstream. Both, shock or pulmonary embolism, can be life threatening though.

Excuse me? Why wasn’t I aware of this? 

Do you mean to tell me that giving my dog heartworm meds can cause him to have a heart failure? Why are people selling this crap to begin with?

If the dog ALREADY has heartworm, giving him the medication for it could cause a blood clot in his lungs. By the way son, pulmonary embolism is a lung failure, not heart failure. She added.

Ahhh…I see. So heartworm medication is a preventive measure ONLY. Ok. But why can’t I buy the medicine. My dog doesn’t have heartworm.

We can’t sell you the medicine because if the dog has heartworm the medicine could kill him and that would be our responsibility. She answered.

Now I’m confused again. How exactly are YOU responsible for MY dog? 

I didn’t say that but I thought it.

The vet was near by and he was overhearing our conversation so he chimed in.

It’s impossible for owners to tell if their dog has heartworm. 

The onset is gradual and most of the time it looks like aging. The dog slows down, starts to go grey around the muzzle. Their coat loses its luster and their energy is depleted. Most owners welcome this kind of change because it means they don’t have to exercise the dog as much.

He also added. The heartworm test is mandated by both the American Heartworm Association AND the manufacturer of the heartworm medication.

Ahh…I get it. You are not responsible for my dog. I am responsible for my dog, but you are liable.

Exactly. He replied.

Thnx doc, I’ll just grab the flee/tic meds then.

That’ll be $49.95. The receptionist said.

A swipe of the credit card later I was on my way out the door slightly better off and more knowledgeable about my dog’s welfare than I was when I went in.

I hope you are too after reading this article.

Dogs should be tested at least once a year for heartworm and given appropriate preventive meds.

When was the last time you tested your dog?

***

Dino Dogan is a blogger, writer, biker, dog trainer, singer/songwriter, Martial Artist. Currently working on Human-Dog Problem Tree; a thesis in human-dog relationship. Check out Dino's great blog at Dogan Dogs Video Blogs, or connect with Dino on Twitter or Facebook.

Related articles:
Don't Let Heartworm Become A Heartbreak!
Hunter, Heartworm Positive

Further reading:
Dog Heartworm
Heartworm Testing in Dogs
Heartworm Preventive Medication in Dogs: The Debate
Current heartworm recommendations for dogs