Paring Down to the Canine Core

by Susan E. Davis, PT

In the event you might research” canine strengthening”, part of the new field of PT and Rehabilitation for animals, you will find plenty of information about the fore and hind limbs. You will not find much at all on the “Core” groups which contain the diaphragm, abdominal and spinal musculature.

As time goes on, we realize just how critical these muscle groups are to canine function and the importance of properly including them in a rehabilitation program.

The abdominal muscles are those which run from the ribs to parts of the pelvis. 

Their names are: rectus abdominis, external and internal obliques and transverse abdominus.

Their functions are

1. Movement: bending or flexion, side bend and rotation of the spine 
2. Support for the spine and visceral organs 
3. Assist or act as an “accessory” to activity, breathing, barking.  

The rectus is “superficial” and runs long ways in a head to tail direction (like the “6-pack” muscle in the human), the obliques are diagonal, along the dog’s side, and the transverse is a deep, lower muscle which runs from side to side.  

When you visualize how the dog walks in a quadruped (all four limbs on the ground) manner with its internal organs positioned parallel to the ground, you can see how important the abdominal muscles are in supporting them and countering the effects of gravity as a “floor”.

Canines also have a much “shorter” gut/intestinal path as compared to humans, and the abdominals can also be helpful in aiding this system.

It is important to strengthen and  firm the abdominals  for prevention  of spinal conditions in dogs, particularly the  chondrodystrophic (dwarf) breeds like Dachshunds, Corgis, Pekingese and Lhasa Apsa, or after spinal injury or spinal surgery.  

In non-orthopedic cases where abdominal surgery is performed for removal of masses, etc., the abdominal area will need rehabilitation to help tissue healing and regain strength.

Typical PT intervention after abdominal surgery will include massage over the surgery site. 

Abdominal incisions are deep and tend to form excess scar tissue. This forms naturally as the body heals itself and it   usually reabsorbs with normal movement and activity.

However sometimes excess scarring can linger and impair muscle function.  These “cross links” of excess collagen are broken down thru various types of massage.  

The most common is transverse friction where a shearing type of movement is performed perpendicular to the scar direction (if scar runs “north-south the friction is applied “east-west”, etc.).

Another form is myofascial release, a very light subtle rhythmical surface technique which works on the fascia or connective tissues surrounding the musculature.

There are other “somatic” body work vibratory techniques used by massage therapists that can also help.  In the “human PT” world a “Wurn Technique” exists that is being used over the abdominal region to release scar tissue in women having difficulty conceiving.  I anticipate these techniques may eventually become adapted for use in animals having medical abdominal issues.

Now for the fun part!  Here are some examples of strengthening and toning exercises:


1.  "Get on the Ball”   using a peanut-shaped ball or physioroll, place the dog on top,” long ways” and perform gentle bouncing motions, while keeping one hand on your dog and one on the ball. This will activate and “recruit” the abdominal musculature.

2.  “Sit up for a Treat” can be performed starting with your dog lying on their back.  A pillow or mattress can be placed underneath.  Place one hand under their ribs or behind the neck, while the other hand holds a small treat, encourage them to do a “curl or sit-up” and reach the treat.  This engages the rectus muscle, by working from the ‘top down”.  5 reps

3. “Add a Twist”: roll them toward their side using a cushion or pillow under the ribs and do the same “sit-up” as above, but from the side, to activate the obliques. Repeat on the other side:  3-4 reps per side.

4.  “Bottoms up” now work from the bottom up to recruit the deeper transverse abdominals.  Start position with dog on their back.  Lean over the dog and tickle their lower belly, rub your head on the fur or something similar that is fun for your dog, so they will naturally want to curl-up their legs and “bottom”.  This is not done in reps but in time.  Try and make this a fun little game, getting them to hold the position for 10-15 seconds.  My dog likes when my hair falls down on her belly!

5. If your dog has difficulty lying on their back or side for the above exercises, you can start with a basic “belly tickle” in the standing on all fours position.  Place one hand under their chin to align the head horizontally, and the other hand lightly tickling the belly to encourage abdominal muscular contraction.

6. Stretching: like all muscles, the abdominals can get tight and may need to be stretched.  This should be done by a PT or your Vet, via rolling from side to side and lying back over a small rolled towel or foam roller.

General precautions and Contraindication:  

Though I love to provide examples of PT exercises for you to do at home, the safest and best way is to be shown first by an animal-trained PT or a rehab-trained Vet.

They can provide specific modifications and parameters for the best outcome. I would avoid abdominal strengthening in certain high-cut/deep chested breeds such as boxers as there may be a risk of stimulating gastric torsion. It is always best to get your Vet’s advice first.  Have a great summer and help firm your dog’s abs!!!

*** 

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.

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

Further reading:
Scar Tissue Massage
Characteristics and functional significance of canine abdominal muscles

Related articles:
Don’t Forget the Physical Therapy

Thinking Outside The Box: Solutions Tailored To Your Dog's Needs

Looks like the boils, altered mental status, and heart failure were caused by renal cell carcinoma. I need your signature to start treating it with malaria.
—Gregory House, MD

Getting the right diagnosis is a crucial step but the work doesn't end there.

Once you know what's wrong with your dog, you still need to decide on the treatment. Yes, you might have been presented with one treatment option only. That, however, doesn't mean there is only one option.

When Jasmine was diagnosed with torn ACL, the only option presented to us was TPLO surgery!

Well, guess what? There are enough options to treat torn cruciate ligament out there to make your head spin!

That's not to say that the one option you were given isn't the best one for you dog. But how would you know for sure without considering them all?

Remember, getting a second opinion doesn't apply only to diagnostics but to treatment options also!

While a run-of-the-mill treatment solution can often work, it is not always the case.

The problem with cookie-cutter solutions is that each dog is an individual with individual problems and needs.

The best treatment is such that considers your dog's individual needs.

The first time our vet was faced with the need for a unique solution to a common problem was when we brought in JD with ringworm infection.

He was going to write up a standard prescription. 

While doing that he mentioned that JD will have to wear the elizabethan collar until the treatment was over.

Wait a minute. This was just shortly after Jasmine's first knee surgery and she was quite vulnerable to set backs! And I remembered what a disaster it was when JD had to wear the collar after he got neutered. He was a clumsy danger to himself and everybody around him.

Mixing that with Jasmine's post op didn't seem like a good idea to me.

I still remember how momentary irritation swept over the vet's face. 

He was trying to hide it and I didn't hold it against him. What was important was what he did. We could clearly see him thinking.

He then came up with an alternate solution that did not require the e-collar!

Yes, it was pain in the back side, and the treatment took longer. But it worked and Jasmine's knee was safe!

He [our vet] since got used to the fact that with Jasmine every solution has to be custom. After examining her, he would sit down deep in thought: “I know what I would normally do—now I have to figure out what I'm going to do considering it's Jasmine.”

Jasmine's vet is very smart and sometimes I think he enjoys the challenge.

He had custom designed his first lift exam tables. For his new place he had now designed custom sound-proof kennels for the sick ward. And he always makes the treatment work for his patients.

When one of Jasmine's incisions wasn't healing well, he came up with the idea of using Preparation H. 

That's right, the hemorrhoid ointment! Did it ever work! It seems it works better for this than for its original purpose!

This year has been quite wet and Jasmine's feet seemed to want to keep breaking out with infections.

What are we using? Epi-Otic!

Yup, the ear cleanser! And it's working beautifully! Since we started using it, even the cracks Jasmine had on he pads disappeared.

Jasmine's care is custom tailored to her, starting from her custom home-cooked diet and hand-picked supplements, to treatment of any problem that she faces.

The biggest leap of faith for her vet was when we wanted to include the Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) in our arsenal.

He squirmed a bit at first.

But because the patient's interest is his main priority, and conventional treatments failed to address the problem, he agreed to trying it.

Jasmine's TCVM vet was quite surprised to find out that her regular vet was cool with that. “He knows you're here?” he asked, surprised, when we came for the first consultation.

Yes, of course he did, we wouldn't want to do anything without his blessing. 

We love and respect him too much to go behind his back. And the fact that we didn't have to [go behind his back] only proves that the respect we have for him is well deserved.

Over time, all kinds of things got mixed into the pot that is Jasmine's medical care.

Latest science, unorthodox ideas, and alternative treatments. 

The result? Jasmine is going to be 8 years old and nobody would guess that.


We drive our dogs around in custom cars, dress them up with custom accessories … and yet we are quick to settle for cookie-cutter medical solutions.

Your dog has arthritis? Here are some NSAIDs.

While NSAIDs can be a fine solution for many dogs, there are other options out there that can work just as well and that are safer.

Whatever treatment option you go with, do make sure that it is the best solution for you and your dog. There are options!

It's your dog's health,
Jana

Related articles:
Bulging Disc and The Importance Of A Second Opinion
A Word On Second Opinions
Trust Your Gut! The Story Of Blind Maximus
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!

Bulging Disc and The Importance Of A Second Opinion

Jingles' story is shared with us by Luanne of Rusty-Dawg Pet Products, thank you, Luanne, for sharing!

***

Jingles is a Beagle and he is so silly and full of life that you’d never guess he is 19 years old! 

Every day I shake my head in disbelief at his antics and energy and I wouldn’t change him for the world! I love him for his foolishness and he always makes me laugh.

However, this month he had a few episodes of bad pain. 

When it happens he can barely lift his head, his right side gets very weak and he has a really hard time walking.

He doesn’t wag his tail and he doesn’t eat because he’s in so much pain. 

His first episode was earlier this month and I took him to my regular vet but she didn’t really know what the problem was, gave the typical suspects for neck pain and sent us on our way with a very low dosage of Tramadol.

That episode lasted 4-5 days and then he seemed ok. Not perfect because if I touched near his head when he wasn’t expecting it he’d yelp but other than that he was back to his ole Beagley self!

That lasted for about 10 days and then he had another bad episode.

During this recent bad episode I took him back to my regular vet and she said to put him back on the Tramadol that he was prescribed during his first episode but other than that she didn’t have anything else to offer. His pain kept up, the Tramadol was not helping & he was not eating & could barely move. My poor ole boy, I was so upset, I really thought we were nearing the end (for those who don’t know, Jingles is 19 yrs old but he’s a very active senior!).

I took him to an emergency vet that weekend and again she had very little to offer. 

My heart was breaking thinking that I may have to euthanize my boy because he had absolutely no quality of life, he was in so much pain, and the two vets I saw did not have anything to offer me to help Jingles.

This is a video of Jingles taken during his first bad episode and he was worse off during his second one:



Determined to do something to try to help Jingles, I took him to another vet who specializes in rehabilitation and physical therapy for animals, the same vet I wrote about previously in regards to Tiki’s rehab, Dr Gumley at Cedarview Animal Hospital.

OMG, I wish I had of taken Jingles there from day one! 

He did not twist Jingles head all around trying to make him scream as the other vets did (and likely causing more damage), he could tell where Jingles was hurting simply by gently feeling his neck and spine, checking his reflexes, etc. The vet could feel the heat radiating from Jingles’ neck and he could feel the muscles twitching (which you could also visibly see) and he was able to pinpoint the specific vertebrae that were causing Jingles so much pain.

Now, only a week after seeing Dr Gumley, I have my Beagle back! 

He’s able to hold his head up properly, he’s rolling in the grass again, he’s trying to steal the cats’ food, he’s able to get up on my bed and the couch, he’s eating well, he’s energetic and wants to go for walks and he’s wagging his tail! Jingles is my silly Beagle once again!

Without an MRI we will not know for sure what’s really going on with Jingles but based on his findings, Dr Gumley is fairly certain it’s a bulging disc in Jingles’ neck which is extremely painful and debilitating. 

He increased Jingles’ Tramadol dosage four fold, and also added in another pain reliever that works with the Tramadol to increase it’s effectiveness.

Jingles has chronic renal failure (which is under control) and a grade 5 heart murmur so we’re limited with what we can give him but the pain meds he’s on are kidney and heart safe.

I’ve been icing Jingles neck and we’ve also been doing the cold laser therapy every other day for the past week.

I think that’s really helping to reduce the inflammation but we won’t know for sure what’s actually helping until we start to decrease the pain meds.

Here’s a video of Jingles taken today, June 20th, 2011. Such an improvement!!



Jingles goes back to see Dr Gumley on Wednesday and if he determines that we now have the pain sufficiently under control than we can start some gentle physical therapy exercises for his neck. I know we aren’t out of the woods yet and it could easily recur, but I’m so thankful for Dr Gumley!

He’s given me hope, he’s given me my silly Beagle back and most importantly he’s given Jingles his quality of life back!

Always, ALWAYS, get a 2nd opinion and if you still are not satisfied, get a 3rd opinion and a 4th! 

We have to be the voice of the animals we care for and we know them best. Don’t be afarid to speak up for them! I often hear people say “but my vet is so nice” as a reason not to go elsewhere. Your vet may be the nicest person in the world but that doesn’t mean they have the experience to deal with the problem at hand. I really like my regular vet and she’s very nice as well but from now on if any of my animals has any mobility issues I am going directly to Dr Gumley.

***

Luanne lives in Ontario, Canada, where she shares her home with her cats and dogs. In April of 2009, she lost one of her beloved dogs, Rusty. He went to the vet to have a simple surgery and he never came home.

Luanne started her online business after Rusty's death in order to be able to spend more time at home with her cats and dogs. She named her business after Rusty. 

Rusty-Dawg Pet Products is an online business featuring eco friendly and handmade products for dogs and cats!

You can also connect with Luanne on Twitter or Facebook.

Related articles:
A Word On Second Opinions
Trust Your Gut! The Story Of Blind Maximus
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!

Heat Stroke: What Happens In The Dog's Body?

by Jennifer Coates, DVM

Every summer, veterinarians warn about the dangers of excessive heat for dogs.  

Heat stroke, which is characterized by a body temperature between 106 and 109°F (normal is 101.5°F give or take a degree), is most likely to develop when one or more of the following conditions is met:

• hot and humid weather combined with exercise and/or a lack of shade and access to water
• being confined in a car or other location where heat can build up
• obesity
• advanced age
• heart disease
• upper respiratory disease (e.g., laryngeal paralysis or brachycephalic airway syndrome)

But what exactly happens when a dog’s body temperature reaches 106°F or above, and why is it so dangerous?

Photo Lindsey Kone

First, as a dog’s temperature begins to climb, the body cools itself via panting, drooling, and dilating blood vessels on the surface of the body (vasodilation).

These mechanisms are sufficient up to a point, but if there is no relief from high external temperatures, the dog’s excessive panting, drooling and vasodilation leads to dehydration and low blood pressure. 

These conditions inhibit the body’s ability to cool itself, setting up a vicious cycle wherein the hotter the body becomes, the less effective are its mechanisms to deal with the situation.

When body temperatures reach the danger zone, proteins break down, cell membranes are damaged, and the body can no longer produce energy at the cellular level.   

As tissues degrade and blood clotting abnormalities develop, the kidneys and liver begin to fail, the lining of the gastrointestinal tract dies, and heart and brain damage occurs.

If a body temperature of 110°F is reached, a dog can die within just a few minutes.

Early symptoms of heat stroke include extreme panting, a rapid heartbeat, red mucous membranes, vomiting, and diarrhea.

As his condition worsens, a dog may suffer from difficulty breathing, abnormal bruising, bloody vomit and diarrhea, blue or pale mucous membranes, collapse, seizures, and paradoxically, a lower than normal body temperature.

If you suspect that a dog is suffering from heat stroke, thoroughly soak him with cool water (do not use ice though) and transport him to the nearest veterinary clinic in a car with the air conditioning on or with all the windows open.

Heat stroke has a mortality rate of around 50%, but with prompt and intensive treatment, many dogs can survive!

***

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.

Articles by Dr. Coates:
When Is It An Emergency?
The Other Side Of The Coin: The Cost Of Defensive Medicine 
Common Misdiagnoses (Part 1) 
Common Misdiagnoses (Part 2)
Dog Allergies: Common, Commonly Misdiagnosed, or Both? 
The Perplexities of Pancreatitis 
Don’t Forget the Physical Therapy
Picking the Right Dog to Breed 
To Neuter Or Not To Neuter… That Is The Question 

Related articles:
Signs, Symptoms And Treatment Of Heat Stroke In Dogs
Know Your Dog's Enemies: Heat Stroke Is No Light Matter! 
Hypo- Versus Hyperthermia

Further reading:
Overheating in Dogs
Heat Stroke in Dogs and Cats: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment
Hyperthermia (Heat Stroke, Heat Prostration)

An Inspiration Award

Many thanks to E.A. of What Dogs Do for selecting Dawg Business as a recipient of the Inspiration Award and the kinds words about us in her post!

Thank you, E.A. your blog is a great inspiration to me also! 

I will continue to work hard to bring you good information and share my experiences. If my blog can make just one dog's life better, then it has fullfilled its purpose.


I now have the daunting task of picking only 10 blogs to pass this award to!


I always find this very difficult, because I read and follow many wonderful blogs and I feel bad for any blog that doesn't make it on the list.

The You are an ... Inspiration! Award goes to:

Kenzo the Hovawart

This blog started as a tribute to Howavarts but it became much more than that. Presently it is the home of the campaing to stop BSL in Denmark. Denmark is one of the countries that took BSL to all new level. After a year of the law being in effect, has it done anybody any good?

Read the articles and sign the petition. Tomorrow it could be YOUR dog!

Dog Lover's Digest

An awesome blog that puts a humorous spin on how we view and understand dogs and their behavior. We often fall victim to trends and cliches. But just because something is repeated enough, it does not always make it so.

The core message of this blog is: "Yes, we can all get along!"

Dog Spelled Forward

Dog Spelled Forward’s mission is to help you and your dog live together happily and in harmony. The key to any successful relationship is communication.

Ella, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Annie started this blog when Ella was diagnosed with syringomyelia. Annie plays an important role in raising syringomyelia awareness and her blog became an inspiration to those who's dogs suffer with this horrible condition.

Sadly, Ella has recently passed. But her legacy remains.

No Dog About It Blog

I see that Mel of No Dog About It just got a Versatile Blog award too! Sorry, Mel, you're getting one from me too!

No Dog About It is an honest, inspirational blog by a great dog lover. Mel shares her knowledge and experience both as a pet parent and as a pet sitter.

Dogs and Tails

Dog trainers beware. Everything that you say can and will be used against you! Why is it that no experts can agree on anything in these days? Be prepared to have it handed to you!

"Everybody's arguing and everybody thinks they're right. I'm thinking, how could that be that they would all be right? Only one person can be right! And that's me!
—Just Brothers

Two Little Cavaliers

The home of the Syringomyelia Awareness Campaign, dog related information and inspiration.

That Mutt

Real life dog training experiences and other great topics. Dog training, dog rescue, dog behaviour and more!

Oh My Dog!

A blog for all things dog. Personal stories, training tips, book and magazine reviews, diy pup projects, you name it. Inspired by her own dogs, Maggie shares what she learned.

Fearful Dogs Blog

Invaluable well of knowledge and experience for anybody living with a fearful dog!

Living with a fearful dog is a big eye opener and it will put everything you think you know about dog training to the test. Well, now you have a great source to draw from.

***

Enjoy and share the love.

If you are here to pick up your award, there are a few simple rules that go with accepting it.

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded this to you.

2. Link posts by you and ten fellow bloggers that you find inspirational.

3. Forward the award to ten fellow bloggers.

Xylitol And The Basset Hound

by Shawn M. Finch, DVM

Matilda is a four year old spayed female Basset Hound. Sometime within an hour before she was brought in, Matilda had taken a package of gum off the counter and eaten or chewed up about half of the package. 

Matilda’s owner did not expect us to say gum could be dangerous for dogs, but she called us (gum wrapper in hand) because she did not know for sure.

What seemed like a pretty innocuous event was indeed a medical emergency! 

She brought Matilda to the hospital as quickly as she safely could.


She had no abnormal physical signs on presentation. A complete blood panel was done.

Matilda's glucose level was down to 60 mg/dL.  (Normal 70-150).  

All other parameters, including liver values, were normal.

Vomiting was induced and anti-emetics given to control the vomiting after treatment.  Activated charcoal was given by mouth to absorb any remaining toxin in her gastrointestinal system.

Matilda was given a meal after treatment, and her blood glucose returned to normal levels.  She returned in the morning for a physical exam and glucose recheck.  No physical abnormalities were noted, and glucose levels were normal.

What could have happened if Matilda wasn't brought in and treated as fast as she was?

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is used as a sugar substitute in many products including gum.  Xylitol is also sometimes used as a sweetener in compounded drugs.  What makes a medication palatable for a child could be deadly for your dog!

Even with rapid assessment by the owner and treatment by the veterinary team, xylitol toxicity cases do not always end as happily as Matilda's case!

Even if they are, often much more intensive therapy is needed than that which was needed to save Matilda.

Xylitol ingestion can be rapidly fatal due to insulin release and the resulting hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).  

It can also cause a more chronic liver failure that can be fatal.  

Life saving treatment often includes intravenous fluid with dextrose (to combat the low blood sugar), supportive care and liver protectants.  If the pet is showing clinical signs, intensive round the clock veterinary monitoring is often needed until the pet is clinically normal and all blood parameters are normal.

Xylitol toxicity seems to be dose dependent, but such a small amount is needed to cause medical problems, including fatalities, that any ingestion is a medical emergency.   

Time is of the essence!  

Matilda ate a few pieces of gum and was treated immediately, and her blood sugar was already dangerously low and probably still dropping!

Good plan:  Seek medical treatment immediately if you even suspect xylitol ingestion!

Better plan:  Keep all xylitol-containing products out of reach of pets.  

Best plan of all:  To be completely safe, keep your home xylitol free!  I would even recommend telling the manufacturers of xylitol-containing products that you are no longer able to keep their products in your home due to the severe danger they pose to dogs. 

Matilda now enjoys a xylitol-free household and has not had any further medical emergencies to date.

***

Dr. Shawn is a veterinarian and mom in Omaha Nebraska. She writes for CareFRESH, Life With Dogs (new!) and Omaha.net.

Dr. Shawn graduated from Iowa State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in 1998 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. She works part time at Banfield, The Pet Hospital of Papillion, seeing small animals: dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, rodents, birds, reptiles and amphibians.

Her veterinary passions (besides her patients, of course!) are preventative/wellness care, pet owner education, positive reinforcement training and solving pet overpopulation.

You can also connect with Dr. Shawn on Twitter or Facebook

Further reading:
Learn From Kelly Osbourne — Keep Your Dog Away From Chewing Gum!
Safe and healthy sweetener for people - but means more pets will die!
Xylitol Poisoning in Dogs
Common Sugar Substitute Xylitol Can Be Deadly for Pets
Veterinary Q&A: Why is xylitol so dangerous for dogs and cats?

Related articles:
Keep Chewing Gum Away From Your Dog!

Keep Chewing Gum Away From Your Dog!

by Dr. Patrick Mahaney, VMD

As an avid gum chewer (it keeps me from biting my nails), dog owner, and veterinarian, I am alarmed to see the increasing trend of toxicity secondary to dogs inappropriately consuming sugarless gum containing Xylitol.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Poison Control Center (APCC) database indicates 150 cases in 2007, all related to the consumption of Xylitol based sugar-free gum.

Xylitol is a crystalline sugar alcohol used to replace sugar as a sweetener in various food products, including chewing gum and candy.

Xylitol mimics sugar’s effect on the body, causing release of insulin from the pancreas and reduction in blood sugar (hypoglycemia). 

Dogs quickly absorb Xylitol from the digestive tract, causing a sudden and strong release of insulin with secondary hypoglycemia.

A very small amount of Xylitol can potentially cause significant toxicity in dogs. 

A mere 1 to 2 pieces of chewing gum containing Xylitol can be potentially toxic to a dog weighing 20 pounds or less!

Symptoms of Xylitol toxicity include (but are not limited to):

• Lethargy
• Vomiting (Emesis)
• Diarrhea
• Loss of coordination (Ataxia)
• Seizures

If untreated, Xylitol toxicity can also lead to liver failure, blood clotting abnormalities, and death.

As this toxicity is completely preventable, please keep all Xylitol containing products out of your home if you have pets. In my clinical practice, I have seen cases of Xylitol toxicity after a dog consumed sugar-free gum from a purse belonging to his owner’s friend, so be aware that this toxicity can occur even if you keep a Xylitol-free household.

Should you suspect or are aware of your pet having consumed a product with Xylitol, contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (AAPCC) at 888-426-4435. 

It is worth the $65 consultation fee to start a case file with a board certified veterinary toxicologist to determine the best treatment.

For the record, Cardiff consumed no chewing gum during the photo shoot for this article.

Please feel free to leave your comments or communicate with me through email or Twitter.

Thank you for reading my article. Make sure to follow my adventures in veterinary medicine by friending Patrick Mahaney: Veterinarian Acupuncture Pain Management for Your Pets on Facebook.

Copyright of this article (2011) is owned by Dr. Patrick Mahaney, Veterinarian and Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist. Republishing any portion of this article must first be authorized by Dr. Patrick Mahaney. Requests for republishing must be approved by Dr. Patrick Mahaney and received in written format.

***

Dr. Patrick uses acupuncture on his own pet. He completed the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) basic course (2006) and he is now a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA).

He earned this certification after he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (1999) and completed an internship at Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, D.C (2000).

Why does he believe so strongly in acupuncture for your pets, especially as a pain management tool? Because combining both Western and Eastern treatments can produce a better outcome for your pets.

Dr. Patrick also works with local Los Angeles rescue organizations to help those pets that have been given a second chance to live healthier lives, and he is currently sharing his pet care knowledge at his Los Angeles Pet Care Examiner column.

Articles by Dr. Patrick
Why Integrative Veterinary Medicine?
Battling IMHA With Integrative Veterinary Medicine (part 1)
Battling IMHA With Integrative Veterinary Medicine (part 2)
Buddha Recovers From Third Degree Burns

Further reading:
Learn From Kelly Osbourne — Keep Your Dog Away From Chewing Gum!
Safe and healthy sweetener for people - but means more pets will die!
Xylitol Poisoning in Dogs
Veterinary Q&A: Why is xylitol so dangerous for dogs and cats? 

Cancer Treatment For Bear

Charlene is a single mom on limited income; her and her daughter are both on Social Security. In the past year, their beloved dog, Bear, had faced multiple health challenges.

As if all that wasn't bad enough, Bear was now diagnosed with cancer.

Charlene is trying to get help from organizations such as AAHA Helping Pets Fund but Bear needs help now! Here is Bear's story.

Bear is 7 years old mixed breed. 

We have had Bear since he was born, we have his mom yet, and her sister. They still treat him like a puppy grooming and cleaning him everyday, he really loves his mom and aunt. Bear loves to play with his many toys and enjoys eating his favorite treat, pup corn.

Even with being as sick as he is, he still tries to play with his toys occasionally. 

Bear is a very loveable dog, everyone who meets him just loves him, and he always has kisses for anyone who asks.

In the past year, Bear has gone through heartworm treatment, surgery to remove a rectal polyp and dental surgery, where he had to have twelve of his teeth removed. He also was suffering from kidney problems, we were told that it could be the start of kidney failure. He had to have medicine and special food for two months; his kidneys are finally back to normal now.

He was just recovering from his surgeries, when he started to develop swelling in his face. 

The swelling went from the size of a marble, to the size of a small egg in under two weeks. They thought at first it was an abscess, so he was on antibiotics for quite a while, almost a month.

But the swelling got worse. Examination revealed that the area was very hard, and was not an abscess after all. The vet took x-rays and consulted a couple of other veterinarians who said it might be cancer, and that he would need to get a biopsy done.

We got the results about a week later, confirming it was cancer.

The kind of cancer he has is called Chondroblastic Osteogenic Sarcoma. We were referred to an oncologist, so we can see if it's treatable, or if it's too far progressed.

Bear is seeing an oncologist tomorrow to see if anything can be done to save him.

Being on Social Security, saving money is awful hard and Bear's treatments already tapped out all our resources. Please, if you can, help out. We have started a fund for Bear's treatment at Give Forward: Help for Bear.

The page contains more detailed information about Bear's struggles and pictures of Bear. You can also connect with Charlene on Twitter or Facebook.

Update on Bear

June 14, 2011

We took Bear to see the oncologist today. She gave us a few options to think about.

There's surgery, which would consist of taking out the tumor. 

They would have to remove the whole upper jaw, eye socket and eye. After the surgery, he would need to go through chemotherapy and radiation treatments. With this treatment, they said he could be around for another 12 months.

The next option is radiation and chemotherapy. 

He would have to get several rounds of each and would have to be put under with anesthesia each time he had the radiation treatment. With this treatment, the chemo would prevent the cancer from spreading, and the radiation would slow down or stop the growth that is already there. Also, they said it would help to make him a bit more comfortable for the time being.

We are not sure how much time this would give us with him, but it would give us more time than if we did nothing and it will help him be more comfortable.

The last option is just radiation, which could be done in 4 high dose rounds, or several smaller dose rounds. 

This would slow down or stop the growth that is already there, just like the chemo + radiation treatment would, but with this option, the cancer could still spread.

The surgery would be a minimum of $4000 not including radiation and chemotherapy. We are leaning toward the radiation and chemotherapy option, if we can get the funds.

What we decide to do depends on how much money we have, because as it is right now, we don't have enough money to do any of the treatments. 

We want to keep him as long as we can, and keep him as comfortable as we can, so we need help now more than ever to do one of these treatments.

With chemotherapy and radiation he would need a CT scan which is $700 alone. Each dose of radiation is over $600 and I'm not sure on the chemo.

Unfortunately time is not on our side, and he needs this treatment as soon as possible, so please help if you can. 

Thank you everyone for your constant thoughts and prayers, it means alot to us.

Update on Bear

June 14, 2011

Bear has an appointment with the oncologist in Madison this Thursday (6-23) to get a CT scan done. We received a small credit, from care credit. It will be enough to get the CT scan. We are no where near being able to start the treatments however, we just don't have enough yet. We will update more after we see the oncologist.

Update on Bear

June 23, 2011

Just got back from getting the CT scan done. The tumor has grown alot, and the oncologist said Bear is in alot of pain. So she increased his meds and also put him on tylenol with codeine.

She said we need to start the radiation treatment next week, but we still do not have enough to do this.

She said without it he will have only a few weeks, maybe a month left.

Update on Bear

June 27, 2011

Bear starts radiation this Wednesday! Huge thanks to all who helped!

Update on Bear

June 14, 2011

Bear had his first radiation treatment today. He also had to have another CT scan. There was a little trouble with the anesthesia, they had trouble keeping him under, so they had to increase the dose.

They had to do blood work today and found out that his kidney enzymes were elevated, as well as a liver marker. 

Due to the kidney problems, they have taken him off one medicine and replaced it with another. The medicine they took him off can increase kidney and liver damage. They are a bit worried about the amount of anesthesia they have to use, as it lowered his blood pressure, and they said that can cause more kidney damage.

They increased one of his medicines and switched two, to liquid form, to see if he would take them better that way. Because Bear has been pretty finicky when it comes to eating lately, she recommended a few different kinds of dog food, and sent them with us. Bear had a little accident after waking from the anesthesia, he was still groggy, but wanted to try and sit on the chairs in the waiting room anyway.

As the Doctor was waiting with him for us to come pick him up, he was trying out all the chairs and slipped on one and bit the tumor on the inside of his mouth. 

He got it bleeding pretty good, but it didn't seem to bother him much. On the way home he slept most of the way, only waking when we had to stop or a semi scared him. He is now passed out sleeping on my bed, holding on to one of his new toys from his friend. He looks so precious. We will keep everyone updated.

Update on Bear

July 4, 2011

Bear's mom died from liver failure.

Update on Bear

July 17, 2011

Bear had his 3rd round of radiation Wednesday. The Dr. said his tumor has gone down some, and his eye isn't bulging out as much. She said he seems to be doing good and looks happy. He has one more round of radiation to go, and then he will have to come back in 2 weeks for a check up. He will have to get x-rays, when he goes for his check up.

After the check up, he will be starting chemotherapy. 

Bear seems to be adjusting to his mom being gone, he doesn't walk around looking for her anymore. Bear is doing really well, he is still playing with his toys, he grabbed one the other night and wanted to play tug of war. We will keep everyone posted. Thank you so much everyone for your continued support and prayers.

Keeping Your Dog’s Muscles Healthy and Strong

 by Christopher Durin

Some breeds are meant to withstand hard physical activity while others are made for the comfortable life of being a lap dog. Nevertheless, all dogs love to play with their owners. Playing with your dog is an enjoyable way to exercise. However, owners should be careful not overdo these activities as they can lead to muscle injuries.

As owners, you should be wary of these injuries because they can affect your dog’s mobility. Muscle injuries are quite common and can be very hard to detect, but they are very easy to treat.

Common Muscle Injuries

Muscle pain in dogs can be attributed to three types of muscle injuries. The first one is muscle spasm, a condition wherein the muscle involuntarily contracts. This injury can be caused by a variety of neurological or physical disorders.

Another form of muscle problem is a pinched nerve. It happens when pressure coming from an inflamed muscle compresses a nerve.

The last more common form of muscle injury is called muscle knots. 

Although muscles are made up of string-like cells, they cannot be knotted. A muscle knot refers to a painful tight group of muscles that may feel hotter compared to the surrounding areas. Muscle knots can reduce a dog’s mobility and can cause lameness. The injury is often a result of strain or an orthopedic disorder.

Keeping Your Dog’s Muscle Healthy

To address the muscle pain, the cause should be clearly identified. If the pain or injury is a result of neurological or orthopedic disorder, then treatment can be complex and would certainly need the expertise of a vet.

On the other hand, when the muscle pain is only due to strain, then there are many things an owner can to provide pain relief.

Massage is a good way to relax your dog and alleviate some of the pain and inflammation. In addition, using hot or cold therapy makes the massage more effective. Trigger point therapy I have found very helpful and there are numerous professional physical therapy techniques which can help.

Ultimately, prevention is always better than cure. 

Make sure that when you undertake physical activities with your dog, you always start things easy. Also, be conscious of when your dog gets tired - never push your dog over its limits.

Another thing, keep your dog well hydrated and make sure that your dog is receiving the right amounts of protein, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin E as these nutrients are vital for muscle development and repair.

Visit my blog www.dogarthritisblog.info for more information on dog arthritis and lameness.

Christopher Durin

***

Christopher Durin is a veterinarian and has been in practice since 1993, with his skill focus and extra qualifications in surgery. Joint problems are a big part of his day and he has cared for a LOT of arthritic dogs and cats over the years. He has recently been diagnosed with an immune mediated arthritis himself, the pain of which makes him appreciate the bravery of our furry friends all the more.

You can also check out his Facebook page Dog Arthritis Doc.

Risks of Prescription Medicines « Dog Arthritis Plan





Articles by Christopher Durin:
Tell-tale Signs Your Dog May Have Arthritis
Nutrition and Dog Arthritis
Talking to Your Vet: How Safe Are NSAIDs?

Related articles:
Talk To Me About Arthritis
Acupuncture Is Not Voodoo
Don't Forget The Physical Therapy
Underwater Treadmill

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat): RIP Barbie

Veterinary Partner calls bloat the Mother of all Emergencies.

According to some sources, bloat is the number two dog killer, right after cancer!

Gastric dilatation is a distention of the stomach from accumulation of gas and fluid. Gastric dilatation can be further complicated by volvulus, in which the distended stomach rotates on itself (gastric torsion), cutting off its blood supply. The gas and fluid become trapped in the closed-off stomach.

Having Rottweilers, bloat is always in the back of my mind, and I try to take all possible precautions to prevent it from happening to our guys.

If there are any monsters in a closet, bloat is certainly one of them!

My friend, and fellow blogger of Dog Training San Diego agreed to share Barbie's story with us.

The Dangers of GDV
by Meagan Karnes

The other night, we lost one of our canine friends. Barbie came to us from Labrador Rescuers, a group that saved her from an unknown fate.

When they broke her out of doggy jail, they realized she suffered from a bad case of separation anxiety so they called The Collared Scholar for help. Barbie joined us for some rehabilitation and confidence boosting.

The other night, Barbie started displaying some abnormal behaviors that led us to believe she was suffering from a condition called bloat.

We rushed her to the emergency clinic where the grim diagnosis was confirmed.

Bloat is a condition where the stomach fills with gas and becomes incredibly painful. In some cases, the stomach can torsion, in essence flipping over.

Bloat and Gastrointestinal Torsion primarily affects deep chested dogs. Predominant breeds are Rottweilers, Great Danes, German Shepherds, Dobermans, Labs, Basset Hounds and Pit Bulls among others.

We have had experience with the disease in the past as our Great Dane suffered a bad case of bloat and torsion several years back. 

When the stomach torsions, surgery is typically the only option. Our dane was saved by the surgeons at the Animal ER in La Mesa, CA.

Very sadly, Barbie couldn't have been saved.

When bloat happens, you must seek veterinarian care immediately as it can be fatal and can progress to life threatening in less than an hour!

Time is of the essence when dealing with bloat!

In dealing with the condition twice now, I’ve noticed the same symptoms pop up consistently.

• Bloated, Hard Abdomen
• Excessive Salivation
• Dog finds it uncomfortable to lay down. If they do lay down, will arch their back and assume the “Sphinx” position
• Several unproductive attempts at vomitting – wretching, gagging

Other symptoms have also been noted including coughing, whining, pacing, licking the air, drinking excessively and shallow breathing.

There are articles abound regarding prevention of bloat in dogs. 

The most common tips at prevention are:

• Feed several small meals
• Limit water intake immediately after feeding
• Restrict exercise, excitement and stress before and after feeding

I can also tell you from experience that in both cases of bloat, we did everything right – followed the prevention guidelines to the letter.

In Barbie’s case, the vet suspects the condition was triggered by the stress of a change in environment coupled with a change in diet. 

This a great reason to provide your pet’s food if you plan to put them in boarding. In Kira, my great dane’s case, the vet had no idea what may have triggered the condition.

After my experiences, my thought on bloat is this – no one really understands why it happens. 

I believe there to be a genetic component to the disease. Sure, there are the dogs who break into a bag of treats and devour the entire thing, leaving a food bolus that torsions the stomach. But in many cases, owners are prepared and follow the rules and GDV still rears its ugly head.

***

The Dog Training San Diego blog features articles on fitness and health, on creating a balanced lifestyle and just about everything you want to know about a dog’s personality, training, activities, nutrition and how to live a rich life with your dog as your most loyal friend.

Further reading:
Bloat - The Mother of All Emergencies
Bloat (Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus) in Dogs
How to prevent Bloat and GDV in dogs
Canine Bloat: Learning the Hard Way
Off to the Food Races: More on Bloat

Related articles:
Know Your Dog's Enemies: Bloat

The Massacre of the Innocents: Let's Put A Ban On Breed Specific Bans!

gen·o·cide: the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group.
—Dictionary.com

Wait a minute, Jana, this applies to humans only...

Does it now? So it is OK to do it to other species?

Mo matter how you slice it, mankind is a destructive force. Depending on which source you go by, present rate of extinction is a high as 3 species per hour. We destroy other species, we destroy each other, we destroy ourselves.

Not always on purpose; but often so.

Throughout history—starting with Cain—it's been how we tend to solve our problems. But does it really solve them?

Breed-specific legislation is a law or ordinance passed by a legislative body pertaining to a specific breed or breeds of domesticated animals. In practice, it generally refers to laws or ordinances pertaining to a specific dog breed or breeds.
—Wikipedia.org 

Legal jargon is amazing, isn't it? Almost makes it sound like something good.

What Cain didn't realize—Abel was not the source of his problem at all. What we don't seem to realize—the dogs aren't the problem either.

***

A guy is walking up and down the street, staring intently at the ground. Another guy sees him and gets curious:
“Are you looking for something?”
“Yes,” he replies, “I lost my wedding ring. I have to find it or else I can't show up at home.”
“And here is where you lost it?”
“No, it was in the alleyway over there.”
“Well, if you lost it there, why are you looking here then?”
“Because this street is better lit.”

***

Is it really a surprise that a solution that doesn't address the real cause of a problem doesn't work?

What has BSL brought so far? Has the legislation decreased the incidence of dog bites? Or has it only led to slaughter and abuse of innocent dogs?

Let's take a look at Denmark example.

Denmark has one of the most strict dog breed bans in the world. 12 breeds are already banned and 13 more are lined up, making a total of 25 breeds to be banned in the near future. This will make Denmark the country with most breeds banned in the world. There is no indication 25 breeds is the final number.

The currently banned breeds are:

• Pitbull terrier
• Tosa inu
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Fila Brasileiro
• Dogo Argentino
• American Bulldog
• Boerboel
• Kangal
• Central Asian ovtcharka
• Caucasian ovtcharka
• South Russian ovtcharka
• Tornjak
• Sarplaninac

Breeds under observation, and possibly banned in the near future:

• Anatolian Shepherd Dog 
• Bull Mastiff 
• Cane corso italiano 
• Cao fila de Sao Miguel 
• Dogo canario 
• Ibero mastiff 
• Maremma 
• Mastin espanol 
• Mastino napoletano 
• Polski Owczarek podhalanski 
• Rottweiler 
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier

The list, according to the Justice Department, can later be expanded to more breeds.

And yet, statistics are showing that, one year after the implementation of Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) in Denmark, the dog bite incidents have increased!

According to the report published by the Danish association Fair Dog, the number of dog bite incidents measured before and after the BSL was implemented, increased by 26%!

More importantly to me, the dog bite incidents involving the now banned breeds were no more than 6.5% of all dog bites to start out with!

What BSL did do is dogs being euthanized, or worse, dropped in the woods and abandoned to die horrible deaths!

Together with the people of Be The Change for Animals (BTC), we started a petition to tell Denmark to stop banning breeds. There is a Danish petition with over 11,000 signatures already. Finally, one in English for the rest of the world to speak up. Please sign the petition, and pass it on to your friends:

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »

Tomorrow it could be your dog!

For more information on Danish BSL please visit Kenzo the Hovawart blog.

Further reading:
The face of a breed ban: make your voice heard
Dog bite incidents increase: BSL has no effect
Open letter about BSL was answered ... was it?
Danish breed ban rests on historically thin basis
A week of discussing breed bans without facts
Open letter to Merete Eldrup
How BSL can bring a whole country into madness
BSL up close and personal 
Pitbull massacre needs to be stopped (warning: saddening photos)