JACK FROST NIPPING AT THEIR NOSE!

So I was all set to go to the doctor’s this morning for my follow up visit after my accident, but “Mother Nature” decided to show her “wintry” side one more time with the white stuff caressing everything it can fall on! So I cancelled my appointment and decided to tackle another subject for my blog. Is anybody else ready for spring besides me?

I get pictures my friends send to me of their dogs frolicking in the snow and it’s like “Yee Haw” they’re having a grand old time for themselves! I let my dogs out. They do their business and they come sit at the back door waiting for me to let them in again! Granted the temperature is only 27 degrees, but come on guys, you should be having a ball in this stuff! So anyway, I wanted to write about some precautions to take in the winter months in taking care of our dogs.

The first thing the dog owner considers is the temperature outside. I don’t let my dogs stay out in freezing or below freezing temperatures. Maybe that’s why they’re jumping on the back door waiting for me to bring them back in again! I know some of you keep your dogs outside because you say they have beautiful coats because of the cold temperatures. Most of the time, we don’t have to take the same precautions as another dog breed owner might have to do. The German Shepherd carries the thick undercoat to help keep him warmer in weather like this. However, their coats won’t prevent them from getting frostbite on their ears, feet or tail. I notice if my dogs are out in freezing temperatures, they will come back inside and shake their heads because their ears are so cold. Forget about my house dog being outside for too long a time in this cold. Last week she was outside with me when I was cleaning the dog run. She loves to play on the back deck while I clean up her and her daughter’s mess! Anyway, when I was done and came up on the deck, she was shaking. So she is definitely not one that I could leave outside for any length of time. She’d freeze to death. She’s used of the warmth of the heater in the house.

Sometimes an owner will provide extra warm bedding for their dog. My girl has her own rugs that she lays on. Some people will provide a warm blanket in their dog’s crate if this is where they sleep. My one girl, I can’t put anything in her crate, because she starts to eat it. She eats anything she can get her mouth on! None of my dogs are finicky eaters, but she’s the “chow hound!”

Another thing of concern is that some dogs love to lie next to something that is providing them with warmth. For instance, a fireplace, a heater, or vents, etc. Sometimes they snuggle up too close to these things. Avoid space heaters and lamps and place baseboard radiator covers to avoid unnecessary burns. Fireplaces also pose a major threat and a pet-proof system should be used to insure that your dog doesn’t get burnt. My house dog loves to lie right next to the vent in the floor where the heat comes out.

Sometimes we think that our dogs need more food in the winter months. They don’t need an extra layer of fat, unless they live outside. Many times the cold temperatures bring on lazy behaviors and in that case the dog would need fewer calories. Our dogs still need the appropriate exercise. If he’s not getting enough exercise because of the weather conditions, you may want to adjust his food consumption so he doesn’t put on unnecessary pounds. That’s why it’s important to make sure you are feeding your dog the highest quality dog food and supplements to insure a healthy coat and to keep his energy level good for these cold months.

Dogs can dehydrate just as quickly in the winter as summer. Although many dogs eat snow, it is not an adequate substitute for fresh water. If your dog has a water bowl outdoors, check it often and break ice that may form on top. I empty their water bowls every day after I remove the ice and give them clean fresh water to drink.

Keeping your dog clean and well groomed is just as important in the winter as any other time of the year. Your dog needs a clean, well-groomed coat to keep him properly insulated. This is especially important if your dog lives outdoors. After bathing, dry your dog adequately, especially before allowing him outdoors.

It’s important to protect yours dog’s feet. Dogs walk through snow, slush, salt and chemicals and are very likely to sustain an injury to their foot pads unless protected. Now I know you’re not going to see the German Shepherd in dog booties like you might find for the smaller breeds. It’s important to clean your dog's feet every time he comes into the house. Use warm water and clean between the toes really well to remove debris and salt. You can apply a salve to prevent the dog’s feet from cracking. Avoid using any chemical ice-melting compounds or rock salt on your sidewalks, driveways or dog kennels that your dog may contact.

Another important thing to do is to shovel and clear the snow where your dog spends most of his time outdoors. Snow can be a lot of fun but it can also be dangerous for your dog. Snow that’s piled high near fences pose escape hazards that even well trained dogs often can't resist. Keep snow cleared away from fences to prevent your dog from climbing over. Snow and ice often accumulate on rooftops and if the sun is out or as temperatures rise, this accumulation can fall and injure your dog. Be careful when you’re playing outside with your dog. He’s not aware of the dangers of slippery footing. He can run after a snowball that you may throw for him and slip and fall and pull a tendon or worse. Accidents happen so quickly.

Most dog owners know to keep their animals away from toxic exposure. But sometimes we forget. We go in the garage and our dog is following us and this is where the problem can start. We’re not paying attention to the dog. Our mind is somewhere else. With winter comes antifreeze from automobiles. Antifreeze is sweet in taste and dogs will readily lick or drink it. Antifreeze is extremely toxic and just a small amount can be fatal for them. Keep your dog out of the garage and off the driveway where they may encounter antifreeze or other harmful chemicals.

The same precautionary measures that we take in the summer months when it comes to leaving our dogs in the car should also be observed in the winter months. Freezing cold temperatures are the main concern during the winter. Also if the car is left running during the winter (especially in the garage), carbon monoxide poisoning is a real threat.

Pay special attention to the senior dogs or ones who have arthritis during the cold weather. The cold will often aggravate these conditions. It is very important to maintain an exercise regimen with your arthritic dog, but be mindful of slippery surfaces. Insure that he has a warm, dry area to rest when he returns home. Try the adding a Hip & Joint supplement to lubricate the joints and ease the discomfort of arthritis. Vibrant Pets has two formulas that address this condition. Just like people, dogs are more susceptible to other illnesses during the winter weather. As you normally would do, if you see anything out of the ordinary, contact your veterinarian.

So there you have it. Just as we have to be more careful in the winter, so too must we be with our dogs. The snow blankets the earth in a white sparkly diamond dust that begs you to come out and play. It can be a fun time for all, but do make sure you use caution for both you and your dogs before stepping out in the Winter Wonderland!

P.S. I want to know why the little black spider that has lived outside on my small back window is still alive in this freezing cold weather??? When oh when is he going to die and go to “buggy” heaven already??? Does he not know that I’m tired of looking at him with all his “yuckiest ugliness?”

My rating: feeding dogs a top food for the winter months: (4), supplementing him with vitamins, etc. (4)

VETERINARY SECRETS

For the last few months I've been receiving informative e-mails and articles from Dr. Andrew Jones about a book that he has written called "Veterinary Secrets." I've been so impressed with all the material that he has sent to me that I will be reporting over the next few weeks about some of the information that he has shared with me. For instance, I knew a day or two before I seen someone else post it to a list about a cat that had contacted the "swine flu." So his material that he sends to me is up to date information.

Some of the information that I receive from Dr. Jones is stuff that we already talk about on several German Shepherd Dog lists, but I'm going to report what I've learned from him anyway for those readers who don't belong to any e-mail lists. Today I will be talking about two topics, vaccinations and quality of dog food. The first topic is about how we may be over vaccinating our dogs. As some of us already know, our dogs are being over vaccinated. There is growing evidence against vaccinating our dogs on a yearly basis. Vaccinations work by stimulating the immune system. The positive effect is to protect against infectious diseases. On the other side, the negative effect can be a host of immune related diseases. These can include: immune mediated hemolytic anemia, immune mediated skin disease, vaccine induced skin cancer in cats, skin allergies, arthritis, leukemia, inflammatory bowel disease and neurological conditions.

Autoimmune diseases are on the rise as well. More and more dogs are being treated for cancer that are not even five years old yet!

Our dogs are suffering from over vaccination, which combined with inadequate nutrition, poor breeding practices and environmental stresses are leaving each generation more susceptible to congenital disorders and chronic disease.

Newer research is showing that vaccine immunity lasts much longer than previously thought. Many vets are now using and recommending alternative vaccine protocols.

In some cases a vaccine given at one year of age may provide a lifetime immunity. How often we vaccinate our dogs is a matter of personal choice. We all must consider the risks of vaccinating our dogs. The more informed that we are,the better we are able to make educated decisions concerning the health and care of our animals.

The next subject Dr. Jones sent to me was about changing our dog's food and the use of alternative treatments to help protect them against some diseases and therefore, live a longer and healthier life. He talks about one of his first clients that he had after he graduated from vet school. The dog was diagnosed with liver disease that was incurable. Because traditional methods of treatment proved useless, he looked for other ways to treat the ailing dog. So, he talked to an herbalist. She suggested trying an herb called Milk Thistle. The other vet that he worked with thought it was useless. But it worked. The dog recovered from the liver disease and her blood tests showed normal liver function 3 months later after taking it. So now Dr. Jones uses alternative treatment along with traditional methods to treat his patients.

As for the dogs diet, commercial pet food does not always provide all of the nutrients that some dogs and cats need to be healthy at different times in their lives. This food also contains things that your pet doesn't need, such as chemical additives and preservatives. Some symptoms of less than natural diets include: bad breath, itchy skin, dull dry coats, and intestinal gas. An example of a preservative that is commonly found is propylene glycol. It is used to keep moist pet foods fresh. It has been linked to anemia and bloat.

One of the single most important things you can do for your pet's health is to feed a more natural diet. I have seen natural diets improve allergies, arthritis, diabetes, chronic vomiting and diarrhea.

If you use a commercial dog food like many of us do, these are the things you should check for the quality of the food. 1. Ingredients are listed in descending order. The first ingredient should be an animal based protein. 2. The entire protein should be listed first. Avoid foods that list by-products. Avoid those that list the food fractions - i.e. wheat middlings or corn gluten instead of the whole grain. These ingredients are leftovers from the human food processing and don't provide the best nutrition. 3. Look for natural preservatives. These include Vitamin C( ascorbic acid) Vitamin E and mixed tocopherols. Avoid ethoxyquin, BHA, BHT and propylene glycol. 4. Avoid foods with artificial flavor enhancers, such as phosphoric acid.
5. Avoid artificial colors. These include azo, azo dyes, and sodium nitrite.
6. Essential fatty acids must be added - of utmost importance for allergies, arthritis and cancer prevention. 7. Additional antioxidants, such as Vit E, Vit C and flavanoids. Dr. Jones also recommends the use of a good supplement if you feel that your dog is not getting everything he needs from his food.

If you want to read more about Dr. Jones work, check it out here. Click Here!

My rating: Veterinary Secrets: (4)

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE - (IBD)

The German Shepherd Dog is prone to gastro intestinal diseases. Why this is, no one knows for sure. Among some of the diseases that this breed can have is a condition called Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD.

IBD is a when one or more sections of the gastrointestinal tract have been invaded with inflammatory cells. Left untreated, this inflammation can cause the intestinal tract to become less efficient at absorbing nutrients from their food. The result can be a dog that loses weight, vomits and has diarrhea. Many times this condition develops slowly and can go on for several months or even years before a real problem presents itself.

There are several types of IBD. These different types affect different parts of the gastro intestinal tract and the different cells that are affecting it. Because there are many different things that can inflame the dog’s intestinal tract, other diseases must be ruled out before a true diagnosis of IBD can be confirmed.

The four different types of IBD are: The most common type is Lympho plasmacytic. The second most common type is Eosinophilic which is also the most severe form of IBD. Food allergy and parasites must be ruled out for the inflammation before a diagnosis of IBD is made. Then there is the rarer form of IBD known as Neutrophilic. Bacterial infection must be ruled out for a proper diagnosis. And lastly another rare form of IBD is Granulomatous. Foreign bodies and fungal infection must be ruled out for this diagnosis.

The cause of IBD is not truly known although genetics, intestinal infections, food and abnormalities of the dog’s immune system can all play a role. The intestines produce a large amount of food and bacterial particles called antigens. It is these antigens that can cause an allergic immune type response. Bottom line, when these inflammatory cells invade the intestines, it interferes with the body’s ability to absorb and digest nutrients.

Some common antigens are proteins and preservatives from the dog’s food, parasites, virus’s and bacteria, and ingested foreign materials (garbage, toys, etc.). These things can start the abnormal immune response and even when the antigen is no longer present, the inflammation continues. When an exact reason cannot be found for the inflammation, this is call idiopathic, or true IBD.

The most common signs to look for are vomiting and diarrhea. Putting the dog on antibiotics and changing his food may help for a short time, but eventually the symptoms return. Usually the signs will slowly progress and then can become severe and sudden as the disease progresses. With IBD, the stomach, colon and small intestines may be involved.

When a dog has stomach inflammation, this is called gastritis. Typical of this condition is loss of appetite and vomiting. The dog may vomit undigested food, partially digested food, a clear or brownish liquid and sometimes a small amount of blood.

When the inflammation is in the small intestines, this is called enteritis. This can cause vomiting, weight loss and diarrhea. The dog may be lethargic and doesn’t look like he’s thriving very well. The diarrhea is usually a large amount and can happen one to three times a day.

When the colon is inflamed, it’s called colitis. This condition causes diarrhea in smaller amounts, but can happen up to ten times a day. The dog many times will strain while defecating and have blood or mucus in his stools. These dogs usually remain active, eat well and don’t lose weight.

Many conditions can cause a dog to vomit and have diarrhea and this can be the most difficult part in diagnosing IBD. After all testing is done which may include, a complete blood count, chemistry panel, urinalysis, fecal examination and culture, ex-rays of the chest and abdomen and sometimes an ultrasound, intestinal parasites, bacterial, viral and fungal infections, dietary allergies, foreign bodies and cancer. To determine intestinal malabsorption, specialized blood tests such as colbalamine and folate are often recommended to determine the severity.

If all tests fail to reveal another disease that’s causing the intestinal malabsorption, then IBD is suspected and a biopsy of the intestines is required to make a definite diagnoses. Once the biopsies are performed, then they are sent to a lab for a microscopic examination. A diagnosis will confirm if the IBD is mild, moderate or severe. This will help your veterinarian determine the best treatment for your dog.

Most dogs will require medication and dietary management to treat their IBD. Highly digestible diets are usually recommended for these types of dogs because nutrients are more easily digested and will reduce the amount of diarrhea. Usually it will take 8 – 12 weeks to see a positive change in the dog. If the dog’ colon is inflamed, then the vet may advise the dog get more fiber in his food.

The medicines that are usually used to treat this condition are: Corticosteroids (steroids, cortisone, and prednisone). These medications help reduce the inflammatory process and inflammation in the intestines. Since steroids can have potentially serious side effects, your vet will usually start at a lower dose until the dog can be helped by dietary measures alone. Another medicine that sometimes can be used is called Metronidazole which is an antibiotic that helps restore the normal balance of intestinal bacteria and has anti-inflammatory properties. Sometimes dogs with more severe IBD may be treated with Azathioprine, chlorambucil and cyclosporine that reduce inflammation by suppressing the immune system. Sometimes your vet will recommend treating the dog that vomits and has diarrhea with an antacid, anti-nausea, and anti-diarrhea medicine.

Although dogs with IBD can be treated and controlled, it is a condition that can not be cured. These dogs will require a strict diet and anti-inflammatory medicines to manage their disease. Unfortunately some dogs will not respond to dietary changes or medications. These severe cases can sometimes lead to intestinal cancer.

If a dog is diagnosed with IBD, it is wise to have your veterinarian check him over a few times a year to make sure the disease has not progressed to a worse condition.

My rating: early diagnosis of symptoms: (4), importance of dietary changes; (4), medical attention: (4)