Posts filed under ‘Health and Wellness’
The Canine and Genetics Project.Dr.Karen Overall.
New insight as to why some breeds have concerns regarding noise reactivity and performance.Dr.Overall ( Canine and Genetics Project) found that herding groups have some overlapping genes related to task . Many dogs from herding groups work as agility, sniffing, service or as herding dogs.The researchers studied three breeds-Australian shepherds,Border collies, and German shepherds.The study is still ongoing.
C.B
© Copyright 2013
Iceland Dog
This breed is also known as the Iceland Sheepdog, Iceland Spitz, Friaar Dog and comes from Iceland.
Group: Northern,UKC
History: This is Iceland’s only native breed which was believed to have been brought in by the Viking settlers in the late 9th or early 10th century.The Iceland Sheepdog was used as a sheepdog to herd .It has been on the brink of extinction several times, but fortunately this breeds popularity has increased over time.
Physical Description: This breed is a small to medium-size dog that has a strong, triangular shaped head with a muzzle that is shorter than its skull.Their ears are medium sized and have slightly rounded tips.The Iceland’s tail is carried over it’s back and his coat is thick and weather resistant with a thick undercoat
Height: 16-20 inches
Weight: 25-35 pounds
Temperament: The Iceland Sheepdog has a sweet temperament and gets along with children and family.
Activity: Medium to High
This breed needs to be active and to have a job.
Needs: Plenty of exercise,grooming,training, a job such as herding and also socialization.
Health Concerns: Hip Dysplasia
The Iceland Sheepdog Association of America:
National Icelandic Dog Rescue:
Claudia Bensimoun
© Copyright 2013
When Are Dogs More Likely To Pick Up Ticks?
According to a new study, it may be slightly later than expected.Spring means the start of the tick season, both for pet parents and their pooches.A new study by Georg Duscher and colleagues at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna has shown how much more likely it is for pets to pick up ticks when the temperatures go up.
Georg Duscher and colleagues analysed data for 700 ticks found on 90 dogs, that were frequently walked in a particular area in eastern Austria.Of all the three species of ticks most often found,the most common one-Ixodes Ricinus, mostly infected dogs in April and May, although a second peak in infection occurred in September,Dermacentor Reticulatus was largely found during the months of March/April, with much lower numbers in October.Meanwhile Haemaphysalis Concinna seemed to favor the summer months-June/July.
So although the species of tick that your furry friends are most likely to encounter will vary according to the season, dog parents need to pay special attention to the possibility of ticks throughout the year, most especially from March through November.
The scientists also discovered that the number of ticks per day on animals treated with an acaricide, either alone or together with a repellent, was not significantly lower than untreated animals.Disturbingly, the ticks in question are capable of major tick-borne diseases.
Dogs in central Europe are at risk of four granulocytic anaplasmosis:
canine babesiosis
canine granulocytic anaplasmosis
canine borreliosis
tick-borne encephalitis
Michael Leschnik of the Vetmeduni Vienna’s Small Animal Clinic was able to show that over half of the 90 dogs in the study had become infected with one or more of the pathogens during the study period. He found that the chance of being infected did not seem to be reduced by the use of an acaricide, either alone or with a repellent.He also thought that the poor performance of the acaricide may be due to pet parents only applying the spot-on drugs after finding the ticks and that they did not use the drugs often enough.” The efficiency is much higher under laboratory conditions, so we should try to raise the owners’ awareness of how to apply the products correctly,” says Leschnik.
Duscher also found that the ticks preferred to be on the heads, shoulders and chests of dogs .”their body shape makes it difficult for them to crawl through dense fur, so ticks probably attach close to where they arrive rather than risking being knocked off by vegetation,” says Duscher.
Claudia Bensimoun
© Copyright 2013
Blue Heeler-Australian Cattle Dog. Dingo Dog/Scottish Collie
Country of Origin: Australia
Group: Herding, UKC/AKC
History of the Blue Heeler:
The Blue Heeler came about when Australian cattle ranchers needed a cattle drover with endurance that could go long distances.The Blue Heeler’s direct ancestor was the Hall’s Heeler, a canine that was developed from a cross of the dingo and the smooth-coated Scottish Collie.In 1860, the Hall’s Heeler was mixed with the Australian Kelpie and the Dalmation to create the modern Australian Cattle Dog.
Physical Description:
The Blue Heeler is a medium-sized, muscular dog.
Strong, broad head and a medium -length muzzle.
Almond-shaped brown eyes
Medium-sized ears that are naturally upright
Brush tail
Double-coat with a dense undercoat and a smooth, hard outer-coat.Medium length.
Blue, mottled or speckled. with or without blue, black, or tan markings;or red speckled with darker red markings.
Height: 17-20 inches
Weight: 33-55 pounds
Temperament: A truly loyal and protective dog that can be wary of strangers, yet this breed is easygoing with family members that everyone that he knows.
The Blue Heeler is a one- person dog and is alert, intelligent, protective and fun to be around.
With a high activity level, the Blue Heeler needs plenty of exercise and environmental stimuli.
Needs: Positive training, plenty of exercise,and socialization.
Health Concerns: Hip dysplasia and deafness .
Blue Heeler Rescue (Australia)
© Copyright 2013
Claudia Bensimoun
Deskunking Your K9 & It’s Not With Tomato Juice
Paul Krebaum discovered possibly the best solution for eliminating odor on dogs who have been skunked.
Take 1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of liquid hand soap. Mix and immediately apply to the stinky pet. Then rinse thoroughly with tap water. For large canines, such as a Labrador or Mastiff, you may need to double the recipe to improve coverage. Keep the mix out of sensitive areas like the eyes and ears. Also, don’t allow your dog to ingest the mixture, because it can be dangerous and cause vomiting.
Keep all the ingredients on hand at home and don’t mix them until you have that incredibly skunky situation.
Claudia Bensimoun
© Copyright 2013
New Arthritis Stem Cell Treatment For Dogs
MediVet America of Lexington, Ky.,developed this new stem cell therapy for dogs.
“To start, the vet harvests a few tablespoons of fat cells from the pet’s abdomen or shoulder, then spins the cells in a centrifuge to separate out the stem cells that are naturally present in fat. Next, the cells are mixed with special enzymes to “digest” any residual fat and connective tissue, and are then “activated” by mixing them with “plasma rich platelets” extracted from the animal’s blood cells. The mixture is stimulated under a LED light for 20 minutes or so to further concentrate the stem cells. Finally, the newly awakened cells are injected back into the damaged joint.” via Good Morning America
Jeremy Delk, MediVet’s chief executive officer, said that the therapy works because stem cells are the only cells in the body that have the ability to transform themselves into other types of specialized cells — such as cartilage — making them a potent tool for repairing damaged and deteriorating joints. There are 50 to 1,000 times more stem cells in the fat than bone marrow, a source that was more consistently used in animal – and human — stem cell therapy until the fat method started becoming more popular.
“As we age, humans and animals alike, our stem cells are starting to die off so we have fewer. What we are able to do with these techniques is isolate the cells in very large numbers, wake them up and put them back into the area that needs help,” he explained. via Good Morning America
Recent studies funded by the Health Foundation of more than 150 dogs found improvements in a dog’s mobility, joint health issues and joint stiffness.Some of these improvements were said to have been seen within a week, while others took not so long-90 days and required multiple injections.
Cost: Single procedure: $1800-$3,000.
Claudia Bensimoun
© Copyright 2013
Dug.Dug.Com Man’s/Dog’s Newest Best Friend! Meet The Big Dog of Price Comparison Search Engines For Pet Products.
Dug.Dug.-the “big dog” of price comparison search engines was launched today for locating the best priced dog supplies from flea treatment to dog collars.
This site focuses on the consumer needs of human’s best friend ,but plans on extending to all affordable pet supplies for cats,fish, reptiles and hamsters.
DugDug effectively points canine owners to the lowest cost products without the hassle of pop-ups and adverts.After a general search for “pet price comparison sites” turns up one rival, Petazon.com, DugDug.com seems much easier to navigate than Petazon.com.
DugDug is divided into simple categories:
Grooming
Pet Jerseys
Food & Treats
Dog Bowls
Petazon is organized by animal, merchant, brand, and/or item category.The exact same product-dog bowl will appear in Petazon’s search results many times, but on DugDug it only comes up once along with all the sites selling it.
Promo Codes:
Promo Codes also appear in DugDug search sites.Rover(optional browser tool) automatically notifies users when a coupon becomes available as they browse the listed vendor sites.
DugDug’s founder, David Keh is a proud pet parent to a standard poodle .He founded the site out of frustration with navigating traditional price comparison search engines.DugDug also adds value for pet parents, for example by screening for counterfeit and imported pet medications that lack FDA approval(and could be lethal for your furry best friend.)
DugDug does not sell products directly but maintains commission deals with many of the pet sites.Annual expenses for pet parents often and easily exceed $1,200 annually according to the American Pet Products Association.(APPA)
Claudia Bensimoun
© Copyright 2013
FunkyMutt.Spring Fun!Spring Trends.
Outside Skin: Premium Italian leather specially treated with oils to withstand the outdoor elements as well as retain its flexibility and shine.
Liner: Ultra soft premium leather for comfort (suede liners also available).
Navajo style in faux bead style material in a southwest pattern makes this extra wide dog collar look quite stunning on all breeds. Don’t be fooled however, this colorful fabric is meant to be washed and worn so that your pup can always be stylin’!
This is a Cool Handmade dog leash.
The fabric is sewn on a 3/4″ wide black polypro webbing.
All stress points are triple stitched with the strong thread for durability.
The fabric is 100% Japanese cotton.
Custom leashes!!! These bright and beautiful leashes are extremely durable and hold up well to mouthy puppies! There are two weaves you can choose from for this price. They are the cobra weave and the eight strand round braid. Both of these weaves are gentle on your hands but are still the same super strong 550 para cord as our four strand round braid weave. They are machine washable and clean up easily! There is well over 100 feet of 550 paracord in each leash.
C.B
© Copyright 2013
Fast & Healthy Orange Foods for Dogs. Think Orange!
1.Mango
This super fruit contains significant amounts of pyridoxine-vitamin B-6. vitamin A and C, and copper, as well as many other vitamins and minerals.Mango and all other orangey- colored fruits such as papaya tend to help with ailments like arthritis,and helps to ease joint pain.Pop some mango cubes into the freezer to use as a treat or just add to some fresh organic yogurt for a healthy snack.Add some Omega’s & Spirulina powder.Mango is great for pancakes or cookies.They are full of flavor and vitamins.
2.Cantaloupe.
Cantaloupe is a naturally sweet treat that most dogs enjoy.Remove the rind and seeds and use as a healthy treat.You can also puree the cantaloupe and combine with a low fat yogurt and freeze.Great for summer time, since this is a hydrating and refreshing fruit.
3.Unsweetened Applesauce.
Apples are naturally healthy for dogs and serve as a healthy treat.Apples contain lots of fiber and Vitamin C, which is incredibly good for a dog’s immune system & bone and joint health .Top off treats by adding a few spoonfuls of applesauce.Freeze applesauce inside a Kong and watch your furry-best friend enjoy.Great for teething pups!
4.Pears.
Like apples, pears are a great source of fiber.Pectin keeps your dog’s intestines healthy.Pears also contain Vitamin C, which plays an important role in antioxidant protection in a dog’s body ,as well as potassium, which helps in muscle contraction and nerve transmission.Great given as a slice or pureed with yogurt and given as a smoothie.Add some Omega’s and Spirulina and it makes for a super healthy doggie smoothie!
Always introduce new foods gradually to avoid an upset tummy.If you are not sure about a certain new food, call up your veterinarian.These healthy fruits can be added to smoothies, treats, lollies and are great foods to share with our furry-best friends.
Claudia Bensimoun
© Copyright 2013
