Safe gardening with your pets

I have been spending a lot of time outside in the garden with my dogs and cat trying 'help' me plant things. The cat usually just lies in the way, but the dogs have fun taking and chewing the plastic flower pots and sticking their noses into everything.  Gardening can be enjoyable for you and your pets, but there are some hazards to be aware of.

Heat stroke

The warm, sunny weather brings everyone outside.  When I am gardening, it is usually during the warmest part of the day.  The dogs like to follow me around and lie next to me in the sun.  If it is too hot outside, I put them in the house to keep cool.   I also make sure that their water dishes are full.  I also put ice cubes in the water, which they like to take out of the dish and chew.  Dogs are unable to sweat to cool themselves down, so they pant.  If they are outside in direct sunlight on hot days, they can get heat stroke.  Animals can also get sunburn.  White parts of cats and short-coated dogs can get burned, so if you are bringing your pets outside, put sunscreen on the white areas, such as ear tips and top of nose.

Plant toxicity

Many plants toxic to dogs and cats are in our gardens.  Leaves, berries, bulbs, bark, sap, roots, and seeds can all be potentially fatal to pets.  The ASPVA has posted a comprehensive list of toxic (and non-toxic) plants and trees on its website (http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/).  Symptoms of plant toxicity range from drooling, blisters on the tongue and mouth, swelling of the face, rashes, vomiting, diarrhoea, depression or excitement, to kidney failure, seizures, coma, and death.

Pest Control


I seem to be waging a constant battle against slugs and insects.  Slug pellets and insecticides are lethal to pets and wildlife.  If ingested, slug pellets and insectides can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, nervousness, twitching, seizures, coma, and death.  Avoid using any chemicals for pest control -- use organic methods instead.  To control slugs, keep a tidy garden by removing all dead plant matter and eliminating dark, cool places for slugs to lay eggs and hide.  You can also place crushed egg shells, diatomaceous earth, or wood ashes around flower beds.  And don't forget your potted plants -- place copper tape on them to repel slugs. If you're an early riser, like me, you can go out and pick slugs and snails off your plants and put them in a jar with soapy water to kill them.  Beer traps are great for attracting and killing slugs, but you have to  be vigilant about cleaning and filling them.  Attracting birds and hedgehogs to your garden will also help with slug and insect control.

There are many natural ways to kill insects such as aphids, caterpillars, beetles, and ants.  You can make sprays of diluted soap, garlic, cayenne pepper, or vinegar. You can also place coffee grounds in flower beds.  Even with these natural methods, you have to be careful with your pets because garlic and coffee are toxic. Monitor them when they are in the garden.

Weed Control


I think I spend a majority of my time weeding my garden.  I never use commercial weed killers  because they are toxic to pets.  Symptoms of toxicity include salivation, vomiting, diarrhoea, kidney failure, breathing difficulty, and death.  There are many ways to get rid of weeds aside from pulling them out.  Pouring boiling water on weeds will kill them instantly.  Be careful not to pour it on your plants, pets, or yourself!  You can also spray vinegar on weeds, but you may have to apply it a few times to get rid of really stubborn ones. Salt can control weeds on large areas such as brick paths or patios.  You can make a spray using all three ingredients and apply it to the base of the weed with a baster.  Add some liquid soap to your mixture to help it to stick.

Be aware that even if you haven't used any insecticides, slug bait, weed killer, or fertilizer, your neighbors might.  Keep your pets out of other people's gardens to avoid contact with these products.  Your dog or cat can walk through a treated area and get the substance on their paws.  They may lick it off and get very sick.

Fertilizers


Along with the other products that I have mentioned, commercial fertilizers are toxic to pets.  There are many ways to feed your plants naturally.  Although it may be smelly, manure is great for fertilizing plants because it is high in nitrogen, which plants need.  Recycle your vegetable matter and make a compost heap or get a wormery to make your own fertilizer.  Keep your dogs out of your compost heap because decaying vegetable matter can make them sick.

Ponds and Water Features


There is nothing nicer than having a pond or water feature in your garden.  It attracts birds and wildlife and is relaxing to look at and listen to.  Dogs and cats are also attracted to them to drink from or to swim in.  Pets can fall into ponds or water features and depending on the style, be unable to get out.  They can drown.  If your pet falls into your pond in the cooler months, it can get hypothermia.  I have a pond, but it is in a separate area of the garden so the dogs do not have access to it.  Always supervise your pets around water features and ponds to avoid disaster.

I hope that you follow my advice and enjoy the summer outside with your pets safely!

A Dog For Max - Please Share This Blog

I just received an email from my cousin, Pamela, in Florida asking me for help. I am extending this plea to all of you around the globe.  Her son, Max, has a rare disease called Ataxia Telangiectasia.  I have attached a description of his disease below.

We are looking for someone to donate a large or giant breed puppy to be trained as an assistance dog to help Max.  There is an organization that will train the puppy for free as an assistance dog.  A few days ago, the puppy that was donated for Max was diagnosed with a leg deformity, so he is not suitable to help Max.  As you can imagine, everyone is upset about this setback, and Max is heartbroken because he had already met and fallen in love with the puppy.  Assistance dogs give people with disabilities a great sense of security and freedom.

Max is 21 years old, 5'10" tall and 125 pounds.  He is very independent and lives on his own.  He gets around on a motorized wheelchair.  When Max walks, he is very unstable and has a tendency to fall, so the dog will have to be big enough to support his weight to help him get up.

I would really appreciate it if you could pass this around to as many people as possible, and hopefully someone has a puppy that they would be willing to donate to be trained as an assistance dog for Max.  If you are interested in knowing more or have a puppy that you are able to donate, please contact my cousin, Pamela Stitzer at adogformax@gmail.com


Description of Max's condition:

Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) (Boder-Sedgwick syndrome^[1] or Louis–Bar syndrome^[2]:555) is a rare, neurodegenerative, inherited disease that affects many parts of the body and causes severe disability. Ataxia refers to poor coordination and telangiectasia to small dilated blood vessels, both of which are hallmarks of the disease.
A-T affects the cerebellum (the body's motor coordination control center) and also weakens the immune system in about 70% of the cases, leading to respiratory disorders and increased risk of cancer. It first appears in early childhood (the toddler stage) with symptoms such as lack of balance, slurred speech, and increased infections. Because all children at this age take time to develop good walking skills, coherent speech, and an effective immune system, it may be some years before A-T is properly diagnosed.
AT is caused by a defect in the ATM gene, which is responsible for recognizing and correcting errors in duplicating DNA when cells divide, and in destroying the cells when the errors can't be corrected. The protein normally repairs double-stranded DNA breaks

Ataxia-telangiectasia like disorder (ATLD) is an extremely rare condition that could be considered in the differential diagnosis of A-T. ATLD patients are very similar to A-T patients in showing a progressive cerebellar ataxia, hypersensitivity to ionising radiation and genomic instability.

Grooming

Now that the weather is getting warmer, we have been inundated with calls for grooming, both cats and dogs.  Grooming is an important part of your pet's health, and should be done on a daily to weekly basis.  Grooming also helps you and your pet to bond with each other.

As many of you know, these are my dogs.  They require a lot of grooming.  The two dogs on the right require more brushing than the two on the left because they are a non-shed breed.  Non-shed breeds such as poodles and Bichon frises and crosses with them are becoming increasingly popular.  What people don't realize is that these breeds and their crosses require daily brushing and a visit to the grooming parlor every 4 to 6 weeks to keep their coats in good condition.

What is the benefit of brushing?  Brushing removes the dead hair and dirt.  It also prevents matting.  Dogs that are brushed regularly also have shinier coats because brushing will stimulate the blood supply to the skin and help spread the oils produced by the skin onto the coat.

Too often, dog groomers are presented with dogs that are never brushed, brushed only occasionally, or brushed incorrectly.  The coat will be very matted close to the skin, even if the top of the coat looks fine. Dogs in this condition have to be shaved down.  Dogs with a lot of mattes are also prone to skin and parasitic infections because the mattes create a warm, moist environment for bacteria to proliferate.  Mattes also make it very difficult for owners to see fleas and ticks.  Sometimes dogs with coats in poor condition can even get lice (not the same as human lice).  To brush out mattes can be extremely painful and can cause bruising of the skin as the hair is pulled.  This can be more distressing to the dog than owners realize.

When your dog is brought to the grooming parlor the coat is brushed, clipped, styled, and washed.  The nails are clipped and the ears are plucked (if needed) and cleaned.  Your groomer can advise you as to which brushes or combs are most suitable for your dog's coat.  Have your groomer show you how to use them correctly, to help prevent mattes and to keep the coat in good condition.

From Puppies to Pyometra

The past few weeks have been very busy for me.  I have seen a wide variety of problems in dogs that relate to the reproductive tract.  I don't even know where to start!

When a female is not spayed, she is prone to a number of problems.  The main problem is unplanned pregnancy.  Pregnancy can be dangerous if the female is a small breed and the male is a large breed, or if the female is old.  I often have to see females for what is politely termed 'mismating', i.e., she had a one-night stand with the local gigolo and is possibly pregnant.  To stop pregnancies, we give injections 24 hours apart to make the uterus unable to maintain the pregnancy.  This, however, is not the best solution for the problem because of possible side effects.

Only last week, I had to perform a Caesarean section on a 9-year-old Labrador cross that met up with a husky in a dark alley.  She had one puppy on her own, then stopped having contractions.  Luckily, I was able to deliver seven more very large, healthy puppies.  This was her second litter, and it will hopefully be her last.

Then, the following day, we saw a 78-kg St. Bernard that had just had one very large puppy (2 kg).  I had to x-ray her to see if she had any more puppies, but she didn't.  That is a small litter for such a big dog!

Another case that I had to operate on was a Bernese mountain dog suffering from a pyometra, which is an infection of the uterus.  These infections can be life threatening.  A pyometra can occur in females of any age, but is more commonly seen in older dogs a few weeks after they have been in heat.  When a female is in heat, the enlarged cervical opening allows bacteria to invade the uterus, which provides the warm, moist environment that promotes bacterial growth.  The result is an infection and the formation of pus, which can drain only if the cervix remains open.  Some of the symptoms of a pyometra are loss of appetite, vomiting, increased thirst and urination, weight loss, and depression.  Blood work may show an elevated white blood cell count and dehydration.  The best treatment for a pyometra consists of fluids, antibiotics, and spaying.

The best solution to all of these problems is to spay and neuter dogs.  Not only does the procedure prevent unwanted puppies, but it also prevents pyometra and greatly reduces the incidence of mammary tumours.

Dog Shows

Last weekend, I went to Crufts, the largest dog show in the world.  I was there to show my Portuguese Water Dog, Harvey.  After a lot of preparation, and a long car and ferry journey, we had a successful trip because Harvey placed in the 'very highly commended' category.  That's my boy!

If you are a dog lover, you should go to Crufts at least once.  There are thousands of dogs -- besides show dogs, there are assistance dogs, dogs trained to do agility, fly ball, obedience, and heel work to music, and much more.  There are also breeds at Crufts that I haven't even heard of before!!

What is involved in showing a dog?  You can get an idea of the process by going to a few dog shows. If you still think you're interested, you need to register your dog with the kennel club.  Then, depending on the breed, you need to learn how to groom it properly.  You also should go to ring craft classes to learn how to properly handle and move your dog in the show ring, where the judge looks at the overall conformation of the dogs to see which ones are good examples of the breed standard.  The judge will also study how the dogs move.  The judge will then award the dog that he/she thinks is the best example of the breed.

Within each breed, there are different classes for males and females. The best male and best female then compete for best of breed.  If your dog wins best of breed, it goes to group judging.  Within its group, your dog will compete against other breeds.  If your dog wins the group, then both of you make it to the best in show ring.  Winning Best in Show is every competitor's dream.  It is easy to forget that while you think that your dog is perfect, you are paying for the opinion of an expert judge.  Regardless of that opinion, you always go home with the best dog of the show!

Here's How We Do It
Preparing for a show takes a lot of work.  First I have to clip Harvey's hind quarters and muzzle.

Then I wash and brush him.  Guess which is Harvey and which is the hair of the dog?

This is what he looks like when I am finished.  I know, it looks like I am half finished.

Brushing, brushing, and more brushing!  His hind quarters have to be scissored in order to shape them properly.  This coat requires a lot of maintenance.  

Finally, after more brushing, lots of traveling, and even more brushing, it's show time.

Here we are in the show ring waiting to be judged. (I'm wearing my lucky red suit.)

Harvey with Declan and me showing off our award from our class

Congratulations, Harvey!

Feline Leukaemia Virus

Did you know that Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection is responsible for more deaths among cats than any other infectious disease? The virus affects domestic cats and occurs in some wild felines as well.  A cat can be infected with the virus for years before it starts to show any signs of illness. 

There are three main types of FeLV.  A cat can be infected with one, two, or all three types.  The most predominant type causes a severe weakening of the immune system (immunosuppression).  The second most common type causes tumors and abnormal tissue growth.  The least common form causes severe anaemia.  FeLV can also cause reproductive, gastrointesintal, or neurological problems.  The signs of infection are variable because FeLV affects many body systems.  However, cats will usually lose their appetite, lose weight, and become weak.


FeLV is spread from cat to cat in saliva and other secretions, such as tears, urine, and faeces.  It can also be passed from a pregnant female to the unborn kittens.  The most common modes of transmission are through bites, nose-to-nose contact, mutual grooming, and shared dishes.  After the initial infection, the virus replicates in the tonsils and lymph nodes in the head region. Then it spreads via the bloodstream to other parts of the body, especially the lymph nodes, bone marrow, and intestinal tissue, where it continues to replicate.  The presence of the virus in the blood usually shows up 2 to 4 weeks after the initial infection.
 
FeLV infection is diagnosed by a simple blood test that is carried out by your veterinary surgeon.  It takes about 10 minutes to get a result.

How can you prevent your cat from getting FeLV?  There is a vaccine available that can be given at the same time as your cats’ yearly cat flu and enteritis injection.  Your cat should be tested for FeLV first before the vaccine is given for the first time.  You should also limit exposure to feral cats, which means keeping your cat indoors.

Ear Problems

People frequently tell me that their pets have selective hearing.  Mine definitely do!  They don't hear you call them, but they come running if they hear something drop, the rattle of food in the dish, or a package being opened.  Dogs and cats possess an acute sense of hearing, but how do you know if your pet has a problem with its ears?

Quite often ear problems are easy to spot.  You should look into your pet's ears on a regular basis, at least once a week.  The ear canal is lined with skin which should be pale pink in color and smooth in texture.  There shouldn't be any odor coming from the ear and there should be virtually no ear wax visible.  When a bacterial or parasitic infection is present, the skin around and in the ear canal may be red and look inflamed or rough.  There may or may not be a lot of yellow, black or brown ear wax present.  Sometimes pus will drain from the ear canal, or you may notice ulcers on the skin of the ear.  If your pet has chronic ear problems, the skin will have a leather-like appearance and become pigmented.  Usually your pet will alert you to the problem by repeatedly shaking its head, scratching at its ears, or will even tilting its head to one side (as if you just asked it a question).  More often than not, there will be an odor coming from the ear.  Your pet will be quieter than normal because it is uncomfortable.  If you've ever had an ear infection, you'll know just how uncomfortable your pet can be.

How do ear infections occur?  The ear canal is the perfect breeding ground for yeast, bacteria, and parasites because it is a warm, dark, moist environment.  And when any of those are present, the body responds by producing wax to help flush them out. I tend to see ear infections more frequently in dogs with hairy or floppy ears or a lot of skin around their face because air flow through the ear canal is reduced. Some breeds are predisposed to ear problems, such as Westies, St. Bernards, Labradors, Shih Tzus, and Cocker Spaniels. Dogs that swim also have a tendency to develop ear infections.  Recurrent ear infections can also be a sign of allergies. 

Ear infections of the external ear canal can lead to hearing loss if left untreated.  The infection can extend into the middle and internal ear.  If this happens, your pet will not only have a head tilt, but may walk in circles and lose its balance.  Ear infections can also cause hearing loss due to excess wax or inflamed skin physically closing off the ear canal.

In addition to looking into your pet's ears regularly, you can help to reduce the incidence of ear infections by cleaning the ears anywhere from once a week to once a month using a pet ear cleaner.  Do not use cotton buds deep in the ear canal.  Instead, put some cotton wool on your finger and wipe away any debris.  You can, however, use a cotton bud to clean the debris that you can see.   Clipping the hair around the ear, or plucking hair that is actually growing in the ear canal, will also help by increasing air flow within the ear canal.  If you have a dog that swims, be sure to wipe the ear with cotton wool to help absorb excess moisture afterwards.

If you think that your pet has an ear infection, bring it to your vet, who will treat it appropriately.  With recurrent ear infections, your vet will take an ear swab that will be sent to a lab to see what organisms grow and what antibiotics they are sensitive to.  Allergy testing can also be performed.  Occasionally, pets with chronic ear problems require surgery.