Baxters IVDD recovery weeks 5&6

Baxter..... IVDD recovery..... weeks 5 & 6.........

At the beginning of week 5 we started weaning Baxter off the Pred again. We were so happy when it not only well but spectacular.

Baxter did great. There was no crying and his tail was even up a bit more and not just hanging there. 

We could see him trying to move around more. He would stretch out more in his crib. He even rolled over for a belly rub which he hadn't done in 5 weeks. 

We were grateful that he was starting to feel better but we were also very cautious to not allow too much extra movement. He was more alert now that he was feeling better. He quite clearly wanted to run. 

We started a bit more time outside when we went for potty breaks. He would slowly walk around our area we had for him. 

Baxter was still on the tramadol and muscle relaxer. 

At week six we took him for a re-check with his Vet and he did great. We agreed to start decreasing the use of the tramadol and muscle relaxers. Baxter did wonderfully. He made amazing progress. His back right leg was getting stronger by the day. 

By the end of week 6 we saw that Baxter was well on his way to ending his crate rest. It was nice to see Baxter start acting like himself. 

Thanks for reading.

Hug your Puppies!😉💛💗💜🐕🐩🐶🐾🐾

We were not ready......

We were not ready........ 💔

Buster our little Boo crossed over the rainbow bridge on Friday September 1,2017.

The poor little Boo could not hold on any longer.

The day is colored in with a black marker on our calendar. We are still sad and still look for him to be there. It was a horrible evening to be sure but that day....his last day.....was good. He lounged on the couch and went outside. He enjoyed being outside that day just basking in the sun. He cuddled with his best bud Baxter and his little sister Bean.

Then in the late afternoon/early evening he started coughing and couldn't breath. He was rushed to the Vet. Our Vet... bless her heart... did everything she could but in the end it just wasn't enough. Boo's heart just could not handle anymore. He crossed over the rainbow bridge at 7:20 pm that day.

I am still crying every time I look at his pictures on my phone. He was so full of love and courage. he will be missed so much. The other two dogs are still acting a bit off. I think they knew before us humans did.

Time... It's going to take lots of time.

I know he had a happy life while he was here with us.
We just were not ready....to say goodbye.😢

RIP Little Boo.

Thanks for reading....Hug your puppies💕💚🐩🐕🐶🐾🐾

Buster-- Congestive Heart Failure

Buster........

He's a sweet(mostly) little chihuahua/dachshund we adopted from our local shelter. We adopted him when our Labrador retriever crossed over the rainbow bridge. His name is Buster and he was the perfect little friend for our older dachshund. 
They became the best of friends until our older one got sick. Xena( our older dachshund) had to make the journey across the rainbow bridge. 
Buster was grieving as much as we were. We decided to rescue another dachshund. Jilly then came into our lives. Jilly and Buster became BFFs and still are. a few years later we adopted Baxter. you can read about Baxter and his IVDD recovery in other blog posts. 
So here we are one big happy family. Then Buster was diagnosed with a heart murmur. The Vet found it on a routine yearly exam. It was not bad at first and did not require medication.
We take Buster every year for his yearly check up. The heart murmur stayed the same for quite a while until one visit it was more. It had become time to start medication. We started medication and had an echocardiogram done. We started on a low dose of medication then as things have progressed it has gone up. 
Little Buster is now in congestive heart failure and on two different 
heart medications and lasix for fluid build up. 
He has good days and bad days. 
we make sure he has air conditioning and he has a humidifier. His vet is terrific and Buster loves her. Little Buster has had one fainting episode and gets winded very easily. No more full out running. His best friend Jilly snuggles with him every night. Baxter is always near as well. 
Buster is a very happy little dog. We are looking at buying him a pet stroller so he can sit in it outside. 
he loves being outside and just enjoying the nice weather. 

Thanks for reading.... Hug your puppies.........<3
Please check out Busters Tfund account. Buy a great tshirt to show you are loved by a chiweenie just like Buster. it will help will the cost of Busters monthly heart medications. Thank you so much.
http://www.tfund.com/chiweenielove

Baxters IVDD weeks 3 & 4

Hi everyone, I thought I would start by telling you what IVDD is. I realized after I made my last post that I didn't explain what it is. there are many of you who probably know this information. For those who do not I encourage you to do the research and learn as much as you can. IVDD stands for inter-vertebral disc disease. The cushioning discs between the vertebrae of the spinal column bulge or burst(herniate) and then press on the nerves running through the spinal column causing pain, nerve damage and even paralysis.

Symptoms to watch for:

Neck pain

stiffness

reluctance to move

Back pain

Lowered head stance

abdominal tenderness

Yelping unexpectedly when touched or moving

Sensitivity to touch

Lameness

Dragging one or more legs

"Knuckling over " when walking or standing

Weakness

Reluctance to rise

Walking gingerly

wobbly gait/crisscrossing back legs when walking

Tremors/shaking

collapse

Paralysis

Treatment can be conservative (crate rest and meds) or surgery. Rehabilitation is also recommended to help regain function and speed up recovery. If conservative treatment crate rest is a minimum of 8 weeks. Acupuncture and cold laser therapy are also great to help with recovery. As I mentioned in my last post .... dodgerslist.com has a wealth of information on this subject and a great community forum to ask questions and discuss. Please check them out. I can't recommend them highly enough.

Now back to Baxter...... Weeks three and four.

We were starting to see some slight improvement in week three. He was walking slightly better and not as wobbly. Also had more coordination and was not knuckling over. The back right leg was getting stronger. He still is pooping and peeing at the same time getting pee all over himself.  His appetite is as always just fine. dachshunds rarely turn down food. We are using a sling to help him when outside. There was no more crying when being picked up for potty breaks. At the end of week three we began the wean down process on the cortisone. Within a couple of days he was crying again and started to stiffen when I went to pick him up. He also started to knuckle over on the right hind again.  We had to go back up on the cortisone for five days. so that was week 4. We also had to increase his pain medication for a couple of days. So we had a minor relapse and then he bounced back from it. He continued to sleep in his crib next to the couch. I have slept on the couch near him since this began. He's mommas pretty boy.

By the end of week 4 he was back to showing improvement. He began lifting his leg sometimes to pee again. He is very alert. His tail is not up yet though. It is still down and slightly tucked. I think we'll know he's doing great when the tail is back up.

We started week five weaning him down on the cortisone. next post I'll tell how that went.

Thanks for reading.... Hug your puppies. 💚😃🐕🐶🐾🐩

Baxter's IVDD

Baxter

Baxter is a black and tan dachshund we adopted from Little Shelter Animal Rescue in New York. He is what we in the United States call a tweenie, meaning he's too big to be considered a mini but not quite big enough to be a standard dachshund. Little shelter rescued him and many other dachshunds from a hoarding situation. He has turned into my little mommas boy. they estimated he was about four years old when I adopted him in 2014. I have been blessed to have him in my home for three years now.

Baxter is a very happy, wiggly dachshund who loves playing in the yard with my other two dogs. He also loves chasing squirrels and barking at every dog that walks past my house. We have ramps for our dachshunds to use to get up stairs and onto the couch. My first indication that something was wrong was his refusal to go up the ramps and he was walking very slow. His wonderfully cute wiggle was gone as he would walk very slowly and gingerly. He then cried when I tried to pick him up. Baxter's right back leg was weak and he would have muscle spasms. His Tail would tuck under and he was wobbly when he walked.  Baxter never went down paralyzed which I am grateful for.

I had a dachshund before that had IVDD so my first instinct was to set up a recovery space for Baxter and make an appointment at the Vet. I took him to our usual Animal Hospital but he didn't see our usual Vet at this visit. This Vet believed that Baxter's issue was in his neck. The Vet prescribed muscle relaxers and cortisone. He didn't want to prescribe a pain medication because he believes that it masks the problem. we however convinced him that we needed the pain medication.

We brought Baxter home and began the first two weeks of his crate rest. At first he was very unhappy. He wanted to be closer to everyone. we finally came up with a way to set up a space in the middle of everyone. He can see us and we can pet him and talk to him.

The first week was very hard and very sad. Heart-breaking really. We had a sling to help Baxter when outside to potty. The rest of the time he was resting. It was hard to pick him up because we were afraid to hurt him.  We and Baxter got through it. The second week was much the same as the first. We did not really see any improvement but keep on with his crate rest and medication.

Baxter in his recovery area

Baxter sleeping with his alien friend.

At two weeks we took him back to the Vet for a re-check. this time we saw our regular Vet. She believed that it was definitely IVDD and refilled all of the medications for Baxter. Those first two weeks were very tough. Baxter looked so so sad and pitiful. I wished I could do more for him. As dog owners it is always extremely difficult to see our dogs in pain. That was the hardest thing for me. I was crushed to see my mommas boy in pain and not being able to do anything more than lay in his crate. I had his crate near to the couch so that I could stay near him and sleep on my couch in the living room to watch over him.

I want to take a minute here to mention a couple of great resources.
1. dodgerslist.com     They are essential for information on IVDD. They also have a great forum to post in to discuss and ask questions. I found them back in 2006 when my previous dachshund went down and was paralyzed in the back end. 

2. IVDD and other back disorders Facebook group. They are helpful, encouraging and supportive.

Baxter before the crate rest began.

Next blog post I will cover weeks three and four of Baxter's recovery.

Thanks for reading. Hug your pups.😃💕🐩🐶🐾🐾 

Book review: Will's Red Coat by Tom Ryan

I just recently finished reading Will's Red Coat by Tom Ryan.

Tom Ryan as some of you may remember is the author of Following Atticus.

Will's Red Coat is about a tiny white dog that Tom Ryan takes in and shares his home with for a time. Tom learned about Will's situation from a post on his Following Atticus Facebook page. He decides to take the little dog in. Will is older and deaf and going blind so the thought is that taking Will in will just be giving him a place to die. We realize while reading the book that it turns into so much more.

During their first interaction Will bites Tom's finger. This does not deter Tom from taking Will to his home in New Hampshire. Throughout the book the affection between Tom and will begins to grow very slowly. tom takes care of the little dog and allows him to decide on his own that he wants to live instead of just being comfortable and dying. Will learns to delight in the smells and people of New Hampshire. Tom will say that he did not rescue Will but merely gave Will the chance to rescue himself. This little white dog taught the lesson that being old is not a disease. Will found joy in the strong smell of flowers especially wildflowers.

The setting of picturesque New Hampshire adds to the wonderful feel of this book. Tom describes the sights and sounds and tails of New Hampshire in ways that can't help but make you smile.

The ending of this book was inevitable and exactly what you would expect and will make you cry. It also made me smile knowing that little Will is somewhere surrounded by the wildflowers that he loved so much.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves and respects animals especially dogs.

I thank Tom Ryan for sharing this story, really this journey of little Will. It truly touched my heart.

Thanks for reading

If you get a chance to check this book out send me a comment of what you thought.

have a great week and hug your puppies!!💕💙🐕🐕🐾🐾

Summer time and your Dog..

Summer.... wonderful beautiful sunny days. Time to be outside soaking up the sunshine, going swimming, and having picnics and BBQs. What a terrific time of year. We love to include all our family members in our fun activities and our furry family members enjoy the summer as much as we do.

So let's get to some basic summer tips for you and your furry friend.

Time Outside

My furry family members love to spend as much time outside in the summer as they can. They love to lay in the sun and the grass and roll in things that ... well let's just say I don't find as appealing as they do. Be wary of areas treated with chemicals and fertilizers. better to restrict access to areas that have been treated.

Also important in the summertime to use flea, tick and heartworm prevention. When fun in the sun is over or the walk through the wooded trail is done be sure to give your furry friend a quick check for ticks and bugs. always supervise your dog when outside. Dogs sometimes stick their cute furry noses where they shouldn't. Watch for spiders and bees that may sting.

Walks

We all love to go for walks in the nice summer months with our furry friend. My little guys love taking walks around the neighborhood or at a local park. Be aware of how hot it is and plan your walks with your furry friend accordingly. Remember the pavement on the streets in your local neighborhood can get quite hot. Hot pavement can burn the pads of your dogs feet pretty bad. If you wouldn't walk on it with your bare feet it's a safe bet that it will be too hot for your dog. The best way to avoid this is to take your walks in the early morning or in the evenings when it is cooling down. If you love trails and wooded areas make sure to bring water for you and your dog and take breaks in nice shaded areas. For senior furry family members or for those that have a medical issue you might consider a dog stroller to be able to include them in all your outdoor activities.
Summertime errands
With the exception of a fun trip to your local pet store it may be best to leave your furry family member at home. The inside of a parked car will get hot very quickly even with the windows open. Your dog will be at risk of dehydration, heat stroke and death and you will be at risk of criminal charges in a lot of areas. it is definitely safer to leave your dog nice and comfortable at home.
Summertime events and festivals
while some events and fairs may be fine to take your furry family member to a lot of them will not be. In some cases it will be hot and scary for your dog. It will also be very crowed and a lot of dogs do not do well in those situations. My best advice is to really know your dog. If your dog has been socialized to such things then it will be a fun outing for you and your furry family member. If your dog is not good with other people it will only be stressful for you and them. Especially consider leaving your dog at home if it is an evening event that includes fireworks. Many dogs are terrified of fireworks. Leave them safely at home watching TV.
Water Safety
many dogs love the water and love to go swimming. Always take them to safe areas to swim. Always be there to supervise. if your dog loves your pool make sure they have safe entry and exits to get in and out of pool. A lot of dogs also like to lounge on floatation devices just like people.
If you love taking your dog on your boat in the summer make sure to buy them their own life vest in case of any accidents.
Dehydration, Heat Stroke and Sunburn
Always make sure you have water available to give to your dog. I carry a collapsible water dish with me when I venture out on walks or parks with my furry family members.
If your dog like mine is a sun worshiper make sure they are not getting too hot or sunburned.
When spending more time outside with your furry family member it is up to you to set limits. Know when its time for a break or to more inside or have a drink of water. A lot of dogs will just keep playing or running or chasing that ball until they drop, it is up to you to stop for a break.
Know the signs of Heat stroke so you can act fast.

• Rapid heavy panting
• excessive salivation
• Gums red
• Gasping for air
• Collapse

Act quickly to cool dog down. Immerse in COOL water. NEVER USE ICY WATER!!That will cause body temperature to go down too drastically. Using cool water will lower the body temperature slowly. If possible get the dog into an air conditioned room or in front of a fan. You can also use towels soaked in cool water if you can not immerse dog in cool water. Just re-wet the towels in cool water frequently until dog has cooled off. Offer water.

Some breeds are more prone to getting over heated in the warmer weather. Brachycephalic breeds (dogs with pushed in noses) such as Pugs, Bulldogs, Boxers and others are especially susceptible. They love the summer weather and enjoy the outdoors too but can over heat easily. Be sure to supervise any outdoor activity. Dogs that have double coats such as German shepherds and sheepdogs are also more prone to over heat.  

NO DOG SHOULD EVER BE LEFT OUTSIDE UNSUPERVISED.

I find that keeping a little bag of stuff with me can be very helpful. In it I keep things I may need when I'm somewhere with my dog. Now I'm not suggesting you take a big bag with you to take a walk around the neighborhood but if you are going to a park or other outdoor activity it is helpful to have in your car. In my bag I keep towels, a small first aid kit, blanket, collapsible water dish, leash, collar, small amount of food or treat , plastic bags to pick up poop and a few Ziploc bags.

Thanks for reading.
Teri
Next week.... A book review...
Hug your puppies 😄🐕🐕🐾💖

Downward dog TV show

I watched the first two episodes of Downward dog. It airs on Tuesdays at 8 pm EST on ABC. It was really good. The dog is absolutely adorable. I read that he was a rescue dog. He was adopted and trained for this. His real name is Ned and he has the most expressive eyes.

The show is about Martin(the dog) and Nan(played by Allison Tolman). The voice of Martin is provided by Samm Hodges. He does a great job of combining the voice with the expressive sweet eyes of the dog. It just sounds great.

Nan is trying to balance her work and her home life. She has a dysfunctional relationship with her boyfriend and a boss that is less than fun to work for. Martin and Nan have very different outlooks on things. He wants Nan to stay home with him all the time. Martin is confused as to why Nan has to leave every day. In his prospective he should be the center of Nan's world the same way she is the center of his.

The show explores the loyalty of this relationship. It makes you feel happy and sad at the same time. As dog lovers we all struggle with having to leave our dogs home alone to go to work. We also hope that our dogs see us in the same light that Martin sees Nan.

I really enjoyed the feel of this show. It was fun to watch. I smiled, laughed and cried. If you own and love a dog give this show a try. I think you will enjoy it as much as I have so far.

Thanks for reading

Teri

Next week we look at summer and your dog.

Hug your puppies! 💙😀🐾🐩

Common Poisonous Plants

Autumn crocus, cyclamen, Yew, Hydrangea 

There are many plants and flowers out there that are toxic for your furry friend. I will list and briefly discuss a few here today.

This does not mean that you cannot have houseplants or a beautiful outside flower garden. You will just need to be extra vigilant with your furry friend. If you love having houseplants in your house then research which ones can be dangerous for your furry friend. Take precautions and keep houseplants up and out of reach of your curious furry friend.

If you love the idea of an outside flowr garden put it where your furry friend can not get to. Be watchful of your dog and know your dog. If your furry friend is a digger it will be best to block access to areas such as flower beds and gardens.

Be aware of the most common symptoms of toxicity. the first sign noticed is usually excessive salivation and drooling.

Other symptoms of toxicity:

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Fast or irregular heartbeat

Rapid breathing

Dilated pupils

Lethargy

Seizures

Collapse

The level and severity of toxicity is directly connected to how much is ingested in most cases. If your furry friend has eaten a plant call and bring them and a sample of the plant to yur Veterinarian immediately. If possible let your Veterinarian know how much was ingested.

Lupine, azalea, Morning glory, hyacinth

The most dangerous plants are those with cardiotoxic properties. They effect the heart and the heart muscles.

Examples:

Azaleas

Rhondodendrens

Foxglove

Hyacinths

Yew

Lily of the Valley

Oleander

Dog Bane

Giant Milkweed

Star of Bethlehem

Kalanchoe

hydrangea

A small list of other plants that are poisonous:

Aloe Vera

Fern

Begonia

baby's Breath

Corn Plant

Sago Palm

Daffodil

Geranium

Jade Plant

Ribbon Plant

Tulips

Cyclamen

Dieffenbachia

morning Glory

Lupine

Larkspur

Elephants ear

Any type of Lily

oleander, daffodil, rhododendron, Tulip

At Holiday Time:

Poinsetta

Mistletoe

Holly

Easter lily

If you are looking for more information about specific plants the ASPCA has an excellent searchable database on their website.

Thanks for reading

Teri

Don't forget to hug your lovable furry friend. 💖😃🐾🐕

Quick Home Exam

Hi Everyone, today lets look at doing a quick home exam of your furry friend. First thing to know is.... What is normal?
Looking at your furry friend they should appear bright ,alert, and responsive. They should be energetic and happy and not appear lethargic or dehydrated. You can check for dehydration by pick up the skin on the back and twisting gently it should return to it's normal appearance and not stay up. If it stays up your pup is dehydrated.
Respiration should be regular and comfortable. You can count the number of breaths in a minute. normal will fall somewhere between 10-30 times in a minute depending on the breed. Ask your Veterinarian.
Heart can be taken by placing your fingers on the inside of the upper thigh. Count the number of beats in 15 seconds and multiply by 4 to get the number of beats per minute. Should be 60 -150 beats per minute depending on the size of your dog. Larger dogs generally have a slower heart rate.
Temperature is taken with a rectal thermometer. Lubricate the tip, lift up your dogs tail and twirl thermometer in about an inch or two. Leave for two minutes to get an accurate reading. A dogs temperature will be between 99.5- 102.5F. Over 103F is considered a fever and you should consult a Veterinarian.
Capillary refill time will let you know your dogs blood circulation is normal. Lift lip and press with your finger firmly on the gum above the canine tooth. When you release there will be a pale area that will refill and become pink again within 2 seconds.

For a quick body exam I like to start at the head and work my way back. For a larger dog this can be done on the floor, for a small dog you can have them in your lap. Do the exam the same way each time to get yourself into a routine.  My little dachshunds love it because it's because they love anything that means they get attention.

Eyes
Should be bright and clear with no cloudiness or discharge. There should be no staining from excessive tearing.
Ears
Should be clean with no odor, no redness, no sores, no ticks and no swelling.
Mouth
Breath should be fresh. Gums should be pink. Check teeth for excessive tartar and note if any cracked, broken or missing teeth.
Nose
Is usually cool and moist to the touch but this is not a hard and fast rule so if it is not and everything else is fine there is no cause for alarm.  There should be no discharge.
Throat
Feel along throat, there should be no lumps or swelling. Press gently above collar to check for coughing or sensitivity.
Coat
Should be clean and shiny with no mats and no bald areas.
Skin
There should be no sores, redness or hot spots. Check for fleas and ticks as well as flea dirt especially on the rump area where the hair tends to be thicker.
Body
As you run your hands over your dog take note if there are any lumps or bumps. Check the genital and anal areas, they should be clean and free of fecal matter, mats and discoloration. Check your dogs weight by running your hands along the rib cage, you should be able to feel them easily but they should not be prominent.
Press gently along spine and over hips to check for pain or sensitivity.
Legs and Paws
Lift each leg up one at a time to check for stiffness. Check the feet and pads for sores and cracks. Make sure to check in between pads for and long hair and things that can get stuck in there. My little guys sometimes get a piece of a cracked acorn  in between the pads and it makes them limp.
Nails
Check that the nails are nice and short. Long nails can interfere with walking. Make sure there are no cracks.

My dogs love getting this short and quick home exam. They truly enjoy the attention. Afterwards I give them a treat. I recommend doing this once a week. This way you will catch any thing going on early and be able to bring it to the attention of your Veterinarian.

Thanks for reading.
I hope this was helpful. I plan on putting together a video of a quick home exam and will post it as soon as I have it.
Teri
Next week: Poisonous plants 

First Aid for your Dog

First Aid is exactly what it says it is,the first aid given prior to seeking medical help. It is to supposed to help stabilize the situation as you make your way to the help you need.

The very first thing you want to do is remain calm. If you remain calm your dog will remain calm. Your dog will most likely be very frightened and staying calm will help everyone involved. Talking to your dog in a soothing voice is key.

Before we get into some first aid tips let's talk about some preparation. You can never be completely prepared all the time but having a kit together can help a great deal. There are certain things that are helpful to have on hand that will help in emergency situations.

First Aid Kit

• Roll bandages- for wounds and for making a muzzle
• conforming bandage
• non adhesive absorbent dressings
• sticky tape
• gauze
• gloves
• rectal thermometer
• oral syringe
• ice compress
• tweezers
• tongue depressors
• nail trimmers
• Antibiotic ointment
• disinfectant(for example: Betadine)
• hydrogen peroxide
• activated charcoal
• Blunt end scissors
• eye dropper
• Eye wash
• Towel
• KY jelly
• Animal Hopital phone numbers/ Emergency clinic number
• Animal poison control Number

Other items that are a good idea to have on hand:

• ipecac syrup
• anti gas tablets(Gas-X)- Dosing: small dog-1/4 adult dose, medium dog- 1/2 adult dose, large dog-1adult dose
• Peptobismal-Dosing: 1 teaspoon per 20 pounds
• Benadryl 25mg -Dosing: 1 mg per pound
• Buffered aspirin- Dosing: < 10 lbs-1/2 baby aspirin, 10-30lbs-1 baby aspirin, 30-50lbs- 1/2 regular aspirin, 50-100lbs- 1 regular aspirin, >100 lbs- 2 regular aspirin
• Elizabethan collar

Always keep a pen and paper/pad in with your first aid supplies. This way you will be able to note down any instructions given from the Animal Hospital.

When dealing with a hurt dog, even your own, it is a good idea to put a muzzle on them. If you have a soft muzzle that can be used or you can make one using rolled gauze.

To make:

Make a noose by tying a very loose knot in the middle of a strip of gauze, leave a large loop.

Try to quietly approach dog from behind and slip loop over dogs snout pulling it taut halfway up nose.

Tie ends under the chin then carry ends around neck and tie behind ears.

To move an injured dog:

Find something sturdy to slide under the dog to keep them stabilized. Bind the dog to the this to keep them still and quiet for transport. you can use a sheet or towels to do this. If you do not have a sturdy board you can use a sheet or coat to slide under the dog and carry like a hammock. For a small dog you can scoop them up in a towel and put into a box for transport. the idea is to transport the dog safely and move them as little as possible.

Bleeding:

Apply direct pressure to wound using a sterile dressing. If bleeding is not stopping you can use pressure points to stop the bleeding, groin, armpit, neck, jaw or tail base. Apply a tourniquet only as a last resort.

To apply tourniquet:

Wrap gauze around twice on dog's limb or tail but don't knot it, place a stick on top and tie it in place loosely. Turn the stick in one direction until bandage is just tight enough to stop bleeding. Loosen every 5 to 10 minutes for a few seconds to let blood circulate.

Get Veterinary Hospital immediately.

If a wound is superficial, stop the bleeding, wash with soap and water and apply antibiotic ointment.

Poisoning:

Signs of poisoning include seizures, burns around mouth, fast heartbeat, trouble breathing, foaming at mouth, drooling, bleeding from mouth, nose or anus, erratic behavior, loss of consciousness.

Call your Veterinary Hospital or Animal poison control.

DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT POISON WAS INGESTED.
If you need to induce vomiting you can use hydrogen peroxide, pour  some 3% hydrogen peroxide into a cup and use an oral syringe to give 3cc per 20 lbs of body weight. Wait 10 minutes, if no vomiting, repeat, if still no vomiting then take dog to Veterinarian immediately.

Shock:
If a trauma has occurred, such as being hit by a car, your dog will be in shock. Signs of shock will be weakness, cold to touch, pale or gray gums, rapid breathing. Make sure to control bleeding and keep dog warm while you get dog to Animal Hospital immediately.

Broken or Fractured leg:
If bone is protruding, cover with sterile bandage and bring to Veterinarian.
If broken or fractured below knee you can splint with magazines, rolled newspaper, ruler or any thing sturdy. Wrap material around and tie to keep in place.
If above knee, place dog on flat surface, secure, and transport to Animal Hospital.
The general idea is to move the dog as little as possible.

Snake Bite:
Bleeding wound on legs or head, pupils dilated, drooling, trembling, vomiting, collapse.
Keep dog as calm and still as possible. DO NOT lance bite or suck out poison. Get dog to Veterinary Hospital immediately.

For Burns:
First and second degree burns---- apply cold water or ice immediately then apply antibiotic ointment.
Third degree burns--- apply ice at once and keep dog warm to prevent shock. Cover and take dog to Veterinarian immediately.

Heatstroke:
If you notice your dog panting excessively, dehydrated, drooling, glassy eyed, having trouble breathing, raised temperature, vomiting, gums red, rapid or irregular heartbeat this could be heat stroke. This can happen from being outside in the heat for extended periods and running around. Some breeds just wont quit chasing that ball so we need to monitor them closely. Dogs with pushed in faces like pugs are also susceptible to heat stroke.
Immerse in cool, NOT ICY, water. Offer water to drink, and get them into an air conditioned room. Take to Veterinarian.

Drowning:
Many dogs love the water and it is important to watchful.
You can suspend dog by hind legs and gently swing them to help drain water out of lungs. If too heavy then let front feet rest on ground. then lay your dog down with a blanket under it's back to so that the head rests slightly lower than the body to help water drain.  If needed preform CPR.

Choking:
Gasping, coughing
Lift up back legs like dog is a wheelbarrow and give a good shake to hopefully dislodge object.
Heimlich maneuver--- Wrap arms around dogs belly just under rib cage, give one quick forceful squeeze to expel object. If your dog is small you can pick them up and use both hands to squeeze and expel object.
If dog is unconscious lay them on their side and feel for the last rib. Place both hands palms down just behind bottom rib and press down forcefully. If dog has stopped breathing or has no heartbeat preform CPR.

How to preform CPR and mouth to nose:
Open the airway by swiping back of throat with index and middle finger. Extend the head back and pull the tongue forward. Make sure to check that the nostrils are unobstructed. Hold dogs mouth closed and place your mouth over their nostril and blow into them so that the chest rises.
Lie dog on side on a hard surface. Place the heel of your hand on their ribs over the heart. Place the other hand over the first and  push down rhythmically and with reasonable force 15 times.
Then blow into nostrils and then repeat chest compressions.

Thank you for reading, I hope this was helpful.
Teri
Have a great week and hug your dog. 🐕🐾💗

Next week How to do a quick home check up on your dog.

Mosquitos and Heartworm

Mosquitoes are one part of the life cycle of heartworms. They are an important part that makes the cycle complete.

Life cycle of heartworm

Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes that are infected with baby heartworms called microfilaria.

1. A mosquito picks up the microfilaria when it bites an infected dog.
2. Microfilaria mature into larvae in the mosquito. This takes 7-10 days.
3. After the microfilaria mature into larvae they are transmitted to a dog when the mosquito feeds.
4. These larvae then migrate through tissue and into the bloodstream. Larvae take 6 months to mature into adults. They will migrate into the pulmonary vessels of the heart and lungs.
5. Adult heartworms will mate and the microfilaria will make there way into the bloodstream of the dog and be transferred to a mosquito when the mosquito bites. This effectively starts the process again.

Symptoms of a possible heartworm infection

1. Coughing
2. Exercise intolerance
3. Trouble breathing
4. Loss of consciousness

If you notice these symptoms your Veterinarian will look for these signs as well.

1. Abnormal lung sounds
2. enlargement of the liver
3. Fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity

Heartworms can cause much damage to the heart, liver, lungs and other organs if not treated.

To diagnose Heartworm disease your Veterinarian will likely use the following tests.

1. Blood test/antigen test.... Looks for the presence of proteins excreted by sexually mature female heartworms
2. Filter test... looks at blood under a microscope to see if there are any microfilaria.
3. Other routine bloodwork including a chemistry panel and a complete blood count. These will tell your Veterinarian if there is problems with other organs and if there is an infection present.
4. X-rays.. will allow your Veterinarian to see if there is damage to heart, liver, lungs etc.
5. Ultrasound.. can sometimes see the heartworms on an ultrasound and it is also can tell your Veterinarian more information on how badly compromised the organs are.

If your dog is diagnosed with Heartworm Disease your Veterinarian may prescribe the following prior to treatment.

1. Anti-biotics.. Because as heartworms die they release a bacteria into the bloodstream which can cause an immune response and worsen the heartworm disease and the inflammation in the lungs and kidneys.
2. Monthly Heartworm preventative... To kill the smaller larvae before initiating treatment to kill the adults.
3. Steroids for inflammation

The treatment for the adult heartworms takes 60 days to complete. It consists of a series of injections with an organic arsenic compound to kill the adult heartworms. The compound is injected into the lumbar(back) muscles of your dog. On injection days your dog will have to stay at the Animal Hospital under observation.

One of the VERY important parts of the heartworm treatment will be keeping your dog calm and quiet. Activity level must be limited during treatment and for several weeks following. The reason for this is because fragments of dead worms move and block blood flow through the pulmonary vessels and cause or worsen the inflammatory response. Too much strenuous activity increase blood flow to blocked areas causing capillaries to rupture. This will increase the likelihood of complication and damage to organ and could result in death.

Surgery will be an option if worms are found to be in the large vein called the vena cave located between the heart and liver.

Your dog should be re-tested for heartworm after treatment and again 6 months later. If a positive result after 6 months then treatment will need to be repeated.

Heartworm has been reported in all 50 states. The cost of diagnostic tests and treatment could be up to $1000 or more.

Heartworm prevention is KEY! Prevention is the most cost effective option. A yearly blood test for heartworm can be done at your annual visit to the Veterinarian. A six month supply of heartworm preventive will cost around $50-$60 dollars.

Using heartworm preventative year round is recommended. There are many very good choices of heartworm preventative out there. Many of them help control other parasites such as roundworms and hookworms. Your Veterinarian will help you choose which one is best for your dog based on your needs and where you live.

Puppies 6 months and under can start heartworm preventative prior to being tested. A dog that is older than that should be tested if they have never been on heartworm preventative. It takes 6 months for a dog to test positive after being infected.

Mosquito Repellents

Deet is a popular mosquito repellent used in OFF! and other brands. It is HIGHLY toxic to dogs if ingested. It is not recommended to use on dogs because there is such a high probability of them liking at their fur and ingesting it.

K-9 Advantix spot on repels mosquitoes and Veterinarian recommended.

Natural Choices

Repel uses lemon eucalyptus oil

Biteblocker uses geranium and soybean oil

Citronella sprays and candles help keep mosquitoes away.

I hope this general information was helpful.

Thanks for reading.😀🐶

Teri

Next week: Some First Aid Tips

Have a great week..... hug your dog🐶🐾

The Importance of Spaying and Neutering

First let's define those two words:

Spay -- Removal of the females ovaries and uterus

Neuter -- Removal of a males testicles

Both are done so that they can not reproduce.

I believe that it is very important to have your dog spayed or neutered. There are many reasons to have it done.

The benefits:

• will prevent unwanted litters
• Will be good for the community as there will be less strays that will wind up in a shelter.
• Fights pet overpopulation
• It is more cost effective to spay or neuter.

Benefits for the female:

• will prevent uterine infections
• risk of mammary gland tumors, ovarian and uterine cancers are reduced or eliminated.
• no heat cycles
• live longer healthier lives

Benefits for the male:

• low to no risk of prostate cancer
• Eliminates risk of testicular cancer
• Less desire to roam
• Decreases aggressive behaviors, such as fighting and urine marking.
• Live longer healthier lives

Let's talk about some of the reasons I've heard for not spaying or neutering your dog.

"My dog will feel less of a male"

----Dogs have no concept of a sexual identity.

"I want another dog just like the one I have"

----Genetically there is no guarantee that any of the puppies will be exactly like the dog you already have. They all have their own unique personalities.

"Cost"

------It is more cost effective to spay or neuter than to potentially have unwanted litters that no one may want. There are also many areas that have low cost spay/neuter programs that can help with the cost.

"I will find homes for them"

------That is a hard task to take on. You have no way of knowing if the homes will be good homes. Also it is way harder than you think to find homes for a litter of up to 10 or 12 puppies.

"I want to teach my child the miracle of birth"

-------There are many books and videos to help you teach the miracle of birth to your child. Teach your child the importance of rescue and adopting.

Millions of dogs are euthanized every year in the US because they are unwanted,please be a responsible dog owner and spay or neuter your dog.   

Thanks for reading

Teri

Next week: Mosquitoes and Heartworm

Happy National Pet Day

Happy National Pet Day from my crew.....
Buster, Baxter and Jilly 🐩💙💚💖

Check back tomorrow for my weekly post.