Activity restricted to a leash: 10 days of hell

In the epitome of irony, I was writing an article about post-op care that includes the Dostoyevsky-spun line “Inadequate restriction of activity is the most common cause of post-operative complications and increased veterinary visits and costs” when I had to restrict my dog’s activity after a wee bit of his paw pad was removed last week.

Three sutures on a foot equal 10 days of hell.

He’d been licking the bottom of his right front paw for too long, licked it right into a staph infection that took two courses of antibiotics to clear up. A week later he was licking it again.

“Let’s take a look,” said my vet.

And for some odd reason, in no corner of my brain did that translate to “biopsy” or “sutures” or “we’re going to take a chunk and maybe look at it under a microscope.” The only thing my brain received was “we’re going look at it.” We can register last Thursday as one of my low IQ days. We’re all allowed to have a few.

Given that he is certain that every visit to the clinic is another opportunity for them to remove his spleen without anesthesia while he waits in the lobby, he cannot go near the clinic without falling apart. He shivers as we pull into the parking lot. He assumes they will remove his spleen without anesthesia. Had I realized there was a possibility of his being restricted to a leash for 10 days, I would have been appropriately prepared. I would have been neurotic and gnashing my teeth with worry, not about what’s wrong with his foot, but about how the heck we would get through 10 days without running 27 miles a day in the back yard plus going to the dog park for a “real” run.

So imagine my low- IQ surprise when he walked out with a bandaged paw and instructions not to let him outside without a leash for 10 days. She found some slightly thickened, inflamed flesh that was probably an ingrown hair follicle, and removed it, resulting in the Three Sutures from Hell. I would have been right to be neurotic.

At first he wouldn’t pee or poop on a leash. That was fun. There I was at 11 at night and then 6 in the morning, 12 hours since he’d last peed, and no leg lifting was in sight. Isn’t this one of the reasons you get boy dogs? You’re supposed to have business done and over with in no time, get urine samples the moment you lift the thingie (technical term). I thought their peeing was an involuntary behavior, like breathing: if you’re outside, you pee.
He finally peed in the back yard while on a leash.

Then there was that bag on the foot thing. Of course it rained like crazy for the next few days. The bandage only had to stay on a couple of days, but they said to keep bagging it to keep the sutures dry. He was terrified of the plastic bag, and we had one rather unpleasant discussion about it, but he finally got used to it. His bandage got wet because the first time we went out I looked behind me and the plastic bag was 40 feet away.

I know the sound of a hollow laugh, and I’m pretty sure it’s coming from me.

So here’s what I learned.

1) Use a ziplock bag over a foot. Don’t put it on until just before you go outside.
2) Keep it on with a rubber band; remove the rubber band immediately after you come back in to prevent damage.
3) Some pet “experts” don’t know squat because it’s all intellectual knowledge rather than hands-on experience.
4) Some boys just won’t pee when you want them to.
5) It’s not right to sedate him just because he’s bouncing off the ceiling, but Valium really, really works for me.

View the original article here

Activity restricted to a leash: 10 days of hell

In the epitome of irony, I was writing an article about post-op care that includes the Dostoyevsky-spun line “Inadequate restriction of activity is the most common cause of post-operative complications and increased veterinary visits and costs” when I had to restrict my dog’s activity after a wee bit of his paw pad was removed last week.

Three sutures on a foot equal 10 days of hell.

He’d been licking the bottom of his right front paw for too long, licked it right into a staph infection that took two courses of antibiotics to clear up. A week later he was licking it again.

“Let’s take a look,” said my vet.

And for some odd reason, in no corner of my brain did that translate to “biopsy” or “sutures” or “we’re going to take a chunk and maybe look at it under a microscope.” The only thing my brain received was “we’re going look at it.” We can register last Thursday as one of my low IQ days. We’re all allowed to have a few.

Given that he is certain that every visit to the clinic is another opportunity for them to remove his spleen without anesthesia while he waits in the lobby, he cannot go near the clinic without falling apart. He shivers as we pull into the parking lot. He assumes they will remove his spleen without anesthesia. Had I realized there was a possibility of his being restricted to a leash for 10 days, I would have been appropriately prepared. I would have been neurotic and gnashing my teeth with worry, not about what’s wrong with his foot, but about how the heck we would get through 10 days without running 27 miles a day in the back yard plus going to the dog park for a “real” run.

So imagine my low- IQ surprise when he walked out with a bandaged paw and instructions not to let him outside without a leash for 10 days. She found some slightly thickened, inflamed flesh that was probably an ingrown hair follicle, and removed it, resulting in the Three Sutures from Hell. I would have been right to be neurotic.

At first he wouldn’t pee or poop on a leash. That was fun. There I was at 11 at night and then 6 in the morning, 12 hours since he’d last peed, and no leg lifting was in sight. Isn’t this one of the reasons you get boy dogs? You’re supposed to have business done and over with in no time, get urine samples the moment you lift the thingie (technical term). I thought their peeing was an involuntary behavior, like breathing: if you’re outside, you pee.
He finally peed in the back yard while on a leash.

Then there was that bag on the foot thing. Of course it rained like crazy for the next few days. The bandage only had to stay on a couple of days, but they said to keep bagging it to keep the sutures dry. He was terrified of the plastic bag, and we had one rather unpleasant discussion about it, but he finally got used to it. His bandage got wet because the first time we went out I looked behind me and the plastic bag was 40 feet away.

I know the sound of a hollow laugh, and I’m pretty sure it’s coming from me.

So here’s what I learned.

1) Use a ziplock bag over a foot. Don’t put it on until just before you go outside.
2) Keep it on with a rubber band; remove the rubber band immediately after you come back in to prevent damage.
3) Some pet “experts” don’t know squat because it’s all intellectual knowledge rather than hands-on experience.
4) Some boys just won’t pee when you want them to.
5) It’s not right to sedate him just because he’s bouncing off the ceiling, but Valium really, really works for me.

View the original article here

Contest: Win a Stylish “Buckle-Down” Collar and Leash

You could win a matching Buckle-Down collar and leash! (Jake not included)

I thought this would be a fun way to start our week together, Dogsters. Buckle-Down, the famous maker of unique products made with seatbelt buckles, has a new line of funky dog collars and leashes that will make any dog a real stand-out with her friends. Each stylish collar features a mini version of Buckle-Down’s signature seatbelt buckle.

“We combined our love for dogs and some really cool graphics and came up with collars and matching leads that make a statement,” says Eric Swope, Chief Operating Officer for Buckle-Down.  “Now our customers have the opportunity to take their personal style and interests and have it reflect onto their pet.”

As you can see from the photo above, Jake turned some heads of his relatively colorblind friends while sporting his new ensemble this weekend. Yes, it’s pink and girly, but in a very hip, Ed Hardy way. It’s perfect for our surfer dude neighborhood in San Francisco. “Aren’t you a cool girl?!” one surfer asked as he gave “her” a head scratch while we waited to cross the street to get to the beach. Jake gave him a sideways look, but apparently decided not to try to explain. Here’s a closer view of the collar with its really sturdy seatbelt-buckle.

We’re giving away  leash-collar ensemble from Buckle-Down (retail value: nearly $50). Which one? You pick! That’s part of the contest. Go to the main Buckle-Down dog collar page and choose your favorite design from the six styles on that page. (Don’t worry if your dog is a nerd: Every dog looks like a rock star when wearing a Buckle-Down collar and leash.) Then come back to this page and write a comment about which design you prefer for your dog. We’ll do a random drawing of the entries to pick the winner.

The contest goes through Friday, March 4, at 1 p.m. PDT. We’ll announce the winner of the random drawing early Saturday morning.

Good luck! Now buckle up for a great week!

View the original article here

The story of Gus – a new leash on life

Now and again I have the opportunity to make a huge difference for patients and their humans.

A single case like this can really carry me and my team through a whole series of tough and tragic cases. These are the “silver linings” we all crave.

Gus came to us first as a pain patient. He was losing function, and we were faced with a conundrum:
“Is Gus weak because he is painful?,” or “Is Gus weak AND painful?”

In the early stages of these cases it is impossible to know the difference. So, we began with the obvious first step. We worked to control the pain and re-evaluate the weakness. One of my early blogs was about Critter, a dog who was weak because of his pain.

Gus, though, was a different matter. Once his pain was managed, he remained weak, and in fact his weakness continued to progress. Unfortunately, we were left with the reality that he was dealing with degenerative myelopathy – - such a devastating yet common issue for German Shepherds. Because Gus had enjoyed an active, athletic, outdoor lifestyle with his owner, we measured him for a K-9 Cart, and ordered him his “candy-apple red” set of wheels. He was like a teen-ager in his first muscle car! We fitted his chair to him, strapped it on, and he raced down the hall at the clinic. Within a short time he was running alongside his owner again – - an activity he dearly loved before losing so much function.

As his disease has progressed, so has the muscle-wasting that is the hallmark of this disorder. Just a couple of weeks ago, he developed a decubitus ulcer – - a pressure sore – - over the boney prominence at the top of his thigh bone. Decubitus ulcers can be devastating for these patients because any time they are not in the wheelchair, their body weight alone puts incredible pressure on shrinking tissues. Whole areas of the body can become devitalized, lose their blood supply, and simply peel off. It can be pretty ghastly, and if the tissue can’t heal, euthanasia can be the outcome.

Fortunately for Gus, we were able to apply common sense principles of good hygiene (cleaning and closing the open wound), good wound care (by removing dead and dying tissues), and the latest in technology in the form of therapeutic LASER to create a “perfect storm” of healing.

After just three treatments, we have a bed of very happy, healthy, healing tissue, and our conversation has turned from discussing euthanasia to laughing together as Gus reminds us his time on this earth is not yet over. Gus is happy, his human is happy, and once again I and my team are reminded why we do what we do for a living!

Photo credits:  Dr. Robin Downing

View the original article here

What to do when your dog is ‘aggressive’ on leash

Ideally, daily dog walks should offer great opportunities for your dog to tap into all his keen senses and for you to work in some enjoyable exercise.

We’ve got enough tugs on our time than to have to cope with dogs who insist on tugging on their leashes – and worse, turning into lunging, barking canine bullies whenever another dog or person approaches. What can cause your sweet, docile dog inside your home to turn into a sidewalk meanie?

In a word, fear. Yep, so-called aggressive displays of dogs on leashes are triggered by fear, reports Dr. Gary Landsberg, a noted veterinary behaviorist from Toronto who is delivering a handful of behavior sessions at the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas this week.

“Dog owners want dogs who will walk calmly on a leash, but unfortunately, that is not always the case,” says Dr. Landsberg. “Fear is a physiological, emotional and behavioral response to a stimuli – be that another dog, people or even inanimate objects like cars. Fear can arise from genetics, early handling and traumatic experiences as well as how the owner responds to their dog’s actions.”

I take my two dogs, Chipper and Cleo, on daily walks. I make sure to vary the location, the duration and the pace. It keeps the walks more exciting and less ho-hum. But occasionally, one or both will bark or air snap at another dog heading our way. I’m able to put both in sit positions within a few seconds, but their snarking display takes away some of the joy of our walk.

What we do on the other end of the leash is vital in making daily walks with our dogs more pleasing. Yanking back, yelling or fitting your dog with a choke collar will only worsen the behavior.

“Being fearful or angry will increase a dog’s fear and punishing your dog may appear to suppress the fear, but it will lead to more aggression in the long run,” he cautions. “Your dog may stop displaying any warning signs and bite without warning.”

Dr. Landsberg offers some insights and practical solutions aimed at addressing your dog’s fear. Among them:

Rule out any possible underlying medical cause with your veterinarian for your dog’s street-walking aggression.Recognize that leashed dogs feel their options are limited and may bark and lunge in hopes the other dog will back off.Set your dog up for success by remaining calm and in control. That means no yelling or no baby talk.Fit your dog with effective products like the Easy Walk Harness by Premier (full disclosure: a Pet Connection sponsor) and the Gentle Leader.

The Easy Walk Harness is a front-chest leash attachment (click here for a short instructional video) and the Gentle Leader allows you to control your dog’s head to look at you – not approaching dogs. (Click here for a short video)

More tips:

Re-train your dog using these walking devices in a controlled environment like a park at a quiet time or bringing a friend with a dog  your dog likes.Reward your dog for sitting or making eye contact with you on walks – and for ignoring other dogs. You can reinforce desired behaviors using clicker training.Know when you need help. Consult your veterinarian for medications to treat severe fear arousal.

You can learn more about dog behavior by checking out short videos, audiotapes and online documents posted on the Animal Behavior Resources Institute of the American Humane Association.

Photo credits: Top, IStock. Bottom, Premier.

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New & Woof-Tastic: WalleyLead Dog Control Leash

Ever wonder who is actually walking who? Let's face it, some dogs (especially big dogs) can be a bit of a handful on walks. If you've been searching for a dog leash that will give you a bit more control, check out the amazing new WalleyLead Dog Control Leash.

The WalleyLead is hand crafted with a super strong double braided nylon rope, and the foam handle gives you a solid, yet comfortable grip. Plus the smaller sizes (all the way down to 9") give you much more leverage while out and about with your pet. This lead is perfect for keeping control in crowded areas and dangerous spots (like city street corners, etc). Of course, it is also a great tool for use during dog training.

posted 2010 Dec 20 by Chip Green

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The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs

Improve communication with your best friend! This book teaches readers how to retrain themselves to speak consistently in a language dogs understand and avoid sending conflicting and confusing messages.

Price: $16.00

Click here to buy from Amazon

Nite Ize Nite Dawg LED Light-Up Dog Leash

Your dog will be stoked to know he's walking with a legitimate Jedi when you head out for an evening jaunt with the Nite Ize Nite Dawg LED Light-Up Dog Leash. Less light saber and more light safety, this LED-lighted leash sheds a little extra light any evening walk. The Nite Dawg LED Light-Up Dog Leash lights up using an illuminated polymer LED core wrapped in durable nylonAAAno motorist will miss its bright red glow. The five-foot long leash is visible up to 1000 feet away, and the weather-resistant battery housing comes with a 150-hour, replaceable battery.

Product Features

• Material: Nylon with light-up polymer core
• Manufacturer Warranty:

Price: $15.75

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LED Lighted Nylon Safety Dog Leash by Nite Ize - Red

The Nite Ize LED Lighted Nylon Safety Dog Leash is great for walking dogs at night because the patented L.E.D. illumination is visible up to 1000 feet in the dark. Recommended uses include early morning and late evening walks, camping, and hiking. The L.E.D. illumination has two modes: steady glow and flashing (which is ideal for dogs in high traffic areas) and can last up to 100,000 hours. In addition to the LED illumination, the nylon dog leash comes with a strong rotating spring clip. Instructions are included that detail how to replace batteries.

Price: $20.00

Click here to buy from Amazon