New Recipes

I been busy lately doing some baking for the dogs.  I have several new terrific recipes to share with you all.  The favorite seems to be the peanut butter and pumpkin ones.  I made three batches of cut outs the other day and it made the house smell incredible.

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour2 eggs1/2 cup canned pumpkin2 tablespoons peanut butter1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).  Whisk together the flour, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl.  Add water as needed to help make the dough workable, but the dough should be dry and stiff (I added about 1.5 Tbs). Roll out the dough 1/8-inch thick and use your favorite dog themed cookie cutter to cut out. Bake in preheated oven until hard, about 40 minutes.

Yes Please, we would like treats!

Here are the boys patiently waiting for treats.  Note the giant bibs and giant drool…. My good friend Gill, from the UK, made them for me as a gift at Crufts.  I just adore her!  The boys look stunning in them!  Thank you Gill!

Newly added recipes to the K-9 Cookbook:

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New Lyme test available from Cornell

The earlier you diagnose Lyme disease, the better the chances of tackling it. Unfortunately, catching it early is easier said than done. Previously, tests either haven’t been sufficiently sensitive or accurate. Last week, Cornell University announced a breakthrough. Researchers at the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Animal Health Diagnostic Center (AHDC) have developed a breakthrough multiplex procedure. Bettina Wagner is the Harry M. Zweig Associate Professor in Equine Health, and is also the test’s lead developer. She tells us the new test can

detect three different antibodies produced in response to the bacteria associated with Lyme disease using a single test on the sample, [and thereby] eliminates the need for separate tests. In addition, it requires smaller samples and answers more questions about the disease. Multiplex technology has been used for the last decade, but the AHDC is the first veterinary diagnostic laboratory to use it to test for Lyme disease.[...]

The bacteria that cause Lyme disease are particularly difficult to detect, according to Wagner, because after infection they tend to hide where they can’t be found. They bury in the joints of dogs, causing arthritis or lameness. Serious kidney disease has also been associated with Lyme infections in dogs. In humans and horses, they also burrow into the nervous system, in the spine or the brain, causing pain, paralysis or behavioral changes. By the time such clinical signs appear, the bacteria are usually not in circulation anymore.

Thanks, CathyA

Bionic doggie: Almost precisely one year ago, I told you about a cat who had prosthetic (bionic, I said at the time) paws installed for him in England. Today, it’s time for the canine version. In this ABC News story, Dr. Becker comments on the new veterinary trend:

Veterinarian Marty Becker said prosthetics are becoming increasingly common on disabled pets.

One prosthetic can cost anywhere form $1,000 to $3,000.

“It’s really heartwarming,” said Becker. “Dogs just soldier on. They could be in incredible pain but still greet you with their tail wagging.

Between you and me, I personally wish he had quoted Oscar Goldman’s famous line from my favorite 1970's tv program. “Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology.”

Dogs iz smarter than you: It really doesn’t matter if you can’t distinguish between identical twins. Chances are good your dog can. ScienceNow has the details. (tip of the cap to Marge Wright)

Joplin Adopt-a-thon: In Joplin, Missouri this past weekend, nearly four hundred cats and dogs were placed by the Joplin Humane Society Animal Adoption Resource Center’s Adopt-A-Thon.

Though the event was set to begin at 10 a.m., people began arriving as early as 5 a.m. and long lines quickly formed.

Tim Rickey, senior director with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said they expected a good turnout, but the estimated 2,000 people interested in adoption “far exceeded expectations.”

Melissa Wallis and her daughter, Kaylee, traveled from Vinita, Okla., to adopt a small dog because “Daddy finally said ‘yes,’” she said.

“We heard about all the pets in need of a good home, and they’ve been through enough,” she said.

Thanks to the Joplin Globe for the details.

Labradoodle regret: Wally Conran is an elderly Australian gentleman who thinks he may have made a big mistake. What did he do? Mr. Conran is the man responsible for what we know today as the labradoodle. What does he regret? Read this piece from the NY Daily News and find out.

Heartworm medication update: In the wake of the Merial contretemps, there’s a growing question as to whether the problem Dr. Kari Blaho-Owens identified with respect to Heartgard Plus is or is not symptomatic of a broader issue. The Companion Animal Parasite Council released a statement saying it will be continuing to monitor research results, though it stops short of saying that medication currently on the market needs improvement.

Attacking FIP: Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is both incurable and fatal. Our own Ingrid King’s blog Conscious Cat reports on the Winn Feline Foundation‘s 33rd annual Feline Symposium, held last week in Reston, Virginia.

UCDavis Vet Med surveys: The University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is running a survey, and they would very much like to hear from Pet Connection readers. Want to help? Details below:

Behavioral Interactions Between Children and Cats A project to understand more about the interactions between cats and children from 3 to 12 years of age. If you have at least one cat of 1 year of age or older, and a child between the ages of 3 and 12, currently residing in the home with the cat, we would greatly appreciate your taking about 10-15 minutes to complete this anonymous survey. The results will help us to counsel people about cats and children.Dog Behavior: The Rest of the Story Most dog caregivers have heard about how to train a dog to sit, stay and come, and many have heard about preventing aggressive behavior, separation anxiety and house soiling. But there are several unanswered questions, such as why dogs eat strange things, why they howl at fire engines and if they “catch” human yawns. At the Companion Animal Behavior Program in the Veterinary School at the University of California at Davis, we are conducting a voluntary web-based survey of the primary caregivers of dogs to gather information about the rest of the story. If you are the primary caregiver of an adult dog, your cooperation in taking about 10 minutes to fill out this confidential survey will be appreciated by thousands of dog caregivers.Cat Behavior: The Rest of the Story Most cat caregivers are bombarded with talk about toys for entertainment, new types of appealing litter, ideas for upholstered climbing trees, and other products of commercial value, and which may give some insights into cat behavior. But there are several unanswered and unexplored questions, such as why and when cats purr, why they yawn and why some cats eat plants. At the Companion Animal Behavior Program in the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California at Davis, we are conducting a voluntary web-based survey of the primary caregivers of cats to gather information about the rest of the story. If you are the primary caregiver of an adult cat, your cooperation in taking about 10 minutes to fill out this confidential survey will be appreciated by thousands of cat caregivers when we disseminate the information gained from this survey.

The 2011 Banfield Report: Our own Dr. Nancy Kay’s blog Speaking for Spot has a summary of the 2011 survey from Banfield Pet Hospital, reporting on key trends in veterinary health today. The data comes from more than two million dogs and 450,000 cats seen during 2010. Dr. Kay notes highlights, covering dental disease, flea infestation, diabetes, heartworm and others. Please take the time to read the entire report here.

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail.

Image credit: Tick, treeandlawncare.com.

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Michael Vick Wins Subway Sportsman of the Year at BET Awards

(Photo via BET Awards)

Among the awards given at the BET Awards on Sunday night was one for Subway Sportsman of the Year. The five finalists were Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose, and Michael Vick.

And with nearly 8 million viewers watching, the award went to Vick.

The star quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles may be phenomenal on the field. but with his recent dogfighting past, it probably wasn’t the wisest PR move Subway could have made. Yes, the award likely focuses on the sports side of a player, and not the personal life. But those tortured and maimed dogs are still fresh in many minds, and those minds may not take kindly to the association of Subway and Vick.

There’s already fallout from the decision. A Facebook page is urging dog lovers to “Just Say No Way to Subway.” It’s linked to a Care2 petition site that’s collecting signatures and giving a phone number for customer service at Subway (800.888.4848). The petition site asks people to call the number or email Subway saying they’ll boycott the sandwich stores until Michael Vick gives back his award. So far the petition has about 2,500 names, and the Facebook page has nearly 7,000 Likes.

Dogsters, what do you think of the award going to Vick? Is it well deserved because of what a good player he is? Or should he not have even been considered for the award? Will this affect how you feel about Subway?

For those of you who don’t mind a bit of swearing, check out the snippet of this YouTube video that goes from :58 to 2:08. It’s from a man who watched the BET awards and couldn’t believe Vick won. He calls it “WTF!!! MICHAEL VICK WINS SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR!!!!” (There’s one F-bomb in this segment, but they rain down in the rest of the video, and the rest isn’t about Vick, so no need to watch it unless you’re curious and can handle a cuss storm.)

(Update 8:30 a.m. June 28: It turns out it’s apparently BET that decides who wins. Subway is the sponsor and has no role in decisionmaking, we’ve been told. One of our readers commented below that she spoke with a Subway customer service representative who said “they will most likely not sponsor this award again because there have been so many calls about people’s outrage about Michael Vick’s being associated with Subway.”)

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Summer and heat beating tips for your Green Dog!

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Guide Dog Forced to Ride in Trunk of Cab

(Photo: A pensive black lab, from FunStuffForDogs.com)

A blind woman who was late to an appointment says a cab driver made her put her black Lab guide dog in the trunk of his taxi if she wanted to get a ride.

Judie Brown, of Denver, said the cab driver told her “No dog in my cab.” He said he is allergic, and that the dog would have to ride “in the back.”

That was fine, until she realized he meant the trunk. She felt horrible assenting to it, and a month later, seems to feel even worse about it. “If something happened to him, I would just die,” she told KMGH.

Brown says she has been afraid to travel with Alberto since. “I’ve lost my independence. And I do not like it. It makes me angry. And I want it back,” she told KMGH.

The driver has been suspended and fined by the state, the cab company told the TV station.

Sadly, it’s not an isolated incident.Remember the video we showed last year of cabs not stopping for blind people with guide dogs, but picking up fares several feet after them?

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Is access to your vet’s backroom a reasonable expectation?

Care to tag along next time your pet is whisked to “the back” of the vet clinic for an injection, a diagnostic test, or a nail trim?

Perhaps you are curious about what actually goes on back there. Maybe you believe that your best buddy will feel more secure if you are present. Whatever the reason, know that if you desire to go where your pet goes and see what your pet sees, this is a perfectly reasonable expectation in most circumstances.

Admittedly, some vets simply don’t like having clients tag along. If your doc falls into this camp, some patient persuading on your part may help. Provide reassurances that you will be on your best behavior, and remind him or her that large animal vets do practically all of their work in front of their clients.

I happen to love when my clients wish to accompany their pet and me beyond the exam room. In fact, I find myself inviting them to follow more often than they think to ask. I prefer they get a first hand look at what I am doing and seeing, rather than simply listening to my after-the-fact verbal description.

Admittedly, I’m proud of my facility and feel great when clients see our bustling staff, content patients in clean comfy cages, and state of the art diagnostic and patient monitoring equipment. Complaining about what vets charge is all the rage these days. When clients see all that we’ve got going on in the back of the hospital, our fees make a lot more sense!

Before my clients set foot beyond the exam room, I gently coach them on the art of being unobtrusive, including avoiding instructing nurses on how to restrain their pet and asking a bazillion questions while I am performing a procedure. I always reserve the right to send clients back to the exam room if I perceive that their anxiety level is becoming contagious, and I describe in advance what they will be seeing. This deters some, which is a good thing. There’s nothing like a fainting or vomiting client to get the day off to an exciting start!

Your request to enter the bowels of the hospital might be denied if:

-Your pet is better behaved without you there (all vets have experienced aggressive patients in the exam room who become gentle as lambs when separated from their humans).

-There is something going on that is private (for example, a grieving client) or too graphic for you to see (trust your vet on this one).

-Your dog or cat will be in an area of the hospital that is off limits to you. For example, in my hospital, in order to avoid radiation exposure, no one other than the patient is allowed in the room where X-rays are taken. Gentle sand bags are used for restraint along with mild sedation if needed.

- The staff is aware that you have a lot to say and no one will be able to get anything done because they will be too busy responding to your questions.

Have you ever accompanied your dog or cat to the back of the hospital? Was it a good experience for you? How about for your pet?

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Two ways to not kill pets in Michigan

I haven’t been in Michigan four weeks yet, and already there’s a huge PR mess at the Michigan Humane Society, with two board members resigning in protest over the high kill rate at the organization’s three shelters, and its leadership’s unwillingness to do anything about it.

Society vice-president Mike Robbins whined that it’s not the shelter’s fault; he claims that 60 percent of the dogs and cats that come their doors are “unadoptable.” He also said, “A lot of what we do is not popular…. A lot of things you do because they have to be done.”

Gee, you’d think these folks would get a new line.  That one’s getting really old.

Apparently the fact that all over the entire nation — coast to coast; north, east, south, and west; rich or poor; urban or rural — other communities find that only 10 percent or less of the pets they take in are not able to be saved has no bearing at all on Michigan, because as states go, Michigan is the speshulest speshul snowflake of all.

One of the reasons people like Robbins often claim they cannot save nearly all their community’s dogs is that way too many of them are, or seem to be, or could be if you squinted your eyes just right, pit bulls. And as everyone knows, pit bulls are vicious evil monsters who would  just as soon tear out your throat as eat a nice raw steak liberally sprinkled with gunpowder.

At least, that’s what Michigan state representative Tim Bledsoe (D-Grosse Pointe) seems to believe, based on the idiotic law he proposed last week, Michigan House Bill No. 4714. (It was, thank dog, killed in committee today.)

Of course, what every region that has a lot of pit bulls dying in their so-called “shelters” needs, including Metro Detroit, is not a pit bull ban, but a full-on pit bull image rehab and adoption effort.

These dogs need the myths about them busted. They need people to realize that every pit bull is an individual dog and deserves to be individually assessed.

Pit bulls, and dogs who resemble them, can very often be adopted out as safely as any other dog. This becomes possible on a large scale when the ground in the community has been softened with PR, outreach and marketing efforts.

Like dogs of all breeds, some pit bulls and pit bull-esque dogs need some rehab before they go to their new homes. And others may need only very specialized placement or sanctuary or, in a few cases, to be killed to relieve their suffering or protect humans and other animals.

But the bottom line is they need individual evaluation, not to be judged en masse as if they had some sort of horrific Borg-like hive mind and then summarily executed to protect the public from their evilness.

And how the hell do you put programs like that in place if it’s against the law to own a pit bull? A law like this would have meant that not only would all the pit bulls currently in Michigan’s shelters be killed instead of adopted, but so would all the pit bulls currently snoozing at their owners’ feet, as well as all of them wandering the streets of Detroit starving to death, their only hope the determined efforts of rescue groups hoping to save them.

So here I am, my two biggest issues in big-screen play within a month of my arrival in the state. Why do these things happen to me????

Photo: Buckley, a vicious monster who must be banned to protect the phosphorescent stuffed toy snakes of Michigan. Courtesy of MJ Murphy.

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