Popular Dog Myths – Fact or Fiction?

-Dogs have night vision

Actually, dogs do not have “night vision,” but they do see better than humans in the dark. The main reason dogs see better than humans in the dark is that their eyes come equipped with a Tapetum. A Tapetum is a mirror-like structure in the back of the canine eye that reflects light back to the retina allowing the dog to have a second view of an object in dimmer situations. A Tapetum also causes the dog’s eyes to seem like they are glowing. Even though dogs can see much better than humans in darker conditions, they do not truly have night vision.

-Dogs should have a litter prior to being spayed and neutered

Research has shown time and time again that a dog having a litter does not help her in any way. In fact, unaltered dogs are actually more susceptible to cancer and urinary tract infections and unaltered dogs are known to have shorter life spans than altered dogs.  Find a spay and neuter clinic or low cost spay and neuter services near you.

-Only male dogs “hump” because they are trying to mate

This is actually very wrong. While male dogs do mount females for procreation, they can also demonstrate this behavior to show dominance. Female dogs may demonstrate this behavior when trying to show dominance as well. The dog being mounted will then learn to be submissive to the mounting dog (Alpha Dog.)

-Purebred dogs are healthier than mutts

This myth has many people talking for years. There is no scientific evidence proving that purebred dogs are healthier than mutts, in fact, it may be the opposite. Purebred dogs have been in-bred for many years, thereby creating, as well as passing along, detrimental traits. Simply put, the dog is passing on its bad traits with the breeder’s sought after “breed standard” traits. This is not to say that a mutt will not have these detrimental traits as well, but it less likely because the dog was probably from unrelated parents.

-A dog’s nose can tell if he is sick

For many years, “old wives” tales have said that a dog’s nose can tell if he is sick. There is actually no research to back this myth up. In fact, a dog’s nose may be wet, cool, dry, or warm at any given time. This does not apply to sunburned noses or raw noses. If you’re worried about him, take your dog to the veterinarian.

-You can’t teach an old dog new tricks

Any dog has the ability to learn, young and old. Remember, an older dog will already have a few set ways that he may be used to, but with a little work and training, he can learn as much as any other dog. Remember, when considering adopting a new dog, that many older dogs come housetrained.

-Dogs have cleaner mouths than humans

Serious bugs can exist in both human and dog mouths as part of the normal flora in a mammal body. Consider the last time you brushed Fido’s teeth. Has he been outside eating feces, bugs, dead birds, and who knows what? Even though Fido’s mouth has different bacteria than humans, his mouth is not necessarily cleaner.

-Some breeds, like Pit Bulls, have the ability to “lock their jaws”

There have been studies on canine jaw function and hinging, and although the dog may have a strong grip, he does not have a “lockable jaw.”

-Dogs can’t learn their names, they just come when they need something

This is false as well. In fact, trainers recommend that one of the first steps toward a well behaved dog is to teach him his name. A dog’s name is a good platform to build new tricks and further train your dog.

-An aggressive dog is a good watch dog

This may seem true if your dog barks at everything and tries to attack people or other animals, but in reality, aggressive dogs do not know if the person nearing them is a friend or an enemy. This can confuse the dog and he may end up biting the wrong person. Many people mistake aggressiveness for protection, and end up getting hurt by the family pet.  If your pet is showing signs of aggression, please take steps to train your dog and to socialize your dog.

-Dogs do not have feelings

Completely and utterly false. Dogs have the ability to move face muscles to show expression. Think about when your dog is upset (mad.) He will adjust his ears, squint his eyes, and even show his teeth to let other know he is upset. This is a good way of telling that a dog is upset. Some dogs have even been known to pout and not make eye contact when they have their feelings hurt.

University of Wisconsin - Madison (2007, November 9).
“How Well Do Dogs See At Night?” ScienceDaily.com
PetPlace.com

OTC Drugs & Your Pet

Many pet owners believe that there's no harm in using human, over-the-counter, medications when their pet seems to be under the weather. It seems a fairly rational thought that if your pet is limping, you can just give it an Ibuprofen. Right? Wrong. We need to be very careful what medication is used for our pets. You may actually be doing more harm than good.

For instance, Tylenol or acetaminophen can never be given to cats. Cats cannot metabolize acetaminophen and this can lead to liver failure. Therefore even small amounts can prove lethal to cats. Aspirin use is also not recommended in cats because they cannot metabolize aspirin and this can lead to overdosing.

Antihistamines like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and ChlorTrimeton (Chlorpheniramine) can be used to treat allergic reactions for pets, or in some cases for sedation purposes. It is okay to use these medications by themselves but you always want to consult your veterinarian before giving them to your pet to ensure you are giving the correct dosage. You also do not want to give them long term. If you are finding yourself constantly giving your pet Benadryl there may be something going on that needs further care, and/or prescription medication. Also, I cannot stress enough that pet owners must be CAUTIOUS about combination products which often contain Tylenol or aspirin components. Alot of over the counter cold and allergy medications containing diphenhydramine and chlorpheniramine also contain Tylenol or aspirin. You also do NOT want to give your pet anything additional (even Benadryl) if your pet is on prescription medications or has any ongoing medical conditions. Always, always, check with your pet's doctor before doing this to verify it is safe to give.

Dog owners need to be cautious about using over the counter medications as well - such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin) and naprosyn (Aleve) to treat pain. Dogs are more sensitive to gastrointestinal side effects with these medications. NSAID's like Advil or Motrin can cause kidney failure in dogs. It is very important that owners only use veterinarian-approved medications, prescribed for the specific pet it is given to, for pain relief.

ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR VETERINARIAN BEFORE GIVING YOUR PET ANY OTC HUMAN MEDICATION, PRESCRIPTION OR NON-PRESCRIPTION.Alot of items inside your home can pose potential risks for your pet. Soap, sun block, and toothpaste for example can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea. Mothballs if ingested can cause liver, kidney and respiratory damage. If your pet ingests anything in your home, ESPECIALLY HUMAN MEDICATION, please make sure to call poison control and/or your veterinarian immediately.

You can contact the Animal Poison Control Hotline at 888-426-4435 to report any accidental overdose or possible poisoning.

Stay tuned for a post by us about household hazards and what to keep your pet away from!

Planning for Your Pets in your Will.

Who will care for your furry babies?

It’s a sobering thought, but do you know who will take care of your pets if you should die? Many people assume that family members will keep their pets, but shelter volunteers see numerous pets surrendered because of the owner’s death. If plans aren’t carefully made, your pets may not be where you’d hoped. Whether your death turns out to be unexpected or not, planning for your pets' care can give you peace of mind.

No matter what we think of our pets, legally they are property, and unless specific arrangements are made, they will be treated like property after your death. 
Several sources can assist you in ensuring the results you want. Sadly, it’s not as simple as stating in a will "I want my dogs to be taken care of," or "the cats should go to my niece, Katie." What if Katie doesn’t want them, or is undergoing unseen financial misfortune when the time for transfer arrives? 

Several states have pet trust laws in place, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin, and Utah. The laws are not the same in each state. In states without such laws, a trust becomes an honorary system. Without a pet trust, your only option is to designate a caretaker.

A book by Lisa Rogak, titled PerPETual Care: Who Will Look After Your Pets If You’re Not Around?, (published by Litterature) outlines some steps you can take, and mentions why certain approaches may not work but others will. Rogak states, "The law will regard the clause in your will where you bequeath money or property to your pets after death as the equivalent of leaving your car to your washing machine."  She discusses how to avoid challenges from relatives who don’t love pets, and explains how to make a workable, legal plan for your pets in the event of your death or disability. It’s not as straightforward as it sounds.

A new company called PetGuardian estimates that 500,000 pets are euthanized at shelters and veterinary offices each year because their owners have died. PetGuardian offers pet trust plans. In conjunction with the Best Friends Animal Society, which operates the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, it has created the Best Friends Backup Service in which Best Friends will find a "backup caregiver" to ensure that pets are placed in good homes if the designated caregivers are unable to accept the pet. PetGuardian Pet Trust Plans have been created with the help of legal experts, estate planners, and animal care professionals. Veterinary Partner doesn't endorse PetGuardian, but we feel that you should be aware of its services.

Another option to using a service like PetGuardian is to talk to your attorney. While having an attorney create a trust is more expensive than a service like PetGuardian, the attorney will set up a  trust to take care of all your assets, not just pets. These trusts are aimed at reducing probate tax (the so-called "death tax"), but language regarding your pet would simply be included. There would be no additional fee for including pets as you pay for the service as a whole. It's really an issue of telling your attorney what your exact wishes are regarding your pets; this is especially true in states that have pet trust laws in place.

Not all veterinary colleges provide legacy/bequest services, but many do. In a legacy service, your pet will be adopted by a veterinary student, who will care for it for the rest of its life. Ask your veterinarian for names and addresses of veterinary colleges, and check into this fantastic program.

Gina Spadafori, whose Pet Connection column appears in Veterinary Partner, is well aware of these issues. She explains how she has prepared for her pets. Two of the dogs will be returned to breeders, the pocket pets will go back to the rescue groups they came from, the parrot will go to his avian veterinarian (a good friend of Gina’s), and her remaining dogs go to friends who have agreed to keep them. "With each pet will go a sum of money," says Gina.

Being prepared for the worst, or at least the inevitable, can ease some of the concern at that time when everyone is upset and no one is sure what to do. Outlining exactly what you want to happen makes a big difference. 

Source: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&C=26&A=1674&S=0

Bufo Toad Poisoning

Bufo Toad Poisoning

A common threat to south Florida dogs is poisoning from Bufo marinus,
the giant or cane toad.  This species of toad produces a pasty yellow-
white toxin in the parotid glands, which extend from the head backward
over the shoulder region and is released through pinhole openings in the
skin.  When a dog mouths or bites a Bufo toad the toxin is released and
rapidly absorbed across the mucus membranes of the mouth.
Symptoms of Bufo poisoning occur suddenly and may include profuse
salivation, vocalizing and pawing at the mouth, brick-red gums,
incoordination or a stiff gait, difficulty breathing and the intoxication can
rapidly progress to seizures and death.

The severity of the poisoning depends on the size of the dog and the
amount of toxin absorbed into the blood stream. Puppies and small
breed dogs such as Dachshunds, Mini-Pins, Jack Russell Terriers and
miniature Schnauzers are more seriously affected because they get "more
poison per pound" than a large breed dog.

Bufo toads are most active in the spring and summer months when it is
warm and moist outside.  They are also nocturnal, therefore most
poisonings occur in the evening, late-night or early-morning hours.  
Poisonings can happen very quickly and even dogs being leash-walked
have been known to grab a toad and be poisoned.


WHAT TO DO IF YOUR DOG IS POISONED BY A BUFO TOAD.

Step 1) DO NOT PANIC!!! You need to be able to think clearly and act
quickly to help save your pet.  Panicking will only keep you from acting
properly!


Step 2) IMMEDIATELY rinse the dog’s mouth out with a large amount
of water using either a hose, kitchen sink sprayer, shower sprayer or
water bottle.  Rinse the mouth from side to side. DO NOT DROWN
THE ANIMAL BY FORCING WATER DOWN ITS THROAT.  The
toxin is very sticky and may need to be gently rubbed off of the mucus
membranes of the mouth.  Be very careful so as not to get bit by your
pet.  Even the gentlest animal may bite if it is scared, in pain or having a
seizure.


Step 3) Calmly transport the dog to your veterinarian for further care.  
PLAN AHEAD!  Save time in an emergency by preparing now.  Keep the
phone number of your veterinarian by the telephone.  Since most
poisonings occur at night CALL FIRST to make sure that the hospital is
open, don’t waste time driving to a closed facility.  Keep the phone
number and address of a nearby emergency clinic near the phone too, in
case your regular veterinarian is not available.

There is no specific antidote for Bufo-toxin and treatment consists mainly
of supportive care.  The toxin can affect the heart causing it to beat in an
irregular pattern and hyperthermia (body temperature greater than 105
degrees) may develop from seizuring.  Intravenous fluids, cool-water
baths and anti-arrhythmic drugs are all used in the treatment of Bufo
intoxication.

So what can you do to prevent your pet from being poisoned?  First of
all, learn to recognize what a Bufo toad looks like.  Adults can be as large
as 6 to 9 inches in length and have brown, or gray-brown warty skin.  
Younger toads are much smaller but just as dangerous.  Bufo toads are
ground dwelling animals.  Do not confuse them with tree frogs, which
have suction-cup feet and may be found crawling up the side of your
house.

Bufo toads live near water such as ponds, canals and swimming pools.  
Search your yard in the late evening for them.  If you have just moved to
a new neighborhood, ask a neighbor if the toads inhabit the area.

In addition to eating insects, small animals, snakes and vegetation, Bufo
toads are especially fond of pet food.  You can avoid attracting toads to
your yard by not leaving bowls of dog or cat food down on the ground.
If you live in an area inhabited by Bufo toads, you need to be especially
careful.  Direct supervision while your pet is outside is crucial and may
prevent a tragedy.  If you have a fenced-in yard you can make it harder
for the toads to get through the links by putting chicken-wire fencing
along the bottom edge.

Learning to recognize and minimizing the risk of Bufo toads living in
and around your yard are the best ways to prevent your dog from being
poisoned.  But knowing what to do in case of an emergency is the most
important factor in helping your pet to survive.  Rinsing the mouth out
with large amounts of water is the single most important step you can
take.  It will remove excess poison and may actually prevent a minor
intoxication from progressing into a life-threatening one.  Next, call
ahead to your veterinarian’s office to confirm that a doctor is present, and
then calmly and safely transport your pet to the facility.

Why Pet Dental Health Is So Important!

Why Pet Dental Health Is So Important

Imagine rolling over in the morning and having your puppy or kitten waiting to start the day with you.  Perhaps they are cleaning your face excitedly just because they can’t stand another minute without you. Imagine the warm puppy breath or the raspy lick and how it makes you smile.

Now imagine a few years down the road your loving pet is still just as excited to start the day with you but suddenly your turning away and making sounds of disgust because you can’t stand the smell of their breath.  Your pet is confused, they don’t know what they did wrong and what was a wonderful morning experience is now confusing and sad for them.

Pet dental health is extremely important for overall health and maintaining close relationships.  Many people simply don’t realize this importance and don’t develop a plan to care for thier pet’s teeth. Even a milligram of plaque has over 10 billion bacteria in it and as these bacteria sit on teeth they produce tartar and work their way under the gums.  This is how gingivitis occurs.  The gums become angry and bring blood to the surface in an attempt to remove the calculus.  The bacteria then take a ride into the blood stream where their is lots of food for them to gorge on and multiply.

The following systems are affected when pet dental health is poor and are targeted for damage when bacteria enter the blood stream.

• Mouth – Oral disease causes abscesses, the gums to lift off the teeth, teeth to loosen and perhaps even fall out and of course that horrible bad breath that causes you to turn your head away.
  
• Heart – Bacteria travel along and attach to the valves inside of the heart that are responsible for keeping blood flowing in the right direction. The bacteria then cause a similar reaction that happens to the gums and the valves become malformed.  This is called bacterial endocarditis.  The bacteria also build up in plaques on the valves and then peel away in large chunks to wander around and get stuck in other places.

• Lungs – As all of your blood gets pumped through your lungs; and the bacteria can ride in and sets up shop in the smallest of blood vessels called capillaries.  Leading to bacterial pneumonia and inflammation that can cause chronic oppressive pulmonary disease.

• Kidneys – These organs have very small capillaries that run along tubules that are responsible for getting rid of the wastes and keeping what the body needs.  When bacteria flood the kidneys they are no longer able to differentiate as well and tend to just get rid of everything.  Early stages of this sort of kidney disease can sometimes be detected by looking for micro-proteins in the urine and if they are present then frequently a dental cleaning can get rid of the source of infection and allow the kidneys to clear it.  There are even rare cases of abscesses in the kidneys originating from bacteria that entered via the gums.

• Liver – As the liver is responsible for filtering toxins from the blood stream it is particularly stressed by the byproducts of bacteria living within.  The most common finding when the liver is infected is a general blah feeling and vomiting or micro abscesses in the liver itself.

With this in mind please take some time to consider your pet’s dental health and what you will do to help keep them healthy.  What is needed to best care for your pets teeth is dependant on what type of animal they are.  Cats, dogs, and ferrets all benefit from daily tooth brushing while rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, and rats need a proper diet that grinds down teeth which are constantly growing. Plan how you will handle pet dental health in your household and don’t let this important factor slip through the cracks. They will live better for it.

DPC offers dental care services 7-days a week. We perform dental cleanings with anesthesia and scale/polish your pet's teeth safely and painlessly. At that time we can also perform whatever extractions are needed to ensure that your pet's oral health is in it's best possible state. Routine home care will dramatically decrease the need for future dental work; and non-anesthetic dentals will become an option for you in the future.

Non-anesthetic dentals are performed in our office several times per year. An outside source, mobile care team Pet Friendly Dental, come in and perform a beautiful scaling & polishing procedure without the need for a sedative. If your pet's teeth have been cared for and you simply want a maintenance cleaning performed - this is certainly an option for you! Here's some introductory information from their website:

Our highly skilled technicians thoroughly clean all the surfaces of your pet's teeth. This includes the lingual, palatal, and sublingual surfaces. We use a variety of different tools to help us accomplish our procedure. This includes but is not limited to curettes, scalars, probes, explorers, and machine polishers.

We use very similar techniques used in pediatric dentistry to help calm the pet while we ensure every surface is cleaned and polished to perfection. They use a series of proprietary holds to maintain your pets calm relaxed manor during the procedure. Clients are usually amazed at how well pets tolerate the cleanings.

With the smaller breeds or cats, they use a soft blanket to wrap the pet securely, (many people compare it to a papoose or swaddle for an infant calming technique). The larger dogs lay on an orthopedic mat comfortably with their head propped up in the technicians lap. Our first priority during the procedure is your pets comfort. - Pet Friendly Dental Care (http://www.pfdcare.com/)

Pet Friendly Non-Anesthetic Dentals will be performed at DPC on September 9th and 19th. Call the office to hear about a 20% off special! 954-989-9879

Pet Insurance - Worth it?

Veterinary Pet Insurance - Is It Really Worth It?

By Jessica Rodriguez; DPC Veterinary Hospital

With the state of our current economy, having so many people unemployed and uninsured, it seems unrealistic to expect anyone to think of something like veterinary pet insurance. However, when you think of the millions of dollars that loving pet owners spend annually on veterinary care for their furry babies, it begins to make more sense that we would try to advocate something that would save you money. Isn't that, after all, what everyone is looking for nowadays? We all want to do whatever we can to save money and cut cost without affecting the quality of the goods and services we receive.

I cannot begin to tell you how many hours I must have logged during my ten year career in the veterinary field discussing pet insurance and answering the age old question of - Is pet insurance really worth it? Well, today I am going to tackle this issue for you lucky readers.

First off, I'm going to begin by explaining the in's and out's of pet insurance and how it differs from that good ole' medical coverage you have for yourself...

Pet insurance is similar to human coverage in that you have varying options for insurance plans, deductibles and claims that have to be made. You may see that a local Pet Supermarket has in-house coverage that sounds terrific but the catch there is you can only use that coverage if you use their facility. Which means you may be paying them a monthly fee that could prove useless if you have an issue at a time that they are unavailable or that they are not equipped to handle. That isn't ideal because let's face it, where pet insurance really proves worthwhile is not for the routine stuff but that late afternoon sometime  when your dog decides to chow down on a dark chocolate frosted cake you innocently left sitting on the kitchen table before dinner. Or how about that long string your kitten ingested that now needs to be surgically removed?

This all brings me to my next point. Pet insurance plans vary in coverage - some going as far as to kick back a portion of that pesky fee you pay annually for the routine stuff - but the nitty gritty is that you want to get back a really nice chunk of change if ever you have an emergency and end up depleting your bank account unexpectedly. I think we can all agree that it's nice to get back some money everytime you shell out for a vet visit; but where is the benefit in a policy that covers only a portion of annual vaccines and then ends up paying you back an amount that is equal to or less than the total amount of the payments you have made for the past year? You have basically paid the company to hold your money for you and then you still have to pay the veterinarian up front and wait for reimbursement. Not ideal, right?

Clients are frequently asking me about pet insurance with the obvious assumption that it works like human coverage - you pay a co-pay at the time of your visit and then the insurance takes care of the rest. This is false. Unfortunately pet insurance is not as established or as sophisticated as the network for human coverage, and payments are generally made to the policy holder rather than the facility. Payments also take a varying length of time to reach the policy holder, as each company has a different protocol for reviewing their claims. From the veterinary facility's point of view, you have to remember that we are independently owned and operated. We do not receive any special funding and in this economy lots of facilities are ending up having to close their doors or jack up their prices to make ends meet. If we were to wait for reimbursement on each case where the client had pet insurance we would be in a tough spot financially.

Now back to the topic at hand.. When considering whether or not to bother acquiring health insurance it may be a good idea to step back and consider a policy that will cover the unexpected, emergency situations. The amount that the insurance will cost you each month will be much less than it would cost to have a broader coverage that includes routine visits. This will make it a little easier on your pocketbook on a monthly basis and will help you if ever you have an emergency situation, your pet falls ill or you need to have a surgery performed.

I will inform you that most insurance companies that we have had contact with have actually covered a surprisingly large amount of the cost for emergency care, illness visits, and surgeries. Usually the amount the client receives back from the insurance company exceeds the amount that the policy holder has paid over the previous year. I know full well that most clients would rather forego insurance altogether, writing it off as an unnecessary expense, than step back and consider a plan that covers the “just in case”. You may not need it, so why bother? Because once you need it, and have it, you’re going to be thanking the heavens you decided to listen to that crazy blonde with the blog! J

So it all comes down to dollars, right? Okay – RESEARCH IT! Always remember that the company will normally give you a quote, free of charge, for several different plans either via the internet or phone. It doesn't hurt to call up and ask them what plans they offer, what they include, and how much they would cost monthly/annually! Tip: Make sure that you ask about any age/breed restrictions.  For example, if you have a Bulldog you may have a hard time finding adequate coverage for things like hereditary/breed-specific/genetic problems. I.E: Bulldogs are prone to a range of dermatological issues and hip dysplasia and many companies will include a clause barring you from collecting on any claim that includes treatment for such things. This is certainly a factor on whether or not it will be worthwhile to cover certain breeds or pets who are seniors. Some companies have an age ceiling that will restrict you from covering a pet who is considered too old.

Finally, as my last insight, I'd like to remind everyone that you will not be able to cover a pet for an illness after it has been diagnosed. First of all, if your pet is brought in unexpectedly for an illness and you are given an estimate for treatment that exceeds your means, you will not be able to run home and get coverage to use right away and receive reimbursement. As with humans there is a waiting period after enrollment that you must observe before you can begin making claims. Secondly, if your pet is diagnosed with a defect or illness as a puppy and you try to insure him as an adult, they will require that you provide medical records and any ailments that are documented prior to coverage will not be eligible for insurance. This is why it is so important to insure your pets as young as possible! We provide all puppy and kitten owners with brochures for pet insurance at the time of their first vaccination visits, encouraging them to consider enrolling immediately. That way all future issues will be properly considered for coverage!

DPC also has 30-day trials available of pet insurance for pets under 1 year of age, courtesy of Trupanion Insurance Co, that waives the enrollment waiting period and is eligible for use immediately. You will not have any waiting period if you enroll immediately after the 30 day trial expires. Trupanion only covers illness, surgery and emergency visits - not routine care.

Curious about some pet insurance companies to check out?

www.petinsurance.com

www.trupanion.com

www.aspcapetinsurance.com

Good luck!

Man's best friend.

Jon Tumilson, a Navy SEAL, was one of 30 Americans killed in Afghanistan on Aug. 6 when a rocket-propelled grenade took out a U.S. Chinook helicopter. He was mourned at a service in Rockford, Iowa, attended by 1,500 family members,  friends--and Hawkeye, Tumilson's dog.

The Labrador retriever was such an important part of Tumilson's life that the friends and family of the San Diego resident called the dog his "son."

When Tumilson's friend Scott Nichols walked to the front of the room to speak, Hawkeye followed, Today.com reports. "As Nichols prepared to memorialize his friend, Hawkeye dutifully laid down near the casket," Scott Stump writes.
A video clip of the mourning dog can be seen here. KIMT-TV of Mason City, Iowa, covered the funeral.

The photo on the right was taken by Tumilson's cousin, Lisa Pembleton, and posted on Facebook. Pembleton wrote on her Facebook page, "To say that he was an amazing man doesn't do him justice. The loss of Jon to his family, military family, and friends is immeasurable."

Source:
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/man-best-friend-mourns-death-175219915.html

Posted by Jessica R.

Fun Dog Facts!



• Puppies sleep ninety percent of the day for their first few weeks.
• Did you know the average dog has 42 permanent teeth in their mouth?
• It is a myth that dogs are color blind. Dog facts: dogs can actually see in color but not as vividly as humans. It is similar to our vision at dusk. They do have better low-light vision than humans because of a special light-reflecting layer behind their retinas.
• A German Shepherd guide dog led her blind companion the entire 2100 mile Applachian Trail.
• Dogs’ only sweat glands are between their paw pads.
• Like human babies, Chihuahuas are born with a soft spot in their skull which closes up with age.
• President Lyndon Johnson had two Beagles named Him and Her.
• The U.S. has the highest dog population in the world.
• 87% of dog owners say their dog curls up beside them or at their feet while they watch TV.
• The top grossing film of all time is "Marley and Me" (2008) $142,992,475 featuring a dog.
• Dogs can be trained to detect epileptic seizures.
• 15 people die in the U.S. every year from dog bites.
• Newfoundlands are excellent swimmers due to their webbed feet; Basset Hounds cannot swim at all.
• Greyhounds are the fastest dogs on earth, with speeds of up to 45 miles per hour.
• The Bible mentions dogs 14 times.
• Dalmation puppies are born completely white.
• In Roman times, Mastiffs donned light armor and were sent after mounted knights.
• An estimated 1,000,000 dogs in the U.S. have been named as the primary beneficiaries in their owner’s will.
• An American Animal Hospital Association poll found that 33% of dog owners admit to talking to their dogs on the phone and leaving answering machine messages for them while they are away.
• A dog’s nose print is as unique as a human’s finger print and can be used to accurately identify them.
• 58% include their pets in family and holiday portraits.
• Humans have kept dogs as pets for over 12,000 years.
• The largest breed of dog is the Irish Wolfhound.
• The smallest breed of dog is the Chihuahua.
• After birth, puppies’ eyes do not fully open until they’re about 12 days old and their vision is not fully developed until after the first month.
• Dogs do not have an appendix.
• There are over 700 breeds of purebred dogs.
• The smartest breeds of dogs are believed to be the Golden Retriever, Border Collie, and Poodle.
• A dog’s smell is more than 100,000 times stronger than that of a humans.
• Dogs judge objects first by their movement, then by their brightness, and lastly by their shape.
• Chocolate can kill dogs or at the very least make them violently ill.
• A one year old dog is as mature, physically, as a 15 year old human.
• George Washington had thirty six dogs – all foxhounds.
• All dogs are identical in anatomy – 321 bones and 42 permanent teeth.
• Dogs have twice as many muscles to move their ears as people.
• Dogs are all direct descendants of wolves.
• Three dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic – a Newfoundland, a Pomeranian, and a Pekingese.
• Humans can detect sounds at 20,000 times per second, while dogs can sense frequencies of 30,000 times per second.
• Bloodhounds are prized for their ability to single out and identify a number of scents simultaneously.
• A dog's average lifespan is 15 years.
• More than 5,000,000 puppies are born in the U.S. every year.
• More than one in three American families own a dog.
• Average body temperature for a dog is 101.2 degrees.
• Dogs are natural pack animals and they are naturally submissive to any dog with higher pack status – human or canine.
• According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the smallest dog on record was a Yorkshire Terrier in Great Britain who, at the age of 2, weighed just 4 ounces.
• The longest lived dog, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, was an Australian Cattle Dog, named Bluey, who lived to be 29.
• Dogs don’t like rain because the sound is amplified and hurts their very sensitive ears.
• The ten most popular dogs (AKC, 2007) are in order: Labrador Retriever, Yorkshire Terrier, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Beagle, Boxer, Dachshund, Poodle, Shih Tzu, and Bulldog.
• Spaying/neutering your dog before the age of 6 months can help prevent cancer in your dog.
• Puppies acquire a full mouth of permanent teeth between four and seven months old.
• Small dogs live the longest. Toy breeds live up to 16 years or more. Larger dogs average is 7 - 12 years. Veterinary medicine have extended this estimate by about three years. However, some breeds, such as Tibetan terrier live as long as twenty years.
• Most pet owners (94 percent) say their pet makes them smile more than once a day.
• It has been established that people who own pets live longer, have less stress, and have fewer heart attacks.
• A dog’s whiskers are touch-sensitive hairs called vibrissae. They are found on the muzzle, above the eyes and below the jaws, and can actually sense tiny changes in airflow.

Posted by Jessica R.

TNR

WHAT IS TNR?

TNR stands for Trap-Neuter-Return; also known as TTVAR (Trap-Test-Vaccinate-Alter-Release). It is a method of humanely trapping unaltered feral cats, spaying or neutering them, and releasing them back to the same location where they were collected.

TNR is promoted by the ASPCA as humane and as a more affective alternative for euthanasia in terms of managing and reducing feral cat populations. This procedure has been proven to work by stopping the birth of new cats in the colony and letting the colony members live out their lifespan, approximately six years for outdoor cats, with their own group. Generally a colony will have no more than twelve adult cats at any one time. If there are more than that number the colony will discourage newcomes and some of the current members may look for other food sources - neighboring houses, etc that have food to offer. Feral cats have many advantages as pest control for people that own acreage and/or have a farm environment. Feral cats are generally excellent hunters yet a large part of the feral cats diet is usually insects.

TNR programs are now being introduced in some urban and suburban areas. Although not all animal hospitals are comfortable or equipt to handle feral cats, it is becoming increasingly simpler to find ones that are. DPC is proud to be one of the few animal clinics in Broward County that not only will handle feral cats but offers discounted prices for the services as a courtesy to TNR volunteers. To learn more about the protocol for bringing in ferals, or the pricing for the services just call our office at 954-989-9879.

The services offered for ferals can range from the minimum - a Rabies vaccination and a spay/neuter; to the combination test for Feline AIDS/Leukemia and full vaccines. Wound care is also available if desired. An ear notch is always offered at no charge. The benefit to an ear notch is that it lets other trappers know that this cat has already been altered; and it prevents you from re-trapping the same cat again for future TNR.

　

WHAT IS A FERAL CAT?

A feral cat is a descendant of a domesticated cat that has returned to the wild. It is distinguished from a stray cat, which is a pet cat that has been lost or abandoned, while feral cats are born in the wild. The offspring of a stray cat can be considered feral if born in the wild.

A truly fairly cat will need to be trapped. He or she may display aggressive behaviors varying from hissing and growling to biting and scratching. Hissing and growling are self-defense behaviors, which, over time may change as the animal begins to trust humans that provide food, water, and care. A feral cat that has been fed over a period of time may begin to show less aggressive behavior to it's feeder but will still show this aggression toward newcomers, and will not be domesticable. The cat will not be easily sociable meaning that bringing a feral indoors is not advisable, especially when other cats are already in the household.

ARE YOU THINKING OF BRINGING A FERAL INTO YOUR HOME?

Always remember that a feral cat may harbor a variety of illness and disease which may be communicable to other cats that share it's environment or space.This also applies to strays which means if at any point you want to bring a found cat indoors you will need to have it examined and tested in order to know that it is safe to have the new cat among your others. This applies for both adult cats and kittens. Feral cats that are born and living outdoors without any human contact or care have been shown to be adoptable and can be tamed by humans, provided that they are removed from a wild environment before truly feral behaviors are established. The older the cat is the less likely it is that the feral will be able to be tamed. Most ferals that are able to be turned to house cats are brought indoors within it's first few weeks as a kitten.

It is common for people to inquire about the lifespan of a feral cat. A feral cat's lifespan may range between 0 to 8 years; with the usual median lifespan being 4-5 years of age. In contrast, a cat in captivity can live 10+ years, with many living in excess of 12-14 years.

　

HOW DO I BRING IN A FERAL?

A feral must be brought into the clinic in a proper trap. Live animal traps are available for purchase from places like Lowe's, Home Depot, or certain feed stores. Some large chain stores such as Walmart have also been known to carry them at certain locations. DPC has traps available for rent whenever we have enough in stock. The trap rental fee is a $100 deposit, refunded at the time of return if the trap is in the same condition it was taken in. The rental fee is $10 per week, with the first week paid at time of rental.

Feral cats cannot be taken in if brought in carriers. The reason for this being that even if the cat is "friendly" toward you, the trapper or feeder, it may still prove aggressive toward the staff. It will also prove increasingly difficult to transfer the feral into a cage if not in a trap, and nearly impossible to get it out of the cage at pick up if not going home in a trap. For the safety of both the cat itself and the staff we require that all ferals come in traps, and that only 1 cat comes per trap.

　

If you'd like to know more about feral cats or are inquiring about how to bring in feral cats for spaying & neutering, visit our website www.dpcvet.com or call us at 954-989-9879!

Written by & Posted by Jessica R.

Heartworm prevention!!!

It has always been strongly suggested by Veterinarians to their clients that their pets be given heartworm prevention all year round in the state of Florida. This disease involves a parasite, transmitted by mosquitoes, that attacks the heart and circulatory system (bloodstream). Aside from the disease being potentially fatal and debilitating it is very expensive to treat. Recently there has been a very important udpate that needs to be addressed. In the past there has been an injectable, easily accessible medication that was used to treat dogs with heartworm disease. Unfortunately this product is on indefinite manufacturers back order which means Veterinarians will be no longer able to treat dogs with heartworm disease for an undetermined amount of time. It is for this reason more than ever that your pets be put on heartworm prevention all year round without missing any doses. Please ask one of our staff members about the many heartworm preventative options we provide.

Thank you!
The Management at DPC Veterinary Hospital