The Veterinary Information Network (VIN) has an article about possible problems with Blue Buffalo dog food.  This is not an official recall, but it is worth reading the entire article if you do feed your dogs Blue Buffalo.

For The VIN News Service

“Veterinarians are trying to discern whether roughly a dozen dogs testing positive for hypercalcemia and consuming the same high-end diet is merely coincidence or a problem with the pet food in question.

The reports have cropped up on the Veterinary Information Network (VIN), an online community for the profession and parent of the VIN News Service. In message board discussions, veterinarians have revealed cases of hypercalcemia secondary to vitamin D toxicosis occurring in dogs that eat a single brand of dry pet food: Blue Buffalo Wilderness Diet, chicken flavor. In each of the cases, veterinarians report that dogs’ conditions have improved after switching brands”.

via VIN News.

A purebred dog or cat is one with a known heritage where all the ancestors were dogs or cats of the same breed. This known heritage can usually be tracked back through a pedigree on registered purebreds but it may only be word of mouth on the breeding background, plus the physical appearance and behavior of the particular animal that is being considered.

Some people mistake color differences as different breeds and some mistake cross breeds as a breed.

For example I recently saw an ad for a ‘mix’ between a black and yellow Labrador stating the pup looked just like a black Lab. And well it should look like a black Labrador Retriever as black, yellow, and chocolate are all simply colors of the same breed and the pup was not a mix at all even though its parents were different colors.

Another color difference often mistakenly described as a breed is seen in pit bull terrier type dogs. You might see ‘blue nose’, ‘red nose’ advertised as if they were different breeds from the other colors of pit bulls but they are not different in any way other than color. You may also see famous kennel names attached to certain dogs but this does not make them a different breed just the product of one kennel’s breeding program for the same breed. For example a Razor pit bull is not a new or different breed.

I also frequently see mixes advertised as purebreds. But the fact that they are mixed means they are not purebred anything.

A Siamese is a purebred but an ‘all black Siamese’ doesn’t exist and is most likely a cross between a purebred Siamese and some other type of cat.

A Pekingese is a purebred dog as is a Poodle but a Peke-a-poo is a mix not a new breed. Even if you breed two Peke-a-poos together you do not have a breed. It takes more than one generation to create a breed and its not as easy as it sounds to cross dogs and get consistent results.

The same holds true for a Labradoodle or GoldenDoodle these are simply mixes between purebred Poodles and Labradors or Golden Retrievers. While there was an attempt in Australia to create a new breed by these sorts of crossings, through many generations of breeding and careful selection of offspring for specific traits, it did not work and the breeding program was discontinued because they had no luck creating what they hoped for in a new breed.

It takes 6 generations of the dogs breeding true, to a type defined in a written standard, to be able to consider a dog a purebred. By true to type I mean the offspring mature as adults to look and act like the parents in most ways. Cat breeders have similar rules to follow.

You can see AKC standards for dogs here by clicking on the breed name

http://www.akc.org/breeds/complete_breed_list.cfm

And CFA standards for cats here

http://www.cfainc.org/breeds.html

While you can create a new type if you have a mutation to work with, for example American Hairless Terriers and curly coated cats, or a specific type in a standard that you can reproduce consistently, simply crossing already established breeds doesn’t do it.

When you are seeking a pet you can often weed out breeders and even rescues that are not the most informed, based on how they advertise. If they claim a mix is a breed, or that a purebred is a mix, or special because of its color, then you have a fair idea that this could be someone who isn’t really an expert on the animals they are trying to sell.

HomeAgain has a new app for your IPhone – Lost pet alerts.  If a pet is lost in your neighborhood, you receive a text asking you to be on the look-out for it.  If you don’t have an IPhone, don’t worry.  You can go to the Pet Rescuers site and sign up for email alerts.

via PetRescuers by HomeAgain for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App Store.

Description

Be a hero for lost pets! Between 6 to 8 million pets enter animal shelters in the U.S. each year, including many lost family pets. Download the PetRescuers app by HomeAgain, and you can help keep a lookout for lost pets in your area. By receiving notifications about lost HomeAgain pets, you can help get these pets home to their families and keep them out of overburdened animal shelters.

PetRescuers is powered by HomeAgain®—a leader in the pet microchipping and lost pet recovery. All of the lost pets featured here are microchipped and have been reported missing to HomeAgain by their owners.

Thank you for helping reunite lost pets with their families!

FEATURES

Receive Lost Pet Alerts for missing pets in your area

• Photo of pet
• Species
• Age
• Breed
• Area last seen
• Medical information
• -Personality description

Map all lost pets in your area

Control your alert settings

• Target alerts to a 5, 10, or 25 mile radius
• Default location & mobile alert mode
• Bark, meow & chime sounds

Add this to the long list of how dogs contribute to our lives:

“A study this year by researchers at the University of California, Davis confirmed that children who read to Fido really do perform better. Young students who read out loud to dogs improved their reading skills by 12 percent over the course of a 10-week program, while children in the same program who didn’t read to dogs showed no improvement.

Therapy Dogs Provide Comfort to Students

The positive effects of the concept are seen firsthand at the East Norwalk Library in East Norwalk, Conn. where students read to dogs as part of the “D2R2″ program. The specially-trained therapy dogs are accompanied by their handlers, and the kids clearly love it.”

via Study Says Dogs Can Help Children Learn to Read – ABC News.

AAA Names Its Top Vehicle Picks for Dog Owners

Orlando, Fla. – 8/18/2010

AAA list includes vehicles for a variety of lifestyles that will keep drivers, passengers and canine companions safe and comfortable on the roadway

With more than 80 percent of dog owners taking their canine companions along in their vehicles on errands, leisure rides and day trips, many drivers are taking the safety and comfort of man’s best friend into consideration when shopping for vehicles. To aid in motorists quest to find a vehicle that meets both their needs, as well as their dogs, AAA has released a list of its top vehicle picks for dog owners.

“More than 45 million households in the U.S. have a dog, and many are taking Fido along for the ride on a regular basis,” said John Nielsen, AAA National Director of Auto Repair and Buying Services. “There several vehicles with features that can help keep pets safe, comfortable and easy to clean-up after while also addressing other driver desires such as sportiness, adventure or luxury.”

AAA Auto Buying’s team of experts, who test drove and reviewed hundreds of vehicles for the AAA AutoMaker vehicle research web site (AAA.com/AutoMaker), have compiled a list of their top vehicles picks for dog owners based upon a wide variety of factors such as crash test ratings, safety features, fuel economy, ease of animal ingress and egress, cargo area size, availability of tie-down hooks and easy-to-clean interiors.

The list is divided in six categories to help motorists with a variety of lifestyles identify a vehicle that best meets their needs.

Luxury

BMW 3 Series Wagon – This wagon offers handling and agility that rival some sports cars along with a comfortable, if firm, ride and quiet cruising. Owners will find a wide range of accessories available to make the car more suitable for pet transport including rubber mats for the cargo area and sturdy dividers that can keep a dog comfortably confined to the cargo area and away from distracting the driver. Some available dividers even have an added division to transport two dogs while keeping them apart. The interior is cozy, so the BMW 3 Series wagons may be a better choice for medium to smaller breeds.

Volvo XC60 – In addition to refined and well-performing engines, this is the first vehicle in the U.S. with “City Safe,” a safety feature that will compensate for driver inattention by automatically applying the brakes in traffic situations at speeds up to nearly 20 mph in an effort to eliminate or mitigate a rear-end collision. The Volvo XC60 has a roomy cargo area ideal for transporting most canines in comfort and a nicely finished interior. Accessories include rubber mats for the cargo area and a pet barrier that fastens securely above the raised rear seats to keep pets from distracting the driver.

Active Lifestyle

Subaru Forester – This Forester offers roomy, comfortable accommodations for people and their pets. The ride is stable and comfortable, the handling is predictable, and the all-wheel drive delivers reassuring traction under all conditions. This wagon is even up for mild off-roading treks that can get the dogs into the country. The Forester’s cargo capacity with the rear seats folded is an impressive and inviting (for pets) 68 cubic feet. The floor, at just over 27 inches off the ground, also is lower than many sports utility vehicles making it easier for many dogs to get in and out. There are ample tie-down points to secure a kennel.

Hyundai Santa Fe – This SUV features a nicely finished interior, a choice of new engines for 2010 and competence both on and off road. The third row seat option is no longer available, but the cargo space is good for even some larger breed dogs. Buyers will find that both Hyundai and aftermarket suppliers offer many accessories to make rides with the family pet easier and more comfortable. These range from sturdy rubber mats for the cargo area to beds and pet dividers that will keep the dog in place. As an added the bonus, the ride and handling should be agreeable to both people and their canine passengers.

Kids, Dogs & Everything Else

Honda Element – Originally designed for males in their late teens and early 20s, the Element seems ready to handle anything. The interior features surfaces and upholstery that can be hosed out, if necessary. The clamshell side doors also can make getting pets in and out easier. The Element offers a pet lovers’ accessory group that includes a ramp, which is ideal for helping older dogs get in and out, second row seat covers that are even easier to clean than the standard upholstery and a soft-sided kennel that can be secured to the vehicle. It features a spill-resistant water dish and an electric ventilating fan. Debits include a busy, choppy ride and higher than average noise levels. Handling is good, however, and the utility factor, including the height of the cargo area, makes this relatively small car suitable for larger breeds, even those dogs that like to get muddy while romping in the wild.

Toyota Venza – Somewhere on the team that developed the Venza is at least one pet lover. Consider the long list of pet accessories that Toyota offers for this cross between a station wagon and a crossover utility vehicle. Among the items are a ramp to ease getting in and out through the rear tailgate, waterproof seat covers, an adjustable harness/booster seat pet restraint system, an adjustable pet barrier and a dog tether to keep canines from jumping into the passenger area.

For the driver, Toyota offers a choice of V-6 or 4-cylinder power and front- or all-wheel drive. Handling is predictable and cruising is quiet, though the ride can turn busy in the V-6 model with its 20-inch tires. Also, styling takes a toll on rear visibility. A backup camera is available and recommended.

Efficient and Fun

Mazda3 5-Door: Among compacts, the Mazda3 is a standout. Handling is sharp, the ride is very good and the interior, if on the small side, is very nicely done. The hatchback is exceptionally flexible, though its suitability for larger breeds is in doubt. Still, the wide opening rear doors, tailgate and robust interior makes this yet another vehicle that would be attractive to many pet owners. These buyers, however, will have to go to aftermarket suppliers for many pet accessories. Fortunately, there they will find a wide range of mats and kennels that both fit and enhance the Mazda3’s utility. The 2.0-liter engine is peppy and the 2.5-liter engine is even more powerful. The Mazdaspeed3, with its turbocharged motor, could well be a match for the fastest hound around, though the ride in this performance version is abrupt and noise levels are higher than average.

Mini Clubman – Consider this the Maxi of Minis, at least until the Countryman arrives. The longer body structure, foldable rear seat and rear barn doors all contribute to making it easy to get even a larger breed in and out of the vehicle. And once in, dogs will find more than 33 cubic feet of space with the rear seat folded. Most kennels will fit with ease and, once in, can be secured using the factory-installed tie-down points. As for the driver, this maxi Mini is great fun to drive. Its handling is crisp and immediate, acceleration is brisk and braking secure.

Green

Ford Escape Hybrid – The large and squared-off SUV cargo area is perfect for dogs of nearly all sizes, while the hybrid drivetrain delivers fuel efficiency that few SUVs are able to approach. Ford actually promotes the cargo area as being ideal for “…a big, wet dog…” and offer photographic evidence that even the largest canines fit here comfortably. The company goes on to note that the hybrid’s battery pack is completely sealed, so there is no need to worry about wet pets or wet cargo causing a problem. Accessories are available from many sources, including Ford. Floor mats and a pet divider head the list of items that make the Escape more “pet friendly.” The ride is a little choppy but, for overall practicality, the Escape Hybrid is hard to beat.

Economical

Kia Soul – It’s roomier than its exterior dimensions suggest, which makes the Soul a good choice for transporting smaller and mid-size breeds. Aftermarket accessories to make the trip easier on both the pet and its owner are also easily acquired. These include thick, heavy-duty mats and pet-resistant seat covers. Some owners also have gone for vehicle-specific pet cages and dividers, often imported from Europe. The ride is decidedly firm, but the handling is good and the engine is both reasonably responsive and economical. Noise levels are higher than average, but the larger than expected windows make for a good view to the sides.

Nissan Cube – This vehicle casts a small shadow at noon, but its height and boxy design more than compensate. The interior is surprisingly roomy and should be good, with the back seats down, for even larger breeds. Note, however, that when folded, the rear seat does not form a flat load floor, so owner supplied padding to level the cargo area would probably be necessary. Buyers will find many aftermarket accessories that can be used to enhance this car’s utility as a pet hauler. These range from cargo area mats to hair-shedding seat covers. As you would expect from an entry level vehicle, the ride and handling won’t equal true sports and luxury cars but , its ride is comfortable and secure.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

Lucy Climbs Mount Washington Auto Road in Walkin’ Wheels for Handicapped Pets Pinkham Notch and Nashua, New Hampshire August 18, 2010

HandicappedPets.com was thrilled to witness the first ever paralyzed dog in a wheelchair reach the summit of Mount Washington this morning, August 18, 2010 at 11:30 a.m.

Lucy is a very high energy, active dog that has been using her Walkin’ Wheels for nearly two years. She and her owner Courtney Dunning of Peterborough, New Hampshire prepared for their climb up the Mount Washington Auto Road with several weeks of training which included increases in both mileage and altitude as well as a test trek up the first two miles of the auto road in mid-July.

Today’s six-hour journey to the summit of Mount Washington included several breaks for food and water as well as one diaper change. Accompanying Lucy on the climb to provide supplies and to document the adventure were a total of five people and one dog – Lucy’s canine companion Topper, a Chihuahua mix that was also rescued from Puerto Rico.

Upon reaching the summit earlier today, Courtney Dunning expressed how proud she was of Lucy and acknowledged the Mount Washington Auto Road and its employees for their support of the effort which included providing advice for the two-mile test trek in July, opening the gates at 5:00 a.m. today, and offering an extremely comfortable and enjoyable stage ride back to the base of the auto road.

“I think many people underestimate handicapped pets and do not realize just how much they can do given proper care and training,” Dunning explained. Mark C. Robinson, President of HandicappedPets.com and inventor of the Walkin’ Wheels, was equally amazed and proud of Lucy. “Lucy demonstrates how handicapped pets can continue to lead happy, healthy, active lives. The Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair allows dogs to do more than simply survive injuries that were once considered life ending. With appropriate veterinary care and physical training, dogs in wheelchairs can thrive and even reach levels of athletic achievement,” commented Robinson.

For more information:

• http://unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Handicapped+dog+is+first+to+reach+summit+of+Mount+Washington&articleId=22253270-2c15-4763-abf5-f102c02fa017
• http://handicappedpets.com/

Via Steve Hickoff: By the way, hunting dogs rule – Fosters.  A wonderful ode to dog lovers everywhere.

“I would rather take a nap with one of my dogs than do it alone — even in summer, when they slouch along the floor at the base of the couch. Pack mentality, you know.

We dog people, hunting and otherwise, live in a world of letting a canine bud in and out all day, or as humorist Ogden Nash once said: “A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of.” You’d have to be a dog person to understand that one.

If you talk to your dogs while outdoors and inside then I understand where you’re coming from.

If you talk to the gravesites of loved dogs now buried and gone I understand that too.

Would you rather hold a puppy than a baby? You’re guilty of being a dog nut.”

On Wednesday, August 18th,  the Souhegan Kennel Club’s guest speaker will be Dr. Martha Lindsay, DVM, MS, CVH, a Certified Veterinary Homeopath and owner of Alternative Veterinary Services of North Andover, MA. AVS uses treatments such as homeopathy, acupuncture, and Chinese herbs.  Dr Lindsay will speak primarily on the uses of Homeopathy in modern veterinary practice, as well as a overview of holistic medicine techniques.

From her practice’s website:

Evaluating a sick animal includes noting physical symptoms from a complete physical examination, mental and emotional symptoms, exercise habits, environmental influences (including toxins as well as stressful situations) and diet. All previous medical records are reviewed and sometimes additional tests are recommended as well before therapeutic recommendations are made.

Conventional (or allopathic) Western medicine treats isolated symptoms in an ill animal but does not address the underlying susceptibility of that patient to develop disease. The goal of homeopathy is to treat the patient’s symptoms but also to develop the strength of good health to resist disease in the future.

About Dr. Lindsay:

Dr. Martha Lindsay graduated from Michigan State University in 1979 and completed a masters degree in 1980. For 21 years she practiced conventional medicine and surgery in small animals, avian and exotics at the Andover Animal Hospital in Andover, Massachusetts (a large, high quality multi-practitioner facility). In 2000 she began working in behavior medicine for New England Veterinary Behavior Associates in Lexington, Massachusetts. She completed the ANHC Basic and Advanced Professional Homeopathy Courses and was Certified by the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy in 2006. She regularly lectures to teach holistic medicine and animal behavior.

Souhegan Kennel Club Meeting
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
American K9 Country
Rt 101, Amherst NH
Program Begins at 7PM Sharp!
Light Refreshments Provided
Feel free to bring a guest or two, and bring your questions for Dr. Lindsay! See you there.

Kitten season coincides with allergy season it seems. When kittens are most abundant, pollens and molds are everywhere in the air, so it’s naturally a time when many people are feeling their allergies the worst. You see it time and again kittens in the 10-12 week old age or a little older being offered again for a new home due to ‘allergies’ in the home that first adopted them. But is it the kitten itself that is causing the problem?

After 20 years we lost our old cat, though we still had our ‘young’ cat, the 13 year old, when we brought home our new kitten. Suddenly allergies were a serious issue. Was it just the timing as July and August are often peak allergy times for us, or was it the new kitten?

There seemed to be an awful coincidence that every time the kitten was on my chest (he likes to snuggle near your face) that my eyes were watering, my head was clogged, and I was sneezing! The reaction lingered on just like the fur from his kitten coat stuck to my shirt. How could this be? I’ve even been tested for allergies and I’m not allergic to cats (just everything else) according to those tests done some years back anyway! I take allergy pills on a daily basis as it is, so what more could I do?

Then a discussion with my husband brought a new fact to light. He had not been able to get our regular cat litter. He had purchased a different brand because kittens use a lot of litter and he didn’t want to run out. As the litter boxes were in the cellar workshop, and as he is the one who cleans them, I had no idea that he had purchased scented cat litter! My horrible allergic reaction might be from the litter not the cat!

Kittens use a cat box far more than an adult cat does and some, like mine, play or lie in the box playing stalking games. My adult cat uses the box a couple times a day and a couple times overnight normally, and is in the box far less often than the new kitten is. The kitten was pretty thoroughly soaked in the cheap perfume scent from the new cat litter. Perfume is something I know I’m allergic to!

A change in litter to unscented again, a good wash of the cat boxes (which still have a hint of that pervasive perfume anyway) before putting the new litter in them and suddenly I’m not so allergic to the kitten anymore. Now that I’m not quite so stuffed up I can smell the odor of the perfume faintly still on my kitten’s coat and can only hope that the scent wears off the boxes and him soon.

So if you are having an allergic reaction to a new cat, and have had cats with no problem before, you might consider checking out what you are using for a cat litter and see if it is the litter that is bothering you and not the new kitten! It might be that it is the perfume in the litter, or a high dust level from the brand you chose, that is aggravating your or a child’s allergic reaction!

As the cat litter goes away when the kitten leaves it would thus appear that you were allergic to the kitten but maybe it really was the cat litter! It’s worth checking that possibility out before you have to give up your new pet!

It seems that some dog owners have been using the cemeteries in Concord as de facto dog parks. From the Concord Monitor:

The city council voted last night to enact an ordinance that bans dogs – service dogs excluded – from Concord’s 13 public cemeteries. Anyone who violates the ordinance could be fined between $50 and $1,000.

But while the ordinance bans virtually all dogs from the cemeteries, leashed or otherwise, councilors who supported the measure described its focus as more targeted.

“We don’t want dogs pooping in our cemeteries is really what this boils down to,” said Councilor Keith Nyhan.