October meeting
Thanks to Lisa Schwartzenberg for hosting the October meeting. She had the usual cornucopia of food for us!
Next meeting
Our next meeting is at the Beaumont branch of the Lexington Public Library on November 2 at 7:30 p.m. We will be discussing our Christmas party at the meeting.
How to raise puppies
Virginia Woosley writes:
The article [a few months ago] about the couple attempting to raise the puppies by hand was so sad. Anyone who plans to raise a litter should try to get a copy of Neonatal Animal by D. Nelson. I have raised several puppies that would have died if not for the information in this book. The puppy formula recipe is really good. The puppies grow well and don't lose bone. The sable male pup I entered last May at the match was hand raised from birth. Chance has large bone and lots of coat. He matured at 14 inches. Anyone interested in the recipe can call 502-879-9269 or write 870 Woosley Rd., Caneyville, KY 42721 for a copy.
Thanks for the information, Virginia (and I apologize for taking so long to get it into the Sheltie Appeal. It got buried under a pile on my desk!).
Upcoming events
The Kentucky Border Collie Association is having a 2-day fun trial November 21 and 22 at Virgil Holland's farm in Cynthiana. Starting time is 9:00 both days. $10 per run. There will be a double lift jackpot in the afternoons. Lunch will be available for a small fee and there will be a complimentary dinner on Saturday. For directions and info, contact Melinda Hanley at (606) 234-8103 or e-mail Susan Carvalho at carvalho@pop.uky.edu. Proceeds benefit the 1999 Bluegrass Classic Stockdog Trial.
All About Aspirin
Aspirin formulations specifically designed for dogs are now available through veterinarians. The first is Palaprin, manufactured by PharmX of Portland, Maine. It comes in two sizes for large and small breeds and is scored to make dosing more accurate. It is buffered and microencapsulated to reduce the chance of gastrointestinal irritation.
AfterCare, made by Veterinary Products Labs of Phoenix, Ariz., is a microencapsulated powdered aspirin that owners can measure and mix with food. It is roast beef and liver flavored and also contains vitamins and minerals to promote recovery from surgery or trauma.
Aspirin continues to be one of the most effective pain relievers available. Pain relief has been proven to improve patient recovery from trauma and from surgical procedures, and that includes pain relief from things such as routine dental care and spaying/neutering. The efficacy of aspirin use in dogs with hip dysplasia, arthritis, or intervertebral disk disease is well recognized.
-Toonie Tailsvia Interlocking SSC
Are you a dogaholic?
The following questions are for the dogaholics. It is not easy to admit that you are a dogaholic! If you can answer yes to three or more of the following, then you need to join Dogaholics Anonymous:
If you answered yes to one of the above, there is still hope. If you answered yes to two, you are in serious trouble. If you answered yes to three or more, you are in trouble!!
It is recommended that those of you who have three or more yeses are to sit back and smile and know that your life will always be filled with good friends and good dogs and it will never be boring.
Toonie Tails via Wag-n-Tails
Toenail clipping: Trim without the trauma
The sound of clicking on the parquet floor may be telling you that it's time to trim Sheba's nails. Dogs' toenails, especially if they aren't worn down from regular exercise on rough surfaces, need to be properly cared for.
Helpful hints
Your dog's nails should just touch the ground. Any longer and they may cause her trouble in getting proper traction for walking. They can also break easily, and extremely long nails may become ingrown, which is painful.
How do you know when it's time to cut your dog's toenails? There are a few telltale signs. First, if you have wood floors, the sound of clicking nails is a good indicator. If your dog scratches you when she jumps up to say hello, or her nails snag your favorite bedspread, you can assume a trim is a good idea. Check her nails if you notice her licking a paw: you may not realize it, but she could have a painful broken nail. Being vigilant about checking the state of your dog's toenails is especially important if she has very furry feet.
Doing the deed
If you've been trimming your dog's toenails regularly since she was a pup, you probably have an easy time getting her to sit still for it. Otherwise, you may need to have someone help hold her while you do the clipping. You might easily get bitten trying to hold your dog and clip her nails at the same time.
The one absolute essential for quick, easy toenail cutting is having good, sharp clippers. You have to be careful not to cut into the quick, the blood-rich skin (dermis) located inside the nail. Dark nails can be especially troublesome, as the quick is much harder to see. Start on the end of the toenail and make several nips with the clippers. When you start to see moisture on the tip of the nail, you know you're near the quick and it's time to stop (the moisture is fluid from the area around the quick). Don't forget to clip your dog's dewclaws. Those are located higher up on the leg and, because they don't normally get worn down, they can easily become ingrown.
If you do accidentally cut the quick of a nail and it bleeds, apply pressure using a bandage, or use a styptic pen, styptic powder, flour, cornstarch, or silver nitrate to stop the bleeding. You may also press the nail into a bar of soap and drag it gently, which will stop the bleeding and cause no harm to the dog.
Ask your veterinarian to demonstrate proper nail-clipping technique. If you cannot do the clipping yourself, your veterinarian or groomer can do it. Veterinarians will often clip toenails when dogs are under anesthesia during surgical procedures, as well.
-DogWatch
Tools for the perfect clip
Toenail clippers come in several shapes and sizes. Some resemble scissors, but with curved blades. Others look almost like pliers, and others are guillotine-style nail cutters. For owners who want to feel like pros when they clip their dog's nails, there are even power nail trimmers that look like Dremel tools.
What should you use?
The type of trimmer you use will depend on the size of the dog, the thickness of her toenails, and the frequency with which you trim the nails.
For average trim jobs-especially if you have a small to medium-size dog-any type of clipper will do. If you keep your dog's nails short, you can even use the power nail groomer for a quick trim-if your dog will tolerate it. The vibrations and noise may make the dog a bit reluctant. But giving tasty treats while using the power nail groomer usually overcomes the dog's objections.
For big dogs, the trimmer that looks like a pair of pliers may be your best bet. It's strong, sharp, and let's you make a cut quickly, with little splitting of the nail ends. The guillotine style may be less effective for these thick, long nails. The power groomer is a great tool for finishing, but it takes too much time to use on long nails. The dog won't necessarily sit still for it.
After a trim, why not try some doggy nail polish in a stylish color? The dog doesn't need it, but it will turn heads as you walk Sheba down the street. [Editor's note: Over my dead body!]
-DogWatch
Amazing dogs
The Seeing Eye Guide...
...reports that this year's valedictorian of Notre Dame University in South Bend, Ind., was a biochemistry major, Tim Cordes, who is completely blind. He was accompanied by his German shepherd to receive his diploma. Cordes is only the second known blind person to be accepted into medical school.
-Northeast Canine Companian via The Flatiron Press
Hero Dog of The Year!
In California, a twelve-year-old Cardigan Welsh corgi received the Hero Dog of the Year award from the Los Angeles chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "Duke" was honored for having tugged his 85-year-old owner out of the path of an oncoming truck that was barreling toward him on the wrong side of the street. Duke barked and pulled at the leash, yanking his owner back onto the sidewalk just as the wrong-way truck sped past. Duke received a plaque, a year's supply of dog food, and a bag of doggy treats. [Editor's note: Sounds like that little dog has a big heart!]
-Los Angeles Times via The Flatiron Press
Caninie Seizure Research
Researchers at the University of Florida in Gainesville are studying whether some dogs have the ability to detect when a person is about to have a seizure. Similar to guide dogs or therapy dogs, early-alert dogs could allow people who are homebound to expand their abilities to care for themselves. The study is being funded by Able Trust, a private Tallahassee-based foundation that helps people with disabilities to find employment. Working,with current and former epilepsy patients, the researchers have,found that dogs respond in a variety of ways to the imminent onset,of a seizure. They may bark, nudge at their owners, lick, or display other unusual actions. Researchers do not know what alerts the dogs, although it is known that certain events occur in the brain prior to a seizure. It is also possible that human odors may change in response to those changes, scents which the dog can pick up but would not be noticeable to humans. A second phase of the study will focus on organizations which will work with those dogs identified as having this ability to see how they can be trained to be reliable first-alert dogs.
-DVM Newsmagazine via The Flatirons Press
Did you Know??
Women first made up a majority of applicants to veterinary medical colleges in 1984. This number has grown to 70 percent of applicants in 1997.
-USA Today via The Flatiron Press
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