My blog is moving and changing direction.  It is no longer just a book review blog, so the name has changed.  The new name is PawLore, and it can be found at www.pawlore.com

Please come visit, and follow the new blog.


Deb

Back Pain in Dogs

Most of us have experienced the pain of a muscle strain in our back - it can be a minor ache from doing a bit too much or it can be a totally debilitating ruptured disk which can cause problems for us the rest of our lives.  Dogs also suffer from back problems.  Breeds with long backs such as  Dachshunds, Corgis, Basset Hounds, Pekingese, Shih Tzus and Lhasa Apsos are especially prone to back issues, though larger breeds can suffer from them as well.

There are many medical treatment options, including  extended crate rest, acupuncture ,laser treatments and surgery.  There are also some health care items which can be of great benefit.  For another option before surgery, as well as a great preventative for after-care is a back brace such as "Lil Back Bracer".  The idea is to hold the dog's back in a correct position to avoid farther harm.    If your dog has gone through medical interventions and has mobility problems, there are wheelchairs made for dogs.  These can be purchased online through sites such as Handicapped Pets.Com 

Dodgers List  is a site dedicated to educating and sharing information regarding Intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) in dogs.  Whether you are just beginning the IVDD journey with your dog, or you are already through the medical treatment, this site can help.

Bottom line is to do as much as possible to protect your dog's back before an issue develops,  get treatment quickly when needed, and if the outcome isn't as good as expected, to realize that doesn't mean the end.  There are ways to mobilize a dog that has been paralyzed so you can enjoy many more years together.

A Little Fun Fact

Fun fact – Cats step with both left legs, then both right legs when walking or running. There are only two other animals that walk like this – the camel and the giraffe.

Health cautions in the Brachycephalic Dog

                           

Brachycephalic.  Big word, but what does it mean, and how does it pertain to dogs?  Brachycephalic comes from the Greek words "Brachy", which means short and "cephalic" which means head.  Thus, Brachycephalic dogs are dogs with a smooshed in face, or more accurately, they are dogs with a normal lower jaw and a compressed upper jaw.

Most people are familiar with these breeds - Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Shih tsu, Pekingese, Boxer, Pug - any breed with that familiar smooshed in face.  There are others, but all have the characteristic head.  These breeds have another thing in common - they can all suffer from ailments that are typical for this type of head.  Some seem funny,  such as the snorting noises the dogs make, but others are very serious, even deadly.  If you own a brachy or are planning on getting one in the future, you should be aware of potential health risks.

Heat Stroke - Brachy's are far more likely to suffer from heat strokes than other dogs.  Panting helps a dog cool off when overheated, and brachy's are not efficient panters.  This can lead to heat stroke or even death if not caught soon enough.  Always protect your brachy from the heat.

Tracheal Stenosis is a fancy way to say narrow windpipe.  Tracheal Stenosis creates an anesthetic risk, so prior to any surgery your brachy should have x-rays so your vet can determine if any extra precautions are in order.

Eye issues - Due to the shape of the head, brachy breeds have very shallow eye sockets which is why their eyes appear to bulge out of their face.  Any sort of blow to the back of the head, or pulling on a leash fastened to their collar can actually make their eyeball pop out of the head and require surgical intervention to replace it.  For this reason, brachy's should wear harnesses rather than collars when on leash.  Occasionally a brachy dog has eyelids that don't completely cover the eyeball, which results in dry eyes.  Your vet can correct this quite easily with surgery.

Skin folds - Many brachy's have skin folds on their face and extra care must be taken.  Clean the skin folds with a damp cloth so irritation and infection doesn't develop.   If you start cleaning the folds at an early age, your dog will sit calmly through the process.

These are a few of the special needs that are common in any brachycephalic breed.  Don't let them deter you; the brachy breeds are delightful, fun-loving dogs with a lot of personality and that cute smooshy face is hard to resist.  With awareness and caution your brachy will be a healthy, valued member of your family for years to come.

Great TV series

If you have Netflix, or you can check online, I believe you can access this series there, take them time to check out McLeod's daughters.  Set in Australia, the series tells the story of the daughters of the McLeod's throughout224 episodes.  The Patriarch is dead, and the girls run the ranch.  It's an enjoyable show, similar to a modern day American western.  You may want to enable closed captioning, as the accent can, at times, be difficult to understand.   It's an awesome series, showing  a wide variety of animals, mostly domestic, but some wildlife, which is always interesting.  I think you'll enjoy it!

Ideas wanted!

I'm still looking for a creative new name for the upcoming "new" blog...would love to hear your ideas.
The new blog will cover anything animal..wild or domestic, a few book reviews here and there, pictures, pretty much anything pertaining to any type of animal.

Please comment or email with ideas!


Deb

Computers, Cookies and Bribes

So a couple nights ago, I  boot up my computer - or should I say I attempted to boot it up?  Crash and burn - it would not boot up.  My husband tried to fix it, but no go, it was a goner.  By the time he got to work on it, I had been without my computer for 2 very long days.  Third day, I head to a local store that offers computer repairs, and take my poor dead computer in for a visit, only to be told that it'd be 2-3 days before they could transfer the data from the crashed drive. 

I about swallowed my tongue.  2-3 MORE days?  ACKKK, no can do!  So I smile sweetly and go look for a new computer.  I find "the" one, and talk to the salesperson (sweetly) and ask him how much pull he has with the guru's, and explain I really need my new computer to have all the old data on it and up and ready to go TODAY before they close.  He said he's see what he could do, and came back without an exact time.  We head to the guru area, and lo and behold the guy that would be doing the actual work was there - and of course I tell him.."I need this done TODAY".  He sort of just smiled and didn't say he would, so I toss in a bribe - I'll make you homemade cookies if you have it done by tonight. 

I'm happy to report that I walked in the store 15 minutes before close, and left with the new computer, loaded with all my pictures, browser favorites and other things that made it uniquely "my" computer - and he went home with cookies.  (I even left some there for the sales guy since he was so great too).

Needless to say, I am a happy camper!


Deb

Sharing a picture

Wanted to share a picture of my two Dachshunds - both are rescue dogs.  Bronson is the Black and Tan dapple on the left, and Wally is the Double Dapple on the right.

Declawing Your Cat - The Realities and Alternatives

     

Many people get a kitten and while having it spayed/neutered, decide to declaw to avoid problems such things as shredding furniture and curtains.  The kitten undergoes a surgery, and WA LA!  problem solved.  Or is it?  Let's take a peek into the truth behind declawing.

First and foremost, declawing your cat is MAJOR surgery, and is excrutiatingly painful.  Declawing isn't just removing the nail - it is a surgery that is actually an amputation of the tips of the cats foot - having them removed is like having each of your fingers amputated at the first knuckle - so in effect, your cat has endured 10 amputations (assuming you've only done the front feet) and has been mutilated for life.  Your cat not only has the agony he sufferes immediately after the surgery, but he also has to walk, stretch, and use the litter box while healing, which takes time and every movementis very painful.
 This surgery also leads to an altered gait, as cats are "digitigrade", which means they walk on their toes.  After declawing, the cat's gait is altered, which can affect every joint in the leg, and cause athritis in these joints as the cat ages.

Another big problem thatoften occurs after declawing is litter box issues.  Cats that had previously used their litter box faithfully can associate the pain caused while digging in litter to the litter box itself, and stop using it at all, instead, choosing the nice soft carpet which doesn't hurt their feet.

Declawing can be dangerous for your cat if it get's outside - it no longer has the primary defense weapon of all cats.  He can become easy prey to larger cats, dogs or other predators, and he's basically defensless.

                                                                 Alternatives

So you've decided that declawing is not an option for your beloved cat, yet you want to protect your belongings.  There are other options that are humane!  Exercise is a large part of the solution.  So how do you exercise a cat you ask?  Through play!  Those toys that dangle off a wooden or plastic handle are an easy way to  provide entertainment and exercise - and a tired cat is a lot less likely to get into trouble.  Take 15 to 20 minutes and play.  Your cat will enjoy it, and your bond will deepen.

Provide places for you cats to scratch.  Get different shaped scratching posts and place them in various rooms around your house.  There are vertical as well as horizontal scratching posts, using different shapes will encourage your cat to use them.

 You can trim their nails too, much as dog's nails are trimmed.

Last, but not least, there are nail tips out there made just for your cat.  Yes, nail tips!  Called "Soft Paws" these are artificial vinyl caps that cover your cat's natural nail, and come in clear or colors.  When they come off, you replace them - and no more worries about scratching!

Thankfully, declawing isn't the only option for protecting you, your children and belongings from the claws of your cat.  With far more humane solutions, you can solve the problem and have a healthier, and happier cat.

Ideas wanted!

Hi Readers!

I am going to rename the blog as I change it to encompass more topics, and would love some input.  If you have any ideas for a great name, please comment or email me!

Looking forward to ideas,


Deb

Even the Famous Love Dogs

Many of us have dogs, and love them dearly.  The rich and famous are no different.  Here's a few of the "famous" dogs

Most of us know Bo, the "First Dog" owned by our current president and his family.  But there are many more "Celebrity" dogs!

Samson, a "Rotweiller-Pit bull- Doberman" shares his living space with Alicia Silverstone.  She found him in East Los Angeles, cut and bleeding.  He now lives a great life with her 4 other dogs, Scottie, Lacey, Cale and Jeffrey. (all rescue dogs!)

Tinkerbell is the pampered pooch of Paris Hilton.  This little Chihuahua lvies the good life, and often gets a hotel room rented just for her.

Steven Tyler has 2 little tykes - a Yorkshire, "Butch Cassidy", and Yorkie/Maltese mix, "The Sundance Kid".  He can be seen with one in his pocket, and the other in a sling over his shoulder.

Another pampered Chihuahua is Tulip, owned by Paula Abdul.  It's reported that Paula tripped over Tulip, fell, and subsequently broke her nose and toe - but Tulip wasn't hurt.

Francesca and Sharkey are  French Bull Dogs, owned by Martha Steward, and they even have their own blog.

Kyle Richards is the proud mom of rescue dog "Roxy"

Madaline Pickens, savior of America's wild horses has a rescue Dachshund  "Tommy".

Queen Elizabeth loves Pembroke Welsh Corgi's and has several, plus a few "Dorgi's", which are Dachshund/Corgi mixes.

                                     

These dogs all probably live in more luxury than most of us will ever see, but they all have one thing in common - they are well-loved by caring people.  That's really what it's all about....love.

Bloat, a deadly risk for dogs

The number one killer of dogs is cancer, but what is number 2?  The second leading killer of dogs is Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GVD), commonly called Bloat.  Deep-chested dogs are at particular risk for Bloat.  Bloodhounds, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Dachshunds, Sight Hound breeds and Dobermans are among the those considered deep-chested.

So what exactly is Bloat?  Bloat is typically related to swallowed air, and usually happens when there is an abnormal accumulation of fluid, air and/or foam in the stomach. (gastric dilatation)  In some cases, the stomach actually twists after swelling, and rotates anywhere from 90 to 360 degrees between the esophagus and the duodenum at the other end of the stomach.  Everything in the stomach is trapped, and the full, bloated stomach obstructs veins in the abdomen which leads to low blood pressure, damage to internal organs, shock and with all of these combined, the dog can die a painful death in a short amount of time.

Possible symptoms include: Attempts to vomit, restlessness, belly bloated looking and tight hunched up back,  whining, pacing, heavy panting, and looking back at the stomach.

Bloat is not uncommon - be prepared.  Know the symptoms and if your vet doesn't provide 24 service, know where the local 24 emergency vet is located, and keep both numbers handy.

Bloat can be deadly - get your dog to a vet promptly. Better safe than sorry.


Until next time,

Deb

Breed Specific Legislation

The case of Lennox, the dog from Northern Ireland that was unjustly euthanized because he looked like a "bully" breed type, Breed Specific Legislation has really come into the spotlight.

Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) is any law that forbids the owning of a certain breed or type of dog based solely on breed or type, not on behavior.  This law assumes that the dog is guilty when in fact it has done nothing other than be born a particular breed.  It's basically discrimination - you look a certain way, you are of a certain ethnicity (in this case breed) then you are not permitted to live in the area of our jurisdiction.  How fair is this?  A dog is taken from it's owners, and killed, yes I say killed, because euthanasia means "good death", and really how good is a death that is caused because of  fears and laws?

I am all for protecting people, but I am not for arbitrarily  banning breeds, and I am certainly not in favor of permitting any animal control staff to have the discretionary authority to deem an animal to be a specific breed based on looks, as they did in the Lennox case.  


I do agree that there are a lot of folks out there that own dogs that are strong, and could potentially hurt a human being.  But folks, those breeds don't stop at bully breeds - look at how large and strong many breeds are - St Bernard's for example; or even a Standard Poodle!  


There has to be some compromise on both sides, perhaps something like requiring training before getting a permit to own a dog over a certain size.  I wouldn't be opposed to requiring a permit to even own a dog - there are way too many irresponsible dog owners out there now, and any dog this type of person owns can be a nuisance - even one as as tiny as a Chihuahua!  I know it would be a lot of compromise on both sides, but I am certain this issue can be resolved without giving anyone the power to just seize a dog and kill it because of breed.   Please note that I am not talking about dogs that have attacked a human, that is a totally different topic.


Hopefully there won't be another Lennox case, but I'm afraid there will be, and more families will be devastated by the loss of a beloved member of their family that has been discriminated against for no reason other than looks, but I am just as equally sure that there will be another innocent victim of a dog bite or attack due to irresponsible owners.  Ultimately people are at fault, not animals.  Let's protect the innocent, whether those be the animal, or the potential victim of a poorly raised, poorly bred animal.  Protection comes in many forms, so let's change laws, not ban specific breeds.  Perhaps the laws ought to start with who is permitted to breed animals, and cover things such as training and licensure.

This is certainly a hotly debated topic, and I certainly don't have all the answers.  For those that are for BSL, I'd ask you to think about your reasons, and put things you own into the same situation. For instance, you like motorcycles.  Many say they are not safe - just because others say they aren't safe should they be banned?  Sports cars - fast, strong machines, and they can be deadly.  Should they be banned because of irresponsible drivers?  I'm not comfortable with any government agency telling me what I can and cannot own, but I don't think it's wrong to make me become educated and licensed to have or use certain items.

For those that are against BSL I'd ask how you would feel if it were you, or your loved one attacked by a dog of any breed.  Would you want that breed banned?  That dog killed?  Would you agree with laws requiring licensing for owning certain breeds?  There's no easy answer to any of these questions.

Certainly something to think about..

Keep on keeping on,

Deb

"Black Beauty" - a timeless classic. "Black Beauty" is the "autobiography" of the horse telling this tale.  He starts with his life as a foal, and it progresses as he is originally sold as a young horse, and progresses through various stages of life.  It is a compelling story, showing friendships, losses of loving homes, the trials and tribulations of having no say in your life, being sold and having an uncertain future, and more.  This book takes you from smiles and feelings of joy to the depths of misery and tears for the unfairness a poor animal must endure at the hands of unfeeling humans.  Hearing things from the horse's "viewpoint" opens your eyes to what simple things can make an animal's life easier.

This is a well-written and well-thought out book, as evidenced by it's continued popularity more than 100 years after it's original publish date.  

This book should be a required reading in schools in my opinion.  I have read it countless times, and hope that if you haven't, you'll chose to read it.


Keep on keeping on,


Deb

Anna Sewell  1820 - 1878

Anna Sewell's only published work was the children's classic, "Black Beauty".  Anna lived in England, and when she was 14 she slipped and severely injured both of her ankles.  For the rest of her life, she had mobility problems, and had to use a crutch and couldn't walk very far.  Consequently, she used horse-drawn vehicles for greater mobility.  Thus her love and concern for horses grew.  

"Black Beauty" was written in Anna's later years, as her health was deteriorating.  For the most part, she was bedridden and too weak to write. She often dictated, and her mother would write it down for her.  It took several years to write the book, from 1871 - 1877.  Her goal in writing the book was to help people who worked with horses to learn kindness, sympathy and a greater understanding of the treatment of horses, but instead, it became a children's classic.

Anna Sewell died 5 months after her book was published.   Her only book remains a classic.


Keep on keeping on,

Deb

Next up is a re-visit to an old friend.  I read and re-read it as a youngster, and it still maintains it's charm for me all these years later.  Next time we'll learn a bit about the author before talking about the book itself.  The author is Anna Sewell.  Anyone know what she wrote (without looking!)??

Keep on keeping on,

Deb

Hi Folks!

Things they are a'changing - I'm going to keep things interesting by doing a bit more than just book reviews.  I'll be sharing information that is animal-related, and would love to have you join in as well, so email me, or post a comment here, and let's get things hopping in-between book reviews!

Keep on keeping on,


Deb

Baby Farm Animals is, first of all, short.  There are great pictures of  9 baby farm animals, and each has 2 sentences.  The first sentence tells what the animal is called (think "a baby dog is called a puppy"), and the second being slightly descriptive (think "this chick hatched out of an egg").

I was a bit disappointed in this book.  The pictures are wonderful, but the content just seems to be lacking "oompf".  I realize this book is meant for very young readers, or even toddlers being read to - but I can't help thinking even those audiences would like something a little more substantial.

Reading on,


Deb

Next up, another children's book

Title: Baby Farm Animals
Author - Cindy Bracken


Reading on,

Deb

"Why Are Turtles So Wild and Crazy" is a great non-fiction book for young children.  There are a lot of full color pictures of various types of turtles.  The pictures are terrific, and interesting to see, even for an adult.  The book explains things such as how the shell is not a "house", but is a connected part of the turtle's body, and is in fact part of it's backbone and ribs.  Chalk up one lesson for this adult - I knew of course it couldn't be detached, but I didn't know it was spine and ribs.  Interesting!  Another lesson for me was that some turtles live in small herds and in a manner similar to that of dogs, they sniff each other.  Who would have known?

There are a couple other interesting turtle facts, but I'll leave those as a surprise.  I liked this book a lot - interesting, educational., and and most importantly for the kiddo's - FUN to read!

Reading on,


Deb