Adoption Monday: Cookie, Labrador Retriever Mix, Deerfield, NH

Check out this wonderful girl at Mary's Dogs Rescue & Adoption!

Cookie is a southern sweetie for sure. 

At 7 years old she is a mature and well behaved girl. 

She's been a faithful companion to her dog mom but now she need a new home as her mom must give me up through no fault of mine or hers. Cookie is a great size, at 35 pounds and she is a healthy girl.

Cookie is sweet, social and gets along with people, dogs and cats. 

She walks well on a leash too. Cookie is ready to move on...ready to find a new special someone. A new relationship.

Are you looking for a new love affair?

Cookie is house trained, spayed and up-to-date with routine shots.

Want more info on Cookie? Call Mary's Dogs: 603.370.7750 or send along an email: marysdogsrescue@gmail.com

Ready to bring Cookie home? Tell us about yourself and your interest in Cookie in our adoption questionnaire. Check out all the wonderful dogs on Mary's Dogs Facebook Fan Page.

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Mary’s Dogs rescues and re-homes dogs and puppies from Aiken County Animal Shelter, a high-kill shelter in South Carolina, USA. They also serve as a resource to communities in Southern New Hampshire and pet owners nationwide by providing education and information on responsible pet ownership, including the importance of spay/neuter, positive behavior training, and good nutrition.

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Don't Skimp On Vet Visits

This is something I am quite religious about, even with Jasmine, who sees her vet all the time. Going in with a specific problem is one thing, a comprehensive wellness exam is another.

You won't catch me skipping regular wellness exam.

Skipping one appointment may not seem like a big deal, but regular checkups are extremely important in preventing certain conditions and catching serious diseases early.

According to the American Animal Hospital Association, most and dogs and cats should visit the vet at least once a year for a wellness exam. As pets get older, they may require checkups more often than yearly, so speak with your veterinarian regarding your pet’s specific needs.


Brought to you by VetDepot – your source for discount petmeds for dogs and cats. 

Related articles:
Practicing What I Preach: Jasmine's Semi Annual Wellness Exam 
Top (Potentially) Deadly Dog Health Sins: Skimping on Vet Visits

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NEVER Feed Your Dog Cooked Bones Unless...

Feeding Jasmine home-cooked diet, one of the things I always regretted was that I could not include bones in her food.

Yes, we use a mineral supplement, but I always thought I'd feel better being able to include actual bones.

Feeding your dog cooked bones is a big NO.

Unless...

Just recently I found a tip at Dog Dish Diet, which got my attention. (Actually I saw a video too, which I now cannot find)

Slow cooked bones.

Dr. Greg uses chicken or pigs feet, with the premise that after enough slow cooking the bones become tender and chewable, thus don't splinter or pose any other danger. Could that be?

I thought back to the days in my old country. Carp is a popular fish but it's full of annoying little bones. I remember that some fishermen were able to cook it in such a way that the bones became tender and there was no need to worry about them any more. (Of course, it was their trade secret which they wouldn't share)

Then I though of canned fish, which often has bones in it, which are also tender, easily chewable, and no threat.

Could this work?

As soon as we were able to get our hands on some pork feet, I decided to try it. Yes, you have to cook the living daylights out of it (about 20 hours on high; until they're soft and crumbly ), but it works! I am very excited about it.

(Of course, paranoid as I am, I decided to grind them up into a paste before offering them to my dogs.)

What a treat though!

It has the bones, bone marrow, all the cartilage, and other connective tissue ... Our guys are crazy about it! Not sure whether it's because they know it's good for them or because it's something new, but, either way, they think it's awesome.

And I do feel better.

Very happy that I can supplement their diet with some new goodies. The only thing to watch is that you don't give too much because it could cause constipation.

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Veterinary Highlights: Nutriscan - Dog Food Sensitivity Kit

"Nutrition is the key to a healthy immune system and resistance to disease."

Does your dog suffer from non-seasonal skin issues? How about irritable bowel syndrome?

Food allergies are the talk of the decade and elimination diets, hypoallergenic diets, novel protein and limited ingredient diets are a topic of every other dog conversation.

Is the problem food allergies, or food sensitivity and intolerance?

Why split hairs? The fact is, that the problem is in the food.

Elimination trials are one answer.

The problem is, that this process can be cumbersome, takes quite a long time to get results and it often meets with poor compliance.

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a shortcut solution?

Perhaps there is. NutriScan.

NutriScan is a new, patented food intolerance and dog food sensitivity testing system. No blood is needed, all it takes is your dog's saliva.



NutriScan tests for 20 most common food allergens; beef, corn, wheat, soy, milk (cow), lamb, venison, chicken, turkey, white fish, egg (hen), barley, millet, oatmeal, salmon, rabbit, rice, quinoa, potato, peanut (peanut butter).

It is definitely easier, and it is supposed to be superior to other testing methods (such as serum-based food allergy testing).

I think, that if your dog is suffering with food-related skin problems, or digestive problems, it just won't hurt to take NutriScan for a test ride.

I am curious enough myself, that I plan on getting this done for Jasmine, as soon as we have some extra money. Maybe we will learn something new and maybe we will discover a way to improving her life.

Did you get the NutriScan test done for your dog? How did it work for you?

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What’s In the Vomit?

by Jennifer Coates, DVM

Dogs are built to vomit. No, I’m not kidding. 

A part of the brain named the “vomiting center” is especially well developed in dogs, and they have a layer of skeletal muscle throughout the length of the esophagus that essentially allows them to vomit at will.

So, if your dog occasionally throws up but you can point to the reason why (e.g., he ate too much, he ate too quickly, he ate something yucky, you’re driving on a curvy road) and he’s perfectly normal in all other regards, you probably have nothing to worry about.

There are times, however, when vomiting can be indicative of a serious medical problem, which begs the question, “How is an owner supposed to know when to be worried and when to write off vomiting as a dog just being a dog?”

Paying close attention to exactly what a dog is doing and producing will usually reveal the answer.

If your dog exhibits any of the following symptoms, play it safe and call your veterinarian:

• vomiting more than once or twice in a day
• projectile vomiting (a sign of possible gastrointestinal obstruction)
• poor appetite
• diarrhea
• lethargy
• weight loss
• changes in drinking and urinary habits
• abdominal pain
• abdominal enlargement

But that’s not all.

An often overlooked method of determining whether or not a dog’s vomiting is serious is to examine the vomit itself. 

I know, you’re thinking “gross,” but there really might be some good information in there. Here’s what to look for.

1. Nothing – as paradoxical as it may sound, a dog that is trying to vomit but nothing is coming up may be in the greatest danger of all. This is a classic symptom of gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV or bloat), a life-threatening condition that necessitates immediate veterinary attention if an affected dog is to survive.

2. Bright red blood – if there is more than just the smallest streak of blood, call your veterinarian ASAP. It should go without saying that if a dog is bleeding from his gastrointestinal tract, he needs immediate veterinary attention.

3. Coffee grounds – no your dog didn’t just raid the garbage can, this material is partially digested blood, call your veterinarian ASAP.

4. Worms – yes, dogs can vomit up gastrointestinal parasites. Roundworms are the most likely culprit, particularly in puppies. If your dog has just been dewormed, this is not an immediate cause for concern as long as he is happy, active, eating, drinking, and pooping. Continue with your deworming protocol. If your dog has not been dewormed recently, he needs treatment – call your veterinarian.

5. Frothy yellow or orange-tinged fluid – the froth is mucus mixed with other gastrointestinal fluids and the yellow-orange pigment comes from bile, which is secreted into the upper part of the small intestine. If your dog tends to vomit up fluid like this when his stomach is empty, he may have a condition known as “bilious vomiting syndrome.” Most cases can be managed by feeding more frequently throughout the day. Offering two or three small meals rather than one big one will usually do the trick.

6. Bright green material – some types of rodenticides (poisons used to kill mice and rats) are died a bright green color. If you notice a green discoloration to your dog’s vomit, call your veterinarian immediately.

And while you’re poking around in the vomit, collect a sample to bring to your dog’s veterinarian should you decide to make an appointment. 

The vet may not need it, but if they do (e.g., to test for a poison) you’ll be happy you didn’t throw it all away.

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Jennifer Coates, DVM graduated with honors from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999.  In the years since, she has practiced veterinary medicine in Virginia, Wyoming, and Colorado.  She is the author of several books about veterinary medicine and animal care, including the Dictionary of Veterinary Terms: Vet-speak Deciphered for the Non-veterinarian. 

Dr. Coates has recently joined the PetMD team and she is now writing for the Fully Vetted column; great blog, do check it out.

Jennifer also writes short stories that focus on the strength and importance of the human-animal bond and freelance articles relating to a variety of animal care and veterinary topics.  Dr. Coates lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, daughter, and pets.


Articles by Dr. Coates:
Kidney Disease – Say What? 
What Happens In The Dog's Body When The Kidneys Fail To Function Properly? 
Heat Stroke: What Happens In The Dog's Body?  
The Perplexities of Pancreatitis
The Other Side Of The Coin: The Cost Of Defensive Medicine
To Neuter Or Not To Neuter… That Is The Question
Don’t Forget the Physical Therapy
Common Misdiagnoses (Part 1)
Common Misdiagnoses (Part 2)
Picking the Right Dog to Breed
When Is It An Emergency?
Dog Allergies: Common, Commonly Misdiagnosed, or Both? 
Why Does The Spleen Get No Respect?
Protect Your Dog From Snake Bites 
More Creepy Crawlies
Why I Dislike Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Salmonella – A Significant Problem, Or Not?

Related articles:
Vomiting in Dogs: Is He Actually Vomiting?
Causes of Vomiting in Dogs
The Story Of Flossy And The Mystery Vomiting
Whats In The Urine? (Part I: What You Can Notice On Your Own)
What's In The Urine? (Part II: Urinalysis)
What's In The Blood? Blood Testing And Interpretation

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Dog Cartoon Of The Week: We'll Have The Homework

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Dog Cartoon of the Week is brought to you by Andertoons. Check out the website for more great cartoons.


Cartoonist Mark Anderson lives in the Chicago area with his wife, their children, two cats, a dog and several dust bunnies. You might have seen his cartoons in a number of publications including Reader's Digest, The Wall Street Journal, Good Housekeeping, Forbes, Barrons, Woman's World, Harvard Business Review, Saturday Evening Post, American Legion Magazine, Funny Times.

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Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA): Reader Stories (Part II)

Our 10 year old rat terrier Ralph was diagnosed with IMHA last December.

He was not acting like himself for a couple days, then he stopped eating, and was very warm. 

We took him into the vet the next morning. They suspected IMHA and started him on predisone, while we waited for the labs to come back. The labs confirmed the IMHA and we admitted him to a hospital with an autoimmune specialist. After six days in the hospital, three blood transfusions, daily acupuncture, and daily cocktails of predisone, cyclosporine, and lefluedomide, they were able to get the IMHA under control and released him.

It has been almost 4 months and he has been off medication for 7 weeks now and is back to his spunky, playful self. 

There were so many times during the treatment we thought we were going to lose him and were wondering if it was best for him to continue treatment. We are so grateful to his doctors and the staff at the hospital that told us to hang in there and give the medications a chance to work.

***

On April 7th 2011 my 11 year old Yorkie/Maltese, Bridgette, woke up sick. 

She had been fine the night before, running around with her 2 sisters. It was 7:30 in the morning and I had taken them out. Upon coming in she didn't want to eat she just sat and looked dazed.

Then she collapsed and cried at which point I rushed to the vets. 

My vet was not in but another vet checked her and said when he listened to her lungs it sounded like she had a little fluid on them and also a heart murmur which she hadn't had before.

He told me we should wait until the following Tuesday and gave us some fluids pills. 

He also said, that if she had another episode to bring her back.

When I got her home she slept for a while and then almost seemed like she was having a seizure. 

I returned to the vet at which time he took a chest x-ray. Again we returned home. Bridgette slept for a while and then started throwing up. It was now late Saturday afternoon and I had to call the vet as they were closed. He said he'd meet me there.

It was 4:30 PM the day before Easter that I kissed my sweet precious Bridgette good bye. 

They wanted to keep her and watch her.

They called later that night, that they thought it was IMHA. 

Bridgette was given large doses of predisone and a transfusion. On Easter they said that she was holding her own but her red blood cell count was very low.

Easter Monday morning I was hurrying to get ready to go to the clinic to see her as it was again open and I received a call that Bridgette had passed away. 

It was the worst day of my life. I hope no one has to go through it. I wasn't even aware that IMHA even existed.

***

We lost our Australian Shepherd, Bonnie, to IMHA complications. 

Like everyone else here, we never heard of the disease until April 28th. Bonnie survived the initial event and was put on prednisone and immunosuppressants, but died from a horrible internal fungal infection.

The infection wasn't diagnosed until it spread to her spinal cord and she couldn't walk. 

We had to let her go when it moved into her lungs. .

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My beautiful 10 yr old terrier mix,Sadie was very vibrant and full of life. 

She was a rescue who entered our home over 9 yrs ago and declared that she was alpha female to our little family of dogs and cats. Except for needing thyroid meds, she was healthy for her age.

On mon 9/10/12 at 4PM she collapsed. 

We took her to the vet immediately, after blood tests,she was diagnosed with IMHA.

First time I heard of it. 

Our vet started meds and was optomistic. Had a good night, was tired but good. Went back to vet for blood test and slightly worse, but still ok. Next day was weaker, started new meds, but alert, lost appetite late in day. That night she would only lay still and watch us or sleep. Then very late breathing became labored, we knew she was leaving us.

Called vet who met us at animal hospital,but she died before we got there. 

Three days is all it took for this horrible illness to take our baby.

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It is so comforting to read other stories.

And yet I still don't know if I did the right thing for my baby girl. 

Her name was Tinkerbell 5years old rat terrier she was so fun and sweet and she loved me and much as I will always love her.

She was fine one day - playing, chasing her tail - and the next, not eating, sleeping constantly, her gums where white I knew this wasn't good. 

I took her to the vet the next day, her counts were at 25. She was put on prednisone. Next day she was worse (15). They doubled her meds and gave her IV and was to bring her back in the morning.

By then her counts dropped down to 10 and they said she needed blood transfusion. 

I was not going to make her suffer anymore. She couldn't even hold her head up and her eyes were just glazed.  I couldn't put her though that.

I will always love her and miss her.

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I too have a Chihuahua who has IMHA . I have never heard of this awful disease before and have had pets all my life. 

I went to work and all was well. When I got home, Hayley did not act like herself. I do not know why but picked her up to look at her gums, which were very pale...

Off to the vet where we were told of this awful disease.

Hayley was sent to critical care animal hospital where she had a transfusion and IV and they put on her meds. She has done very well from get go.

After the 4 hours of the transfusion, Hayley wanted to eat and drink. 

She started having wasting from the predisone... so cut the dose and she is more like herself now . Her count went up from 8 to  24 after the transfusion, and the next day it was 25.

Now, after 4 weeks it is 40. We are going to send her to physical therapy with laser so she can regain her muscle.

We are not out of the woods.

Many things can happen with IMHA. It is very scary and we feel it was her shots. She had such a bad reaction she has a waver on all shots.


Related articles:
Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA): Reader Stories (Part I) 
IMHA Is Not To Be Taken Lightly: Know The Symptoms
Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde: Razzle's Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA)
Battling IMHA With Integrative Veterinary Medicine (part 1)
Battling IMHA With Integrative Veterinary Medicine (part 2)
I Am An IMHA Survivor! Dylan's Story
Liver Tumor? IMHA? Daphne's Story (Part I)
IMHA Complications: Daphne Didn't Make It

Further reading:
Anemia Related to the Immune System in Dogs
Immune-mediated Hemolytic Anemia
IMHA: Diagnosing and treating a complex disease
Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia in Dogs (IMHA), Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

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