With permission to quote:

“Most  autoimmune disorders can be traced back to vaccines. Add the junk food to that mix and all the other toxins we put on the animals like flea & tick control, the medications, and fluoridated/chlorinated water, etc, etc., and there is your so-called “endemic” illnesses. And remember all these are just symptoms NOT disease since each animal has its own dis-ease or body out of balance. While some of these symptoms are similar and manifest as diabetes or epilepsy or liver disease, etc, they are all symptoms of a body out of balance causing that particular body to have its own disease.

Western medicine treats symptoms as disease but holistic health pays attention to the whole animal – mind, body and spirit and that is what is treated, each individual animal NOT the symptoms and certainly not suppressing the symptoms as Western medicine is want to do. – Dr. Kim Bloomer, VND- Aspen Bloom pet Care.com “

Dogs should be fed healthy diets free of toxins and foods that are dangerous to their health.  If you eat healthy, there are many foods in your diet that work for dogs.  However, you should be aware of the foods that are NOT good for your dog.  Here is a link to an excellent  list of Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Dog.  What we now need is a list of toxins and products that can be found in commercial dog foods that dogs should never eat.   Do you want to know  What’s Really in Pet Food ?  Once you have digested the reality of the situation, here is an article on Selecting a Commerical Pet Food.  When all is said and done, perhaps it is time to explore a RAW Diet for your beloved dog.

http://www.akcchf.org/pdfs/poisonous_plant_guide.pdf

The vet was my vet and they recognized Puppy from her flyer.  They called me and we were reunited.  Miracles happen!

Disappeared Sunday, March 21, 2010 from farm in SW Arkansas between 3  -5:30 pm . She is one of  4 dogs that  disappeared at the same time.  3 older dogs returned in bad shape – exhausted early Tuesday morning.   One of the dogs that came home is a 9 year old English Shepherd – the Mom of the puppy.  She hasn’t moved in 24 hours.  Totally exhausted!  Strange circumstances.    Please email me with any information at mccall.lynda@gmail.com Reward!   Also here is a link to missing puppy flyer.

A buncher may get $25 for an animal.  The Class B dealer may get as much as $500 for a dog.

Are you upset yet?

One of the largest Class B dealers was in Willifore, Arkansas  lost  his license after being convicted of 100 counts of animal abuse  and neglect and for stealing of pets for laboratories and forging documentation.  You can google it for all the horrible details.

Here is a link to the people across the United States that hold a Class B dealers license.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/efoia/downloads/reports/B_cert_holders.txt

A Class B license allows the person to buy animals from “random sources” and sell them to  research facilities.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/downloads/manuals/dealer/requirements.pdf

Unfortunately, random sources may also include dogs stolen by bunchers.

We use to hang horse thieves.  We need to prosecute these people to the full extent of the law.

New information on bunchers in Mid-west: http://www.dogster.com/forums/Puppy_and_Puppies_Place/thread/666281

Sheriff in N. Minnesota reports dog thieves: http://www.sctimes.com/article/20100317/NEWS01/103170050/1 009/Dog-disappearances-reported–sheriff-says

This week I had the first case in history of raisin
toxicity ever seen at MedVet. My patient was
a 56-pound, 5 yr old male neutered lab mix
that ate half a canister of raisins sometime
between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM on Tuesday.  He
started with vomiting, diarrhea and shaking
about 1AM on Wednesday but the owner didn’t
call my emergency service until 7AM.

I had heard somewhere about raisins AND
grapes causing acute Renal failure but hadn’t
seen any formal paper on the subject. We
had her bring the dog in immediately. In the
meantime, I called the ER service at MedVet,
and the doctor there was like me – had heard
something about it, but … Anyway, we
contacted the ASPCA National Animal Poison
Control Center and they said  to give IV fluids
at 1 & 1/2 times maintenance and watch the
kidney values for the next 48-72 hours.

The dog’s BUN (blood urea nitrogen level) was
already at 32 (normal less than 27) and
creatinine over 5 (1.9 is the high end of normal).
Both are monitors of kidney function in the
bloodstream. We placed an IV catheter and
started the fluids. Rechecked the renal values
at 5 PM and the BUN was over 40 and creatinine
over 7 with no urine production after a liter of
fluids.  At the point I felt the dog was in acute
renal failure and sent him on to MedVet for a
urinary catheter to monitor urine output overnight
as well as overnight care.

He started vomiting again overnight at MedVet
and his renal values have continued to increase
daily. He produced urine when given lasix as a
diuretic. He was on 3 different anti-vomiting
medications and they still couldn’t control his
vomiting. Today his urine output decreased
again, his BUN was over 120, his creatinine was
at 10, his phosphorus was very elevated and his
blood pressure, which had been staying around
150, skyrocketed to 220 … He continued to vomit
and the owners elected to Euthanize.

This is a very sad case – great dog, great owners
who had no idea raisins could be a toxin. Please
alert everyone you know who has a dog of this
very serious risk.

Poison control said as few as 7 raisins or grapes could
be toxic. Many people I know give their dogs grapes
or raisins as treats including our ex-handler’s. Any
exposure should give rise to immediate concern.

Onions, chocolate, cocoa and macadamia nuts can
be fatal, too.

Having said that I feel an overwhelming need to shed light on what I do know.  I know that a form of  squealing triggers an instinctive response in some dogs to get aggressive.

I have seen it in my dogs.  Very passive, loving dogs with  no aggressive tendency will “attack” another dog that is making that squealing sound that comes with fear and vulnerability.  The more the victim is “harassed”, the louder the squeal.  The louder the squeal, the more aggressive the other dogs become.

I have seen this same behavior in dogs towards other animals – like moles, squirrels and other varmints.   The more they “squeak” the more the dog continues its aggressive behavior .

Perhaps this is an ancient behavior from the past.   A sound trigger that causes aggressive behavior.

Squeaky dog toys seem to play into this behavior stream.  The more the toy squeaks the better the dog like it.  They bite down to create the squeak again and again.   It is fun.  They like it.  It is fun to watch and fun with play with a squeaky toy and your dog.

Here is where the scenario gets difficult.  Young children tend to scream and  make that squeaky sound.  Should it cause a dog to get “rough” with the child , the child become frightened and screams more.  A vicious cycle can be created.

I think that some dogs are more prone to this response.  Perhaps dogs that are bred for their aggression tendencies are more likely to make this response.  And while children are most vulnerable, adults are also vulnerable to this behavior.  The worse thing you can do is scream if a dog attacks you.  It increases the frenzy.

What you do when you are approached by an aggressive dog is directly related to what the dog does next.

Again I am not an expert on this but don’t scream, don’t raise your arms (again a thing that children naturally do), don’t continue moving forward into the dog’s personal space, don’t look in the dog’s eyes.

Remain calm, try not to show fear and try to walk backwards out of the dog’s territory when the dog relaxes.

Dogs are amazing members of our human family.  They protect and save people.  They nourish our souls.  In return for their love and companionship, we need to understand more about dogs.

“UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED”

What do you think?

One of the ladies that was waiting for a pocket beagle puppies called me over a month ago.  She was worried about her year old Boston Terrier.  He stunk!  Smelled awful.  She took him to the vet and the vet said he was fine.  Just go home and give him a bath.

She bathed him and bathed him and bathed him.  But he still stunk!  And he was not  really fond of eating!

I asked her what she was feeding him (Not a 5 or 6 star dog food).  She agreed to change his food and call me back in about month.    She ordered  food off the internet. (We don’t have good dog food in our rural area).

First report a week later:  her  puppy was eating normally.  2nd report about a month later.  The smell was gone from his coat.   His coat which was coarse and rough was much softer and silkier.

Could the smell have been a release of the toxins that were building up in his body?    How many toxins can a dog take before his liver and other organs quit on him?  I don’t know the answer to that.  But I do know that it takes some time to see the difference when you change the diet.  In most dogs, it takes about a month to see a marked improvement.  The faster the improvement. the less damage that needs to be repair.  The longer it takes for the change to be visible, the more damage needs to be repaired.

The same is true for horses.  Being a horse person, I love the smell of horses.  If a horse smells bad, it is sick.  Even the breathe coming out of their nose.  If the breathe smells good, the horse is fine.  If the odor is rotten,  so goes his gut.

Ingredients

10 lbs of hamburger meat

l large box of Total cereal or comparable brand

l large box of oatmeal

1 jar of wheat germ

1 1/4 cup of vegetable oil

1 1/4 up of unsulfured molasses

10 raw eggs

1- envelopes of unflavored gelatin

pinch of sale

Mix all ingrediens together, much like you would a meatloaf

Divide into freezer bags and freeze.  Thaw as needed.

According to the source:

It will put on the weight in a few days.  Makes coats soft and blue black in black dogs.   Also stops  dogs from  itching and chewing at their  coats/skin.  Can be used as a total canine diet or as a supplement.  Good for picky eaters.

For me, however, the most powerful lesson is reflected in the comments of the trainer.  The lesson she learned from Ricochet can change the lives of millions of people.    Think on this as you watch this incredible video:

Instead of focusing on what your loved ones can’t do, focus on what they can do!

From Service Dog to Surfice Dog

What’s Really in Pet Food

After reading that, if you are ready to feed a raw diet to your dog, here is a article written by an Australian Vet on the subject.  More information is available at Tom Longsdale’s website Raw Meaty Bones.

Diet guide for domestic dogs and cats

Dingoes and feral cats keep themselves healthy by eating whole carcasses of prey animals. Ideally we should feed our pets in the same manner. Until a dependable source of whole carcasses becomes available, pet owners need a satisfactory alternative. The following recommendations, based on raw meaty bones, have been adopted by thousands of pet owners with excellent results.
The diet is easy to follow and cheap, and pets enjoy it.
• Fresh water constantly available.
• Raw meaty bones (or carcasses if available) should form the bulk of the diet.
• Table scraps both cooked and raw (grate or liquidise vegetables, discard cooked bones).
Puppies and kittens
From about three weeks of age puppies and kittens start to take an interest in what their mother is eating. By six weeks of age they can eat chicken carcasses, rabbits and fish.
During the brief interval between three and six weeks of age it is advisable to provide minced chicken, chicken carcasses or similar for young animals (as well as access to larger pieces that encourage ripping and tearing). This is akin to the part-digested food regurgitated by wild carnivore mothers. Large litters will need more supplementary feeding than small litters. (The meat and bone should be minced together. Meat off the bone can be fed, but only for a short time, until the young animals can eat meat and bone together — usually about six weeks of age.)
Between four and six months of age puppies and kittens cut their permanent teeth and grow rapidly. At this time they need a plentiful supply of carcasses or raw meaty bones of suitable size.
Puppies and kittens tend not to overeat natural food. Food can be continuously available.
Natural foods suitable for pet carnivores
Raw meaty bones
• Chicken and turkey carcasses, after the meat has been removed for human consumption, are suitable for dogs and cats.
• Poultry by-products include: heads, feet, necks and wings.
• Whole fish and fish heads.
• Goat, sheep, calf, deer and kangaroo carcasses can be sawn into large pieces of meat and bone.
• Other by-products include: pigs’ trotters, pigs’ heads, sheep heads, brisket, tail bones, rib bones.
Whole carcasses
• Rats, mice, rabbits, fish, chickens, quail, hens.
Offal
• Liver, lungs, trachea, hearts, omasums (stomach of ruminants), tripe.
Quality — Quantity — Frequency
Healthy animals living and breeding in the wild depend on the correct quality of food in the right quantity at a correct frequency. They thereby gain an appropriate nutrient intake plus the correct amount of teeth cleaning — animals, unlike humans, ‘brush’ and ‘floss’ as they eat.
Quality
Low-fat game animals and fish and birds provide the best source of food for pet carnivores. If using meat from farm animals (cattle, sheep and pigs) avoid excessive fat, or bones that are too large to be eaten.

Raw food for cats should always be fresh. Dogs can consume ‘ripe’ food and will sometimes bury bones for later consumption.
Quantity
Establishing the quantity to feed pets is more an art than a science. Parents, when feeding a human family, manage this task without the aid of food consumption charts. You can achieve the same good results for your pet by paying attention to activity levels, appetite and body condition.
High activity and big appetite indicate a need for increased food, and vice versa.
Body condition depends on a number of factors. The overall body shape — is it athletic or rotund — and the lustre of the hair coat provide clues. Use your finger tips to assess the elasticity of the skin. Does it have an elastic feel and move readily over the muscles? Do the muscles feel well toned? And how much coverage of the ribs do you detect? This is the best place to check whether your pet is too thin or too fat. By comparing your own rib cage with that of your pet you can obtain a good idea of body condition — both your own and that of your pet.
An approximate food consumption guide, based on raw meaty bones, for the average pet cat or dog is 15 to 20 percent of body weight in one week or 2 to 3 percent per day. On that basis a 25 kilo dog requires up to five kilos of carcasses or raw meaty bones weekly. Cats weighing five kilos require about one kilo of chicken necks, fish, rabbit or similar each week. Table scraps should be fed as an extra component of the diet. Please note that these figures are only a guide and relate to adult pets in a domestic environment.
Pregnant or lactating females and growing puppies and kittens may need much more food than adult animals of similar body weight.
Wherever possible, feed the meat and bone ration in one large piece requiring much ripping, tearing and gnawing. This makes for contented pets with clean teeth.
Frequency
Wild carnivores feed at irregular intervals. In a domestic setting regularity works best and accordingly I suggest that you feed adult dogs and cats once daily. If you live in a hot climate I recommend that you feed pets in the evening to avoid attracting flies.
I suggest that on one or two days each week your dog may be fasted — just like animals in the wild.
On occasions you may run out of natural food. Don’t be tempted to buy artificial food, fast your dog and stock up with natural food the next day.
Puppies, cats, ferrets, sick or underweight dogs should not be fasted (unless on veterinary advice).
Table scraps
Wild carnivores eat small amounts of omnivore food, part-digested in liquid form, when they eat the intestines of their prey. Our table scraps, and some fruit and vegetable peelings, are omnivore food which has not been ingested. Providing scraps do not form too great a proportion of the diet they appear to do no harm and may do some good. I advise an upper limit of one-third scraps for dogs and rather less for cats. Liquidising scraps, both cooked and raw, in the kitchen mixer may help to increase their digestibility.
Things to avoid
•Excessive meat off the bone — not balanced.
•Excessive vegetables — not balanced.
•Small pieces of bone — can be swallowed whole and get stuck.
•Cooked bones — get stuck.
•Mineral and vitamin additives — create imbalance.
•Processed food — leads to dental and other diseases.
•Excessive starchy food — associated with bloat.
•Onions, garlic and chocolate — toxic to pets.
•Grapes, raisins, sultanas, currants — toxic to pets.

]]> http://blog.englishshepherdcentral.com/2010/01/whats-really-in-dog-food/feed/ 0 http://blog.englishshepherdcentral.com/2010/01/cancer-signs-in-dogs/ http://blog.englishshepherdcentral.com/2010/01/cancer-signs-in-dogs/#comments Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:20:47 +0000 Lynda http://blog.englishshepherdcentral.com/?p=350 Cancer is a curse that continues to steal life from our friends, family and our beloved dogs.  Here are the 10 most common signs of a possible cancer in dogs.  These symptoms are very similar to the ones that appear in humans.

1. Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow
2. Sores that do not heal
3. Weight loss
4. Loss of appetite
5. Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
6. Offensive odor
7. Difficulty eating or swallowing
8. Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
9. Persistent lameness or stiffness
10. Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating

Cancer is easier to prevent than cure.   Keep your dog’s diet as free as possible from toxins.  Read the ingredient label carefully.    There is only so much “crap” a body can handle before the system begins to deteriorate.    We are what we eat and drink.  The same is true for our dogs!

]]> http://blog.englishshepherdcentral.com/2010/01/cancer-signs-in-dogs/feed/ 0 http://blog.englishshepherdcentral.com/2009/11/pet-airline/ http://blog.englishshepherdcentral.com/2009/11/pet-airline/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:27:52 +0000 Lynda http://blog.englishshepherdcentral.com/?p=345 Have you heard about this?   Pet Airways is an airline that is devoted to flying pets in the cabin.  They have a limited number of flights and a limited number of destinations.  But what a good idea!

It costs $200-$350 to fly a pup one way in Cargo on most carrier.  Why can’t we buy a seat for them?  The airfare for a person one way is often less than the price of the pet in cargo.  Airlines who are experiencing problems filling the seats in flights might think outside the box.  Open up those seats to Furry Family Members!

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker ’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ”I know why.”

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.

He said,”People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The Six-year-old continued,

”Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy..

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you’re not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

-Mark Twain

-Andy
Rooney

The AKC has cracked opened its door to mixed breed dogs.  For $35, they will register your dog and allow the dog to compete in special mixed-breed classes at stand-alone Agility, Obedience and Rally events.

I believe this is a huge step for this association.  There are some amazing dogs produced from selectively crossing specific breeds. Go dogs!

To learn more about their new program visit the AKC.

To his dog, every man is Napoleon, hence the constant popularity of dogs.

Aldous Huxley

was English Writer considered by some to be a leader of modern thought and best know by many for his novel,  Brave New World.

But I wonder what Huxley thought about Napoleon?  A great leader?  A kind compassionate guy?  A fun loving person?   What kind of leader does your dog want?

Or does the quote twist the message?  Every guy wants his dog to think of him as a great leader; therefore the popularity of dogs is related to every guy looking for adoration from dogs.

Any thoughts?

Happy Birthday to the Queen Mum

For example, if you are pack leader and the “kids” are doing something they shouldn’t, call to them “Let’s go” and turn and walk in the opposite direction.   Don’t look back.  If you are truly, the pack leader they will leave what they are doing and come with you.

This lesson has served me well in raising lots of puppies and managing my older dogs as well.

It took many months to find the perfect homes for each of these pups.  Angus was about 7 months old when his perfect family emailed me from Germany.

Here is a note that I just received from Angus’ Germany family. What a lucky English Shepherd to be so loved!

Angus is just a perfect dog. Brought the goats this morning to pasture. I blocked the one side so they couldn´t go into neighbour’s field and he drove them perfectly into the fence.  He´s so great when we´re walking and goats start to stray from the way to fields he goes the same direction like saying ” oh accidently there´s something really interesting behind you I´ve got to look at.”  Most of the time that´s enough for him to do.Goats know aleeady what that means. If not, he gives them a little more pressure. But he´s more like a gentleman dog.
When I walk in front of them and they don´t follow because they´re eating on a hedge Angus brings them without telling him . Just sometimes when he snoops around or having fun with my other dogs I give him a short signal and he´s immediately coming by like saying “sorry, I was a little thoughtless”.
He really is the best dog I ever had.
He is also extremely friendly to all kids- everybody loves him.