Woman holding sleeping puppy

4 Secrets to Becoming a Successful First-Time Dog Owner

Guest Post by Penny Martin Creator of Fureverfriend.info Are you thinking about adding your first dog to your family? Becoming a pet parent is a big responsibility, but with the right tools and know-how, you can make the transition positive for you and your furry best friend. So, if you are ready to take on the …

View full post
Mickey, a lost Min Pin, was last seen in Overland, MO

Have You Seen Mickey the Min Pin? What to do if Your Dog is Lost

Have You Seen Mickey the Min Pin? Mickey is missing. Mickey was last seen in Overland, MO on Ashby Road. He’s hard of hearing, 15 years old, and weighs around 15lbs. He’s been missing since Saturday the 13th, 2019. If you have seen, please leave a comment or use the contact form so we can …

View full post
Man with dog

Improving Your Mental Health with a Companion Animal

Guest Post by Jessica Brody Creator of OurBestFriends.pet   Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.—Anatole France It is safe to say that people really love having pets. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, about 72 percent of households in the United States own a pet, and it …

View full post
Sir Winston in his new home.

Another Chi Pin, Sir Winston, Finds a Home!

It’s always time to celebrate when a  rescue dog finds a fur-ever home.  One Chi Pin, Sir Winston, and his owner have found that they are the perfect match! Why Adopt a Rescue Dog? Rescue dogs are great pets.  Many dogs find their rescuers when a person comes to an animal shelter.  It is true …

View full post
Chipin postal alert

Life with a Chipin

What is a Chipin?   A Chipin is a cross between a Chihuahua and a Miniature Pinscher.  Chi’s and Min Pins, as they are affectionately known, can each be a handful, and when combined, watch out!  You may have a sassy, willful, opinionated, and smart dog–possibly too smart–with an energy level that is off the charts. …

View full post
4 Secrets to Becoming a Successful First-Time Dog OwnerHave You Seen Mickey the Min Pin? What to do if Your Dog is LostImproving Your Mental Health with a Companion AnimalAnother Chi Pin, Sir Winston, Finds a Home!Life with a Chipin

Mar 19

So You Think You Want a Miniature Pinscher?

Categories:

Miniature Pinscher Breed Information

by

Miniature pinscher puppySo You Think You Want a Miniature Pinscher?

Why I Love Miniature Pinschers

Miniature pinschers (affectionately known as min pins) are the greatest breed of dog on earth. They are graceful, charming, funny, smart, and endearing. I have happened to be lucky enough to own the three greatest miniature pinschers on earth, except yours of course. Seriously, min pins are great dogs, but I do like all dogs. However, it’s the min pin that has stolen my heart. Having spent over 13 years with miniature pinschers in my life, I have come to understand what the AKC miniature pinscher description (Meet the Breeds) means in real-world terms, and I want to share my experiences with you. This way, you can know both the joys and challenges of owning this feisty breed of dog and decide if the min pin is a match for your family.

Photo Credit: © Min Pin Mania 2013 Creative Commons Attribution

  • Miniature Pinscher Temperament

    • Fearless animation
    • Complete self-possession
    • Spirited Presence

Temperament

Important Considerations

I chose to discuss temperament first because I think it should be one of the first considerations when choosing a dog, and the min pin temperament represents unique challenges (and rewards). Below are is the AKC definition of a min pin’s temperament with real world examples.

  • AKC Breed Standard: Fearless animation, complete self-possession, spirited presence: Miniature pinschers, like many small dogs, do not know that they are small, and they will take on big challenges. Because miniature pinschers are avid hunters, they could catch prey bigger than they are! (At least, mine have.) In addition, miniature pinschers have confidence in abundance and typically have two gears: on and off.

atty running copyPhoto: © Min Pin Mania 2013 Creative Commons Attribution

  • AKC ‘Meet the Breeds’ Description: Quick and active, with a lively curiosity Quick and active is an understatement. When your min pin is in a hurry, the most you will see go by is a blurry streak. Because they are so quick, they can catch a wide variety of prey: squirrels, mice, and moles, to name a few. They are also capable of dodging you when you try to catch them. In fact they may think “dodge the human” is a fun game.This is not a good scenario when they are out in the street. I think “lively curiosity” refers to the fact that they will get into anything. If you get a min pin, you will learn to keep your possessions out of reach or have them destroyed. I have learned (the hard way) to keep the cord to my CPAP machine put away. For those of you not familiar with sleep apnea, a CPAP cord is a plastic hose with a headpiece made of highly chewable silicon. It is especially important to put away things harmful to your min pin, like medicine bottles.

Size

Big Dog Attitude in a Small Package

Miniature pinschers, as the name implies, are small in size: about 10 to 12 1/2 inches in height. AKC breed standard says that they should be about 11 to 11 1/2 inches at the withers (highest point on the shoulder blades). Miniature pinschers are square dogs; this means that their body length should equal their height (males) or slightly longer (females).

Because min pins are small, they are often recommended for people who live in apartments. While min pins can be very happy in an apartment, they will still need a fair amount of exercise. This can be accomplished with walks or active play in the apartment. While their exercise may not take much space, exercise is very important for this energetic breed and will take time.

Coat and Color

Colors Recognized by AKC

Coat and Grooming: The coat is smooth to the eye and touch. Hairs are short. In addition, the miniature pinscher doesn’t exude much oil from its skin. Thus, miniature pinschers do not require much grooming, and frequent bathing can dry their skin. The main grooming to be done is trimming their toe nails.

The following miniature pinscher coat colors are recognized by AKC:

  • Solid clear red
  • Stag red (red with intermingling of black hairs)
  • Black and rust
  • Chocolate and rust

  • Some coat colors are associated with a hereditary skin disorder

    Blue and Fawn Miniature

    Pinschers are Prone to

    Color Dilution Alopecia

Blue and fawn (dilute black and dilute chocolate, respectively) coat colors are genetically associated with a skin condition called “color dilution alopecia” and are not recognized by AKC. See the Color Dilution Alopecia post for details.

Min Pin Body and Gait

Some Physical Features that Distinguish Miniature Pinschers

This is a non-comprehensive list of physical features that distinguish miniature pinschers from other breeds.

  • Compact. Miniature pinschers are small, but every ounce of their little bodies are full of impact. Compact in the AKC definition is firmly joined union of various body parts.
  • Hackney-like gait: A high lifting of the front feet accompanied by flexing of the wrist like that of a hackney horse. The hackney-like gait of the miniature pinscher makes the min pin look as if it is prancing. This just enhances the proud attitude of the miniature pinscher. It’s hard not to laugh when a min pin has a “treasure” (e.g., prey it has caught, a toy it has stolen, etc.) and prances around the yard.
  • Short-coupled: In AKC terms, coupling refers to the part of the body between the ribs and the pelvis/hindquarters; the loin.

Is a Miniature Pinscher a Good Fit for Your Family?

Family Environment Makes a Difference

That your new puppy fit into your lifestyle is of the utmost importance. Several factors influence in what situations miniature pinschers do well. These include (but are definitely not limited to) space available, age of family members, activity level of the family, time and patience for training.

  • Space available. As discussed earlier, space may or may not be an issue. If you are able to engage in active play or go for long walks, apartment life will suit a min pin quite well. If not, a miniature pinscher must have enough space and attention to burn off it’s energy, which min pins have in abundance.
  • Young family members. First, remember that young children, especially babies and infants, should never be left alone with any dog, regardless of the age, temperament, or breed of the dog. That being said, miniature pinschers can be great with children. Miniature pinschers are sturdy dogs; however, they do have a fine bone structure, and cannot tolerate as rough play like bigger dog breeds can. Thus, play with young children should be supervised for the safety of both the children and the dog. Older children should be instructed so that they can play safely and not injure the dog.
  • Older family members. Miniature pinschers can live as long as 18 to 20 years, and people often have many changes in lifestyle over this time frame. Min pins are high energy, and will probably jump, run, and insist to be played with, especially in its younger years. Many older adults don’t like a dog jumping in their lap or wanting to play fetch for hours on end. Walks could also be limited. This could make it difficult to get in the min pin’s exercise requirements. However, if the situation allows, a min pin can be a great companion for an older person.
  • Activity level of the family. As discussed several times in this post, miniature pinschers are high energy. I can’t emphasize this enough. This characteristic is one of our favorite traits of the miniature pinscher breed. The energy min pins bring to our household add excitement, fun, and joy to our lives. Thus, a miniature pinscher is a good fit for a family with an active lifestyle.
  • Time and patience for training. When we adopted Zeus, our first miniature pinscher, we knew that min pins were smart. We thought that would make training easy. Silly us. It can, in fact, also make training more difficult. In addition to intelligence, miniature pinschers are stubborn, willful, and independent thinkers. Instead of coming when called, a miniature pinscher, even when it knows you want it to come, may think it’s time to run away (for example at bath time or when asked to go outdoors in the rain). This makes a great game of “chase.” It’s best if you have the time and patience to laugh at some min pin antics, but not to the extent of making training ineffective, of course.

Adoption Process

Application…Interview…Home Study?

When we adopted our first dog, an intact purebred male, my husband and I considered getting a female and breeding them. We quickly found out that we probably were not cut out for breeding dogs. One day, while discussing the subject, he expressed concern that I wouldn’t be able to bear parting with any of the puppies. I assured him that after the application, interview, and home study, I would be perfectly comfortable selling the puppies. He groaned and decided that maybe we should just keep pets.

While I was being facetious when I talked about the requirements I would implement, many breeders and rescue groups do have extensive pre-adoption requirements, and it is actually a good thing for not only the breeder or rescue group, but also for the adoptive family. If the breeder goes to the trouble it takes for an application, interview, and home study, it is likely that you have found a reputable breeder who is interested in the betterment of the miniature pinscher breed, which includes breeding healthy dogs. At the very least, the breeder probably has not mistreated or neglected his or her dogs.

Consider Rescue

Miniature Pinschers Need Loving Homes

As I’ve said earlier in this post, min pins can be difficult to train, have excessive energy, and can be little tyrants if you let them. Because many owners don’t realize this, min pins often get mistreated, neglected, or abandoned. If you want a miniature pinscher and are interested in rescue, there are many min pins in need of a loving home. A simple way to find a min pin is to tell nearby animal shelters that you are looking for a min pin. In addition, there are several rescue groups dedicated to min pins on the web. Here are some I have heard about:

Do You Have a Dog?

Tell Us About Your Dog

What is your favorite breed of dog? What are your dog’s favorite hobbies: napping, snuggles, fetch? Is your dog lively or sedate? If your dog is like mine, it may have two gears: off and on. If you don’t have a dog, are you considering getting a dog? Which breed and why? Or, leave a comment to just say “hello.” We’d love to hear from you.

Email this to someoneShare on Google+Pin on PinterestTweet about this on TwitterShare on Facebook

Tags: , , , , ,

59 comments

Feb 21

Are Dogs Dangerous?

Categories:

Dogs in the News

by

What is a Dangerous Dog?

Preventing innocent people from being bitten by dogs with careless owners is a major problem. However, dogs being euthanized just for “being dogs” is also unjust. Many states  have tried to legislate a fair way to distinguish between the two extremes, but much is lacking in understanding the problem from the standpoint of dog psychology as well as that of common sense. Some states, like Maryland, have adopted the language “dangerous dog.”

  • Responsible Dog Owners Might…

    • Buy leash
    • Install and maintain fence
    • Socialize at dog park
    • Enroll in obedience class

This leads me to ask a question: What is the definition of a “dangerous dog?” In my opinion, all dogs will bite under certain circumstances, and sometimes, we as humans may not know when the dog believes the circumstances are dire. This makes it sometimes difficult or impossible to predict when a dog might bite.

Dog Owners Must Prove Their Dog not “Dangerous”

The Maryland House of Representatives unanimously passed a measure increasing the liability of dog owners when a dog bite occurs, according to the Feb. 21, 2013 edition of the Washington Post. Dog owners now must prove that their dog is not a “dangerous dog,” whereas previously, the plaintiff had to prove that the dog was “dangerous.”

Maryland considers a dog dangerous when it has done one of the following:

  • has inflicted a bite while on public or private property
  • when not on its owner’s property has killed or inflicted severe injury on a domestic animal
  • has attacked without provocation

Other than the fact that it is impossible to prove a dog has not done any of the above, I see many potential problems with this definition. However, in this post, I do not want to focus solely on Maryland’s law. I simply want to bring some perspective to the problem of defining a dog as dangerous.

Dogs in pain are likely to bite.

I would like to offer this example: My cousin had a very gentle and very large dog they named Sarge. Sarge had shown zero aggression to humans his entire life. One day when he was very old, he bit the family’s three year old girl. Although the girl didn’t suffer serious injury, the family was stunned. They gained a little more insight the next day. The dog died and had probably been very sick, in pain, and likely in a mental state that prevented him from even recognizing the child. Because he was so close to death, he may not have known who he was biting. Are all dogs who bite when in pain dangerous?

Dogs protecting their owners are likely to bite.

I recall one news story in Oklahoma where an elderly couple were being robbed. The woman, hearing the commotion, let their aging rottweiler loose. The dog promptly chased the robber, and the robber (wisely) ran away. I think everyone can agree that had the dog bitten, it would have been justified. I truly believe that dogs can sense danger. However, dogs do not interpret signs of danger correctly with 100% accuracy. Is any dog who would protect its owner dangerous?

Dogs sometimes bite other dogs.

We have all probably heard stories about little dogs attacked by bigger dogs. Having raised little dogs, I know that little dogs don’t understand size. My 12 pound miniature pinscher attacked a rottweiler at obedience school. Thankfully, the rottweiler just looked at Zeus and paid no more attention to him. (Zeus did eventually graduate, although he had to stay after class a few times.) While I can’t imagine how traumatic it would be if my little dog was attacked, I would not have blamed the rottweiler. I have to wonder: Are all dogs who bite other dogs dangerous?

Bites with Little or No Injury

I raise miniature pinschers, and each dog has had a different temperament, including having been on different points along the aggression spectrum. However, none of the dogs I have raised have been capable of causing serious injury. Is inflicting a small red mark dangerous? Dogs also nip, and often it is it just to establish pack order or other communication. How would law differentiate between a nip and a bite? Are these dogs dangerous?

Dog Owner Accountability

I firmly believe that pet owners should be responsible for the actions of their pets, and dog owners who do not use good judgment regarding their dog should be held accountable. I believe this accountability should include obeying all laws as well as using simple common sense. I also know that some dog owners take more care than others about issues involving their dogs.

Legislation should be passed that punishes careless dog owners. However, if we declare all dogs that might bite dangerous and take them out of society, we would have no dogs left. I think the idea that all dogs who bite are “dangerous” is ridiculous and highly subjective. What do you think?

Email this to someoneShare on Google+Pin on PinterestTweet about this on TwitterShare on Facebook

Tags: , , , , ,

Feb 11

How to Treat Ringworm in Dogs

Categories:

Dog Health

by

=/

 

Dog with ringworm

The gray spot on Athena’s shoulder is ringworm.

Ringworm in Dogs

Athena’s Ordeal

My dog, Athena, is a beautiful red miniature pinscher. She is spirited, lively, and an avid hunter. She hunts everything that moves, and has even caught a squirrel or two. In addition she, like all dogs, likes to roll in dead things. This is how I believe she contracted ringworm. She contracted a species of ringworm, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, which is common rodents. Since the first spot of infection was on her shoulder, I think she rolled on a “wonderful” smelling dead mouse.

Until Athena, got ringworm, I thought ringworm was a simple skin infection that would yield easily to treatment. In her case, however, I was mistaken. In this post, I hope to provide useful information about ringworm causes, signs, symptoms, treatments, and home care that can speed the treatment for other dogs with ringworm. I learned this through researching Athena’s ordeal as well as numerous vet visits, veterinary specialists, tests and cultures, rigorous home health practices, and numerous and sometimes expensive treatments.

What is Ringworm?

Signs and Symptoms

Pink hairless patches with red bumps

Some symptoms of ringworm.

Ringworm, unlike the name implies, is not a worm. It is actually a fungus. Three species of ringworm commonly infect dogs: Microsporum canis, M. gypseum, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, but M. canis, which causes about 70% of ringworm infections in dogs, is the most common. (See the Merck Veterinary Manuel section on Dermatophytosis) However, the species causing Athena’s infection was T. mentagrophytes,

Often, ringworm infections occur on the face, ears, paws, and tail (WebMD Ringworm in dogs); however, Athena’s first occurred on her shoulder. It then spread to her face and ears. Since T. mentagrophytes primarily infects rodents, and we don’t have rabbits or other rodents as pets, I think she found a dead mouse and rolled in it, as dogs tend to do.

The fungi that cause ringworm reproduce and are transmitted from place to place and from animal to animal by spores. Spores are microscopic particles that are particularly difficult to inactivate. In addition, when an animal has ringworm, its fur is loaded with spores. This is why such large amounts of bleach and extremely meticulous of home hygiene are necessary to disinfect your home. (See section, below).

Common symptoms of ringworm in dogs include the following:

  • patches of missing hair (alopecia),
  • broken hairs, and
  • gray, scaly patches of skin
  • pink or red pustules. (See pic, above.)

Home Hygiene

Treating Ringworm Can be a Big Commitment

Bleach

Bleach inactivates fungal spores.

The home hygiene practices my veterinarian recommended were extensive.

  • All furniture should be covered with sheets.
  • Wash the sheets and dog bedding every other day.
  • Use four cups* of bleach per load.
  • Vacuum and dust every day

*If you use a septic tank, this much bleach could damage the bacteria in your septic system. You may want to check out alternative routes of disinfection.

To save my good sheets, I purchased some from the local thrift store. The schedule of changing and bleaching sheets and dog bedding as well as bathing the dog was grueling, but getting rid of the fungal spores was crucial. If your dog sleeps with you, you should also change and bleach the sheets on your bed and your pajamas every day.

Home Remedies

Try the 1-2-3 Punch

Topical antifungals (e.g., Tinactin, Lamisil, Zeasorb) can be started at the first signs of ringworm. Other home measures include home hygiene (described above), and shampooing with an antifungal shampoo. When I noticed a gray, scaly patch on Athena’s shoulder, I called my veterinarian right away. She told me to put a topical antifungal, Tinactin, on it. While many cases of ringworm will clear up with this treatment, we were not so lucky.

Next Steps for Treating Ringworm

Veterinary Care

Next, our veterinarian prescribed oral antifungal medicine. First, she prescribed ketoconazole, at a low dose, but that didn’t clear up the ringworm. She increased the dose, but that just made Athena sick. Then, she prescribed itraconazole, but that medicine was expensive and didn’t help, either. This was a very resilient ringworm!

In severe outbreaks, like Athena’s was becoming, secondary bacterial infections are a concern. These lesions looked scabby and red–think of a fresh scab from a skinned knee. This is in contrast to the gray or pink scales of the fungal infection. The red, bloody looking scabs, which were the size of a pencil eraser on Athena, were on her neck and surrounding areas.

If your dog experiences hair loss will likely grow back; however, it can take several weeks or months. If the infection is not treated right away or is tenacious, like Athena’s was, the hair loss could be permanent.

How to Prepare for Your Trip to the Doggie Dermatologist

A Veterinary Dermatologist Can be a Great Resource

  • Items to remember…

    • Avoid grooming
    • Stop antihistamines and steroids*
    • Bring your vet’s phone and fax numbers and medical records
    • Bring dog food ingredient list

    *Check with your vet for instructions

Now, it was time for the doggie dermatologist. A veterinary dermatologist may be able to definitively diagnose the ringworm by finding out what species of fungus is causing the problem. She first cultured the fungus by taking skin scrapings and hair from the affected area. She incubated the samples on a special medium conducive to bacterial growth. Then, she stained the resulting fungi with a special dye and looked at it under a microscope. The culture came back positive for Trichophyton mentagrophytes. This fungus is most common in rodents, but does occasionally cause ringworm in dogs (approx. 10% of ringworm cases in dogs are T. mentagrophytes).

The following is an excerpt from the web page of one veterinary dermatology clinic (Animal Dermatology Referral Clinic). It describes their recommendations for how to prepare for an appointment. Your veterinary dermagologist may have similar instructions:

It is best if you avoid grooming your pet and administering antihistamines and/or steroids before your first visit to our office. Please discuss a safe withdrawal protocol with your pet’s family veterinarian or our office staff. If withdrawal from these medications is not possible due to severe reactions, do not worry, the veterinary dermatologist can discuss options during your first visit.

It is also essential that you bring your vet’s phone and fax number and any medical records that have not been faxed already. In addition, you may want to bring an ingredient list from the label of your dog’s food as allergies can sometimes be a problem in dogs and should be ruled out. A trip to the veterinary dermatologist can be expensive (my visit was about $120), but it can be worth it for the sake of the dog, and potentially your pocket book. If, by visiting a specialist, you are able to find a medicine more specific to your dog’s needs, you may not waste money on other expensive medicines.

Ringworm is Also a Human Pathogen

My Ordeal with Ringworm

Some species of ringworm are not transmissible to humans. However, T. mentagrophytes is, at least in my case. Not long after Athena started showing symptoms of ringworm, I did, too. Anyone who has had a fungal infection like athlete’s foot or ringworm knows how itchy, irritating, tenacious, and even painful a fungal infection can be. My ringworm was all of the above. I went to my family doctor. I tried both oral and topical antifungals in various combinations. Just when I thought the infection was gone, an itchy, scaly patch would crop up again, and I had to start all over.

My family doctor referred me to a dermatologist, who did a biopsy. The diagnosis of ringworm was confirmed, and the mycelia (structures found in fungi) were “consistent with a Trichophyton species.” The dog and I had been transferring the ringworm back and forth. We both had to be fungus-free and get rid of all the spores in the house to ever be rid of this irritating, if not dreadful, infection.

To confound the problem, I was unable to take any of the oral antifungals usually prescribed for ringworm due to medication interactions. The first medicine the dermatrologist recommended was the over the counter topical Lamisil. After 4 weeks, my symptoms resolved, and after 8 weeks, I stopped using the cream. Athena’s infection seemed to be better, too. However, after I quit using the cream, Athena’s and my ringworm both returned.

Next, the dermatologist recommended I use three different topicals: Tinactin, Lamisil, and Zeasorb. When I used these three medicines, my ringworm finally cleared, and I hope never to return. The End. Hopefully…

Email this to someoneShare on Google+Pin on PinterestTweet about this on TwitterShare on Facebook

Tags: , , , , , ,

3 comments

Feb 05

Top 5 What NOT to Do for Your Sick Dog

Categories:

Dog Health

by

Sick dogPhoto Credit: Garden State Hiker on Flickr

  1. Don’t give human medicines without the advice of a veterinarian. Although dogs and humans are quite similar in most aspects of their physiology, subtle differences do exist, and those differences can lead to tragedy if they are not addressed. Thus, many medications that are safe for humans are not safe for dogs. Even common over the counter medications can be a hazard. For example, Tylenol and Advil are two common human medications that are toxic to dogs. Tylenol is toxic to a dog’s liver and Advil is harmful to its kidneys. Even though it may seem logical to give your dog a particular human medication, it could be extremely toxic and cause your pet unnecessary suffering.
  2. Don’t give your dog milk. One might think that milk could calm an upset stomach, prevent dehydration, or provide nutrition, but milk may make matters worse. This is because adult dogs, like many adult mammals, are lactose intolerant. Stick with broth for a home remedy.
  3. Don’t assume that a cold wet nose means that your dog is healthy. A dog whose nose is warm and dry often has a fever; however, the dog could have a fever even if its nose is cold and wet, or it could need veterinary attention even if it doesn’t have a fever. Other symptoms such as lethargy, refusal to eat or drink, and any other abnormal behavior should be taken into consideration. Look at the whole picture to decide when to call the vet.
  4. Don’t wait for symptoms to develop if your dog has ingested something poisonous. My dogs, Athena and Zeus, chewed through a bottle of Tylenol once. It was especially inviting since it was candy-coated. I took them to the emergency vet hospital immediately where they received treatment. Had I waited until symptoms to develop it would likely have been too late; liver failure and death are common shortly after symptoms appear.
  5. Don’t panic. A clear head is essential to good decision making, which is what your dog needs from you in a time of crisis.
Email this to someoneShare on Google+Pin on PinterestTweet about this on TwitterShare on Facebook

This post has no tag

Jan 28

How to Care for Your Sick Dog

Categories:

Dog Health

by

How to care for a sick dogPhoto Credit: Jana Comer

I can’t sleep tonight. My dog, Athena, is sick. She started showing symptoms at 5:05 Friday. It is now the wee hours of Monday morning. I know that I will be able to talk to her veterinarian in a few hours, but her coughing keeps me awake. I am not awake because of the noise, but rather, I am worried about her health and would like to alleviate her suffering.

When my dogs are sick, I feel totally helpless for several reasons. Dogs cannot tell me where it hurts, how bad it is, etc. I have to guess, and this makes me uneasy, I can’t understand the severity of their illness, which is (of course) essential to providing the proper level of care. Since my dogs always get sick at 5:05 PM on Friday, I have to decide: “Should I take my dog to the animal hospital emergency room or can it wait until Monday morning?”

Also, just like I hate to see a child suffer, I also hate to see a dog suffer. I want to give it something to make it feel better, but what medicines can I safely give my dog? Does the illness need to run its course or should I intervene? If so, how urgent is it? No blog post or article can answer these questions, but I hope that the information provided in this on will be helpful.

Do….

Do find web sites with veterinary information. Stick to sources you trust. For example, I trust the following:

 

Do invest in first aid and animal health books. These books are a great source of information. It is important that you have them on hand because you never know when you will need them. Here are some of my picks:

Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook:

Book description: Hardcover and Kindle edition from Amazon; 656 Pages. The guide dog lovers have relied on for more than twenty-seven years, this handbook has been extensively revised to include the latest information on everything from canine healthcare to nutrition to holistic treatments. Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook, Fourth Edition, is the definitive guide for every dog owner. It puts vital information at your fingertips, with:

  • An index of signs and symptoms to help you find information fast
  • Clearly written, step-by-step directions for handling common canine ailments and problems
  • A chapter on emergencies that explains what to do immediately for shock, broken bones, burns, dehydration, heat stroke, poisoning, insect stings and bites, wounds, and more

The Complete Healthy Dog Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Keeping Your Pet Happy, Healthy & Active:

Book description: Paperback and Kkindle edition from Amazon; 496 pages. The Complete Healthy Dog Handbook is the one essential and truly readable book for these devoted dog owners. Surpassingly clear and complete, with more than 100 illustrations and diagrams, it covers everything from choosing the best dog to puppy care, nutrition, vaccines, behavior, first aid, and senior care, plus thorough discussions of more than 100 canine illnesses. Reflecting the latest advances in veterinary medicine, this edition offers up-to-the-minute advice on “design dog” breeds, pet food safety, homemade diets, changing vaccine protocols, new medications for allergies, car sickness, obesity, and heart disease, developments in surgery and cancer treatment, pet insurance, and more.

 

Do give supportive care. Keeping some broth handy can be very useful. Use broth (not milk) to encourage your dog to drink fluids. If your dog is not eating or drinking water, it might drink a little broth. While it’s not a source of calories, it will prevent dehydration. Another use for broth is that it can “dilute” a toxin, but use this technique only under the advice of a vet. If your dog has been poisoned, take it to your vet, a local animal hospital, or call the ASPCA poison control hotline (listed above) immediately.

Keep baby aspirin on hand, It can be a pain reliever, fever reducer, and has other uses as well. Consult your vet for dosing instructions and whether aspirin is an appropriate medicine for your dog’s condition.

Other supportive care includes providing soft blankets where it can lie down, make sure the temperature is comfortable, and generally make your dog more comfortable.

 

Do keep a log of symptoms. For example, if your dog has a cough, record the time, intensity, duration, and what she was doing before the coughing started. As you notice a symptom, write it down. This may prove to be valuable information for your vet.

 

To be continued… A future post will cover what NOT to do for your sick dog.

 

Email this to someoneShare on Google+Pin on PinterestTweet about this on TwitterShare on Facebook

This post has no tag

Jan 21

Training an Adult Dog: Sit, Stay, Release

Categories:

Dog Training

by

 

You can train any dog to do most anything in 5 minutes a day with consistency, reinforcement, and repetition. Here we are focusing on training an adult dog the commands sit, stay, and release. While most of the post below is applicable to puppies also, adult dogs do have a few different issues.

Adult dogs are different than puppies. Adult dogs are more coordinated and have a longer attention span. Please note that the attention span of even an adult is not very long, especially with some breeds. However, it is most likely longer than when the dog was a puppy. Many adult dogs were rescued and may not have grown up under the ideal conditions and have had little human interaction. You may need to spend some time building trust.

Sit, stay, and release are important commands. Sit, stay, and the release command are three core commands that every dog should be taught. These are not just tricks to amaze your friends. They are key to a well behaved dog. If the dog will sit and stay until released, you can solve the problem of, for example, the dog jumping on you or your friends. It will help with dominance issues if you employ it a meal time: have the dog sit (or down) and stay until released. Only then is the dog allowed to eat.

[important]Please note that above, the words “be taught” were used instead of “know.” Dogs do not automatically know what we expect of them, and must be taught. When training a dog, please remember how kind and patient your parents and teachers were to you.[/important]

Teaching sit, stay, and release in action. The following video demonstrates how to teach the sit command. Nano is a 2 year old Miniature Pinscher/Chihuahua rescue. Since this video was taken a week after he was adopted, he is at the beginning of his training. The object is that Nano sit and stay, and only when he is given the release command does he get a treat.

As you can see, Nano is high energy, which is a Min Pin breed characteristic, but Min Pin owners already know this. Min Pins are highly trainable, though. One way to combat their energy is to walk them before training. Then they will be calmer and more likely to listen. Min Pins are also smart and usually food-motivated. Use these characteristics to your advantage.

[important]Consistency, Reinforcement, and Repetition are the keys to dog training.[/important]

Setting your dog up for success. When training a dog, you should always be consistent: when you say the command and the dog responds appropriately, you should acknowledge the dog with praise and possibly a treat. If you don’t intend to insist that the dog follow the command, don’t give it. After your dog understands what you want it to do when you say the command, you can start giving the treat intermittently.  Intermittent reinforcement is the most powerful type of reinforcement. This is the same type of reinforcement a person gets from slot machines at casinos, and casinos take full advantage of it. However, praise should be given every time. With enough repetition of the command and by phasing out the treat slowly, the dog can be taught to do the command without a treat.

 

Email this to someoneShare on Google+Pin on PinterestTweet about this on TwitterShare on Facebook

This post has no tag

Oct 13

Is Breakfast the Meal of Champions for Dogs?

Categories:

Uncategorized

by

We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but does it also hold true for dogs? According to recent research, it is. I’ve always fed my Min Pins two meals a day because if I don’t, their tummies get upset. It seems that I may have been helping their brains, too.

In a recent article in BBC Nature (Oct 10, 2012), reporter Jeremy Coles describes research done by Dr Holly Miller and colleague Charlotte Bender at the University of Kentucky that shows search dogs’ performance is enhanced 30 minutes after a meal vs. after fasting 12 hours. The dogs that had recently eaten were better able to find a treat hidden in one of six containers.

Why the difference? I think it is likely that since there is more energy available to the brain after a meal, the brain is better able to perform processes that require a high level of cognitive function.

Dr. Miller has also found that self-control is correlated with energy levels of dogs.This, too, in my opinion likely requires a large amount of brain power. The article quotes Dr. Miller: “When hungry, they become less able to control their behaviour and this might be why, when hungry, they are so much more dangerous and unpredictable.”

Take home messages: Your dog’s breakfast is as important as your own, and don’t mess with a hungry animal.

“Dogs’ breakfasts boost search performance, says study” by Jeremy Coles Reporter, BBC Nature. www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19869425. Accessed 10/12/2012.

Email this to someoneShare on Google+Pin on PinterestTweet about this on TwitterShare on Facebook

This post has no tag

Sep 19

Laugh Out Loud

Categories:

Uncategorized

by

These jokes have been around awhile, but I think they are worth repeating. Do any of them sound familiar?

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE PETS, THIS IS A TRUE STORY.

FOR  THOSE THAT DON’T, IT’S ALSO A TRUE STORY.
The  following was found posted very low on a refrigerator door.

Dear  Dogs and Cats: The  dishes on the floor with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The  other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle  of my plate does not mean that is suddenly your food, nor do I find that  aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The  stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the  top of the stairs is not the object. Tripping me doesn’t help because I fall  faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized  bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the  couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball  when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other,  stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails  straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space  that you are taking up, is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time,  there is no secret exit from the  bathroom!  If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to  get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the  knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must  exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for  years – canine/feline attendance is not required.

The proper order for  kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat’s butt. I cannot  stress this enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the  following message on the front door:
TO  ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR  PETS:

(1)  They live here….you don’t.
(2)  If you don’t want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.  That’s  why they call it “fur”-niture.
(3)  I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
(4)  To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are  short, hairy, walk on all fours and don’t speak  clearly.

Remember,  dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
(1)  eat less,
(2)  don’t ask for money all the time,
(3)  are easier to train,
(4)  normally come when called,
(5)  never ask to drive the car,
(6)  don’t hang out with drug-using people;
(7)  don’t smoke or drink,
(8)  don’t want to wear your clothes,
(9)  don’t have to buy the latest fashions,
(10)  don’t need a gazillion dollars for college and
(11)  if  they get pregnant, you can sell their children…….

*Editor’s note: 1, 3, 4, and 5 are debatable depending on the dog or cat.

 

Email this to someoneShare on Google+Pin on PinterestTweet about this on TwitterShare on Facebook

This post has no tag

Aug 15

Miniature Pinscher AKC Breed Standard Translated

Categories:

Uncategorized

by

Eddie

Photo Credit: Robert Engberg on Flickr

Below, you will find excerpts from the AKC Miniature Pinscher “Meet the Breeds” and how they translate in real life.

AKC says…

Known as the “King of the Toys.”

Alert, spirited and fearless

The Miniature Pinscher can really spice up a person’s life

This dog is small, but he doesn’t know it!

Lively curiosity

Bravely challenging intruders with their bold, insistent bark.

He may be stubborn, but he’s also smart.

Jana says…

It will rule your house if you let him.

Thinks he could take a Doberman in a fight..

You will spend enormous amounts of time either chasing after it or laughing at its pranks.

Possible vet bills from taking on larger dogs.

Gets into EVERYTHING.

I call my Min Pins, “Head of Security,” and they take their jobs seriously.

Possibly too smart. Also clever, conniving, strategic; little devils, for short

In conclusion…

If you are thinking about getting a Min Pin, note that though it may be possible to keep the Min Pin from stealing your laundry, you won’t be able to keep it from stealing your heart.

Further Information

AKC MEET THE BREEDS®: Miniature Pinscher

Miniature Pinscher Club of America, Inc.

How to Pick a Puppy (PDF) from AKC web site

Email this to someoneShare on Google+Pin on PinterestTweet about this on TwitterShare on Facebook

Tags: , , ,

Jul 29

Top Five Safety Tips for Dog Owners

Categories:

Dog Health

by

REUNITED!!! Bailey - Min Pin
Bailey, the Miniature Pinscher here, was displaced by the Joplin, MO tornado in 2012. Photo credit: Joplin Tornado Lost and Found Pets on Flickr.

We love our dogs and don’t want anything bad to happen to them. However, the reality is that dogs will get into things, and many times, there is nothing we can do about it. However, there are some things we can prevent. I’ve listed five that I think are most important.

  1. Microchipping. Dogs, especially Min Pins, can find new ways to get loose every day, and animal shelters only keep dogs for a limited number of days before they are put up for adoption or euthanized. Thus, it is important that owners can be contacted quickly if picked up by animal control. Microchipping is the best way to do this since collars can get lost and tags can become illegible.
  2. Car Restraints. Min Pins love to ride in the front seat with their head out the window, but in case of a wreck, the results can be disastrous. Min Pins and puppies of any breed who have free reign in a car can also get under the brake pedal and make stopping impossible. Car restraint systems or hard-sided carriers can prevent the worst if an accident happens.
  3. Fire Safety Stickers. I can’t imagine losing a pet in a fire or other natural disaster, especially when it might have been saved if rescuers had known a dog was in the house. Fire safety stickers (e.g., ones that say, “Firefighter, please save our pets”) may save your pet from disaster.
  4. Keep Medicine and Chemicals Out of Reach. This seems like an obvious one, but have you ever opened a drawer in the bathroom and forgotten to close it? Or, walked off and forgotten to close the cabinet door under the kitchen sink? I once walked away from a suitcase while unpacking it. I had completely forgotten about the Tylenol that was in it. Luckily, the dog was not injured, but I did have a large vet bill. After that, my policy on suitcases was either that they are completely empty or zipped shut. Min Pins and all dogs are naturally curious, and they often discover the world with their mouths. Thus, medicines (especially candy coated ones) and chemicals pose a danger to our dogs, and we should keep that in mind when we store or use them.
  5. Poisonous Foods and Plants. Foods and plants can also be toxic to dogs. Just because they are safe for us to eat or be around does not mean that they are safe for dogs. The ASPCA has a list of foods and plants that are toxic to dogs. Also see my articles, Top 10 Foods You Should NEVER Feed your dog, and 10 Plants Poisonous to dogs.

Below is a list of resources to keep your dog safe:

Email this to someoneShare on Google+Pin on PinterestTweet about this on TwitterShare on Facebook

Tags: , , , , , ,

Older posts «

» Newer posts