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Volume 72 - July 16th, 2004 Materials in this newsletter are the sole possession of the authors and Dog Company. Please do not copy or use in any fashion without written permission |
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From the Editor's Paw: ""A well trained dog is a free dog" First Aid Checklist For Pets Since we dogs are doing more traveling these days, now that holidays are around, it's important that you guys look after us. We might need first aid just like you do! Please make sure you are familiar with how to use and handle all the items in your first aid kit. On the spot in an emergency is no place to start to practice or learn. You want to be sure and confident in what you are doing, so your mind is as clear as possible in the emergency. First aid kits for dogs are just the same as for people .. a few differences depend on the size of your dog. I add the extras to my own kit ... with the help of my Vet. So here is what I have in mine:
MEDICATIONS: woof..Sweep" ^..^~~!
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Classified (To our advertisers: we'd love to hear if your ad in the Woof was successful. Please drop us a line and let us know.) Correction: Like all papers, the Woof can make mistakes! and we did.... sincere apologies to Gypsy Lee; in the last issue, we inadvertantly ran a picture of your sister, Katie, instead of you. We're trying again... welcome, Gypsy, from the Woof gang. 
Happy Birthday: A whole big bunch of woofs and yaps from the Woof gang to a pup who's missed in Agility and on the walks. Mindy T... Happy 4th birthday on July 18th. Wanted: Your 'articles', your 'For Sales', your 'Want Ads', your birthday wishes, your letters to Mam'selle, your ......... ????? for the next Woof, please...... mailto: peni@dogcompany.com (Disclaimer: Advertisements posted by the Woof are done as a service, not as an endorsement. Please communicate directly with the ad contact for further information on any items.)
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ASK MAM'SELLE Dear Mam'selle I know you've done a lot of sports in your time, so I figure you might be able to help me. I'm a sporty dog, but I just don't seem to have any stamina, especially in this hotter weather. My people throw the ball for me, and I fetch it a couple or three times, but then I'm ready to just crash. My appetite is fine; in fact, I'm always looking for something to eat. Some people say I'm overweight and I guess I am a little bit heavier than I should be for my size, but that shouldn't be a problem should it? I don't have any medical problems that I know of 'cause my folks make sure I get regular checkups at my doctor's. Hi, Sportie! Diabetes, heart disease, etc, are not just human problems. Getting regular exercise is also of huge importance. You being too tired after three throws.. WOW.. you are in need of some serious body training and a big change in lifestyle. This is going to be hard as your physical fitness depends on your parents. I am 11 years old and it takes at least 10 minutes of ball throwing before I am ready to quit. First of all, being that tired with such little exercise. Hmmm; a visit to the vet for blood tests and a talk on nutrition is an ASAP must! If you get the O.K. from the Vet, you're going to need to get yourself and those people of yours off the couch and outside to start with - walking every day! This can help to build your stamina, while you're working on the next thing - losing weight! Stick to the amount of food you really require - everyday! (a good dog food). And limit your amount of "treats". Do you walk nicely on lead, listen and obey when called and obey commands given to you ? This is a good way to ensure your people will want to take you out for a walk. Or are you just too tired to care? Do you think this is part of the problem ? Behaviour is often the reason dogs get left at home. If you are not a polite walker on the lead, then it is high time you learned ... call us 656-1659 or email woof@dogcompany.com to set up an appointment with us and we will teach you to walk politely on lead and teach you and your family about how to get you in better shape. We'll get you coming on our Trail Walks, being in Obedience, and then moving right on up into dog sports like Flyball or Agility! Fun, fun, fun while you get lean, trim and back into good health. If you are going to be out and lively with your people, you all need to learn together. If it sounds like I am promoting obedience ... I am! You can't do anything well on a regular basis without it! Obedience in the old "Greek" language meant "for the love of learning" and that's the way we teach it. It is fun and you use it in every game we play! Here's hoping you follow up on my advice and join us in Obedience and Dog sports; you will love it and everyone will love you because, "A well trained dog is a free dog" ! woof........"Seize the Day!" Poutine ^..^~~!
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Tips and Tales by Miss Trouble The hot time - oh, boy, it's got to be my favourite time of the year, not 'cause it's hot, but because of what I get to do. And right up there, at the top of the list, is swimming! Now, it wasn't always that way. Way back when, when I was just a little pup, I wasn't sure about this water stuff - no way - not at all. Anything to do with water was suspect; I told you last year how I was so scared of the boat, but learned to like it, so I won't go into that again. But, back to the water thing. I'd follow the folks to the beach and maybe put my feet in a little bit but there wasn't any chance that I'd go very far in that stuff - it was wet! Mom and Dad threw sticks and I'd splash after them - up to my knees only! If it was any further out than that, I'd just cry. I'd dig rocks and clams, I'd go exploring on the rocks, but I wasn't going "in" that water stuff. I even watched K.T, the golden Lab who lives next door, go swimming; I thought she was crazy. So this was the way it was for the first couple of years of my life - I watched other dogs swim, but never got past my knees.. Then one day, something happened. I remember it, oh, so clearly. I was with my friend, Tawny, and we were exploring on a fallen log that was lying out into the water. I was the furthest out and Tawny was closer to the land. Well, she decided she wanted to see what was at the end of the log and - well - she's bigger than me. Yep, I fell in! Instead of standing on the shore - I was in - over my head - moving - dog paddling! I loved it. I couldn't understand why it had taken me so long to try it. It was so cool .... just drifting along... the only effort a few flaps of my feet. From that time on, I didn't need too much encouragement to go in. Well, sometimes I might need just a little coaxing in the form of a stick or rock being thrown out, but often I just head off without any prompting. I've developed my own style of course. When I start, my tail is sometimes sticking up in its normal curve, but after I've been out there for awhile, it drags along behind me, flat on the water. I'm a great stick collector; when people throw the sticks, I race the other dogs to them, but then I keep them. My record so far is two in my mouth, and one under my chin. "Bring the stick here"...... nope, not part of my vocabulary! If there aren't any sticks to chase, I'll catch bubbles or ripples in the water or just swim back and forth watching everyone else on the beach. I can outlast everyone in the group; they're ready to head back up the trail, and I'm still swimming. This summer I've added in a whole new element to my swimming. I've become a teacher. So, maybe I've only had one pupil so far, but everyone has to start somewhere. You might ask, "Who?" Kaleb, my boyfriend. In all his doggy life, Kaleb had never gone swimming - he waded - he splashed - but he'd never got "off the ground." We started with the stick thing. I'd bring it in just so far and because he wanted it, he'd have to come out to get it. He'd whine and cry and stretch and of course to reward him for getting farther, I'd eventually let him have it. Each time I'd stop a little farther out, paddle back and forth, and wait. Sure enough, he came further and further each time. Finally at one point, his back feet must have actually floated - he got a bit scared and headed for shore really quickly but it didn't stop him from trying again and again. See, being barrelchested the way he is, the front end is heavier than the back end, so it's tough for him. When the back goes up, the front goes down! We worked on the basics for several days, with Kaleb getting better all the time. He's not the most elegant, nor competent swimmer yet, but I figure with a few more practices, he'll be able to keep his head above water all the time! 
Wooooo.... HRH Trouble
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Phydeau Phun Did you hear about the dog in San Francisco who just loves to be scrubbed three times a day?
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Monty's Movies CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN Starring: Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Piper Perabo, Tom Welling, Hilary Duff, Kevin Schmidt, Alyson Stoner, Jacob Smith, Liliana Mumy, Morgan York, Forrest Landis Blake Woodruff, Brent Kinsman, Shane Kinsman Rated: PG Genre: Comedy / Drama SUMMARY Cheaper by the Dozen is a good natured comedy in which Steve Martin plays the father to 12 Kids. The family has grown up in the country but is uprooted to move to the big city where a football-coaching job awaits the father. Once they have moved to the city, the mom is called away to do a book tour, and the dad has to raise the kids himself while also juggling his job and the football team members. The kids are upset about being moved to the city, not having their mom around, and having their dad work all the time. They get up to all types of antics to show their displeasure. The cute kids and their shenanigans as they interact with Steve Martin's reactions as the dad is what makes this movie worth watching. Ruffffff... Monty Woofs of Wisdom Dogs are always in touch with their inner puppies.
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The Doctor Is In My dog has been bitten by a few ticks before and we often don't know until much later as her hair is dense. When I pull the ticks off that were buried deep in her hair, they are shriveled - unlike the ones I've found full of blood on her face. Should I be alert for the symptoms of Lyme disease that humans suffer? Jeanette Yes, you should most definitely be watchful for the symptoms of Lyme disease. If your dog has been bitten, these are the symptoms to watch for: fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, abnormal development of the lymph nodes, lameness (may be sudden, sometimes with severe pain). Also, one or more joints may be swollen, hot and painful on manipulation. Lameness often occurs 2 to 5 months after the tick bite. Acute or subacute arthritis is sometimes also seen. The acute form may be transient and may recur in some cases. It should be noted that some infected animals show no symptoms. I have heard many dog owners say that there is no risk of Lyme disease on Vancouver Island. I did some investigating and discovered that this is not the case. In looking at the BC Centre for Disease Control's web site I discovered that, "The bacteria that causes Lyme disease has been found in western black-legged ticks (Ixodes pacificus) in many regions of the province including Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, the Sunshine Coast, the Fraser Valley and the Kootenays," notes Dr. Muhammad Morshed, head of the Zoonotic and Emerging Pathogens, at BCCDC. There is a lot of fear that gets generated around Lyme disease. It is important to know that not all ticks carry a disease causing organism, and just because your dog was bitten does not mean it will get Lyme disease. "Most tick bites will not result in illness, but a small fraction of ticks in the province carry bacteria that cause disease," explains Dr. Murray Fyfe of the BC Centre for Disease Control. Even when a tick is a carrier, its bite may not always cause the development of the disease. That said, proper care and caution is crucial in prevention. If you see any abnormal rashes after a tick bite, you should consult your vet immediately. It is a good idea to check your dog over thoroughly each time you've been out for a walk in the woods or fields. If you find a tick, don't try to just pull it out. The improper pulling out of a tick may cause the head to break off, and remain in your dog, causing infection. Here is one method that I have found to be effective for removing ticks. Before starting you will need the following items: tweezers, rubbing alcohol, cotton balls or Qtips and some hydrogen peroxide. Start by wetting a cotton ball or Q tip with the alcohol and place it over the tick, soaking it with the alcohol. Be very careful to not get the alcohol in your dog's eyes. The fumes from the rubbing alcohol most often will cause the tick to back out of your dog's skin. Now you can remove it gently, using the tweezers and dispose of it. The last step is to soak a cotton ball or Q tip with the hydrogen peroxide and clean the exit wound. It is good to clean the bite location daily, until it is well healed. Be sure to monitor the area for two weeks after removing the tick, watching for signs of infection. If the exit wound appears to become inflamed, consult your vet. Before disposing of the tick inspect it, to make sure the head is still part of it. The body is pear shaped with a tiny head. If the head is not there, do not try to dig it out, instead call your vet who will lance the spot. An effective repellent can be made using herbs and essential oils to keep the ticks away. Here is the recipe:
The effectiveness of your repellent will depend on the quality of your essential oils and herbs. It is best to buy therapeutic grade essential oils and organic herbs.
This mixture must be kept refrigerated. Using your spritzer, gently spray the mixture into your dogs coat, legs, tummy and back. Rub it in well and apply it as necessary. N.B. Make sure to not use any of the essential oils on your dog's face or around the nose, ears and eyes. Respect the sensitive nose he/she has and go easy when using aromatic substances such as essential oils. I hope that this information has been helpful; continue to send in your questions. Ruffs... Ceilidh
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'Bout Books by the Diabolical Duo THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME by Mark Haddon A Teenager with Asperger's syndrome turns to Sherlock Holmes for inspiration in tracking down a poodle's killer. And here's a children's book... but nice for grown-ups too! FISH Fish is a story that will teach those who doubt, that, when hope is almost extinguished, miracles can happen. Reba & Swift ^..^~! Pheline Philosophy "A meow massages the heart"
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The Purrrrrrr Have had new word about the baby feline trio ... I love these stories! It seems they're really letting that big galoot, Kaleb, know who's boss. When they come to visit him, they're eating out of his bowl, sleeping on his bed, cuddling in beside him (which gets him nervous!), washing him and just generally making nuisances of themselves. I figure they're young enough to take some risks.. after all, I'm older and don't have all of my nine lives anymore. They should be able to get him whipped into shape so that when he comes out here, I won't have any problems. I must admit, he's getting less bent out of shape when he sees me, so I'm becoming more relaxed around him too. I don't trust him, mind you, but I've stopped leaving the property when he arrives! News from catdom is pretty scarce these days.... what all is happening out there? I do have my paws on a lead about a letter written by the dog... I'll have it for the next Woof.... I hear it's another one of those "blame it on the cat" type things! Cleocatra |
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Dog's Note We have no interest in propagating unwanted email. If this has reached you in error or is unwelcome, please let us know, and we will take you off our mailing list. |
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