Our Never Shock a Puppy campaign continues this week discussing the many reasons that pet owners consider using choke, pinch/prong or shock collars for their dogs.

Reasons Dog Owners Choose Choke, Pinch/Prong or Shock Collars

In planning this campaign, our coalition wanted to be able to present the most common reasons people turn to these types of devices. So, our coalition members put our heads together with our friends from the Humane Society of Boulder Valley and a few other dog trainers that are outside of our coalition and this is the list we came up with:

• Pet owners frequently turn to choke, pinch/prong and shock collars as a means of controlling a dog that continually pulls on his leash.
• Barking is a common complaint and one that many pet owners turn to shock collars to control.
• When a dog does not come when called, it can create a dangerous situation for pet and pet owner alike and this is a common reason that dog owners turn to choke or pinch/prong collars (or perhaps even shock collars).
• Many dog owners turn to choke collars, pinch or prong collars or shock devices to attempt to control aggressive tendencies in their dogs.
• Dogs are often tempted to chase things that they should not. This may include wildlife, people, cars and other moving objects. Choke collars and pinch or prong collars are often used to control this behavior and prevent the dog from chasing.

This list is probably not all inclusive and you may very well have another reason for considering the use of these devices on your pet. If so, please feel free to tell us about it the comment section below.

Reasons to Consider Other Training Devices and Methods

Here comes the controversial part! And many of you may not entirely agree with the Never Shock a Puppy coalition stance on these issues. But we would ask you to consider some of the following points before you reach a conclusion.

While choke collars can be a powerful tool, they can also carry with them some medical issues. These are some of the issues that have been observed by veterinarians and attributed to choke collars:

• injury to the eyes, specifically injured ocular blood vessels
• tracheal and esophageal damage
• severely sprained necks
• cases of fainting
• transient foreleg paralysis
• laryngeal nerve paralysis
• hindleg ataxia (incoordination)
• misaligned vertebrae
• Horner’s syndrome, a conditions resulting from “nerve damage that results in recurring pain in the eye and severe headaches”

(Source: British Small Animal Veterinary Conference 2009; Training Aids and Gadgets: Their Use and Abuse; Karen Ingram, BSc (Hons), MAPDT, 00994 Provisional Member APBC)

Similarly, prong collars can cause irritation to the neck, wounds and even infection because the prongs have a high potential for causing injury and pain.

Shock collars by their very nature deliver a “shock” to the dog, the intensity of which may vary depending on many factors.

Are Choke, Pinch or Prong, and Shock Collars Inhumane?

Do these training devices rise to the level of calling them cruel and inhumane? That’s where the controversy starts. I’ve seen many things in my veterinary career that I would consider much more cruel and inhumane than these training devices.

Still, I don’t want to inflict even mild pain and risk injury for my pet, particularly if there are other alternatives available. Many of the pet parents I see in my veterinary practice are asking questions about these devices. Many of them are concerned about using these types of devices and some even state outright that they don’t want to use them but they don’t know another way to correct the behavioral issues.

Years ago, that would have been the case. Not that long ago, these were not only acceptable training solutions but they were standard practice in almost all training programs. It was simply the way things got done and the methods were considered to be the most effective available and they were not questioned.

Fortunately, today our understanding of canine behavior has advanced. We know more about why dogs do what they do and there are many alternatives to the use of training devices such as choke collars, pinch or prong collars and shock collars. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be discussing some of these alternative training methods in detail. I hope you’ll join us.

Never Shock a Puppy Fund Raising Campaign: We Need Your Donations!

As part of our Never Shock a Puppy campaign, we are also conducting a fund-raising drive to raise money for the Humane Society of Boulder Valley‘s upcoming No Choke Challenge, which begins in Novermber, 2010. Please consider making donation. Even a small donation is helpful and will be used to provide head halters and harnesses in place of choke collars, pinch/prong collars and shock collars. Please use the First Giving widget below to make a donation.

We welcome your questions, suggestions and comments. Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Years ago, dogs and cats were routinely vaccinated against just about anything we could vaccinate them against on the off chance that the pet might be exposed to that disease, in which case the vaccine should protect the pet. Today, we recognize that vaccines can sometimes have a downside as well. There can be side effects with any medication and vaccines are no exception.

Vaccination Sarcomas and Cats

When rabies vaccination became mandatory for cats in many communities, the veterinary profession also began to recognize that we were seeing an increased incidence of a specific type of tumor called a sarcoma in cats. Research and retrospective studies over time revealed that the increase in the incidence of sarcomas was found to parallel the increase in rabies vaccines administered to cats.

Currently, it is believed that sarcomas may occur as a reaction to any feline vaccine, but rabies vaccines and feline leukemia vaccines are thought to be more likely to have an association with sarcoma formation than other feline vaccines. This discovery led to a rethinking of the previous vaccination protocols for cats.

• It is no longer recommended to vaccinate all cats for feline leukemia but rather only those that are at risk of exposure to the disease.
• Because of the threat to human health with rabies, not vaccinating cats against rabies is not an option. However, newer and safer vaccines against rabies have been developed and vaccination protocols have been changed, although the individual protocol varies depending on the vaccine.

Anaphylactic/Allergic Reactions to Feline and Canine Vaccination

By far the most common adverse reaction to vaccinations in both dogs and cats is an allergic reaction.

• A normal reaction to vaccines includes mild lethargy and soreness. A mild fever may also occur and these symptoms are generally not serious.
• Vaccine reactions in dogs and cats can occur directly after the administration of a vaccine or within 48 hours later.
• Hives, swelling of the face, muzzle and ears and sometimes nausea are symptoms seen with an allergic reaction.
• In more severe cases, the dog or cat may go into shock and may also die suddenly. Fortunately, this complication is extremely rare.

What Pets are Most Likely to Have Adverse Reactions to Vaccines?

Puppies and kittens and young cats and dogs are most likely to suffer adverse reactions to a vaccination. Small breeds of dogs are more likely to be affected than larger breeds.

Administering multiple vaccinations at the same time is more likely to elicit an adverse reaction also. However, interestingly, multi-valent vaccines (vaccines which protect against more than one disease in the same vaccine) do not appear to cause an increase in the incidence of adverse reactions.

Are Some Vaccines More Likely to Cause Allergic Responses in Pets?

Yes, some vaccinations, including leptospirosis and Lyme disease vaccines, have been found to be more reactive than other vaccines. However, at least in the case of leptospirosis, newer vaccine technology may have eliminated this risk as one study performed recently did not find an increased incidence of adverse reactions in puppies and dogs vaccinated with one of the newer leptospirosis vaccines.

Immune-Mediated Disease Linked to Vaccines in Cats and Dogs

At this time, the link between immune-mediated disease and vaccinations administered to dogs and cats is unclear. However, there is some evidence that vaccinations can at least predispose a pet to developing immune-mediated disease. More research is needed in this area but there is some concern that vaccination could have a long-term effect on the immune system, making it important to minimize unnecessary vaccinations.

Vaccine Preservatives, Mercury and Thiomerosal in Canine and Feline Vaccines

Some vaccinations contain various preservatives, including mercury and thiomerosal (a compound containing 49.6% mercury by weight). Preservatives are added to vaccines in order to reduce the potential for growth of micro-organisms such as bacteria or fungi in the event of an accidental contamination of the vaccine vial. It should be noted that not all vaccines contain mercury or thiomerosal however.

In human medicine, there have been concerns raised about the safety of mercury and thiomerosal in vaccinations and that these substances may be linked to the development of the development of autism or other neurodevelopmental disease. However, studies performed to investigate this causal relationship have failed to prove there is a positive correlation, according to the FDA publication Questions About Vaccines. Similar studies in animals have also failed to show a link between adverse reactions in pets and mercury or thiomerosal-containing vaccines to date. This continues to be a controversial and widely debated topic, however.

Adjuvants in Vaccines for Dogs and Cats

Adjuvants are substances that are added to vaccines to increase the body’s response to the vaccine and lead to better protection with smaller quantities of the biological portion of the vaccine. Adjuvants have been implicated in causing cancer in pets. This is another reason that unnecessary vaccinations should be eliminated from the vaccination protocol for individual animals. Currently, some vaccinations are manufactured that are free of adjuvants and many veterinarians consider these safer than adjuvanted vaccines.

Why Administer Vaccines to Dogs and Cats with the Risks Involved?

Despite the risks involved with vaccinating dogs and cats, vaccines still provide documented benefits which in most cases outweigh any risks involved with their administration. However, vaccines protocols for an individual animal must assess the relative risk for that animal and only vaccines which can claim the potential for more benefit than risk should be administered.

Photo Credit: suzumiyaharuka/Flickr.com

Today marks the official beginning of our “Never Shock a Puppy” dog training campaign. I sincerely hope you’ll join us over the next 8 weeks as we lead you through the reasons we don’t like choke collars, shock collars and other punitive training tools and present you with alternatives that are just as effective if not moreso.

Every Wednesday for the next eight weeks, we’ll bring you expert advice from experienced dog trainers on the Never Shock a Puppy website as well as the individual websites of the members of our coalition.

What is “Never Shock a Puppy”

“Never Shock a Puppy” is an educational campaign coupled with a fund-raising drive. The campaign was conceived as part of the Be the Change for Pets campaign initiated at the first BlogPaws convention.

• The educational campaign will seek to raise awareness of pain-free training devices such as Gentle Leader harnesses and Halti harnesses which can be effective alternatives to training devices such as choke collars, shock collars, pinch collars and other types of punitive-based training devices.
• We will also be seeking to raise $2500 which will be donated to the Humane Society of Boulder Valley to aid in their No-Choke Challenge which will take place in November of 2010. The Humane Society of Boulder Valley in return will “motivate and drive dog guardians to turn in their choke or shock collars for free
  Gentle Leaders – no questions asked” as part of their No-Choke Challenge.
• Our message is not meant to make you feel guilty about whatever form of training device you are using right at this moment. We recognize that pet owners have reasons for making such decisions. Our goal instead is to make you aware of other alternatives you may not currently know about. It is our belief that if we craft our message well, we will be able to convince you of the logic behind the devices and methods we will be discussing over the next 8 weeks.
• Along the way, we’ll also be giving away prizes. Stay tuned to find out how you can win your prize!

Who is the “Never Shock a Puppy” Coalition

We are a group of pet bloggers dedicated to improving the lives of dogs (and other pets) in any way we can. We are led by Roxanne Hawn, who is the founder of our group and the driving force behind the whole thing. You’ll find Roxanne at Champion of My Heart. Joining Roxanne and Champion of My Heart is Best Friends General Store, Boulder Dog, Calling All Dogs, Fang Shui Canines, FearfulDogs.com, Moxie Paws, Positively Well-Behaved Dog, The Allie Chronicles and of course, the Pet Health Care Gazette.

Our sponsors and prize donors are also a big part of this campaign and without them we couldn’t pull this off. So, a big round of applause goes to Am I Boring My Dog? (Author Edie Jarolim), Best Friends General Store, FearfulDogs.Com, Housetraining for Dummies (Author Susan McCullough), K9Cuisine.com and The Company of Animals. Thanks also to our trainers, those that are members of the No Shock Collar Coalition and also the trainers of Truly Dog Friendly.

Are You Interested in Getting Involved with “Never Shock a Puppy”?

If so, there are lots of things you can do.

• Blog about “Never Shock a Puppy”.
• Place our “Never Shock a Puppy” badge and/or donation widget on your blog.
• Tweet the “Never Shock a Puppy” links on Twitter, share them on your Facebook page, or include them in your blog.
• Shop the “Never Shock a Puppy” Cafe Press store and model your new t-shirt, sweatshirt, jacket, hat or bag to spread the word. Coffee mugs, bumper stickers, mouse pads, doggie t-shirts and more are also available there.

Our supporters to date include:

• Coffee, Cats and Yarn
• Dancing Dog Blog
• Grouchy Puppy (Cleo's Day)
• Pet Relocation Blog
• Puppy Paws Productions
• Rusty-Dawg Pet Products
• Sit. Lay Down. Good Dog.
• St. Louis Senior Dog Project
• When Hounds Fly
• Will My Dog Hate Me

Ready to Make a Donation?

Please use the widget below to make your donation safely and securely.

Now, mark your calenders and come along with us on this journey. You won’t regret it. I suggest you subscribe to the Pet Health Care Gazette’s Rss feed or sign up to receive the Pet Health Care Gazette by email. That way you won’t miss anything and you’ll stay informed and up-to-date. And don’t forget those great prizes waiting for you!

In the last post, To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate Your Pet: Which is Safest?, we talked about the risks of not vaccinating your pet and the possibility of adverse reactions to vaccines. Today, we’re going to continue our vaccination by discussing one of the most important vaccines available for dogs, the canine distemper virus (CDV) vaccine.

Canine Distemper Virus

Canine distemper virus is a contagious viral disease of dogs that is easily passed from one dog to another when one dog becomes infected and exposes an unprotected dog. There was a time when this was a common disease that was seen on a regular basis in almost all veterinary hospitals. However, now the disease is much less common, primarily because of the availability of effective vaccinations that provide protection against this deadly virus.

Though canine distemper is less common than previously, it is still seen on occasion and most often in unvaccinated and unprotected puppies and young dogs. The incidence of disease is higher in facilities which house large numbers of dogs and puppies, such as pet stores, humane shelters, rescue organizations and other kennel situations.

More information about canine distemper virus and its symptoms can be found in What is Canine Distemper and Does my Dog Need a Vaccine for it?

Core Versus Non-Core Vaccines

All vaccines are classified as either core or non-core.

• Core vaccinations are those that are considered essential for most dogs because the disease in question is either extremely dangerous, quite common or poses a threat to the human population. Core vaccines should be considered routine for all dogs and administered for most animals unless there is a medical contra-indication, such as a known allergy to the vaccine.
• Non-core vaccines are those that are not essential for all dogs but may be necessary for some. Whether or not a dog needs to receive a non-core vaccination will depend on the dog’s lifestyle and the level of risk of infection with the disease for each individual dog. For dogs that are at high risk of infection, vaccination may be recommended. However, dogs that are not likely to be exposed to the disease in question do not need to be vaccinated and should not receive the vaccination.

Canine distemper vaccination is considered a core vaccine and is recommended as part of the routine preventive health care for all dogs.

Vaccination Against Canine Distemper Virus

Vaccination against canine distemper can and should be started for puppies as young as 6-8 weeks of age. Initially, puppies need to receive a series of vaccines against CDV administered at 3-4 week intervals, with the last vaccine administered no earlier than 14-16 weeks of age. These protocols may vary slightly depending on which brand of vaccine is being used and you should discuss with your veterinarian what vaccination schedule is appropriate for your individual puppy.

The vaccine against canine distemper virus should be boostered in one year and then repeated at regular intervals. The dosing schedule for CDV in adult dogs is still a controversial subject. While there is evidence that currently available canine distemper virus vaccinations impart immunity to an adult dog for three years (or perhaps longer), some veterinarians still worry about breaks in protection with three year dosing intervals. As a responsible pet owner, you should discuss with your veterinarian the risks and benefits of vaccination against canine distemper virus and determine an appropriate dosing schedule tailored to meet your dog’s individual needs.

Distemper/Adenovirus/Parvovirus (DAP) Vaccinations

Canine distemper virus is often combined with other canine vaccines to form a multivalent vaccination (a vaccine that protects against more than one disease).

• Vaccinations against canine distemper virus are often combined with vaccinations against canine parvovirus and canine adenovirus (infectious hepatitis). These vaccines are often referred to as DAP vaccines.
• In addition, some vaccines also include leptospirosis and sometimes parainfluenza. These vaccines may be referred to as DAPL, DAPPL, DHLP or DHLPP vaccines.

Discuss with your veterinarian which vaccines are being administered to your dog. Vaccination protocols, especially those involving non-core vaccines, should be tailored to your individual dog based on his individual needs.

Titers for Canine Distemper Virus in Place of Vaccination

In some cases, it may be desirable to avoid vaccination unless it is certain that the dog’s immunity to disease is waning. This may be the case if your dog has suffered reactions to a vaccine previously. In other cases, pet owners (and veterinarians) may simply prefer to avoid vaccinating a dog that still has an adequate level of protection. One means of determining whether a dog still has protection against disease is to measure blood titers. A titer measures the concentration of antibodies circulating in the blood, assuming that higher antibody levels depart immunity to disease.

Measurement of titers is, in some cases, an adequate alternative to routinely administering vaccinations. However, it is not without downfalls also, as titer measurement is often more expensive than administering the vaccine and administration of the vaccine may be still necessary depending on the results returned with the titer measurement. Some veterinarians worry also that titer measurements may not directly translate to degree of immunity because of the fact that antibodies account for only a part of the body’s immune defense system and other factors that remain unmeasured play a role in immunity (or lack of immunity) as well.

Photo Credit: Tobyotter/Flickr.com

One of the most frequent questions that I am asked in my veterinary practice is “What vaccines does my kitten, puppy, dog or cat need?” Right behind that is “How often does my pet need to be vaccinated?” Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, is the question “Are these vaccines safe for my dog or cat?”

Are Vaccines Safe for Pets?

Let’s start by answering the last question first. Both canine and feline vaccinations carry the risk of side effects, just like any other medication. There are very few, if any, medications that come with no risk.

So, the question becomes, why give vaccines to a pet if there is risk involved? The answer to that question is that there is also great benefit in vaccinating pets. In some cases, these vaccines can be life-saving.

A good example of the life-saving aspect of vaccination is in the recent of outbreak of parvovirus that my hospital and others in the area have been seeing within the last few weeks. In my hospital, we have seen literally dozens of puppies infected with parvovirus. Unfortunately, not all of these puppies have survived the infection.

What do all of these puppies have in common? None of these puppies, not a single one that I have seen, have been adequately vaccinated against this disease. For most if not all of these puppies, vaccination would have prevented the infection and kept them healthy.

Parvovirus Vaccinations for Puppies, a True Life Example

One really unfortunate case was a 5 month old puppy that was obtained from a breeder. The breeder informed the puppy’s new owner that the puppy should not receive any vaccines prior to 6 months of age because it would be unsafe for the puppy. Unfortunately, the new owner believed the breeder to be providing accurate information when in fact the information was quite incorrect. Because of the misinformation provided by an ill-informed lay person together with the innocent lack of knowledge possessed by a well-meaning pet owner, the puppy did not live to be 6 months of age. She expired a few days ago of a disease that could easily have been prevented by proper vaccination.

The Case Against Vaccination for Dogs and Cats

There are a number of people who advocate not vaccinating dogs and cats. Their fears do carry some weight. Vaccinations have been implicated in contributing to or even causing some types of cancer. Vaccines are also suspected to cause disorders of immune function as well as other medical issues.

I do not dispute these possibilities nor do I discount their importance. However, I cannot look past the fact that vaccines can protect dogs and cats (and particularly puppies and kittens) from deadly diseases. In my opinion, if a dog or cat dies of a preventable disease such as canine parvovirus or feline distemper because of a lack of proper vaccination, it really makes very little difference what types of problem that vaccine could potentially have many years from the vaccination date.

What Vaccinations are Necessary for a Dog or Cat? Or a Puppy or Kitten?

The answer to that question depends on the lifestyle and individual risks encountered by that particular pet. Vaccine schedules and protocols are not a one-size-fits-all proposal. A pet owner is best advised to discuss with their veterinarian which vaccinations are necessary for each individual pet.

How Often Should Vaccines be Administered?

Again, the answer depends on the individual pet and the type of vaccine being used. This is also a matter that a pet owner is best served discussing with their veterinarian. Some vaccines need to be given every three years, others need to be repeated yearly. Your veterinarian can determine, with your help, which vaccines your pet needs (and which he does not need) and develop a logical vaccination schedule that can help keep your pet healthy and happy.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be discussing in more depth the individual canine and feline vaccines that are available. So stay tuned. But remember that this material is meant for education purposes only and your best source of information about your pet is your own veterinarian.

As a veterinarian, many of my pet parents ask me about nutrition for their pets. One of the questions I hear pretty frequently, especially from new puppy owners, is “Does my dog need a supplement?”

It’s a good question and the answer depends on what type of supplement we’re discussing.

Canine Vitamin Supplements for Puppies and/or Adult Dogs

This is probably the most common question I hear in relation to supplements for dogs. Puppy owners and owners of senior pets often ask if they should be giving a vitamin and mineral supplement to their pet.

In most cases, I do not recommend vitamin and mineral supplements for puppies or for adult dogs. If the diet is high quality and well-balanced, supplemental vitamins and minerals should not be necessary. If the diet does not provide for the dog’s nutritional needs, it makes more sense to change the diet to a balanced diet.

Adding a vitamin and mineral supplement to an already balanced diet can actually throw off the balance of the diet. In particular, the calcium and phosphorus ratio can be changed, which can lead to serious malnutrition and growth abnormalities, especially with large breed puppies.

That being said, there is at least one exception to this rule. If feeding a home-cooked diet instead of a commercially available diet that is already balanced, a vitamin and mineral supplement may be necessary. However, unless you have a great deal of experience in canine nutrition, I would not recommend trying to create a home-cooked diet for your dog (and particularly not for your young puppy) without the aid of a qualified and knowledgeable canine nutrition expert. If needed, your veterinarian should be able to provide you with a referral to such a person, assuming your veterinarian does not feel competent to help you balance the diet herself (and many of us do not).

Neutraceutical Dietary Supplements for Dogs (Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Etc)

Neutraceutical food supplements are dietary supplements which have a positive impact on canine health. Commonly used neutraceuticals include those used for joint health, such as glucosamine, chondrotin and many others. There are neutraceutical supplements that are offered as potential treatments for other illnesses as well.

Many of these neutraceutical supplements are beneficial for the individual dog but whether or not they should be used depends on the individual patient. Many veterinarians and pet owners believe that neutraceutical supplements containing glucosamine can have beneficial effects for dogs at risk of joint disease when given before symptoms become evident. Certainly, they can be beneficial for many dogs that are symptomatic.

Use caution when choosing a neutraceutical product though. Remember that neutraceuticals are not licensed and monitored in the same way as pharmaceuticals (antibiotics and other medicinal drugs). When searching for a neutraceutical supplement for your dog, choose a reputable company that has studies available to back up the efficacy and safety of their product.

Prebiotic and Probiotic Canine Food Supplements

Prebiotic and probiotic food supplements can be beneficial for many dogs. These types of supplements are quite useful in promoting gastrointestinal health. There is evidence that they may help to promote a healthy immune system as well.

Prebiotics and probiotics are particularly useful in the following situations:

• if your dog has been on an antibiotic
• if your dog has had or will have a change in diet
• if your dog will be undergoing a stressful period, such as being in a boarding facility

So, that’s how I advise my pet parents when they ask for my opinion on canine food supplements. Do you use any supplements for your dogs? If so, what do you use and how is it working for you? Please leave a comment below to share your information and experiences with other dog lovers. All opinions are welcome (even if you don’t agree with me )

Photo Credit: hurricainemaine/Flickr.com

Recently, I came across an article about the use of heartworm preventive medications in dogs written by Dr. Karen Becker. Dr. Becker opens by quoting an article that I wrote for Examiner.com about the currently recommended methods of heartworm prevention in dogs and asks in the title of her article why I did not share various “facts” with my pet-owning readers.

Quite simply, and with all due respect to Dr. Becker’s opinion, I did not inform my readers of these “facts” because I do not believe them to be true.

Further, I believe that advising people not to administer heartworm preventive medications to their dogs when they live in endemic areas places their dogs at risk needlessly. And, to be quite clear here, we are talking about the risk of death. Heartworms can be a fatal condition!

Conspiracy Between the American Heartworm Society and Pharmaceutical Companies?

Dr. Becker implies that there is a conspiracy between the American Heartworm Society (AHS), an organization that recommends heartworm prevention for all pets, and the major pharmaceutical companies. In my opinion, this is stretching the truth a bit. Is the AHS sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. Probably. Does that mean that their recommendations are not based in science? No. What it means is that the AHS has examined the issue thoroughly (based on the known science) and made appropriate recommendations to provide adequate protection for your dog. It also means that the pharmaceutical companies have realized that helping the AHS educate veterinarians and pet owners about the fact that this protection is necessary helps sell their products. However, it does not invalidate those recommendations.

Are Heartworm Infections in Dogs Uncommon and Not Usually Lethal?

Dr. Becker says “Heartworm disease is more difficult to acquire – and less lethal – than the dire warnings and marketing claims for chemical preventives would have you believe.” This has not been my experience. I’ve diagnosed heartworm disease in more dogs than I care to count and some of them did not survive the infection. Others were critically ill as a result of the infection, making treatment for the disease much more difficult and dangerous.

My experience is shared by April Ellis Mitchem, the Birmingham Dog Care Examiner at Examiner.com and long-time rescue worker, who says “We take in enough heartworm positive dogs with rescue that I completely disagree with the assessment that it’s hard to acquire.”

April’s assessment is shared by Karen Wood Philhower, who runs a Beagle rescue group. Karen says, “We get A LOT of heartworm positive dogs and not just from the South, though it’s all too common there. I’ve had dogs from New Jersey that were infected as well. I also disagree with Dr. Becker’s statements and I am alarmed that a practicing veterinarian would potentially jeopardize the health of pets by following this advice. Heartworm preventatives have been around a long time and when given at the proper intervals and in the correct dosage they are very safe and effective. I give monthly ivermectin/pyrantel to my own dogs as well as foster dogs year-round. I’ve lost foster dogs to advanced stage HW disease and it angers me because it is so preventable. Treatment is expensive and hard on the dogs, even under the best of circumstances.”

In my experience, April and Karen are absolutely correct. Heartworm disease is seen frequently in the south and often enough in colder climates that not administering heartworm preventive medication, in my opinion, is irresponsible and risky.

Are There Less Toxic Alternatives to Monthly Heartworm Preventive Medicines?

In my opinion and experience, the monthly heartworm preventive medications are both effective and quite safe. I have serious doubts about whether Dr. Becker’s recommendations are sufficient to prevent heartworms, especially in endemic areas with high risk of exposure.

While I respect Dr. Becker both as a colleague and as a person, I believe that she is somewhat misguided in these recommendations for heartworm control. My fear is that her recommendations will cause pet owners to forego administering heartworm medications to their dogs, thereby unknowingly exposing their pets to unneeded risk.

This week, our spotlight falls on the Fido Friendly blog, where you’ll find a ton of helpful pet information. Here’s just a sampling of what you’ll find:

• What Should I Pack in My Dog’s First Aid Kit: A vlog (video) that details the components of a well-prepared first aid kit for dogs. This is a must-see for any pet owner. The only thing not mentioned in the video that I would advise adding to the kit is a copy of your pet’s medical history, especially copies of rabies certificates, in the event that an emergency trip to the veterinarian becomes necessary because of a wound sustained from another animal.
• A five-part series on pet grief and loss. This series is still ongoing. Part one, Funeral Homes Offering Services for Pet Owners, discusses how funeral homes that offer services for pets can help people say good-bye to their beloved pets and make the grieving process easier. It’s definitely worth a read. Part two in the series, Miniature Magic introduces Lucy Maloney, an artist who sculpts miniatures. She is able to memorialize a lost pet by producing a piece of artwork that closely resembles the lost pet. She is even able to incorporate the pet’s hair into the piece to obtain a more realistic quality. Obviously, a miniature of a lost pet will not replace the pet itself, but it can be a wonderful way to keep the memory of the pet alive for a grieving family.
• A weekly blog column, Pawsitive Pals, features an extremely unlikely trio: Dolly, the dog who is what her family refers to as “needy”. Dolly is perfect on the outside but “insecure on the inside”. Then there’s Henry, the three-legged cat whose leg injury resulted in the need for an amputation of the leg and Tink, the two-legged mini dachshund. The goal of this column is “to teach humans to turn obstacles into opportunities and to develop an emotional vocabulary that supports health and well being”, a very worth-while endeavor, in my opinion. On a personal note, I got a chuckle out of the Dolly’s reference to their veterinarian as “the white coat person”. Take a look at the column. It’s worth your time.

This is only a small sampling of the great information available from Fido Friendly’s blog. You’ll also find lots of terrific product reviews as well as some really fun contests to enter. You might even want to consider purchasing a subscription to their magazine: “Fido Friendly, the Travel and Lifestyle magazine for you and your dog”.

A few days ago, I posted a link to a guest post I wrote for the Dawg Business blog about blue-green algae and the poisoning issues that can be associated with it. If you haven’t already done so, I urge you take a look at this blog also. It offers some wonderful insights into being a pet owner and pursuing top-quality pet care for your dog. Well worth your time to visit and explore.

As always, even though we’ve chosen only one or two outstanding blogs to feature in our weekly spotlight, there are many other terrific blogs in our weekly Pet Lover’s Blog Hop. So, don’t forget to check them out also. You won’t regret a visit to any of these wonderful sites.

I would also like to invite you to tell us which blogs are your favorites. I’d love to hear what you like about each blog and what you don’t like. So please feel free to leave a comment or two. I’d love to hear from you! And if you found us through the Blog Hop, please tell us about that too!

Fleas are a common parasite for both dogs and cats. As a veterinarian, my clients frequently ask me how they can protect their pets from these parasites. Normally, I recommend a monthly topical product, such as Revolution® or Frontline Plus®. However, many of my clients are hesitant to apply these products to their dogs and cats and prefer a more natural means of flea control.

Can Natural Flea Control Work for Dogs and Cats?

Natural flea control methods can be effective for some pets. However, pet owners need to realize that natural flea control methods are generally labor intensive and will require vigilance as well as time and patience on the part of the pet owner. In cases where the pet suffers from severe flea allergies or flea sensitivity, natural flea control methods may not be enough in and of themselves to control the pet’s symptoms.

Are All Methods of Natural Flea Control Safe for Dogs and Cats?

Not all methods of natural flea control are safe for pets. Garlic is a commonly used flea preventive. However, garlic can be associated with toxicities as well. Garlic can effectively destroy red blood cells and lead to hemolytic anemia. The toxic dose of garlic is dose related and the amount of garlic that is added to foods for flavoring is unlikely to be dangerous. However, there does some to be some variability between animals regarding the dose of garlic that will produce toxic effects. And the dose of garlic needed to repel fleas is likely to be far higher than that used for flavoring food. For these reasons, garlic used for flea control is of questionable safety and, in my opinion, is not recommended.

Essential oils are also often used as natural flea control products. For dogs, some of these essential oils are safe and may be effective. However, essential oils of any type should be used cautiously in cats due to the potential for toxicity. Pet owners that formulate their own mixtures of essential oils for flea control should be especially careful and should carefully research the effects of each essential oil used in the mixture.

What Methods of Natural Flea Control are Safe for Dogs and Cats?

Regular grooming is a frequently overlooked means of flea control but should be the mainstay of natural flea control. A flea comb used daily to check for fleas and flea dirt can not only remove live fleas from pets but can also give pet owners a good idea of the efficacy of their flea control methods. Pet owners that frequently find flea dirt and live fleas while combing their pet with a flea comb should consider that their flea control may not be working well.

Bathing is another frequently used method of flea control. If your pet has large numbers of fleas and you need to remove the live fleas quickly for your pet’s health, a bath may help reduce the population of fleas on your pet directly after the bath. However, it is important to realize that if the pet has been living in the house and has live fleas, there are also immature fleas, flea eggs and pupae present in the home. These immature life forms can live in carpeting, in cracks in hardwood and other types of flooring, and in upholstery and bedding and can re-infest your pet very quickly after the bath. Therefore, bathing alone will not be effective in controlling fleas for your pets. However, in conjunction with other methods, you may have better success.

Natural pyrethrins, a chemical derived from chrysanthemums, can also be used for flea control and are commonly found in commercially available flea control products. (There are also products available with synthetically derived pyrethrins.) Products with pyrethrins should be used according to label directions to avoid toxicities.

Neem oil, a product produced by an evergreen tree, is found in numerous types of flea shampoos, sprays and powders. It has been used to control fleas in dogs and cats but seems to be variable in its efficacy. It does appear to be safe for both dogs and cats.

Ridding the Environment of Fleas

Though adult fleas live most of their lives on your pet, adult fleas produce eggs that fall off your pet into the environment, which is usually your home. These eggs live in the home as they progress through their life cycle and develop into more adult fleas, which in turn infest your pet. In order to prevent this re-infestation, it is necessary to remove the immature life stages from the environment.

Frequent vacuuming is one of the most effective ways to remove these immature fleas. Vacuum all flooring surfaces, including hardwood, tile and other types of flooring, in addition to the carpeting in your home. Be sure to use the vacuum on the upholstery in your home as well. Remove the contents of the vacuum bag from your home after you have finished vacuuming so the fleas do not continue to reproduce inside the bag. Also, launder any bedding, especially bedding on which your pet sleeps.

Another technique that some people report success with is using a pan filled with water and a small amount of dish detergent placed under a night light. The theory is that the fleas will be attracted to the light and will jump in the water and drown. This method may or may not be successful but is unlikely to be dangerous. Some sources advise using a candle placed in the center of the pan of water/dish detergent. However, especially with a pet in the area, I would be concerned about the potential for fire damage caused by an untended candle and urge caution with this technique.

Other products, such as diatomaceous earth and boric acid (borax), are also sometimes suggested for controlling fleas in the home. While boric acid appears to be safe, it is messy and some pet owners object to it for that reason. There is some concern about the safety of breathing the dust of diatomaceous earth for both pets and people.

Finally, nematodes are also available as a means of controlling fleas in the outdoor environment (i.e. the yard or garden). Nematodes are specific types of worms that live in the soil and ingest fleas, flea eggs and flea larvae. They can be purchased and seeded into the yard and garden.

In almost all cases, integrated flea control (controlling adult fleas on your pet as well as ridding the environment of fleas) is the most successful way to control fleas.

Have you found a flea control method that works well? Share your secrets with us. Let us know what methods have worked well for you and which ones have not by leaving a comment below.

One of the routine things I talk about with all of my clients that come in with new puppies is canine distemper vaccination. In pursuing these discussions with my clients, I have come across a great many misconceptions regarding canine distemper in general. So, I thought this might be a good time to demystify canine distemper, explain exactly what it is (and what it is not) and discuss the need for canine distemper vaccines, especially for young puppies.

What is Canine Distemper?

Canine distemper is a viral disease, a contagious disease that can be passed from one dog to another, usually through the aerosolization of respiratory secretions that occurs when an infected dog coughs. In previous times, canine distemper was a commonly seen disease and was frequently fatal for infected dogs. However, presently, canine distemper is not nearly as common because of the existence and commonplace usage of effective vaccines against the disease. That is not to say that the disease not longer occurs though. It is still seen, though not as often as previously, in individual dogs, particularly puppies, that have not yet developed any immunity to the disease. Unfortunately, the disease is still frequently fatal when contracted. Dogs that do recover may make a partial or full recovery from the disease.

What Canine Distemper is Not

One of the most frequent misconceptions I run into about canine distemper is that is has something to do with the temperament or personality of the dog in question. Though dogs suffering from canine distemper can develop neurological symptoms that affect their behavior, these are symptoms of the disease invading the dog’s brain and causing pathology. Canine distemper does not inherently affect the personality of an individual dog. Vaccination against canine distemper does not cause a dog to become aggressive nor prevent a dog from becoming aggressive. The reality of the situation is that canine distemper is a disease and vaccines against canine distemper protect dogs against that particular disease but do not play a part in the development of individual personality traits or make a dog friendly, mean, outgoing or fearful.

Symptoms of Canine Distemper Virus

Canine distemper virus can infect dogs of any age, but young puppies are most susceptible to the infection. Symptoms most commonly seen with the disease include:

• runny eyes
• runny nose
• fever
• lack of appetite
• coughing
• vomiting
• diarrhea

Secondary bacterial invaders often affect the lungs of infected dogs, causing pneumonia. Neurological symptoms, such as jaw snapping, muscle tremors, incoordination, weakness, and even seizures, can occur as well but may not be seen immediately. Some dogs may appear to recover initially, only to present with the neurological symptoms one to three weeks later.

Another manifestation of canine distemper is the keratinization of the skin of the nose and foot pads. This leads to hardening of these tissues and has resulted in the disease sometimes being referred to as “hard pad disease”.

Canine Distemper Vaccines

Effective vaccines against canine distemper exist and canine distemper is considered to be a “core” vaccine by the American Animal Hospital Association’s Canine Vaccination Guidelines. This means that vaccination against canine distemper is considered important for all dogs.

Vaccination against canine distemper can be administered as early as 6-8 weeks in puppies and should be boostered every 3-4 weeks until the puppy has reached the age of 14-16 weeks of age. This vaccine is most often a combination vaccine that protects not only against canine distemper but also against canine parvovirus and canine adenovirus infections.

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