Why Not to Buy from a Pet Store!!!

People often get tired of me talking about the cruelty of Puppy Mills. In my opinion we can't talk enough about them. So here we go!!!

WARNING VIDEOS CONTAIN SENSITIVE MATERIAL!!!

Do Not Buy a Puppy From a Pet Store or from a

Back Yard Breeder!!

____________________________________________________________

First thing we need to remember is that pet stores view dogs and cats as merchandise and not living creatures. Most if not all pet stores get their puppies from a retail distributor. That distributor is either a puppy broker, that buys entire litters from a breeder or from a puppymill, where large numbers of puppies are produced and sold each day. Puppymills do not care about the health of their adult dogs all they care about is the bottom line....How much money will each dog bring. These dogs are nothing but "Cash Cows" to them.

Some of their practices include:

• Breeding females each heat cycle, as early as 6 months old, and not allowing enough healing time in between each litter.

• Breeding unhealthy dogs with known hereditary genetic flaws or breeding until they can't produce anymore or just die from complications

• feed the dogs the cheapest foods, many times just the dust remnants from produced dog foods.

• Bowls are usually full of maggots, bacteria, dirty or just simply empty, which causes dogs to fight for food when it is available.

• Dogs are kept in metal cages barely big enough for 1 dog, much less a litter of puppies. Those cages are usually stacked on top of each other 10 high and are so old and worn that they are hazardous to the dogs causing cuts on legs and paws which leads to infection and sometimes amputation.

• Puppymillers even practice de-barking techniques, this is where the miller takes a rod, pipe or something of the like and ram it down the puppies throat to damage the vocal cords, so the puppy or dog can no longer bark, so the neighbors won't be alarmed by the constant barking and report the mill.

• Most dogs and puppies are unhealthy and sick from being left in urine and feces which exposes them to disease. Most do not get proper vaccines or vet care.

• Long-haired breeds never see a comb or brush. Ulcers will form under the solid mats of fur matted to the skin, sometimes maggots can be found in these ulcers.The validity of being a purebred is always in question.

• Most of the time dogs are not registered to any association and if they are it's ussualy with one that doesn't care about ancestry. If the puppy is registered with the AKC the puppy may have been registered under a number of a different dog.

• Puppymills may sometimes have actions. If you have ever been to one as I have you know how cruel they are. Hundreds sometimes even thousands of dogs are crated and stacked and bid on for the purpose of continuing the cycle.

• When the dogs are auctioned off or sold it's usually to another breeder who plan on doing the same thing . many times the dogs are pregnant or even delivering during the auction. Other reasons for auctions are because the females have become too old and non productive. This is mostly by the age of 5. If an auction is not an option, they are just shot, drowned, or just dumped somewhere to fend for their selves.

• Below are some video clips that are not for the light-hearted. I have seen this treatment first hand. I have been to the auctions and waited untill it was over and rescued the dogs that were going to be killed at the end of the day, had them vetted and found living homes for them.

Video Clips Of PuppyMills

*Warning....some of this video is very disturbing.

1	http://video.aol.com/video-detail/puppy-mill-crueltydont-buy-from-petstores/3592199110
2	http://video.aol.com/video-detail/im-alive-puppy-mill-documentary-full-version/4050537848
3	http://video.aol.com/video-detail/spca-officers-rescued-the-pup-on-christmas-eve/1055854811/?icid=vidurvpet01
4	http://video.aol.com/video-detail/puppymill/751658526
5	http://video.yahoo.com/watch/228191/1810923
6	http://video.aol.com/video-detail/wthr-indianas-puppy-pipeline-part-2/1098075394
7	http://video.aol.com/video-detail/the-truth-behind-licensed-breeders/4236447418
8	http://video.aol.com/video-detail/the-usda-and-puppy-mills/844514934
9	http://video.aol.com/video-detail/pets-of-bel-air-peddling-puppy-mill-pups/1608690119
10	http://video.aol.com/video-detail/tribute/2138610886

Pancreatitis In Dogs

With the holiday season coming up I would like to discuss a very common aliment our beloved pets can suffer from. It called Pancreatitis. I'm sure most dog and some cat owner has had their battle with Pancreatitis. Here is a brief description of what it is and what causes this disease and most importantly what steps we should take to prevent it.

Pancreatitis In Dogs


Pancreatitis is simply an inflammation of the pancreas.

So what's a pancreas?


It's a little gland located near the stomach.

The pancreas has two main jobs.

Its first job is to produce enzymes that help digest food. Its other job is to produce insulin, which regulates the blood sugar level.

Pancreatitis can be acute and only occur once in a dog's lifetime or it can become chronic and keep returning over and over again. It can be a rapidly life threatening illness or a mild attack of pain that resolves in a few hours or a day or so. There's another very severe form of this condition called necrotizing pancreatitis, in which the damage is so severe that portions of the pancreas are actually destroyed. Some authors refer to this as hemorrhagic pancreatitis. This form of pancreatitis can be fatal and requires early intervention and aggressivereatment.

Causes of Pancreatitis in Dogs

Multiple factors can contribute to the development of pancreatitis. Certain medications, infections; metabolic disorders including hyperlipidemia (high amounts of lipid in the blood) and hypercalcemia (high amounts of calcium in the blood); and trauma and shock can be associated with the development of pancreatitis. Middle-aged dogs appear to be at increased risk of developing pancreatitis; as a breed, Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers appear to be more prone to pancreatitis. Nutrition also plays a role. Dogs with diets high in fat, or dogs who 'steal' or are fed greasy 'people food' seem to have a high incidence of the disease. Going to places where there is an open water source that may be contaminated with bacteria may also play a role.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of the acute form of pancreatitis in dogs include a very painful abdomen, abdominal distention, lack of appetite, depression, dehydration, a 'hunched up' posture, vomiting, diarrhea and yellow, greasy stool. Fever often accompanies these symptoms. Animals with more severe disease can develop heart arrhythmias, sepsis (body-wide infection), difficulty breathing, and a life-threatening condition called disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which results in multiple hemorrhages. If the inflammation is severe, organs surrounding the pancreas could be 'autodigested' by pancreatic enzymes released from the damaged pancreas and become permanently damaged.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of pancreatitis is made through information obtained from the history, the physical exam, and laboratory testing. Dogs with pancreatitis generally have an increased blood levels of the pancreatic enzymes called amylase and lipase. If the liver also becomes inflamed, liver enzymes as measured in the blood may be increased. A rather new test, serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity, may prove to be a valuable diagnostic aid. The white blood cell count is generally increased in acute pancreatitis. Radiography (x-rays) and ultrasound can also help in making the diagnosis. Biopsy can result in a conclusive diagnosis, but is not commonly performed.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to rest the pancreas, provide supportive care and control complications. Treatment always begins with a withholding of food, water, and oral medications for at least 24 hours. The lack of oral intake stops the stimulation of the pancreas to produce digestive enzymes. Depending upon the animal's response, food intake can be started again after a few days. The dog is generally fed small meals of a bland, easily digestible, low-fat food. Over the course of a week or more, the size of meals and quantity of food fed are increased. The dog may need to stay on the special diet for life, or it may be possible to gradually reintroduce the former diet.

The second major component of treatment is fluid therapy. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances are common in dogs with acute pancreatitis, and water intake is often restricted so fluid therapy is usually needed. Fluids are either given subcutaneously or intravenous.

Dogs who are experiencing severe pain can be treated with pain relievers such as meperidine or butorphanol. Antibiotics are often administered prophylactically to protect against infection.

If the pancreatitis was caused by a medication, the medication should be stopped. If it was caused by a toxin, infection, or other condition, appropriate therapy for the underlying condition should be started.

In rare instances, where there are intestinal complications or the development of a pancreatic abscess, surgery may be necessary.

Long-Term Management and Prognosis

Pancreatitis can be a very unpredictable disease. In most cases, if the pancreatitis was mild and the pet only had one episode, chances of recovery are good, and avoiding high fat foods may be all that is necessary to prevent recurrence or complications. In other cases, what appears to be a mild case may progress, or may be treated successfully only to have recurrences, sometimes severe.

Dogs with severe pancreatitis can recover, but may also develop fatal complications. The risk of developing fatal pancreatitis is increased in dogs who are overweight, or have diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenocorticism, hypothyroidism, gastrointestinal tract disease, and epilepsy. Pets who have repeated bouts of pancreatitis may need to be fed low-fat diets to prevent recurrence. Even so, some animals develop chronic pancreatitis, which can lead to diabetes mellitus and/or pancreatic insufficiency, also called 'maldigestion syndrome.'

In pancreatic insufficiency, the nutrients in food are passed out in the feces undigested. An animal with this disease often has a ravenous appetite, diarrhea, and weight loss. Even though he is eating, he could literally starve to death. Treatment for pancreatic insufficiency is lifelong and expensive, but is possible. The pet's digestive enzymes are replaced through a product processed from pancreases of hogs and cattle which contain large quantities of the digestive enzymes. A change in diet with added nutritional supplements may also be necessary.

Summary

Acute pancreatitis can be a life-threatening condition, and early recognition and treatment can improve chances of recovery. In dogs, fever, lack of appetite, depression, and vomiting are the most common signs. Treatment is based upon stopping all oral intake to rest the pancreas, correcting the dehydration and maintaining proper fluid and electrolyte balances, and treating any complications or underlying conditions.

References

Hess, RS; Kass, PH; Shofer, FS; Van Winkle, TJ; Washabau, RJ. Evaluation of risk factors for fatal acute pancreatitis in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Association. 1999;214(1):46-51.

Stewart, AF. Pancreatitis in dogs and cats: Cause, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. The Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian. 1994;16(11):1423-1431.

Williams, DA. Exocrine pancreatic disease. In Ettinger, SJ; Feldman EC (eds): Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. W.B. Saunders Co. Philadelphia, PA; 2000;1347-1355.

Early Detection Is The Key!

Siberian Husky, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever and other breeders and dog fanciers: On November 8, 2010, Veterinary Diagnostics Institute (VDxI), Inc., announced a highly specific blood test to detect canine LYMPHOMA and HEMANGIOSARCOMA. "VDxI-TK" is now positioned to become the standard of care for two common forms of cancer in dogs." THIS IS GREAT NEWS FOR THE CANINE COMMUNITY.

Holiday Pet Safety Tips

Holiday Pet Safety Tips



Holidays provide great opportunities for friends and family to gather together and reminisce about the past, celebrate the present and plan the future.  Although most people enjoy the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can become quite stressful on the family pet regardless of whether that pet has fur, feathers or scales. 

Routine is important to all pets, but especially cats and anxious or geriatric dogs. Sudden, dramatic changes in routine can cause pets to act out of character.  Even pets that usually are “party animals” and happily jump into the action greeting visitors and opening presents can become stressed from the ongoing stream of activities that seem to begin at Halloween and don’t end until New Year’s Day.  Remember, times change and so do pets:  animals that once enjoyed celebrations as youngsters might have had a change of heart in their senior years.   

Signs of stress can manifest themselves through sudden changes in behavior such as; hiding, restlessness, vocalization, anorexia, vomiting, panting, house soiling and, in some cases, snapping at guests or other defensive behavior. Vigilant owners monitor their pets carefully and are prepared to intercede at the first signs of their best friend’s anxiety.  Some steps owners can take to decrease the effects of stress include:

• Crating or confining your furry friend in a safe, quiet part of the house. Avoid making it seem like punishment by including your pet’s favorite blanket and toy. Anxious pets often benefit from a radio in the room, with the volume set low, playing easy listening or classical music.

• Bird owners can set up a separate cage in a quiet room several weeks prior to any visitors arriving.
Use the cage as a nighttime sleeping area so the bird becomes comfortable spending time there.  

• Maintain your pet’s regular feeding and medication schedules as much as possible during this time.

• Discourage guests from sharing their holiday meal with your pet. Sudden changes in diet can result in digestive problems, and some people food is actually dangerous for your pet. 

• Do not force your pet into any interaction with people or other animals. Let your pet decide about the relationship.

• Set aside time to spend with your pet alone in a quiet area, especially if your house is usually very tranquil.
This time can be devoted to petting, brushing and providing your pet with some individualized attention.

• Supervise all interactions between your pet and guests.
You know your pet better than any one else and can intercede if necessary.

Following these guidelines can help make the holiday season a positive experience for you and your pets.