Molecular biologists have sequenced the first dog genome, a boxer to be specific.In addition to being an exciting discovery, there are many possible benefits.Dogs and humans share diseases such as diabetes, epilepsy, and cancer, and understanding the link between these diseases and canine genetics could help usher in new treatments.Breeders could also get quick answers regarding pedigree by a simple visit to the lab.
Three years old may seem too young to be needing or seeking Viagra, a sex enhancement drug, but it seems to have saved the life of Talisker, a border collie from Britain.Talisker was given grim news by vet.His heart was found to be abnormally enlarged, a lethal condition that often made him pass out when excited.The vet recommended a strange cure, Viagra.Stranger, it seems to be working, if not as a cure then at least as a temporary remedy.Since taking Viagra, blood flow to Talisker’s heart has greatly improved.The owners take care to provide adequate exercise and a quarter tablet of Viagra 3 times a day.
For more, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/northamptonshire/7307673.stm
They may not start listening to bands that sound like something dying in the deep sea, but their attention span does suffer. They can sense a dog in heat within two miles, and even if they’re neutered, they still pay attention. Aggression may also increase. A dog’s adolescence spans from the age of 5 months to 2 years. Owners would do well to remain persistent with training and exercise, not to mention patient. Vets recommend devising more complicated games for them, games that test, challenge, and reward their sense of smell and obedience rather than the simple fetch or sit.
Dogs often emerge with their good habits better and their bad habits worse. Sound familiar?
Did you know lillies are extremely fatal to small pets? Think twice about accepting the Tulips from the cute old lady at work as well. Yournext trip to the florist could land you at the vet! Avoid amaryllis,azaleas, chrysanthemums, daffodils, hyacinths, oleander, and sago palm, toname a few. Make sure that mulch used in pet-accessible gardens is freefrom cocoa beans.
And Christmas is a downright disaster for dogs!
Besides the invasion of new relatives (and their smells!) and small,excitable children, many plants associated with the yuletide are toxic.Pointsettias, holly, mistletoe,and the pine needles from Christmas treesare all toxic. Don’t be assured that your dog is immune if they have ingested some ofthose things. Pets tend to hide illnesses if they think they’ll end up at the veternarian. Make sure to be proactive to avoid accidentalpoisoning–keep pets away from places where you keep cleaning products,automotive solvents, and garbage. Use covered trash cans, and keep an extraeye on your pet during Christmas. Even bones are unsafe! In the wordsof a veterinarian, “Some dogs have lead-plated stomachs; but some don’t,so why take the chance?” She went on to tell me that three of the dogsin the operating room that night were there because of table scraps.There’s no need to take risks. Sharing your meal with your pets won’tmake them happy; they will immediately want more, and it will set a badbehavioral precedent for the future. Eventually, it won’t be cute whenyour animal begs for food; but if you’ve yielded to their charms in thepast, it’s nobody’s fault but yours. Your best bet is to stick with ahigh-quality dog food, with low ash content and low fat.
This story comes from Mary Z. of Albuquerque, NM: “A while back, I had a dog named Taxi. He was a beautiful greyhound, and I used to call him by whistling and shouting ‘Taxi!’–isn’t that a perfect name for a dog? Anyway, once he darted out the door in the middle of the night and ran across the street toward an irrigation ditch. I called him for a while, but I couldn’t usurp whatever caught his attention. I darted across the street and started whistling for him and shouting ‘taxi! taxi!, come on, taxi!’ Just then, some guy on a bicycle slammed his air brakes and slid across the dirt, a homely cloud of dirt rising around the rear tire. Not wanting to attract the wrong attention late at night, I kept looking for a dog. The man got off the bike and walked down the ditch toward me. I got really scared, hoping my dog would show up soon to protect me from the stranger. He finally spoke up and said, ‘Um, madam, you’ll not be able to catch a taxi this late, it’s Albuquerque, not Manhattan.’ I laughed at the misunderstanding and said, “No, I’m looking for a greyhound!”–At this point, he retreats to his bike, gets started and says, “You won’t be able to catch a greyhound down there either…True story!”
Thanks, Mary! Anyone out there have a good story about their dog? E-mail me at k9amiga@webwildwest.com
1. Labrador Retriever
2. Yorkshire Terrier
3. German Shepherd Dog
4. Golden Retriever
5. Beagle
6. Boxer
7. Dachshund
8. Poodle
9. Shih Tzu
10. Bulldog
The bulldog was the underdog, no pun intended, surfacing on the top ten list after over seventy years! The beautiful thing to watch though is the humans complaining and celebrating, while the dog plays it cool and oblivious.
Everyone’s been there: You’re eating something and your dog gives you that look. Suddenly you realize the only key to your dog’shappiness is the morsel of food in your hand, en route to your mouth. Did youknow, however, that some morsels are potentially lethal and can makeyour pet very sick. Most people know not to give chocolate to dogs; nevertheless, other foods should be kept away from pets as well: avocados,coffee, nutmeg, onions, garlic, raw fish, and sugar-free candy or gum with “Xylitol” in the ingredient list. Also, one mysterious food toxin is grapes. The Animal Poison Control Center states that just a handfulof grapes can make your pet very sick. No one’s quite sure what’s sotoxic about grapes, but avoid raisins as well.
By far the most common way pets are poisoned is the accidentalingestion of human medication. Ibuprofen, the pain reliever in Advil, Midol,Motrin, and other formulas, is very toxic to dogs. Also, Acetompinophen(sometimes designated APAP) is found in Tylenol, Vicodin, Lorcet, andmany cough syrups, and a single, small dose will ravage pet kidneys andlivers. Other chemicals to keep locked away from curious dogs are Lysol,bleach, and other household cleaners, and many insecticides, includingones marketed toward pet owners! Keep in mind also that anti-freeze has a sweet smell, and is very attractive to young animals, despite how lethal it is. Use cat litter or unprocessed sand to absorb the liquidfrom your driveway, and then sweep it up and throw it away.
Always feed a high quality premium dog food. Stay safe, and expect more on pet toxins soon!
