Every dog, like every person, has a unique name which they are given. The meaning behind that name and how the owner/parent thought of it is also one of a kind.
So here’s a few questions for you readers.
1. What is your dog(s) name?
2. Why did you name your dog(s) that?
3. How did you get your name?
Our dog’s name is Nanami, which means seven seas in Japanese. My sister actually named her so I don’t know the reason for it. As for my name, my grandmother named me after another relative.
As the end of the school year approaches, there are many young people graduating from high school. Likewise, many dogs may be graduating obedience school! It’s an exciting time for everybody
What these two events have in common is that both sets of graduates will be ready to take on the world as grown ups! Whether it’s leaving home for college or sitting your bottom to the floor on command, it’s a big landmark in anybody’s life.
It can, however, get difficult sometimes. An off day can set your whole schedule awry. For some it means a low test grade. For others it means no treat that day.
In either case, the best you can do is to keep on keeping on. Work hard for the next test and listen carefully for the next command.
In the end, it always turns out right. Whether it be a degree or a belly rub, you’ll definitely be top dog
Name: Joyce Mason
Pets species and breed: Cocker Spaniel
Pets age and weight: about 3 years, 30 pounds
Pets health status: fair
Are they spayed or neutered? Yes
Brand of food: several
Animal owned for: 6 months
“Muggsy is a rescue dog. He has a chronic problem with his digestive system. He seems OK for two or three weeks, then goes off his feed, acts miserable, stools become very soft and have bright red blood on them. In a few days, he acts better and stools become normal. When I first got him, he ate Science Diet C/D food. I didn’t like what I read in the ingredients list, so I changed to Burns, chicken and brown rice. That didn’t help, and the vet insisted that he eat Science Diet I/P. (If I go to her again, she will again want him on that food.) Next we tried VitaLife duck and oatmeal. He is just getting over another episode. I talked with a K9 cusine adviser, and we wondered if a non-grain food would help. Please help us. He smells really bad sometimes, especially when he comes in from outdoors. Would a zinc supplement help with this? The drainage from his eyes seems excessive, and it quickly hardens into a solid mass. Does he need a vitamin supplement? He is such a sweet and loving dog that I really want to help him feel good.”
The Answer:
“Thanks for your questions Joyce. We hope to get Muggsy feeling better soon!
While possible, it is unlikely that Muggsy’s problem is with the grains. The symptoms you describe in Muggsy are classic for a young dog who is not getting enough fiber in their diet. Fiber is very important to the health of the colon and before I tried anything else I would try to increase the fiber in his diet. There are natural sources of fiber including psyllium husk, canned pumpkin (not flavored) or you can even add metamucil to his food. There are also some commercially available high fiber foods. Ask your veterinarian for their suggestions as well.
It is important to choose dog foods with high QUALITY ingredients. Poor quality proteins (rendered meats/meals/some by-products) are less digestible than real muscle meat and these poor quality proteins are often associated with adverse food reactions (diarrhea, stomach upset, etc). Artificial colors, flavors, dyes and preservatives can also be associated with adverse intestinal and skin reactions.
If Muggsy continues to have problems despite fiber supplementation, I would ask your veterinarian about the possibility of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) as Muggsy is the right age for this condition. See my article at http://www.halopets.com/pet-education/pet-articles/Inflammatory-Bowel-Disease-in-Dogs.html to learn more about IBD in dogs.
I would not recommend a zinc supplement in Muggsy at this time. I think a high quality vitamin supplement is a good idea in most pets. The excess eye drainage is not uncommon in Cocker Spaniels and may result from eyelid abnormalities (ectropion) or blockages of the tear ducts. Ask you veterinarian about checking for these things before you start medicating him unnecessarily.”
Name: Kathy Beth Moraino
Pets species and breed: Canine – border collie/retriever
Pets age and weight: 1.5 years/60lbs
Pets health status: Excellent
Are they spayed or neutered? Yes
Brand of food: Taste of the Wild and a raw food diet
Animal owned for: 1 year
“I was inquiring about a premium dog food recommendation. My dog has SIBO. He has done well on a raw dog food diet and on does best on a kibble that is venison. I feed him kibble in the morning and raw meat/organs/bone at night. I feed the kibble just to make sure he is getting all the vitamins and minerals he needs. He was originally eating Wellness Venison but rejected it after a month. He liked Taste of the Wild Venison and bison at first, but then rejected it after a month. I was wondering if you could recommend a brand of food for him. Pre-made raw food is too expensive to feed all my dogs. Thank you.”
The Answer:
“Thanks for your question Kathy. I am glad you are supplementing the raw dog food diet with a well balanced dog food to provide your dog the right nutrient profile.
It is important to choose a dog food with high QUALITY ingredients. Poor quality proteins (rendered meats/meals/some by-products) are less digestible than real muscle meat and these poor quality proteins are often associated with adverse food reactions (diarrhea, stomach upset, etc).
Another ingredient to watch for is fillers. Fillers are usually carbohydrates like corn and rice that are added to a food to “fill” up the bag and add calories. It is cheaper for pet food companies to use these fillers than other types of carbohydrates and protein. When included in dog foods (in excess) these fillers can have negative metabolic effects and often contribute to obesity in pets.
In addition to these things, I choose dog foods based on a number of factors, including:
Recognizable ingredients. Real meat (no by-products) and real vegetables when I read the label and look inside the food.
Natural foods–by definition means they cannot contain artificial dyes, colors or preservatives
Alternate carbohydrate sources like sweet potato
The food you have been feeding (Taste of the Wild High Prairie Canine Formula) contains bison, venison, lamb/chicken/fish meals, and potato/sweet potatoes so I know what ingredients he seems to do okay on. A couple of names you might try include:
If your dog continues to reject each new diet that you provide, you should see your veterinarian. Many dogs with SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) actually have an underlying inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) condition that may require medication to treat. See my article at http://www.halopets.com/pet-education/pet-articles/Inflammatory-Bowel-Disease-in-Dogs.html to learn more about IBD in dogs.”
A German Shepherd dog named Darby is gaining help from PetRelocation.com and PR and communications expert, Shonali, in finding his new home.
His owner recently passed away, leaving Darby alone and confused. However, many pets become distraught after losing their owners and it becomes very difficult to transport them.
Luckily, Shonali (being Twitter savvy), put her social media skills to the test in the quest to find Darby a new home.
PetRelocation.com answered with an all expense paid “door-to-door, climate controlled [pet] transportation to and from the airports, a flight on a climate-controlled, pet-friendly airline, and all the pet moving resources and assistance that we provide our two-legged customers”.
Social media found the means to helping Darby out, now to find the destination!
If it itches, you can reach it. And no matter where it itches, no one will be offended if you scratch it in public.
No one notices if you have hair growing in weird places as you get older.
Personal hygiene is a blast: No one expects you to take a bath every day, and you don’t even have to comb your own hair.
Having a wet nose is considered a sign of good health.
No one thinks less of you for passing gas. Some people might actually think you’re cute.
Who needs a big home entertainment system? A bone or an old shoe can entertain you for hours.
You can spend hours just smelling stuff.
No one ever expects you to pay for lunch or dinner. You never have to worry about table manners, and if you gain weight, it’s someone else’s fault.
It doesn’t take much to make you happy. You’re always excited to see the same old people. All they have to do is leave the room for five minutes and come back.
Every garbage can looks like a cold buffet to you.
Name: Judy Buttine
Pets species and breed: German Shepherd
Pets age and weight: 4.5 months, 30 lbs
Pets health status: good
Are they spayed or neutered? No
Brand of food: orijins
Animal owned for: 6 wks
“We’re feeding our 4 1/2 month old German Shepherd your puppy food which she loves. She was recently diagnosed with red mange which started on her head and has spread around her face and eyes. The vet put her on Goodwinol which I’ve been putting on her once a day. Do you have any suggestions on anything else we can do to help her?”
Thanks you!
The Answer:
“Thanks for the question. Red mange (also known as demodectic mange) is a common skin disease of young dogs. Hair loss is the most common sign of red mange, however, crusty red skin or skin with a greasy appearance are also frequently seen. These areas may or may not itch. Hair loss and other skin abnormalities usually begins around the muzzle, eyes and other areas on the head. Mange can be localized or generalized.
Localized mange is most frequent on the head and forelegs of young dogs (usually 3-6 months old). Most of these areas resolve spontaneously (without treatment) as the puppies become older and develop immunity to mange mites. Red mange can also be generalized in which the skin abnormalities can be severe and affect the whole body. Some dogs with generalized mange will become quite sick with lethargy, loss of appetite, and require close medical treatment and monitoring.
The good news is that most cases of red mange are localized and may resolve spontaneously or with a topical treatment. A topical 1% rotenone ointment (Goodwinol) or a 5% benzoyl peroxide gel applied daily are usually very effective at treating localized mange. It is also recommended that affected dogs are fed a high quality diet, given a multivitamin and fatty acid supplement and bathed weekly with a benzoyl peroxide shampoo. Sometimes these areas become infected and need therapy with an antibiotic in order to clear up completely. If the areas don’t seem to be responding, ask your veterinarian about the need for an antibiotic.
If these localized skin abnormalities seem to be spreading, contact your veterinarian immediately as the mange may be becoming more generalized and require more extensive treatment. For more information on generalized red (demodectic) mange, see http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2101&aid=729.”
