Canine Lyme Disease

Here in New Hampshire after a long snowy and wet winter the snow is finally melting and with that, brings the emergence of the blood-thirsty tick and the possibility that your dog could contract Lyme disease.

Canine Lyme disease affects thousands of pet dogs on a yearly basis, and is considered the most often reported tick borne disease in the country.  It is common within the Northeastern states from Maine to Maryland, along with Minnesota, Wisconsin, Oregon and Northern California.

It's brought on by a bacterial infection that is acquired through the bite of the tick.  It's typically transmitted through the deer tick or black-legged tick. The particular bacteria that triggers Lyme disease is Borrelia burgdorferi and can take many weeks for the illness to show itself in the dog following exposure.

It's a complex and generally perplexing disease and for that reason, screening for canine Lyme disease can serves as a sentinel for human Lyme disease infections.

The disease can result in complications in a variety of areas of your dog's system and may result in severe and in some cases fatal health conditions in most dogs.  Symptoms of the illness trigger serious joint pain and among the first warning signs of Lyme disease are often a limp, particularly one front leg. For successful transmission of the bacteria, the tick has to be in the dogs skin for a minimum of 1-2 days.

According to research carried out pertaining to Lyme disease in dogs, it's learned that the bacteria exists in the tick's saliva, which is then transferred to the dog's system during bites.  Currently, instances have already been documented in 44 states in North America and several other locations around the globe and the occurrence is growing.

 When Lyme disease goes undiscovered for long periods of time, it can wreak chaos on a dog's immunity process.   It's a disease that impacts thousands of dogs each year.

Decoding the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease can be a little bit complicated at times because they are typical to several other dog diseases.  And this is what makes the disease tougher to diagnose quickly and it is found that preventing the disease is less complicated than managing the disease.

Of the typical tick-borne diseases only canine Lyme disease has a distinct vaccine.

Doxycycline or amoxicillin are two of the most typically recommended prescription antibiotics to treat this disease. They are both effective. Dogs need to be on antibiotics for a minimum of 14 days, however, 30 days is recommended dosage.

 If you think your dog could possibly have Lyme disease, waste little time in seeing the vet. Early treatment will help protect against serious permanent damage.  Most dogs respond effectively to treatment and have no long-term problems or lasting damage from the disease.

Canine Lyme Disease

The Dog's Prayer

TUNDRA

I always think of this poem when the anniversary of my sweet Tundra’s passing is looming. I had to make the difficult decision to put her down.

And still after all these years I feel guilty that I may have waited too long and caused her undue suffering.  I loved her so very much and hate feeling that I may have failed her. I hope she can forgive me if I did.

Treat me kindly, my beloved master, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me. 

Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hand between the blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me do. 

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world's sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.

When it is cold and wet, please take me inside... for I am now a domesticated animal, no longer used to bitter elements... and I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth... though had you no home, I would rather follow you through ice and snow than rest upon the softest pillow in the warmest home in all the land... for you are my god... and I am your devoted worshiper. 

Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for although I should not reproach you were it dry, I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst. Feed me clean food, that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life, should your life be in danger. 

And, beloved master, should the Great Master see fit to deprive me of my health or sight, do not turn me away from you. Rather hold me gently in your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest...and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I drew, my fate was ever safest in your hands. 

--Beth Norman Harris

The Dog's Prayer

Epilepsy In Dogs

Dog epilepsy is among the most psychologically devastating issues confronting dog owners and dog breeders today.  Having a dog with epilepsy causes numerous feelings: anxiety, uncertainty, and fear are only a few.

Dog epilepsy is fairly typical. In truth, its thought that somewhere around 5% of most dogs endure epilepsy, defining it as one of the most prevalent neurological issues among dogs.   Epilepsy can be found most often in certain dog breeds, such as the Labrador retriever and Golden retriever, as they can be genetically susceptible to the condition.

Dog epilepsy is a chronic condition that affects the dog's brain and is characterized by recurrent seizures.  The problem is most significantly characterized by a number of seizures that dramatically restricts a dog's control over motor functions.  Typically recognized as an unchecked discharge of electrical release within the brain.

Seizures generally show up suddenly and finish spontaneously, and may last from a few moments to a matter of minutes.  Seizures are among the scariest situations that you might ever experience. They are usually recognized by violent shaking and trembling, falling down and disorientation.

The problem cannot be cured but it is often managed. Sadly, for dogs, epilepsy may either be inherited or it could even be attributable to the chemical preservatives in the food that they eat.

Seizures in young dogs might require treatment. When the main cause of seizures can't be identified or remedied or repeated seizures are anticipated, antiepileptic drug treatment is usually advised.

When managing canine epilepsy, it might be required to test a number of medications, or perhaps mixtures of medications and different dosage amounts to customize the right treatment method for the dog.   These drug treatments will not cure the dog; they simply manage the seizures and must be provided to the dog for the remainder of its life.

Epilepsy In Dogs

Northern Breed Dogs and What to Name Them

Before I got my Golden Retriever Mulligan, I was the owner of a wolf-dog hybrid that was a mix of Alaskan Malamute and British Columbian timber wolf and I wanted her name to reflect her heritage. I named her Tundra. 

Besides Golden Retrievers and yellow Labs, my other favorite breeds of dog are the northern breeds, as some  are so similar in looks and behavior to their ancestor…the wolf. 

Some of the northern breeds are- 

·         Siberian Husky

·         Alaskan Malamute

·         Samoyed

·         Akita

·         Spitz

·         Chow Chow

·         and American Eskimo, just to name a few.  

If  you are planning on getting a northern breed dog you may find an appropriate name from the list of names below. 

Do not pick a name for your puppy until you actually have it. Many times a particular name sounds great, but once you see the puppy you may find that the name isn’t a good fit for one reason or another. 

In my case, I picked the name first and when I finally did see a picture of her I felt the name was a perfect fit…she just looked like a Tundra and that was it! 

Some names that you might consider- 

Alaska, Aleyeska, Alpine, Arctic, Aspen, Balto, Baree, Bear, Chinook, Denali, Freeze, Frosty, Grizzly, Igloo, Ice, Juneau, Kaia, Kavik, Kenai, Kiana, Klondike, Kodiak, Mackenzie, McKinley, Moose, Nakiska, Nanook, Shasta, Sitka, Snowball, Thor, Tundra, Yukon, White Fang, Wolf.

When we think of the “north” we tend to think of Alaska or the Arctic..there are many mountains, towns and rivers in these parts whose names may serve as an appropriate name for your northern breed dog. The name possibilities are endless. 

Whatever you choose to name your new pup…make sure it’s a name that you can live with and that fits.  You don’t want “Frosty” to get used to his name and then find that you should of named him “Thor”!!

Northern Breed Dogs and What to Name Them

REWARD TRAINING: A Positve Way To Train Your Puppy or Dog

Reward training has indeed been made use of for many years to train dogs; it is a good method to teach your new puppy. I believe puppies and dogs respond much better to positive reinforcement as opposed to other insensitive training methods.

Reward training is made use of to teach dogs to carry out all kinds of actions along with police  and military work and service dogs. This sort of exercise is used at length in the training of dogs for films and advertisements. But you do not have to have a police dog or service dog to bring into play reward training – it is a very efficient method to train your pet fundamental obedience instructions.

As the name suggests, reward training consists of a treat of some kind. In general a special treat, but even appreciation and a few strokes on the head can be taken as a precious reward by your dog. The treats that you use for training should only be used for that purpose and not given on a regular basis. It should be truly a special treat that your dog will be eager to perform for. Dried liver treats are highly recommended, as dogs seem to go crazy for these things!

By using rewards, you can teach your dog to do almost everything. You just have to abide by a set of methods to get your dog to carry out the wanted job and then reward him exactly after. So if you want your dog to be taught to sit, you may dangle the treat on top of his head and move it towards the back until he sits on his own - all the while say the command “sit” then when he has sat down, commend him and reward him. Soon enough he will relate the word “sit” with the action of sitting along with the following reward.

Clicker training is one type of reward training that can be made use of if you would like your puppy or dog to do as he is told by you without using spoken instructions. The dog is trained to connect a clicking sound with the reward. The trainer snaps the clicker when the dog does something good, followed right away by a treat. In due course, the dog finds out to act in response to the clicker only.

Reward training can be made use of to train your dog difficult actions if you have the time and endurance. In many situations, the teaching makes use of a decoy to get the dog into the spot preferred by the trainer. This decoy makes the dog to do the “trick” of his own free will. Once the dog has carried out the action he is given the reward. This is a good method to make the dog to do something without being handled by the trainer and is used a lot in the entertainment industry.

When teaching your dog, it is vital to make certain he will pay attention to your instructions when there are other distractions around and not just when the two of you are on your own in the house. You have to make sure that your dog will comply with you with these disruptions as this can be one of the most significant times for him to pay attention to your instructions since complying with you can be what places you between your pet and some type of peril. Once you have practiced this training at home - take your pet to the park or other area where there will be distractions and put into practice the instruction until he learns to abide by you in public as well as in private.

Teaching your dog obedience and/or tricks takes time, patience and consistency. Our dog Mulligan was trained to jump through a hoop. To start, he was praised and rewarded for not being afraid of the hoop any time it was placed near him. Through patience and consistency he eventually learned to jump through the hoop. Always rewarding him with a “special prize” for his dedication and efforts.

REWARD TRAINING: A Positve Way To Train Your Puppy or Dog

Win A Personalized Photo Blanket with Your Dog's Photo!

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