"PLEASE READ THIS IT COLD SAVE YOUR DOGS LIFE!! They say a moment can change your life. It happens with humans and just the other day a dog proved it happens for them, too. I want to share a story with you today to show you how quickly things can happen. A very serious health condition resulted from a "harmless" household item. Little Sassy is a 2 year old spayed female that got into a package of sugar-free gum. Most sugar-free gums are loaded with a chemical called xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar-alcohol sweetener found in sugar-free human food products such as chewing gum, candy, baked goods as well as other products. From what I could tell, this particular brand (which looks like little ice cubes) has a very high concentration of xylitol compared to other gums. As little as 1/3 of one piece can cause problems. Dogs that eat significant amounts can develop a sudden drop in blood sugar, which can cause weakness, lethargy, loss of coordination, collapse and seizures. Symptoms can begin in as little as 30 minutes but can last hours. Some pets can remain symptomatic and may suffer from low blood sugar for several hours. Recent studies also suggest that there is a strong link between xylitol ingestion and the development of liver failure in dogs. This can occur from hours to 3 days after ingestion and can be life threatening. It is recommended that pets who experience symptoms be taken to a veterinarian or local emergency clinic for evaluation. Treatment may include hospitalization and intravenous fluids with dextrose supplementation. PLEASE USE CAUTION WITH ALL YOUR SUGAR FREE PRODUCTS CONTAING XYLITOL. Dr. U".

Pet Talk By Dr. Norette L. Underwood   How Kissable is Your Dog?   You're cuddling with your dog when they go in for a big smooch. How kissable is your dog? Does he have bad breath or stained teeth? Many people don't pay attention to their dog's oral hygiene as they should, and it can lead to foul breath as well as stains and decay on your dog's teeth. If you brush you dog's teeth, I congratulate you.  You are in the top 20% of pet owners in the country. However, if you do not brush your dog's teeth, you are making a big mistake... Healthy teeth and gums are important for biting and chewing, and even more important for your dog's overall good health. Tooth and gum disease can lead to serious health problems, including infection, kidney problems and heart disease! Brushing your dog's teeth makes a world of difference. In fact, the American Animal Hospital Association says brushing your dog's teeth could add as much as five years to his life. If that's not something you are already doing, you really must start. You should brush your dog's teeth at least three times a week.  Here are some simple recommendations to get started: Like with humans you must pick a good quality toothbrush for your dog. Toothbrushes that are designed for people won't work for dogs because their mouths are very different shape from ours.  I recommend if you are new to the doggy brushing game you start with a finger brush and progress to an appropriate dog toothbrush for your pet. Human toothpaste is not good for dogs because it has a foaming agent that is not meant to be swallowed. Also some human pastes contain Xylitol, which is an artificial sweetener that can be fatal to your dog.  Remember, not only will tooth brushing help freshen your pup's "kisser," it means a longer healthier life. If you have questions about dental care contact Dr. Underwood at catdoc56@pcsii.com

 

Pet Talk

Weird Dog Behavior

By Norette l. Underwood, DVM

I once knew a woman whose dog loved to eat grass. Now, many dogs love eating grass, but this woman stands out in my memory because she asked all the right questions about her dog's strange behavior. She thought about it, read about it and when she came into my office with the dog, she told me just enough details to make it easy for me to reassure her that her dog was fine.

I get a lot of questions that start with the words "My dog is acting weird..." If you feel your dog is acting out of the ordinary, ask yourself some questions about his behavior. You may be surprised at how much better you understand your dog is you just give a moment to the 5 Ws.

Why is my dog acting "weird?"
This is the main question you're trying to answer. We know our dogs so well that when they start acting even a little out of the ordinary, we notice it. It worries us. But sometimes a dog behaving strangely is not cause for concern and can be explained easily.

What is strange about my dog's behavior?
If you only ask yourself one question, ask this one. This is the information you will need to share with your vet, or whoever you turn to for advice. In the case of the woman I mentioned earlier, her dog was not just eating grass: he was gulping it down and then sometimes throwing up afterward. It is this latter part that worried her. Was something in the grass poisoning her dog?

When and where is my dog displaying the strange behavior?
If your usually quiet dog starts whining every time he sees a particular item, you can deduce that the behavior is connected to the item somehow. This is true for many other behaviors. Many times dogs change their behavior when they are stressed out. Excessive yawning, for instance, can mean your dog is feeling anxious. Keeping a close eye on when and where your dog is when he acts strange can help you figure out what is making him act that way.

The grass eating dog's owner noticed that the dog was not picky about where or when he ate grass. But she also noticed that he was only throwing up if he ate it on their morning walk, about half an hour after her dog usually ate. Now that she had all this information, it was time to take it to someone who could help her.

Who can I turn to for help?
First and foremost, you can turn to your vet. Your veterinarian knows a lot about your dog (and about dogs in general, of course!) so he or she should be the first person you go to it you are worried about your dog acting strange. If the information you've gathered about your dog's strange behavior is still worrying, your vet will be able to use that information to come up with a reason for your dogs problem or behavior. Your vet can also check if your dog's strange behavior is caused by something more serious like an illness.

Once you have enough information, you can also try searching for information on the Internet. Many people do this. However, I can't recommend it entirely, because you never know if the information you find is true. Every dog is also different, so what is true for someone's dog on the Internet is not necessarily true for your dog.

What I do recommend is using Just Answer to get a second opinion. Just Answer lets you ask a question about your dog's health and behavior, and in return you get a personalized answer from a certified vet. The vets on Just Answer are verified by a Fortune 500 firm, and all have many years of experience in the field. This service is something you can use if you are worried about your dog but want a second opinion before you go to visit your own vet.

The woman who came to visit me about her grass-eating dog already came prepared with some extra information she had gathered about her dog's issue. She had been told that grass eating is usually not something to worry about. I was able to confirm this - dogs usually eat grass because it has some nutrients that might be missing from their diet. They also often eat grass to self-medicate if they have an upset or gassy stomach, and her dog's throwing up was caused by this.

I made sure her dog was otherwise healthy and recommended that she add a scoop of cooked vegetables to her dog's diet to provide him with the missing nutrients. The dog still eats grass once in a while, but not as often as before. And the woman is happy and worry free because she took all the right steps and asked all the right questions about her dog's strange behavior.