Fleas! The flea Collar was Useless. 07/29/2010
 Fleas! OMG! They grow everything bigger and better in Queensland. Reg, Indigo and I were relaxing beside the caravan in the bush, enjoying out first glimpse of blue sky in weeks, as we dried out all the damp things in our caravan and aired all the bedding in full sunshine and I called Indigo over for a cuddle and a groom as she had been enjoying a dust bath under the caravan. I started to rub my hands through her coat as I often do when we are travelling; mostly checking to make sure she has not picked up another tick. I remember 2 years ago getting one heck of a shock when she picked up a bush tick, I was ready to yell for the roadside assistance, because, beaing a northern Victorian, (where we do not have any ticks) I had never seen a tick on a dog and I went into a panic. Anyhow I found fleas on Indigo OMG!, she has NEVER had a flea before. I have always used those drops you place at the back of the neck every month, bought the best and most expensive from the vet and they work. This trip however because I was so worried about ticks, I bought flea and tick collars. The, BayO Pet Kiltix Tick Collar, I used, is supposed to control fleas for 5 months and paralysis tick for 5 weeks so Indigo has been having these replaced every month and here she was suddenly full of fleas. L. I had some flea powder with me, as I had been dusting her down before putting her down on the ground in areas where I was extra concerned about ticks. So I have been dusting her with flea powder, twice a day, combing her with a fine flea comb and killing half a dozen fleas at every go and I have now put one of those once a month flea treatments on her. Tonight put on a new tick and flea collar and fingers crossed we will come to the end of these fleas soon. They grow things bigger and better there in Queensland, this dog flea colony seems to be the most resistant I have known. Yes I know every piece of soft furnishing in the place will require washing, plus the front seat of our car and our mattress will need some sun exposure and time away from the dog to break the cycle and I read the female flea can lay 30 eggs a day, 2,000 eggs in her short 115 day (max.) lifetime. TThe flea can not live more than a couple of days without the host animal. I will be doing close inspections on Indigo twice daily and will try to give her a flea rinse bath tomorrow as well, I sure want her to be free from fleas before we get home. The main reason why any dog gets fleas is because it has associated with other dogs that also have fleas. Indigo spent a lot of time with Reg's fishing mate's dog, just before we left Flying Fish Point and I did not check her until the following day.   My heart is in my mouth, walking back from the beach, by torch light, Indigo walked ahead of us a couple of feet and walked over a stick laying across the track only the stick turned into a big wriggling twisting snake under her and then wriggled off the path.It was a 2-meter long red bellied black snake. :-( Palpitations and I feel sick and do not want my dinner. Indigo is OK and the vet says she would have yelped if bitten. I just want to watch her all night; I can't believe she would not have been bitten. I am wide-awake, like I am on thebest testosterone boosters and wondering how to put concern about my dog out of my mind and go to sleep. Only thing good about it is that if I had not gone to the beach with Indigo, it might have been Reg walking bare legged over the snake and being, bitten. I would rather have my dog save my man from being bitten by a poisonous snake than have my man at almost 70 be ill with snakebite, he could not take any more bad setbacks. Please let Indigo be OK. I feel so neglectful, that I never noticed, that still dark shape on the track until my dog was on top of it and horrified, to think my man often comes home on that track at night, without the torch and wearing only shorts, because he refuses, to wear jeans, even though I have been warning him, about the risk, of snake bite. Reg will not be going fishing without me again, not that I was vigilant enough tonight L., and I need to take a lot better care of Indigo, if we are walking her back from the beach in semi dark. Indigo still appears absolutely, fine. It has been 2 hours now and she has no symptoms. I cannot find any fang marks but when I Google, both those events can happen and even the vet said I will not see the bite mark, but she said 'Poodles are intelligent and Indigo would let me know if she had been bitten'. Please let her be right Please let this just is a warning for me to take better care of my man/boy and dog.    I have fallen in love with this cute little Maltese Poodle cross, puppy that is fifteen weeks old and comes past my place every day on her walks Isn’t she cute. She stops so we can chat and wag tails; we have so much to talk about, important stuff, like the local smells best places to scratch, we leave stuff like women diet pills, to the magazines they leave laying around in the communal laundry and get on with the business of investigating the ground outside the laundry door deciding how many geckos and butterflies we think we can catch and how cane toads would be more fun than a ball to chase but out owners will not let us. Kathy, my owner is not a big fan of cross-bred, dogs and prefers the pure bread varieties from reputable breeders who do health checks, 'not puppy farms'. She says that a Poodle and a Maltese have very different jaws and when you cross breed dogs so different to each other. Rather than producing a dog, without the possible inherited health problems, of the pure bred, you keep all the inherited potential health problems of both breeds and create new health problems associated with the incompatibility, of things like jaw size and teeth. Just because a dog looks cute as a puppy and Paris Hilton makes it a fashion accessory, does not make it an ideal breed. The Poodle Maltese is not, she says, a dog breed, is a high maintenance dog with jaw alignment problems, one that would never, be recognised, by any kennel control council as a legitimate healthy breed of dog. Definitely only dog bred, for its income producing ability, not genuine concern, for producing a healthy breed of dog. If this offends, lovers of this popular cross breed she is sorry but she says she loves dogs too much to not share her feelings about the puppy farm culture of earning money producing pop culture fashion cross breeds for 'the market', rather than healthy pure breed (not in bred), dogs.   Top 10 Puppy Accidents Revealed The nation's largest pet insurer has revealed the top ten accidental injuries suffered by dogs during the first two years of their lives. Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the nation's oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, recently analyzed data from more than 480,000 insured pets to reveal that the top 10 puppy accidents cost VPI policy holders a combined $1.5 million in the past year, with the most common accidents being soft tissue trauma, lacerations or bite wounds, and cruciate ligament injury. 'Pet owners falsely assume that they don't need pet insurance because their pet is young and healthy. While younger pets are less susceptible to serious illnesses such as cancer, our data shows that pets of all ages can suffer costly accidental injuries. Pet insurance is designed to defray unexpected treatment costs - whenever they may occur. It's important for owners of puppies and kittens to keep in mind that just because their pets may be young, they're not indestructible,' said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. Top 10 Puppy Accident Claims:
VPI recommend that to avoid such accidents, owners of young dogs 'baby-proof' their homes. For example, you should clear obstacles both inside and out of the home to prevent collisions during playtime, remove items that could be mistaken for food and keep medications tightly sealed and secured. View the latest World Pet News every week at PetPeoplesPlace.com. Original Source: http://www.petpeoplesplace.com/resources/news/dogs/top-10-puppy-accidents-revealed.htm How When and Why, to Give a Dog A Bone. 04/25/2010
 Indigo is a little too busy to chat today. She feels that chewing her bone takes priority over blogging. She did not mind me talking about why she should be allowed to have more bones. lol :-) I know that as a former dog owner and breeder and vets’ nurse more dogs die as a result of chewing plastic toys that they do from eating bones but bones that splinter and fragmented with sharp edges are dangerous to dogs. Uncooked chicken wings are usually safe as the bones are soft yet they will massage the gums and the chewing action helps clean the dog's teeth. Raw marrowbones are excellent if the dog does not chew splintered pieces of bone. We give Indigo these bones to chew all the gristle off them and get the marrow out of the centre as she is doing with this lamb leg bone in the photos then we take them off her or she will eat bone chunks. It is a balancing act of what is good about eating bones versus the dangers involved. Raw bones were a part of the natural diet of dogs though dogs are much evolved, since they were primary hunters.  She said she was quite happy for me to reference reasons why she should be allowed more bones. :-) Here is some advise about bones and dogs, I found 'on the internet'.
 I know from personal experience how hard it is to fix, ear problems in dogs. Very often an ear infections can be cause by allergy or tiny mites both of which are very hard to totally irradicate. Here is some latest news, on the treatment of ear infections in dogs. New Drug Approved For Canine Ear Infections A new drug for the treatment of ear infections in dogs has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is now available for use from veterinarians. Posatex Otic Suspension, made by Intervet, Inc. of New Jersey, was approved on April 1st to be used for the treatment of otitis externa in dogs associated with susceptible strains of yeast (Malassezia pachydermatis) and bacteria (coagulase-positive staphylococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecalis). The drug suspension contains orbifloxacin, mometasone furoate monohydrate, and posaconazole. Otitis externa is an inflammation of the outer ear and ear canal and is often characterized by the ear emitting a strong odor or discharge. Affected dogs might also scratch or rub their ears more than normal, become easily irritated, or frequently shake their head. It is estimated that up to 20% of dogs may be affected by this disorder at some time in their lives. Otitis externa can also be caused by foreign bodies, hormone imbalances and allergies. Posatex Otic Suspension is only indicated for use where the cause is yeast or bacteria, which previously required treatment with antibiotics or antifungals. The drug's approval includes the condition that dogs weighing less than 30 lbs. be given 4 drops once daily in the ear canal, and heaver dogs be given 8 drops daily, for 7 consecutive days. View the latest World Pet News every week at PetPeoplesPlace.com. Original Source: http://www.petpeoplesplace.com/resources/news/dogs/new-drug-approved-for-canine-ear-infections.htm Dogs with Addictions. 03/31/2010
 Indigo is addicted to love :-). Yes I know dogs can have addictions because we owned a poodle who was addicted to alcohol and was always looking for the opportunity to raid a wine glass, if you were not watching. This poodle was 'like that', when we got her, we always wondered if her former owner had given her wine as the dog went crazy when wine was poured. Of course we never gave her wine and we were careful to try to keep her away from it, but like an alcoholic, she was clever enough to find ways to get her fix. She made her own private stash of home brewed fermenting fruit in the garden and we discovered her one day, blind, snarling, drunk under the apricot tree and with a massive hangover the next day to sleep off. Since then I have been careful to clean up all fallen fruit beneath trees and be more aware of the toxins in plants in our garden and how they could affect dogs. I do not grow toxic plants in the courtyard garden where Indigo is allowed to go unattended. I have heard of crazier addictions in dogs. This was in the news.:- Dog Eats Cigarettes, Dies. A 24-year-old Dachshund's habit was to eat half a pack of cigarettes every day since he was a puppy. 17 years ago he was adopted by a new owner after he was abandoned. Wolfgang Treirler in Graz, Austria, said he noticed the dogs addiction to cigarettes, promptly. Almost every day they used to walk to the tobacconist's shop. But unfortunately, the dog has died because he dashed out in the road in excitement, getting hit by a car. A vet said the dog became addicted to nicotine, which usually poisons them. My comment is, L, Fancy giving your dog cigarettes. O think they use derogatory names for cross-bred dogs, I know what I think of anyone who would give dogs cigarettes. Even the cigarette butts that dogs sometimes find in the street or park can be enough to harm them. I hope that if people who want to smoke do switch to the e cigarette, it will do away with the risk of poisoning of animals due to discarded cigarette butts. I have to wonder at that story, a twenty four year old dog? Not only 24 but enthusiastic enough to be running across streets at that great age? I wonder what the owner was addicted to and if this is a true story even if reported in the world news. Regardless of the truth of the story, just because a dog can have an addiction, does not mean we should pander to it, if we really love our animals we would apply the basics of 'tough love', the love that shows we actually care about those in our protection and not the selfish love of someone who just wants to win a popularity contest of being the one the anilal loves the most.  Noddy enjoying his 2010, tour. Cannot believe how bad the march flies were this year in various locations. Reg and I experienced them in the Grampians, and Indigo could not stand them. As soon as they appeared, she would ask to go inside the caravan. This has been the first time she has wanted to sit inside the caravan by herself instead of outside with us. On his way to Western Australia, at the Border Crossing Roadhouse, indigo’s travel friend, Noddy, another seasoned traveler, was also surrounded, by March flies but had a little deterrent help. Last, trip Noddy’s owners bought a product for Noddy from the vet called Buzz Off. They had only used it once on that trip, but have found it terrific on this trip. Just put a bit of the cream on the back of the ears to keep the flies from biting them, they told me. I am going to buy some for Indigo. My daughter has just added a three-year-old dog to her family, one whom she thinks may not have been well cared for, he needed, a lot of treatment, from the vet, for allergy relief. The dog, initially seemed fearful of people and other dogs. He has old healed bite wounds. He has quickly settled in and is now a friendly and much loved dog. Amazing what little TLC can do for people or animals.  Protecting Your Pet From Poisons. 03/27/2010
 Please make sure the Easter eggs are not left where the pets can get to them. Protecting Your Pet From Poisons This week (March 14th to March 20th) is Pet Poison Prevention Week, and a good time to remind pet owners of common household items that are potentially dangerous to pets. In 2009, the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) managed almost 200,000 calls at it's Animal Poison Control Center in Illinois, and the Pet Poison Helpline fields almost 100,000 calls per year at it's Minnesota center. Almost 25% of the calls received by the ASPCA were related to pets ingesting prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including painkillers, cold medications, antidepressants and dietary supplements. In most cases, pets had snatched pills form counters and nightstands, or eaten pills that had been dropped on the floor. The Pet Poison Helpline says everyday household pharmaceuticals such as Advil®, Aleve® and Motrin®, Tylenol®, Effexor®, Cymbalta® and Prozac® can cuase serious harm to your pet. The 2nd most common type of call the ASPCA received related to insecticides. "One of the most common incidents is the misuse of flea and tick products. Some species of animals can be particularly sensitive to certain types of insecticides, so it is vital that you never use any product not specifically formulated for your pet. It is also a good idea to consult with your pet's veterinarian before beginning any flea and tick control program," said Dr. Steven Hansen, Senior Vice President of the ASPCA's Animal Health Services. The third most common type of call received by the Animal Poison Control Center was related to pets eating food that is safe for humans to eat, but not for certain types of pet. The worst offender was chocolate, which can have varying degrees of toxicity. "While the occasional chocolate chip within one cookie may not be an issue, certain types of chocolate can be very toxic. Baker's chocolate and dark chocolate pose the biggest problem," said a spokesperson for the Pet Poison Helpline. Other calls related to pets becoming ill after eating common household plants. The Pet Poison Helpline says that certain types of lilies, such as tiger, day, Asiatic, Easter and Japanese lilies, are highly toxic to cats. Severe kidney failure can result from ingestion of even a few petals, leaves, or even the pollen. In addition, ingestion of certain spring bulbs (i.e. daffodils, tulips, etc) can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. View the latest World Pet News every week at PetPeoplesPlace.com. Original Source: http://www.petpeoplesplace.com/resources/news/general/protecting-your-pet-from-poisons.htm Why do dogs drag their butt on the ground? 03/22/2010
 Because something does not, "feel right" back there. Here are a couple of possibilities. *They feel like they have got something hanging back there and they are trying to scrape it off *It itches and they have worms. I worm Indigo with an all wormer suitable for her size. Ask you vets advice for the right one. Collect a stool sample in a baggie for the vet if they keep doing this. * Dogs have a gland in their anus, it helps to lubricate the area, this can get blocked up. It is a simple procedure to clear it. Get someone who knows how, to show you, or ask the vet to do it. Plenty of fiber in the dogs diet helps prevent the problem. *Many people think the dog has haemorrhoids. This is rare in dogs. Here is an EHow article on how to treat dog haemorrhoids at home. In a lifetime of working with dogs, I have seen very little incidence of haemorrhoids in well cared for dogs that are given fibre in their diet, enough exercise and not allowed to become obese. The preventative measures of good general care for a dog, is usually sufficient to prevent the need to look for relief for hemorrhoids If you are seeing a protrusion, of some kind, have the dog checked by a vet quickly, to make sure it is not a tumour. *Allergy and fungal infections can cause irritation, time to check the dog’s diet and if that does not help, get the dog checked over at the vets. The most common cause of an anal irritation is far more likely to be an anal glad problem, and this is easily fixed. | Kathy Shell on Facebook If you enjoy Indigo's blog, would you please vote for her blog in the link below. :-), Thank you
 Kathy Shell
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