Whenever we have a big storm here I lose a lot of pine branches from my trees.  My one girl , Miya, always loves to lay out in the sun and ends up on top of these sap filled branches making a mess of her coat

There are a number of suggestions on the internet, most of which require bathing the area after removal of the sap:

Olive oil

Peanut butter

Mayonnaise

Butter

Coconut oil

Baby oil

Tree sap removal products : be very careful that the product you choose is safe for dogs or cats.

Here’s a better idea and one I have not tried yet, but recommended by a friend who has.

Flour or baby powder:  massage into the sap with fingers and work in well to absorb the stickiness.  Brush the area with a fine tooth comb.

No bathing needed!

Please post if you try this method and let me know how it works.

Patty

www.snowcolabradors.com

If you notice your dog squinting and eye(s) tearing it can be a sign of an eye injury or infection.

In my case my girl had a scratched cornea.  The vet does a die test and uses a black light to see the scratch.

If you have ever had a scratched cornea you know how painful it is.

According to my vet, while a human will heal very quickly from this, dogs take much longer.  Often 4 or more weeks.  This is because the blood flow to the cornea is not as efficient as it is in humans.

The treatment is a triple antibiotic ophthalmic ointment along with another ointment for pain.

My vet prescribed the antibiotic 2-3 times a day for 2 weeks and the pain ointment every 3 days.

A recheck in 14 days showed she was healing but needed more time.

We continue treatment for another 2 weeks and do a recheck again.

You can use a human antibiotic ointment for eyes if your vet will give you a prescription.

Note:  Be careful what the pharmacist gives you.  Make sure the ointment does not contain any type of steroid (some human forms do) as this should never be used with a cornea injury according to my vet.

Note: as the eyes are connected to the sinus and mouth, the pain meds can cause drooling or foaming at the mouth because they are bitter tasting.

Dogs can also get conjunctivitis and you would usually see a yellow to green discharge indicating infection and it needs to be treated by your vet.

It is contagious so be sure and wash your hands after treating your dog.  I also believe it can be passed to humans but check with your vet.

According to my vet a white or beige discharge is most likely allergies (but should be checked by your vet).  For that I flush the eyes 2x/day with warm “sea salt” water and it usually clears up in about a week.

Patty

www.snowcolabradors.com

The are two types of lupus – discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Dog-Health-Center/Immune-Disorders/Lupus.aspx

Symptoms of DLE:

“crusting, depigmentation,  redness, and ulceration of the nose. Lesions may also appear around the eyes, ears, limbs, and other areas.”

More specific symptoms of both types of Lupus are listed here:

http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Dog-Health-Center/Immune-Disorders/Lupus/Symptoms.aspx

Treatments for DLE and SLE are given here:

http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Dog-Health-Center/Immune-Disorders/Lupus/Treatment.aspx

Natural/holistic treatment:

http://www.naturalcanine.com/lupus.html

Patty

www.snowcolabradors.com

Does your dog have any of the issues listed below?  It could be a sign of Cushings disease.

“The more common signs of  the disease include:

Hair loss

Pot-bellied appearance

Increased appetite

Increased drinking and urination called polydipsia and polyuria (PU/PD).

Hair loss caused by Cushing’s disease occurs primarily on the body, sparing the head and legs. The skin is not usually itchy as it is with other skin diseases”

There are 2 types of Cushings and there are specific tests (no single test) to determine which type your dog has,  pituitary-dependent (most common), or adrenal-dependent.

There is more info here including the specifics of testing and treatment:

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/cliented/cushings.aspx

There are also holistic approaches to treatment.  I found this for adrenal support and the site offers some good info on the disease:

http://www.petwellbeing.com/products/dog-adrenal-glands?gclid=CMa4ttiv1rMCFU-d4AodbEYAmQ

More good info here:

http://www.kateconnick.com/library/cushingsdisease.html

Patty

www.snowcolabradors.com

Does your dog have fatty tumors?  Have they been aspirated (needle) by your vet to be sure they are fatty tumors and not possible cancerous tumors?

I have recently heard of liposuction to get rid of lipomas and avoid surgery, (which is more dangerous when dealing with anesthesia).

Here are some good sites to check out.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21797873

http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/a-new-treatment-for-pets-with-lipomas-liposuction

I have a friend who will have this procedure done on her Labrador in a few weeks and I will take note of the results, recovery, etc. and update here soon.

Patty

www.snowcolabradors.com

I don’t know about where you live, but in my area in NJ we are having a very bad year for fleas.  I hear this about NY state and NC as well.

(Please note: any links given below you will most likely have to paste into your browser.  Sorry for the inconvenience).

I have not had fleas in 25 years.  ugggggg……

Dawn dish washing liquid is safe and effective – depending on how bad your dog is infested.

Soak the dog down well with water.  Start bathing with Dawn from the head (avoid eyes) including muzzle and outside of ears and work your way down the body all the way to and around the rectum.  Soap up well and scrub the skin well to lift the flea dirt/feces.

Fleas will run to safe areas during this bath.  Yes, into the rectum, vulva or sheath so it is important to clean well around these areas (if your dog is male pull back the sheath off the penis and clean well – I would not put soap in the rectum or vulva because you will not be able to flush well with water – the sheath can be flushed).  They even run to the ear canals – the reason my groomer told me to start at the head and work back with bathing.  You do not want to have to flush ears with a lot of water and end up causing an ear infection from moisture, if you do not dry out well enough.

Let the Dawn soap sit on the body for 5 min.  Rinse about 80% off and repeat the process, let sit 5 min. again and fully rinse, being sure to get all soap out.

I noticed on the second application of Dawn that the fleas (dead) rose to the top of the coat.

Seeing those dead fleas thrilled me!  I thought, this is great!

However, a few days later I noticed more fleas on my dog. I have always been taught to roll the dog over and inspect the belly to see fleas.  I did that for weeks when scratching started and found none.  Than they suddenly appeared.  I have a better method of checking which you will see below.***

Next I applied Frontline Topspot and 48 hours later (very important to wait that time) I took my girls to my groomer who bathed them with natural flea shampoo and she found no fleas, only flea dirt.  (I did not scrub the skin well enough with the Dawn bath to get rid of flea dirt (feces) so be sure you do)

So I am thinking we are good.  This is the first time I have ever used a topical flea/tick product – because I have not had issues in years and I hate chemicals on my dogs – but I had no choice this time because of what I was dealing with.

It seems our mild winter last year caused this major flea problem this year.  We need a good frost and cold winter to kill off the fleas and ticks.

I vacuumed my home well (including my car), washed all my bedding (dogs sleep with me) and all dogs bedding in their crates, etc.

They still had fleas.  I was at my whits end so I went into the vet to get Capstar (oral) and it was amazing.  Within one hour of the first pill (1/day for six days) my girls were laying on a white sheet and I found 15 dead fleas.

My other issue was my girls were having an allergic reaction to the fleas saliva and their skin was irritated, scabbing, red and itchy.  More info below on soothing oil for this problem###

They were losing sleep from all the scratching so I had to get them both a steroid injection to nip this in the bud.  I try to avoid steroids but had no choice.  I could not watch my babies suffer with constant scratching, which is also stressful for them.

I learned a few things about topical flea/tick prevention.

Frontline Topspot – Kills adult fleas but not the eggs they lay.  The eggs do not stay on the dog but fall off in the yard, in your house……  where they can hatch and grow to adults.

Frontline Plus – kills the eggs too so that will be my choice for next application, if I need it.

There are other topical products available:

Revolution – which is also for heartworm prevention – but it is not safe for a dog with liver issues.  So if you have a senior (age 7 or older) that has not had a full blood panel to check all organ function I would not use this product.

Note:  Steroids can also be detrimental for a dog with liver issues or a history of same.  So consider that before oral or injectable steroids for itching.

My one girl has a liver issue history so I did a full blood panel prior to the steroid injection.

Advantage and Advantix are also topical choices.

The main reason for this blog is the holistic approach, which I believe would have worked well if we did not have a very bad flea issue this year.

Here is a way to check your home for infestation:  I know it sounds like voodoo but it works.

Place a bowl of water in the middle of the room and place a large sturdy candle in the center of the bowl.  Light the candle and leave it burning overnight.  If you have an infestation you will find fleas floating in the water the next morning. The fleas are attracted to the heat of the candle and jump toward it landing in the bowl of water.

The amount you find will help you decide if you need to balm your house.  Something else I hate to do because of the toxins.

I placed bowls all over my house and the only one I found fleas in (only 6) was next to my bed on the side where my girls sleep.    This told me I was not infested but that the method does work.

I then vacuumed my whole house again.  Including my mattress (both sides) and box springs.  I rolled up my area rugs and vacuumed the padding underneath as well.

***Checking your dog for fleas:  As I mentioned above checking the belly was not enough in my case.  Buy a flea comb (I recommend a single line of teeth, not dbl), have a bowl of Dawn soap water and a bowl of fresh water and do this “outside”.

Run the comb thru the coat and look immediately for fleas (flea dirt/feces is black but does not move) and dip the comb in the Dawn water being sure the fleas come off the comb (swish it around a bit and pull hair off comb with your fingers and into the soap water of necessary.  Some fleas will be tiny but you will see them squirm in the soap water as they die).  You must do this quickly so fleas can’t jump off the comb.  Than rinse in fresh water and keep repeating.  I was able to get rid of a good number of fleas this way.  Even after the first day of the oral Capstar.

I also noticed that most of the fleas were on the middle of the back and down to the butt.  However, I found a few on the outside of the ears with the comb so be sure to do the whole body.  You can work in small sections if you want.

### Neem Oil for irritated skin:  Sources:

This product also contains citronella, which stinks but is safe for dogs (not for cats) and a friend who uses it says her dog got used to the smell.  You may find your dog rolling around from the smell but that should stop once they are used to it.  I apply it outside and work into the coat and down to the skin where irritation is.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EQ1UEK/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00

Another good source:

http://www.drdesaisoap.com/neem-shikakai-spray/

This is another holistic approach to getting rid of fleas on your dog and in your house.

Diatomaceous earth:  Be sure to buy “food grade”

This is crustastions from the ocean that are ground into powder.  This product cuts the shell of the flea (parasite) dehydrating it and therefore, killing it.

You can put this on your dogs coat and work down to the skin.  You can also sprinkle it in your house, carpets, hardwood floors where there are cracks for fleas to run to, etc.  wait and than vacuum.

Do a search on google to check out different sources. “food grade diatomaceous earth”

This stuff has been around for hundreds of years.  I have an order on the way to use on my girls coats.

http://diatomaceousearth.net/?gclid=CJGumoKB4bICFUmd4AodpmQA-g

Here is another good link about apple cider vinegar for fleas:

http://www.ehow.com/way_5144327_vinegar-rid-fleas.html

I hope this blog helps others.  As always you can always call me thru my website if you need help and prefer that to posting here.

Patty

www.snowcolabradors.com

“Commonly reported symptoms, which can vary dramatically from dog to dog, include loss of appetite, weight loss, depression, listlessness, vomiting, diarrhea, hind-end pain, muscle weakness, tremors, shivering, increased thirst, excessive urination, a painful or sensitive abdomen, muscle or joint pain, and changes in coat, which may become thicker, thinner, longer, or even curly. About 15 to 20 percent of Addisonian dogs will have dark, tarry stools (melena, caused by gastrointestinal hemorrhage) or blood in their vomit. Symptoms often wax and wane, with the dog getting worse, then better, for months or even years.”

“Recognizing Addison’s
Dogs of any breed, either sex, and any age can develop Addison’s. About 70 percent of dogs with Addison’s are female, although in some breeds, including Standard Poodles and Bearded Collies, males and females are equally affected. The median age of dogs diagnosed with Addison’s disease is 4 to 6 years, but it has been reported in puppies and in dogs as old as 12.

Certain breeds may be predisposed to Addison’s, including Portuguese Water Dogs, Bearded Collies, Standard Poodles, Great Danes, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, Airedale Terriers, Basset Hounds, Springer Spaniels, West Highland White Terriers, Leonbergers, Labrador Retrievers, Rottweilers, Saint Bernards, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, Airedale Terriers, German Shepherd Dogs, German Shorthaired Pointers, other Poodles, and mixes of these breeds.”

The above is taken from this article in Whole Dog Journal – written by CJ Puotinen – (who owns one of our Labradors), and Mary Straus of www.dogaware.com

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/14_10/features/Diagnosing-Addisons-Disease-in-Dogs_20365-1.html

Years ago my Lab, Abbey, had elevated Potassium found in a full blood work up while monitoring her kidney failure issues.  I was told that this can be a sign of Addisons disease and if gone undiagnosed she could go into “Addisonian Crisis” which could kill her.

It is a simple test:  a blood draw – than an injection – and an hour later another blood draw.  The dog must be fasted for 12 hours prior to these blood draws and the injections.

My girl did not have the disease, thank God. 

I hope the above info and article will be helpful to anyone suspecting this disease in their dog.

Patty

www.snowcolabradors.com

If you go to dog shows, dog parks, daycare or any place where your dog is exposed to other dogs chances are your dog has, or some day may, contract kennel cough.

If you suspect your dog has KC please advise the vet prior to going to an appointment so they can keep your dog away from other patients as it is highly contagious.

Symptoms:

“The most common symptom is a dry hacking cough sometimes followed by retching. Many owners describe the cough as having a ‘honking sound.’ A watery nasal discharge may also be present. With mild cases, dogs continue to eat and be alert and active. Many times, there is a recent history of boarding or coming in contact with other dogs. In more severe cases, the symptoms may progress and include lethargy, fever, inappetence, pneumonia, and in very severe cases, even death. The majority of severe cases occur in immunocompromised animals, or young unvaccinated puppies.”

More info here:

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2102&aid=452

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_kennel_cough.html

There are many strains of KC so the Bordetella vaccine may not cover them all.  This means that your dog can still get KC even if it has been vaccinated.

Patty

www.snowcolabradors.com

Many of you have probably heard of this proposed law.

It has gotten out of control on the internet.

It seems this law would only pertain to dogs riding in the back of a pick up truck, on the drivers lap, a dog with half its body out the window (not just its head) or an unruly dog jumping around in the car.

Dogs that lay down quietly in the back seat would not be subject to this law or any fines.

“Tim Martin, a spokesman for the New Jersey SPCA, called the remark an “unscripted moment” and said the group, which is allowed to enforce animal protection laws, does not target drivers who leave their pets unbuckled. “The point we were trying to make is having Spot on your lap while you’re driving is dangerous to both you and the animal,” he said.”

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/08/nj_lawmaker_pushes_for_pets_to.html

You may have to copy and paste the above link

There was an article where Martin called into a radio station and explained how this law got twisted on the internet but unfortunately I can not find the article to post here.

Perhaps someone else can.

Patty

www.snowcolabradors.com